Disclaimer: Not Mine
Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviews. I'm not going to respond to each one personally, because it's late and I'm tired.... but.... I will post.... not one but two chapter! =)
I hope you like. We're nearing the end.
Enjoy.
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"What are you doing?" Brian asked his wife as he walked into the living room. She was standing at the window, her eyes glued to the street, with a feather duster hanging limply in her hand.
"Uh, dusting the curtains..." she said quickly.
He smiled, "So you managed to keep Dom in the house this morning, huh? I bet Letty's gonna show up any minute now."
She turned to scowl at him, "If you could stop being so amused by all this I'd appreciate it."
Brian shrugged, walking up to her and taking the duster out of her hand, "If I'm not amused by it Mia, I'd have to be a little upset about the fact that my wife has spent that last couple of weeks focusing all her energy on what a lot of people might call a lost cause, instead of focusing on the very imminent arrival of her new daughter - "
"- son - " she interrupted.
Brian didn't even pause, " - her twins, and most importantly her husband." He paused here, then added, "So I choose to be amused."
Mia smiled reaching up and pressing a quick kiss to his lip, murmured, "Amused is good," then headed towards the kitchen.
Brian was right, she thought a little glumly as she sat at the table. Her due date was quickly approaching which would ensure Dom's departure and Letty's wedding.
Things should have progressed a little further by now.
According Brian, Dom had finally let the notion of staying with his wife, ex wife that is, go. But he still refused to see... Letty and the future that was there.
And well... Letty just refused to see. She shot down every attempt to open up the subject. And she was good too, could see an opening from miles away and managed to be needed by the kids just as Mia was getting there.
The kids...
It was up to them, she realized.
She hadn't bribed the kids as Dom had accused, she'd simply suggested that they go get him and offered them ice cream if they could bring him back before Letty left.
And it was almost as if they'd understood her subtle commands. Because, although her husband would never believe her, she hadn't been the one to invite Letty over this morning or to keep Dom home.
That had been all them.
She sighed, feeling tired, she'd been achy since yesterday but decided to keep it to herself. Brian hovered over her as it was, she'd hate to see what he'd do if she told him she wasn't feeling well.
"Brian!" she called out suddenly.
He bolted into the kitchen before she'd even closed her mouth, "What?!" he exclaimed his eyes wide, "Are you okay? Is it time?"
"No, no," she said impatiently, she was getting tired of people asking her that, "I was just thinking we should have a barbecue tonight..."
Brian put ran his hands through his hair, in an expression of exasperation, "Christ Mia don't yell like that!" he said, collapsing into a chair across from her.
She shrugged, "Sorry, so what'ya think?"
"If you want, sure," he eyed her warily, "Is there a plan to this?"
She nodded, "Yes, to have you, the guys, and Letty do all the preparation, cooking, and cleaning up while I lie on my bed upstairs and listen to calming, soothing music."
Brian smiled, "Okay, I think I that can be done."
She nodded, "Good."
"Why don't you go take a nap before you listen to the music?"
"I just got up..."
"That doesn't matter," he said, standing, "You look tired, come on. I'll walk you," he said kindly as he helped her up.
Up in there bedroom she sighed as he helped her lay back, her eyes were already closing, "But I won't see Letty," she complained.
"She'll be here when you wake up," he soothed, smoothing her hair.
"I guess...." she whispered, her eyes closing.
Brian smiled tenderly at her before pressing a kiss to her brow and leaving the room.
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"Come upstairs with us Auntie..." Dolly said, tugging on Letty's hand.
They'd arrived about half an hour ago to find the house relatively quiet. Mia was asleep, Brian on the phone the garage, the guys were actually at their places for once and the girls and Taylor were playing video games.
She'd gone upstairs to say hi, leaving Angelo with Brian, but as she'd approached the room, she'd heard his voice... and slowly backed away.
No need to run into him and especially not today. She was happy, she'd decided, so instead she'd headed back downstairs and talked to Brian about the upcoming arrival of the baby and what the plan was for when Mia went into labor.
Until the girls had looked out the window, seen the car, and barreled downstairs to see her.
"Please Auntie..." Jessa continued.
"Uncle Dom bought us a Barbie game," Dolly added, walking forward.
"You can come too, Angelo, if you want. Daddy's already played," Jessa added.
Angelo smiled at the little girl, thinking one day --in the far, far future -- he wanted one just like that, "No thank you, honey. Barbie is a little out of my league."
Letty would have loved to say the same thing... only she couldn't...
...because these were her ladybugs.
"Just for a minute, okay, guys..."
The girls nodded excitedly, "kay, a minutes, good..."
She allowed herself to be pulled up the stairs.
Taking deep breaths and telling herself that it was no big deal -- she was happy.
So what if she hadn't seen him in over a week, so what if in that time he'd invaded way to many precious seconds of her life, so what if she'd already spend more energy on thoughts of him than she did on clothing lines.
It didn't matter, she was happy.
Meanwhile, Brian watched as the girls dragged her up the stairs, a small smile on his face.
Mia would have loved this, he thought, as Angelo asked him a question.
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"Hi L-w-etty," Taylor said happily when she entered the room. He and Dom were sitting on the floor in front of the TV. On the screen a long-legged blonde woman rode a horse and jumped fences.
Dom actually froze.
His son had offered him his turn with turn with the game. His hand had been reaching out to take the controller from him, but it froze in mid air.
Oh god... he thought desperately.
"Hi Taylor," he heard her say softly. She had a little hand in each of hers.
"Auntie Letty is going to play our new game with us, Uncle Dom! Isn't that gr-w-eat!" Dolly exclaimed, bounding into the room and hopping into his lap.
He nodded slowly, realizing they expected a reply, "Yeah, great," he said, grateful they were too young to recognize sarcasm.
"Hi," he added as an afterthought, locking his gaze with hers.
She was silent a moment, a deer caught in headlights, then shook herself out of it .
She nodded slowly, allowing the girls to pull her in and push her onto the bed, "hi," she said just as softly.
"Da game is lots of fun Auntie. You'll likes it..." Jessa began.
To be preceded by her sister, "Taylor likes it and he doesn't even like girls..."
"Except all of us..."
"cause we're family..."
"And family's different..."
The girls explained in all seriousness.
As they finished their little speech Taylor stood from the floor, the controller still in his hand.
"You can play my turn, L-w-etty. I was gonna let Daddy play but he played already, so you can if you want," he said sweetly, looking at her with those dark eyes that made her want to squeeze him.
She smiled, "Thank Tay but I think I'll watch you for a while until I get the hang of it."
He grinned, "It's really easy and I'm really good, jus watch," he said confidently, sitting back down.
Dom blinked a little, looking at his son, now engrossed in the video game, it was just one of the many new things developing in his son's personality since they'd been here.
Confidence.
And lots of it. It surprised and pleased him. His son had always been rather hesitant about things, what he said and did.
That was gone now, and he had his family to thank for it.
Letty, on the other hand, just smiled gently at the boy, sighing softly.
She hadn't been able to stop it. She'd tried, but... there really was no hope.
Not since the moment she'd opened the car door to take him to the carnival and he whispered thank you.
She was in love with this little boy.
Completely, whole-heartedly, in love.
And it mattered not one zilch that he was Dom's son.
... Okay maybe it mattered... a little... but not much. She had a feeling that she'd love this little boy even if he wasn't.
She'd been resolved not to, but looking back on the past few weeks... she'd never had a chance.
Mia was too big to really do anything around the house and Taylor was an energetic little boy... a little boy who didn't have playmates until three-thirty every afternoon.
The guys tried to help but they had work to do, and as much as Taylor enjoyed going to work with his father -- it wasn't like New York, where Dom just did his job and nothing more.
Here, he was with the guys and they tended to horse around and drink and talk crap.
So Taylor was underfoot more and wasn't allowed by his father to go with him every day.
That left the child alone with a very, sweet, loving Aunt who was the size of a small whale.
Mia had asked Letty for help, so she'd begun arriving at the house around one and had taken it upon herself to watch him, while Mia built up enough energy to prepare herself for the arrival of the whirlwinds; also known as her daughters.
She played tag and go seek with him, colored with him, and even started building a model car with him.
She smiled slightly, at the memory of how excited he been.
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"Oh, really L-w-etty? Really? that would be so gr-w-eat!" he exclaimed happily.
She shrugged ruffling his hair, "Yeah, well we gotta have somethin to do while the girls are at school," she said kindly.
He'd hopped up and down, nodding vigorously, "Yes, yep, we do," he'd agreed with her enthusiastically.
"...Oh and we can paint it and d-w-raw on it and I can put it mine and daddy's room! and he will be so 'cited. Oh can I call'm L-w-etty, can I call'm an tell'm! Daddy loves cars an me too. Oh thank you, thank you..." he'd babbled, reminiscent of the girls.
That dampened her mood a little, she didn't want Dom finding out she was doing something with his son.
Not bothering to examine why that was, she chose to put clip it in the bud.
Kneeling before the boy and said conspiratally, "How about we surprise Daddy?" she whispered, and to her astonishment the brightness in his eyes dimmed.
He looked at her seriously and for a moment she swore he could see right through her, then he asked softly, "You want it to be our little secret?"
She didn't know why but a chill raced up her spine, there was something about the way he said that....
... something that made her reluctant to agree...
...yes that's exactly what she wanted but...
...he made it sound horrible.... beyond horrible... he made it sound sinful.
So she shook her head, "No honey, you can tell your Auntie Mia. I just think you'll daddy will like it as a present... a surprise present."
He regarded her with that solemn a gaze a moment longer, before completely wiping it from his expression, "Okay, that sounds fun. It'll be a surprise."
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The end of the memory killed the small smile. Later she'd asked him casually what was so bad about secrets.
He'd remained silent, then just when she'd been about to change the subject, had confided that there was nothing really wrong with them, that he and his mom had a lot of little secrets.
She hadn't pressed for more information, not when his voice was sending those chills of apprehension through her again.
"Auntie...."
"Hel-looooo..."
The girls were staring at her, shaking her slightly, she realized suddenly that she'd been looking at Taylor for a while now and that the girls had been talking to her.
"I'm sorry girls, my mind wandered. What is it?"
"Is it true we're goin to da boutik tomorrow?" Dolly asked her dark eyes inquisitive.
Shit.
That's right, she thought, suddenly, the girls had their final measurements for the flower-girl dresses tomorrow.
"The boutique...yeah, yeah," she said absentmindedly, "We are. It's the last fitting," she told them.
"Can Taylor come?" Jessa asked.
The question was to be expected, except for school the girls didn't go anywhere without Taylor.
They were going to be crushed when he left, she realized suddenly.
"Oh, girls I don't..." she glanced quickly at the little boy who'd taken his eyes off the television and was now awaiting her answer.
"... do you want to come Taylor?" she asked him, "The girls are going to be trying on their dresses for my... wedding. There won't really be anything fun to do."
So she'd paused before saying wedding... who cares.
It had nothing to do with the boy's father who was looking at her much more intensely than he needed to.
In fact, she'd gotten the feeling as she caught the look from he corner of her eye, that he'd been watching her for a while now.
Taylor shrugged, looking away, "I guess not..."
She sighed quietly, the girls were looking at her pleadingly, "Well...." she began hesitantly, "I guess... if I can find three people to tell me the girls have been good... we can go to the park and then get some lunch afterward."
All three faces lit up.
"Oh goodey..." Jessa exclaimed.
Dolly nodded, "Ask Uncle Dom... ask'm... he can be number 1. Ask'm Auntie..." Dolly insisted, shaking her arm gently with urgency.
Letty remained silent, not looking at Dom, she'd hadn't actually faced him since entering the room; the surge of awareness that she'd felt when she'd met his eyes then, had warned her against doing again.
"Yeah," he purred, breaking into her thoughts, "Ask me, Letty," his voice was quietly amused.
And when she met his eyes she found them, dark with an emotion she couldn't begin to identify. There was heat in them and she felt herself flush.
"Dom..." she began but had to stop, her voice was hoarse, after clearing it she continued, "...have the girls behaved lately?"
He eyed silently a moment longer before nodding slowly, "Yes, Letty, they have. The girls have been very good lately."
"YES!" the girls screeched, jumping up and pumping there fists in the air.
Completely missing the fact that their Aunt Letty and Uncle Dom were staring at each other.
Taylor, however, was much more observant.
"Is somethin wrongs?" he asked his father quietly. Then transferred his gaze back to Letty. The confident look gone, replaced by doubt. "If you don't think it's a good idea... I won't come..."
It took a moment for his words to register with her, for her to hear his tone, for her to realize that the girls had stopped screeching.
Simply because for a moment.... all she knew was Dom.
She shook it off, though, like she had the other times it had happened.
She was happy.
"No, honey, I don't think it's a bad idea. As soon as I get some more people to tell me the girls have been good, we'll be all set," she said soothingly, smiling away his hesitation.
He grinned at her and girls smiled.
"Oh..." Dolly said, running over to the door, "Daddy will tell you... I'll get him..."
"Me too, you wait here Auntie Let, we'll get Daddy," Jessa continued, on her sisters heel.
"Come with, Tay..." Dolly called leaving the room.
Taylor shoved the controller in his father's, "You play my turn Daddy," he said quickly before rushing out after Jessa.
The kids were out the door like flashes of light, before either Dom or Letty could even open their mouths.
Dom had turned his face, opened his mouth, in what Letty assumed was a protest but it never got out.
So he closed his mouth and eyed her a moment, before smirking and turning back to the game.
As far as Letty could tell, the game was basically a day in the life of someone who had a lot of money and no job.
You could go shopping, try on outfits, drive a car, ride a horse... pretty tame stuff.
"So where's Mr. Sorry-I-Don't-Drink?" Dom asked gruffly, without turning around, his eyes on the screen.
Letty glared at the back of his head; all rational, just-brush-it-off, thoughts fleeing her mind, "My fiancée, is downstairs with Brian," she said deliberately emphasizing the word.
Not that he would care... he shouldn't care....
He remained silent, immobile almost, and when she saw the screen in front of her pause.
She stiffened, waiting.
But still he said nothing, when he did finally speak, his voice was deep, husky,
"You know what you doin, Let?" he asked with way too much concern for her liking.
He had no right to ask, was her first thought.
But it was that concern that bit back the angry retort on the tip of her tongue.
It was the concern that unarmed her.
She was thankful he wasn't looking at her. Thankful because he would've seen a flash of uncertainty cross her face, a shot of fear slice through her eyes.
She wiped them away though, and responded as firmly as she could, "I always know what I'm doing, Dom, you know that."
He was silent again, than said slowly, but firmly, "He doesn't... seem... your... type."
Her eyes narrowed, "My type?" she asked him, "What would you know about my type, Dom?" her voice was tight and he heard the warning... he didn't heed it, but he heard it.
Dropping the controller, he swiveled around to face her, "A helluva lot actually!!" he growled.
"Yeah," she hissed at him, "FIVE YEARS AGO." She didn't yell but it was pretty close.
"So you... you like... THAT... now?" he said, his tone accusing, tinged with disgust.
Letty stood, her eyes flashing as she looked down at him, "What the hell does it matter to you what I like now?!"
She didn't let him answer, didn't even let him open his mouth...
"But for the record, YES. I like that now. You know why?"
Again he never got a chance...
"Because THAT doesn't come home drunk every other night, THAT doesn't show up drenched in another woman's perfume, THAT doesn't have some whore's lipstick on his shirt, THAT doesn't lie to me, doesn't make me cry! THAT is plain NICE to me, Dom. He doesn't think beating the crap out of a guy who looks at me is showing affection. He loves me and he doesn't think it makes him less of a bad-ass if he shows it. So freakin excuse me for liking THAT now."
She was furious and whirled around to leave the room, just as Brian and the kids were entering it.
"Why'r you yellin Auntie?" Jessa asked, sweetly, a worried frown on her face.
Dolly looked to her Uncle, still sitting on the floor, but with a decidedly somber look on his face to her aunt who was trying to control the fury she was obviously feeling.
"Did Uncle Dom not want to let you play?" she asked simply, and all the anger simply vanished from Letty as she looked into the innocent dark eyes of her niece.
Letty smiled a little, kneeling down, "Something like that sweetie," she said softly.
Realizing as she said it, that it was closer to the truth than anyone would ever know.
She was his toy, he didn't want her anymore but he didn't want anyone else to play with her either.
Selfish bastard.
She thought, with a touch of humor. Dolly frowned entering the room, "Uncle Dom, Auntie hasn't played yet and it's her turn."
Dom looked at his niece, forcing himself to care about what she was saying, "Yeah," he said a little dully, "... it is her turn."
Standing he walked to the door.
"She can have that," he said as he left, looking her right in the eyes, making sure she understood his meaning. He didn't so much as glance at Brian, his son, and Jessa as stalked down the hall.
Letty shivered slightly at the coldness in that voice.
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Yet another thing he shouldn't have done...
They were really piling up now...
...kissing her, the thing with the beer, now this....
"Ugh!" he growled, entering his room.
What the hell is wrong with me! he thought desperately. 't just let the silence stretch... had to ask stupid-ass questions... had to freakin talk to her in the first place!
He prowled his room for a minute trying to find something he could smash that wouldn't be missed But he stopped, stopped because he could see a little white corner from behind his dresser.
He stared at it in horror for a moment, slowly realizing that it was the very last thing he needed right now -- the damned little book!!
Who gives a shit if he hadn't seen Kara!! he thought angrily, Who gives a shit if it was.... her he'd seen...
It was just a book... not even... it was just quotes... a lot of quotes...
"Ugh!!!" he hissed again into the empty room.
He needed to get out of here.
Wrenching the door open, he prowled down the hallway, and out the door, slamming it in his wake.
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Well, that was interesting, Mia thought as she sat up slowly in bed.
She hadn't heard what had set Letty off, but she'd sure as hell heard the rant. Could almost see her friends fury, could almost see Dom cringing....
It wasn't really promising...
She sighed, maybe it was time to just let this go. She was tired, both physically and mentally.
"I'm guessing you heard that?" Brian asked softly as he entered.
She didn't bother answering, "Did the kids?" she asked him.
"Yeah but it went right over their heads, they were having their own conversation."
"Where's Dom?"
The door slammed shut just then and Mia nodded slowly, "Guess that answers my question."
Brian studied her a moment, "You okay?" he asked gently.
She nodded, "Just taking some of my own medicine and accepting reality."
Brian frowned, he didn't like that, that didn't sound like his wife, "Mia they just had an argument... if you recall they did that A LOT."
"Yeah, but... she's right... she and Dom weren't always that happy."
Brian opened his mouth, she cut him off, "Don't get me wrong they..." she sighed, "I still want them together it's just... I don't know. They don't have a middle -- there really in love or really in pain when it comes to each other. And I think she wants a middle, you know, Angelo can give her that."
"So just like that, it's over. The great Mia Plan to get them back together has ended. You're giving up."
"Angelo loves her. He loves Kara. They'll be happy."
"But you said..."
"I know what I said Brian," she cut him off, "... and I meant it -- they'll never be as happy with those people as they could be with each other. But they want to settle... and I think... I think I'm gonna let them."
Brian just stared at her. Shaking his head he went to her and wrapped his arms around her. But he remained silent, just holding her.
"What do you want me to make for the barbecue?" he asked when the silence had stretched long enough.
She sighed and began giving him instructions, thankful for the change in subject.
Brian, however, was not listening.
His wife wanted her brother and Letty together -- so that's what she was gonna get.
There was still one card left in the deck.
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REVIEW THIS ONE BEFORE YOU GO ON TO THE NEXT!!
PUH-LEEEEEEEEESE =)
