Disclaimer: Not Mine

Author's Note: This is pretty much just more fluff. I've got the important sections of the story written out. So I just type it up and work on in between scenes. I predict about four more posts and an epilogue.

Truemarine88:

Thanks for the compliments! I don't write for a living, I don't do anything for a living -- I just turned 18! lol. But thanks again, your words really encourage me to continue this.

LettyRodriguez01:

lol. Actually Dom was getting on my nerves too. I had to make his see, or else I was gonna hafta to kill him off for being stupid.

Leticia Rose:

Don't Die Please!! I don't want to be responsible for killing off members of the fanfiction community... plus if you die you'll never get the end.... =)

Lady LP:

Thanks, I'm glad you came out of hiding.

Maile:

lol, I'm glad I can motivate you.

Ranger Webb:

Mia has temporarily given up. But let's keep in mind the woman is almost 9 months pregnant and she doesn't know about Vince's conversation with Dom. You have a lot questions and there's only answer... come on say it with me... read on.... lol. =)

Greenglowchaisis:

You're right, they get together in the end... of course. I'm a diehard Dom/Letty fan. And you're right again, it hurts how far apart they are but trust me it's only gonna make so much more sweet when they come together...

Oh! and at my house Mac & cheese is practically a food group, not mention that you may want to stock up on tissues... not this chapter but for later. Things get kinda mushy after this chapter....

DomLetty4eva:

Another one who threatens with their death! Don't Die!! You can't review if you die...

Nessie16:

lol. So after 20 you could wait but not 21, that's funny. You're right I am a diehard romantic and I tend to be a little dramatic... but oh well. Anyway thanks for putting me on your fave author's list, that's always an honor. As for OBF, that story is so different from this one that I can't write both at the same time. In this one characters have lived through five years since the movie, Jesse didn't survive and the mood is altogether more serious. In OBF it's only been six months and they're basically no worse for wear. So the moods lighter. When I finish this, I'll get back to work on that one.

Jada9:

Thanks, he's gonna put up a fight, promise... next chapter.

Pips24:

It's okay, I forgive. I wanted Dom to see why Letty went to such a polar opposite from him for her choice of a husband...

Thank you all for your kind words. I hope you like....

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"That turned out well," Mia said, wringing her hair in the sink. They had just put the chicken on the grill when the sky's had opened up on them and unleashed a torrent of rain.

And not an 'oh-good-I-can-cool-off' type of rain, either. More like a torrential rain that got you soaked in seconds.

Everyone had made a wild dash to grab the food and the kids and everything else, as quickly as possible.

It didn't help.

They all still got wet.

Leon and Vince had retreated to the basement to use that shower and change. Letty had taken the kids to the upstairs bath, and Mia had plans for the one connected to the master bedroom.

"It was your idea..." Brian commented as he wrapped a large, dry towel around her shoulders.

"It wasn't supposed to rain..." she pouted, her eyes downcast.

He smiled gently at her, she'd been a little sensitive lately, "Don't worry about it," he said lifting her chin, with his forefinger, "...we'll finish it tomorrow."

"The food got wet..."

"Not all of it, it'll be fine, don't worry. Tomorrow it'll be sunny and we'll have a great barbecue... almost as good as the second first one," he added jokingly, after a moment.

She smiled a little, but her eyes were still sad, "Is Dom back?"

Brian looked puzzled suddenly, "He was in the yard..." he looked around as if his brother-in-law were hiding, "...right before the rain... I didn't see him come in though... that's weird..."

Mia sighed, "I'm going to go take a long, hot shower," she said quietly, heading for the door.

He followed, "Want help?" he asked her, his blue eyes twinkling.

She shook her head slowly, "Naw, not tonight," she said gently. He looked disappointed so she reached up and placed her hand on his cheek, "Maybe tomorrow. In the meantime you could go help Letty or keep Angelo company, he's in the living room."

Brian turned into her hand and rolled his eyes when she mentioned Angelo, "There's a tough choice."

That garnered a small smile from his wife, "You go up this way, I'll tell him you're helping Letty."

He smiled, "Thanks, the other day I had to spend the entire day with the guy..."

"He's not so bad..." she whispered, trying to convince herself too.

"No of course not. He only has the need to subtly criticize everything we do and how we do it."

"He means well...." at Brian's looked, she chuckled a little, "... I think."

"Anyway..." she said, glancing at the clock, "You might as well help Lett get them into their PJ's. It's almost their bedtime anyway."

He nodded, wrapping her in his arms. She laid her head against him for a moment.

"It's gonna be okay, Mia," he whispered.

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. He looked concerned, worried really. Trying to reassure him, she summoned the best smile she could, and whispered back, "I know, Brian, I know."

Exiting the kitchen, she wished she really did.

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"Hey there!" Brian exclaimed as he entered the hallway and encountered Letty carrying a freshly bathed Jessa wrapped in a towel, "Did you get a bath from your Auntie Letty?" he asked.

Jessa nodded enthusiastically, "Yep, we all did!" She said happily as Letty deposited her on the bed.

"All of you?" Brian asked, going to the dresser and retriever the Pajamas.

"Yeah, me, Dolly, an' Taylor. We took bath together," she said grinning, "We played with da water."

Brian smiled sweetly at his daughter, then transferred a not so sweet version of it to Letty as he handed her the clothes, "Was that a good idea?" he asked.

She shrugged, "Probably better than me standin here yappin to you while the other two are alone in the tub," she said a little gruffly as she slipped the shirt over Jessa's head.

Brian pushed her aside, "Go," he said almost urgently, realizing the damage two kids and a tub full of water and soap could do to Mia's bathroom, "I'll finish here."

She nodded, ruffling Jessa's hair before nearly running from the room.

The worry was unfounded.

She sighed with relief as she entered the bathroom to find Dolly and Taylor sitting amid the bubbles, playing with Barbie's and match box cars.

Taylor had made a huge concession the day before yesterday and agreed that maybe Barbie's weren't so bad as long as you made them like his Auntie Mia or L-w-etty.

The child's mispronunciation of her name always pulled at her heart strings. It was one of the few things that showed his age.

The good behavior, she knew, had to do with the very stern, almost harsh, warning she'd given them all about not getting water on the floor. If they did, she'd told them, she would never let them take a bath together again.

And she'd tell Mia.

"Okay, who's next?" she asked with another big towel in her arms.

They were silent a moment just looking up at her, then Dolly sighed, standing, "I'll go. Taylor wants to stay longer."

She opened her arms, waiting for Letty to come fish her out.

Letty smiled at the little girl, feeling a bubble of gladness that the child had put her cousins feelings first.

Lifting her and wrapping her securely in the towel, she looked down at Taylor, "You stay right there, mister, got it?" She said firmly.

He nodded without looking up, dunking Barbie's head under water then running a car into her face -- so maybe he wasn't as okay about her as he'd claimed.

"Okay missy, lets go," she said to Dolly who nodded, smiling at her as if she too realized that Taylor just didn't like the leggy blonde.

Entering the girl's bedroom, they found Brian leaning against the headboard. A flushed and sleepy looking Jessa snuggled against him.

"There's my other Angel," he cooed when they walked in.

Shifting Jessa he stood and took Dolly from Letty, "Go finish with Taylor, I'll finish up in here."

She started nodding, then paused, "Where's Dom?" she asked as carelessly as she could.

Brian met her gaze, chastising her for running. She lifted her chin slightly, giving him a so what look.

"Don't really know. He kinda disappeared on us."

She nodded, then looked to Dolly and Jessa lovingly, "I'm gonna leave after I get Taylor settled in. So I'll see you guys tomorrow, kay. Sleep well."

They nodded wishing her the same and demanding hugs and kisses before she left.

When she entered the bathroom again, she found Taylor sitting just as she'd left him.

Quietly, drowning Barbie then running her over with a car.

She watched him silently a moment, realizing that he must have great practice with this.

-- playing quietly, on his own.

The girls couldn't. They would've been standing up making waves at each other; or gotten out of the tub to follow her -- dripping water all over the bathroom and hallway; or tried standing on the side of the tub and jumping in like they did at the pool.

The girls had never in their lives played quietly on their own.

They absolutely required supervision.

Of course it wasn't fair to put them in the same category as Taylor. They were twins. They'd literally, never been on their own in their lives.

She had though.

Before she'd met the Toretto' s, she too had been expert at playing quietly on her own.

She didn't want to bother her dad. That had been the main concern of life for close to the first nine years of her existence.

Not bothering dad.

Because when you bothered dad... bad things happened.

Watching the little boy play... so calmly... she knew he was in his own little world.

She knew because she'd been there once too.

It was a world that existed for little kids who didn't want to bother their parents...

The thought made her sad.

"You're back," he said sweetly, breaking into those thoughts.

Shaking the remnants of them away, she walked fully into the room, "Yep, I'm back. Now get up and I'll wrap you up like the girls."

"Why?"

Letty eyed him, "'Cause I don't want to get wet," she stated simply.

"How come?"

"I'm not takin a bath," she said lowering the towel and sitting gingerly on the side of the tub.

"Sometimes, it's okay to get wet even if you're not taking a bath," he stated sincerely.

"Is it?" she asked smiling. Thinking how adorable he looked in the big tub, surrounded by bubbles and Barbie's.

"Yeah," he answered her, his dark eyes shining as he looked at her, "Sometimes mommy plays with me in the tub," he offered softly after a moment.

It was the second time he'd mentioned his mother to Letty.

And it was killing her.

She had resisted all thoughts of the woman who had borne Dom a son.

Had done so from the beginning.

From that day when Mia had called her -- hysterical -- to tell her that Dom had finally called.

That he'd said he was married...

... that he'd had a son....

It had taken Letty almost an hour to calm her down. An hour in which Mia created every possible scenario her brother could be in.

That night Letty had quietly excused herself from dinner, claiming she had a headache, then entered the bathroom, locked the door, gone into shower, turned it on, and sobbed her heart out.

Sobbed because it was finally real...

...because it was final now....

....because - now - they really were broken up.

She'd admitted to herself, that night in the shower, that even though she'd recreated herself, even though she'd found herself a new niche in the world, even though she was no longer the girl he'd met, even though she was with Angelo....

...she'd still hoped that...

... someday they'd be together again...

It had been romantic... naive... childish...

And she was none of these things.

That night she'd let him go....

... not because she wanted to...

...but because he'd let her go...

It was, and she told herself, would be, the last time she'd ever cry for Dominic Torreto.

Later that year, when Angelo had proposed, she hadn't even hesitated.

She'd said yes.

And why not?

There was no reason for her not to accept his proposal. There was nothing left to wait for.

Dom was married.

Inside though, she was scared. Scared that she was making a mistake, that she was marrying the wrong man....

.... thus the long engagement. Not that Angelo minded, that had given him time to plan the ideal wedding.

Not just a ceremony where two people in love bonded themselves together for ever, but another business mingling, thing as well.

"She would splash water at me," Taylor's small voice broke into her thoughts.

She stared at his bowed head a moment, before asking gently, "Do you miss your mom?"

He shrugged still looking down, "Sometimes," he whispered, but looked so very sad, his little brow furrowed in thought, his hands still.

"She used to splash water at you, huh?"

He nodded solemnly

"Like this?" she asked cheekily, splashing a little water into his face with the tips of her fingers.

He blinked up at her a moment, surprised, before a huge grin covered his face, "Yeah like that and I used to do this...." he said and even as he spoke he sent a huge wave of water and bubbles at her.

Letty sprung back, surprise on her face now, "Hey," she exclaimed, but Taylor was grinning and she liked it. Liked the way his dark eyes twinkled and beads of water glistened on his lashes.

So leaning in she splashed him back.

What proceeded was a water fight in which he had all the advantage -- being in the water and all.

"Okay, Okay," she gasped a few minutes later, breathless from so much laughter.

She rubbed a hand over her wet face, "Stop," taking a deep breath, "I think we gotta stop..."

And Taylor being the darling he is, sent one more huge splash her way before, running a hand over his own wet little face.

She couldn't stop smiling.

Even as she surveyed the damage and realized that there was water everywhere. Literally. On the mirrors, walls, ceiling, trash can, toilet, cabinets... not to mention the floor.

But still... she couldn't stop smiling.

She'd never done that with the girls... not in the bathroom... in a pool, sure. In a bathroom... never... she couldn't.... the girls wouldn't stop. Not until they wanted to. Although, she thought, maybe with this new attitude adjustment... she'd try it.

"I guess we can't use this now, huh?" she said, holding up the limp towel.

He shook his head, "Nope,"

Letty turned to the closet to pull out another one, missing the shadow that moved away from the door.

"Okay, here we go. Let's get you outa here, Lil T. It's passed bedtime," she said going to him.

"I never had bedtime in New York," he said conversationally. As she lifted him.

He was lighter than the girls, she thought absentmindedly, as she secured him against her.

He was little.

And the thought made her tighten her hold just a smidgen.

"You didn't?" she asked as she walked down the hall.

"Nope, I went to bed when Daddy went to bed."

"Really?" she asked, as she opened the door to the bedroom he shared with his father.

The bedroom she'd once shared with his father.

There was a lamp on so she didn't bother with the lights, "Yeah," he said as she set him down on the bed, "we didn't share a room d'though."

"You didn't?" she murmured as she finished drying him off.

He shook his head, as she dried it off, "No, he shared with mommy. But if mommy was away then he'd let me sleep in his bed."

"That was nice of him," she said as she went to the dresser and pulled out his pajamas.

Days of taking him out of his PJ's had familiarized her with where Dom had put all his clothes.

"Yes, my daddy's very nice. He lays on his front and lets me sleep on his back," the little boy offered, sweetly, "It's very comfy."

Letty almost paused on her way back to the bed.

The image of Dom asleep on his front as Taylor put, surfacing from her memories, unbidden into her mind; add to it the small boy draped over his back, and a lump formed in her throat.

"I'm ready, L-w-tty," Taylor said, his little arms raised above his head, just like she'd taught him, so that it would be easier for her to slip the shirt on.

"How 'bout I I that," a gruff voice from the corner and Letty jumped back, dropping the clothes.

"Holy Shit! You scared me!" she hissed, her face flushing. He'd been their the whole time?!

"He's like a sponge Letty," Dom said quietly as he stood from the chair he'd been sitting in. He glanced at his son so she'd understand.

She looked a little sheepish, then seemed to remember he'd scared her and glared at him.

Dom smirked a little, "Sorry," he said simply but his dark eyes were watching her intently... searching her.

He walked into the light, bending to retrieve the dropped item, "You looked almost maternal there for a second Lett," he said lightly, like he was teasing, but the tone did nothing to diminish the intensity of his gaze.

She looked away, walking over stiffly to Taylor, "Kay, T, your dad's here so... I... I'm gonna go..." she said as steadily as she could. Which wasn't much considering, she knew was shaking a little.

"Wait," Taylor said quickly, grabbing her hand, "...my lion, he's in the bathroom..."

Letty nodded, leaving before he could finish talking.

Holy Shit! she thought again, as she entered the bathroom, her heart still pounding, the ass had scared the shit out of her. If Taylor hadn't been in the room, she would've given him a piece of her mind.

Sighing, she looked for and found the lion, behind the trash can --- wet.

She grimaced, looking around, this was gonna take a while to clean up. Angelo was still downstairs... and very likely pissed.

They'd gone to the late lunch this afternoon, but Letty had rushed it, in order to get back here.

She paused at the door of the bedroom, did she really want to go in there again?

Couldn't she just toss the lion to the kid and run?

No, and you know it. So suck it up and just do it! The little voice commanded. So she did. Realizing as she did so, that listening to the voice could be a bad idea.

"D'that's da difference a'tween boys and girls, Daddy. Did you know girls don't got one of d'these?" Taylor was asking his father when as she walked in.

She nearly peed on herself when she saw Taylor holding up his little boy penis for his father to see.

"Alls they have is a lil hole." he continued explaining, as if Dom didn't know about the lil hole. "Did you know, Daddy?" he asked.

Dom had a decidedly ruddy color to his complexsion now, that hadn't been there when she'd left.

He looked at her as he attempted to get his son into the underwear. She shrugged, "He and the girls took a bath together," she said simply.

Placing the lion on the desk, "You should leave this here, T. 'Cause it got wet in the bathroom.

"Nuh-uh," Taylor said vehenmtly, his head shaking as he held onto his father for balance as he slipped into the pants, "I always sleep wit Leroy," he told her, in a voice that brooked no further argument.

She smiled slightly, they'd picked the name together, "Okay, if you say so."

"I do. Daddy do you know why girls don't got one?" Taylor went back to the issue. His father sighed, obviously uncomfortable talking about body parts with his son.

Sitting on the bed so Taylor could crawl all over him, he said wearily, with one more resentful look to Letty, "Why?"

"Cause then things wouldn't be no fun," the boy said confidently and Dom's eyebrows rose.

"What?"

"L-w-etty says when we's get bigger she'll tell us what the fun is. But fore's now we's jus got to take her words for it."

He looked at her incredulously. She shrugged again, "I don't believe in lying to kids."

He nodded slowly, looking back down to his son, "I think Letty's got one hell of a point there, kid. And let me tell you she would know. Letty really knows how much fun the difference between boys and girls can be."

She felt like she was gonna choke, she couldn't breathe... what hell was he saying?

Then he looked at her and her mouth went dry... he was remembering... the fun...

"I... jus... I gotta... go... I have to go..." she stammered, turning to leave, she just wanted to get out of the room.

"Goodnight, L-w-etty," the tiny, sweet voice gave her pause -- it wasn't his fault his dad was a jerk.

Looking back she sighed softly, "Goodnight, sweetie," then proceeded to rush out of the room.

Not noticing that Dom's gaze hadn't so much as wavered away from her.

Not noticing that there was more in his eyes than just memories....

....there was future in his eyes...

Not noticing that he saw.

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While putting his son to bed, Dom turned his thoughts off. He cradled the boy in his arms until he fell asleep then gently slipped him under the covers.

Being a parent was odd. It was something he'd realized it long ago, on a cold night as he'd watched his son sleep... like he was doing now.

A parent had to give roots... and wings.

It was a complicated thing to do and very easy to screw up.

It was at times like these, where he just looked at this child -- who depended on him for everything, who would know only what he taught him -- that he understood why it scared the shit out of Kara.

Sighing he stood up.

Tonight his thought weren't on Kara, though.

Tonight, they were on her.

He felt a knot form in his throat as he sorted out everything he'd seen today.

As if the scene in the yard hadn't been enough.

He'd happened to be walking down the hallway when he'd heard his son's voice, intent on telling Mia to let him finish, he'd nearly walked in, before realizing it wasn't Mia who was there.

It was Letty.

Letty holding a big towel and inching towards his son.

They hadn't been facing the door.

So he'd stood there unnoticed... and seen.

Seen the chat -- the way his son seemed to wither at the mention of his mother. Seen the concern in her eyes, the determination to make him smile.

Seen the water fight, the laughter, the sweetness...

Then in the bedroom -- he'd seen the way she chatted with him, so naturally, seen as she dried him up, as she pulled out his clothes...

... she'd done that before...

... he could tell, she knew where things were...

And the way Taylor talked to her... he was beginning to get the feeling that his son and Letty had been spending more time together than he was aware of.

She's it for you, bro

Vee's words had been ringing in his head all day now. God where the hell had the guy come up with that shit?!

It had been... right.

Really right.

Ugh!, he thought suddenly, Sonya's more of a bad influence than a good one, if you ask me, he thought sullenly.

But just as quickly the mood cleared as he thought of the look on Letty's face when he'd Taylor that she really knew about how much fun the difference between boys and girls could be, she'd actually blushed!

She was beautiful when she blushed... she was always beautiful, he thought, a small smile touching his lips.

Taking a deep breath he walked over to the chair he'd been sitting in when she'd walked in.

Lowering himself into it, couldn't help but grin when he remembered how high she'd jumped when he'd spoken.

I love her, he thought, trying to organize his feelings.

You've always loved her, that's not news, the little voice reminded him.

He'd admitted to himself that in a way he'd always love her.

The difference was that now he realized he really loved her -- the forever kind.

And that was news.

He'd never concretely considered marriage when he was with Letty. In an abstract way he'd always figured they would, but he'd never given it much thought.

After all they'd had bigger fish to fry. Marriage, kids, commitment that wasn't the kind of stuff you thought about when you were king of the streets.

But it's the kind of stuff he thought about now.

Racing was good, he planned to do some before he left, but it wasn't everything. Living life a quarter mile at a time, didn't get you very far, and not letting anything else matter meant you broke a lot of hearts, a lot of promises on they way.

It seemed though, that now, it was a case of too little, too late.

She was getting marred, presumably in love with guy.

...in love wit you...

...all you gotta do is remind her....

Vince's words filled his mind again. He'd been so firm. So sure that she was in love with him. That he was the one calling the shots. That he could have her back if he wanted.

Could he?

Should he?

Did he want her?

The answer came instantly...

...Yes....

He wanted her.

And not just her body... although that was nice.

No, he wanted all of her; her smile, her hair, her laugh, her voice, her thoughts, everything.

He wanted rights to her. The right to know where the hell she'd been and what she was wearing and what she doing. The right to ask why and when. The right to walk up to her and kiss her if he wanted. To smash a guys face in for looking at her too long.

He wanted everything he'd had and thrown away...

Everything and more...

Because, he wanted her trust, too.

Now he wanted all those rights and more.

He wanted to share her laughter.

To know her smiles.

He wanted to be the one who comforted her when she cried, not the reason.

He wanted to be her type.

Clenching his fists, he remembered her words. She seemed to like this guy a lot.

He nice to her, she'd said.

Well fuck nice. Letty need more than nice. She needed passion and heat and speed... he knew that.

Nice was good, but it wasn't nearly enough.

She needed him.

And he needed her.

And he sure as hell wasn't gonna let that get in the way.

Angelo could find someone else to turn into executive Barbie,

Letty was his.

And tomorrow he'd start reminding her of that.

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