Disclaimer: Not Mine

Author's Note: I Hope you reviewed before coming here… if you didn't… pretty please do it at the end of this one….

Enjoy….

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Letty?" the soft word, queried with tremendous concern, reached her as if through a fog.

Her eyes focused and she found Angelo's green eyes in front of her. Some how she'd managed to get inside her car. Ignoring Mia in the living room, the kids in the yard... even more amazing was the fact that she'd managed to get to the office without smashing her car into something.

She'd parked, gotten out, and walked in like a zombie. Vaguely she'd heard her secretary ask her something, had registered concerned looks, and murmured that she was not be interrupted... mostly though she'd focused on the door -- and getting through the door.

Inside she'd sought the comfort of her chair -- large and leather -- she'd craved the coolness she knew she'd find there.

Sitting down, she'd pulled her legs under her, laid her head on knees, and done her best to just turn everything off.

The phone, the intercom, her brain, her heart...

"Letty? You're scaring me..."

His voice was soft and deep and riddled with worry.

She forced herself to lift her head up, to meet his eyes, to shake away the apathy that had her immobile, the shock that had her frozen.

His hands were on her shoulders now, shaking her, "Letty?!" his voice a bit sharp.

She blinked at him, "I'm okay, I'm okay," she whispered.

He stopped, staring at her intently, before sighing heavily, "No you're not," he stated, a note of resignation in his voice.

Gently he scooped her up into his arms and sat down with her on his lap.

He stroked her hair silently and after a while he began to tell her it was going to be okay, that everything was fine, that they'd be happy....

She let him hold her -- more for his comfort than hers...

...she couldn't be comforted...

Not now, not ever.

Dom had asked her to be his wife.

And she'd said no.

The thought was paradox in itself... almost incomprehensible.

Dom had proposed...

... to her...

... and she'd said no....

She'd told him, she couldn't.

And had been repeating it to herself over and over since then.

She couldn't.

I can't.

Repeating it over and over though, wasn't making it any easier.

She loved Dom.

And he loves me...

It should be easy.

But it wasn't.

She had responsibilities now...

... promises to keep...

... someone else who loved her...

It wasn't easy -- because he'd left her.

He'd made the choice to move on with his life.

And so had she.

It wasn't fair that just because he changed his mind she had to drop everything....

But you love him... deserve him...

She snapped that thought shut instantly.

Angelo had stopped talking, and she registered briefly that he must be as lost in his thoughts as she was in hers.

He was a good man, a man who didn't deserve to get his heart broken simply because Dom had changed his mind.

He shifted her suddenly so that she was looking up at him.

"Do you want to tell me?" he asked almost hesitantly.

He knows the answer...

She thought suddenly, as realization dawned that Angelo wasn't stupid... he had to know.... at the very least suspect...

She was silent.

He sighed again, this time it was almost a growl, "Do we or don't we marry in four days Letty?"

The question was hissed out in frustration, she felt his body tense.

She could tell him now...

... he'd opened the door...

...she could tell him that she loved Dom...

... that she'd rather marry him...

That she'd always wanted to marry him.

...to be Mrs. Torreto...

That she'd never been able to picture herself married to anyone else.

But she didn't.

Instead she whispered, "We do," and wondered why.

"Why?" he asked her, echoing her thoughts.

She blinked up at him, considering the answer. Then answered him sincerely, "Because we're good together."

"We'll be happy," she added after a moment.

It seemed to be a mantra for them both. If they said it enough, thought it enough... it would be true.

He smiled at her gently... with a touch of sadness... "l have no doubt that we can make this work, Letty..." he said slowly, "If you do, I suggest you speak up before it's too late."

She said nothing, looking down she held herself absolutely still.

They stayed like that for a long time, in the dimming office, both lost in their thoughts, neither sure of what was happening.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The house was quiet.

The girls were asleep -- all three of them -- a minor miracle.

Brian was in the shower.

The TV's were off and the only sound distinguishable was the gentle hum to the air conditioner.

Mia hadn't heard or seen her brother since Letty had raced out earlier that day.

She'd tried calling Letty, with no success. Liza had told her Letty was locked in her office, refusing to see and/or talk to anyone.

Dom was in his room.

The door wasn't locked... but it might as well have been. The deathly quiet of the room scared her.

But she'd had enough.

If she didn't find out what had happened she'd burst.

She climbed the stairs quietly, thought about knocking on the door, but realized she was going in whether he said she could or not -- so didn't bother.

He was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, his legs stretched out in front of him.

"Dom?"

She walked in more, peering down at him, "Dom what's wrong?"

Again he was silent.

She kneeled down in front of him, "Dominic?!"

"I asked Letty to marry me," he said softly, without actually acknowledging her presence.

Mia blinked at him.

"You did what?!?" she asked, her voice a pitch or two above normal.

He didn't move, didn't meet her eyes, "I asked Letty to marry me," he repeated dully.

She feel back on her bottom, staring at him, "What? Where? How? When? When did this happen?" she stuttered out, her voice incredulous.

Her heart thudding painfully.

"About five hours ago."

Mia was silent a moment, "What happened?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

"I love her," he said softly, "I asked her to be my wife, but she can't."

"She can't?"

"She can't," he confirmed.

"Oh Dom," Mia said sympathetically, "I'm so sorry, so very, very sorry..." and this time she meant it.

He nodded, acceptingly, "I knew. I told myself it didn't matter, but I knew I was too late."

"I'm too late. She's not mine anymore... I knew that... I just... I had to try. You know, Mi, I just had to try. And even though... even though I knew... I just you... you know.... I hoped..."

She was nodded, the tears she'd promised herself she wouldn't shed, streaming freely down her face.

Her brother was finished trying... this was the end.

"I can't stay here for that wedding, Mia, I can't..."

"Oh Dom no, no Dom, please don't leave..." she pleaded, reaching out to him, laying her hand on his arm.

He looked down at the hand, then back up at her, his eyes dry.

"I have to. I called the airline already... kinda funny... no flights to New York available except for that day... so..."

"Dom please... don't... I need you here..."

He shook his head, "I'm sorry Mia, but I can't. I'll be back in a few months."

She shook her head again, her hair flying around her head, "But Dom - "

"Don't make me stay here, Mia. It'll break me if I have to watch."

The words were so sincere, so true, they sent a shiver through her.

She met his dry gaze with her wet one -- both full of sorrow.

"Promise me you'll come back."

"I swear it... but for now... I have to leave..." he trailed off.

She nodded slowly, then crawled over to him, holding on tight as waves of grief flowed over her.

He was leaving.

Letty was getting married.

Then she too would leave...

She was going to lose them both...

... and there was nothing she could do about it...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW!!! )

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX