Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Author's Note: Hi!!

Okay I know it's been a long time; it's just the longer I waited the better I felt the chapter had to be.

I'm not really happy with it as is, but I need to finish the story already! (Don't ya think?)

Anyway, I'm posting two chapter instead of one and after this you can expect two more chapters. The last one and an epilogue.

There won't be a sequal.

The epilogue will pretty much wrap everything up.

Thank you so much for all the support, and the patience.

I hope you enjoy.

And pretty, please reivew! )

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"What What are you doin, Daddy?" Taylor asked curiously as he entered the bedroom.

It was next morning, the sun was shining brightly and Dom had started packing.

He'd rented a motel room for the following night.

Letty was getting dressed at the house on her wedding day... and there was no way in hell he planned on being there while she did.

Tonight would be the last night he and his son slept in this room... at least for a while.

"Daddy?" Taylor asked again, pausing as he looked up at his dad. His dark eyes shining, his little mouth ready to smile... that's what a month and a half had here had done to him...

... had taught him to laugh...

Dom smiled slightly at him... the boy was four now. His birthday had been celebrated with cake and gifts and, of course, a barbecue. It had been a good day.

All of their days here had been good.

"I'm packing, buddy," he answered, turning back around, not wanting to see the disappointed look he knew would cover his child's face, "It's time for us to go home," he finished.

Dom wasn't looking at his son anymore... if he had been, he would've seen that disappointment was a paltry description for the emotion that crossed his son's face. He would've seen the boys mouth drop open, the way his eyes widened....

... would've seen that the farthest thing imaginable to him was that they would be leaving.

"Bu - I... No..." he said, shaking his little head, some of the brightness leaving his eyes...

Dom paused, looking down at him, frowning a little, "Yes, Tay... It's time to go home."

Taylor shook his head again, frowning up at him, "No," he stated defiantly.

Dom dropped down onto the bed so that he was closer to eye level with his son, "I'm not asking Taylor. The day after tomorrow we're leaving L.A."

"I don't want to," the boy insisted, his bottom lip beginning to quiver.

"Taylor - "

"I like here! Cousins here!"

"I know you like it here Tay - "

"Auntie Mia here!! L-w-etty here!! I stay! I want to stay!" Taylor screamed, his fists clenching and his eyes flashing.

Dom saw it coming then -- the tantrum.

"Listen to me Taylor," he began resolutely.

Taylor was not open to that option though, tears filling his eyes he stamped his little foot, "No, no, no I don't want to go!! I'm not going!! I want to stay!"

Dom reached out, firmly grabbed his son by the shoulders, "Don't do this, Taylor... we're going home..."

"No! NO!" the little screeched, his voice rising along with the color in his face.

"We're going to see Mommy... don't you want to see Mommy?" Dom asked, that made the child pause, conflicting emotions playing across his little face....

Dom sighed in relief... Taylor would want to go see his mother.

... the relief was short lived though... as Taylor's face clenched again, his eyes narrowing, "I wanna stay!! I don't wanna go!!!"

The howling started then. Long, mournful wails that tugged at your heartstrings.

The door burst open suddenly, "What happened?" Mia exclaimed her dark eyes wide.

Taking in the scene, Dom sitting on the bed holding a hysterical Taylor by the shoulders, she almost sighed in relief -- no blood.

Behind her were the girls, both still wearing their back-packs and looking frightened by the crying.

"We're having a disagreement," Dom stated above the wailing.

Taylor's little chest was heaving and he continued to scream, "I'm not going!"

Mia went to the boy, kneeling in front of him, "Taylor... sweetie... shhhhh... it's okay honey," she tried to soothe. Smoothing his hair and peeling Dom's hands off the boy so that she could turn him towards her.

Taylor was not being soothed though, if anything he howled louder, when he was facing his aunt, "Noooooo...."

"...doooon't.... waaannnnnaaaa..."

His face was almost maroon colored and he was heaving for breath. The more Mia said his name, the more she tried to calm him, the more agitated he got.

"Dom do something!" Mia exclaimed finally a few minutes later, truly frightened now that she hadn't been able to calm the boy.

Dom reached for his son again, "Taylor, you're scaring your Aunt and no matter how much you scream... we're still leaving."

The wailing continued.

"You're not going to change anything. We aren't staying here," Dom continued.

Taylor took heaving breaths, pausing a moment as he looked at his dad through wet eyelashes, before taking a deep breath and starting over.

This time he pulled out of his dad's grip and stamped his foot, "NO, NO, NO, I don't wanna go... I stay.... I wanna stay... don't wanna... don't wanna..." the pitch of the words kept rising and suddenly he threw himself on the floor.

Pounding his fists and feet and illustrating for Mia just what Dom had meant when he'd said his son could be "problematic".

Another wail joined Taylor's as Brianna realized that it wasn't quiet enough for her to sleep.

The girls still stood by the door, stock-still, eyes wide, staring at the little boy who was the sweetest, most patient child they'd ever met... up until five minutes ago.

"He's going to make himself sick," Mia screamed at her brother.

Dom's eyes were fixed on the flailing figure in front of him, "Go get Bria," he told his sister, "Take the girls with you."

Mia stared at him a moment, "Don't... don't punish him..." she stated, a little hesitantly. True he nephew was throwing an uncalled for tantrum... but still... he was Taylor... and nothing he ever did deserved punishment.

Dom met her gaze, "Go," he said firmly.

Mia nodded, grabbing each of the twins by hand on her way out.

When the door shut behind them, Dom swooped down and lifted his son off the ground.

Holding him kicking and screaming up in the air, he said softly, "Stop it."

"NO...NO..." Taylor yelled at the top of his lungs.

"YES!" Dom yelled back, resisting the urge to shake him.

Taylor seemed to finally realized that he was alone with his father... and that he was being held up in the air by his forearms. Still though, he cried, "No... No..."

"NOW!" Dom continued, his voice harsh.

Taylor paused, that tone reaching him through the haze of anger that enfolded, he shook his head again, "no... no..." he said again but they were whimpers now, accompanied by erratic breathing, "I don't wanna..." he pouted once more.

"We don't always get what we want Taylor," Dom stated, adjusting the way he held him as they moved over to the bed.

The little boy shook his head, his chest still heaving, his bottom lip quivering, "I... I..."

"We'll come back Tay, I promise... but this was just a visit... you knew that buddy..."

"I forgotted..." the boy said on a moan, as he hiccupped.

Dom nodded as he started rubbing soothing circles on the boy's back, hoping to calm him, "I can see that... this isn't... we don't live here buddy..."

"But..."

"But what?"

"Cousin's here and Auntie Mia and Uncle Vee and Uncle Leon and... and... L-w-etty... everybody's here, Daddy..." the child stated plaintively.

Dom stared down at the top of his head, "Your mommy's not here," he reminded Taylor.

Taylor looked up at his father, "Sometimes, mommy's and their little boy's can't be's together... even if they's love each alots... they jus can'ts."

Dom's heart thudded, "Who told you that?"

"L-w-etty... I was sad 'cause I missed my mommy... and me and her were workin on da car and she tolds me that sometimes things effected people..."

"... affected..." Dom corrected automatically, his eyes going instinctively to the model car on the dresser.

Letty had presented it to Taylor on his birthday. Apparently they'd been working on it together and he'd accidentally dropped it. She'd taken it to her house and had returned to him -- on his birthday all fixed and painted with a card.

A card that he hadn't been allowed to see.

"Yeah, things affected peoples and that make things happen... things that maybe aren't too good... like mommy's and their little boy's not being togethers. That doesn't mean they's don't love each other, 'd'though... they probly think about each o'd'ther every day."

Dom was silent a moment, "You love Letty, huh Tay?" he asked softly. Already knowing the answer.

He nodded, sniffling, "She's my friend," he said softly, his eyes fastened onto his father's.

Tears pooled in the child's eyes and spilled quietly onto his soft, cheeks, "I don't wanna go, Daddy... please can't we stay..."

The words were soft and pleading and infinitely harder to refuse than all the kicking and screaming he'd done earlier.

"I'm sorry, buddy," he said sincerely, "... but no we can't."

The sniffling started again, this time silently and Dom held him close, telling him they'd come back and that everything would fine.

"You know what?" he said suddenly, pulling the boy away from him for a moment, "You and me we haven't spent the day together in a long time... how 'bout we go out and do somethin?" he asked his son.

Taylor blinked back a few tears, wiping at his face with a little hand, "... just us?" he asked.

Dom nodded, "Yeah... how 'bout it?"

Taylor considered it a moment, his dark eyes almost assessing his father, he tilted his head to the side a little, "Okay... but... I still think we should stay..."

The smile that bloomed on his face caught him by surprise, it was just... his son was so... endearing...

"You know what I think..." he stated lifting the boy off him and placing him on the ground, "I think you need to go talk to you Auntie Mia... you scared her..." he frowned suddenly, "Speaking of which... haven't we talked about that whole throwing-yourself-on-the-floor-and screaming-your-heart-out thing?"

Taylor shrugged innocently, "We have?" he asked, trying to walk away.

"Yeah, we have... as in don't do it..." Dom gazed sternly at the boy, "You've been really good lately that's why I'm not making this an issue - "

"What's an ish-ue?" Taylor interrupted, doing his best to divert the topic of conversation. His dark eyes the picture of ingenuity.

"- otherwise we'd be having a talk that could lead to some serious no-garage time," Dom finished ignoring his son's attempt.

Taylor's eyes widened a little, "I didn't mean to Daddy... I forgot I'm not allowed to do 'dat. I'm gonna go see Auntie Mia now, Kay... then can we go?"

Dom sighed letting a small form on his lips again, "Yeah," he said, "I'll be down in a minute."

Taylor nodded, skipping towards the door as if nothing had happened.

Dom stood, shaking his head slightly as he finished the packing. Today he was going to spend with his son. Tomorrow with his nieces and the day after that he'd leave.

Simple.

Still though...

.... it was going to be a long couple of days.

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The girls were sitting at the table eating a snack when Taylor walked in. Mia was at the counter, drying the dishes.

"You okay?" she asked as her nephew walked towards.

He nodded, "I'm sorry I scareded you," he said sweetly.

She smiled warmly at him, "It's okay honey... just don't do it again," she added, a bit sternly.

He sighed, "I jus... I don't want to leave..." he sadly.

"What?" Jessa asked quickly, shifting in her seat so she could look over at her mother and cousin.

"You're leaving??" Dolly asked suddenly, surprise coloring her voice.

Taylor's gaze swung over to them, he nodded solemnly, "Yeah... Daddy says we gots to go home now."

The girls looked at each other, then Jessa said softly, "We think you should stay."

"Girls, your Uncle Dom's already made a decision. He and Taylor will be back to visit, but right now they will be leaving and I don't want to see a display similar to the one Taylor illustrated upstairs."

Mia's words were firm, the girls nodded solemnly, then turned back to their snack.

Mia knelt down in front of her nephew, "Do you want a snack darling?' she asked him.

He shook his head, "Daddy an me are goin somewhere's. Jus us... isn't that cool Auntie Mia?"

"That is cool baby," she enthused, "Why don't you go sit with the girls until he comes down."

Taylor nodded, and he went to the table. Pulling out a chair he scrambled onto it and waited for one of his cousins to say what they were thinking.

"Do you wanna go?" Jessa asked.

Taylor frowned at her a little, "'course not," he stated, "...but Daddy says we don't always get what we want."

"We do," Jessa stated simply.

"Yeah and if you don't wanna go we'll tell Uncle Dom," Dolly confirmed, "....'cause people who loves each other shouldn't move aways..."

"Right mommy, right, we should all lives togethers forever," Jessa continued then lifted her hand, counting as she spoke, "Us, and Uncle Leon, and Uncle Vince, and Sonya, and Auntie Let, and you Taylor!"

"Right mom?" Jessa continued.

Mia didn't respond though, her face had gone ashen as she realized something.

Letty was leaving...

.... no one had told the girls.

"Mooooommmm we're talkin to you...." Dolly whined.

Mia jerked a little, forcing herself to pay attention to what they were saying... it didn't work, distractedly she said, "Stay here guys..." then wandered into the living room.

The kids gave her a strange look before shrugging and returning to their plans on how to get Dom and Taylor to stay.

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Mia almost staggered into the living room, reaching for the telephone immediately.

She dialed Letty's direct line and spoke the moment Letty picked, "They don't know..." she spit out.

The line was quiet a moment before Letty said wryly, "Gonna hafta be more specific."

"The girls don't know," Mia stated quietly.

Again silence.

Then Letty spoke, her voice tight, a wry humor gone, "You said you'd take care of it."

"I meant the guys... I told the guys... and Sonya... but... no one's told the girls."

"Mia," Letty began.

"It's your responsibility," Mia said firmly.

"Mia, please don't make me do that," Letty said pleadingly.

This time the silence was on the other end of the line.

"You know Sonya had a talk with Dom a few days ago," Mia began conversationally.

Letty tensed.

"... she told me.... after she'd had it, that she hoped he wouldn't tell you something that she'd said to him... about you."

Mia stopped there.

Waiting.

Knowing that Letty would ask. Letty remained silent, knowing Mia wanted her to ask.

In the end though, she wasn't strong.

"What did she say?"

"Something about you becoming a complacent dish-rag..."

"WHAT?!" Letty interrupted.

"... and although, I hate to bring it up," Mia continued as if nothing had happened, "I have to admit you've been kinda sappy lately, Lett."

"Don't get mad, it's just... you need to... I don't know..." Mia sighed, "... wake up... since Dom got here you've been... like shocked into a coma or something. You haven't been to the club in over a month - "

"Neither have you," Letty cut in.

"Yeah, but I was pregnant."

Again the silence.

"You need to tell the girls about your move, Lett. You need to stop letting things around you control you instead of controlling the things around you, and most of all you to take a good, long, look at yourself and figure out what it is you want... 'cause you only get one life and it's not a good idea to screw it up."

"Okay... judging by the lack of response I'm gonna say you don't like this topic of conversation.... I gotta go anyway, the kids are in the kitchen alone."

Mia paused then continued, "Bye, I'll see you soon."

On both ends the woman hung up the phones and stared into a space a moment.

Both lost in thoughts for a moment, before rousing themselves into action.

Mia headed into kitchen where Dom was promising to bring the girls something special from wherever he and Taylor went.

Letty went back to work, deciding that she'd talk to the girls today... after all the wedding was the day after tomorrow... there was no time to lose.

Time.

She was running out of it....

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"We didn't know you was gonna visit Auntie," Dolly said happily, as she snuggled closer to Letty.

Letty smiled, pressing a kiss to the back of her head.

Dolly was on her lap, Jessa was sitting next to her. Her little hand in Letty's.

"Uncle Dom took Tay out today," Jessa said sweetly.

"He's gonna bring us somethin."

"We couldn't's go 'cause it was a males bondings thing."

Letty smiled again, doing her best to keep track of the conversation.

She'd showed up close to half an hour ago, and found the girls doing homework in the living room.

She'd dropped down on the floor between them and helped them finish up.

Now as they chatted about nothing and everything, she searched for the courage to tell them she was leaving.

She was having no luck.

"Are you mad?" Jessa asked, breaking into her thoughts.

"We been good," Dolly stated.

Letty blinked a little and realized they were staring at her with concerned little faces.

She forced herself to smile, "I'm not mad girls," she comforted, "I just... I have to talk to you about something."

They stared at her.

"You guys know I'm getting married soon, right?"

They nodded, "We're wearin the pretty dresses."

"And dropping the petals on the floor."

"Well... getting married brings a lot of changes into a person's life," she explained; knowing that she was just beating around bush.

They were gazing at her with such trusting eyes. And beating around the bush wasn't going to change anything... she was still leaving...

"Girls, Angelo and I are going to move to Chicago after the wedding," she spit out.

The words seemed to fill the suddenly silent living room.

They stared at her blankly, the concept of her moving not fully registering in their minds.

Dolly's head tilted to one side, her dark eyes glimmering, her blonde hair shifting, "Wha- what does that mean?" she asked softly.

Letty felt a shiver start in the pit of her stomach, "It means after we're married.. we're going to live there..." she responded.

"You live here," Jessa stated, her blue eyes intent of Letty's face.

The shiver was working it's way out, she took a steadying breath, demanding of herself strength -- it wasn't like she'd never see them again --

"Now I do... but after the wedding I'll... I'll live in Chicago..." she answered. Telling herself yet again that it wasn't as if she'd never see them again...

But it'll never be the same... the voice reminded her.

"For how long?" Dolly asked.

Still the girls showed no comprehension.

For how long....

The question hit her with the force of a tidal wave.

The answer brought tears to her eyes.

"Forever," she said softly, refusing to lie to them, they frowned at her... still refusing to understand.

Jessa shook her head, "But you live here," she stated again.

Letty blinked rapidly trying to hold back the tears, it didn't work, some spilled onto her cheeks, "But I'm going to move."

"But we live here," Dolly stated.

And that was her undoing, that simple phrase -- because they did live here... but she wouldn't.

She said nothing though, just looked at them, waiting for the realization to sink in.

Dolly flew out of her arms, "You're leavin us!" she cried, her eyes wide, "... you're leaving us..."

"NO!"

The scream didn't come from her, but from Jessa.

Jessa sitting next to her, squeezing her hand and looking up at her with guileless blue eyes.

"She's not leaving us!" the girl defended heatedly, glancing quickly at her sister, before swinging her gaze back to her aunt, "... she wouldn't... you wouldn't would you, Auntie Lett? You wouldn't leave us? You love us..."

Letty swallowed hard, returning the squeeze on the child's hand, "I do love you... both of you... very much... but..."

Jessa pulled out of her grasp, "NO!" she screamed, going to stand next to her sister, "You can't!! We're supposed to live together! People's who loves each others supposed to live together!"

"Maybe she doesn't love us..." Dolly stated and Letty almost flinched.

She stood instead, "Sit down," she said, firmly enough that both girls did what she asked instantly.

She sat too, after taking a moment to compose herself.

"How much I love you is not a question here, okay... I adore you..."

"So why..." Dolly began but Letty cut her off.

"Because sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do... like go to school or to the dentist... you may not want to but you still have to do it."

The girls shook their heads, "Nu-uh, grown-ups don't hafta do things they don'ts wanna do," Dolly stated.

"Sometimes they do, girls, sometimes things happen,"

"But... we... need you here..." Jessa whined.

Neither girl had yet to shed a tear.

Letty knew they still didn't get it.

"We go shopping togethers, and to fairs, and we's color..."

"...we tell you our secrets, and we play dress-up..."

"Mom doesn't let us play with her make-up the way you do."

They would have continued, but Letty couldn't take anymore.

"Girls please!" she interrupted, "... stop... I know, I know things will be different... but I promise when I come to visit..."

"... but you live here!!" Jessa yelled.

"You can't leave!!!" Dolly cried.

"Girls!!"

"No!! NO!" they cried, stamping there feet, their eyes wide.

They weren't sad, they were angry.

"You can't."

"It's not a good thing, girls, but it's happening anyway," she said as calmly as she could, scooting forward on the seat, reaching out for them.

They shook their heads, wisps of hair flying everywhere.

"No! no! You can't go..."

"We want you to stay."

"You have to stay."

"We say so."

"Things don't always happen they we want them too," Letty said.

"You're not going!!"

"Yes I am!"

"I'll hate you!"

The words left Dolly's mouth first, but they were echoed in Jessa's quickly. Both girls screamed it over and over again, before running from the room and up the stairs.

Letty sat there in absolute silence, the tears gone, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes wide.

It could have been a few minutes later, or an hour, when she felt a hand on her arm.

"They didn't mean it," Mia said softly, trying to offer comfort.

Letty nodded without looking at her, marveling at the fact that Mia was absolutely no comfort.

"They'll never hate you Letty," Mia continued.

Letty gave a heartfelt sigh, "Who knows in five or six years..." she said softly, trailing off, still not looking at Mia.

Mia scowled and slapped her arm, "Don't be stupid!" She hissed.

Letty pulled her arm away and scowled back, "What the hell??" the scowl deepened suddenly, "And where's Sonya??"

A shocked expression registered on Mia's face before she laughed lightly, "I didn't tell you about the dish-rag thing so you could harass her... I did it to see if you'd snap out of it and get some of your stamina back. You're startin to make me sick."

Letty turned away again, "It hasn't worked," she stated dully, "... I can't seem to find the desire to have stamina. It's like I put it away and don't know where to find it."

It was Mia's turn to sigh now, what was she supposed to say to that?

"I'd tell you where you could find some, but lately he's had some trouble coming up with some too."

Letty said nothing, didn't even turn to face her.

"Come on," Mia said suddenly after a moment, drawing out the words in a silly way, "I'll make you coffee...."

Letty smirked as her friend grabbed her arm, "Can you lace it with rum?" she asked getting up.

Mia laughed, "On you're first I-hate-you? Absolutely."

Letty laughed too, "I take it you've heard it before."

"Of course, that time I didn't let them go to the pool with you... they hated me for a week, and the time I didn't let them watch The Exorcist, oh and that time I made them get hair cuts, and every Halloween when I don't let them eat all the candy that night, and-"

Letty chuckled, "Okay I get it!" she said, "... it's not a big deal."

Mia laughed too, as they entered the kitchen, "If you stick around I'm sure they'll cool down."

Letty nodded, her smile fading, "I think... I think they don't want to understand."

Mia nodded slowly, her smiled completely gone as cold chilled feeling she'd been ignoring for weeks roared its head, "Can you blame them?" she asked, not able to keep the sadness from her voice.

Letty looked down, feeling the sting of tears, and blinking them back with determination. Looking back up she met Mia's sad, moist, brown eyes with steady, dry, black ones, "No, not really."

The kitchen was silent after that as both woman prepared a mug of coffee... they both poured healthy doses of rum in the mugs and then walked over to the table... the table where they'd shared countless meals and innumerable secrets... silently they both drank there coffee... remembering very old times and not so old times...

... they didn't have to say anything...

Saying things would everything harder.

So they sat, and drank, and wished they too had the option of not understanding.

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"What do we do?"

"I dunno."

"We gotta do somethin."

"Yeah."

The girls were in their room sitting on one bed facing each other.

They were discussing the fact that both their favorite people, besides their parents, were leaving them.

"They always say yes," Jessa pointed out.

Dolly nodded, "I'll ask Uncle Dom, you ask Auntie Lett."

"Why not both of us together?"

"Cause this way if she says no to you I can try and if he says no to me you can try."

Jessa nodded, "Good idea."

"I know," Dolly said cockily a grin on her face.

Together they scooted of the bed.

"They always say yes," Jessa repeated.

"Always," Dolly confirmed.

The girls smiled at each other confident in their ability to get whatever it is they want; in their knowledge that they always said yes.

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Letty and Mia were still sitting in the kitchen when Dom walked in with Taylor in his arms.

They both looked up and froze as the man stepped through the doorway.

"L-w-etty!!" Taylor squealed nearly launching himself out of his father's arms. Dom recovered quickly though and set the boy on the ground.

He raced for Letty immediately. And she received him in open arms, holidng him close and calling herself every kind of fool in existence for getting attached to the boy.

"Daddy and I wents for a drive," he said happily pulling back to looking into her face.

"We saw d'the water! and you know what, L-w-etty?" he asked, the pitch of his voice going up a little higher, '... d'there were boats on d'the water!"

"Really?" she asked, loving the way the light danced in his ebony eyes.

He nodded vigorously, "Yeah, and Daddy said when we's come back, 'cause we'll's be back to visit, Daddy promised; when we's come back, we'll go on da boats and we'll go really, really fast!"

"That sounds like fun," she said, smiling, doing her best to match his enthusiasm and ignore the white-hot stare of the boy's father... even though she could feel it raking over her.

"It is!! And cousins can come and you too, L-w-etty!! Everybody can come and we'll look at the dolophins!!" he siad happily.

"Dolphins," she corrected automatically, "I love dolphins," she added after a moment.

Taylor opened his mouth to respond but Mia cut him off, "Did you bring the girls anything, sweetie?"

He nodded quickly, jumping off Letty lap and running to pull a brown bag out of his father's hands, "Candy!"

Mia laughed, "Did you have any candy?"

He nodded again, with enthusiasm.

"Well that explains it," Mia said still laughing, she loved to see her nephew on a sugar high... it brought out the four-year-old in him, "Go take it to them... they're in their room."

Taylor nodded, "Kay," he said happily and headed for the stairs.

The silence that filled the room when he left was thick. Mia sighed loudly a moment later, "I could make some excuse about having to do something, right at this moment any where else in this house so that you two would be left alone in this kitchen, but frankly, I don't really feel like it. So I'm just gonna be honest and tell you that I'm leaving you alone in here and expect no bloodshed... or tears."

With that she got up and walked away.

They said nothing, just stared at each other. Both silent and serious.

"Mia says your leaving... soon," Letty broke the silence.

"The day of your wedding," Dom clarified.

Letty nodded silently, after a moment she spoke, willing herself to say what she wanted, after all she had nothing left to lose. "Is this the end of us, Dom?" she asked, hoarsely.

He met her gaze, "It's your decision Letty?"

Her eyes flashed, "That's not fair."

"It's true."

"Your the one that got married!"

"It's a mistake I'm willing to fix."

She looked away, "I can't," she whispered.

He nodded.

"So that's it," she said a moment later, "... everything we are; everything we've been it's all over... we can't even be friends."

Dom met her gaze, "I don't want you to be my friend Letty, I want you to be my wife."

She held his gaze, feeling her heart clench, before looking away, "I can't," she repeated.

Once again he nodded, there was no point in getting into another argument.

After a moment she looked at him again, "I don't want us to... to have grudges..."

He jumped a little, startled, before eyeing her incredulously, "I proposed to you! And you said No!!" he nearly hissed at her.

She didn't want grudges???

Letty's eyes flashed, "I'm already engaged!"

He was sick of that excuse, "That's easy to take care of!"

"I can't!"

"You won't!" he yelled back, taking steps towards her, all thoughts of avoiding an argument fleeing from his brain.

His dark eyes glittered dangerously as he stared at her, "You won't take steps to fix it. You prefer to marry him instead of me," his words were hard as steel and he was standing directly in front of her now. She was pressed against the wall, trying to stay away from him... and failing.

"Why is that Letty?" he asked, grabbing her by the forearms, his fingers meeting around her arm, "Is it his money? Huh? Is that it?"

She struggled against him, "Don't be a jackass Dom! You know that's never mattered to me!"

His grip tightened, "It never mattered before... but now..." he pulled her away from the wall, holding her out in front of him, raking his eyes over her, "... this is a new you, isn't it Lett?"

He didn't wait for her response, instead swung her back against the wall, like a rag-doll, and continued.

"New hair, new clothes, new shoes, new job, new man... isn't that what you're goin for... a new life..."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting a new life, Dom!! Especially when your old one sucks!!"

"There is when it isn't you!!" he roared at her, making her flinch, "... this isn't you!!" he continued, shaking her a little for emphasis, "... this is some carefully made-up, waxed, watered down version of you whose decided to settle on some safe, button-downed, slick-haired monkey of a husband because he'll never make you feel anything... with him you won't feel pain or loss or grief... right Lett? He won't make you cry?? But you know what Lett? He won't make you feel happiness either! You'll never be happy because this isn't you and one day your gonna look at yourself and realize you've become some desperate housewife and there'll be nothing you can do about it. You'll be fucking stuck!"

She stared at him for a moment after he finished, before tearing herself roughly from his grasp.

He let her go.

"You're Wrong!!" she yelled desperately, her eyes holding a crazed glaze, "I will be happy!! Angelo will make me happy!"

Dom stared at her silently, willing her to be his Letty.

But it was too late...

... she wasn't anymore...

... he'd lost his chance...

"You could be happier," he said to her, his voice suddenly gentle. The anger was gone from his eyes, they glimmered now with the love he felt, "... I could make you happier..."

She said nothing, simply stared at him, watched him as he turned and left. Slowly she sank into a kitchen chair.

Telling herself it wasn't true...

... over and over again...

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The sight of his niece sitting Indian style on his bed almost made him groan... he wasn't in the mood; didn't have the patience to deal with the tiny dark-eyed minx that was waiting for him.

Her blonde hair was pulled back in a pony-tale and she was looking at him with wide-eyes full of hope.

He wanted to pick her up and set her outside his door and slam it shut.

Instead he sat in the chair and said very softly, "Where's you're sister?"

Dolly shrugged, "Around."

"I don't want to play right now, Dolly."

The little girl nodded, "Me either."

She slid off the bed and stood next to it, "I have to talk about something b'very important."

Dom nodded, not really paying her any attention, "What is it?"

"I don't want you to leave," she said firmly.

Dom stared at her a moment before groaning and running a hand over his shaved head... could this day get any worse... he asked himself.

"I'll be back," he said almost roughly, ordinarily he'd have added a sweetie or baby to the end of that... but right now he wanted to be alone.

Dolly shook her head, "If you stay you's don't gotta come back," she said logically.

"I don't live here, Dolly," he said reasonably.

"But you could."

"I don't have an apartment or house in LA anymore..."

"You could buy one," she cajoled walking towards him, "... down da block there's a big for sale sign in front of a house."

He frowned at her, "When did you learn how to read?"

She smiled sweetly, "Sonya tolded me."

"Sonya needs to learn to mind her own business," Dom nearly growled.

Dolly frowned him suddenly, "You can't leave Uncle Dom," she cried.

He sighed and reached out for her, pulling her into his arms and depositing her on his lap, "Look babe, I know you got used to-"

"You can't... Auntie Lett wants to leave too..." she whined, and Dom cringed, "How come? Why doesn't anybody like us anymore?"

"It's not like that, honey," he tried to explain, "... sometimes grown-ups-"

"-hafta to do things d'they don't wanna do..." Dolly finished for him, aggravation clearly evident on her little face, "... that's what Auntie Lett said..."

"And it's true."

She stared at him, her mouth in a pout before laying her head on his shoulder, "I don't want you to go."

She was trying to manipulate him into staying.

A fierce wave of love for this little girl washed over him suddenly, he tightened his hold on her just a little

"I'm gonna miss you, baby," he said softly, "... but I'll come back to visit and we'll talk on the phone and email and you can even write a letter if you want. It won't be so bad, you'll see."

She looked up suddenly her eyes wide and frightened, "You're really gonna leave?" she asked her voice small.

He nodded solemnly, "Yeah, baby, I'm really gonna leave."

"Bu-but I... I don't want you to go!" she cried, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

He smoothed her soft hair with his big hand, "I know, but it's still gonna happen," he said the words softly, knowing they were blunt, but realizing the sooner she accepted that fact the easier it would be.

"But I love you Uncle Dom," she cried, two huge tears spilling out of her eyes.

He pulled her onto his chest, holding her close, "I love you too, and I'll love you even when I leave."

She lay there against him, sobbing quietly, breaking his heart for awhile longer before pulling back.

Looking up at him with wide, wet eyes, she whimpered, "Won't you stay Uncle Dom? Please won't you stay?"

He stared into her dark eyes, eyes so much like his own, and felt an overwhelming wave of grief wash over him.

From the moment he'd laid eyes on her, he'd believed it was impossible...

... had decided that under no circumstances would there ever be anything he'd deny her...

He hadn't thought of this.

Softly he pressed a kiss to her forehead, "No, honey, I won't."

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"Auntie Lett?" Jessa's small voice broke into Letty's hazy thoughts.

She looked up from where she'd been drilling a hole staring at the table.

"Wha- what is it honey?" she asked as the dark haired urchin walked up to the table.

Solemnly she pulled out a chair and climbed onto it.

"We hafta talk about something serious," she said her blue eyes on Letty's face.

Letty took a deep breath, pushing away any and all thoughts of Dom, "About what?"

"I don't want you to go," she said firmly.

"Sweetie we talked about this already-"

"I want to make an agreement," Jessa said, still firm, "Like da one we made on da day of the punishment."

Letty's eyes softened and her heart melted, "Oh baby, that's not-"

"Dolly and me we'll be real good Auntie Lett, if you stay... we'll the bestest little girls in the world."

Letty moved quickly; pulling the child out of the chair and onto her lap, "You are the bestest little girls in the world," she whispered.

"Then why are you leavin us? Why is Uncle Dom leavin us? How come everybody's goin?" she cried.

Letty smiled shakily, "I know it sucks, baby, but... it's just something you have to accept. It doesn't mean we love you or Dolly any less... it just means..."

"... you don't wanna see us..."

"No," she said firmly, "It means that we have to do this. One day when you're bigger you'll understand."

"I don't want to understand! I want you to stay," she cried, then shifting so that she could look up into her Aunt's face she continued softly, "We're your ladybugs..."

"I know," Letty whispered, smoothing strands of her dark hair.

"... cause sometimes we're little ladies..." Jessa continued.

"... and sometimes you're pesky bugs..." Letty finished for her.

Jessa nodded, "You hafta stay... we need you."

Letty smiled shakily at her, "You'll always be my ladybugs, Jessa, always. And whenever you really need me I'll be there... but I'm moving to Chicago... whether you like it or not."

The words were very soft, very gentle, but still they caused the brilliant blue eyes to fill with tears.

"No..." she whimpered.

"I'm sorry honey," Letty said pulling her closer.

Jessa buried her face in her aunt's shoulder, "But I love you..." she cried, softly.

"I love you too, and I always will, no matter where I live," Letty said willing herself to be strong.

The little girl shook her head as she buried it against Letty's neck. She stayed there for few minutes - sobbing - and with each shuddering breath she drew, Letty's heart broke a little more.

She lifted her head slowly and softly echoed the words of her sister, "Won't you stay Auntie Lett? Please won't you stay?"

Letty swore she could hear her heart breaking as she realized there was only answer to that question.

An answer she'd never before given to either of the girls -- for anything.

Quietly, with regret she said softly, "No, I won't."

And Jessa seeing in her Aunt's eyes, that she meant it, lowered her head and once again began to cry.

Letty comforted her, telling her that it would all be okay, that they would develop new routines and new traditions, that they would always be family.

Upstairs Dom comforted the Dolly in much the same.

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The girls met in their room that night, both with swollen eyes sad hearts.

"It didn't work," Dolly whimpered, still sniffling as she climbed into her bed.

Jessa nodded, wiping at her eyes that wouldn't stop tearing, as she followed her sister onto the bed.

"He's leaving," Dolly continued.

"So's she," Jessa responded.

The girls laid down the bed, both their heads on one pillow, looking up at the ceiling.

"Do you still wanna switch?" Jessa asked Dolly after a few minutes.

"Nu-huh," Dolly said, "I don't think it'll work."

"Me either."

"He told me no."

Jessa sighed, "She told me no too."

They were silent again before moving onto their sides so they were facing each other.

"They're gonna leave," Dolly said.

Jessa nodded and said in a small voice, "Yeah."

Their heads touching, the girls fell asleep quietly crying for the aunt and uncle they so loved.

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"What are you doing in here?" Brian asked his wife hours later.

Mia put her finger to her lips telling him to hush as she motioned to the girls.

He frowned, "Why are they in their clothes?"

"I think they were crying," Mia said softly.

The frown intensified, "Why?"

Mia rolled her eyes, "Why else?"

"Oh. Dom and Letty?"

Mia nodded, "This is hard them."

"It's hard on all of us... hard on you."

She nodded again, her eyes filling, "We were so close there for a minute..." she whispered, referring to the dream, "...it could've been so wonderful..."

Brian said nothing as she trailed off.

"I'm going to miss them."

Brian nodded and together they changed the girls into their pajamas; slipping off their shirts and sliding of their shorts, taking off the sneakers and pulling off the socks. Gently, so as not to wake them, they put the PJ's on them.

Wordlessly they agreed to let them sleep in the same bed tonight... knowing they would need each others comfort.

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