To Be Needed
Part 15
Two days later Ashby sat in the living room watching Maria sleep. She was happy for Mia. If Mia didn't have her baby, Ashby was afraid to think what might have happened in the bathroom that day she found Mia. Mia had been crying and staring at a razorblade.
Ashby understood where Mia was coming from, but not once did Ashby ever contemplate suicide. Ashby never considered it an option.
I didn't love David as much as I thought I did. At least not enough that I couldn't go on without him. She thought. Which turned out to be a good thing since he left her anyway.
Ashby was scared though, because she knew what she was feeling for Vince was a lot different from what she felt for David.
Ashby knew she could live without Vince now, but would she be able to once she knows what it's like with him?
I can't. I just can't be with him. I can't let him kiss me again. He doesn't understand that if I ever lost him I wouldn't know what to do. Ashby thought sadly.
How was she supposed to tell him that if he ever left her she wouldn't survive?
She couldn't. She wouldn't.
They wouldn't last long. When he finally decides he's bored with her, where would that leave her?
Alone, with a broken heart again. Ashby couldn't go thru that again.
Ashby remembered something her uncle told her once before he died.
'It's better to have loved once, than to have never loved at all.'
Ashby didn't agree with the old saying.
I'd rather never know love, than spend the rest of my life wishing it would come back.
Later that night Vince sat in the living room of the Toretto house. Dom and Leon went to a club unbeknownst to Vince they had dragged Ashby along.
Dom was sick of sitting at home every night and decided to go out. Leon went along to make sure Dominic didn't get to drunk or too rowdy.
Mia was in the kitchen finishing up the dishes from dinner. Maria was sleeping peacefully next to him on the couch. Leon was always sayin how the baby got more couch time than anyone.
Vince's attention went to the door when the doorbell rang. He thought it might be Ashby so he went quickly to answer it.
Mia stuck her head out the kitchen just as Vince opened the door.
"What the fuck do you want?" Vince growled.
Brian looked a bit scared of Vince, but he didn't flinch. "Can I talk to Mia?"
"Fuck off!" Vince snapped.
Mia came up behind him Vince and touched his shoulder. "V, please go keep an eye on Maria. I got this." She told him.
Vince gave Brian one more evil glare before turning away. His niece was more important.
Mia stared at the man she loved.
"I was hoping we could talk?" He asked tentatively.
Mia rested on hand on her hip and tilted her head to one side. "Talk? Sure we can talk. How about you start with why you never came after me? I thought you loved me Brian. I thought everything you said was true. Was it? Or was it really all a lie? Why didn't you call me after I called and left you our number in Mexico? Why didn't you call me back when I left you the message about me being pregnant? You have a seven-month-old daughter. Do you even care? Do even know what my life has been like for the last year and a half? Huh, do you Brian?" Mia yelled, demanding answers.
"Mia I'm sorry. I -"
"No Brian, you're not. If you were really sorry you would have called me before now. You would have been here before now. You would have been there when your daughter was born. If you really loved me you wouldn't have abandoned me. Get the fuck out of here Brian and don't ever come back!" Mia shouted, forgetting about Maria sleeping on the near by couch.
"Mia, I couldn't talk to you before now. My job was at stake. If I had gone with you to Mexico I wouldn't have been able to come back." He told her pleadingly.
"Your job? YOUR JOB! FUCK your job Brian! What's more important? Your family or your job?"
Mia said and then slammed the door in his face. She ran up to her room in tears.
Vince followed her, but she locked him out. He heard everything she said. He was gonna help her out, but she seemed to have a handle on it.
Seems Ashby's taught everyone in this family to stick up for themselves.
He went back downstairs where Brian was still knocking on the door. Maria began to fuss as she started to wake up.
"Fuck!"
Vince couldn't open that door. If he did he was gonna end up doing something really bad. He knew Ashby wouldn't like it and he had Maria to worry about.
Ashby. I'll call Ashby. She'll know what to do.
Vince pulled out his cell phone and dialed quickly. He held the phone to his ear with his shoulder as he picked up Maria and cradled her.
"Ash, it's me. You have to be here now. It's Mia. Brian showed up and she's locked herself in her room. He's still here and won't go away." He explained quickly.
"Okay hurry." He added before hangin up. He stood in the living room and waited for Ashby. She would be there soon.
Fuckin Brian better go away if he knows what's good for him.
Ashby pulled up in front of the Toretto house to see a blonde-haired man knocking on the door. She knew it wasn't Jesse. He kept shouting for Mia.
Ashby strode up the walk determinedly.
"Hey! You wanna move out of my way!" She demanded when she was close enough.
The blonde turned and looked at her, shocked. "Who are you?" he demanded.
Ashby laughed. "If you had done what you should have a long time ago you would have known, but right now it's none of your business. Move out of my way so I can open my door."
He frowned at her. "You must have the wrong house. The Toretto's live here." He said.
Ashby laughed again. "Oh I know who lives here. I live here too. I hate to repeat myself. If you were smart, which I doubt since you're a cop, you'll leave before I call your friends." Ashby told him firmly.
Brian looked taken aback. "W-what?" he asked confused.
"I'll repeat myself one more time since I know you cops are unusually slow. Leave before I have you arrested. You're on private property, which I'm sure you know, given your history with this family." Ashby walked up to the door that Brian had backed away from and stuck her key in the lock.
"How do you know who I am?" he asked.
Ashby turned and looked at him. "Vince told me, but also because your daughter has your eyes." Ashby explained as she unlocked the door.
Before stepping inside Ashby gave him a pity look. "You might have had a chance if you were there when she was born, but you blew it. Go now, before Vince changes his mind about coming out here and kicking your ass."
Ashby turned away and went inside, slamming the door behind her.
Vince looked relieved to see her. "Go check on Mia. I still can't get her to open her door." Vince told her frantically.
Ashby ran up the stairs and pounded on Mia's door. "Mia! It's Ash! Let me in!" Ashby demanded thru the door.
All Ashby got in response was the sound of Mia's sobs.
Ashby remembered the day she found Mia on the bathroom floor crying and staring at a razorblade. She pounded harder on the door.
"Mia Toretto, you open this door right now! I'll have Vince break it down!" Ashby yelled.
She heard the click of the lock a few moments later. Ashby rushed in. She saw Mia make her way over to the bed and sit down.
"Mi, what happened?" Ashby asked.
Mia shook her head and continued to cry.
Ashby wrapped her arms around her and held her close.
"I don't know what to do, Ash. Part of me wants to give him a chance to explain because I love him. But another part of me wants nothing to do with him. What should I do?" Mia asked her thru her tears.
Ashby looked at her sadly. "I wish I knew, sweetie. I don't have the all the answers I wish I did. Just give it time. You'll know soon enough what you need to do." Ashby told her.
Mia suppressed her tears and took a couple of shaky breaths to calm down.
Ashby let her go. "You up for goin downstairs now? You scared Vince, you know. He was the one who called me."
Mia couldn't answer she was too embarrassed.
"Come on, let's go show him you're okay now." Ashby said smoothly and pulled Mia up from the bed. She led her downstairs.
Vince jumped up from the couch immediately when he saw Mia and Ashby come down the stairs.
"Mia, you okay?" He asked worriedly.
Mia nodded. "Yeah I'll be okay. Thanks V, for looking out for me." She replied.
Vince handed Maria over, who happily went into her mother's arms. Maria saw Ashby and smiled at her. Reaching for her as much as a seven-month-old baby could.
Ashby smiled and took the baby into her arms. "Hi princess. How are you? You having fun with Uncle Vince? Yes you are, aren't you?" Ashby bounced Maria, who laughed.
Vince watched Ashby with Maria. It never ceased to amaze him how good with Maria she was.
She would be great with our kids…
Vince didn't even realize he was thinking about having kids, let alone having them with Ashby.
Mia saw the look on Vince's face and for the first time realized that he was in love with Ashby. She wondered how long Vince felt that way and why she didn't notice it before now.
"I'll make some tea, come on." Ashby instructed as she walked towards the kitchen. Mia and Vince followed her.
Ashby handed the baby over to Mia and went and stood next to Vince. She pulled him over to where he had stashed her tea.
He looked at her confused, until she pointed at the cabinet. He realized what she wanted. He smiled when he remembered he had put her tea up high so she couldn't reach it.
Ashby just rolled her eyes at him. She made tea for Mia and fixed a bottle for Maria.
She had to call Leon and Don to let them know everything was all right. She went into the living room to make her call.
"Hey Leon, it's me… Yeah everything's fine now. I'll tell you guys about it when you come home… Okay, well then I'm gonna hang here then. You'll catch a ride with Dom?" Ashby asked him since she drove over in his car. They had picked her up from her house. So when Vince called her she took Leon's keys and just took off.
"Okay then I'll see you later. Bye Leon." Ashby said and then hung up.
Vince watched her from the doorway of the kitchen. Her back was to him so she didn't see him watching. He continued to watch as she made another call.
"Hey Jess, it's me. I'm over at the Toretto house. I'm staying the night here…"
Vince was secretly happy she was staying.
"I don't want to leave Mia alone… Brian showed up so it was all bad. You wanna come here tonight?" she asked. Ashby knew Jesse didn't like to be by himself.
Vince had to smile. He knew Jesse didn't like to be by himself. Vince loves how Ashby always thinks of others first. She's gotta make sure everyone is all right.
"Okay, see you in a bit Jesse. Bye." She said and hung up.
Ashby turned and jumped when she saw Vince staring at her. "I didn't want Jesse to worry." She found herself explaining, although she didn't know why.
Vince walked closer until he was standing in front of her.
"I know," was all he said.
He looked into her eyes and then moved down to her lips.
Ashby could feel the chemistry fill the air around them. "V, don't," she begged softly.
Vince's looked back up into her eyes. He wanted to kiss her breathless. He wanted to pick her up and carry her upstairs and pretend nothing else exists except them. Vince wanted to be able to hold her hand and not have her push him away.
He felt stupid for thinking it, but he wanted to cuddle with her. He didn't like she was uncomfortable around him.
Vince wanted so many things with her. He knew deep down she had to feel them too. He could see in the longing in her eyes.
He just needed to make her see she's more than enough for him.
Ashby walked around him when he didn't move back. "I'm gonna go check on Mia." She mumbled.
Vince smiled to himself. He knew he was finally getting to her. It was only a matter of time before she gives in to her feelings.
