To Be Needed
Part 17
"Ash! I can't find my black dickies!" Leon shouted from upstairs.
Ashby stood in the kitchen and smiled. It's good to be back. She thought.
"Never mind! I found 'em!" Leon shouted less than a minute later.
Ashby continued with breakfast. Things were finally back to normal in the Toretto household.
"Morning, Mi." Ashby greeted when the other woman walked into the kitchen with Maria in her arms.
Mia smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're back. The boys are so freakin picky about how they like their food. They wouldn't eat if I didn't make it the way you do." Mia said in amusement.
Ashby laughed. "They're such babies. I'll have to stop spoiling them." Ashby commented.
"No, they just missed you being here. You're like a mother to them. Especially Jesse, that's why he moved with you. He never knew his and you were the closet thing he had. He couldn't lose that. Besides I'm pretty sure Leon was next. Hell, if you had been gone any longer we all would be living at your house." Mia said.
Ashby smiled. "Good thing I came back then. I know how they are. My house would have been a disaster in a couple of days."
Mia laughed again. She started to say something else, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"I'll get it. You stay and feed Maria." Ashby told her friend and headed for the door.
Ashby opened the door and was shocked by who she saw. "You got five seconds before I call them down here." Ashby told Brian.
He looked grateful it was her who opened the door. He slipped a white envelope thru the side of the screen door. "Will you give that to Mia? I won't ever come around again." He said as he waited for Ashby to take the envelope.
As soon as Ashby grabbed it he turned and left. She frowned as she stared at the envelope.
I swear to god if this makes her upset I'm gonna find him and let Vince kick his ass. She thought fiercely.
Ashby walked into the kitchen and stared at Mia.
Mia looked up and was confused by the look on Ashby's face. "What? Who was it?"
Silently Ashby handed the envelope over and took Maria from her. "You might want to go up to your room and read it." Ashby said.
Mia still looked confused, but then understood. It was from Brian. Mia ran up to her room just after the guys came down to the kitchen.
Leon watched her go and then turned and looked at Ashby. "What's wrong with her?"
Ashby shook her head. "Nothing…yet." Ashby said.
Leon frowned at her, but then his eyes widened. "I forgot something. Be right back." He stated and then ran upstairs too.
Dom, Vince, and Jesse watched Leon run upstairs and then turned at looked at Ashby.
Ashby sighed. She forgot how nosey they all could be. They were worse than girls. "I'll tell you all later. Just forget about it for now." She told them firmly.
The guys went back to eating.
Dom watched Ashby for a minute, before turning back to his food. He didn't know when, but somehow she turned into the leader of the team. They always went to her for everything now. Except when it came to racing. He wanted to have one of them teach her to race. He had a feeling she would be a natural. She could really make a name for her self at race wars.
"Hey Ash, what do you think about racing?"
Ashby looked at Dom bewildered. "What do you mean?"
"What do you think about you racing? I want V to teach you to race."
Vince looked up, as did Jesse. He looked at Dom and then back at Ashby. Waiting to hear her answer. He wanted her to race, but she never really said if she wanted to or not.
Jesse looked excited at the idea. It meant a new car he could design and for Ashby he would make sure it was perfect.
Ashby's jaw dropped. "I don't even have a race car. Why do you want me to race anyway?"
Dom smiled. "Because you're apart of the team, just need to make it official. We can do that at race wars. It's comin up in about six months, just enough time for us to build you a car. Besides I have a feeling you'll be a natural. What do you say?"
Ashby looked at him, quiet for a minute. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know a thing about cars, how could she possibly race one? Ashby looked at Vince. She could tell he was excited about the idea. And then there was Jesse, who was practically bouncing in his chair, excited at the idea of Ashby racing with them. Ashby kept a game face. She didn't want them to know just yet what she wanted to do.
"And everyone is okay with this? I mean Leon too. What about what happened with Letty? You guys sure you want another girl on the team? I don't know a damn thing about cars." She said.
Dom rolled his eyes at the mention of Letty. "You're nothing compared to Letty. You don't have to know about cars to be able to race them. I don't think anyone has a problem with you racing." Dom said as he looked around.
Just then Leon came down. He didn't look happy.
"Hey bro, what do you think about Ashby racin at race wars?" Jesse asked.
Leon looked at her surprised. "Ash, you know how to race?"
"No, but D wants V to teach me. I think he's crazy, but he insists I'll be a natural. You okay with that?" Ashby asked as she bounced Maria on her knee, who laughed.
Leon smiled. "Hell yeah. I got fifty bucks that says Dom's right too. I've seen you drive when you're in a hurry. You'll do good at race wars if we teach you." Leon said.
Dom looked at Ashby, smiling because he knew she wouldn't disagree with all of them. If they all wanted her to race, she would just to make them happy. He liked that about her. She was always making sure they were happy.
"V can start teachin you today. After we close the garage. Jess you get to work on designing a new car. Nothing but the best for Ash." Dom stated.
Jesse jumped up in excitement. "I got something." He said and ran for his computer in the living room.
Everyone smiled when they heard him typing and clicking away on his computer.
Dom looked around and stood up. "All right time to get to work." Dom stated as he headed for the front door.
Ashby lifted Maria into her arms and walked with them to the door.
Leon turned and looked at then looked at the stairs and then back at her.
He wanted her to go check on Mia. Ashby nodded her understanding.
Vince was the last one to leave with the exception of Jesse who was still on his computer. Vince hugged her fiercely and kissed her.
"I'll be here at four. Don't go anywhere." He told her.
Ashby smiled. "Only if you kiss me again."
Vince grinned and kissed her again.
"Eww. I'm still in the room you know and there is a baby watching." Jesse piped in from the computer.
Ashby and Vince broke apart. Ashby smiled and looked at Vince who looked at Jesse, annoyed that he interrupted.
Vince didn't get much time alone with Ashby because Jesse was always in Ashby's room. They found out he knew how to pick locks. Vince vowed he would take Ashby away for a weekend. Maybe drive down the coast for a while. He wanted to be with her and only her. They have yet to make love and he was slowly dying inside with the need to be with her. He didn't want to push her, but he knew she wouldn't want to sleep with him when Jesse could pop in at any moment.
"It's okay, V. I'll see you later." Ashby said softly as she rubbed his chin with her thumb. She cradled Maria and smiled at him.
Vince nodded and gave her a quick kiss before pushing himself away from her body. "See you later. COME ON Jess. Let's go to work." He said loudly as he looked at Jesse pointedly.
Jess waved him off. "I'll be right behind you. Fifteen minutes." He said, not even looking up from his computer.
Vince frowned.
"Go. I'll make sure he leaves soon." Ashby told him.
Vince looked at her and his frown disappeared. He gave a small smile. "Bye, baby." He said and gave he another kiss before leaving.
Ashby watched him go. She turned and looked at Jesse. She turned and went upstairs. She had to check on Mia.
Ashby approached the bedroom door cautiously. She wanted to make sure Mia was okay, but she didn't want to bother her if she wanted to be alone. Ashby had a feeling whatever Brian said in that letter would be the last thing Mia would ever hear from him.
Ashby knocked softly.
"Come in, Ash."
Ashby walked in and saw Mia sitting on her bed. She could tell Mia had been crying. Ashby hated that Brian still caused her so much pain. It's hard to just move on from someone you're in love with.
"You okay Mi?" Ashby asked as she walked over to Maria's crib and set her down. Mia looked at Ashby as she set her daughter down.
"He never loved me. He was just doing his job. He didn't want to hurt me with the truth before. He cared about me, but he doesn't love me. He-he-he said if I ever needed anything for Maria to let him know and he would take care of it. Ash, how could I be so wrong about him?" Mia asked as tears welled up in her eyes.
Ashby sat down next to her and hugged her tight. "I don't know sweetie. I'm sorry he doesn't love you. He must be stupid or something. You're beautiful and smart and nice. You'll make someone happy someday. Someone will know you're special and love you the way you deserve." Ashby told her.
Mia wiped at her eyes and sniffled. "I won't find what you and Vince have. No one will want to take care of someone else's child. It's better with just Maria and me. I don't want her taking second place to some guy." She decided.
Ashby smiled when she thought about Leon and how he feels about Mia. "You'll be surprised at what a man is willing to do when he's in love. Don't worry, Mi. It will all work out. You'll see. Just give it time."
Mia looked at Ashby and tilted her side. "You really think so?"
"I know so. Now get to work before Dominic gets all whiney when he realizes you're still here." Ashby said.
Mia smiled. "Thanks, Ash."
Ashby watched Mia head out the door and heard her go downstairs. She looked at Maria who had pulled herself up on the side of the crib. She was smiling and talking baby talk.
"Princess, we need to pay your father a little visit. Yes we do." Ashby cooed and picked her up and carried her into her into her room so she could take a shower and get dressed for the day.
Ashby was going to make sure Brian knew what he was giving up. She didn't want him coming back later on messing with Mia's head again. It would drive Mia over the edge. Ashby wasn't going to let that happen. Not if she could help it.
Ashby stood outside the police station, staring at the front doors. She debated on whether or not she should go in. She took a deep breath and walked inside, determined.
The officer at the front desk looked at her skeptically. "Can I help you?"
Ashby smiled at him coldly. "I'm looking for Officer O' Conner. Could you direct me to where I can find him?"
The plump man behind the desk eyed her and then the baby in her arms. He was hesitant.
Ashby rolled her eyes. Jesus Christ! It's not like I'm gonna start a scene in a police station. I would have already done that by now.
"Look since you obviously have a problem with telling me where he is could you at least let him know his daughter's babysitter is here to see him? Think you can handle that?" Ashby asked him mockingly.
The officer looked at her wide eyed and straightened up in his chair. "Yeah I'll call him." He said and picked up the receiver next to him.
Ashby watched him. Yeah you do that.
Ashby stood waiting for him to finish and looked at him expectantly when he hung up the phone.
"He'll be right down," he told her somewhat fearfully.
Ashby would have laughed, but decided against it. It might put the man in front of her at ease and she didn't want that. Jeez what kind of cop is afraid of a woman?
Ashby moved away from the front desk to let the people behind her in line approach and state their business. She stood by the wall, growing impatiently with each passing second. Soon she saw Brian pass thru the doors that lead further inside the building. He approached her and looked confused. He stared at his daughter. He never saw her up close before.
"Can we go somewhere to talk privately? Or would you rather share this with the entire room?" Ashby asked him. She knew she had an attitude, but she didn't care at the moment. She was going to let Blondie here know how it is and how it's going to be.
Brian lead her outside the building and walked with her a distance away until there wasn't really anyone close enough to hear their conversation.
"Look I told you this morning I wasn't going to come around anymore. I explained to Mia my actions. I don't have to explain to myself to you." He told her.
Ashby looked at him coldly. "I didn't come here for your explanations. I don't care about anything you have to say. I came here to make sure you know what you're giving up. I'll be damned if you show up again and push Mia back to a place she's been working hard to get out of. I don't care what you said in your letter to her. I don't care if you lied to her for her sake or for your own. I don't care if you were telling the truth. I only care that you don't come back and fuck up again. That family has been thru so much because of you and despite you. I'm not gonna let you hurt them anymore."
She told him firmly.
Brian looked at her and couldn't answer because he knew she knew the truth. He lied to Mia in that letter. He only wanted her to be able to move on because he knew she couldn't do that with him. He knew he and Mia didn't belong together. He had to let her go.
Ashby's eyes softened. She knew even if she hadn't been around at the time everything went down.
"I know what it's like to lose too. You have to move on. It's the only way." Ashby told him feeling a bit sorry for him.
Brian nodded. "Make sure whoever she decides on that he takes care of her. She deserves it." Brian told her.
Ashby nodded back. Musing that Brian wasn't too bad after all. Just wasn't too bright sometimes. Must be the blonde hair...
Brian looked at his daughter, as if memorizing her features. He would never see her again. He wanted a lasting picture to keep in his mind. He kissed Maria's forehead and looked up at Ashby again.
"I know about you. About your past." He said, watching her for her reaction to his pronouncement.
Ashby frowned slightly. "You know facts. That's all you know. Don't ever think you know everything because you don't," Ashby stated.
Brian shrugged. "I know enough." He countered.
Ashby rolled her eyes. "Don't bring up old shit Officer O' Conner. You can't have a game with no players."
Brian looked at her and walked away. Ashby watched him go and prayed for his sake that he stayed away.
Ashby looked at Maria. "Princess let's hope you don't end up with blonde hair."
Maria only smiled at her.
