I don't own these characters. You know that. Don't try to sue me. Thanks.

I made an error, yes I'll admit to it. Somebody pointed it out and I re-read it. It's not really a mistake I meant to make, obviously, it's just the way the words flowed out. It was where Letty was talking about when the whole thing with her son and knowing Toretto. (I would have put this up in chapter 8 but I double posted and didn't read over them.) I meant for it to be like, she started 'getting to know him' after moving in down the street from him. I know it didn't sound like it but that's what I meant. Sorry if that whole thing didn't make sense. I can't find a way to explain it and I really don't feel like going back and changing it

CHAPTER NINE: Early Bonding

I nodded, sort of ignoring the statement he made. I set Mari down on a chair and walked over to the door. I pushed James gently toward the chair and walked inside. I grabbed the brook and dustpan and walked back outside. I set down the dustpan and started to sweep up the broken glass. The doorbell rang but I ignored it.

"Mommy." Mari said. I looked up at her and she took a breath. "There's somebody at the door."

"I know." I said softly. "I'm busy."

"Can I get the door?"

"No." I said quickly. She looked down and nodded. After I swept up all the broken glass into the dust pan, I walked into the house. I walked to the trash can and dumped it in the trash. I put the broom and dustpan back where I got it from. I walked back outside and the doorbell rang again.

"Aunt Letty!" James shouted at me. My eyes shot over to him and he moved back in his chair. "Sorry." He said quietly. I nodded and walked over to him. I pulled him up by his arm and he looked at me. "I said sorry."

"What did I say about shouting?" I asked. He shrugged and I picked him up. I put him on my hip and he looked at me.

"I'm sorry Aunt Letty." He said again softly.

"I know you are, sweetheart." I said looking over at Mari. She was playing with a toy in her lap.

"Mommy?" She asked looking up at me. "What's. What's a fuck. A fuckhead?" She didn't know what she said was wrong.

"That's a bad word, Mari."

"What is?" She questioned.

"Fuck is. No more saying." She nodded and smiled.

"No more." She affirmed. I smiled and she smiled bigger. The doorbell rang again and I sighed. I didn't want to answer it. I just wanted to spend the day with my daughter and nephew. Why did people have to keep bothering me? I walked over and sat on the edge of Mari's chair and she looked at me. James scooted closer to me and snuggled up with my side.

"Are you two tired?" I asked. They nodded and Mari moved so she was on my lap. She was still wet, but it cooled me off. It was like 85 degrees outside and even though we were in the shade it was still mild. I moved back in the chair and sighed lightly. Mari rested her head on my chest and James rested his head on my shoulder. I rested my arms on their shoulders and closed my eyes slowly.

"Mommy." Mari said quietly causing my eyes to open again.

"Yeah baby?" I asked quietly.

"I love you." I looked down at her and she was looking up at me sleepily. I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"I love you too, baby." She smiled and closed her eyes. I knew after a few minutes she was asleep. I looked over and James was asleep. I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to watch them sleep. These were my babies. James not literally but he grew up with me, I was the closest thing he had to a mom. He's even asked why he doesn't call me mom when I'm the one raising him. I told him it was because I wasn't his mother. I'm his aunt. I sighed and I heard footsteps. I looked around and was ready to jump up from under the kids if I needed to protect them.

"Letty?" I heard a male voice whisper. I looked up and around but I didn't see anybody. I was getting ready to ask myself if it was God. Nah, no way. "Letty? Is that you?" No, I knew that voice. Too well.

"Dom." I muttered under my breath. He came into view and it was exactly who I thought it was. "What are you doing here?" He stood there and looked at me. He looked like he was worried about something. Probably worried about how I'd respond to him being here. "How'd you get back here?"

"The front door was open. I passed your sister on the way up. She said you were out back. I rang the doorbell but when you didn't answer, I got worried. So I came back, hoping you weren't inside armed with a gun or a knife or something." I chuckled and shook my head. He walked closer to me and I chuckled again. "Do you need help?" He asked as I started trying to get up. I nodded and he smiled. He reached down and gently wrapped his arms around Mari and picked her up. She made a little noise and pulled herself closer to his body. He looked at me with a shocked look and I smiled. I stood with James in my arms and stepped up next to Dom. He looked at me and motioned for me to go ahead. He followed me into the house and up the stairs to the kids' rooms. I walked into James' room and put him down on his bed. He rolled onto his stomach and I chuckled. I walked out and Dom followed me to Mari's room. I looked over at Dom and he was smiling at me. I took Mari from him and put her down on her bed. Her eyes opened and she looked at me.

"Who are you?" Mari asked. I looked at Dom and smiled a bit. He looked at me and I nodded. He looked back to the girl and he smiled at her.

"I'm Dominic." He said. "Who are you?"

"Mari. That's my brothers name."

"What is, Mari?"

"No. Dominic is." She said giggling.

"Really? How old is your brother?" She looked at me and I raised my eyebrow.

"I have to go to sleep. I'm really tired." She laid down quickly and I shook my head. I knew that would leave me with a shitload of questions that I knew Dom had.

"Have a good nap then, Mari." She flashed him a smile as we walked out of the room. I pulled the door closed behind me and Dom turned to look at me.

"Yes?" I asked. He shook his head and smiled a bit. "Want to come back outside with me? I need to water the plants." He nodded and followed me out of the house.

Yay. Finished that chapter. In progress of writing the next. I need to take a short break from this for a few days. I'll definately get my next chapter up by Friday. Sorry but this week I have finals to take and it's already stressful. Right now, I have a English final due tomorrow morning. I haven't even started on it. Crap! Well, let me know what you think. I'm excited about the next chapter. Talking between Dom and Letty.