A/N: Short chapter. It isn't over yet, unless you're already tired of it. Then it could be over...But I hadn't planned on it being over. Oh no, there isn't a happy ending for Rina yet. Unfortunately, poor Rina still has some nightmares to live through.

BTW-- I read a story yesterday. Racing Stripes. Quite good. I wanted that author to know I hadn't read her story when I started mine so the coincidence in similar last names and the Italian part, was purely that--coincidence.

Rina looked at Brian's hand stretched towards her. "I thought you hated me?"

"Never could I hate you Rina, never. I love you to the point of heart ache. I'm so angry that I couldn't save you the way you saved Letty and Mia."

"Brian" she started, but he interrupted.

"No. I know I didn't know you then, so it's pointless to regret, but I do." He still hadn't moved. His hand still out to her. "I'm angry with myself for being put in a situation where you could have been harmed. We were so stupid that day, and after everything you'd been through at their hands you risked your life for us. You faced your demons, figuratively and literally, for us." Brian dropped his head. "I couldn't help you."

Rina stepped forward, her fingertips brushing his, and entwined her hand with his. He looked at her. "I don't know if I'm strong enough to survive anymore." She confided.

"You are one of the strongest people I know."

"I do love you Brian. I wasn't lying that day in the warehouse."

"I wasn't lying either. I was in limbo until you entered our lives, and it's like you woke me up. Gave me something to look forward to every day."

"Brian, I can't promise you that I won't be affected by my past. I can't promise you that something you say or do won't remind me. There might be times when I shy away or even run away. There might be times when I can't stand the thought of being touched. I will forever have marks on my body from that night, and I'll forever have scars. Mental as well as the physical. Can you truly tell me those are things you can handle?"

"I don't know Rina, but I want to try. Are you willing to give us a shot?"

She looked at the tall, handsome man before her. Was she? If she wasn't then it wouldn't be fair to go any further. Rina reached out with her free hand and cupped the side of his face. "Yes Brian, I'm willing."

Brian pulled her in closer and wrapped his free arm around her waist. Very slowly he lowered his head, their gazes still locked, and kissed her. His eyes shut at the power of the kiss. He'd missed this so much. Missed her being with him so much.

They left the beach shortly after that and headed back to the Toretto home. Everyone was in the living room, and Letty was holding a crying Mia. They looked up as Rina and Brian entered.

Mia sobbed. "They indicted Rina, they indicted on Angelina's murder, rape, and assault, and our kidnapping, assaults, and attempted rape. They also indicted on assault on a federal officer."

Rina nodded at Mia. "I know Mia, Ms. Carruthers already called me." She saw Vince on the couch with his head in his hands. He looked pale and ragged. Rina crouched down and met Mia's eyes. She spoke extremely softly. "Mia. Everything is going to be fine now. You can easily move past this, you're a Toretto. Look at Vince Mia." She saw the girl's eyes dart to Vince and then back to her, concern filling the large brown orbs. "He needs you right now Mia. He couldn't save you and he doesn't know how to help you now. That means you have to help him." A look of understanding came into Mia's eyes and she got up and went to Vince. She held him to her, his head to her belly. Rina stood. "All of you need to move past this now. It's over, and there's nothing that anyone could have done. It was meant to happen the way it happened. That was God's will. If you hadn't been behind the fence then they would have shot you. Then you'd be dead instead of just feeling pointlessly guilty."

Everyone looked at her in shock. Her tone was blunt. "Look at what they did to me. I almost let it ruin my life. I went for a year and a half without forming any attachments. I blamed myself, wondering what I could have done differently. Hating myself for my weakness. If I'd been a little stronger, a littler faster, a little smarter. Ifs don't matter in this life. You all are a family you have each other." Rina turned to face the men. "Mia and Letty don't blame you for not being able to rescue them. They blame themselves for not being able to rescue themselves. They blame themselves for attracting the monsters. They don't blame you for not knowing this would happen, because you couldn't have known." She turned to Mia and Letty. "You did nothing to attract their attention. Those men make a habit of preying on the attractive, or who they consider weaker. You fit a profile for them. Long dark hair, dark eyes, olive complexion from either Italian or Latin descent." She finally addressed the group. "Don't let them win. Don't let them fuck up your entire lives like I almost let them do to me. You guys have something pretty special here. Something that so few people actually have." Rina started to leave, but stopped when Letty spoke.

"You have it now too Rina." When Rina turned to face Letty she continued. "You're part of our family too."