A/N #1: Okay, two more Chaptersare up! I don't like Chapter 4 at all because it kind of jumps around a bit. I was getting kinda frustrated because I had ideas for it but I couldn't find the right way to express them so... I apologize before hand for any typos that I made in the last three chapters and for any typos I may have in this chapter. I do read my chapters over but I have a bad habit of sometimes "skimming" through instead of actually reading and picturing what all is going on..etc. Chapter 5 is a bit better. I'm more satisfied with it than I am with Chap. 4 but oh well.

A/N #2: Thanks so much for the reviews! I love them lots. I'll try and update it more often but right now this might be the last update for the next month or two (it'll prolly be sooner than that because I can't live without my computer). Why? School started today (Aug. 15) and the first couple months of school are always a royal pain in the ass. SO! I'm currently in the process of writing/editing Chapter6 so hang in there.

Like I said earlier, this chapter isn't very well organized. I think my transitions from one day to the next day is kind of...eh...but I'm trying to get better. If you have any suggestions on how to make my transitions flow more smoothly, please feel free to speak up!

I hope you enjoy the next two Chapters!

Love,

LettyGirl052889

Chapter 4- Packing Up.

I stirred awake and slowly looked around. I had no recollection of why I was here and how I even got here. I slowly sat up and looked around. Tony was sound asleep at my bedside. I smiled and lightly patted his hand before I slowly got up and made my way to the bathroom. I got a bit annoyed because I had to take the portable machine with me but I managed. While I was washing my hands I looked in the mirror and gasped. My bottom lip was swollen and had about 4 stitches on the right corner. My eyes were puffy and swollen and the whole left side of my face was bruised. I suddenly remembered everything that had happened. Jesus! My mother did this to me at my father's funeral.

"God! How could she do this to me?" I whispered softly. She had humiliated me in front of my family and friends! She had the nerve to hit me for everyone to see! What made me even madder was that I remembered how everyone just stood there and watched. Only Tony and Dom made any true effort to peel her off of me. Even the Reverend just stood there!

I let out a long, exaggerated sigh as I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. Once I finally managed to control my thoughts, I walked out of the bathroom and back into my room. Tony was up and trying to smile over at me enthusiastically but the tiredness in his eyes dominated all other emotions.

"Thought ya…ya…ya might have escaped." He stammered as he tried to stifle a yawn, but failed miserably.

I smiled and got back in bed, snuggling under the sheets that he placed over me.

"Tony m—"

"Shh! Rest up, Letty"

"Tony, my mom! What happened?"

He smiled over at me and reached out, gripping my hand gently in his. His touch was warm and soothing. It reminded me of my father's. It reminded me so much of my father's that when I spoke up to get Tony to continue, I slipped and called him something that surprised the both of us.

"Papa…"

I quickly retracted my statement, sliding my hand out from beneath his. "I meant Tony. Tony…"

He smiled weakly and leaned back in his chair. "It's alright Letty." He paused for a bit to give me a reassuring smile and then continued. "The church called the police and got reports from several witnesses that they saw your mom hit you. An officer stopped by along with a woman from childcare services to confirm that your mother did abuse you. She's being held in custody right now as we speak. There will be a hearing in a couple weeks."

"A hearing for what?" I asked curiously.

"For custody over you. Your brothers decided to bail. Police suspect they went to Mexico. They're in just as much trouble as your mother. They could have been charged with abiding and aiding your mother in abusing you since they never prevented it."

I nodded slowly but I was still confused. "Okay, but why is there being a hearing for custody over me? Who's trying to get me?"

Tony laughed and slowly stood up. "I am, Letty. Now rest up. Tomorrow you get to go home so save your energy. We need to stop by the house and pick up your clothes."

I pulled him down and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Tony. Thank you so much!" He hugged me back and then pulled up, straightening out his shirt. I smiled and laughed softly, shooing him to go home. He needed his rest too.

Before he left, he reached inside his pocket and pulled out something I thought I'd never see again.

"I believe this belongs to you, Letty." He placed the dog tags around my neck and smiled. "Miguel would have wanted you to have these. Take pride in them." He kissed my cheek softly and then left.

I stared down at the silver tags and smiled. "I love you Papa." And for a minute there, I wasn't exactly sure whom I was talking about. My father by blood, Miguel, or my father by friendship, Tony.

I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and whole. I no longer had that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was because I was pumped up on meds or the fact that I was only 2 weeks away from getting away from my mother. Whatever it was, I didn't want to get off it.

The nurses came in and unhooked me from the monitors once I was signed out by the doctor and I quickly took a shower and got dressed before waiting out in the lobby for Tony. I didn't have to sit out there but I wanted to get out of that room. Hospitals suddenly gave me the creeps and I blamed it on having to watch my father die in one just three nights ago.

Tony and Mia walked up to me with big smiles on their faces. I smiled back and slowly stood, hugging Mia tightly. It felt like I hadn't seen Mia in ages. I had convinced myself so much that yesterday was going to my last day and now that I was here, it felt like I was too close to never seeing her again.

After Mia and I hugged, I looked up at Tony and smiled. I hugged him tightly and laughed when he barely gave me a squeeze. He was scared that he was going to hurt me. We pulled away from each other and I gazed up at them both, so happy to be going back to their house and futuristically mine, too.

"Got everything, kiddo?"

"Yup." I smiled and hooked my arm around Mia's and together we all three left the hospital and got into Tony's truck.

The ride home was awkwardly quiet and I was really uncomfortable. I didn't know why they weren't talking. Did they think it was too soon to talk about what would happen to me? Did they think it'd hurt me too much to talk about the hearing?

"So…" I said quietly, breaking the silence. "When is the hearing taking place?"

Mia looked over at Tony questionably. She must not have known either.

"They set it up for June 4th at 10 o'clock. How's that for a birthday present?"

I laughed and looked away to stare out the window and watch a blur of scenery flash by. The hearing was going to be held on my 14th birthday. I'd have to spend the first couple hours of my special day standing in a courtroom and wait anxiously for the Judge to decide who I was going to be placed with. It didn't matter though. The best birthday present I could get was to listen to the Judge legally hand me over to Tony or anyone other than my mother, for that matter.. That was the only thing I wanted for my birthday.

"Hey Tony?" I slowly looked up from the window and over to Mr. Toretto.

"Yeah sweetheart?" He reached over and turned toward the radio so he could hear me better. Mia pouted slightly because it was one of her favorite songs.

"Do you think we could stop by my house and pack up my things today? I want to get it done and over with. The sooner I take my last steps inside the house the sooner I'll feel more relaxed."

Tony glanced down at the clock and then glanced over at me before resting his eyes back on the road. He was taking forever to think about it. Finally he smiled and nodded.

"We'll do it right now."

"Thanks." I whispered softly and looked back out the window while Mia turned up the radio and sang slightly off key to the pop band that was playing. She tried to get me to sing along with her but there was no way in hell I was going to. I hated pop and I hated singing. Discussion over.

We pulled up into my driveway and we all got out and ventured inside. The house looked exactly like it did Friday night when I left.

"You sure you want to do this now kiddo?" Tony asked when he saw my hesitation.

I moved over to the stairs and gazed up at them. Flashbacks of when I fell down them blinded my sight. For a brief second I became deaf from the sound of my body hitting each stair. I could hear the handle of the broom hit me in the face as my mother threw it at me.

"Letty?"

Mia stepped up to my side and poked me out of my daze. Tony reached out and lightly grabbed my hand.

"Maybe we should come back when you're ready…"

I spun around and glared at him. "I am ready. I have to do this." I didn't mean to snap at him but I was determined to do this. I couldn't turn back now.

I turned back and slowly ascended up the 14 steps, mentally counting each one that jabbed into my sides that night. When I reached the top one I let out a shaky exhale of air, glad to be off those stairs. Mia and Tony were right behind me, supporting me the whole time. I lead them down the small hallway and towards my bedroom.

I opened the door and let it swing open, revealing my baby blue painted room. It was very clean. Too clean to be a 13-year-old girl's room but that's how my mother made me keep it. If she found one piece of clothing on the floor, she'd be furious with me. It was like an insult to her when my room was messy.

I stood there in the doorway, looking my room over. Again, flashbacks danced in my mind. I watched my mother beat a scared 7-year-old girl for accidentally getting glue on the floor. I watched a scared 10-year-old girl getting kicked in the side over and over for having magazines litter the floor. I watched a scared 13-year-old girl getting backhanded for cursing in the presence of her mother.

"Letty." Mia again poked me out of my daze. I sighed and stepped into my room, beginning to grab a couple duffel bags and fill them up with clothes.

"I have some boxes over there in the closet. You can put everything else in them." I stated as I motioned over towards my small closet.

Tony and Mia got the boxes out and began packing the few pictures I did have, that originally weren't even mine. They belonged to my father. They were pictures of his teammates back when he was at war. They then moved on to pack away the many car magazines that I owned and a few fairy-tale books from when I was a kid, as well as make-up that I hardly wore except to cover up the bruises, and hair accessories. I continued to pack up all my clothes, folding them neatly in my bag.

It took us a little over an hour to pack up everything and get it all into Tony's truck. Finally it was just down to us walking back downstairs with the last box and lock up for good. Tony and Mia loaded the box into the truck and then got in, waiting for me to join them.

I stood in the doorway, staring into the shadowy house where I spent 13 years of my life growing up. 13 years trapped in a box with just a small window to look out in and watch the world pass me by but now I was free. I was finally free.

I closed the door behind me and began to walk over to the truck but stopped. I turned around and walked back up to the door and stared at the hanging decoration that rested on a small needle. My mother made it by hand a long time ago. It was a brown clay heart and inscribed in the hard clay it read: HOME SWEET HOME.

I grabbed the heart from off the needle and threw it onto the ground. It shattered into pieces before my feet, scattering in several directions. I stepped on the remaining pieces, crumbling them into even smaller bits before I walked away and into the truck.

Mia frowned and looked away as I got in. She was at a loss for words. I smiled and nudged her gently hinting to her that it was no big deal. And it wasn't. It really wasn't.

"Let's go home."

I've known the Torettos for as long as I can remember and this whole time I never knew Vince actually lived with them. I stared over at Mia in disbelief while Vince packed up his things. He volunteered to set up his room in the basement instead of me having to go down there. I always wondered why Vince was always at the Toretto's, but I just figured that his mom really didn't mind. Hell, this was one big wake up call.

"When did he move in here?" I asked Mia as we unpacked my things.

"You really didn't know? I never brought it up because I thought you put the pieces together. V has been living here for about 3 years now. He moved in when he was 13, too."

I took a seat on the bed registering the information in my head. Well, you know what they say. You learn something new everyday.

"What happened?" I glanced over at Mia, watching her do all the unpacking for me. She didn't seem to mind though.

Mia stopped unpacking and moved over to the door, closing it and locking it shut. She then walked back over to me and took a seat beside me, sitting Indian style and facing me.

"Don't repeat what I'm about to say to you to anyone. Especially to Vince."

I nodded understandingly and nudged her to continue.

"Okay well Ms. Cohen was really young as it is. She had Vince when she was only 14. Anyways, her boyfriend was a drunk and a druggie and he got Ms. Cohen into drinking and drugs, too. Vince would always come over to get away from them. They were always too drunk to take him to school and pick him up so we always chipped in. Anyways, one day Vince came over after school and hung out for a bit. We were all out in the back and so were completely unaware of what was going on out at front."

"What do you mean?" I was getting impatient and a bit lost.

Mia smiled and hushed me. "Let me finish. What I mean is, we never noticed Ms. Cohen and her boyfriend load up a few boxes and leave. When Vince got home he found his house completely trashed and empty. There was a note on the door that explained what happened. His mom took off with her boyfriend and moved down to Florida. She left him a couple grand in her account and that's it. He's never heard from her since. He came and lived with us."

I was beginning to feel guilty now. Tony was a single parent not only supporting his own two children but also now supporting his children's best friends. I slowly got up and moved over to the door, unlocked it and opened it up. I looked over at Mia and smiled weakly.

"Mi, you mind if just unpack the rest of my stuff by myself? I just need some time to think…"

Mia got up and walked over to me, smiling sweetly. She reached out and handed me an old black and white picture of my father. I took it and looked up at her, frowning slightly. I had forgotten I even had this picture. It was my favorite.

"Take all the time you need, Letty."

I moved back inside the room, closing the door behind me. I stared down at the picture in my hand and smiled weakly. I could feel the tears flow into my eyes and then slide down my cheek. I don't think I would ever stop crying over my father. I could cry 50 thousand tears for him and still have plenty more waiting, just waiting for me to have another relapse and break down.

I finished unpacking everything just when I heard a faint knock at the door. I opened the door quickly and smiled when I came face to face with Dom. I sidestepped away so he could come in. My heart skipped a beat. Dom and I were going to be alone in my room. Just him and me.

"Looks nice." He said as he looked around my room. I didn't have half as many belongings then what Mia had but I still had some cool things to look at, such as the few model cars Papa bought me last year for Christmas.

"Thanks." I said weakly and moved over to the bed, looking around my room to avoid his gaze.

"My favorite." He picked up my bright red model of an RX-7 and looked it over. I took this moment to look him over. He was really built but not overly. He was a little over average for a 16 year old boy. His arms were thick with strong muscles from his daily workouts and hard work in the garage. I couldn't see his chest and abdomen because of the white tank top he was wearing but I could tell he had a 6-pack from the way his shirt clung to him. I trailed my eyes back up to his face and smiled. He had the most gorgeous eyes ever. They were a soft light brown that would glisten even if there were no lights present. They were filled with his beauty and pride. I could stare into those eyes all day. Dom recently got into the habit of shaving his head, too. He didn't go completely bald but he no longer had dark curly hair. It was just tiny hairs that prickled out. Hairs that were barely there. He looked so sexy that way.

He turned his eyes back to me and I immediately looked away, blushing. The last thing I needed was for him to find out that I had a crush on him. He'd never let me down for it.

"Anyway…" He said with a smirk and moved over towards the door. "Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes." He started to walk out but suddenly stopped and turned towards me. I looked up at him curiously, getting lost in those breathtaking eyes of his.

"Oh and Letty?"

Shit! I was busted. I just knew it. I was too easy. I was too obvious. I tried to swallow the huge lump that caught in my throat but I couldn't. I just sat there on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to clarify that he knew I liked him.

"Welcome home."

He turned and left me there, speechless and smiling. His words echoed in my head like a broken record player. 'Welcome home. Welcome home. Welcome home.' I peeled my eyes away from the doorway and stood up, looking around my new room.

I heard Tony call everyone down for dinner and so I shoved the empty boxes in my walk-in closet and headed for the door. I turned back around to look at my room once more before turning off the lights.

"Home Sweet Home." I whispered softly and jogged my way downstairs to appreciate a nice home-cooked dinner, something I haven't had in a very long time.

We all sat around the table with spaghetti and bread sticks, and salads present before us. Vince reached in first for the food only to have his hand slapped away by Mia.

"You get to pray first, now."

Vince groaned and looked at Tony who just shrugged and smiled.

"Can I pray?" I suddenly spoke up, just before Vince could start.

Everyone looked over at me like I was crazy. Saying the dinner prayer was like a burden for everyone, including me, but tonight I felt like I needed to pray.

"Go right ahead, Letty." Tony smiled over at me and then bowed his head and closed his eyes. He traced the symbol of the cross across his chest and Mia did the same. Dom and Vince just sat back and waited.

I folded my hands and stared down at my plate. I took a deep breath before speaking out my thanks.

"Dear God." I said; starting it off like it was a letter. "Thank you so much for my family who is sitting here beside me tonight…" I saw Tony and Mia look up out of the corner of my eye but I pressed on. "Thank you so much for giving Mia a big mouth because if it weren't for her, I really wouldn't be here today. Thank you for putting Dom and Vince in my life to support me even though I know I'm just a big pain in the ass for them." Vince snorted softly and quickly fell quiet when a sudden kick hit him in the shin. I smiled and continued. "Thank you for blessing Tony with a big heart so he could have room in it for me and Vince. Thanks for giving us the delicious food. Tell Papa and Diane we all say hello. Amen."

There was a brief moment of silence and then Dom and Vince reached out, beginning to load up their plates. I joined in with Mia and Tony and pretty soon we were all eating and chatting away about random things. We were doing what every family did at dinner. We debated, we laughed; we horsed around a bit; we came together.

After dinner I helped Mia do the dishes and then went outside to help the boys work on the Charger. Things were slowly going back to normal. Dom and V cracked a few sexist remarks here and there while I showed them off and completed what they thought I couldn't do. I was glad they didn't treat me too differently with everything I've been through. I actually even laughed along with their sexist remarks, which was a bit weird but I didn't care.

When we all went inside it was going on 11. Dom, V, and Mia were shooed off to bed because they had to go back to school. Tony didn't shoo me off, though which made me wonder if I was going to go to school or not.

"Am I going to school tomorrow Tony?" I asked as Vince retreated downstairs and Mia and Dom shuffled off upstairs. Tony smiled and took a seat on the couch beside me, looking over at the muted TV that flashed its bright images across the screen.

"Mr. Lucas called in and informed me that it would be possible for you to end the school year right now. He had the teachers average your grades and you would pass all of them but it'd be close. It might you hurt you as you go on to high school but it shouldn't do too much damage. Also, he informed me that if you wished to continue, he could have Mia pick up and return all your assignments and tests until the year is over. There's only one more week left…"

I really didn't want to go back to school. I already knew what would happen. I'd back talk to the teachers like I usually did but I would also get into fights. I had been in a couple of fights before but nothing major. If I went to school and heard someone mention a rumor that had my bruises and me as the main subject, I'd kick their ass. I wasn't about to let the story of my life creep out into the open and be twisted at every angle because some prick couldn't get the story right. I wasn't about to let the story of my life be the main topic in the hallways and have every single person tell a different story about me. Believe me, it could happen. My school was notorious for spreading a rumor around that would wind up with 1,532 versions of it.

"I think I'll just have them average up my grades. I'm use to Cs and Ds anyways." I said and slowly got up, making my way downstairs.

Tony called out a quiet 'Good Night' and retreated to bed as well.

I stayed up for a bit since I didn't have to go to school the next morning. I sat by my window and gazed out, staring dreamily up at the stars. I suddenly felt lonely an empty. I missed him so much. I reached towards my neck and lightly fingered the silver tags. The dog tags and pictures were all that I had left of my father.

I slowly got up and quietly crept out of my room and walked off down the hall. I quietly pushed Mia's bedroom door open and peered inside. She was fast asleep. I sighed and closed her door and moved on to Dom's room. I don't know why I didn't just go back to my room. My curiosity was getting the best of me. I silently pushed open his door and peeked inside. He was still up. Busted!

"Letty?" He slowly got up from his bed and moved over to the door. I pushed it open and smiled weakly at him. I glanced over to his TV and then back over at him. I had to force myself not to look downward. He was in his boxers and it took every bit of my strength not to look down.

"Sorry, I just… I saw the light from your TV and got curious…"

Dom nodded and walked back over to his bed and I followed, pushing the door behind me so that it would close some.

"What are you watching?" I asked as I took a seat on the floor.

"Cops. Some crazy fucker just got pulled over for DUI."

I smiled and laughed softly, glancing up to the screen. Some guy, who was just dressed in his boxers, was slurring away as he tried to get his ass out of a sling. The poor guy was practically rolling in his own shit.

"So I take it you're not going to school tomorrow?" Dom turned his attention away from the TV and looked over at me. I shook my head and smiled when I saw him roll his eyes.

"Jealous, Dom?"

"Extremely." He snapped back.

I smiled and slowly stood up. "Well, I guess I better let you get some sleep."

I didn't want to leave. Lord knows I didn't want to leave but I knew it was just a matter of time before I'd get on his nerves and he'd kick me out. Before I left though, I turned and faced him, smiling widely.

"Hey Dom?"

He looked up at me, cocking a brow in question.

"Nice boxers."

Dom laughed and slowly stood, moving over towards the door. I took a few steps back, finding myself in the hall, staring up at him. I giggled softly and turned to walk down the hall but stopped when I heard his low voice sound out.

"Hey Let?"

I turned and faced him, cocking a brow at him like he did to me.

"Don't think I'm gonna cut you some slack just because you're living here now."

"Oh yeah?' I smirked, folding my arms across my chest.

He smiled back at me, holding back his laughter. "Yeah, so fucking knock first before you come into my room. Better yet, just stay away from my room, got it?"

I scoffed sarcastically, matching his playful smile with one of my own.

"Are you telling me to respect your privacy, Dom?"

"Yeah, I am."

"I would never dream of doing that. Never." I couldn't help but flirt with him.

Dom smirked and laughed softly before disappearing behind his closing door. I heard the faint click of the latch falling into its place and escorted myself back into my room. I changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed, curling beneath my comforter. I sighed softly, and stared out my window for one last time before turning over and falling asleep.