Thanks for the reviews. Glad to see you ladies are still reading. Thanks a lot!

P.S.: School is officially out as of the 7th, so I'll try to update as frequent as possible.

Chapter 47-The Cemetery

Letty's POV

I peeled out the garage parking lot and sped down the road. I didn't know where I was going or even when I'd be back, but I needed away from Dominic. He was such an asshole. I continued driving, not realizing that I had ended up at the cemetery.

I started visiting the graveyard about two years ago. It was my place of serenity. It was the only place where I could calm myself and get my emotions out in the air. When stress was getting the best of me, I'd come here and talk to my family. Though they couldn't respond, I knew they were listening. The way the wind would blow or the clouds would shift in the sky; I knew they were listening.

I visited my adopted family first – my "mom" Janice, my "dad" Daniel, and my "brother" Jonah. Hell, they were my REAL family. They took care of me all those years of growing up. Yeah, they lied to me the majority of it, but they cared for me. They taught me to stand up for myself and to be tough. My mother told me to be careful about who I let in and who I trust. She's the reason I built the tough barrier around my heart. I cherished every word she spoke to me because she was brutally honest. My father told me to make the boys work for what they wanted. I smiled at that thought. I was definitely a daddy's girl. After all, he was the one who got me into cars. Pop told me to be feminine only when I wanted to. He never forced dresses or makeup on me. He enjoyed the fact that his daughter liked getting her hands dirty. He loved me regardless. Last but definitely not least, my brother Jonah. Though he was two years older than me, he still treated me like I was the only girl in his life. He involved me in everything he did. He didn't treat me like the normal twelve year old brother treated his sister. He let me play with his action figures with him. He once tricked me into eating dirt, but apologized later for it. He was my best friend.

I walked over to their graves, which were next to each other. My mother was on the left, my father in the middle, and Jonah was on the right. I just stood there staring for a second. I took a deep breath then sat down before the graves. I stared intently at all the headstones. I helped design the headstone.

Rest in Peace
Janice Elaine Rodriguez
1958-1991
God's Greatest Angel

My mother's headstone. She was an angel.

Rest in Peace
Jonah Douglas Meads
1979-1991
God's Little Soldier

My big brother's headstone. He was MY soldier.

Rest in Peace
Daniel Thomas Meads
1957-1991
God's Right-Hand Man

My father. He was my right-hand man.

They were everything to me. I was still sad to be without them.

"Hey guys. I know it's been a few weeks since I last visited. Lots of things going on back at the house," I shivered from the cold wind that shook the cemetery, "Guess what Pa, I'm pregnant again. Yep, you're gonna be a grandpa again. At least I think. It's just, I don't know if I'm a good mother. I try to be everything I can to the twins. But I don't always step up, ya know? I mean, I take them to the garage with me all the time. They love that. I just ... I don't know. Want to give them more," she stops to wait for a response she know she won't get. The wind shifted, pushing a cold breeze over her.

"Yeah, maybe I am talking crazy. But Dom's so controlling when it comes to this. He thinks everything has to be his way or no way. I'm glad he wants the baby, I really am. But I just don't know if I'm ready for it. I'm not ready for that agony and pain. Plus, all the stuff we're dealing with, like Carter and the teenagers. I can't do it Ma. I just need time," I said, my eyes watering.

I stood up from the ground, kissing my hand and touching the headstones. I walked a few feet around other graves until I stopped at a large headstone. The flowers that I had brought there about a week ago were still there. I visited Maria's grave more often that my other family simply because I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to tell her more about myself. I knew it was too late, but better late than never. I stopped at her grave, staring at the headstone that Sasha, Tony, and I designed.

God Wanted You Closer To Him...
Maria Bernette Rodriguez
Born: June 13, 1964 – Died: August 21, 2005
... That's Why He Stole You From Us
Rest in Peace Mommy.

I let a tear slide down my eyes as I took a seat before her grave. The winds picked up speed; it had to be about 66 degrees out, a rare temperature here in southern Cali. I folded my arms close together, for I was only wearing a tank top and baggy jeans. I tried to think of something to start off our conversation.

"Guess what Mommy? You probably heard from My ma that I was pregnant. Yep, got another bun in the oven. Who would've thought right? Yeah. I wish you were here to tell me how to handle this. I need your support for this. The girls are all ecstatic about it. Even Sash. Speaking of Sasha, she's training this fourteen year-old girl for a race on Friday. She's crazy!" I laughed a little, only to hide my discomfort.

"I'm scared Mom. Really afraid. We've dug one hole that I'm not sure so we can get out of. I mean, we put someone's life in risk because we always want to be tough. Well right now, I'm not feeling too tough. So much shit has been going on for the past few years that I haven't had time to sit down and breathe. I mean, if I didn't have the twins and the Team to build me up, I'd probably be sitting next to you right now. I'm just about on that level right now. I don't know what to do," I sobbed silently, dropping my head in my hands. The wind blew my hair from my face behind my head; I took that as I sign to keep my head up.

"Mommy, I need you. I wish I had more time with you. We barely knew each other. The time we both spent in the hospital could have been used to get to know each other. But I guess that's just how things worked out. Say Mom, how did it feel to give me up all those years ago? I mean I know it's a rough subject, but it's just something I need to know. For a second, I thought about giving my baby up for adoption. It was a crazy thought. How did it feel? I mean, what were you thinking afterward?" I continued to question her, expecting her to reply.

"She hated herself for it," a voice said. My eyes grew wide as I looked around the grave, "She didn't want to give you up Leticia. She hated herself for doing it. But she had to come to some conclusion because she was running out of ideas," I followed the voice behind me.

There stood an old dark-skinned man holding a jacket and a cane. He had a neatly trimmed white/gray beard and grayish-black hair. He had pretty, straight teeth. He had slightly dark brown eyes that seemed all too familiar. I didn't know this man, but I felt connected to him.

"And you are?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow at the stranger. He moved closer, making me step back.

"My name's Marcus. I used to be an old friend of your mother's. You must be Leticia. It's nice to meet you," he held out his hand. I just looked at it. I knew he was much more of a friend to my mother. I knew exactly who he was and I wasn't in a mood for pleasantries.

"How do you know she hated herself?" I asked, quirking an eye at him. I couldn't believe he was standing here acting like he had nothing to do with giving me away.

"Because she told me everyday. You're mother never wanted to let you go Leticia. You were her first born, her pride and joy. She never wanted to send you off to someone else. But money was running low and she was running out of options," he replied, moving closer to me. I stepped back with every move he made closer to me. This was the man who hurt my baby sister all those years. The man that betrayed my mother's trust. It took everything in me not to pull out my pocket knife and slice him where he stood.

"Why are you pinning it all on her? Did you not have any part in giving up your own child?" he looked away shamefully. "What, you didn't think I knew who you were? I know exactly who you fucking are!" I yelled, my anger getting the best of me. "Why are you here?" I asked, exasperation clear in my voice.

"Because I loved your mother. More than I loved anyone else. I've been coming here once a week for at least five years. I should've been there for her," he said, dropping his head.

"Yeah and you're too late. Get lost," I said, kissing my hand and touching the headstone before moving to leave.

"Leticia, baby, wait a minute please," he begged, his voice husky and desperate. I stopped tiredly.

"I'm not your baby. Why did you do those things to Sasha? For all those years, you hurt your flesh and blood. You hurt your baby girl. Why'd you do it?" I asked, dying to know the answers.

He looked away, once again, shamefully. He tossed me his jacket, which I caught effortlessly.

"Put it on and let's take a walk," he demanded, limping away. I stubbornly tossed the jacket over my arms and followed the old man down the cement path.

xxx

Sasha's POV

It had been hours since Letty had left the garage angered. It was almost six p.m.; she never left that long without telling one of us where she was headed. I wasn't worried, I knew Letty could take care of herself. It was Dom I was worried about. He was a mess. He hadn't stopped crying since he told us what Letty was planning to do. I knew Letty; she wouldn't do anything if she didn't think it was good for her family. I just wished she knew what it was doing to Dominic. He was grouchy and aggressive and distant. He wouldn't even let his best friend attempt to comfort him. He just slammed the door in Vince's face.

"Aye bro, can I get you a drink or something?" I peeked my head in the office door. Dom's back was too me while he held his head in his hands. He was sniffling like a child. I walked over to him.

"Why would she do that Sasha?" he ignored my question. When he turned to me, I wanted to break down and share a cry with him. His eyes were red and puffy and his face looked swollen. He had snot trickling from his nose and his breathing was rash. I pulled his head to my chest and stroked the back of his head softly. "Why would she do that to our baby?" he cried into my chest.

"Dominic, it'll be okay. I know this hurts, but you already have two incredibly, beautiful children right now who need your support. Until Letty is ready for another baby, they are your main priorities as of now. I know how much you want another kid, but give Letty some time okay? She needs you to be there for her right now. She might change her mind about her decision, but right now, she doesn't feel another kid is appropriate," I explained, stroking his head solemnly.

He sniffled and nodded, pulling away from my chest. He stood up and wiped his face.

"I'm gonna go home and take a shower. Tell Vince to close up at eight," he pulled me into a deep embrace, which I returned affectionately. I nodded and watched him leave the office, his head low in sadness. I rested on the desk, wondering where the hell my sister could've been. My thought was interrupted by the clanking of boots on the floor.

"See you talked him out of his funk," Vince said, handing me Desmond. He was asleep. I sat him down in the playpen that was kept in the office. I wrapped my arms around Vince's waist as he placed his arms on both sides of my body.

"I hope so. Poor guy. Think he'll come out of it?" I asked, running my fingers threw Vince's ever-growing, shaggy hair.

"Yeah, he's a strong guy. He's just having a rough time right now. He'll probably beat himself up over this for awhile until he realizes that everything will be okay," he replied, massaging my lower back with his thumbs. He kissed me quick but lovingly and pulled away from me. "C'mon, let's get back to work," he patted my legs and exited the garage.

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Sorry, I know there isn't much in this one. But these are pretty much filler chapters because I can't figure out how to get to my segment with Tej/Carter/Team Toretto. Any ideas, please let me know. Until then, review please.

-Kita