"Hey, Letty," Lance gave her an uncomfortable smile as he sat down on a barstool.

"Hey, Lance," she nodded, pouring him a cup of joe, "What can I get ya?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have—I was just--"

"It's all right, Lance," Letty interrupted him, "Let's just forget it and be friends."

He nodded, taking a large gulp of the warm coffee. She gave him a sad smile and was rewarded with one in return.

Soon, summer was heating up in Henderson, and Fourth of July was right around the corner. "You gonna come down to the picnic?" Lindsay asked her. They had decided to buy a six pack and sit out on the front porch that night.

"Yeah," Letty sighed, taking a sip of her Corona, "I 'spose I will."

"Good," Lindsay grinned. Looking out across the dark fields, Letty let her mind wander.

The Fourth of July had always been a celebration at the Torretto household. It wasn't like every other party, where dozens of drunk or drugged strangers littered the small house. No, Dom insisted on it being just the team. They would always grill barbeque chicken and ribs in the backyard. She missed the smell of the food filling the air; she missed the comfortable happiness of those days. They would all usually get pretty drunk; they almost always finished off at least two cases of Corona. It was so pleasant, though, sitting around the picnic table, Dom's arm wrapped lovingly around her. No matter how much she tried to fight it, she just couldn't get him out of her head.

"Earth to Letty," Lindsay laughed, waving her hand in front of Letty's face.

"Huh?" Letty asked, waking up from her daydream.

"I asked if you're into Lance."

"Oh," Letty paused, trying to decide how to answer, "Well, he's a really great guy. I mean, I would be completely head over heels for him if—if things were different, ya know."

"Right. So you still love Dominic then?"

"Yeah, I do. I guess love isn't enough sometimes, though." Letty bit her bottom lip as she idly peeled the label off her beer. Lindsay announced she was heading to bed and bid Letty a goodnight.

What more did you need? If love isn't enough, what is? Understanding, respect, fidelity, those are things you need, Letty told herself. Releasing a frustrated sigh, she stood and walked back inside the house. Lindsay and Letty had decided about a week ago that it would be a good idea for Lindsay to move in with Letty. Not that Lindsay minded sharing a place with Benny, Jodi, and Cindy, but living with Letty gave all of them a little more space. Letty enjoyed having Lindsay there anyways; coming home to an empty house was just a reminder of how full the Torretto house had always been. She hadn't written Dom back; what was there to say? Sorry Dom, but you just messed it up too bad? Sorry Dom, I love you, but I can't stand you? Letty lay down on her pillow and tried to push all the thoughts of him away.

Letty and Lindsay allowed Lance and Benny to talk them into spending a small fortune on fireworks the next afternoon. "C'mon, Letty, "Benny pleaded desperately, "Fourth of July just isn't Fourth of July without 'The Ultimate!'" Rolling her eyes, Letty motioned toward the huge firework and handed the attendant cash. Twenty minutes later, Benny and Lance walked away from the fireworks stand swinging several large bags, while Letty and Lindsay followed them with significantly emptier pockets.

"Boys and their toys," Lindsay laughed with a sigh. They headed toward Main Street, which had been closed off for the annual Fourth of July picnic. Choosing one end of a long, rectangular table, they all sat down, quickly joined by Jodi and Cindy. A couple live bands were scheduled to play, mostly local, and the tables were beginning to fill up quickly.

"Let's go get some food," Lindsay suggested, grabbing Letty's hand and pulling her up. Promising to return, the two headed for one of the many food stands set up on the sidewalks.

"Letty?!" cried a woman's voice from the crowd behind them. Letty turned around to see Mia. She was waving her arms and smiling broadly beneath a hot pink cowgirl hat.

"Mia?" Letty asked, dumfounded. Vince appeared on Mia's side, and Letty ran over to greet them both. "Oh my God, what are y'all doing here?"

"Y'all?" Vince laughed as he enveloped her in a huge bear hug. Letty laughed at her own choice of words as Vince sat her back on the ground.

"Vince, Mia, this is Lindsay," she motioned toward Lindsay, who had walked over to where they were standing.

"I know," Lindsay smiled, "I thought it would be nice to invite a few of your friends out to our little shindig." Lindsay shook Mia and Vince's hands, giving Vince a little, sly smile as she did so. Letty made a mental note to find out just how Lindsay had gotten in touch with them.

Everyone greeted Vince and Mia with open arms, and soon, Lindsay and Lance had whisked them off to dance. Letty had to laugh at how clumsy Vince was with Lindsay, but she just kept smiling and helped guide him around awkwardly. "They seem like real nice folks," Jodi smiled, pointing a finger over at them, "Why'd you ever want to leave 'em?"

"It wasn't them," Letty sighed. She gave Jodi a quick smile and then announced she was going to call it an early night.

"Aw, Letty," Benny scolded, "We haven't even shot off fireworks yet."

"It's all right, I'll be able to see them from my window," she laughed, giving him a playful noogie through his baseball cap. Assuring Vince, Mia, and Lindsay she was just tired, she climbed behind the wheel of her Nissan and headed home.

The fireworks erupted across the starry, night sky; vivid explosions of color cascading across the inky black canvas as she peered out her window. She had a little bay window above the porch, and the cushioned bench had become one of her favorite spots in the past few days. This place was so much different than home. She wasn't angry or bitchy all the time, just…happy. But her contentment was constantly tainted with nostalgic thoughts of home and how things used to be. The shrill ringing of the phone startled her from her thoughts.

"Hello?"

"Letty." It was Dom. Her heart began pounding as her breath caught in her throat.

"Dom."

"How've you been?" His voice was deep, almost ragged.

"I've been okay." She tried to keep her answers short.

"I miss you."

"I know," she sighed, "I miss you, too."

"Why don't you come home then?"

"What's the point?" Her tears were beginning to flow freely.

"Because I love you, and I need you here with me."

Pursing her lips together, she fought the urge to drive straight back to L.A. "Dom, I love you. But I'm never enough for you."

"I'll change, Letty, I promise. Things have just been hard. I will make it up to you."

"You say the same things every time, Dom. Why would you change now?"

"Letty, baby, please." He was pleading now, and she could hear the raw pain in his voice.

"I just can't, Dom." She gently placed the phone back in its cradle.