Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews and feedback (and the kicks in the butt to edit this thing into shape). The wait for the next chapter shouldn't be so long since I have most of it written already. It needs a few modifications but nothing that should take me months like this last chapter. Excuse any typos/formatting errors as always. I'll try to clean up any problems this weekend.

Thanks again to all of you for reading.

Y

Growing Up Fast

Transitions: Part 4

So everything eventually got back to normal after Letty's breakdown. Later that day while Letty was still asleep, Dom crept out of the bed and sought out his father to explain what had happened while he was gone. He wisely left out the whole party part but pretty much detailed everything about Letty's behavior and what they had gone through at the cemetery. Dom could tell that his Dad was still pretty pissed about what he had walked in on and he didn't blame him. Letty was only 16 and she was family. They had a long talk about what to do with Letty, whether they should try to find her father, keep her at their house for a while or just let her go about handling things the way she felt most comfortable. Although Dom wasn't thrilled about the turn in conversation, they also discussed strict orders for Dom to cut out any "inappropriate behavior" right then and there. Dom didn't appreciate his Dad butting in but he was right and Dom knew it. Just like with CJ, Dom gave his word to keep his hands off of Letty no matter how hot she was starting to look to him.

They also filled Mia in on what had happened and as predicted, she felt horrible for not knowing what was going on with her friend. Dom tried to assure her that Letty wasn't mad at her for it but she was convinced that she needed to make things up to Letty. But Dom warned her not to make a big deal out of things or it would just end up making Letty uncomfortable.

When Letty finally appeared late in the afternoon, Mia was waiting to give her a big hug. She didn't say anything but just held Letty. Surprisingly, Letty allowed it and held onto her friend tightly as she closed her eyes to all the emotions running through her. She looked tired from the night before but the Torettos could also see that amazing determination to survive that she was known for. Mr. Toretto took over then and worked his magic, doing everything that he could to cheer her up and make sure she was okay. He explained that Dom was over at the garage which was more or less a relief for Letty who was feeling so embarrassed about what had happened with them that morning.

Letty wasn't in much of a mood to rehash things so she and Mia settled down to watch a movie. Later on, Dom and his dad returned home with Letty's favorite food and Dom was delighted to see Letty's smile over the attention. He again felt that sting of emotion in his gut over seeing the happiness in her face. Even though her eyes still held a lingering sadness, it was clear that she was going to be alright.

Mia and Mr. Toretto wandered to the kitchen to get ready for dinner, leaving Letty and Dom alone. At that moment, Dom realized why things were so good between them. Even with all of the drama and emotions and potential awkwardness of the situation, there was still a sense of comfort in their company. Letty's slight smile remained on her face as she walked over to where Dom was standing and, to his surprise, she took him in her arms for a sweet embrace.

"Thanks Dom" she whispered in his ear. Her soft breath against his skin sent chills down his spine and he pulled her tightly against him, loving the way they felt together. There was love and acceptance in their embrace coupled with the mutual attraction.

But Dom wasn't going to go back on his word to CJ or his dad and Letty knew that for whatever reason, she wasn't going to be with Dom no matter how big her crush on him was or how raging his hormones got. But one day she would pay him back for what he had done for her earlier. He had been right. She needed him to be strong for her that morning. If there ever came a day when she would have to return the favor, she would be right there by his side.

She never imagined that day would come so soon.

Dom sat at his special spot wondering how the hell he was going to get through this mess he had gotten himself in. Everything had gone to shit in what seemed like a blink of an eye. His father dead, his freedom all but gone, his life hanging by a whim. He thought nothing would be worse than CJ's death or his mother's death. He thought he would have his father around forever. Surely God wouldn't take his father away after all the loss he had gone through. But nothing could have prepared him for that race that took his father and absolutely nothing would ever be worse than watching him die on that track in the chaos of smoke and fire. And as far as he was concerned, it was the day that he died too.

He had tried to be there for Mia who was devastated by their father being taken away from her. She was too young and too sweet to be orphaned like that. Letty had been there for her too knowing exactly what to do and say when Dom was out of consolation. She had put aside her own sadness to take care of them and help them arrange things. She said it was the least she could do after everything they had done for CJ. Even Letty's father had sobered up enough to be of some help.

But none of it could save Dom. After the funeral, he shut down. There were so many emotions running through him the days after his father had died…or murdered as he thought of it. He didn't know what to do with all of his feelings so he tucked them away deep inside where they couldn't plague him at night and terrorize him at the moments that most reminded him of the special bond he had with his father.

That had worked for a few months but slowly Dom became more destructive in an effort to keep from dealing with his loss. He was a man and he wasn't going to cry everyday over his father. His father would have wanted him to be strong and take care of his family. As much as his boys were there for him, Vince ready to show him a good time, Leon helping him take care of business or Jesse cracking a joke that focused attention away from Dom's never-ending grief, sometimes he wasn't in the mood to put on the strong front for them. His aunt had moved in more permanently to help take care of their store. Dom kept up with the garage but it was hard to be in there sometimes. He tried not to go alone and often took Letty with him in order to cope. He knew that with her around he wouldn't let his emotions get the best of him and she would at least just let him be.

After what had happened between them on the anniversary of CJ's death, they had kept at a physical distance although they still remained close. Dom wasn't in any way giving up his girl crazy ways and being around Letty was just too tempting. Letty had been embarrassed how she had acted for the longest time thinking that Dom didn't see her as anything but a little girl. But he had shown her that night that at the very least, he was her friend and family and that she could count on him to be there for her in her darkest hours. She tried to return the favor after the accident that had taken Dom's dad but there was no getting through to him.

But all of that built up emotion was bound to blow up at some point and for Dom, it did in a big way. During a chance encounter with the man who had caused the accident that took his father's life, Dom had snapped. When Dom laid eyes on Linder, there was no reason, no rationalization, no thinking and no mercy. Dom remembered seeing his lips move but had no idea what was said. All he saw was hate and loss.

When they finally pulled him from Linder's body, hands sore and covered in blood, Dom had again returned to that comfortable numb. But this time it was to block out that awful place inside him that could do that to another man.

He didn't run away before the police came and didn't protest when they took him away. He took responsibility for his behavior and pled guilty to aggravated assault in exchange for the least amount of prison time he could get. At least his father would have approved of that despite the disgrace that he now was to the Toretto name.

Now he was sitting at the beach the night before he was scheduled to be sentenced. It was a formality. The deal had already been sealed and all that was left to do was show up tomorrow morning and prepare to take his punishment. He sat there thinking about how he had failed Mia, his friends and the memory of his father and prayed that he would get out of prison alive so that he could some how, some way make things right.

He wasn't exactly surprised when he heard a car door slam and listened for the soft footfalls heading in his direction. He knew who it was and even though he wanted to pretend that this was his time for solitude, he couldn't lie to himself about how relieved he was that she had remembered this place. He had only taken her here that one night and although she had appeared checked out for most of the time, Letty was a sharp girl. It wasn't shocking that she knew how to get back to this place, or that she knew he would be there that night.

He felt rather than heard Letty come up beside him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her long, dark hair blowing gently in the breeze and it made him want to reach out and touch it to try to tame her wild tresses in a way that he could never tame her. Letty turned her head towards him and just stared at him as he sat on the edge of the barrier that separated the parking lot from the beach. His feet dangled against the railing about a foot or so from the sandy slope beneath them. Ignoring the stoic expression that had been a permanent fixture on his face since his father died, Letty moved behind him, wrapped her arms around him and held him as tight as she could. She didn't know if he would accept her embrace but she had to try. He had been so distant, not willing to take help or support from anyone even after the fight with Linder. But she had to try just like he had done with her. He may reject her over it but she had to push back her pride and try to get through to him

But she needn't have worried. As soon as he felt her warm arms wrap around him, Dom felt like he was home. He clasped her hands as they wrapped around his chest and intertwined his fingers with hers. She had a good hold of him and so it felt only right to lean back and lose himself in her arms if only for a few moments. His sigh wasn't one of contentment but it was a releasing of tensions that he hadn't felt in months. He hadn't known it when he drove out here but this is exactly what he needed.

They stood there for long moments smelling the salty sea air and seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Letty had settled her cheek against the top of Dom's head and stroked the large hand clasped in hers with her thumb. Dom could feel the heat and curve of her body against him but it was anything but sexual. It was human and comforting and everything that he knew he would miss while he was away. He couldn't even bring himself to think of it as going to prison. It might make him a coward but thinking about it like that made it too real and he wanted his reality to revolve around his freedom and his family, what was left of it anyway.

And one piece of that family was holding him right then, not loosening her hold of him even after the many minutes she had spent comforting him.

"Did I ever tell you how I got my name?" Letty moved her head slightly, her voice breaking into the calm fluid of his thoughts. Dom blinked in confusion both at her choice to speak and the subject matter. He had never thought much about her name. He knew her full name was Charlotte but everyone called her Letty. He hadn't even realized that Letty knew that he knew her full name. She certainly didn't volunteer it. In fact, he really didn't remember how he had found out--probably some drunken revelation from CJ that he had swore him to secrecy about. It wasn't that she seemed to be particularly opposed to the name, it's just that no one ever called her that including her father or CJ. He just assumed she was named after her father just like her brother was.

Dom felt Letty move slightly against him, this time to bow her head in his direction. He realized that he hadn't answered her and jerked his head back and forth indicating that she had not told him. She was silent again and Dom thought that maybe she had decided against disclosing whatever it was she was going to say.

"I really wish you guys could have met my mom," she murmured against his ear.

Dom blinked in amazement at her statement, even more surprised at this next choice of conversation. No one ever talked about Letty's mother. Ever. CJ had clearly seen to that and everyone respected that even if they were curious as hell about what had happened. Dom knew that she had passed away some time ago and figured that it was the reason that Letty's father was such a mess. Any other details were very carefully guarded by survivors of whatever tragedy took her life and even though he didn't know too much about their family, he was pretty sure Letty's mom had a different name. He didn't really recall how he knew that but he did. Letty's fingers had ceased their stroking of his hand so Dom took over the contact encouraging her to fill him in on whatever she was thinking at the moment.

With a quiet sigh Letty continued. "She was really wonderful. I remember everything about her. I know they say that these memories fade after time but not for me." She gave him a slight squeeze knowing that Dom knew exactly what she meant through his experience with his own mother. "She was always making us laugh, me and CJ and Papi...especially Papi. Sometimes we'd be hanging out and we'd just laugh and laugh together. We had a good life then. It's crazy how all that can just disappear without you knowing anything...not having done anything."

Even though her last words had been tinged with so much sadness, she smiled thinking of the wonderful memories she had of those good times. She could remember the trips to the park and the family dinners so vividly in her mind. They hadn't been rich in terms of money but they were a family that knew what it meant to be alive...at least for a while they had. Some families never had that she always tried to tell herself on the difficult days.

Dom removed his fingers from hers and gently rubbed the back of her hand and her lower arm. He could see her from the corner of his eyes and she had a far off look to match the wistful half smile on her face. Her hands now empty clutched his body in a casual but firm grip that revealed just how tense this subject made her even if her voice remained calm.

"Nobody could make Papi laugh like that except my Aunt Charlotte. They were close you know. Twins, Papi and my Tia C. Everyone tells me that she cried so much when they first introduced me to her at the hospital. That's why everyone said me and CJ were so close--we were Charlie and Charlotte all over again." Dom hadn't known any of this. CJ had never said a word. Even though this was all new to him, he wanted to know about everything that she was willing to tell. He had a feeling she had never spoken about any of this before to anyone, even Mia. But he kept silent so she could tell her story at her own pace.

But Letty was quiet again. Maybe she was thinking about CJ or her mom. Dom couldn't tell but he kept stroking her soft skin hoping to soothe her into telling him more. For some reason, he needed to know. Eventually it worked.

"Mommy and Tia were close too, like best friends. We were all a big family. When we found out Mommy and Tia were pregnant at the same time, everything seemed perfect." Dom sucked in a breath and shook his head knowing that things weren't going to go anywhere good in this story. He took Letty's hands once again and squeezed her tight. He could feel the hardness of CJ's dog tags against his back reminding them both of CJ's presence. "I guess in the end, it really was too perfect."

Letty hadn't planned on saying any of this to Dom but it seemed like the right time. She wanted him to know everything, so he could understand. She wasn't naive enough to think that she could save him. All she could do was love him and return the favor that she owed him from a rough night for her not too long ago. With a sigh of determination, she continued.

"Me and CJ were at school and my dad and our uncle were at the garage they owned together." Too perfect, again. Dom had suspected that CJ and Letty had gotten their knowledge about cars from their dad. Although Mr. Torres certainly didn't have his act together to keep a steady job or work in a garage, he definitely knew a lot. There had been a few times that CJ mentioned something to that effect and during his more lucid moments, he and his dad had had a few good conversations about their mutual love of the craft.

"Our uncle always dropped off my Aunt Charlotte in the morning so she and my mom could hang out. But since they were so pregnant, they usually just slept in after getting me and CJ off to school. They said it was their right because they were so fat and uncomfortable. Well, my mom said that since it was Tia C's first baby. They only had a couple more months to go and we were so excited."

Letty paused again and Dom could feel her breathing become erratic as she remembered the day that changed her life forever. "I came home at the same time I always did and I went to go show my mom my latest project or good grade. It's funny that I can never remember that detail." She let out a soft grunt that was probably meant to be an ironic chuckle but it fell flat and simply sounded forced and sad.

"But she wouldn't wake up. Neither would Tia C. I kept shaking them and calling them but they wouldn't wake up. And they were so cold."

If Dom could have held her any tighter he would have. Letty wasn't crying or anything. She wasn't a cryer and even if she were, he had a feeling that she had cried enough tears over this to last her a lifetime. If anything was more awful than losing CJ, that was it.

Letty wished that time would take away the sharpness of her memory. Or better yet, take the damn memory away all together. But it never did and not a day went by that she didn't think of her lost family. There were so many people long gone, including the cousin that would never know the world and little baby sister that her dad was so convinced her mom was going to have. "It was carbon monoxide poisoning. They never felt a thing. They just went to bed and never woke up."

Dom felt truly awful. He never imagined that Letty and CJ and their father had gone through something like that. Suddenly, he understood so many things about her life.

They stood there in silence for many minutes. The time stretched on as they both digested her story. Dom didn't think she would tell him any more details and truth be told, he didn't want to hear them. It brought up too much of his own pain from when his mother had passed away. They didn't need words anyway. Their shared grief was conversation enough.

"She was so pretty Dom," Letty said brightly. He could feel her smile against his cheek as she remembered something good about her mother. Dom smiled right along with her, remembering CJ's promise that Letty would be a knock out just like their mother. "And my Tia C could do no wrong to me and CJ. They both did so much for us and loved us like no one else could. Everyone adored them but nobody more than my dad. She and Aunt Charlotte meant the world to him."

Dom continued to hold her and keep a tight grasp on her tiny hands. He looked down at their intertwined fingers, so similar in texture and coloring despite the differences in their backgrounds and lifestyles. They were a bit abused from working at the garage but otherwise strong and attractive. He brought one of her hands to his lips and placed several delicate kisses against it.

He hadn't said a word since she had showed up but he became curious about one little detail and thought he'd press his luck and ask. "What was your mom's name?"

This time Letty gave a real chuckle in his ear, such a lovely, deep sound that made his heart skip. But then she quieted and her mood became dark again. "Her name was Diana. They got a lot of bad jokes back in the day but now..."

Silence fell upon them again. The sounds of the ocean never changed and neither did their comfort in each other. Their separate tragedies made them the closest of companions in that moment.

Letty sighed and moved away from him. She pulled her hands away from his and moved his face so that he was looking up at her. "Dom, when his wife and his twin sister died, my dad never got over it. He just...stopped everything. He stopped feeling, he stopped caring, sometimes I even think he stopped loving me and CJ. I know he didn't really. I saw that after CJ died but it feels like that sometimes. He never dealt with it and I hate to say it but especially after CJ, I know he never will." She stroked his cheek and rested her forehead against his. "Don't be like that Dom. Don't turn yourself off. Mia needs you. I need you. Hell, even the guys need you. We don't care about whatever happened. But we can't lose you too--not in the ways that count."

Letty never talked about the hurt over her father's actions. She took it and stayed strong even when CJ was still alive. But with only a few words, she conveyed everything that her father had done to her and was still doing to her by refusing to let the mistakes and hardships go. Dom closed his eyes in quiet shame. He covered the hand that was stroking his cheek with his own. Hearing her heartache changed everything. He thought this had been about her, about them but it wasn't. Not exactly anyway. How did she manage to do that to him? She had turned the tables and he hadn't even seen it coming.

"Somebody that means a lot to me once said that I needed to let him be strong for me when it mattered. But I'm not a little girl anymore. I think it's time that I returned the favor." Dom took in a sharp breath and grabbed Letty's hand, pulling it away from his face before she could feel the tear fall from his eye. His Letty. She was trying to save him. The same way he had tried to save her.

He had hurt her and he had hurt Mia. Of course, he had always known that but had ignored it. But, it wasn't that simple to change right then and there. The most stubborn parts of him didn't want to listen to her. He was really just fine and doing what he had to do to take care of business. He was the man in the family and even if he had fucked things up, he was going to be a man about it.

But if that were the case, why couldn't he look Letty in those beautiful brown eyes of hers.

The more that Letty's words sunk in, the more he wanted to just let go. As much as he tried to convince himself, he wasn't a man. He was just a boy who screwed up and had no idea how to fix things. He was scared. He was scared for Mia and for his father's legacy being destroyed because he wasn't around to make sure people remembered what a great man he was. He needed to be hard because the world was hard for taking his father from him. But then why was he trembling in the arms of this 17 year old girl who had carried more burdens than he could imagine and still managed to survive…with the help of a few people.

Dom didn't know what to do or how to feel but there was one thing that felt right. It was the only thing he could do at the moment and it felt like instinct, like breathing.

He turned around still sitting on the barrier and put his arms around Letty again. He buried his face in her neck and little by little, he let his emotions go.

"It's going to be okay Dom. It really will." He didn't cry but with every breath that he pushed out, some of his humanity returned to him. With every pass of Letty's hand against his back, soothing him and filling him with warmth, he felt as if things would be okay somehow, someway, simply because Letty said so.

Dom felt her lips brush against the top of his head just as his had caressed her hand only a short while before. He knew that at some point he was going to have to let her go and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Then all too soon, she pulled away from him and looked him in the eyes. Her intense brown eyes said so much to him. It relayed her compassion and her trust; her fear for him but also her hope and her ultimate and genuine belief that things would work out. Maybe things really would be alright just because Letty believed it. One thing was for sure though. It was definitely better than stewing in pathetic self pity, crying over the situation he got himself again.

She was smiling down at him now. She took his face and cradled it in her hands and they both felt the familiar spark and attraction that had been a part of their lives for quite some time. Once his emotions returned in full-force, it was like a flood that he had no way of controlling. Now that he had allowed himself to feel, he wanted to feel everything. Neither moved to act on it though. Letty didn't want to be his pre-incarceration trick and he didn't want Letty pining for him while he was locked up for God knows how long. But still, maybe just one little kiss would be enough to sustain him while he was away from her. He admitted that he was weak and Letty standing in his arms right then, feeling soft yet solid was starting to cloud his judgment when he considered how long he'd be away from her. He had promised CJ but dammit, his best friend wouldn't deny him this, would he?

Letty had an idea what was going through his mind and she had every intention of being true to her words about being the strong one this time. She stepped back a little more and let go of his face. Dom immediately grabbed her hands and intertwined their fingers as they had been before. She may want to put some distance between them to dim their rising sexual tension but he wasn't going to let her get too far. He knew even she had her limits when it came to him.

She raised her eyebrow at him and gave him that hot-shit grin that had been driving Dom crazy for months. But his tactic seemed to work as he was able to pull her back to him without much resistance. He seemed to be getting a lot of enjoyment reminding her of their close proximity, especially since his head was only slightly above breast level.

"No, I agree with you. You are definitely not a little girl anymore," he growled out seductively. Letty giggled very girlishly but didn't move when Dom pulled her in between his legs and held her loosely in his arms. Her smile grew as she felt him against her again, very much aware of every inch of contact their bodies made. She didn't answer him though. She continued to look into his eyes as her smile faded and she moved tempting lips closer to his. The night had grown a little chilly but there was nothing but heat radiating off of their bodies as they burned for each other. Dom moved his hands down to her hips and pulled her even closer into him, loving the feel of her curves in his grasp.

Letty raised her arms to take his face again in the palms of her hands. He closed his eyes anticipating the sweet taste of her mouth on his. He had so many images in his mind of what he wanted to do to her. But none of that was going to happen. He did have some integrity. He simply wanted one kiss before he had to leave her. She could have her boyfriends or love affairs while he was gone but he wanted one genuine, passionate kiss before any other boy got to her.

It would have been so easy. They could have just leaned in and let their childhood desire for each other take over, and it would no doubt be hot and comforting and utterly wonderful. But Letty had other plans. She was clearly the adult for the evening. Instead of placing her lips against Dom's, which she longed to do as much as him, she eased her lips to his cheek almost to the corner of his mouth. She pressed her lips against his warm skin and felt him jump in surprise. She swore she saw extreme disappointment in his eyes before he closed them again and pressed his lips against her cheek to reciprocate the kiss.

And just like that, Letty was out of his arms and back in her car. Dom simply sat there as he watched her car pull out and head back to their neighborhood. He stayed in the same spot even well over an hour after she left thinking about the things she had told him and the things he needed to do in order to be the man that his father expected of him.

He never even got to say thank you. But he knew Letty didn't need to hear that. Him taking care of his business would be thanks enough. He took one last look at the ocean, at freedom, at his special place...their special place. With a sense of finality, he then walked slowly to his car, got in and pulled away.

To Be Continued...