"Hey," Brian stuck his head inside the living room where Mia was playing with Cici. Dom sat with his arm around Letty's shoulders on the couch, "the reports came in."
Mia, Dom, and Letty looked up at him
"Stefania's report." He said, walking into the room and setting the file down on the coffee table.
"She's still in LA. From what these say," Brian looked over at Letty, "there's never been a report of abuse, hassle, or neglect, everything seems pretty normal. She's a healthy bouncing baby."
Letty nodded, reaching for the document slowly.
She set it on her lap as Mia and Brian gathered around. Dom leaning over to view the documents as she opened the folder.
And there she was. A large picture of the beautiful little Toretto was centered on the front page.
She ran her hand over the side of Stefie's cheek, "Mi princessa…"
Dom all the while kept staring at the photo. This baby was definitely the spitting image of what he use to look like as a baby.
"She's gorgeous!" Mia gushed, running behind the couch to look at the files over Letty's and Dom's shoulders.
The mother in distress sniffed, her chin quivered at the memory of holding her baby.
She felt Dom's grip on her shoulder tighten, but when she turned to look at him. He was staring down at Stefania's photo.
What was he thinking?
Dom himself was at a jumble with his emotions, let alone his thoughts. What else can he say beside what he already knew? He had never met this child. Let alone known it existed in the world until a few hours ago. What he did know, was that he felt un-whole. His missing heart was so far, yet right in front of him. This picture was all he had of her. For now.
He reached out to grab the photo and brought it closer to them.
They didn't speak. They didn't even notice when Brian, Mia, and the baby left.
Both parents were in a world of their own as they stared down at their baby.
"Imagine what it would feel like….to have her here…in our arms." She said slowly, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Soon, Letty."
~~~Next day~~~
"You ready, Lett?" Mia tapped on Dom's door. Spying her childhood friend sitting on a corner of Dom's bed. Stefania's photo still in her grasp.
"….No."
Mia chuckled quietly, "Come on, aren't you happy to be able to get Stefie back?"
"I am…..I just don't know…if I have what it takes anymore, Mi." Letty exhaled waveringly, still looking down at the picture of the two year old.
"What do you mean you don't have what it takes? Letty, you're a mom. You've been a mom for almost three years now. It's not something you'll ever loose, no matter how long apart you've been from her," Mia dropped herself down, balancing herself on her heels, "it's second nature to us. Don't discourage yourself. Alright, now come on. The guys are waiting for us downstairs. And little Cici get's cranky when she's woken up."
Letty looked up at Mia, who had stood back up.
She smiled, "Your right."
"Of course I am!," she smirked and reached for Stefania's picture, "now give me that, and leave it here."
"What? No! I'm taking it with me." Letty's eyes widened when Mia took the picture away
"What's the point when in a couple of hours, your going to have her back in your arms?" Mia asked, setting it on one of Dom's dressers.
She reached towards Letty and grabbed her wrist. Pulling her towards the door and downstairs.
"What took you so long?" Brian asked, carrying his daughter in her car seat on one hand, while he carried a duffel bag on his other shoulder.
"Slow your role, were not in that much of a hurry." Mia rolled her eyes, reaching down to roll their luggage towards their awaiting Tahoe outside.
"Right…" Brian shook his head, following after his wife.
Leaving Dom and Letty by themselves in the foyer.
"You ready?" Dom asked, reaching his hand out to her.
Letty looked down at it before accepting it slowly, "Your sister asked the same thing."
"Oh?," he grabbed there duffle bag from the floor and put it over his shoulder, "and what did you say?"
She stood quiet for a moment, pondering on what her answer had been.
Letty's lip curved into a small smile, "I think I'm ready."
~~~In LA~~~
"I seriously don't know what the hell we were thinking when we all came out in the open together." Letty said, looking over her shoulder any moment she was able to as they made their way through the busy, crowded streets of LA.
She felt a strong and firm hand give hers a gentle squeeze
"Stop worrying, you'll only stress yourself even more. Were fine, Lett." he leant his head down towards her as he whispered in her ear.
"Yeah, your gonna blow our cover." Mia mentioned, tightening her hold on the sleeping baby in her arms.
"Tone it down guys…" Brian muttered, giving his wife a slight tap on her hip as he found their inauspicious ride.
"There."
They all looked towards the customized Honda. Looking exactly like the old Honda Civic's, Dom and Letty use to sport during their heist days.
Letty shook her head, "Nope. No way. I'm not gettin' into that."
Dom looked down at Letty, confused with her adamant behavior towards the car.
"Letty's right, Brian. Why would we get into something like this after everything that's happened. Besides, don't you think we'll get caught in this thing?" Mia asked, looking unsurely at the black car.
"What better way to avoid being noticed, than blending in?" He stated, putting their duffle and luggage bag into the trunk.
"O'Conner, you sure 'bout this?" Dom turned his focus on the younger male, not sure if this was the right way to come about this.
"One-hundred percent positive." He smiled, grabbing Dom's and Letty's duffle and throwing it into the trunk. Slamming it shut.
"Now….who's driving?"
Brian glared at his brother-in-law, "When I asked 'who's driving?' I didn't mean it literally."
Dom looked at Brian through half-lidded eyes. A small smirk showing on his lips
"Would you stop complaining already, jeez…your giving me a headache." Mia narrowed her eyes at her husband who was sitting on the passenger seat with a dark cloud over his head.
Dom tightened his hand on the wheel, shaking his head slowly as he turned his attention back on the road, "Just like a Toretto."
Letty just continued to sit quietly in her seat, staring at the houses they would pass when moving from street to street.
"Where to?" Dom asked Brian, who looked down at the gps annoyingly.
"Turn right at the next stop."
The sound of slamming car doors were heard in front of the many old styled houses in the East side of LA.
They all walked towards their main target, observing the house and its surroundings.
Dom turned to look at each and every person he had come with. But noticed one member missing.
He did a Three-Sixty until he found her still sitting in the car away's from them.
He walked back over to it and opened the door, leaning in to whisper to her questioningly, "What're you waitin' for, Lett?"
She looked up at him with slight anxiety.
His eyes fell with worry, "Hey…"
"I'm….scared."
This shocked him. She had never been one to be scared. Or at least reveal that she was scared.
"Letty….come on, mami. You gotta go get Stefania." He said quietly, grabbing her hand and pulling her out as gently as he could.
Once she was out and in front of the house, she stared at it in fear. It had been a year sense she'd been here. The house had changed. It went from a green house to white. The barren yard was now filled with roses. The tattered and peeled paint from the fence was all but fixed and done.
What if this place was better for her daughter?
What if she couldn't provide this safety that she knew Stefie was living in.
How could a run-away like her, ever hope to becoming a care giving mother like before?
She shook her head negatively, backing away from the yard and towards the car.
But a strong chest stopped her in mid-step, "Where you goin'?"
She turned around frantically, "I can't do this, Dom."
"Yes, you can. Come on, I'll walk you to the door." He whispered, pushing her along with him.
Mia and Brian looked after them worriedly.
Brian had a bad feeling about this and he didn't know why.
He turned to speak to Mia, "Get in the car."
"Huh?" She breathed out, confusion written all over her face.
"Do it…" he continued to whisper, his attention now on Dom who was running back to their car a couple of houses down.
"In the car." was all Dom said as he got in the drivers seat, Brian following suit in the passenger seat.
Dom kept sharp eyes on the shivering woman at the doorstep of the house he had left her in. He was on edge as well. And he didn't know if it was because of the nerves or because it was going to be the first time he would ever see his daughter.
Letty had already rang the door bell to the house.
Ten seconds later, a woman opened the door.
Letty recognized her as the woman who had tended to her two years ago.
The older woman's eyes widened in disbelief and horror.
"Le-Leticia….what are you doing here?"
"Senora Fuentes….I..I came to get Stefie." Letty said unsurely
"You came to get Stefania?," Mrs. Fuentes shook her head, "I'm sorry, mija. But you cannot take Stefie back. She is better off here."
Letty's heart went cold, "What do you mean I can't take her? She's my daughter."
"Yes, that is true. But you are a wanted person, Leticia. Think about it. And I cannot have you on my porch or else I will be considered a felon's accomplice," Mrs. Fuentes peaked her head out her door, looking around to make sure no one was in view, "you need to leave. Now."
"But Mrs. Fuentes. You can't do this. She's mine!" Letty glared, her confidence coming back to her.
Her fire of being a mother without their child burning straight through her.
"I can. And am. You can never have her back, Leticia. You are no good for this little child." Mrs. Fuentes stared sadly at the woman before her.
"Bullshit! She's my daughter!" Letty shouted, pushing passed the woman and into her house.
"Wait! You cannot come in here! This is trespassing! I am calling the police, Leticia!"
Letty continued to hear the old woman' screaming. But she was paying her no mind. She continued to run throughout the house, searching frantically for her daughter.
That's when she heard it. The wail of her darling baby girl.
She breathed out in relief, reaching over to grab her daughter from her toddler bed. Lifting her up in her arms and bringing her close to her chest.
"Mami…" the little girl cried.
A sense of love passed through the now crying mother.
She remembered. She had remembered her mom.
"Mi nina~" Letty whispered.
Common sense came to her quickly as she turned around to look at the room. Grabbing as much essentials as she would need for her baby.
"LETICIA!"
She heard Mrs. Fuentes yell from downstairs.
Letty knew from experience that the old woman had a hard time climbing up stairs. That was a good thing for her. Until she heard said woman on the phone alerting the police.
To make matters worse, her daughter began to feel distressed.
"No mija, it's okay. It's okay, mommy's here." She chanted at Stefania. Hoping to calm her down.
It didn't work. Thanks to the shouting old woman who was now halfway up the stairs.
Letty threw the filled pink bag over her shoulder and held on tight to her daughter. Making her way out of the room confidently.
"Yes, she is right here!" The woman yelled into the phone.
Letty glared
"I am staring at he-" Letty grabbed the phone from her and threw it against the wall. Not caring if it broke or not.
"This is against the law, nina! You will pay for this!" the woman yelled, watching helplessly as Letty made her way as quickly as possible down the stairs and outside towards the car.
"Dom!" She called
Just like her knight and shinning armor, he came.
"Take her. Take her!" Letty shouted, feeling a sense of dread and nervousness come over her.
Dom grabbed her unknowingly, watching Letty's melt down.
"Letty-"
"Go take her to the car, Dominic! Don't stand there staring at me, go! I forgot something back there." she said, throwing the pink bag at him
"The hell you did, get your ass back over here!," Dom shouted, really at a loss of not knowing what to do, "Letty!"
"Dom, give me her!" Mia shouted from inside the car.
Her older brother turned around and looked at Mia.
He ran to her side and passed his daughter over to her.
"Here. Take her and go." he said quickly, giving her the bag and closing the passenger door in the process.
Having already Brian in the drivers side as soon as he got out of the car earlier.
"What! No, get in the car!" Mia yelled, bringing Stefania close to her chest.
"I don't have a choice!," he pointed at his daughter," get 'er out of here, she can't take all of this!"
"No!"
"O'Conner!" he looked over at his brother-in-law, who nodded in understanding.
"DOM!"
He heard Mia shout as Brian swerved out from view.
It wasn't a moment later that he heard the familiar sirens of LA come from a couple of blocks away
"Shit."
"Leticia! Where is she!" the old woman yelled.
Letty continued to ignore her, instead. She made her way up the stairs again and into her daughters room.
"Where is it." she whispered
"LETICIA~!"
Letty rolled her eyes, continuing to turn the room upside down. Hell bent on finding the missing object.
"Come on…." she flipped her daughter's bed, still not finding it.
"Where did I leave it?"
"Letty! We gotta go! There mass cops comin' this way!" she heard Dom as he made his way up the stairs.
"I'm going!" she yelled back, going into the closet and shuffling threw all the set's of clothes.
"There's no way they could've found it!" she whispered furiously
"What are you doin'! Let's go!" Dom shouted at her, reaching to grab her arm but she shrugged him right off.
"Wait!" she looked down at a floor board and dropped herself to the floor. Clawing at a corner with her fingernails.
"Lett!"
"LETICIA! YOU ARE FINISHED!" The old woman called from the entrance of the room.
Dom looked over at her and ran to the door. Slamming it shut in her face."HEY!"
"What are you looking for?" Dom hissed, glaring at the door behind him as the woman pounded repeatedly on it.
"Found it!," she grabbed the shiny object in her hand and put it into her pocket, "Let's go."
Dom sighed and locked the door, "We need another way out. I'm betting all the narc's are almost here. We'll never make it out."
Letty looked down at the floor. "I'm gonna regret this…."
Dom's eyes furrowed in confusion as she walked passed him and towards the door being banged by Mrs. Fuentes in the hallway.
"LETICIA! GET OUT OF STEFANIA'S ROOM! WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER!"
Letty glared, hardening her heart as she threw the door wide open, "She ain't yours!"
The woman tried to block Letty, but Letty got a good grip on the older woman threw her into the wall across from them.
"Let's go." Letty whispered coldly, not waiting for Dom's reaction to what she had just done.
She knocked the poor old woman unconscious.
"We still have the problem of going by foot." Dom said, hopping down the stairs behind Letty."No we don't," she reached towards small glass bowl filled with a pair of keys, "Mrs. Fuentes always kept our keys in here. These are to the keys to a Cadi…you think you can handle it?"
Dom scoffed and grabbed the keys, "Right…"
Letty gave him a small smirk and ran into the opened the garage door and jumped into the car.
Accelerating out of the garage as Letty ran out to the car and getting in.
Just as Dom made it out of the driveway, four cop cars came at them from each side.
Letty held in her breath as the officers got out of their cars and hid behind their open doors. Guns at the ready.
"Dom…" she said quietly, not taking her eyes off of the cops.
He revved the engine once. Staring the LAP down.
"Dom…." Letty repeated again.
Twice.
She turned to look at him quickly, "Dom!"
And he let go of the break, letting the Cadi go to its maximum speed qualifications.
Letty hung onto the arm rest and car seat tightly, watching themselves zero into the police cars.
"Hang on to something." He muttered, tightening his hold on the leather steering wheel.
She reached for her seat belt as fast as she could. Strapping it on not a moment to soon as the car they inhabited came into full contact with the squad cars.
Luckily, that didn't brush off the old car they were in. In fact, it continued on making its way passed the officers.
"Damn…" Letty whispered, loosening her hold on the arm rest and seat as she sighed in relief.
"Don't go cutting your losses just yet." his under toned voice indicated they weren't out of the dark yet.
She looked into her side view mirror and noticed the on coming squad cars, "Son of a bitch!"
Dom's lip quirked as the squad cars neared, their sirens in full hearing range, "I don't think they liked that, Letty."
Letty turned to look at him, a smirk of her own beginning to form.
She reached towards him, placing her hand at the crook of the back of his neck.
"They can kiss my Latin ass, papa."
Dom looked over at her, reaching to steal a sharp kiss, "That's my ass."
(Aaaaaaaand cue the engine revving sound effects!….Then Black screen! XD I'm just kidding. The story ain't over just yet!)
"I can't believe. You. Listened. To. Him!." Mia yelled angrily at her husband who was sitting quietly on the hard queen bed.
They had stopped at a motel a couple of miles away from Mrs. Fuentes's house. Waiting anxiously for any indication that Dom and Letty were alright.
"Stop yelling, the kids are asleep!" he hissed quietly at her, looking over at his daughter and niece snoring lightly away on the other queen bed in the small room.
She stopped herself short, she too turned to look at the girls and sighed, "Alright, I'm sorry. It's just….I'm nervous. What if something bad happened to them?"
Brain exhaled a large breath, "Were talking about your brother and Letty, those two can get themselves out of anything so long as their together. Stop worrying."
Mia scrunched her nose at the blonde before peeking out the window worriedly.
"Mia…sit. Down. They'll call when their in the clear." He stated, reaching to grab the remote control from the dresser next to the bed. But groaned when he noticed it was screwed down to the dresser.
What the hell? Were the manager's of this place really worried that people would steal their damned remotes?
He sighed annoyingly and pushed down on the power button. Dreading having to keep his hand in mid air just so he wouldn't touch any other buttons and keep flipping through the channels.
"Dom…Lett..," Mia whispered, turning her head slightly in her niece's direction, "please be safe."
"STOP! PULL YOUR VEHICLE OVER!"
The sergeant of the brigade ordered.
"Not happenin'" Dom said curtly, pulling the e-break and powering over. Drifting into a sharp cornered street.
The back window to the Cadi shattered with a loud cry.
"The fuck!," Letty duck down, "their shooting now!"
"Get down!" Dom ordered, grabbing her by her shoulder and pushing her down from the range of flying bullets.
She all but shouted out loud when she felt the pain of her previous wound.
Dom growled, not liking this distress Letty was in.
He turned another corner and into an alleyway.
"Where is it….," he looked with precision at every opened street they passed. Not moving from his onward path of the alleyway's.
Her eyes widened as more bullets came flying through the back window, "DOM!"
"I'm fine." he growled, moving his hand from her shoulder and onto the e-brake again. Turning early at a known 710 intersection that began the high way of Los Angeles.
He was hoping he would loose them in the confusion of traffic. And he did. One by one, all squad car drivers made mistakes in his swerving and crashed into other vehicles or concrete barrier walls.
"You can get up." He whispered, changing gears to speed up
She stood up slowly, leaning her hand on the seat cushion. Clutching his hip with her other hand.
Dom looked over at her strangely, "Hey…."
She didn't reply, just continued to clutch her hip.
"Letty." he called again.
"What…." she breathed out through flared nostrils.
"You alright?" He asked as he finished changing into last gear before lifting his hand to her chin. Forcing her to look his way.
"I'm….tch…" she shook her head, leaning her head back heavily against the head rest of the seat.
"Hold on, Lett…." he looked her over, watching her fingers grip her hip tighter every few seconds
He reached into his pocket and took his cell out. Opening it and dialing Brian's speed dial.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"O'Conner."
Brian jumped up from his laid down position on the bed.
He had just received Dom's call and he know's where their at.
Brian looked over at the sleeping girls of his life.
He shook his head, at least his new little niece was a heavy sleeper. His other two though, ehh…not so much.
At least…not all the time. Thank god this was one of those moments.
He grabbed the room key and opened the door quietly.
Making sure to shut it just as much when he stepped out.
Now all he had to do was wait.
"What the hell do you mean, 'you lost them!'," a tall and tanned commanding officer shouted at his phone, "you don't chase after wanted convicts like that and expect to come back empty handed! Find them or else my boot and your asses are all gonna become close friends!"
His second in command stared quietly at his commander. Clearly use to the tantrums his higher rank threw.
"You okay, chief?"
Said chief turned to look sharply at his second in command, "No. I'm not alright, do you see me smiling? Laughing? What is it that gave it away?" He slammed his fists into the steel table in front of him. Denting the table that never stood a chance against his brute strength and walked out of the room to go pester a lower rank soldier.
His second in command sighed, looking at the table he had to replace, yet again.
"Officer Wilkins!" The commander second in command called out.
"Yes, commander." Officer Wilkins stepped up quickly towards the older males commands.
"Get Commander Hobbs a Fingerhut catalog. I'm not getting my head chewed off for choosing a damn table that doesn't go with the interior of this forsaken room." he snapped, stomping out of the room.
The lower ranked officer stared at his commanding officer strangely.
Did he even want to know how he knew about Fingerhut home catalogs?
The answer was no.
"So…you did all that," Brian gestured in a circle with his finger at what Dom had just explained to him, "in the time we split up?"
"Did I just tell you all that to give you hopes and dreams, O'Conner?" Dom replied, raising an eyebrow and turning to look at all the women asleep on the beds.
"Tch, no," Brian chuckled, "I'd rather stick to what we went through when you guys were out playing grand theft auto."
"Oh," Dom nodded his head back in Brian's direction, "and what was that?"
"Found this place and put the girls to sleep."
"Don't let the excitement get to ya, Brian." Dom said dryly.
"I don't need the excitement of burning rubber to make my day anymore, Dom." Brian explained
"You've gone soft on me, buster."
"You can't live your life every quarter of a mile anymore, Dominic. You've got your family back now. Settling down should be setting into your brain soon." Brian taunted.
"Shut up…," he groaned, "I need some booze."
"That too.."
"I ain't turning into Betty freakin' Crocker just because I found out Letty is alive and that I have a kid. I'm still me." Dome narrowed his eyes at his brother-in-law.
"There's a time in everyone's life, Dom. That they need to realize what's there and what isn't. You aren't going to be able to race your entire life to make a living. Letty and your daughter don't deserve having to live their life on the run the way they do now….,"he sighed, "the way we all live now."
Dom pondered on the words of his brother-in-law before chucking his head back in a small snort, "When'd you become so wise, O'Conner?"
"Not 'Wise'," Brian grinned, leaning forward and resting his elbows against his legs, "just smart."
"Now's not the time for jokes, Brian," Dom groaned as he stood up, "it's time to get some shut eye. We got a long day tomorrow."
"Mami…" Stefania whispered, sighing into her mothers neck.
"Stefie" Letty breathed in her daughter's scent. Taking in as much as she could at the moment, trying to make up for everything she's missed.
"See….she didn't forget you," Mia called from behind them, "a child never forgets their parents, just like a parent, doesn't forget to be one."
Letty looked up at Mia with a small smile, "You're right. Thanks, Mia."
"No problem, I'm here whenever you need motherly advice." Mia smiled widely.
"Alright, pull it back a notch why don't 'cha. I'm a mom, not a sap." Letty smirked, pushing her daughter away from her and tickling her stomach.
The small two year old erupted in laughter at the contact.
"Stop being mean and get to your motherly duties." Mia stuck her tongue out at her friend and walked towards her own daughter.
"Mami…I need pee-pee." Stefania said
Letty looked at her astounded, "You…know how to use the bathroom?"
The little girl nodded, and started dancing around. Trying to hold it in.
"Come on." Letty grabbed her daughter and brought her to the bathroom as fast as she could.
Finally taking notice in the little princess underwear her daughter was wearing underneath her dress.
She set her daughter on the toilet seat, staring sadly at the floor.
How much more had she missed?
Wasn't it too early for her to be potty trained?
She hasn't even started school yet.
Too soon, she was shaken out of her thoughts, "Mami..Ays done." (I is done-I'm done.)
She jerked her head up and then back down to look at her daughter, already standing on the floor. Her underwear pulled up and dressed pulled down.
"You cleaned yourself…"
"Uh huh!," The little girl smiled brightly, "ays big girl!" (Is a big girl-I'm a big girl)
The little girl skipped out of the bathroom, leaving her mother to her thoughts.
'She can clean herself too….'
What was she good for then?
Soon enough, she'll be off in school. Learning the alphabet, numbers, how to write, and be more independent of herself.
"Hey…" she heard beside looked up and noticed Dom standing there.
"What's wrong?"
She looked down at the white floor, "Stefania's potty trained…."
Dom stared at her questioningly, "I sense that's a bad thing for you."
"I've missed out an…entire year of my daughter's life," she shook her head dejectedly, "I wasn't there when she was weaned off of her pacifier, of her baby bottle. Not even when she started to learn how to use the bathroom."
Dom sighed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, not really knowing how to come about this.
And almost as if she had read his thoughts, she responded.
"Just hold me….I need to feel your arms around me again." she whispered, stepping into said muscular arms.
He didn't feel none too guilty about it at all.
"So where are we going from here?" Mia asked, breastfeeding Cici as both Dom and Brian paced the room.
Letty walked quietly over to Mia's side, helping to cover her with the struggling blanket.
"Thanks" Mia smiled
Letty gave a small smile in return, walking back towards her daughter.
Picking her up and laying her across her arms. Her small head resting against her arm. And her hand laying on her mothers chest.
"The house was surely already checked out." Brian stated
"We can't go back." Dom concluded, shaking his head
"Then what are we gonna do?," Mia looked worriedly at the men of her life, "all of our stuff is there….what about Elena…she's considered our accomplice too, Dom. Even thought I'm happy that you and Letty have settled things, and we have little Stefania. That still isn't enough to let her go off on her own."
Letty stiffened at the suggestion.
A part of her didn't give a damn about Elena and agreed with the idea of leaving her behind.
While the rational part of her said that, she didn't deserve it. Cause the girl didn't really do anything. It wasn't her fault Letty was pronounced dead and fell in love with Dom. Then again, it wasn't Letty's fault either.
Letty sighed, 'Decisions, decisions'
Dom turned and met his gaze with Letty's.
Truth was, they hadn't settled anything. The moment they had come in contact with their daughter. Everything that had happened before, went out the window.
Dom shook his head, right now that wasn't his problem. He had to find out a way to keep his family safe…his new family.
"One of us has to go, Dom. Like I said, they probably already staked the house. Their not gonna go back on a whim. We've already been reported here in LA. What in their right minds would make them think we'd go back? That's the first place we wouldn't want to be" Brian explained and Dom groaned
"Why did ya have to be a cop for, O'Conner? I would have gladly token a damn plumber into the family." Dom rubbed a hand down his face, tiredly.
Brian smirked, "What? Too much brain for yah?"
Dom stared at him expressionlessly, "Not even close."
"Brian's got a point." Letty piped up, not moving her gaze from her daughter.
"No, he doesn't. We are not going back and that's final." Dom stated, stomping towards the bathroom and shutting the door.
"I can't believe I'm letting you do this." Dom grumbled, crossing his arms and watching as Brian checked his phone for service.
"I'm the only one that'll know if something has been goin' on at the house."
Dom rolled his eyes, "Don't forget us little Toretto people down here, O'Conner. You know your married to one, and related by law to the other. Don't push it."
Brian sighed, "Right…"
Dom's nostrils flared as he slapped the back of Brian's head, "Youch!…." Brian rubbed his head gently, a grin of his face, "you hit like a girl."
"You wanna test that theory? Or do you wanna live to be able to go back to Berlin?"
"Nooo, thank you~" he shook his head, putting on his converse.
"Good answer."
Mia rolled her eyes at the conversation coming from inside the motel room.
Her and Letty were sitting outside, soaking up a bit in the LA sun with their kids at their sides.
"Boys….can't live with them.."
"Can't live without 'em." Letty chuckled, finishing Mia's sentence.
"We just quoted, Britney Spears….." Mia put on a thoughtful look on her face.
"Great….," Letty grimaced, "for the record. I didn't kno'"
Mia laughed, "Anyways…mind telling me what the heck happened back at that lady's house?"
Letty's small smile fell, "Nothing. I just needed something that belonged to me is all."
"That something is….?" Mia asked, trailing off for her to finish her sentence.
Letty's smile came back as she reached into her front pocket and took out her most valued treasure, "This."
Mia's eyes flashed at the silver cross chain hanging in her view.
"Huh…." Mia reached over and took it from Letty, running her thumb over it in wonder, "you had this?"
She narrowed her eyes at it.
Didn't Dom have this around his neck? How did Letty have it?
Letty cleared her throat. Not really….comfortable with being emotional anymore. She's done enough of that these past few days and she's tired of it.
"Yeah…I took had it on me the night my car flipped over after Fenix and I bumped tires.." she explained.
Mia's attention departed from the necklace as she gave the necklace back to her and focused with the conversation at hand.
Besides, it can't be a coincidence. Right?
"So…it was Fenix that did that to you."
Letty nodded, "That's all I really remember during that moment. I don't really know how I got to Mrs. Fuentes's house. But I did. A month later I found out I was pregnant. I didn't know how the hell that was possible, what with the crash and all. But it happened," she nodded, squeezing her lips together, "and I'm greatful for it," she looked softly at her daughter, who was playing with Dom's phone, "I know I said before that kids weren't really my thing and if along the road god decided to give us one, then fine. But the emotion I felt when I found out I was pregnant….it's the best feeling in the world, you know."
Mia hummed, "I know exactly what you mean. It took me a while to tell Brian and Dom about it thought. When we were in Rio actually. I had been two months pregnant then," her smile turned into a relieved sigh, "thank god those month's are over."
Letty shook her head, turning to see what her daughter was doing with her daddy's phone.
"Stefie…," Letty's eyebrows furrowed, "what are you doin', mama's?"
She reached over to grab the cell and looked at the screen.
E
01:24:54
"Stefania, who did you call?," she brought the phone to her ear, "hello?"
The sound of shuffling came in the background, but no one answered.
"Hellooo?" she said again
Nothing.
"Hn," Letty hung up the phone and gave it back to her daughter, "no more calling, you understand?"
Stefania just nodded her head, mouth wide open as she accepted the cell and began messing with it again.
"Who was it?" Mia asked, setting Cici back in place on her lap
"Don' kno'," Letty looked back over at her, "Dom has the name under 'E'"
Mia smiled at her, dropping it the moment Letty looked away.
Then the sound of clicking came from Stefie.
Both Letty and Mia looked at the two year old this time.
"What're ya doin' now, kid?" Letty reached for the cell again, seeing the screen on camera mode.
Letty looked at her daughter questioningly, "How'd you get on there?"
Stefania just shrugged and stood up. Wiping her dress and walking inside their motel room with her father and uncle.
Letty stared unbelievingly behind her daughter, "This kid…," she turned to look at Mia, "she was on the camera."
Mia giggled, "Kids learn fast, Lett."
"Don't I kno' it…." she whispered, not liking that at all.
"Hey, don't let it get you down. You still have the rest of her life to see."
"Hate to rain on your parade, Mi….," she looked sadly at her friend, "but I may not even be free to see that…who knows…maybe not even al-"
"Stop saying things like that! You know it's a sin. Don't mention it again." Mia said stiffly.
Letty sighed, "Your right, girl. I'm sorry…I'm just tired. I've been on the run for two years…..and I just wanna go back to how things use to be. When we'd get home from races and party. When Dom would hug me when he knew I needed it," her eyes fell downcast, watching an ant crawl over the cement they were sitting on, "I never had to say anythin', he would just know….now, things are different."
Mia looked at Letty confusedly, "I thought you and Dom were fine."
Letty sighed, "Were fine, Mi. Not like before, tho'. I'm scared shitless that it's never gonna be like that again. That he'd chose that girl over me."
Mia thought sadly over the new found information. She had never really thought about it. She just automatically thought that Dom and Letty started where they had left off. Where they were in love and still together.
"Let-…." Mia opened her mouth, but shut it a second later.
Letty chuckled, "I'm not expectin' you to go against someone who's been there for you, when I couldn't, Mia."
"It's not like that!" she said rashly
Letty just looked at her through tired eyes, but didn't respond to her burst.
"It's just….after Dom found out you were gone. He wasn't the same. He took his grief and turned it into determination," Mia explained, "determination to find your killer. After doing that, we were on the run again. We hit, Rio and got into some trouble with a messed up businessman from over there. Reyes was his name. Elena was put under the division who were hunting us down. When they found us, we ran. Naturally," Mia shrugged, "we got separated from Dom and we headed our own way. Dom was caught by Elena-she could have token him to prison, but she didn't-"
"I find that highly unlikely, Mia." Letty snorted
"Okay, your right. But still, she didn't. She let him go. Later on, we began doing more heists to steal from Reyes. Doing things to let him know we were coming towards him. Elena knew who we were…she believed in us. In the end, we were on the same side with a Diplomatic commander, Hobbs. We took over everything Reyes had and ran with the money. Elena followed us soon after. She's not a bad person, Lett. She's just, hopelessly in love."
Letty turned her head away from Mia, "I get it, Mi."
"Do you?…I'm not objecting to you and Dom being together again. In fact, I wish it'd be like old times. But apparently that's not happening?…I don't get it, Letty. You both love each other, why….?," she shook her head unknowingly
"Because your brother doesn't just love me, Mia." Letty explained, settling herself more comfortably so her wound won't hurt her as much.
Mia exhaled through her nose, "Can you….blame him. I mean, he thought you were gone. Moving on….isn't that what you would have wanted?"
"Of course it's what I would have wanted! I would have wanted him to be happy. But life's a bitch and it decided to play mind games with all of us and bring me back! I can't help that!" Letty stood herself up slowly, again mindful of the now throbbing cut.
"I didn't mean it like that, Letty." Mia clarified defensively, standing up right after her.
Letty clasped her head in attempts to calm herself, "I know…I know, okay. I'm sorry."
"Yo, what's goin' on?" Dom's voice came from the room.
Mia looked up at her brother, "Nothing serious, go back inside. This is girl talk."
Dom looked over at Letty leaning against a pole, not even look his way.
"Letty….," he stepped forward, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing." she whispered, still looking at a pot filled with dried flowers
Mia looked at them worriedly before getting a good hold of Cici and taking her inside, shutting the door behind her.
"Why do I get the feelin' your lyin'?" Dom cleared his throat, stepping in front of her.
"I'm not, Dom," she sighed, turning her head away from him again, "can we drop this and get going. I'm tired and I need to feed Stefania something before it gets too late."
Dom leaned his face closer to hers, setting his hand above her head and on the pole, "The funny thing about knowing a person for more than nine years, it helps you kno' them better, then they kno' themselves. Now the funny thing about dating a person for six years, tells 'em a lot more. So why're you lyin' to me, now?"
She turned her head and stared his down, "I didn't ask for an explanation. Mia gave it to me. She told me 'bout Elena. How you met and how you got together. Plus the happily ever after in Berlin. There, you kno' what we talked 'bout. Now can I leave? We have a hungry daughter to feed."
He grabbed onto her shoulder, stopping her from making any movements away from him.
"Why do you have to do this? Why do you have to rain down on everything that goes on?," he clicked his tongue, "why?"
"I already told you before, Dominic. If you didn't want me around. If you didn't want to hear my opinions, then why have me stick around? Why!"
"Because you're the mother of my kid, Letty! Your family. I fucken' love you! Isn't that reason enough to want you by my side!" he growled pushing himself away from her and turning to lean against the stoned wall of the motel.
"For you…," she said quietly, "maybe, but for me," she shook her head, "no."
"Why?," his jaw clenched, "….that's all I'm asking, why."
"How do you expect me to give you my heart again, if I can't have all of yours, huh?," She asked, upset by his allegations, "you answer me that, Dom."
He groaned, sliding himself down the wall and closing his eyes. Rubbing his head harshly at her reasoning.
And that's how they stood outside for five minutes.
"Give me time….," he whispered, still not moving from his spot on the floor, "please."
She let her body slide down the pole exhaustedly as well, "Dom, I'm not judging you for loving her. I'm just tired of being pushed by you to get back together with you. We have a daughter. But is that the only reason you wanna be with me? 'Cause you have an obligation?""No."
"Say it, then….," she raised her eyes to meet his, "say it, again."
She didn't even have to say what 'it' was. He already knew.
He stood up and walked to her side. Reaching down to lift her up and bring her body close to his.
His eyes followed her every line of movement before whispering the sweet words she's been dying to hear sense Berlin, "I love you…."
"I'm ready…" Brian said, turning around as he heard the sound of footsteps coming into the room.
Mia sighed, "Well, your going to have to wait, Letty and Dom are talking it out."
Brian shook his head, "Great….another hour of arguing."
She raised an eyebrow at his assumption, "I thought I was the one that said their always has to be yelling when those two are together?"
"Oh, you are. I'm just sayin'" Brian grinned, grabbing ear piece from the dresser and putting it in his ear.
"Do I even want to know how you got all of this equipment?" she asked, leaning against one of the large dressers.
"I borrowed them."
"Right…."
~~~Berlin~~~
"See…I was right." Brian smiled, opening the glass door to their home.
"How can I see, when I'm at a five-hundred meter radius from the house?" Dom retorted through his microphone eared piece.
"I said to get hidden," Brian spat, walking diligently through the darkened hall, "not be on the other side of the damn city!"
"Hn, you punkin' out, O'Conner?"
"Nah, that ain't it."
"Just get to work"
"What'd you find?" Dom asked, watching as his brother-in-law took off his vest and threw it on the floor in the passenger seat.
"Nothing. The house is empty, aside from all the essentials that came with it." Brian sighed
"Everything…." Mia whispered
"So what are we gonna do now?" Letty asked, tightening her embrace around her Stefania.
"Obviously, they've already put two and two. They know Letty's with us," Brian shook his head, "the stakes are higher than ever now."
"Stop talken' like a quitter, O'Conner. If I had known you were really a buster, your ass wouldn't 'ave been even 3 feet from my sister back then. Now, suck it up and let's think." Dom glared at the blonde and turned back to concentrate on a plan.
Mia walked over to Brian and patted him on the back, giving him an encouraging smile. To which he returned.
He sighed, "Alright. So …what'd we got?"
"This. Is your plan?," Letty stared crazily at Dom as they stopped in front of the U.S. DSS building, "are you out of your damned mind!"
"Possible." Mia snorted, leaning herself forward to stick her head in between Dom and Brian.
"No," Dom let his arm slap down onto the arm rest of the drivers seat, "I have something that's important to Hobbs, he can't let this deal go."
"What…else," Brian looked incredulously at the older male, "could we have? If anything, we owe the big guy for letting us go a year ago."
Dom definitely had everyone's attention now, "He can't afford the willing release of US's most wanted to go out into the public. That's how we'll be able to come into an agreement."
"How are you so sure he'll take the bait and not backstab you then?" Letty muttered, staring blankly at the large glass building covered from left to right, with their proud American flags.
"Just trust me will, ya?" Dom leant his head back against the head rest.
"No." the tall dark, bald man glared coldly with his hands clasped in front of him. The steel table in front of him being the only thing separating him from the other tall bald man.
"You don't wanna cross me, detective." Dom said calmly
"I ain't a detective, Toretto. Now what'll happen if I don't meet your terms? Will you give me a sad face on my report card to give to my mom?" The commanding officer mocked
Dom chuckled, "That'll be the least of your worries. Get us the information I want, and an undisclosed location for my family and I. Then your little slip up in Rio won't be released to the media."
Hobbs glare turned even more vicious, "I give you a break and this is how you repay me?"
"The world ain't filled with rainbows and unicorns, commander. You more than anyone, should kno' that." Dom replied back, his calm façade working to it's fullest potential.
"I'm the first to know that. I'm the one that's taking the horns off of the damn horses in this world," He spat, standing up and walking around towards Dom, "this is your last chance, you've got your ticket out. But'cha ain't goin' free forever Toretto. You better remember that."
Dom smirked as he heard the door to the interrogation room slam shut.
Mia's eyes widened as she seen the tall form of her brother in view ahead of them. She slapped Brian's arm repeatedly to wake him up from his drowsed state
"Ow, what!" he hissed
"Dom made it." she said, still not taking her eyes off Dom when he neared the car.
Brian sat himself up right as his brother-in-law opened the door to the drivers side and got in.
"What do you think your doin' dosing off right now?" Dom's eyes furrowed, starting the car.
"I wasn't asleep. I was resting my eyes." he retorted
"What'd he say." Letty asked, she too leaning herself towards Dom in question.
"Deals done."
Brian's eyes widened, "No, way."
Dom tilted his head in the younger mans direction before slapping his left hand on the steering wheel. Not removing it as he pointed at the black SUV's in front of them, "Is that proof enough for you?"
Mia looked around their car, noticing they were now being surrounded by those same SUV's, "No. That's just showing me that we've been set up."
Dom rolled his eyes and stepped on his accelerator as the three SUV's in front of them began moving out of DSS HQ.
"So where are we off too?" Brian asked, not moving his sights from the SUV driving beside him.
"Don't know." Dom replied, narrowing his eyes slightly at the SUV on his side. Though they made a pact. He still didn't like being near cops.
"….Were basically on a goose chase. And were the geese lost in the middle?" Mia asked
Dom scrunched his nose at the metaphor his sister had come up with, "No. I already told you, were going somewhere safe. That's all you need to know. Hobbs is a determined man, doesn't matter if he's part of the law or not. He'll keep his word, for his image."
Letty sighed, rubbing her temple at the sun coming through the tinted window.
"Mami….," Stefania called, tapping her mom's arm with her small hand
"What is it, Stefie?" Letty whispered, looking over at the little girl in her arms.
"Ambre…" she pointed to her widely open mouth.
Letty looked sadly at her daughter, "Mija…we'll get something to eat when we get home, okay."
The little two year old shook her head, "Ambre."
"Here," Mia sat herself back and reached for her purse, "I have some powdered donuts I bought at one of the vending machines back at the motel."
Letty grabbed them from her and opened the bag for Stefie, "Thanks, girl."
"No problem" Mia smiled, slipping her hand towards the donut bag and grabbing a donut for herself.
Letty's face went somber, staring out at the SUV beside them.
Not noticing Dom staring at her through the rearview mirror. He knew what she was thinking. She's shutting herself down and setting herself into a lost state of mind. He couldn't let her do that.
"Letty…," he called, his eyes still looking at the mirror.
She glimpsed at the rearview mirror and met Dom's gaze, "it's okay."
Letty nodded, now looking down at Stefania eating the away at the donuts happily.
All eight SUV's came to a hault in a hidden area surrounded by woods upon woods.
Dom also stopped, turning off the ignition and got out of the Honda.
Watching as Hobbs did the same from one of the three SUV's behind them.
"Here you have it, Toretto. One nice luxury house with a built in Satellite television system. You and your 'family' keep your trap shut. 'nd you'll be safe."
Dom kept smirking at the clearly pissed off commanding officer.
Hobbs turned to grab a set of keys from an officer and threw them over to Dom, "Just know that once your out of this forest. Your ass is mine."
Brian hid a smile at the reference, just sticking his pockets into his jeans.
All the while, Mia and the girls stayed behind the boys.
Letty made her way up front next to Dom.
"Of course you'd want his ass. I don't trust you for shit Hobbs. What happened two years ago proved that." she glared.
Hobbs turned to look at the woman a couple of feet away from him, "Do I know you?"
Dom stared at Letty with confusion written in his eyes, "Letty."
"You weren't in direct command of the infiltration to the Military base a year ago. But you were one of the bastards the orchestrated it. You aren't as straight with the law as you make yourself to be." Letty growled, taking a step towards the big man. But was pulled back by Dom.
Hobbs tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes with slight wonder at the woman before him, "Look here little lady, no one's innocent in the world. We gotta do what we gotta do to survive. Ever heard a story of a wolf and the three piggy's? That's the only reason I'm letting you go," he turned his focus back on Dom, "Keep your woman in line, Toretto. Or we'll be facing more consequences than necessary," he turned and walked away towards his SUV, "you've got a week to find yourself another place to run. Or else your all mine. You hear me."
He slammed the door shut to the SUV and ordered all troops to recede.
Letty watched stiffly as all of the SUV's made their way out of her line of sight.
"Lett….what was that about?" Mia asked, stepping forward and resting a hand on Letty's shoulder.
Letty stayed pensively for a moment, "He's the reason why I'm on the run. Why didn't I notice it before?"
Dom took a step toward her, inclining his head down low to watch her face to face, "What do you mean?"
Letty exhaled, "He was one of the troops in part control of my group of convicts. We were ordered to jack some top secret…I don't know what the hell it was. But we got it and took it to them. Before we went back to base. There were FED's everywhere. We were blamed for stealing government property. I had, had a bad feelin' that day. I looked around for one of the guys in charge of our infiltration. I didn't find anybody. But that face….," Letty shook her head, "I'll never forget it."
Brian walked over to Mia, wrapping his arm around her elbow, listening in on the conversation.
"What'd he do, Letty." Dom's eyes narrowed at the thought of what that asshole could have done to her.
"He's the one that took Stefania away from me for good."
"What."
The sound of an angry-no pissed off man did not ring lightly on anyone in that vicinity.
Letty felt the anger radiate from him and she did nothing to stop it.
"The year I left Stefania at Mrs. Fuentes's house. I regretted it. I did the job of stealin' the damn top secret package, thinkin' about the money I would get….all just to see Stefie again. But when I got back to LA. Hobbs was standing a couple of houses down from Mrs. Fuentes's. He wouldn't let me near her. He said unless I wanted to put Stefania under child serves to be selected under a corrupted home. Then I had to leave…and not come back," she sighed, "I didn't doubt the son of a bitch for a moment. The rest of the year, I kept on doing more heists. The most recent one bein' in Berlin. And that's what led me here."
"I didn't remember who he was at that time. He was just some fucker who was in the way of seeing my kid. I realized today….he's the one responsible for my fuckin' misery." Letty hissed, clenching her fists until her knuckles shaded to white.
The silence after that was so thick, that it had Mia, even Brian nervous.
"We….should take this inside," Brian said quietly, "it's getting late."
Letty looked up at the sky, finally taking notice in the sun lowering over the horizon.
"Brian…get Stefie will you" Mia turned to look at her husband with Cici, still asleep in her arms.
He nodded and reached down for the little girl that was staring at Dom and Letty just stand there.
"Come on, little one."
"Dom…." Letty called softly, looking over his entire posture. Noticing his figure still stiff as when she started explaining her tale of Hobbs.
"Dom. Let's get inside."
He reached out quickly to clasp her wrist, "It's my fault….ain't it."
She swallowed back a lump at the back of her throat, "Things happen for a reason. It doesn't matter any more.""It matters to me!," he snapped his head in her direction, "all this time. I know you've held some sort of hatred for me, Lett. You're life's been hell. And what 'bout me? I suffered for you, but I still moved on!," he let go of her wrist and turned around, "I had a life with my family…..while you suffered alone."
Letty stared down at the ground, "A life…without pain, wouldn't be called a life."
"I can deal with the pain," He turned his body back around to look at her, "but I can't deal with the fact that your feeling pain. All because of my decision two years ago!""And what the hell are you gonna do about it now, huh?," she narrowed her eyes at him, taking a step toward the angry man, "there's nothing you can change, Dominic. You said it before, I was holding us back! I fuckin' get it, okay! But were okay….," she lowered her voice, turning to look at their temporary house, "we've got something to live by…a roof over our heads, food, clothes, and our family, Dom."
Dom breathed in and out heavily. Releasing his anger out a quarter at a time.
"Now I'm the one askin' you to take me back," she took another step forward, tilting her head upwards to near his, "can we be happy….like this."
He closed his eyes, another person coming into his mind. But as quickly as that person came, they went.
He nodded, "Yeah…."
She released a sigh of release, sliding her hands up from his chest, to around his neck.
Testing out every curve and crevice of his body. Reminiscing the body that use to be-is hers.
"Kiss me, papa."
He focused his eyes onto hers, waiting for any sign of her backing out.
When he found none, he licked his lips. Lowering his head slowly down to meet her lips.
The feel of having skin, upon skin contact once again was euphoric. The simple touches and hugs from before suddenly weren't enough for them.
How had they gone…the entire length sense they got together again without doing this?
She gripped his neck hard, pushing his head more closer to hers.
While he wrapped his arm around her upper back, mindful of her hip. The other hand at her face, caressing her cheek. Manipulating their tempos in whatever way he desired.
"So….are they together again or not?" Brian asked, spying on the outside couple in the middle of their now heated make-out session.
"With them," Mia snorted, spying with her equally enthralled husband at the window, "who knows."
Brian backed away from the window, looking at Mia strangely, "Sense when are you a pessimist?"
Mia sighed, also moving away from the window, "Sense I've been practically twenty-four hours without sleep."
He sighed along with her, walking over to Mia and rubbing her shoulders, "This is taking it's toll on you, isn' it."
"I don't know….maybe." she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his hands kneading through her tense muscles.
"Come on, let's go look for a room and put Cici to bed," he whispered, looking down at his niece who was snooping through Mia's purse for more donuts, "I think Stefie's still hungry."
A very pointless ending. But at least we know that Dom and Letty have rekindled ^^ How'd it go for me?