Two

Dom woke slowly the next morning. It had taken him a long time to get back to sleep after he left Kylie. He'd kept thinking about how frightened she was, how small and alone she'd appeared in the bed last night. He wanted nothing more than to hold her close and tell her everything would be alright, but he couldn't. She wasn't his to comfort, at least not any more than he'd done last night. If he acted on his desires it would probably scare her even more. Sighing, he climbed from the bed and strode out into the hall. He smiled as Kylie slowly came out of her room, too.

Downstairs they joined Lexie, Angel and Jesse at the table while Rome stood at the stove making a huge breakfast. He had bacon in one pan, eggs in another, and pancakes in a third. Dom got up and headed to the coffee pot. Pouring himself a cup he asked Kylie if she'd like one. Before she could answer Mia told him she like tea from the doorway. Brian added that he'd take a cup, while Mia went to the frig and pulled out milk and juice. Kylie jumped up to help her. Soon the noise level rose with good natured teasing. By the time Vince, Rachel, Leon and Lydia joined them it was like a party. Kylie was amazed. She had never known families could be like this. After breakfast the guys cleaned up and then everyone went off to their own activities.

Since Kylie had told Dom she wanted to do something in exchange for her staying with them he had taken her to the garage with him. She was going to answer the phone and help with scheduling jobs, ordering parts and keeping records. Dom showed her around and let her check things out while he went to work installing neon lights on a dodge charger. As the morning flew by several of the others came and went from the garage. When Jesse arrived he went over the computer with Kylie. She spent the rest of the morning familiarizing herself with it's various programs.

At noon Dom came into the office and asked Kylie if she was ready for lunch. She agreed and he led her out through the garage. He told Leon that he was leaving for the day and asked Angel to man the office. Kylie looked at him questioningly.

"Don't ask, it's a surprise," Dom told her grinning.

"OK," she replied instinctively trusting him. For some reason he made her feel safe, protected, and cared-for.

Kylie starred at Dom when he pulled into a parking spot and turned the car off. "Here?" she began when he came around to open her door.

"Hey! No questions, remember?" he reprimanded as he led her toward the entrance of the large building in front of them.

He held the door open for her and then slipped his arm possessively around her waist as they entered the air conditioned mall. He guided her past stores and kiosks to the food court. They wound their way amongst the tables until they found a free one.

"What do you feel like?" Dom asked sitting opposite her.

"Dom, what are we doing here?" she asked ignoring his question.

"Having lunch, if you ever tell me what you want, that is," he answered reaching across the table to hold her hand in his.

"Dom?"

"Kylie?"

"Dom! Oh, OK you win!" Kylie gave up exasperated, she quickly looked around at the nearby restaurants. She'd never eaten in a mall before. "But you choose, please?" she asked.

"Alright," Dom agreed. "And I'll tell you all about why we're here while we eat, OK?"

"OK," she agreed, not that she had a choice really.

While Dom went off to get their lunch, Kylie took the time to look around. The mall was crowded. Mom's with little ones in strollers, teens who should have been in school, elderly ladies and gentlemen, hustling and bustling about. Dom returned with their food and Kylie turned her attention to him. He had two plates filled with chicken fried rice, mixed vegetables and sweet and sour chicken. There was a small plate with egg rolls and two cokes.

"Wow," she said as he placed her plate in front of her. "I don't think I can eat all of this."

"That's OK, Little Girl, just eat what you can. When we're finished we're going to do some shopping. That's why we're here."

"Shopping for what?"

"Promise not to get mad?" he hedged, knowing how much she wanted to take care of herself.

"Dom?"

"Kylie, when we're done eating we're gonna go buy you some new clothes and shoes, and anything else I decide you need. No arguments You need the clothes, the stuff you brought from home, Ky it's old and raggedy, and before you try to argue with me, just let me do this for you. I want you to have nice things, like Angel and Mia, and the others. OK?"

For a while she ate quietly. She looked around at the stores on the outskirts of the food court and she thought of the cute outfits she'd seen the other girls wearing. She'd never owned new clothes, all of hers had come from the local thrift store, or garage sales. Yes, she wanted clothes like that, but could she let Dom do this for her? What would he want in return? Dom was a nice guy, but nobody did something for you for nothing, did they? No one had ever done anything nice for her, not really, except for Dom. She thought about Dom comforting her last night. She knew she could trust Dom, he took care of all the others at the house, that's what Mia had said. He was trying to do for her, what he would do for any of the others.

Mind made up she finished eating and smiled at Dom. She was going to enjoy herself today.

"OK, Dom."

"What no argument?" he asked grinning at her.

"No argument I-I know..., I know you want to do this and ..., just thank you, OK?"

Dom nodded as he again took her hand and laced his fingers with hers. She was smiling at him, and somewhere in his chest he felt a jolt of happiness.

"What are we waiting for?" he asked as he stood up and pulled her to her feet.

Several hours later Dom sat opposite her again, this time watching her eat an ice cream cone. If she had any idea how watching her lick the cold chocolate treat was affecting him, she'd be turning several shades of red. She blushed easily, he'd discovered today. Shopping with her was completely different than shopping with any other woman he knew. She'd been hesitant at first, looking at price tags until Dom went around picking out the most outrageous outfits he could find. He'd made her laugh to the point of tears in one store. Finally he was satisfied that she'd bought enough for one day. He'd bring her back next week for more, he decided, not wanting to completely overwhelm her. He just didn't tell her that.

She felt like a princess sitting across from him. Dom had insisted she get her hair trimmed, and then, have her nails done. When she'd looked at earrings at a kiosk, Dom had urged her to have her ears pierced. He'd pampered her and spoiled her. At the bed and bath store he'd purchased powder, perfume, soaps, and bubbles. He'd spent a good twenty minutes picking out barrettes, scrunchies and bows for her hair.

"I like it down," he said fingering her curls,"but it'll be really hot sometimes."

He'd made her feel so pretty, something she'd never felt before. He'd joked with her and she knew the girls in the stores were all checking him out. She'd felt so special, all because he was with her. Now as she sat across from him she could feel his eyes on her, studying her.

"Ky," he began again reaching for her hand. "How old are you?"

"Does it matter?" she asked, enjoying the little jolts of fire shooting up her arm from where his thumb was caressing the side of her hand. She remembered how it had felt last night rubbing her back and she felt a stab of heat through her middle.

"Ky?"

"Sixteen," she said wondering if the gap in their ages was going to become a huge issue. "I'll be seventeen in February, on the twelfth."