Slowly Kylie walked to the water's edge. She shivered when the water lapped over her toes, and stopped, looking out over the dark horizon. She hadn't realized how long she'd been walking. It was dark out now. The beach was deserted. The wind blew her hair back and she breathed in deeply. This wasn't what she wanted, but it was the only thing she could do for Dom.

With her gone he'd be free. Free to take Letty back. That would make the team happy. It was how things would have gone had she not wandered into their lives, causing so many problems and so much turmoil for them all. She didn't doubt they'd feel bad, but soon they'd forget her. Dom would forget her, and move on with his life.

The thought sent a dagger of pain through her heart, and with a broken sob, tears began to stream from her eyes again. She forced herself to take a step, and then another, and another, each step harder to take than the last. Suddenly she realized that the water was around her thighs. The waves splashed up drenching her shirt and splashing her face. She shivered as the cold stole her body's warmth.

She took another step, and her foot came down in a hole. Off balance, she stumbled when a large wave crashed into her. And then she was under water. She struggled to breathe and her mouth filled with it, cutting off her ability to breathe. As the water swirled around her, dragging her this way, and pushing her that way, she panicked. She remembered how her step-father used to hold her head under water in the old sink in the basement. She'd always been afraid of water. Until Dom. He'd held her close and made her feel safe. And that quickly, she changed her mind. She loved Dom, beyond belief, but she loved their baby, too.

And her child deserved a chance to live. As rotten as her childhood had been, the last few months had made it all worth it. All the places Dom had taken her to, all the new things she'd seen and experienced, and most importantly, all the love she'd felt, it had been wonderful. And she wouldn't trade her life for anything. It hadn't been perfect or pretty, but it was hers.

She began to struggle, to fight to live. She tried to find the surface, but the dark sky fought against her. She couldn't figure out which way was up. Then something grabbed a hold of her and fear raced through her again. Hands, she suddenly realized relaxing, were pulling her. They pulled her to the surface, and they held her above the water as she coughed and sputtered, and sobbed.

"What the hell were you trying to do!" a gruff voice demanded near her ear.

She knew that voice. Vince. Somehow he'd found her. Saved her. He saved her life, and he saved her from making the biggest mistake of her life. Still, she knew she should have done it. That it would have been best for everyone, except her and the baby.

Water streamed down her face, into her eyes, from her hair. She brushed the offending moisture away with one hand, clutching Vince's shoulder with the other. She turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I-I tried. I couldn't do it." Over and over she repeated the same words as Vince carried her back to the shore. She was sobbing the whole time. Exhausted. Distraught. Agonizing over her failure.

Vince carried her up the beach, to the parking lot and his car. He winced with each sob that wracked her tiny body. His heart breaking at her words.

He managed the passenger side door easily, then set her inside. Reaching around her, into the back seat, he pulled out a flannel blanket and draped it over her.

"It's OK, Honey. Everything's gonna be alright," he comforted her as he reached onto the car's floor and picked up the cell phone he'd tossed aside when he saw her in the water. Then he stood up and walked to the back of his car.

He opened up his phone, both loving and hating the call he had to make. He hit the buttons, dialing the number with speed dial, and waited for the call to connect. As soon as it was answered he said "I found her."

"Where? Is she alright?" Dom demanded.

"We're at the beach. She was, I think she was tryin' ta... She was in the water, almost up to her waist. I'ma bring her home." Vince answered, not wanting to voice his suspicions. Surely, she wasn't really trying to drown herself, was she?

"I'm on my way, and Vince, thanks," Dom replied, his voice rough with emotion.

Vince hung up, walked back around the car, scooped up his keys and shut the passenger door. He grabbed his shoes, then rounded the other side and got into the driver's seat. He glanced over at Kylie. She had pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Her head was buried in the small space between her knees and chest, and she was sobbing quietly.

"It's alright, Little Girl. I'ma take you home now," Vince told her as he started the car and maneuvered it onto the street.

Kylie's head shot up. "No!" she cried reaching for the door handle. "I-I can't g-go b-back th-there!"

"Why not?" Vince inquired, and quickly pulling over. He grabbed her hands and held them tight. "Not gonna happen, Little Girl. I'm not letting you go. Now, tell me why you're saying you can't go home."

"D-Dom will e-end up i-in jail, and th-the team will h-hate me even m-more than t-they do now," Kylie choked out through her sobs.

"Ky, you're wrong. Dom's been out of his mind worrying, and the whole team's been out looking for you. Nobody hates you," Vince argued.

Kylie just shook her head and continued crying. She knew there was no way she'd win against Vince. She dropped her head again, and continued to cry. Her broken sobs the only sound in the vehicle.

Vince pulled back onto the road, stepping on the gas and shifting gears. He quickly passed another car. He'd wanted to put Kylie's seat belt on her, but the way she was sitting prevented it, so he'd decided to just drive carefully.

Even with Vince following the rules of the road, they arrived on the street their home was on in just under half the time it would have taken an average everyday law abiding citizen to drive there. Vince saw Dom's car, having just turned onto the street from the opposite end, heading into the driveway. Vince pulled in behind him. Before he could even put the car in park, Dom was opening the passenger's side door.

He wanted nothing more than to haul his girl out of the car and into his arms where he could hold her close, assuring himself that she was alright. One look, however, of her tiny huddled form stopped him. His heart broke to see Kylie's tiny body curled into itself, and to hear her hiccuping sobs. He rested his bottom on the edge of the floor in the open doorway.

"Ky," he called softly.

Instantly her head shot up. "Dom," she nearly whispered, then threw herself into his open arms. Immediately, a feeling of being completely safe washed over her. She reveled in it for just seconds before regret took it's place.

This sweet, wonderful man was going to end up living like an animal, in a cage, because of her. Because she didn't do what she should have.

"I'm s-sorry, Dom. So s-sorry. I-I t-tried, I j-just c-couldn't do it. N-not to t-the b-baby," Kylie sobbed in his arms.

Dom hugged her tightly. "Ssh, Baby Girl. It's OK. Everything's OK. I promise. Thank God you're alright. If anything happened to you …."

Dom stood up, cradling Kylie in his arms, and headed into the house.

F&F

AN: I want to thank each and everyone of you who've taken the time to review the last chapter. I hadn't planned on updating until after the weekend, but you've inspired me, so I finished this one up today. I hope you all like it! You know how to let me know, right? So go ahead, you know you wanta! LOL! Next chapter in the works, but the more love you give me the more inspired I am, the faster I write.