AN: I'm sorry this took so long. I just got no excuse other then being busy and not making time to write. So sorry again. I'm actually pretty proud of this chapter and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it to share with you. So please enjoy and if you wouldn't mind I'd appreciate it so much if you'd take a moment of your time (And trust me, no one knows how valuable time is better then me) and leave me a review of your honest opinions. Always, Tempest.

Chapter 38 – Homeward Bound

"To Letty!" Brian called as he held up his Corona, million watt smile flashing across his face. He was more or less begging me not to kick his ass for drawing attention to mine yet again. The crowd returned his call loudly and I decided to play along. I gave a playful bow and then took a big swig of my own Corona.

"So what now?" Rome leaned down and asked me as we watched the rest of the crowd from races make drunken fools of themselves out on the dance floor. It looked like fun.

"I dunno. You wanna dance?"

"Sure, but that's not what I meant. I mean, now that the Acura is done, and works pretty much perfect, what now for you? What's left?" Rome's eyes had this deep look to them, like he really wanted to know. He was hinting at when I was going home, I was fairly sure of it.

"Well, I still go the Skyline to finish. Can't go home without Kimi."

"Kimi?"

"Leon named his car. She's his girlfriend cause god knows he can't keep a real woman for more then 24 hours." We both laughed at that.

"And when the Skyline's done, what then? You gonna stay here for awhile and work or are you heading home?"

"I dunno." I shrugged. I really didn't. I was ready to go home, but I was ready to stay here too. It was fun to just do me here. Fun to win. Fun to not be a trophy but to be the winner. Really fun to just work in a garage, not run one. I never signed on to manage DT, I signed on to work for Dom but somehow I ended up running the place, but always behind Dom, so only the boys gave me any credit for it.

"You know you could have a good life here. You'n Bri both."

I knew what he was trying to tell me. If I wanted to give up Dominic I could stay here and be with him. Things were going too far too fast here. Rome's a really nice guy and I felt really bad that he picked me to be the first girl he got serious over in a long time. Even if I wanted to give someone new a try I'd still have to go home and end things with Dom in person. And I don't know even if I did that if I'd ever pick Miami to live in over L.A. L.A. can be a real bitch, but she's my home town.

No matter where you go and where you live, no matter what you do there or how good things are while you're there, most people yearn to go home again, back to their roots, where they came from. I was no different. I miss the clear blue water of the pacific. I miss the way all our neighbours in Echo Park are like family. I miss my boys, I miss Mia. Much as I'm enjoying Miami it's still not home, and if it was ever gonna feel like home it would have by now.

"I know that, but I have unfinished business back home. I gotta clear it up before I make any decisions, but to be totally honest I don't see myself here long term. I'm an L.A. girl."

"I think you owe it to yourself to give us a chance." Rome looked earnest while he made this declaration. "I mean, I'd never hurt you like he has."

"I owe it to myself and to him to go home and see where we stand before I make any other decisions. This trip was always about growing up and finding myself. I know I grew up, I know I learned things about myself I didn't know. Now to finish the journey I have to go back again."

"I understand I guess, but I want you to know that if he hurts you at all, I'll take care of it for you." I laughed at the bloodthirsty look in his eyes.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You wanna dance?"

"Sure."

I allowed Rome to lead me out on the floor and we danced through a few songs. I don't feel proud of it but you know I really enjoy the fact I could have him if I wanted him. For once it's me who could throw the other males I could have into Dom's face if I was so inclined, but I guess no matter how very vindictive I am I'm not made that way. I'd rather go home with my conscience clear.

xox

I woke up the next day with a mild hangover and a craving for a greasy breakfast. I walked out through the boat only to find Fiona and Rome still passed out on the couch and floor respectively and Brian sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.

"Mornin." I said as I walked up to the coffee maker to help myself to a cup. I wasn't much of a coffee drinker but if there was ever a morning I needed one it was this morning.

"Not so loud." Brian groaned. "I haven't drank like that in a very long time." He moaned into his cup and took big swig.

"Head hurts?"

"Yeah. That might be the understatement of the century."

"I wanna go get some breakfast. What'd ya say we wake the other two up and go eat? Grease'll make you feel better."

"Sounds good. You get Fi I'll get Roman. He won't miss out on a chance for food no matter what."

"Did I hear breakfast mentioned?" Rome asked with a yawn as he sat up off the floor where he'd been sprawled on his back. Brian and I shared a look then both burst out laughing.

"Yeah, we're gonna go to Frank's Diner for breakfast. You comin?"

"Hell yeah Brah, I'm there."

We woke up Fiona and decided to pile into Rome's car. It was a beautiful day and we wanted to enjoy the sun. We pulled up and got a booth. Once we'd eaten and were just sitting around kicken it Brian looked at me.

"How do you know Leon isn't gonna have a new car by the time you get home."

"I got Vince on it. He's supposed to find a reason to hate everything Leon looks at if he ever gets around to looking."

Brian smirked. "You trust Vince not to screw up?"

"Yeah I do." I grinned back. "I seem to remember Vince being smart enough to catch your ass breaking into Hector's garage. I also seem to remember that story ends with him knocking you out with the butt of a shotgun cause you didn't even hear him come up behind you."

"He had an unfair advantage. I didn't know he was there." Brian looked embarrassed.

"Good excuse Officer O'Connor. That what you gonna tell the boss when the criminals ambush you and hold you hostage too?"

"There's a bigger story there isn't there?" Fiona asked. I was worried at first talking about the time Brian had spent as a cop might not be the best idea in front of his sister. She wasn't exactly the happiest person that Brian wasn't a cop anymore.

"Not really. Brian was snooping around all over L.A. looking for specific cars and he was trying to get in good with us at the same time. Vince never trusted him and when he caught Brian snooping it was as good an excuse as any to knock him down, something Vince wanted to do from day one anyway."

"I seem to remember one day that I held my own with him out front of the store." Brian reminded me.

"I seem to remember you had your fair share of bruises after that fight too."

"Yeah, but he was feeling me the next day too."

"Everybody knows the white boy can't fight." Rome laughed. "I showed him that fact in Barstow."

"I let you win dude! I didn't want you to say you wouldn't work wit me cause I handed your ass to you. I couldn't embarrass you too bad. I needed you to be my partner."

"Yeah, a'ight." Rome was clearly not buying it.

"I can take you both so just simmer." I added, trying to look serious. Fiona high fived me and we both shared a look making it clear that be both believed it too.

"No doubt." Brian smiled his most charming smile. "You showed us that last night."

"I have to thank the good people at Acura for that, as well as Chumpy still racing just slightly better then he use to. Better but not that much." Brian wrapped an arm around my neck and pretended to choke me for what I'd said. I fought him off as best I could while Rome and Fiona laughed it up. He let me go a few seconds later and I showed him that you didn't pull wrenches for a living and have weak arms. I got him in a headlock and he couldn't get free until he got dirty and tickled me.

"Damn girl, you got quite a set of arms on you there." Brian said with a wince, rubbing his neck.

"Yeah, you're just weak." Brian made a sarcastic face at me as the waitress came with the bills. We all got up to pay and then headed out to the car. "What now Lett?"

"Why I gotta decide for?"

"I just thought you might have something you wanted to do today."

"Wouldn't mind working some on the Skyline. I wanna get it ready soon."

"Ok, I'll help you out with that then."

We all got in the car and headed back to Tej's. Rome and Fiona went off to join Tej in some of his boardwalk games while Brian and I went to work on the car.

xox

It took three weeks to finish the Skyline. On the day it was finally painted and ready to test start I'd been gone from home for two months. Two months is actually a very short period of time. Under normal circumstances two months is nothing, a drop in the bucket really. Two months away from your family and friends is a very long time indeed however.

The day we decided the Skyline was done was clear and sunny. It was starting to get cold though and it was clear that fall was coming. I mean I know it never gets cold in Florida but it wasn't warm like it was when I arrived. The season was changing and with it so was I. I felt years older then when I left L.A. even though I wasn't even one year older, yet. The day was coming though.

We rolled the skyline out into the sun and I slid into the replaced black interior. The ignition key was still on Leon's 'Trucker's Girl' keychain. He's such a playboy. But I wanted to give him the car back in the exact same shape he lost it in, just like it was never gone. For the most part I'd succeeded. For the most part.

It was now virtually impossible to get the wheels totally aligned. As a result it was always going to wear tires faster then other cars. There was also a small flaw in the passenger side front quarter panel. I couldn't get it perfect and in the end I decided to leave it there. It'd be a constant reminder to Leon to take care of his women and to me of my time in Florida and of what I was capable of. It was the exact same yellow as before and the graphics were identical as before. I'd designed them for Leon the first time and they were still just invocative of him somehow in my mind so they stayed. I'd written Kimi in quotes on the rear bumper and updated his sponsor decals to reflect the parts that were in the car now. Two written off cars totally rebuilt in 6 weeks. I was proud.

Proud and ready to go home. Home to my family, to my friends. To Dom. Most of all home to Dom. That was about when it occurred to me I was almost a year older now then I was when I left for real. My birthday was in a week, which meant Mia's was in slightly more. I'd never missed out on Mia's birthday since I knew her and I knew I had the best present I could get her already.

Her family whole again, including the man she'd never forgotten. Brian.

But first, we must confirm the Skyline runs and runs properly. Everyone was grouped around it, waiting on me to try it. I put the key in and took a deep breath. "Pray it starts." I joked to Brian.

"Of course it will. Give it!" Brian pushed me. "Hold up!" He stopped me just as I went to turn the key.

"Wha?" I asked, eyebrow cocked.

"You put gas in the tank?" Brian smirked.

"Yeah, I put gas in the tank. Smart ass." I muttered.

I tried to crank it over. It sputtered a few times and caught. It started to run but it was pretty rough. A few adjustments later it was running like new. Mostly thanks to Jimmy and Brian I have to admit. Brian really knew his stuff. Rome and I took the Skyline for a test run. I think we both knew it was the beginning of the end of our time together. The Skyline being done was the milestone I'd picked for when it was time to go home.

What Rome didn't know was I was determined to be home for Mia's birthday and that meant that Brian and I had to leave in the next day or two if we were gonna make it in time.

"It runs great."

"Yeah. I'm glad. I know Leon's been missing it. He couldn't find anything else he wanted and all the guys tried to find him replacements."

"Yeah. Letty?"

"Um?"

"You're leaving now aren't you?"

"Yeah. I realized that Mia's birthday is in just over a week and I've never missed one of her birthdays before. I don't intend to start now. I'm ready to go back."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot." Rome did a lot for me in his own way. I figure the least I can do is answer his questions.

"You wanted to like me enough to stay with me on some levels didn't you?" I looked at Rome out of the corner of my eye and he was making an obvious show of the fact he was looking out the passenger window of the car.

"Hum. Yeah, I guess I did. If I was a different person I think I would have let 'us' go farther then it did. I just didn't think it was fair to you or to Dom or to myself to do that when I always knew I was going home to try and make my life with Dom work."

"I know you know I wanted more, but I respect the fact you can't go there with me right now." I shot him a look. "Or likely not ever." He chuckled to let me know he wasn't making one last guilt trip effort to get me to stay with him. "But I still want to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?"

"For showing me there are girls out there that are worthy of trust. You and Dom aren't even together at the moment and you still won't really date other guys. You're for real and that means there are other girls out there who wouldn't play me either. Since I can't have you," he sighed playfully. "I guess that means I should start seriously looking again."

"That's a good plan. And if things ever don't work out for me and Dom, you'll be the first of people on my list to call. But a guy like you won't stay on the market long I'm sure." We shared a laugh. I pulled the car back into Tej's and parked it. Rome started to walk with me down to the boat. "Now I just gotta break the news to Chumpy."

"Good luck with that. I'll miss you girl."

"You'll come visit. We got room and Brian'll want to see you, he'll want you to meet Mia."

"Sounds good. You just tell me when and I'm there."

"We'll do. I'll let you know when we know for sure when we're heading out."

"Ok, you do that. Night."

"Night." He hugged me and I hugged him back. For all his immature acting Rome was pretty cool and he'd shown me a lot about how to have fun and just live. I'd always value his friendship and that was strange for me for someone I'd only known such a short amount of time. I watched him walk off into the darkness then pushed onto the boat. Brian was watching TV and Fiona was no where to be seen. "Hey Bri."

"Hey Lett. Car work ok?"

"Yeah, great. Bri, we need to talk."

"That doesn't sound good. About what?"

"Now that the car's done, it's time to go back."

"You sure. I don't know if I'm ready?"

"Well, the thing is it's Mia's birthday in a week and I've never missed one. I think the best gift we could give her would be for her family to all be together again. She never stopped missing you Bri. Us coming home would be something we could do for her and lets face it she does a lot for us, you included while you were around."

"I see your point. When do you want to leave?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"Ok."

"Just like that?"

"I guess I knew it was coming. I've been putting shit together for a while now. I just gotta pack and tell Tej the exact day. Day after tomorrow is fine."

"Good. I'll start to pack then." Brian only nodded.

On the day before we were due to leave they threw us a going away party. Fiona was coming with us but Rome and Suki and Tej were staying put. We went out for dinner for the party. No one was in the mood to have a wild and crazy party. We were more in the mood for a friendly gathering. After we'd all eaten Tej stood up.

"I'm not normally the kind of person who makes speeches so bear with me here." He looked around at us and we all looked back, curious. "When Brian showed up he was just another would be racer with some skills and a car that made me overlook how small those skills were. Natural talent or no, he became some kinda racer and I'm gonna miss him showin me respect on my streets when he waxes. Gonna miss that fine Skyline too." Brian blushed but grinned too. He like to hear how much he'd improved. And the compliment on his car.

"And then he brought Letty around. I hate to say it but when I first met her all I could think was that the attitude and the skill level were no doubt way outta whack and it was the attitude that was inflated. She showed me wrong and I'd be more then glad to keep her around on a permanent basis if she wanted the job. She proved me wrong and I know I'm gonna miss her music blarin in the shop, and the money I was makin off punks doubting her ass." We all laughed again. "Now Brian, I'm sorry I didn't get you anything for your going away present, but I couldn't think of anything you needed more then me telling you go and take care. Good luck with Mia, and I hope her brother doesn't kill you." Tej turned back to me.

"You on the other hand Letty…I did think of something I could get you that you could use." He tossed me a small wooden box. I caught it and just stared at it, wondering what it could possibly contain. "Go on, open it." I took a deep breath and flipped the lid open. Nestled in the box on purple satin were the keys to the Acura.

"Every queen needs a proper chariot and I know you work that car better then I ever did. Plus it's only right that the two Phoenixes I know get to stick together. Girl you were a wreck when you got here but you rose up from the ashes just like both the cars you're takin with you. You taught me not to doubt people based on looks and you proved me wrong. I was bettin against you girl but you pulled through not on luck but on total skill."

"I can't take your car Tej." I couldn't. It was too much. Much as his speech had moved me, I couldn't.

"You earned it. It'll go to waste here Letty. Take it home with you. Show that king of yours that queens aren't less then kings. That they're just as good, meant to be partners. That car deserves someone like you to drive her, not to sit here and gather dust or get trailered all over the place with me. She's no trailer queen, she's a road warrior, just like you. You take her, take care of her."

"If you're sure?" He seemed really sure.

"Yeah, like I told you, I prefer my truck." Tej laughed to break the tension.

"Ok, I can't say no again. I don't wanna." I suddenly couldn't stop grinning. But then I had a thought. "How the hell are Brian and I gonna get five cars home with only three drivers?"

"I got you covered. I rented a car hauler for you guys. All five of your cars are loaded on it and the three of you will fit in the cab. It'll make the drive nicer if you're all in one place."

"Tej, I don't know what to say."

"Say thanks Tej." A satisfied smile was playing around his mouth.

"Thanks Tej." I gave him a quick hug and we both pulled away embarrassed. Brian tried to wipe at his eyes without anyone seeing. I guess I wasn't the only one who was moved by Tej's gesture. We sat around and talked for another while, took some pictures. It was our last time as the amended Miami team and it was sad. But in this case I could come back, visit. I had nothing but good memories here. Tej and crew would always be special to me now.

Tej's challenge, no matter how mean it at seemed at first has shown me what I was made of. Him making me race his car, or I guess my car now, had proved I was really good at what I did. I knew it would give me a different place to come from with Dom from now on. I didn't think he'd be trying anymore but he wouldn't be able to undermine my confidence in my mechanical skills or my racing skills.

We went home and went to bed. I didn't get a lot of sleep. I was too nervous. When we got up at the agreed time the next day we piled into the transport truck Tej had rented and Brian somehow knew how to drive and we headed out.

Homeward Bound.