A/N: Thanks to AllieKat21, vinlovedroolwish (soon!), 2furious4u, Running-Wild22, Straight Edge Queen, NejisDarkNyph, Trickster 707, Villana Del Amour (love the evil laugh), tanya2byour21, and meee18 for their reviews! Also, big thanks for all the favs and alerts!
We're getting there...
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Letty watched Dom as he picked up their order, a loaded tray in each of his large hands. They'd been silent on the way up, thinking about what they wanted to say. She didn't want to get into another argument with him, but she was done backing down. They were going to lay all their cards on the table, and see where they stood. It was not going to be easy.
They ate it silence for a few moments, taking the edge off their hunger before Letty finally took the plunge and cleared her throat. "Before…you didn't treat me right," she held up her hand, "and I didn't stop you. I knew you were…" she swallowed hard, "I know you were cheating on me. You weren't exactly discreet about it, but I never called you on it. You pushed, and I didn't push back. Sure, I snarled at a few skanks," she smirked at the thought, "but I never told you how much it hurt me. So this is it. You have to know if anything is going to stay between us, I won't take it any more."
He nodded, and she looked into his eyes, seeing the shame he felt in their brown depths. "I don't want anybody but you, Letty. I always felt that way, but I get it now, y'know?" He shook his head, as if he was having trouble speaking his mind. "I almost lost it all, Let. Not just you, but everyone, and it's made me realize just how screwed up I've got things."
He closed his eyes, trying to say it right. He knew this was his last chance with the woman he loved. He felt her hand touch his across the table, just briefly, but enough to show her silent support. Looking back up at her, he willed her to see the truth in his eyes. "I love you Letty. I swear to you, no matter what shit happens in the future, I'll never screw up like that again, with Team, or with you. I want to fix the past."
"That's not how it works, Dom," she said sadly. "You can't fix the past, it's done." He hung his head. So that was her answer. It was over. Then he felt her hand squeeze his again, and this time she didn't let go. "But maybe we could start over?"
He looked up at her, a slow smile spread across his face, and he flipped his hand over, holding hers. "I'd like that."
"You can take me out to dinner this weekend," she smiled, letting his hand rest in his, enjoying the feel of his calloused fingers moving slowly over her skin.
"Maybe we can go to a movie, just like our first date," he grinned teasingly.
"Dream on," she laughed, removing her hand and picking at her Cajun shrimp, smiling at the sudden light feeling she got, like everything was going to be okay.
They talked for a while, taking their time with their dinner. They mostly talked about the business, what they were going to have to do to keep it all running, stuff like that. By the time they were finished, the sun was setting over the ocean, lighting the sky in vivid pinks and oranges.
When they got to the car, Letty turned to Dom, her face solemn. "Dom, there's one more thing."
"What?" he asked, frowning. He thought they were okay, but—
"Let me drive back?"
He grinned and tossed her the keys. No one but Letty.
The Team had been working hard, getting the business back on track. They were also spending most of their free time juicing up their cars for their much anticipated return to the Races. Jesse was still cooped up in the hospital, but he'd been helping the Team with designs thanks to Rae's laptop. It was wonderful to see him so full of his old life and enthusiasm after weeks of watching him close to death in a hospital bed.
Mia was spending her time catching up with the books, trying to sort out their finances now that they wouldn't have the extra cash from the heists to tide them over. Since she was usually up to her nose in invoices and receipts in the back room, Rae had been working on the counter at the café, with Viv coming to help her during the lunchtime rush. Although Alex was helping with the legalities of the business, he and Viv would usually disappear after lunch – they were supposed to be on vacation after all.
The Team always came in for lunch, and it was amazing how much it felt like old times. Even with Alex and Viv disappearing to the storeroom like horny teenagers and Bella running around like a NOS-fuelled bundle of trouble, Rae felt like she'd never left.
Rae and Viv were just clearing up the last dishes from the lunchtime rush when the Team pulled up, still a few cars short. Everyone stopped what they were doing so that they could come and have lunch at the café with Mia, Rae, Viv and Bella. Letty and Brian were laughing at some crack Leon had made, while Dom and Vince were trying to look unmoved, failing as smiles twitched about their mouths.
"Hey, baby," Brian grinned, pecking Mia on the lips before sitting down at the table.
Rae and Vivian served up their meal, and then Rae went about fixing Ella up at the counter with her own lunch. Cleaning up the last of the dishes whilst keeping a close eye on her daughter. "So I was thinking we could all go to the beach this weekend, to that little spot down the coast we used to go to as kids," Rae mentioned as they all settled down to eat.
Her suggestion was meet with food-muffled grunts of approval and a few thumbs-up, as well as an enthusiastic "Beach!" from her daughter. Bella had been to the beach a thousand times before on Lake Michigan, but Rae always felt that every kid should get a chance to play in the ocean.
"That sounds like a great idea," Brian grinned.
"You just wanna see Mia in a bikini, cuz," Rome teased, causing everyone to laugh as Brian's cheeks tinged pink under Dom's glare.
Brian started arguing with Rome, and multiple discussions broke out as to what they should bring, what they should eat, and who would kick who's ass at beach football.
The first one finished eating, Vince brought his plate and empty soda can up to the counter where Rae was standing. "How'd it go today?" she asked with a smile as she cleared away his plate.
Vince shrugged noncommittally while he took the empty seat next to Ella. "We're gettin' there. Lots to catch up on," he replied. "This thing ain't helpin'," he growled, referring to his injured arm. While the deep cuts were healed, his physio had told him he could use the arm until the muscles were stronger unless he wanted to risk permanent damage. Vince had grumped and groaned, but so far he was sticking to it.
"Well, you guys have been working hard. With you all working all day you'll be caught up in no time," she replied, leaning on the counter in front of him.
He just nodded. "What are you doing this afternoon?" he asked, staring down at his hands.
She frowned. "Why, do you have another appointment?"
"No appointment," he said, then paused. Rae waited patiently, her curiosity piqued. She tried to ignore the slight sheen of sweat on his strong arms as he shifted in his seat. "I was gonna go to Berto's, see about getting this fixed," he said, referring to his scar-broken tattoo. "You said you might look for work in town, and I figure if anyone's gonna hire you, it'd be him." He shrugged. "Plus, he'd kill me if he found out you were back in town and I didn't bring you."
Rae grinned. "Hey Viv!" she called, causing the other woman to turn to her with a quizzical look. "Can you cover for me this afternoon? I want to go visit an old friend."
Vivian shrugged her shoulders. "Eez fine. Alex eez going to be working with Mia anyway. 'ave fun."
Rae looked back at Vince, catching his blue eyes. "I guess I'm free," she smiled.
"You want to go now?" he asked, already starting to stand.
"Yeah, just let me grab my keys and my kid," she replied. "See you guys back at the Fort for dinner, 'kay?" she called back as they made their way to her truck.
The ride there was a little awkward, mostly because the three of them were packed in the front cab, Ella wedged between the two grown-ups. Vince didn't know what to do with the squirming three-year-old, and tried to ignore her, but it was proving difficult since the kid had decided he was the one to talk to. Or at.
By the time the old red truck pulled in front of Berto's Pin Up Parlour, Vince was starting to get the hang of it. Making the right sounds of approval and disapproval at all the right points, and looking interested even when she had no fuckin' clue what she was talking about. At least he understood the bit about cartoons.
The truck doors opened with a groan, despite the oil Vince had put on the hinges when they'd fixed it back up after Vivian's little cross-country escapade. Vince lifted Ella out and held her horizontally under his good arm, and she start back up with the "I'm a birdie!" stuff again.
Rae stood for a moment, staring up at the building that had been her haven for so long. Doubt began to fill her. What if Berto was mad at her? What if he never wanted to see her again?
"You ready?" Vince asked, sensing her apprehension. She gave him a weak smile and nodded, squaring her shoulders with a deep breath and pushing through the door. They spotted Berto near the back, leaning over a big guy's neck, eyes down and hard at work.
"Can I help you?" a short, red-headed girl asked from behind the counter.
"Yeah, we're here to see Berto," Vince answered, watching as Rae fiddled nervously with the bottom of her t-shirt.
"Do you have an appointment?" she began, opening a ledger in front of her, but Berto interrupted her, glancing up as her talked.
"It's alright Amy. I'll be with you in just a sec Vi…Holy Fuckin' Shit!," he yelled his eyes doing a double-take on Rae. "Look what the Coyote dragged in!" The entire place went silent as everyone watched them. Some of the artists who had been there before she left looked as shocked to see her as Berto, everyone else just looked curious as he set down his machine and stood.
"Hey Berto," she said softly, with a shy smile.
"Get over here kid!" he grinned, already stepping towards her. Before she knew it she was wrapped in his beefy arms, having the life squeezed out of her. "Where the hell have you been? Look at you all inked up! Aw, jeez kid, you had us all worried, cuttin' out like that!"
She laughed. "Slow down, man, one question at a time!"
"Alright," he began, leading them to the worn out couch in the waiting area. "Then you can start by telling me who this cute little thing is," he said, winking at Ella, making her giggle from her position under Vince's arm.
"Well, that's Vince," Rae smirked at his scowl. "And the monster he caught is Bella, my daughter."
Vince set the kid down, and made sure she didn't get into trouble while her mom filled in Berto about leaving (the non-Vince version), hooking up with that prick in San Francisco, and moving to Chicago. She left out a few of the finer details as to why she came back, although Vince was willing to bet that Berto had heard it already. He didn't miss the way Berto's eye lit up with pride when she told him what she did for a living.
"So you're lookin' for work, then?" he asked with a grin.
"Only if you've got some goin'," she frowned. "I don't need charity."
"Ain't no charity, kid. We can always use more artists. I can't pay you a regular wage, but you'll get good commission. You got your own kit?" he asked.
"'course," she replied, with a 'who'd you think you're talking to' looked.
The kid started tugging on Rae's leg, and she took her daughter's hand and led her around the shop, pointing out a pretty flower here, or a scary dragon there. The little girl stared at the photos on the wall, her eyes wide in wonder.
"Remind you of anyone?" Berto chuckled at Vince. "So why are you here boy? Babysittin' again?" Berto shook his head before Vince could answer. "Man, it cut me up when you came in with her the first time, actin' like she was some pesky kid."
"She was!" Vince defended, confused.
Berto snorted. "She was fifteen! Practically a full-grown young woman! Lookin' at you like you're god's gift to the human race! And here's you, six years on and still oblivious to the way she looks at you."
Vince scowled. She didn't look at him like that. Did she?
"So why are you here?" Berto asked. Vince gestured at his arm. "Dammit Vince, why'd you have to wreck my shit!?" Berto exclaimed, grabbing his arm roughly.
"Can you fix it?" Vince grunted.
Berto laughed again. "You've got Rae hanging out at the Fort and you come all the way out here to get me to fix it? Rae, get over here!"
Rae came walked over quickly, leaving Ella chatting with the red-head. "Could you fix this?" Berto asked her.
She shrugged. "In theory, but the scar tissue might react badly, what with it being fresh. I'd recommend doing a small piece then wait 'till it heals up and see how it goes."
Berto nodded approvingly. "Good. Get started."
"You want her to do it?" Vince asked in shock.
"Why not? Best way to see what she can do is to get her doing it." Berto shrugged.
"Why do I have to be the damn guinea pig?" Vince grumbled.
"'cause it's your fault she's here in the first place, and I don't like people wrecking my shit."
Vince looked at Rae, and she didn't seem too worried, so he just glowered. Rae grinned and ran out to her truck. Vince watched through the glass front as she opened the custom lock-box in the back bed of the truck, pulling out a professional looking metal case.
"Come on, let's get you set up," Berto said, slapping Vince on the back and leading him towards an empty chair. Vince sat down and watched while Rae unpacked her stuff, Ella at her side, watching but not touching. Berto let out a low whistle. "That's some nice kit you got there."
"Thanks," she smiled. "I toured the expos last year, I figured I should look the part."
Vince had no clue what they were talking about. He sat back, sent a quick prayer to whoever was listening, and let her do her job. Berto watched for a few minutes, but went off to finish up with his client. Rae leaned over his arm, her eyes fixed on her work, her hair tied back from her face. Ella was on the other side, watching. Vince tensed when her small hands grip his free arm as she leaned forwards to get a better look.
"Relax, V." Rae said soothingly. She was so close, he could smell her shampoo.
After a few minutes of silence, he felt the need to say something. "You're pretty good at this."
Rae paused the machine and flicked her eyes to his, a smile playing about her lips. "Thanks," she said softly, and he stared as her tongue darted out to wet her full lips. At that very moment, Berto let out a loud belly laugh at something his client had said, and Rae ducked her head back down, her cheeks looking a little pink.
Vince tipped his head back as the needle started buzzing again, and tried to remember all the reasons he had for not jumping Rae the first chance he had.
'cause at the moment, it was all he wanted to do.
