Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap:"Well, Miss Muñoz Izquierdo, Shorty, you're pregnant."

Chapter Thirty

Time stopped the minute the words left his mouth. She felt her jaw slacken and fall open and she saw her entire life flash before her eyes. "You've got to be kidding," she breathed. She dropped her head into her hands and leaned her elbows on her knees. She tried desperately to remember her last period but drew a blank. She looked up at the doctor and blinked rapidly, as if this would whisk him away and make this a dream, an incredibly horrific dream.

"Indeed you are pregnant. I would estimate you to be around seven or eight weeks pregnant. Congratulations. A more thorough exam will give us a more precise due date, but I'd say you'll give birth early to mid October. Now we need to get you in for a sonogram in the next couple weeks and you'll need to start taking prenatal vitamins. I see you do take birth control pills, but you'll want to stop using those until after you give birth. I'd like to schedule you for regular follow up's, you can see Jillian about that."

Shorty gazed at him in dumb silence. In one fell swoop he'd torn her life away and stuck her in a hellish nightmare. She could hear her own heart pounding in her ears and she was sure if the damned doctor stopped babbling like a buffoon he'd be able to hear it as well. She clutched the armrests until her knuckles turned white but didn't make a sound. Everything she'd worked so hard for was gone. Her life was gone. Her hopes and dreams were gone. She was gone.

She couldn't accept the information that was given but she also couldn't dispute it. She'd taken her birth control pills regularly, in fact, she could be considered anal retentive about taking them the same time every day. This was ludicrous. Sure, she and Leon were lax about condoms but birth control was their protection. In the end a fat load of good it did them.

As soon as Leon entered her thoughts she fell into an all consuming panic. How was she going to tell him? How was she going to tell her brother? And Vince? And God forbid, everyone else? She tried to slow her breathing but the rate increased so rapidly her vision blurred and she clutched at the tight shirt she was wearing, stretching it away from her body and mewling like a caged animal.

"I can't breathe," she choked, a single tear sliding down her cheek as she put her head between her knees.

"This must come as a shock if you weren't planning for it."

"Planning for it? I'm twenty four. What the hell am I going to do with a kid?" she mumbled around her knees.

"It's early on in the pregnancy. You have options," he said, as he stood and walked across the room. He stopped in front of wall hanger holding dozens of pamphlets. He grabbed a few and returned to the desk.

She instinctively took the pamphlets handed to her and shoved them to the bottom of the purse she had thankfully taken with her today. It would do well to hide the evidence of her royally huge fuck up. She stood as he scribbled on his prescription pad and again took the paper from his hands. She blinked at him a few more times before leaving the office.

Somehow she made it back to her car and she slammed her head against the steering wheel roughly. Even the pain wasn't enough to jar her into feeling anything but all consuming panic. She'd much rather have had Chlamydia. In fact, she'd take that over being knocked up and unwed anytime. At twenty four, her life had come to a screeching stand still in all of thirty seconds.

She ended up back at work with no recollection of driving there. When she stepped from her car she walked back into the garage and nodded at the team when they hollered at her return. Shorty had calmed down enough to appear somewhat mentally stable while inside she fought a battle. She made it through the day and bounced before her team could question her lack of chatter that afternoon. The last thing she needed was them finding out what was wrong with her. Before she told them she needed to tell Leon.

Of all the conversations she'd wanted to avoid in her life, the "I'm pregnant" one took first place. How do you crush someone the way Dr. Roberto had crushed her. He'd been so blasé about it, and there was nothing blasé about being knocked up. If was a game changed, a life ender, a relationship atomic bomb.

Shorty left the garage in a blind haze and when she next looked up from her steering wheel she was parked in front of the Toretto household. She could see the cars lining the parking pad and Mia and Jesse's vehicles parked in front of her own. The gleaming machines looked gorgeous in the setting sun and she laughed bitterly at the bumpers. She was going to be a mother, and mothers didn't drive souped up vehicles that put you ten seconds closer to death every time the car purred to life.

She cleared her throat and slid from the car. She needed time to think, time to figure out how she was going to broach the subject with Leon. If it took a while, so be it, it was ruining her life just as much as it would ruin his.

Pushing through the screen door she plastered the most genuine smile she could muster on her face. The team shouted their hello's to the woman they hadn't seen outside of her house in a week. Leon jumped off the couch and scooped her up in his arms, "Babe, how you feeling? God, I missed you."

He held her tight and placed soft kisses all over her face and she couldn't help but feel a little repulsed by his touch. Yes, it was wrong and yes it was both of their actions that landed her pregnant, but as ridiculous as it was she considered it his fault. "I'm feeling much better. Doc says it's just the flu," she answered automatically. She'd tell him about his future child, after she'd come to terms with it herself. It was beyond selfish to keep something that important from him, but she'd always had a habit of putting her own feelings above others and this was no different.

"That's awesome," Leon smiled and kissed her deeply, putting day's worth of missed affection behind it. "How's your back?"

"It's still sore, but I'm kind of getting used to the pain," she answered while burrowing her head into his chest. The initial disgust at his touch had passed, so much so in fact, that her heart was beating roughly against her ribcage and her body was reacting inappropriately. Her breath escaped in a ragged gasp and she saw Leon raise an eyebrow in question. She anxiously swallowed and dropped her eyes to the ground.

He lifted her chin and brushed his fingers across her cheek gently, "Baby, you seem a little skittish."

"I guess I'm still a little out of it," she answered and stepped out of his grasp. The trail his fingers had taken across her cheek burned white hot and she had to use every ounce of self control not to jump him in the living room.

He seemed to sense her desire and a seductive grin blossomed over his full lips. He reached for her again but she side stepped out of his reach and quickly retreated to the couch. She planted herself beside Vince, close enough for his solid body mass to ground her and stared back at Leon. He licked his bottom lip, shrugged, then sat between her knees and leaned back against the couch.

Shorty spent the night answering questions with noncommittal noises. She felt like she'd floated away from her body and left all her troubles behind. She was sure both Leon and Vince suspected something but they didn't question her quiet behaviour in front of the rest of the team. She cuddled into Vince and avoided Leon's fiery touch as much as possible but when most of the team had wandered off to bed she was left alone with both Vince and Leon, she became increasingly uncomfortable.

She could feel their swift glances but for once they each maintained a silence she'd never experienced around them. With each questioning look she grew more and more uncomfortable and she worried that they had somehow figured out what was bothering her. She self consciously looked down at her flat stomach and reassured herself that there was no possible way they could have figured out she was pregnant. The raging hormones that had flipped her horny switch with one soft caress were hidden in her nervous system. Without her confession there was no way they knew, however, the more they glanced at her the more paranoid she felt.

Eventually her nerves got the better of her and she hopped off the couch and stumbled over the table to get away from both men. They shared a look and Shorty felt her hackles rise in an unspoken challenge. She shot both men a warning glare and turned on her heel, heading to the basement in righteous anger.

When she shut Leon's bedroom door behind her she wrestled herself out of her favorite jeans and held them up. They were an inexpensive pair of ripped skinny jeans, faded perfectly with the seat stretched to fit like a glove. She frowned at them before tossing them at the floor roughly. Her favorite jeans, jeans she'd had for years that she'd likely never fit into again. Jeans that reminded her that mother's didn't dress how she dressed. They were conservative and the drove vans with stupid bumper stickers. The carried around sanitary wipes to clean the little monsters that cried, shit, and vomited their way into toddler years. Those jeans represented a life she'd no longer have and again her emotions swung in the opposite direction.

She collapsed face down on the bed and buried her head under a pillow. She wanted to scream in anger or cry in frustration. She knew she was keeping the baby. Like there was any other choice for her. She may not have been religious but she knew well enough where abortion would land you. And if she had to choose, she'd rather go up than go down.

Sometime later Leon pushed open the door and she rolled onto her side as he undressed and slid into the bed with her. He pulled her against his naked body and ran his hands down her spine trying to sooth her. He wasn't clueless like most men and he could read in her body language and uncharacteristic silence that she was rattled.

"Babe, did the doctor give you anything for the pain?" he asked while his fingers kneaded her back gently.

Shorty's muscles relaxed in her lower back and blessedly the pain dissipated. "No. But I'll be fine by tomorrow," she breathed, as she rolled onto her stomach again and let him massage her into oblivion.

The next morning she woke before Leon but still couldn't face the fact that her life was about to change in the most unimaginable way. He was fast asleep with his face turned towards her and his hand stretched across the mattress as if he'd reached for in his dreams. She took the time to watch him sleep and thought how innocent and untroubled he looked. Soon, he would carry his worry on his sleeve.

The silence of the house was smashed away by a high pitched scream and the loud footfalls on the stairs leading to the main floor. They made a path to the kitchen and she heard the basement door almost heaved clean off its hinges. "SHORTY!"

Leon woke with a start and sat up, "Huh?" he groaned, fisting sleep out of the corners of his eyes.

"SHORTY! Wake the fuck up! I need you" Letty shrieked, as she slammed into Leon's room and stood panting against the doorframe.

"Jesus, Lett. What's wrong?" Shorty asked, while pushing the blankets off her legs and moving to swing them off the bed.

Letty rushed her just as her feet touched the ground and threw her arms around her neck and giggled manically into her hair. She looked over her friends shoulder and met the sleepy eyes of Jesse and Vince as the lounged around waiting for an explanation. Letty was up much earlier than usual, in fact, forty five minutes earlier than usual as Shorty checked the bedside clock. With two hours to go before Toretto's garage opened at eight she figured she could hear Letty out. Then she'd crash for another hour and a half before she'd head for her house followed by the garage. Her first appointment wasn't until ten and she'd have nothing to do but sit around.

"I'm pregnant!" she cried happily, a wicked grin spreading across her plump lips. The smile lit her face up and she appeared to glow from the inside out.

Shorty's jaw dropped to her lap and she stared wide eyed at Letty. She'd once heard that pregnancy was contagious and she wanted to shake the other woman. Not only was she also with child, but she seemed thrilled about it. And as she heard another scream from above she realized Dom and Mia were also over the moon with joy. How come she wasn't feeling excitement for the life she'd created? How come she wasn't glowing like every clichéd pregnant woman mumbo jumbo she'd ever heard?

"What?" was all she could utter at her increasingly flamboyant friend.

"I'm having a baby. A little Toretto to put these boys in their places," Letty cooed, as she ran a hand across her not so flat abdomen.

Shorty shot the stomach a second look and gasped, "Jesus! You're belly is showing! How long have you been pregnant?"

"I don't know actually. I haven't had my rag in a few months."

"Wow," Shorty breathed. "Well, congrats?" she stumbled over her words as she caught distaste or disgust pass over Leon's features.

"Congrats, Lett," Leon followed quietly and somewhat shell shocked.

She turned back towards Letty and slapped the hand that was waiting for five. The ridiculous look on Letty's face forced a smile upon her own and she smiled as her pregnant friend turned and flung herself into a group hug with Vince and Jesse. As one they boisterously congratulated each other on their coming motherhood and uncle hood. Shorty wished she could join in with their happiness but her own predicament resurrected a massive wall in front of her. She was happy that Letty was excited to become a mother, but what about her? All she felt was a sense of loss and trepidation.

Letty shut the door to Leon's room and she fell back against the mattress and listened to her stomp her way back up the stairs. Without a doubt she'd be heading straight to Mia's room to squeal about her officially joining the Toretto family. If only joining the Scarpezzi family was as simple as that.

Leon laid down again and faced her, "Thank God that's not you. That's one way to ruin your life real quick," he said.

Choking back her shock she shrugged nonchalantly, "She seems happy though."

"Yeah, now. Give it time to sink in and she'll be getting that thing vacuumed outta her faster than you can say abortion."

A sense of uneasiness crept into her mind and she smacked her lips uncomfortably, "So I take it you don't want kids?"

The laugh that burst from his mouth felt evil; like some demon had crawled inside the man she loved and brought out the worst in him. "Fuck no. I don't want any brats running around spending all my hard earned cash."

She felt her world crumble into a desolate wasteland. Her heart physically hurt and her ears rang loudly. He didn't want kids, meant he wouldn't want her. The minute he found out he'd clear out without a backward glance. She nodded her agreement and kept her face impassive but knew her hope for his acceptance had just been blown out of the water. She felt utterly alone even with him lying beside her. "Yeah, wouldn't want that," she answered.

The thoughts that had been so jumbled for the past week fleshed themselves out. She knew what she had to do even if she didn't want to. Even if it would kill her inside. She held back her angry tears and captured Leon's lips. Regardless of everything wrong in her life at the moment she still couldn't fight her desire for the man she loved desperately. She deepened the kiss and pressed her pelvis against his, gyrating her hips until her understood her intentions. He groaned into her mouth before breaking the kiss and peeling her underwear and t-shirt off. When he laid beside her she let her eyes wander, memorizing everything, from his taut abdomen to the tiny rosebud nipples to his brilliant eyes. Reaching between their bodies she grasped him and directed him to her entrance. She caught his lips again as he lowered himself on top of her.

Their lovemaking was as beautiful as always, but she knew this time was different. She felt it in her heart that things would and could never be the same. She was with child and he was determined to be a child forever. When he emptied himself inside her she clutched him to her chest. He gently rubbed her abdomen and she wondered what he'd say if he knew his child was growing inside her. This was the closest the two of them would ever be to their child.

Her heart shattered when he sat up and climbed off the bed. He looked so carefree and joyous, and in hours his world would be turned upside down. Buttoning up his plaid shirt he leaned back on the bed and kissed her deeply before brushing his hand over her hair. "You gonna head out in a bit?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna sleep for another thirty then bounce. I'll lock the door behind me," she answered, as he collected his wallet and other necessities from his dresser.

"Hey Leon?"

"Yeah?" he said while he turned the knob of his door and pulled it open.

"I love you," she said. And she did, she loved him so much she was willing to do what was best for him instead of what was best for her.

"I love you too, baby. See you tonight," he smiled before shutting the door.

She waited in bed long enough to hear the entire house empty and the last car to drive away before she sprung off the mattress. She had only three hours tops before Hector would be breaking down doors looking for her. She dressed hurriedly and rifled through Leon's junk drawer until she found a pad of paper and a pen.

She quickly scribbled:

Leon,
Remember I love you. Always.
Love Michael

He deserved more, so much more, an explanation, but how do you say goodbye without giving the reason for it. A tear slid down her cheek and landed on the paper. She reached up and swiped furiously at her weakness. She owed him this much. He deserved a life free from the one commitment he never wanted.

Shorty tore the sheet off and wrote on the following one:

To my #1,
Don't forget me. You've been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. When you look at my moon or ocean, think of me. You'll always be in my heart - my best friend, my soul mate. I love you.
Love your #2, Lil' Coyote

She tore that sheet off as well and furiously penned:

Lett,
When you get this, email "shorty,michael,M,I,2atgmail,com". I will create it as soon as I get home. Don't tell anyone about it. I love you.
Love Boo

Shorty grabbed her belongings and placed the letter for Leon on his pillow before rushing from the room. She entered Vince's room and left her last words to him on his pillow as well, glancing around the room one last time. Leaving Leon was excruciating, but leaving Vince was killing her. He'd done nothing wrong to deserve it. And maybe she was placing herself on a pedestal in his eyes but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he'd be completely undone by her disappearance. Because she knew now, that was the only way she could really give Leon the freedom he craved.

Bounding up the staircases two steps at a time she burst into Letty and Dom's room and crossed to the dresser. She opened the top drawer and found Letty's socks, exactly what she'd been looking for. She took a pair, crushed the letter into a ball and placed it on the inside of the folded socks. Shoving it to the back of the drawer she prayed that when Letty finally found the note Dom wasn't anywhere near her. If he ever got that email address she could kiss her ass goodbye.

She stumbled down the stairs in blinding heartache and glanced around the room. The memories that assaulted her gave the courage to walk out the front door without looking back. She knew she'd always have those memories and no one could take them away from her. She wouldn't see the house or its inhabitants again but she'd always have a piece of them with her.

Locking the door behind her she sprinted to her car and sped to her house. With such a little window of opportunity she was determined to make her getaway as fast as possible. Shorty parked her car in the unused garage and slid a cover over top and burst into her house, sprinting down the stairs to her room. Reaching under her bed she grabbed her duffle bag and tossed it on the bed. Wrenching her closet open she began tossing random clothes towards the bag before moving to her dresser. Socks, underwear, wife beaters, bras, and Leon's jersey followed quickly and she zipped it up before grabbing the shoe box off the shelf and hauling it to her bed.

Inside held rolls of money and although she didn't know where she was going to end up she knew she'd have enough cash to get her there. Tossing it in her purse she grabbed her favorite Doc Marten boots and exchanged her work boots for a pair of well wore chucks. Once her feet were secured in her shoes she grabbed the framed photos of her and Leon, her and Vince, and her and her team off the nightstand. She snatched the photo album Mia had made for her for Christmas and rushed from the room before she could change her mind.

She left a note for her team that simply stated she'd call in a few weeks to explain, but for now they had to trust that she'd made the right decision. Underneath her signature she also added that they'd have to stand up for themselves and not let Leon, Vince, and Letty push them around. Because it was clear to her that when she wasn't found by this evening all three would be trying to break down the door demanding answers.

Flipping open the phone book she called a cab company for a pickup to an undecided location. Ten minutes later the cab pulled up and Shorty had found a used car lot in the shadiest part of L.A. that was sure to guarantee a cheap ride. When he let her off at the lot she walked straight to something she never thought she'd purchase. The white 1997 Camry Corolla was as inconspicuous as she could get. Her team would be searching for her baby and they would undoubtedly overlook the fact that it was parked in the garage for days before they realized she'd left it behind. It was too recognizable, too easy to trace and she needed a clean break if she was to stay gone.

She bought it straight out for fifteen hundred dollars and drove it off the lot without plates. Before she could leave the city she knew she needed to obtain a license plate, a fake driver's license, and a fake passport. All of which was easy to find in Los Angeles, especially when she'd previously been friends with Spence.

Within an hour she'd obtained all three for the same price as the car. She dropped another five hundred dollars for an out dated flip phone and a hefty tip for the man's silence. He hooked her old phone up to the new one and transferred her contact list. Her new number was blocked and caller ID would alert her pretty damn quickly if she needed a replacement piece. With every loose end tied up she ejected the SIM card from her old phone and crushed it under her foot. She tossed her old cell phone into a dumpster as she made her way through the alley to her new car.

Sliding behind the wheel she pulled her sunglasses over her eyes and peeled out of the back alley. The fastest way out of California by car was the I15 N and she instantly turned her car towards the highway. Shorty refused to look back at the city she adored and the family she cherished but continued on the highway until the signs above the road reminded her she needed to make a decision. She followed that through Nevada heading towards Barstow and crossed into the I15 express lane. As Nevada gave way to Arizona she decided to continue driving until she needed sleep.