Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap: Spence and Levi followed behind with Banjo pulling up the rear, sniffing through the warm sand for any morsels of food. The kitchen table was set and the delicious smell of dinner wafted around them as they walked in and sat down. A feeling of apprehension descended over Shorty as she looked around at the smiling faces before her. They were happy, dare she assume, even overjoyed to see her, and yet she couldn't help but wish for them to be her loved ones back home. In the months since she'd left she hadn't once sat down to a dinner with other people, and she knew it was going to be a little overwhelming.

Chapter Thirty Three

Shorty leaned back against the couch and placed a hand over her bulging stomach. She'd eaten as if she'd never seen food before and graciously thanked the host when she finally pushed her plate away. Spence and Jamie's daughter had long ago gone to bed and both parents were nursing ice cold Corona's. Ben and Levi each held a glass full of dark amber rum and Shorty smacked her lips wishing she could have even a sip of something alcoholic. Pregnancy made a woman miss all the things she took for granted, like a casual drink here and a roach there. Thankfully, Jamie assured her that once the baby was born she could pump her breast milk ahead of time and she'd be able to have a beer or two in celebration.

That was a long time coming though and until then Ben and Levi were determined to hear what had driven her out of Los Angeles. After recalling the story to Spence she really didn't want to relive it again so let him explain most of it.

"Vince is going to kill you," Levi answered when Spence finished the account of her departure.

"No way man, Vince is gonna kill Leon. Hector's gonna kill you," Ben countered.

"Thanks for the confidence guys," Shorty groaned, as Banjo nestled into her side, his face watching the group for sudden movements. She loved the big brute with all her heart but she hoped she could find a way to break his overly protective manner before the baby was born.

"Well, their trash is our treasure," Spence grinned, joining in on the teasing.

"You guys make a girl feel all warm and fuzzy inside," she answered snidely. "But, it's more likely just gas."

The five adults talked late into the night and Shorty was thankful for the friendship they showed her after she'd cut them out of her life without a second glance. She didn't understand how she could come across so many wonderful people in her life and she hoped she didn't fuck up these relationships like she had in Los Angeles or New York.

When she walked Ben and Levi to the door shortly after three in the morning she realized these men could never take the place of her brother. As hard as they'd tried to avoid talking about her team and friends back home she could see how they found it difficult to comprehend how she could just leave. If she thought about the situation from their point of view she knew she had to at least call Hector. Even if she wasn't ready to explain herself, he deserved to know she was alive and safe after four months of absolutely no contact.

Shorty promised them she'd see them the next day and locked the door behind them. Spence and Jamie had already gone to bed so she filled the sink with water and washed the dishes in silence. A small grin crossed her face as she placed the last plate in the drying rack. Her entire life had been spent avoiding dishes and now she used it as an excuse not to pick up the phone and dial the ten numbers that would connect her to Hector. But important conversations couldn't be avoided forever so she left the main house and made her way to the guest house.

Once she crawled into bed and Banjo had buried his head in the crook of her neck she dialled the familiar number. Shorty knew she should have waited until a reasonable hour but the overwhelming desire to hear her brother's soothing voice demanded she call. Hector had always been her protector and if he could have taken away her pain over the unexpected pregnancy she knew he would.

Halfway through the second ring his groggy voice answered, "Yeah?"

"Hector, it's me," Shorty said, then paused to allow time for his sleep riddled brain to piece together what she'd said.

"Shorty? What time is it?"

"It's just after five your time," she answered.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

She could hear him pushing himself into a sitting position and she could almost see him leaning against the headboard and dragging a hand over his scalp. "Yeah Hec, everything's fine. I just missed you is all."

"I miss you too. Can you just come home now, please?"

His voice sounded so tired and wounded and she couldn't help but feel guilty, knowing that she was the cause of it. She knew without a doubt that he spent many sleepless nights worrying about her. He was the perfect brother and she was his wretched, selfish, and uncaring sister. "I can't, but I want you to know I'm doing good. I've got a house and a dog. Can you believe it?"

"Why can't you come home? There's nothing stopping you. Please just stop this and come home," he sighed, knowing it was futile.

She was the most stubborn member of their family and team and he knew once she got a thought in her head she was going to follow it through. "How are the boys?"

Hector sighed again at her subject change but answered anyways, "They're missing you real bad, we all do. But they're doing good. The garage is doing good but it's slow now, you know how it is after race wars."

"How was Race Wars?"

"It was a lot different this year. We pulled in some good money. Letty didn't race and she's huge now, she's like a house. I never thought I'd see her as round as she is," he laughed.

She laughed along with him, her hand rubbing across her own swollen belly, "You're totally exaggerating. How are Leon and Vince?" she whispered, her question trailing off despite her best effort to stay strong.

"Shorty, I can't tell you that. You made your choice; you have to let them go. You made me tell them to move on, now you have to too. I don't know why you left but you did."

"Hector?" she croaked sadly.

"You love me. I know you do," he answered for her before continuing, "Can I come see you? I swear I won't tell either of them."

"Not yet, I'm just getting settled in the house. Let me get my life together here before you come and try and drag me home."

"Where are you?"

"You'll know soon enough. Do you have a pen near by?"

"Just a sec," he answered, and she heard the phone drop to the mattress. Seconds later the sound of friction on the bed filled her ear and then he was back on the phone. "Got one."

"I'm going to give you my cell phone number, don't bother trying to trace it. It's unlisted, pay as you go, and isn't the area code I'm living in. Don't give this to anyone but the team, ok?"

"I'm not gonna give it to Toretto, I think he put a bounty out on your head," Hector laughed.

Shorty didn't laugh but shifted uncomfortably against her pillows. The way Dominic Toretto took care of business and the way he protected his family; well, she wouldn't put it past him. "1-813-672-3395. You can call me anytime."

"You know one of us is going to call you every day now, right?"

"I was banking on that," she smiled. "I'm going to let you go though, I'm exhausted. I'll talk to you soon."

"Count on it. Love you Shorty."

"Love you too," she answered before hanging the phone up and sliding it beneath her pillow for safe keeping.

Now that she'd spoken to Hector she felt much better about the situation. He was right, of course, about moving on from Leon and Vince. She'd left them; she'd betrayed their trust. How dare she wonder how they were doing? That was her being selfish again, wanting the information on their lives when they were refused the same. She had lost the right by her own actions but that didn't make it any easier to swallow.

"You know, Banjo, you're going to love Hector and the boys," she whispered, as she slid into the bed and stuffed a pillow underneath her growing belly. The Rottweiler licked her face and settled against her stomach. She wrapped an arm around the dog as if he was Leon and fell asleep.