Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap: "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.

Chapter Thirty Four

With only a week to go before her son was born, Shorty curled her toes in the sand and looked out over the ocean. She thought back over the nine months that led her to this moment. A lot had happened and she'd changed, though she couldn't exactly explain it. She felt more mature, she felt ready to take on the next chapter of her life. Probably the scariest chapter anyone could take on.

Since settling down in Mexico she spoke to a member of the team daily, or more depending on if they called her while at work or at home. She'd repaired her relationship with Hector even though she still hadn't told him he was going to be an uncle in a few days. It was impossible to broach the subject now that she'd waited so long. Without a doubt he would be shocked, then hopefully thrilled, when he laid eyes on his newborn nephew.

Shorty had booked five tickets for the team to visit two days after the due date, and frankly, she couldn't wait for the opportunity to present them with her son. She'd surprised each and every one of them when they saw the destination on the tickets. Although, she suspected Hector had a slight inkling all along to her location.

In fact, she knew he'd known deep down where she would end up. And she was confounded that Vince hadn't figured it out yet. She was sure, since he knew her so well, that he would come strolling in and haul her back to Los Angeles. However, after talking to Hector three months before at four in the morning she hadn't asked about him since. Hector had once tried to mention them in passing but she'd cut him off midsentence and told him he'd been right. She was just torturing herself.

Banjo had grown into a monstrous creature, tipping the scales at one hundred and nineteen pounds. He was blessedly gentle with Kennedy and Shorty wasn't worried in the least about bringing home a small baby. He was, at one time her only companion, but now shared the title with Spence, Jamie, Ben, and Levi. She'd formed a temporary makeshift family with these four adults and she was utterly grateful for their respect and acceptance. They neither questioned her motives for leaving and they kept her location a secret from even their old team mates, so word would never reach Dominic Toretto's ears.

Letty had finally found the socks with the note hidden inside three days after the phone call with Hector. After her fist email they arrived sporadically twice more after that, one special letter accompanied by a picture of her in the hospital holding Lalia Tierney Toretto. Swaddled in pink, Lalia had looked breathtaking while Letty had looked ragged and exhausted after her twenty seven hour labour. Shorty just hoped her after birth picture wasn't as haggard but she had to admit Letty's beauty still shone through. She didn't mention Leon or Vince in the three letters and for that she was thankful. Hearing from her was hard enough without having to read what they were up to.

A swift kick to her left side drew her back to the present and she blinked against the sunset. It rarely ever got cold in Mexico, especially on the Gulf of Mexico where she lived, but the breeze that night had chilled her skin and she wrapped her loose sweater tightly around her belly. She hadn't meant to sit on the beach that long but she often lost track of time and before she knew it it'd be dark. Turning onto her knees she pushed herself up and placed a hand on the small of her back. She could well be considered a blimp by now. She hadn't gained much more weight past the initial sixteen pounds but she carried it all in her stomach, making her look as large as a house.

Waddling back to the small house she stepped through the sliding doors and shut them behind Banjo. He quickly lapped up half his bowl of water and followed her upstairs to her room. Shorty ran her tub full and slid under the bubbles and steaming hot water to relax. The heat of the water was one of the only ways she'd found to lessen some of the back pain but tonight it wasn't helping. Sharp pains had throbbed through her spine starting shortly after lunch and she gone for a long walk hoping the endorphins would minimize the pain. Unfortunately it hadn't and she knew it was going to be tough to fall asleep tonight.

She stayed in the bath until the water turned luke warm before she hauled herself out and fell into bed naked. Shorty was watching an old black and white Fred Astaire movie on the television when her phone vibrated from under her pillow. Checking the caller ID she answered Pedro's call with a cheerful, "What's up Papi?"

"Would you sleep with me if I fed you Burger King on a date?"

"Not a chance in hell, but I also wear clothes to the races so you really can't use me as a jumping off point," Shorty laughed.

"Fuck. I don't want to spend much on her. She ain't even worth a Whopper JR."

"Well why are you taking her out then?"

"She has this amazing set of fake tits," Pedro confided seriously.

Shorty couldn't help but laugh at him. Since the night she'd given Hector her phone number she received phone calls at all hours of the day asking the silliest questions. She knew it was only to hear her voice and make sure she was still alive and kicking but this call was definitely the most ridiculous. "You know, you can call me just to talk."

"That's what I'm doing, geez! So, what are you wearing?"

"Oh no! No way. You are too much. I'll see you in a few days, lil' homie. Tell the boys I love them," she answered.

Pedro ended the call and she stuffed the phone back under her pillow. Shorty snuggled down into the mattress and despite the pain in her back she fell asleep in only minutes.

The sun was just peaking in the blinds when Shorty was jolted awake by an excruciating pain in her lower abdomen. She clutched her stomach until the pain receded before throwing the covers off her and rushing into the bathroom. She felt a warm wetness slid down her thighs and she glanced down to find herself standing in a small clear puddle. Instantly she panicked, "Ew!" she shrieked, as she jumped out of the puddle and back into her room. She grabbed the towel from her bath the night before and dried her legs off and quickly pulled on a short pair of sweat shorts, a sports bra and a simple t-shirt. Tying her unruly hair onto to top of her head she grabbed her already prepared overnight bag and waddled as fast as she could to the main house.

Jamie was already in the kitchen preparing Kennedy's breakfast when she rushed through the door with Banjo hot on her heels. His anxious mewls broke the silence and Jamie turned from the counter to greet them. When she saw the overnight bag on Shorty's shoulder she dropped the knife she was holding back onto the counter and smiled.

"Going somewhere?"

"My insides are dribbling down my leg and you want to have a witty banter session. Totally not the time," she answered, as she grabbed her car keys from the small bowl next to the phone.

Jamie grinned once more before pulling Kennedy from her booster seat and holding her on her hip. She disappeared upstairs and returned moments later leading a tired Spence who now held his daughter. Shorty doubled over again as the same pain bloomed across her insides and she took in a ragged breath and held it until the pain passed. Jamie pulled Shorty's arm around her shoulder and turned to Spence, "Her breakfast is almost finished, feed her, comb her hair and get her dressed. Then you can meet us at the hospital," she said, as she took the bag from Shorty's shoulder and placed it over her own. "Oh! And don't forget to call Levi and Ben."

"Yeah yeah," he answered, rolling his eyes at Shorty. "I know how to take care of a child."

"Barely," Shorty joked, and let Jamie tug her out of the kitchen.

"Oh, and Shorty?" Spence called loudly, "Good luck," he followed sarcastically.

The hospital was fairly close and within thirty minutes she was in a hospital room waiting for her doctor to make an appearance after the staff had paged them. The nurse brought her a gown to change into but after much arguing allowed Shorty to climb into the bed wearing only her sports bra. She pulled on a set of gloves and let them smack tight around her wrists. The sound of latex slapping skin made her giggle and Jamie humoured her with a tiny grin as the nurse bunched the light blankets up across her waist.

"Voy a comprobar cómo las pupilas dilatadas que estás," she said, as she eased Shorty's legs open and lubricated her fingers. (I'm going to check how dilated you are.)

Shorty threw an arm over her eyes to try and block out the uncomfortable feeling and cringed when she felt the nurse slide two fingers in. A quick withdrawal was followed by the feeling of more fingers before she pulled them out again.

"Cuán lejos está ella?" Jamie asked from the chair beside the bed. (How far along is she?)

"Cuatro dedos, por lo que unos ocho centímetros. Usted ha afirmado que el agua rompió hace aproximadamente una hora?" (Four fingers, so about eight centimeters. You said the water broke about an hour ago?")

Shorty nodded her head as another wave of pain washed over her and she clutched the rails along the bed and held tight. She groaned loudly and bit down on her lip in an effort to remain as quiet as possible. When she thought about it, she knew she didn't want to be one of those women who spent the day shrieking and bitching at the doctor and nurses. She just wanted to do her time and leave with her son.

When the haze of pain lifted she found Jamie sitting on the side of her hospital bed with her hands wrapped around one of her own. "I knew I should have made you go to Lamaze class."

"Sit around with a bunch of fat woman and their men, all of them breathing hard and heavy? Horny was what got me into this situation! Of course, back then I wasn't as big as a Buick."

The nurse returned wheeling in a fetal monitor and quickly attached it to her abdomen. She turned it on and the sounds of her son's strong heartbeats filled the room and she squeezed Jamie's hand. "I made that, you know," she beamed proudly, as another nurse came in and set up an IV bag and primed the line. From there on out the next three hours passed in a flurry of activity and pain. Jamie relegated Spence and their daughter to the waiting room but took the camera offered and began snapping an abundance of memorable pictures.

Shortly after nine she was fully dilated and demanding drugs like any crack whore coming off a month long bender. When her doctor finally walked in he was in full scrubs, cap, and gown and his nurses was just pulling his gloves over his sleeves. "Buenos días Michael. I pensamiento para asegurarse de que usted haría hasta su fecha de vencimiento. Oh, bueno, eso no se puede evitar," he said cheerfully. (Good morning Michael. I thought for sure you would make it until your due date. Oh well, that can't be helped.)

She cried out as another contraction hit her and she begged for the drugs she had so ridiculously declined only two hours before. "Por favor, Dios, dame la maldita droga," she said as she clutched the bed rails again. (Please, God, give me the damn drugs.)

Dr. Guay's hazel eyes met her own slate grey and she could tell instantly he wasn't going to give them to her. "Lo siento Michael, usted ha dilatado completamente. Es el momento de impulsar ahora," he answered, before he gazed between her open thighs. (I'm sorry Michael, you're fully dilated. It's time to push now.)

"Yo no estoy dispuesto!" (I'm not ready!)

"Veo la cabeza. Necesito tomar una respiración profunda. Sí. Ahora pulse," he said, and his head disappeared from her line of sight again. (I see the head. I need you to take a deep breath. Yes. Now push.)

Shorty had never played organized sports but she imagined Dr. Guay as the perfect coach. He told her when she needed to push, when to breathe after holding her breath to long, and he instructed Jamie on how to cut the cord. She'd never thought about having children but if she couldn't have Leon cutting the cord she was glad it was someone who loved her and not just a nurse. Sure, it wasn't that important but it held sentimental value and she knew Jamie would remember it forever.

When Dr. Guay finally placed the tiny boy upon her chest she could do no more than look down and wonder how she'd created something so perfect. He had all ten fingers and toes, soft peach fuzz across his scalp, and the lightest grey eyes she'd ever seen. He didn't focus on her but his cries quieted as soon as she held him against herself.

He was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen and she couldn't wait for Hector to meet him. Shorty ran her finger gently down the bridge of her son's nose and nodded at Jamie to go get the rest of the group. When she quietly shut the door behind her she looked down at her son again and whispered, "Your Papi doesn't know what he's missing, but you're the best thing that ever happened to me."

She knew he couldn't understand a word she said but it was the truth. She wished Leon was there with her to hold his son and love him unconditionally the way she already did. Maybe one day when her son was eighteen he'd meet his father but until that day she'd provide for him and protect him without any negative feelings to her single motherhood. She knew what she'd taken on when she'd left her old life behind. It'd be hard but life in Mexico was much simpler than Los Angeles and she was glad she could raise her child with the same value she'd been raised with.

"I dibs the kid first!" Levi called when the door opened and her friends crowded into the room noisily.

"Would you keep it down?" Jamie snapped, and leaned over the bed for Kennedy to get her first look at the baby.

Although she didn't understand much about the new life she'd taken to mimicking those around her. Whenever she saw Shorty she'd place a tiny hand followed by a tiny ear against her stomach and try to hear the baby. "Baby?" she asked Shorty, as her chubby finger pointed at the child in her arms.

"Yes Kennedy, this is my baby."

"No baby?" she asked, pointing at herself and looking to her mother for an answer.

"You're still a baby, darling," Jamie answered, then backed away from the bed so the men could crowd around.

"Can I hold him?" Levi asked, his eyes brimming with the pride of a surrogate uncle.

Shorty lifted her son off her chest and passed him to Levi. He clutched him in a tight grip and wandered to the chair beside the window to look down on him. He held him for only a scant three minutes before Spence demanded a turn. She smiled as the child received the love he deserved as he was yet again passed to a new set of arms. Although she felt empty without him resting on her chest she was happy to let the others hold him.

"What's his name?" Ben asked, as he collected the boy from Jamie's outstretched arms.

Pausing briefly to rearrange herself more comfortably on the hospital bed, she looked at Ben, "Brer James Muñoz Izquierdo."

"That's a real Hispanic name you gave the kid."

"You're not gonna give him Leon's surname?" Spence asked.

"James is Leon's grandfather's name," she answered as she accepted Brer back into her arms. "But he can change it when he gets older, if he wants to."

The group fell into a quite calm as the day wore on. She wanted her discharge papers but the doctor recommended a night in hospital just to monitor Brer and herself to make sure there were no complications. When visiting hours were over she let Kennedy kiss Brer on the cheek and waved goodnight to the group. It wasn't that she wanted them to leave, but she wouldn't mind a little one on one time with her baby.

He was sleeping peacefully in her arms. She smiled down at him as his face crinkled in his sleep and she realized she finally made something worthwhile. Her drawings and her car where the only important things she'd ever made, save for Brer. Once the initial shock of her pregnancy wore off, she knew her team would feel the same way. And she couldn't wait for that moment.