Two days later...
"Daddy! Daddy, it's time to go see Mommy!
When Brian didn't respond to Jack's early-morning exuberance, a hard smack to the face startled him easily.
"Jeez, Jack," he grumble rubbing his stinging cheek. He peeked an eye open to see the curly-haired, blue-eyed monster sitting on his chest, rearing back to give him another whack. Before he could, Brian flipped the tot over and unleashed the tickle monster onto his belly, sending his son into a fit of laughter. "Who taught you to hit like that?"
"Granny said to wake you!" he said through laughter.
"Well, now I'm up. Get your bag and gather the rest of your toys. I'm gonna go check on Uncle Roman."
Brian headed downstairs where Roman occupied the sofa. He complained the first night - going from a thin, miserable hospital bed to a worn sofa would make anyone cranky. Unfortunately for Brian, Roman was a pain in the ass when cranky.
He found the nuisance sitting up, a bowl of oatmeal in his lap, with children's cartoons playing on the tube.
He flopped down next to him, "Moving day, Roman. How's the leg, man?"
He gave a grunt, shoveling another spoonful into his mouth.
"Any pain?"
"Other than the soreness that comes with laying on your back for over a month? Nah. Doc gave me the good stuff."
"Good. Start gathering your shit, our flight leaves at noon."
Rome's eyes momentarily went to the mantle where Roger's ashes rested in a pristine urn.
Brian continued on to the kitchen, where he found his mother unloading groceries bags, restocking the fridge with fresh fruits and Corona's.
"You found time to grocery shop?" he asked, filling up a mug with steaming coffee.
"There's always time to shop when you get up early enough."
"You sound like Mia," he laughed.
"I wanted to make sure Dominic and Leticia had the essentials when they take over the house."
"Corona's are considered essentials?"
"Apparently," she responded with a shrug.
"And what makes you so sure she'll move back in with Dom?"
"Because they're inseparable, Brian, and they're in love. They aren't going to want to spend a second away from each other, let alone be four blocks away."
"How do you know so much?"
"Because that was Roger and I before you ran away to the academy. If you truly love someone, you just want to be with them, through everything. Letty will be back under this roof in a week's time. You watch."
Brian shook his head.
"I wish I was around to see you two together. Rome and l used to secretly wish you'd get married so we'd be legit brothers."
"Really? And here we thought we were being discreet."
"Momma, we knew the moment you and Dad met that you'd end up together," Roman interjected as he entered the kitchen, refilling his bowl with more oatmeal. "Just wish our teenage nonsense didn't interfere."
"Oh Romie," she cooed, wrapping her arm around his waist, "What your father and I had was special for many reasons, and maybe in a different lifetime we would've been great as a couple. Doesn't mean l loved him any less. Our focus was on you two knuckleheads."
"Don't worry Mom, I'm a good wingman. We'll find you a nice respectable man in Seattle," said Roman.
"Respectable like 'No-knees Denise'?" Kelly responded with a smirk.
"Ha!" Brian interjected.
"Denise was a nice girl!" Roman exclaimed, shuffling away from the verbal assault. "You're almost as bad as Brian's punk ass, Mom!"
"Momma, it's time to hit the road!" Oz yelled from the front room.
Kelly turned to Brian, a nervous smile on her face. He pulled her in for a hug.
"Don't be nervous, Mom. Change is healthy. Mia's gonna love having you around."
"What about you?"
"I'll deal," he joked with a shrug.
"Ass," she said, smacking his arm. "I'm gonna grab the last of my things. Holler when Oz gets here."
A few blocks over, Letty was being stirred away by the sensational smell of bacon. She rolled over with a groan, rubbing the cold spot that should have her boyfriend's warm body in it. Instead of searching for her clothes that were torn off during the ravaging by Dominic, she made her way to food the way nature intended - ass out.
And that was the way she found Dominic in front of the stove. He threw her a smile over his shoulder, but she was quickly under the spell of his toned ass.
He turned and handed over a cup of coffee, a smirk on his lips.
"Good morning," he murmured, leaning across the island to kiss her.
"Good mornin' yourself," she looked around at the spread of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and her favorite - blueberry waffles. "You make a good housewife. I just might have to keep you around. When did we get a waffle maker?"
"Got it off Kelly at the yard sale for five bucks."
Dom whistled for Ginger and waited for the eager Shepherd, placing her puppy bowl on the floor. He sat a plate in front of Letty before walking around with his own and taking a seat next to her.
"He can cook and he's thrifty?" she said aloud, shoveling a not-so-lady-like fork full of fluffy eggs into her mouth. "I might have to keep you."
"That's nothing; now I do my own laundry and I even separate the colors from the whites."
Letty gave an impressed nod, "Well aren't you just the modern man."
While eating and admiring Dom's body, her eyes fixated on the scar left by the bullet she put into his shoulder nearly three years ago. Anytime her eyes landed on the scar, she felt guilt and anxiety.
Dom noticed her eyes, sad and sorrowful, focused on his shoulder.
"Ya know, the bullet hurt. But if I got to the UK and none of it was real - if you were really gone ... that agony would've been much worse. So this is a piece of cake."
Letty, feeling somewhat comforted, gave a small smile. Before they could finish breakfast, there was a quick knock at the door before it pushed open.
"Whoa, guys!" Brian instantly covered his eyes. "Why the hell are you both naked?"
"Because it's my place, O'Conner. Why are you walking in without knocking?" Letty replied without looking up from her plate.
"l did - never-mind. Duct tape?" he asked over his shoulder, facing away from the temptation to glance at Letty's nude body.
"Junk drawer near the door."
Brian retrieved duct tape and immediately yanked open the door, but Dom stopped him - purely for entertainment.
"What time you leavin' for the airport?" Dom asked, a smirk on his face.
"In less than two hours."
"We'll be over after breakfast," Dom said. He and Letty let out soulful laughs as Brian bolted out the house.
"That was messed up," Letty said behind a laugh.
Before they could finish their meal, the door was busting open against, this time it was Brooke.
"Jesus, you guys!" She said as she entered.
"Does anyone knock anymore?" Letty asked to the universe.
Brooke flopped down in the sofa, unafraid of the nude bodies just feet away.
That tidbit made Dom uncomfortable, so much so that he was desperate to leave the room, "I'm gonna get a shower, can you clean up?"
Letty nodded, planting a kiss on his lips. Dom grabbed some oven mitts sitting nearby and used them to cover his front and backside, quickly disappearing out the room.
"I'd trash those after," said Brooke. She walked into the spare bath and found a robe for Letty before whistling Oz inside.
"You guys decent yet? Poor Blondie seems traumatized," Oz said with a grin. "We just passed Brian on the street - he said you were struttin' 'round naked like newlyweds."
"So you decided to show up?"
"Brooke said you had a spare cooler? Need something to keep my lunch cold during the ride."
Letty directed him to the cabinet while moving to the sink to start clean-up.
"Did you remove the rest of your things from the spare room?" she asked Brooke. "I told you I wanted to be out of here by tomorrow."
"Yeah, I brought some cleaner by as well. You can get started on scrubbing your sex den, and those two stools," Brooke teased.
"The Big Guy is gonna be thrilled you're moving back in," said Oz.
Letty smirked and leaned in to whisper to Brooke, who jumped in to help with the dishes, "Why am I not surprised you couldn't keep that to yourself?"
"Oh, please - you knew I would tell him. Has he still not asked?"
"He won't, that's why it's a surprise. He hints around it, but I know it's 'cause he doesn't want to feel like he's pushing me. But I figured why not?" she shrugged. "We've been here together for a month, and it's been great, but it's not home."
Brooke looked at Letty, and could see she believed in everything was saying, no second-guessing behind those eyes.
"Look at you, sounding all mature and shit."
"You're one to talk; when did you start doing dishes?"
"When I realized Oz didn't own any, to avoid cleaning them. I got tired of breaking plastic forks during dinner."
Brian was packing the rest of clothing away when his FaceTime app alerted him to a call.
"Hello beautiful," he greeted his wife.
"I cannot wait for you guys to get home! Are you - are you still at the house?" she asked, noticing Dom's bedroom in the background. "Bri, your flight leaves in an hour and a half. You know how bad traffic gets."
"I know Mi - just finishing up last minute shit. Making sure I put those orders thru for DT's, cleaning up Dom's room. I gotta call Dr. Griffith to make sure Roman's appointments are confirmed. Maybe I should book a later flight-"
"Sweetie," Mia said calmly, noticing some anxiety on his face, "You can't book a later flight. I need you home, today. As soon as possible. Like now."
"Everything all right?"
"Yes, I'm just excited for my boys to come home. I have the whole day off and I want to spend as much time with you both as I can."
"I can't wait to get home to you, Mi. I miss you," he said genuinely, flashing those baby blues at her.
"I miss you, Brian. So as much as it's gonna hurt to say goodbye to my brother, you need to do it, then get on that damn plane."
A car honking outside and Letty's yell from downstairs told him it was time.
"Guess it's time to go. I'll see you soon."
Mia blew him a kiss, "Be safe, I'll be waiting at baggage claim. Love you."
"Love you, too."
Brian ended the call and headed downstairs, embracing the homely essence that was the Toretto house. His home away from home was never easy to leave, especially walking away from the people who called him family. He looked out the window as Letty was buckling Jack in the back of Sonny and Neil's Honda, and Dom was helping Roman settle in the front.
"O'Conner, move your ass!" Dom hollered toward the house.
Brian tossed one final look around the infamous home before stepping outside. He kept his emotions in check while tossing his bag in the trunk.
"It's always a pleasure, Buster," Letty teased, but he could see some sadness behind her eyes.
"Glad you're home, Letty. Stay put, okay?"she nodded and pulled him in for a hug.
"Take care of Mia. She's gonna need it," Letty whispered in his ear before kissing his cheek, turning back for the house.
Brian didn't know what this meant, but he assumed it had something to do with him and Roman being under the same roof, and Mia likely playing referee.
"Be you sure call when you land," was all Dom said before bringing in Brian for a hug.
"Why does it always feel like goodbye? Like we won't see each other again?"
"It's never goodbye," he pulled back to see Brian's blue eyes red-rimmed. "Pull yourself together O'Conner; you're not helping the rumors."
Brian chuckled, "RaceWars in a month. See ya then."
"Call when you meet with the building manager."
"Bri, get in the car, man! We gotta plane to catch. We could've taken mine, but you guys blew it up," Rome said.
"First off - Hobbs blew it up, not us," Brian reminded, "And second, shut up."
Dom stepped back on the curve, his woman at his side as he watched the other half of his family drive off back to Washington.
"C'mon, Papa. Let's get you a beer."
Letty found Sonny and Neil later that evening in the Toretto backyard, somehow playing basketball and passing a joint back and forth simultaneously.
"What's up girl?" Sonny greeted first, taking a drag from the spliff before offering it to her.
She obliged, taking a hard pull and passing it back, "Need another favor."
"No way," Neil said quickly, "Dom jumped our ass last time we helped you. No way."
"C'mon guys, don't be pussies. It's nothing bad; I just need you to keep Dom occupied for a while."
They both gave her long looks. "Why?"
"Because I'm moving back in tonight and I want it to be a surprise. Just need him out of the house for a while."
After a while of what she assumed was weird twin telepathic communication, they agreed to get Dom away from the house, and that's what they did. Neil made up some bullshit about a car they spotted for sale and wanted Dom's professional opinion, so of course he was willing to help.
Meanwhile, Letty and Brooke were loading boxes full with clothes and shoes, all while Ginger playfully unpacked each box.
Annoyed and tired, Brooke yanked opened the sliding glass door and whistled for the dog, tossing her favorite ball out into the yard. As suspected, she darted out the door and Brooke slammed it quickly behind her.
"Hey! Be nice to my dog," said Letty. She could see the exhaustion on Brooke's face.
She sighed and flopped down, "I'm already tired of this."
"We're almost done, girl."
"Not the house ... this damn pregnancy. Oz is so excited - already thinking of names, and college funds. When he gets back from Seattle, he wants to talk about finding a house."
"You have about five-hundred million reasons why none of that is a problem. And you got a guy that's actually excited to be a dad and stick around; what's the real problem?"
"I never had to be responsible for anyone other than myself, and you saw how well that was going. I have no idea how to take care of a baby."
"Can't be much difference from how you raised Ginger; feed it, clean up it's poop, and keep it away from sharp objects. Everything else you'll pick up along the way," Letty smiled, but could tell that it was no laughing matter for her friend - she was genuinely afraid.
"I've never been tied to anything ... not a guy, or where a live, hell not even a job. I've always been this free spirit, just going with the flow."
"So why stop now? Take your boyfriend and your baby and see the world, Brooke. You're too young to feel stuck. Luckily for you, your dad left you a hefty inheritance that could take you literally anywhere you wanna go. So, go."
"Ugh," she groaned, flopping down on the floor against the sofa, "I'd kill for some Tequila right now."
"You mean like this?" Letty asked, presenting a new bottle of Jose Cuervo Silver. She ignored Brooke's whines and poured herself a shot. Letty quickly tossed it back and poured another, taking a seat on the floor next to her friend, bottle between her fingers.
"You're an ass. You think you'll be okay living back in the Toretto house? No more mad dashes for freedom?"
Letty shrugged, "I don't see why not. It's gonna be weird with it just being the two of us, though. I'm used to the house being chaotic. I'm used to my life being chaotic. I don't know what it's like to live quietly."
"Well your new niece or nephew will change all of that."
"Shit, maybe both." Brooke gave her a strange look, "Mia's pregnant, too."
"Shit. She's gonna pop out another kid while taking care of her other two? Jack and her man-child?"
"Three now if you count Roman."
"And she works like a mad woman. I mean, why does she feel the need to work those long crazy hours at the hospital? They're loaded."
"It's not about the money with Mia, it never was. She had this knack for taking care of people, and never expecting anything in return. Hardly even got a thank you sometimes," Letty recalled, "I guess that's why she got into the nursing shit. After everyone took off, after the trucks, she went to community college, got a degree, and immediately went to work. Never heard her complain about the patients, or how tired she was. She was the only one who actually cared about which way her life went. She didn't live on the fringe like the rest of us, until I was killed."
"Sounds like you miss her."
"I do. I miss a lot of things," she shrugged. "Some things I wouldn't care to forget again."
"I can get that. Well, I'm happy that you've seemed to have found yourself.
"I miss Jesse's ramblings, and Vince and, Leon's beer-chugging contests. Mia cleaned up a lot of vomit after those nights. Shit, even V following Mia around like a love-struck puppy. That was before O'Conner, of course. Everything changed when the surfer dude walked into the cafe."
"Crazy to think he and Dom are so close now. You'd never expect an ex-cop and the outlaw he tried to take down to become best friends, and in-laws."
"Those two have this dynamite connection that was evident from the start. The Buster had a set of balls on him, and he didn't scare easily. When he let Dom go that day, it solidified his place in Dom's life. Cop or not, he had Dom's respect. That's why I went to him for help. He always did the right thing."
"So how does not Hobbs fit into this? He's sorta like an anti-Dom."
Letty chuckled, "From what I hear, Hobbs and Dom bonded during a brutal attempt to take them in custody in Brazil. They worked together on that heist, and again, he was let go."
"Said it once and I'll say it again - Dom is one lucky bastard."
"Dominic is a charmer. He's always been that way. He's got a strength to him that's more mental than physical. Something that allows him to see the good in everyone, but he can also spot the devil from a mile away. He's brilliant ... in his own street-kid way."
Brooke looked up at Letty, "Sometimes I wonder if you're the same chick who I found in Mexico."
"Well I'm definitely not Nicki anymore."
"I know that. Nicki was skittish, and unsure and untrusting of everyone. Closed-up. She slept with scumbag losers and drank off-brand beer."
"I resent all of that."
"They were gross Letty - the men and the beer. Seriously, though. Seeing you in this environment, with Dom... it's like you transformed."
"In ways, I have. I left this place to find myself, not realizing I was leaving all of the most important parts of me behind."
Brooke smirked, "Now I know you're stranger. Taking away the liquor," Letty protested, despite being pretty buzzed already. "Get up. We have to get the last of this stuff moved over before your man comes home."
After making sure their new housemates were settled in, Brian was ready for some rest and relaxation, so he went looking for his wife. He found her in Jack's room, standing over his racecar bed, watching as he slept stretched out. He watched them both quietly for a moment, marveling at the life he had created for himself.
Brian never imagined that walking into that quirky local cafe would change his life drastically, but it had. It gave him the best of times, and the darkest of days. It gave him perspective, and schooled him on a world he never expected to become apart of.
It gave him friends, and then family. A wife he worshiped, and a son he adored.
It gave him enough riches to finally stay out of the fire chasing freedom and direction. And finally, it gave him a code to live by - protecting his family at all costs.
"Hey you," he finally said, catching her attention.
"Hey yourself. How'd he do after I left?"
"He did great. No fits, he listened well, not too much whining. I think Ginger and the kids kept him too occupied. We might have to get him a puppy."
"Not a chance," Mia smirked.
He followed her out of the room and over to the master bedroom, where he felt at home again. He took a running start before diving into the mountains of pillows lining the bed. He rolled over and gave his wife a grin, patting the bed next to him.
Mia obliged, never able to deny that perfect smile a thing. She climbed in next to him and mounted his lap, pulling his head to rest against her breasts.
He got a whiff of her favorite perfume, and happily inhaled the vanilla scent he missed so much.
"You have no idea how much I missed you, Mia," he said, trailing soft kisses down her chest.
"I missed you, Bri," she said before a sharp intake a breath when his lips brushed against her neck. "Not so fast. What's the plan here? With Rome and Kelly?"
Brian sighed, "I dunno Mi. I wasn't really in the mood to think about that right now."
Mia could feel exactly what he was in the mood for, and as much as she missed that, she tried to stay focused. She pushed him back on the bed to force him to look at her.
"Well I need you to start thinking about it, along with a few other things."
"What other things?"
She gazed into those dreamy blue eyes and almost turned into a puddle of lust. To avoid getting lost in them, she looked away.
"Like which one of those rooms we're gonna turn into a nursery in a few months."
Brian didn't react for a few seconds, but to Mia it felt like eternity. His mouth gaped open a few times, but no sound escaped. He didn't blink for so long that Mia wondered if he had even heard her words, until his eyes filled with his tears.
"Are you kidding me?" he muttered, a smile creeping onto his face.
Mia shook her head with smile, "Six weeks."
He sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist, "There's another O'Conner in there?"
"Yep. You're not disappointed?"
He frowned, "Why would I be?"
"We went from being outlaws on the run from Federal agents and Interpol, moving from country to country, to living in the suburbs with a kid, and now another one on the way. I've already pulled you away from racing. Another kid?"
"Will what... pull me away from driving all-together?" he chuckled, rolling her over to lay beside him. He leaned up on his good hand, "Mia, I asked you to marry me because I wanted to settle down with you and yeah, some kids. You gave me a beautiful little boy, and now I want a girl. These last few months only proved to me that I have to be around for you and Jack, and this one, too. I can't do that if I'm locked up, or dead."
With her heart warmed over, she pulled his face down to kiss his lips. When they pulled away he turned his kisses to her abdomen.
"A girl, huh?" Mia asked.
"You already gave me a mini-me, and now I want a mini-you. I'm gonna be around for you and our children, to watch them grow. So, no more jobs, no more stunts. And I'll keep the racing to RaceWars, but I can't promise I won't keep trying to kick your brother's ass."
"I would still love to see that."
Dom was on his way home from the garage when he received a text message from Letty.
"Come home already."
"Almost there."
"Make sure the twins leave, too."
Dom smirked at this, "Got it."
They pulled up to Leon's pad, but he could see all lights were off. He messaged her again.
"Where are you?"
"Home - like I said."
It finally dawned on him. The Toretto house. She was home.
"Take me home, boys," he said. "Sonny, you open the shop tomorrow. I think I'm gonna be late."
"Gross," they responded in tandem.
Dominic headed inside and straight up the stairs to his bedroom. He kicked off his boots and followed the sound of running water to his queen.
She was relaxed under a ridiculous mountain of bubbles in his recently-renovated bathtub, "I realized earlier that I left before you re-did the bathroom, and I never got to enjoy this amazing tub."
Dom watched her leg peak out from beneath the bubbles and fought the urge to jump in on her.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Very nice. And big enough for two," she grinned at him.
Dominic took the invitation and dropped his trousers right at his feet. He tore off his tank and climbed in the spacious tub behind her. Letty sank back against his chest and he didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her.
"So is this permanent?" he asked, spotting both her toothbrush and hairbrush on the sink.
"I sure hope so," she said. "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all," he replied. He felt the cross pendant floating in the water, "Interesting bathing accessory."
Letty lifted it from the water, suds dripping from the chain and stared at it intently.
"I think I'll keep it close for a while."