"What time does Dom and Letty's flight get in?" Mia asked her husband while putting the finishing touches on her makeup.
"They land at nine, and that's if they haven't missed it yet," Brian responded.
"Letty promised me they'd make it for my birthday, so they'll be here. They've been on their honeymoon for so long, I'm starting to wonder if they're ever coming back. I mean, it's been almost a year. They hardly call home, only come in for holidays, and I still don't even know where they are."
"I told you, Mi: Dom said they were going everywhere. He calls every few weeks to say that they're okay, but they're not ready to come home yet." Brian took a cautious breath before he spoke again, "Maybe it's time to start considering that they aren't coming back."
The look Mia gave Brian nearly turned him into stone. He looked away and finished making up the bed.
"No way," Mia said, "My own brother wouldn't move to another country without telling me. Unless he and Letty are up to no good, there's no reason for them to not come back."
"Mia, Dom hid out in South America for two years without knowing exactly where he was. It's not hard for him to disappear if he wanted to, Letty too."
"Not now, not after everything. How could they just up and leave?"
"The same way we up and left for Seattle," he replied.
"Don't do that. We're a few hours drive away, not on another continent, Brian," Mia noticed the way he avoided eye contact, and instantly knew something was up. "For someone who calls my brother his best friend, you don't seem too bothered that they are gone."
"Because I'm not, Mia. They're adults."
"What aren't you telling me?"
He couldn't lie to Mia. It was hard seeing that look on her face, the same look she gave him at RaceWars when he revealed he was a cop.
"All I know is that if Letty took to a place that they visited and wanted to stay, Dom wouldn't think twice to buy a house - or hell, an island - for her. I'm just saying, don't rule it out."
"Brian Earl O'Conner," Mia stood next to the bed with her hands on her hips. "Did my brother and sister-in-law move out of the States?"
Brian sighed, "I don't know much, but I got a call a few days ago from your cousin. Said that Dom wanted me to ship him some parts for his Impala. So I searched the address, comes back to a small town in Havanna."
"Fernando? In Cuba? And you didn't think to tell me?"
"There's nothing to tell, Mi," Brian could see the hurt in his wife's eyes. He moved around the bed to stand behind her, leaning his head on her shoulder. "Dom and Letty are married adults. Free adults. You know they won't stay tied down, but they won't stay away forever."
Mia sighed and swallowed her pain, "They've been gone long enough already."
"They deserve it. Just like you deserved to come to Seattle and start your life. They are finally starting theirs together."
"Don't," she said, "They still should've told me."
"And I'm sure they will tonight. Now, can you please get dressed? Dinner is in less than two hours, and it takes you three to get dressed."
"Fine. Go make sure the kids aren't torturing your mother, please."
"Happy birthday, Mommy," he smirked, dropping a kiss on her cheek before heading downstairs, where the rest of the attendees for Mia's birthday dinner were beginning to gather.
"Daddy, Granny said we could build pillow forts," Jack greeted his dad at the steps, "But Vinny and Junior keep knocking them down."
"Boys be nice," Brian said to Leon's twin boys. "Jack, remember - careful with the little ones. No rough stuff. And listen to the older girls, they're gonna help Granny look after you guys tonight."
"We'll be careful Uncle Brian," Nico added, appearing with a giddy smile that matched his father's.
"Grandma Kelly and I are gonna bake some gingersnaps when Sam gets here," Jess said.
"You better save me some," Brian smiled at her.
He turned his attention to the little person tugging on his black pants. Deep blue eyes accompanied by a toothy smile stared back at him. Long, thick curls bounced as Delilah danced along to her favorite singing bear.
"Well, hello Happy Feet," he greeted, scooping his daughter up in his hands.
She giggled, slapping her slobbery hands over his beard. Soon enough, he felt another tug at his pants.
"Another pretty girl wanting my attention?" He asked to the blue-eyed tot. She nodded giddily and received the same vertical treatment. He'd gotten pretty good at balancing the mischievous 18 month-olds. "You gotta keep an eye on them, mom. These two will get into anything if you don't keep them right under you. I don't get it; they usually aren't so wacky unless they're together."
"It's because you and Oz argued the entire time their mother's were pregnant. Then he asked you to be her godfather - it's only right the girl's become best friends from birth and terrorize you both."
"Maybe you're right," Brian looked down at Nicki, seeing every bit of Oz's ugly mug in the precious girl. When both girls began tugging at his tie, Kelly finally stepped in to relieve him.
"Come on, girls. Let's not ruin Mr. Lumberjack's nice suit."
Brian sighed with a smile, "I told you Mom - Mia likes the beard. It's staying."
"Fine, fine," Kelly rubbed her hand over his scruff, "I just miss the baby face underneath all of it."
She kissed his cheek before taking the girls and shooing the others to the play room.
"Where is everyone?"
She directed him out the back sliding door, where most of his family was gathered, each decked out in suits and flowing dresses for the formal occasion.
"Have you talked to Dom or Letty?" Brooke greeted him anxiously.
"A few times here and there. You haven't talked to Letty at all?"
"She calls about once a month to say they are alive and out of jail, and that's it. I'm surprised they even answered your invitation to dinner," she said, the annoyance written on her face.
"It's Mia, of course they'd come. B, Dom and Letty just love living off the grid, that's how they stayed alive most of their lives. They come in on the important days - birthdays and holidays, but I wouldn't expect to see them much after that. They're living their lives, just like we are."
"It still sucks," she pouted. "I don't even know where they are. I've been forced to hang with this crazy bitch since Letty's not around," Brooke said, nodding to Kara over at the patio table. She offered up the bird without missing a beat in her convo with Rosa and Roman's fiancee, Elise.
"Wherever they are, just know Dom's keeping her safe, and vice versa. Let's just enjoy and annoy them tonight while we can, yeah?"
"Don't think that I don't know Dom's told you where they are hiding out, but for the sake of your nice suit and this bad-ass dress, I'll refrain from beating the info out of you," said Brooke, giving a twirl to show off her strapless, black knee-length dress and high-heel ensemble.
"Thanks for sparing me," he laughed.
"O"Conner, get your ass over here!" Brian followed Roman's voice over to the pool, where he, Tej, Oz, and Leon were standing around, sharing a joint between each other.
"You guys couldn't wait 'til after dinner?" he asked, passing on it when it came his way.
"Sorry man, you know I need this for my pain," Rome replied.
"I know, but as a former cop, I'm sketchy about walking into a fancy restaurant smelling like potheads."
"That's the best part - we'll have the whole place to ourselves. Rented out the place for the night so we can shut that bitch down, ya hear me?" Roman said enthusiastically.
"I hope it goes better than my party a few months ago," Tej said, a round of laughter filling the air. "Yeah-yeah, laugh it up. I had to pay for the detail of both Ubers that night, not to mention the ridiculous tab you two ran up. Twenty-grand, plus."
"Remind us how that came to be Rome?" Brian said, a grin already on his face.
"I didn't realize how much alcohol the redneck could down without even flinching," he replied, nearly gagging at how much whiskey he had downed.
"I'm a southern boy Roman. Where I'm from, Whiskey was our morning coffee."
"Told your ass not to take that bet," Tej griped.
"What're you complaining about? I lost a hundred G's to Letty before we even hit the club. I swear that Camaro is from another world."
"Speaking of, where the hell are they?" Leon said. "Gotta lot of clients who'd love to have Letty back at the Lab."
"Dom said they'd be in by eight. It's seven-thirty now."
"He meant in general," said Tej. "After you signed over your half of DT's to Oz and Dom made him acting manager, they ain't been back, man."
"I know, I know. He calls in at Toretto's every few weeks to make sure I haven't tarnished the family name, but other than that, I don't hear from them much either."
They all gave him disbelieving looks.
"Is this right?" Dom asked while leaning inside the SUV rental.
Letty moved around to peer over his shoulder, "Almost. You have a few straps crossed, though."
Dom huffed, annoyed with the hindrance, and tried again.
"Take your time, and press the seat into the locked position," she coached. With one push, the seat snapped into place. "See, easy-peesy."
He groaned and loaded their bags into the trunk. Letty shut the door and approached him at the rear. She wrapped her arms around his waist, careful not to wrinkle his Armani suit. He pouted while resting his arms over the silky material of her creme-colored dress.
"What's wrong, Papa? You've been moody since we left."
"I can just imagine the beating Mia's gonna give me," he muttered.
"You think that wrath is exclusive to you? And why do you assume Mia's the only one pissed? We left a lot of people back in Cali," Letty replied. "We made this choice together - to stay off the grid. To just enjoy each other with no distractions. Neither of us planned for it to go this far, but now we have to suffer the consequences, together."
"That doesn't make me feel better."
"Get over it," she smirk, reaching up to peck his lips before sliding into the car.
Dom followed suit and they let the GPS system guide them to his sister's home. He nervously looked in the rearview, constantly checking on their precious cargo buckled in the backseat. Letty found herself doing the same. It was a habit anytime they were in a vehicle.
The twenty-minute drive from the airport was silent and tense. Letty knew it was because he was thinking of his sister. Mia was going to be livid; they knew this a year ago when they made the choice to stay in Cuba after their honeymoon. A month turned into three, and before they knew it, the couple became a threesome. Only they hadn't rushed to tell their family back Stateside about the newest edition. Instead, they decided to take this unfamiliar road alone.
Letty wasn't worried, though. She had taken up positivity and being Zen in the last few months, and panic was not in her plans. She knew her sister's anger would subside quickly. At least she hoped.
The Range Rover pulled onto the O'Conner estate, following the pathway to park behind the slew of high-priced sports cars and SUVs. Another vehicle arrived a few minutes after, the massive truck parking behind them.
"Look who it is, Sam," Luke's voice echoed. "Toretto finally came out from under his rock."
Dom smirked as Hobbs' daughter threw a hand up, "Hey Dom. Hi Letty."
"What's up, girl?" Letty greeted the twelve year-old.
Hobbs came over, wrapped gift in hand, donning a pricey grey suit, "How was Cuba?"
Dom and Letty shared a look.
"I told you Toretto - I always find my man."
"You keeping tabs on me, cop?" Dom asked, his lips curled into a smirk, though he was only half-joking.
"I got a very upsetting call from our guest of honor, saying her brother and sister-in-law vanished. So I told her I would check in, make sure you two weren't up to no good."
"And what'd you find?"
Hobbs peaked into the backseat of the Range, a pair of dreamy brown eyes staring back at him.
"That you running off to another country is the least of your worries. When Mia finds out you made her an aunt and didn't tell her?" Hobbs began laughing maniacally, giving Dom a sympathetic pat before making his way inside.
"Don't listen to him. Come on."
Before they could make it to the steps, the men of the family began filing out of the house, all freezing at the baffling sight in front of them. Mouths gaped and eyes stared at the three beings on the walkway, only two of them familiar.
"What is that?" Tej asked the question they were all thinking.
"What's it look like, dummy?" Letty asked.
"A better question would be where the hell did you get a baby?" Leon exclaimed.
"It fell from the sky, Leon," Dom said sarcastically, slightly amused by his family's confused faces. "Where do babies come from, group?"
"I think we're wondering why you're carrying a relatively new child, and why Letty has a diaper bag over her shoulder. That would imply that the child is yours, and that you physically birthed her? Which also couldn't be true because that would mean you'd have had to been pregnant for nine months, right?" Brooke ranted.
Letty sighed and nodded, "Yes, B."
"Nine months without mentioning to anybody here? Bullshit," Brooke laughed, but it was obviously out of disbelief and not humor. "Family wouldn't do that. So really, who's baby?"
"O'Conner, you wanna give us a hand?" Dom asked, shifting the small child in his arms. Brian sprang into action, taking Letty's bag off her arm.
Everyone stood frozen around the door, still out of sorts with what was happening.
"If any of you are still standing here in the next five seconds, I start passing out beatings," Letty said, annoyed with the staring, but nobody budged.
"If my child starts crying because you won't let us inside, I start throwing beatings," Dom's deep voice warned. Sure enough, the family parted like the Red Sea to allow the Toretto's entry.
"Brian, I can hear shouting from upstairs. What's going-"
Dom and Letty both looked to the stairs and locked eyes with Mia, who was glowing in a peach maxi dress. Her eyes darted between the two adults before finally stopping on the infant in Dom's arms. Mia took the rest of the steps like a zombie, her high-heels clanking on the redwood stairs with a heavy thud.
Dom knew they were in for it, but he still smiled at how elegant, beautiful, and mature his baby sister had become.
"Happy birthday, sis," he said as she finally stood only inches away.
Her eyes focused on the body resting against Dom's shoulder.
Letty had braced herself for Mia's temper, which had yet to turn physical but she could see this pushing her over that edge. Mia didn't lash out, though. Instead, she furrowed her brow as she reached for the child without a word.
"What's her name?" Her voice cracked.
"Isabel Dominique Ortiz-Toretto, but Dom's been calling her Izzy."
Mia took the infant to a nearby chair to further investigate her niece. She pulled the knit cap from her head gently to reveal a head of straight brown hair that Mia was sure came from Letty. Izzy's skin was rich in color, her parted lips full and pink, and her cheeks chubby and pinchable.
Mia couldn't pull her eyes away. She was enthralled by the sleeping child, whom had no idea of the impact she made within minutes.
"What's she like?"
"She poops a lot, like unnaturally. And she sleeps. She's Dom's, alright," Letty said. "She's pretty chill, luckily."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"We didn't tell anyone, Mi. Where we've been, there's hardly even any cell service. We were only making trips to the city for essentials, or doctor's appointments," Dom answered.
"You mean Cuba, where you live?" Mia stated intently. "Cuba doesn't have postal service? Your fingers stopped working to shoot a text? Hell, you couldn't fly in during the past year to mention you were pregnant?"
Mia was hurt, and the harshness of her words cut like a blade.
"We wanted to surprise you, Mi," Letty said, but it wasn't enough. "After the honeymoon, it was my choice for us to stay. The country is so beautiful, and frankly, I didn't want to come back. And I knew if we talked to you, or Brooke, or Brian, you'd try to talk us out of it."
"Lett, you had a baby. With my brother. You didn't think I'd want to know? Did you even have a baby shower?"
Letty chuckled, "No, and I'm happy we didn't. We didn't need all of that," she sighed and waved the others inside. "I want you all to hear this."
"You gonna explain why none of us were important enough to know you guys were having a baby?" Brooke started.
"Because every journey we've taken has been with you, or alone. Rarely have we come across an obstacle that was just our own to conquer, and this was it. We needed to lean on each other. This was terrifying for both of us, but we knew we could tackle it, together," Dom explained. "I'm sorry you guys couldn't be there for us, but at the time all we needed was each other."
Brian was the first to respond, moving to stand at Dom's side, "Welcome to the dad club."
"Yeah, finally," Oz added with a grin.
"Looks like Dom was doing a lot more than just palming it," Tej murmured to Rome.
One by one, the others gave their best regards and crowded around Mia to get a peek at the newest member of the family.
"So when you flew in for my birthday earlier this year, you were pregnant?" Brooke asked Letty. "That's why you didn't drink at the club? Not because you were fighting a bug."
Letty nodded, "I wanted to tell you, B. All of you. I just wanted this time with her more. Please understand that it wasn't malicious."
Brooke nodded, looking over at the baby now in Brian's arms. Her resolve finally wore off and she pulled Letty in for a tight hug.
"I'm still pissed, but I'm proud of you. She's perfect."
"Thanks, girl."
"Hey, not to rush you guys, but if we don't show up to the restaurant by ten-thirty, the chef's gonna take off, and I ain't missing dinner for any of you fools," Rome said. "Dom, Letty I love you guys, and my new niece is cute as hell, but I'm going where the food is."
"I don't know if I can give her up now," Mia cooed, still clutching the baby to her chest.
"Bring her with us," Brian said, "Come on, we don't wanna be late."
Mia looked at Dom with hopeful eyes. He directed her to Letty.
"She's bound to wake up soon enough, why not?" Letty sighed skeptically. "But we haven't had a night to ourselves in about three months, so if she comes to, you two are responsible for feeding and diapers. Got it?" She said, pointing to Mia and Brian.
"I'm the diaper-changing champ, so that won't be a problem," Brian replied.
"He and Oz have speed races... to see who can successfully change a diaper the fastest," Mia said with a grin, "So that's what I get to deal with."
"Can we go already?" Rome argued from the door, his arm draped around his lady.
The family began to file out, but Mia spoke again, this time directed at Hobbs.
"Um, don't think you get off scott-free either, Luke," He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. "You knew where they were."
"I did," he admitted, "but I also knew how important this was for them. I kept an eye out, making sure they weren't tempted by any shiny objects. They made a good home for themselves, and a good-looking family," he said, looking to get a better look at Isabel. She had woken during the loud reunion and was now staring back at them with almond-shaped brown eyes.
"Jeez, she looks like Dad spit her out," Mia said, smiling down at the tot.
"That's what I said," Dom smirked, tossing an arm around his sister. He looked down at his daughter, falling in love once again. "Let's go celebrate, sis."
The dinner guests, including a few of Mia's coworkers, packed into a fight-star restaurant, the private event giving them free range of space, food, and celebratory champagne. Boisterous laughter (mostly from Roman), cursing, and the occasion coo from Isabel carried on as the family caught up on life, work, and all thing's babies. Blazer's were removed, and even a few pants unbuttoned after several meals over the course of two hours. The adults were enjoying the rare parents-night-out, and even rarer opportunity for them to be in the same room again.
Dom sat in between his wife and Brian at the head of the table, watching pridefully as Izzy giggled at the comical faces coming from Oz across the table. He looked up at Mia, who also watched the interaction with admiration for the girl in her arms.
Dominic felt a hand grab at his under the table, and he turned to his wife at his side.
"I love you," she mouthed to him.
He replied the way he often did, "I love you more."
"Uh-oh Brian..." Hobbs said, "You might have a problem on your hands. I see the baby fever in Mia's eyes."
"Then she better pass little Izzy over to Mommy and Daddy," Brian joked, sipping from his champagne glass. "I'm sorry Mi, but Lilah and Jack are enough. You know, yesterday I caught them in his motorized car, absolutely flying around the backyard. Said he was practicing to race Nico next time he came over."
"Sorry about that," Oz chimed in, "Tej and I thought it'd be cool to tweak those little engines. Didn't expect him to go all GTA with Lilah as an accomplice."
In a moment that made both Dom and Letty sigh, and the rest of the group aww, Isabel let out a whimper that soon turned into a blood-curtling cry.
"Guess it's time to eat," Letty said, standing to retrieve her daughter.
Mia couldn't stop the tears from falling as she watched her oldest friend embrace motherhood. The same scrawny street kid who scoffed at the idea of sex with "that dipshit" brother of hers, now was married to him, and they were raising a beautiful child together.
"And on that note - I'm gonna have a smoke," Leon said, excusing himself from the tear-jerker moment.
The rest of the men joined him and dragged Dominic along, leaving the women to talk, and likely gossip amongst themselves.
As Letty shamelessly fed her child the natural way, she felt all eyes on her and Izzy.
"Well this isn't weird at all," she said sarcastically. She was admittedly uncomfortable. Letty was used to only Dom staring at her in awe as she breastfed.
"Sorry... this is still so surreal for us," Brooke spoke for the room. "I mean, look at Mia."
Letty looked over to Mia, who was in shambles, her eyeliner running down her face.
Letty sighed with a smile, "Mia, chill out. It's not like it wasn't ever gonna happen. I couldn't tell you the last time we used a condom."
"And here comes my dinner."
Letty turned to the end of the table where Kara sat, a sardonic smirk her face.
"Should've known you'd open that big mouth of yours at some point. Glad to see you haven't changed a bit. Still a bitch."
Kara dropped her head back with laughter, "Yep. And still disgusted by you and the beefcake, so please refrain from any more sex talk."
Mia's coworkers and Elise, Roman's girlfriend, were all perplexed by the seemingly hostile exchange.
"Don't worry ladies, that's how they say hi to each other," said Brooke. "So Lett, are you and Dom ever coming back? I mean, you can't really go back to Cuba after teasing us with Izzy."
One look at Mia told her it was time to reveal their news.
"We're back for good. Our things are on the way. Dom would never say it but I know he was starting to miss home. And I miss being able to get groceries without driving miles into the city."
"I'm guessing you weren't missing us?" Kara said.
"You? No. But of course I missed my family. You guys know that."
"Calls once a month prove otherwise," Mia spoke after finally calming herself.
"Mia..." Letty said with a heavy sigh.
She held her hand up, "I don't even care, Lett. I'm used to you and Dom taking off for no reason. I'm just happy you were together this time, and you are safe now. I'm glad you're home, and I'm so happy that you two finally have the family that you deserve."
Letty felt herself getting choked up and forced a happy grin, "Thanks, Mia."
"But please don't think this means I'm not gonna throw you a baby shower anyhow. You don't get out of that."
Letty cringed at the thought, "Yeah, Dom warned me you'd say that."
"Motherfucking Dominic Toretto is a daddy! Ha! About damn time, pumpkin," Leon exclaimed, clapping him happily on the back. "Damn I wish V and Jess were here to see this shit. It's legendary."
Dom summed up his frightening experience as a new husband and father in a few short words, "It's been a wild ride."
"I'd say so," said Oz, "You look tired."
"Izzy ain't as chill as Letty claims," he responded, "How are things here? You didn't run my garage into the ground, did you?"
"DT's is still standing, and thriving, might I add. We hired a couple good mechanics a few months ago, and business is still good thanks to the exposure from RaceWars."
"Sonny and Neil?"
"Stayed back in L.A to look after the shop. They've really stepped it up since you've been gone. They've been traveling back and forth between shops, filling in and helping out when needed. We run a tight ship."
Dominic nodded proudly, "Guess I wasn't needed around here after all."
"Needed? No. But surely missed," Brian said, bumping knuckles with him, "You know it ain't the same without you here, bro."
"So you guys in town for a while? You gotta come check out the shop," said Roman, who was balancing his weight on his cane.
"Yeah, we're here for a few days, then we're going to L.A. I think it's time to be home for a while. Letty was getting homesick."
"Letty, or you?"
Dom smirked, "Maybe a little. You guys get any racing time nowadays? Or is it all diaper races and playdates with you boys?"
The group quieted, and Brian leaned in to whisper, "We try to refrain from saying the R word around the women."
"So that's a no," Dom said with a grin.
"Oh no, we race - just not in town. We'll talk more about that later. First, I wanna know why the hell you're driving a Range Rover. What happened to American muscle only?"
"You can't fit a carseat in the back of American muscle. The Range is a rental that's going back tomorrow, then we're going shopping for something more our style," he replied, glancing across the street where their cars were parked. "And which one of you punks is driving a mini-van?"
"The one with two smalls kids who are great with aim," After replacing the front windshield in Mia's Charger twice, I bought that thing."
"Look at us," Leon said with a smirk, "I remember ten years ago, we were racing four or five times a week just to pay the bills. Partying damn-near every night, chasers everywhere. Who would imagine we'd be here, legit wealthy businessmen with families and mini-vans?"
"Man, ten years ago I was finishing up a jail sentence. Wearing a damn tracker on my ankle," Roman said animatedly, "Now this? This is nothing but blessings, brothers."
Dom nodded with a smile. He knew most of them were buzzed and albeit emotional, but he could certainly agree.
"I agree with Rome," Dom said, raising his champagne glass in the air, and the others followed suit. "To the street kids who made it out, and to the ones who didn't. Familia."
"Salude," the others echoed.
Dom looked over his shoulder through the glass, his eyes going to his wife. She could feel his eyes piercing into her, and Letty returned the look. He mouthed that he loved her, and she read his lips perfectly, whispering the sentiments back. She lifted Izzy's hand to wave to her daddy, and as always, Dom was turned to mush once again by the overwhelming love he had for those two.
"So what's next for you Toretto?"
Dom turned back to his boys, a wide grin on his face.
"What more do I need?"