A/N: It's a longer chapter. I hope you enjoy...
Two weeks after her baby shower Letty mustered up enough courage to face her mother. She knocked on the door and Ana slowly opened it. They stood still momentarily staring at one another without exchanging any words. "Tenemos que hablar." (We have to talk.) Letty finally said.
Ana continued to curiously look at her daughter before saying, "Entra." (Come in.) She stepped aside to allow Letty into the apartment. "Quieres te o café?" (Would you like coffee or tea?) Ana offered. She normally was not one for formalities, but the occasion called for it.
"Te, el doctor me dijo que el café le hace daño al niño." (Tea the doctor said that coffee is bad for the baby.)
"Si, me dijeron que era baron." (Ah yes, they told me it was a boy.) Ana said awkwardly. Letty nodded quietly in confirmation. She was undoubtedly nervous and was unsure how this confrontation would play out.
"Me encantó el regalo. Gracias." (I really loved your gift. Thank you.) Letty said in attempt to break the ice.
"Era tuyo, solo te lo devolvía." (I was only returning what was already yours.) Ana dismissed handing Letty a small cup of tea.
"Mami yo quería...no se que decir. En estos meses que han pasado, yo he querido desirte muchas cosas pero no he podido. Yo no pensé que las cosas iban hacer asi pero..." (Mami I wanted to…I don't know what to say. In these last few months I've wanted to tell you so many things, but I have not been able to. I never thought it'd be like this but...) Letty rambled.
"Mi madre me dijo una vez que los hijos no son de uno si no para el mundo." (My mother once told me that children do not belong to their parents, but to the world.) Ana interrupted. "Pero yo nunca tomé eso encuenta porque cuando tu naciste y te vi los ojos eras mía y nadie te me iba quitar. Me equivoque." (I never paid much mind to it because when you were born and you looked up at me you were mine. No one was ever going to take you away, but I was wrong.) Ana admitted. "Cresiste, y te fuiste." (You grew up and you left.)
"Mami no fue así. Yo no te abandone." (Mami it wasn't like that. I didn't leave you.)
"Tu no me perteneces y tengo que dejar que hagas tu propia vida con tu nueva familia." (You don't belong to me and I have to let you make your own life with your new family.)
"Pero tu siempres seras mi familia." (But you'll always be my family.)
"Dijiste que no querías, pero ya hice paz con eso. Tu cojarás tu propio rumbo." (You said you didn't want that, but I have made peace with that. You'll take your own path.)
"No, Mami yo no quiero eso. Yo quiero que estes conmigo. Porque no entiendes que no tiene que ser si o no? No quieres conocer a tu nieto? No te duele que el no te conoscará?" (Mami I don't want that. I want you with me. It doesn't have to be either or. Don't you want to know your grandson? Doesn't it hurt you that you may not be in his life?)
"Claro que me duele! Pero fuiste tu la que se fue no yo!" (Of course it hurts me! You're the one that left, not me!)
"Estaba dolorida. Dijistes cosas muy feas. Practicamente me corriste." (I was upset. You said a lot of hurtful things. You practically kicked me out.)
"Leticia no te hagas la inocente. Tu dijiste bastante." (Leticia don't act all innocent you said a lot of hurtful things too.)
"No me estas escuchando! Nunca esuchas! No todo va ser como y cuando tu lo quieras! Eres tan dramatica. Siempre me haces sentir mal porque te combiene. Yo vine reconciliarme contigo. Porque te empeñas en hacer esto tan dificil?" (You're not listening! You never listen! Not everything is going to be how and when you want it? You always make me feel bad because it's convenient for you. I came to work things out with you. Why must you make everything so difficult.)
"Tu no entiendes lo difícil que esto he sido para mi. Los otros días te estaba calgando y ahora estas embarazada porque fui mala madre como todo el mundo dijo que iba ser." (You have no idea how hard this has been for me. The other day I was holding you in my arms, and now your pregnant because I was a bad mother just like everyone said I would be.) Ana said tearfully looking away.
"Mami" Letty said sitting beside her and soothing her back. "No te pongas así. Fue mi culpa no la tuya." (Don't get upset. It wasn't your fault. It was mine.)
"Pensé que con tenerte aquí conmigo te estaba protegiendo de ese muchacho, pero no tenía que hacerlo. El te ama. Se nota. Vino aquí." (I thought that by forcing you to stay here I was protecting you from that boy, but I didn't need to because he loves you. I can tell. He came here.)
"Yo lo se. Yo lo amo también, pero eso no significa que tu dejes de ser mi madre. Yo te nesecito. Siempre te voy a nesesitar." (I know. I love him too, but that doesn't mean you have to stop being my mother. I need you. I'm always going to need you.) Letty told Ana as she cried alongside her mother. They met in a loving embrace, and Ana placed a doting kiss on Letty's cheek, something she had not done since Letty had been a little girl.
"Mira esos cachetotes. Estas tan gorda, pero gorda." (Look at these cheeks. You're fat, like really fat.) Ana told her grabbing her daughter's full cheek. Letty rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Tu siempre." (You always have something to say.) She said.
"Yo nunca me puse así. Ten cuidado que no te quedes como estas. A los hombres no les gustan las gordas." (I never got this big. Be careful you don't stay this way. You know men don't like fat girls." Ana continued rubbing Letty's belly.
"Mami!"
"Es verdad, aguantate la boca. Escuchame. Me lo vas agradecer." (It's the truth. You may wanna start controlling that mouth. Listen to me. You'll thank me later.)
"No, pero yo no puedo contigo." (I can't with you.) Letty said shaking her head and looking down at her watch. "Me tengo que ir." (I have to go.)
"Esta Bien. Voy a encender una vela y orar que sea el niño y no gordura." (Ok, I'm going to light a candle and pray that it's the baby and not just fat.) Ana told her seriously.
"Sinceramente, tu no estas bien. Ya me voy. 'Con Mami." (Seriously, there's something wrong with you. I'm leaving. Blessings.) Letty said kissing her mother's cheek.
"Dios te vendiga." (God bless you.) Ana responded. Letty struggled to get up from the couch, but when she finally stood she felt slightly light headed. "Que te pasa?" (What's wrong?)
"Nada, estoy bien." (Nothing, I'm fine.) Letty dismissed. "Avese pasa." (It just happens sometimes.)
"Estas segura?" (Are you sure?)
"Si, si ya me voy." (Yea, I'm good. I have to get going.) Letty said opening the door walking into the hallway.
"Nos vemos. Vienes mañana?" (I'll see you later. Are you coming tomorrow?) Ana called out.
"Si." (Yes.) Letty yelled back as she slowly made her way down the stairs. Though becoming winded was something she had grown used to, Letty felt significantly off. She felt her baby squirm inside her, and gently rubbed her belly. "Behave today." She told him, and made her way back to her apartment where Dom was waiting for her. "Hey baby." She greeted.
"So how did it go?" He asked pecking her lips.
"Good." She said with a happy nod. "Really good."
"I told you. No faith." Dom commented with his staple smirk.
"Whatever. You ready to go? We can't be late again."
"I don't like the other couples, and the instructor has an annoying voice." He argued rolling his eyes.
"She also hates me. I think it's official all teachers hate me, even when I actually try." Letty claimed and Dom laughed at her words.
"I used to think you were full of shit, but now I'm starting believe it's true."
"You see." She told him before she uncomfortably leaned over their kitchen counter.
"You still getting that cramp?" Dom asked smoothing his hand over her back.
"Yeah"
"Maybe we should skip the class, and get it checked out. It's not like we want to go anyway."
"No it's fine. It just feels like a period, no biggie."
"You haven't been bleeding right? The doctor said that shouldn't be happening anymore."
"You really think that would happen and I wouldn't tell you?" Letty asked incredulously.
"Yes." Dom answered without a second thought.
"Dominic..."
"Letty you never say when something is wrong, ever. I always have to guess. I can't read minds." He accused.
"Right because you're just a chatty Kathy." She countered.
"I'm not pregnant." He pointed out.
"Let's go to the stupid class." She said grabbing Dom's keys and waddling to the door. When she made it to the small elevator she felt her legs become wet, and looked down to see the floor was drenched beneath her.
"What the fuck?" Dom asked coming up beside her.
"I think I just pissed myself. God this is nasty." She commented stepping out of the small puddle.
"You just peed and didn't notice?" Dom asked not fully convinced, and somewhat confused.
"I guess so." Letty said not wanting to admit what they were both thinking.
"Baby, I think your water just broke." Dom told her trying to hold back the sudden terror he was experiencing.
"Don't be dumb, I'm only thirty-one weeks." Letty attempted to dismiss, but then soon she felt one of the sharpest pains she had ever felt in her life. It was so strong it was necessary for her to grip the walls in order not to hurdle over.
"Let?" Dom asked holding her steady.
"Hospital! Now!" She gasped through clenched teeth. Dom helped her up and carried her to his car. She winced in pain as he settled her in.
"Is that too tight?" He asked her after he buckled her seatbelt.
"No, now hurry up! We have to go!" Letty said gripping the headboard in pain. Dom shut her door and made his way inside. He revved up his engine and they made it to the hospital in less than ten minutes.
"I need a doctor!" Dom said to the woman at the front desk of the hospital's emergency department.
"Sir, I'm going to need you to calm down. What's wrong?"
"My girlfriend, her water just broke, but she's only seven months pregnant." Dom attempted to inform, but panic was laced in his voice.
"Where is she?"
"In the car. I need someone to help me, now!" He insisted and the woman followed him outside to his car.
"Hey sweetie, how's it going? My name is Betty what's your name." The woman asked, as Dom impatiently looked on.
"Letty", she grunted out.
"Well look at that. It rhymes with mine." The Nurse said checking Letty's vitals. "Honey I'm going to need you to relax or you're gonna put your body in more stress than it already is, ok?"
"It's not time yet...it's too early...motherfucker!" Letty exclaimed as an excruciating pain surged through her body once again.
"What's wrong with her?" Dom asked urgently.
"She, my dear, is in labor." The nurse informed him.
"The baby's coming? Today?" Dom asked unnerved.
"Or tomorrow, but the way these contractions are coming I'd say in a few hours."
"No!" Letty told her. "He's not ready."
"I'm sorry honey. Ready or not, this baby's coming."
"Dom tell her." Letty breathed out as they helped her into a wheelchair.
"Baby there's nothing we can do." He told her trying to focus on her rather than his own fears.
"Are you dad?" Betty asked.
"Yes."
"I'm going to need you to fill out some paperwork, but first go park this car. Meet us in the maternity ward." Betty said before wheeling Letty off. Dom did as he was told and raced up to find Letty.
"Sir!" The woman at the desk yelled after him. "Sir, you can't go back there without the proper clearance. Name?"
"Uh, Toretto." He answered catching his breath.
"I'm not seeing that name on here." The woman said as she glanced down at her admittance sheet.
"Ortiz, Leticia Ortiz!" Dom practically yelled. He was beginning to lose his patience with the hospital staff.
"Ah, I see. She has yet to be officially admitted. Will you be the one filling out the paperwork?"
"Yes, but can it wait? I just want to know what's going on with my baby."
"I apologize for the inconvenience, but this must be done. I assure you Miss. Ortiz is in very capable hands." She told him handing Dom a clipboard. He impatiently filled in the necessary information, and all but threw the clipboard at the clerk when he was finished.
"Straight ahead, make a right at the third door, another right at the second, and it will be your first door on your left." The desk clerk guided, and Dom was off before she could finish her directions. It took him longer than he would have liked to find Letty. He got lost while taking his second right. All the rooms looked the same, white walls and blue beds, but Letty was not in any of them. Fear began to settle in, but he soon found her. She was alone and scared. Their faces mirrored each other, the stress, the anxiety, the torment. Dom rushed to her side and took her hand.
"What did they say?" He asked out of breath.
"I don't know what I did. I'm sorry." She mumbled. Letty's voice was hoarse and distant. Dom's heart began to race. The thought of losing his son was too much to bear.
"What are you trying to say?"
"They said I'm already six centimeter's dilated, and there's no way to slow it down. He's coming and that means he may not stay. I don't know what I did." She wept.
"Don't say that. You've done everything for this baby." Dom consoled her.
"I didn't want him. God is punishing me because I didn't want him."
"Letty stop."
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have pushed so hard. I should have cut back. I should have listened to you."
"It's gonna be ok. Babies are born early all the time."
"It's too early." She sobbed. Letty felt another contraction ripped through her body and she gripped the bed railing. "Urg!"
"Just breath through it, like in class. Remember?"
"Fuck that class!" Letty blurted out.
"Woa, someone's close." Betty said as she walked into the room. "Why the tears?"
"She thinks we're gonna lose the baby." Dom answered looking away. "Are we?"
"We're gonna do what we can so that won't happen." Betty assured.
"What does that even mean?" He asked.
"Once he's out, we're gonna check and give him what he needs. He's early so he may have trouble breathing, and he may not be able to eat on his own, but we hope we can help him through it, ok?" Dom nodded solemnly, and Letty refused to look at anyone in particular. She wanted to wish it all away. "I know how hard this must be for the two of you, but your are young. Prospects are good. Hang in there. I'll be back in a few minutes." She said rubbing Letty's hand reassuringly. The hours passed, and Dom took advantage when Letty was in between contractions to call their parents. They joined them in the patient room, which remained eerily quiet.
"You're fully dilated. The baby's heart rate is dropping so I'm going to have you try to push. Ok?" The foreign doctor told Letty as he examined her, and she nodded in confirmation. The nurses raised her legs and they commanded her to push. She did, again and again, until her son was out. Everything was happening so quickly she was not able to process all that occurred around her, but Dom held her hand the entire time.
"It's a boy." The doctor said hurriedly handing the child to the nursing staff who quickly took him away.
"He's not crying. Why isn't he crying?" Letty whispered to Dom. He dashed over to where they had his son in a small bed where they were using a bulb syringe to clear the boy's airway. They probed and picked at him, and then placed the smallest oxygen mask Dom had ever seen on his son's face. His heart sank and he felt his eyes sting. The child looked so helpless. They removed the breathing mask and the child attempted to cry, but his lungs would not let him. One of the nurses rubbed his belly and placed the oxygen mask on the baby's face once more.
"Wah!" He finally wailed.
"There we go." One of the nurses said patting the child's back. "Give us a good cry." Dom could not remember a time he had felt so relieved to hear someone weep. It was not a screeching cry, but a labored one. One of the nurses eventually brought him to Letty and laid him on her bare chest. "Here mommy. Meet your baby. What's the name?"
"Alexus, Alexus Anotinio Toretto. " Letty told the nurse while soothing her son's head and placing a soft kiss on his crown. "Why is he crying like that?"
"His lungs are gonna need our help for a little bit is all. It's important that he feel something familiar to ease his experience of meeting the world, and that's you." Betty told her.
"He's so small." Letty said tearfully.
"He kinda looks like an alien. I guess I did curse him after all." Dom said tracing his son with a single finger. He was scared to touch the fragile child with his large hands.
"Oh shut up. He's beautiful." Letty said with a proud smile.
"Don't worry, it takes a while for all babies to get cute, preemies especially." Betty commented and motioned to take Alexus from Letty, but she gave her a warning and possessive glare. "We have to take him now, ok?"
"Why?" She asked placing her hands on her child in order to shield him from Betty.
"We have to monitor him for a little bit. Daddy why don't you come with us." The nurse suggested momentarily distracting Letty, and she took the opportunity to grab the baby from Letty's grasp.
"Ok."
"Grandma can stay with mommy." The nurse told them all.
"When will I see him again?" Letty asked not wanting them to take her son.
"In a few hours. Don't worry. It's not forever." She said leaving the room with Dom on her tale. They pampered and put little Alexus on both feeding and breathing tubes. Dom hated seeing his child hooked up to all the machinery.
"How long is he going to be like this for?"
"Hard to say. We'll just hope sooner rather than later, but typically we tell parents to expect to take babies home around their due date." Dom nodded in understanding. About an hour later he found Tony in the hallway.
"Hard day" He commented wrapping his arm over son's shoulders.
"Pops he's so little. I never thought it was gonna be like this." Dom confessed just above a whisper.
"No one did, but you gotta stay strong. You hear me? That little guy in there needs you."
"I know. I thought he was gonna die." Dom said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"He's gonna pull through. Have a little faith. We're gonna be throwing that kid around in a month or two." Tony told Dom with a chuckle.
"Just like a football." Dom said with a sad smile.
"Listen. I have to get back to the office, but I'll come back in a few hours to check on you guys."
"Thanks for everything. I really needed you here."
"God himself could not stop me from being here today. I'll see you later kiddo." Tony said before he walked away. Dom went in search of Letty. They had moved her to a different room, and found Ana sitting beside her.
"How is he?" Letty asked when she saw him in the doorframe.
"He's good." Dom answered. Ana cumbersomely looked up at him and stepped aside.
"Los dejo solos." (I'll leave you two alone.)
"You don't have to." Dom told her.
"Esta bien, voy a buscar un poco de café." (It's ok. I'm going to go get some coffee.) Ana said before stepping out of the room.
"So, they're gonna bring him back?" Letty asked. She desperately wanted to hold her baby again. It brought her comfort to have him close.
"No, not yet. But don't worry, everything looks good."
"How long?"
"They didn't say. We just have to be patient."
"This sucks." She mumbled. "I just want my baby."
"I know, but we'll get him. It's just a matter of time. What did they say about you?"
"I needed stitches."
"For what?" Dom asked restlessly.
"For down there."
"Oh shit, word?"
"Yeah, it tore when he came out. That's why it looked so bloody."
"So you gonna be like hella tight, like the night I popped your cherry tight?" Dom asked a little too excitedly for Letty's liking.
"Really though? Really?"
"I'm sorry baby. I'm not gonna lie. I was scared when I saw my pussy open up like that. But now that I know this new fact, I have nothing to worry about."
"Wow, that really just came out of your mouth."
"I'm never gonna look at it the same way again."
"What are you trying to say?"
"After I saw you push my kid out I have a whole new appreciation for it. It's no longer just pussy. You know?"
"Stop talking, please."
"Can you believe we're parents now?" Dom told her wondrously trying to lift their spirits.
"I know. My baby is going to be the best baby in the world." Letty said with an endearing smile.
"I second that statement. He's pretty damn cute when he's not purple and gunky."
"Excuse you. He was cute even purple and gunky." She corrected.
"You right." He told her with a smile. "The next one is gonna be Jensen though. I really wanna use that name."
"Dom get a dog because my baby factory is closed."
"I can't wait for Jensen and Alexus to meet each other. They're gonna be like the Super Mario Brothers." He said ignoring her refusal of more children.
"Oh my God! No you didn't!" Letty laughed. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts."
"Tell me that wouldn't be sick though." Dom challenged playfully.
"Whatever Dom, whatever." She said shaking her head. "Can we focus on Alexus? You're just saying stupid shit right now."
"I'm gonna go see when you can go see him." He said motioning to leave.
"Thank you." She told him and reclined in her bed. "Hurry back!"
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