A/N: Long chapter, enjoy! Also, let me know if you have any suggestions.
Eeliab8: I completely forgot to answer you question because I didn't have one. However, I think I'm gonna keep this fic strictly dotty with no Mia/Brian pairing because there aren't too many chapters left.
Nina: Letty's on the IUD so it's a non-issue until Alexus turns three.
Dani/Peaches2421: I love possessive Dom! I'll try to write something in the next chapter because it didn't quite fit with this one.
"I don't give a fuck. He's walking today." Dom told Letty as they made their way to the nursery.
"Maybe he's just not ready." She insisted.
"Nah, he's ready. He's just scared."
"It doesn't have to be today."
"Yes, it does." Dom said picking up Alexus from his crib to place him on the floor, but the baby began to cry as soon as he touched the ground. Dom had been trying to help Alexus walk for the last week and the present day marked his first year of life. It was tradition for Torretos to walk by their first birthday and Dom would be damned if his son did not.
"Dom, stop it." Letty told him.
"No, he needs to learn. He already holds his balance when he stands."
"So? Some babies don't walk until after their first year." Letty argued as she looked at the distraught child who attempted to climb up Dom's leg.
"He isn't just any baby. Look." Dom said pointing to Alexus at his feet. "He can stand himself up, so I know he can walk. You baby him too much. That's why he always wants to be carried."
"He is a baby." Letty said frustratedly. When she motioned to pick Alexus up Dom stopped her.
"Don't." He told her backing them away from their son.
"But-"
"Shh" He shushed her. "Lex look; look!" Dom beaconed waving the child's favorite toy at him as he continued to cry hysterically. "Come get it Lex."
"Wah!" Alexus screeched not wanting to move from where he stood. He held his arms up in hopes that one of his parents would gather enough sympathy to pick him up.
"Come here." Dom told him repeatedly gesturing in his direction. Alexus kneeled down to crawl, but Dom stood him up again.
"Oh my God Dominic just let it go. You're ruining his birthday." Letty complained.
"He's not even gonna remember today."
"So?"
"He'll be fine. He's not hurt. He's spoiled. Lex come on. Give me two steps and I'll leave you alone." Dom told his son kneeling in front of him. The child continued to weep, but he motioned to step forward. "There you go. Do it." Dom encouraged enthusiastically. Alexus moved another foot forward, but then slumped down to crawl once again. "So fucking close" Dom muttered as the child crawled to him and clawed at his shirt. Dom took the baby in his arms, and Alexus settled instantly placing his head on Dom's shoulder. "This isn't over."
"Da, da,da, da" The boy babbled, as he was comforted in his father's embrace. He had yet to say full words, but phonetically distinguished Dom and Letty.
"Can we leave now? They've been waiting for us." Letty reminded him as she smeared some chap-stick on her lips in front of a mirror. Alexus' small birthday party was to take place at the Toretto household that early afternoon. They drove to Dom's childhood home and could already smell the barbecue Tony had started when they stepped out of his car.
"Oh my God you guys are so adorable!" Mia exclaimed opening the door.
"What? Why?" Letty asked.
"You're matching." Dom looked down at his clothes and realized they indeed were. He and Letty had always had similar tastes, and they often seemed to coordinate without really intending to. Nonetheless, seeing Alexus in his little sport's jacket and tiny timberland boots brought a smile to his face.
"Huh, look at that. I didn't even notice." Letty said nonchalantly walking into the house.
"The boy's gonna have good taste." Dom said behind them.
"I have to take a picture of this. Don't move." Mia said running to get her camera. Letty sucked her teeth in annoyance. She hated being photographed.
"Ok, smile!" Mia said holding the camera up. "Letty that isn't a real smile."
"This is as good as it's gonna get." Letty told her as Alexus began to fuss in her arms.
"Lexi, give Titi a smile." Mia cooed at the child, and he began to laugh. "Yeah, you like pictures. Don't you?" The baby began to point and lean forward attempting to grab the camera. He was going through a smashing phase, and would snatch anything and throw it with all his might.
"Don't let him touch it Mia or he'll break it." Dom warned her.
"Ooh, I should probably move the camcorder." Mia said noting the video camera on the coffee table.
"Probably." Dom said grabbing his son and placing him on the floor. "You want the camera Lex? Come get it." Dom said moving away. Again Alexus went on his hands and knees to crawl towards his father.
"Dom he's gonna walk when he wants to walk." Letty insisted.
"No, he's walking today." Dom asserted standing Alexus up again.
"He's obsessed." Letty told Mia.
"I was walking at nine months. He can do it at twelve. Right Lex?"
"It's true. We both walked early." Mia informed her. Letty rolled her eyes and headed for the back yard leaving the siblings in the living room.
"Hey Tony" She greeted. He was manning the grill. There were already a few friendly faces that had arrived, and music lightly played in the background.
"You hungry?" He asked her.
"Starving, I didn't cook today since we were planning on coming here."
"It'll be ready in ten minutes." He informed her with a welcoming smile. "Where's the birthday boy?"
"Inside with your son. Dom's obsessing about the walking thing. He's just a baby. He's being too pushy."
"He should walk today." Tony told her.
"What is wrong with all of you?"
"You coddle him too much. I know he was sick and he's still a little small, but you gotta push your kids every now and then."
"Well excuse me for having a heart and not liking to see my baby upset."
"Letty all baby's cry. It's what they do. You should know that by now." Tony told her with a chuckle.
"Whatever." She huffed crossing her arms over her chest.
Back inside of the living room Alexus was getting angry because Dom kept taking away his toy in attempt to get him to walk. The boy would furrow his eyebrows like Dom would, while sporting Letty's signature pout. "If you want it you have to walk for it." Dom told him as the child babbled and yelled at him.
He had taken two strides, but had yet to fully walk. "Mia get the camera. He's gonna do it."
"I've had this camera ready for half an hour already. At this rate, the battery is gonna run out before we cut the cake."
"We can always get more down the block. Come on Lex, be a big boy." Dom encouraged. There was a knock at the door, and Mia went to answer it.
"Hola Ana" She greeted cheerfully.
"Hola mija, y mi nieto ya llegó?" (Hey sweety, is my grandson here yet?)
"Yes, we're trying to get him to walk."
"Pero ese niño ya estaba caminando conmigo los otros dias." (That boy was practically walking with me the other day.)
"Si pero no solo."(Yes, but he wont do it by himself.)
"Ay, ay quien es ese?" (Oh, Oh, who is that?) Ana greeted her grandchild excitedly from the doorframe.
"Ma, ma, ma" Alexus rambled pointing at Ana with a happy smile.
"Ay si. Soy yo, niño lindo. Ven acá" (Yes it's me sweet baby. Come here.) Ana called to him. He attempted to crawl, but Dom once again stood him up, but allowed him to grip his fingers as he attempted to take a step. "Mira te tengo un regalo. Tu quieres tu regalo? Ven buscalo." (Look, I have present for you. You want your present. Come and get it.)
Dom let go of Alexus in hopes of him continuing on his own. "Quick get the camera Mia." He told her.
"I have it. I have it."
"Ven, ven." (Come. Come.) Ana said waving a lollipop in Alexus' face, which he eyed hungrily. He screeched excitedly clapping his hands together.
"Go get it Lex" Dom told him cheerfully. "You got the camera ready?"
"How many times are you gonna ask me?" Mia asked in annoyance.
"He's gonna do it." Dom said watching intently.
"Ven mi amor, ven" (Come honey. Come here.) Ana encouraged when she saw Alexus attempt to take a step, and he did. He took several wobbly steps to his grandmother who he hadn't seen in several days.
"Oh my God look at him go." Mia commented excitedly.
"Are you filming this?" Dom asked her.
"Where is Letty? She's missing this!" She asked from behind the camera.
"Letty!" Dom bellowed out repeatedly.
"What? What?" She came running in seconds later. "Is he ok?"
"Look" Dom said pointing to their son who had almost made it to the doorframe where Ana stood.
"Oh my God." Letty said in astonishment.
"I told you he was gonna walk today." Dom said proudly.
"Aww, my baby's walking."
"Así mismo, sigue ahí." (Yeah you got it. Keep going.) Ana encouraged.
"Ma, wa, ma, wa, woah, ma" Alexus jabbered as he reached his arms out for Ana to pick him up.
"Yay, Lexi!" Mia cheered. Ana gave him his lollipop and he took it excitedly.
"That a boy Lex!" Dom said taking him from Ana, and planting a kiss his cheek. "You got that, right?" He asked Mia once more.
"Yes Dom, I'm still filming." Mia answered.
"Who's daddy's big boy?" Dom cooed causing Alexus to giggle. Letty took him from Dom's arms and gave him several kisses of appraisal. While in her arms, her son began to pull at her tank top.
"Woa there, we can't put those on display for camera to see." Letty said pulling up her top.
"I think he's hungry." Dom told her.
"I just hate how he refuses to take the bottle when he sees me. Ain't nobody got time to be breastfeeding today."
"Can you say that one more time for the camera Let?" Mia teased.
"Mia you best cut that out." Letty warned.
"Y la comida?" (Where's the food?) Ana asked.
"Alla atrás. Ve busca." (Out back, go get some.) Letty told her before heading upstairs to feed Alexus. She settled herself on Dom's old bed. "Hold on baby. You're worse than your father." Letty told him as he impatiently yanked at her top.
"Ta, ta, ta" The baby babbled as he grew restless.
"Here" She said positioning her breast so that he could feed. Letty had been feeding for about twenty minutes when Vince came bursting through the door.
"Holy shit." He said looking at her. "Sorry."
"It's ok. It's not like you can see anything."
"Yeah, uh, Tony, uh, sent me to get something." He informed her awkwardly trying to look away.
"Then get it." She told him unfazed.
"Yeah, uh, I'm going to."
"Ok?" Letty said in a confused tone. Vince went to get a few bags Tony had left in Dom's old room. Unfortunately, Alexus had decided that he wanted to switch breasts while Vince carried out Tony's request, which meant Letty was momentarily exposed. "V don't look. I have to put him on the other side. "
"Uh yeah, right, um, you do that." He stuttered out as she maneuvered Alexus to her other breast.
"Ok, good to go." Letty told him a few seconds later, and Vince then practically ran for the door.
"Uh, don't tell Dom about this." Vince told her, and Letty rolled her eyes.
"You didn't see anything."
"He won't see it that way." He insisted, and she merely shrugged in response. Since the birth of their son there had not been any jealous fits among the couple. They were too busy with responsibility to resort to their old petty ways. Letty made her way back downstairs with Alexus to find that more guests had arrived to the small get together.
"There he is!" Simone exclaimed from couch when she saw them come down the stairs. "There's my little birthday boy. Wait, why isn't he wearing what I bought him?"
"Because his grandfather bought him half this outfit."
"Well I hope you plan on changing him."
"Actually, no, I don't."
"Uh!" Simone exclaimed.
"You know how many of you guys bought him clothes. This kid probably thinks we're rich."
"When you got friends you technically are." Simone said with a laugh. "Actually I have something to tell you."
"What?"
"I pulled a Mercedes last night."
"I know there must be a good reason for why you got my name in your mouth." Mercedes said from afar whilst she conversed with another guest.
"What the fuck? Does she have bionic ears?" Simone asked rhetorically.
"Yes" Mercedes answered from the same distance.
"With who?" Letty asked with a laugh.
"You don't know him. Shit, I don't even know him."
"Damn, it was like that?"
"Yea, I feel so slutty."
"You should."
"I did it out of anger. Ricky really pissed me off."
"Hold on, my baby's ears should not be exposed to this conversation. Have you seen Dom?" Letty interrupted.
"Yeah, he was outside with the boys."
"We'll talk about this when I get back." Letty told her as she went in search for her baby daddy.
"Damn the kid is one already. I can't believe it." Dom's good friend Reggie noted. They were talking with Vince and their other childhood friend, Mike, in the driveway, while drinking a few beers.
"Meech, he's gonna be talking soon. I can't believe how time has been flying. You'll see what I'm talking about when you get yours."
"We just found out about that shit. Slow your roll, man. I'm still reacting to the news."
"Why are you guys all having babies and shit?" Mike asked frustrated.
"I'm with you. It ain't the same after they have one. I thought it was bad enough when this one first fell for Letty, but Dom never comes out anymore." Vince complained.
"That's not true." Dom said defensively.
"When was the last time you went out?"
"Last week."
"That don't count. Every time you win a race you leave. You don't even hang out any more. I ain't saying you should. I get why you don't, but shit's changed. There's no denying it."
"Yeah you're right, but I'm cool with it though. I like playing with my kid. It's bad enough that I don't get to see him most of the week because I'm at work. Certain things just don't matter like they used to." Dom told him with a shrug.
"Nah, I still only care about partying and fucking." Mike said slapping Vince's hand in a low five.
"You're so stupid." Dom said with a laugh.
"Dom!" Letty called from behind them.
"What?" He asked turning around.
"Can you hold him a sec?" Dom walked over to take Alexus from her.
"Why didn't you put him down for a nap?"
"Because there's nowhere to put him." She said before walking away. Dom went back to the guys with his son in his arms.
"Letty's looking right." Mike commented as Letty made her way back into the house. She had always been attractive, but motherhood had given her a very womanly figure that men loved to stare at. Her breast were slightly larger, and her hips slightly wider.
"You looking at my girl Mike?" Dom asked threateningly.
"Nah, just saying. Not all of them get their body back like that." Dom eyed his friend menacingly, and Mike took the hint to shut his mouth. Dom took a swig of his beer and Alexus reached for it.
"Oh no, you ain't touching this for a long time." Dom said jokingly.
"Trying to hold out until he's twenty-one?" Vince asked humorously.
"He won't be getting any from me until then." Dom informed him.
"That's fucked-up. Tony didn't do that to you." Vince said with a smile.
"You make it sound like he gave me a keg. He gave me one beer when my mom died, and looked the other way if I got it on my own."
"I guess." Vince responded with a shrug.
"How are we supposed to tell our kids not to do shit we do?" Reggie asked suddenly fearful of his circumstances.
"I haven't gotten there yet. I just got him to walk today. That's enough for me. I'm just hoping for the best here on out." Dom responded casually.
"Da, da, da, da" Alexus babbled pointing at a large toy on the picnic table. He tried to get Dom's attention by grabbing his face and directing him.
"Duty calls. I'll be back." Dom told the guys as he headed to the table. He knew Alexus would throw a tantrum if he did not get his way. Therefore, he played with his son until Letty joined them because Mia insisted on taking pictures of them.
"Mia still? Really?" Letty complained half an hour into Mia's photo-shoot.
"Fine" Mia said rolling her eyes. "We should cut the cake before he gets cranky." She suggested. They both agreed. There was nothing like a cranky Alexus before a much needed nap. Guests gathered around and sang to the small child who was scared by all the sudden attention. He buried his head in Dom's neck during his birthday song.
"Eat your cake baby." Letty told him in his highchair. Mia had baked Alexus a personalized miniature cake for him to sabotage as he went head first for a taste. He got icing all over his face and hands as they photographed him. He even managed to get some in his curls. While adults bit into the larger cake purchased at a local bakery, Letty took her child upstairs to clean him off with Simone. Dom sat outside mingling with guests who were soon to depart. It had been a good turn out. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Alexus.
"I want to talk to you." Dom heard Tony's voice behind him.
"What did I do now?" He asked and Tony chuckled in response.
"It's what you haven't done." He began while sitting beside his son in a lawn chair. "Ever since that boy was born we've been taking things one day at a time, but I think it's time to start looking at the big picture. As hard as this all has been, it's important that you realize that he's growing and fast. He's going to start asking you questions and thinking out loud. Therefore, you're gonna wanna be the best you can be for him."
"What are you trying to say Pop?"
"You've been lucky. Things don't always work out this way and I want you to take advantage of the position you're in. You could take out a few loans, go to school, and maybe get that degree. You have the help. You guys have a free babysitter, a flexable boss, youth, you name you got it."
"I don't know Pop. I already told you I can't see myself in a suit and tie while sitting in an office."
"You planning on working for me for the rest of your life?"
"I love the job, and I make enough to give Alexus what he needs."
"So he's the only kid you're ever gonna have?"
"He's enough for now."
"For now? You add another kid your expenses triple, not double, triple. What if you decide to get married? Weddings cost money too." Tony said with a grin. "Start thinking about it. It's important."
"Letty could do the school thing, but I don't think she wants to. And she keeps saying she doesn't want to get married so I kinda just let it go."
"She's only nineteen even though she doesn't act like it. She's grown up a lot and may see things differently now if you talk to her."
"Yeah maybe." Dom said pensively. "I know you decided not to go pro and stay on the nitro circuit, but do you think maybe I could?"
"It's an investment you may not have the time for, but if you're interested do your homework. I'll support you if you decide it's really what you want."
"Ok, I'll get back to you." Dom told his father.
"I would hope so. I'm proud with how you've handled things so far, but you should really take what I'm saying seriously."
"I do. I always do." Dom said with a smirk.
"Stop lying. You wouldn't want the kid to get the bad habit." Tony told him rubbing Dom's head.
"I think we're gonna leave soon." Dom said still smiling from his father's remark.
"Well it was good having you." Tony said bringing Dom into a hug. They were gone soon after Letty returned with their son. It was almost eight and past Alexus' bedtime. When they arrived at the apartment they brought up all of his new toys and prepared him for sleep.
"He went down pretty easy. He must have been really tired." Letty told Dom quietly who was watching television in the living room.
"He had a long day." Dom acknowledged before switching to more serious tone. "Letty?"
"Yeah?" She inquired noticing the serious look on Dom's face.
"I really want you to finish school."
"I did."
"No I mean like college."
"For what? I already got the job I want." She asked rolling her eyes. They had tried having the conversation before with little success.
"For Lex." He answered simply.
"Why don't you go back?"
"I'm thinking about it."
"What? Really?" Letty had been extremely taken aback by Dom's revelation.
"I've been talking to my dad, and he's right. We should attempt to look into other futures, more stable ones."
"I don't know about that. Together we make enough money."
"Just enough though, what about when he wants a toy and we can't buy it because we can't afford it."
"Listen Dom, I know what it's like to have to wear clothes two sizes too small, or go without electricity, or buy groceries with food stamps because my mom couldn't make her dollars stretch. Our kid is never gonna go through that. I'm making sure of that. I've had to depend on you for a little bit since he's been born, but don't worry Ima pull my weight, even if I have to work full time at the garage now."
"You see that's just it. You shouldn't need to slave long hours at a job when you could be doing something else that takes less time and makes more money. Just think about, maybe talk to your old counselor or someone at the community college."
"Are you gonna do that?" Letty asked curiously.
"Yeah" Dom decided in that moment. He was gonna take his father's advice and do his homework.
"I guess I could talk to somebody." Letty said reluctantly, and Dom smiled at her.
"That's all I'm asking." He said leaning in to kiss her.
"And then you'll let it go?" Letty asked pulling away.
"Maybe" He answered with a shrug. "I may love you too much to do that." He told her softly rubbing his nose against hers.
"You think you're cute or something?"
"I know I'm cute. Actually, I'm devilishly handsome." He corrected.
"Who lied to you?" Letty remarked with a laugh.
"Don't hurt my feelings. That's mean."
"Alright I'm sorry baby. You're so hot." She told him cheekily.
"You ain't ugly."
"I know. You're lucky to have all this at your disposal."
"For real? You offering?"
"At a price..." Letty enticed.
"Oh damn ma, how much you worth?"
"Hmm, that's a good question. I'm gonna go with at least two billion dollars."
"My pockets ain't that deep."
"Well I guess I can make due with whatever you can give me." Letty said feigning disinterest as Dom lightly kissed her neck. "Mm, I think I like where you're going with this."
"Oh, baby I'm just getting started." Dom told her and she responded with a happy giggle.
"Ooh la la" She said before their lips met in a warm kiss.
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