Hey guys. Thank you to the people who are liking this story. I hope you continue to do so.
To the review who told anonymous to "calm their tits": I love you. You made me smile so thank you.
To address the guest(s) that have reviewed: I do realize that usually, or many times, fostering is temporary. Not every fostering couple adopts. However, sometimes they do. I have a family friend who I'm using loosely to base this on. She wanted a baby girl, but got two (older) brothers instead. She was fostering, and then adopted them. So before you come at me, saying that it isn't about adoption...it can be. I realize that this story may not seem entirely realistic, but fanfiction doesn't always have to be. I'm not looking for this story to be published as a novel or something. I'm writing for fun.
And while there is no rule or law against posting those reviews, I was just requesting thet you don't. There is no point in it, because instead of being nice and saying those things, people are being rude. Also, I'm not convinced the first reviewer even read my story. So I'm sorry if you don't agree. But people like this story, and more importantantly I do, so I'm continuing it. And you don't have to read it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fast and Furious series or anything familiar about it. I also don't own the Power Rangers. I just have a lot of knowledge about them.
"Are you sure you have everything?"
Nora smiled in the passenger seat and turned to look at Mia. She'd decided to go back to school the following day, though both Brian and Mia assured her she could take one more day if she wanted to.
"I'm sure." She chuckled and unbuckled her seatbelt, reaching for the backpack that she had laid in the backseat. "I'm used to this. I have everything I need and I know I can call you guys if I have to."
She climbed out of the car and swung her backpack over one shoulder. Leaning down, she looked through the open window at Mia, who looked nervous. "It's going to be fine, Mia. I've been going to the school for three years now."
"But I've never done this!" She paused. "This is so weird. I did the exact same thing when Jack went to preschool for the first time."
"I'm touched." Nora told her honestly. "I have rehearsal again after school. Paige said she would drive me."
This time Mia nodded, her mind on other things. "Okay. We have dinner at Dom and Letty's house at six. If rehearsal runs over, let us know. Otherwise meet us there. You have the address, right?"
"Yeah, Letty gave it to me yesterday." Nora replied. "I will see you guys there at six."
She turned and walked away. Mia started to drive away when she rolled down the window again. "Have a good day!"
Nora spun around, grinning, and waved. Mia shook her head and as she was driving away, noticed another girl run up to Nora and jump on her. Nora simply laughed and shoved her off.
"Paige." Mia whispered to herself, and drove off to work.
As they walked into the school, Paige turned to her friend. "You look cute today."
Nora smiled. "I wonder who helped me pick it out?"
Paige smiled and shrugged. "Hmm…I don't know. She must be pretty smart though."
Nora laughed. She liked this outfit, she always had. She had taken a black skirt that once belonged to Paige and paired it with a gray sweater and knee-high black boots. Her hair was curled loosely and hung over her shoulders and she one a simply black necklace to complete the look.
"Yeah, I don't know about that." She muttered and walked away, Paige gaping at her from behind.
"So what are they like?" Paige asked Nora as they ate lunch in the cafeteria. "Give me all the gory details and we'll make fun of them, like always."
Nora shrugged. "Actually, they seem great. I don't think we have to do that this time."
"What do you mean?" Paige asked, concerned about her friend's change in attitude.
Without fail, she had always come to school complaining about her family, whether it was her real one or a foster one. Now that she wasn't, Paige did not know how to handle the whole situation.
"I mean…they're really nice. You know they came to rehearsal with me yesterday?" At Paige's surprised look, Nora nodded. "I know. They even liked it. And their son is adorable. They're witty and nice, and smart…I think I got lucky this time, Paige."
Before she could reply, Paige groaned. "Shit."
Nora rolled her eyes. Ever since they'd started high school, she had been bullied. From her family life to her involvement in the drama department, she was perfect ammo for people at her school.
"Well if it isn't the homeless child and her lesbian lover."
"Go away, James." Nora told him, shaking her head.
"You know I heard you landed with another family." He teased. "What isn't this like your fortieth? Fiftieth?"
"Do you have a point?" Paige asked, getting ready to jump at him if needed.
"Did you know that your new family didn't always live here?" He asked. "Yeah, they were felons on the run. Then they got lucky. You better be careful….wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."
This time, Nora slammed her tray down and stood to face him. "Why don't you just go the fuck away, James, or I'll call them and have them do that bad stuff to you!"
The people around them went quiet and watched them as they stared at each other. Finally, he backed off and walked away, keeping the rest of his comments to himself. She'd never fought back before, and now nobody knew what to do.
"What was that?" Paige asked and she sat back down.
Nora looked at her, a little shocked herself. "I…don't know. I guess…" She paused. "I really like them, Paige."
The other girl sighed. "Just be careful, please."
"I know. But I don't think they'd hurt me." She said in defense of them.
Paige nodded. "I don't just mean from them."
Nora stopped and nodded. She knew Paige was right. The second she started to feel like she liked them, her mother would come back and rip her away again. It happened every time, but this time they both knew it would be worse. And Paige just hoped it didn't hurt her too badly when it did.
It was nearly six when the girls left the school and headed for the Toretto household. With the gps on Paige's phone, it didn't take them long to find. The first thing they saw when they drove up, had Nora's eyes bugging out of her head.
"No way." She got out of the car and stared at the various sports cars that filled the street. "This is so awesome."
Paige rolled her eyes. "You're insane, you know that."
"You look like a little kid in a candy store!" Nora looked up and saw Letty on the porch. "Why don't you tell your friend to join us for dinner."
She turned to Paige and shrugged. "It's up to you."
"I don't see why I couldn't. Mom and Dad are going out so I'd be alone anyway." Paige replied and turned the car off.
The girls walked up the steps together and Letty shook Paige's hand. "Paige, right?"
The younger girl nodded. "Thank you for inviting me."
"I'm Letty." She told her. "I thought Nora might need some support while meeting our family. We can be a lot to handle sometimes."
They followed her into the house and Nora looked at the pictures on the walls. There weren't many, but she could see the love that flowed between them. It hurt her heart a bit, seeing how different her life could have been if she'd grown up in a real family.
They stepped into the kitchen and Letty smirked. "Look who decided to show up."
Brian, Dom, and Mia were all cooking in different areas. When Letty spoke, Mia looked up and smiled. "You must be Paige."
Paige chuckled and nodded. "It's nice to meet you."
"Dinner's ready." Dom said loudly, and moved past them.
As they grabbed food to help carry, Paige looked at Nora with a confused glance. Nora simply shrugged and followed Brian out the door. The second they hit the stairs, conversation stopped. They continued to walk as everyone slowly looked at her.
"Guys, this is Nora and her friend Paige." Letty said. "Be nice."
"Hey we're always nice." The man next to Dom stated. "You know, I'm sick of people thinking that we're not nice just because we scare people." Then he paused. "Wait…what were we talking about?"
The man standing next to them laughed. "Did you run out of words you know, Roman?"
Roman glared at him. "No! I just lost my train of thought, that's all."
Nora set down the bowl she was carrying and blinked at him. "You know, the only reason people lost their train of thought is because it's unfamiliar territory."
Roman gaped at her and everyone stared at her. Then, the other man started laughing and ran over. "That was brilliant. I'm stealing that one." He high fived her. "I'm Tej, and that idiot is Roman. Don't pay any attention to him, he's basically a big baby with an even bigger forehead."
"Note taken." She smiled. "I'm Nora."
One by one she met the whole group, and found it much easier to fit in than she realized. They were all about cars, they were nice, and not once did they make her or Paige feel out of place.
They all sat to eat, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Jack sneak a bite of food. Dom cleared his throat. "I saw that, little man."
Jack blushed and giggled. "Sorry Uncle Dom."
"You know that means you say the prayer, buddy." Brian said from the other side of her, and looked at the girls. "It's a family thing."
Immediately everyone held hands and bent their heads as Jack bit his lip. "Dear God, thank you for this food and family. And thank you for Nora. She makes racecar pancakes and calls me her little monster. I really like her. Amen."
Nora felt Paige squeeze her hand under the table and felt her heart swell with happiness she hadn't felt in a long time. It was the first she was loved by someone who considered her family, and she wasn't sure how to respond to it.
Everyone broke apart and she smiled at him. "Thanks monster."
He grinned and looked at his dad. "Can I eat now?"
Brian chuckled. "Yes, buddy, you can eat now."
As everyone put food on their plate, Giselle looked at Jack. "So Jack, are you ready for Halloween? It's only a few weeks away…"
He bounced excitedly in his seat as Brian put a piece of chicken on his plate. "I'm going to be a Power Ranger!"
"Which one?" Roman asked, looking across the table at him.
"The red one!" He said and started to eat.
"That's my favorite one." He said.
Tej rolled his eyes. "You know there were like a million red rangers, right?"
"Oh shut up, Tej."
"No, he's right." Nora couldn't help but add her two cents. "There have been over twenty red rangers since the beginning."
Roman gave her a look. "Oh yeah? And what do you know about the Power Rangers?"
Paige smacked her forehead and the sound shut everyone up. "Oh here we go."
Nora raised one eyebrow and smirked. "Which one do you want to know about? Might Morphin'? Zeo? Turbo? Space? Galaxy? Lightspeed Rescue? Time Force? Wild Force? Ninja Storm? Dino Thunder? SPD? Mystic Force?" She paused. "I know there are more than that, but I sort of lost track after Mystic Force. I can tell you anything you want to know about anything involving them."
Once again, Tej laughed. "Oh yeah I like her. Can we just let her follow Roan around and make fun of him all day?"
Dom had finally cracked a smile. "You know a lot about Power Rangers."
Despite her surprise that he spoke to her, she nodded. "Growing up in foster homes, you learn to watch whatever you can get. I lived with a lot of small children, so it was usually always on."
He nodded but made no more comments. After that, conversation started again and everything went back to normal.
…
It was only about eight when Paige left, and Nora wasn't sure what to do. Jack had gone to bed in Dom and Letty's room a few minutes prior, and as she stood in the kitchen listening to everyone laugh and talk, she felt extremely out of place. She thought it would be easier, but now she didn't know if she could join them, or if she was supposed to leave them alone. No one had told her she could join them, but at the same time, no one said she could.
Using her past experiences as her decision maker, she sat down on the couch and waited for Brian and Mia to tell her it was time to leave. Fifteen minutes later she still sat in that same spot, and stared at the floor.
"See something interesting on the rug that I don't know about?"
She jumped and looked up to see Dom standing in the doorway, leaning against the wall. He'd come in to grab more beer when he saw her.
She shook her head. "I was waiting for Brian and Mia. I don't mind sitting here for however long they are."
Dom watched her carefully and noticed that she looked a little more lost than she had during dinner. "Why didn't you come outside?"
She waited a second to see if he was testing her. "I didn't think I was welcome."
It was that moment that Dom realized that the young girl he wasn't sure of, also wasn't sure of herself. He'd spent the last two days wondering what her deal was, but looking at her now he realized she was just a lost kid looking for somewhere to stop running.
"You're family now." He told her. "You are always welcome."
She continued to sit for a second, before she finally stood. Without speaking again, he turned and she followed him into the kitchen. Grabbing another pack of beer, he grabbed one and held it out to her.
Once again she gave him that lost and confused look. "What, you don't like beer?"
She raised an eyebrow. "No, I do. I'm just surprised you're handing me one."
"Like I said, you're family now." He continued to hold it out to her.
"I'm not sure if I'm allowed to…" She said, a little more quietly than normal.
Dom nodded. "If you want it, take it. Even if they care, they won't get mad at you, they'll be mad at me."
She waited another moment before she reached out and took it from him. "Thank you."
He nodded again and walked out the back door. She followed him, and when they got to the group, Mia shook her head. "You gave her a beer, Dom?"
He smiled at his sister. "Hey, we never did toast to our new family member. I thought I'd welcome her in style."
Nora held the unopened beer and sat next to Mia. "I don't have to have it…"
She shook her head. "No, it's okay. Most kids your age have had alcohol, and I'd rather know about it than have you lie to us."
Nora smiled at her and twisted the top off of it. She took a long sip and sighed. It had been a while since she had a Corona as her parents only liked hard alcohol. It was nice to be able to drink the stuff she liked, rather than whatever she could find to numb the pain of her life.
"We better hurry this up." Han said with his arm around his fiancé. "There's a storm coming through here tonight."
"To our newest family member." Dom said, raising his bottle. "It doesn't matter what you've been through or how you got here. What matters now it where you go from here. Family is always the most important thing. You have that now. Remember that." He paused. "Welcome to the family."
She smiled and nodded her thanks to him, a gesture which he repeated. As the night wore on, the unsure feelings she had melted away and she found herself enjoying these people. Maybe Dome was right…they were her family and maybe now she wouldn't have to be alone again.