Part 4

Two weeks later Dom was back in the garage. He was currently working on a car for a customer. Some young hot shot who had too much money, but hey he wasn�t complaining-- those where the best type of customers. They often abused their cars and were forced to come back time after time-- only putting more money in his pocket. He finished up the job and got up. It was time for a Corona. Dom made his way to the fridge and took out a crisp cool bottle, and then settled on an upturned crate. The last couple of weeks had been hell. They had been overly busy with the shop, and all sorts of little shit had gone wrong. Things were just now starting to once again settle down.

The team hadn�t taken Letty�s departure lightly. Losing Jesse had been unbearable and now with Letty gone-- a lead weight seemed to have fallen upon the entire family. They knew that approaching Dom would be futile, and possibly dangerous. So they talked amongst themselves and found that while they blamed Dom some, it really wasn�t all his fault. Dom should have talked to Letty and tried to work things out instead of just pushing her, but hey-- Letty hadn�t tried so hard either. It had been as though some sort of stone wall had grown between the two. The team ached for Letty, but they were now more determined than ever to keep the remainder of the family together. In the past few days a new sense of love and pride had begun to grow amongst them.

This occurred to Dom as he was sitting there sipping his Corona. Letty�s leaving had nearly killed him. He could hardly remember a time when Letty hadn�t been by his side --whether she had been a little tomboy looking upon him in hero worship, a beautiful sixteen year old girl with bright eyes as she saw him for the first time in two years, or the breathtaking woman that she had become-- she had always been there. All of his best memories revolved around times they had been together. But somewhere, at sometime-- he had lost her. He had forgotten who and what she was. And in doing so-- he had pushed her away. The problem was that he had first lost himself. He had gotten to wrapped up in things; things that he could now see where not important. But now, it was to late. Letty was gone. All he could do now was try and do the best for all of his family --and maybe if he was lucky, just maybe, Letty would one day come back to him.....

Dom finished off the Corona and chucked the bottle into a nearby trash can. He swiped his brow with the palm of his left hand and sighed. Damn if it wasn�t hot as hell. He closed his eyes and tried to relieve some of the pressure that had been building there. A few seconds after, he heard a slight shuffle. Opening his eyes he looked up and found himself starring into a pair of the most intense, most familiar ice blue eyes.

He spoke up then, "Well Brian-- �bout time you showed up."

Brian�s mouth twisted into a smile and the tenseness abruptly fled his body. He had been holding his breath in anticipation, but with Dom�s gravelly announcement, he had known that everything was going to be fine --more than fine really because he was finally home.

"So," Dom asked, "How have things been?"

"Not good." Brian responded, "You know that I was kicked off the department for what I did. But I don�t regret it one bit. It�s like my Sarg. said-- there are all kinds of family, and well-- I couldn�t let mine down. I know that I lied to you Dom, but that was before I even knew who you were. But now, I do know who you are. You are my brother-- in all the ways that count."

Dom sat silent for a moment starring intensely into Brian�s eyes. Then he gently stood and walked to Brian.

Without hesitation, Dom embraced Brian in a hug laced with all the emotions that he was feeling and stated, "Nuff said."

Stepping back a moment later Dom asked, "So brother, you wanna go see the house and get settled in? Mia�s not home yet. What do ya say we plan a little surprise for her?"

Dom slapped Brian on the shoulder and started towards the house. Brian smiled and headed after Dom.

Dom showed Brian the house and had him put his stuff in Mia�s room. Maybe she wouldn�t accept Brian right away, but Dom had no doubt that she�d have him in her arms by the end of the night. Mia had been sad for way to long. And from the look rian�s eyes, Dom could see that it was the same for him. He sat Brian down and told him of all that had passed in the few months. Brian had known of Jesse�s death, but was surprised to hear of Letty. He had been sure that Dom and Letty were soulmates to the death. And seeing Dom now, he was even more sure of it.

"Well," Brian thought, "we�ll see where it goes from here."

Leon and Vince made it home about an hour later. They had been on a run looking for some parts. As they neared the house, they noticed a strange car parked outside the shop and wondered what was up.

"Yo Leon," Vince asked, "Who do ya suppose that car belongs ta? I didn�t hear Dom say anything �bout another job --did you?"

"Nah V, he didn�t say anything to me. Let�s just head in and find out." Leon responded.

With that, they exited their car and started towards the house.

Upon their entering, the smells of food being cooked wafted from the kitchen and assaulted their noses. Vince and Leon followed the smells to the kitchen where Dom and another guy were helping each other cook.

"What the hell!" Vince stated.

Dom turned around and said, "What V-- never seen men cooking before?"

"Nah man-- Just never seen you in an apron before!" Vince said motioning towards Mia�s floral frilled apron that Dom had tied behind his waist.

Leon let out a chuckle, but was cut short when the other man turned around.

"Brian?" Leon asked.

"Hey Leon --Vince." Brian said with a half smile and short wave of the hand.

Vince looked towards Brian and Dom expected that Vince might try to choke Brian with nothing but his gaze.

After what seemed to be an eternity to those in the room, Vince�s lips curved into a smile and he said, "Hey Bro-- wuz up? I never got a chance ta thank ya for sav�in my life-- Thanxs Man."

"No problem." Brian stated with a smile of his own.

"So," Leon asked, "Mia know yet?"

Dom replied, "No, not yet."

To which Vince asked, "So what are we wait�in for!"

About another hour later, the guys had managed to prepare a �decent� meal of Spaghetti and Cheese Garlic Bread. Together they cleaned up the kitchen and V, Dom, and Leon all bid Brian good luck. Brian tossed them his keys and told them to get lost. So they headed out to the local bar for the evening. Brian was left anxiously awaiting Mia�s return. Just as he was starting to fear that she would never make it home, he heard the sound of the front door opening.

Mia stepped into the house and instantly new that something was different. There was something in the air. She cautiously looked around and saw nothing out of place.

"Where are the guys?" Mia wondered --all of their cars were parked outside.

She laid down her blanket and book that she had been holding and looked around some more. She headed for the kitchen and could see faint flickers of candlelight dancing upon the walls. Her curiosity and the aroma of Italian food lulled her in. The table was set for two and a single rose was placed to one side. All of a sudden, the shadows moved and she could see a male form.

"Who is it-- V is that you?" Mia asked, "Cause if it is...."

But she was cut off by the man�s voice, "Mia.... it�s been too long...."

Mia gasped in utter shock. "Brian.... that you?" Mia asked. At her question, Brian stepped into the light. "Oh, Brian...." Mia muttered and threw herself into his arms.

He stood and held her tight while her body shook with tears that ran freely down her soft cheeks.

"I love you baby, more than anything." Brian murmured into her hair over and over again.

It seemed like ages, but eventually Mia�s tears stopped and she pulled back to look into Brian�s eyes. She took a step back and before Brian could even see the change in her, Mia pulled back her hand and slapped Brian with all of the force of the wind. A loud pop could be heard as flesh connected with flesh. Brian�s head snapped back and he was left with a burning, stinging sensation along his left cheek.

It hurt like fucking hell, but Brian new he deserved it. He was actually surprised that it hadn�t come from Dom first because as he clearly remembered-- "break her heart and I�ll break your neck....." --But also, he was glad that it hadn�t come from Dom. Dom would have turned him into a bloody pulp --however, Mia�s stinging slap affected him far greater. Mia�s pain was twice over his pain --once for her sorrow, and twice for his having caused it.

"Mia..." Brian began.

"No Brian," Mia stated, "You listen! Do you think that you can completely turn my world upside down and then just walk back into it with some romantic candlelit dinner? You are fucking nuts! Do you know that?"

"Mia-- Yeah, I am fucking nuts! I have been nuts ever since I met you. You fucking turned my world upside down. I never thought that I�d meet someone like you. I never intended to fall so in love. To be honest, until I met you I never even believed in true love." Brian said.

"Oh yeah," Mia replied with fresh tears, "The only reason you even know I exist was because you were assigned to my brother. That�s what hurts Brian. You told me that the only thing that drew you in was me..."

"Mia," Brian stated, "Don�t you see? Yeah, I was assigned to keep an eye on your brother and to bring him in, but if it hadn�t been for you-- I never would have even come close. For me, everything always comes the hard way, apparently even love-- If it hadn�t been for you, I wouldn�t have gotten to know Dom like I did, I wouldn�t have cared. I wanted so badly to prove them wrong Mia. I wanted to say that Dominic Toretto was not a criminal, but rather a man who looks out for his family. I wanted it because you gave me the dreams of being a part of that family. I wanted to be a part of your family because they were a part of you. You did draw me in Mia-- You gave me hope for the first time in my life, true hope for something better --for love...."

Mia was forced into silence. "Was Brian speaking the truth?" He definitely looked dead serious. "If he was telling the truth, then..." Mia looked up hopefully. She looked deep into to his eyes and could see his soul. Brian wore it proudly and completely for her. Mia saw it there; she saw that he did love her. Brian loved her like he had never before loved another human being. She new that from that moment on --everything would be forever okay.

"I love you too Brian..." Mia softly said.

This time, it was Brian that reached for Mia. He held her as once more she cried, and this time he joined her. They stood there for minutes just holding one another, letting true love set it�s roots down so that it would one day blossom into the most beautiful flower.

Mia�s tears gone, a deep hunger began to grow from her belly all the way up. She tipped her head upwards and darted her tongue along her lips.

"Brian..." She stated.

Brian needed no further invitation and claimed her lips in a hard hot kiss. Mia opened her mouth to him and he slid his thick tongue in to duel with her own. It wasn�t long before Brian was groping her ass thru the thin fabric of her pale sundress. It felt so good to be in his arms.

Mia couldn�t wait and stated with a small chuckle, "Fuck dinner Brian, take me to bed. I prefer dessert anyways..."

With that Brian hoisted her up and she quickly wrapped her legs about his waist.

"I kinda prefer dessert too." Brian said as he started up the stairs and towards the rest of his life.

Later that night when the guys finally made it home, the candles were still burning and the kitchen stood untouched.

Leon chuckled, "Well dawg, looks like things are gonna be changing once again around here. And it looks like it�s for the better."

Dom nodded and said, "I just want Mia to be happy --I want all of us to be happy."

"We will be," Vince said and gave Dom a friendly shove, "We will be."

"Night man," Leon said and was joined by Vince in heading on to bed.

"Night." Dom replied.

Dom walked over to the table and blew the candles out. Then he headed to the hall closet and retrieved a pillow and some blankets. Dom entered the living room and threw the blankets onto the couch. He sat and pulled his boots off which were followed by his pants and shirt, and then he laid down on the couch pulling the covers up and over his body. He couldn�t go into his room, he hadn�t been able to sleep in there since that night. It just seemed so empty, so dead... Her things still lay where they had when she had left. He was afraid that by moving anything he would lose her forever. Her smell still lingered on the sheets and clung faintly in the air. It was all that he had left of her. Just that and the memories that continued to haunt him day and night. Dom drifted off waiting for Letty�s beautiful face and voice to beckon him....

Dom woke up the next morning feeling lighter. The heaviness had lifted up some and he was actually able to smile genuinely for the first time in days. That night had been different. Letty�s sweet voice had never drifted out to him, and her face had not appeared in his dreams.