1st December- Canary Islands, Spain
Mia and Brian’s beach house
Letty’s POV
It was nearly night time when everyone got together to say their goodbyes. Well it wasn’t really goodbye, they’d be back to visit Leon had already made that clear to Dom but he didn’t have a problem with it which surprised me a little. What surprised me even more was the closeness Elena and Leon seemed to have between them. Dom must have noticed it as well because he gave me a knowing smile and I returned it a little.
“We’ll be back for Christmas.” Leon promised Mia and she nodded smiling.
“I should hope so.”
“Well I wouldn’t miss Ava’s birthday that’s for sure.” I smiled at Leon as he directed the comment at me. Ava was in Dom’s arms as she looked around at everyone with interest wondering what was going on.
Everyone seemed to split up into small groups hugging and talking quietly. Dom handed me Ava as he left Leon and I alone. I handed over Ava to Leon as he said goodbye to her.
“Look after yourself okay? I know you two will work things out.”
“We’ll give it a shot.” I said quietly and he smiled at me.
“Thanks for everything Le.” I whispered and he nodded pulling me in for a hug.
“I’ll be back Let, I promise.” I nodded.
“I know it’ll take some time to get used to being alone again.”
“But you won’t be alone, don’t hold back Letty. You need to do this.” I sighed and nodded watching as he gave Ava a kiss.
“Be good miss, uncle Leon will see you in a couple of weeks. Look after mummy for me okay?” I smiled and rolled my eyes as he spoke to Ava and she grinned at him like she understood. I took her back and gave Leon one last hug as he moved away to say goodbye to Dom, Mia and Brian. I caught Elena’s gaze and I nodded to her slightly and she returned it but that was all. I said a quiet goodbye to Rosa and Nico and then they all piled into Leon’s car and left leaving us alone once again.
“Anyone hungry?” Brian asked, Dom and Mia nodded before they turned their gaze to me. Staring at the spot where the car used to be I sighed as I recalled Leon’s words.
‘Don’t hold back…’ Taking a deep breath I turned back to them and nodded smiling slightly. I adjusted Ava on my hip as Mia and Brian headed inside with Alexis in tow. Dom waited by my side and I looked up at him nervously. The kiss had made me feel uneasy, not his kiss exactly just the physical touch of a man other than Leon. It was something I knew I’d have to get over but it had taken me by surprise making past memories surface and I had yet to shake the feeling even after he apologized and said it wouldn’t happen again.
“Are you okay?” He asked quietly and I nodded once before heading inside with him trailing in behind me. I placed Ava down on the floor in the lounge room and I took a seat across from Mia as Dom and Brian went to get a start on dinner.
Mia smiled at me as we sat in silence and I cleared my throat figuring I should probably make the first move if I was going to start rebuilding relationships.
“How did you and Brian meet again?” I asked nervously and she raised an eyebrow at my question before she smiled.
“He was working undercover trying to bring down Braga, Dom was there after revenge... Dom was shot and he called me to help. We just sort of connected again… they ended up working together and caught Braga. It was his idea to bust Dom out.” I was shocked to hear about Dom being shot but I was glad he obviously wasn’t badly hurt.
“What happened to Fenix?” I asked quietly and she grimaced.
“He’s dead… Dom killed him, for ‘killing’ you.” I nodded slowly and silence fell upon us again. I looked down at Ava who was playing with a few toys that she had found.
“We got married.” I nodded at her words.
“Yeah I heard, I’m happy for the two of you.” I said quietly.
“I knew by the way.” I looked up startled at Mia’s statement.
“Knew what?” I asked quietly.
“About you being pregnant, back in the states I mean. You had horrible morning sickness, it was sort of a dead giveaway.”
“Yeah I had it bad all the way through.” I said quietly.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked.
“I was going to I was just waiting till after I ran for the FBI.” I could tell she was itching to say something else no doubt to tell me off but she kept quiet obviously rethinking her decision.
“Just say it Mia.” I said tiredly.
“You shouldn’t have put yourself in that position, you were pregnant. You should have settled down and stayed put. I would have helped you until Dom found a way for you to be with him. You could have really died Letty…” She said angrily trailing off at the end.
“I wanted him back, I did what I thought was right.” I stated tensely.
“Well it wasn’t was it? You ran and hid letting us all believe you were dead.” I stared at her coldly.
“Mia if I could go back and redo things believe me I would. I would give anything to be able to turn back time and not have to go through what I have just to get here.” We didn’t speak again and I knew I had made her feel guilty by reminding her of my untold past.
“I’m sorry but you just don’t understand Mia…” I trailed off and left it at that still not ready to discuss my past with anyone.
“No your right I don’t, I have no right to judge.” I didn’t say anything and again we found ourselves sitting in silence.
“Okay this is awkward and I hate it. Can’t we try and be ‘normal’?” I cracked a smile.
“Normal? Mia you were never normal.” I said shaking my head a little.
“I miss talking to my sister…” I felt my heart ache at her words.
“I missed talking to you… I’m not the same person anymore Mi. I’m damaged goods…” I said softly and she got up coming to sit next to me.
“I know you’re not the person, I’ve seen that remember? But I believe the old you is still in there somewhere, I can see it when you’re with Ava. I just want to see you safe and happy, at least enough to start trusting us again. Dom only wants to help, we all do but we can’t do that unless you let us. If… if you being safe and happy means you and Dom not being together then that’s something we’ll all have to live with but at least promise you’ll give it a go before you decide that.”
“We’ve made the decision to try and be friends but it’s going to take a lot of time Mia. You and I might be a little easier to figure out.” I said quietly as we sat next to each other.
“I know you and Dom have a lot to work out, especially after everything that’s happened.” I bit my lip for a moment contemplating my next statement.
“It’s not just that, I mean don’t get me wrong it is a big part of it, but it’s also because he’s a guy, I don’t react well to them these days.” I said slowly. She stayed silent for a moment and I shifted uncomfortably due to the silence.
“You were the woman that got beaten weren’t you?” I nodded and smiled a little.
“That was the least of my worries, Carlos was angry I’d left a finger print on that damn truck. He was only one of the many men I feared.”
“What about Demetri? Was he one?” I paused and thought about it for a long time.
“Demetri wasn’t an easy person to be around at times… especially if he thought I was lying. It was only when Leon and Ava were in Berlin that he got that way, most of the time he was…” I stopped midsentence and thought about it for a moment.
“He was what Let?” She asked gently.
“I was going to say caring, but that would be a lie. He was possessive, controlling… violent. He’s dead I don’t have to worry about him anymore.” I said quietly as I turned away.
“In reality yes he is but you’re still living in the past and he’s alive there.” I cringed at her words she hadn’t meant them to be harsh but it was like pouring salt into an open wound. It hurt like fuck.
“I really don’t want to talk about this Mia.” I said quietly and she nodded.
“Can I ask one last thing?” I hesitated before nodding.
“What was his last name?”
“Faber… why?” I asked confused as I turned to look at her. I froze as I realized what I had done as I saw Mia’s gaze on my thigh, although the scar was covered. To my knowledge she had only seen it once but she had managed to remember it.
“Did he do that?” She whispered and I held my breath as I struggled with myself.
“Yes.” I heard myself whisper.