Time...

Chapter 1

He watched her walk down the street toward her car, pause to open the passenger side door and put two bags inside before closing it again. His eyes followed her as she walked around the front of the GTO, opened the driver's side door and slid inside. The car sounded as beautiful as it looked when the woman started it and drove off. He could always appreciate the purr of a well tuned motor.

"See something you like boss?" Jesse asked looking in the direction that the car had left in.
"Boy do I. Where have I seen that car, I know that I've seen it around, I just can't place who it belongs to. Who is she? She looked familiar too, but I couldn't really tell at this distance." Dominic asked looking at Jesse.
Jesse laughed, "I know who she is, but you ain't gonna like my answer." Jesse smiled at Dom before turning his eyes back to the street and staring off in the direction the car had left in. Dom stayed silent at Jesse's side waiting for his answer.
"Raven." Jesse said before turning to face Dom again. He watched the emotions play across Dom's face as the name struck him. One name spoken and Dominic felt like the earth a tilted slightly, and a face sprang to the front of Dom's mind; one he thought that he might never see again.

"Are you sure Jesse?"
"Yep...that's Raven." Jesse laughed at the look on Dom's face. "That can't be her, I mean...She left the scene a long time ago." Jesse smiled at Dom and walked back to the car, got in and then waited on Dom before pulling out into traffic.
"I know it's her." Jesse said after driving for a while. "I mean, I saw her pretty recently at a race. She even came over and said hey. I couldn't believe it either; she acted like it hadn't been years. She hasn't changed at all. And I hear she's even opened her own shop here. Welds her own chassis."
Dom looked at Jesse. "Really. I've really had my head up my ass not to have heard something about her being back or a new shop in town." Dom laughed and then turned back to stare out the window and think about what Jesse had told him.

Dom was pulled from his thoughts when Jesse pulled up into the driveway of his house. Mia and Vince were putting on a pretty good show in the front yard while Letty, Leon and Brian watched from the safety of the front porch steps.
"You think you're so funny Vince!" Everyone looked at Mia, who was soaking wet.
"It was slightly funny Mia...hell, even Brian thinks so." Mia turned to look at Brian. "Hey man, don't drag me into this...". Brian said trying to straighten out his smile.
"Brian you better not be laughing or you'll be next." Mia turned her attention back to Vince who had started to back away.
"Now Mia, you just got a little close while I was washing my car is all...". Mia was advancing on Vince as he sputtered his defense. "Bullshit Vince, I was 20 feet behind you!"

Dom and Jesse got out of his car but didn't make any move to disturb the scene in front of them. Vince was cornered now; Mia had backed him against the side of his car. She continued forward, closing the distance between them and smiling. When she was a couple of feet away, she stooped, picked up the bucket of soapy water and doused him with it.

Dom's laughter drew everyone's attention then. Everyone looked toward him, and Mia's scowl was replaced with a heartfelt smile. "Damn Vince, I didn't know that you had started taking your shower in the driveway." Vince half smiled when Dom walked passed him, still laughing, on his way to the house.
"I don't think so bud." Letty said standing up in front of Vince, "You're too wet to go in the house." She said with a hand at his chest trying to keep him from going in. Letty gasped when Vince grabbed her hand and pulled her in a hug getting the front of her clothes wet as well.
"Looks like you're too wet, guess you'll be staying out here with me." Vince said with a smug smile.
Dom turned just in time to see the two wrapped up in a kiss. It was still strange to see Vince and Letty together, but he hadn't expected Letty to wait while he was gone. He had even given the two his blessing; but damn if it didn't still sting seeing them together while he was alone.