Some Things Never Change

**

Chapter 13

Sam managed to avoid the talk for the rest of the weekend, she shamelessly had used wiles on Dom when he suggested the talk but he didn’t seem to upset to end up in bed again. So the rest of the time she had used work. Now the final hour of race wars was winding down and she was packing. She hadn’t bothered to continue with her races for fear of blowing herself up with lack of concentration. What surprised her though was that Dom hadn’t raced either. He had just dropped out, the same as her.

The awkward moment came after she had checked out of her hotel and had driven to the van to say goodbye. She could see that Dom was slightly cagey and she didn’t want to make things worse.

Mia hugged her like she was her long lost sister and Sam had to mention oxygen deprivation before Mia finally let her go.

“I’m sorry, I’m just so happy to see you again.” Mia explained as she wiped a tear away.

“I’ll keep in touch, I promise.” Sam whispered as she stood back and said her goodbyes to Vince and Leon.

Dom paced restlessly until she was done.

“I’ll walk you back to your car.” He spoke abruptly and Sam sighed.

They headed over to her car and she turned to look at him when she got there.

“I will call you.” Sam assured him and he let out a huge sigh.

How could he admit that he was terrified of her leaving here today and him never seeing her again, never meeting his son.

“Please Sam.” Was all he said and she flung her arms around him.

He held her tightly and Sam spoke into his ear.

“Just let me get home and talk to Nicky and I’ll call and we can arrange something.” She assured him again.

“I can come up whenever you’re ready, just let me know.” He spoke firmly as she pulled away from him.

“I know.” She answered and pulled the door open to her car; she got in and drove away.

The thought of what lay ahead did nothing to settle the butterflies in her stomach as she drove. Telling Nicky about his dad wouldn’t be a problem, she had told him about Dom. Just not everything. What terrified her was them actually meeting, what happened if they hated each other? Or what if Dom lost interest and she was left to pick up the pieces? She didn’t think that would happen but she couldn’t stop the worry lancing through her mind.

She arrived at her parent’s house that afternoon; she could hear Nicky squealing in delight from the backyard and knew her father was out there tormenting him in the pool. She walked through to the kitchen and met her mother.

Her mother gave a sniff.

“Did you get your article?” she asked and Sam knew that wasn’t the point of the question.

“I ran into Dominic.” Sam answered the unasked question.

Her mother stared at her for a few beats before sighing disgustedly.

“Samantha, please don’t tell me that you’re going to let that man ruin your life all over again.” She reached for the coffee pot and busied herself while waiting for her daughters answer.

“Ruin my life? Are you saying that you wished I hadn’t kept Nicholas? That I should have had a termination like you demanded.” Ok, so Sam knew it was a cheap shot, but her mother could be so blind at times.

“Of course not, we all love Nicholas. But Samantha that man left you pregnant and alone while he went to prison.” Her mother’s mouth screwed up at the last word like there was a bad taste in her mouth.

“Dom didn’t know I was pregnant! You moved us out of L.A so fast my feet didn’t touch the ground! I cannot believe you, yes what he did was wrong but he watched his father burn to death, I think anyone would go a little crazy after that.” Sam argued but she knew it was pointless, her mother would never see past the neighbourhood that he lived in or his criminal record.

“You aren’t thinking of taking Nicholas to meet him are you?” her mother asked suddenly.

“I’m not thinking about it, we’re going. Next week I’m taking Nicky to meet him.” Sam answered firmly, her tone of voice leaving no room for argument.

“fine, be it on your head when the wonderful Dominic Toretto ruins it all and your left to pick up the pieces.” Her mother intoned ominously.

“It’s my decision.” Sam announced.

The conversation ended as Nicky came bounding into the kitchen, dripping water everywhere.

Sam gave a mock squeal as her son launched himself at her. she tried to hold his wet form away from her body but he clung to her like a little monkey. Eventually she gave up and hugged him tightly to her.

“Did you have fun this weekend?” Sam asked as she set him back on his feet.

“Grandpa is teaching me to dive!” Nicky announced excitedly and Sam shot a look at her father as he entered the kitchen.

“We’re men.” He announced grandly and Sam laughed.

“Did you win Mom? Did you see all those cool cars?” Nicky asked in one big breath and Sam chuckled.

“I won some but I didn’t race in the final, I did get some great pictures though, you want to help me develop them when we get home?” Sam asked and Nicky almost danced with glee.

“cool.” He yelled.

“Okay, little man, go get changed and we’ll head home.” Sam gave him a little shove towards the doorway, he darted out of the room and Sam heard him bounding up the stairs.

“George talk to your daughter, she has this ridiculous notion of taking Nicky to meet that degenerate who fathered him.” Sam’s mother turned and busied herself with something.

“Is he doing okay for himself? No more trouble?” Sam’s father asked her seriously and Sam nodded.

Her mother’s mouth hung open as she stared at her husband.

“The boy needs a father Sheila.” George answered mildly.

Sam suppressed her grin as she walked out of the kitchen to go help her son pack.

She found him in his room struggling to get his t-shirt on.

“You know, you’re supposed to dry yourself before you get dressed.” Sam informed him wisely as he turned in circles trying to pull the soggy material down.

“Takes too long.” Nicky answered just as wisely and Sam laughed.

She pulled the material off over his head and pulled a new one out of his bag.

“When we get home I need to talk to you about something.” Sam told him seriously and Nicholas stopped all movement.

“Am I in trouble?” he asked with a worried look.

Sam shook her head and smiled, gotta have priorities right?

“It’s about your dad.” Sam said softly.