Rise Above The Storm

"I'll be out in a second," Dom told Vince, clearly dismissing him and waiting for him to close the door behind him, "I would say that that would be amazing, is that what you think is going on?"

***

Addison sat in the driver's seat of her mom's boyfriend's car and pulled into a spot, cutting off the engine as she stepped out. Her mom would join her later, but, for now, she was alone and already eyeing up some of the nicer looking cars.

Lauren looked at him, "I know it is." Lauren told him softly, "Dom, we're pregnant. The doctor call this morning and told me I was roughly around ten weeks into this." Lauren looked at him. "Are you sure? You have so much going on with the racing, and business, and other things." Lauren looked at him.

***

Brian took and pulled into the race scene parking in his usual spot. He took and got out walking around talking with fellow racers and friends as he smiled at Tej and went onward, spotting Addison. Walking over to her he looked at her, "Addison." Brian said.

"Family comes first always... you know that better than anyone," Dom told her as a smile appeared on his face, "I'm going to be a dad."

***

"Seriously," Addison mumbled, spotting Brian walking her way and looking around to make sure that her mom wasn't around, "Hi."

Lauren giggled, "You are going to be a dad." She smiled cupping his cheek. "I didn't think we'd ever end up pregnant, I know we had a few times we thought we were." She lent up kissing his lips deeply. "Maybe a cookout tomorrow and let everyone know?" She smiled staring at him. "I am going to be at your side tonight, as well. We both are." Lauren smiled.

***

"I didn't expect to see you here. How are you?" Brian asked seeing her looking around and wondered what it was about.

Dom kissed her back, placing his hand on her stomach and grinning. "That sounds like a great idea," Dom agreed with a nod, offering his hand, "Let's go meet up with the buster for some racing."

***

"I'm fine," Addison replied, though she just wanted him to walk away already and swallowed passed the lump in her throat as a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

"Is this guy bothering you?" her mom's boyfriend said, stepping up beside Addison and wrapping his arm around her.

"No, it's fine," Addison told him, tensing as he tightened his hold and looking at Brian, "He was just talking to me about the cars... that's all."

Nodding her head she grabbed her jacket slipping into it smiling. Going with Dom to his car, she got in the passenger seat. Once they were at the race scene. She climbed out and held to Dom's hand as they took and walked towards the groups to check out the competition for the night.

***

Brian could see what was going on and narrowed his eyes a little, "I'll see you around. Nice car." Brian nodded to her before walking off going over to Mia and Vince and talking to them about Addison.

Dom spotted the rest of the crew gathered together, leading the way over to them and looking at some of the cars as they weaved through the crowd.

"Hey guys," Dom greeted as they joined the others, "What's going on?"

***

Addison watched as Brian walked away, wishing that she could call him back and actually have a conversation with him... but that wouldn't happen with Kevin around. With her head down, she followed Kevin over to where her mom was standing and listened to what she was saying.

"You have three races," her mom said, "So, I want you to keep your head in the game and take in as much about these cars as you can."

Seeing Brian joining them, Lauren lent into Dom as his arm wrapped around her shoulder. "Where have you been pretty boy?" Lauren questioned.

"Talking to Addison." Brian admitted.

"Wait, she's here?" Lauren questioned seeing him nod.

Lauren looked up at Dom and listened to Brian mention the way she was acting. "Dom she's being mentally and physically abused." Lauren told him.

"What can we do?" Dom stated with a concerned look, "She's obviously old enough to walk away, so we can't exactly force her..."

"What if she just doesn't think she has anywhere else to go?" Vince offered.

"What if we show her there is somewhere's she can go to?" Lauren looked at Dom. "We need another new family member in our family." She looked at him hoping he was getting the hint about her pregnancy and not able to race or do anything later on. "She needs a family that will take care of her and love her. And you know we will do that and more. We have that apartment above the garage since Brian got his own place." Lauren told him.

"I agree with Lauren." Mia and Brian said together.

"I was already on board before the puppy dog eyes," Dom joked as he shook his head, "Now we just need to figure out how to let her know, I don't feel comfortable letting her go home with those people she's with."

***

Addison sat in the driver's seat of her skyline with the door open, smiling when she spotted Tej and climbed out to hug him. With a knowing look, Addison lowered her eyes to the ground and glanced up as Tej spoke.

"You shouldn't have to put up with those two, you know," Tej stated as he pulled away, "You don't have to race either?"

"Yes I do," Addison told him matter of factly, "You know exactly why I can't just walk away."

"Tej." Lauren pointed. "Maybe he could convince her or something?" Lauren suggested looking at Dom as she felt her stomach flop. "Shit." She mumbled running away from the group and finding a bathroom nearby and emptying her stomach as she gripped to the toilet side.

***

Brian watched Lauren run, as he frowned. "I hope she feels better." Brian stated. "Why not get Tej to talk to her and let her know we're here for her? We can protect her." Brian said.

"She'll be fine," Dom reassured, wanting to go after her and knowing that he could in case it roused suspicion, "Let me try and talk to Addison, before we involve Tej."

***

Addison had already won two of her three races, but her mom and Kevin wouldn't be happy until she won her third. The car scene used to be fun for her, then her mom had found out how much money it could bring in and Addison's fun suddenly became her mom's income. She had just pulled up to the start line of her third race, when she spotted the man from the cafe approaching her and felt her grip on the steering wheel tighten slightly.

"Nice car," he commented as he looked it over, "Who's artwork is this?"

"Mine," Addison admitted quietly, getting out and closing the door behind her.

"I'm DOm by the way and I don't want to seem as though I'm stepping across a line, but I know what you're going through," the man stated, picking his words carefully and looking over at Addison, "I can offer you an escape... it comes with a job and a place to stay where you'll be safe."

Addison had always been distrustful of men, but something about the man's words and the sincerity in his eyes made her consider it.

Brian took and stood with the gang watching Dom carefully. He hoped this work, because Addison needed to be away from the whole situation she was in.

"If they see me talking to you..." Addison began, but fell silent as Dom looked at her and felt the tears well up in her eyes, "You don't know what they are capable of."

"Right now, all I want to do is help you," Dom added almost pleadingly, "Here's the address, think about it."

Brian took and watched the two, "I hope this works Mia." Brian told her.

"Me too, the girl needs us." Mia admitted watching her brother with Addison.

Dom walked away, knowing that he had got through to her and expecting to see her very soon.

***

Her last race was tight, but she just managed to take the lead and did something that she didn't think she'd ever do. She kept going... she crossed the finish line, nodded towards Tej and took off with the knowledge that he understood what she was doing. It didn't take her long to pack up her stuff, making sure she had everything and throwing it into the back of her car.

This was a huge mistake, but it was the one mistake that she knew she'd never regret and that made it worth it.

Brian took and looked at Dom. Once the race's was over he headed back to Dom's place for the small get together with the gang. He took and smiled to himself as he walked in and hugged some of the guys and their girls ignoring Vince he went and got himself a beer.

***

Standing at the grill, Lauren sipped the ginger ale that Dom had gotten her earlier. Watching him flip the meat, she stared at him. "I hope she comes." Lauren whispered as she looked at him feeling queasy and tired as a small yawn escaped her lips.

Addison pulled up outside the address that Dom had given her and climbed out, removing her three-week-old son from his car seat. She knew that babies changed everything and she was prepared to be turned away, but he needed to know what he was inviting in before she could truly accept his hand.

***

It was an hour, before Dom heard the sound of a loud engine and couldn't help smiling as he made his way through the house to the front door. He'd known that she'd turn up, but he wasn't expecting her to be holding a tiny baby in her arms and found himself feeling angrier than he had at the thought of her being abused.

"I'm glad you came," Dom stated as he motioned for her to follow him inside, "Who's this little guy?"

"Seb," Addison mumbled, tightening her hold on her son just a little and looking around as they made their way through the house into the backyard.

Lauren saw Addison and saw the baby. Giving her a smile she walked over, "Oh my gosh, he's adorable." Lauren cooed towards him a little looking at her. "I am glad you came." Lauren told her softly. "Are you hungry? Do you need anything?" Lauren questioned before feeling the urge. "Oh, excuse me." She said.

Rushing away she rushed through the crowd to the bathroom. Pushing the door up she emptied her stomach letting it all fly out.

***

Brian noticed Addison and walked towards her seeing her holding a baby. "I am glad you came." He told her but then smiled at the little baby, "He's cute." Brian told her softly.