AN: Hey peeps! Long time no read. I've wanted to try my hand at a tragedy. With the help of Karikocha, I was able to come up with this idea in my dotty universe. This will be a short multi-chapter fic. This first chapter is very spanish heavy, but those to come will not be. I'm still playing with a few ideas so I would love some genuine and constructive feedback. Let me know what you think!

Music blasted through the Toretto household as the clan prepared for their annual festivities. Letty and Dom found themselves congregating in the kitchen, while their children raced to clean their enormous home in preparation for the number of guests that would arrive that night. "Well it's that time of the year again." Letty said as she slaved over a hot stove as her husband came up from behind her placing a small kiss at the nape of her neck.

"Sometimes I think this Holiday is more intense than Christmas and New Years." Dom commented as he attempted to pick at the food his wife was prepping before she smacked his hand away.

"Yes, because it's all about food, and you know this family loves to eat."

"Food you won't let me eat; not to mention I made my fair share of food last night…"Dominic complained playfully.

"Dominic I'm about to kick you out of this kitchen." His wife warned giving him a small tap on the shoulder. She was in no mood to play games. There was too much that had to be done.

"It's gonna happen when your mother gets here regardless."

"She needs to hurry up and get here because I am not doing this by myself." Letty told him with great frustration. The amount of stress that lay on her shoulders could only be caused by her children; or more often so, her mother. They all had a way of getting under her skin, and then redeeming themselves after.

"So I'm not helping you prep? I'm not making sure things don't burn?" Dom jabbed in amusement as Letty's forehead began to wrinkle with irritation.

"Don't start. We have at least forty people coming over tonight. I'm one person. This meal cannot go wrong."

"I told you we should have gotten a caterer. Baby I don't know why you let this happen every year. You don't even like to cook that much."

"It's thanksgiving! That would be wrong." Letty had grown a knack for the kitchen over the years, and no one was more surprised than she. Her children brought out sides to her that she herself did not know existed until she laid eyes on her first. They heard the doorbell ring. Dominic went to open the door for his mother-in-law knowing fully well World War Three was about to start in his living room.

"Buenas! Buenas!"(Hello! Hello!) she sang as she made her way in.

"Hola Ana como estas?" (Hello Ana, How are you?) Dom greeted giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Ay de lo mejor querido." (The most well; thank you my love.)

"Buena hora que llegas Mami!" (Well look who just showed up.) Letty went to scold her mother.

"Mirame mija." (Look at me honey.) Ana said gesturing to her ensemble with her hair newly pressed and nails freshly coated. "Tu crés que esto no coje tiempo?"(You don't think this takes time to put together?)

"Y yo? Tu no crés que yo no me quiero arreglar? No he podido porque llegaste trés horas tarde!" (You think you're the only one who wants to get ready? I haven't been able to because you're three hours late.)

"Ay relajate tus tías traen comida, tus primas traen comida, y Lute va traer lo que prepare anoche. Dejate del can." (You need to chill out. Your aunt is bringing food, your cousins are bringing food, Lute is bringing what I made last night. What's the worry?)

"Tu me haces estos todos los años! Porque eres tan desconsiderada?" (You do this to me every year! Why are you so inconsiderate?)

"Yo desconsiderada? Si yo fuese tan desconsiderada entonces no hubiera cordínado todo esto! Quien llamó a los familiares? Quien te consiguo los ingredientes? Eso fui yo!" (Inconsiderate? Me? If I were inconsiderate then I wouldn't have coordinated this whole thing.)

"Tu cordinaste?!" (You coordinated?) Letty yelled out appalled. "Todo esto hecido yo!" (I've done everything!)

"Ladies come on now. This is a time to give thanks and enjoy each other's company. Lets not fight today."

"Bueno dile a tu esposa que se calme." (Well then tell your wife to calm down.) Ana told him before turning to her daughter. "Fijate mija por ahi viene las arugas. No te quedes como tu tía Amparo." (Becareful darling. Wrinkles aren't too far away. You wouldn't want to end up like your aunt Amparo."

"No quieres desír como tu? Ya casi vas para sesenta. El papel de la joven ya no te queda." (Don't you mean like you? You're almost sixty. You're not fooling anyone.)

"Mira aquí desgraciadita, yo no te tengo que ayudar. No me busques porque me vas encontrar."(Listen here you little brat. I don't have to help you so don't push me because you may not like the result.)

"Urg!" Letty stormed away as her mother nonchalantly made herself comfortable in her home. Ana went off to greet her grandchildren and distracted them from their duties much to Letty's dismay.

"Ay mira que grande esta Eli. (Look how big Eli is!) You look like Alexus." She said with her heavy accent as she caressed the young boy's round face. "Mira lo que Mamá te trajo." (Look at what I brought you.)

"Candy!" The young boy cheered. "Do you have chips?"

"His name is Axel Ana, and I think he's getting to old for the candy." Dom corrected.

"Eso no fue lo que dije?" (Isn't that what I said?)

"No"

"Bueno casi sale." (Well, it's close enough.) Ana shrugged and turned her attention back to her grandson. "Como se dice?" (What do you say?)

"Thank you." The young boy answered.

"Y en español?" She asked. The boy thought hard before answering.

"Gracias?"

"Asi mismo."(That's right.) Ana smiled as she got up and stood tall. "No se flojen con ese. La culutra no se puede perder." (You can't slip with that one. You wouldn't want him losing his culture. )

"No se preocupe." (Don't worry about it.) Dom told her with a smile.

"Dejame ir ayudar a mi hija antes que le de un infarto." (I should go help my daughter before she has a heart attack) She said causally as she made her way back downstairs causing Dom to shake his head and snicker.

"Ya llegué como ordenaste." (I'm here like you ordered.) Ana announced as she pranced into the kitchen in search of her apron.

"Si, hace media hora." (Yeah a half hour ago) Letty said rolling her eyes.

"Yo no soy mal educada. Cuando uno llega a un lugar tiene que saludar mija. No somos salvajes." (I'm not poor mannered. It's important to greet those who you come to see. We can't all be savages.)

"Terminaste? Sabes, ay que cocinar." (Are you done? There is cooking to be done.)

"Déjame cambiar la música. Bueno cámbiala tu. Yo no se manejar estos teléfonos. Pon me a Celia Cruz o Hector Lavoe. Algo bueno, no esa porquería que no se entiende." (I want to change the music. This is crap and you can barely understand it. Well you can change it. You know that I don't know how to work those things.) Letty glared at her mother as moseyed around the kitchen.

"I can't stand you right now." She muttered and changed up the music from her phone.

"Si esa es. Súbelo!" (Yes that's right! Turn it up!) Ana said clapping her hands as the Caribbean rhythms made their way out of the speakers. "Bueno a lo que vinimos." (Okay now we can get started.) Letty rolled her eyes, but Ana soon got to work. She took over the turkey and Pernil which were the night's main attraction. Letty worked on the rice and pasta. Dom had been in charge of creating the perfect Italian tomato sauce the night before. It seemed like they were making headway. Letty had completely forgotten how angry she had been just an hour before. When she was not picking at her daughter's every nerve, Ana was a pretty enjoyable person to be around. Letty's daughter, Mazda, even joined in, and she helped make the pastelitos and some of the deserts.

"Tu vez mija, esto es música. Mira canta conmigo." (You see Darling? This is real music. Sing with me!) Ana told her granddaughter. "La , la, la, la, la, la, la, la!"

"La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!" Mazda sang along.

"Here we go." Letty said shaking her head.

"Y se baila asi" (And you dance it like this…) Ana said showing off her salsa steps causing the young girl to laugh.

"Mama's so crazy." Mazda giggled.

"You're just realizing this? Just wait for the liquor to start flowing."

"Crazy ni que crazy! Yo soy alegre." (Crazy! I'm not crazy. I'm happy.)"Que cante mi gente!" She continued to dance and sing, beckoning the teenager to join her. "Mira tu tiene sangre Cubano, Boriqua, y Dominicano tienes que saber como bailar esto." (Listen you have Cuban, Dominican, and Puertorican blood in you. You need to learn how to dance this.) Mazda attempted to follow along as the older woman grabbed her, and not soon after Dominic made his way into the kitchen.

"It's a full blown party in here."

"Mama is teaching me Salsa. Are you any good Papi?" Mazda asked her father amused.

"Si puede? Mija tu no conoces a tu padre?" (Can he? Girl you do not know your father.) Ana sassed her granddaughter as she ditched Mazda to grab Dom's arm. "Ven para ensañale." (Lets show her how it's done.) They began to dance. He twirled her around as their footwork matched perfectly.

"Damn!" Jensen said as he stepped into the kitchen. "What's going on in here?"

"Que haces mirando? Agara una y baila." (What are you doing just staring. Grab one of them and dance.) Jensen laughed and grabbed his mother and started dancing with her. Letty laughed as her son attempted to Salsa.

"Juju when did you get so good?" She complimented.

"Years of practice ma, years of practice." He told her confidently.

"I wonder if Alexus is this good?" Letty pondered aloud.

"Never that" Jensen responded as he twirled her. She smirked at her son.

"I gotta learn how to salsa." Mazda told herself, a little embarrassed at the fact Jensen was better at something than she was.

"And bachata" Ana told her.

"And merengue" Jensen added.

"Hey she can merengue" Dom defended.

"And bachata" Mazda disputed.

"Oh yeah?" Letty asked.

"DJ dale pa ya" (Dj hit it!) Ana said gesturing to her daughter. Letty put on La Chiflera by Fefita la grande. "Ese mismo es!" (That's what I'm talking about.) Jensen grabbed his sister and began dancing with her. "Bueno parace que sabe si." (Well I guess the girl does know a few things.) Ana affirmed.

"I've only heard this song all my life." Mazda said sarcastically causing them all to laugh.

Alexus found his way into the kitchen moments later. "Shouldn't someone be watching the food?" he questioned.

"Mijo trust me. La comida va salir más bueno todavía." (The food will taste even better this way.) Ana assured.

"I bet it is." He said giving her a small smirk.

"Jensen says he's a better dancer than you." Letty challenged subtly.

"Ohh shots fired!" Mazda called out.

"Did he now?"

"Lexi why don't you show us what you got."

"No one is ready for that."

"Yeah right!" Dom called out knocking his son down a couple pegs. The Toretto's were a competitive bunch who groomed their own egos. Therefore, the young man did not think twice in response to the challenge. Alexus twirled his grandmother out of his father's grasp and began to dance without missing a beat of the fast paced music.

"Wepa! Salieron caribeño los muchachos." (Hot damn these kids got real Caribbean in them.)Ana yelled out with glee as her grandson twirled her around. Toda la mujer ciflera se le jimcha la rodilla, the song continued as they all sang along and danced in the large kitchen. They danced one more song before Letty ended it and called them all back to their duties.

"Oye mijo ve búscame una cervecita", (Honey can you go grab me a beer?)Ana asked Jensen before he left the kitchen. "Me a dado una se." (I got so thirsty.)

"I don't think we got any." Jensen said in realization.

"What!?" Letty exclaimed.

"Bueno mija esto esta feo para la foto." (Well this isn't good.) Ana said clicking her tongue

"Go tell your father we need ten cases of Corona, and four large bottles of Chivas Regal. We need to bring up the Brugal from the basement. Mami can you make that Coquí?"

"Mija tu tía es la que sabe ser esa vaina."

"What about the kids Ma?" Jensen mocked.

"Boy this is not time to play. Go get the shit."

"Alright, alright"

"Don't get any ideas along the way. You're almost 21, but you're not yet."

"Pero un traguito no le hace nada." (A little drink never hurt anyone.) Ana stepped in rustling Jensen's hair.

"Do you remember last year?" Letty pointed out as she glared at the both of them.

"Ay si mijo te pasaste" (Well, she does have a point there.)

"Damn you get drunk one time at a family event and no one lets you live it down."

"That's exactly what family gatherings are for." Letty told her son.

"I'll be alright. At least I was taken care of right. I wasn't up to no good in the streets Mami. I was up to no good with the people who love me most. Isn't that what the holidays are all about."

"Jensen go get us the liquor." Letty said rolling her eyes.

"Ay recuerdas cuando te enborachaste en nueva york?" (Remember when you got drunk in New York.) Ana reminded her daughter melancholically.

"I was sixteen Mami. You shouldn't have let me drink."

"Were you driving? Did you die?"

"I threw up everywhere!"

"Did you clean?"

"It was embarrassing. Tío called me la Chilindrina for a whole year."

"Nadie te mando. You sounded just like her."

"Mami…"

"How are you supposed to learn if you never go through things?"

"Que!?"

"I let you live, and you should let your kids live."

"Pff, Okay" Letty responded sarcastically. "That one's given me enough problems. No crees?" (Don't you think?)

"Ya, vamos a terminar." (Alright already, let's finish up.) A few hours later the house was bustling with guests. Relatives came from out of town, and dear friends from the neighborhood also joined. The table seemed never ending with the food options that held a perfectly browned turkey dead at the center of it all.

"You've really out done yourselves this year." Mia commented.

"It gets easier as they get older, but we still can't seem to have dinner before nine o'clock." Letty gestured to her kids.

"Please, Jack is fifteen and I'm lucky if he can remember not to leave his dirty socks lying around."

"My boys never had that problem. They were pretty neat growing up. Remember when Jensen would just organize Brian's shit when he'd be over your house?"

"Oh yes, is he free by any chance?"

"Whenever, get him out of this house!" Letty laughed at her sister in law. Their conversation was interuppted by Tony, Dom's father. It was traditional for him to say a few words on such a special occasion.

"I am so thankful to be here this evening with all of you. I am nothing, but a happy old man these days. I have been blessed with two wonderful children who have succeeded far above what I could have dreamed of for them. I thought when I lost the love of my life that I would never see light in my life again, but here we are. There isn't an unhappy soul in here. This family is everything. I have never seen the integrity and unity we have had over the years. No one can replace the people in this room. I think I speak for Ana as well when I say I could not be more proud of all this success built from the love we all share."

"Bueno el hombre lo dijo bien. (Well the man got it right.) You know my English is not too good, but over the years I get better. I think we do not take the moments to love and appreciate each other the way we should. Dom is like son to me. Don't get jealous Milo, sabes que eres el amor de mi vida." (You know you're the love of my life.) She began. "But my first love is right here. You know the one who looks like me." She said gesturing to Letty and holding her hand. "It's so interesting to see how much she was part of my own maturity. She's been my reason for living since I was fifteen, and I could not ask for a better daughter, even though tu sabes la chica se pone fuerte. Pero la prefiero así, fuerte y humilde. Esa es mi guerrera, mi mano derecha. La aprecio por todo porque tuvimos muchos momentos bajos pero el amor es algo fuerte. Mis nietos te amo. Mis esposo te amo. Mis familiares te amo. Gracias por este momento tan lindo. Y fíjense este es mi primera cerveza. Ten cuenta que es sincero." (…you know the girl can get difficult. However, I prefer her that way, strong and humble. That's my warrior princess and my right hand. We've had our highs and our lows, but love is stronger than all of that. I love my grandchildren. I love my husband. I love all of you as my family. Thank you for this beautiful moment. Take note this is still my first beer, so you know it's sincere. )

"Wow I wasn't expecting all of that." Letty said holding back a floodgates of emotions. "These moments are really special to me. Hell, I spent my whole day in the kitchen. You can ask Dom. I'm not a natural at it."

"What are you talking about? You're the best cook I know."

"Thanks love. He's the best liar. That's why I married him." Letty said with a smile. "We have fame. We have money, but that means nothing without all of you so thank you for coming. Y ya tu sabe...hoy se vebe!" (And you already know...drink up!) She called out holding her beer up.

"I'm so ready to eat!" Vince called out.

"You're always hungry man." Leon grinned patting him on the back. "Great speech Let. For a second I thought you were gonna cry."

"You know I don't do that." Letty brushed off.

"Right, like I haven't known you for over twenty-five years."

"Has it been that long?" She questioned him.

"How old is the kid?"

"Twenty-six"

"Damn, we're going on thirty now."

"I still feel twenty-five."

"Nah, we're all better people than we were at twenty-five." Vince began. "Hell, I was still fucking around at thirty-five."

"But you finally became a man."

"After the second kid you kinda have to." Vince smirked at her.

"I can't with you."

"By the way tell your boy to stay out of my house when my daughter isn't being supervised."

"What do you want me to do? They're both of age. I think this a conversation you need to have with Dom."

"What's a Dom convo?" Her husband came from behind her.

"Your son."

"Which one?"

"Who do you think?" Letty prompted.

"What did he do now?"

"He's been at my house a lot, and it ain't to visit me." Vince said gesturing at their children who looked very comfortable together on the other side of the room as they enjoyed their meal.

"You know how it is. He fucks up, you get to fuck him up." Dom told his oldest friend flatly. Letty laughed.

"We just need to let it be. Would you want her with a stranger?"

"That's the problem. I know too much. I've seen Jensen go through a lot of girls."

"Vanessa is family. He knows better."

"Let's just hope for the best. This turkey is so good by the way."

"Mami made it."

"Que yo ise?" (What did I do?)

"El turkey"

"Good, no?"

"Very!" As the night wore on, the amount of food in everyone's belly matched the liquor in their systems. Everyone was gathered in the living room talking, laughing, and best of all dancing. Letty lived for those moments. They were so pure, and heavenly. It was as close to perfect as a moment could be.

Around two in the morning, when most people were sobered up or too passed out to go anywhere, Ana decided it was a good time to exit the festivities. "Nos vemos querida." (I'll see you sweetie.) Ana said placing a kiss on her daughter's cheek. "Vengo mañana a buscar lo mio. Milo no puede pasar hambre." (I'll come get my share tomorrow. You know Milo can't go without food and God knows I'm not cooking for a few days.)
"Just take it now."

"Vengo mañana. Estoy cansada. Ya Lute me esta esperando." (I'll come tomorrow. I'm too tired and Lute is already waiting for me in the car.)

"Entonces con su tiempo si eres considerada?" (Oh so with his time you're considérate?)

"No comiences. Dije muchas cosas bonitas de ti. No me hagas arrepentir. Eso no es vaina de todos los días." (Don't start. I said a lot of nice things about you. Don't make me regret that. You know that isn't every day shit.)

"Ya ciao, ciao, nos vemos mañana." (Fine whatever, I'll see you tomorrow.)

"Guárdame la ropa esa que trajo tu tía." (Save those clothes your aunt brought.)

"Si, si, la tengo ahí." (Yes, yes, I have it.) Letty said ushering her mother out. She closed the door behind her. Some of her cousins were helping clean up the house, and Dom was attempting to facilitate all the passed out guests still in his living room.

"Just leave them there." Letty told her husband. "They're so drunk they won't know the difference between a bed or the floor."

"You're right. We should at least get blankets. Don't you think?"

"Sure" Letty said smiling at her husband. "I'll wait for you upstairs."

"You got it." Dom told her with his famous half smile. Not long after he found himself cuddled up to his wife as they often did every night.

"Did you have a good time?"

"The best. How about you?"

"I was worried, but Mami came through."

"She always does, doesn't she?"

"Not always"

"Often enough"

"I'll give you that." Letty smiled into his chest.

"Dom did you ever think we could be this happy?"

"I only hoped, but I guess dreams do come true." He said placing a chase kiss on her lips.

"I love baby." she told him sweetly.

"Omg!"

"Shut-up" She said elbowing him.

"I love you too." He told her before they raced off into a deep sleep. However, their dreams were interrupted by a sudden phone call. "Well that's never good." Dom said rolling over.

"It's my brother." Letty said groggily, squinting at her phone as the screen blinded her eyes. "Hello?"

"Letty!" The young man panicked.

"What…what is it?"

"There's been an accident?"

"Wait what!?" Letty shot up immediately as her nerves bolted through her body. "Are you okay?"

"Not me…Mami and Papi"

"What? Mami what?" Letty asked in shock.

"She was in a car accident." Milo croaked out.

"Where is she?" She yelled into the phone. "How bad is it?"

"It's really bad."

"Stop it. You're scaring me. Where's your dad?"

"In the ICU…" The boy breathed out. She could hear her brother's tears on the other side.

"What about Mami?" Letty asked. Milo took a deep breath. "What about Mami?" She shouted into the phone.

"She..she…"

"Tell me!"

"You need to get here now!" Her younger brother sobbed.

"Milo, what are you trying to say?" Letty asked as her heart froze.

"They told me they don't know if she's gonna make it."

"What?" Letty said in shock. "What are you saying?"

"Don't make me say it."

"Milo don't fuck with me." Letty growled menacingly.

"Does this seem like a joke to you? You think I would do that?"

"No…no" Letty cried in disbelief.

"Baby what's going on?" Dominic asked her.

"I…gotta…" Letty was hyperventilating too hard to get her words out.

"Baby I need you to breath." He instructed her as he smoothed his hand over her back.

"I...can't." Had he not known better, Dom would have believed she was having an asthma attack.

"Yes you can. Use your words." Dom said attempting to soothe her.

"I gotta…I gotta go." Letty said rushing out of his hold.

"Tell me what happened."

"I…I…I don't know" Letty said struggling to get her words out. Dom wrapped his arms around her, but she continued to convulse. "She's dying…she's dying…"

"Who?"

"My mom"