˗ˏˋ𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞ˊˎ˗
𝚕𝚡𝚒𝚒𝚒. 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎
𝑴𝑰𝑨 Toretto-O'Conner couldn't help but smile as she leaned against the frame of the ensuite bathroom in her bedroom. Oliver was finishing trimming his beard. He caught his wife's eye in the mirror.
"You sure you're okay with this?" Oliver asked
"Absolutely! She's so excited Ollie." Mia responded
Oliver practically beamed at her words before he washed his hands. Seventeen-year-old Zane walked into their room.
"Looking good, Dad." Zane complimented
"Thanks, bud. You heading out?" Oliver asked
"Yeah, I'm take Thea to a movie." Zane said
"Have fun and be safe." Mia said
Zane smiled at his step-mother.
"Thanks, Mia." Zane said
He walked out of the room. Mia wrapped her arms around Oliver's neck and he rolled his eyes.
"Don't even say it Mia..." Oliver said
He was grinning though.
"You. Are. Adorable." Mia said
Oliver groaned good naturally and leaned down to kiss her.
"Yuck!" A voice exclaimed
Th couple broke apart and grinned down at seven-year-old Jack.
"Hey J-man." Oliver greeted
"Issie is all ready!" Jack said
"Is she now?" Oliver asked
"Yeah! I helped her into her dress and buckled her shoes!" Jack said, proudly
Mia and Oliver shared a soft smile.
"I'll go make sure her dress is on the right way." Mia said, quietly
She placed one more kiss to his lips before she left the room. Jack was bouncing on the bed as Oliver put his watch on.
"Hey, Dad?" Jack asked
"Yeah?" Oliver said
"Do you think I could maybe take mom out like you're doing with Issie?" Jack asked
"I think she'd love that, J." Oliver said
"Cool!" Jack said
"How about I help you plan it and you can surprise her?" Oliver suggested
"Yeah! Thanks dad!" Jack said
"Anytime buddy. Now I gotta go, you don't leave a girl waiting." Oliver said
Jack high-fived him and ran out the room. Oliver grabbed his wallet and on his way out the back door he grabbed the small bouquet of white roses he'd purchased earlier that day. Taking a deep breath, he rang the front door bell and grinned as he heard Isla squeal and run through the house. The front door was flung open and he was greeted by the sight of his four-year-old daughter in a blue dress.
"Hi Daddy!" Isla greeted
"Hey princess! You look beautiful." Oliver complimented
She smiled shyly and Oliver crouched down to her level, holding out the bouquet of roses to her.
"For me?" Isla asked
"For you, Princess." Oliver said
"Thanks Daddy!" Isla said
She flung her arms around his neck and Oliver held her close. He placed a kiss on her head and sent a silent prayer that she wouldn't grow up.
"Am I really going to a big girl dinner? Mommy said I am." Isla said
"You really are. You ready to go?" Oliver asked
"Yes! Bye Mommy!" Isla exclaimed
"Bye sweetie you have fun with Daddy okay? I love you." Mia said
"Love you too!" Isla said
Oliver grinned and sent a wink to Mia before he held his hand out to Isla. Mia watched them walk down the path.
"Wow! We're going in your special car Daddy!" Isla said
"We sure are Princess." Oliver said
Parked at the front of the house was Oliver's white Supra.
"This is my favoriteist day EVER!" Isla exclaimed
Oliver couldn't hold back his grin and he lifted her up and placed her in her booster seat in the back seat, before sliding into the driver's seat.
🏎
Twenty minutes later, they were pulling up outside Oliver and Mia's favorite restaurant. Taking Isla's hand, he led her inside. She looked around with wide eyes as she took in her surroundings.
"Daddy, this is really fancy!" Isla said
"Only the best for my girl." Oliver said
"Hi, welcome to 71Above, do you have a reservation?" The hostess asked
"We do, it's O'Conner." Oliver said
"That's us!" Isla exclaimed
"Yes, it is." Oliver said
He smiled down at his daughter.
"Let's get you seated honey." The hostess said
She grabbed two menus, and led the father and daughter through the restaurant.
"Someone will be along to take your order shortly." The hostess informed
"Thank you." Oliver said
He placed Isla on the seat and pulled her into the table before sitting across from her. He had to smile at the sight of her flipping through the menu.
"Daddy, what are you eating?" Isla asked
"I'm having what I always have when I come here with you mom. Steak." Oliver said
"Yuck! Can I have maroni cheese?" Isla asked
"You want macaroni and cheese?" Oliver asked
"Yep!" Isla said, nodding
Oliver didn't know if they served macaroni cheese but that's what Isla was requesting, and she would have it. End of that discussion. A waiter came to their table and Isla looked between him and her dad.
"I'm on a date with my daddy!" Isla exclaimed
"Aren't you lucky!" The waiter said
He fist-bumped her.
"What can I get you? Wine list?" The waiter asked Oliver
"Not tonight, driving with precious cargo." Oliver said
"I came in my daddy's special car!" Isla exclaimed
"Awesome!" The waiter said
Isla smiled at Oliver before she flipped her menu closed.
"Ready to order?" The waiter asked
"Daddy?" Isla asked
"Ask away honey." Oliver said
"May I have Maroni cheese please?" Isla asked
The waiter looked blank and Oliver fought back a laugh.
"Macaroni and cheese." Oliver clarified
"Ahhh, yes you may." The waiter said
"YAY! My daddy wants steak." Isla said
Oliver grinned and finished his order. After the waiter left, Oliver reached over and poured Isla some water.
"So baby girl, what happened at pre-school today?" Oliver asked
"Well..." Isla started
🏎
They were at the front of the restaurant when it occurred to Oliver that there was no physical reminder that the night had happened. And he wanted the reminder for himself as much as for Isla. He pulled his iPhone out his pocket and approached the hostess.
"Excuse me? Would you take a picture of me and my daughter?" Oliver asked
"Absolutely." The hostess responded
Oliver crouched down and Isla stood in between his knees and both faced the camera smiling.
"Thank you!" Isla chirped
🏎
Back in the car, Oliver looked over his shoulder.
"Hey, Iz? I want you to remember something always, okay? This is what you deserve. Don't settle for less." Oliver said
"'Kay Daddy." Isla said
Oliver smiled and knew his daughter would be asleep before they were home.
🏎
Following getting home and placing a very sleepy Isla into pajamas and reading until she fell asleep, Oliver flopped down on to the couch next to Mia.
"She had a great time, Ollie." Mia said, smiling
"Good." Oliver said
"Here." Mia said
She handed her phone over and Oliver fought off the wave of emotion that went through him when he saw the picture on Mia's screen. The photo had been taken at just the right angle and right moment at their front door earlier when Isla had reached out to hug her father. Mia swiped to the next one and it was a perfect shot of them walking hand in hand to the car. Oliver said nothing but pulled out his own phone and went to the photos that the hostess had taken. There were three of them.
"I realized too late that there was no evidence tonight happened." Oliver said
"You didn't need evidence babe, you took her on her first date. She'll never forget this." Mia said
"You think?" Oliver asked
"I know Ollie, you're a great dad. And she's Daddy's little girl." Mia said
"I told her never to settle for less." Oliver said
"If she ends up with someone like you, she'll be fine." Mia said
Oliver leaned over and kissed his wife.
🏎
A few days later, Oliver, Mia, and their kids were over at Lola and Brian's house. The kids were running around the backyard, while the adults were drinking Coronas. Zane and his girlfriend, Thea, were sitting by the adults but far enough away that they could have their own conversation.
"So did Dom ever let you know why he had to drop Little B off with you guys?" Oliver asked
"I'm sure the team just had a mission." Brian said
"Yeah, but he and Letty gave that up after the last one." Mia said, confused
"I'm not sure, Dom seemed worried. He was talking about Dad and what life would've been like if he was still here." Lola said
Mia looked at Lola cautiously.
"Do you think he was remembering what happened after prison?" Mia asked
Lola shrugged and went to respond, but her phone rang. She picked it up and answered it.
"Hello? Did something happen?" Lola asked, concerned
Mia and Oliver exchanged nervous looks.
"What are you talking about, Letty? What happened?" Lola asked
Brian looked over at Oliver and Mia, and they shrugged.
"What? No, he can't be." Lola said
Oliver looked at Lola quizzically.
"Tell me where you guys are. I'm on the next flight out." Lola said
Lola hung up the phone and turned to her confused family.
"Jakob's back." Lola said
Oliver and Mia looked at Lola in shock, while Brian looked at her confused.
"Who's Jakob?" Brian asked
"Jakob's our older brother. After Dom got out of prison, he challenged Jakob to a race. If Jake won he stayed, but if he lost he was never able to come back." Lola explained
"As you can tell Jake lost and we haven't heard from him since. Until now." Mia said
Brian looked at his family around him, still confused, but wanted to be supportive nonetheless.
"I got the kids under control if you wanna go with her, Mia, Ollie." Brian said
He wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder. Mia and Oliver smiled gratefully at Brian. Zane and Thea, hearing the tail-end of the conversation, walked over to the older couples.
"You go with them, Uncle Brian. Aunt Lola's gonna need you." Zane said
"Yeah, Z and I can take care of the kids. And my Uncle Brandon can help us out, if we need it." Thea said
Brian looked at Lola hesitantly and she grabbed his hand.
"B, I know we said one last ride, but this is something I need to do for myself. If you wanna stay here with the kids, I understand." Lola said
Brian smiled at his wife and kissed her hand.
"Ride or die, baby." Brian said
Lola smiled at her husband and headed upstairs to pack her things.