Chapter 25: Recovery, Change, and New Evidence.

Weeks turned into months and many things took place. Shiro has taken up the role of Guldrin's protector and caretaker. If Guldrin needed anything, she was right there to provide it for him. Not only that, but she had talked to Letty and Dom, asking to be taught self-defense and physical training. Her first birthday in this new world took place, it was a happy but also a sad day for her. She was delighted because it was the first time she had spent her birthday with so many important people, but she was sad because her real brother was not there. That is another thing, she has no longer considered Guldrin her brother figure, instead, her affection for him has grown beyond familiar bonds, it became something more… Dangerous, and obsessed, devoted even. 

Tired of being a leech to the family, she decided to use her futuristic knowledge, with the help of Jesse they built a computer from spare parts and began a coding project. She said she wanted to create games worthy of being played. However, while working on her project, she found multiple forums to ask questions and ended up making a new friend. She doesn't know her real name, but her internet handle is Skye. Supposedly, she lives in LA as well but keeps being shifted between foster parents. She taught her many things, and they traded knowledge back and forth, making great progress in their own individual projects. Shiro obsessed and proud of Guldrin, couldn't resist sending her photos and telling her stories, it became a ritual for both to begin having girls talk about him while working.

Guldrin was blissfully unaware that a new fan club had been formed by obsessive girls; though he most likely wouldn't mind and would just find it rather strange that anyone would want his photos. Over these months, his progress on his car had basically halted, he was sentenced to bed and couch rest until he recovered, well he was allowed to cook sparsely. The doctors wanted frequent visits, but Guldrin didn't understand why since he was healing and the test they ran on him wasn't related to his injuries, at least he didn't think they were. But this didn't stop Mia, Letty, and Dom, they brought Guldrin to the doctor once a week and forced him to go through rigorous testing and examinations. 

Dom and Letty have fully accepted the role of Guldrin's parents, they wanted to do the same for Shiro, but she had vehemently refused but said she would accept being their daughter-in-law. Letty thought it was adorable and accepted, Dom just laughed and didn't take it seriously. Dom on the other hand had all but stopped his illegal activity, save for his street races and the occasional fights that followed. 

Vince had been wanted by the police and decided to leave the country and Leon, well, he had disappeared from their lives. This didn't surprise Guldrin as he always felt Leon wasn't truly one of them, but it hit Dom like a lead brick. Vince had gone to New Mexico, found a lover, and was starting a new life over there. Leon had just, kinda, fallen off the face of the earth and broke all contact. Guldrin wasn't surprised, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt the rest of the family. It was sad since everyone else had considered Leon to be family, but Gudlrin always wondered if he was also an undercover something or other. He was always around when things went bad, but never when it was just to celebrate, spend time, or anything of that nature, it reminded Guldrin of those secret agent movies Shiro had shown him. It wouldn't have been surprising to find out he was an undercover plant for a secret government organization to keep tabs on them or their operations. 

As winter drew closer, the Toretto household prepared for Christmas, a season that brought a warmth Guldrin had never truly felt before. Despite the chaos they'd all endured, the family had made a pact to keep Christmas peaceful, it was a tradition that was completely new to Guldrin, or so he thought due to his lost memories. They strung lights around the house, piled boxes of decorations in the garage, and spent evenings planning meals and gifts. For Guldrin, this was a strange and touching experience. Shiro and Guldrin had even pulled Jesse into their shenanigans and strewn lights all over Dom's charger, much to his dismay and amusement. The look on Dom, Mia, and Letty's face when Dom started the car and hundreds of lights lit up, was absolutely priceless, by far one of the funniest things they had seen as of yet.

On Christmas Eve after a hearty meal, Dom, Letty, Mia, Jesse, and even Shiro gathered in the living room, where a slightly crooked but beautifully adorned tree stood in the corner. Its lights glowed warmly, filling the space with a soft radiance that chased away the cold creeping in from outside. Dom placed a hand on Guldrin's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they all settled in for their first "family Christmas." Jesse tossed him a wrapped gift, laughing as he gestured for him to tear it open.

Inside, Guldrin found a small collection of model car kits, classic cars, mostly, from a bygone era that Jesse knew he'd appreciate. He ran his fingers over the box, taking in each detail as memories of quiet, solitary nights tinkering with models since his injury flashed across his mind; it had become a serene practice for him. But this was different, this was a gift given with thought and care, with someone's genuine warmth behind it. A gentle smile adorned his lips as he took in the true Christmas spirit and everything that came with it.

He felt the warmth build in his chest, but with it came something more complex and overwhelming. He swallowed, his vision starting to blur as he struggled to hold back the tears that were welling up, something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years. Mia noticed, giving him a soft smile, sensing that this wasn't just a simple holiday for him. It was a moment that he would carry with him forever.

After another hearty food-filled dinner, Guldrin said goodbye to Jesse who went home early, a giant turkey leg in Guldrin's hand looking rather comical. Peeling out, Jesse put on a show for his surrogate little brother and sister, leaving a cloud of white smoke in his wake as Guldrin walked inside, the day's events playing in his mind. 

Guldrin hadn't received a gift from Dom and Letty yet, but he didn't mind; being part of their family was a gift enough. With Dom having gone clean, or as clean as he could; money wasn't something they had in spades anymore, but that didn't matter to Guldrin. Though, seeing his look, Dom, Letty, and Mia smiled, "You didn't think we forgot ya present, did ya kid?" Letty chuckled lightly, swatted his head, and handed him a bow-wrapped folder. 

With a questioning gaze, he frowned slightly and opened the folder, completely ignorant of Shiro's knowing smile. "I wonder what it is…" Removing the bow, he opened the folder and stared at it for a moment, processing what he saw.

'Welcome To The Family'

Guldrin stared at the words of the folder in his hands, eyebrows drawn together in slight confusion and astonishment. His fingers traced over the edges, almost hesitatingly, before he opened it and saw a neatly printed document on top. As he read, his eyes grew wider with every line.

ADOPTION CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the child previously known as Guldrin, having no known legal guardianship or family records, is hereby adopted by Dominic Toretto and Leticia Ortiz Toretto.

By this act, the aforementioned child is legally recognized as a member of the Toretto family, and henceforth shall be known as:

Guldrin Toretto

Guldrin Toretto...

He mouthed the name, feeling the weight of each syllable as if they held a lifetime's worth of unspoken promises. Heart pounding, he continued reading.

This adoption has been duly executed in full compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. The child, now named Guldrin Toretto, is hereby granted all legal rights, privileges, and responsibilities afforded to a natural-born member of the Toretto family. Due to the absence of a birth certificate, medical and developmental assessments have been conducted to confirm an estimated age of eleven (11) years. Consequently, the child's date of birth shall be formally established as the date of adoption. Furthermore, Guldrin Toretto is granted citizenship in the United States of America, effective immediately.

He could barely focus on the rest, his mind echoing the words over and over: a natural-born child of the Toretto family. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until Letty's brash but loving voice pulled him back to reality.

"Welcome to the family, officially," she whispered, her smile warm but a little misty.

Date of Adoption:

12-09-2003

Signed by:

Dominic Toretto

Leticia Ortiz Toretto

A few familiar signatures lined the bottom. Dom, in his usual bold scrawl, and Letty's looping softer letters. They'd signed it as if it was a contract, an unbreakable vow that no one, not even fate, could rewrite.

"Guldrin Toretto..." he whispered to himself again, tasting the name as if it were something precious, something he'd been waiting for but never dared hope for, his turkey leg having fallen nearly onto the floor if it hadn't been for Shiro catching it last second.

A strong hand clapped his shoulder, and he looked up to find Dom grinning at him, eyes glinting with a rare softness.

"You're stuck with us now, kid. For good. We even got married to make it official. However, it was a simple marriage as per Letty's wish. So we didn't invite anyone." Guldrin remembered when Letty and Dom went out for a weekend by themselves and knew that was when it happened.

He looked up to see Dom, Letty, and Mia watching him closely, their expressions warm, full of pride and affection. Letty grinned, a bit teary-eyed herself as she leaned closer. "Now you're officially one of us," she murmured, her voice full of love.

Dom stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Guldrin's shoulder, his expression both soft and serious. "Family isn't just about blood, kid," Dom said, his voice rough with emotion. "It's about who you trust with your life, who stands by you. And you? You're ours, no matter where you came from."

Guldrin felt his throat tighten, the weight of Dom's words settling over him, grounding him in a way he'd never felt before. Memories of empty days, quiet nights spent on his own, and all those past feelings of being unanchored faded as he looked at his new family, finally feeling like he belonged somewhere. He blinked rapidly, trying to keep his composure, but the tears broke free, spilling down his cheeks before he could stop them.

Shiro snickered softly, nudging him with her elbow. "Not crying, are you?" she teased, though her own eyes were misty as she watched him. She knew she could have had this too, but she wished to be his family in a whole other sense. After looking into her own past, she found she had all the official documents as a legal citizen already. It was strange, but so was ending up in an unknown world, so she didn't think much about it. 

He let out a shaky laugh, swiping at his face. "It's… it's just dust," he mumbled, which only made everyone laugh, breaking the tension and filling the room with warmth and laughter.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of joy, laughter, and stories, with Dom, Letty, and Mia recounting memories, telling tales of their shared lives, and pulling Guldrin into their circle even more deeply. He listened with a newfound feeling of belonging, absorbing every word like it was a precious gift. This wasn't just a family he was lucky enough to stumble upon, this was his family now, and for once, he didn't have to feel like it could be ripped out from under him any moment.

Later that night, after most of the family had gone to bed, Guldrin slipped out into the garage alone, needing a moment to process everything he was feeling. The garage was cold, the faint smell of motor oil and metal lingering in the air. He leaned against the workbench, taking a shaky breath as his mind raced.

The Toretto family, his family, had welcomed him, and given him a place among them, even without knowing where he came from or what strange powers and mysteries lay hidden within him. The depth of that kindness, the trust they'd shown, was overwhelming. A strange mixture of gratitude and guilt tore through him, gratitude for the family he had now, and guilt for the fact that he couldn't fully repay them or explain himself to them as he didn't know where he came from, or why he had these random memories and strange gifts.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the quiet, and he turned to see Dom standing in the doorway, a shadowy figure against the faint light. "Couldn't sleep?" Dom asked, crossing the space and standing beside him. His presence was steadying, grounding.

"Yeah… just… didn't know what to do with all this," Guldrin admitted, his voice rough with emotion as he gestured at the house behind them, the sounds of faint laughter and holiday music still drifting through the walls. "Never had anything like it. And… it just feels like… too much."

Dom nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I get it. Family can be overwhelming, but that's what makes it strong. Doesn't matter where you came from or what you can't remember. You're here now, and that's what matters."

Guldrin managed a small, shaky laugh, nodding as he took in Dom's words. He felt lighter, if only just a bit. This family had a way of pulling him out of his own thoughts, grounding him, and giving him a sense of belonging he'd thought he'd never find. They might have been simple words, but they were the words he needed to hear, they were his Family's words.

The holidays passed, and the Toretto family resumed their rhythm. But in the background, there were ripples, whispers that the trucker from one of their past heists had come out of a coma, having remembered everything. The authorities started to circulate his description of the crew, and Dom knew he couldn't afford to stick around. One of Dom's childhood friends even informed him of a hearing he had witnessed with Brian O'Conner, stating that he had spilled everything he knew about the high jacking. Dom knew Brian had made his choice and he was a wanted man now, and it was only a matter of time before they came looking for him. He'd already taken too many risks with Guldrin and Jesse's safety, and he couldn't let his past jeopardize the family any further.

One cold morning, Dom called everyone together, his face solemn, a shadow of determination darkening his eyes. "I have to go," he said simply, his gaze meeting each of theirs. The weight of his words hit everyone hard, especially Guldrin, who understood all too well the cost of protecting those you cared about, as he was taught by the best.

"But… how long will you be gone?" Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dom shook his head, unable to answer. "As long as it takes," he said, his voice a quiet promise. He pulled Mia into a hug, then clasped Jesse and Guldrin on the shoulders. "You two, look after each other. And remember, you're family. Nothing changes that."

Guldrin nodded, swallowing hard as he fought to keep his emotions in check. "I'll make sure everything's okay here, Dad, Count on it!" he promised, feeling the weight of responsibility settles heavily on his shoulders.

Dom gave a final nod before heading out, the rumble of his car fading into the distance, leaving the family behind, each one carrying a piece of his resolve and loyalty with them. Guldrin watched the taillights disappear, a bittersweet sense of pride and sadness churning within him. He knew Dom's absence would leave a void, but he was determined to do right by the family that had taken him in and given him a place to belong.

In the weeks that followed, life adjusted to Dom's absence. Letty and Jesse continued their work in the garage, each day feeling Dom's influence in their lives, knowing that his sacrifice was the reason they could still be together. Shiro remained close to Guldrin while he recovered, and Mia kept the household steady, her resilience unshaken. And though the Toretto family was smaller now, the bond they shared was as strong as ever, held together by love, speed, and the promise that one day, Dom would return.

This was the true start of the story of Guldrin Toretto and all that followed.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)