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"I thought I might find you here," Dom said, walking toward the back of the garage. "Everyone's wondering where you went."
"Just needed a little break," Han said as he accepted a fresh beer. He was gazing under the hood of Dom's latest project, but his eyes didn't appear focused on anything in particular.
"Feeling overwhelmed?" Dom asked.
"A little," Han nodded, looking up and sipping from his bottle. "I can't say I've socialized much over the past few years. It's kind of weird to be around so many people at once."
"All that time hiding must've been hard."
"We got through it," Han shrugged.
"That's a great kid you've got out there," Dom said. "Look at us two. You disappear for a few years, and suddenly, we're both fathers."
"I don't know if I'd go that far," Han said, sitting down on the edge of the car and picking at the label on his Corona.
"No? Then what would you call it?"
"I don't know," Han said, staring at the wall ahead. "Elle had parents. She was 11 when I met her, so they did most of the work."
"I hear those teen years can be tough, though," Dom replied. "Can't say I'm looking forward to them."
"I just did my best to keep her safe," Han responded modestly. "Maybe teach her a few things along the way."
"Sounds like a father to me," Dom said, sitting beside him. "It's a long story, but I didn't exactly plan on Little B either. One day, I didn't know he existed; the next, he had nobody in the world but me."
"I know," Han smiled. "I kept pretty good tabs on you guys."
"I should've guessed."
"Sorry about the funeral, by the way," Han said ruefully. "I didn't expect anything like that. Made me feel like a real dick when I heard."
"Don't worry about it," Dom shook his head. "We're all just thrilled to know you're alright."
"Besides," he added wryly, "it wasn't the first funeral I attended for someone still alive. I do hope it will be the last, though."
"Well, it at least made me feel good when you sprung for the expensive coffin," Han joked as he took a swig of his beer, and Dom laughed before turning serious.
"We didn't forget about you, you know," he said. "I know it might have looked that way from the outside. I didn't want to work with Shaw, but it felt like the only option."
"Forget it, man," Han said, waving his hand. "You did what you had to do to protect your kid; I'd have done the same."
"Yeah, I guess you would have," Dom said, slowly nodding. "I'm proud of you. Most people would've decided that little girl was somebody else's problem. But you stepped up."
"It didn't feel much like a choice," Han confessed. "I just knew I had to take care of her. No matter what."
"See?" Dom smiled. "I told you you were a dad."
"I guess we should get back to the others," Has sighed as he stood.
"Alright," Dom said, rising beside him.
"Han …" he hesitated. "About everything that happened before —"
"Don't," Han shook his head. "I don't blame you, Dom. Not anymore. I think I blamed everyone for a while, but no one more than myself."
He leaned a shoulder against the wall as he continued. "I've gone over it a million times — enough to drive myself crazy. All the things I could've done differently, should've done differently. But at the end of the day, none of that will change anything. Gisele knew the risks, and she made her own choices."
"Still," Dom said, touching Han's arm. "I wish everything didn't happen like it did. I could tell how much you loved her."
"Still do," Han said quietly, looking at the floor and scuffing the toe of his sneaker against the concrete before resuming eye contact. "But I'm okay. Honestly, this time."
"I'm really glad you're home," Dom said, extending his palm. "We all are."
"Yeah," Han smiled as he returned the handshake. "Me too."