Please excuse ANY errors.

November 5, 1998

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

"A fuckin' deer in headlights!" Dalvin shouted.

That shit scared Tia and myself. It made Tia scream and squeeze the bottle. The water went all over us and on my face and inside my nose. I swear, I almost drowned! I heard a big ass thud on the floor and lifted up, trying to breathe. I took a deep breath and wiped my face with my hand. I grabbed the towel that I was laying on and wiped my face dry.

"You okay, love?" I asked.

"I'm good." She got back up and I handed her the towel. "I'm sorry for spilling water on you."

"It looks like you got yourself in the process to me. It was on me, I startled y'all." Dalvin spoke to us both.

I grabbed my neck and turned my head to the door. "Dalvin, what the fuck are you doin' here!?" I yelled. "How you even know where she live? You ain't ever been over here."

"Pac told me where she lived. He was the only way, because I don't have Tia's number. You left that voicemail and I called back. The woman said you were picked up. I figured you was over here when I stopped by and saw nobody was at your house and after stopping by the studio. I was right. I just happen to walk in on the wrong thing." Dalvin laughed.

"Dalvin, how did you get inside of my house?" Tia got up from the floor with the towel around her. Elijah came into view with a surprised look on his face.

"Elijah told them to let me through. I got y'all food too that one of y'all ordered." He held up a bag. "So when y'all done with-" Dalvin twisted his fingers at us, "with what y'all doin', y'all could eat. Imma be out there. Sorry for the interruption." He said then walked out.

Elijah shot Tia a look then walked out himself. I looked back at Tia. "It never fails!" I told Tia in disbelief.

She laughed. "They think we were screwing each other. Luckily, they didn't show up last night. Well, not they, DALVIN. Elijah knows better. He just plays too much."

I got up from the couch. "I'm gonna straighten this all up."

"And I'm gonna go put some clothes on." She pointed to the door then wiped her face with the towel.

"Definitely." I chuckled, looking at her attire. I could see through her shirt even more, now that it's wet.

I got off the couch and grabbed my pants and put one foot in.

"Need help?" She chuckled.

"Nope!"

"So you just want me to watch you fall over in pain?" Tia asked.

"Pretty much."

She rolled her eyes. "You so damn stubborn."

"Look who's talking." I shot back.

"Boy, PUHH-lease. Stubborn where? Lemme go to my room before I have to body slam you." She laughed.

"Woman, you can't body slam a toddler." I laughed.

"But who wears the toddler tails?" She raised her right eyebrow. "Be lookin' like yo mama got you ready for church."

"Put my shirt on," I told her.

"Excuse me? I thought you ain't need my help, Mr, DeGrate?"

"I don't. I mean YOU put my shirt on you. That dry towel ain't covering much below yo waist, so put my shirt on top of that one!" I tossed the shirt on the couch near her. "And wrap the towel around your waist!" I told her in irritation of my whole day. I love Dalvin, but that put the icing on the cake.

"Nuh-uhn, who you talkin' to bruhh?" She said taken aback. "You tellin' or askin'?Because your tone of voice ain't sitting well with me. Fuck is wrong with you?"

I sighed because she was right. I was a little hostile. "I'm sorry, I was asking." I corrected myself.

"I will, but you talk to me like that again, we gon' have problems. No, SCRATCH that, we ALREADY have us a problem. Ain't no need for the way you just spoke to me. We were JUST jokin' and laughing and you wanna catch an attitude out of nowhere when I did nothing." She swung her body around to face the other direction and put the shirt over the one she already has on.

"I'm sorry, love." I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.

I tried to kiss her lips, but she blocked them with her hand. I ended up kissing it instead. She pushed my head away then dropped it. I chuckled.

"Yo, you deadass right now?" I asked her.

"And is. I told you about that before we even got together and another time when we were at your parent's house. Don't fuck with me, DeVanté."

She gave me a blank expression while tying the towel around her waist. Tia then walked out of the room quietly. Dalvin and Elijah looked to her then to me.

"Oooop! It looks like you done pissed her off. Lemme go check on her." Elijah walked off.

"Trouble in paradise?" Dalvin asked walking in.

I shook my head with a sigh. "She gon' be good." I folded my arms. "Today really ain't my fuckin' day."

"Well, what happened today? Why was you at the hospital?" Dalvin took a seat and sat the food down.

I sat back down and explained everything. I done explained this too many times today. I also explained to him what he walked in on. By the time I was done, Elijah and Tia came back in the room and sat down.

"I'm sorry. Hello Dalvin." Tia told and stood back up.

Dalvin stood up and they exchange a hug. "What's up, TT!"

"Nothin' much." She replied then sat back down.

"Hey, don't let a nigga that wears pigtails piss you off." Dalvin laughed out loud.

Tia laughed too, but Elijah laughed the loudest. "That's what I said! It's givin' Power Puff Girls!"

"Fuck y'all!" I said laughing. "My shit is braided up and lined up."

Dalvin plopped back down in his seat. "My bad for assuming y'all was fuckin', but at the angle, I walked in on, that's EXACTLY how that shit looked. I thought you was takin' a while water break in the middle." He laughed harder. "I should've knocked though. Yo shit is phat though."

Tia's laughter stopped and she gave a confused look. "Huh?"

"Nigga what the fuck you just say?" I sat up.

"Her crib. Well, the little I did see on my way to the basement. What you thought I meant?" Dalvin asked me. "Oh! No. Hell, nahh! I would never say no shit like that, NOW. But back in the day when everybody was just chillin'..."

"Nigga, I would beat yo ass if I catch you lookin' at her that way. Shit disrespectful as fuck." I spoke up.

"Damn, chill. I ain't and I won't, nigga!" Dalvin. "Let's change the subject. What y'all about to do?"

"We had a couch date where we was supposed to watch The Temptations. We missed it, fuckin' around with y'all." I told him.

"Y'all didn't look like y'all was about to stop no time soon whatever it is I DID walk into." Dalvin pointed out.

"A massage session, Dalvin," Tia spoke up.

"Is that what people call it these days?" Dalvin asked.

"Nigga, my body is in some major pain from the accident and she was helping out since I told them not to prescribe me no pain meds. I got whiplash, but it ain't as bad as it could be." I told him.

"They tried to prescribe you some pain killers?" Tia asked me.

"Yeah. They said they don't have my files and can't get to them without my permission or some shit. I had to explain it to him." I replied.

"Thank God for that!" Dalvin patted my shoulder.

"Definitely. I'm proud of you, babe." Tia told me. "Most people with past addiction wouldn't utter a single word."

"I know you're proud of me, but can you get UN-mad at me?" I asked. She laughed it off without a single word being spoken.

"Y'all know I recorded the movie, right?" Elijah asked.

"I got a copy. After all, I AM the creator." Tia bragged, popping her imaginary collar.

"Yeah. I don't mind watching it in a free theater room with some free food." Dalvin hinted.

"You wanna watch it with us, Dalvin?" Tia asked.

"Sure! How nice of you to ask." Dalvin turned his head.

"I'm not even about to play..." Tia trailed off laughing.

"I'm gonna go get the copy." Elijah got up.

"Imma go get me some snacks." Tia pointed to the side where everything is located. She got up and walked away.

"Me too." I grabbed the food and stood up to follow Tia. I stood behind her. "You don't wanna know what I ordered?" I asked her and she just kept on with what she was doing. "So you just gon' ignore me?" I sighed and moved closer. "You still mad at me, baby?" I whispered.

I kissed behind her ear and grabbed her by the waist. She said nothing, so I trailed kisses down her neck, making her shutter. She reached behind her and pushed me away some. She dropped down into a squatting position and went to the other side of my arm.

"You was LITERALLY just talkin' to me a few seconds ago. What happened? I'm sorry for getting aggressive with you. Today just not my day and when all that happened when Dalvin came in, it pissed me off more." I told her. "I would get on my knees and apologize if you want me to if my body wasn't sore."

"DeVanté, get the fuck away from me because my mama pissed me off before I came over here. I'm not in the fucking mood." She told me and I frowned at her.

"What?" I asked her.

She turned to me. "That is EXACTLY how you sounded just now." She turned away from me and continued with what she was doing.

Oh, so what she said isn't true. Shes just trying to create a point. I nodded. "Fair enough. You want actions and fewer words. Right? If that's the lesson, I get it."

Tia pointed at me. "Then act like it, mothafucka."

I guffawed at her cursing because that shit does not sound right coming from her. I heard Dalvin laughing too. I stopped myself once she shot me a look. She grabbed a brown and poured those hot-ass Midwest chips in a popcorn bowl. She grabbed the popcorn from the microwave and put another in and poured the already popped one into a popcorn bowl.

"My bad!" I chuckled. "If you could hear yourself, you would laugh too. Even Dalvin is laughing."

"That shit is funny. You don't sound right at all." Dalvin laughed.

"See." I told her and she said nothing. "So you gon' make me suffer?"

Tia smirked at me then walked to Dalvin, handing him something to drink and the movie theater popcorn bowl.

"Thanks," Dalvin said grabbing it.

"You're welcome," Tia replied then walked back over here where I'm standing.

"Let me get this straight. So you gon' talk to my brother but not me?" I asked her.

"That's what it looks like!" Elijah's voice rang through the room. He's back so soon?

The microwave beeped and she took the other bag out and put the food that Dalvin brought in on a plate and put it inside.

"I should probably call me boo, since y'all gon' be boo'd up," Elijah said out loud to nobody in particular.

"Hell, no! I ain't finna be third wheelin' by myself." Dalvin told him.

"Nobody' a third wheel," Tia told them before moving to the corner of the counter.

She's still ovulating! I forgot.🤦🏽‍♂️I turned around, facing the opposite of the third wheel crew, and licked my index, middle and thumb. I got them well lubricated before getting behind her again. I slipped my hand undershirt then bra to massage her nipples.

"Baby?" I whispered in her ear. "I get it, love."

I slipped my other hand in her shorts. I kissed down her neck. She let out a low moan, then looked up with her bottom lip lodged between her teeth.

"Yeah..." I mumbled with a low chuckle.

I removed my hand from her shorts to lick my fingers, then put them back inside her shorts, rubbing her center. I sucked her neck, leaving marks.

"I don't know what y'all got goin' on, but I'm ready to watch the movie!" Dalvin nagged.

Tia opened her eyes, then grabbed my hand, just as I was about to slip them in, and she pulled them out of her shorts. She then grabbed my other hand that's underneath her shirt and pulled it out.

She turned to me and whispered, "Nice try." She pulled away and tapped my face.

I stuck fingers that were only seconds before in her shorts, inside my mouth staring directly into her eyes. She didn't get to finish and most likely nowhere near.

She pulled away, looked down at me, tapped my face, then spoke. "Adjust ye'self homie and wash ye hands." She walked away from me. "Y'all can start it, I just have to use the bathroom real quick. There are commercials, so I'm sure I won't miss anything." Tia walked out of the room.

"Okay, sis!" Elijah replied.

Dalvin shot me a knowing look and I laughed. "Mind yo fuckin' business, Dalvin."

I turned back around to face the counter and adjusted myself in my sweats, then turned on the faucet to wash my hands with soap. I dried them and off, grabbed the food, and went back to my seat. Tia came back inside and grabbed her chips that's in the popcorn bowl off the counter.

"Where's the food?" She asked once she checked the microwave.

"Over here," I told her.

She sat her water container that she walked inside with next to the bean bag, then walked over to me, grabbing her plate. "Thanks," She said before walking away and sitting down in the bean bag.

Dalvin looked at me and started laughing. "A movie before a movie? I'm lovin' this shit. You two are hilarious!" He stuffed popcorn in his mouth.

"I guess we ARE all in the same boat. No third wheelin'." Elijah laughed.

"Y'all play too much." I scoffed, irritated. "What a fuckin' day," I mumbled then drank some raspberry blueberry Faygo.

First thing in the morning, and Elijah got into it. Then, I was handed some bullshit ass track to listen to at the studio. Third, I was in a fucking car accident. Then came all those bullshit ass questions that were probably necessary, irritating nevertheless. Not to mention how fucked up my car is. Dalvin walked in on us, thinking we were fucking. This day was supposed to be the day Tia and I watched the film ALONE. I was dead set on that, but these niggas wanna show up. Lastly, THIS! Tia is mad at me. I guess, she calls this giving me a lesson, but I FUCKING GET IT NOW.

November 23, 1998

~Ashari's P.O.V~

The breakup... I'm not going to lie, I didn't want to let go, but I HAD to let go. If Yasir hadn't led the conversation, I probably would've still been with him. I KNOW it sounds stupid, but it's the truth. I was tired, but I was willing to deal with it. Now that we aren't together, I won't go back.

Yasir is with someone else now. It's not the woman he was stepping out on me, but there's still another woman. They're supposedly in a steady relationship. I don't want my kids going over there and getting confused about who their mother is NOR do I want my child getting attached just for them to break up.

Children need someone who'll be consistent in their lives. This is only the beginning of their relationship or whatever you want to call it. When they've been in a relationship for a while and I have met her and I THINK it's okay for my children to be around her then okay.

"Mama, baby is sad," Masir said looking up at me.

"Huh?" I looked over to Asiri who's just laying there looking like her father.

"She sad," Masir repeated with his hands out.

"No, baby. She's just relaxed." I laughed. "In her own little world."

"Earff?" Masir's eyebrows wiggled.

"Masir, baby, we are all on earth." I laughed at him.

"Daddy?" He asked.

"What about him, Masir?" I asked.

"Daddy house."

"You wanna go to daddy's house?" I asked and he nodded. "Not today baby. You gon' see yo daddy another time."

"K. Mama?"

"Yes, Masir?" I chuckled.

"Mama sad?" He tilted his head.

"No, mama's alright." I smiled.

"I love you."

"Mommy loves you too." I hugged him and he hugged back. When he pulled away, he ran off to play. "Don't get dirty!" I told him.

Who am I to tell a two-year-old to NOT get dirty? He'll FIND a way to get dirty, so we better leave as soon as possible. I finished folding all of the clothes, put them back in the basket for easy carry, then stood up. Ashari is in her rocker that's currently off. I turned it on so there's less of a chance that she'd cry. She's getting too big for it. Asiri's the type of baby that NEEDS somebody to be around her 25/8 or she'd cry. I grabbed the basket and left the room. As soon as I did Asiri started crying.

"Masir, can you go in there with your sister?" I asked.

He ran in there. "Heyyyy!" Masir shouted and she stopped crying.

I put all the clothes in their respective places and headed back down the steps. I saw Masir dancing around all goofily and singing some song that I can't understand. He has mannerisms like his aunt who he looks like. They're both goofy, checking on people, and always telling people they love them. Oh, and they both can't dance for shit! I laughed loudly as Asiri's face came into view. That little girl was looking at him so lost like always but she's used to it. Asiri cracked a small smile.

"Masir, you a good dancer." I lied, standing on my knees to stop to his level.

Masir turned to me. "I not funny, mama!" He caught onto my sarcasm and giggled.

"Yes, you are," I told him.

"No, I not!"

"Yes, you are."

"No, I not!" He folded his arms with pouty lips.

"Who you yellin' at?" I asked him. "Okay, let's go now." I laughed and grabbed him.

I threw him in the air and he started laughing. My babies are so beautiful. I put him down. He got himself dirty already. From what? I don't know! The boy was out of my sight for a few minutes. I'm a single mother now and I have to get two babies ready. It's hard getting a two-year-old and a baby who's not even one yet ready. Single motherhood is hard, but I'm managing.

"Damn, I'm not even ready." I looked down at myself in realization. "Masir, stay in here with Asiri for me while I put on some clothes."

"K," Masir replied.

I could put her on the floor but she'll get into any and everything. I want to be around her when she's on the floor. Masir isn't old enough to make sure she's not in anything. He still gets into things he shouldn't.

I went back up the stairs and threw some clothes on. Luckily, I already washed my ass while they were asleep earlier. I headed back down the steps with new clothes for Masir. I changed his clothes and diaper. This guy is potty trained but has been having a lot of accidents lately.

"Masir, where's your other shoe?" I asked him realizing I did only take one shoe off him. He shrugged at me. Oh, my God! "Look for it while I get your sister ready."

I took Asiri out of the rocker and put her on her coat and boots. "You found it yet?" I yelled to him.

He came back into the room, shaking his head. I sighed and strapped Asiri in the car seat. I left the room and she started hollering and crying.

"Look for it, Masir." I said over Asiri's crying.

I looked around for it for a while then plopped down on the stairs to give myself a small break. I ran my hands through MY hair because I bought it. I'm tired and stressed the fuck out. I took a few deep breaths and realized this bot has other shoes. Tons of other shoes!

I quickly ran back up the stairs and into his room to look for something that goes with his clothes. I don't want my kids looking like anything. I can, but not my kids. I got the best-looking shoes that would go with what he has on and went back downstairs. I put the shoes on him then his coat. I picked up the baby's car seat.

"Let's roll," I told Masir, and grabbed their baby bag.

We headed out the house and I strapped them both in then got in the car myself. Damn, it's a whole hassle getting them both ready! I exhaled once my butt hit the seat. I turned on the car to let it warm up. Usually, I would have Yasir warm up the car then call me so when it is warm he could help me put the kids in the car. I turned on the music as we waited for the car to warm up.

When it got warm enough, I drove off. I headed to Tia's house. Long ass drive! I wished I lived closer. The only reason Yasir and I at the time decided to move where we are is because it was close to his parent's house. Now that they don't live here, I'm basically by myself. I still get help from them, but I'm from L.A. I have no family other than Yasir's family.

I'm thinking about moving back to California, to be honest. I miss home and being around my family. After a few tantrums from both of my kids, I drove through the gates and into the driveway, I turned off the car. Another thing about no longer being with their father is the fact that I have to be the disciplinarian. Masir only listens to me when he wants to. Other times he just does the opposite of what I say. It's a working progress.

"Relax ya'selves." I told them both, looking through the rearview mirror even though Asiri can't see me.

They're cranky from the long ass car ride. I turned off the car, took the keys, and got out. I went to the back to get Asiri's car seat. As soon as I did, Masir unhooked himself from his seat and jumped out of the car almost hitting his face on the ground.

"Boy!" I yelled with my heart pumping out of my chest. I say the car seat on the ground. "You okay?"

He jumped right back up, with his clothes dirty. "I okay!" Masir ran to the door of the house like some type of superhero.

"Oh, my goodness." I shook my head.

"Aye, man! Be careful!" DeVanté said coming outside. "The hell is wrong with yo son?" He chuckled and grabbed the car seat and baby bag from me.

"Thanks. Where Tia?" I asked him.

"Oh, she upstairs takin' a sh- she takin' a deuce. Blowing it up!" He laughed after correcting his curse word. "What you doin' over here? You know you interrupting our US time, right?" He asked opening the door for me.

I turned to him and he had this amused expression on his face. "Bye, nigga!" I yelled out laughing and he joined in.

"Nahh, I'm just messin' with you. You good." DeVanté sat the car seat down and uncovered it when we made it inside. "She got a whole volcano booty thing goin' on up there."

"I just wanna get out the house but not go nowhere public, so I came here," I answered his question.

"Oh, okay." DeVanté took off his shoes. "What's up with you jumping out of cars?" He asked Masir, squatting.

Masir kicked his shoes off, blew raspberries in DeVanté's face, and ran off. DeVanté looked at me in disbelief, wiping his face of any saliva that flew out of Masir's mouth.

"Did just do that just now?" DeVanté stood up. "Bad ass lil boy. Remind me of DJ..." He mumbled then looked back down at me. "My bad."

"No, you good. He IS bad a hell." I co-signed. My child is hard-headed as fuck!

"Nah, I shouldn't have said that out loud." He told me.

"Out loud... Yeah." I laughed.

"Let me just change the subject," DeVanté said picking back up the car seat and bag. We headed to the back room where everyone hung out. "How have things been for you?" DeVanté sat down on the couch and unhooked the straps of the car seat. "You done got heavy." He said picking up Asiri.

"I'm... Adjusting." I told him. "Adjusting to being a single parent. It's hard."

I am, but it's so much more to it. I do miss Yasir, I REALLY do. I'm still in love, yes. But I'm in love with the old him. The one I met years ago. Not the one I got when I was pregnant with Asiri. I sat down across from DeVanté.

"I know it's hard. Look, I saw the way dude was treatin' you. It's best that it is this way. Kids don't need to see their parents being treated they way he treated you. If they grew up with it, they would've started to mimic it. With or without y'all knowledge. I know how hard it is being a single mother-"

"Do you?" I asked him. "You got a twat?"

DeVanté laughed. "I ain't mean it like that." He shook his head. "I DON'T know from experience, but I do know it's a bunch of work. If you need help with the kids, I'm here." He shrugged. "I know I won't be the first one you reach out to but just know I'm an option."

"As long as Tia's okay with it," I told him. "I respect her and to ask a woman's man to do something just ain't something I was raised to do."

"I feel you one hundred percent and that is of course what I meant. I'm with her most of the time anyway. That is if I'm not working. We BOTH are there for you. I'm sure you know that about Tia, but I'm next to her and here too." DeVanté chuckled. "A'ight, so Christmas comin' up..." He stated and trailed off.

"Yes, I know that." I nodded.

"You got anything planned for Christmas?" He asked me.

"Not yet, but I'm thinking about going to Cali," I told him.

DeVanté looked around the room like he's trying to be secretive. He leaned forward. "A'ight, so BOOM. I'm inviting both, mines and Tia's family over to vacation with us during the holiday season. I'm inviting you too since you are family. You up for it? That is for Christmas AND New Year's."

"Depends on where and if I gotta come out of pocket? I might wanna change my mind. Do Tia know?" I told him.

"I got everything but the flight. I will pay for the kid's flight though. I got other people to pay for. Tia... No, she doesn't know." DeVanté revealed to me. "If she did, I'm sure she would've offered to."

"Why not?"

"Why not, what?" DeVanté asked me confused.

"Why doesn't she know?"

"Because she just doesn't." He replied smartly. "Yet... As for the location, it's in-" He stopped talking when we heard the soft pitter-patter of footsteps approaching. "Imma get back to you on that." He said still whispering, but quickly. Tia came into view. "Hey, baby." DeVanté said turning to her with a big ass smile.

"I saw you all day... But hello to you too, Donald." Tia chuckled with her eyebrows raised. "Hi, Ashari."

"Hey, girl." I waved.

"TT!" Masir ran up to her.

Tia caught him and threw him into the air. "Hey, TT's baby!" She came and sat down on the couch. "Rih Rih. Hey, baby." She sat Masir down on the couch and grabbed Asiri from DeVanté. "Why y'all stop talkin' when I entered the room?" She asked us, playing with Asiri.

DeVanté made a gesture to me and Tia turned to him and he immediately pretended to shake his head at the baby in a playful manner, except he added coos. "We stopped because the conversation was over, baby."

"What took you so long?" I asked Tia. "You was upstairs taking a shit?" Tia squinted at me. "DeVanté's words, not mines," I added.

"I was not!" Tia elbowed DeVanté. "I was showering."

"Because you dropped a deuce." DeVanté laughed.

"Whatever, Donald. Keep messin' with me." She replied with an unamused smile.

"You don't gotta tell me twice. I was gon' keep playin' with you regardless." DeVanté laughed with his mouth open.

Tia popped her mouth at him. "Anyways, I'm glad you came. I was planning on coming to your house tomorrow." Tia told me.

"Saves you a trip. They were driving me MAD." I exasperated.

"I thought you just wanted or needed to get out the house?" DeVanté asked me.

"Yeah, and that's because they've been driving me mad. It took a long ass time for us to even leave the house. It was one thing after another. I had a hard time cleaning the house and didn't even finish on account of them. I washed, dried, and folded clothes and that was about it." I told both of them.

"Damn..." DeVanté shook his head feeling bad.

"Damn is right. It's not Yasir's time to keep them." I replied.

"Need a break?" Tia asked.

I sighed. "Girl, YES," I emphasized with a chuckle.

"They can stay if you'd like?" Tia said to me.

"I would LOVE." I put emphasis on my words. "It'd give me time to get the house straight."

"Yeah, you know I don't mind. My mama and daddy are here- in the guest house. Want me to call them?" Tia asked.

"I don't mind."

Tia was fixing to get up. "I got it, bubbly." DeVanté patted Tia's stomach with the back of his hands.

Tia smacked her lips and looked at him. "I wasn't taking a dump. I was showering. If I had been, it dang sure would've hit your nose when you came in to tell me she was here."

"No..." DeVanté shook his head. "Because the toilet room has a separate room than the rest of the bathroom, baby."

"Oh, my goodness." Tia slammed her back against the couch.

"It's true." I cosigned.

"Y'all are gangin' on me now?" Tia looked at the both of us, pretending to be angry.

"I'm not, but he's right," I told her.

"Ppffffffftttt. Both of you." She blew raspberries at us. See what I mean about Tia and Masir?

"Childish and why you mimicking yourself from earlier?" DeVanté asked Tia. "Hello, I just call to see if y'all wanted to come over here. Peanuthead-" He shook his head. "I mean, Ashari is here with the kids."

"He know what he doin'." I rolled my eyes at the nickname he gave me. "Mines may be shaped like a pumpkin, according to you. BUT yours looks like a watermelon that won a contest for being the biggest,"

DeVanté hung up the phone. "That's racist."

"Boy, what?" Tia squinted at him.

"She said my head look like watermelon because I'm black. Do you see the correlation? Black people liking watermelon?" He said to Tia.

"Goodbye, Donald!" Tia laughed. "You're forcing it."

"Right." I shook my head at him. "Unbelievable."

"Right?" Tia stood up.

"Wedgy in yo booty feeling tight!" DeVanté sang, looking at her booty. Tia walked away laughing, after handing him back the baby. "Look how she walkin' to get it out." DeVanté laughed watching her walk away and pointed.

"Y'all are hilarious." I laughed shaking my head.

"That's all her walking all stank." He chuckled and started playing with Asiri. "I want a daughter someday."

"Really?" I asked surprised.

"I do." He said making Asiri move her shoulders to make it seem like she was dancing and she was giggling up a storm.

"You can have her." I joked. "Nah, I love my kids," I said now being serious.

DeVanté laughed. "Nahh, I want my own."

"Y'all talked about kids?" I asked.

"Yeah, we have quite a few times. We on the same page." He replied with a nod.

"Aww, shit." I cheesed. "Y'all serious now, huh?"

"As much as we love to play, we BEEN serious about each other." He told me. "Even before we made it OFFICIAL official."

"Aww, all this love is making me sick." I said pretending to throw up.

He laughed. "Nahh, but I'm for real though." He told me.

"Usually men want a son," I said to him.

"Oh, I want a son too. For sho! I have a feeling that when we do have our first that it's gonna be a girl." He nodded.

"Speakin' into existence." I nodded impressed. I love them together.

"That's key and all I been doin' lately. Speaking EVERYTHING into existence and it always comes into play." He told me. "You should try it sometime."

The parents came in and greeted me and the kids. "Hey, y'all!" LaZardia said all cheerfully and hugged me then Masir. "Gimme my grandbaby!" LaZardia joked, grabbing Asiri from DeVanté.

"Now, Mrs, Z, you know she gon' cry with you." DeVanté played along.

Daryl dapped DeVanté up after he greeted and hugged me. "Wassup, son i-"

"Wassup," DeVanté replied, cutting him off.

"Since when did you start calling him son? It's usually a young man or something. This would be incest." Tia pointed between the two of them.

"Incest is sleeping with someone you related to. I thought you were still a virgin until marriage, Tia?" LaZardia asked Tia.

"I am, but- never mind." Tia gave up. "You just tellin' my business all out loud." Tis chuckled at her mother then looked at me.

"Ain't nothin' to be ashamed of. Besides the only person who ain't know is Ashari. At least I HOPE and ain't no givers or takers..." LaZardia hinted looking at DeVanté then back to her daughter. "My daughter ain't been lying all this time, has she?"

"Oh, well! I guess we'll never know." DeVanté exhaled out loudly while stretching his body. LaZardia gave him a look. "I'm joking. Relax Mrs. Z. Please." DeVanté held his hands out in defense.

"I knew too." I shrugged with a chuckle.

"I'm not lying about that." Tia defended with a slight roll of her eyes. Her mother didn't see that though.

"Okay! How was everyone's day!?" Tia yelled, changing the subject, and sat back down in her seat. "How did you eat? How did you sleep?"

"I slept wonderfully!" DeVanté replied, mocking her gleeful tone.

"You slept over here. That doesn't help y'all's case." Her mother pointed out.

"Honestly, I was just joking!" DeVanté defended himself once again.

"I know. She fuckin' wit' you like you do me, nigga." Daryl told him.

"We know I'm just playing. I know my daughter is innocent." LaZardia chuckled, looking directly at Tia as she spoke.

DeVanté chuckled, he and Tia glanced at each other but the parents were too busy playing with Asiri. Then DeVanté down at his lap with his eyebrows raised. I caught onto that little gesture. I guess she's not as innocent as we've been painting her to be. At least that's what I got from that. The parents are humorously embarrassing.

DeVanté cleared his throat. "What did I eat today?" DeVanté snapped his fingers. "Oh, I had-"

"A big breakfast and a homemade chicken sub for lunch, right?" Tia asked.

"Right. It- it was all good too." DeVanté quickly nodded. "I feel good too."

"You know, Tia. I definitely wouldn't have minded one of those BIG breakfasts or at least a sub. Me or your mother." Daryl told her. "I'm also not no damn fool on how y'all BOTH wanna change the subject, BUT I get it. We- Bird is embarrassing." Daryl crossed his arms.

"You too!" Tia spoke up, pointing to him. "THIS is just embarrassing to talk about with a room full of people."

"I agree."

"I only said ONE thing. The rest was ye mama." Daryl pointed at her. Masir pushed his sister's face pretty hard and she started crying. "Did you just push her face like that!?" Daryl looked at Masir. Masir started crying too.

"You don't do that!" LaZardia yelled at him.

"He wants some attention. He gets jealous that she's the center of it." I pointed at Masir.

"I know your daddy ain't here, but that doesn't mean you act a fool. You hear me?" Daryl asked him.

"Come on. Let's have a talk, lil man." DeVanté said to Masir then looked at me for clarification.

"Go ahead," I told him. "Good luck talking to that two-year-old."

DeVanté kissed Tia on the side of her mouth, stood up, scooped Masir up, sat him on one of his shoulders, and left the room. That little boy is really something. He had always been bad, BUT he did act better when Yasir and myself were together. I chose to ignore it at the time and let Yasir handle it. Now that he isn't around 24/7, I can no longer play that role. It's crazy how quickly things can change.

"You got a good one," I told Tia.

"Huh?" She asked in a daze. This woman was not paying attention.

"DeVanté?" I told her. "Girl, are you even paying attention to us?"

"Honestly, no..." Tia shook her head at me.

"Alright lil Ms. RUDE," Daryl told her with a scoff.

"I was being honest. What about him?" Tia asked.

"He's a good dude," Daryl repeated for me.

"I am well aware of that and am reminded every day." Tia smiled.

"Well, shut my mouth wide open!" Daryl spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Perfect match. A good woman with a good man. BECAUSE our daughter IS a good woman." Her mother added.

"Yeah, of course." Daryl and I agreed. "He reminds me of me except boney."

"Hey, don't come for him. My man has gained weight and we both been working out." Tia made it known.

"Yeah, but he still got mo' head than body. I tell him all the time TO his face." Daryl chuckled.

"And your second toe is bigger than your first one." Tia rose her eyebrows.

"I'm still yo daddy. Besides, I was in the war." He pointed to Tia.

"That ain't got shit to do with the war!" LaZardia laughed. "That second toe has always been bigger. Stop lyin'!"

Me, Tia, and DeVante just sat there out of breath from laughing so much.

"You supposed to be on my side." Daryl frowned at Bird.

"When you ain't on bullshit then I will." LaZardia smiled.

"Yes, mama!" Tia egged on. "Makin' excuses." She looked at Daryl with pursed lips.

"Right, it doesn't explain how both of your feet are like that. Look like he be tryna say fuck you with that second toe." LaZardia said laughing.

"Not it looking like a middle finger." Me and Tia said in sync laughing.

"A'ight, that's enough," Daryl said irritated.

"It's okay, daddy. We STILL love you no matter how ugly your toes look." Tia told him with sympathy.

"I love you too but cut it out." He told us.

"Alright, we heard you, husband." LaZardia shook her head.

"I hope y'all did, wife." He told her.

DeVanté came back into the room with a giggling Masir still on his shoulder. He put Masir down. Masir ran back to his grandma and hopped onto the couch.

"I sowwy, ganny." Masir poked out his bottom lip. "I sowwy sisser." He kissed a now quiet Asiri on the cheek and hugged her tightly.

"Awww." LaZardia cooed. "It's okay, but don't you do it again."

"K, ganny." Masir replied.

DeVanté sat back down next to Tia with his arm across the back of the couch. Tia scooted in with her neck against his shoulder. He smiled at her and she immediately smiled back. They're so cute together! Oh, my goodness. If my next relationship ain't like that, then I don't want it. I'm waiting for my next serious relationship just as she did. Why? To get to know me all over again and to find the right one.

That woman is a whole lot smarter than I was at that age. Shit, smarter than I am now and I'm in my thirties. I guess that's what happens when you're very observing and go through the shit she went through from a young age. Most would continue going down that bad road, and some people, very few like her learned from it. I admire my sister-in-law, even though her brother and myself never married.

"What?" DeVanté asked her.

"Nothing." She cheesed. "Masir, can you come to your TT?"

"Yes." He ran to her and jumped onto her lap.

"So, I think we've found where we want to move," LaZardia spoke up.

"Really?" Tia asked. "That's good, mama."

"Yeah, but it's still a long waiting list. It's hard to get into places since all that damage from the tornado happened. It's hard to get into a lot of places since everyone is looking for somewhere to live, ESPECIALLY in an area that doesn't get much bad weather action." Her mother replied.

"Where at?" Tia asked.

"They still fixing up that place, but the outside looks nice." Daryl spoke.

"Okay dad, but that still doesn't answer my question." Tia chuckled with raised eyebrows.

"Evidently, they ain't tryna tell you." DeVanté tilted his head at her.

"BITE me." Tia turned to him.

Daryl laughed, "Nahh, that ain't it. I honestly don't remember the exact location."

"Y'all know that I don't remember shit." Her mother replied.

"Oh, and Ashy?" DeVanté called out to me.

I looked at him. "You know that ain't my name."

"Well, them ankles of yours digress. I BET they ashy." He pointed.

I reached down to my legs and pulled up my pants leg, but only slightly. Everyone watched me silently as I did. I pulled down my sock. DeVanté let out a huge gasp of surprise.

"Oh, FUCK nahh!" Daryl burst out laughing, holding his stomach and so did everybody else.

Tia went the dramatic route and fell off the couch, onto her knees then completely on the floor in full-blown laughter and tears. I hurriedly pulled my sock back up, feeling completely embarrassed.

"HELLLLL NAWWWW!" DeVanté breathed out through his laughter.

"When Samuel L. Jackson talked about there being snakes on the plane, I'm POSITIVE he was referring to YOU!" Bird told me.

Tia stopped laughing for a while and held her chest to calm down. Then the cackling continued to where she started coughing. DeVanté patted her back and she got up off the floor and ran out the room, STILL laughing.

"Don't that itch?" Bird asked me laughing.

"She use that leg to scratch the other one!" DeVanté said laughing and pointing to me. "Baby, where you go?" He said to Tia.

Tia came back in here with a jar of vaseline. She opened it and rubbed it in her hands. "Girllll, this is illegal! This that white on black crime that got everybody talkin'!" Tia put her forehead at the bend of her arm cackling.

"Awww, po' you." Bird shook her tilted head at me in sympathy. "Alright, that's enough!" She told them, then started back laughing herself. "Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm through!" She waved her hand at me.

"I'm not sure lotion is strong enough for that." DeVanté shook his head.

Author's Note: I have a new book, it's posted on my profile. It's a DeVanté Swing Collection. It should look something like this:

Word Count: 7,530
Please don't forget to like the chapter and the ones to come if you enjoy this book. Also, feel free to leave a comment.

❤️Thanks for the support that you've been giving me. I'm very appreciative.❤️