3 months later...

Mariana was hastily finishing up the story that she was working on. Her fingers were like lighting striking the keyboard. She wanted to be out of there because Micah's restaurant was now completed and she wanted to be there for the painting.

"And... done!" She saved the last sentence and then sent it off to the editor. She then logged out and clutched her bag, sighing happily that she could finally leave.

"Gotta go, gotta go," she said to herself excitedly as she rushed out of the building and into her car. She flung her bag into the backseat and did her lipstick in the mirror, even though she was going to straight home after painting, but she felt confident with that deep shade of red across her lips.

When she drove there, she parked right in front and gasped at it when she got out.

"My baby's restaurant is completed!" She shouted for all to hear. "It looks beautiful!"

Micah was on the ladder, doing the banner, with the kiddies at the bottom. He heard her shout and turned his head round.

"Hey Mariana!"

"Hello my sweetheart!" She blew multiple kisses from her lips and allowed them to flutter out like butterfly wings. She then got an apron from the side and fastened it around. She eagerly grabbed the paints to get started.

"Hello my little angels." She went to her kids and caressed their face before giving them a little kiss. They were both wearing overalls which had some paint splotches.

"Hi Mommy!" Elisa squeaked.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Paint with daddy!" Axel exclaimed through his pacifier.

"Aw, are you enjoying that?"

"Yeah! We made flour," Axel said and pointed to their flower decorations.

"They look so nice, you guys are doing an brilliant job."

"Thanks Mommy." Elisa smiled broadly.

Mariana left them to do their own thing and painted the sides. She was so happy to be doing this with Micah and their family.

"How was work Mariana?" Micah asked.

"It was good, nothing that special happened."

"Are you sure your not too tired?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Mariana said reassuringly.

"Okay, let me know if you get tired."

They continued painting until Crystal and Mylah arrived with some bags. She placed them down and bound her hair back into a low ponytail.

"Hi everyone," Crystal said.

"Hi mom!" Micah slide down and went to hug her. "What are you doing here?" He was surprised to see her so early, as he wasn't expecting her to later in the evening.

"To congratulate you of course," she said and brought out some plant vases from the bag, "and help out anyway we can."

"It looks really nice Micah. I can't believe it's actually completed," Mylah said, gazing at it.

"Thanks Mylah." He wrapped his arm around his little sister and hugged her tightly for its been a long time since he had last seen her. "And thanks mom for coming." He smiled and gratefully took the bags. It felt so nice to have the support of his family.

Well most, but it came from the ones that mattered.

"When's it going to open?" Mylah asked as she walked around the entrance with her mini backpack.

"After we come back from DisneyWorld," he replied. He and Mariana were finally going with the rest of their friends as they now had enough money.

"Oh right, that's tomorrow isn't it?" Crystal asked.

"Yeah, we finally got enough money."

"And we are going with a couple of our friends!" Mariana said.

"Oh that sounds like fun, I hope you enjoy your time there."

"Thanks mom." Micah smiled and got back to his work.

Crystal and Mylah also helped and a jet car drove by and parked on the same street as theirs. Someone got out and opened the door as Makayla stepped out with a box in her hand. She swished her braids out of her face and dusted herself off.

Mariana noticed her and her whole face brightened like the sun on a tropical day as she dropped the paint. "Makayla!"

"Hey..." Makayla replied softly and walked towards them.

"I've missed you!" She zoomed towards her and engulfed her in a hug. Her intoxicating perfume wavered around her as Mariana squeezed her plump figure tightly.

"I've missed you too, but you're choking me!" Makayla said as she tried prying her squeezing arms off.

"Oh sorry." Mariana immediately let go and let her gather herself from the embrace.

"It's alright."

"How are you? You're looking so good!" Mariana said as she admired her outfit. She was wearing a sparkly gold pencil skirt that showed off her curves, a skin-tight sweater, her dark face glowed and her lips shined with lip gloss.

"Thanks! Your looking good yourself! I love that shade of lipstick." Makayla held her at arms length with a huge smile that gleamed across her face.

"Thank you! I can show you the store that I got it at."

"Okay! But first I got to give this to Micah," Makayla said and then passed to go hug Micah and give him his present.

Meanwhile, Mariana was done with her side and wiped the sweat off her face. It was hard work but she didn't mind, anything to make her baby happy and to support him in any way.

She then looked across the street and noticed a store that might sell something useful.

"Hey Elisa and Axel, do you want to do something fun?" She called down to them.

"Yeah!" Elisa instantly dropped the paint brush.

"Okay then come! Let's go get daddy something!" Mariana grabbed both of them and slung them under her arm. They squealed as she went off bouncing.

"Makayla, do you want to go shopping with me? Like old times?" She shouted back.

"Okay, coming!" Makayla also dropped her things and speed-walked after her in her black high heels.

They entered into a store, and Mariana got a shopping cart. She placed her babies inside and they began walking through the aisles.

"So, how has work been?" Mariana asked.

"Good! I love turning up to work looking fabulous every day, and getting to design new clothes," Makayla said proudly and twirled around a little to show off her outfit. "I remember when I had to beg my mom to let me have her company because she was nervous, but here I am and I have no regrets." She smirked.

"That sounds so exciting, I kind of want a design now."

"Okay honey, let me measure you first and then I will think about it."

"Thanks! Your mom already made my wedding dress, but now I just want a regular one."

"Yeah, I remember that, that dress was beautiful," Makayla said but then suddenly stared at her, and bluntly asked, "so how much are you going to pay me?"

"Um... can I not get it for free? I mean, we're family so..." Mariana awkwardly fidgeted with her fingers.

"I know, I was only joking," Makayla said and started laughing. "Of course it's free."

"Oh good, I got worried for a sec." Mariana let out a sigh of relief.

"Anyway, how is my niece and nephew?" Makayla directed her attention towards them.

"We good Tìa!" Elisa responded.

"We help daddy!" Axel exclaimed.

"Aw you two are such good kids, I got something for you." She reached into her bag and then pulled out a packet or bracelets and a small bouncy ball.

"Thank you!" They said in unison and accepted the gifts.

"Thank you Makayla," Mariana said.

"No problem, so what are we going to get?" She rubbed her hands together while looking at the shelves.

"Hm, not sure... something that will give him a good start." Mariana continued looking as Elisa and Axel playfully hit each other.

She continued looking until something captured her eye.

"Perfect!" Mariana said and rushed towards it. She brought multiples and then packed it into the bag.

Once the restaurant was done, they all stood outside, holding each other and admiring it. It had a cover hung above the sleek black entrance. There were inviting lights outside that each had a small plant guarding it. It had a brick-like structure that had top like a tower.

Micah had the key in his hand and twirled it slowly. He was suddenly nervous of opening the door and seeing inside.

"Go on Micah. I'm right beside you," Mariana assured him and squeezed his hand.

Micah then smiled at her and unlocked it while still holding onto her. He pushed the door open, and a gust of wind flew in, blowing away the dust. Everyone coughed but all the women in his family leaned over his shoulder.

Inside, the walls were glazed with red, with stained glass windows printed onto them. The light from the sun shone through like heavenly light, elevating the beauty of the coffee tables that glowed like warm chocolate. He thought that the plant vases his mom brought would go perfect on them. There were circular lights that whirled their way around, with tiny lights that looked like candles.

"I'm in love with those lights," Makayla said.

"I agree, and the stain glass windows," Mylah said.

"I think everywhere looks beautiful," Crystal said, "Micah, you've done very well."

"Yeah he has," Mariana said proudly and turned to pat him on the shoulder. "Well done Micah, you did it."

"Thanks my Mariana." he said and pulled her close together. He bent down and kissed her on the lips before closing the door.

It was then called:

'The House Of Flavors.'

****

Back at home, Mariana was attempting to do cornrows on Elisa's hair for the first time. Since this was their first time going to DisneyWorld, she wanted to do something special so she wanted to try a bun.

She was sat on the floor, with Elisa in her lap, holding the phone with a video tutorial. She still had the three hair parts in her hand as she tried intertwining them but failed for the millionth time.

"Mommy, can I get up?" Elisa whined and leaned forwards as she fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Okay, you can have a little break." Mariana let her go to play around, and she took the phone. She kept zooming in to see where she was going wrong and it was mainly picking up more hair and braiding close to the scalp.

"Mama." Axel's shadow covered the phone as he stood in front with something in his hand.

"Yes my baby? Are you okay?" She looked up in wiry but he seemed fine as he was sucking his thumb.

"Yeah, looka tis!" He suddenly showed her a Lego piece that looked like a house with a family outside on the lawn.

"It looks really good! Did you do that yourself?"

"Yeah! Daddy help."

"You did an amazing job my baby love." She scrunched his cheek, making him giggle and fall onto her lap. She tickled his chin lightly and continued watching the video.

"Okay, I think I got it." She then called Elisa back to come sit down. She shuffled Axel, so he was on her knee and gave Elisa back the phone.

"Elisa, can you do mommy a favor and hold the phone high up please?"

"Okay!" Elisa raised up the device like it was Simba.

"Thanks honey." She got her three hairs again and then slowly went in tune with the woman's hands. What had felt like an eternity, was finally coming to fruition as she was getting the hang of it.

"Oh I'm actually doing it!" Mariana and her feet fidgeted in excitement. The rows started to form down Elisa's small head, even though they were slightly irregular in size.

But Elisa started moving and even tried getting up but Mariana held her down.

"Elisa, so now I've finally gotten into the rhythm and you want to run away? You're not going anywhere." Mariana kept her with her legs and tried going a little faster so she can be finished on time before Micah's family comes over for a little celebration.

"It hurt and uncomfable!" Elisa whined and started crying.

"Aw I'm sorry my baby. We will soon be done. How about we do some affirmations? Would that make you feel better?"

"Okay," Elisa mumbled and tried to sit but squirmed and some tears still trickled out.

"Okay so, I am brave."

"I'm bave."

"I am helpful."

"I'm helpful."

"I love my hair." Mariana started giggling because Elisa started grumbling and she knew the poor wall ahead of them was getting a death glare.

"Love my hair." Elisa crossed her arms.

"That's good, I love your hair too," Mariana said. She was relieved that Elisa listened to what she said.

"I love everything about you," Mariana said, "because your my flawless little girl."

"Flaless," Elisa started giggling.

"Flawless, flawless," Mariana started singing as she started a new row. "Flawless nose, flawless lips, flawless hair." Her fingers ran all over the things she mentioned on Elisa, who giggled and blushed heavily while hiding her face.

"Again!" She squealed.

"She's flawless!" Mariana exclaimed and stretched the parted hair down her face.

"No all over!"

Mariana did it again and squished her head like it was a pancake as she continued giggling and blushing. She then grabbed the phone and played the clean version of Flawless by Beyoncé, so they can jam to it.

This diamond, flawless.
My diamond, flawless.

"My special diamond." Mariana smothered her cheek with a big kiss as Elisa started calming down and bobbed her head to it. She seemed happier which made Mariana sigh in relief.

When she finished the last row. She then did a chef's kiss while saying, "bambina bellissima." (beautiful little girl).

She then tied it into a bun and wrapped it up like a flower. She adorned it with golden leaves that dangled like pearls before getting out her phone. She held it up like a mirror. "What do you think Elisa?"

"Love it! Thanks Mommy!" She started jumping around and glazing her hand over her cornrows.

"I'm glad to hear that." She smiled and rubbed her fingers. They were now sore but it was worth every effort to see her baby so happy.

"Daddy see my hair!" Elisa shouted and ran off to find Micah.

Mariana laughed and then got Axel to sit upright. "Now it's your turn my little prince."

"What doing?" Axel asked as he stuck out his pacifier and drool slipped down his shirt.

"I'm going doing the same thing on your hair like I did on Elisa's just in a different style," she explained, and combed out his hair with conditioner. She did cornrows around his head in a star shape, and also said some affirmations to him.

When she was finished, Micah's family had arrived, and they had a little party in the living room.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I honestly enjoyed writing this so much it brought tears to my eyes lol. These toddlers r gonna grow up with so much self-confidence.🥲❤️❤️

Mariana is Micah's #1 supporter 🥰‼️and her kids biggest hype girl hehe.💜💜