Five years later...

"Mummy, I'm home!"

Angel smiled hearing her stepdaughter Ravyn call her the nickname she liked to call her sometimes. Ravyn only called her that to be funny. Angel had no problems playing stepmother, she knew her place. She was married to Hook, but she was not her mother.

Ravyn came into the living room where she was decorating the tree trying to get the star on top. Ravyn rushed over to her and stopped her.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Ravyn said, pulling her away. "I know you're tall, but you can't be doing that right now."

"What? It's nothing. Stop trying to be my mother, little girl."

"I'm just saying," Ravyn said with a shrug. "Where's dad? Who's all here? Where is AJ? I miss you guys." Ravyn squeezed her in a hug.

"Oh, when you're clingy, something is up?"

"I like coming home that's all."

Ravyn was now eighteen, a freshman in college. She was attending her alma mater Mizzou majoring in Business. Since she turned eighteen in July she had access to the trust fund she set up for her five years ago and could afford to go to any college of her choice. She chose Mizzou because Ravyn wanted to follow in Angel's footsteps, own her own business. When Ravyn was fifteen she started "interning" at Angel's store, mostly menial office tasks, but then she started to get into the business and liked the work. She worked there every summer till she went off to college.

Now it was Winter Break and Ravyn stayed with them. In fact, once Angel and Hook got serious again, the kids were with them more. Six months that Christmas weekend, they were full-on serious again. A year, Hook moved in with her. Therapy worked well for both and their relationship was better than ever.

Two years later she was pregnant with their son, Antione Lawrence Jr., or AJ. She knew he was the best thing that ever happened to her. She was in love with her son immediately. He was everything to her.

Hook proposed when AJ was three months old, and they had a small little ceremony six months after that.

"Your father should be coming home shortly with your sister. How was the drive from Columbia?"

"It's whatever. I need a new car. Buy me a new car, step mummy, I know that's what you got me for Christmas."

"Did I?" Angel said with a smile. She had. Well, Hook and her. Ravyn paid for her first car at sixteen from working at the store, but it was already an eight-year-old car so it was on its last legs. Good thing her father knew a thing or two about cars or it would not have made it that long. She deserved a new car. Ravyn was not the best in school, but she gave it her all and maintained Bs and Cs which was respectable.

The day after she graduated high school, she moved in with them permanently. She and her mother were in constant arguments once Ravyn hit about fifteen. They fought about everything, from her homework to after-school activities, boys, the clothes she wore, and many times, about wanting to stay with her father. Hook tried to be fair about things, not make Shareefa look bad, but it was horrible how she treated the girl, especially trying to get her to babysit her little brother on weekends she was to be with Hook. Many times Ravyn would have to bring her little brother with her on weekends.

It took two years of fighting for more custody before he got to get them over the whole summer break and most of Winter break and all of Spring break. The girls got along great with each other now, and as shocking as it seemed, they flipped on Angel. Ravyn was more lovey-dovey towards her, and now Symone was the angsty teen that wanted nothing to do with either of her parents, especially her stepmother.

Hook and Symone finally made it home, and Hook had several shopping bags. Symone, who had shaved one side of her hair clean off and dyed the rest dark purple, grumbled something at them and walked off.

"Uh, what's her problem?" Angel asked.

"Her mother told me she was smoking in her room."

"What? Wait, not that little princess," Ravyn laughed. "Dad, cigarettes?"

"Girl, no, weed," he said, hugging Ravyn. "She'll be all right, her mother grounded her and the grounding stays in effect while she's here."

"But it was just weed. Weed is from the earth dad, it's like...medicinal-"

"She's fifteen! Medicinal for what?"

"Daddy, I bet you smoked back in the day."

Hook cut his eyes toward Angel, while she simply looked away. He was not going to tell her he used to sell the stuff and he never got high on his own supply.

"So dad, Angel was trying to hurt herself, climbing on a ladder, putting the star on the tree. I stopped her."

"Babe," Hook said, rubbing her stomach. She was now five months pregnant with their second child. A girl this time. "You could just wait for me, but yes, still hard-headed."

"I'm fine!"

"I didn't say what you look like," Hook said, kissing her.

"Oh my God! You two are so corny!" Ravyn walked off to look at what was in the bags. "Dad, what did you buy me?"

"Get out the bags!"

"Doesn't look like a car fits in any of these bags."

"Car? Girl, what are you talking about?" Hook said, with a wink at Angel. He took the star from Angel and put it on the top of the tree.

Since they were not going to let her do anything and treat her as if she could not do a simple chore, she went to AJ's room. Her little man was not taking his lap like he was supposed to, he was on his tablet playing a game. She wanted to put a lock on the tablet, Hook wanted him to have access to it anytime he wanted. The boy stayed glued to it every chance he could get and he was two and half years old.

"Momma!" He held up his tablet to her showing the game he was playing.

"Da-Da, Ray-Ray and Mo are here."

He dropped the tablet and then scooted off his toddler bed. Okay, Hook and his sisters were the only things that made him toss his tablet to the side. AJ was the spitting image of Hook so he sure was a cutie. Dimples, the eyes with the long eyelashes, his complexion, even his smile. Her little man was going to be a lady-killer.

He reached his arms up wanting to be picked up, but if Hook or Ravyn saw her carrying that big boy she would not hear the end of it.

"I can't pick my boo up right now, you know mommy is carrying baby sister," she said, rubbing her stomach. "Come on, walk like a big boy."

Walk? This little boy only knew two speeds. Stop and go fast. He ran out of the room screaming "Da-da!" and she shook her head at him and grabbed his tablet he would surely look for soon. AJ may look like a replica of Hook, but he was Symone through and through with that energy.

They made it back to the living room just as the doorbell rang.

"Better be the man with my gift!" Ravyn said, picking up AJ. "Hey bro bro."

"How's my lil man doing?" Hook gave AJ a fist bump as Angel headed toward the door, but Hook stopped her.

"Go sit down babe, I bet you've been busy all day with work and getting the house ready. Sit down, kick up your feet and relax. I got this."

She smiled, wanting to say something smart-aleck to him, but obeyed her man. She sat on the sofa surrounded by Christmas decor and went back to picking through her ornaments.

Hook opened the door to see his in-laws, Shay, Elmer, Dahlia, EJ, and their youngest Dominique, who was four. After their holiday vacation five years ago, Shay came back pregnant with their third. He knew that is what pushed Angel to want a baby more. He was thankful for that, so Dominique was always his favorite.

He grabbed her up in a big hug, kissing her cheek. "How's my favorite niece?"

"Uncle Hook!" Dahlia shouted out. "That's rude!"

"Hook, you spoil her, put her down," Shay said, walking inside.

"What did you buy me?" Dominique asked.

"Everything you asked for...and some other things."

"Hook, you can't just buy her more things and not the other..." Elmer went on, carrying bags of gifts. Christmas was still three days away, but they all were having a family gathering and decorating the tree.

"Can't tell me what to do for my girl," Hook said, kissing her cheek again. "Want to help me in the kitchen again?"

"Yes!"

There was nothing like having a full house of family. His family. His aunt and uncle were even coming over. His cousin Zo had moved in with the girl he met five years ago and was spending time with her family.

"We make cake?" Dominique asked.

"Now what's my girl's favorite cake?"

Before she could even answer, he uncovered the cake to show a strawberry shortcake he made yesterday just for her.

"Strawberry!" she screamed in delight jumping up and down.

He sat her on the counter. "Come on, I need someone to help me eat this and tell me it's good."

He gave her a spoon and they dug right into it. He knew if Shay came in and caught them, or Angel, they would fuss at him for having a four-year-old eat sweets before dinner. He would worry about them if they got caught. He knew Angel was not coming into the kitchen. Though she could cook now, the kitchen was his domain. She may not burn things or cook things beyond recognition, but he still was the better cook and loved doing it. Especially for his family.

He could not wait for his new baby girl to come. How blessed was he that he would have four kids? He never imagined having a family with a woman he truly loved. Angel was more than he ever could dream of.

Once he decided he wanted her in his life, he knew he had to get himself better. Reluctantly, he went to therapy. He did not tell his family or friends that he was, he knew he had to do it first and see if it helped. In a matter of weeks, he felt less stressed about life and his financial situation. He truly opened up to Angel about his business and how much money he made.

Angel never missed a beat about it, she did what she did best. Promote his business on all social media and all the women that loved her, spread the love, and swarmed his place. At first, the women were pretty thirsty. While waiting to get their cars fixed, they would flirt with him. These so-called friends of Angel's would backstab her in a minute.

He told Angel about each and every one of them, but she was not worried.

"You're a hot, sexy guy...I mean, I'm not mad at them for shooting their shot," she would say. "And they are not my friends, they are my followers."

Then pleased with their car service, the women would tell their men and friends and the word spread like gangbusters. In six months, his business doubled. With Elmer still working on his financials, revenue tripled and all his employees received nice bonuses and raises. Marvin became full-time and he hired two more workers and expanded his business hours.

After two years, he opened a second location near Central West End with Marvin as a manager.

He owed it all to his wife, the best thing in his life, besides his children. Angel never made him feel like less of a man because she made more money. They combined their income and did not have his and her accounts. They were able to take family vacations, buy nice things, continue to update the house, and build a nice retirement, though he was so far from that at only thirty-three. They were growing a nice nest egg.

Angel decided against a second location for her store, though it was going well, she focused her extra time on their family. One day when their kids were older maybe she would open another location.

"Okay, I think that is enough for now," he said to Dominique, taking her spoon after she had a few bites.

"Aaaw!" The girl had cake smeared all over her cheeks like she didn't know where her mouth was when she was feeding herself. He grabbed a towel, wet it and cleaned her face.

"No more till everyone gets to have some. Come on, let's make dinner."

He busied himself making three different flavors of party wings. Some he deep-fried, some air-fried, and the last batch was baked. He also made buffalo cauliflower wings because his little Princess Symone was trying out a vegetarian lifestyle. He made two versions of lasagna, meat and veggie. Angel already had a fruit tray with yogurt dip and a charcuterie tray prepared he set that out for everyone to eat while he was busy in the kitchen.

He made lots of garlic bread, green beans, and a huge chopped salad. He did not go overkill as his aunt would, and of course, she would complain about that. Christmas was three days away, this would be plenty of food left over till he prepared that meal.

Dominique got bored helping and ran off to play with the kids. His aunt and uncle made it and she immediately made her way into the kitchen with him trying to help.

"Ma, this is my house my kitchen, you go in there and relax with the family."

"You know Angel hates me," she scoffed.

"Ang loves you ma, you're the one still not trying to get to know her."

"I like her just fine. She's given me two more grandbabies and look what she's done for you. Have you out here living all fancy."

One of the things he did with his extra money was help his aunt out a lot. He paid to get her house updated with a new ceiling, flooring, and a state-of-the-art kitchen. At first, she hated the idea, not wanting a "hand-out" she called, it, but he considered it payback for her taking care of him when she did not have to. Through his therapy, he realized his aunt held a lot of guilt over what happened to his parents. She knew her brother was abusing his mother but did nothing.

Once he talked to her about that, she released a lot of pent-up anger and guilt. She still was the same say-whatever-she-wanted auntie, but she softened a lot with Angel. She knew he loved her and all she wanted was for him to be happy.

But the two still never got along.

His aunt got along better with Angel's mother and father than with Angel. She had a respect level for them because they were older and neither one of them was down for the bullshit.

Once everything was prepared, he set it out for everyone to serve themselves. He went to see what everyone was doing. Eddie and Clarissa were there, helping the kids hang up Christmas stockings everyone would stuff with little gift items. Jared and Marvin sat gossiping and laughing with Angel. Even Symone came out of hiding and was smiling and getting along with everyone. She too knew not to mess with the wrath that was Mrs. Hamilton.

"There's my handsome son-in-law!" Clarissa gave him a big hug. "Angel keeps you locked in the kitchen like you're the help, not her husband."

"Come on, you know I like being in the kitchen." He gave her cheek a peck. "I even made you a peach cobbler, so no more criticizing."

"I like when you man up," she said with that smirk of hers. "My daughter is so very lucky."

"Mom! Are you harassing my husband?"

"No dear, but keep him satisfied, he's a good one."

Angel groaned in embarrassment, and he blushed because Clarissa had no filter that she found him attractive. Even Eddie knew. Not that she would ever over-step her boundaries, because as she said, there was no harm in finding other men attractive. Kept her marriage alive she said.

"Mom, I'm never letting him go," Angel kissed him, and he hungered for her and wanted more, but with guests around them, he pulled away from her sweet kisses.

"Babe, later tonight," he said and whispered in her ear. "I'm making love to you until you scream."

The sex had always been on ten since day one, but once they worked out their issues, it became even better. He did not know how it was possible nor could he explain it, but he desired her more, he wanted to please her more, and he wanted her more. He felt like a sappy romance book or movie. He was a goner when it came to Angel formerly-Hamilton-now Lawrence.

He didn't have an issue with her keeping her maiden name, so he was rather shocked she took his last name. She never did with Matthew. When he asked why she did not, she simply shrugged and said, "I never felt the need to."

After the tree was decorated, the stockings hung and everyone ready to eat, there was a knock on the door.

Everyone was there who was supposed to be there. He went to get the door, it was his man Davion with his youngest, Drake.

"I heard the party was here!"

"What's up, my man!" He grabbed Davion in a bear hug.

Davion was a whole different person than he was five years ago. That seventh baby had him a goner and wanting to do better. He did not immediately get out of the drug game, but Hook promised him a job if he went to school and studied car mechanics like him. He finally enrolled in Ranken and did surprisingly well. He started work at the second location.

And no more babies. He was taking care of the ones he had and was still with the stripper, Erica, who changed from the stripper pole and got behind the bar at the club as a bartender. She said she wanted to own her own club, and he never knocked anyone's dream.

"Come on in dude, Angel would love that you're here."

"Her people ain't gonna spaz when they see a thug like me?"

"They like this thug, so you'll be fine."

"You were never a thug cuz you slanged a little and went to the pokey man. You were a fucked up kid, with a fucked up childhood, that was always looking for a way out. You found it and I ain't mad at ya."

"You know you shoulda became a therapist instead of a mechanic, always up in somebody's head."

He had no fear that Davion would get along fine with his in-laws. Davion may be a lot of things, but he was a friendly, outgoing guy. He would fit in just fine.

"Hey, Uncle Davion!" Symone rushed over to hug him.

Davion went around to introduce himself, and Drake went to play on the tablet with AJ and Dominique. Full house and he loved it.

"My man is still the best cook ever," Angel snapped pictures of all the food as everyone made their plates.

"Woman! Go have a seat, I'll bring you your food."

"Mom, you're right, I like it when he man's up!"

Everyone enjoyed themselves, the food and the company. It was a long night but worth it. After everyone left, the girls went off to their rooms. AJ was exhausted and he tucked him into his bed. His in-laws were staying in the converted garage that was now a cottage house that was nicer and bigger than the apartment that he once lived in. Though it was a five-bedroom house, the fifth room was now the new nursery.

He was wiped out himself after cleaning and putting all the food away. He used to hate the cleaning part of things, but he didn't mind it long as it kept Angel off her feet. She was thirty-nine after all, he constantly worried about her and the baby.

He showered and made his way to the bed where Angel lay reading a book. He smiled and snuggled close to her.

"Thank you."

"For?"

"For breaking down your car on the side of the road and letting this little tow truck guy take you home. Giving me a chance. Making me fall in love with you. I don't want a life without you."

"Mr. Sensitivity, that's why I love you." She kissed his nose as she rubbed his bare chest. "You're the best man I could ever hope for."

Angel traced her fingers over the angel tatted over his heart with her name under it. Also, the names Antione Jr. and Antionette for their new baby girl were tatted below Ravyn and Symone. He always said if he tatted a name on his body it was for life.

"You too tired for the bow chicka bow wow?"

Angel laughed. "And so now we're calling it that?"

Hook lay back on the bed. "Come on girl, get on top, do what you do."

Making love with her sexy husband was her favorite pastime. She would do it anywhere, anyhow, being pregnant never stopped them. She was happy she would grow old with the man that didn't give up on her.

He didn't just hook an angel...she was hooked for life.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the bonus chapter. I wanted to make it as happily ever after as I could.

And guys! I just came up with an idea for a spin-off of sorts. I actually had this idea for years and outlined it but never wrote it. Writing this chapter something clicked. Davion and Erica! Well, they will be part of it but not the main characters.

Don't forget my other bonus chapter! 😈

XOXO
Kimberly