QUINTON JACKSON-Tough Breaks Playa

It was Thanksgiving and all the Jacksons usually got together as a family. He did not feel they had much to be thankful about. Plus now, there was even more drama.

The day before, he was trying to leave his office early when Monica stopped by. He had not said a word to her since their last argument. He thought it was all over and done with till she dropped a bomb.

"I'm pregnant."

He stared at her like she had two heads.

"What the fuck does that have to do with me?"

"It's yours."

"How the fuck can it be mine when we only fucked one time and I wore a condom?"

"Are you dumb? You know that ain't a hundred percent."

"I know you have a man you are probably fucking every night, why the hell would I think it's mine?"

"Because it is. Devon was out of town at that time and we weren't getting busy anyway. He was tripping. So I know it's yours."

"Bitch, you got me all fucked up."

"Bitch? I wasn't a bitch when you had me across your desk. Fucking pig! It's your baby and you're going to take care of it," she said and stormed out of the office.

Instead of going home, he went to see Sasha. She never liked him coming over to her house for their rendezvous, but to hell with that, he needed her.

She did not put up much of a fight. They were undressed and in his brother's bed within minutes. The sex was good, but he just wanted to talk. He lay in his brother's bed, naked, with his wife, and held her in his arms.

"Sasha, I'm going to tell Antonio about us."

Sasha was cuddled against his chest, but she moved away. "No way!"

"I can't keep doing this to him."

"I'm not leaving Antonio for you, so give it up."

"Why not?" He kissed over her neck and rubbed her inner thigh. "You don't love me, baby?"

"It's just sex Q."

"Great sex. Sex my brother ain't giving you."

Sasha tried to pull away from him, but he held her tighter. "He does, it's just...different."

"We're better together, you know it!" He pulled her close and kissed her soft lips. He admitted to himself, that this was more than sex, he cared for Sasha. "I want to take care of you. I want to make you my wife."

He had never said that to a woman.

"You can't be serious Q!"

"I am. Sasha, please marry me. I need you."

Sasha pried herself from his arms and jumped from the bed.

"No! No, and it's over Q. I mean it. I love my husband. This is so wrong. He'll hate me if he ever found out about us. He'll hate you. Don't ruin our lives, Quinton. Let me go."

He could not, but he would try. He dressed and headed home to his lonely place.

So, hanging with his family on Thanksgiving was not joyous for him. His brother whom he cared about, he was also jealous of. His brother's wife, who he wanted for himself, loved his brother. His sister, sleeping with the enemy. His only nephew, the son of the man he hated. His three nieces he rarely saw, thanks to a bitch of a sister-in-law he still held a grudge to.

No one ever loved him.

Poor, poor Quinton.

ANTONIO JACKSON-A New Addition to the Family?

He wanted his girls for Thanksgiving, but Tamara was being a bitch as usual.

"They rarely spend holidays with my family because you seem to think your family is so special and they have been spending them with you."

"Let me see my girls! I only get them every other weekend as is. What kind of father is that?"

"A father that married that slutty whore."

"Tammy, I will not argue with you today. Bring my girls over or I'm coming to get them."

She hung up on him.

Antonio flung the phone across the room just as Sasha walked in, nearly hitting her. She gasped.

"Sorry."

"I take it the girls won't spend the day with us."

"No."

"Well, who's all coming?"

"I can't get ahold of Q. Fuck knows with Donna. She said Tony and her were having Ethan over and if he wasn't invited as well, they would not be coming."

"Screw that!"

"Exactly. So it's just us babe."

"That's fine by me sweetie," she smiled at him. "Guess what? I have awesome news."

"What?"

"I'm pregnant!"

DONNA JACKSON-Time to Be Thankful

"God I love you, woman!" Ethan said after he kissed her.

"You clean up nice," she said, rubbing across his chest, dusting off imaginary dust.

"I don't know why I get dressed up when I just want to be naked with you."

"Stop it!"

"I do," he said, kissing her neck.

"Okay, ew!" Tony said, walking into the room.

"Hey son," Ethan said, giving him a fist bump. "And I can't keep my hands off your mom. We have lost time to make up."

He kissed Donna again.

"Can you please try, for me...and I invited a friend over."

"A friend?" Ethan asked.

"His girlfriend," Donna said with a smile.

"She's not my girlfriend! She's just a friend I like. Her parents have a business function so I invited her over for Thanksgiving with us."

"Her parents have a business function on Thanksgiving?" Ethan asked. "What kind of-"

"Mayor Marie," Tony added.

That caught Ethan's attention. "She's Rodney Marie's daughter?"

"Yes."

"Good job, son," Ethan said with a grin holding out his fist for another pound.

Donna rolled her eyes. "What does that mean? You two are a mess."

The doorbell rang and Tony rushed toward it.

"Hi Tony," Ciara said.

"Come on in CiCi, it's cold out there," Tony said. "Let me get your jacket."

Donna eyed the girl up and down. She was very pretty, no denying that. She knew of her father, of course, she'd voted for him and even contributed to his campaign. It was her mother she did not care much for. She wondered if this girl was anything like her.

"Come on, meet my mom and dad." Tony took her hand and pulled her into the room. "Ciara, this is my mom, Donna Jackson, and my father, Ethan Van Russell."

"Hello," Ciara said to Donna, then turned her attention to Ethan. "Mr. Van Russell, I heard so much about you."

Yep, she was exactly like her mother.

ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-Thankful for New Relationships

"I hope good things," Ethan said, pouring himself a glass of wine. He poured another for Donna. He walked to her and gave her the glass.

"Oh, your brother is my father's biggest supporter. We couldn't have won without the backing of Van Russells."

"Is that so," he said. "Well, tell your father to continue the good work he does in Midtown and we will continue to support. Are you kids thirsty? Tony, why don't you get your date some of the sparkling cider."

He sipped his wine. At Tony's age, he was already hitting the hard stuff but he knew Donna did not allow him to drink alcohol.

"Actually, I'll have a glass of wine, if it's okay," Ciara said. "My parents say, they can drink young in Paris, why can't I. When we vacation there, I can drink whatever I want."

Ethan grinned. He liked her. His son had taste. "Donna and I were just in Paris. last week."

"Well, Tony is only eighteen and not allowed to drink," Donna said.

"Oh honey, loosen up, it's the holiday," Ethan said. He poured the kids a glass of wine. Donna cut her eyes at him and he winked at her. "Let's toast."

He took Donna's hand and pulled it to his lips.

"To new beginnings, and to family," he said looking at his son. "To friends and new relationships. Cheers."

"Cheers!" Tony said and drank his wine.

"Cheers," Ciara gushed and took a sip.

Only Donna gulped hers down in one swig

MARTY VAN RUSSELL-Give Thanks to Family

The Van Russell estates were bustling with activity. Everyone was gathered for the feast around the table. Even his father was in town and made it a point to say grace.

"Dear Lord, we come together once again with our family to give thanks. Thanks for all the blessings you have bestowed on our family. The many, many friends and other family members who could not be here. Bless them father, and hope that they receive their blessings as well. Bless the food delivered by very humbled hands, and bless them with a bounty as well. In his name, Amen."

"Amen," they all said.

Marty grabbed his wine glass and motioned for the server to fill it. His wife was already on her third glass, but the fourth would put her over.

"I'm so hungry!" Chrissy said, diving into her plate.

"Hey, where's Uncle E?" Elayne asked.

"Dad's off with his new son," Ejay grunted, stuffing food in his mouth.

"Now Ejay, it's okay to still be in shock of this, but he is your father and he is trying to do the right thing," Doreen said.

"The right thing?" Marty asked. "He doesn't know what the right thing is if it slapped him in the face."

"I agree with Marty," Jennifer said with a slur. "This fling with this woman won't last any longer than any other fling he has."

"I think you're wrong," Chrissy said. "Dad really cares for Donna."

"And he cares a lot more about Tony than he does us," Ejay said.

"Stop it! All of you," Doreen said. "This is not a subject of discussion at the dinner table. This is Ethan's life to live, not any of yours."

"I keep hearing about this kid...with Donna Jackson, but when do I get to meet him?" Martin Sr. asked.

"Father, it's best you don't."

"Why not?"

"Just because Ethan couldn't..." Marty looked over at the kids. "Control himself, doesn't mean we pay for his mistakes."

"Mistake? Tony's not a mistake," Chrissy said.

"Well..." Elayne stated.

"Granddaddy, Tony's a nice guy. It's not his fault what happened. You have to accept him just like you accept any of your grandchildren."

"Chrissy's right, dear," Doreen said.

"I never said I would not accept him," Martin said. "I just said, I want to meet him."

ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-Give Thanks to Family Part II

"My father wants to meet Tony." Ethan got off the phone with his father and was shocked at his request. He had not told his father about Tony and Donna because he knew the word would get out without him.

He was still at Donna's place, helping her clear away dishes after dinner.

"What?" Donna said, dropping a plate she was holding and it shattered into pieces.

"Hey, it's okay."

Tony and Ciara rushed into the room.

"What's wrong?"

"How about we all head to the Van Russell Estates for dessert?" Ethan said.

"Ummm, cool," Ciara said.

"Mom, is that cool with you?"

"Uh, sure, I guess."

Ethan squeezed her shoulders and kissed her temple. "It's going to be fine."

Hey readers!
Monica...Sasha...pregnant. I mean, we all saw that coming, right?

And Tony gets to meet his grandfather. Will the two families ever come together on this?

XOXO
Kimberly