Rick's P.O.V

"Man, that was a close game!" Officer Gates sighed.

"Indeed." I chuckled faintly.

He stood up and grabbed his belongings behind him and fist bumped me softly.

"Alright Grimes, you have a good afternoon!"
And with that, Gates straightened his holster and swept out the door.

It's just me now, until Officer Jonwick comes in at 8.
I was supposed to be off of work earlier today at 5 but I just thought I'd work some over time.. I have nothing better to do.

Ah. Boredom strikes.

I tried my hardest to focus back on the football game that was playing on the huge flat screen TV we had against the wall, but I couldn't seem to concentrate.

So instead, I scribbled a bunch of tiny marvel heroes all over a sticky pad as I waited for someone, anyone, to walk through the doors asking for my help.

Abruptly, the door pushed open and the bell sure did scare me from my thoughts. I looked up alarmingly to find Ron and Carl tumbling into the station, nearly toppling onto each other.

Ah, I wish I still had a bestfriend.

"They say stay in your lane boy!" Carl sung, pretending to play the guitar as he approached the desk.

Ron beat boxed the sound of drums with his mouth, and the tune was familiar.. I think it's the band Carl almost killed me over.

Yeah, once, he was in his room jamming to some song where they said "Lean with it rock with it, when we gonna stop with it, lyrics that mean nothing we were gifted with thought," and so on, over and over.
I politely asked him if the singer was Eminem and he chucked a pillow at me and screamed "IT'S TWENTY ONE."

I still don't know what that means, though.

"Carl please be quiet, there are officers in the back working." I scolded

He finally stopped singing and cued Ron to stop beat boxing, to which he scoffed and hopped upon the counter.

"Suh dude?" Ron exclaimed

"Working obviously."

He nodded and began fiddling with the sticky note I was drawing on.

"I am digging your Wolverine, who's your favorite?" he asked

"Hm, definitely Spiderman." I answered

I'm not really a fan of Marvel, I'm a DC guy, being cause my favorite hero is Batman, but Marvel superheroes sure do have amazing costumes.

"What about you, Carl?" Ron asked, anxiously peering over Carl's shoulder as he typed away on his phone.

"Um,"

"Dad, have you talked to Michonne today?" Carl turned toward me and raised his eyebrows with a befuddled look across his face.

"No, I haven't talked to her in like four days, why?"

He draped his head back down, typing away again on his phone.. He then clicked on something and handed it to me and I proceeded to read.

It was a picture of Michonne, a 'selfie' she would call it. Across the picture was a caption and it read, "Here at my baby's soccer game... Alone."

It was a picture of her, with a fake pouty lip and that's when I remembered.
I'm supposed to be at Andre's game!

I jumped out of my seat quickly and handed Carl his phone back.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I gotta get to that game!" I exclaimed, picking up the phone at the corner of my desk.

"Why is it so important?" Ron scoffed

"The kid doesn't have a father figure in his life, someone's gotta be there to cheer him on or cheer him up if he loses." I explained

"Oh man!" Carl exclaimed.

Oh man indeed. I can't miss this.
I told him I'd be there, and I promised.

I quickly grabbed the phone and dialed the number to Officer O'Kelly's office, which was in the back of the department but I just didn't have time to run back there.

"What do you want, Rick?" she sighed

"I need you to cover front desk for me!"

"Why are you even still at work? Go home, I got you."

I sighed in relief and ran my hand over my head, "Thank you O'Kelly."

And with that, I slung the phone on the hook and yanked my coat from around my chair.

"Don't just stand there, get moving." I exclaimed,  gesturing for the boys to scooch along.

"Can I drive?" Carl asked, his eyes lit up with hope.

"No," I chuckled, ripping my keys from his hand.

"It was worth a try." he laughed
___________________________________

Michonne's P.O.B

The whistle blew and Andre came running off the field with sweat rolling down his forehead and his jersey sticking to his body.

It's very humid out, and I can tell it's going to rain, so maybe the game is going to end sometime soon? And I won't have to continue to sit here all by myself.

"Hey mommy, did you see me out there? Did you see me?!" he exclaimed, jumping up and down  yet still panting for air.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and held him still so he could catch his breath, just for a second.

"I saw you bud."

He looked up and smiled but it  soon faded to a frown.

"Is Mister Rick coming?" he asked.

Oh yeah, that's right! I forgot Rick said that he'd come, but I bet he's probably working or at home, not even thinking about me because I blew him off.. I regret it, but I guess things happen for reason.

"I don't know, but you keep playing your heart out no matter what, okay?"

His grin started forming again and it turned into a full-on cheesy smile.

I handed him his Gatorade and he climbed onto the bleachers, anxiously.

"Oh man, I'm having so much fun!" he exclaimed.

"Well I'm glad you are, I am too. You're amazing, lil man."

He looked up at me and giggled softly. So much hope in his little four year-old eyes. The hope I used to have.

Andre's on top of things. He's so set on his dreams, and here I am facing reality for him. He thinks that someday his dad is going to come back, and everything is going to be great but I'm a single mom living with my best friend, not even stable to love again.

"Why do we have to take a  break, why can't we keep playing?" He asked

I looked down at him and wiped the bead of sweat that was about to run onto his forehead and smiled.

"You have to take a break, so you won't have a heart attack out there!"

He placed his hand on his heart and pat it gently, "My heart is strong! I won't have a heart attack cause I'm tough like you, Mama."
He is so determined.

"Mhm, you're right. You deserve the play all 4 quarters without no half time, because you're Andre Anthony....and you're superhuman.. and you won't have a heart attack!"  I boasted, trying not to laugh.

He stood up and raised his hands in excitement.

"Yeah I am!"

I stared at him as he pretended to imitate Rocky, the scene where he finally achieved his goal. We both fell into laughter and he sat back onto my lap.

"So Carl's not coming either?" he asked, once more.

Ugh, I'm not sure but there's still time?

Suddenly there was a crack of thunder, and nothing else. I looked up at the sky and clouds began to form.. No rain yet, but you could see the sky light up from distant lightning.

Oh yeah we sure are about to get some rain.. Now this is going to be a very muddy game, and I am not looking forward to cleaning Andre up later on.

"Andre I need you!" The coach shouted.

Well, that's cue.  Mama pep talk time.

I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him up, looking him directly in the eyes.

"Now you listen here and you listen closely, Andre."
I glanced at the the scoreboard and then back at him, "Your team is in the lead by 3 points and if the other team catches up, they could win.. Now we don't want that, do we? Because what are we?!" I asked

"Winners!" he shouted

"I'm sorry, what are we?"

"Winners!" he shouted, a bit louder.

"We are winners!" I exclaimed

Parents begin to stare, but I didn't care I'm used to getting dirty looks in public. I mean, being new and whatnot.

I pat his back and he ran off to where to his team was, and I watched as the 6 on his jersey began to fade away as he got closer and closer to the field.

Here goes nothing. I leaned back against the fence that the bleachers are on, and crossed my arms over my chest.
I still can't believe this is my baby's first game! I still can't even believe that I actually got the guts to enter him into soccer, it's a very dangerous sport and he's only four... so you know I was pretty on edge about it, but I'm glad I did because  judging from all the fun he's had today I know I made the right choice.

I mean the kid had a smile on his face ear-to-ear running up and down the field chasing the ball, and me, I was having fun watching him.. I just wish I was happy as he was.

Soon the whistle blew again, so the teams ran back onto the field the game went on.

Andre played his defense position and he was really good at it, I'm not going to lie.

He's only four years old, playing against five and six year olds.

Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder and sure that it was Rick, I quickly turned around to see my cousin standing there..  tall, with  4 braids in his hair  and his snap back on backwards with some Urban fitting clothes.

He smiled and held his arms out for a hug, to which I embraced him tightly.

"Hey Jayden, what are you doing out here?" I asked, as he pulled away and pulled up his pants so he could sit down.

"I  saw you on Snapchat and I was like, aw man I can't let my lil homie and my favorite shawty  be down here alone so you know I gotta come support the fam."

I smiled and slightly leaned on him, "Thank you for coming, I know he'll appreciate it, Jayden."

He chuckled lightly and turned toward the field.

"Yeah, how's he been doing.. I mean both of you?"

"He's good, his coach picked defense for him and he's doing perfect, and I just I'm just enjoying watching them, you know? They're so cute!" I squealed

"fo sho, fo sho." he smiled

"Anyway, how are you doing now a day Mister Jayden Thomas?"I asked

"Well first of all, I don't go by Jayden anymore I go by Jay, cuz you know I'm growing up and I can't be going around here sounding like a 9 year old boy with the name Jayden.. but real talk, I just been chilling. You know I got a job at the trampoline park so I'm making my own money so I can buy my own things. The hustle is real cuz you know my daddy.. he been trippin'."

I chuckled and nodded because in fact I do remember how uncle Saleem is, he's always been on the go, never been at home with his son..and when he has, he was never really a father figure or Uncle to any of us.
He was just more like a distant family friend.

Jay looked at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close into it his embrace.

"What's wrong?"

"N--nothing."

"Oh come on, Michelle I've known you since like 1837, I know something's up."

I chuckled lightly and nudged his arm because he always calls me Michelle..since he was younger, he could never pronounce my real name so he called me Michelle, and it was cute at first but then it got so annoying.

"Just some guy," I sighed

He jerked back abruptly and shoved me gently. "Stop being grown!"

I laughed and flicked his braid behind his shoulder.

"Don't touch the hair, that is a don't, that will get you straight up  wrecked!" He joked

"Michonne?" A faint voice called out from behind me.

I slowly turned, still laughing from Jay and when my eyes met Rick's, I jumped up and hugged him without hesitation.

"Oh my gosh I'm so glad you came!" I exclaimed, pulling him closer.

He wrapped his arms around me and pecked a small kiss upon my forehead, "You're not mad?" He mumbled

"Rick I was never mad, just incredibly stupid." I pulled away and planted a long soft kiss against his lips, to which Carl and Ron pretended to gag.

"You gonna introduce me to your white chocolate or am I gonna stand here?" Jay exclaimed

"Oh!"

I pulled Rick in front of me and grabbed Jayden's hand.

"Rick this is my cousin, Jay, and Jay this is my boyfriend, Rick."

"Boyfriend." Rick repeated, staring off into space.

"Bless up!" Carl exclaimed, stepping forward and shaking Jay's hand since his father had froze.

"I'm Carl,"

"Jay."

"You have pretty nice hair, Jay."  Carl complimented, staring deeply at Jayden's braids that fell below his waist.

"You too, fam."
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@ team family readers, lol you see what I did there? Course you did.

Sorry this chapter was so long, anyway, I may update tonight. I MAY.  Next chapter prolly will be longer than this one.