Baby Boy - 9

Nicki stood in the middle of her living room looking over the suitcases before her. She deleted the last item off of the list that she had on her phone. Her eyes fell on her wedding ring and she smiled. It had been two days since they'd been married and were now taking the kids to Disney for their honeymoon. It was Nicki's idea, and Safaree couldn't say no. The kids had no idea which made Nicki even more excited. She looked back at her three year old who had once again gotten into one of the suitcases and began trying on clothes.

"Sanaa." She pouted as she undressed her. "Mami, stop. Please." Sanaa stood quietly as her mother folded the shirt and placed it back into the bag. "Come on."

Nicki walked hand in hand with her daughter to the playroom. Because her older siblings were more domineering, and never included her in their games, Sanaa always ended up under her mother. Nicki pushed open the door, that she'd told them not to close, to see Sahara climbing the toy cubby. 

"Get down!" Nicki startled the five year old and she jumped down with wide eyes. "We spent good money on the things in here so that you girls could have a nice play area and you're climbing on it. Why?" 

Sahara looked at the ground before looking to Sade for an answer. When she saw that her sister, too, was looking at the ground she shrugged and looked at it too. 

"I thought we agreed on playing with two toys at a time and putting them up when we were finished." Nicki said as she looked at the toys scattered everywhere. 

"Mommy, Naanie did it." Sade blamed her sister.

"She's been with me for the last thirty minutes. Nice try. Clean this up before your Dad gets back."

"Awww." Sade and Sahara whined. 

"Clean it up before Daddy gets back or you guys won't be going on the trip." She warned. 

"Are we going back to the island, Mommy?" Sade asked.

"No."

"Are we going to see my other mommy?"

"No, but she gets to come home next week and you can see her then." Nicki offered her a smile.

Three years ago Misha had been charged with violating probation, child neglect, and assault. It was then that Safaree received full custody of Sahara, and shortly after the birth of Sanaa that Nicki received guardianship. Nicki wanted to adopt Sahara but Misha made it known that she would be coming out fighting. Legally, that is. Nicki shook the thoughts of her family being torn apart and tuned back in to the girls' questions.

"Then where, Mommy?" Sahara begged.

"The most magical place on earth." Safaree said and all of his girls looked at him with bright eyes and smiles. He felt a sense of pride as he wrapped his arms around the three of his little girls. 

"Hi, Mrs. Samuels." He smiled as he looked up at her. He stood and maneuvered around the children. He kissed the smile on her face.

"Hi, Mr. Samuels." She blushed everytime he called her that. She had just became used to him taking on the role of a doting father and boyfriend, and now he was her husband. "Did you get the shirts?" 

"Yeah. Come here." He grabbed her hand and she followed behind him.

"Clean this room." She called behind herself. "All of you." 

She closed their bedroom door and watched as he pulled shirts out of a black plastic bag. 

"Come here." He waved her over. "You like?" 

She picked up one of the hot pink shirts. The top of it read "I'm going to Disney...", while the bottom read "...but I don't know." Minnie Mouse was centered in the middle with her finger to her lip as a signal for "shhh". Nicki smiled as she turned it over to see 'Sade' and the numbers '02', as if it were the back of a jersey, on the back.

"Oh, my gosh." She smiled as she flipped the other shirts to see the numbers coordinating with the order they were born in. "I love these."

"I got these, too." He reached in the bag and pulled out three bracelets that had Nicki's cell number on them. "In case they get lost." 

"Aw, look who's worrying now." She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She had been paranoid about the kids getting lost in the park from the moment they'd bought the tickets, and had began freaking him out. He pecked her lips before squeezing her butt.

"How about we make one now so if one gets lost we'll have another to replace it."

"Orrr..." She smiled mischieveously before slapping his chest. "No." 

She tried to pull away from him but he pulled her back quickly as she laughed hard. A hard knock came on the door.

"Ignore it." He said before kissing her.

"Mommy!" Sahara banged on the door.

"What?!" She huffed.

"Daya is sitting at the table having a tea party when she's apposed to be cleaning up." 

"Tell her to get up." Nicki spoke to Sahara but she was locked into a stare with Safaree. 

"I told her that!"

"Tell her I'm gonna whoop her ass if she doesn't help." 

"Okay." Her frustrations were replaced with glee as she skipped away. 

"What were you saying?" She asked.

He locked lips with her as he picked her up. She giggled playfully as he carried her to the other side. They continued to make out before he pulled away and looked at her.

"I love you, baby." He said.

"I know." She laughed.

"I'm proud to call you my wife." 

"You better be." She teased.

"You sure you don't wanna fly down to Miami? You know... Have a normal-"

"This is a normal honeymoon. It's not just us, babe. It's us and them. We all sort of got married." 

"Well, when you put it like that..."

"And when we do go to Miami, I want to get drunk and have nasty sex on the beach... and act like we don't have kids." 

He laughed, "Well, welcome to Schlong Beach. There will be no throwing of frisbees... Just ass and d-"

"Mommy!" Sade knocked on the door. 

"I'm glad they don't just barge in anymore." He whispered.

"Now, if they could manage not snitching." She rolled her eyes before saying, "Yes, Day?"

"Mommy, Sahara thinks she can be the boss, and she keeps pushing me, and calling me stupid."

"I'm the boss, and the next person who tells on someone is gonna meet the boss' right hand man."

"Who?"

"My belt." They listened as she quietly walked away. "Alright, Safaree... Get up."

"No quickie?"

"Does it look like-"

"Mommy." A small voice came from the other side of the door.

Nicki laughed as she shook her head, "Yes, Mami?"

"You gave all that attitude to the other two." He whispered.

"I didn't." She whispered.

"Mommy, they're fighting."

"You think she so innocent." He laughed. "She's the sneakiest one."

"My baby is not sneaky."

"Yeah, okay..." He nodded as he got up and opened the door. "Come on, Lil Ma."

"Mommy, Mommy!" Sade tapped her mother eagerly. "Do I look like a pretty, pretty princess?" 

"You are a pretty, pretty princess." Nicki looked her over. They were currently getting the girls princess makeovers in the Disney castle. All of the girls looked adorable in their princess gowns and makeup. 

"Let's take a picture, Mommy." Sade pulled her down. Nicki adjusted her mouse ears that had a wedding veil on them before snapping a few selfies. 

"You wanna take some, Rah?" Nicki asked as she hopped out of the chair from getting her hair done. It was up in a bun with a small tiara and glitter in her hair.

"No." She shook her head. She hated taking pictures but she looked too cute not to. 

"Come on. Just one." Nicki pouted.

"Okay." She forced a fake smile while Nicki took a picture with her and then she and her sister alone. 

"The young queen is finally ready." Safaree said as he spun the chair around that Sanaa was sat in. 

"My baby." Nicki gushed over her as she picked her up. 

"I'm pretty." She announced. 

"You are." Nicki smiled before turning to one of the stylist. "Can you take our picture?"

"Of course." She smiled. 

"Put on your ears, Safaree." Nicki said in reference to his mouse ears that resembled a groom. 

"Nic-" She cut her eyes at him and he did as told. 

"Okay... On the count of three say, 'Stinky feet'." The stylist said and the girls giggled which caused Nicki and Safaree to do the same. "One, Two, Three!"

"Stinky feet!" They all screamed with wide grins. 

After a magical day filled with sugar, laughs, and countless memories, they were ending the day with Sahara's meltdown. They were on the boat that took them across the lake and to the entrance of the park. Sahara was simply not ready to leave although her father promised that they would be back the next day. 

"Hey." Nicki called to her sternly. She walked to her with hitched breathing. Nicki pulled her onto her lap. "Daddy said we were coming back tomorrow, right?"

She nodded as she had become too overwhelmed to speak.

"Okay. It's..." She looked at her phone. "It's eleven now. By the time we get to our room, and take nice baths, and get into bed it should be maybe twelve thirty. You know what's gonna happen next?"

She sucked in air rapidly before mustering up, "No."

"We're gonna have sweet dreams about all the princesses that we met, and all the candy we ate." She smiled unaware that her husband was watching her with admiration. "Then we're gonna wake up, eat breakfast, and come right back. How does that sound?"

She nodded as she calmed down, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes."

"Give mommy a kiss." Sahara leaned up to kiss her cheek before wrapping her arms around her and laying on her chest. 

After halfway through their third day, the kids were wore out. Between Sade sassing her mother, Sahara's whining, and Sanaa going completely mute, Nicki was over it too. No one argued with Safaree when he put his foot down and said that everyone was going back to the room for a much needed nap. When Nicki opened the door to their suite she was surprised to see Safaree's mother and her boyfriend, Thomas.

"What are you doing here?" Nicki laughed as she gave them hugs and the girls ran behind her doing the same. She followed their eyes to Safaree. 

"We're going to Miami while the girls finish their vacation here."

"Safaree." Nicki whined with a pout. He approached her and wrapped his arms around her. 

"They'll be fine. We need us time."

"Oh, I'm not arguing with that." She laughed as she thought about what brats their children had been. "I don't have any clothes for Miami."

"You don't need any." He whispered. "We're going to the beach." 

I know you guys probably wanted that Miami scene continued but I have a looooong day tomorrow and if I didn't post this then you prob wouldn't have gotten it for a while. I may add it later but don't hold your breath. Lol. I'll let you know if I do add it. Thanks for reading guys. 

Baby Boy - 8

Safaree walked into his living room to see Nicki sitting on the floor. She was currently picking up all the contents of her purse that were all over the floor. She looked highly frustrated. Both of the girls were sitting at their kiddie table eating sliced bananas as they watched cartoons.

"Looking for something?" He asked as he bent over and began picking up the things that were out of her reach.

"No." She snapped. "They did this. They're irritating the shit outta me."

"Nicki." 

They way she glared at him let him know that he shouldn't say anything else. They had just hit the sixth month period in her pregnancy a few days ago. It seemed like she'd became moody over night. He'd never thought he'd see the day when she called her own kids irritating in front of them but here it was. She was starting to lash out on all of them, then she'd feel bad because the girls really didn't know any better and start to cry. 

"Nicki, they didn't mean to-"

"All day, Safaree. All day they've been getting into shit." She said as she tossed her things back into her bag.

"I know, but-"

"I'm sick of being in this house." She whined. 

"We going out later. Just chill." 

"To have dinner with my family."

"So? You was so excited about it the other day."

"Imma have to feed two kids, chase after them-"

"Would you stop complaining? Damn." 

She looked at him as though he had lost his mind. She stared at him for a few moments before starting to get up. When he tried to help her she swatted his hand away. She didn't struggle rising to her feet but it took more effort than usual. Once she was up she stormed pass him and disappeared into his room where she slammed the door. 

"How she gone be slamming doors in my house?" He mumbled as he plopped down and looked at the girls. 

"Aye." He said and they both looked his way. "Come here."

"Noooo." Sade giggled. She was definitely the leader of the two. 

"Alright." He shrugged, knowing that it would make the less stubborn Sahara give in. 

"Daddy." She giggled as she ran his way. 

He laughed as she asserted her indepence by pushing his hands away so that she could climb the couch on her own. She jumped on the side of him as he laughed before taking his hat off. He took it out of her hands and placed it on her which she found to be hilarious. Sade, on the other hand, was sitting at the table pouting. 

"Damn, you act just like yo mama." Safaree shook his head at her jealousy. "Come here, Smooch."

"No!" Safaree laughed at her defiance. 

"Awww, Smoochie Smooch. Come on. Daddy got plenty of love for you." 

He watched as she got up and dragged her feet as she slowly walked. Sometimes he couldn't believe how much personality that both of the girls had. He scooped her up and kissed her forehead before tickling her. 

"See, I knew you couldn't stay mad at me." He ran his hand across her head. He frowned feeling a piece of gum. "Yo moms is gonna kick your ass."

"No!" Sade yelled. 

"You right, but she is gonna be pissed." Just as he said that Nicki walked pass the living room, headed for the front row.

"Yo!" He called after her.

"I'm leaving." She peeked in. "I'll be back by six. Have them ready."

Before he could reply he heard the front door close. He shrugged her off and began playing with the girls again. He knew that between work, having helped him get custody of Sahara and take care of her, and the stress of the pregnancy that she needed a break. 

Nicki hadn't even been gone an hour before his phone began to ring. He knew it was gonna be Nicki but instead it was his cousin Tammy. The only time she ever called was when she wanted him and his friends to jump on her boyfriend for putting his hands on her. She'd always end up back with him. 

"What's up?" He answered. 

"Hey! Yo, what's up witcho and ya girl?"

"Who?" 

"Nicki." 

He didn't know where she was going with this but he knew that it would lead to drama. Tammy didn't like Nicki. They'd had words before about the fact that Tammy always called on Safaree to fight he battles. Whereas Tammy thought Safaree should be there for her because they were family, Nicki felt as if Safaree had his own family to worry about. 

"Whatcho mean?" He watched as Sahara pulled on Sade's hair and then Sade hit her. "Aye! Seperate!" 

He shook his head as both of the girls went crying in opposite directions. 

"What's up, Tam? I'm with my girls."

"Y'all together?"

"It's...complicated. Why?"

"Cause I'm out with Charles and-"

"Tammy-"

"Look. Just listen." She cut him off before he could give her a speech. "She here with some Arab, Indian... I don't fucking know. All I wanna know is if you want me to check the bitch?"

"Nah."

"Is that your baby or his cause..."

"Yeah, nigga..."

"You sure?"

"Getcho messy ass off my phone, girl."

"Alright. I'm just lookin' out for you."

"I appreciate it."

"Aite."

"Bye."

Nicki entered the house to see Sade jumping off of the couch and laughing when she hit the ground hard. Sahara was screaming at the top of her lungs while her father tried to comb her hair. It wasn't until Sade started screaming that Safaree looked up and noticed Nicki. Nicki smiled as Sade pulled on her leg and repeatedly called her name.

"Ok, Mami... Hold on. My hands are full." 

Nicki handed Safaree a gift bag before sitting beside him. She put down her purse and a small brown paper bag. She put her hands on Sade's face before kissing all over her face which sent the two year old into a fit of giggles. 

"What's this?" Safaree asked. 

"Open it." She smiled as she pulled a cookie out of the paper bag and handed it to Sade. 

"Aye." He sat Sahara back down as she got up to make her escape. She began throwing a fit and Nicki laughed.

"I got it." Nicki pulled Sahara in front of her and handed her a cookie. She quickly switched from ESPN to cartoons and began doing Sahara's hair with ease. Safaree looked at Nicki in amazement and she winked at him. He'd planned to confront her right when she walked in the door about what Tammy had said, but she had just thrown him for a loop. 

"Open it." She smiled. He pulled out a box and opened it to see a pair of gold clippers that had his name inscribed on them. 

"Yooo."

"You like?" Nicki asked.

"Back up, son." He playfully pushed Sade, who was trying to grab the clippers, away and watched her fall onto her bottom and begin laughing. "Yeah, these dope. Thanks."

"I know you have some but I figured if you're taking this barber thing seriously that you need more than one pair."

"Thanks." He nodded as he continued to look at them. 

"I'll finish getting them together while you get ready." Nicki offered. 

"Alright."

When Safaree returned he was expecting Nicki to need help finishing the task of getting the girls ready. To his surprise, they were all ready to walk out of the door. He felt a sense of pride in himself and Nicki for coming together the way they did to take care of the kids. He was beyond grateful to have her in his life they way she should've been all along. 

"That's what you wearing?" He asked.

"I couldn't fit the dress." She pouted before smiling. "But you look nice. Doesn't Daddy look nice, girls?"

"Nice!" Sahara repeated Nicki. 

"Thanks." He laughed. "Let's go."

Not even ten minutes into the car ride and both of the girls had fallen asleep. Nicki's hand had been resting on top of Safaree's from the moment they had gotten in the car. When she pulled her hand away to check a text message he glanced at her. She had the widest grin and he instantly got pissed off. 

"Who is that?" He asked. 

"My brother." She said without looking up from her phone. 

"You still fucking with that nigga?"

"What?" She looked at the side of his face as she instantly became upset. "What the fuck are you-"

"Who the fuck you texting?" He snatched her phone. He quickly put it in his other hand and glanced between the phone and the road as Nicki reached for it. When he realized that she was actually texting her brother he tossed her phone back to her.

"The fuck is your problem?" She pushed his head. "Don't fucking snatch shit from me!" She pushed his head again. 

"Keep your fucking hands off me, yo." She took note of him tightly gripping the steering wheel and decided against pushing him once more. 

"Are you on your period, Safaree? Is that what's wrong?" He didn't answer back to her condescending tone that was pissing him off even more. "You wishy washy as fuck."

"Nah, that's you."

"How?! We were just fine and now you're throwing a fucking fit for what?"

"You still seeing that nigga? You fucking that nigga while you pregnant with my kid?"

"Nadir?" She laughed.

"How many niggas you fuck with?"

"One!"

He chuckled, "Should've fucking known." He glanced at Nicki who was looking out the window quietly. "Oh? You ain't got shit to say?"

"Nope. Imma let you dig your own grave." She continued to look out of the window.

"I'm over here thinking we working on shit-"

"We are! But everytime I fucking let my guard down you start acting fucking stupid!" She looked in the back to see both of the girls still asleep. "Nadir got a job in Japan. He wanted to say goodbye and give me a gift for the baby."

"The fuck you need a gift-" 

"You so fucking insecure and watching your back cause you think I'm waiting with a knife that you don't see me begging for your attention." He had nothing to say. "I mean, shit, Safaree... I'm always dropping hints and shit about wanting to be with you but you just brush me off."

"I don't. I just wanna make sure-"

"That the girls are okay? You keep saying that. They're fine. Why can't you focus on loving me?"

"Cause I don't fucking know how!" He snapped. 

Nicki thought back to her conversation with his mother. She realized that he'd never seen a functional relationship, and although she hadn't either she wasn't sabotaging them every chance she got. He was so afraid of fucking up that he just went ahead and did it to get it over with. She rubbed the side of his face.

"Today... Right now... You are the only person that I want to be with. You have to trust me, and you have to trust yourself." 

"Alright, man." He pulled her hand down and held it tightly. 

"I love you." 

He hadn't heard her say those words in over two years. He glanced at her and the look in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. He couldn't help but to allow the cheesy wide grin appear on his face.

"Wipe that ugly ass smile off your face." She snatched her hand away. "And if you every fucking snatch some shit out my hand-"

"Alright. Alright, Nicki. Damn."

One more chapter left. 

Baby Boy - 7

Safaree checked the time on his phone as he entered Nicki's house to find it more quiet than usual. He followed the sound of Dora to Nicki's room. Sade was sitting next to the mummified body that was Nicki, and staring at the television. 

"Hey, Smoochie." He said in a cool nature but she still responded in a burst of energy. 

"Daddy!" She screamed as she ran to the end of the bed where he met her. He picked her up and kissed her forehead.

"What's up, Smooch?" He asked as he walked to Nicki's side of the bed.

"Ora." She pointed to the television.

"You watchin' Dora, Mama?" He corrected her. He smiled as she nodded before sliding out of his arms to dance to the song they were singing. He sat on the side of the bed and nudged Nicki. "Yo!"

"Hm?" She barely stirred.

"You was supposed to be ready by one." He watched Sade sit on the ground and focus on the television until he heard Nicki move. She dropped her arms over the covers before rubbing her eyes.

"What time is it?" 

"Two." He watched as she yawned and stretched. "Has she even ate?"

She cut her eyes at him as to say 'what do you think' before pushing him out of her way. When she stood, all she wore was a sports bra and some shorts. Her belly was starting to round at four months, but she was still small. The glow that illuminated from her skin was powerful. He was in a trance as he began staring at her full breast.

"I'm fat. I know." She rolled her eyes. He chuckled to himself as she walked away. She touched the top of Sade's head as she walked pass her knowing that Safaree would be on her heels. Lately, he wouldn't give her a moment of peace.

"What y'all eat?" He asked as she began brushing. 

She pulled her toothbrush out of her mouth to say, "Food."

He huffed, "What did y'all eat?" 

She spit and turned to him, "We're not talking about this."

"The last time we checked your sugars-"

"Safaree, we're not gonna talk about this every fucking day." She whined.

"You need to take care of yourself."

"I've done this before."

"You didn't have diabetes the last time you were pregnant, Nicki."

"Safaree," She put her hand up. "I just woke up after getting two hours of sleep. I really, really don't wanna talk about this."

"Why haven't you been sleeping?"

She huffed and rolled her eyes before starting to brush her teeth again. He was really starting to annoy her. Everyday he watched her eat and forbid her from eating anything unhealthy. He was constantly calling and texting her to check on her health and tell her what was good for her. She was glad that he'd finally gotten a place of his own, but that didn't stop him from popping up and throwing away all off her sweets. She cut her eyes at him and rolled them just thinking about it. 

"...and this is where the magic happens." Safaree said as he led Nicki and Sade into his bedroom. 

"Magic?" Nicki asked. "Your wand must be cursed." She said as she plopped down onto his bed. "This is nice though. Why my baby don't got a bed though?"

"Wait." He said as he lifted Sade onto the bed. "Is the wand supposed to be my dick?" 

"Safaree!" Nicki cut her eyes to Sade who was jumping on the bed. 

"My bad." 

"You gone answer my question?"

"The bed?"

"Yeah. You had two at your mom's for the girls."

"Yeah, but the social workers are coming through to see if I got my shit together. They want her to have her own room."

"Oh." She nodded. "RahRah is still with Misha's mom?"

"Yeah, and that bitch be trippin' worst than Misha." He shook his head. "She don't ever wanna let me leave with my daughter. I swear, none of them hoes that way trust men but always got they legs open." 

"Well, you'll have no problem getting Sahara, right?"

"I shouldn't. Misha mama don't want none of them damn kids, but she in a pissy mood cause her daughter locked up."

"That bitch got herself locked up." Nicki rolled her eyes. "And let that bitch know that I know real motherfuckers who lay they heads right where she lay hers."

"Who?" He looked at her crazy.

"Don't worry about that."

"Don't be tryna be on no gangsta boo shit. Leave her alone. You fucked her up already." 

"Safaree-"

"Nic, I don't need no extra shit that might keep me from getting custody of this little girl. Just chill."

"Whatever." 

"You got that damn promotion, workin' with them White folks... I thought you'd have some class by now."

"Shut the hell up!" She laughed as she tossed a pillow at him. 

"Damn." He laughed. "You teaching my kids how to stick niggas up for they cookies and milk too?" Nicki laughed harder.

"Safaree, please."

"Niggas got connections and shit." He shook his head. "Aite, I need to drop y'all off."

"But we don't wanna go." Nicki pouted.

He laughed, "Cute, but I gotta go see Little Bit."

"We can't stay here?" She asked. "Or what? Ya other baby moms coming over?"

"Who?" 

"I don't know. You know how you do, nigga."

"How?" He twisted his lips.

"You knock bitches up two at a time. I can't be the only one."

"Man." He mushed her head and she swatted his hand. 

"Bring me back some jello."

"No." He said sternly.

"You can get sugar free. I haven't eaten in two days." She whined.

"Why?"

"Can't keep shit down." She glanced behind her to see Sade taking selfies on her phone. "I don't know how she knows how to do this shit."

"Cause you always doing it." He watched Nicki take her phone and begin deleting the awkwardly angled pictures. "That's all you want?"

"Soup and crackers?" She said before looking up at Sade who was whining trying to get the phone back. "Oh, and get her a happy meal."

"Nicki." He dead faced her. Her list was getting longer and longer. 

"Safaree."

"It's nuggets in the freezer. Knock yourself out."

"But-"

"Bye." He kissed her forehead before kissing Sade's. 

Safaree stared at Nicki as she stared at Sade. The light from the television bounced off of their faces as he watched the most beautiful scene unfold. Nicki finally looked up at him and smiled. 

"I love watching her sleep." She laughed lightly as she explained herself.

"I know." He smiled.

"She's so beautiful. Like, some kids are just cute but really, Safaree..." She looked down at her sleeping child. "She's gorgeous."

"And so are you." He caught the sparkle in her eye as she looked up at him and blushed. He swore to himself that he could've stayed like this forever. The only thing missing from this perfect picture was Sahara. 

"Thanks."

"Look, Nic... I'm just glad that we're getting back to a good place."

"Me too."

"I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that these kids have everything that they need. No more fuck ups. Y'all got all of me."

Suddenly, she felt as if those butterflies that she'd thought were long dead sprung back to life. She was actually starting to like him again. In the past few weeks, he had really grown up. Everything that he was promising, he was doing. There were no more lies, no more drama... Just the man that she always knew that he could become. 

"Thank you." 

"I know that there's probably no way in hell that you'll give me another chance but Imma prove to you that I can be the man you deserve." He nodded to himself as he sat back and placed his eyes on the television. "Watch."

She grabbed his hand. They locked eyes. She kissed the back of his hand before locking their fingers together. 

"I believe in you." She said before closing her eyes. 

Just as she had watched Sade, he watched her sleep. Everything that he had said, he meant. He knew that in his heart of hearts that this was his very last straw with Nicki. He could either use it to build the life that they'd both so badly yearned for, or he could self destruct once again and send it up in flames. 

"So, you taking him back?" One of Nicki's friends remarked with a hint of an attitude.

"Did I say that?" She snapped. "I really feel like y'all judging me or some shit."

"No." TT said.

"That's how I feel." She shrugged. "But when bitches had me covering black eyes and had me driving they niggas to shops to pick up cars that I helped fuck up, I never looked at them how y'all looking at me." She looked around the table as she watched guilt visibly take over them. 

"Love make you do crazy shit." Sherika shook her head.

"It's not even about love." Nicki said. "I'm not in love with Safaree. I just see him... I don't know... Not changing, but becoming who he's supposed to be and I like it." She shrugged. "I like him. I like the idea of falling in love with a whole new person. A new beginning. I love the idea of a family with the father of my kids. Is that wrong?" 

"No." Sherika stated as she looked around the table at everyone who had gone mute. "It's perfectly fine." 

"Just know that I will fuck that bitch Misha up on site." Candi said. "And Safaree if that shit ever happens again."

"Safaree fought off four belligerently drunk grown women so I could walk away without a scratch." 

"Safaree." Sherika batted her eyelashes. "My hero." 

"Shut the hell up." Nicki threw a fry at her. They all began laughing.  

 

"You told him this stuff?" TT asked.

"No."

"Why not?" Sherika asked.

She blushed, "It's so fucking weird. I... I have like the biggest crush on my baby's father." 

"What?" They all said in unison before laughing.

"This shit is so weird, yo." She laughed. "But I've hated him for so long, it feels weird to start liking him. I can't wait to see him. I hate when he leaves..."

"Are y'all intimate? Romantic?" Candi asked.

"No." She shook her head. "It's weird. We joke and laugh, sleep in the same bed, he's always complimenting me... But it's like we're both scared to go any further."

"You have to tell him how you feel." Sherika beamed. Nicki looked around at all the smiling faces.

"You bitches was just ready to kill him and disown me."

"Bitch, that was before you had gone all school girl crush on us." Candi waved her off. 

Nicki rolled her eyes, "Whatever. I'm not bringing it up though. He needs to focus on getting Sahara and bringing this new kid into the world."

"Punk ass." Sherika said to which Nicki threw another fry at her. "Bitch, we gone fight."

Crash

Inspired by the song Crash by SoMo.

They stared at each other from across the kitchen counter. Nicki had prepared a romantic dinner setting to make up for a weeks worth of arguing, but was met with Safaree who had prepared his exit speech. They'd argued for over an hour before Nicki finally broke down and told him to leave. He was now staring at her trying to figure out if he even knew her well enough to fight for her anymore. His answer was no. 

"So?" She asked.

"I'm out." 

Never had she imagined two small words causing her so much pain. She felt a tightness in her chest that would only go away if she screamed out after him. She was at a loss for words. He had threatened to leave before but she knew that this time was serious. He wasn't coming back. He said so himself. 

She poured herself a glass of wine and chugged it down in seconds. Tears fell and her hand shook as she tried to pour a second glass. When she spilled it all over the counter, she threw the bootle across the room. She pulled at her hair in frustration and let out a painful scream that lead to her sobbing. She tried to keep her balance on the counter as she leaned over it crying but ended up sliding to the ground. Just when she thought she couldn't feel any worse as she replayed his painfully true words over in her head, she began reminiscing on moments she would never have again.

"I love you so much, Safaree."

"Ditto." He said cooly before she punched him in his chest. "Ah! I love you too, man."

She smiled as she got comfortable in his arms and the pool chair again. It was their first night in their first new home and they were sat by the pool watching the sunset. 

"This is so beautiful. So peaceful."

"Yeah, it's nice when things calm down for a bit and we can just chill."

"When are things ever calm?" She laughed. 

"In these little moments." He nodded as he took in his surroundings. "As long as I have these little moments... I'm good." 

"Thank you." She looked into his face.

"For?"

"Always trying to understand me. For rocking with me. You'll always come first, Safaree. I promise." 

He has no idea where those things were coming from, but before he could say anything she kissed him with more passion than she ever had. That night they made love like never before. They promised little things to each other that would have the potential to turn into bigger things. Little things that she would forget, and he could never forgive. 

"Safaree." She sniffled as she tried to find the right words to leave on her third drunken voicemail. She wiped her tears before her eyes fell on her engagement ring. "I get it. You feel like I put my career before you but..." She sniffled as the tears continued to fall. She realized in that moment how many times she must've tried to justify not making him a priority. "I know you're sick of my excuses... I am reckless. I know. I'm sorry... And I'm drunk and I need you." Her voice began to crack, and she hung up before her cries became audible again.

Not too far away, he sat in a hotel replaying her voicemails. She was a mess. He was sick of playing the "who can hurt who the worst" game. In all reality, he wasn't trying to hurt her. What he wanted was to save himself from hurting the most when they finally crashed. Somewhere they had lost control and he was unable to keep her from straying to far out of their lane. He had gotten so accustomed to saving face to protect her when it felt like she cared less and less about him as her fame grew and her priorities changed. 

"So, when's the wedding, love birds?" Nicki's mother asked.

"I don't know." Nicki said as she picked up the plates. "I think we're just gonna wait. We have a lot going on." 

When she disappeared into the kitchen, Safaree followed behind her. He leaned against the counter as he watched her scrap the food off of the plates. When she didn't acknowledge his presence he decided to speak up. 

"Yo, what was that?" 

"What?" She asked as he pulled her away from her thoughts. She'd thought that bringing her family out for the holidays would be fun, and it was, but she found herself feeling guilty for still thinking about work.

"About us getting married? We never discussed that."

"Safaree, do you really feel like right now is the time to get married?" He shook his head at her failing to realize that what he was really upset about was her making life decisions for the both of them. "Babe, right now isn't even the time for this conversation."

He followed her eyes to where her niece was walking in. She was right. This wasn't the time for this conversation, but it never was. Because he wanted to keep her happy, he dropped it. 

"Alright." 

He felt as if he were going through some sort of withdrawal. His chest was tight, but everytime she called his heart pounded. He opened the mini fridge and pulled out a mini bottle of vodka and took a shot of it. He looked at the tv to see a commercial for MYX. He couldn't escape her. He knew that she was no longer good for him, but her love was a drug. 

When his phone stopped ringing he didn't know what to feel. He let fifteen minutes pass before calling her. She answered on the first ring but didn't say anything. 

"Nicki." She didn't respond. "I'm on my way." 

They stayed on the phone in silence as he rushed to be by her side again. 

"I'm pulling up." He said. 

As he pulled into the driveway he noticed her waiting. He turned off the car and got out. He approached her and looked into her puffy face. She wrapped her arms around him and began crying and apologizing. He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom. 

"Shhh." He said as he laid down and pulled her on top of him. 

She calmed herself as she tightly gripped his shirt. Between the alcohol and having cried for three hours straight, Nicki wasn't able to keep her eyes open for long. As her watch her fall asleep, he thanked God for the little things and prayed that he could keep them from straying away from one another. 

Baby Boy - 6

Nicki got off of work early for the annual back to school barbecue. Her friends were "breaking her in" to the parents club by making her and Safaree host it. It had been more than a week since she'd had her heart to heart with Safaree and things were starting to work out between them. He and Sahara had been spending every day at her house for the past week. 

"I'm home." She sang out as she dropped some bags at the door. She smiled at the sound of tiny footsteps running her way. 

"Mommy!" Sade laughed as she wrapped her arms around her mother's leg and her sister did the same.

"Wassup?" He nodded.

"Hey." She smiled still looking at the girls before turning her attention to him. "Can you get the pool out of the trunk?"

"You got a pool?" He watched the girls run into the living room as the theme song for Doc McStuffins began playing. 

"Yeah..." She smiled as she kicked off her shoes. "Just one of those blow up ones."

"You really excited?" He laughed as he picked up the bags at her feet. 

"Yes!" She laughed and followed him to the kitchen. "I forgot those plates."

"I got them. We been running around all day." He began taking things out of the bags and placing them on the counter. 

"Oh, I had just told Nadir to bring them."

"What?" He stopped what he was doing and looked at her as if she had grown two heads. 

"Yeah, is there a problem?" She asked confused as she started unpacking the bags. 

"Yeah, you being fucking pregnant with my kid and seeing this nigga." 

"Mommy!" Sade ran in and began pulling on the bottom of her dress.

"Unless that ain't my fucking kid or something?" He spat.

"Excuse me?" She took her eyes off of Sade and straight into his. He was hurt. "You thought I was just gonna stop seeing him? Just like that?"

"Mommy?" Sade whined. 

"He know you pregnant? With my kid?"

"Yes! Is it so hard to believe that-"

"Mommy! Pee pee!" Sade jumped up and down. Nicki's face instantly lit up as she quickly picked up Sade and ran her to the bathroom. When Safaree reached the bathroom with Sahara at his side, Nicki was jumping up and down.

"She's doing it!" Nicki clapped.

"Pee pee!" Sade screamed as her potty began singing. 

"She pee peed on the potty. She pee peed on the potty." Nicki grabbed Safaree's hand and encouraged him to dance as a smile spread across his face. Soon, the four of them were having a mini celebration in the bathroom. 

"Okay..." Nicki composed herself. "I'll clean her up and you can start seasoning the meat."

"Alright." He smiled. 

"Oh, Safaree." Her face was now serious and his face matched hers. "He doesn't have to come." With that being said she happily turned her attention back to Sade. "Come on, baby. Mommy's so proud." 

After getting both of the girls dressed in their party outfits, Nicki stepped into her room to make a phone call. She made sure to close the door behind herself for privacy. She didn't know how the call would go but she knew that it had the potential to be disastrous. 

"Hello?" She said smally.

"Hey. What's up?" He sounded happy to hear her voice.

"Oh, nothing. Um, listen... I don't need those plates and utensils." 

"Okay?" He said. "You sound weird."

"Oh, I don't need you at the barbecue either." She said casually.

He laughed, "Well, of course you don't need me there." 

"It's just... Safaree is gonna be here, and all his friends... I just think it'll be really awkward. We still have our lunch date tomorrow."

He sighed, "You know what? Let's cancel that."

"Why?" She asked even though she knew the answer.

"You're not really in this. I'm willing to take you and all your baggage but you-"

"Baggage?" She asked offended.

"C'mon, Nic... The jealous baby daddy with the crazy baby mama, you have a kid, you're pregnant... You got a lot going on, Ma."

"Yeah..." She agreed.

"I have a lot of fun with you. I like you."

"I like you, too."

"Look, when everything falls into place, if I don't wife a nice, wholesome Indian girl... Call me."

"Boy, you know what they say?" Nicki asked.

"What?" He laughed.

"Once you go Black..." She busted out laughing and he followed. 

"Imma be waiting on you, girl."

"Hey, Nadir?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for showing me how much I'm really worth."

"You deserve the world, baby." He stated. "I'll holler at you later though."

"Goodbye, Nadir."

"Until next time, Nicki."

After hanging up, she held her phone close to her heart. She bit her lip as she relived what was probably the healthiest relationship she'd ever been in or seen. Even the break up was perfect. But perfect was never for her. Something in her needed love to be messy, passionate and painful; it needed to make her feel alive. Safaree was far from perfect but he was trying. When she opened her bedroom door and her eyes fell on him wrestling with the girls, her heart pulled her in their direction to do the same. 

"Alright, nig... Be safe." Safaree hit the top of the car and watched his friends pull off before taking a seat next to Nicki on the steps of her porch. 

"That was fun." She smiled.

"Yeah, who gone clean all that shit up though?"

"Put your bad ass kids to work."

He laughed, "So they can jump me? Everytime I yell at one, the other one starts going off on me."

Nicki laughed, "They stick together. I love that. I hope that never changes."

"Yeah." He nodded as they both let their thoughts of the future pull them away. "Yo, imagine how they gonna be when the baby comes."

"Sade already thinks she's somebody's mama." Nicki rolled her eyes thinking about how she treated her baby dolls like real babies and bossed everyone around.

"Can you believe they two?"

"Going on 22?" She laughed. "But I think we've done a good job so far." 

"And we'll do good with the next one."

She looked into his face and nodded. She had agreed to keep their child, and like Safaree promised, he was there for her everyday so far. Her family was upset with her for having another child by him but she couldn't fathom making any other decision now that she knew exactly what motherhood was about.

"Nadir broke up with me."

"Word?"

"Don't sound so sad." She rolled her eyes with a smirk.

"He wasn't the one."

"Oh, and you are?" She laughed and he shrugged. 

"You okay?"

"Yeah, it's not like I was madly in love with him."

"You wanted to be though." 

"Eh." She shrugged. She was as he pushed his brows together and watched a guard instantly be put up. She followed his eyes to the car that was creeping up the street with the lights off. 

"Yo, let's go in." He said. 

"Okay." As soon as they stood the car sped up and parked on the curb. The windows were tinted, preventing them from seeing inside. Misha hopped out and walked swiftly towards them.

"Really, Safaree?!" She said when he met her in the middle of the yard. Nicki sucked her teeth when she saw one of Misha's friends get out of the car and stand near it. 

"I don't want my fucking kid over there!" Safaree yelled in her face.

"You can't make that fucking decision! Where's my motherfucking daughter, bitch?!" Misha screamed.

"Chill with that bitch shit, yo." Safaree said.

"You think I won't call the fucking police on y'all?!" Misha looked back and forth between Nicki and Safaree. 

"Hold up." Nicki stepped forward. "I ain't got shit to do with this. If you want Sahara-"

"Shut the fuck up."

"She's drunk." Safaree said. "That's why I don't want my fucking daughter over there."

"Fuck you." Misha said. Nicki was shaking trying to keep her composure. "Go get my fucking baby, Nicki."

"No." Nicki said. 

"Oh, really bitch?"

"Misha, get the fuck outta here." Nicki said. The more she stood there, the more upset she became. She felt herself losing her senses and growing ill. She didn't have a good feeling about leaving Safaree though. 

"Come get her, Jay!" Safaree called to Misha's friend.

"Fuck no! Give her the baby!" Jay yelled. 

"Look, Misha." Safaree watched as Nicki put her hand on her temple and blinked as if she were trying to refocus her vision before speaking again. "Just come back in the morning and I'll have her stuff together."

"Fuck you!" Misha said before pushing Nicki. Without thinking, Nicki pushed her back. Just as Safaree jumped in between them, three more women got out of the car. 

"The fuck are you doing?!" Safaree yelled at Misha before feeling the sharp pain down his spine from being hit with a baseball bat. As soon as he turned to snatch the bat away, Misha took it upon herself to attack Nicki. 

Two days later Nicki sat up in her hospital bed watching Sade run around. She laughed as her mother failed to keep up with her. When Nicki's mom sat down and threw her arms up, Sade began hysterically laughing and slapping her leg. 

"What's wrong with the girl, Nicki?" Nicki's mother asked. 

"I'm still trying to figure out." Nicki laughed. All of their heads turned to the knocked at the door.

"Daddy!" Sade yelled as she hugged his legs.

"Hey, baby." He picked her up with his free arm and kissed her. 

"Hi, Safaree." Nicki's mother said as she approached him. 

"Hi." He watched as she took Sade from him.

"We're gonna go down to the play room."

"Bye, baby." Nicki blew a kiss to Sade and she blew one back. 

"Um, hi." Safaree said as he approached her bed. She continued to look out of the window. "I got you these flowers."

"Thanks." She refused to look at him. She was too pissed. 

"You look good." Misha hadn't left a visible mark on her. "Is the baby... You know..."

"They didn't tell you?" She looked at him and folded her lips. She looked as if she wanted to cry.

"No. They told me to talk to you." He huffed. "Yo, tell me my baby-"

"It's fine." She said. "But I have gestational diabetes. That's why I fainted." 

"What does that mean?"

She shrugged, "When they talk to me I just hear that Charlie Brown sound." She sighed. "If I don't get my sugar levels or whatever under control then I'll have to take insulin. It's a high risk pregnancy but we'll be fine as long as I excersise and watch what I eat." 

"So, Misha didn't hurt you or the baby?"

"I wish that bitch would have." She cut her eyes at him.

"Nic-"

"We just talked about this shit, Safaree!"

"I know. Look, I-" He sighed. "I went to her crib after work and she was high and drunk and some nigga was holding my fucking baby. Rah Rah's hair hadn't been combed in days, she smelled like piss..." He shook his head.

"Why didn't you tell me? Thats your problem. You're always being fucking sneaky and secretive. If you would've told me that I would had no problem with her staying with me."

"I know."

"I'm sitting here thinking that she's knows her kid is at my house when you fucking kidnapped her." 

"I didn't think I could kidnap my own child."

"Welp, your name isn't on her birth certificate so legally you kidnapped her."

"Misha's still in jail."

"I could've went to jail. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm pregnant, my daughter wouldn't have her fucking mother. Do you realize that, Safaree?" Because the paramedics could vouch for Nicki's claims of being pregnant, the police wrote the incident report as her defending herself and her unborn child.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"It's always some next level shit with you." She shook her head. "And I want my money back."

"Money?" He looked at her funny.

"Who do you think bailed you out?" She asked. "I was saving that money to move my kids into a nicer home, get them into better schools..."

"I got you."

"You don't got me. You've never had me." She said coldly. 

"I'm not trying to keep fucking up, Nicki!" He yelled. "I'm fucking trying! If you can't recognize that then fuck you! The other night was partially my fault, I get that. I own up to that. But you know I would never want no shit to pop off like that with you. I love you, girl! You know this."

Nicki stared straight ahead at the white wall as tears streamed down her face. The events of the past two days alone were overwhelming her. She quickly wiped her face when the nurse came to the door.

"Is everything okay, Ms. Maraj?"

"Yes." She forced a smile. "Everything is okay." 

"So..." He sat on the side of the bed and rubbed her thigh. "What do you want?"

"For everything to be okay. For real." 

Baby Boy - 5

He watched as she closed the door behind herself. She had on a pair of black cotton shorts that looked painted on, a pink tank top, and her hair pulled up into a messy bun. He laughed as she wrapped her arms around herself to shield her arms from the summer night's cold. She pulled open his car door and smiled as she slid in. He offered her a simple nod.

She cleared her throat after a long moment of silence, "So, this you?"

"Yup." He nodded proudly.

"It's nice." She ran her hand along the leather interior. "Now I don't have to wonder if you putting my baby on the back of your bike." They both laughed.

"Yo, where is she?" 

"In the house. TT came over to braid her hair."

"When you gone learn to braid, nigga?" He asked already knowing her answer.

"Fucking never." They laughed before silence took over again.

"So..." He began.

"Yeah?"

"You called me over. I know you don't just wanna chill in a nigga whip just because. What's up?"

"Safaree..." She sighed. They locked eyes and she was already on the verge of  tears. She looked down at her hands. 

"What's up, Nic?" He offered his concern. No matter what they were going  through, he could never not care about her. 

"I need you to just listen to me." His sympathetic nod comforted her just a little. She knew that when he heard what she had to say that his whole attitude would change.

"Okay." She began. "You know that we haven't really had a stable or healthy relationship in a long time."

"Three years." He nodded with a serious face.

"Yeah, and it's just been a lot of hurt, and pain, and drama-"

"Nic-"

"I'm pregnant." She blurted. "I'm pregnant, it's yours, and I'm not keeping it."

"What the fuck?!" 

"Safaree, please... I-"

"I fucking take care of my kids, yo! You always on some spiteful, petty shit!"

"I don't wanna do this!" She cried. 

"Why wouldn't you want it?"

"Why would I?" She asked. "You bring diapers by, play with her every now and then, give me money... but let's be real. I'm doing this shit alone."

"Really?" He asked sarcastically. 

"Yes!" She became annoyed as she wiped her face. "Since I found out I was pregnant it's been me and Sade. I get up with her at seven in the morning to get her ready for school, I put her to bed, I'm here when she's sick, hurt..."

"What the fuck do you want me to say?"

"I want you to understand everything I sacrificed mentally and emotionally to have Sade and why I don't want another child by you."

"By me? How I even know-"

"You're in my fucking bed every night! If I ever let another nigga fuck, you would know."

"You ain't been fucking me."

"I'm almost two months. I haven't had sex with Nadir. I haven't been able to." She looked away. The one thing that she had kept to herself was that she wasn't over him. Now he knew. 

"I still think-"

"Sade wakes up every morning and walks around the whole house looking for you." She wiped at the tears that had started to fall again. "I can't take it anymore. I don't even-" She sighed. "It bothers me that I have to share birthdays and holidays with Misha. It was supposed to be just us. I can't add another kid to this. I can't." 

"Nicki, Misha don't have shit to do with this."

"But she does. I spent three years helping you become who you are and I have to share it with someone else? The family you promised me, the life we were supposed to have... You ruined it, Safaree, and she helped." 

He glanced into her eyes for a second but quickly looked away. He didn't realize the weight of his actions until now. He sighed as he ran his hand down his face. 

"Look, I never meant to hurt you, Nicki. Not like this." He sighed. "It just happened one time and like seven months later some chick is on my phone talking about she's pregnant. This shit got out of hand, and I'm sorry. I love you, Nicki." He looked into her tear stained faced, holding back his own tears. "Please, don't do this."

Those four words were enough to cause her silent tears to transform into a heavy sob. Everytime she imagined having another child by him, she imagined more heartache and drama for herself and her children to bear. When she imagined giving up her child, she imagined bearing just as much pain and regret. The now unfamiliar feeling of his sincere touch and embrace comforted her. 

She pulled away and looked at him, "Why'd you do it?" 

"Do wha-... Oh." He nodded. "My moms got sick, you was pressuring me to actually step up... I was just lost and I found myself deep in another bitch." He shrugged. "But listen, whatever you want to do," he wiped her face. "I'm here."

Sorry this is short, but it's something. 

Baby Boy - 4

Nicki finished applying her make up just as a knock came on the door. She cursed as she looked down at her sweats and wife beater. She felt the now familiar feeling of butterflies as she walked to open the door. After three months of dating, she was still always excited to see him. 

"Oh, it's just you." 

"Here." Safaree said as he handed her a case of diapers. "I got some more stuff in the car."

"Okay." She made her way to Sade's room and began placing the diapers in the diaper stacker. Safaree wasn't too far behind. When he entered the room he placed a bag of clothes on the changing table. 

"I left some of Sahara's clothes in there too. You know Misha don't keep up with her shit."

"Okay." They stared at each other with sadness. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Everything conversationally was awkward between them because they could never find the right things to say.

"Aite." He said. "I'm out."

"Wait." She said urgently as she stood. He knew she was going to ask him to come back, cry about how she missed him. "Um, can you stick around for a bit? Me and Nadir wanna talk to you about something."

"Are you for real?" He looked at her like she was crazy. She didn't understand where his irritation was coming from, nor did she care once she heard Nadir knocking. 

"Can you just cooperate for one day in your life?"

"Man, whatever. Make this shit quick." 

Safaree found his way to the living room as Nicki found her way to the door. Safaree instantly grew irritated at her giggling. He heard the sound of them kissing and his fist instantly balled up. He quickly reminded himself that Nicki was no longer his as they walked in hand in hand. 

"Safaree, this is Nadir." Nicki said as she gazed at the side of Nadir's face with a wide grin. 

"Sup man." Nadir extended his hand to Safaree. Nicki cut her eyes at Safaree and he stood and shook his hand.

"Sup." he said before they all sat. Nicki and Nadir sat on one couch while Safaree sat alone on the other. Awkward wasn't the word for this current situation. They were all ready for it to be over. 

Nicki cleared her throat, "Nadir wanted to meet you. I, well, we think that it's time for him to meet Sade." Nicki watched his eyes locked on their hands. He licked his lips and then smacked them.

"If I had a little girl I would wanna know who was around her." Nadir offered. 

"How long you knew him?" Safaree ignored Nadir and looked at Nicki. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. She was hurting him although that wasn't her intentions. He was finally feeling what she had for the past few years. 

"Safaree, I wanna make it clear to you that I'm not exactly asking for your permission. I just think you should know who's around her." Nicki said sternly but with very little attitude to keep things from becoming aggressive. 

"Son, don't think you can discipline my daughter." Safaree said to Nadir before looking at Nicki. "And I don't want him changing her, or alone with her." 

"Safaree,why the fuck would-"

"That's fine. I understand where you're  coming from." Nadir squeezed Nicki's hand lightly to keep her calm. He understood very well how some men had to prove that they were in control while others were just in control. If it wasn't clear to Safaree, it was very clear to Nicki that Nadir was in control. 

"That's it?" Safaree asked. 

"Yeah, I'll walk you out." She said. She whispered into Nadir's ear before following Safaree outside. When he got to the car he looked at her angrily.

"You done?"

"Huh?" She asked confused.

"You done with this game? Come back to our family."

She laughed, "You left our family way before we had one." 

"I'm sick of playing games."

"Safaree, I'm done playing. He offers me shit that you haven't in years. This is not a game to me. Stop it." 

"Nic." He tried to pull her closer and she pushed him.

"Stop!" She said. "You know for a fact that I don't cheat."

"Just a couple of weeks ago-"

"Two months ago? When I was drunk and Nadir and I weren't serious? Your point? Don't disrespect him and don't disrespect me. Period."

"Whatever." He reached into his car and grabbed his wallet. He pulled out a few hundreds and handed them to her. "I'll see you later."

"Whatever." 

She didn't stand around to see him pull off or say goodbye. She put the money in her pocket and made her way back inside. Nadir was sat in the same spot she left him in. 

"What took so long?" He laughed.

"You know the old, 'I see you with someone else so now I want you.'" She rolled her eyes as she sat beside him with her legs tucked under her. She was never afraid to be completely honest with him. 

"Yeah." He laughed as he inched closer to her. "He gotta understand that you belong to me now."

"I like the sound of that." She flirted back before kissing him. Before it got too heated she pulled away and he sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's cool." He was trying hard to understand why they couldn't physically go to the next level but he was growing impatient. 

"Let's just go get the kid."

"Stop!" Nicki laughed as she pushed Nadir away as he tried to kiss her neck again.

"Come on."

"We're in front of my daughter's school. Move." She pushed him away laughing as she got out of the car. After being buzzed into the daycare she stopped at the check out counter.

"Sade, right?" The young girl asked. 

"Yes." Nicki answered. 

"Um, her step mother picked her up about thirty minutes ago."

"Step mom?" Nicki's heart began to race. 

"Yes. Uhhh, Sahara's mother." She read the sign out sheet. "Lamisha Jackson." 

Nicki stormed away from the counter and called Safaree. When he didn't answer she texted him before getting into Nadir's car and slamming the door. 

"Where is she?"

"We have to go to his moms." 

"That's where she is?" 

"I don't fucking know!" She snapped as she held the phone to her ear. "Make this left."

Within fifteen minutes they had arrived to Safaree's mothers house. Safaree had been texting Nicki non stop about how he forgot to tell Misha not to pick up Sade that day. Nicki was pissed that he had put Misha on the pick up list without her permission knowing that she didn't trust her with Sade. When they pulled up, Safaree was outside with both of the girls, playing. 

"Nicki." He said sympathetically. He knew that she had worried herself sick in a matter of minutes.

"You did this shit on purpose?" She asked as she picked up Sade.

"What? Nah. I honestly forgot." 

"Why, Safaree? You know how I feel about her! I don't want her picking up my child."

"She won't."

"And you won't either!"

"The fuck?"

"I took you off the list!" She lied.

"Who the fuck is going to get her while you're at work?" 

"I'll figure it out." She turned to walk away when another thought came to her mind. "And when were you going to tell me that you enrolled Sahara?"

"I ain't gotta tell you shit! Worry about that one."

"I can't have shit to myself!" She yelled as she walked away. "Gotta share every fucking thing in my life with you muthafuckers!" She continued to rant while she strapped Sade in before getting in the car. Safaree watched as Nadir tried to calm her down before pulling off. He knew that if he hadn't already pushed her away, that she was definitely gone now. 

The next day Nicki found herself in the nail salon with her friends. She bought Sade along because it was her second off day in two weeks, and since she wouldn't have one for a while she wanted to spend time with her. Her friends were currently giving her advice that she didn't ask for and she was over it. Sade was sitting between Nicki's legs, splashing the water with her bare feet. 

"I'm just saying, ya ex still spending the night but you won't even sex your man?" Candi said. 

"I mean, after spending almost every night with the same man for five, almost six years, it's hard to be apart."

"When you don't want to be." TT said.

"Whatever." Nicki rolled her eyes.

"And you not having sex with Safaree?" TT asked.

"No. It's been like two months." 

"Reason why you was throwing up?" Candi laughed.

"Bitch." Nicki rolled her eyes. She had told them that she was late because she was sick all night. She thought that it was from some food that Nadir made her try but Candi's jokes had her mind going. She hadn't missed a period but she knew from her experience with Sade that it didn't mean a thing. 

Sorry for the way this ended. Excuse the typos. Had something better planned but I'm going to save it. I wanted to point out that Safaree's mom wasn't trying to neglect Sahara but make Misha do her job. And before y'all rant about SB giving Nic money, it's for the baby. Lol.