7 years prior...
"Momma!" Cepheus called out, closing and locking the front door behind himself. Glancing around the front entryway, he picked up the stack of mail with his eyebrows furrowed, ignoring most of it because none of them screamed important to him. Placing it back in the spot she had it, he adjusted his hat on his head before starting on his way jogging up the stairs. "Momma-."
"Dammit Cepheus you scared me!" She jumped, placing a hand to her chest because she hadn't heard him come in.
"You gon have to open the ears up Rose-."
"Don't make me kick you out." She warned, slowly sitting her body up to get a little more comfortable. Holding her arms extended to accept Cepheus into a tight embrace, she hugged her son gently while giving him a kiss on his temple. "How are you doing?"
Grabbing the chair closest to him to pull up next to her bed, he sat down while letting out a small yawn. "I'm...in a good ass mood surprisingly. Been in a good mood for a lil minute now." He smiled, running his hand down his face in attempts to hide it, but he knew his mom had already caught it.
"My child...my 26 year old son in a good mood?! Hell must've frozen over!" Rose raised an eyebrow, eyeing him in a way that showed she was trying to read and understand his body language to point out anything new. "You have a little glow to you too, and I think I know the cause of it." She smirked, clasping her hands together in her lap.
"Here you go-."
"Don't do that, because you and I both know that girl is the reason for it. And it really does make me happy Cepheus, I have never in my life seen you like this when it comes to a woman. Also, when were you going to tell me you asked her to be your girlfriend?" She tilted her head, watching the way Cepheus' body tensed up.
"....Surprise!" He smiled, while shaking his hands. He laughed as he dodged her hand that was flying in his direction. "I wasn't even keeping it from you, only person I told was Rashad, and clearly his big mouth ass can't keep no damn secrets." Cepheus mumbled the last part, making a mental note to talk to his brother when he left from there.
"Well I feel I should've been the first to know, because that is an amazing woman. I may not be here to see much of your relationship with her for obvious reasons, but take it seriously. I've watched so many come and go who weren't worth a damn, and now you've found a doctor who's sweet as sugar? I like her a lot, I really do. Have you all talked your future or-."
"Slow down Ms. Lady, getting ahead of yourself cause no. We just having fun momma, ain't nothing too serious, ain't nothing gon get too serious. Not in love, not planning to fall in love, no babies, not planning to have any babies. We good...we know what we doing." He nodded his head confidently, though he knew his mom didn't believe him.
"I'll bet you money she'll be the one to make you fall in love and give me more grandbabies." Nodding his head in amusement, he crossed his arms while leaning back in his seat.
"How much money we talking Rose-."
"Say it again and I'll stab you boy!"
"So violent to your favorite son, wow. After all this talk about Cassia, you're willing to off her boyfriend and break her heart into a trillion pieces. Shame on you Rose." He shook his head, immediately scooting his chair back to be out of reach. "Got to be quicker than that." He laughed at the annoyance spread across her face.
