When It Works

First Christmas

It's Christmas morning and the kids rush downstairs excited to see all of the presents under the tree. They run and jump on Demetrius and Stasha waking all the adults. Fully awake they let the kids open up all their gifts. Lil meechie didn't care about nothing but his new cleats, madden and his PS5. They went all out for the kids even tho the baby barely knew what Christmas was they over did it for her as well. King was so excited about his bike he rode it around the living room Chris and Mel just smiled and let him have at it. As the adults opened all there gifts Zac started to get emotional. It wasn't about the gifts for him he was so happy to finally have a Christmas around love and peace. He would be content if he didn't have anything to open as long as he was there he was good. Dre and Marcus gave Zac back the start up money he gave them for the business plus a chain that matched theirs linking them as brothers forever. It was engraved "I am my brothers keeper". They finish exchanging gifts and everyone is sitting around Mariah whispers in Troys ear "baby can I see you upstairs for a second" they head upstairs and the rest of them continue to talk while Mel prepares breakfast. 

"So what are we doing today?" Chris asked

"Daddy you know we aren't doing anything but passing out gifts to the homeless and coming home for dinner, just like we do every year" Fatima said

"Just needed to make sure you guys remembered the tradition and how fortunate you are" 

"I could never forget daddy"

Sitting on the edge of the bed Troy sat in silence holding a positive pregnancy test in his hands. Not quiet because he didn't want to be a daddy but it was just a shock. Not wanting his silence to come across the wrong way he looked at Mariah and smiled. She was relieved seeing him grin. "How are you feeling about it" she asked "im beyond blessed I love you and I couldn't ask for a better gift. I just hope I'm a better parent than what I was shown" he said "baby you'll be great you are great" he gives her a kiss and hugs her then lens down and gives her stomach a kiss. "I promise to be good to you and mommy" he spoke into her stomach. Mariah smiles and drop a few tears of joy. "You ready to g tell Zac?" She asked nervously "hell yea I know he gon be on my ass about stepping up and providing but I got this, we got this" he said knowing Zac would be happy but wouldn't allow him to slack and stay on top of business for his baby to come and Mariah. "Alright let's go, Aunt Mel bout to over do it" Mariah said giggling as a they walk out the room and go back downstairs.

"What y'all smiling so hard for,  aht riah you not be being nasty in my house" Mel said laughing

"Aunty no cut that out I'm just having a great Christmas" Mariah responded

"Mmmhhhmmm freaks" Fatima said nodding at them both

"Noooooooo wasn't nobody bein no freak Fa-Ti-Ma. If you must know! I got the best Christmas gift just now" Troy said rolling his eyes and giving his best Fatima impersonation 

"And what's that lil boy" 

Holding up the pregnancy test stopping everybody in their tracks "THIS!". Fatima and Mel both light up and run to hug Mariah at the same time. "I'm so happy for you oh my gosh, my baby is having a baby" Fatima said holding Mariah's stomach. Zac and the fellas dapping and congratulating Troy "Congratulations it's the best gift you could ever receive do right by my niece" Chris said "welcome to fatherhood lil bro you gon make a dope daddy" Demetrius said patting him on the shoulder. "I'm proud of I know you gon be there every step of the way for her and yo seed" Zac said on the brink of tears. He watched Troy go from boy to man and he hopes the example he sat for him he does for his kids. He has hope that he'll be better than what they were exposed too. "Thanks y'all I'm nervous as hell I ain't never been a daddy before" he said making the room laugh. Zac looked at him as he always did when he reassures him everything will be alright " Chin up chest out you got this and if you don't you got me" As grown as he was he still needed Zac for that type of advice and support. After all the fuss and they finished breakfast they got ready to head to the homeless shelter to pass out meals and gifts. I'm their room Zac and Fatima get ready while talking about Troy and Mariah.

"Can't believe this lil nigga finna be a daddy." Laughing and shaking his head

"I know right I remember when Mariah was just a lil girl following me around. Hell she still follow me around"

"I'm happy for them though they're gonna be great parents" Zac said smiling

"I can't wait to see what they're having"

Walking behind her and leaning down hugging her as she applied her make up at her vanity. "You just wait til I shoot the club up, you gon have the prettiest babies" leaning to the side to kiss him "yea i know" "I want about 5" Zac said laughing "Nigga 5 my ass you trippin" getting out his embrace to finish getting ready "so do y'all go to the same shelter every year or is it different ones" Zac asked. "Mmmm I believe this is a new one this year, it's usually for a few hours and then we just come home for dinner and enjoy Christmas dinner." "Aw ok cool Im all for giving back" "and that's why I love you" she said kissing him and signaling him out the door

The Shelter

It's been a few hours and they have given away just about everything. They're all so humbled  by the experience. Realizing at any moment that could be any one of them. It was a very therapeutic and character building moment for them. As they are breaking down and cleaning up a little boy runs up to the table asking for a plate. They make him some food and hand him little boy presents. As Chris comes back to the table he's caught off guard the little boy looks exactly like Damon and Bricks when they were that age. "Daddy stop staring what's wrong" Chris points and says "who does he look like to you" taking a second look "oh damn daddy he does look like bricks..... and Damon" yelling from the near distance a woman "Zay get over here you already ate don't be like that other people gotta eat too" "ok" the toddler spoke. Looking up from picking up some trash Zac is both confused angry and happy. His emotions are all over the place. They lock eyes and the woman stops in her tracks. "Keisha?" He said confused "Zac, Zac I'm sorry" as fucked up as she was to him he was flooded with happiness. He thought she was dead. Everybody looking confused until Troy joined in on the embrace they hugged for what seemed an eternity. "Mommy who is this?" Zay asked breaking the hug "This is your uncle zac and cousin Troy" staring at the lil boy zac stuck his hand out "Wassup lil man" pieces together from the conversation Fatima gathers that it's Zac's sister.  But I thought they found her dead. How is this possible and is Zay my nephew?  They sit and talk and discuss things of the past she apologized for testifying against him. She explained she was terrified and in love with a horrible man. He then asks her about why people would say she was dead. Bricks had beating her so bad that her pulse was really faint the police didn't find one. It wasn't until the paramedics came and discovered she was alive. Zay was 8 months and he did all this in front of him. "It was at that moment I knew I had to get away and stay away"  relieved he didn't kill her but still infuriated that he would some shit like that in front of his own kid Zac just sat and listened. "It's somebody I think you both should meet. "Keisha this is Fatima, Bricks sister, Fatima this is my sister Keisha and your nephew" shocked Fatima spoke "nice to meet you both" not knowing what more to say  she went and told her father. 

"Keisha come on let me get you somewhere more suitable for you and my nephew to sleep and we'll finish catching up tomorrow" Zac said

"No i couldn't ask you to do that after all I put you through" 

"You're not asking and I'm not repeating myself let's go" 

They all got up to leave the shelter Zac tried to get her  a hotel but Chris insisted she stayed at the house with the rest of the family. Besides she had his only biological grandson. They make it to the house and decide it's too much to deal with tonight, they'll pick it up in the morning.