LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

THE BABY BOY

One Month Later

Tianna and I sat across from each other along the patio of my Penthouse as we shared a private candle-lit dinner for two. Anika and I were never anything but that one-night hook-up to make my dad jealous, so I'm a free man.

When Cookie and I talked to Tianna that night at the restaurant when Anika was trying to get her to defect with her to Creedmoor, she told me that she wanted us to get back together and be how we used to be. I resisted at first, because I really thought that I was in love with Camilla, and I was really trying to be faithful. Pissed at dad for sending her away, yet as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, I started to realize that the only reason I even brought Camilla to the forefront of my life was because I was so hurt about Tianna having a side chick.

Embarrassed, yes, but hurt more than anything else because I was really feeling her and I thought that she was feeling me just as much, especially after how she held me down on the red carpet during our first awards show appearance. I ain't never had these types of feelings for a woman before and to be honest I didn't know how to express myself to her.

Dad told me to handle the situation like a Lyon and I did but I did it more like a Cub, lashing out and showing my ass, rather than an Alpha male, but now things are different. I'm nineteen so I'm not a child, but everybody has been telling me I need to grow up lately from Mal to Dre to Mom and even Dad, so I decided to take a look at the man in the mirror. I mean can everybody be wrong.

Maybe I do need to make some changes. Taking a sip from my glass, I focused my full attention onto the beauty before me.

"How's the shrimp bae?" I asked Tianna, while digging into my own plate.

She flashed that beautiful smile of hers at me and my heart began to race, "Oh my God, it's so good baby. Thanks for doing this, with me being out on tour I know we haven't had the chance to spend a lot of time together."  She gushed, the city skylight twinkling around us.

Reaching across the table, I gently grabbed her hand, "No problem Ma, you know I got you. Keep on getting out there and doing yo thang boo, ya boy's gonna be here. Besides, the album is getting ready to drop next month and I'll be hitting the road myself so maybe we can meet up." I retorted.

Suddenly she sat her fork down as her eyes glowed as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. 

"Oh, babe I just had the best idea, since my tour is just really starting and none of my dates for the last two months are set in stone, how about you talk to your parents about you joining me and us touring together." She proposed.

I wiped my mouth with my napkin, and I thought about what she said, "You mean like a Jigga and Bey On the Run typa thing?" I probed.

"Yeah, something like that. Keem, we already have at least five songs together and once your album drops the two new ones we did will definitely be hits. I mean with us on tour together can you imagine the hype and the sales. I can't think of a better way to push your debut album babe, plus we'd get to see each other every day." She tossed my way.

Damn, that's a bomb ass idea, that tour would probably do major numbers and both of our album sales would go through the roof. I took a sip of my champagne before I replied, "That sounds dope bae, and I think it could really work."

She grinned then took a sip from her own glass, "Okay, well let's run it by your mom tomorrow then. That woman is a beast so you know with her behind it the whole thing will be bananas." She giggled, the wiped her mouth and adjusted herself within her seat.

"God, I still can't believe that your parents are having another baby." She continued.

"Ain't she a beast though, you've got to hear the track we cut the other day. I'm getting ready to destroy the game. And that whole baby thang still got my head gone." I rebutted.

As Tianna and I continued to enjoy our dinner my thoughts shifted onto my parents. Lucious has always shown me affection but to be honest, he was never really an involved parent.

I spent a lot of time with Jamal and my nanny growing up and when dad was home, he'd usually just give me his black card to do whatever I wanted. It took a minute, but I'm glad that my mom's home. I always wondered what she was like and nothing that Jamal or Bunky told me about her over the years prepared me for actually meeting her in the flesh.

Yes, I acted like a spoil, selfish, brat towards her at first but that was honestly because I was hurt and a little jealous of her relationship with Mal. She was always gushing over him and the way that she stared towards him sorta had me in my feelings because I never had that sort of unconditional parental affection. 

Getting to know her and giving her the chance to get to know me has been one of the best decisions I've ever made because she is truly a spectacular woman. Ma has a brilliant mind and working side by side with her in the studio I've been able to learn so much about tons of different things.

Dad told me that we were just alike when she first got out and I didn't believe him at first, but the more time we've spent together the more I see myself in her. The more I notice things that she does that I do but, never saw in dad and have always wondered where I got it from.

To say I was shocked to learn about her being pregnant again would be putting it lightly. I mean I know that my parents are grown, and they had to have had sex to make me and my brothers, but I guess I just haven't pictured them together, in that way that is. I was way too young to remember how they interacted with each other when they were married, but Mal and Dre have told me a couple of horror stories about walking in on those two in the act a few times, that I'd just as soon forget.

Although I can say that when mom came back, I did start to notice a gradual change in my father and now days he always seems to be on cloud nine especially when she's around, even if she's merely cussing him out.

I've never seen him this way before in my life.... I mean I was nervous as hell that day he brought Dre and I into his office to talk and he brought up that whole Hostile Take-over thing. I was sure that he was going to flip out, cuss us out, cut us off, or worse, but instead he actually came at us out of left field and seemed genuine about ending the bad blood between us.

I'm not for sure but I think Cookie being around has a lot to do with that. My father has had tons of women, but I've noticed time and time again that he's never looked at any woman the way he looks at my mother. Every time she's anywhere in his vicinity his eyes are locked on her like she's the only other person in the room.  There's a light there and a mesmerized glint whenever she opens her mouth towards him. It's almost like he's in a trance, regardless of if it's angry or joy filled, she seems to be the only person that can take him there.

When they made the announcement about the baby, I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile plastered on his face. Cookie is a lot of woman to handle, but hell, it takes a whole lot of woman to tame Lucious Lyon.

After dinner Tianna and I decided to hit the town and party for a while. It was her idea but I'm down for it. Whatever she wants from me I'm willing to give her, she makes me happy and I'm not afraid to let people know it.

In a few months I won't be the baby of the family anymore, I'm going to be a big brother so the time for games is over. I'm in love with Tianna, I know this because I want to be a better man for her. My Lola Bear and my baby sister deserve to have me in their lives at my best, long gone are the days of me acting a fool just because I can.

It's time for me to step up to the plate, find my own path, and truly be a MAN now.