LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

THE BIRTH OF LUCIOUS LYON

Standing to inspect myself in the full-length mirror of the suite, I feel butterflies in my stomach for the first time in a long time.

This is it.... this is the day that I'm remarrying the only woman I've ever genuinely loved.

The first time that we got married, we had a big ass engagement party, then went to the courthouse the next day. I knew she'd always wanted a big fancy wedding with a glamorous dress and all the trimmings, but we just couldn't afford it at the time.

She was pregnant with Dre and things were tight. I did hustle up a grip to get her a fat ass ring though and I'll never forget the look on her face when I slide it on her finger at the courthouse while Carol, Bunky, and Vernon looked on as our witnesses.

Now this time, I'm able to give her any and everything her heart desires, price tags be damned...they didn't exist to me for this event. Whatever she wanted I made it happen, if any woman ever deserved to be pampered this way it's most definitely her.

Vera Wang just completed her men's formal collection, so when she offered me the deal to be her model for its introduction to the world, I gladly accepted.

Rubbing my palms together, I smoothed down the front of my tux. The boys are waiting with me, a floral breeze wafting through the sliding glass door, I paced the floor in anticipation of the presiding official to come and knock on the door and tell us it's that time.

Damn, why am I so nervous I thought to myself, running my hands over my head.

"Dad, calm down. You're gonna walk a hole in the floor if you keep it up." Andre laughed, looking up from his phone.

Hakeem chimed in next, "Yeah pops it's not like this is y'all first time getting married or something, chill out before you fall out, please."

My eyes darted onto them, I took a deep breath, then ran my hand over my goatee. Unleashing a long exhale and shacking my arms along my sides.

They're right, I need to relax so I poured myself a drink from the bar to calm my nerves.

My head turned on a swivel as Vernon came through the door. "Man, you ready?" He quizzed, brow scrunching at my face, "You look nervous baby.... relax." He cheesed, patting me on the shoulder.

"You might wanna tell him that again Uncle Vernon, he's been in here bout to jump outta that expensive ass suit, he so antsy." Jamal revealed, as he and his brothers laughed in unison.

"Oh, y'all got jokes huh?" I snapped, prompting a smile to float across Vernon's face while I took a gulp from my glass.

"Lucious, everything is all good fam. We got about twenty minutes until things kick off and I just seen your lady my man she's looking...." He trailed off, shaking his head as if trying to find the right words, his teeth damn near the only thing I see in his mouth cause there sure ain't any words coming from it.

He blew out a breath as if speechless, "Man, all I can say is that you might need another drink because she's looking FLAWLESS my brotha...you're a lucky man bruh." He dapped me up, leaned into my ear and whispered his next phrase.

"And I'll also say that you're definitely going to have a good night tonight." He uttered with the biggest smirk on his face, and I couldn't help but laugh which helped ease my frazzled nerves.

Okay, I'm good...let me get my shit together here. I swallowed, staring at the reflection glaring back at me from the mirror within the distance, as then tension within my shoulders dissipated.

The room calmed as I strolled out onto the terrace, sun beaming against my face, I took another swig from my glass, then leaned against the balcony.

My mind drifted back to the moment that put everything in my life up until this moment into motion, all of which would eventually bring me to this moment.