Somewhere in Los Angeles
Praia was woken up rather abruptly by little legs kneeing her in the face as Monty crawled into her bed to rest on the side of her on the spacious bed. Praia peaked an eye open discreetly to see that Ava was sitting quietly at the top of the bed, her iPad resting on her legs as she silently watched PJ Masks.
"Monty!" She whisper-yelled in his direction. "You're gonna wake her up. Come on."
Monty giggled childishly, moving to sit next his godsister so that they could continue watching the show while Praia fell back asleep.
She had spent the night at the Chery's per their request after Maj's game. Pierce stayed at the apartment and was picking her up later. He was sort of insistent on her staying there for the night since he had to duck out earlier than she wanted to.
She was sleeping for another hour before she was woken by loud whispering and the sound of someone on her phone.
"Where mama at?" She heard Pierce over speakerphone.
"Shh," Monty shushed him. "Mama sleeping."
Ava giggled, taking the phone from where it was on the bed in front of Monty, pressing the FaceTime icon and turning the camera to face a half asleep Praia.
She was peeking her eye open to look at Monty and Ava, then directly at the camera.
"Y'all, give mama the phone." He told them, chuckling a little as he took FaceTime photos.
Praia held her arms open, signaling for the two children to get their morning hugs. It was a small tradition from when they stayed with her.
The two immediately moved to slot themselves under her arms for a tight squeeze from her. "Good morning, Bugs." Praia spoke looking at Monty first, placing a kiss on his forehead. She then turned to Ava, "Good morning, Boo-Boo." She placed a kiss on her forehead.
"G'mornin', mama." Monty replied with a smile.
"Good morning," Ava replied brightly, showing all of her teeth in a smile.
"Mason! Ava!" They all heard from downstairs. "Stop bothering that girl and come eat!"
The two children continued to giggle with one another. They had already been told by their Nana that Praia was tired and to be sure not to wake her up, but it was nearing 12 in the afternoon and they had been awake since 9. They missed her. And at this point, the two children were partners in crime.
Praia felt bad for their teachers the next year when Monty would start kindergarten, seeing as he would most likely be going to the same school as Ava.
"Go eat, babies." She told them, leaning up from where she was lying at the foot of her queen sized bed. "Go, go, go." She rushed them, smiling at the visual of the two racing down the steps together.
"Helloooo..?" Pierce sounded from the phone. Praia had almost forgotten he was there.
"Hi," she greeted him, holding the camera towards the ceiling. It was still in reverse, however.
"Why I'm looking at your covers?" He asked her. He looked handsome as ever, his chain was on display and he was in a white undershirt and some low-hanging sweatpants.
She turned the camera around to face her ceiling, causing him to smack his lips.
"Praia." He deadfaced her.
"Pierce, I look a mess." She wiped the sleep out of her eyes, and the drool from the side of her mouth, carrying the phone (still facing the ceiling) to the bathroom.
