Six weeks later Zachary and Fatima had a good flow going and they absolutely loved being parents to baby Karter. Nick was still hiding out but Zachary was a very patient man. Killing Nick wasn't a matter of if but when. Zachary moved back into the house and although technically they were coparenting it didn't feel that way.
From Zachary perspective everything was going great. He hired an assistant at his corporate job leaving nothing but time to nuture his family. Fatima however felt she was wasting her days waiting for her and Zac to officially get back together. She felt he was stringing her along but unbeknownst to Zachary, Fatima was nearing her breaking point.
The entire situation was confusing to her considering technically they are still separated but they move as a family unit. Once this situation with Nick is resolved they can circle back around to them but at this time the situation is tense since her mom wanted to let bygones be bygones not fully believing would target Zachary or Niko and especially not her innocent grandson.
Today was Karters 6 weeks check up, the appointment went well. Both his hearing and sight as well as weight is on track. After the appointment they went to lunch. The couple at the next table over had Fatima in her feelings watching how in love the couple was.
Fatima was lost in her thoughts thinking how she not only craved that attention but she wanted it specifically from Zachary.
A part of her felt it was her punishment for taking him through so much, the other part of her was making an escape plan in her mind determined to find her own happiness outside of the title of "mom".
A notification from his phone snapped her back to reality just to upset her when she saw it was Cheri on her Zachary's phone AGAIN. She didn't mention it, instead she made up a lie about having a headache so they could go home.
After they got home Fatima retreated to her room staying kind of quiet until Zachary noticed and checked on her.
Zachary: Ti baby what's wrong? Did I do something to upset you?
Fatima: No, nothing is wrong I got a lot on my mind but nothing I want to talk about.
Zachary: Why not, I'm here. Maybe I can help unless it's me. Am I the problem, are we good?
Fatima: We're fine Zachary.
Zachary: Then why you got all this weird energy towards me?
Fatima: I don't. My head hurts, I just want to lay down for a minute.
Zachary: You're a horrible liar, if you don't want to talk about it that's cool but you don't have to make up a lie about a headache to be left alone.
When you have a headache you lay in the dark with rainsounds. I don't hear no rain and you got every damn light on as usual.
Fatima: Fine, I don't have a headache. I just wanted to be alone to think without you making my issue your issue.
Zachary: Touché, you got it. I'll leave you to your thoughts. I love you.
Fatima: Stop saying that.
Zachary: Stop saying that I love you? Hold up, now we need to talk because what you mean?
Fatima: I mean don't say you love me because it's confusing me how you keep saying it but I don't feel it.
Zachary: Please don't get offended but is this the postpardum or you really feel that way?
Fatima: You heard my doctor with your own ears say that I'm one of the very few women who doesn't have postpartum depression. I know your ego would love to have anything besides you be responsible for how you make me feel.
Zachary: Please elaborate because if my actions don't show you I love you then break it down to dummy terms because I'm lost. You know I love you just like I know you love me even though you want to tell yourself you don't.
Fatima: I do love you so much so that I'm being unfair to myself. I'm just sitting here in limbo while you decide if and when we will be together. I didn't think it would be like this, I feel pathetic. You moved back in and we got this parenting shit down but I feel like a trapped baby mama. That's not what I envisioned for myself, I let myself down.
Zachary: I don't have you in limbo, I know shit with your pops is sticky and I didn't want to pressure you either way. Baby we can officially get back together right now but I wanted to do it right way this time.
Fatima: What's the right way?
Zachary: Shit I don't even know but fuck it because obviously it was a bad idea. So what now?
Fatima: What do you mean?
Zachary: I mean you're my life, my baby, my woman, my lover, my friend, my confidant, can we start fresh from this moment. Will you be my girlfriend?
Fatima: Stop playing.
Zachary: I'm serious babe, let me take you on a date tonight. I'm deadass.
Fatima: What about Karter?
Zachary: Who is that? Oh I was trying to get to know you, I didn't know you had a kid. Where his daddy at? Probably some lame nigga anyway, dump that zero and get with this hero.
Fatima: His daddy was ran over by a parade float, you his daddy now.
Fatima was now crying laughing, she loves Zachary's goofy side.
Zachary: Damn a you gifting me a baby for date night, I was just going to get you flowers.
Fatima: Babe it's funny you said that, you haven't bought me flowers in two weeks. I feel some type of way.
Zachary: My bad baby, I got busy with moving back in, hiring an assistant and catching up on sleep. But that is a standard I've set for you and I won't miss another week. Forgive me?
Fatima: Forgiven. I get it. My feelings were bruised but now you say that it makes sense.
Zachary: So we good and you'll be ready for our date at 7?
Fatima: I'll be ready.
Zachary made a few calls to pull a few strings. He had flowers delivered to the house at 6. They took Karter to Danni before heading out for a night on the town.
Zachary showed Fatima the best night ever. He wined and dined her, they laughed and talked like they first met. Over dinner Zachary wrote a note to Fatima on a napkin asking her to be his girlfriend, she wrote back "our six weeks are up". He picked her up over his shoulder, threw a couple hundreds on the table and sped home to get it popping.
