Breathe Me In (fanfiction)

8. Meeting the Family (Pt. 2)

After all of that, Kenny came and everyone had a good time just eating and talking. Ty had old school music (like The Commodores old) playing on my backyard speakers for Mama B while we sat outside at a table.

At the table, Darius sat between Katara and Tylin. Across from them, I sat with Royalty on my lap besides Chris, who had Prince in his arms. Mama B was sitting on my left at the head of the table, on Katara's right.

It didn't take long for Chris to warm up to Darius and Tylin. They were all awkward with each other at first but once the subject of sports came up they were fast friends, talking to each other like they knew each other their whole lives.

We spent the rest of the day and part of the night until everyone besides Chris and Royalty left. Me and Chris moved to sit in my living room with the kids after he helped me put the food away.

"I forgot to tell you this but that food was on point, ma. You could own your own restaurant!" Chris told me.

We were spread out on the couch watching. I was sitting upright but Chris was laying on his back with his head in my lap. In front of us, Royalty and Prince were laid out on a mat sleeping soundly.

I laughed and shook my head, "Boy, you already said that five times before. I got it the first time but thank you"

"Where you learn to cook like that tho?" he looked up at me, his brown eyes brimming with curiosity.  I shrugged at him.

"I had to learn how to feed myself as a child since nobody else was gonna do it for me. It was either learn or starve so you can see which one I chose"

He looked up at me with pity, a small frown on his face as he took in my words.

"Yo, that's fucked up. Seriously"

I tilted my head, "Aye, it is what it is. Besides, the past is over now"

"I know but how can someone just stand by and let a child go hungry?" he shook his head. "Your social worker didn't notice?"

"My social worker didn't care about me, she cared about her paycheck just like most of my foster parents and one little black girl was not going to change that" I answered, eyeing the tv.
Poetic Justice was one of my favorite movies and whenever it was on tv I couldn't help but watch (even though I had it on Netflix).

"I'm sorry you had to go through that" he apologized. I smiled a little before looking back down at him.

"Thank you, I appreciate it but I'm okay now. We all have to go through fire to becone diamonds. I'm just glad that nothing worse happened to me like the other foster kids I met"

"It's sad how kids have to experience that"

"Yea, it is. Not a lot of foster parents truly care about the children so there aren't a lot of nice foster homes. Me and my husband actually wanted to open up our home for foster kids and also adopt after we got our finances together"

"Damn. Ya'll were on some Brad and Angelina shit" Chris muttered jokingly. I laughed and hit his arm with my shoulder while he was practically wheezing. His laugh was contagious and I started laughing harder as I watched him.

"You're stupid" I chuckled once we'd calmed down a little bit.

"So when did you meet your family?" Chris asked, referring to my best friends and Mama B and Kenny.

"Well, I met Katara when I was 13 and she was 15 when I was moved to the foster home in Brooklyn that she was at. I was moved again but we kept in close contact, even when she moved here. I moved here eventually and met Kenny first at a music festival. Through him I met Mama B"

"What about my niggas Darius and Tylin" My eyebrows rose at how he referred to them.

"Your niggas?"

"They're cool and drama free. I need more friends like that so they're my newest best friends besides the ones I already got. Anyways, how did they come into the picture?"

I shook my head at him, amused at how close he was to my brothers. "Katara dated Tylin and Darius was Tylin's best friend first. Katara introduced them to the rest of us and we've been like family ever since"

"Yo, I never would've guessed that Katara and Tylin of all people dated. They be going in on each other" Chris laughed, surprised. I laughed with him, agreeing completely.

"That's why they only lasted for two weeks and barely" I laughed.

"You think they'd ever get back together?"

I shook my head, "No. I'm positive they only see each other as brother and sister but then again you never know with people"

"True" he nodded, eyes moving back to the tv. We watched the rest of the movie and once it was over, Chris stood up and picked a sleeping Royalty up, cradling her in his arms. "Well, we gotta head out. I have to be at the studio early in the morning"

"Alright, lemme walk you out" I nodded, first glancing at Prince to make sure he was okay. He was knocked out in the playpen, holding on to his favorite stuffed animal (a giraffe) so I knew he'd be fine once I walked Chris to his car.

We walked outside, stepping out into the cool air. Looking up at the sky, I was met with the same view I get in LA, a smoky night sky. Silently, I followed Chris to his car and watched as he strapped Royalty in her carseat. She stirred a little but other than that she didn't wake up.

"I had a good time and so did Royalty. I think you got my daughter hooked on your food cause she don't even eat much with her mama" Chris told me, wrapping his arms around me in a hug.

I laughed and hugged him back, "I'm glad y'all had a good time and quit playing"

"I ain't playing. Naya be feeding her some nasty shit. Did you know I had to hire a chef to cook for them so my baby can be fed over there? Her mama had me questioning her ethnicity" Chris joked, getting in his car.

"How?"

"Swear, she don't season her food just like white people. I told her that's a damn shame cuz she a Latina" Chris responded. I was laughing so hard, tears were falling down my face.

"You're stupid. Drive safely" I shook my head. Chris smirked and started up the car.

"But you love me tho and I will. Sleep well, watchover little man for me"

I arched an eyebrow, "Nigga of course I will, I'm the mama"

"Damn ain't no need to get snippy" Chris chuckled. I rolled my eyes, laughing with him.

"Bye Chris"

"Bye baby girl" he smiled before driving off. Smiling to myself, I walked back inside my house.