Through It All 2

8

(Three months later)

Since everything happened with Ant and Zil things have been tensed. Ant left the Los and Zil left Mafia. There is word that they are starting their own gang taking at least half of each gang with them. Jay moved Nia and Ricky in with us he also gotten more security. He is on edge because they haven't caught the people who kill our dads and with the word out that there's a new gang. I have four big niggas that fallow me around. You don't know they're there until I need them. With all this bullshit going on some good did come out of it. My bond is back with my girls including Monica. My mom has become really helpful. Maya moved to Atlanta to be closer to her sons. She said that the Miami life isn't for her. Since my dad was gone her love for the city died along with him. We still talk every day.

(1:00 am)

*Baby cries through monitor*

I roll over in bed and notice that Jay still isn't back from whatever he had to do earlier that night. I get up and walk to Maya's room wiping the sleep from my eyes. I stop at the door when I see Jason already in there. He had her laying on his bare chest rocking her in the rocking chair. He was just talking to her like she was around our age. I lean against the door frame just watching him. He is a very great father and husband. No matter how crazy it gets out there he always makes time for us. He puts is family before the streets.

"I love you and ya mama. I promise that I won't let a damn thing happen to y'all. Ya mama think I don't see her standing at the door either."

Damn, he saw me. I can never just seek up on him. He always knows that I am there. I walk into the room and sit on the little loveseat that is next to the chair he is in.

"I got her ma, you can go back to bed. I will be in there in a few." He says. I nod my head, get up kissing them both.

(Later that day)

"I want to take everyone somewhere so go get ready." Jason says

"Where are we going?" I ask as I put down the book I was reading down.

"You will see when we get there." With that he leaves out our room. I shake my head. I get up and go into my closet. I pick out a pair of light pink high-waist jeans, hot pink and white crop top, and nude heels. My body had gotten right since I had Maya. My breast are now a D-cup, my ass looks like Kim Kardashian-West, and my stomach is flat. Nia and I have been working out since she found out she lost her baby due to stress. We even got a trainer who has been kicking our asses but it has been worth it though. I go into the shower and wash my hair. I decided to wear my natural curls. Once, I am done I get dressed and do light makeup. I step out our room and go get Maya ready.

I pick her up out the crib and kiss all over her face "How's mommy's baby?" She just smiles. I can say I have one happy baby. She wasn't really fussy unless she was hungry or needed a diaper change. I place her on my shoulder then go into her drawer and pull out one of the many pink outfits that she has. Then I take her back into my room. I place her baby tub in the tub then run a little bit of bath water for her. I get her undressed, test the water making sure it wasn't too hot or too cold, then place her in. I start washing her up and washing her hair. She was blessed with a head full of hair and like mines it curls when it is wet. I take her out and get her ready. When we're done I hold her in my arms in front of the mirror and take photos for the gram.

(On the road)

We have been in the car for three hours and it has been fun. Jason said it would nice to take a road trip to get us out the house and Nia's mind off the lost of the baby. Which was a great idea, even though she didn't let it stop her from living her life I could tell it still weighed on her. She has been getting home-schooled with me because seeing Ant and Zil all booed up at school was making her sick.

"We're here." Jason says parking the car.

I look around trying to figure out just where here was. We looked like we were in the back of some type of building. "And where is here" I asks

"Get out and you'll see." We all get out and go into the building. What caught my eyes was all my work from Jordan's gallery. There was a guy who turned to us smiling. He and Jason shake hands and he introduces us "This is my wife Gemma, our daughter Maya, my sister Nia, and her son Ricky. Y'all this is Paul Land-cross."

"Paul Land-cross as in the biggest photographer of all time." I say excitedly

"The one and only, you are quite the artist yourself. I saw your work at your art show and I had to have these pieces in my studio."

"Thank you."

"Now, are y'all ready?" he asked

"For what?"

"I thought it'd be a great idea to have a family photo." Jason says as he takes Maya out her car-seat.

We took photos all five of us together, then Nia and I by ourselves then with the kids, the kids by themselves, Nia and Jay, Jay and I then us with Maya, lastly Nia and Ricky together. When we were done we looked over all the photos and Paul said that he would ship them to us when they were ready. We left and went to have lunch. As we are eating a guy comes over to the table and he and Jason start talking.

"Gem, this is my cousin Rich. Rich this is my wife Gem, our sis Nia, her son Ricky, and our baby girl Maya."

"Nice to meet you, Nia and I already know each other." Rich says

"Oh, really now?" Jason says trying to be funny. Rich looks over at Ricky who isn't paying any attention to us but to Nia's phone watching Youtube.

"Yeah, he's Ricky's father who wanted nothing to do with him."

"Because, I didn't think he was mine and I wasn't ready for a kid." Rich says

"How wouldn't he be yours? I lost my virginity to you and you were the only one I slept with. But, it doesn't matter now. As you can he is straight and we have family who helps us." She says going back to eating her food. Rich looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words to say. Jason excused him and Rich and they went outside. I look over at Nia who seems not to be bothered at all.

"Are you okay?" I ask as finish my pasta and side salad.

"Yeah, I'm cool. I just can't believe I was in love with him. I gave him a special part of me and he left me to fin for myself. I can't see how he and Jason are cousins. Jay was raised right."

"That he was. His dad ain't play no games." I say making her laugh. Just thinking back to the times I shared with Mr. Carballo; he was a really amazing and sweet person. After a while the guys come back.

"Nia, can I talk to you for a minute?" Rich says...

(Nia's P.O.V.)

"Nia, can I talk to you for a minute?" Rich asked me. I look over at Gem and she gives me the "Be civil" look. I nod my head and get up. We walk out the restaurant. I walk over to the side of the building. He follows and we just stare at each other not knowing what to say. The guy in front of me is someone I loved with everything in me. I thought he loved me back. But, as you can see I was left to care for our son all by my damn. Because, he said that Ricky wasn't his and that he wanted nothing to do with me or my son.

"What did you want to talk about? Or did you just want to waste my time standing here?" I say as I fold my arms then look at him straight in the eyes.

"I wanted to say that I really do apologize for what I did. I was young and wasn't ready for a kid. I know he's mine; I can look at him and tell he is." He says which is all the way true. Ricky is starting to look like Rich more and more every day. "I want to be a part in his life. I know it will take you sometime to forgive me."

"I have been forgiven you. Holding on to the anger I had for you would've stopped me from becoming the mother I am today. You can be a part of his life. We can work out every other weekend visitations."

"I'm cool with that." We exchange numbers and then went back inside.