3 Way | Michael B. Jordan |

We've been expecting you ... too ...

Tera 

I looked over myself in the mirror as I fluffed my freshly washed main. For the first time in a long time I was starting to feel like myself again. I tugged at the bikini style under wear that adorned my hips before fidgeting with the less than comfortable bra that cupped my bosoms. I was happy to see that my ribs where no longer pultruding. And the fact that my butt was starting to poke back out again made me do a little happy jiggle in the mirror. 

I knew the road to recovery wasn't a short one. But one worth taking nevertheless. 

I decided on a comfortable pair of distressed denim jeans and a matching blue hued tank to match. I slid into a comfortable pair of plain sandals and took the time to lay my edges and apply a natural beat to my face.  I looked good but most importantly I felt better. 

I was excited for what life had been showing me lately. And that was that even when undeserving you may get a second chance. And that was the story of my life. Right there summed into a few words. 

I had for the most part wasted a majority of my life feeling sorry for myself. That and blaming everyone around me for the bad things that happened to me. This all lead to a less than fulfilling life. 

I struggled with depression for the majority of my teen years which at the time I didn't know was a direct result of an underlying mental illness. This not becoming evident until I was twenty years old and a newly single mother. This is where my struggles no longer where my own. I began to suffer from postpartum depression as well and my life quickly spiraled out pf control. 

It was like for some reason no matter how bad I wanted to let go of my ex and move on I couldn't. I became obsessed with the idea of winning him back and having the family I had always dreamed of. Although that was never in the cards for us. We were both heavily involved in drug and alcohol abuse. Our son being the direct result of our negligence. I loved him no less however. 

But in the state of mind I was in all I could think about was getting closer to Rick. I wanted us to be a family. A real family. Like the ones you see on tv. But he had other plans. 

It was like once he found out I was pregnant and decided to keep it he felt the sudden need to get his life together. No more drinking. No more drugs. He stopped partying. And at first I thought it was all for us but I was sadly mistaken. 

The more his shit fell into place the more he pulled away from the idea of us becoming a family unit. To the point of him actively ignoring and avoiding me as if I wasn't pregnant with his first child. 

I hoped it was just a phase. Expecting dad jitters perhaps. But the closer I got to my expected due date the more evident it became that it wasn't. Granted I had tried to change too but the more Rick pulled away the deeper I got snatched back into that depressive worm hole that had surrounded me for most of my life. And sadly but surely I had found myself dipping and dabbling in that world again. 

Long story short I ended up single, addicted and manic. I was less than a mother to DJ. I'll admit that. But losing him almost made me lose not only my mind but my life.  But all that's behind me now. I'm clean and fresh out of a year stint in a mental institution. I got my cosmetology degree in the process and today's my first day on the job as a Marvel makeup artist. Mostly in part thanks to my mom and her amazing connections. Although I had put her through hell she never wavered and has been my biggest supporter. 

Buzz Buzz!

My phone vibrated on the night stand. I hurriedly picked it up already knowing who it was. "Hello mother." I chimed into the phone trying my best not to seem nervous but nervous was all I was. 

"Honey please tell me you're on you're way. You know how this will look if you're late right?" She quizzed as if I didn't. 

"Terrible I'm sure but no worries. I'm on my way." I countered throwing the scrap of my purse over my shoulders. Grabbing my keys and heading to my car. She had managed to somehow get the judge in my custody case to grant me supervised visits with my now two year old soon. And today would be the first. "I'm headed you way." I assured before saying our see-you-laters and disconnecting the call. 

***

Knock Knock!

I couldn't bring myself to call once I arrived. My nerves had gotten the best of me. So I decided to pull into my old home's driveway and solemnly make my way to the door. Giving myself the best pep talk that I could. 

"Hi baby!" My mother chimed as if she hadn't seen me yesterday. But I loved that about her. She knew how big of a deal this was for me regardless of how much I tried to play it off. "Mwah!" She chimed placing a kiss on my cheek and slowly guiding me inside. 

My nerves were bad and my heart was weak. I had only seen pictures and videos of DJ since I got institutionalized. But my mother who had gained full custody did her best to make sure he never forgot about me. 

He was just a baby when I went in and although I could understand him being reserved when it came to me it still pained me to think about it nonetheless. He was still my big baby. My only baby. And if God gives me the chance then I promise I'm going to do right by him this time around. I had already missed out on so much. And I vowed never to do the same again. 

"Hi DJ!" I yelled unable to control my level of excitement. He suddenly stopped playing with the lady from the states office and turned to face me with an unsure look in his eyes. And in that very moment I felt defeated. He didn't recognize me as my mother had promised. And there was no one else to blame but me. I softly fell to my knees, closed my eyes and began to pray as I had learned as a child and relearned as an adult. "Father please forgive ..." 

"Mommy!" DJ yelled clear as a crystal causing my eyes to flutter open. All was forgiven. He ran into my arms and quickly wrapped his small little arms around me. Causing me to scoop him into my chest. And strangely his scent was as familiar as it had ever been. 

"Baby." I cooed allowing myself to enjoy one of life's little moments. And it was beautiful. Beautiful is what it was. 

We played for our allotted time and then I had to go. Because I didn't want to be late for work nor was I granted much time the first day. But man was it a first day.

I sadly said my goodbyes and headed my way. Ready to conquer the rest of my day. 

***

"We're so happy to have you." Vanity said gushing as she showed me around the studio. 

I was already on cloud nine. High as a kite off life. My son remembered me and treated me as if I had always been there regardless of how far away I had really been. That alone was a blessing. 

"I'm happy to be here." I admitted taking the time to smile at all of the endless faces she was introducing me to. Lord knows I had never been good with putting faces to names but here I was trying to hard as fuck. So I smiled and waved occasionally. As much as I could given where my mind was which was still planted on DJ. 

"And this is where you'll be working." She said clearing her throat and bringing me back to my senses. I suddenly I felt like I needed to be more aware than I had ever been since I arrived. "Michael B. Jordan's room." She said before glancing over me and opening the door. I had been institutionalized for a while and even given that still always very unsure of what was or who was now popular. "Killmonger!" She chimed pulling the door open and stepping aside. "Her garden awaits you." She said stepping aside. 

I softly stepped into the room. Taking notice of the beautiful chocolate man before me. As the women around him softly twisted his hair. "Tera ... Right?" He said as if I could hear him and as if his golden grills hadn't managed to steal all the attention. Being them nicely placed against his pearly white teeth. "We've been expecting you..." He continued as my brown eyes zoned in on his firm plump  lips. 

"Have you'll?"  I uttered just as his door closed behind us. He softly nodded his head and regardless of how he may have wanted to come off he came off like this ... .

A/N

There's soo much more to this ... But granted it's a filler ...  I'll make this make sense. Next chap!