Through the Wire. [Lamar Jackson Fanfiction]

II.

"Daddy's coming home today, baby."
      Layla bounced up and down unable to contain her excitement. "Daddy! Daddy!" she grinned. I handed her a banana slice, then opened the door to the backyard, letting her go out in front of me. In the backyard was family and friends of the Jackson family, who were ready to celebrate Lamar's accomplishment. He was officially a Baltimore Raven. I found a seat in the shade away from the warm, Florida sun, and watched Layla play with her aunties; Lamar's younger sisters eleven year old, Kamoor, and nine year old, Kamari.
Layla was growing up so quick. Although she wasn't quite two yet, it seems like time had flown since she was born. Lamar's mom was not too pleased when she found out that I was expecting. She wanted Lamar to be focused solely on football and his grades, but that changed once he found out about the baby. We both picked up extra hours, and burned the candle at both ends some nights to make sure all our homework was done.
But in the end, Miss Felicia was in love with her new grandchild.
      "So, Baltimore?" Jamar asked.
He was a year younger than Lamar, and was his true partner in crime. They grew up playing football in the backyard with each other. Two brothers who were truly inseparable. I nodded. "It sounds kind of weird, right?" I asked. All of us had grown up in Pompano Beach, going up north definitely felt, different. A new state, a new life. But it's just what we were going to have to do. "You seem unsure." I gave a small smile, looking at all the purple balloons and napkins set up. "I just want everything to work out. It will be a lot having to move."
Even after we had Layla, I stayed in Florida to finish my degree, and Lamar traveled back and forth between Kentucky and Florida. It would be the first time Lamar and I even lived together with Layla. We would be a real family now, like I always wanted.
"It will" he added. "Lamar is the realest nigga I know. He'll take care of you and Lay Lay for sure. And Ma will make sure he will" he joked.
      The fence gate squeaked open and in walked the man of the hour, a smile on his face after seeing the backyard full of loved ones. Everyone began clapping, and patting him on the back. "I should've known y'all were gonna have something set up." I walked over. Lamar was beaming, his dreams were coming true. "Daddy!" Layla smiled, running up to her father. He bent down, scooping her up and placing kisses on her face. "Lay, you were good for Mommy?" She nodded, hugging him back.
      "We knew you could do it, Lamar" I told him.
He pulled me into a hug, and pressed a kiss to my temple.
"I know, Naya. I was getting nervous. But I have to go to work for real now, and make all those other teams regret not taking me earlier." I could see the determination in his eyes. When Lamar had that look on his face, he meant what he said.
"Exactly, big bro" Jamar added, dapping him up.

• • •

      After an evening of celebration, everyone began to head home, leaving just the main family in the kitchen talking. "So you know you all have to start looking at homes like yesterday, right?" Miss Felicia asked. "Yes mom, we know" Lamar called from the living room as he played with Layla. "You all need to get on it then." "I know, mom" he groaned, "I got it." I giggled. "I'll come with you all to look at some homes." Lamar picked Layla up, and walked into the kitchen. "Ma, I can handle this, ok?" She gave him a glance before she went back to wrapping the leftovers.
     She was a stern woman, loving, but hard. I knew she would never show too many emotions when it came to us moving to Maryland. Deep down, she was worried. "You and Naya have to take this move very seriously." Lamar and I listened carefully. "This will be your first home in a whole other state with my grand baby." "You guys are gonna be up there too, Ma. I know you're worried, but we'll be fine." He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"We'll be straight."

A/N: Checking later :)