"Damn." TJ mumbled, looking down at Chris' unconscious body on the bed. He was beat up real bad. There were cuts and bruises all over his head and face. "You shoulda told me bro." He pulled the chair closer to Chris' bed, putting his elbows on the bed, and laying his face in his hands. He sat there for a few minutes, shaking his leg nervously as he prayed for Chris. He couldn't help but blame himself for all of this. It was his fault; if he would have never got involved with Ace, then, none of this would be happening. The door crept open as Natasha came through with Maurice. TJ clenched his jaw. "The fuck you bring him here for?" He spat, standing up and grabbing Maurice before he could see Chris.
"Fuck was I supposed to do? Chris stuck me with the little brat before he went out and did some stupid shit that almost got him killed."
"Uncle, put me down I wanna see daddy." Maurice said, trying to pry TJ's hands from around his tiny body.
"Nah little man, go wait in the hallway while I talk to this hoe then I'ma take you to go see ya mom." TJ turned Maurice around so he was facing the door and pushed him gently till he began to walk on his own. He held his head down; TJ knew he was disappointed but he was sure Chris didn't want Maurice to see him like that. It would probably scar him for life; nobody should see their parent like that. "Wait there, don't go anywhere." TJ said sternly and Maurice nodded his head, walking out the door. TJ turned his attention back to Natasha who was standing there rolling her eyes. "You don't gotta be here bitch, go home."
She cocked her head back in surprise. "Don't call me a bitch."
"Bitch!" TJ screamed. "Go the fuck home." Natasha sucked her teeth as she stared at TJ in disgust. "And just for the record; he wasn't doing nothing stupid. He was tryna save a real as female. Not no off-brand, thirsty bitch like yourself." He spat, chuckling.
"I don't really give a fuck. I don't care about you, the bitch, the brat, or him." Natasha said folding her arms. She rolled her eyes at TJ one last time before walking out the room.
TJ followed behind her, closing the door. "Come on lil man."
"So I can see mommy but not daddy?" Maurice whined, looking down at the ground.
"Yeah, because daddy is real sick right now, but when he gets better you can go see him okay?"
Maurice looked up at him and smiled. "Okay." When they made it to Liana's room, he knocked a few times before walking in. Liana was asleep but woke up when she heard them open the door. Her leg was propped up in a sling and it was highly uncomfortable, so every little noise woke her up from her light sleep.
"How you feeling sis?" TJ asked, offering her a smile.
She smiled back. "I'm okay. Has he woken up yet?"
TJ shook his head slowly. "I know he will though. He's going to pull through for y'all."
Liana nodded her head in agreement as TJ picked Maurice up and put him on the bed. "Mommy I love you."
"I love you too."
"Guess what mommy..."
"What?" She said, trying to sound excited.
"I drew a picture of you and daddy." He said, digging into his pocket and pulling out the folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and gave it to Liana.
He drew Chris and Liana holding hands on the beach. At the top where the sky would be, he wrote 'Mommy and Daddy Forever'. It looked pretty good for a five year old drawing.
"Aww baby," Liana said, kissing his forehead. "I love it and I'm sure daddy will too." When Liana mentioned Chris, Maurice's grin fell and he looked down again. It was as if he knew something was wrong with his dad but he didn't know what. "What's wrong?" Liana asked, lifting up his chin.
"Is daddy dying?"
Liana's mouth formed an "O" as her body froze. She was shocked he asked her that, but was even more shocked that she didn't know the answer. Being in a coma doesn't mean you're dying, but you're not exactly living either. She frowned at the thought of it. "He's not dying lil man." TJ said, touching Maurice shoulders.
"You promise?" Maurice asked.
"Yeah I promise." TJ mumbled, looking at Liana. She shot him a thank you look and he nodded, even though deep down he felt the same way she did.
Was Chris going to make it? Only God knew.
~
Hours went by;TJ took Maurice home so Liana was sitting in her bed alone. She caught herself reminiscing about her old life. She missed it so much; her and Katie going out and partying every week, blowing off every dude that tried to get with her, her spoiled, stuck up attitude. She missed it all. She never thought she would fall in love, have kids, or be in a relationship that changed her life forever.
She knew she had grown attached to Chris but she never knew they would get to the point they're at now; risking their lives for each other. They swore up and down that they hated each other, but would do anything to keep that person in their presence. "Please God don't take him from me." Liana whispered to herself as she clenched her hands together.
She missed her dad. Chris was the first guy she ever loved besides him. Her dad was no longer here to hold her and tell her everything's okay. To kiss and hug her, tell her he loves her. It's hard to wake up everyday without Alex; she didn't know if she could wake up knowing Chris would not longer be by her side. He was her everything.
Liana cried a little more as she thought about how her life with Chris was a complete emotional roller coaster. It went from people tryna kill them, to them being in love, to them having problems, to them abusing each other, to the drug problems, to them saving each other. Through all the shit she put Chris through and all the shit he put her through, from her taking drugs and them fighting; like fist fighting, plus all the cheating-she was amazed to know that they would never leave each others' side.
No matter how many times she said she was done, or he cheated on her, she would always be his girl and he would always be hers. The bond they had with each other will always be one of a kind.
Nothing or no one could ever come between them. No one could ever break what they had apart. The love they had for each other was just that strong and even if they broke up and found another partner; no one would ever take the place of one another. It was no other one like them.
They had that thug love.
