Symere woke up at 9 am, the latest he'd slept in for a while. He woke up and saw Rakim in the kitchen, making coffee and cereal.
"We're out of Pop Tarts, but here are Little Bites," he offered when he turned to see Symere. "You like the Party Cake ones, right?"
A huge grin stretched across Symere's face as Rakim opened a cabinet filled with them.
"Thanks, Rakim!" He beamed, giving him a quick hug before he grabbed a bag, sitting on the couch. He ripped open a pack and started eating, doing a little happy dance.
Tyler woke up an hour later, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He was a night owl while Rakim was a morning person.
"Good morning, lovely," Rakim beamed, handing Tyler some coffee. Tyler yawned as he took it.
"Y'all niggas up way too early. It's only 10."
He gave Rakim a kiss and sat down next to Symere, giving him a hug. "Did you eat breakfast? I told Rakim to get some more Pop Tarts just in case you came but he forgot-"
"I got Little Bites!" He beamed excitedly, already on his third box. "Thank y-"
He stood up and rushed to the bathroom, throwing up yet again. Tyler came in and started fanning him as Rakim stood in the doorway.
"Symere, I'm gonna get your pregnancy tests," Rakim told him with a frown. He nodded weakly in response, worried that if he spoke he'd just throw up again.
He left, and Tyler gently pulled Symere off the ground, taking him to the couch.
"When was the last time Jordan was sober?" He asked, giving him some water to get rid of the vomit taste.
Symere shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't been home much lately, I just work so I can save money for bills, his drugs, and I'm trying to save up for rehab for him. And whenever I'm home, he's drunk and high or just passed out."
Tyler sighed. "Symere, you need to take care of youself. Because, first of all, you might have a baby." He put his hand on Symere's stomach. "Second of all, if you don't take care of yourself, you'll die from stress. And I know for a fact that Jordan needs you to live; not for financial reasons, or stuff, but because he loves you to death. So if you die, he dies."
Symere frowned, looking at the floor. "I-I don't know what to do, Ty."
Tyler handed him some more Little Bites, turning on the TV. "Those are garbage, the blueberry ones are the best."
"Nuh-uh!" He argued, grinning as The Rugrats came on. They talked for an hour about various topics, occasionally talking about the baby.
"I think Sydan would be a cute baby name," Tyler told him. "It's both of your names and it's gender neutral.'
Symere scrunched his nose up before relaxing, smiling. "Actually, I like that name sorta."
"I got the tests," Rakim announced, handing Symere a bag. "They're so expensive. Don't worry about it," he added hastily as Symere opened his mouth.
The smaller boy left and Rakim lowered his voice. "Jordan's gotten worse. He was barely there when I talked to him, he kept repeating stuff...he thought Symere was at work and got aggressive with me when I said he wasn't. I was able to get him off but...I don't think Symere'd be able to."
Tyler's eyes widened. "I don't want Symere getting hurt with him. I don't think I want him going home."
Rakim nodded in agreement, but before he could say anything, Symere returned, trembling.
"P-positive," he told them, tearing up. "All of them, I-I'm pregnant."
