Please excuse ANY errors.

December 25, 1998

~Yasir's P.O.V~

Watching everybody open up their own gifts, I sat there completely empty-handed. Like nobody got me anything? Well, my parents did, but I mean Tia. I know we are not on good terms but damn!

"I like this!" DeVanté told Tia looking at the robe she gifted. "You took the whole design from Versace." He said putting it on.

It's a custom-made, gold and red robe that I'm sure she made. Instead of Versace written all over it, it has his name.

"I did." She nodded laughing.

"We matchin'!" Daryl replied taking his robe out, but his is a different color.

Our mother doesn't wear robes because she sleeps and walks around the house fully clothed. I have no idea how she can still sleep in jeans. Daryl on the other hand enjoys it. It's hard to gift my mother with things because she doesn't enjoy many things.

"Thanks, T." Dalvin gave her a side hug.

She just gifted DeVanté's male relatives with a piece of clothing from her business and women with perfume. I'm still sitting here with nothing...  Ain't we supposed to be siblings? I mean, DeVanté's daddy doesn't even seem to like my damn sister and she still got him something. That shit speaks volumes about how she really feels.

"Think fast!" Daryl said throwing a small wrapped gift at me and it hit my head before falling on my lap. "Ooo, you suck, ex-athlete. Football was your thing." He laughed. "My bad though. It's from me and ya mama."

I happily opened up my gift and saw some money. It wasn't much and could've been more, but I'm grateful. "Thanks, y'all. It was just what I nee- wanted." I told them.

"You're welcome." My mother replied.

"And needed," Daryl added, making me frown. "You welcome."

They act like I'm broke as fuck. My parents had already opened my gifts which were simple. Contemplating whether I should give my sister her gift or not, I finally made the decision. That decision is to give it to her, so I stood up and walked toward her.

"Merry Christmas," I spoke, holding the gift out to her.

Tia looked up at me surprised. For what? Because I always give her Christmas gifts on holidays and birthdays if I have the money to do so. This is a time when I'm not low on cash. DeVanté gave a surprised look for some strange reason.

"Thanks." She said accepting it, clearly hesitant.

The first time she actually spoke to me without telling me to basically don't fuck with nobody. She opened it. "This is nice." She said putting the Pandora bracelet on her wrist. "Thank you. I love it." She nodded.

"DeVanté you forgot to grab Yasir's gift from back home?" My mother questioned.

Tia shook her head and spoke up for the lack of words and man that DeVanté really is. "No, I didn't get him anything."

DeVanté's family and my mother all have the same expression once she said that.

"Why?" My mother asked confused. "He's your brother and you brought him nothin', but gifted EVERYONE else. That doesn't make any sense. Are you serious, Tia?"

"Very, mother. What's understood doesn't have to be explained." Tia replied.

"I'm askin' you because it- imma stop bein' nice because apparently, it AIN'T understandable to me." My mama replied to her. "That ain't how I raised y'all. He got you somethin' and you ain't even bother to do the same. I would take it back from you if I was him."

Tia took it right back off of her wrist, placed it in the box, and handed it to me, all while staring at my mother. "Fine with me." She held it up to me.

"Right. Cause you got everything, huh?" My mama asked her. "You ungrateful, heifer." My mother's voice came out as spiteful.

"You have me misunderstood." Tia shook her head no and sat my gift to her on the table. "And you're confusing. First I should be appreciative, then he should take it from me, so I took it off, and you're still ungrateful. I'm convinced."

"No, you keep it. It's cool." I said and sat back down in my seat, smiling. "It was a gift."

Now she just looks like the bad person that she is. Selfish as fuck. I guess I am getting a Christmas gift. A gift of exposure to show who the REAL Tia is. Tia set the box on the table next to her.

"No, YOU got me misunderstood!" My mama said sitting up, pointing to Tia with the last word in her sentence. "You got money now and think you don't need your family? The same family that helped you get where you are?"

Tia looked down and grabbed her laptop, basically saying that she didn't have time for this.

"Look at me when I'm talkin' to you!" My mama spoke even louder.

Tia's eyes slowly looked up, then she lifted her head up slowly afterwards.

"Things happen between family no matter the age you are. I don't care if you six or you twenty-six. Kids will do things and I know that hurts, but you just gotta get over it and you just gotta forgive people. Ain't nothin' so bad that you mad at somebody for the rest of your life. NOBODY and like I said before ESPECIALLY family. You takin' all that anger on all of us, especially your brother! And for what? For what!? He didn't do it, SHE DID." My mother explained to her and she sounded a hell of a lot aggressive like many black, single mothers and women. (Y'all, this dude! 🥴)

If I could compare my mother to anything right now, it would be a beast, but the message is still there. My mother isn't just talking about what happened between me and my sister, but she means all that other shit she has been angry over all these damn years from other family members. She holds grudges a lot. My sister DEFINITELY overreacts and nobody knows that better than the people she once lived with, her family.

Tia's eyes just began to water just to receive pure sympathy, but not one tear dripped down her fucking face. She needs to cut the act. The thing that gets me is that there are always going to be two people chasing after her ass, falling for that shit. She feels bad because she knows that shit is true and hey, the truth can fucking hurt. She can't cause shit and then cry about it later without no type of apology.

"I'm disappointed, to say the least." My mother finished off. "Y'all squash this, talk it out or somethin'! But THIS ain't the answer. God wouldn't want you to do this." Daryl's head snapped in my mother's direction with an unreadable expression, but my mother continued. "We're your family and we LOVE you!"

Tia finally spoke. "Mama, what does this even have to do with THAT?" Tia pointed to mama with her whole open hand. "Why is that even being brought up? You just don't get it. Even though- even though I don't even expect you to, and you wonder why I never tol- why am I even explaining m- I'm going. I'm so tired of repeating myself." She just kept cutting off everything she was about to say without ever completing any of it, but whispered that last part.

My sister then stood up and walked out of the room with her laptop. "Always walkin' away from things. Typical. You don't walk away from your only parent when whose talkin' to you!"

"Yasir knows what he's doing," Ashari spoke out. "Master manipulator."

"Bitch, you just mad that he doesn't want you no more!" Bianca defended.

"Woah!" Dalvin said surprised.

Ashari sat back in her chair, smiling with her legs crossed.

"Ma'am, you didn't even have to bring that up. We were having a good time. All fun and games and you brought up things that nobody was even thinkin' about." DeVanté shook his head at my mother in disappointment but he said it in a respectful manner. "It's supposed to be a vacation which means to get away from everything back home. I guess-" DeVanté stopped in his tracks, deciding not to speak any further.

"I agree, 'cause what?" Daryl squinted his eyes at my mother. "Then in front of everybody, you bring somethin' like that up? That's private stuff. Sure EVERYBODY ain't gon' put two and two together, but that ain't right to bring a topic as sensitive as that up. I wouldn't-" Daryl shook his head pissed off and stood up.

DeVanté was about to leave the room, but Daryl grabbed his shoulder. "You go enjoy your time with your family, DeVanté. She needs some time to herself and imma to go check up on her in a little bit." Daryl told DeVanté.

"Where you finna go?" My mama asked him confused.

"Just to get dressed and to make sure my daughter is okay." He said and kept on walking out of the room.

Why is Daryl always chasing after my damn sister like that? That doesn't sit right with me. DeVanté sat down and everybody else was just left here sitting confused. The kids being kids just kept on playing with all of their new gifts.

"Um... We finna go." I heard K-Ci lowly speak over the phone that Dalvin held.

"Bye." Dalvin hung up the phone. "So since imma save my appetite for later, but who wanna see what this French eggnog hittin' like?" Dalvin elbowed DeVanté. "Imma go get it!"

"Imma go get the cups or whatever." DeVanté stood up.

"Then we can break out the games!" Derek shouted.

"So ain't nobody gon' wash they ass?" DeVanté grandfather questioned. I laughed because the dude is funny.

"Nahh, I'm serious this time. I smell shit right now." He stated.

Ashari went and grabbed Asiri. "Found the culprit!" She said holding her up. "She needs to be changed." Ashari left the room too.

"I showered before I went to bed and I will again a little later."

Derek stood up. "Lemme go help my brothers."

"Everybody findin' a reason to leave." I chuckled. "Why?"

"Better than sitting here awkwardly after whatever that was. That's for sure!" Donald Senior spoke up laughing.

"Yo sister is so fuckin' selfish," Bianca spoke to me lowly. "What kinda sister is she? Who the fuck do she think she is? You brought that as a gift for her and she leave it on the fuckin' table. Ungrateful as fuck. Such a bitch."

"Aye, I know my sister are a lot of things, but that don't mean you go callin' her foul names," I told her just in case I'm heard because I'm tired of looking like the bad guy.

Other than that, this time I wouldn't have stopped her. Tia doesn't have the power to kick me out if she did find out. I looked up to see Maria leaving the room.

~Derek's P.O.V~

"What the hell was that?" I said pointing to the door after walking into the kitchen.

"I shouldn't have even brought everybody here. Too much fuckin' drama. Like damn-" DeVanté paused. "Can we ever all just be Kumbaya? I just hope nothin' else go awry."

"Her whole family seems toxic, including Tia." Dalvin raised his eyebrows.

"Nigga, don't just go drawin' conclusions on shit you ain't got no info on." DeVanté said getting defensive. "Don't know shit so you don't throw out assumptions."

"Opinion." Dalvin corrected. "I'm allowed that, right?" He tilted his head. "What kinda woman would buy everybody else gifts for Christmas except her own blood brother? Hmm? Big and expensive shit too. You wouldn't do no shit like that. Ever!" Dalvin explained to him.

"That's because y'all ain't Yasir. That nigga is fucked up." DeVanté told him.

"And she ain't?" Dalvin questioned.

"I know that for sure! You startin' to sound like pops and it's pissin' me off even more than I already am." De spoke low but his voice deepened, so... Yeah, he's pissed off. "The thing is that when somebody constantly throws shit whether it's traumatic or just a somebody you ain't no more, that shit hurts and especially if it's yo fuckin' parents and family that keep doin' that shit."

"What trauma?" I questioned.

"Some dark shit that ain't your business." DeVanté frowned at me.

"No, I mean you." I corrected.

"I ain't got shit. Everybody knows what I had goin' on. I'm good now!" He replied. "So is she. Bringin' shit like that

"So what's up with that nigga, Yasir, or is that none of my business either?" Dalvin asked DeVanté.

"You know it ain't none of yo business, so ion even knows why you said that." DeVanté waved him off. "But I'm a tell you because that nigga... What the fuck I'm protecting his ass for when he tryna make my girl be the bad person. He ain't got no fuckin' job. Always beggin' Tia to take care of him especially in a few months. She gave and gave and gave. She's tired and I would be too! She just gave his ass a whole six-figure check not too long before we left to come here. In turn, he ain't say no thank you or nothin'. I stead this nigga- You know what this nigga did?" DeVanté asked us.

Me and Dalvin looked at each other, then back at De, shaking our heads.

"He cursed her out, callin' her ALL KINDS of fuckin' names, saying how she taking my side because me and him was finna fight. I was ready! Pissed me the fuck off. Then they mama ALWAYS takin' up for that bum ass nigga EVEN when he in the fuckin' wrong. Gaslightin' to the max. Ain't got shit on pops. Because of all of that, we ain't expect him to come here. He ain't even know the address to this place, but her mama- I'm SURE she gave it to him. You see how she was defending him on the plane." He ranted to us. "This the same motherfucka who told somethin' so personal that she trusted him with to everybody. He ain't supposed to be here because she stopped talkin' to his ungrateful ass after that same day."

"Same day of what?" I asked.

"Cursing her out and looked like he was gon' lay hands on her. Pissed me off because I wasn't gon' stand there and just let that shit happen. She always bitin' her fuckin' tongue when it comes to their fuckin' antics. She did for a while that day, but then she cut up after bein' sick of that nigga shit. If it was up to me, he wouldn't even be up in this bitch, but she wanna please everybody- her mama, but her mama don't spare her feelings at fuckin all. Who the fuck brings some shit up like that in front of everybody on Christmas too!?" He shook his head.

He continued to rant irritated. "If it was up to me, I'd be Uncle Phil and he a' be Jazz." He shook his head. "I still wanna throw hands with that nigga too. You saw that smug ass smirk on his face when her mama was goin' off? He knows what the fuck he's doin'."

Okay, now I'm sure of everything. Reading between the lines of what the hell is going on. I'm putting what DeVanté just told me and what Tia's mother just said and I completely understand. Why? Because Maria's family is kind of similar, but they are getting along way more than before.

It seems like the same shit to me. I would HOPE that I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Tia was taken advantage of at some point in her life. I've dealt with a few women with those kinds of problems, sadly. The thing is that I feel bad for fucking those women over after knowing their whole story. When It came to Maria, I didn't know for a long ass time. She actually hid it and left me wondering if she was the toxic one in her family.

That is until she opened up to me. Maria was raised by her grandmother and a lot of grown people lived in that house together. Maria was taken advantage of as a child by an uncle who lived with them, as well as his friends. She told but was brushed off and all her family, minus her parents, do was talk to him and that shit continued up until she got bold enough to stand up for herself and leave.

Her grandparents refused to call the police on them because he's their son. They didn't even tell Maria's parents about any of it. Maris was certain that her parents were informed, but didn't care for so long. Now Maria is close to her mother and father who couldn't be there because they weren't in the state due to work.

"I feel you." I nodded patting his shoulder.

"Nigga, don't try to relate." DeVanté furrowed his eyebrows.

"Oh, okay." Dalvin replied. "Let me just say that the problems we got ain't nowhere near what THAT family got. Let's go on to the living room." Dalvin nodded towards the door, grabbing the cartons of eggnog. "Point is, Tia seems like a burden on you. She and that family she got."

DeVanté slammed his hand on the counter. "Dalvin, don't even go there with me, A'IGHT!?"

Me and DeVanté grabbed some cups from the cupboard and Dalvin left.

"Aye, De?" I called out, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"What, man?" He turned to me.

"Calm down. I'm just tryna let you know that I ain't tryna relate to your situation because I already did. I empathize with you because I was in the same spot and you know me and Dalvin are good at reading between the lines. For different things? Yes, but THIS I get. I get the trauma and trauma responses. Seems like what I went through with Maria." I revealed, exhaling and looking at DeVanté for confirmation which I did and didn't get at the same time.

Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. Not that he has to reply to me. I can read my brother. He and Dalvin might be close, but Dalvin is more gullible into falling for things when it comes to DeVanté. That's why he wasn't able to figure out what was going on with DeVanté some years ago.

"It's a lot to take in, but you doin' good. Better than me!" I chuckled then frowned. "Yasir ain't no pervert though is he?" I questioned. "Because if he is and you brought his ass around my fuckin' kids then-"

"Nahh. That nigga a lot of shit but he ain't no fuckin' pervert." DeVanté said stacking up the cups. "He sick, but not a pervert."

"Oh, okay." I nodded. "Imma still and always keep an eye on my kids though because I'll be damned if they went through what they mama went through. And she... She wouldn't be able to take it." I shook my head. "I agree with you. That shouldn't have been brought up around any of us. Somethin' so personal. Her mama went into detail gettin' even closer to the reveal."

Though DeVanté often doesn't feel like being bothered by us, I pulled him into a hug, patting his back. He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back.

"It's hard to watch somebody you love go through such much bullshit." He said then pulled away looking like he wanted to cry.

"I know." I nodded. "I couldn't agree more especially knowing that YOU can't be the one to fix things. I still find myself stuck when the topic comes up."

"Exactly, but you can't fix things. Especially nothin' like that. It's impossible." DeVanté told me. "You can't fix it, but being there for her is good enough. You know? When she breaks down and stuff. I don't know Maria's love language, but you do and if you don't know how to deal with it, ask her. I did have to ask because standing there and watching it happen just ain't no damn option. Is she in therapy?" DeVanté asked me.

"Mexican people and black people got a lot of shit in common and therapy is something that both races are against. Can't go tellin' anybody yo business." I chuckled.

"I mean... Maybe you should try to convince her. It may help." DeVanté shrugged. "You never know."

"Right. Imma try to convince her." I nodded. "And my bad for walkin' in on y'all earlier." I apologized.

"Oh, yeah. I ain't forgot about that, nigga!" He said laughing. "That pissed me off too."

"I thought you vowed off sex until marriage?" I questioned.

"I did and still am." He laughed. "Ion know why you think otherwise."

"I mean, from what I saw... Like I said, I'm good at connecting the dots." Confused, I had to ask. "Then what the hell was that?"

"That's for me to know and y'all to dot, dot, dot..." He said picking up the cups. "I'm not comfortable talkin' after all of this shit. Just doesn't feel right and is disgusting."

"How long do it take for some cups?" Pops said showing his face.

"A long time when it's that many people out there," I replied grabbing a bunch of cups, then making my way to the door.

DeVanté followed while pops started talking shit. "I'm old and I would I been out there." He said walking behind us.

DeVanté sat the cups down and left the room to check on Tia, I'm sure.

"Where Maria?" I questioned.

"She walked out a few seconds after you left," Yasir answered my question.

A trigger maybe? It's been years and I'm still trying to figure certain shit out. I sat the cups down and left out to check up on Maria, but I have to look for her first. I check the bathrooms on this floor first, then went upstairs to our bedroom. Not seeing her there, I checked the other bathrooms but didn't see her there either. I went upstairs to DeVanté's room and knocked. He opened it.

"Nice to know that you know how to knock," he said putting in his shirt. "What's up?" He asked, straightening his shirt. "Lookin' for Maria?"

"Yeah, you know where she at?"

"In the room with Tia." He replied. "Now that you know, can you let me go wash my ass like as grandpa loves to put it?"

"Yeah, imma go do that too." I said leaving and making my way downstairs to my room and grabbed some clothes and everything I need to shower.

~Maria's P.O.V~

Hearing the shower turn off, I stopped our conversation.

"Alright, I'm going to go downstairs because I know Derek is probably wondering where I am and I need to spend time with my kids. Nice talk though." I stood up.

"Thanks." Tia hugged me and I hugged back.

Then I made my way out of the room making sure to close it behind me. I took the elevator to the main floor and walked back into the living room.

"Alright, let's get this game started," Rev said excitedly grabbing the Monopoly game.

"Mommy!" My youngest son, Darnell,  jumped up on me. "Can you play toys with us?"

"Yeah," I put him down and got down on the floor with him and the rest of the kids.

A few minutes later, my baby daddy walked in and sat next to me. "You okay?" He asked me.

"I'm good," I replied.

"So.. you uh- was talkin' to Tia, huh?" He asked me.

"Yeah, I did. Talk to DeVanté?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he nodded. "So uhh... I was wonderin' if you want to go to therapy?"

"No, absolutely not." I shook my head. "What do I look like doin' that? Why are you even bringin' this up?"

"Because- because I don't enjoy your suffering and I can't do anything about it, so... That's the conclusion I came to."

"A conclusion that I won't consider," I replied. "I wanna save that for our kids college fund. What do I need a therapist for? To tell me somethin' I already know?" I questioned.

"But, it might help." He exhaled. "And that ain't gon' take away from they college funds. We ain't rich, but we got enough." He told me. "After a while, the kids will start to pick up certain things. You tell me all these things and I can't do anything and I don't be knowin' what to say. A therapist can provide with all of that."

"I don't want people in my business..." I reminded him.

"I understand, but you're suffering. Clearly. And the kids will pick up on that and may start to internalize your suffering and hold things in themselves. Do it for the kids?" He said grabbing my hand. "Between your job and mines, we'll manage just fine."

Shaking my head, I replied, "I don't know."

"Derek and Maria?" Rev called out.

"Yeah, pops?" Derek spoke up.

"Y'all wanna get in on this game?"

Derek looked at me, then nodded. "Yeah, imma play." He said standing up.

"No, I'll play with the kids," I replied.

"Let me go baste this turkey and check on these ribs!" Daryl said jumping up and leaving the room.

Everybody just continued to have fun for the duration of this holiday and after a while, I even saw DeVanté come back and enjoy himself or at least try. He's visibly upset, but Tia stayed upstairs and I completely get why. Well, actually somewhat because I don't really know the whole story, but I know part of it due to her mother's fucked up words.

I can't imagine my own mama telling me to forgive, be peaceful, and to someone who's done me wrong. Especially if it's sexual abuse. My parents took my side and understood. They even tried to put them behind bars, but there was no proof because I told them when it was too late. I ended up moving back in with my parents when I turned nineteen.

I was raised by my grandparents in North Carolina. My parents lived and still live in North Carolina, but they were a few hours away and constantly working and had no time for my siblings and me, so they thought it was best that we stay with our grandparents.

It ended up not being the case. I'm the middle child in a family of boys and my experience wasn't right. It's crazy enough that he did it, but he invited his sick-ass friends too. I don't have any girls, but I know I'm equally as protective o er my boys as I would've been with my daughter if I had one. I am happy that I don't because... I don't know, I just don't.

As much as I love my grandparents, I had to cut them off. They were fun to be around up until the situation was brought to their attention. My dad still talks to them, but their relationship is a bit different now. It's fucked up, I know, but I'll be damned if I follow in their footsteps.

"Y'all wanna go and play outside?" DeVanté asked the kids.

"Yeah!" They yelled in unison.

"Let's go get our shoes. Yeah?" He said.

"Yeah!" DJ shouted trying to make his voice deep like his brothers.

"Let's go upstairs to get them. We racin'!" DeVanté said taking off.

I stood up and followed to help them get ready to go outside and Ashari did the same.

"You ain't even ask me or Derek," I spoke up.

"My bad, Ree. Can they go outside?" DeVanté asked me.

"No," I replied and he looked at me.

"Okay, but the rest of us are still goin'." He replied putting on DJ's shoes.

"Why come, mommy?" Dery asked me.

"Mommy is just playing and Uncle De knows that," I replied putting on Darnell's shoes.

"Take me to pee, mommy," Masir said crossing his legs.

"Can you watch her while I take him to the bathroom?" Ashari asked De.

DeVanté groaned in agitation. "You know I would." He replied, smiling. "Gon' 'head."

Dery tied up Julien's shoes. "Uncle De?"

"What up?" DeVanté looked up after tying DJ's shoes.

"Why yo head so big? It's like..." Dery held his arms in a circle in exaggeration. "This big."

"Is that supposed to be the size of your head or mine?" DeVanté laughed.

"No, just you." Dery's voice is so nonchalant which made it even funnier. "My head ain't that big."

"It ain't, rock head lil boy." DeVanté said swiftly rubbing the top of Dery's head.

"It's not rocky." Dery defended. "Grampa said you do rocks, is that true? How do you do that? Do it hurt?"

DeVanté's eyebrows furrow for a split second. "Yours is shaped like one, but that's okay. It fits you just like mine fits me." He grabbed his head, bringing him closer and just hugged him.

"Yours don't," Dery replied. "It looks too heavy for your string bean body."

DeVanté threw his head back laughing. "I see you got jokes, huh?"

Dery shook his head no at DeVanté. "No, mommy told us to always tell the truth."

"Yeah, you just bein' flat out mean," I told Dery.

"It's a thin line between bein' mean and truthful. There is a way to say things, but he is just a kid. Be lucky that he is truthful." DeVanté pointed at me.

"What does that mean?" Dery frowned at DeVanté.

"What parts?" DeVanté questioned.

"The part about thin lines."

"Oh, it just means that there is only a slight difference in the meanings. That's all. Understand?" DeVanté tilted his head forward with risen eyebrows, and Dery nodded. "Anything else?"

"Nope." Dery shook his head.

"Now, let's go back downstairs to get our jackets then we can go outside." DeVanté picked up Asiri and stood up. "Don't run down the stairs though. Y'all little ones gon' fall."

"Like you?" I asked him.

"For the record, I sliiiiddddd down the railing. I wasn't running when that happened." He replied. "You wasn't even there when it happened." De widened his eyes making me raise an eyebrow.

"What you openin' yo eyes so big for?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "To match your big ass mouth." He said laughing, then walked out of the room.

When I walked out, Ashari was just walking out of her bedroom. "Had to get her shoes." She said holding them up.

"Damn, we all still got on pajamas," I said noticing our attire.

"Oh, well. It ain't like they goin' back to bed with this." She shrugged.

"Right. We about to sweat anyways with all these kids." I laughed.

After putting the kids on their jackets and ours, we grabbed some outside toys and went outside to play.

"AYE, DON'T YOU THR-" DeVanté grunted in pain, falling to his knees as the bat came in contact with his groin. "SHIT!" He said squeezing his eyes shut them fell face forward into the grass.

When he rolled over on his back he opened his eyes. "Who the fuck brought these kids a bat?" His eyes watered and he squeezed his eyes shut again.

"Yo daddy," I replied. "My bad. You okay?" I took the bat from Darnell.

He opened his eyes giving me a look of irritation before closing his eyes again with his jaws puffed out.

"I'm sorry! It was an accident!" Darnell screamed out.

"It's okay, it was a- an accident," DeVanté spoke through his pain.

"What is he doing?" I heard Tia ask us.

"Darnell hit him on purpose with the bat!" Dery snitched on his little brother, pointing his finger.

"Nuh-uhn!" Darnell screamed back.

"Yes, he did. He swung the bat back and hit Uncle De!" Dery screamed with furrowed eyebrows.

"Well, I guess future kids are out of the picture." Tia joked squatting down.

"It hurts that bad with a little plastic bat?" Ashari asked DeVanté.

"Don't nobody talk to me right now?" He said still laying there, eyes shut, with furrowed eyebrows, covering his groin.

Tia looked up at me. "He did have a little accident not too long ago. Plus these kids be havin' hecka strength." Tia looked back down at DeVanté. "You need me to get you some ice?"

"No." He said finally sitting up, holding himself.

"Aye, you the one who taught him how to swing it." I chuckled, speaking to De.

"That doesn't mean I'm supposed to get hit." He slowly got up off the ground.

"I said sorry!" Julien frowned. "Okay?"

"I accept your apology, BUT that doesn't stop my pain, Jules." DeVanté told my youngest son. His first name is Darnell, but his middle name is Julien, which he is sometimes called by everyone.

Point to the patio, he spoke again. "Aye, imma go sit down."

Tia followed. "You sure you don't need no ice?"

"I'm already in numbin' pain. Thanks." He replied. "What you doin' our here? Thought you was gon' stay up there?"

Walking, Tia replied. "No, I was gon come down after a while. It's Christmas and letting someone ruin this day just isn't going to happen.

After that, I continued to play with the kids right along with Ashari.

"He got birth control in two different ways. One with being hit by a kid on purpose and the other by just being hit." I chuckled.

"Right." Ashari laughed. "I love my kids, but..." She turned her head and then looked back at me. "Plus I basically doin' it alone."

"Ooh, I understand." I nodded then turned to Julien. "Don't you ever do that again."

"Mama, it was an accident." He wined.

"I saw you." I pointed to him. "Like I said, don't do that again or you gon' be in trouble."

"Why not this time mommy?" Dery asked me wanting Julian to get in trouble.

Ashari laughed under her breath and truthfully, I wanted to laugh too.

"Because he just isn't. Go play. Both of you." I shooed them away and they ran away, but we still kept a close eye on them. "So what was it like joining that family?"

"It- it was nice... At first, but then I developed a certain-" she stopped looking for the right word, "a certain warped view of reality due to what I was being fed through my ex who has the tactic down pat to convince many."

"And that was?" I said trying to make conversation.

"Everything isn't my business to tell, but that Yasir..." She shook her head slowly. "I can only tell you about my experience. He may seem like he's this nice person, but nahh... And I'm not sayin' that because he's my ex. I'm sayin' this because it's who he is. I wouldn't want him back for shit. Couldn't pay me to go through that. I can tell he's doin' the same to that girl in there. I broke it off with him, not the other way around as he told her. Other than that, I haven't had any personal problems with anyone else." She shrugged. "What about you and bein' in that family?" She questioned.

"There nothing to it really. Small ups and downs, but nothin' major." I replied.

"Why does Mr. DeGrate have to be so mean?" She said cutting to the chase. "And rude. Was he ever like that with you?"

"No, he's always been nice to me from day one."

"Then what's his problem with my girl?" Ashari questioned.

Shrugging my shoulders, I replied, "I don't know. Some people just don't like people."

"For no reason?" Ashari chuckled. "She don't bother nobody unless they bother her and sometimes even then she will just stay silent or walk away. There are few exceptions though." She guffawed at that last part like there was a hidden message. "Anywho, I thought Reverends was supposed to be holier than thou?" She chuckled.

"No, he's human. Maybe he just has his reasons that he just won't reveal." I told her.

That's a lie, I know exactly what it is. Derek tells me- I can't say everything because don't nobody tell their partner everything- well most anyways. I'm sure he hasn't told me everything, especially about his brothers. Donald Seniors' reasoning has nothing to do with me.

Ashari began to yawn. "Oooh, I'm so tired. This little girl kept me up all damn night." She giggled.

"I remember those days." I shook my head.

"Looks like you got some more of those days far ahead of you, but not that far..." She trailed off hinting at something. "I've been pregnant quite a few times in my lifetime, so I know pregnant when I see pregnant."

I shook my head at her laughing. "Yeah so?"

"I'm saying it without even saying it." She pursed her lips. "Congratulations to you."

"Thank you." I smiled. "Hope it's a girl."

"Probably will be another boy, but I ain't gonna jinx it." She laughed.

"Please!" I laughed. "Too many boys in this family. A girl is needed."

She held out Asiri. "Here ya go!" She then burst out laughing. "Psych, nah. I love my babies as bad as they are."

"Relatable. I love my kids too, but I be needing a break from my own damn kids. I'm not a single mother, but they are with me way more than they are with Derek."

Ashari readjusted Asiri on her hip and then nodded at me. "You know, it's usually like that. No matter how much the other works, she's more than likely to spend the most time with kids."

Word Count: 6,375

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