Please excuse ANY errors.

December 27, 1998

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

Not being a man of my word, I didn't take a nap, but I did doze off a few times waiting on Tia to come out fully ready. Nor did I wait until she said so to get ready. That part was a joke, but the nap wasn't. She takes all damn day to get dressed. I'm already dressed and smelling great. My eyes opened once I heard her heels clicking against the floors, echoing closer. Turning off the TV that I wasn't even paying attention to because I can't understand a damn word being spoken, I stood up on my two feet and turned to her.

"I can honestly say that I'm ready," Tia spoke, coming into view.

"You got your glasses?" I questioned looking at her glassless eyes.

She snapped her finger, "oh, right!" She said rushing away from me.

I cuffed my hands around my mouth, so she could hear me, "what was that about honesty!?"

As much as she hates her glasses, her ass needs them and she needs them bad! Though she needs them 24/7, she only wears them when she's working on her laptop or sewing and SOMETIMES when she leaves the house she grabs them but doesn't wear them. I keep telling her that she's going to fuck her eyes up doing that.

"I said, I could honestly beat your behind!" She yelled back from afar, getting sassy.

I laughed. "You can't even beat me in a game," I said in my regular tone, so she wouldn't hear me.

Then I heard her heels clicking against the floor again. "The lies you're telling yourself. Whatever helps your cheating behind sleep at night, love."

"How can you hear me without your glasses?" I questioned.

"Ever heard of the loss of one sense makes another greater?"

"That's only with blind people and other times you claim to not heard anything because you ain't got your glasses."

"Well, according to you, I AM blind, Mr. Optometrist." She squinted, rolling her neck at me. "And you almost did blind me yesterday."

"Look... If I was a Optometrist, you probably would listen to me when I tell you that you NEED them." I emphasized. "Without them, you be over here thinkin' you see a raccoon when it's really a reindeer." Or Yasir after I get done with him.

"I do. I wear them often."

"Yeah, when you work..."

"And how often am I working?" She raised her eyebrows, grinning.

"Alright." I nodded.

"You ready?" She questioned.

"Yeah," I replied with a nod, "I just need to do my makeup, use the bathroom, look for my keys, and fix my hair," I told her and she bursted out laughing. "That's how you be soundin' and yo ass ain't even too into makeup. You still take all day. With you bein' the example, I kinda understand what pops went through with my mama."

"You will forever bring that up in a situation like this, huh? Plus, you're dramatic. I do take long, but not like you think." She said licking her lips. "Oooo! I forgot my lip-" Once again she ran out of the room.

"Not again... Next time you come out here, I was rushing us both out!" I told her laughing.

When she came back. "So you want your girl to walk around looking like you?"

"Aye, what you mean by that?" I frowned.

Tia stuck her lips out and put the contents of the container onto her lips, indicating what she meant. "I'm not LL Cool J, I hate licking my dry lips. You ever lick your dry lips and your mouth dries out? Similar to eating a dry Popeyes biscuit."

"Here you go..." I laughed. "I drank some water so it shouldn't be that bad, but let me get some."

"You want some of my lipgloss?" She raised her eyebrow, then began walking to the door.

"That's lip gloss?" I questioned. "I thought it was Vaseline or something." I patted my pockets only to feel just keys.

"Nope, Vaseline don't come in these tubes and do you not see how shiny my lips are?"

"A'ight smart ass." I pointed behind me, "Imma go get my lip balm from my other pants. I'll be right back!" I told her jogging to the bedroom.

I grabbed what I needed then went to the other bedroom to grab her some gym shoes and socks and made my way back to the living room area.

"You forgot these." I held them up.

"Didn't know I needed them. Thanks, Donald." She said opening the door and holding it open.

I looked at her sideways then held it opens myself with my foot. "If you think imma walk through that door with you standing the holding it open, you got another thing comin'. What are you even doin'?" I placed my hand on the door. "I wanted to try to hurry up before you remembered you forgot something else. Now, I know you lost your mind."

"I'm walking through the door." She laughed, walking out.

I followed suit and we went on about our way. "I KNOW you probably will say no, but you didn't want to go to breakfast, did you?" I questioned.

Tia shook her head and followed up with, "nope! You?"

"Just like I figured. Imma just grab me an apple from the cafeteria downstairs." I knocked on Jax's door and he immediately came out.

"I didn't know I had that much time to myself," Jax said laughing.

"That makes two of us." I retorted.

"Donald forgot his lip balm," Tia replied.

My jaw dropped, "You see this? This is the mouth of a liar. I mean, yeah I did forget it, but," turning both of my lips to the side, I replied, "we all know who it really was." I looked at Jax. We all laughed at that. "But you ain't gotta say shit, I ain't tryna get you fired."

"It's Tia!" Jax replied as we stepped into the elevator. "Believe that I know who I work for. I ain't know her as long as you, but I KNOW her enough to know how long she takes." He said cracking up with me.

"It was me, of course. Alright, y'all done talkin' about me?" Tia folded her arms with an amused expression.

"Only for now, my love," I replied, grabbing her hand. "He is though."

Tia dropped her shoulders coming closer to me as the elevator opened. More people entered and she immediately straightened up her back.

"Awww, I'm just teasing," I whispered in her ear.

"Ain't nothin' new, DeGrate." She replied looking straight ahead.

"Ohhh, like you don't tease me?" I replied. "About my hairstyles and my breath."

"I do. There's no denying that, but yo breath be on point." She giggled. "And like I said before you be pullin' them hairstyles off as crazy as it sounds."

"Think I could pull off a mullet?" I questioned.

Tia turned to me with squinted eyes. "Like no hair in the front, but long at the back?"

"Man, HELL nahh." Jax said under his breath. I looked at him. "Aye man, this a packed ass elevator and I'm standing right next to y'all. I can hear and THAT shit sounds ridiculous. Goin' too damn far." He said laughing lowly into his fist.

"I- I'm with Jax. I mean... You never really know until you try. If you hate it, just cut the rest of your hair off." Tia shrugged.

"I'm playin'." I said laughing. "And I ain't no damn Jojo. I ain't gon' be lookin' too good bald head like that. Babe, my shit is big as hell."

"No, you might with that. Not no damn mullet though." Tia chuckled, shaking her head as the elevator stopped on another floor and more people entered.

"A'ight, what about a shag?" I questioned.

"Not like your hair didn't look like you had one before. Hairstylist was doin' you all the way wrong homie, but you already know that." Tia replied. "Still fine."

"I do. You told me that on the lil graduation cruise." I nodded. "You low-key hurt my feelings and shit," I responded keeping an eye on the others inside the elevator.

They definitely know who one or both of us are and they are speaking, but I can't understand what the fuck they're saying due to the language barrier. Plus, I don't want no shit to pop off in here. Though Jax is participating in OUR conversation, he's definitely paying attention as well because it's what he's paid to do, but I don't put my safety solely in the hands of NOBODY.

"Rather your friend tell you than a stranger. You know they probably ain't gon' be nice, especially because of who you are. They gon' tear that ass up and you know it." She said looking me up and down, whispering very low.

"True and believe me, they already did, but sometimes it takes someone close to you to actually listen," I replied.

Jax eyed me. "Wooo! I'm sure glad you did, buddy." He patted my back twice. "Had you fucked up lookin' all fucked types of fucked up."

We finally left the elevator and headed straight to the car. I opened the door, once Jax unlocked it and she got inside while I looked around before doing the same.

"Bae, you heard what they said up in the elevator?" I questioned.

"I paid attention a bit, but they weren't talking about us. Just something about marriage. Nothing to do with us.." She shrugged.

I looked at her, stunned, but just replied with a simple, "oh."

When we made into the establishment of our destination, Tia turned to me. "Rock climbing?"

"Not just rock climbin', it's INDOOR rock climbin'," I replied.

"Same thing." Tia chuckled aa we waited in line. "I'm surprised at you for this. This is different."

"I know, but I just want to try somethin' different and I'm sure you ain't done nothin' like this either. First for us both?"

"Indeed," Tia said looking up at the wall. "My heart just dropped." She exhaled.

"Pick it back up and keep it pumpin'," I told her smirking.

Giving me a shaking thumbs down, Tia replied, "Booooooo, very corny, my guy."

I side-eyed her. "But you already knew that, right?"

"ALWAYS." She chuckled. "But it HAS gotten more- what's the word I'm looking for?"

"Better."

She shook her head, "I won't rain on your parade, love," is all she said.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at her. "Damn, it be yo own woman."

"Not you over here rolling your eyes at me," Tia said amused.

"Right, over here bein' sassy as hell," Jax said laughing. "You got somethin' you wanna tell the boss?"

"Yeah nigga, and that's to fire yo ass," I said joking.

"Ahahaha. That was so funny that I can't even breathe right now." Jax replied with a straight face.

Tia bursted out with low laughter with her shoulders jumping. She eventually began to cough. The man came over leading us to the wall, then handing us our gear. Tia looked up at the wall, wiping her laughter tears.

"I'm not gon' even pretend. This is scary." Tia looked over at me, gulping.

"Dramatic. It's not that big." I replied.

"That's what she said." She chuckled, then her eyes widened. "Oops, my bad. I ain't mean it like that." She muttered referring to our discussion from earlier.

"I'm not trippin'," I told her, cooley shook my head because we already discussed that. "Damn, you look good," I spoke in a louder tone looking her up and down.

"Thanks." She spoke bashfully.

"Nigga you hungry or some shit? Bitin' your crusty ass lips and shit." Jax said with his finger against his nose, covering his sniggering.

"As a matter of fact, I am," I replied.

"Then you should've eaten more than just a couple of apples." Tia clicked her teeth.

"I should've and could've," I muttered, agreeing with risen eyebrows.

Tia shook her head at me once again. "Uhn uhn..."

"Would you have let me is the question?" I asked her in her ear.

She looked up at me, grabbing her gym shoes without answering my question. "Thanks."

"The question, love."

She took a seat. "I'm not in control of what FOOD you eat. Do whatever you like." She shrugged.

I sat on her left side. "So anything edible, right?" I said grabbing her leg and placing it on my lap.

"Donny, you're asking dumb questions. You ain't gon' eat nothin' that ain't edible or am I mistaking you for someone else?" She raised her eyebrow. "To answer your question, yes.' she nodded taking off a heel.

I took her heel off of her left foot, grabbing a sock. "You gotta be more specific. So like... You?"

"Not unless you're Jeffrey Dahmer, eating people and shit." She chuckled putting on her socks.

I gave an open mouth laugh. "He was eatin' niggas, babe." I put on her sock and then massaged her foot before grabbing her shoe.

"Again, I'm not in control of who you eat." She smirked.

"You said what before, now it's who?" I raised my eyebrows. "That's some morbid ass shit."

"Hey, you love messing with me, so now it's my turn." She shrugged.

"A'ight, so I can eat-" I scanned the room with my finger and eyes, "I see no rats so..."

She grabbed my hand, moving it back to my lap. "It's rude to point and EWWW," she shivered in disgust. "A rat?"

"That rule wasn't established when talking about food though." I squinted.

"You're sick." She said removing her leg from my lap, then stood up, chuckling. "You want that squeak squeak?"

"My sickness was just a follow-up to yours." I stood up. "I'm concerned about you, Tia. I mean with all this eatin' people and rats nonsense." I told her.

Tia shook her head at me and shook her leg in an attempt to fix her pants. "I'm more concerned that you actually scanned the room for a meal when all you wanted was two apples this morning." She spoke having to bend down to fix it.

"I wasn't really gonna- ya know?" I gestured, referring to everyone.

"A doy, Donald!" She laughed standing back up. "Thanks for helping me."

"Yeah. I'm glad you wore pants because I sure did forget to tell you not to. We would've had to got to a nearby store for some more. Goin' back to the hotel would be too far." I said in deep thought.

"Well, let's get off of the could haves and should haves and get to now. Because we both gotta climb this tower."

"Tower? See this ain't even that damn big or it may be because of how small you are. I love how dramatic you are." I shook my head and she gave me a look. "No, really! I do. It's... I dunno. Just know I do."

"Awwww." Her bottom lip pouted, "but I'm not dramatic, Donald. Never that, sweetie cups."

I pulled her close and kissed her lips the guy cleared his throat, and we instantly pulled away.

"So are you guys ready to put on the gear?" He asked in his thick French accent.

"Um, what's your name again?" I questioned with a frown.

Not going to lie, my tone was intentionally rude because he interrupted our moment. Tia elbowed me on my side. She didn't do it hard though, but she brought my face down to whisper in my ear as the man introduced himself.

"Remember that we're trusting HIM with OUR lives." Tia reminded me.

"I haven't introduced myself, Lèon Charpèntier." He held out his hand for us to shake.

"Wassup, man." I shook his hand.

Tia hesitated on shaking his hand but did it anyways. I could definitely tell it irked her to do so is that she's a germaphobe. She cleared her throat before responding.

"Nice to meet you too, Lèon." She smiled after she shook it. "I'm Tia."

I laughed under my breath at how she's now holding that same damn hand like it's a fucking virus or some shit. She looked up at me.

"And that's DeVanté." She finished.

"And I'm Jax, man." Jax shook his hand.

Lèon gave us an odd look. "Are you three together?"

"Yes," Tia nodded.

My head jerked back, "no." I frowned, "hell nah."

"We all came together." She looked up at me again.

"That ain't what he said. Nah, man... We don't get down like that. WE together. ONLY me and her." I replied.

Tia's mouth shaped into an O, finally catching on. "Yeah, no. He's our security."

It ain't none of his damn business what the fuck we have going on. I scanned the room once more to see if there are any more workers because this nigga ain't it. I don't like random ass people all in my business and shit, so instead of saying some shit that Tia would regret, because I wouldn't regret anything on my own behalf.

"You know, I'd appreciate if you don't ask me- US ALL any more personal questions. I get that enough. We just here to have fun, not for an interview." I told him while putting emphasis on my words, some more than others.

"Yeah. Uhh-" he scratched his head with his index finger, "Right, I'm sorry about that..." He huffed out seemingly embarrassed. "Here's my work partner, Alain." Alain introduced himself to us and vice versa. "So let's get started, shall we? Let's start with the gear."

Seeing that he seems somewhat apologetic, I let my guard down some. After showing us how to put on our gear, and making sure it was secure, Tia was first to go up there, hooked up to Alain who was above her. In order to soothe her and because Tia literally two feet above the ground, I held her.

"Donald now is NOT the time to be grabbing my booty," Tia replied to me looking over her shoulder. "Ooh, shit." She mumbled to herself, squeezing the rope. "I looked down."

"Look I was just tryna help you. I wasn't even thinkin' about none of that." I chuckled, removing my hand. "And your head is literally a foot higher than mine, so you ain't that far up, lady."

"Coming from a skyscraper that is so used to being high up." She said looking up again. "If you feel a few pellets of brown stuff fall on your forehead, just know..."

"Oh, hell nahh." Jax said laughing.

"Oh, you're okay!" Alain, who is so much further up told her looking down and laughing.

With Tia's legs began to shake as if she just finished doing the most intense squats, as she placed her leg on the next fake rock.

"Yeah? The last time I checked, skyscrapers can't talk." I replied. "You definitely remind me of Michael Jackson on The Wiz when he got off the crossed woods. NOW! Ease on up the rock, Scarecrow to find yo heart."

"It was a brain. The Tinman needed the heart, remember?" She said laughing.

"Then your brain," I told her as she climbed up further. "How was this nigga able to walk with no brain and legs full of hay? We need a brain to do everything. I swear that shit ain't make no sense."

"Hay gets hard when packed together," Jax replied.

"Not with those legs. Mike was small as hell then." I told him.

"I just be thinking that Dorothy HAD to be high, because what black person gon' be walkin' around with a talking Scarecrow, Lion, and Tinman?" Tia questioned.

"Maybe one of them people laced the Thanksgiving food?" I told her laughing. "I mean, what other explanation is there? She saw people dancing and heard music she ain't EVER heard before, toys growin', and big ass toilets. That sounds like a bad trip, babe."

"She did a lot of running, screaming, AND singing, so I know her throat got dry. Why she ain't worry about gettin' no water or wasn't feeling dehydrated?" Tia questioned.

"Right, I don't remember seeing her drink a damn thing," I replied. "Screw that though, I would've been worried about if the Lion was to get some courage, would that mothafucka have the courage to eat my ass? I mean... Let's be real, you know that big nigga was hungry after staying in that statue all that damn time. He also had to be thirsty as hell too. Lions drink water. The other two ain't have to worry about shit."

"That's in The Wiz: The Deleted Scenes." Tia joked. "That would be nice if there was a horror version of The Wiz. Michael still got his stamina and so does Diana."

"Ion think that shit would work out with the both of them. When was the last time we saw them two together?" Jax questioned.

"Make that happen then, Ms. Director/Writer/ Producer!" I told her.

"I've never written horror though. Not a full behinded movie."

"There's a first for everything. Ain't you always watchin' scary movies?" I questioned her. "Why not? The worst it could do is not sell."

"That's a big problem, DeGrate. Filming and production are sky high and we'll discuss this at another t-TIME." Tia stumbled on her words while trying to climb, losing her footing. "OH, LORD!" She held on tight to the rope, just hanging up in the sky with her eyes tightly closed.

Jax and I looked at each other laughing lowly. If this were a different scenario to where she was actually hanging off the edge of a mountain or in some type of pain, I'd be concerned, but THIS shit? There isn't a thing to worry about. But why does she sound like the female version of Bernie Mac?

She began praying, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep if I should die before I wa-"

"You're okay. Just swing yourself to the wall." The instructor told her.

I cuffed my hands around my mouth. "Tia, use those muscles you been trainin' and just swing over like the man said," I told her then turned to Jax. "Man, I change my mind, I ain't doin' this shit. Too fucking high up." I shook my head at him. "After I help her. Look at the instructor not even doin' they job!"

"Punk ass," Jax said laughing. "You told her that it ain't that high, yet, yo ass scared. Your instructor is already up there waiting on YOU."

"I'm not scared... Too much. That's shits too fuckin' high up." I shook my head again. "She up there swingin'. Hell nahh."

"That's a damn shame," Jax said laughing. "Your scared ass. You need courage like the lion."

I turned to him. "You should go up there. Yeah... And I'll tell you what, I'd even pay." I raised my eyebrows.

"Cool, I'll do it." Jax nodded in agreement. I gave him a look. "I was in the military, you think this little shit scares me?"

"This ain't nowhere little." I gestured towards the big ass rock climbing wall. "And what the military got to do with it? They got fears too."

"That's what she said." He chuckled, referring to the first portion of what I said.

A loud slamming noise came from above me and my eyebrows furrowed. I looked up, worried to see that Tia's body is slamming up against the jug handles, hard enough to hear her grunting.

"Oh, shit. I'm comin'!" I yelled at Tia fixing to climb the wall.

First I made sure my head is still secure. I exhaled and started climbing up and I'm surprisingly good at it. My instructor is already up the wall and my rope is connected to his because I was supposed to been called up. I made it to Tia without looking down.

"No!" She yelled out. "You let go and we're both gone."

"You're fine. The floor below is soft." I told her. "We ain't gon' die."

Her instructor grabbed ahold of Tia's rope. "You're fine."

"And I'm getting down." Tia calmly stated, but her expression stated otherwise as well as her heaving chest. "I'm nauseous."

I looked down, shaking my head because I was pretty far off the ground, but I'm not sweating it. I think Tia is correct, we should get down because how the hell did my inexperienced ass make it up before her instructor made it down. Seems pretty inexperienced to me!

"I agree. You good? You okay?" I asked Tia and she nodded in response.

I carefully climbed my way down and Tia eventually made it down.

"That was... FUN." Tia exhaled, shakily with a few years still strumming down her face.

I smiled at her, "yeah, a'ight," I nodded knowingly. "Want to got back up then?"

Her eyes widened, "HELL no."

"We're heading out- we're about to leave. Thank you." I told the two instructors, unhooking my equipment.

"Definitely." Tia started taking her gear off, struggling to bend down, so I helped her.

Once we were all done, we walked straight up out of there.

"I think we should try it again one day, BUT with more experienced people. How the hell did I make up before your instructor made it down? You were pretty far up there." I told her.

"I don't even know, but can we just walk around for a bit? My chest is still beating out of my chest. Feel it." Tia grabbed my hand placing it on her chest.

"Still?" I chuckled moving my hand from her chest with wide eyes. "Damn, that's crazy!"

"Babe, that's not funny," she pouted. "I was scared and hurt myself. Did you not see me slam into those things on the wall multiple times?"

"I'm sorry." I pulled her close as we walked, wrapping my arms around her shoulder. "I'm not laughing at your pain AT ALL. Looked like an ant." A smile spread across her face. "I was scared and hesitant to come up there the minute you started swingin' from the chandelier, but saw you slam up against that wall."

"I thought you said you wasn't scared?" Jax spoke up from behind us.

"I wasn't-" I realized what I said earlier. "But I did that shit, right?" Jax didn't say anything, so I turned around laughing.

"I hit my spine, shoulder, and the top of my behind. It hurts so bad right now. I got to stop for a bit." She arched her back, rubbing it, wincing a bit with her butt facing the building and one hand on her knee, holding herself up.

I halted our walk and stood in front of her. "When we get back to the hotel, I got you. I'm gon' make you feel better. A'ight?" I raised my eyebrows, leaning my forehead against hers, holding her by her sides. "I thought you were okay by now, but apparently not. Sorry."

"It is NOT your fault, Donald," she spoke softly with the tip of her nose against mine.

"I mean for laughing, my love," I told her grabbing her thighs and pulling her up. Her legs bent as she rested them on the outside of my legs, resting her hands on my shoulders. "My picking you up doesn't hurt you, does it? Because of your spine and all."

"Mm- mm," Tia mumbled. "I'm fine," she pecked my lips, but when she moved her head back, I moved mine forward with my lips still against hers, pulling us into a deeper kiss.

After a little while, Jax spoke up, "y'all gainin' a crowd and it's only so much I can do alone."

We pulled away looking around to see if what he said is true. Indeed he is correct.

"Well, we are standing in the middle of the sidewalk." Tia chuckled.

"I only see on of you two standing," Jax replied. "Let's go before people start actin' crazy."

"Yeah, your fans can get a LOT of crazy," Tia said removing her legs from around me.

Once her feet were on the ground, I swooped her legs up, picking her up, bridal style.

"You're going to carry me?" She raised her eyebrows, holding onto the back of my neck, as I started walking.

"I'm doin' it, right?" I glanced at her with a smirk, still walking. "Okay, then." I chuckled, watching my step because I'm clumsy, so if I fall we BOTH fall. We walked for a while until we got to our destination. "Here we go," I told her walking closer to the door.

"You're going to walk into this restaurant with me in your arms like this?" She asked me. "We ain't gon' for through the door."

I walked straight through the door. "How big do you think we are?"

"Well, you got a big-"

"Don't be nasty up in this here restaurant," I whispered to her.

She pushed my shoulder, quietly giggling. "Ya nasty. I wasn't even going to say that."

"What was you gon' say then?" I poked my lips out, side-eyeing her.

"You got a big heart, we got some big ass heads, my titties are out to here-" holding her hands out past her breasts, "so fitting through the door? I thought it'd be a problem." She chuckled.

"A'ight, wan' get down, huh?" I said fucking around with her.

"I will bite the hell out of you like a dog since you're talking to me like one." She spoke with a chuckle as I placed her down. "Don't do that, Donald. I don't like it."

"Alright, I'm sorry," I told her, moving up in the line. "Damn, it's busy as hell today," I told Tia. "It's a Sunday."

"Well, just like New York, Paris never sleeps." She replied. "You look so damn good." She said randomly.

"I mean..." I posed with my hand around my chin and my bottom lip.

"Okay." She hyped me up.

I stood up in my normal stance, "but you wish my head was smaller." I told her.

She gave me a look. "When you're laying on my chest, I can't tell difference looking down. That is until I feel your eyes, nose, and lips."

"Uh uhn..." I shook my head at her, laughing quietly.

"Yo..." Jax said laughing with me. "So you got a hairy ass chest?"

"I never told you this, but I'm half Sasquatch." Tia put her finger against her lips. "Shhh, if you tell someone then I'll have to-" Tia looked around, "you know the rest."

"I mean, the eyebrows don't lie," I told her, shrugging my shoulders.

She gasped, "Donald..." She chuckled. "I'm finna beat your-"

"Ask," I finished her sentence for her, but without cursing.

"You don't even make sense." She laughed.

"I know, but you been bad as hell lately with your language. Cursin' and shit." I told her. "Up a storm," I flashed a smile at her, waiting on her to say something about ME cursing in those sentences alone.

"You're such a bad influence on me. Don't look at me, I'm ashamed." She hid her face with her hands, ducking.

"Babe," I pulled her up.

"No... Don't look at me." She whined, shielding her face.

"You play a lot." I shook my head from side to side, laughing. "And I'm embarrassed." I chuckled, "not for me, but for your ass."

She laughed, "bite me."

"Kiss your ass, huh?" I asked rhetorically.

"That's right," she winked.

"If we weren't in public..." I trailed off. "You know me. Just a little different."

Crossing her arms, and shaking her head at me, "you're so irritating."

We walked forward, "reservation for two tables for four people." I told them.

The host replied, "your name?"

"Oh, sorry, it's D. DeGrate," I replied.

He scanned his eyes down the list. "Your reservations are for four people." He looked behind me. "I only see three of you."

"Because I thought there'd be a fourth person, but my other security guard ain't come," I replied. "Is there a problem?"

"No, I just need to see your IDs and we'll seat you." He nodded in response.

I grabbed my wallet and pulled my ID out, sliding it to him on the counter. Jax and Tia did the same, then we were seated at our tables. I pushed Tia's chair in after she sat down, grabbed my chair, and moved it next to hers, then we were handed our menus. Tia closed her menu.

"Damn, that quick?" I said in pure surprise.

"I'm a woman who knows what she wants," she replied.

"Not when it comes to food, you don't. You usually take all day to choose what you want to eat." I chuckled. "I don't even know what I want yet."

"Welp, THAT seems like a YOU problem, babe." Tia raised her eyebrows.

I squinted at her, "but when it's you, it's us problem?"

"When did I say that? Tuh, never. When you ask me what I want, I just don't be sure," she shrugged.

"Mm, sounds like a woman who knows what she wants." I raised then dropped my eyebrows, teasing.

"Hush."

I licked my lips, then looked at my menu again. "Should I get cow or pig? I can't decide."

"What are you trying to get, a farm or a meal?" She questioned me. "How about what compliments me the most, roast beef?" She smiled with her bottom lip inside of her mouth.

"You may be right about that last part and that LAST part only. You and this roast beef, you're so obsessed. Why?"

"You started it and this is the continuation, Donald."

I placed my menu down. "Anywho, I've been thinking."

"Uh-oh, that can't be good."

I laughed hard under my breath. "I know you didn't."

"No, for real. What's up?" She questioned.

"Kids..." I trailed off.

"Who's kids?" She questioned.

"Ours," I replied.

Tia looked down at her stomach, then looked up at me. "We never had sex and I'm not pregnant- or at least I don't feel like I am. No, but I know they aren't coming anytime soon, but..." She held up her hand, wiggling her ring finger. "What about kids?"

"Our daughter, which we'll have first, what if she's like me?" I asked Tia. "Any of our twelve kids, really."

"Like you now or..." She trailed off. "Twelve?" Her head jerked back. "You must be on dog food if YOU THINK I'm popping twelve chirren out of me."

"I'm messin' with you about that part." I chuckled. "The first part I'm serious about though. I mean me growin' up and the ME years ago," I squinted.

"There's a possibility for everything. They could be like you, me, or have their own little personality," Tia shrugged. "We'll act accordingly."

"I don't want her to be though. Genes are inherited and so are some character qualities," I replied. "That's gon' be some scary shit for any of them and us. I hope they are not stubborn as me or sneaky."

"Shoo, I was sneaky my dang self. Every kid is just a little sneaky. There are things that we won't know as their parents because nobody tells their parents everything. I mean, every parent hopes they're kids are comfortable enough to tell them things they believe they should know, but there level to that."

"Right..." I nodded in agreement.

"I don't want them to have some of my characteristics either."

"Like?"

"Both past and present qualities of myself. There's my attachment to my- the illusion of my family, holding things in until I can't take it, anger, and I could go on and on. We're going to love them regardless."

"I know. I'm just saying. We talked about the cute parts, but not so much about the ugly side of parenting."

"Yeah, not so much, but we did. When the time comes, we'll act accordingly." She told me.

A waiter came, took our menus, and our orders, then placed cups of water down.

"Why do you keep saying we'll have a daughter first?" Tia raised her eyebrows with a questionable expression. "You seem so dang sure."

"I AM sure. We're going to get married, and whenever we decide to have kids, our first will be a little girl. My parents would be happy, being that they raised all boys. Pops and mama always wanted at least one girl." I dipped my water. "You know, my grandma thought that I was a girl until the other half of me was pushed out." I dipped my water.

"Really?" She asked me, amused.

"Yes, my grandma was tellin' my mama how much hair her daughter had, only my mama ain't want to hear that shit while she pushin'. Next thing you know, I'm a boy."

"You were a boy before your grandmother saw your mother push you out."

"I mean, I KNOW that. It's just a funny ass story."

She laughed, "no, it really is!"

"They thought the same with Dalvin because of the way he had my mama's stomach sitting while pregnant," I told her. "You know them old wives tales. They were wrong as fuck."

"With DJ, they just said screw it, I know it's a boy," she laughed.

"Nope, they got an ultrasound. Remember that I was born in the late sixties," I reminded her. "A-"

"DAMN!" She said aloud, making a face. She also cut me off. "Oops, I mean, right... Yeah... I remember."

"Don't do too much, Tia." I laughed. "Because your behind ain't too much younger and you actin' as if you was there."

"In spirit." She chuckled. "But I was born in the seventies."

"EARLY seventies." I reminded her.

"I look for me to be in my early seventies," she touched her hair, jokingly. "What you think?"

"Mm, I think I got me a sugar mama, Ms. Ma'am. Hmm? What you think?" I gave a closed-mouthed smile.

"I think it's the other way around, late sixties." She pecked my lips.

"Pretty soon, you'll be officially in your late twenties," I told her. "Damn, your birthday is right around the corner."

"Mmhm, yes indeedy weedy."

"You know what you want to do?" I asked her just to get some details.

"Mm, nothing really. After about nine or ten, we never really did anything big. It was like another day," she shrugged. "Why?"

"You did tell me that before and that's some miserable ass shit. This birthday will be a special one and not just another day. Got to make every year count. Wait, did you want to?"

"Want to do something special? Of course," she nodded. "It's just that we were broke and I knew we were, so I didn't do too much."

"You said most times all you did was bake yourself a cake, right?" I asked her.

"Mmhm."

"What birthday you said you made yourself a cake, sang yourself happy birthday in your head, and blew out the candles? Fifteen?" I asked her.

She shook her head, "it was my sixteenth birthday."

"Golden birthday?" I raised my eyebrows. "That's some sad shit."

"It was, but it's whatever. That's why I was so surprised when Pac took me to the Museum for my twentieth birthday. That was fun. Sekyiwa was there too and we had a ball. You know, I STILL remember the way you woke me up?" She smiled.

"And how did I wake you up, Andrews?" I asked her.

"Your deep behind the voice in my ear talking about some, wake yo ass up." Tia laughed. "I was so surprised you brought me gifts too being that I was sleeping in y'all's house for free."

"Mm, that's right. I did do that and you was in there cookin', so it wasn't completely free. You provided some home-cooked meals.

"Do you want to do something this year?" I asked her.

"Yeah, I guess." She shrugged.

"Good, because that's what I was gon' do regardless," I told her and sipped some more of my water. "Whether it was just me and you or others. What do you want to do?"

"I really don't know yet. I haven't thought of anything," she replied.

"Well, it's your day. Let me know when you know." I replied knowing that I'll probably have to figure out something to do. "The only time I didn't really go out for my birthday was this year. That's the way I wanted it too. We were REALLY busy around that time and didn't see each other because of the distance. I just needed a break and I still enjoyed my day."

"I'm glad you still enjoyed your day."

"Mm, I STILL remember the way YOU woke ME up," I raised my eyebrows.

"Wine?" The waiter came to our table.

"No, thank you," I replied, shaking my head.

He looked at Tia. "No, thanks." She smiled and responded politely.

"Your meal will be here shortly. Sorry for the long wait." He apologized.

"No, it's fine. We understand," Tia replied with the same smile on her face.

He nodded and went on about his way.

"You watched me sleep for like five minutes." I shook my head at her.

"Mm, you only know because I told you that." She stuck her tongue out at me.

"Then I woke up to you staring deep into my soul."

"I only woke up seconds before you and was just randomly staring into space, thinking."

"You get too lost in your mind."

"The morning, exercising, and when I'm cooking is when I do my thinking. You just happened to be beside me at that time." She told me, lowly.

Our food came and Tia perked up. "Ooh, thanks," she pulled her plate closer.

"Thanks," I said grabbing my plate. He then refilled our cups with water.

"Thanks," Tia thanked the waiter for filling our cups.

"You're welcome." He then walked away.

I would've thanked him again, but my mouth is stuffed. I just couldn't wait.

"Mm, it's so big and I can't wait to stuff my mouth." She said dancing in her seat.

I coughed on the food in my mouth, then put my closed fist against my mouth. "Babe," I shook my head at her. "You know that don't sound right."

"No, but I'm getting all excited, I just hope it's not trash like the majority of the food I've had."

"Mm, it's good." I held my sandwich up to her mouth, "want some?"

"DeVanté-" she gagged and I quickly moved it away from her, "stop it."

"I did," I took another bite. "I'm hungry and don't want to see nothin' from the depth of your stomach on this sandwich," I looked at her, "I mean, I could brush it off and continue eating..."

"Eeewww, Donald. You're disgusting," she laughed.

"My steak sandwich is the bomb though, for real," I said before taking another bite. "This place isn't just fancy for show. This food is actually good."

"We didn't even say grace."

"Babe, who is Grace?" I took another bite out of my food. "Okay," I grabbed her hands. "You praying or me?"

"I'll go, love," she bowed her head and so did I.

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and godliness," Tia prayed in a whisper.

I joined in this family prayer, "knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." We said in sync.

"Don't know what y'all prayed about, but I heard an amen, so amen!" Jax said from the table near us.

Tia finally took a bite and immediately put her hand to her mouth. "Mmm," she closed her eyes pointing to her food, shaking her head from side to side.

"It's good?" I asked her.

"Mmm," she moaned lowly again. "This here is the best thing I have eaten in a restaurant here- this time around. Want to taste it?" She spoke after chewing and swallowing her food.

"Sure."

She brought her food up to my mouth, but when I opened my mouth, she snatched it away, "psych!"

I smacked my lips, "really?"

"No, of course, you can have some, babe. Drink some water because I don't want any beef from in between your teeth in my food."

"I got food in my teeth?" I asked her, then ran my tongue over my teeth, then drank some water.

"None that I see." She held it up to my mouth. "Here."

I took a bite, "mmm." I nodded at her, "yup! That's it right here," I pointed at her food.

"Mmhm, it's the bomb diggity," She smiled. "I'm gon' have to come back here again. What's this place called again?"

"Mm," I swallowed my food, "I don't know. It's somethin', French." I chuckled. "I don't know why though when they sell nothin' but American food."

She wiped the side of my mouth with the cloth. "It's okay, I'll just see when we leave."

"Surprised you actually let me take a bite. You be actin' like I got a disease when it comes to eatin' off of me."

"Boys got cooties," she chuckled.

I leaned forward, to speak lowly, "but I ate your coo-"

"DeVanté," she shook her head at me.

"It's true, and even kissed you afterward," I whispered. "Makes no sense."

"You wanted me to?" She questioned.

I squinted at her. "You can't take it back, so... I mean, you could try." I raised my eyebrows.

"I could, but nahh..." She shook her head with the tip of her nose sticking up. "I'm too hungry."

"Right," I nodded and continued to eat my food, KNOWING it was impossible.

"I know the move is happening this upcoming year, but when do you think it's the best time? Personally, I think around the summertime is great."

She turned to me, smiling. "I was about to say the same thing. By then I should have everything in order, BUT I could start looking for me a house as soon as possible. I want one built to my liking, but I'm really tired of Georgia and it'll probably take a while to find land."

Tia's grandmother taught her to never move in with a man you're not married to and her mother just told her not to move in with ANY man, so that's the reason Tia said she's going to look for a house for herself.

"I would love to go when you look for yours too," she sipped her water.

"Yeah, that's cool with me," I smiled at her.

"You're smiling as if you know something that I don't. You okay?" Both of her eyebrows rose.

"What if I told you that I do know somethin' you don't?"

"Donald, you just did."

"Not really. I didn't tell you what it is, but... Now you know." I shrugged. "And I won't tell you. You'll find out. Eventually..."

"Good or bad?"

"All good things. I promise."

"Great, because there have been too many bad things happening. Back to the children's topic." She took a bite and chewed her food.

"Mmhm, what about it?" I took a bite of my sandwich.

She dark some water, "I don't want to have children for the first two to three years were married. I want us to get used to living and being around each other," she replied.

"Mm," I nodded. "I agree and you're the one that's going to be carrying our children, so..." I turned my head to the side in realization. "How would we prevent that though?"

"Birth control. I want IUD and when we're ready- the both of us, I'll have it taken out," she replied.

"IUD? I know it's birth control, but what the hell is it?" I chuckled aloud. "I feel embarrassed about not knowin' what it is exactly, but I got to ask."

"No, you're fine. It's a safer option to other birth controls. I feel that it would be safer and better for my body. There are side effects like all birth controls, but not as many or serious as the other types of birth controls I've looked into."

"You been lookin' into birth control options?" I raised my eyebrows.

"I did some years ago though."

"During your first engagement?" I asked her.

"No, I was single at the time of this. And my first engagement? There was ONLY one," she gave a goofy look.

"Right..." I trailed off in realization. "My mistake," I said in embarrassment.

She shook her head laughing, "anywho... This works by insertion."

"Like a tampon?" I whispered lower than what we were already speaking to each other.

"No," she whispered even lower. "You can't pull it out. It-" she covered her mouth, laughing. "It's NOTHING like a tampon. It's a T-shaped plastic and you're not going to be able to feel it because its way past the g-spot. It's inside of the uterus."

"Wait- wait- HOW do- they insert it through the vagina?" I asked her.

"Yeah."

"Ouch!" I winced, covering my private area. I know that I don't have a coochie, but that shit sounds painful as fuck. "You sure you want that? Because that sound like some painful shit."

"Mmhm, I heard it is painful for the insertion and pain could last for some weeks." She laughed, pointing at my hands. "You act as if you got a vagina."

I laughed, "just like you wince when a man needs a catheter."

"Ooh," she covered her ears, closed her eyes, and squeezed her already crossed legs. "Nope. Mm mm. Stop."

"See?" I asked her, cracking up. Tia put her hands down and opened her eyes. "So like you're doing this when? Before or after the wedding?"

"Wayyyyy before the wedding because I want to be able to comfortably have sex." She spoke, "like immediately."

Laughing, I replied with a, "damn!" My water went down the wrong pipe, and some of my water dropped into my shirt from my mouth.

I didn't expect her to say that because we were in public. I mean, she's speaking just above a whisper, but still. Tia patted my back.

"Babe? You're okay?"

"I'm-" I coughed again. "I'm fine. Just caught me off guard with that last statement is all." I said wiping my shirt off.

"Why is that?"

"Because you're- you're- I don't know the word, but you don't even like talkin' about shit like this. You were just so frank."

"It is that way sometimes," she laughed.

"Yeah, but- anyway, continue," I gestured.

"A month or so ahead of time to be on the safe side," she raised her eyebrows with pursed lips.

"Fine with me."

"I'm sure it is fine with YOU," she mocked with a smile.

"What happened to Gary Coleman and the other ones you hang out with? I haven't seen them around in a while." I told her. "Since October, I think."

"Algee and Jacob?" She raised her eyebrows and I nodded. "I see them when I go over to Courtney's house."

"What's up with the other one? That tall one? What's his name again?" I asked her.

"The tall one is Woody," she giggled at me, "you knew that."

"What's his last name?" I asked her, squinting.

Tia looked up at the ceiling in deep thought, "I forgot."

"Oh, okay,"  I nodded.

We had a long and deep conversation while eating, then all of a sudden Tia said, "McClain."

"What?" I asked her, confused about what she meant because we were talking about where we would be in some years.

"You asked what was Woody's last name, right? Its McClain. Why are you asking for his full name though?" She asked confused.

"I'm just wondering," I replied with a smile. "Nothing really. Just curious."

Word Count: 8,785

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