Please excuse ANY errors.

January 2, 1999

~Devanté's P.O.V~

We made it back to the hotel in no time because it was not far at all from the park. It's actually walking distance, but it's also winter in France and a couple of days away from being the coldest month in France. We all know that I get cold fast and I don't want them to get sick.

"Hold onto my arm," I told Masir putting the baby bag across my shoulder. "You hold Masir's hand," I told DJ as I picked up Asiri who was in her car seat.

I know DJ won't run off, but I don't know about Masir, so that's why I have DJ at the end.

"You forgot that I'm here?" Creed asked me.

"Right, Masir go to Creed," I let go of his hand and he listened. We went up the stairs and to the hotel without any problems. "Y'all go straight to the kitchen with that ice cream," I said opening the door.

"Dery!" DJ ran further inside when they were in eye view.

When I arrived, everyone was there. Derek, Maria, and their little family. Elijah, Max, Ashari, Courtney, Dalvin, and JoJo are here. Eden and Edna are here with their dudes. I don't see my fiancée though.

"What y'all doin' here?" My question sounds like a general question, but I'm talking about Derek and his family. I don't have a problem with Derek and the kids if Maria I have a problem with. "Why are you here after what you said about me?" I asked Maria. "With the kids too?" I raised my eyebrows, "especially since you think so lowly of me."

Derek began to speak. "Junior? Man- tsss, she sor-"

"I don't want to hear it from a second party about what someone thinks or believes. I want to hear it from the horse's mouth," I replied to my brother. "It's good that your here because she took another crap and I don't have to change that either." I went over and handed Asiri to Ashari. "I didn't have to change a diaper once today."

"So you had my baby pissy?" Ashari gave me a look.

"Nah, Maria changed it when she needed to be changed," I responded to her.

"Oh, okay. Thanks, Maria. Can I go to the back to change her?" Ashari asked me.

"Yeah, that way," I pointed to the opposite direction of our bedroom. "Down THAT hall. What's up?" I said dapping JoJo up. "Where's Toothpick?"

"I don't fuckin' know," JoJo shrugged.

"Where's my fiancée? Tia doesn't ever seem to be around when I get here. It be everybody else but her," I laughed.

"Somewhere around here," Elijah shrugged, "sober," he stated the obvious.

"Yeah, y'all asses look a little on the tipsy side," I shook my head.

"All five of us are and I feel good," Courtney laughed.

"Five?" I asked them.

"Your cousins tagged along too," Elijah replied. "We had a ball."

"That's good. You know what I'm goin' to go do," I said walking away to find my lady.

"Don't be too long or I'm comin' for y'all," Elijah replied.

The fuck if I care if he does? "Nigga, we are two consenting and mentally abled adults," I told him to go in the direction of Tia and I bedroom.

I knocked before entering. "You in here?" I asked not seeing her. "Good, you can come on in here, she ain't gon' be back for a while."

I heard the toilet flush. It wasn't loud, but because it was quiet in the bedroom, I could hear it faintly. The door opened a couple of minutes later.

"Yeah, tell HIM to stay. That way we'd ALL be havin' fun. Right?" Tia said from the other side of the bathroom door.

Him? Tia has me fucked up. She entered the bedroom a few minutes later.

"Where'd he go?" Tia looked around the room.

"Tia, don't play with me," I replied to her not amused.

"Don't play with the player," Tia popped her imaginary collar, then pointed to the bathroom. "Yeah, don't go in there..." She told me while playing with her hair.

"You tore it up?" I asked her with a smirk on my face.

"Dropped a nuke," she replied with raised eyebrows.

"Damn, not even a bomb? You over here talking about a nuke?" I spoke with amusement. "How can you look THIS good and you over here dropping nukes? What you eat?"

"Not much, but I drank these new virgin drinks that I ain't ever heard of. They were some type of slushy. Must've had dairy in it or something because my stomach was bubbling," she rubbed her stomach. Tia exhaled, walking closer, "How did babysitting go for you, DeGrate?"

I let out an exasperated sigh.

Tia poked her lips out with one side of her top lip raised higher trying to hide her amusement. "Ate your behind alive?" She poked me in my stomach, then wrapped her arms around my neck.

"No," I replied picking her up and hugging her. "They were actually good. I had DJ too and they behaved very well. I didn't have a problem with THEM at all," I replied still hugging her.

That lasted for about three minutes before there was a knock at the door. We still stood in the same place and position, but Elijah knocked continuously.

"I told you I was comin'," Elijah spoke through the door.

I put Tia down on her feet. Alright, yesterday it was kind of funny, but now he starting to upset me because this is serious. Tia exhaled, walked to the door, and opened it all the way.

"Elijah, we'll be out when we get ready. Leave us be, please," she replied and I walked over to the bed and laid down with my feet flat on the floor.

"Alright," Elijah replied calmly. "Just remember that you both have a full room of company," he replied then walked away.

Tia closed the door, then turned on her heels to face me. I looked up at the ceiling, resting on my arms as I heard Tia walking closer, then the bed sink beside me. Once I felt her lay back, I turned my head towards Tia.

"You know what Maria said to me?"

"I wasn't around to witness it so... No," she chuckled nervously looking up at the ceiling. "I see it's bothering you, so what is it?"

"She saw me with the kids and because I had Asiri, she basically jumped to conclusions," I replied.

Tia closed her eyes as the room went silent. After two minutes, she turned her whole body to me, resting on the palm of her hand. "Jump to conclusions? How? What ways?" Tia sat up.

I sat up, "she basically accused me of some pedophile shit. What happened was I asked her to change Asiri's diaper and after she did, she jumped to conclusions. The reason I asked her is because I remembered who Yasir is and he'd accuse anybody of anything and I don't want to be caught up in that type of shit or anything period. What she said- that shit rubbed me the wrong way and pissed me the fuck off because I would never do no shit like that," I finished.

"I'll be right back," Tia hopped up and left the bedroom. A few seconds later, she popped her head back in. "Actually, can you go to the other room and I'll- WE'LL be right there," Tia then rushed away.

I did what she said and went into the other room, but in order to do that, I had to walk past everyone else who're spreader throughout the living room and kitchen. What is seen is Tia speaking to Ashari, she then went to Maria. I waited for about two minutes, then came Tia, Maria, Ashari, and Derek.

"Wait right out here, please," Tia told Jax with a shaky breath.

"What's going on?" Ashari asked Tia.

Tia placed her hand on her forehead, exhaling deeply. "I think this is a lot a big misunderstanding. Maria accused Donald of- of sexual assault against Asiri. Tell me why, Maria?"

"No man just volunteers to babysit a girl child without nothin' happening. There are some sick people out here," Maria told her. "You know."

"Despite what you went through, there are some nice people out here and my brother ain't sick. I don't know why you think that," Derek replied.

"I volunteered so Ashari could have some fun. She got two kids and their dad wants to act a damn fool. The reason I had you change her diaper is because I don't want to be accused of shit like this. I know how Yasir is and I realized that AFTER we left," I told her. "I don't need nobody accusing me of shit, especially our family. Because that's what it is- an accusation."

Ashari chuckled, "this is what everything is about?" Ashari looked around at us all.

"Yes," I replied.

"Asiri is fine," Tia looked directly at Tia who took a seat on the bed. "After what you told me regarding the women and girls in her family, I ALWAYS check my children. Both of them! I just changed my daughter's diaper and don't see anything wrong. It's not that I don't trust DeVanté or anything, but I like to be sure. That's why I left him with them. I accepted help that was offered and as a mother I need it." Ashari looked at Maria again, "and for you to go accusing someone of something as serious as this without proof is ridiculous. How would you feel?" Ashari asked Maria.

"I- I-" Maria stuttered.

"If you think I'm some sick person, why are you even here in our hotel room?" I asked Maria.

"Listen De, I know this is a serious matter, but Maria has been through a lot-"

"Derek, SHE has been through a lot and she puttin' OTHERS through a lot by such accusations," I held my arm out as I spoke. "I know some people who been through similar shit, but don't accuse people without any sort of reason and proof."

Derek began speaking again, "you got to understand that-"

"I know it was all a misunderstanding, but please leave," Tia stood up. "Both of you," Tia spoke to Maria and Derek. "I know what you've been through, BUT you can't-" Tia closed her eyes. "Please go," she remained calm and pointed towards the door.

"You kickin' us out?" Derek asked Tia.

"No, I am," I replied. "Nothing against you, Derek, but I know you ain't letting her leave without you," I spoke up. "That's your lady and I respect that. Please respect me when I tell you to leave."

"A'ight, man," Derek held his hand out and I shook it, pulling him into a hug. "We good?"

"We good and I understand. You just want peace," Derek chuckled, then pulled away. "Come on," Derek grabbed Maria's hand.

"I'm sorry," Maria apologized, then left with Derek.

As I've said before, I understand Maria to an extent, but we don't need extra bullshit

"Well..." Ashari looked at Tia and I before turning on her heels. "I'm going back to the living room with everyone else."

"Are you okay?" Tia asked me.

"I'm cool," I exhaled deeply before taking a seat. "It was a serious misunderstanding, but De is good. I also understand where she's coming from," I took a seat. "I'm a little pissed, but it has decreased after everything was resolved. Are you okay?"

"You were the one accused," she looked at me. "And you're worried about me?"

"And I know that. I also know that this opened up some serious wounds. It probably was triggering, right?" I asked her. "I can tell."

"Everything isn't about me and my problems. I'm glad that it was all a misunderstanding," Tia smiled and gave me a hug.

"That's all it was," I laughed, squeezing her in a hug. Then I rolled her on top of me, still in a tight hug.

"I love you," she smiled, then pecked my lips. "I'm glad that my man is understanding and it's not a facade. We really are right for each other."

"We are. I love that you didn't curse me out, start beating my ass, or any of that shit. Like THIS- you really tried to get to the bottom of this before jumping to conclusions like some people would. You ain't took no side or nothing," I replied. "I respect that," I bent Tia's legs, then sat up. "I love you," I kissed her lips.

Tia nodded, "alright, we still have company out there to entertain," she chuckled.

"Why does everybody want to be where we at?" I asked her.

"You tell me," Tia stood up. "They just came and I didn't feel like being rude."

"Probably because we connect everyone. You have your friends and family and so do I. They probably want to hang around each other, but feel awkward without us," I replied.

"Why'd you ask the question in the first place?" Tia tilted her head to the side.

I stood up with a smirk. "You tell me..."

"I can't because I'm not in your head."

"You are ALWAYS in my head. Saying and thinking the same things as me," I said laughing, then walked to the door. "Ready?"

"Babe, open the door," Tia chuckled. "You act as if I'm just about to meet JoDeCi or something."

"Have you met them yet?" I asked her.

She cheesed, "what the heck is a JoDeCi?"

"Got jokes!" I said laughing.

I opened the door and my fiancée walked out of the door with me directly behind her. The moment we walked out, everyone was yelling. It's not an angry yell. It's more like people trying to get their points across by speaking over each other. It's basically playful banter.

"Aye y'all, chill! Y'all are too loud," I told them. "It's too many of y'all to be this loud. What is this?"

They lowered their voices, but we're still trying to get their point across.

"It's a question game and you know everybody got they own opinions and shit," JoJo said just sitting back and watching everybody.

"What's the question?" Tia asked JoJo.

"What is considered cheating?" Edna spoke up, "I will like y'all input on this one."

"Right," Elijah agreed. "What's considered cheating?"

"Anything you feel like you have to hide from your partner," Tia replied.

"Junior?" Edna looked at me.

I looked at Tia then Edna, "I agree, BUT-"

"Aww, shit..." Elijah eyed me. "What you got to say?"

"Anything you feel like you have to hide from your partner that isn't a surprise," I added.

"I thought he was about to say some bullshit," Ashari said laughing.

"Your ass got soft. Is going out with another woman cheating?" K-Ci asked me, "we tryin' to get this straight. That's what this is about?"

"YES," Tia answered K-Ci.

"It's not romantic though," K-Ci added. "Maybe you just took her out to dance, a few drink,s or something. Shit, a colleague?"

"Cheating," Tia repeated. "Next thing you know they will be dancing in bed."

I sat down on the one-seater couch, "that's cheating."

"What if your lady did it?" Edna asked K-Ci.

"That's different!" K-Ci replied. "First of all, why did she agree in the first place? Or if she initiated it, WHY?"

Tia raised her eyebrows at me. "What you think?"

"I already said it's cheating with the first scenario and the same thing applies with this bull scenario," I replied.

"So if you go out and tell your wife, girlfriend, or whatever that you have been out with another woman. You tell her every detail, y'all danced, drank, and whatever else, you think she'll be okay with that?" Eden questioned K-Ci.

"Women don't be sayin' shit," K-Ci replied.

"A woman's silence doesn't equate to approval," Courtney replied.

"You keep hurting her and she keeps being quiet. She might be holding something inside that'll really hurt you one day," I told K-Ci. "Thin Line Between Love and Hate. His ass woke up in the hospital."

"At least he woke up," Tia added.

"De, I told you this lady crazy!" JoJo pointed at Tia, laughing. "De, you better run!"

"Well, if he don't do shit like that, he wouldn't have to worry about my homegirl being... Crazy," Elijah spoke up.

"I'm saying that it's a blessing that he was able to wake up," Tia replied. "The guy is lucky."

"Tia dressing that shit up," K-Ci replied. "We know what you meant."

"He ain't got to worry if he actin' right," Edna spoke up.

"Damn, that's your cousin and you take her side?" JoJo asked Edna. "Y'all grew up together."

"Right," Dalvin jumped in.

"Some people are crazy without you doing anything. Some do it because they're the ones doing dirt," Tia replied.

"We was talkin' about you and you add this? This ain't helpin'," JoJo shook his head.

"I don't cheat," Tia replied. "Never done it."

"Never?" Eden asked Tia. "Not even to get even?"

"Get even?" JoJo asked her.

"No," Tia shrugged.

"You ain't lived yet," Eden shook her head.

"Lived?" I asked Eden. "How does that equate to living?"

"Darling, all we need to live is a beating heart, food, water, shelter, and a reason to live. As I previously stated, some people hurt their partners, even when their partners are faithful. It's them being unfaithful, but they want their cake and to eat it too," Tia replied.

"Eden lives to cheat back," Dalvin said laughing.

"I wouldn't have to get my lick back if the guy didn't cheat in the first place," Eden shrugged.

"Sometimes a man needs a taste of the potion he cooked up," Tia spoke up.

"What?" I asked Tia, surprised by her take on things.

"That doesn't mean sleep with people," Tia responded. "Morals don't disappear because of a man either."

"What do you mean?" Dalvin asked Tia.

"I don't give out my recipes," Tia replied with a smirk.

"Wow!" I tilted my head. "It's like that?"

"Oof, don't cheat," Edna directed towards me.

"Damn, why it's on me?" I asked them. "I'm not on that."

"Because your gi- your fiancée was speaking talking about secret recipes and shit," JoJo replied.

"I don't cheat in relationships," I replied which is partly true.

"Even with Lady?" Dalvin asked me.

"Who?" Edna asked Dalvin. "Lady? That's her name or what y'all call her?"

"Nahhh, that was her name. De's dumb ass ex-girlfriend," JoJo smirked. "You'll be happy you didn't meet. You would've gone off on her ass."

"I ain't ever heard of the girl," Eden told him.

"It was more of a situation-ship and that ain't even last long at all. I didn't take that shit seriously," I told them. "I wasn't expecting her to show up the day y'all met, so I just rolled with everything- played along."

"Oh, okay. One of many," Eden replied.

"Damn!" K-Ci said laughing.

"Y'all were all the same once upon a time, so I don't know why you just said that," Eden looked at K-Ci. "You still there."

"I'm doing the Lord's work. I'm mutating!" K-Ci replied and we bursted out laughing.

"You can't be that damn stupid?" JoJo said laughing.

"Mutated?" I said in complete disbelief of what he just said.

"Y'all know what the hell I mean!" K-Ci said getting frustrated.

"It's that drinkin'. K-Ci can't think straight that he forgot people procreate," Elijah shook his head with tears of laughter in his eyes.

"I can't think straight and you can't be straight," K-Ci told him.

"Don't start," Tia and I said together, but she spoke to Elijah and I directed it towards K-Ci.

"Alright, new question. Anybody got anything?" Edna asked us.

"What's y'all superstition beliefs?" Aaron asked us.

"The oops asking us questions. Be weary!" K-Ci shouted out.

"Death comes in threes. I've seen too many examples in my life," JoJo replied.

"Ooh, too many," Tia agreed. "What goes around comes around."

"Oh, that's a good one!" Courtney pointed at Tia.

"Don't sleep with your bed facing a mirror," Aaron spoke.

"Why?" K-Ci asked him.

"It brings bad energy," Aaron replied.

"I thought that was mirrors facing each other?" I spoke up.

"That's different," Max told me. "There are many mirror suspicions. Like breaking one because it brings seven years of bad luck."

"I like the palm itching," Edna nodded cooley. "I'm about to come into some money."

"No. Edna, that's diabetes," I said laughing.

"Or a mosquito bite," JoJo replied.

"The black cat being bad luck is something I believe," Ethan spoke up.

"That's racist!" JoJo told him.

"Why?" Edna asked JoJo.

"Because he's white," JoJo replied. "Why white people got to make everything black a superstition?"

"Exactly," K-Ci shouted.

"Whatever," Edna shook her head.

"This was a whack ass question," Elijah shrugged. "Ask some juicy shit!

"Like what?" Max asked him.

"Threesomes? Have you had one and will you have one with your current partner?" Elijah crossed his legs. Did this nigga really just ask this question? "It's still a threesome if it's two men and a woman! That ain't no damn train," Elijah rolled his eyes.

"Nigga, that's a train," Dalvin scrunched his face up. "But I did."

"Two dudes or...?" Elijah asked him.

"Nigga, what kind of question is that?" Dalvin tilted his head, "nigga, it was two women. Fuck I look like with another man in the room?"

"Right, we ain't you nigga! Although, you might be with two niggas," K-Ci said laughing.

"Story of my life," Elijah replied confirming what K-Ci said.

"Ewww," JoJo shuttered. "That's why I don't like these sexual questions. In all honesty, I've had a few with WOMEN."

"Definitely," Ashari nodded.

"With who?" JoJo asked her.

"Really?" Dalvin tilted his head.

"Yes. It was with women," Ashari replied.

"Woah, I damn sure ain't see that comin'," I said laughing.

"You like women too?" Dalvin asked Ashari.

"More than men," Ashari shrugged.

I looked directly at Dalvin, "damn..."

"It's a problem when I do it, but not a woman?" Elijah butted in.

"YES," K-Ci emphasized.

"No," Edna shook her head. "That's nasty. I've never done it."

"No," Eden cosigned.

"Not Ms. Get Even?" K-Ci asked Eden.

"No," Eden shook her head.

"I know all y'all niggas done had one. Nasty asses," Elijah shook his head.

"Nigga, you said you did too and I'm grossed the fuck out," Dalvin replied.

"And did!" Elijah fluttered his eyelashes.

"I'm waiting for the ladies to answer," K-Ci replied.

"No," Courtney answered the question.

"Tia?" They asked her.

"The answer to all questions are no," Tia replied. "Not that this is anyone's business..." Tia trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"Damn, the only freaky woman in this room is Ashari?" K-Ci looked around.

"If Ashari would've said it was two men, she would've been called all types of names," Elijah replied. "That's pure truth."

"This question is ridiculous," Tia shook her head.

"I agree," I nodded. "And why you concerned with the ladies' freakiness if you have no chance?"

"Says who?" K-Ci asked me.

"Almost everybody is in a relationship, married, engaged, or in a situation-ship," Dalvin spoke up.

"That don't mean a damn thing. You know how many women I slept with who were in those predicaments?" K-Ci replied.

"That's them, you ain't got a chance over here," Eden shook her head.

"You don't even know how many women you slept with?" Elijah said, laughing.

"K-Ci, you can be the last man on Earth and me the last woman. If it was left to the two of us to repopulate, I'd kill myself," Edna spoke up. "I wouldn't even do it for fun or to relieve the stress of being the last people on Earth."

"Oh, shit," I coughed out laughter.

"Those women are fans, K-Ci. Don't let them think you have a chance with us," Tia pursed her lips at him.

"You let them big your head up. You may be attractive to many and even sleep with them, but... Everybody here? Hell no," Courtney trailed off.

K-Ci is kind of drunk, I noticed that when I first came here with the kids. I don't need this nigga to get rowdy, but he just talking out the side of his neck braids.

"K-Ci loud ass gon' attract animals and they'd eat him if y'all was the last people on Earth," Elijah laughed, going back to what Edna said. "Would y'all have one with your current partner? Nobody answered that," Elijah spoke up.

"I'm single," K-Ci replied.

"And you wonder why?" Elijah looked at him. "Listen, I'm a man who hangs with plenty of women. No REAL woman wants to be with a man with your personality. By real, I mean a woman with her shit together."

"There's nothing wrong with being single, but Elijah ain't lyin'," I cosigned.

"Nigga, you just lucked up," K-Ci told me.

"I straightened up too," I told him.

"You always throw that shit in somebody's face!" K-Ci waved me off.

"Nigga, you better calm the fuck down," I replied.

"Ooh, I smell jealousy..." Edna raised her eyebrows. "Sometimes it hard to tell who's whom," she gave me a look.

"I'm not sharing my lady with nobody," I spoke up. "I'm stingy."

"Not even another woman?" K-Ci asked me.

Tia was about to speak, but Elijah spoke up, "you got my girl ALL the way fucked up. She don't fiddle or faddle with coochie. Sorry!"

"If he asked her ass, this nigga gon' wake up in another hospital bed," JoJo said laughing.

"There's no way I'm sharing my bed with another woman," Tia shook her head. "I don't care how attractive they are. Some women may be attractive, but I am NOT attracted."

"I'm still stuck on the woman part as if it were the case I would add another man or some shit," I looked at K-Ci.

"To answer my own question, yes. I would with my partner it he agrees to it," Elijah replied. "Next question-"

"Wait, I want to hear Aaron and Ethan's response," Dalvin asked. "Have y'all?"

"I have," Aaron nodded. "But I won't do that with my fiancée."

"My answer is no to both questions. That's not something I'm interested in," Ethan replied.

"Good," Dalvin nodded. "I ain't want to have to kick none of y'all niggas ass fuckin' with my cousins. I like Ethan better than I did years ago. I always knew you was cool."

"He wasn't gon' do shit," Ashari said joking with Dalvin.

"Next question, who was better and bigger for the ladies in bed, your ex or current partner?" Elijah asked.

"Ooh, I my single ass can sit back on this one," Courtney chuckled.

"For those of you like Courtney, it'll be your two recent exes. My current in both," Elijah answered his own question.

K-Ci's head fell back, tired of Elijah's responses. Tia stood up and walked out of the room.

"Next question please," Edna replied. "These are some personal things."

Tia walked back inside, "your nephews are still here," Tia pointed to the other bedroom.

"They are?" I asked surprised.

"They wanted to stay with each other, so I said I'd take them home when I leave," Dalvin replied.

"Oh, okay," I nodded and Tia sat back down with Courtney.

"Okay, is there anything you're hiding from your partner?" Elijah looked around the room.

"You have to keep your individuality in a relationship," Edna replied.

"Of course, but I mean something that you haven't told them that you probably should OR something fun," Elijah shrugged.

I looked at Tia to see her looking down at her lap with a smirk.

"If someone did, why would they share it in front of everyone else," Tia replied.

"I was about to say the same thing," Eden nodded.

Does she have something to tell me?

"Mind if I come over, fiance?" Tia asked me.

"Please come," I spoke slowly.

"C'mon dog," K-Ci's head fell back.

"Maybe," Tia replied to me, then walked over to me and sat on my lap. "I don't know how you'd take it though," she raised her eyebrows, speaking lowly.

"Really now?" I asked.

"This is really embarrassing," Tia whispered.

"Oh, God," my head fell back against the backrest as I closed my eyes. I lifted my head and opened my eyes once I felt my fiancée scoot further up my lap, "what is it?"

Tia exhaled, sitting with her back back against me. "This is... Oh my goodness."

"Lady go ahead and tell him. I won't know, but I want to see his reaction," JoJo said laughing, he's literally close by. "She probably killed somebody with her bare hands."

"JoJo- man, shut up," I said laughing.

"You look nice," Tia said touching my shirt.

"That bad?" I whispered with my right eyebrow raised.

The other couples were whispering to each other, probably answering the question. Tia leaned in and hid her mouth with her hand, so they couldn't read her lips. I'm sure that's the reason.

Tia wrapped her arm around my shoulders, then began to whisper, "so you know how I don't do just one thing to make money, right?"

"Yeah. Babe please get to the point," I whispered back.

"To put this shortly-" she explained some things to me and I was shocked.

(Y'all will find out another time! What do you think it is?)

My eyes widened in surprise, "but you a- babe, are you serious?" Tia shot me a look that says she's serious. "Wait, I have one more question at the moment," I pulled Tia close. "Are any well-known- you know, popular?" I whispered again, these niggas can't read my lips for shit.

"Listen..." Tia gave me a look, basically saying yes.

My fiancée then scooted towards my knees about to get up, but I pulled at her arm. "You can't just tell me that then get up like that. Keep me in your seat," I whispered as she got ready to get up, but I lifted her a bit, pulling her back.

Catching my hint, "okay," she said just above a whisper.

"Yeah..." I gave her a look, grabbing her leg.

"She hid a body," JoJo shook his head at us. "Now she dragged you in. You're an accomplice."

"You need help, JoJo," Tia said laughing, then crossed her legs.

"Why everything got to be sexual?" I asked Elijah out loud. "Enough with all that shit. Ask somethin' with some substance. Like goals, life lessons, or something," I replied. "I'm uncomfortable with my cousins being here and I'm sure they feel the same way. I don't want no images of me and my lady in nobody's damn head. Besides, y'all don't feel no shame talkin' about this shit, when y'all just met my family?" I asked Tia's friends.

"He mad because he ain't been sexual for a long ass time," K-Ci said laughing. "It's been over a damn year."

Instantly getting upset, I spoke up, "K-Ci, get out," I pointed to the door. "I ain't got time for your shit. I was quiet at first, but nigga, you got to get the hell up out of here," I told, moving Tia over to the armrest to stand up. I walked to the door.

"You kickin' me out?" K-Ci placed his hands on his chest with his elbows pointed out to the side and his head tilted. "Nigga, what the hell I do?"

"K-Ci, I ain't got time for nobody shit today. I really don't," I opened the door. "Bye."

"You invite me to a whole 'nother country then kick me out?" K-Ci asked me, "That's fucked up."

"K-Ci you a little drunk- tipsy or whatever and you really makin' me mad. I'm not trying to raise my damn blood pressure again. I suggest you go back to your hotel room and not the bar," I replied. "Sleep that shit off. Don't say shit to rile me up, I'm just calming down from another situation and you're pissing me off again. You know I'm not comin' down for a while when I get there. Leave."

"Man, just leave. You have been on bullshit- sayin' slick shit here and there all day," JoJo walked towards us.

"A'ight, I'm out," K-Ci said walking out.

K-Ci can walk straight for the most part, he is stumbling a bit, but he ain't that fucked up. It's his mouth, but I still want to make sure he's okay.

"Creed, can you make sure he gets back to his room?" I asked him.

"I got you," Creed was already near me, all he had to do was walk out the door, right behind K-Ci.

When they left, I closed the door, then sat back down in my seat, rubbing my forehead. I'm already not feeling too good. I've been feeling a little sick since New Year's Eve.

"Life Lesson #1," Elijah spoke, "there will be many that try to break your stride, but you got to keep on goin'," he sang so hard and horribly.

I started laughing, "nigga, you straight garbage!"

"I know, DeVanté!" Elijah replied moving his head every which way, then laughed.

"I'm glad you know," I replied.

"Life Lesson #2: stop seeing people with sugar in your eyes and see them for the lemon they really are," Edna replied.

"That right there," Elijah nodded.

"Life Lesson #3: When you upgrade your life, you have to upgrade your lifestyle in every way possible," Tia told us.

"Now, babe..." I trailed off and she knew what I was about to say. It's about her cheapness, but I'm not going to embarrass her.

"Don't even start with me, Donald," Tia said laughing.

"You know that I know that you know what I know. You know what I'm sayin'?" I looked at her and she caught it.

"Nigga, we left in the dark," JoJo told me.

"That's the way love goes," I shrugged. "Us knowing is all that matters."

"Life Lesson #4: When your friend is in a relationship, they forget about you," JoJo spoke out.

"You ain't shit," I said laughing. "You really feel that way?"

"In a way, but I know there are more reasons than your relationship," JoJo told me.

"I ain't forget about you. If I had, you wouldn't have been invited here," I replied.

"I'm sure he has other friends NOW, because he didn't have none at first, but y'all the ones that made the cut," Edna looked at me smiling.

"Keep telling yourself that Special Ed," I chuckled.

Tia started whistling the Ed, Edd, N Eddy theme song, she even made the noise at the end.

"Alright, Earle..." Edna replied.

"Alright Meridith," I said laughing. It's Edna's middle name. Eden's middle name is Miriam. "Don't you dare jump in Miriam."

"Who the hell told our parents our names were okay?" Edna said laughing. "You know we from the same damn family with these old names."

"At least my first name is good. Shit, even a little unique in my opinion," Dalvin spoke up.

"What is it?" Ashari asked him.

"Don't even ask," Dalvin shook his head.

"Ertimus," I replied to Ashari.

"Nigga..." Dalvin stared at me. "At least my whole name ain't old as hell."

"I can't help what my parents named me," I shrugged. "That ain't on me."

"I'm glad I wasn't the firstborn or I would've been stuck with that pitiful and boring ass name," Dalvin said laughing. "How you marrying a man named Donald Earle DeGrate? Yours will be Mrs. Donald Earle DeGrate."

"The same as your mother's, but with Junior at the end," Tia replied. "It' s not bad."

"Ol' buddy didn't think that through," I replied. "Momma has the same name. Life Lesson #5: Learn your parent's names and surnames."

"I'm hungry now," Edna said changing the subject.

"Order something. Good luck!" I said laughing.

"Cluck- cluck and a duck duck goose to you," JoJo said looking at me, hinting to me trying to order not too long ago.

"See, you ain't have to bring that up," I pointed at him.

"That shit was funny as hell," JoJo said laughing, then looked at Tia. "This man that you call fiancé was on the phone trying to order chicken in French and spoke every language but English. He even made up some of his own languages in the process. He made ALL kinds of animal noises too."

Tia was laughing.

"Careful, he might kick you out too," Dalvin warned JoJo. "You would be the fourth one today."

"Dalvin, sometimes people should keep their mouths closed if they don't know things," Ashari told him.

"Thank you, Ashari," I co-signed. "I already told K-Ci. Don't make me mad."

Word Count: 6,240

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❤️Thanks for the support that you've been giving me. I'm very appreciative.❤️