Ocean's POV

I'm sitting on the sofa playing with Nevaeh while Michael and Ray are out and Robert comes in placing a cup of coffee down on the table for me and sits besides us. "she doesn't do much does she?" He frowns watching Nevaeh and I pulling faces at one another. "She's 8 months old, what were you expecting?" I giggle slightly. "well I wasn't expecting a niece and nephew that's for sure" he chuckles. "how do you know about DJ?" I turn to him confused. "Ray told, me and last time he checked you guys only had a son. "where is he?" He asks softly and I tell him everything that happened with our parents after DJ was born and about are mom now having custody . "wow!... She's always been a bitch, but to take a baby from his parents like that!" He frowns. "do you still get to see him?"

"we got to spend Saturdays with him, but we missed some child support payments and some visits and the courts agreed she could stop the visits" I croak and he puts his arm around me. "we did everything the courts asked and nothing we do is ever good enough. Its like the only were gonna get him back is if she signs him back to us. Which she wont!" I begin sobbing and he pulls me in closer then breaks away after a moment. "um.. I know it's not my business, but Ray told me some other stuff... About Michael" he mumbles. "what about him" I frown and shrug confused. "he told me Michael admitted to him that he... Did stuff to you" he frowns. "well he he no right to! That's all in the past and we've moved on from that" I snap annoyed Ray would bring all that up, especially to my brother. "well if I find out he's hit my baby sis again I will kick his ass" he smirks.

"oh. please! Michael would destroy you In a fight!" I giggle and he shrugs. "true. But back before I got this I would have whooped his ass" he shrugs. "got what?" I frown. "the aids.." He shrugs "Didn't Ray tell you?" He mumbles "NO! Why the hell didn't you!!!?" I snap. "I thought he told you since you guys were friends with him and all" he shrugs. "if you thought we knew then why are you only talking about it now?"

"I would have, but to be fair you did show up out of the blue, with your husband and kid and you were in pain after clearly a botched up abortion. I didn't think then was a good time to try and have a full on heart to heart"

"I'm sorry about all that" I mumble and he smiles "it's fine. You always gonna be welcome here... All of you"

"im sorry your sick too" I mumble and he shrugs "it's cool i've already come to except it along time ago.. That's why I'm always warning you and Michael to only use clean needles and never share with anyone but each other"

"we don't" I tell him truthfully "is that how you?... You know?" He's about to speak when Nevaeh starts crying. "it's ok sweetie" I soothe her. "anything I can do to help?" Robert asks and I shake my head. "she's just hungry" I tell him then turn my attention back to Nevaeh. "But it ok, because daddy's gonna be back soon" I smile at her holding her close to me for a cuddle. "he seems like a good man. he clearly loves you guys and would do anything for you" Robert smiles. "he is. and we love him too" I smile back.

**********

Jermaine's POV

it's been days since anyone has seen or heard from Michael and Ocean and he hasn't even been showing up for work. I've been covering for him and told the boss he's at home sick so hopefully he won't lose his job over all this. I've been calling and leaving messages for them and I still haven't heard anything back. I get neither of them wanting to see or speak to me, but they could at least pick up the phone to someone and let us all know their ok instead of just disappearing.

*

I'm at the grocery store and I see Aisha. I know it's a long shot, but maybe she could have seen them. "Aisha! Have you seen Ocean or Michael in the last few days?" I walk over and ask her and she looks at me nervously "w-why would I?" She stutters. "long story short, me and Michael had an argument and nobody has  seen them since"

"no, sorry" she shakes her head and turns to leave but I take her hand stopping her. "Aisha, this is really important. They have the baby with them and nobody knows where they are. If you know something..."

"I don't!" She snaps cutting me off "has something happened?" I ask worriedly seeing how agitated she seems. "no... I'm just a little stress from work" she sighs. "I really haven't seen them, but I'm sure their ok" she shrugs. "their missing! and so is their daughter!" I frown. "no... She's with her parents who are both now adults that can take care of themselves. their hardly run away teens" she shrugs. "I know that but..."

"but nothing" she cuts me off. "If I hear anything I'll let you know, but quit worrying. Like you said they have Nevaeh with them so their probably staying with a friend out of town or something" she tries to reassure me. "your sure you don't know anything?" I ask and she nods "I'm sure, if I hear anything I'll let you know I promise"

******

Michael's POV

"Quit standing so close" I nudge Ray away slightly as we're standing behind the wall. "you want people to see us watching them?" He frowns then turns back watching out onto the street. "didn't think you were the homophobic type" he mumbles under his breath."I'm not! What you and Robert do is your business!" I shrug. "I um... I noticed you didn't seem surprised when I told you I was gay now. Was it that obvious?" he mumbles. "dude, I kinda figured it out the day you told me you liked getting your dick sucked by guys! Why do you care what I think anyway?" I shrug. "just wondered if it bothered you being friends with queer" he shrugs still watching the street. "well your not trying to fuck me so I don't care"

"who'd wanna fuck you?" he chuckles "everybody... I am good looking guy" I shrug playfully. Ray is about to say something then stops looking back onto the street with a now more serious tone "found one! Now do exactly like I told you" he turns to me. "how come it has to be me?" I ask and he sighs rolling his eyes. "because, you look more innocent. He'll stop for you" I bite my lower lip hesitantly looking over at the guy walking down the street. "Mike, just do it! The sooner we get this done. You can get food and diapers and whatever other stuff you need for your girls and then we can call Frank and get some more stuff for us!" He smiles and I take a deep breath and make my way over.

"Excuse me sir. Do know the way to the train station? I'm a little lost" I ask innocently and the guy turns and points giving me the directions. While I'm pretending to listen Ray sneaks up behind him carefully taking his wallet from his pocket, which is going smoothly until some woman sees and yells over to us. "are you sure he took it?" I pretend like I didn't see and the man reaches into his pocket which is now empty. "did you see who it was?" I turn to the woman and she points at Ray running down the street and I run in the same direction pretending to chance after him.

"good job!.. You sure that was your first time!?" Ray smiles opening the wallet. "yeah, yeah. Anyway. How much did he have?"

"$30" he shrugs. "that's it!?" I pant still trying to catch my breath. "relax! That was our first one. Let's move on to the next. I'll let you pick the next one"

***********

We get back to Roberts apartment and Ocean is finishing off dressing Nevaeh. "I'm back!" I smile kissing Neveah forehead the lean over and kiss Ocean. "Look, what daddy brought!" Ocean coos at her taking the groceries from me. "your man did well today!" Ray smiles coming over. "we made $200 and that's after all that crap he bought. You should be proud"

"I'm always proud of my man" she smiles kissing me again. "I got something else too" I smile handing Nevaeh a musical toy and she squeals excitedly taking it from me. I feel bad about robbing those peoples wallets today, but I didn't do it for a thrill or for the sake of just being a dick to them. I have a wife and hungry child that were relying on me and their needs come first.

*****

Kathrine's POV

I've been calling Ocean and Michael non stop and still haven't heard anything. I've called all the family and tried everyone who knows them and nobody's heard anything.

I get home from work and the first thing I do is dial Michaels number once again, praying this time he picks up.

"hello"

"oh, that God!" I gasp hearing Michael's sweet yet somehow groggy voice answer after the third or fourth ring. "who is this?" He asks confused. "Michael, it's me!"

"oh, hi mother. How's it going?" He says casually. "where are you? I've been worried sick! Why haven't you been picking up!?"

"yeah, I meant to call you back, sorry about that. We've just been real busy" he mumbles. "are you ok? You don't sound good" I ask worriedly. "I'm fine. I was just sleeping when you called"

"where are you? Is Ocean and Nevaeh with you? Are they ok?"

"mhm.. Neveah's taking a nap"

"can I speak to Ocean? How is she after... You know?" I mumble that last part. "she's fine. She's a little busy right now though"

"where are you? Jermaine said you haven't been turning up for work?"

"we're out of town right now" he says still sounding half asleep. "where out of town?" I ask again. "Ocean's brothers" he answers still not giving any details. "what's his address? I'll come over and..."

"no" he cuts me off "we'll come see you soon"

"Michael, what's going on? Why don't you want me to come or know where you staying?" I ask getting even more concerned. "because... We're moving to our own place in a few days"

"but I want to see my granddaughter" I press him and again I get the same groggy tone. "and you will.. We'll visit soon"

"when?"

"umm... I don't know... Mother, I just woke up. I'll call you back soon I promise"

"well, what are you doing for money. If your not working?" I ask. "I got some work here. I told you. we're fine"

"what kind of work?"

"...just... This and that... I have to go Nevaeh's waking up"

********

when Joseph gets home I tell him about speaking to Michael. "see! I told you they'd be ok" he smiles and I sigh shaking my head. "I don't know. Something didn't seem right"

"in what way?" He shrugs. "the way he was talking and When I asked him things he didn't give details and somthing in his tone didn't sound right. He sounded really groggy and couldn't wait to get off the phone"

"but, you said he'd just woken up?"

"that's what he told me, but..."

"that's probably why he sounded groggy" he chuckles slightly Cutting me off. "but why wouldn't he tell me where he was? Or give any details when I was asking him things and try and rush off the phone?" I say still skeptical. "probably because he was just woken up and had a whole bunch of questions thrown at him... Quit looking for things to worry about. He told you their all ok" he tries to reassure me. But I still can't shake this worrying feeling that something isn't right. "their finally standing on their on two feet. this is a good thing" Joseph says bringing me from my thoughts. "he told you their doing good and they'll visit soon, so there's no more need to worry"