Opening Video - 'Why I Love You So Much' by Monica
Beyonce - "Fever"

Saturday, February 3rd, 2018

Tati's POV

Niko and I agreed to alternate spending time at each other's homes. This week, he is at my condo. Next week, I am staying at his house.

Right now, though, he has so tight a grip on me that I can't get off the couch.

"Cubby-bear, you have to let me go. I need to get a shower and dressed. We are dress shopping for the wedding. Aiesha, Cass, and my mom will be here soon. They are going to be mad if I don't go."

"That won't be my problem. I want Tatianna time."

"Oh my gosh, you're impossible." I couldn't help but chuckle.

"But you know you love me."

"I sure do." Tickling does not work on Niko.

"Niko seriously I need to go to the bathroom."

"You're just saying that so I can let go."

"Niko Kostopoulos, I need to pee!!"

"Ugh, fine." He let me go, and I made a mad dash to the bathroom.

After I finished using the bathroom, I was going to sneak upstairs to my room for a shower. But, as soon as I opened the door........

"Please tell me you didn't stand there until I finished."

"Yup."

"Boy, the doorbell just rang, signaling the ladies are here. I really need to take a shower." Niko suddenly had a devious grin on his face.

Uh-oh, my mom opened the door. I gave my mom and Aiesha a key to check on my condo when I traveled to conferences for the hospital. Well, when I worked there.

"Somebody come get Niko!!!" I screamed loud enough for them to hear.

I saw Cass. She grabbed Niko's ear lobe and pinched it.

"Ouch, woman!!!!"

"Niko, leave Tati alone. She will be back after we go shopping for Aiesha's dress."

"Thanks, Cass." I then dashed up the stairs.

**********************

After grabbing my bag and sunglasses, I went back downstairs to joined everyone.

"Tati, Nana Dory is coming with us too. So, we have to swing by my parents' house," Cass mentioned.

Uh oh, Niko's nostrils were flaring as he cracked his knuckles. "I'm going too."

"Niko, listen, I used to deal with several patients or family members of patients that would yell at me. I'm a big girl. We will not always be around each other. And, I'm done feeling self-conscious. I can handle your mother. Aiesha, here are the keys to the Cullinan. I'll be out shortly."

I handed Aiesha my keys, and they left.

I walked up to Niko and started caressing his abs. "When I come home, you can have your way with me." I started growling like a tiger, "Grrr."

"I will be ready and waiting the minute you step in the door."

Niko then proceeded to maul my mouth with his lips for a few minutes. I felt Niko's hands slip behind my back after we broke apart.

"Have a great time shopping, and I slipped a shopping present in your bag."

I just had to see what he slipped in my bag. I pulled out an envelope, and it had a........

"A black Visa card?!"

"Yup," Was all Niko said.

"Thank you, Cubby-bear. I'm afraid to ask about the limit."

"All I am going to say is that it is massive. I'm just a king that is spoiling his queen."

"The queen thanks her king." I curtsied, and both of us laughed.

"I better get going."

"Not yet." Niko put his hands on my cheeks and mauled my mouth with his lips for the second time. Then, he watched me go to my SUV.

"Sorry, ladies. Niko slipped a Black Visa card in my bag." Aiesha passed me my keys. I then pressed the keyless ignition and pulled away from my condo.

"Matti slipped me one this morning too. He wants me to use it to splurge while shopping. Wedding things he is paying for," Aiesha says.

"Get used to Niko spoiling you, Tati. Both my dad and Niko did the same thing for me. I only use it when I want to treat myself," Cass added. "Every Kostopoulos woman has one. Matti, Niko, and my dad all have big hearts and make sure we have everything we need. That is one of the things I love about them. Tati, Aiesha, and Mama Pandora get used to it."

**************************************

After walking up the staircase to the Kostopoulos Manor, I was about to knock on the front door, but someone opened it.

"Come on in, Tatianna. I'll grab my bag."

"Thanks, Nana Dory." I waited for her in the foyer. Niko's mother came down the foyer staircase with a disgusting look on her face. She ignored me, but I didn't care. Just plain, old rude.

"Good afternoon, Evangeline."

She was about to say something smart, but Papa Lukas came. Evangeline continued to wherever she was going.

"Tatianna, it's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Lukas. We are taking Nana Dory shopping with us for Aiesha's wedding dress."

"Great. I'm looking forward to the wedding."

"We are too."

"I'm looking forward to some great-grandchildren," Nana Dory said as she came into the foyer.

"Mother, be on your best behavior," Lukas then tells her.

"When am I not?" I had to chuckle. Nana Dory and I then left the house, then walked to my SUV.

My mom moved to the back so Nana Dory can sit upfront.

"Nice SUV, Tatianna."

"Thanks, Nana. Niko got it for me."

"Oh, I know. I told him a special lady deserves a special ride. He even let me pick the color."

"I love it, Nana. Thank you."

"You're welcome, sugar. Let's go find a dress that will make Aiesha sexier than she already is."

*********************************

Aiesha's POV

The bridal shop we are going to is one of the best on the west coast - Beautiful Love Bridal Salon. And, we are right on time for our appointment.

"Hi, ladies. My name is Nola. How can I help you today?"

"Hi, Nola. I have an appointment for 2:00 pm. I am looking for a wedding dress, reception dress for me and the bridesmaids, bridesmaids dresses, dress for my mom, and dress for my Nana Dory. My name is Aiesha Reid."

Nola checked on her computer for my appointment.

"Ms. Reid, we have a room ready for you. Please follow me."

"Also, my fiancé is paying for everything we purchase today." We followed Nola to a very, large and private fitting room.

"Yes, ma'am. Your fiancé called earlier this morning and left his card number. Would you like to try on dresses first?"

"I would like for my bridal party to try on dresses first, starting with Nana Dory."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We found dresses for Nana Dory, mom, Tati, and Cass.

"Ms. Reid, for your dress, what are you looking for in terms of style?"

"I want something form-fitted with a long train for the wedding ceremony. For our reception, I want a short, flowy dress because I will be doing quite a bit of dancing - Greek and Caribbean style."

"Okay. I can certainly find that for you. I'll be right back."

************************

"Now, that is the dress that will have Matti drooling," Nana Dory says. We all had to laugh. "It's beautiful, honey."

"Thank you, Nana. This is the dress that I want for my wedding, Nola."

"It is a beautiful dress and fits you perfectly. And, I just wanted to thank you so much for being the best bride I have worked with."

"You're welcome. And, thank you. You have helped me so much. And, we accomplished so much today."

"Your fiancé also authorized you to sign for whatever you purchased."

"Ok, thanks. I'll change my clothes and be right with you."

"Aiesha, don't worry about jewelry. Nana Dalia had those for you and Tati. She will give them to you when you all travel to Jamaica this month."

"Thanks, mom."

"Tatianna, you might as well set your appointment for this salon for next year. Count on it," Nana Dory says. I think so too.

After changing back into my clothes, we went to meet up with Nola to pay for the dresses.

When Nola told me the total, I was flabbergasted! "Whoa! That is a whole lot of zeros," I mentally said to myself.

We scheduled dress fittings for the first week of August, and for them to be picked up. I am not having the dresses shipped to Tahiti for them to be stolen or lost.

"Thanks again for your help, Nola."

"You're welcome. And, congratulations on your big day."

We made our way back to Tati's SUV.

"Ladies how about we go get some lunch?"

Tati's POV

"Where should we go?"

"Let's go to a seafood restaurant," Nana Dory suggested.

"Seafood it is." We all got in my SUV and drove off to The Ocean Star Seafood Restaurant.

My phone started ringing. Nana Dory checked it for me and answered it.
"Niko, Tatianna is driving. Child, what do you want?"

"To see if you all were having a great time. And, I miss her," I heard him say.

"Yes, we are having a great time, and are going to get some lunch. Boy, fix that face. We still have more shopping to do. You'll live a few more hours until Tatianna comes home," Nana replies to Niko. I had to chuckle.

He will probably get me later. "Tell Cubby-bear I will have a surprise for him later."

They all said, "Cubby-bear?!!"

"I forgot about that nickname!" Nana Dory replied and laughed at the same time. I could tell Niko sighed. "Cubby wubby should go spend some time with Matti and his father."

I had to pull over from how hard I was laughing. Once composed, I started my SUV and got back on the road.

"Goodbye, Niko," Then Nana Dory hung up the phone. "Kids."

She is a joy to be around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niko's POV

My grandmother is a trip. I'm bored. Hmm, how about I take a glance at 'Loser Island.' I grabbed my laptop that I brought over to Tatianna's condo to check out the island. I would be shocked if any of them were still alive. They have been there four months since we took them there.

The island has cameras everywhere, so I punched in the codes for each camera. So far, I don't see any signs of life.

Wait a minute! Two of the males are still hanging on - barely. Not anymore. All it took was for me to enter a code on my laptop - poof!

I just watched television until Tatianna came home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I heard the door opening, signaling that it is Niko's time. I sure did jump off the couch.

Dang - Cass, and Aiesha came in too.

"Good night, ladies." I sure did usher them out of the house.

"Hey!" Aiesha and Cass said.

"Tatianna Reid is mine for the rest of this evening. See you all later." I sure did close the door in their faces.

I turned around, and Tatianna had her hands on her hips. "Someone's a little anxious. But, Mr. Kostopoulos, you have to wait a few more minutes. I'll be right back."

Tatianna carried what she bought upstairs. I saw a bag from Adore Accessories, which is a lingerie store. Hey, I'm no fool. Ana used to shop there.

I heard Tatianna coming down the stairs and walking towards' the living room.

"Well, how do you like it?"

"Baby, I don't like. I love it." Tatianna sashayed over to the couch. "Have a seat right here, right in my lap."

"Tomorrow afternoon we are going house hunting with my real estate agent. But right now, it's Niko time. Woman, you are making me want to lose my self-control. This gown is the perfect height too."

"Hey, I always wear these kind of outfits all the time. Ask Aiesha, she will tell you."

"Uh, I'll ask Aiesha later. First, let's remove this." I sure did take Tatianna's robe off.

"Yes sir, Mr. Kostopoulos."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Narrator's POV

Over the next two weeks, Niko helped Tatianna look at some houses. One of the houses she really liked because it had everything she wanted - big kitchen, swimming pool, plenty of bedrooms, space for a home gym, view of the ocean, near the beach, etc.

Tatianna put in an offer for it and is waiting to see if it was accepted.

Niko worked from home but occasionally went into the office.

Aiesha and Matti, along with Cass, Tatianna, and Niko mailed out their wedding invitations, and also created a wedding website for the guests to rsvp.

The time flew by for now it is time for them to leave for Jamaica.

***************************************

Saturday, February 17th, 2018

Tati's POV

We left San Diego 7:00 a.m. It is only a 6-hour flight, and there is a time difference of three hours. So, we will land in Kingston at 4:00 pm.

It's been a while since we flew back home. I'm excited to see everyone, and to introduce Niko as my boyfriend. Besides graduating from medical school at a young age and becoming a doctor, Niko is the best thing that has happened to me.

"Niko, Adonis wanted me to tell you that we are about an hour away from landing in Jamaica," His flight attendant, Cyrus says.

"Thanks, C." That's what Niko calls him.

Niko was on his laptop, working. He promised once we land in Jamaica, he will not be working.

"I see an email from my real estate agent about the house. Let me open it."

I was nervous because that is the one I absolutely want.

"You got it, baby. The house is yours. We can take care of it when we get back from our trip."

Yes!! I sure did stand up and do a dance. Niko, Aiesha, and Matti laughed. Cyrus walked by and laughed too.

"Hey, I have always wanted to live mortgage-free, and I have finally made it."

"And, also when we get back, I am getting you security for your house. I wish you would just move in with me, but I can't force you."

"Well, thank you for respecting my feelings, Cubby."

"Cubby?!" Cyrus chuckled as he came to check on us.

Niko sighed.

"Niko's nickname is Cubby-bear."

"Cyrus, don't even think about ever uttering that nickname out of your mouth. Got it?" Niko glances from his laptop and tells Cyrus.

"Would anyone like something to eat or drink?"

"I'm okay, Cyrus. We're close to landing. Thanks for checking."

Everyone else said the same thing.

"You're welcome, everyone."

****************************************

"Welcome to Kingston, Jamaica Matti and Niko."

We unbuckled our seatbelts and stood up to get off the plane. Niko went to talk to Adonis.

We saw two SUVs and two drivers.

"Ms. Reid, your grandfather specifically requested for you and Aiesha to get in the Range Rover. The two gentlemen will ride in the Denali."

"Okay, thank you."

Niko descended from the plane and walked right over to me.

"Uh Niko, you have to ride in the Denali. It was my grandfather's choice, not mine."

"Before I go anywhere, I need my taste."

I knew what he was talking about. So, I grabbed his shirt and leaned him down to kiss him passionately.

"See you later, Mr. Kostopoulos." I sure did switch my hips as I walked to the Range Rover. Niko whistled as I got in. I rolled down the window and blew Niko a kiss as we pulled away.

************************************

The Range Rover pulled up to my grandparents' home.

"Thank you, uh...."

"Pierre and Malik, Ms. Reid. Don't worry about your luggage. We will take it inside the house."

"Yeah, thank you, Pierre and Malik." Aiesha and I got out of the Range Rover and headed towards' the house.

"Look what the wind blew in. Tati and Aiesha it is good to see you," My aunt Caryne says.

Aiesha and I went to hug auntie. "It's good to see you too, Auntie. Where is Nana?"

"Here I am," Nana says as she enters the main floor hallway. Aiesha and I then went over to Nana Dalia. She hugged both of us.

"How are you both doing?"

"We are great, Nana and looking forward to Aiesha's wedding."

"So am I. Come on girls, let's sit down and chat." Aiesha and I followed Nana to the patio in the back.

"So, Tati baby I am glad to see that you are dating. When your father called and said what happened, we were devastated. But he also said those idiots paid a steep price for what they did."

"They sure did. I was always nervous about dating even before Jay. Grandma, now that Niko and I are dating I am still nervous."

"Tatianna Kiyana Reid, listen to Nana Dalia. You're not in trouble, sweetie. Answer this, Tati - when you are around Niko, how do you feel?"

"I love being around him. He makes me feel safe. I love being wrapped in his arms because I feel like I am a perfect fit. On our first date, I almost gave him my.... Well, you know."

"Baby, I understand you are nervous, especially after what happened. But that Niko fella appears to be special. Tati baby, I haven't met him yet, but from the way you just spoke about him, and the things he has done for you, that young fella loves you very much. I'm not saying rush your relationship with him. Take your time. And, make him wait for the goodies. He's sexy too. I can tell just by that picture you sent me. He is yours when you are ready. Understand?"

My grandma is a trip! "I understand. Thanks for our chat."

"You're welcome, baby. Child, if I was younger, I would give that Niko...."

"Uh grandma, sorry but Niko is off the market, taken by me."

"Now, that's what I want to hear. Take it as slow as you need, baby. Nana Dalia is always a phone call away. Always remember that."

"Yes, Nana. I love you."

"I love you too."

Niko's POV

I had no idea where we were going. And, the driver and the guy in the passenger seat didn't say a word.

Suddenly we stopped at a bar.

Matti and I looked at each other, wearily as we entered the bar. We were then escorted over to a table with two, older looking gentlemen.

Matti and I sat down. No one said a word. They just had the meanest glance a man could ever have as they looked at me and Matti.

I have never been nervous, but I am now.

"May I ask why...." I was immediately cut off. I have never been cut off before in my life.

"Evander Reid and Santana Edwards - grandfathers of Tatianna and Aiesha. We are your worst nightmare and don't think either of you is good for our granddaughters."

Uh-oh.

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