December 6, 1999

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Trailing his slender finger along the curve of my lower lip, his eyes glistened as I wrapped my tongue around it swallowing any remnants of his sweet cum. He shuddered, "You're such a freak."

The corners of my lips rose into a devilish smirk, watching him tuck his softening dick into his burgundy crushed velvet pants. "And?"

Resting his hand on the back of my headrest as he backed out of the driveway we had been parking in for a while, he shook his head. "What if your dad came out of the house and seen your head in my lap? He would've killed you and he would've sicked Cujo on me."

Oh please, don't let his wretched name fool you, our family dog is the sweetest St.Bernard you will ever meet. Such a drama king P is. Is it a crime to unexpectedly please my man, albeit in front of my parents house, when I notice he needs to release some of his pent up tension?

"He would have not. Besides you needed it. Its bad enough you wouldn't let me give you a massage this morning, you're carrying so much tension in your back. And your hip, baby promise me you'll lay off the splits on the 18th."

"Hmm, no promises." He always jokes about how I switch into 'nurse mode' when I bring up his hips. I'm not trying to pester him, I just care about his well-being. "Speaking of the 18th, I need to call Morris and the guys and see when they're free to hit the studio."

"Tonight?"

"No tomorrow, I've been itching to finish this song."

Stifling a laugh, I shook my head. "You sure you don't want to retract what you said about going into studio rehab? Bet you $10 and a Crunch bar you don't make it two weeks."

Slowly lifting our intertwined fingers from the middle console, he pressed his lips against the back of my hand. "It won't be that hard, although I'll never stop writing because it's therapeutic for me. I want to get as much time as I can with Noah before he goes to pre-school. I'm not missing a moment of this pregnancy or you, I just need to lay down one more track and then I'm done."

"Can I come and hang in the studio while you record it?"

When he turned to look out the window, the sun rays accentuated the auburn hue on the crown of his freshly dyed hair. He grinned, not taking his eyes off the road. "No, I want you to hear it when it's perfect."

"Oh, babe take a left up here on York Ave." As the minutes rolled on and we drew closer to our destination, I grew nervous for P. We were on the way to our 12 week appointment and I know he's on edge. Hopefully talking to the doctor and actually seeing the baby will give him some peace of mind.

"P, I can't believe I gained seven pounds. I'm going to look like a little round oompa loompa by the end of all of this." Perched on the exam table, I stopped swinging my legs long enough for him to remove each one of my, well his furry boots from my feet.

"Well you'll be my cute little round oompa loompa." He's not supposed to agree with me.

A swift knock was heard before Dr.Hunt came in looking down at my chart. "Hello hello, Jasmin how are you doi—" Her eyes grew wide when they came in contact with the handsome man before her. I can only imagine what was going through her head. "You umm, you must be her..."

"Fiance, nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she cleared her throat. "Before we get started, if you don't mind me asking what can I call you?"

"Mr. Nelson is fine", he dryly said.

"Okay then. So, Jasmin your weight looks fine. Your blood pressure however was slightly elevated at 142/93. We're going to have to watch that, we don't want it climbing higher because then the risk of pre-eclampsia increases." All I could do was shake my head in agreement. I was pretty positive I didn't have pre-existing hypertension so maybe it was stress-induced.

Seeing how rigid P had become in that short amount of time, I knew he was internally freaking out. He gave my hand a light squeeze as he asked, "What is pre-eclampsia?"

"Well, it's a pregnancy complication that is characterized by high blood pressure. It can cause damage to the liver and kidneys and if left untreated it can lead to eclampsia which is a whole another ball park...but we don't have to get into that now. How is everything else, cravings?"

"I don't think my cravings are out of the ordinary, although I wanted cake yesterday for breakfast. I think everything else is fine, right baby?"

"We did want to go ahead and do the genetic testing and amniocentesis." Shifting his weight to the right, he was clearly uncomfortable bringing up this subject but he knew he had to. We have hope that there is nothing wrong with the baby, but he was adamant that we would not be skipping the amnio like he had done so before.

Dr. Hunt nodded and said, "We can do the genetic screening today, it's just a simple blood work up. You'll have to come back in a couple of weeks to do the amniocentesis. Let's have you lie back so we can take a look at baby Nelson."

The lights went down and our attention immediately shifted to the illuminated ultrasound monitor. A slight shiver coursed through me as she spread the cold jelly along my lower abdomen. P gripped my left hand in anticipation. The moment I saw the defined image of our child on the screen I looked up just in time to see the overjoyed expression form on his face. He had the cheesiest grin.

"The baby looks like its growing just fine", Dr. Hunt mentioned.

"It is just one in there right?"

"Yes Jasmin, only one."

I laughed, playfully slapping P on the arm. "See I told you. Be prepared to pay up."

Briefly shaking his head, his eyes lit up as he pointed. "Jazz look, it's kicking its little legs." Indeed it was kicking it's little legs and raising it's teeny arms.

"Your baby is extremely active, you should start feeling those flutters soon." Toying with a few buttons, she shifted the doppler-thingy a little more to the left. "Let's listen to the heartbeat."

Hearing that strong beat pour through the speakers instantly made me overemotional. Goosebumps formed along my forearms and the exposed skin on my stomach. I didn't think the moment could get an sappier. As his misty doe eyes met mine, there was enough light in the room for me to witness his light brown iris' shift to a greener hue.

Wiping away a tear that threatened to leave his eye, my voice cracked. "Baby, don't cry you're going to make me cry." Too late, I was already blubbering.

"I'm just happy that's all. I love you so much." My cheeks flushed as he pressed his lips against mine. I never realized the intensity of our love could flourish more than it had previously. I felt like I was climbing to the peak of a mountain top. The depth of our connection is unexplainable.

Placing my purse and keys on the marble entryway table of my parents home, I turned to P. "Don't even start."

He furrowed his brows and chuckled. That smug grin said it all. "Baby what? You know I'm always on my best behavior. Tell your father not to start nothing, then it won't be nothing."

The only rebuttal that deserved was an intense eye roll. Sauntering farther into my childhood home, the savory notes of curry that lingered through the halls cradled my nostrils and intrigued my taste buds.

A loud rumble erupted from my stomach causing P to laugh. "Sounds like both of my babies are hungry."

"Mom! We're back!" Receiving no response, we ventured into the aromatic kitchen. Instinctively I took a peek at some of the food that was in the process of cooking. "Mmmm, curry channa and aloo."

Prince walked over and took a whiff. "How come you haven't made this in a while?"

"P, we haven't been home in like three weeks that's why."

"There you are, how was the appointment?" Making her appearance in a flowing pink sundress, mom hugged P before her hand gravitated towards my stomach.
"Fine, I have the ultrasound pictures in my purse. Your grandson was on his best behavior right?"

"He was fine, we were coloring earlier but he's been downstairs with your brothers for the past thirty minutes. Are you all staying for dinner?"

Hopping up on the bar stool next to P, I sighed. "No, we'll probably just take some food home. I'm ready to go lay down."

"Hopefully your energy will pick back up soon. You never told me when your last day at work is."

"Oh you know, soon. Pretty soon." I refrained from repetitively tapping my fingers or making eye contact with P because he would've known immediately I was lying. If he knew my two-week notice letter was still buried in the depths of my purse he would flip. My schedule has already dwindled down to PRN. Regardless of what he says, it's hard for me to let go of my independent attitude. I like making my own money. What's the harm in working while pregnant?

"At least you'll get to be a full-time stay at home mommy to two for a little bit before Noah goes to pre-school. How do you think Noah is going to react when you tell him he's going to be a big brother?"

"Hopefully better than Alonzo did when Morgan told him he was going to be a big brother. That boy acted like the world was ending. P and I were thinking about telling him tonight."

"I think it'll go fine sweetie. So are you two throwing a housewarming party once everything is moved in?"

My face scrunched up in confusion as I peered at the back of her head. "Definitely not, every time some one in this family has a housewarming the whole loud-mouth clan shows up. P and I don't want that in our house."

With the dish rag in one hand and the other resting on her hip, she turned and cocked her brow at him. "Prince is that true? I think a housewarming get-together is a nice idea." I don't know why, this isn't even our permanent home.

He shrugged and threw his hand up in defense. "This is between you and her, I plead the fifth. My name is Bennet and I ain't in it."

As silence fell in the kitchen, my 14 year old brother Kaleb appeared in the kitchen and made his way to the pantry without greeting anyone. Pulling out a box of Cocoa Puffs, mom immediately scolded him. "Kaleb put it back, dinner will be ready soon."

"You said that an hour ago." Pouring himself a bowl anyway, the second he opened the fridge he scoffed. "How come every time I want some cereal, we don't have any milk?"

"Boy you better put some water on that cereal."

Chuckling at my mothers aggravation, P turned his attention to Kaleb. "What have y'all been up to down there?"

"We've been trying to play NFL 2K on the Dreamcast but Noah tries to steal the controller."

"Well obviously he wants to play with you guys."

My little brother just rolled his eyes. "Bro, every time we let him have it he just pressed all the buttons at one time."

"You three are his uncles, why don't you all teach him how to play?" I admired P's persistence, but clearly he wasn't getting through to this knucklehead.

"He's not going to listen." Heading towards the staircase, he grabbed a handful of dry cereal. "Prince, you wanna come play with us?"

"No, I'm alright."

What my parents were cooking smelled so good, but I was so tired I didn't know if I could wait much longer. Running my fingers through the back of P's mane, I called out to Kaleb while he was still in earshot.  "Bring Noah up here, we're about to leave soon."

He shot back, "You're not disabled, you come get him!" I can't stand him. Yes I'm not disabled, but I don't feel like walking down those stairs either.

Eventually, we heard the pitter patter of feet coming up the stairs accompanied by Noah's high pitched whining. Unlatching the safety gate with his free hand, my 8 year old brother Khalil placed him on his feet right in front of the fridge.

"Why is my child screaming?" These two have a love-hate relationship. Ever since Noah and Alonzo were born Khalil has had a bone to pick with them. Personally, I think he's jealous that he's not the baby anymore.

"I don't know, he's just acting like a little brat", Khalil taunted him.

Pointing a wooden spatula in his direction, my mom warned him. "Leave him alone Kai."

I don't know what was going on with them downstairs but Noah was on a war path. Out of no where, he ran up to Khalil and slapped his legs repeatedly as he screamed. "Stop Noah, go to your mom and dad!" Even though Khalil's older, he decided not to take the high road and walk away. Annoyed by his nephew, with the least amount of force he pushed Noah against his forehead. The second Noah dramatically fell on his bottom, he let out the most blood-curdling cry.

"Khalil really? Why are you picking on him?" Prince disapprovingly shook his head as he walked over and scooped Noah in his arms. "You're okay Noah, I got you. I think you need a nap."

"I don't want a nap!", Noah let out in a muffled cry against P's neck.

Rubbing Noah's back, I was definitely ready to leave. "You're always bothering him! You're lucky I don't feel like moving or I'd slap you upside your head!"

Taking a stance on the other side of the island, Khalil yelled, "Do it Jasmin, I'm not afraid of you!"

Assuming he was in his office, Dad came around the corner and grabbed Kaleb by the forearm. "Eh! Don't talk to your sister like that! Running around acting dotish! Go upstairs now."

"He started it!"

"Talking back to me, I don't care who started it I'm finishing it. Go before I give you something to cry about Khalil."

I whispered to P, "Now you see why I don't bring you over here that much, it's like the freaking twilight zone."

Thankfully, hours later Noah had fully calmed down after all of the foolishness at my parent's house. Fed and all clean for the night, I looked on at P helping Noah put on his Batman PJ's. "Do you want to put on your Batman slippers too?"

"No thank you." Watching him jump up and down on the bed giggling, I knew I shouldn't have let him nap all the way home.

"God, I swear Khalil gets on my nerves. Calling my baby a brat, he's the biggest one of all. hE sTaRTed iT!" I mocked my brothers words. "That's all he does is blame other people. I'm just thankful Noah isn't like him. Sending a little terrorizer like Khalil to his room won't do anything. God rest her soul, if Grandma Annette was still alive she would've took a switch to his little bamsee."

Pulling hair in a low ponytail, P pulled back the covers and relaxed against the headboard beside me. "It's in the past now, chill out.  Are you ready to tell him the news?" Biting down on my lower lip to conceal my smile, I nodded.

"Come here Noah." Grabbing him mid-bounce, P pulled him in his arms and proceeded to tickle him. Moments like these were priceless. The way he loved on Noah, I knew this man was destined to be a great father.

Once the tickle fight died down, Noah sat on his knees in between the two of us. Grazing my fingers along the edges of the sonogram, a silence fell in the room because neither one of us knew how to start this conversation.

"Mommy and me want to talk to you about something."

"About what?" Intrigue was written all over his face as his sparkling brown eyes bore into us.

"Have you noticed mommy's tummy getting bigger? Why do you think it's growing?"

"Umm, because she ate too much of Papa's roti", he answered innocently. Was my son trying to call me fat?

We both laughed at his response.

"No baby, you're going to be a big brother." His gaze was unreadable as I tried to explain. "Mommy's having a baby."

As he shifted a little, the quizzical look he gave us never changed. "Is the baby coming tomorrow?"

P chuckled a little. "No not tomorrow, your little brother or little sister should be here some time around your birthday."

Noah furrowed his brows as he slowly shook his head left to right. "No, I don't—I don't want a baby sister." Well damn. But I'm pretty sure I didn't want a little brother when my mom was pregnant with TJ.

"Why don't you want a little sister?"

"Because mommy, sisters cant play with my toys. They play with barbies and then she can't play with Alonzo and Marcel and me."

"Well, there are toys both girls and boys can play with."

He folded his little arms. "I don't want a sister."

P told him truthfully, "Little man I'm afraid its not up to you. It could be a boy, it could be a girl."

Pointing his minuscule index finger to his chest, Noah innocently asked, "Why it's no up to me?"

"It's just not, it's up to God."

"God? But—but who made the baby?"

Wiggling my finger in between my fiancé and I, I smirked at his angelic little face. "We made the baby."

"How you make the baby?" Such an inquisitive little guy Noah is. Giving P a side-eye, I told him if this question came up that I'd let him handle it. A nervous laugh left his lips as Noah cocked his head to the side.

"Well, umm...see when a man and a woman, a mommy and a daddy really love each other they go to bed one night and pray for a baby. If they are lucky enough, God will answer their prayers and poof! a baby." I give him an A-, that was a much cuter explanation than I expected.

"Mommy and Daddy pray in bed?" P nodded. "Where was I at?"

I had to bite my lower lip to keep from laughing. "You were probably asleep or playing, I don't know." Technically I wasn't lying. Based on the dates, we either got pregnant the night of Morgan's wedding or the next morning OR that afternoon. Regardless, if it was the night of the wedding the other two times sealed the deal.

"Oh." A sudden realization came over him as he crawled to sit on P's right thigh. "Did mommy and you pray and that's how you got me?"

Noah peered up at him, patiently awaiting an answer. Only eighteen months old when I first introduced the two of them, that's all he's ever really known. The way he repeatedly cleared his throat, I could tell P was attempting to choose his words correctly. "You can say that. God sent you and mommy to me. You are a blessing you know that?"

Noah nodded as P pulled him in for a hug. Feeling a wetness upon my cheeks, I cursed those damn pregnancy hormones. Crying all the damn at the cutest things.

Closing the gap in between us, I placed the palm of Noah's delicate hand on my own. "Angel, you know how Uncle Woody is Alonzo and Aiden's daddy?"

He rapidly shook his head up and down. "Uncle Woody took us to the moo-vies." We chuckled at his pronunciation.

"That's right he did. Well, do you remember how you carried the ring in Uncle Woody & Auntie Morgan's wedding?" He nodded. "After we have our wedding, he'll be your dad."

Shifting his gaze from me to him, the most intense heartfelt moment happened as Noah rested his hand on P's olive-toned cheek. "But you are my Daddy Prince."

The most sincere, loving thing that could've come from this small child. He doesn't know any different, P is the only father-figure he's ever really known. Watching the mistiness cast over his hazel eyes, I chuckled in a attempt to keep the tears at bay. "P please don't cry, you're going to make me cry."

He sniffled, wiping a tear that had collected at the corner of my mouth. "I'm not." Poor baby, Noah doesn't even realize that the meaning behind his words is why we were emotional. "You know I love you so much, right Noah?"

"I love you." Noah sat up on his knees and kissed P on the cheek. He crawled over to me, grabbed the sides of my face and kissed my cheek. "I love you mommy."

"I love you more. I think you'll be a wonderful big brother. Are you excited for the baby?"

Intently staring at my stomach now knowing there was a baby inside, it was clear he was still warming up to the idea. "The baby, will make me not the baby anymore?"

"Honey, you'll always be mommy's first baby. Now I'll have two babies. You know you used to be in my tummy too."

"When did I come out?"

"You came out three years ago, almost four."

Taking a closer look at my stomach, he pulled up my tank top and gently poked my belly button. "How come he won't come out?" Note how he said 'he'.

P reassured him, "Your baby brother or or baby sister has to grow stronger and healthiet first and then will come out in a few months."

Noah furiously shook his head no as he smiled. "No, I want a brother. I don't want sister."

"Buddy, you have to promise mommy and I you'll be happy whether the baby is a boy or a girl."

Noah continued to giggle. "No, it's a brother." I realized there was no winning this argument with him, he'll just have to wait and see.

"Are you going to help take care of the baby when it's born?"

He perked up, giving us hope that he was growing excited about being a big brother. "Yeah, I'll help so the baby doesn't cry."

P asked, "You don't like when babies cry?"

"No, when Aiden cries I don't hear the tv. When's the baby coming?"

I ran my fingers through his deep dark brunette coils. "June, the baby has to grow bigger before it can be born."

The twinkle in his large brown iris' only intensified as he questioned us to death. "How is the baby born? Do you poop it out in the potty?"

My face scrunched up at his assumption as P just had a good ol' laugh. "Poop it out? Who told you that?"

He said innocently enough, "Alonzo. But! But, TJ told him." Figures.

A/N: Thankfully this new job didn't put too much of a damper on my writing. Do you all think Prince went about the 'Dad' conversation the right way? How hard do you think it will be when Noah gets older to tell him the truth about his biological father IF you think that's the right thing to do? Leave your comments and love down below.