We walked downstairs and I stopped.

"Ouch, why did you stop?" she asked holding on to the railing to keep herself from falling as she bumped into me.

"I think we should go half on a baby?" I pulled her in my arms catching her off guard. She laughed.

"Half on a baby? So now you're R. Kelly? You're a hoot Sean."

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"No, but I do want to start our family."

"Look Sean, I do want kids, but at least let me get use to being married first. I want us to enjoy this time that we have right now. I'm not even officially here yet, and this Shae bs and everything else, let's get this out of the way first," she said cupping my face. Her beautiful eyes stared into mine.

"I'm down. I can wait for now. I'm a patient man." I turned and took another step but she remained frozen on the top one.

"Oh shit! I forgot I'm not on birth control anymore. I was sick and Aries's doctor took it out, which was causing me to be sick in Atlanta."

"Uh?"

"My birth control was making me sick so I had to have it removed. I've totally forgot and then you and I have been doing all these freaky nasty things and now when I think about it, you haven't worn anything..."

"Did you and Aries..."

"No, nothing happened."

I was relieved.

"So there's a slight chance you could be?"

"It's possible, I mean..." she went down a step and paused for a moment and touched her stomach.

"I mean there is a chance, wait my cycle, hell! With everything going on I can't freaking remember. I did have it after the last time that he and I did it, but we used protection."

Her eyes circled around. "Yeah every time."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, even in the heat of the moment, I had my IUD, he wore condoms, I got checked for VD last month as a precaution, which was negative and I took a pregnancy test a few days ago."

"Wait you took a pregnancy test?"

"The doctor made me do it and it was negative. They do that with all women. It's just a precaution but hey, I don't want to talk about that or him."

"Good because I don't either."

"...but I haven't taken any birth control since a few days ago and I haven't use protection with you."

"Don't care. I just know I want a family with you and if it comes sooner than later, I'm okay with that. That's all I've ever dreamt about. You, me and six kids."

She sat on the stairs narrowing her eyes at me.

"Okay eleven, all boys. We could have our own team," I said teasing.

"You must think you're talking to your other wife."

"I only have one and she's stuck with me. Okay, we can compromise?"

"I'm listening."

"Lets have eleven boys and one girl. We need a cheerleader."

"Sean that is not compromising."

"We are literally the only children for our parents. If it wasn't for us playing together all the time, we would have been bored out of our minds. I always wanted another sibling."

"Okay, we can have two, that way they won't be lonely. A girl and a boy. I can see you having a daddy's girl around. She would be very lucky to have a daddy like you."

I smiled.

"The boy would be mine. He would watch after me when you're away. My own little bodyguard," she snickered.

"You know what the best part of all of this is?"

She looked at me funny. "What?"

"Making them." I leaned her back on the stairs and straddled her.

"Six months after the drama dies down then it's on Sean."

"I want a beautiful little girl that looks like you, a constant reminder of how much I love you."

"Who knew you were such a softy?" She touched her nose on mine.

"Call me what you want, but I'm happy Lizzy. I can honestly say that." She leaned in and kissed me.

"So is this your daily declaration of your love? If so, a girl can get use to this." She smiled and I did too. I raised up.

"Piggyback?"

Her eyes lit up. "I'm always down for a ride, no pun intended." I shook my head and bent my knees as she got on. Holding on, I walked her down the stairs placing her in a barstool.

"Well there goes my workout for the day, who needs to go to the gym?"

"Are you saying I'm fat?"

"Ah, no, you're lighter than what I usually bench press."

"Mmhh, I hear ya." She leaned back in the barstool.

"Oh by the way Sam called."

"He did? I wonder if everything is okay? I tried calling him earlier to ask him something."

"Aries has been arrested."

"Really? How do you know?"

"I turned on the television earlier when I came downstairs for a snack."

She walked away getting the remote and turning on the TV. Sure enough there was Aries's picture posted behind the anchorman. I grabbed my items for breakfast while she stood there watching. Her back was turned to me and she was tapping her foot.

"I'm glad the fucker was arrested. Punkass douchebag!" she said grabbing her phone.

"What about your charges against him? I mean they should have said something about the video, him touching on you? Like what the hell, it feels like it was okay for him to treat you that way."

"I didn't press charges." She walked back to the kitchen.

"Why didn't you file again?"

"Sam thought it would be best."

"Fuuuuuuuxccccckkkk!" I yelled hitting my fist on the corner and she jumped. "Aries could have had you seriously injured or worse. Lizzy he could have fucking killed you. And now you listen to some stranger tell you that you shouldn't seek justice for what that mutherfucker said and did?"

"Calm down Sean."

I began to pace.

She walked up to me. "Don't be mad." She stood there focusing on me.

"Even if I would have pressed charges, then I would be classified as a Shae or I could have been dragged through the mud by the media or even harassed. Sam and Sasha were able to downplay the video, so Rue's impending murder would get the attention. It's like he and I separated, we both got defensive and end of story."

"You have bruises. Don't you realize every time I see them, I want to punch the shit out of him and wear his ass out for hurting you."

She wrapped her arms around my neck. "I know you are very protective of me and I love you for it. Sometimes there is a bigger picture to see. Sam promised me that what Aries did to me wouldn't be forgotten and I believe him but until that time, I say we watch the leaves fall as they come. I'm back in your arms and everyone else will get theirs in due time, we just got to have faith."

"I want him to pay for hurting you."

"Just think if I would have pressed charges, my face would be the one posted on media outlets, there would be reporters everywhere, you would be stuck in the middle and I didn't want that. Just let it go Sean, please? I don't even want the headache."

I bit the inside of my jaw hoping I wouldn't cause it to bleed. She traced the side of my face and somehow I calmed down. I hugged her. She whispered, "all is fair in love and war."

"Yeah but I don't want you involved in ANY of this," which I stressed the any part.

"Well it's too late for that." She walked back behind the bar and picked up her phone. She just stared at it. A moment later she started to laugh and looked at me.

"What's so funny?"

"Sometimes we have to laugh to keep ourselves from crying. The whole time Aries was trying to throw me under the bus, he was incriminating himself, all on video with witnesses to back it up with his foul shit. How is he going to get out of that?" She chuckled. "Well if he's charged, you won't be playing against him anytime soon."

Now it was my turn to chuckle. "You're right, he could be suspended or his contract could be terminated."

"Well he brought it on himself. His baby mama, Sharon, won't be seeing a dime of his money. I do hate that AJ really won't know his father except from behind bars."

"Aries made his bed and now he has to lie in it."

"I have to admit Sean, Fan Day was the first time he ever clicked like that. He's always been nice and sweet. He's never really seemed to be short although he couldn't stand you. Anytime we urged it stemmed from my friendship with you."

"His ass was insecure."

"I mean Sean when you think about it, you and I were always meant to be. Maybe it was written in the stars, hell destiny even because no matter how hard I tried, you were like a magnetic force pulling me back. I don't think anyone would have stood a chance and no one could have ever taken your place."

"Interesting, because when I said it, you thought I was trying to break you two up."

"Well you were."

"That's besides the point."

She chuckled.

"Look, just think if you hadn't broken it off with him, would you have been standing by his side right now as he got arrested?" I watched as she pondered in her thoughts. I started preparing the food.

"I don't know. The relationship was still new."

"You didn't answer the question. Would you have been by his side? Did you love him?"

"I thought there could have been something."

"I'm not trying to drag this out, but I'm okay if you were. When you're in a relationship whether toxic or not, you have feelings for a person. Before, I denied you of that because I will admit I was selfish. I apologize."

"Wait, did you say the "a" word about a relationship of mine?"

"Very funny." I toss the oven mitt at her and she laughed.

"I think I made things worse. Coming on to you was due to fear and jealously. Sue me! I wanted all your attention which I always got and when he came in the picture, you were denying me of that."

"Well the good thing is, you don't have to worry about him and now you have my undivided attention."

Her phone bing and she looked down. "It's Sam. I probably need to take this." She walked away. I grabbed the baking sheet tightly. He was another freaking distraction.

She walked back with a smile on her face. "Sam's in town, he wanted to come over, he needs to talk to me about something important."

"Did he say what?"

"Something personal."

I was debating whether to tell her about what I found on the plane and talking with Sam.

"What's up? Your whole demeanor changed when I told you he had something to tell me."

"No it didn't."

"Yes it did. Just like you can read me, I can read you too. Twinny Powers remember?"

"You're paranoid."

"Whatever liar. Best believe I know what I know, and I think Sam is hiding something, maybe like the fact that he is probably my uncle."

"Say what?"

"I think he's my uncle."

"Uncle? How did you get that?"

"I saw a picture of my Aunt Elle and my dad along with Sam when they were younger in one of his books. Did you know he was a military strategist author? Jack of all trades. Anyhoo, I was looking for something to read on my way back from ATL and found it. The picture was dated five years before I was born. I had never seen it before. On the back of it had "family."

"Are you sure?"

"Well my curiosity got the best of me so I went digging."

"Lizzy what did you do?"

"I opened a few drawers, okay I went looking throughout the plane. I was by myself and bored." She hunched her shoulders.

"And what did you find?"

"Really nothing until I stumbled on a couple of pictures of Sam and Aunt Elle. They were a part of a squad stationed in Afghanistan a year before I was born. The only real interesting thing was a few of the pics showed more than just simple battlefield army maneuvers. There was one when they were hugging but they both happened to be wearing military dress and identical wedding bands."

"So you think they got married?"

"Maybe so. Maybe Sam and Aunt Elle had a secret marriage my dad didn't know about and so he never spoke about him."

I rolled my eyes.

"All the other pics showed no ring, this one did, but it was the only one I could find."

"Something seems off Lizzy. I think your mom knew Sam before you brought him here."

She looked at me funny. "You were here when I introduced them. She's never mentioned she knew Sam prior to this." She narrowed her eyes at me and if eyes could kill I would be headless.

"I've seen your mother and Sam looking mighty cozy, whispering and I'm sure it's not all about the weather. Maybe I'm reading into this more than I should." I started scrambling the eggs.

"Yeah you're making stuff up now Sean. Like my mother would be hanging out with Sam. He's a busy man, he's well traveled, brilliant in my mind, and always involved in something." She hunched her shoulders and dipped her finger in the powdered sugar.

"Like I've said before, it just seems coincidental that you were in Atlanta the same time he was. He's helped a total stranger out that he's never laid eyes on and helps her out of going to jail. He walks this strange woman down the aisle and does the things a parent would do. Good heart maybe, but he's taken it to a whole new level. Wake up sweetheart there's more to this story."

"Like what Sean? So now you think he and my mom have had a secret affair and I'm their love child?" She chuckled but I didn't.

"He is not my dad."

"Did you not say he's a doctor and you share things in common?"

"Just a coincidence. You and I use to act like siblings at times and we did weird things just alike. You don't act like yo mama, thank God."

I remained quiet and fixed the French toast getting it ready for the oven.

"Sorry I know she's a sore subject for you."

"To me personally and I'm being serious, you have never looked like your dad. Your mom either. Now your aunt Elle, you two could have passed for twins."

"True, but you are being ridiculous. You are turning this conversation into a Maury, reveal show, ...and "when it comes to 31 year old Elizabeth Johnson, neither one of you are her parents.""

"Look Lizzy, I spoke to Sam while you were at the station or either on your way."

"And?"

"When I was on the plane, I found a picture of your Aunt Elle."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"So much was going on. It was the same picture that you keep in your locket and in your room in a frame."

"Really? So you knew about this and never opened your mouth," she asked with an attitude and hurt feelings.

"Look Lizzy, I don't know the connection. When I tried to mention it to him, he didn't say anything. He didn't confirm or deny any relationship with you or your mom or aunt. It's just strange he would have pictures of your aunt just lying around."

"Do you think there could have been something between them?"

"You would have to ask him that."

"I called him when I was on the plane and the moment I mentioned her name, there was static and the phone call dropped."

"How convenient," I said sarcastically.

"I was only able to leave a message to call me. I mean it would be nice to have him as family since technically it's just you and my mom."

"We are all you need. We don't need intruders. Hope Aries and Shae are the last ones." I walked over to her turning the barstool in my direction until we faced each other.

"Look I'm not going to argue about this because whatever secrets there are will come to the light. It's me and you and we will have our own family." I kissed her.

"I don't want to talk about him, or your jacked up family or mine. I want us to focus on us, getting rid of Shae and having sex multiple times a day, as I think that would be good medicine for us." I leaned in to kiss her but she turned her face.

"Multiple times a day?"

"Two, three, four...I mean if we do it four that's every six hours, I mean it would be the right amount of prescription needed." I kissed her along the jawline.

"Your food is going to burn," she whispered but her moan told me she wasn't all that worried either. I put my hand under her shirt.

"You betta stop, mmmmmmmh, yes we better." She moved her neck giving me full access. I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist and locked her ankles. Our lips merged for only moments until I cleared off the other side of the bar and laid her across the granite. She licked her lips and I went straight for her jeans.

"Sean?"

I continued on pulling them down, my mouth was watering, my manhood was saluting.

"Sean, we need to stop someone is knocking."

"Let them knock." I was now at the rim of her panties locking my fingers around the fabric.

Her phone rang. She looked over at it.

"Eyes on me not the phone, just ignore the knocking. I can't wait to have a full gate up." I slid her bottom towards me.

"It's Sam texting me and my mother is calling."

"And, call them back." Okay I was whining like a little bitch but I just wanted a pre-breakfast delight.

"Someone is at the door, Sean."

"What? Yeah you said that already. And?"

"My mother is here. She's knocking on the door."

"Nooooo. Can't she wait, this won't take long."

"Sean, we got to stop." She pulled up her panties and reached for her jeans.

"Damn, Damn, Damn." I wanted to cry. "You owe me Elizabeth Gipson."

"You only call me Elizabeth when you're annoyed or pissed. This is not my fault." She jumped off the counter and zipped up her jeans.

"I promise to make it up to you love." She kissed me on the cheek.

"You better." I turned the corner as the oven beeped that the French toast was done. I took it out as she went to answer the door for her mother. I loved Ms. Johnson but her timing sucked.

"Good morning Sean," she said walking in and came and gave me a hug. I didn't mean to be distant but she had just cocked-blocked me.

"Smells divine."

"It's his special French toast, baked in the oven for that crunchy crust and then he puts strawberries and powder sugar on top," Lizzy explained. She looked at me and I turned my back to her.

"Is everything okay between you two?"

"Everything is fine, we were just waking up."

"Did you hear about Aries?" she asked.

"Yes mom."

"I came because I wanted to hear about everything Lizzy. You left parts out and I need to talk to you about Sam."

I stopped what I was doing to listen. She looked at me and then at Lizzy.

"Sean do you have somewhere we can talk in private?"

"No whatever you have to say mom, you can say it in front of Sean."

She slid her purse to the side. There was another knock on the door. This was not I-Hop. People just coming up in this place, what happened to no guests before seven am?