I knocked on the door to Harmony's apartment so we could head to her appointment. She came out and we headed to the car. I stopped at Wendy's to get her some food. We went inside so we could y'all while she ate.

"You not hungry?" She asked

"Nah I already ate" I sat back "You ready to talk like adults"

"Don't be condescending. I already apologized. I'm hormonal and have a right to go off every once and a while"

"I can give you that if you going off about shit that makes since. We had our talk and I told you I'd think about it. I should've told you before I posted Essence but you already knew I was dating her this whole time"

"Yeah but you were just talking about us living together Pharaoh"

"As roommate so we can coparent. There are plenty of three bedroom places out here. And I'm not flaking on that idea because I have a girlfriend. I just want to peacefully coparent with you Harm. We've always been cool and I want to stay like that"

"We were cool because we were fucking"

"I wouldn't say that" he shrugged "But still we can be friends and coparent or we can just coparent. It's up to you really but I can't force myself to be together because we got a baby. If it was meant for us to be together then it would happen... but I don't think it is Harm. I'm sorry"

"I get it" she sighed "It's not that I want to force you to do anything. I just want the best for my son. Royal deserves the world and I want to give that to him"

"I agree" I smiled "But we gone have to rethink this name"

"You don't like Royal?"

"I just think it could be something different... like Kaiser, it means emperor"

"Kaiser Montague" she smiled "I like it"

"You sure?"

"Yeah" she smiled "I love it really. I got attach to Royal but Kaiser sounds better to me"

"Kaiser Montague" I smiled

We talk some more before we threw away her trash and headed to the appointment. Harmony was five months almost six and her belly was getting bigger. Her appointment was pretty simple and we were out within an hour. I took her home then headed to my house to kick it with my family. Essence text me she was already there, which was a surprise but my mom had a habit of calling her and talking for hours without me knowing.

When I got to my parents house, I headed inside loudly yelling for my family. My little brother ran up to me first but he pushed me outside. He's eyes were red and he seemed upset which put me on alert first.

"King what's wrong?"

"I can't tell you" he sighed with a shaky voice "But promise you not gone blow up"

"Huh?"

"Just promise Rao!" his eyes weld with tears

"Okay bro I promise" I pulled him into a hug "Whatever it is. It'll be okay. Alright? I gotchu"

He shook his head as we pulled a part and headed back inside. I followed my little brother to the mini library we had upstairs. My brother had me on edge but all family meetings in the library meant code red. I walked in and saw my mother crying, my father looked pissed, and surprising Essence aunt.

"Yo what's going on?"

"Rao Rao" my mom sighed before walking over and hugging me

"Ma what's wrong?"

She shook her head and continue to cry in my chest.

"Dad—"

"Come with me son" he sighed

King took my mother from me before I followed my dad out into the guest room across the hall.

I sat beside Heiress holding her close as her family gave us some alone time. I knew it wasn't easy but I wanted her to be strong. I wanted her to know it didn't define her. I wanted her to be everything I couldn't when it happen to me.

"What did I do to deserve this?" She pulled away and looked at me "I don't even—"

"Heiress stop it! Now! You did nothing to deserve any of this! You are an amazing young woman whose life is more important than a situation! There are just some fucked up people in the world" my voice shook and a few tears slipped "But you are stronger than this! Than anything that monster did! Don't let him have power over you"

"I can't—"

"You can honey! I've been there and been in that darkness" i sniffles "Its almost impossible to get out. But you are strong! Stronger than me! Stronger than this!"

I hugged her tight hoping my words would sink in. She pulled away and wiped her face before looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"When did it happen to you?" she whispered

I took a deep breath "When I was fifteen... this senior showed interest in me for a couple months. He took me out on Christmas Eve and... he raped me. I fought back and he fought be until he got what he wanted. I screamed for help and no one came. I woke up the next morning and crawled to help. My parents had to see me like that.... it was bad" I shook my head "I got to such a dark place and it took forever to get out of it. I don't want that for you Heiress"

"Wow" she looked down "Does my brother know?"

"No one knows. I moved away from NOLA for a fresh start with my family. No one hear knows about the past because I'm still learning how much stronger than that situation I am. I want you to learn now so you don't have to go to the places I've been emotionally and spiritually"

"It's so hard though Ess"

"I know... but I'm here for you. It won't be easy and you can't just get over it. You have to deal with it head on... and even though it'll be hard" I wiped my eyes and smiled "I'll always be here for you"

"Thank you Essence" she hugged me again "Your secrets safe with me too"

"How about while you here... I come over whenever you need to talk"

"That would be great"

"And if you don't want to talk we will find something to take you mind off of everything"

"Dea--"

"HEIRESS!"

We both froze hearing Pharaoh's clearly pissed off voice. The tears that had dried a little were back in her eyes as her head hung. I convinced her to lay down while I handled her brother and talk to her family. She thanked me before getting in the bed.

I sighed before walking out of her room and closing the door behind me just as Pharaoh made it downstairs. I immediately blocked his way a few feet away from the door with my hands on his chest.

"Pha---"

"Move Essence!" he pushed away my hands "HEI--"

"Shut up Rao!" I pushed him back "Damn! She don't need this right now!"

"That's my fucking sister yo! How the fuck would you know what she need?!"

"I know you mad so I'm not even gone sweat the bullshit you saying, but I'ms serious Rao! She is not in a space to deal with you being overly emotional and angry about something that happen to her! It happen to her! Not you or anyone else! I know you want to help! You want to protect her and make it better but you can't! Give her time!"

"You don't understand!"

"I understand better than you will ever know!" My voice got louder "Back the fuck off and just let her be! You can't fix it!"

I shook my head walking pass him to go get my stuff. My aunt and his mother were at the front door when I headed out. My auntie hugged his mother and said she'd be back to talk to her about the case. I shook my head as Pharaoh came up the hall trying to talk to me. I ignored him before walking out of the house. I got in my car and waited on my aunt.

I wasn't mad at Pharaoh... but the whole situation brought up feelings I still hadn't dealt with and my own issues with how my family reacted to my situation. I just wanted some time to myself to figure out what to do with my feelings and how to help Heiress process hers. Being taken advantage of by someone you trust is harder than the idea of a stranger. I knew if Pharaoh pushed I'd break and either tell him or shut down completely pushing him away.

When my aunt got in the car, she started it before looking at me. She didn't speak but she did grab my hand and kissed it before pulling away. My aunt was the most calm when everything happen to me. She was the one I would cry to when I would see the hurt in my parents eyes or when the kids at school were so cruel that I had to leave early. She made sure I went to therapy and helped my mother once Papi was locked up. I knew she wouldn't push me... but I also knew her simple gesture was a urge to release the past for good. I just didn't know how I could do it.