All that occupies Christian's mind these days are thoughts of what comes next.

'What does come next?', he thought while quietly sipping some water from a water bottle.

He was dressed smartly, his graduation gown and cap laid hazardously over the back of a chair. His hair styled to perfection as he sat in the stands of the stadium the ceremony would be held in another half hour or so. At least that had been what his watch had informed him when he last checked the time. Now, he was not so sure anymore.

His time in college had been a whirlwind. From the very first day he stepped foot on the university's soil up until this very day of his departure as a graduate he had learned and experienced a lot. He has a girlfriend. He was shot and nearly killed by an asshole cop that did not deserve to wear the uniform and badge he so proudly hid behind. He traveled the world with people he holds dear to his heart. He fell in love.

That had to be the biggest change for him, love. Secretly, Christian was a hopeless romantic. He dated a lot, but the relationships never lasted. There was always something missing with each one of the girls he dated. Foolishly enough, he had overlooked the beautiful gem that was right in front of him for years. Now that he had her, he knew what was missing with all of those girls.

Monica walked over to her boyfriend quietly taking a seat beside him. She knew that he was anxious. She knew that he often worried about the future, just as he was currently doing.

"It will be okay, you know? We got this. I have no intention of leaving your side. So don't worry so much, Is", Monica said after sitting in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

Christian smiled softly reaching for his suit-clad girlfriend. Her worlds of reassurance made him feel a lot better. He was still uncertain about what lay ahead, but he felt a lot better knowing that he would have Monica at his side. He was in love. He is in love with Monica Daniels, hopefully, Vitro someday.

Monica is nearly his complete opposite. She balanced him out. She was refreshing. He could talk with her about the same shit every day if he wanted to and it would never feel boring or repetitive because she always has something new to say. Her humor was quite dark, but she was also a goofball. She is smart and beautiful within and out.

Monica was everything he could ever ask for in a partner. It was honestly inevitable for him to fall so hard for this woman. Also, he absolutely loves when Monica takes control. At first, he had harvested feelings of feeling inadequate and like her bitch. With time that was quite quickly diminished. He along with Monica had informed him that he was dealing with a real woman that was a true alpha female.

"Thank you, Nica (Knee•ca)", he said taking her hand into his intertwining their fingers.

"You're welcome, honey. Now let's go. I almost punched that demon in the face. Talkin' about my baby like that. Who does he think he is? I'm the demon slayer ordained by Christ. I will touch him with these anointed hands", Monica ranted as the couple rose to their feet while wagging her finger and snapping her fingers as she rolled her neck.

Christian laughed listening to his girlfriend rant about Lucky. Lucky was an asshole through and through. There was no denying that he was, at least on the surface. When you, well if you could get to know him you would find that he was kind of soft inside. He was all about his kids and family. He loved hard when he did and took absolutely no shit from anyone.

He is crude and blunt. His humor was very dark and he got a kick out of pissing off others for his own amusement. He was not a bully to anyone really, just utterly the hell annoying when he wanted to be. He was a chill guy most of the time though. That coupled with his striking blue eyes are what drew his current girlfriend and the mother of his second and remaining children in the future, Lelita to him.

Lelita is a charismatic sweetheart with a lot of body. How Lucky landed her was still a mystery to the rest of the group, but everyone was happy for the couple. It seems as though the couple had resolved whatever had been slowly forcing them apart. As the pair entertained their children and themselves they were all smiles. LaLa sent a wink to Monica who scoffed making a face causing her to laugh as the couple passed them.

Nathaniel shook his head watching the small interaction between the two women. What seemed like only a moment ago had Monica been ready to beat Lucky down and now she was fraternizing with the enemy, tragic. He had been hoping that she would come back swinging, but apparently, his cousin had pacified her. That was Christian now. The more improved Christian was passive-aggressive and nurturing. Monica ruined his cousin.

"Baby, we have to get in line", Naomi called bringing him from his reveries.

Leaning over he pecked her lips with a smile. He was ready to get this whole day over with. He just wanted to be home with his family sitting around eating good food. He never understood why they had to go through hours of boring speeches and name-calling for their diploma. Especially when the damn thing could be mailed.

Everyone lined up. All of the graduates wore their caps and gowns proudly as they assembled to march in front of their families and friends. All the long nights spent and days of frustration led each of them here today. They had done it. They were graduating. Each of their chests filled with a sense of pride as they marched with their heads held high into the auditorium.

Naomi and Nathaniel walked hand and hand into the auditorium earning some disapproving glares from the administration. As usual, they were ignored. There was nothing anyone could do to separate the two. They were seatmates and Nathaniel would be damned if he let his baby go. He was in one of his clingy moods today, much to the dismay of everyone around the couple. There was nothing worse than an overly affectionate couple in public.

One by one the graduates walked the stage. One by one speeches were delivered before it was finally time for the passing of the tussles to signify the ending of one chapter in their lives and the beginning of another.

"Baby, have you seen my nude stilettos? I need-"

Lelita paused at the sight before her. There stood a pregnant Bria rubbing her stomach while staring at her fiancé longingly. She was not going to just to conclusions. She was past that phase when their relationship was still new. She had no beef with Bria. She never honestly did until she tried to drive a wedge between her and Lucky.

"You didn't tell me that we were having a guest, Luc", LaLa commented glancing between the two blondes that stood in the kitchen of the couple's shared townhouse.

"Oh, Bria's here", Lucky retorted indifferently while continuing to prepare LaLa's lunch for her.

The two of them moved like a well-oiled machine. Today was Lucky's first of two off-days while Lelita's three-day weekend would not start until the following day. LaLa was not running late just yet but she would be if she interrogated the two. The atmosphere was weird, but she did not have time to dwell on that information at the moment.

"Okay. Have you seen my nude sti-"

Not missing a beat Lucky answered her question before she could even finish uttering it.

"By the stairs. I put them there this morning on my way to the kitchen", he said interrupting her while putting the final touches on her lunch.

Her lunch was not anything special, just leftovers from dinner the previous night. Paired with a homemade fruit salad and a bottle of vitamin water her lunch would be a good one. After placing the lid on the container holding the fruit salad he turned with a smile on his face placing a chaste kiss on his fiancée's lips.

Bria cleared her throat and smiled at the couple innocently. "LaLa, good morning. Are you heading to work now?", she said politely.

"Good morning to you too, Bria. Yeah, I am. Are you dropping off princess? I didn't hear her. She usually comes and says 'hi' to me before she settles in", LaLa responded curtly.

Letting out a nervous chuckle Bria began rubbing soothing circles into her growing belly. "Actually, she is spending the day with my parents", she said with a strained smile.

She did not like Lelita. She felt as though she had stolen her life away from her. Lucky had been hers first. She had given birth to his first child. As far as she was concerned, she should have been the mother of all of his children. Instead, she had been the mother of one and with Lelita in the picture, it would always be only one.

LaLa was not oblivious. She knew that Lucky's ex wanted him still. She saw the way that the older woman looked at him. She also noticed the way she would make any excuse she could to be near to him. Of course, LaLa had not been the only one to take notice of these things. Lucky knew that Bria still held on to old feelings between them.

Even after he had made it clear to her that they would only ever be co-parents, she still held on. It is as if she had taken his words for a joke. She was still the mother of his daughter and a friend. Well, at least he tried to still consider her a friend. Before they were ever a couple they had been friends and for the sake of a smooth co-parenting relationship he held on to their friendship. However, he was not so sure how long he could on for if she continued with the bullshit.

"Then why are you here?"

The question had been asked by Lucky, not Lelita. He was over her antics. Bria had the audacity to look hurt.

"I wanted to see my friend, but I didn't know that I was the unwanted company", she said, her eyes glossing over with tears.

"Okay. I have to go, babe. I'll see you for dinner. Bria", LaLa said while checking the time on her Apple watch.

"See ya, baby. Have a kickass day at work. I love you, Lelita", Lucky said pulling her into a hug.

"I love you too, Lucky Charm", she responded with a smile hugging him back before the couple shared a kiss.

Lucky's hands that had been resting on her wide hips moved to her ass grabbing handfuls of her derrière squeezing firmly causing LaLa to let out a moan against his lips. Bria became angry and uncomfortable. She could not believe that they were behaving in such a way in front of her. The couple would not care though. They had not noticed as they continued to kiss passionately.

"Okay, seriously, Luc. I have to go before I am late", LaLa said letting out a giggle against his lips as he continued fondling her and placing chaste kisses on her lips.

"Fine", he agreed reluctantly letting her go.

Bria had watched enviously as the couple acted as such a loving carefree duo. Her hands had clenched into fists atop of her bump. She was more than upset. She watched Lelita left the room before returning a short while later with the accommodating clicking of her heels.

"Bye, bae", she called to Lucky taking her packed lunch from his outreached hand.

"Bye, sweetie", he responded blowing her a kiss.

"Bria, let's go", Lelita said with a grin while gesturing towards the stairs.

"What?", Bria asked in confusion.

"Girl, you were not born yesterday. I am not leaving you alone in my house with my man. I know that you are having a hard time adjusting still, but you need to realize that y'all are never going to happen again. We are good over here and I expect you to be an adult about everything. That includes our relationship and my relationship with your daughter. We are thick as my thighs so she tells me everything and I do not appreciate the things you tell your little friends about me, not that it matters. But you are speaking mad reckless with a child around that can easily hear. Grow up and get your ass up out of my house, now", LaLa calmly told her.

Rolling her eyes, Bria made no move to do as LaLa instructed. She was not there to see Lelita. She was there for Lucky and only he could tell her to go.

"Okay, we're deaf today. Don't worry, I can sign", LaLa sarcastically said.

"Baby, go on to work. I got this. Go make that money", Lucky said.

"Don't let it make you", LaLa said begrudgingly before turning with a flip of her hair and leaving.

The two blondes quietly stared after her retreating form. The sound of her heels was fainter as she left. Then there was the sound of the front door closing heard through the quiet house.

"I'm glad that she's gone. Why is your girlfriend so ho-"

"Fiancée and why are you still here, Bria?", Lucky interrupted her.

"What do you mean? I thought that we could hang out just the two of us li-"

"Leave", he demanded not caring to hear the rest of her bullshit explanation.

The quest had been rhetorical. She had upset his fiancée. The two had enjoyed a wonderful night together and had been excited to see the princess known as Lucky and Bria's daughter for a family weekend packed full of fun activities for everyone. Then came Bria being that baby's mama. For the life of him, Lucky could not figure out why it was so hard for her to let go of the past.

"Luc, we ne-"

"Leave", he repeated.

"You don't mean that", she said in denial.

"I do. Now leave. You have done more than enough as usual", Lucky snidely retorted.

"What's that supposed to mean?", spat Bria indignantly.

"You know exactly what that means. I don't have time for you shit, again. You always do this and frankly, I am over it all just as much as I am over you. Move on al-fucking-ready", Lucky quipped.

A tear escaped her eyes as she stared at the man that she was still in love with. He was doing it again, breaking her heart.

"Fuck you, Lucky!", she spat snatching her purse from the island angrily.

"I bet you really want to", he drawled dully before turning giving her his back.

She left in a flurry of anger slamming the front door behind herself. This was nothing new. When Lucky would not bite her line she would throw a tantrum. She was not always like this, at least not that he could remember. Letting out a sigh he leaned down opening the small fridge in the island taking out a familiar bottle setting it atop the counter. A little alcohol would calm his nerves after yet another Bria tantrum because it was happy hour somewhere in the world.

"Christian, help!"

A frantic Christian came running at the sound of his wife's voice. Sure he had tripped over himself and slipped a few times, but he was determined. His Nica needed him and he would not leave her hanging. Sliding across the floor into the doorframe he grunted in pain before quickly shaking off the entire incident to rush over to the couch where his wife lounged with her swollen feet up caressing her eight and a half months baby bump.

Had Christian not been so frantic then he would have seen that Monica was perfectly fine. She was comfortable as any pregnant woman with swollen feet and ankles as far along as she was could be. His frantic eyes scanned the room for any signs of a threat to her and their child. Once satisfied he began to check her over to see if she was hurt in any way.

"Christian, stop", she hissed batting away his wandering hands.

"No, not until I'm finished", he refused.

"Letting you finish is what got me pregnant", she murmured blandly.

Christian just grinned placing a kiss on her cheek then her baby bump where their son peacefully slept.

"Get off of me, Chris", she whined mushing his face.

He let out a chuckle gently grasping her wrists bringing her hands to his lips placing little kisses on her fingertips. Monica melted. Christian was so good to her. She was so glad that she had given him a chance all of those years ago. She has never felt any regrets ever since and she never would.

"What did you need, wifey?", he asked fondly.

"Baby, can you hand me the remote?", she asked sweetly.