1/2

1 Week Later

"Sissy is there anything I can help you with?" Marlee asked squeezing her stress ball, she had been home for the week and it was helpful because she kept Lay company during this time of need. It was currently eight o'clock in the morning and Lay was up finishing things for her daughters first birthday party later in the day.

"Do you like this design on this t-shirt?" Lay held up the T-shirts she was up all night making for the aunts and uncles of the birthday party. Marlee knew when Lay started stressing and doing work all night she was trying to distract herself from her emotions.

"I think these are so cute but what's going on sis? I'm not fragile, you can still confide in me." Marlee sat down next to Lay on the floor still trying to use her hands.

"Marlee seriously, I'm okay. I just want everything to be perfect for my baby's first birthday." She sighed finishing up Marlee's shirt, she dropped off King and Marcus' shirts yesterday and left Key's in his mailbox since he still didn't want to see her. She hadn't seen Eli either, she was about to work on her outfit next.

"Okay, but I know you. If you don't break down now, you will later." Marlee sighed, she was also nervous about seeing Ronny for the first time since she tried to take herself out.

"You nervous? Nobody has seen you since the hospital." Per the request of Marlee, she was afraid of getting those looks that disappointing black people give when you know you fucked up.

"A little, I just don't want Ronny to hate me." Marlee tried to open her water but it wouldn't work, before she could get frustrated Lay did it for her.

"I doubt that. I'm sure that Ronny is aware of mental health and how it works. She really loves you sis. Don't ruin that by overthinking, okay?" Lay kissed Mar's hands before grabbing the fabric for the baby's outfit.

"Thank you sissy."

"No problem, so which one?" Lay asked her to pick in between two of the colors she was holding up for the tutu.

"That one, what do you think about Iris for a girl and for a boy Ivan?" Marlee asked, but Chalynn scrunched her nose up at those names.

"Markey already said he wanted his son to be a junior." She rolled her eyes and sat back on the couch.

"And you feel like you owe that to him?" Her sister asked, Marlee was trying to pry it out of her but Lay was hipped.

"I personally like Rome and Kyrie. For a girl, Mia and Maya."

"The m for me?" Marlee asked, "Mm, her daddy name start with an m." The two laughed together and eventually Lay's laugh turned into a cry.

"It's okay pooh and when you decide that you're ready to talk I'll be here."

**

Lay and Marlee decided to go and get their hair and nails done, then run to the mall to grab some shoes to match their outfits for the party. Lay had already gotten her daughter a gift but she wanted to get her ears pierced so Key was going to meet them at Claires.

When they finally made it to Claires Lay was winded, even though she was only 11 weeks pregnant, it was definitely still an adjustment carrying another being. As well as taking care of a one year old. She was exhausted.

"Girl you are two months pregnant aint no way you that winded." Marlee laughed at her sister being out of breath.

"I'm almost three months, I am tired." She finally caught her breath and watched as Key walked up with Eli in his arms. She immediately got excited and started thrashing around.

"Mama." She lunged into her arms, Lays face lit up and she immediately started kissing upon her daughter.

"Ion know where yo lips been don't kiss on my daughter." He scoffed causing Marlee to scrunch up her face and cock her neck.

"She's my daughter too Key." Lays feelings were so hurt especially because he tried to play her in front of everybody.

"But when she was sucking your dick, she could kiss all over her and watch her all hours of the night when you were out and about .. mm. That's not very cash money of you." Marlee crossed both of her arms a crossed her chest, Lay hadn't expected Marlee to stick up for her but she was glad to have her sister back.

Key sighed, he didn't like treating her this way but he couldn't express his emotions any other way. He was hurt.

Marlee had shut them both up, her attitude really had a way with words and she was here for it.

"Appointment for Elianna C." Lay spoke pulling out small 1 karat diamond earrings that wouldn't be too much on her tiny earlobes. She handed them to the person who was going to pierce her ears.

"One of you have to sit with her and hold her down." Key and Lay looked in between each other and Marlee rolled her eyes and sat down reaching for baby Eli. Eli settled into Marlee's lap and sat patiently as the woman pierced both her ears.

"You did so good mama you didn't cry." Lay clapped making a smile creep on Eli's face. They paid the woman and got ready to leave.

"I have her outfit, I can take her and get her ready for the party." Lay offered staring down at her feet, her confidence was really shitty at the moment.

"Ion know. I can slide by your crib and you can bring it down." He shrugged nonchalantly but that shit was eating him up.

"I'm pregnant, ain't no way I'm finna run up and down for you and make myself sick." Lay smacked her lips annoyed. It was one thing for him to be done with her but for him to do the most over their child was too much.

"Think about the child yall .. she don't need to see or hear all this."

"Fine Key. Just come grab it." Lay squeezed Eli one last time before handing her over to her father. Not ready to leave her mom yet, Eli began to scream and cry as Key carried her out of the mall.

"Don't ever get back wit him. He's no good for you." Marlee thought out loud, she used to love Key but seeing how he was treating her pregnant sister once again. She was over him and their lil 'relationship'.

"I slept with Damon." Lay sighed shaking her head as they disappeared of out sight.

"Who the fuck is Damon?" Marlee asked checking her phone.

"Big Black." Marlee gasped and clutched her chest.

"Ouu bitch. I see why he not fuckin wit you. His main man though. Was it good?" Marlee gave the googly eyes.

"It wasn't Key." Damon's nervousness made him suck at pleasing her. Under the right circumstances he probably could've been better.

*

By the time Lay and Marlee got back home Key was sitting in his car with a sleep child in the background. Lay had on a cute lil lavender maxi dress and some sandals. She had on a wig that was jet black and parted down the middle with loose curls. It flowed down her back to her ass.

Little sweat beads began to drip from her forehead as she passed Keys car. He watched her, he couldn't even see how pretty she was because all he could see is Damon being on top of her.

Being petty he opened his door as she was walking passed and hit her in the hip.

"My fault." He chuckled as she evil eyed him, "Whatever nigga." She waved him off and ran up the stairs to her home to grab the outfit.

"Huh. Unlock the door so I can do her hair right quick." Lay handed him the bag with her outfit and shoes.

"I'a roll the window down. You not getting in my car." He scoffed rolling his eyes.

"I'll just do it when we get at the party Key. You doing too much. I'm pregnant, it's too hot out here." She looked like she was about to cry so he unlocked the door so she could get in.

"Cry baby." He smacked his lips, there was so much he wanted to say that was disrespectful but he kept his mouth closed.

"Hi mommy's baby." She slid in the backseat to do her hair and closed the door behind her.

"Mama?" She said sleepily as Lay sprayed her hair with a water bottle.

"How you want your hair?" Lay asked her kissing her little face.

"Tew puffs." Her mom obeyed and slicked her edges down when she was done too. She put her little bows in and tied her edges down with a scarf.

"I'll see you later okay?" Eli kissed her cheek and nodded, Key watched through the rear view mirror and sighed.

With out saying another word Chalynn got out the car and walked back into the house.

🦄 💜 🦄

Key and Lay looked around the birthday party that was nicely decorated exactly how they told their party planner they wanted it to be.

"There's my favorite couple. How do you like everything?" Leah asked holding her hands up to showcase what she set up.

"Like? I love. I'm definitely going to add a nice lil tip on that check." Chalynn said hugging her, Key nodded in agreement. She did talk her shit.

"Well thank you. You too look nice. You made y'all's shirts?" She asked, Lay looked down.

"Made everything yesterday. Including Elianna's little outfit." Lay picked her up so that Leah could see her.

Lay ended up changing her hair style to the style above and put her unicorn crown on her head that she kept snatching off.

"Wow. If I ever need a stylist or somebody to make my shirts. I'm gonna hit you up. If you guys need anything feel free to call me. I'll collect the check at the end of clean up." Leah small talked for a little while longer before she ended up leaving.

"So how'd I do?" Lay asked looking around the decorated venue.

"You did aight." He shrugged, she rolled her eyes at him but since it was them two and Marlee was coming when the party started in a few minutes she decided to try and talk to him.

"I'm not doing this with you on her birthday. We need to act cordial for today. I know you invited Aubree, but I still don't want her holding my daughter." Key scrunched up his face at her, she was lucky he was even near her for this long.

"We can act cordial but you can't tell me who can and can't hold her at her lil party. Get real." Eli ran around the venue enjoying herself as the dj came in and set up at the right time.

💜

"You made it. Thank you so much for coming." Chalynn smiled widely at Stacey, the two had been texting on and off lately about small things and she definitely needed the support of her for this birthday party.

"Of course you know we had to come through for our little Eli." Stacey replied, TJ looked at Lay and waved his small little chubby hand. He made her eyes water at how cute he was.

"Speaking of the birthday girl. Here she goes right now." Lay so badly wanted to pick Eli up but she was getting to be to big for her to carry.

Eli clapped her hands together and happily hugged at Stacey's legs. She loved her teacher so much.

"Happy birthday baby girl. You made her outfit? It looks so good!" Stacey complimented causing Lay to smile, she was trying her best to hold everything together but everything was eating her alive.

"Thank you. Yes, and I made all of the shirts too." Lay took a small bow and both of the ladies laughed.

"Girl, you did so well. I'm proud of you." Tears swelled up in Chalynn's eyes. The past few weeks had been crazy and to hear somebody say that to her was absolutely amazing.

"You always know what to say. Please enjoy yourself. I have to go speak to Ms. Keisha, but I will be back for you." Chalynn hugged her and then scurried off with Eli to greet Keisha.

💜

Keisha looked at the crowd of people at the her granddaughters birthday party. The party planner definitely showed out. She saw both Key and Lay heading her way with the birthday girl.

Lay smiled at Keisha widely. For some reason seeing her made most of her problems go away. She was the breath of fresh air that she really needed. Lay was definitely grateful that she knew Keisha before Key so nothing could tarnish their relationship.

"Hey ma thank you for coming. Your shirt looks good on you." Chalynn complimented, Keisha hugged the both of them.

"Your flight and everything was cool?" Key asked returning the hug.

"You would know had you gotten me from the airport." She laughed lightly, it was unusual for her son to send somebody else to collect her.

"Hi gigi baby." Lay took the gift out of her hands so she could pick up Elianna. She went on to compliment her hair and how good of a mom Lay was.

"How's my other grandbaby doing?" She asked motioning towards Lay's stomach, "Doing good. Growing by the damn day." She sighed, Key stood there awkward as hell.

"I'm thinking about moving out here, you gone need the help. How you doing baby?" She asked her son, "Way better after that lil trip." He admitted and that told her everything she needed to know.

"Mama Keisha. There is food and liquor over there so feel free to help yourself. We will start games and stuff when every body else gets here." Key rolled his eyes obviously irritated by standing next to Lay.

"Thank you." Keisha gave her a look and she caught on, "We're going to go greet some other guests." Lay took Eli's hand and the two walked away leaving Keisha and her son by themselves.

"Glad to see you as yourself again son. Why are you looking at her with such disgust? Look what she put together for your daughter, carrying your other child." Keisha was down to defend her son when necessary but she was also tired of this on going thing between them.

"She slept wit Damon." His mother couldn't even say anything back to him, all she could do was stare. It was very unlike Lay to just sleep with just anybody.

"Did she say why?"

"I guess cause of that picture of me and Simone she was tired of me hurting her or some shit. But that wasn't even the whole story." He shrugged his shoulders, he was just ready to move on from her and live his life. He didn't know why this shit was affecting him so badly but it was.

"Mm." Keisha saw fit to just keep quiet.

"Enjoy yaself mama."

🦄

Marlee finished her make up and put her Supreme beanie on her head. She had a long black shirt underneath her aunticorn t-shirt her sister made.

When Marlee finally made it to the party it was jumping. For a child anyway. Lay looked so natural interacting with the other parents, her smile looked genuine and Eli was running around enjoying herself.

"Hey sis." Marlee spoke nervously, everybody looked at her. She hadn't been around people since the whole thing happened.

"Hey baby. Help yourself to anything. You okay?" Lay asked as she kissed Marlee's forehead.

"I'm just a little nervous about seeing Ronny but other than that I'm good." Lay nodded her head understandingly, this was a big step for her sister to come in public after a suicide attempt.

"She loves you just the way you are mama. That doesn't change anything and if you need help, I got your back." Lay saw some more guests arriving and excused herself.

Marlee saw Key setting some gifts on the table. She walked over to him, he definitely deserved an apology from her.

"Hey Marlee." He spoke dryly, since Lay wasn't his girl anymore, he didn't have to suck up to her sister either.

"I just wanted to apologize. I didn't know what happened with her and that situation but I'm no longer getting involved with that. Real shit, I got my own stuff going on." She grabbed a crack grape and popped it into her mouth.

"Thanks lil bit. Ion want our relationship to be affected by me and your sisters stuff. You still my homie." He smiled at her grabbing a grape for himself, he looked around at all the little kids running around and saw Stacey with Tj. He couldn't wait to have his lil son, he just wished it was by a different woman.

"Aye there go Ronny." He pointed towards the door, Ronny stood there in a baby blue dress. Which was Marlee's favorite color, Ronny's eyes scoped the party for Marlee and once they found her she was on her heels.

Marlee damn near ran to her, once their bodies collided she wrapped her arms tightly around her almost afraid to let go. Mar waved to the other guests not letting go of Ronny's waist. She took her by the hand and walked her out of the room main room and to another one that was closed off.

Ronny kissed Marlee softly, "You scared me."

"I know, I'm sorry." Marlee apologized kissing all over Ronny's face.

"Next time, I'm telling your sister what you're going through. I can't believe I almost lost you Mar." Ronny wanted to cry but her make up was flawless so she wasn't going to.

"Almost doesn't count. I'm not going anywhere." Marlee hugged her again to reassure her.

"You better not. I'd hate to have to beat you up." Ronny smiled, Marlee took a step back and admired her.

"You look good as hell." Marlee lifted Ronny's hand over her head and made her do a twirl.

"Girl stop, you're making me blush." Ronny waved her off before doing a cute little pose. They were happy to be in each other's presence again and even though they had to get back to the party it was nice to hold her for the short time.

💕

Lay walked over to Key and King so she could greet her newfound friend.