Sorry for the long delay.

As always if you have any questions feel free to ask oh and there are a couple of flashbacks in the next few chapters (⏮) that will signal them. Enjoy.

🧃

"Here you are, Mr. Cathey." The Hermès associate came from behind the counter with the bag he had ordered for Aubree. They had a date today and he wanted to apologize in a big way.

"Damn! It's the Birkin for me." Marlee exclaimed looking at the box.

"You feel me!" Key chuckled before dapping Marlee up as if she was one of the guys.

"You gettin Lay a push gift?" Marlee asked, she loved to see Key happy and all but he owed her sister a few apologies. Key looked at Marlee with a face she couldn't read.

"A couple. Right after I get this DNA test and I wanna run that by Bree. " That caught Marlee off guard, he understood the second part but, DNA test?

Marlee smacked her lips and mugged him. Even though she said she wouldn't get in between the two of them, he was trying to play her.

"Okay, when she knocks your head in between the washer and dryer don't come crying to me. Trust me, Lay would never lie about a baby or their daddy." Marlee tried to laugh it off but she was offended for her sister.

"I had two bitches lie on me about a baby. Part of me knows she wouldn't do that. The other half of me just wants to be safe. This gone be my first baby before I go all out. I just wanna make sure." Markeyvius wasn't doing it to be malicious, he truly just wanted to give this baby his all.

"I mean... I guess that makes sense. Can you just wait though? Like until we know she's okay." Marlee asked as they walked out of the store.

"That was the plan," Key said with a lowkey attitude as if he was done with the conversation. He unlocked the doors to his whip before hopping inside and pulling off.

"You got an attitude or sum?" Marlee crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow at him.

"Me and Cha's business is our own. I shouldn't have even brought it up to you." He scoffed shaking his head.

"I know Key but I just ... feel bad for her. Here Aubree gets the best of you. Birkins and dates as apologies, all Lay got was a baby and a miscarriage. Bipolar mood swings. You throwing shit at the walls. Let's not talk about the time you accidentally put your hands on her. Do you know how traumatic that was? She had her trauma with shit like that but here she was coming and helping you whenever you needed it. She had her fair share of fuck ups but, I-I don't know." Marlee started fiddling with her fingers.

"When I'm manic, I can't help it, Marlee." Key didn't want to speak on it further. Marlee had other plans though.

"How do you only love Lay but, you treat her the worst?" Marlee had struck a nerve with Key, he no longer had anything to say. She called out his name but he was too far in thought for him to even register her voice in his head.

⏮

2 weeks after conception

Key sat still on the bed while Lay kissed his neck and draped her arms over his chest. She had woken up to him sitting at the edge of the bed, she thought he was sleeping too.

"Baby, why are you up?" She asked pressing her cheek against his. Something he typically loved, but he didn't even react this time. Lay tried to climb out of the bed as quietly as she could, careful not to wake Eli.

Standing in front of him she noticed his fists were clenched and his pupils were severely dilated. Which meant his ulterior personality (Tony) was coming through.

Sighing, she picked up her phone to look at the time. The light shone brightly on her face making her squint. It was too damn early in the morning for him to be going through one of his 'moods' but Lay was used to it now. Picking up Elianna, she took her, along with her binky into the other room.

"Mar .. you up?" Lay asked as she knocked softly on the bedroom door.

"Mm." Marlee stirred in her sleep half awake, she was in a weed coma and had just passed out 30 minutes ago. Lay brought Eli into the bedroom where she laid her into her playpen.

"I'll come to grab her when shit is cool. Okay?" Marlee through a thumbs up in the air instead of verbally replying. She knew they were either about to get nasty or Key was in a trance and Lay had to pull him out of it.

Shutting her sister's door and walking back over to her bedroom, Lay shut her door as well.

"Key, can you hear me?" Lay asked getting on her knees in front of him so that she was damn near eye level with him. His gaze never shifted, he was fixated on one of their pictures in front of Keisha's house. Something in his mind triggered him about the blue front porch they sat on.

"I-I gotta save my mama," Key said looking down at her, he had blinked a few times. His facial expression went from sad to angry very quickly. Lay scrambled back towards the dresser as Key stood to his feet.

"Markeyvius, baby. What are you talking about?" Lay stood to her feet and backed against the wall. Key towered over her, not even realizing that it was his girlfriend, he placed both hands over her neck and lifted her up the wall.

"I told yo ass to leave her alone," Key said squeezing a little bit tighter. Growing up in her late teens, and early twenties she had been in this exact predicament with Bryson. She tried not to yell too loudly because she didn't want Marlee to worry but she was losing oxygen. Unbeknownst to the two of them, so was their baby.

"Markey. It's me!" She gasped trying to claw at his arms, he left her no choice but to scream as loud as she could. Marlee ran into the room asking no questions, she whacked Key in the back with her wooden baseball bat.

Key dropped Lay and fell to the ground.

"What the fuck is going on in here," Marlee asked assessing the situation. Lay had giant tears coming from her eyes as she rubbed her neck. She couldn't even exasperate the sob that was choked up in her throat.

"Shit Chalynn. What's the matter bae, you okay?" He asked trying to reach his hand out to touch her. Markeyvius was completely unaware of what had happened.

A loud banging on the door brought them out of their current feelings. It was the police, a neighbor had called the police. Chalynn slapped her forehead for screaming.

"Markeyvius, stay here," Lay instructed, she knew that they wouldn't understand if she told them that he had a mental health issue.

"His ass needs to go to jail for that shit!" Marlee spoke eyeballing Key.

"Marlee, he literally can't help it." Lay quickly splashed some water over her face and dried it before running over to the front door.

"Everything okay? Neighbors reported a scream." The officer raised his eyebrow at her appearance.

"Yes, me and my man were uh .. procreating." She said scratching the back of her neck.

"Can we come in?" They asked, something didn't sit right with them but they weren't sure exactly what it was about it.

"Sis. All this commotion woke up the baby." Marlee fake yawned coming out of her room with a now awake Eli. The whole time, Marlee pinched the little girl so she would cry. It was her way of contributing to getting Key out of trouble.

"Okay. Okay. We'll go, but if you ever need anything. Please reach out." He handed Lay one of his cards. Officer Brown.

"Thank you guys so much. Stay safe out there." She waved before they turned their backs to her. They nodded leaving down the steps of her front door. She tossed the card onto the cabinet.

"I already know what's about to happen. We're going to a hotel." Marlee didn't feel one hundred percent safe leaving her sister alone but at least she knew the police would come.

Once they were gone, Key followed Lay into the bathroom where she looked at her bruised neck. It was tender to touch.

"Baby. Lemme see." Key lifted her chin so he could examine her neck.

"Ow, bae!" She flenched, her eyes beginning to water again.

"Fuck. Ima go get you some ice." He removed his hand and walked to the kitchen. Markeyvius was distraught, he didn't mean to choke her.

"This is the worst it's ever been Key. You put your fucking hands on me! Look at my neck." Lay sobbed snatching the ice out of his hands.

"I'm sorry Chalynn. Ima just go!" Key started to put his clothes on and Lay watched him.

"N-no! Don't go." She reached out to him and he turned around.

"Come 'er. Let me make it up to you."

*

Lay and Key lazily laid under her satin sheets.

"Markey?" She called out sleepily.

"Hmm?" He asked, he laid on his stomach shirtless facing the opposite way of her but had his arm securely wrapped around her torso.

"Who were you trying to save your mama from?" Lay asked looking straight ahead. Even though he had made her cum three times within the last thirty minutes, this was something that couldn't be made up with sex.

"Huh?" Key asked, not trying to relive his childhood. He was unsure as to why Lay would be asking about that.

"Before you did it. You said you have to save your mama and you also said that you told somebody to leave her alone." Lay repeated quietly. She didn't know why Key did the shit he did but maybe if she knew more, she wouldn't be so quick to give up.

"Ion remember saying that. My daddy used to beat my mama though so prolly him." Key yawned, he tightened his grip around Lay and soon fell fast asleep.

Lay woke up the next morning, not even to breakfast but an empty bed.

⏩

"Key!" Marlee tried to catch his attention because his phone was ringing so loudly. He was also speeding and unlike Chalynn, she wasn't hiding anybody's gun in her purse.

"Oh fuck. My bad Lil bit." Key slowed down and answered his phone.

"Markeyvius, it's Brittany's mom Taylor..." She sounded as though she had been crying.

"Yeah?" He asked confused as to why she was calling him when they'd spoken earlier.

"Sh-she's dead, Key!" Taylor screeched out causing Key to pull the phone away from his ear. He slammed on his brakes, causing cars around them to honk. Marlee flew into the dashboard because she didn't have her seatbelt on.

"Key. What the fuck! Are you trying to kill me?" Marlee asked rubbing her forehead. Markeyvius ignored her complaint and focused on the phone.

"I just saw her yesterday. What you mean dead?" Marlee grew worried because she didn't know who he was to.

"They found her in her room with a needle hanging out of her arm. They said it was enough crack in there to take down three horses." Taylor sighed on the phone trying not to get all worked up again.

"Fuck. She was doing so much better!" Markeyvius shook his head and ran his hand over his face.

"Thank you for trying Key. Feel free to bring Elianna by anytime. I just thought you should know." It grew silent over the phone, he didn't know whether or not he should cry.

"Thanks." Key disconnected the call from Taylor and decided that he was just going to take it to the chin. As much as he thought he wanted to cry, no tears were going to come out of his eyes. He needed to go to his outlet, the boxing gym.

"Is everything okay bro?" Marlee asked sitting back in her seat and buckling up now that they pulled off again.

"Brittany died. I can take you home or you can ride with me. Whichever one." Marlee grew chills on her arms from how nonchalantly her brother-in-law had said that.

"I'll ride." Marlee patted his shoulder and didn't say anything else until they arrived at Brothers Boxing Club. Key grabbed his gym bag from his trunk before jogging up to the front door and holding it open for his lil sister.

"Back already Vi?" Marlee heard a familiar voice say, she looked up and saw Faith handing him a key to one of the rooms.

"Vi? Don't be giving niggas nicknames." Marlee scrunched her nose up, but she kinda liked the nickname.

"Ima go change and I'll be out in like an hour." Key ignored the two girls. He felt as though he was about to explode and that wasn't something he wanted either of them to see.

"I'm not your girl remember? For all you know, I could be fucking him." Faith smirked causing Marlee to laugh in her face.

"Girl bye, that's my sister baby dad. What are you doing working here?" Marlee asked stepping closer to the front desk.

"This is my dad's gym. Not too close." Faith warned her. Her father was liable to come out at any moment and Faith had to be prepared for that.

"Mhm. So you know how to box?" Marlee asked playfully squaring up with Faith. Playfully rolling her eyes she came from behind the counter.

"Yup. So I'll whoop yo ass!" Faith giggled, Marlee loved to see her smile. Quickly grabbing Faith, she pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek.

"I miss you bae." Marlee accidentally said she wanted to face palm herself. She did miss Faith but if she had to choose between the two it would be Ronny.

"I miss you too but I'm not going to let you play with my heart Mar." Faith got out of her grasp and went back to work.

Marley looks around the gym and could see why Key liked it so much. She noticed that they were looking for an amateur female fighter. Grand prize if they won the first fight was five thousand dollars.

"Sign me up for this." Faith looked at the flier and then at her want to be significant other.

"I know you can fight but, this is a whole new ball game." Marley shrugged her shoulders at her.

"I'll take classes then." Faith, who started liking Mar after she saved her, grew more fascinated with Marlee now.

"Hmm. Okay. Fill out this form." Faith gave her a pen and paper to fill out. Faith reached out to touch Marlee's weave but she heard the door fly open and in walked her brother.

"Wassup baby girl?" He spoke walking over to her, kissing his forehead he assessed the situation.

"Hey, Dori. What you up to?" Faith asked slowing her heartbeat back down.

"Nothing just got off the phone with my lil boo. She gone be home in a couple of days. Everything looking smooth?" He asked walking back towards the counter.

"I can't wait to meet her. She seems super sweet and you know if Sammy hooks you up with somebody. They must be the bomb 'cause she didn't play." Marlee stood there looking at the two of them. Until Key came out dressed nicer than when he came in.

"Wassup Dorian?" Key dapped him up and grabbed Faith back the key.

"Shit, Vi just checking on the establishment man. Waiting on my girl to get home." Dorian cheesed like a puppy waiting for a treat.

"I feel you boa. I'm about to go take mine out tonight." Key chuckled switching his gym bag to another shoulder.

"Maybe we could double date sometime." Dorian shrugged his shoulders. Marley looked over at Key, she was shocked though cause he didn't like new niggas.

"I can dig it. Hit me when yo girl gets back and we can arrange something." They dapped again before Marlee and Key left the gym together.

"I thought you didn't like meeting new niggas?" Marlee laughed as they got in the car once again.

"Dorian is cool though. It'll be cool to have a friend that's in a relationship. Maybe he can teach me some shit. I got one more stop before we head towards King's house."

🧃

"Mama! It's me." Key called out walking into her house.

"Quiet down! Cause if you wake that baby, that's yo ass and you taking her!" Keisha responded coming out of the kitchen.

"I gotta tell you something ma." He said much quieter. Marley greeted Keisha and hugged her, helping herself to a cookie.

"What's up?" Keisha asked hugging her son, they hadn't been on the best terms lately but she was always down to help her son.

"Brittany overdosed." He shook his head sitting down at the island. Key had already released his anger about the situation so it didn't hurt as much.

"Wow. I thought she was doing better baby. I'm sorry." Keisha rubbed his back as she sighed. Sitting down at the kitchen table, she rubbed her temples.

"Me too. I don't know what it is about mothers being selfish." He looked directly at his mother when he said that. Keisha rolled her neck and stood to her feet.

"I hope you not calling me selfish boy. Cause if only you knew." Keisha said in a duh-like tone.

"Yea mama I am. Maybe I wouldn't be so fucked up if you hadn't gone to jail my whole life." Key raised his voice causing Eli to wake up. Marlee excused herself and took Eli upstairs.

"Going to prison was the least selfish thing I've ever done in my entire life," Keisha warned Key not to step over any more of her buttons.

"How's that mama? You left me! Yo only child. Maybe you are to blame for the reason I can't love anybody correctly. I had to let Chalynn go to fucking Belize because I traumatized the absolute fuck out of her with my bipolar disorder. That shit is on my conscience every day! All those nights I cried for you and where were you?" Keisha looked genuinely appalled.

"You never ask questions Key. You just start to blame. You fucked Chalynn over nigga! Not me. As many times and chances as she gave you and you still couldn't act right. That's not on me. You're a grown-ass man. If I fucked you up that badly, why not see therapy sooner. You just wanna go around and fuck everybody, drink lean, and smoke weed thinking that you can do whatever the fuck you want. Life doesn't work that way. I'm glad to see you're finally growing the fuck up Markeyvius. Into the man, I tried to raise you to be." Keisha had hit a nerve with him. They had never really talked about their differences but now that Key was growing. He was becoming more vocal with his feelings.

"You ain't raise shit ma. Granny did. You went down for the next nigga or bitch." Key scuffed getting ready to walk away.

"That bitch I went down for .. was you!" Keisha yelled wiping her face with the back of her hand. It was time that her son learned the truth.

"W-what?" Completely disregarding his mother had called him a bitch, Key didn't know what she was talking about.

"I went to prison for you." She jabbed him in his chest with her finger.

"What are you talm bout?" He walked closer to his mother.

"Markeyvius baby. Sit down." Key took a seat next to his mother and got prepared to hear the whole rundown.

"I'm listenin'." He didn't even make eye contact with her.