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Maniya stood impatiently at the airport, waiting for her mom and dad to land. She really didn't want them to come all the way to LA but she needed to get home.

Her phone rang in her hand making her slide to answer,

"Hello?" Maniya spoke into the phone.

"Girl where are you?" Taylor shouted down the line. Taylor and Maniya became very good friends and ended up going to the same college. They were both always on the same vibe length and Taylor understood that sometimes Maniya needed her space.

"At the airport," Maniya sighed. Taylor made a noise and then calmed down.

"I forgot, you're gonna tell them today right?" Taylor questioned.

"Hopefully, I just know my mom's gonna flip out," Maniya fretted.

"Niya, you're 21 - they're not gonna say anything," Taylor encouraged her friend. "Your mama treats you like a baby and you let her,"

"Tay you don't get it." Maniya responded. "My mom is very ..." Maniya trailed off trying to find the right words.

"I do get it Ni. You let her baby you because it makes her feel better but what about you?" Taylor said truthfully. She was witness to Naala's overprotectiveness over Maniya and it was definitely a problem.

"I gotta go Taylor," Maniya said rushing her off the phone. She needed her mind to be clear when she saw her mom and dad.

Not long after they cut the phone, she saw Saint running out of the airport with Naala chasing him.

"I was running to Sissy," He said out of breath, hiding behind Maniya.

"You're still such a bad ass," Maniya giggled leaning down to hug him.

"Nai you ain't happy to see me?" Maniya teased Sinai who was itching to hug her big sister. When Maniya wasn't home, Sinai was stuck with the two babies.

"I missed you so much," Sinai cheesed hugging Maniya. "Please come home,"

"Girl at this point I don't have a choice," Maniya whispered back to Sinai. Sinai pulled away from the hug and looked at her weirdly.

"Hey mommy," Maniya smiled hugging Naala tightly. Naala teared up as she held onto Maniya.

"My angel cakes, how are you?" Naala sniffed pulling away.

"Move," Dave said pushing everyone out of the way to hug Maniya. He was holding Malia so Maniya reached straight for her.

"Phattt," She dragged out kissing her face. "Did you miss me?"

Malia shyly nodded her head with a slight smile. She put her head in Maniya's neck and whispered.

"Missed you," Malia said softly making Maniya's heart burst.

"Damn so it's just fuck me huh?" Dave grumbled making Naala smack his arm.

"Then you wonder why he's always cursing," Naala fussed.

"You ain't have to hit me that hard though did you?" Dave said mugging Naala.

"I did because he's acting out because of you," Naala responded crossing her arms.

Dave shook his head and held onto Naala's waist whispering in her ear, "If you want to fuck just say that,"

Naala smirked and mushed his head, "Get away from me,"

"Nothings changed then," Maniya said to Sinai, who was also watching her parents interact.

"Nope, he even stays over sometimes," Sinai said quietly. Saint looked over at them and shook his head.

"Girls gossip too much," Saint said with his hand in his pants.

"Nasir get your hands out your pants" Naala snapped at him causing Sinai and Maniya to laugh at him. "Matta fact come here, so you can get in the truck,"

Saint sulked over to his mom and stood by her. Maniya and Sinai walked side by side, over to the Escalade that Dave rented for their stay in LA.

The family drove in silence apart from Saint rapping along to every song that played.

"I know I say this everytime, we really live a life of crime," Saint bopped his head in his own world.

"That's enough of that," Naala muttered turning the music down.

"Man Pops your wife is a hater on God," Saint complained.

"On who?" Naala laughed. "Get your son," Naala said to Dave who was ignoring both of them.

"Niya you being quiet," Dave said looking at her. "How much money you need now?"

"I don't need any money," Maniya responded quietly. Naala turned around to look at her,

"What's wrong with you? You made us come down here to get you," Naala said searching her daughters face for answers.

"I need to talk to you guys," Maniya said lifting her head up.

"You're pregnant?" Naala said biting her lip. "Oh my God," Naala said to herself.

"Chill," Dave said putting his hand on her thigh to calm her down. "You're not denying it, so you're pregnant?" Dave said raising an eyebrow.

"Can we not do this now?" Maniya begged. She didn't think this was an appropriate place to discuss her life.

"Lord help me 'fore I kill this child of mine," Naala said lowly, trying to keep calm in front of the kids.

"You're so dramatic," Maniya mumbled sitting back. "This is why I didn't want to say nothing,"

"Well excuse the hell out of me," Naala scoffed, "Amir, you're not gonna say nothing?"

"She said she doesn't want to talk about it here so we not gonna talk about it here," Dave shrugged. Naala eyed him from the side and nodded.

"So can I listen to Quando now or nah?" Saint perked up throwing his hands in the air.

"Mmm," Dave replied turning the music back up. He looked back and saw that Sinai and Malia were asleep. Saint was busy rapping to the music and Maniya was staring out of the window.

When Maniya heard her dad turn up the music she rolled her eyes. Her parents were either about to argue or be nasty.

"Why you stressing for Ma?" Dave asked rubbing Naala's thigh. "She hasn't even said anything yet," He added when Naala huffed.

"It's something bad, why doesn't she want to say?" Naala said putting her hand over his.

"Ion know but you like stressing yourself out before there's even anything to stress about. Chill," Dave smiled looking at her.

"Okay," Naala replied quietly. They held hands whilst he drove. Naala never understood their relationship. They actively and openly dated other people but always gravitated to each other when they were together.

Dave had rented out an Air BnB for them to stay at, in a nice location. He was treating this as a mini vacation because he barely got to travel with his kids.

"Oooo this is nice," Sinai said walking up the steps. "Daddy you got money huh?" She added looking around.

"Daddy been having money," Saint said throwing his bag on the couch. "Dad lemme hold something," He asked with his hand out.

"Boy move," Dave chuckled moving Saint's hand out of the way. Malia stood quietly looking around.

"Come Phat, let's pick a room," Saint said to his baby sister. Malia nodded and took his hand following behind him.

"You sit," Naala said to Maniya who was trying to sneak past. Sinai made a yikes face and went to find her own room.

"Before I say anything, promise me you won't freak out," Maniya pleaded. She was talking to her mom specifically. Dave never really bugged out on her unless it was serious.

"If you're pregnant I'm gonna beat your ass," Naala said bluntly.

"I'm not pregnant," Maniya stated quickly, a bit too quickly Dave noticed.

"So what's up? We flew all the way here to come get you so what's up," Dave said sitting on the couch opposite her. Naala couldn't sit down until she knew what was going on.

"Idroppedoutofcollege," Maniya rushed out avoiding eye contact.

"Wait I need to get a bit closer because I thought you said you dropped out," Naala said moving closer to Maniya.

"Run that back," Dave said tugging at his beard.

"I dropped out of college," Maniya said more clearer this time. Naala frowned and took a seat next to Dave.

"But how can you be a lawyer without a college degree?" Naala questioned.

"I don't want to be a lawyer mom. I never wanted to be a lawyer." Maniya admitted. "I never even wanted to go to college, I only went so you would be happy,"

"Maniya we spoke about college for so long!" Naala shouted. "You said that's what you wanted to do,"

"Mommy you spoke about college for so long. I didn't want to go. Daddy never pushed me but you kept pushing," Maniya said getting irritated. She was finally standing up for herself.

"I want you to be —"

"The best version of myself," Maniya said cutting her off. That was something Maniya heard from her mom too often.

"Mama you want me to be the best version of you, not me," Maniya said, she had been holding this back for a while now.

"We worked so hard for you Maniya. I worked so hard for you," Naala said standing up and leaving Maniya and Dave in the living area.

Dave watched Maniya sigh and lean back in the chair. He cleared his throat and spoke,

"You never wanted to go to college?" He questioned her. Maniya shook her head.

"It's not what I wanted Dad." Maniya said lowly. "I thought that if I stayed I would start to like it but it's torture,"

"You've only got two years left Ni, you can't finish it?" Dave responded.

Maniya shook her head, "I wanna do what I've always wanted."

"Which is what?" Naala asked walking back into the room. She was holding a bottle of water so Dave assumed she went to take her meds.

"Fashion school," Maniya said firmly. Naala laughed and shook her head.

"Where do I always go wrong?" She asked no one in particular.

"Love stop making this about you, if she's unhappy then she shouldn't have to stay on the course," Dave said truthfully. Maniya silently thanked her Dad, he was the only one that could get through to her mom when she was like this.

"But all the preparation we did, you have a job waiting for you at my firm," Naala to Maniya. "Everything is all set out for baby, me and your dad have paid all that money. I won't let you throw your life away for fashion," Naala spat hurtfully.

"Miani." Dave said sternly making Naala close her mouth. He never called her by her middle so to hear him say that to her meant he was serious. He almost rarely had to go that far to get through to her. "Stop it. You forced her into this, now she's telling you she's unhappy,"

"We're gonna sit down and listen to her." Dave finished glaring at Naala. Naala sat down beside him, defeated.

"Have you figured out costs?" Dave asked Maniya who was sat in shock at her dad putting Naala in her place.

Maniya nodded rapidly, "I've been saving up, so all you would have to help me with is somewhere to stay,"

"You'll be coming back to New York?" Dave asked with a brow raised.

"Yea but I don't want to stay at home," Maniya said glancing at her mom quickly. Naala blinked away the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

"You can stay with me till we sort out an apartment," Dave said wrapping his arm around Naala's shoulders. He could see from his peripheral that she was now crying.

"Thanks daddy," Maniya said standing to her feet. She gave her mom one last look before she left the room.

"Stop crying," Dave said pulling Naala into his lap. He knew she was very sensitive, so everything Maniya had just said would have hurt her.

"I didn't mean to force her into anything." Naala said tearfully. "I wanted her to have the best chance at everything,"

"I know that but it's her life mama," Dave said rubbing her back. "You choose your path, let her choose hers,"

"She doesn't even want to live with me," Naala sniffed laying her head on Dave's shoulder.

"You pregnant?" He asked her out of the blue. Her emotions had been heightened the last few times he'd seen her.

"I don't think so," Naala muttered, "I get the shot," She added.

"I'm going CVS," Dave announced lifting her off his lap.

"No," Naala said stopping him. "I'm not pregnant, I promise,"

"Do you want more kids?" Dave asked getting comfortable with her leaning on him.

"With you?" Naala asked looking up at him.

"Who else? You're my wife." Dave stated. "I think we should try for one more," He said kissing her neck.

"I wouldn't mind one more," Naala muttered, "But we gotta sort us out first, give me a year," Naala added playing with his fingers.

"When are you gonna stop playing with me?" Dave said taking in her intoxicating scent.

"When you learn how to treat me right Amir." Naala sighed. "We can't bring another child into our mess, something has to change."

Dave nodded and hooked his finger around her ring finger. "I've changed baby, I'm a different man,"

"I don't want to get hurt again," Naala admitted. "I spent 4 months in a mental facility because of what you did to me remember?"

Dave clenched his jaw, right after he healed from his accident him and Naala tried to reconcile. They were doing good until he cheated once again, sending Naala back into a mental breakdown.

She blew up so badly that she was admitted into a facility, taking her away from her babies. That was one of the worst experiences Naala had ever had, it haunted her for a long time.

"I was a coward. I did you wrong and it was only after I saw how it was affecting our girls that I woke up. I'm not that person anymore Love," Dave said affectionately. That was the truth, over the last 4 years Dave had a major wake up call. He started to appreciate the people in his life.

"Can we take it slow?" Naala muttered staring at him.

"You gotta tell big boy that I want my wife back," He said mentioning Kree.

"No, not till I'm ready," Naala shook her head. "I really like him so now I date both of y'all,"

"Mmm, ion like sharing," Dave groaned rubbing her butt.

"You're winning," Naala said kissing his cheek. "But you could put it down a bit better."

"Naala stop playing with me." Dave said pulling her hair.

"Mmm, do that later," Naala said looking at him with hooded eyes.

"I thought I don't put it down good," Dave asked,

"I said you could be better, key word was could," Naala stressed.

"Bet," Dave nodded and played with her hair. "I like these braids on you,"

"You do?" Naala questioned leaning closer to his face. Dave nodded and stared at her lips. They both leaned in and kissed softly.

"Mama," Malia said scaring them both. Naala pulled away from Dave and stood up,

"What's up Phat?" She said turning her attention to Malia.

"I'm hungry," Malia whispered loud enough for Naala to hear.

"I'll order some pizza," Dave said pulling out his phone.

~~

"Can I come in?" Naala said standing by Maniya's door. Maniya nodded and stepped to the side.

"You have a nice view," Naala gawked at the view of LA. "Come sit with me," She said sitting on the couch outside, patting the space beside her.

Maniya cautiously sat by her mom. Naala exhaled and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I've been too hard on you," Naala spoke breaking through the silence. "I put pressure on you to be the best because I wasn't the best."

"I suffered with a lot of issues when I was your age but I put myself through college with a 2 year old baby. I worked my ass off so one day my kids wouldn't have to. I work so you can enjoy the luxuries I never got to experience. I wanted you to go to law school, and practice law so you would be better than me Maniya." Naala said holding Maniya's hand.

"Mama," Maniya trailed off when Naala stopped speaking.

"I know I said hurtful things to you but I want the best for my babies," Naala finished.

"I get it Ma but you have to let me experience life my way," Maniya said softly.

Naala nodded and sat back, "Whatever you wanna do, I'm behind you a hundred percent."

"Thank you," Maniya smiled leaning on for a hug. Naala hugged her back and kissed the side of her head.

"Can I show you some of my designs?" Maniya asked when they pulled apart. Naala smiled widely and nodded,

"Yes please," She said getting comfortable in the seat. Naala took her phone out and started scrolling through the pictures Dave took of her earlier.

"Now why the hell?" Naala mumbled to herself when she stumbled across the photo of her on Instagram.

😩

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"Mama you gon' make daddy have a heart attack," Maniya laughed bringing out her MacBook. Naala waved her off,

"He knows I'm dating over people and he's doing shit like that," Naala cursed reading the comments.

"Mmm how's Kree?" Maniya said wriggling her eyebrows,

"You hear us on the phone one time," Naala mugged putting her phone down. "He's got an attitude with me anyway,"

"What did you do?" Maniya said opening her laptop with her fingerprint.

"I had sex with your daddy," Naala mumbled rubbing her hand through her braids.

"Mamaaaaa," Maniya dragged out with a disgusted look, "Too much information, I hope it was worth it."

"It was," Naala smiled to herself. "I might have to go back there,"

"Okay that's enough mom, you're doing too much now," Maniya groaned trying to get the visual of her mom and dad out of her head.

"What about you? Any new boys on the scene?" Naala questioned her daughter.

Maniya loves the relationship she had with Naala, they could speak about anything, no matter how big and small.

"There is this one guy, he's a great person but there's a problem," Maniya said looking up,

"He's got a girlfriend?" Naala spoke tilting her head.

"No he's friends with Tai," Maniya answered. Naala squinted at her,

"What's the problem?" Naala asked with a puzzled look. "Girl if you don't get over that weirdo,"

"Mama," Maniya laughed at her mom's bluntless.

"What? I'm not teaching you to be a homie hopper but live life you're still young," Naala preached.

"You would date one of daddy's friends?" Maniya asked with a giggle.

"Of course, ion care," Naala shrugged. "How do you think I met Kree? If you can't keep up with me, I'll find the next best thing,"

"Well damn, where's my mom because this isn't her," Maniya spoke truthfully.

"I just bossed up." Naala shrugged. "Okay let me see the designs,"

Maniya looked down at her computer and started to explain the designs to Naala. Naala wasn't listening, she was too busy snapping pictures of her daughter.

"Mommy!" Maniya whined reaching for her mom's phone. "I look so bad,"