Jay'shawn Lawson, NJ📍

I pulled into the driveway of my mothers house and didn't even appropriately park the car. I threw black gloves on the ski mask from the glove box and made my way to the door.

I moved my way to her door. I was surprised there wasn't any neighbors outside trying to see what was going on because you could clearly hear screaming and stuff being thrown around. I ran up the stairs of her porch and kicked the door down.

The screams were coming from upstairs. I trudged up them and turned in my moms room and there he was.

When he saw me he grabbed her by her hair and held the gun to her jaw.

"One wrong move mothafucka and she's gone. One wrong mov-"

Before he could finished I snatched the gun from my waist and shot at him. I emptied the clip on his ass as my mom watched. I threw the gun down beside him and grabbed my moms arm.

"Hurry up let's go!" I said basically dragging her to her closet. I grabbed a bag and dumped it out before I started throwing her clothes into it.

"Get another bag and do the same shit hurry up!"

I told her. My mom lived in a white neighborhood. Cops will be all over this bitch in no less than 30 minutes.

"Jay Jay. You jus- you just killed you fath-"

"Ma come on! Snap out of it now is not the time to reminisce let's go." I said snatching the bag out her hand and packing the last of her clothes.

I watched her put her shoes and hoodie on before I helped her out the house and to the car. I called up Que and told him to send the clean up crew.

I drove fast but not as fast as I did coming to her house. I felt her looking at me. She had tears streaming down her face and she looked so distraught.

"That ain't ya first time. I know it's not. I just feel like I failed as a parent."

"Ma don't start talking like that. You didn't fail as a parent. Am I homeless? Cracked out? In Jail? No. You didn't fail. I'm stable as hell with a nice ass condo with my beautiful girlfriend and a baby on the way."

Shit!

Ashanti's prolly worried about me right now. I quickly whipped out my phone I had 4 missed calls and three texts from her.

About 5 minutes later I pulled into the garage.

"Come on momma." I got out and helped her out. "Okay wait here till I get your bags." I went and got her bags from the back seat and tried to help her.

"No I got it go ahead." She told me straightening herself. I opened the door and we walked in. The house was dark and quiet.

She must be sleep. I thought as I locked the door back.

"Go head and take your hoodie and shoes off. Imma go put these in the guest room for you."

She nodded and I headed upstairs. I dropped her bags on the guest bed and walked into our room. Ashanti was sitting at her vanity brushing out her hair.

"Where da fuck you been?" She said looking at me in the mirror. "You told me you were on your way home almost a whole hour ago. I was worried about you I was blowing up your phone and you didn't bother to ans-" She stopped when she saw my mom behind me.

She turned to us and got up. "Aaliyah." She hugged my her and she broke down. I've never heard my mother cry like this before. At least not in front of me. I held the two of them and rubbed their backs. After a while we let go.

"Momma go and take a shower get out them clothes while I talk to Ashanti right quick." She nodded and left.

"Ma, I'm sorry I didn't answer your texts and messages. I know you were worried about me. I jus had something I needed to handle okay?!" She looked down at my hands and saw the gloves and knew exactly what happened.

"Who?" She asked. "W-Was it him?" She said swallowing hard. I nodded.

She approached me and wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back of course. She's little though so it was kind of weird.

"You not mad?!"

"Jay you are grown man. You know what you do and the consequences behind them. But you were protecting your mom and now she's safe so that's all that matters."

I kissed her forehead moved her arms so I can get out these clothes. I took my hoodie and t- shirt off and put them in the laundry basket.

"Ouuu don't hurt em, do ya thing eowwww." I heard Ashanti say. I laughed and walked into the bathroom.

"You know summer coming up right?" I said to her.

"Yea. Hot girl summer!"

"Nah nah none of dat shit!" She laughed.

"Mmcht. Boy."

"You pregnant you can't have no hot girl summer. That shii CANCELED!"

"Oh nah! I'm 7 months now! And the weather is starting to break and so will my water!"

We laughed together. This damn girl is comical.

"Yea yea whatever." I said to her.

"But nah fr, like we havin this baby before July. Bae it's May."

I stood in the mirror and looked at myself and back at Ashanti in the room. Reality hit. I'm gon bring my daughter into this world mad soon! I don't know wether to feel worried or happy.

Emotional filled my heart and head as i showered. I tried to shake them away because I know that Ashanti and I would be good parents.

"You sure it's 7 months bae." I said walking in the room adjusting my shirt.

"We were both at the last appointment. Yes it's 7 months."

"It just feels so fast. It feel like yesterday when you told me you were pregnant."

Was I wrong though. There's been so much shit going on from the time Ashanti said she was pregnant till now.

I walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Hey, I was wondering if I could have some help" My mom said at the door of our room.

She was holding bandaids and what looked like alcohol pads to clean up the cuts on her face and arms.

"Of course. Bae I'm gon go help your mom you relax." Ashanti said getting up and leaving with my mom.

I sat on the edge of the bed. I pray my mom never meets a man like that again. We all know I won't hesitate to kill another one. I picked up my phone. I had a message from Que that was sent to me 20 minutes ago. He said the clean up crew finished their job and he already paid them. I texted him a "good lookin" and put my phone back down.

I heard my mom and Ashanti talking not completely but just the sound. They were joking around and laughing. It warmed my heart to hear the two women I cared about most laugh. They both been through some shit. But for now on I got them. There's nothing they would have to worry about.

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Ashanti Renèe Robinson, NY📍

It's been almost a month since Aaliyah came to stay with Jay and I and at first she was always here and around and now she's just out and about. I even think she met someone new because chile she be cheesin at the phone like she still in high school. I'm happy for her though. She deserves to be happy.

One morning when I went to check on her she was gone and the only thing that was left as a note.

Jay Jay, thank you so much baby boy for having my back when I needed you most. I love you more than I can say it. I'm pretty sure I have over stayed my welcome here so I'll be on my way now. Ashanti thank you for nursing me back to the real me and boosting my confidence. Your an angel and I'm glad you and my son are together. I love you guys and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. Cherish it cause you'll miss it. Don't hesitate to call or text.

Xoxo - Aaliyah

I smiled and held the note to my heart. Such a beautiful woman and a nice soul.

"Your mom left." I said walking back to our room.

"She did?!" He asked.

"Yea and she left this." I handed him the letter and he read it. I saw him smile as his eyes read the words.

"She actin like we ain't eva gon see her again. So dramatic!" He said laughing.

"Bae!" I heard Jay yell!

"Yea." I said snapping out of my daze.

"You ready?!"

"Oh, yea come on." I grabbed my purse and fixed my dress around my large bump and made my way out the door with Jay.

We were going to a party his mom is throwing. She got a new place and she's having a house warming party. She wants the whole crew to come. Jay, Me, Jo'nae, Demarcus, Que, and Stephanie.

We pulled up to the party the same time as Que and Stephanie. I got out and exchanged hugs with them. They made some comments about my bump per usual and we walked up to the door of the building. It looked like a fancy ass hotel but it was just a very nice condo building.

We waited in the lobby for Demarcus and Jo'nae so there's no confusion on the directions to her place. Once they arrived we all made our way to her condo.

"She said 3A" Jay told us as we walked down the long hall. We reached the door and knocked on it.

She opened it with a smile. "Hey! You guys came! Come in come in!" She had a beautiful dress on but you can tell it was hard for her to walk in.

When we walked in it looked gorgeous. I couldn't help but notice a males jacket on the coat rack, male shoes by the door, and a watch on the counter. There was also a thick smell of cologne in the air and it smelled so familiar like i've smelt it before but I couldn't put a finger on it.

Stephanie nudged me and smirked. I nodded my head and laughed cause we was thinking the same thing.

She gotta mannnnnn!

"This is the first surprise. Now I have another one. I want you guys to meet someone."

My heart started to race. She met someone new! I was so happy for her.

She walked us around the corner and to the dining room area. A man was standing at the window with a wine glass in his hand. When he heard us coming he turned from the window to face us.

My jawn instantly dropped.

"Dad?!" Stephanie said.

"Armoni?!?"