2 years later

Ashanti Renèe Robinson, NY 📍

"Aqua come here and put these shoes on mama." I said sitting on the couch. She walked over with her lollipop in her mouth.

"Jay! Why did you give her a lollipop!"

"She wanted it."

"That doesn't me- you know what it's fine." I said laughing. "Ready?" I asked her.

"Yes. Mommy my ipad?" She asked pointing to it on charge. I nodded and she walked over to get it.

"Jay come on or we gon be late."

"Aight I'm ready come on."

We were going to a dinner party I planned. Everyone was already there except for us. Ever since my dad died I been distant from everyone. But I kind of feel like this is when I need to be around people the most.

"Get in baby I got Aqua."

I got in the car as he strapped her in and we drove off.

Ashanti's Fit^

Jay's Fit^^

(this nigga outfits hard to find)

Aqua's Fit^^

———

"Heyyy." I said after getting out the car.

Jo'nae met us with Kiery in her arms.

"Hey Auntie baby."

"Hi." She said quietly.

"Her hair is so beautiful girl."

"I decided to leave it out today i'm tired."

We walked into the hall and it was exactly the way I wanted it.

Everyone was there. Jo'nae, Kiery, Demarcus, Stephanie, Que, Troy, and Kayla.

"Hey Everyone!" I announced approaching the table.

"Hey girl you look beautiful!" Stephanie said as they all looked at me.

We sat down and started talking. It was an instant reconnect like nothing ever happened. It felt good to catch up with the people I love.

Que and Stephanie bought a new house while she finishes her classes in Cosmetics. Troy and Kayla's babyboy just graduated kindergarten. Jo'nae and Demarcus are doing an amazing job as parents to Kiery. Yes, He got her and Aqua hooked on them fuckin skittles.

We finally got dinner and started to eat when Aqua needed to use the bathroom.

"Mommy." She said doing a little dance.

"You need to go potty?" I whispered to her and she nodded. "Imma take her to the bathroom right quick." I told Jay before getting up.

"Alright hurry mama. Your food gon get cold." She finished using the bathroom and walked out the stall.

"I did it!" She said laughing.

I laughed and fixed her pants. Why do kids always twist they pants up? They don't feel that?

I had to lift her up to was her hands in the sink since she's so small.

"Now dry them." I said to her.

"Ou mommy look." She put her hands under the drier and the warm air started to blast her in her face. She laughed as she tried to eat it.

"Gurl come on!" I said to her and she walked towards me. We left the bathroom and walked back to the table.

"What took ya so long?" Jay asked as I sat down.

"She tried to eat the air in the hand dryer." He smiled and shook his head.

Once we finished eating it was time.

"Okay ya I have a surprise for everyone." I said standing up.

"Surprise?" Jay asked me. "You ain't tell me you was surprisin them."

"I'm surprisin you too dumby." I said to him before turning back to everyone.

"First I wanna say thank you guys for coming out tonight. We all really needed this and it was very fun. I'm so proud of everyone for being so productive and following the right path...except for nicole...but that's okay." I said making everyone laugh.

"I came to jersey almost three years ago and never thought that I would be this tight with this many people before. You guys make me feel safe and treat me like family. A family i've always wanted. I wanna say I truely love you guys."

"We love you too." They all responded differently.

"Awe sis." Demarcus said getting up fake crying.

"You love me big head? Awe see I knew it g." He hugged me dramatically.

"De if you don't go sit yo ass down i'm not done!"

"Oh. My fault." He said regularly. When he returned to his seat I straightened myself.

"Now for the surprise. There is only one person I told about this surprise and that's Aqua. I'm surprised she didn't say anything." I said and everyone looked at her. I picked her up and took something out my purse and handed it to her.

"Go head tell them." I whispered in her ear as she took it.

"Little baby!" She yelled opening the Ultrasound pictures.

I watched as everyone's face turned from confused and curious to excited and shocked.

"Your lyin!" Jay said getting up to take the paper. He looked at it and the longer he did the bigger his smile grew.

"You're pregnant ma?" He asked me and I nodded.

"You knew!" He said grabbing Aqua and tickling her. "You knew and didn't tell daddy?"

"Shhh." She said with her finger over her mouth.

"It was a secret?" He asked her and she nodded.

Everyone got up and came towards me congratulating me and just showing how much they appreciated me. It felt like love. It felt like a family. As It Should Be.