Naala pulled up to Dave's mom's house on her own as Sinai had insisted on driving down with her 'daddy' which left Naala alone.

She didn't really mind as she was glad that 'Nai was comfortable enough with Dave meaning he could pick Sinai up from school from time to time.

Naala made a mental note to add his new number on the school files. Surprisingly, when she enrolled Sinai in school, she gave Dave's name and number as an emergency contact - she thought it was the least she could do - Darnell didn't know this though.

Naala waited for Dave to pull in behind her before she got out of the car - she hadn't seen Ms. Sonia in four years and was scared of what she might have to say.

Dave unbuckled Sinai out of her seat and helped her get out the car. They walked hand in hand to Naala's car where she was busy looking in the mirror while applying some lipgloss. Dave opened her door and said,

"Your lips are glossy enough ma, who you get your lips all puckered up for?" He snickered while licking his own lips.

"Move out the damn way Amir," Naala joked while rolling her eyes. She tried not to make eye contact with him because he had a way of making her nervous.

As a family, they walked up the driveway to the door, Sinai stood by her dad anxiously waiting to meet her grandma. In the car ride over, Dave explained to her that she has a grandma and another aunty.

Sinai was excited to meet her grandma as her mother's step mom wasn't too pleasant. Dave rung the bell this time because the door was actually locked.

Sonia came sashaying to the door and her eyes grew wide at the sight of the little girl that stood infront of her.

"Oh my God! Hello baby, I'm your Grandma but you can call me Glamma - I'm not that old" Sonia said as she ushered Sinai into the house.

Dave and Naala followed suit, Naala hiding behind Dave hoping she would just disappear. Dave squeezed her hand reassuringly - surprisingly that calmed her down.

"Naala girl get over here!" Sonia shouted, Naala had not even noticed that her and Sinai had got to the kitchen where Sonia was handing Sinai a cookie.

"Hey Ms. Sonia --"

"Girl don't be silly, it's Mama Sonia to you." Naala sighed and went over to Sonia who's arms were outstretched waiting for a hug.

Naala melted in the hug - she's missed Sonia's motherly touch.

"Mama I'm so sorry I should of told you - -" Naala whimpered with tears gathering in her small brown eyes,

"Hush child, I'm a mother too - you did what you thought would protect my grand baby even if I don't agree with you." Sonia's soft voice sung.

She was telling the truth - she couldn't be angry at Naala because she didn't know her reasonings behind not telling Dave about his daughter.

All she could do was make up for the lost time.

Wiping the tears that had fallen down Naala's cheek, Sonia ushered her to a seat at the kitchen island,

"LaLa what you did was wrong but Sinai is a blessing, don't you worry you're pretty little head about it, okay?"

Sonia couldn't judge Naala and Naala was glad, she hated when people didn't like her.

Looking around the corner Dave and Sinai were playing on his phone, taking selfies. Both Sonia and Naala gushed at that relationship they saw forming,

"She looks so happy Mama, am I bad mother?" Naala questioned as she regretted her decision. She always thought she was doing Dave a favour but now it looks like she was just being spiteful.

"No you are not baby! Hear, you did what you thought was best, that doesn't make you any less of a mother. Dave will be hurt for now but he won't be able to stay away - look at him!" She pointed at the two of them who were now watching a movie on Netflix.

"You're right Mama," Naala sighed, there really was no need her making herself upset about the situation - things could only get better.

A sweet, familiar smell halted Naala's thoughts and her mouth watered at the big, chunky slice of Coconut cake that sat in front of her.

Sonia winked at her and proceeded to the living room to get to know her grandbaby.

On the couch, Sinai was busy watching Despicable Me while her father sat beside her, admiring her.

Dave was in awe at what he and Naala had created. Sonia walked over with a plate of cookies and warm glass of milk.

"Can Glamma get involved in this little party? I brought cookies." She sang looking at her beautiful grand baby,

Sinai looked up in the first time in ages and nodded excitedly moving up so her Grandma could squeeze in.

Dave took that as his cue and left the two some time to bond. He overheard his mother questioning Sinai about the movie and chuckled because watching movies with his mom was hell.

"Good luck 'Nai!" He shouted whilst going off to look for Naala who had been hiding from him.

Walking into the kitchen he spotted her seated on the island eating cake and scrolling through her phone.

"Why you hiding Love?" He said causing her to jump. Clutching her chest she said,

"You play too much, I thought I was alone!" She shrieked, dropping her fork in fear. Dave's deep chuckle escaped from his lips as he pulled up a stool next to Naala.

"I'm sorry Ma, didn't mean to scare you," He said trying to stifle his laughter.

Naala cut her eyes towards him and couldn't help but look him up and down. She was always sexually attracted to Dave but she assumed he didn't see her in that way until the day Sinai was conceived.

"What's Sinai doing? I hope she wasn't forcing you to watch the movie." Naala said whilst clearing her throat with a hint of humour in her face.

"Nah I was actually enjoying that shit, Gru my nigga". Naala bursted out laughing at the man that sat in front of her.

Here he was with a hard ass mug on his face talking about Gru from Despicable Me. After her laughter ceased, she looked at Dave who didn't seem to get the joke.

"How've you actually been Love?" Dave had realised that he and Naala hadn't had a chance to speak about what went down with them.

Sinai has taken centre stage and they had forgotten to address the issues that lie between themselves. That question threw Naala off as she thought they were having a jovial moment.

She tried to avoid his eyes as Dave had a way of making her just want to spill her guts - she was comfortable with him.

"I've been good, I have my dream job and I'm in good place --"

"Nah, you don't have to lie to me Love, you mean to tell me that 'Darnell' makes you happy?" Naala knew that was coming, it was only a matter of time before he asked about the nature of her relationship with Darnell.

When Dave made that remark he saw something flicker in her eyes - she was scared of him.

"I don't want to talk about it Amir -- "

"Just tell me one thing Naala and I will drop it, why the hell are you still with him, huh?"

Naala was stuck. She truly didn't know what to say. Her reasoning with staying with Darnell would sound stupid so she had to think of another reason,

"Because YOU left me! You know I barely have anyone and you meant the world to me but you left. I stayed because I had no one else!" She spat, venom seeping out of her voice.

She knew it was a low blow but she felt like he needed to hear it.

Dave looked at apologetically, he didn't mean to make her upset and by the looks of it she was getting ready to cry.

"Look Love, I'm sorry --"

"You left! And I was left on my own to pick up the pieces. Not once did I blame you," Naala whimpered trying to keep it together, she had already cried in front of Ms Sonia - she didn't want to seem unhinged.

"Anyway, I'm going out tonight so me and Sinai have to get going, I need to drop her at my dad's" She wiped her face and moved to the sink to wash up the dish she had used.

Dave didn't want her to leave like this - he wanted her to get it all out.

"Sinai can stay here, my mom would love it." He said walking towards her.

Naala sighed and turned to him so they were eye to eye. She saw his pleading eyes and felt guilty - Sonia hadn't even spent 2 hours with her granddaughter. Sinai would love to stay but wasn't it too soon?

"Um - if she wants to I won't stop her - her bag is in my car - let me go grab it." Naala gave in quickly surprising Dave.

She had always been stubborn but this time she didn't even put up a fight. Naala walked past him, her soft vanilla scent wafted up his nose.

Dave looked watched her walk out and sighed - he didn't want their relationship to stay this way.

He knows he was wrong for leaving but he feels like Naala was reaching trying to blame him for her abusive boyfriend. That reminded him that he and Bully had something to handle real soon.

Hearing cheers coming from the living room, Dave assumed that Naala had broken the news of the 'sleepover' Sinai was going to have.

He walked into the living room and saw Sinai jumping up and down - he thought it was a mixture of a sugar rush from all those cookies and genuine excitement.

"Naala baby don't rush by to pick her up tomorrow - we can have a pamper day right 'Nai?" Sonia said looking down at the chocolate coloured beauty. Sinai's face gleamed with excitement and happiness.

Naala chuckled and bent down to Sinai's level, "Listen here Ms Lady, you are gonna be good for your Grandma, you here?"

"Aht Aht, her Glamma!" Ms Sonia sang while bumping hips with Sinai. Naala let out a small laugh and stood up straight,"Thanks so much Mama, I wrote my number down for you - her inhaler is in the bag and her hair products because she is one wild sleeper." Naala said while helping Sinai take off her shoes and put on her little booties.

"Girl, don't be worrying your little head about this one - go and enjoy yourself tonight, " She said loud enough for Dave to hear, making his head swell with jealousy thinking about all the niggas that would be all up on his girl.

"And I heard what was going on in the kitchen, that boy loves you that's why he's acting up, tomorrow we gone have a long talk baby." Sonia whispered ever so delicately in Naala's ear.

Dave watched the both of them and spotted Naala giving him a look he couldn't make out - he made a mental note to ask her about it later on.

As they pulled away the front door swung open and in walked Dave's younger sister, Chanel.

Dressed in a cute little white romper and a pair of sneakers, a frustrated Chanel came strutting through the living room.

Sinai clung to her mother at the look of her harsh face. Dave looked at his sister with an irritated mug on his face because of how tight her outfit was.

Sonia just looked at her because this wasn't nothing she had seen before.

"Mama who's car is that parked in my space? You always be letting people up in this house." Chanel said rudely while tapping on her phone.

She was yet to look up and see who was standing before her.

"Why you got that tight shit on? Looking too grown Chanel, don't get beat the fuck up!" Dave said harshly, eyeing his sister up and down.

"Boy what have I told you about all that swearing in my house! And in front of my grand baby, you don' lost ya mind." Sonia shouted out causing Chanel's head to snap up.

"Grandbaby?!" She said, it was only then that she spotted Naala and Sinai standing in her living room.

Chanel used to look up to Naala and always wanted to be around her. She was devastated when her brother moved away and Naala disappeared off the face of the earth.

Chanel had to look twice before she realised it was even Naala.

"Omg, Lala!!! Where have you been? Are you telling me this is my niecey poo?" Chanel said dramatically while taking in how precious Sinai looked.

Chanel looked at Sinai and instantly saw her brother's face - they wore the same mug and even had the same faint chin dimple that ran in the Brewster family.

As she came to a realisation, her happiness turned to anger.

"Wait, are you trying to tell me that this is my brother's daughter? If so, Lala you wrong as hell!" Chanel was getting ready to fuss at Naala before her mother stepped in.

Naala still stood awkwardly next to Dave and Sinai hoping that the floor would swallow her whole.

"Chanel don't come here with allat that mess!". Sonia fussed at her daughter as she knew that Naala was already a sensitive girl and Chanel coming in there shouting at her won't help the situation.

"Chanel I can explain —" Naala said in a quiet voice that might as well have been a whisper.

"Nah you ain't gotta explain yourself to her Love, she needs to explain what the hell she has on" Dave said cutting Naala off.

Naala was glad because that took the attention away from her and Sinai and onto what Chanel was wearing.

"David just shut up! How you telling her she ain't gotta 'explain herself', yes the fuck she does!" Chanel shouted. She felt betrayed - she saw Naala as a sister and the fact that she hid such a thing was hurting her.

"Look Chanel, me and you can talk about this, please - I want to —". Naala wanted to tell Chanel everything, she knew she was wrong and now was the time to come clean about everything.

Dave gave her a questionable look and Sinai just stood there confused.

"Come on baby let's go get you some more of this cookies - Dave leave the girl alone she will be fine."

Sonia gestures to Dave go follow her as he still stood protectively next to Naala. Dave grabbed his daughter's hand and led her into the kitchen not before shooting Naala a reassuring glance.

As he walked away, he realised how much he cared for Naala - that was his first love.

"Lala are you being serious right now?! We have lived in the same city for 4 years and you didn't think to tell me I have a NIECE. I expected more from you Naala —".

Naala snapped out of her thoughts and faced a furious Chanel. No words came out of Naala's mouth as she thought about what Chanel had said.

She had no excuse to keep Sinai from them - her problem was with Dave.

"I know Chanel, I'm sorry, I was going through a lot and I thought that was the best thing to do. I'm not saying what I did was right but you really don't know what I was dealing with Chanel."

"I was 18, alone and pregnant, the father of my child was finally fulfilling his dreams - why would I come between that? You won't understand until you're a mother but I couldn't let my daughter see me depressed so I had to pull myself up and get my life together and the only way I could do that was by putting my past life behind me."

Naala let out a breathe she didn't know she was holding. She hasn't even told Dave about how hard times were but here she was spilling her guts to his sister.

Chanel's face softened as she looked at the broken woman in front of her. The Naala she knew was a bubbly, fun and excited girl who was always up for a good time - the person that stood in front of her was a shadow of Naala's former self.

"But Lala I could of been there for you - it hurts me to know you went through all of that alone." Chanel's eyes began to water while she looked at Naala.

She was beginning to regret the way she came at her when she walked in.

"I know 'Nel but I was in a very dark place, I had to figure it out on my own. My dad and my sister were really my saving grace. I'm good now and Sinai would love to meet you properly," Naala chuckled to ease the sadness out of the room.

Chanel's face lit up at the idea of having a niece. She was excited to get to know her but also happy to have her sister back. Chanel grabbed Naala and pulled her into the biggest hug,

"I missed you big sis, you not allowed to disappear again!" She warned with a gentle smile on her face. Naala returned the hug and held out her pinky for Chanel,

"I promise I'm not going anywhere 'Nel." She said while locking their pinkies together. They linked arms and went hand in hand to where the rest of the family were waiting.

—————————————————————-

Naala sat at her vanity finishing up her makeup. She was jamming to some City Girls;

"All these niggas wanna fuck JT (they do)

Hellcat, this a SRT (skrrt, skrrt)

Pull up, G-Wag' 63 (ow)

Make a fifty-five suck they teeth

He wanna ménage with a nеw body (ow)

Man, you niggas can't fuck with me

'Cause I came from thе bottom (yeah)

From the feds to the charter (yeah)

Broke bitches ain't sayin' a thing, period (yeah)"

Naala sang every word lyric for lyric - she swore up and down that JT was her spirit animal. She fluffed her hair and stared at herself in the mirror, she promised Mama Sonia that she will enjoy herself tonight and that's exactly what she will do.

Her phone buzzed and she saw it was Taina,

"Bitch, I'm outsideeee - come get me you know this driveway gives me the creeps!" Taina's voice rang loudly through the phone. Naala laughed and grabbed her silk robe and went to the door.

"Hey Nana you look good girl!"

"Thank you baby, I'm getting me a man tonight!"

Taina is the definition of a bad bitch. She was always dressed ready to impress and she made sure she was seen at all time. She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and looked at her best friend.

"Lala you so slow man, go put your clothes on before we have to wait in some long ass line."

"I knew you were gonna say that - I'm goingggg" Naala said as she skipped back towards her room.

Taina picked up on her friend's chipper attitude and could tell she was in much better spirits. She was glad as when Naala was down, everyone felt it.

"Nana come help me please!" Naala shouted from the room,

Naala was fiddling with the zip but the corset was making it hard to breathe so she was really struggling,

"Let me do it before you break your hand," Taina said whilst doing the corset up.