TWO MONTHS LATER...

Christmas was finally here and the house was semi packed. Most people liked to show up fashionably late so the house was not yet full. Some members of Braelyn's and Takashi's family were here, so people were spread out all over the house.

A lot of the men from both sides of the family were drinking beers and talking while some of the women were helping Braelyn to cook and finish setting up the last of the decorations. Christmas jingles played softly from the speaker set as laughter and chatter gave the place a nice homey feel.

It was the first time there were this many people at his house and for once Takashi had to say he was regretting it. He made sure to keep his and Brielle's bedroom doors locked. One place he didn't want anyone was in their bedrooms. Especially because there were a bunch of little kids and if anything broke he would be pissed.

Braelyn stood on a small ladder, trying to tape some Christmas lights in the upper corner on the wall. She had on a Christmas themed dress which was bright red. The material was thin but reached her ankles perfectly. She had on the red Santa Claus Christmas hat with the white puff ball on the end.

Brielle looked lost as she just sat between some of the older folks who were basically slobbering her down in kisses. Takashi just stood in the middle of the living room wondering what time everyone was gonna go home. He peeked at his watch and made a mental note to call Toryn and his mother and see what time they were coming. He didn't want to harass them since he had called four times in the last hour already. So he told himself he would give it some time.

Instead he walked over to Braelyn, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Get down Brae I don't want you to hurt, yourself I'll do it."

"It's okay honey, I got it." She said managing to stick on the clear piece of tape over the lights.

"Okay." He said, walking off. He didn't get far as a loud voice pierced his ears.

"Oh gosh! Tyrone bai is yuh dat get so big?"

Takashi turned around to see his grandmother from his father's side, Mildred. He knew how crazy rude and cold it sounded to say but he was honestly shocked she was alive this long. She must have been about 88. She did move like she was in her sixties, though. Florence couldn't make it as usual, but Takashi wasn't sweating it. They talked on the phone earlier.

"Hello grandma, and it's Takashi."

"Ty'lee?"

"Takashi."

"Tyrese?" She said, sticking her head further in.

He just hugged her, "How are you?"

"I doing fine bai...eh eh look how you get ya likkle house and ting. Dat's real nice yuh know...that's good, yuh must be big mon and take care ah yuhself. So how yuh madda doing?"

"She's good, she's on her way." Takashi was pretty sure she was informed of Laura's brain tumor. His father must have told her, but if she did know she didn't bring it up.

"Me hear yuh get pickney, fi true?"

"Yeah," He smiled, looking around. He spotted Brielle between a bunch of old women looking like she wanted to cry. Takashi went over and before he could even politely excuse Brielle from the group, she jumped on him, holding on tight.

Takashi went back over to his grandmother and tapped her shoulder, "Bri baby I want you to look at your great grandma."

Brielle peeked but didn't move too much. The old lady looked at the child then at her grandson like he was fresh out of the nuthouse. Then she laughed out loud. "Bai, if yuh tink dat pickney fi yuh, you's one shuppdy. Yuh don't see di baby clean skin and softy soft hair? Di baby White like snow. Dat not fuh yuh pickney."

Tyrell happened to near by and snatched their grandma up, shaking his head. "Grandma aunt Clancy is calling you."

Takashi couldn't hide the annoyance on his face if he wanted too. It was an old woman and his grandmother nevertheless so he bit his tongue. He was starting to feel stupid. Mostly because he felt it was also disrespectful to Brielle. She mightn't have even understood what was going on, but still it was rude and he didn't like people talking about his baby girl.

"Chill out man, that's our grandma." Tyrell said seeing the look in his eyes. He was much closer to Mildred then Takashi so even though she was making ignorant comments he couldn't allow his cousin to turn up on her.

Takashi just took a deep inhale and gave Tyrell dap. Tyrell smiled, looking at Brielle. Unlike most people he believed Brielle was actually Takashi's. She did look nothing like him honestly, but he couldn't see Takashi's little nun type wife getting her back blown out by another man while being in a relationship. She was just too pure for that kind of stuff.

"Aye," Tyrell cooed, sticking his hands out for Brielle. She just stared at him in return so he went into his pocket and pulled out two pieces of toffee. He heard it was her favorite candy. Brielle suddenly perked up, not even looking at her dad for permission before leaping into Tyrell's arms. He laughed and handed the little girl the candy.

"Thanks for coming man, imma be chilling wit' you the whole night 'cause most of these people annoying me." Takashi informed.

He saw some more people walk through the door and smirked to himself when he saw it was Braelyn's parents. He'd definitely give Henry his apology because he didn't even care anymore at this point. He wouldn't mean the apology, but just to have some respect for his elders and Braelyn he'd do it.

Takashi noticed Braelyn notice them as well because she came flying off the ladder before lifting her dress so she wouldn't trip on it, as she went to go greet her parents.

Tyrell had walked off to go introduce Brielle to some of the other little kids. Takashi went into a corner deciding to call his mom. The phone rang all of three times before she answered it. "Yes Takashi." She said in an annoyed, playful voice.

"Ya'll left?"

"We're five minutes away." Laura informed him.

Takashi smiled so hard his cheeks began instantly hurting, "Forreal?"

"Forreal." Laura informed with a small laugh. She didn't want to tell him Samir was coming over.

Toryn had asked Laura permission instead knowing Takashi couldn't blow up on his own mother. Laura felt like the drama between he and Samir was silly. The court issue was settled already and they were grown men. Takashi was married and had his own life and Toryn was dating and had her own life. She felt like it was Christmas so now was as good a time as any to put the drama aside and bury everything. Maybe he and Samir could become the best of friends after this.

"Cool, Toryn with you right?"

"Yes Tee she's with me."

"Okay, cool. I'll see you guys just now." Takashi ended the call and began walking around. He was stopped a few times to be complimented on his house and family.

Takashi entered the kitchen and saw Braelyn and her parents. He really wasn't planning on speaking to Henry as soon as they walked through the door, but he obviously couldn't escape it now. Braelyn was obviously terrified as she stood there. Last time her father had leaped over the table trying to kill him. She had never seen her father act like that and even though he did deserve an apology she was scared to have them talk.

"Carmen..." Takashi said with a big smile.

"Hello Takashi." She said with an apparent attitude in her voice.

"Thank you for coming." He said.

"Well I am here for my daughter and granddaughter." The older woman said letting it be known she would be nowhere over here if her two darlings weren't.

Takashi looked at Henry, and couldn't help the even bigger smile that came onto his face. "Good evening, Henry. I know I'm the last person you want to see right now and I understand that. I don't know what came over me that night; but I'm not like that and what I said was beyond disrespectful and I apologize to you as a man and as your son in law. I love Braelyn and she deserves the upmost respect. So I hope we can put this behind us and move forward." Takashi said. The only thing on his mind though was the look on his face when he told him, he was Braelyn's daddy. He knew Henry probably couldn't stop thinking about it after that and Takashi was secretly enthralled by it.

Henry just looked away from him and toward his daughter, taking his coat off. "Where's Brielle?"

Braelyn gave him a small pout. "Daddy," she mumbled quietly. Even if he didn't mean it, she wanted him to accept the apology. She couldn't deal with all this bad energy. She wasn't that kind of person.

"It's okay Brae, I understand." Takashi said kissing her cheek. He looked at Henry and smirked before leaving them in the kitchen to finish speaking.

When Takashi came out, the place seemed to be even more packed. Some of his coworkers had shown up and he even noticed some of Braelyn's coworkers. He hoped everyone cooked enough food for everyone because it looked like there were more mouths to feed then anticipated.

"Tee!" Takashi walked into his living room and was greeted by John. He saw some of his other friends from college and work.

His coworker Nate was here having a conversation with Tyrell that was most likely suspect. And Chris was watching his girlfriend hard as hell as she spoke to another group of people that consisted of mostly men. Takashi was just about to pull his phone out again to check on Laura and Toryn when he saw both of them.

Takashi smiled hard as hell and almost ran over. He interrupted his mother's conversation she was having with her boyfriend Lance. Takashi was surprised since he never came out. He was a burly and bald muscular dude. He almost reminded him of that guy from Baby Boy the main character's mother was dating.

"Hey Lance."

"What's going on. I hope you don't mind me being here." He said.

"Nah not at all." Takashi said, turning to Laura as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. "You don't know how to tell me you got here ma."

"I was going to look for you eventually." Laura said.

"Yeah okay, and where's the rest of your dress?" He asked as if it wasn't almost similar to Braelyn's. The only difference was even Laura's dress wasn't so long. It was a little past her knees with some three inch heels.

Lance laughed as Laura rolled her eyes. "Don't worry younging. I got my eyes on her."

Takashi nodded his head and found Toryn not too far off, talking to some older male relatives of his. He could see most of them were already tipsy and the lust in their eyes were bothering him. He approached and stood beside Toryn. He didn't recognize most of them so they were either for Braelyn or distant relatives from his father's side.

"You're so pretty." One of the men remarked with a slight Caribbean accent.

Takashi assumed they must have been from his father's side. Most of his family members on that side came from the West Indies. "And young enough to be your daughter too. So please stop talking to her." Takashi remarked.

"Takashi!" Toryn said smacking his arm like he was crazy.

"Is yuh woman dis?"

Takashi just cut his eyes at the man and dragged Toryn off until she pulled away from him. They had no privacy in the packed house but he could more hear her from where they were standing near the television and away from the super large crowds.

He glanced at Toryn who had obviously gotten comfortable rather quickly. Just like his mother her jacket was already off, showing off her tight form fitting Chiffon dress. It showed every curve on her slim body, with a deep V cut. Her hair was curled and red lipstick complimented her red heels and made her electric blue dress more alluring.

"The fuck the rest of your clothes at?" He asked not liking the way her breasts pushed out at the top. She made his mother's dress look like it came out of someone's grandmother's closet.

"Takashi bye, you need to cut it out. I know your drunk because you act like an ass when your drunk. Goodbye."

Toryn didn't even get to turn before Takashi yanked her back. "Nobody is drunk, and watch ya mouth. I'm just asking why you dressed like that. You look crazy."

Toryn yanked her arm back, "Well let me look crazy, my man don't think I do. I sent him a picture and he said I look amazing."

Takashi's nostrils flared and a little vein revealed itself at the side of his head. "You tryna get me mad?"

Toryn folded her arms, now amused by his craziness. "I'm trying to get you mad? Get you mad for what? What would you be mad about?"

"I told you stop talking about that nigga when you around me."

Toryn laughed. "You can't control my mouth."

Takashi gripped her face without thinking, pulling her so hard she automatically came up on her tiptoes, his teeth clenched like a Rottweiler. Quickly catching himself he let go, running a hand down his mouth and looking around to see if anyone was watching, which they weren't.

"Yeah let them see how crazy you are. What's the matter with you? I just walked through the door and your trying to argue with me." Toryn said.

"Nobody tryna argue. You the one with the attitude."

"I don't have an attitude and even if I did I deserve to have one. You hung the phone up on me a couple weeks ago. I remember because I wrote it down in the notes in my phone and been waiting to tell your rude ass about it."

"Yeah because you asking me dumb shit."

Toryn narrowed her eyes. "What? If my boyfriend could come? You told me you would accept him."

Takashi sucked his teeth, "That don't mean at my house. I accepted you being with him. That don't mean I want your bitch around me."

Toryn rolled her eyes, done with his disrespect. She walked away and Takashi watched her the whole time. He noticed a few people staring at him including Tyrell, Chris and most of the older people.

Takashi ignored them and followed Toryn over to where she was, taking some food out. She was honestly a little upset for her own reasons. Samir had called and let her know he wouldn't be able to make it. He opted to have Christmas with his own family. When Toryn asked to swing by later on, he told her that it wouldn't be a good idea.

Before Takashi could even open his mouth to say something to Toryn, Chris pulled him away, laughing. "Man you need to chill, people looking at your ass crazy. Get out that girl face."

"What? I'm just asking her how her day was." Takashi said.

They continued to talk for a while with Takashi trying to plead his case. After he was done he found Toryn sitting on the couch eating. He went and sat next to her. She glanced at him and rolled her eyes.

"Chill out, I just came to chill with you. I like your hair." He smirked, gently putting a lock of her hair behind her ear.

Toryn rolled her eyes. "Taka bye."

He smiled, watching her eat. "Don't you have something to do?"

"I'm doing it." He said continuing to stare at her.

Toryn hid her blush, he was super annoying sometimes.

Braelyn stood by the staircase, watching Takashi and Toryn sitting on the couch. Every few minutes Takashi seemed to be touching her or playing with her hair. Braelyn felt a little embarrassed, because other people were staring and whispering. She was just hoping her parents didn't see where ever they were.

Going up the stairs, Brielle cried in her mother's arms. Braelyn had pulled her away from all the other little kids to shower her. She was the only one who hadn't had her bath and changed yet. But she was having too much fun to want to go. Braelyn unlocked Brielle's door with the key Takashi placed on the shelf in the hallway closet.

She stripped Brielle in their and got her a towel, taking her to the bathroom. She gave her a quick showering knowing she was eager to go back down and play with her relatives. Braelyn took her to her own bedroom and got her dressed in their. Brielle was trying to put on her own dress because she liked to be independent.

Braelyn sat on the edge of her bed, texting her girls. They were suppose to be coming but they were running late. The only one that was here so far was Isabelle.

Braelyn: Will you still be bringing the potato salad? 7:03PM

Becca: Yes. Paul and I are stuck in traffic however...I am of the tight, as the kids say. 7:04PM

Braelyn narrowed her eyes.

Braelyn: Tight? Does your stomach hurt? I have Tylenol if you want when you arrive. 7:04PM

"Mommy I done." Brielle said, showing she actually got the dress on properly.

Braelyn glanced at her and smiled. "You look beautiful baby, you can go back downstairs. Hold on to the rail while you go down, okay?"

"Okay mommy."

Becca: Oh, is that what tight means? I thought that was what the kids say when their upset about something. Nah mean? 7:05PM

Braelyn put a hand on her chest. She wasn't mean and never had been, her parents raised her better than to be rude to people.

Braelyn: You think I'm mean Becca? 7:05PM

Becca: No, I think your a wonderful person Braelyn! 7:07PM

Braelyn smiled.

Braelyn: I think you're wonderful too Becca. I'm glad we're friends. 7:07PM

Braelyn got up and went over to the mirror. She glanced at herself, admiring her looks. She felt she was fairly attractive. She had nice pink pouty lips and nice brown eyes. Her lashes weren't super long but they were thick and people always complimented her on how well she spoke. Braelyn blew out a breath, smoothing out her bun.

She gasped when she felt hands wrap around her. Takashi kissed on her neck, holding her waist. "What you doing?" He mumbled. She had been missing for a while and he came to check on her.

"You scared me," Braelyn said turning around in his arms. She glanced behind him to see their bedroom door closed. "I just gave Brielle her bath and sent her back downstairs. I was coming."

"Okay, Toryn's here."

"I know, I saw you guys talking. I didn't want to interrupt." Braelyn said giving him a small smile.

"Nah, she was asking for you." Takashi lied. He just wanted to kill that idea that anything was going on because he knew Braelyn already felt they were around each other too much. "Why don't you go talk to her."

"I will." Braelyn lied, she didn't know how to feel about Toryn. She didn't think too much about her at first but it was like every time she turned around she saw her. If Takashi wasn't at Laura's house talking to her, he was on the phone with her. And if he wasn't on the phone Toryn's name still carried over into their household.

Takashi looked down at her, he knew when something was wrong with her. "What's the matter Brae?"

"Nothing." She mumbled.