Nolan & Shaun in MM
(For those who didn't get to see them)

C H A P T E R
S I X

        Stepping out of the shower, Shaun grabbed his towel wrapping it around his waist. Stepping infront of the bathroom sink, he grabbed his tooth brush and tooth paste then started brushing his teeth getting ready for the day.

Today he was going to be meeting up with his dad, after having to flake due to work .. he was finally free and able to finally see what his dad had going on and needed to talk to him about.

Feeling arms wrap around his leg he looked down to see it was Nolan giving him a hug. "Whatchu doing up this early?" He asked spitting the toothpaste out his mouth.

"He woke up out his sleep laughing, your kid is weird." Alisha groaned walking into the restroom wiping her eyes.

"Weird like his daddy, ain't that right boy?" Nolan looked up at him and just smiled holding his arms up to be lifted.

"Bragging about being weird like that's cool?.. okay."

Looking down at Nolan, he shook his head. "Yo momma a hater man, that's all she do is hate."

Playfully rolling her eyes, she went to lean in for a kiss but Shaun held his hand up stopping her, "I just brushed my teeth and yo shit smelling like who tha fuck did it .. better back up Alisha."

Hitting his arm she laughed then blew her breath in his face. Covering his nose he pushed her away. "Forreal Alisha, do something bout that shit and being childish dude,"

Giggling to herself she bent down pinching Nolan cheeks, finding it cute how he just holds onto Shaun's leg and watches his every move in the morning, its something he does almost everyday.

Walking towards the toilet, she lifted her oversize t-shirt and pulled down her underwear before taking a seat and releasing her urine letting a wave of relief come over her body. "So you know..Marquette's little league game is tomorrow then Cali and Ahmad are having a sleep over with a few of his friends from school and his team and Adrian wants Nolan to attend along with Tyler so tomorrow we will have the whole house to ourselves and you know what that means.." She smirked wiping herself.

Shaun lifted Nolan then sat him on the counter beforr he looked over at her smirking as the thought of what they could finally have time to do ran through his mind.

"More sleep," They said in unison followed by a laugh.

"A whole night just to sleep our night away with no interruptions .. I'm ready for it." Alisha said while washing her hands and getting ready to brush her teeth.

The two of them loved their baby boy to death but those midnight and two in the morning cries for bottles and diaper changing did work their nerves and cut into their sleeping time. And with him being sick he was always waking up due to him not feeling well but he was slowly getting better now and they were now trying to get him on a sleeping schedule.

After washing her hands, and brushing her teeth ..she just stood and watched as Shaun played with Nolan pinching his cheeks and poked at his belly which caused him to erupt into a fit of giggles that they found so adorable.

Nolan was a very happy baby despite all the things he has been through in only a year of living. His immune system is very weak which is part of the reason why he is sick now and also the reason for all the other times he has gotten sick, so it was lots of trips to the hospital for them but they hoped as he got older that his immune system would get stronger as well.

"Have you talked to your dad?" Alisha questioned while wiping off the counter cleaning up the water that had splattered.

"Yeah he called me while you and him were asleep and said we could come over whenever and that he made breakfast." Alisha nodded grabbing Nolan.

"Well let me get us dressed so we can head on out then head over to Cali's to check up on Imani and that whole situation." When she went to walk off, Shaun grabbed her arm then bent down to kiss her lips.

Pecking her lips a few times, he eventually let go of her then smacked her on the ass making her blush.

Once they were all dressed and ready to go, Shaun went ahead and started the car and put Nolan in his carseat while Alisha made a small bag full of snacks for Nolan to eat on since she wasn't sure how long they'd be over there.

Making sure the house is locked up and everything was shut off, Alisha left out the house power walking to the car and getting in. "I made sure everything was off including tvs, and flat irons but I left the porch light since I'm not sure when we'll make it back home."

"Alright,"

Pulling out of their driveway, Alisha grabbed onto Shaun's free hand rubbing her fingers over his knuckles. "I talked to Cali about my deal and she suggested that I call and ask if I could work from home so I did and they were all for it! They told me they would make a few trips down here to see how things are going and they would send four of their designers to come stay in a hotel and work with me everyday so I don't have to ever leave and be away from you guys."

Shaun smiled, "That's good baby, bald headed ass was stressing for nothing."

"Whatever but um its something else I need to talk to you about.. and its part of the reason why I was so against leaving you guys." She mumbled.

Glancing over at her, he looked in the rearview mirror to see Nolan had already dozed off before looking back at the road. "You think you're pregnant?"

Frowning, she looked at him weirdly. "How did you know?"

Chuckling to himself, he pressed the brake as they approached a red light. "Because I know you, its been almost two months since you last had your cycle .. and how I know is because you haven't complained about the cramps or sent me on runs to the store to get ice cream or asked for me to cuddle with you and rub circles on your back .. I was just waiting for you to finally say something. That's why somedays I would monitor what you would eat and drink."

Smiling to herself she looked down, amazed at how well he knew her. "Well if I am ..how would you feel?"

"Good, how else would I feel? A child is always a blessing but when we get back home we will be taking a test just like we did last time and regardless of the outcome .. I'll be happy."

She nodded, "Okay,"

Arriving at his dads house, Shaun parked behind his work truck then got out while Alisha grabbed Nolan being sure not to wake him and feel on his face to see if he was running a fever again. Adjusting his jacket and hat, Alisha carried him up the porch steps watching Shaun use his personal house key to let them inside.

When he unlocked it, Shaun pushed open the door then let Alisha walk in first. "Pops where you at?" He called out closing and locking the door behind him.

At the sound of his voice, her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach as she stood at the sink knowing that he was now only a few feet away from her. Her hands began to sweat as she nervously messed with her hair and clothes to look a little presentable for when he would enter.

She wasn't sure what to expect or what reaction she may get from him but she hoped he would at least let her explain herself.

"I'm coming, give me a second." He heard his dad call back but he wasn't sure where his voice exactly came from.

Sniffing the air, the smell of bacon and butter biscuits filled his nostrils. Helping Alisha out of her jacket, he hung it on the coat rack doing the same with his and Nolan's before heading towards the kitchen.

"Smells good as hell, pops through down in the kitchen." He said rubbing his hands together like birdman.

When he finally looked up he locked eyes with a woman who was already staring. "...and who tha fuck are you?" He asked harshly knowing exactly who this person was.

"Shaun.." Alisha whispered hitting his arm from being so rude. Alisha started to walk towards the woman to greet her but Shaun stopped her not once breaking eye contact.

Her eyes said it all, it let him know exactly who they belonged too ..they were the same eyes he remembers staring into the day she walked out of his life and left him and his dad to fiend for themselves. They were the eyes of his mother, the same mother he grew to hate when she never returned like she promised.. the same woman who always made him ask why didn't she want him, and he was honestly confused as to why she was here cooking like this was her house.

Before she could reply, or give an explanation his dad entered the kitchen with a cane. "Well..I see you guys have already seen each other," He mumbled.

"Yo pops, tha fuck is she doing here?"

Touching his shoulder, his dad let out a sigh. "That's what I needed to talk to you about."

Shaun jerked away, "Nah, I don't wanna hear a got damn thang and I ain't got shit to say to that bitch! Fuck her!" Grabbing his son from Alisha, he began walking towards the front door. "Alisha grab our coats and come on, I'm not finna sit here and listen to this bullshit." He yelled which immediately woke Nolan up scaring him.

"Shaun wait," His dad said trying to stop him from leaving since it was alot he needed to explain to him.

Following behind them outside, he told his mom to stay back while he chased after his son. "Can you please listen to me for a second son? I can explain all of this."

"What is there to explain? You got that bitch who broke us up in our house like she ain't don' shit! Fuck her, nothing and I mean nothing can justify why she left her us or justify why she is here now after all these years." He yelled out of anger and hurt.

Alisha took Nolan from Shaun since she knew all the yelling Shaun was doing was only scaring him and causing him to cry louder. "Shh, its alright baby. Stop crying," She soothed rocking him and he soon calmed down.

Placing him in his carseat, she buckled him up then walked over to Shaun tugging on his arm. Looking down at her as his chest heaved up and down rapidly, she could see the pain and hurt in his eyes, "We can go home okay? Let's just go before you do something stupid." She whispered wanting him to calm down.

Taking a second glance at his dad, he shook his head before walking to the driver side opening the door.

When his dad saw there was no way to stop him, he knew he had to think quick because he had alot to explain to him about everything, so he knew he just had to blurt it out and force him to listen.. "I'm sick son," He yelled out causing Shaun to stop dead in his tracks.

Looking up at his dad, his dad looked down. "That's what I wanted to discuss with you about .. I'm sick.. I have Lupus .. I got diagnosed sometime last year." He mumbled.

Walking away from his car, he walked over to his dad. "Why you just now saying something? You know I would have been here for you."

"When I was diagnosed, Nolan was just born .. you were so excited to be a dad and I didn't want to bring your mood down and I didn't want to worry you but I felt you needed to know since it is getting worse for me."

"Worse how?"

"I'm always in pain, some days I can't even get myself out of bed properly .. some days I can't walk, I had to quit my job and I'm living off a disablity check from the government now .. I wanted to tell you but you have your own life to focus on and a beautiful son to raise not having to look after your father everyday."

Shaun looked down, "That's why she's here huh? She's taking care of you?"

Nodding his head slowly, his dad looked away ashamed to make eye contact. "Yeah,"

After all the years that have passed, he still loved her. And when she returned back into his life three years ago they talked things out and worked through their issues. He never mentioned it to Shaun because he knew how Shaun would react but he also knew that since she just moved back in to help him around the house, he couldn't keep it a secret too much longer.

Laughing to himself, Shaun just shook his head. "Pops, I hate you gotta go through this ..hell it breaks my heart you out here sick and suffering like this because for everything you have ever done for me, you don't deserve it. But it still makes me feel some type of way that you couldn't even tell me about this but she got to know before I do and it hurts that all this time you been hiding this from me! Despite what was going on at the time, I still deserved to know. I could have helped you and did my duty as your son which was to be there for you just like you were there for me growing up through whatever, but you never even gave me a chance to do so!"

"What if something would have happened to you? What if you would have gotten too sick and died? I would have not known anything and I would have been out here on my own cause you're the only parent I have! She gave birth to me but she ain't no mother of mine and she never will be! You all I got man, and you know that." Shaun yelled getting emotional.

Feeling his eyes burn his dad went to reach out for him but Shaun stepped back holding his hands up. Walking towards his car, he got in needing to leave and clear his head. Alisha walked over to Shaun's dad giving him a hug, "I'll talk to him, just give him time."

"Thank you,"

Pulling away, Alisha got in the car and Shaun wasted no time pulling out of the driveway leaving his dad standing there.

Watching his car drive off, he slowly walked back inside to see her standing by the door. "I'm sorry, I forgot he was coming over today .. I would have waited in the room." She said feeling bad that she may have caused a problem between them.

"He needed to know, he'll come around eventually."

He at least hoped he did..

Imani laid in her hospital bed watching Grease to pass time since there was nothing else for her to due to her having to rest and heal. She has yet to hear from Tristian which she was thankful for. She still couldn't believe what he had did, yeah he hit on her at times whenever he got angry but rape was something she never expected.

But within' the few days of her being here, she had a lot of time to just think. She thought about everything from when she was happy with life until this very moment and she was willing to change for the better to help herself.

It was a lot of things that she had got herself into that no one knew about such as drugs, cocaine the main one to help cope with the depression and pain. Tristian introduced her to the killer drug and from that first high, she had fell in love with the feeling it gave her.

She felt free, she felt relaxed, and calm even though she knew it was only in her head .. she got addicted to feeling that way and with any chance she got, she went in search to find that feeling again.

She noticed her weight lost, she noticed the dark rings under her eyes that was forming. She saw the changes in physical and emotional appearance and she knew she had somethings to do to get better and healthier but she wanted to do it alone. She already felt like a burden on everybody, so she just wanted to disappear for a few months to a rehab and come back as whole new and better person than before.

The sound of her door opening caught her attention, she reverted her attention towards it to see it was Tristians older brother. A wave of different emotions flooded through her body when she saw him. She wasn't exactly sure how to feel, she was thankful for what he had done .. but that was it. She was only thankful..

"Why are you here?"

"Look, I'm not here on no slick shit, I ran into ya boy at ya apartment when I came by to check on you .. and he told me you was here." Slowly nodding her head, she awkwardly looked around before motioning to a seat for him to sit down.

"Oh well um, hi—I guess."

"What's up?" He greeted taking a seat while taking how her room looked.

Things got quiet between the two and they would occasionally look each others way but said nothing. Imani really wasn't sure what to say but she didn't want to be rude either. "Uh—um t-thank you for helping me and coming up here to check on me .. you really didn't have too." She mumbled.

"I did though, I mean regardless of who Tristian may be to me brother or not .. what he did was dead ass wrong and I'm not the type of nigga that condones that type of shit especially in my house where I pay the bills." He replied.

"Right—well ...again thank you,"

"You're welcome, how you feeling though?"

She shrugged, "How any girl would feel after being raped I guess.. I'm trying not to feel anything though."

"Why?" He wasn't trying to pry, he was just concerned.

"...Before this incident .. I went through a lot of things and I became very depressed and Tristian was like my breath of fresh air from my shitty life .. he was so sweet and caring. He made me feel special, I felt worthy again for once and then it was like overnight he changed, the physical and mental abuse came and I didn't know how to leave but I never thought he could be so evil and allow them to do that to me .. and I'm really just tired of feeling sorry for myself. This isn't me, I used to be like the happiest person alive now I just feel dead inside."

"I'm twenty years old almost twenty one and for the past two years of my life .. I have been miserable .. and I'm tired of feeling like this."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that and whatever else you went through."

"Yeah but—" Wiping her eyes, she smiled. "Once I leave here, I'm leaving town for a while to figure myself and life out .. to figure out my purpose in this world."

"That's good, glad to hear that ..but look if you want to press charges and send my brother and friends to jail for what they did ..  I'll help you and come forward as a witness or whatever .. I'm not real sure how it all goes but I'm down to help."

Looking over at him, she just stared. "Why are you being so nice?" She questioned with a hint of  attitude laced in her voice.

It wasn't that she didn't appreicate what all he has done for her, and was willing to do but at the end of day Tristian was his brother and she knew his loyalty would always be towards him.

She wasn't too clear if her trust towards people were making her paranoid or what but she needed answers.

"I didn't know being a decent human being was a problem."

"It's not but come on this—" She motioned her hands between them,  "..is alittle suspect .. you and I have never spoke before, you have saw me probably a million times and always walked straight passed me not uttering a word. Now all of a sudden you're captain save a how and acting like we're the best of friends."

"I'm not acting like we're anything, I just came to make sure you was good and to let you know I was down to help you lock them away," Standing to his feet, he shook his head. "...But if that's just too much for you then I'll just go. Sorry if I bothered you."

He stood there for a minute and when Imani didn't make any sudden movement or noise, he shrugged and left out of the room leaving her alone.

She wanted to believe he was being geniune with his actions, but she didn't want to take any chances. All she needed right now was Twan, Ahmad and Ahmad's family.

But all she really wanted was her bestfriend back, if she could just spend one more day with her, just to vent and apologize for everything she would be alright, but sadly she knew that wasn't reality so at times she wondered if she would ever be alright.

        "Pass me that detangler spray please Ms.