Naomi Black

Two Hundred and Six Days.

Six Months and Twenty Three Days.

Four thousand nine hundred forty-four hours.

Two hundred ninety-six thousand six hundred forty minutes.

Seventeen million seven hundred ninety-eight thousand and four hundred seconds.

It took six months to begin my happy ending with Matti.

However, it took nineteen years, six thousand nine hundred and thirty-five days of suffering to find happiness.

I don't know much about where life will take me from here on out, but what I do know is that being a mother is what I was made to do. I was made to give someone a happy ending from the beginning.

Something I never had, but I always wanted.

I gripped the paper in my fingers, tracing over the words my mind had to repeat for the last hour. Waking up in the early morning was something that I would have to get used to now. Funnily enough, I know went to bed earlier so I barely saw the moon—but I always woke up to see the moon saying goodbye.

It was almost as if mom was saying that I had made it.

I had approached destiny, and she was just now going to watch from afar.

Dear Naomi,

We hadn't had many heads up about you. We were so young, so naïve—we didn't lay the consequences out on the table. You should be reading this on your wedding day or while you're waiting to become a mother. Whichever one comes first it doesn't matter. I have no room to judge.

I would always wonder what my life would be like if my addiction wouldn't be eating me alive.

Would I be able to get an actual job to support us? Would I be able to give you a Christmas with a real Christmas tree? Would I have to stop relying on the moon to provide you with a night light?

I sit here just merely twenty years old. You just turned one and I can't express how sorry I am. I'm sorry for truly not giving you everything you deserved. I believe that I should've put you up for an adoptive family, but my selfish heart told me no.

Your heart every morning told me that it would be okay, we would be good.

This isn't going to be a letter bashing your father even if he did do all of the bashings. There isn't much to the story that I hopefully have already told you before I succumbed to the addiction that you weren't even strong enough to break for me.

I wish that I was selfish enough to of used your money to get me the help I needed for our family. But I know that deep down that I would just fall back into the lifestyle that I was currently living. I would get nowhere unless I was out of this place.

Naomi Jade, you are my little gem. You're my hidden treasure that the moonlight shines on.

I hope one day you achieve the dreams you have chased with a big smile on your face. I hope one day when you fall in love and have children, you tell them about me. About how I tried to fight my addiction to get better for you.

I hope they take it as a lesson as to why they shouldn't touch drugs.

I hope one day the man you fall in love with and marry is nothing like you lying, cheating, scumbag father.

I know I said no bashing but this moment doesn't count. I hope your grandparents have taught you every life lesson that is needed to live. I hope that you know how to do your own laundry. I hope you wake up with the biggest smile on your face every morning.

Because it is what someone like you deserves, Naomi.

You are going to reach the moon and the stars baby.

I love you more than you could ever imagine.

Love Mommy.

I placed the letter aside, but not before staring at my hands. My hands were touching the paper that my mom touched. She wrote me a letter trying to make sure I knew that she loved me.

I found comfort in the letter. But deep down I know how selfish she was. She knew she would lose her battle one day—this was her suicide note for me to read. It was selfish of her to not get the help.

If she would've gotten the help instead of writing me this letter she would be here now.

I cleared my throat, watching the window—curtains are drawn. Mom was saying goodbye.

My hand found its way to my stomach giving it a slow grab. "I'm never leaving you," I muttered as I try to piece my emotions back together.

My happy ending is here, but every fairytale ending has some sort of pain to it. My pain is what should've been. What I could've had.

I nearly jumped off of the couch when a hand laid on top of mine. "I'm never leaving you both," Matti's voice spoke from behind me. I gasped and then choked out a cough.

I turned my head, both our hands pulling from my stomach. "Mattison!" I whisper shouted at him as he chuckled. Instead of him responding to me, he walked towards the kitchen. I blew a kiss at mom before following the man that changed it all for me.

I tiptoed in, not wanting to wake the entire apartment.

Nothing could've ever prepared me for the scene I was about to encounter in the kitchen.

The gasp I made sounded like a murder had just been committed. But it wasn't a murder—it was still a crime.

"Matti," I warned his name. He froze—spoon in his mouth.

I let out an angry chuckle. "Put down my Coco Puffs," I ordered as he shrugged, digging in and taking another mouth full. "I don't know babe—I have to prepare myself for the baby. They might like all the sugar's I was never allowed to have as a kid. I think the main focus of our relationship should be different types of cereal!" He whispered with enthusiasm as he shoved in another mouthful.

My jaw hit the ground as I watched him annihilate the food product that he hated me for. The GMO-filled chocolate cereal goodness. It was making my stomach growl. Which meant it was time for the spawn inside of me to eat.

I quietly marched over to him, snatching the bowl out of his hands. However, as soon as the spoon was near my mouth—it was smack out of my hands and onto the sink, landing with a clink.

The bowl was no longer in my hands either, Matti's head was tilted back as he was chugging the cereal and milk from the side of the bowl.

I glared at him and since there was an open target, I smacked him right in the goods.

immediately I heard—no felt, the milk being sprayed around the kitchen as Matti gripped the bowl, bending over to grab his dick.

I snorted, covering my mouth. I was covered in milk, but that was totally worth it. I had to cross my legs over eachother, I was going to pee my pants.

"You're smacked me in the nuts," He quietly moaned out as I felt the tears of laughter coming out of my eyes. "Yes, don't fucking disrespect Coco Puffs like that and then decide to eat all of mine when I'm the pregnant one!" I exclaim as he lets out a chuckle.

And then soon enough, we're both on the ground in the kitchen—rolling around in milk, with laughter. The laughs are no longer contained, and we are being loud.

He reaches over, pulling a piece of my hair behind my ear. He gives me a smile, "Soon there will be a third person to laugh with." My heart tingles with the statement.

And god I couldn't wait for that moment. I know our baby's laugh would be the best sound in the world.

I started to cry tears of joy. Matti looked at me as if my one head had grew by multiple. "We're having a baby!" I state with excitement as he nods like crazy, pulling me into his lap.

"We need to shower," I looked at the clock on the over.

6:23 AM.

"Hold on, let me just take in this moment a second longer." He stops me as I pause, leaning into him. His heartbeat pulsating under my touch. "Matti," I spoke his name as he froze, looking down at me in his arms.

"Would you be upset if she actually was a girl? I know you said you would love one, but I know you have this dream of football—I just," I cut myself off biting my own lip. "I just want to make sure that she will be loved by her father the way that I wished my father had loved me." I trace signs on my stomach as I heard him inhale a breath.

It was silent but only for a moment.

"No matter what they are—I will love them more than I will have ever loved myself. When we hear that first cry, Naomi—I don't care what gender they may be. As long as we have a baby that is loved. I would love a son because it would be easier for me. But I would love a daughter because she would be exactly like you." He laughed.

I shook my head. "If we had a son though he would be the cockiest fucking toddler, you know that?" I asked with a giggle.

He got quiet again.

"Tell me about your childhood..." He leads off as I look down, biting my lip in fear.

"I mean if you aren't comfortable, that's fine. I just wanted to know if we were on the same parenting page," I nodded at his words.

I cleared my throat nodding. "Mom tried to do the best for me," I state while twirling my thumbs, my anxiety was through the roof. I felt his gaze on me.

"I didn't have a Christmas tree until I moved in with Merl and Lizzie. She would steal a random shrub every year for Christmas," I laughed as he raised his eyebrows in shock.

"Sometime's we didn't have money for Mimi to have food—when mom wasn't looking I would give her three-fourths of mine so I knew she wasn't hungry." I frowned, longing for the feline that had stuck beside me.

"We would often lose power, she just told me it was the moon telling me to go to bed—the moon would be my nightlight." I smiled at the memory.

And then I frowned. "She wasn't always the best mom but she tried for me. I was doing my project for the fifth grade science fair and she didn't show up." I reference as he nods waiting for me to continue—a frown on his face.

"So after school—I walked home, but she wasn't at our normal walking spot. So I went home–found her lying on her bedroom floor. I thought she was tired, so I covered her up. I was tired too so I took a nap next to her cold dead body." I grimaced, looking down.

All that was heard was our breathing.

It was a lot to take in—it was a conversation that we had yet to speak about. But it was the honest truth, and I hope he would accept me and my baggage knowing the extent of the damage.

"So when I knew my mom was getting high with her friends in our tiny mobile home—I would play Cinderella and Tangled. Both are fairytale happy endings. I had been obsessed with them, dreaming of them since I was a little girl. I wanted a better life." I reached for his hands while gazing over his jaw with my thumb.

"You're my better life–you're my happy ending." I give him a smile as I watch the tears pool near the rim of his eyes.

Matti Williams had so much compassion for a boy that had everything.

His hand came up, wiping the sides of his mouth. No words fell out of his mouth as he sat there. One teardrop slowly descended from his left eye, my hand swiping it out of the way.

He squeezed me tighter as I felt the lump that was growing in my throat grow larger.

"Matti, you're gonna make me cry," I warned as I felt him chuckle. He hummed, wiping the tears that fell out of his eyes.

It was radio silence for a couple of moments as we tried to regain our composure. "If it's a boy you already know he will get the special treatment from every place because he would be a draft pick out the womb. However, I want it to be a girl more than anything in this world–" He pauses, clearing his throat.

He was trying not to start crying again.

"More than anything in this world do I wish for it to be a girl because deep down I would find comfort in knowing that some part of you had a normal childhood." I frowned at his words as I placed a kiss on his lips.

"And damnit— we're going to get a cat for her." He declared as I let out a loud laugh.

"Because you know what—I fucking love Mimi. If you didn't have Mimi I wouldn't have comfort. Our child needs a Mimi." I nod in agreement.

If I hadn't had Mimi I don't think I would be living on this earth at this point in time. I think Mimi was my guardian angel. Sure there was mom, but Mimi made sure from the beginning that I was going to be okay.

I knew one day I would have to face the dreadful goodbye of hers, but I hope she would last until two more important days in my life.

The day my child is born and the day that I would get married to Mattison Williams.

After quickly cleaning up everything we took showers one by one. I had my hair up in a towel as I waited on my bed for Matti to come back out. When he did, I wasn't disappointed. Towel hanging off his lower waist—giving me a great sight to see. It didn't help the fact that his abs were glistening from the water— I let out a whistle as he flashed me a smirk.

Mimi hopped up on top of my bed, curling into my side. I cracked a smile as she sniffed my stomach. "What do you think the baby is?" I asked Mimi as she continued to stare at me, blinking slowly.

I heard Matti chuckle. He shrugged on his shirt, sadly. Then he threw on a pair of cloth shorts. "Dilf," I mumbled as he winked at me. He gasped, "Dilf? Did you just call me a dilf?" He teased as I chuckled.

I shrugged, "Maybe—maybe not, what are you going to do about it?" I threw a teasing grin at him as he walked closer to me. Before he could reach me, a bang appeared on the wall next to me.

"Hopefully nothing because Aunt Finn and Aunt Sloane don't want to hear mommy and daddy's moans this early in the morning!" I heard Finn yell from Sloane's room. Matti froze, looking down at me with a huge grin as I let out a loud round of laughter.

At this point—I couldn't care less. I had gone a long time with hearing my friends doing the dirty deed in the same room as me or in the same proximity. It was about time that I got loud and obnoxious payback.

I motioned for Matti to come closer to me as Mimi hopped off the bed. He leaned down and planted a kiss on my forehead. I sighed, "I'm horny," I complained he chuckled.

"Hi horny nice to meet you, I'm Matti." He pulled back from me holding his hand out for me to shake, but I just rolled my eyes. He let out a loud laugh at my reaction as I grabbed a throw pillow and hit him with it. His laughter grew with every hit.

He threw the pillow from my hands and leaned down to my stomach. "Hear this Bean? This is why daddy will always be your favorite because I don't beat mommy with pillows!" He emphasized as I giggled. He leaned down pulling the bottom of my shirt up, giving my stomach a kiss.

My stomach was bare now—no trace of a belly button piercing.

He laid down next to me on the bed, but his face was across from my stomach. My hand came down and rubbed his semi-damp hair as he laid his head on my stomach. "Daddy has to go talk to Uncle Coach—you know we have to make business plans if you're my son and you wanna play some ball," I tugged Matti's hair too hard and he let out a hiss.

I gave him a warning glance. He gave me a chuckle, "Sorry, daughter—I know you aren't playing football because you're a girl definitely not my son. Anyways—daddy has to go away for a couple of hours. I promise that I will make up for the time that was lost to both you and mommy." He places another kiss on my stomach before pulling down my shirt and crawling up to me.

I frowned, sticking out my bottom lip. "Do you have to go?" I ask as he sighs, hanging his head. "Yes, I'm sorry. I promise I will make it up to you," He reassures me as I nod.

"You better—or else I'll beat you up!" I warn as he snorts, throwing his head back.

"Don't you need to buy a step ladder to be able to do that?" He teased as my mouth drops open, his floods with laughter.

He quickly plants another kiss on my forehead before heaving himself off the bed. He walks over to put on his shoes as I stand up from the bed, stretching. I follow him as we walk out of my bedroom and into the hallway.

There are many voices being heard as we walk towards the living room. Matti chuckles when he sees my reaction to Natalie Reagan and Griffin Johnson lounging across my couches. It was almost as if he wasn't surprised.

I squealed as Nat hopped up and we gave each other big hugs. "What are you doing here?" I asked with excitement as she chuckled. "Well, we were in the neighborhood so we thought we would stop by." She spoke nonchalantly as Griffin chuckled.

I walked over to Griffin as he planted a kiss on my cheek and gave me a big hug. "What's up baby momma!" I giggled at his question as I heard more footsteps come down the hallway.

"Party's here!" Finn shouted as Sloane walked up beside her, groaning and covering her ears.

"Oh Sloane, could you stop being a bitter beaver for one second?" Matti teased as she gave him both her left and right-handed middle fingers. I laugh as he blew her a kiss.

Griffin cleared his throat and nodded towards Matti before smiling at Nat. Natalie looked at me and winked. "Alright babe, we're going to see coach now." Matti gave me a hug as I nodded against him. He leaned down and gave me a kiss as I heard Sloane gagging.

"I love you," I spoke to him as he sucked in a breath. "I love you more." He gave me a kiss on the forehead before heading out the door with Griffin. I turned my attention back to the girls who were already gossiping.

"So why are you really here?" Finn crossed her arms as I let out a laugh. "Let's go get some coffee like old times? Yeah?" Nat suggested as we raised our eyebrows. I was the first to nod.

"Okay, let me go put on comfier pants. It still looks cold outside." I spoke as I walked down the hallway. Sloane groaned, "It looks cold outside because it's so fucking early!" She moaned out as I heard a loud slap followed by a scream.

"Finn! Quit that shit!" Sloane yelled out as loud laughs were heard. I quickly throw on flannel pants before walking out to the living room, where all four of us are standing ready. "I'll drive," Nat states as we don't complain. She is the most awake out of all of us.

We head out into the chilly Pennsylvania morning weather and hop into an all-black Range Rover. I chuckle, pulling myself into the backseat. "I want one of these," I muttered as Nat snorts.

"Ask Matti for one," She teases as I shake my head. "Nope, I'm good with the old girl back at home." I remind them as they groan.

"You guys are such spoiled brats! My twenty-year-old corolla runs like a charm!" I praise as they all give me crazy looks. Natalie starts to drive.

"You think he will let you drive