"How's Gigi?" I asked midway to the elevator we were to take.

"She is great, misses her buddy power but she's good, grown and growing. My dude Power here right?"

"That's good and he is. So is my father, daughter, attorney and his wife and kids."

"Damn this a family home huh?" He joked as I pressed the elevator button for up.

"I wish. I'm more unorthodox than you know."

"Good I can't wait to get to know. I don't want a boring girl anyhow."

I laughed, "Where does these labels come from?"

"What that you my girl? Because you is. I flew all this way. We married woman."

Steph led me into his arms as we got onto the elevator together.

"You've always been this funny?"

"Nah I try. So when's your court date?"

"Soon I'm hoping."

"How dude doing?"

"Not too good. He's uh on life support." I uttered as the doors closed.

"Well like I said. I'm here, and I wanna know all about it. Your fears, your goals, everything."

"You're unbelievable."

"Well believe baby. You so damn gorgeous I feel lucky just to be your friend."

"Oh you're my friend now?" I giggled as the elevator beeped and the doors opened.

"Hell im whatever you let me be. Mean girl. These damn condos niceeee, we gone get us one?"

I gleamed at him speechless as we walked towards the condo.

"Meet my dad first then we can see about all of these dreams."

Steph shrugged chuckling as I twisted the key and entered the condo where cartoons were playing and the smell of dinner was simmering.

"Who is this?" My father asked greeting me at the door.

"This is Steph dad, a really good friend of mine. His daughter attends school with Power."

Just as I said that power entered with the biggest smile at the sight of Steph.

"Stephhhhh!" He shouted rushing over and Steph picked him up.

"What's up dude. How you doing sir, I'm Steph it's a pleasure to meet you." He spoke holding his hand out for my father who was hesitant.

"You're madisons friend?" He asked reaching and taking power from him calmly.

"Yes sir I am, she's a very beautiful young lady if I may add."

"Dad don't make this like high school I'm an adult. Stephs really here for emotional support and I wouldn't have him here if it was against my best judgement.

My father absorbed what I said as he loosened his grip and nodded.

"This is my baby, these, they are all my babies. Now Madison introduced you as her friend I expect you to behave just as that while you're welcomed here."

"Yes sir' you have my word. I have a daughter myself sir and I understand sincerely."

My father shook his head in unison as he stared into Steph's eyes for reassurance of his word before departing.

"Sergeant major." Joker Steph in a whisper making me chuckle.

"You better stop!" I nudged as we entered the kitchen where Rick and Angela were.

"We have guest?" Angela asked intaking the sight of Steph.

"Yes this is a friend of mine Steph who is here for emotional support. Steph this is Angela and Rick they've done so much for me."

"Nice to meet you." Angela exhaled making her way over to extend her hand.

"Same here, nice to meet you both." Steph uttered softly shaking her manicured hands as rick swiftly waved and turned to tend to the oven as a reason to be occupied.

"Are you staying for dinner?" She asked.

"That's up to Madison and you all."

"I say yes, I'm cooking macaroni, steak, mash potatoes, seasoned onions, and apple pie."

"Sounds great, smelling even better."

"You can stay Steph. Come on." I interrupted feeling uncomfortable the more Angela overly extended her courtesy.

We made it to my bedroom where Steph took a seat on the king size bed.

"This shit bigger than I imagined." He complimented falling back onto the bed.

"Yeah it is." I agreed taking a seat next to him.

"What's wrong with my guy, Rick is it? He must have a major fuckin thang for you or either ain't too fond of me." I exhaled nervously tucking my hair behind my left ear.

"That's my attorney."

"Your attorney at law. That's cool and all but that don't mean much."

"You wanna know about me?"

"Hell yeah, that's what I traveled way across the world for."

"I probably should have told you this before you came."

Steph sat up grasping complete eye contact with me as he took a stance of seriousness.

"Power was conceived during rape."

"His dad raped you?"

"Yes, he raped me my freshmen year in college and here we are. Years later battling this demon."

"Damn." Whispered Steph sitting completely up as he tried to find the words.

"I'm sorry that happened to you. I'd probably kill a mother fucker if they ever did that to my Gigi. You so strong though. All of this shit has made you such a strong beautiful black woman. I would've never imagined but I'm glad I know now. It explains a lot. I just want you to know I'd never hurt you or your babies. I understand even more now what your father meant. All jokes aside. Just tell me though. How did you get here?"

"Well you never really know how. It all just seems to happen one way or another. I don't even know sometimes, but I'm here and he may not be very long. I don't know what I'll do if he dies. That was never my intention no mater how much I hate him. I'd never wish that on him. Let alone my baby, it was his first time really seeing him and I almost killed him."

"Don't beat yourself up, seriously Madison. Like you said shit just seems to happen and this is just that. As long as you have faith in The man upstairs nothing can come between the plan he has for you."

I nodded in agreement as my attention drifting across the room in silence.

"I wanna know about you. Everything."

"What do you want to know?"

"Do you wanna get married?"

"Well yes, Ofcourse, some day."

"That was my proposal."

My eyes landed back on Steph who was sitting up glaring at me with he softness gleam.

"That was your—what?"

"I'm trying to marry your ass."

"Ok Steph, you are truly a dreamer. Big one at that."

"I'm not a dreamer, a fortune seeker more of. And I want you to know that was honestly my proposal to you, I believe in love at first sight and when I first saw you I fell in love instantly. Now only with you but Power and maybe one day your little girl. I see something in you I don't see in any other woman, and trust me I've had my share all over the world. So even though I know you're going to think I'm moving fast, this is just my paste, I know what I want and no matter what I'm going to have you."

"—Steph do you know what you're saying let alone involving yourself in?"

"I do, I wouldn't have come this far if I didn't. I'm a wise man, and a wise man once said " go the extra miles for what you desire" you are what I desire on a emotional level not sexual to say the least. I'd marry you if we never had sex at all."

"You are amazing. Not only at your words but just—."

"Everything ." Chuckled Steph pondering his hands threw my hair ends.

"I wish I could ruin your life but I can't, my heart won't allow me. I'm far too much Steph and I'll never want to ruin the person I believe you to be."

"You friend zoning me."

I smiled, "I could never."

"So then you're accepting my proposal with the promise to marry me once this all is over. Better yet, before your trial begins."

"Oh god." I blushed. "I can't take you serious."

"Why not?"

"You barely know me."

"Well let me show you better than I can tell you. Only if you promise me, you'll marry me the moment this is over once I've proven to you I'm the husband you need."

My cheeks and soul smiled with butterflies.

"I promise."

"That's what I want to hear. Now be a woman of your word. I'll be here for the next couple days after that I have to go back to my Gigi but I'll be back."

"Where's her mother?"

"She was killed a few years back."

"Oh god I'm sorry to hear that. Killed how? If you don't mind me asking."

"A random shooting, some neighborhood kids being initiated into a gang decided she was the perfect target. Gigi was a year old. Hasn't had a mother since."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, so very sorry."

"It's fine. It's cool God changed me and made me into the perfect man to raise her, and maybe you could help me in doing that."

My heart smiled before my mouth. Then shortly after there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" I shouted.

Rick entered with my father and Angela behind and by the looks of there faces and entire presence I already knew.

"Kamron just passed away." My father uttered walking over to me.