"Nayeli! Nai get up!" she heard through her closed door. She knew it was her dad and Omari, she didn't even have to hear her brother's voice to know he was standing there. She groaned slightly, sitting up from her plush queen sized bed and threw her legs over the side, stuffing her feet into the fuzzy slippers she kept there.

She shuffled to the door, the consequences of staying up till 4 in the morning watching movies on FaceTime with Izzy were hitting her. When she pulled her door open she was greeted by her smiling father and her little brother who was eating an apple.

"Morning, princess," a forty one year old Gionni smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Good morning, daddy. Morning bubby," she bent down to kiss her brothers face, making him smile.

"Mornin' Nini," he spoke. When he was a baby, he could not for the life of him grasp Nayeli's first name. It was hard for him to pronounce so he just took the first letter and ran with it. Even when he did learn how to say it, he refused to let Nini go. She didn't mind.

"Your mom cooked, she sent me up here to get you before the twins greedy behinds eat all the french toast and piss you off," he chuckled. Their twin son and daughter ate just like Omari, so Nayeli was often left hungry and agitated if she didn't get to the table fast enough.

"Tell Ajani I'm gonna lock him in the closet again if he eats my french toast," she said with a straight face, making G laugh. "I'm serious, daddy. Bubby you wanna help me make my bed?" she asked and he of course said yes. Despite only being eleven, Omari and Nayeli were joined at the hip. They were really best friends and anyone could tell Omari loved his sister more than words.

Once Nai and Mari finished in her room, they walked hand in hand to the kitchen where Ajani and Amani, who were ten, sat with their hands folded, staring at the food. The youngest member of the family, five year old Sarai was in her mom's lap, happily munching on some fruit.

"Morning mama," Nayeli chirped, kissing her mother on the cheek. "Hi pumpkin," she cooed to her little sister, taking her from Nadira. Sarai was a very unexpected addition to the Cartier household, born soon after her parents seventh anniversary.

"Morning Pea," a thirty nine year old Nadira smiled at her daughter.

"Hi sister," Sarai smiled, hugging Nayeli around the neck. Once everyone was settled, Ajani begged to bless the food and once he did everyone started making their plates.

Today was a normal Saturday in the Cartier household. If it was a weekday things would be a little more chaotic. Ajani hated waking up for school, so he was always running late, Amani never picked her clothes out the night before like she was told so she also ran late constantly. Omari was early to rise but the way he hated being up was something to see. He didn't speak until he told his parents he loved them when he exited the vehicle, and at this point, nobody tried to make him. Sarai went to AP academy like her big sister and she seemed to be the only one ever excited to go to kindergarten. Having Sarai around was like getting to raise Nai all over again.

But, today was different in that it was the last day Nayeli would be spending at home. After graduating valedictorian of her class, naturally, she was accepted into every college she applied to but she chose Grambling State University, in Louisiana. Her grandfather's alma mater.

She, as well as all her other cousins, outside of Pheonyx, had chosen to go to school out of state and she was the last to leave for move in day.

Dallas and Kareem both attended Duke, Israel attended NYU, Amora just left for Columbia, and Pheonyx moved in at Spelman yesterday. The youngest of the teens, Kingston, had just graduated with an acceptance to Howard and would be leaving next fall. The pride their families were feeling were immeasurable.

"You slept good, mamas?" Gionni asked, making Nayeli smile. To this day, Gionni barely used her first name when referring to her. Princess was his go to, but mamas was a very close second. She'd loved it as a child and she loved it still.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep long, me and Izzy was up watching movies," she chuckled. "His insomnia's been pretty bad lately so I stayed up with him," she shrugged. "Pheonyx refuses to entertain him after midnight,"

"Aww ain't you sweet," Dira smiled. "I know he appreciated it,"

"Yeah, he kept thanking me," she smiled slightly. She was truly every cousins favorite cousin.

After eating, Nayeli and Amani did the dishes and they got ready to make the drive to Louisiana. They took their time because they got a hotel for the weekend and weren't in a rush. They were driving down in Nayeli's car and flying back.

When she graduated, she was gifted a shiny red Range Rover Sport. She had taken to big cars, like her mother. Plus all her siblings and parents could fit into it comfortably, which they loved. They immediately had her transporting them back and forth from school, practices, recitals, and anything else.

"I'm gonna miss you big sister," Amani pouted, helping Nayeli put away her clothes. Although Omari and Nai were extremely close, her little sister was her biggest fan, and they were also very close, and had a different kind of relationship than she had with her brothers.

"Aww mama! I'm gonna miss you too," she dropped the shirt the was folding to hug her. "Don't cry babygirl, I'm always gonna answer when you call and I'll be back for thanksgiving!"

"You promise?" she sniffed, laying her head on Nayeli's shoulder.

"I promise boo butt. Now don't let Ajani see you crying or he's gonna start," she chuckled, watching her younger brother with her AirPods in, putting her makeup and hair products in a bag for her.

"Omari. You really not gon talk to me, bubby? You mad at me?" she asked, sitting on the bed in his hotel room. He was very upset all day long, and didn't really talk much all day.

"No I'm not mad," he mumbled. It was around midnight and the both of them should have been sleeping.

"Then what's wrong man? You literally have not said a word to me since this morning," she frowned.

"I...I'm sad," he frustratedly rubbed at his left eye. He wasn't really good with showing his emotions, he got frustrated easily when he was sad or upset and instead of expressing himself, he would isolate himself in his room until he was able to articulate, or until he was over the feelings. He was trying his best and working on it, though.

"Why are you sad papa? I'm not leaving forever," she spoke softly, kneeling in front of him, holding his head up.

"B-but you're still leaving, Nini," he sniffed, eyes glassy. "I can't come watch movies or watch anime with you and I can't hide from daddy in your room no more. Me and mommy are gonna have to get sushi alone and-and I'm gonna miss you," he stammered, starting to become emotional, which in turn made Nayeli just as emotional.

"Oh my baby," she whined, standing up and pulling his small body into her own as he began to cry. "I'm gonna miss you so much, bubby. I'm always gonna be here for you, though. No matter what, you can always call me and I'll be here. I'll be home for thanksgiving, and I promise I'll come for your birthday, okay? I'm not leaving you," she rubbed his back slightly. "I'm just not gonna be home. I'm always gonna be with you," she assured him. "I love you Nassim,"

"I lo-I love you, Gianna," he mumbled, wrapping his arms around her torso. "Can you stay with me?" he looked up at her with hopeful eyes.

"Of course, thugga. Let's lay down before daddy comes in here fussing," she chuckled, making him laugh.

"He's always fussing when we stay up late," he giggled, snuggling up to his sister side, as she opened her laptop, going to Crunchyroll so they could watch anime together, which was their favorite pass time.

They eventually fell asleep, with the laptop still open, sitting on their legs.

"These damn kids," Gionni chuckled, walking into Omari's hotel room the next morning. "Don't never listen, Nadira come look at your children," he called to her. She took the scarf off of Sarai's head, and nodded.

When she came in she had to stop herself from laughing. They sat up against the headboard, Omari's head laying on his older sister, and Nayeli's arm slung across his shoulder, cheek resting on top of Omari's head.

"What time you think they went to sleep?" she giggled, walking up to her son's side as Gionni walked up to Nayeli. They quickly moved to get his head from under hers so he could lay down.

"Like four, crackhead asses," he shook his head watching Omari immediately lay down on a pillow. Nayeli's eyes opened a little bit, looking around at her parents. "Hey mamas," he chuckled.

"Hi daddy," she spoke quietly. "Sorry we didn't mean to stay up late, but he was crying and I didn't wanna leave him," she pouted, rubbing her hand across his face.

"He's been pretty upset since we told him you were living at school and not coming home every day like in high school," Dira nodded, tucking the blankets around him. "I'm glad y'all got to talk, my poor papa," she pouted, giving him a kiss. He was still a mama's boy through and through and preferred his mother over everyone in the world.

Once they left Omari's room, Nayeli and her brother Ajani went to get breakfast for him while everyone else sat downstairs to eat. They brought him waffles, eggs bacon and fruit to eat as well.

Once done eating the family spent more time together, sightseeing in the New Orleans, where they were staying for that day. They took a multitude of pictures like they did on every family vacation, and ate everything they could get their hands on, which wasn't a problem for Nadira and Gionni's greedy kids.

They even went to the Superdome to get pictures, where Gionni ran into one of his favorite players Elijah Bellamy, who he took an abundance of photos with.

But at the close of the day, it was time to head to Grambling which would be another long drive, and drop Nayeli off at her dorm, and neither of her parents were really prepared to leave her.

Once they finally arrived, they helped her unpack some things, and helped her set up some of her lights and her television as well, but their flight was the next morning, super early, so they couldn't stay too long.

"Bye Nai," Ajani frowned. "I'm gonna miss you a lot, even though you stink," he snickered to himself, making her roll her eyes with a smile.

"You're annoying, Zyaire. Gimme a kiss," she poked her lips out and as badly as he wanted to act disgusted he ran up to her, giving her a kiss. "You next, Mani, c'mere mama," she reached for her and smothered her with kisses, making her giggle.

"Bye bye sissy!" Sarai launched herself to her sisters arms. "Love you!"

"Bye twin, I love you more," she smiled, accepting the kisses from her little sister. "Omari come here," she held Sarai steady, pressing a kiss to his forehead. She didn't wanna do too much and made him upset. They had their moment and that was all they needed.

"Mommy," Nayeli called, lip beginning to tremble.

"Awww, Pea! Don't make me cry!" she whined, pulling her in for a hug. "I'm gonna miss you so much girl," she sniffed. "But don't forget I'm always here when you need me okay? Your happiness means the world to me and if you're happy, sad, mad whatever I don't care, I wanna be there for it. I want to help you through it, so don't forget about your old mama okay? And as soon as you touch down in Atlanta for thanksgiving we're going on a nail date and getting edible arrangements," she smiled widely, making Nayeli's sadness disappear momentarily.

"I love you, mama," she sniffled, wiping her eye and hugging her mom close again. "Don't get annoyed when I call you everyday,"

"I could never," Dira laughed. "I love you, baby" she smoothed her hand over Nayeli's hair, stepping away before she started crying again. Seeing the girl she helped raise nearly grown and off to college was something that was making her far more emotional than she thought, and she knew she'd be emotional already.

This was the part nobody was ready for. Gionni and Nayeli saying goodbye.

"Daddy, don't cry please," she whimpered. "Please don't,"

"I can't help it, baby," he chuckled, wiping his eye. "You're really grown up man. My little baby girl, in college? It's too much for your old man. I'm going to miss you lighting up the house everyday, mamas. I'm praying you enjoy all your time here and don't forget about me, kid. I love you more than life itself, I swear it. My first baby, I'm always gonna be in your corner. You're my pride and joy, princess. Don't forget to call, text me, facetime me, all that okay? I'm gonna be waiting to see this pretty face," he smiled, tears in his eyes. He held her face in his hands, as her mouth turned into a frown.

She couldn't even talk, she just broke down into tears. Her dad was everything to her. Her hero, her first best friend and her confidant, the first man she ever truly loved, and she never had to be without him until now. She thought about all the ways she'd handle this exact moment and no matter how many times or how many ways she imagined their talk going, in every scenario this was the outcome. Crying like a baby in her father's arms, wishing he didn't have to go.

"But you're gonna be okay, Gianna. You're gonna grow and thrive here in ways I can't imagine babygirl, and I can't wait to see it. Don't be too upset, we're just an hour and a half away and you know if you need us you're on the first flight home," he spoke consolingly, rubbing her back while she regained her composure.

"I-I love you daddy," she rubbed at her eye, reminding him so much of when she was younger. He was going to miss her tremendously.

"And I love you, princess," he kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly again.

After that, Nayeli was waving them goodbye, blowing them kisses as they got into their uber to the airport.

Her adult life was about to begin.

"Mamí why do you do this every time I leave man?" Armani chuckled. He was returning to school for his first semester as a sophomore and his mother, Sofía, cried every time. It was about midnight and he was about to get on the road.

"Because, hijo! You're leaving me, I can't be sad?" she propped her hand on her hip as his younger sister Camila stood at his side.

"You can," he laughed. "But you don't have to cry, mamí. I'll be home soon for thanksgiving anyway," he shrugged, as his father Joseph came out of the house with his bags.

Looking at Armani Dixon, you would never guess his family was fully Dominican. He was 100% black, though. Many people called him Dominican, tried to tell him he was something other than what he was, which was a bilingual black boy. He of course loved his adoptive family and was thankful for them everyday but he knew who he was and he knew where he came from.

"Papí, you didn't have to carry that out here, I would have—"

"No te preocupes, hijo," (Don't worry about it, son) Joseph waved his son off, placing the duffel bag in his hand.

"Gracias, papí," he smiled. He'd already said bye to everyone and was about to get in his car and take the agonizing 10 hour drive from South Carolina back to GSU. He grew up in New York but his family made the move to South Carolina recently when Sofía turned 14 and his