Dirty Little Secret

"Faree, are you sure you can handle it. I mean-"

"We'll be fine, Nic." He laughed as he opened her car door.

She sighed, "Ok."

Nicki had accidentally scheduled her and MacKenzie's doctors appointments on the same day. Instead of cancelling one or the other it was decided that Safaree would just take MacKenzie to her appointment and Nicki would go to hers alone. She felt really uneasy about not being at MacKenzie's appointment but trying to cancel one and reschedule always ended up complicating things for their already busy schedules.

"Oh, remember to ask Dr. Dumante about doing an allergy test."

"Ok."

"And I can't remember if they said if they were gonna give her more shots but if the do be patient with her Faree and try to get some ice to put on it."

"Ok."

"Cause the ice makes it feel better."

"Nicki." He laughed.

"Ok. Ok. I'm going." She tugged on the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to peck his lips before getting in the car.

"Alright. See you at eight."

"That's not too late is it? Cause I can skip my meeting and they don't really need me babysitting them at the studio."

"Bye." He closed her door and went to walked into the house.

"Oh." He heard her voice and turned to her with a frown. "Can you barbeque today? We want ribs." She smiled. "Love you. Mean it. Bye." She said before pulling off.

Thirty minutes later Nicki found herself at a restaurant just minutes away from her doctors office. After this quick stop she would get checked out then head to the studio. She scanned the dining room until she spotted her lunch date, Stephanie. Stephanie was too busy looking at her menu to notice Nicki approaching.

"Hi." She said dryly as she took her seat. She kept her sunglasses on in case she caused a scene. Stephanie sighed and placed her menu down.

"I should've known you would show up."

"Stephanie, you need to stay away from him. He wants nothing to do with you any more."

"I just need to talk to him."

"You don't need shit."

Stephanie sighed and pulled her bag off of her chair and placed it on her lap. Nicki discreetly unrolled her silverware that was in a napkin and tapped on the handle of the knife with her pointer finger. She didn't peg Stephanie for crazy but you never know. Stephanie pulled a photo out of her wallet and placed it on the table. She slid it to Nicki. Nicki scanned the picture with her eyes as though she were trying to commit it to memory. It was a boy around two years old. He was biracial with curly brown all over his head. He was on a swing in the picture and he looked pretty happy. Nicki slid the picture back.

"That's not his kid." She smirked and cocked her head to the side.

"Yes, it is." Stephanie raised her voice a little.

"We both know you got an-"

"I went to the clinic. When it was time to get the procedure done I asked them to give me a minute. I cried in the bathroom for an hour then got dressed and walked out. All he said to me was ,"That was fast."." Stephanie was tearing up but Nicki was unmoved by her performance. "I just wore big sweaters that fall and when I said my grandmother got sick was when I had him."

"You were in a psych ward, Stephanie. Don't try to bullshit me."

"After I had him I wouldn't touch him or feed him and I started talking about hurting myself so they admitted me." Nicki didn't say anything so she continued to talk. "Look, I just want him to know his father."

"I would know one of my husbands kids from a mile away. That's not one of them." Nicki tapped the picture then stood.

"Everything can't be about Nicki all the time. Maybe if you weren't such a selfish bitch then we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Nicki sucked her teeth and took a deep breath. A million thoughts ran through her mind at once, none involving Stephanie walking away unharmed. She reached for Stephanie's water and threw it in her face then slapped her across the face hard. She scanned the dining room to see only an old man staring but he quickly looked away. She grabbed Stephanie's face with one hand and leaned towards her.

"Listen to me good Stephanie because I don't want to say this again." Stephanie tried to pull her face away but Nicki held tighter. "Stay the fuck away from my family. Do not contact Safaree again with your bullshit or you're gonna wish I just fucked you up right here, right now. You are so lucky that I'm pregnant and in a public place." She chuckled then pushed her face away hard and stood up straight. She plastered a smile on her face. "Oh, and this stays between the two of us. I'd hate to have to sue you for ruining my marriage and defamation of my character because after all. . . . .this never happened. Right?"

Stephanie looked away and sighed. Nicki cleared her throat. Stephanie glared at her.

"Right." Stephanie said.

"Bye Steph. It was nice seeing you again." She said cheery as she walked away. "Stupid bitch."


Hours later Nicki pulled into her garage. She was beyond exhausted with more things on her mind now than when she left. She was beginning to feel bad about going behind Safaree's back to meet with Stephanie. What if she was wrong? She still didn't believe that the child was Safaree's but he should know, right? On top of that she was just convinced by Wayne to do one final album. She told Safaree that the last album was just that, the last one. She was supposed to be slowing down to enjoy her kids and give them a full time parent. She sighed as she walked through the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Safaree. She smelled the barbeque on him and smiled.

"Hey gorgeous." He wiped his hands off then turned to her and embraced her back. She rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him.

"I missed you, sir." She said.

"I missed you more, ma'am." He pecked her lips. "How'd it go?"

"Good. My fluids are low though so-"

"Nicki-" He released her.

"Safaree, I don't need a fucking lecture. I just gotta drink more water and stuff."

"Alright." He said nonchalantly.

"Are you gonna say something to your seed?" She smiled and he smiled back.

He lifted her onto the counter. He placed his hands on either side of her bump and kissed her. He lifted her shirt to see the sonogram that read "Its A Boy" taped to her belly. He smiled wide.

"Yoooo." He said before kissing her stomach. She began giggling. "I thought you said you ain't wanna know."

"I didn't but the nurse slipped up and told me." She rolled her eyes thinking about the situation again.

"Another boy?" He asked with a wide smile and she nodded.

"Yup." She laughed. "I think he should be a junior."

"I like that." He nodded and pecked her lips repeatedly.

"Stop." She pulled away smiling and put her hand on his chest and pushed him back. "Where are my other babies?"

"Upstairs in our-"

Safaree was interrupted by a loud thud. They both furrowed their eyebrows trying to figure out what it was. They got their answer as soon as MacKenzie began screaming. Nicki wasted no time jumping off of the counter and running up the stairs two at a time with Safaree following close behind.

"What happened?!" She asked as she took MacKenzie from Micaiah and tried to calm her.

"She. . .she fell off the bed." He said nervously.

"Why'd you leave her on the bed alone?!"

"I didn't!" He said defensively.

"I did." Safaree spoke. "She was sleep so-"

"You didn't think that she might, I don't know, wake up and start rolling and crawling all over the got damn place?!" She laid MacKenzie on the bed and began examining her body for bruises and things.

"She ok?" Micaiah folded his lips to keep his smile from appearing. Nicki glared at him.

"You think it's funny?! What if she hurt herself?!"

"No, no Ma." He was still smiling. It was more of a nervous smile than anything and Nicki knew that but lashing out was her nervous habit so that's what she did.

"Get out, Micaiah." She rolled her eyes and picked MacKenzie back up.

"Nic-"

"You too. Both of yall get out. Ain't good for shit." She sat on the side of the bed bouncing MacKenzie.

Nicki stayed in the room for a hour. Safaree had to practically beg her to come out. When he finally got her to come out to eat she didn't say much.

"Ma, you mad?" She didn't respond. "We sorry, mama."

"Don't be." She said dryly.

"Yo, Nic, it wasn't that serious." Safaree looked at her. His stern face turned into confusion as she began to tear up.

"Ma?"

"Yall don't take anything serious. Yall think everything is a joke." She shook her head and wiped the single tear that had fallen.

"Nic-"

"No, Safaree. I'm sick of doing everything all the time. How much effort would it have taken to put her in the crib? We just had to take her to the hospital. My baby can't win for losing and I'm the only one who cares." She began crying.

"We care baby." Safaree went to stand by her. He rubbed her back while Micaiah looked at her strangely, not understanding where this outburst was coming from. "Look, we gone try harder. Right, Caiah?"

"Umm." He looked confused and Safaree glared at him and nodded. "Oh, yeah. . .yeah."

"Really?" She smiled.

"Yup."

"Lets go watch a movie." She said cheery.

"Alright." Safaree kissed her cheek. "Lemme clean this up and yall go pick something."

"Ok."

After watching two movies together everyone in the house was asleep, except Safaree. He had gotten up in the middle of the night, like always, to check the house. He was in MacKenzie's room looking over her crib when he felt Nicki's tiny arms wrap around him and her head rest on his back.

"Are you almost done?" She asked just above a whisper.

"Yeah." He turned to face her. The only source of light was MacKenzie's spinning night light. He just stared at her face for a minute until she broke the silence.

"I can't sleep without you."

"I do this every night."

"You've been gone longer than usual."

"You be counting the minutes?" He laughed.

"I told you I can't sleep without you. Come on, Faree."

"Al-" Before he could finish the doorbell rang. They both looked at each other strange.

"Its like two in the morning. Who is that?" She began exiting the room but he grabbed her arm.

"Go to bed. I'll go see." He kissed her forehead.

"No, I wanna-"

"Go to bed, Nicki." The doorbell rang again.

"Fine, but you got ten minutes before I come down."

"Nicki, we ain't in no damn scary movie. Go lay your pregnant ass down."

She rolled her eyes as she went to do exactly what was asked of her. She crawled to the center of the bed and pulled the cover over her body. She instinctively rested her hand on her stomach while she impatiently waited for his return. She found herself fighting her sleep in order to find out who was at the door but she couldn't do it for long. Just as her eyes closed she felt a shift in the bed and his body pressed against hers.

"Who was it?"

"We'll talk about it in the morning."

"Sa-"

"Nicki, please. . .just go to sleep."

She didn't put up a fight but now she couldn't fall asleep. Her mind ran with scenarios of what could've just happened to put him in such a weird mood. She had a horrible gut feeling that she couldn't shake. She just hoped that she was overreacting. 











Idk who has the link to Age Of Love but those of you who don't here: http://ofageoflove.blogspot.com/ .

Future Star (A Peek Into The Future)

Nicki and Safaree stood in the hallway of the school waiting for MacKenzie to walk out of the classroom turned dressing room. They both had attitudes at the moment. Safaree was upset because of the rather small dance costumes his five year old daughter suggestively danced around the stage in with a face full of makeup. Nicki was simply upset because he was making a fuss about nothing.

"Safaree, fix your got damn face before she comes out here." Nicki said through clinched teeth so that no one around them could hear.

"No." He looked at her funny. "That shit ain't cute."

"Its a costume! Build a fucking bridge, Safaree." She rolled her eyes.

"She running around here like she work at Sue's and I'm supposed to calm down?"

Nicki's eyes grew wide at his statement, "Are you-"

"Mommy!" MacKenzie ran out with two trophies, three metals around her neck, and her dance bag.

"Baby! Oh my gosh, you did so good!" She smiled.

"We got first in everything!" She said excitedly as her mother took her trophies and dance bag and handed them to her father.

"I know, and you got first in your solos. I'm so proud of you." Nicki picked her up and put her on her hip.

"Did you see me do my turn sequence?"

"Yup. All that practice paid off." Nicki began making her way through the crowd.

"I messed up on my back hand spring though." She frowned.

"Nobody noticed."

"Two judges took off half a point."

"But you got first, baby. It was good." Nicki said as they approached Safaree's truck. She placed MacKenzie on the ground.

"Was I good, Daddy?" She looked up at him as he opened her door.

"The best." He smiled and pecked he cheek before helping her in the car. He was still pissed but he didn't want to ruin her moment. This was the first time she had placed first in all her numbers and only the third time she had danced with and against girls twice her age.

"Tomorrow is mommy and Kenzie day." MacKenzie said as Safaree began to drive off.

"I know." Nicki said. "What are we gonna do?"

"Well." She sang out and stretched the word. "I need my nails done first and foremost."

Nicki laughed, "Wait. First and foremost? And you NEED them done?"

"Um, hmm." MacKenzie said seriously. "Since we don't have to compete for a while I can get polish and my feet hurt."

"What else?" Nicki asked.

"Ummm, I wanna get my eye brows done."

"Nope."

"But why mommy?!" She whined.

"Because MacKenzie." She mimicked her tone then changed her voice back before speaking again. "Your eye brows are fine. Besides, you're too young."

"But I'm not! Jade's mom lets her get hers done all the time."

"Oh, really?" Nicki said with a raised eyebrow.

"Umm hmm."

"Well, if that's the case," Nicki said digging through the purse until she found her phone. She turned and extended her arm to hand it to MacKenzie. "Call and ask if you can live with them."

"But-"

"You telling me about what Jade's mom does for her like she feed you, she clothe you, she pay for you to go dance so go live with them."

MacKenzie bit down on her lip and scanned her mothers face. She sounded so serious and looked it. She shook her head no.

"No?" Nicki asked with the phone still extended out. "I mean, I can call if you're scared and Daddy can take you-"

"No, mommy. I don't wanna go." She had fear in her eyes.

"We'll bring your clothes and stuff tomorrow."

"No." She frowned.

"If you say so." She shrugged and tossed the phone in her purse.

If it was one thing she wouldn't tolerate it was her children telling her what someone else had and comparing her parenting to another person. She refused to give them any and everything just because so and so had it. That's how spoiled and ungrateful children were made, in her mind, and she wasn't raising those. The hardest thing about raising her kids in their environment was keeping them grounded and humble among the five year olds with waxed eyebrows and iPhones.

"Can we go to Make A Mini Me?" She asked sheepishly.

"Of course."

"Oh, and can we go to the movies and breakfast and dinner?" She was back to being perky now that she knew her mother wasn't getting rid of her. 

"Oh, you gotcho whole little day planned out, huh?" Nicki flashed her a smile.

"I thought about it all last night." She said proudly.

"Ok. If that's what you wanna do Cupcake."

"Oh, and I need a pretty dress mommy. . .for the dance. You're still gonna take me to the daddy dance Daddy?"

"Of course." He looked at her through the mirror.

"Are you gonna dress pretty?" She asked and Nicki started laughing. She loved that MacKenzie was still in her cute stages.

"Um, men don't dress pretty baby girl." Safaree said.

"If you wanna be my date you will." She said with a little hint of an attitude only because he had partially offended her.

"Oop." Nicki said before laughing.

"Who you gone take? You only got one Daddy." Safaree said.

"Not if my mama don't find another man."

Nicki put her hand over her chest and began hysterically laughing. MacKenzie was so serious but it was the funniest thing. Nicki looked between the two of them to see the matching frowns that each of them sported. MacKenzie looked just like him when she was mad.

"Oh, word?" Safaree asked.

"You gonna dress pretty?" She asked.

"Son."

"Daddy." She said sternly. "Are you. . .gonna dress. . .pretty?"

Safaree huffed and mumbled, "Yes."

Nicki laughed even harder. She pinched his cheek and he swatted her hand away.

"Aww, Faree." She smiled. "You're gonna be the prettiest man ever!"

"Sure is." MacKenzie agreed with a giant smile plastered on her face now.

Safaree pulled into the driveway of the house that Nicki moved them into shortly after MacKenzie turned three. He parked and looked at Nicki as she unbuckled her seat belt.

"Welp, see you later and tell my baby to call me."

"Alright." He watched her get out then turned to his door that was being opened. He looked down at his tiny five year old as she climbed in and sat on his lap.

"Daddy?" She said while she played with his gold chain how she always did.

"Yeah?"

"Can you come back and tuck me in? Mommy tells the best stories but you tuck me in just right so that I don't get cold at night and no monsters or nothing crawls in with me."

"Of course baby girl."

"Sometimes when you leave me I get sad and miss you." She pushed her lips to the left side of her face and exposed her dimple. It was crazy how she looked just like her mother at times.

"Really?" He asked shocked. "Cause everytime you leave me you take a tiny piece of my heart." He frowned.

"Really?" She beamed. "So, that means you're always with me, Daddy!"

"What? I thought it meant you was a thief." He began tickling her and she giggled.

"Grace!" Nicki called from the door. "Come on girl."

"See you later, Daddy." She kissed his cheek and hopped down. "Oh, and bring my stuff later. Ok?"

"Alright." He smiled as he watched her use her strength to close the truck door. She ran up to her mothers side. He beeped before pulling off.









Eh, I wanted to post something better than this but my laptop is fcked up, the only app for blogger for my stupid windows phone fcks up the format and blogger is acting stupid via mobile web. Once my blogger life isn't so complicated and fcked I'm gonna start a new SHORT story. ^_^ I'malsodonewithLostInTranslationnomatterhowmuchyoubegIhatethatstupidstory. Sorry but you guys have some time to reread it if you like and then it's donezo. Ok? Ok.

The Talk

Micaiah looked at his younger sister wide eyed trying to figure out what to do next. He had changed her, like his mom taught him, and she was still fussing. He picked her up and bounced her while he walked to his parents room. As soon as he entered the hall he heard the now familiar sound of his mother giggling. He had been home for two days now and had barely seen his parents. They would come out to feed his sister and him, made sure they were bathed and then retreated back to their room. He sighed and kicked the door with his foot.

"Just a second." He heard his mother say through a laugh. Moments later his father appeared in the doorway in only sweatpants and a smile.

"She hungry?"

"I guess." He said dully.

"Alright." He stepped out and pulled the door closed. He took MacKenzie from Micaiah and began making his way downstairs with Micaiah following.

"What happened to your back?" Micaiah asked quizically while examining the scratches and welps on his fathers back.

"Basketball." He said as he placed MacKenzie in her chair.

"Basketball?" He asked as he took a seat at the table.

"Um, yeah. I went to dunk on dude and he went to block, we bumped into each other and I fell and slide back on my back. It was crazy."

"Oh." Micaiah watched as his father fed his sister until he too became hungry. "I'm hungry."

"What you want?" Safaree asked and Micaiah pushed his shoulders upward. "Sandwich?"

"You making it?"

"Yeah, man." Safaree huffed and shook his head as though he always cooked. If only Nicki would've seen this.

"You gone grill it?"

"Why not?" He asked sarcastically as he cleaned up MacKenzie.

After Safaree had finished making their sandwiches they sat at the table eating. Safaree was giving MacKenzie small pieces of bread to keep her from screaming. He didn't want Nicki breaking her neck to get down the stairs to baby her. Safaree tried to make conversation with his son but he wasn't saying much.

Nicki soon entered the kitchen and Safaree was grateful. Hopefully she could get Micaiah to talk. She kissed Micaiah's forehead and then went to sit on Safaree's lap. He inhaled her scent. She had just taken a shower.

"You smell good." He smiled at her.

"Thanks." She picked up half of his sandwich and took a bite.

"Hey!" He frowned.

"I thought it was mine." She covered her full mouth while she spoke.

"Nah, yours in the microwave son."

He took what was left out of her hand. He tapped her leg indicating that she should get up and she rolled her eyes. When she didn't get up right away Safaree pulled her closer and whispered something in her ear. She giggled and got up to get her food. Micaiah looked back and forth between the two of them strangely. Nicki grabbed her plate and stood by the island.

"Micaiah?" She spoke.

"Hm?"

"Me and your Dad wanna talk to you." Safaree instantly began fake coughing and Nicki cut her eyes at him.

"About what?"

"Well, really we need to apologize."

"For what?" He asked.

She sighed, "I know you kept asking to stay in New York cause you didn't wanna deal with us."

"No, I just-"

"No. No." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Its fine. We shouldn't have ever exposed you to that. I don't ever want you to not feel comfortable at home."

"Yeah, I'm sorry man." Safaree said.

"Its alright." Micaiah said. "Are you guys gonna get a divorce or something?"

"Oh, NO!" Nicki got wide eyed.

"Nah." Safaree said. "Why you think that?"

"Yall always fighting and telling each other to leave."

Nicki and Safaree looked at each other and then back at their son. Nicki suddenly felt a stronger pull of guilt on her heart.

"Micaiah, we aren't getting a divorce. We got married because we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and that's what we're gonna do." Nicki said.

"Its not always gonna be happy times though." Safaree chimed in. "Sometimes we gone have fights but sometimes that's what it takes to prove you care."

"I don't get it." He looked at his father confused. How does fighting prove you care? It made him feel like crap just being around it.

"Look, just know that we aren't seperating. Ok? Things will never ever, ever get that bad again." Nicki said.

"Alright." Micaiah sighed. "Can I go over Austin's?"

"What?!" Nicki frowned. "You just got homeeee." She whined.

"You guys won't miss me." He shrugged and went to put his plate in the sink.

"Why you say that?" Safaree chuckled.

"Cause yall just be in yall room all day."

"Well, we're not now." Nicki pouted. "Oh! I have an idea. Lets have a game night!" She beamed.

"Awww, Nic." Safaree whined.

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes. "Safaree, go shower and bring down MacKenzie's walker."

"Her feet don't even touch the ground."

"She likes the toys. Now, do what I said or what we discussed won't happen." She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Micaiah. "Go pick out some games."

"Some-"

"No video games. Board games and card games."

"But-"

"Micaiah."

"Ok."

After gathering a couple of snacks and MacKenzie, Nicki made her way into the living room. She put MacKenzie down before placing the snacks on the coffee table that Micaiah pushed back so that they would have more room to play the games. MacKenzie crawled over to the stacked boxes and tried pushing and pulling on them. 

"Caiah."

"Hmm?" He looked up at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He said dryly.

"Stop lying. You still upset? I told you-"

"You lied."

She looked at him confused.

"No, we really are better than before, Micaiah. I meant every word th-"

"You and Daddy said that a man should never put his hands on a woman. How come he's allowed to hit you?" 


"Micaiah, what are you-"


"You have two bruises on your neck and one on your shoulder." He said dully.



"Wha-" Her eyes got wide when she realized what it was and how things appeared. She folded her lips trying to figure out how to approached the topic. She sighed. "Look, babe, I promise you that your father has never put his hands on me. He's not that kinda guy. . .you do know that right?" He didn't say anything. She reached for his arm and pulled him close. "Baby, I-I wouldn't lie to you about something this serious and I would never, ever be with a person who physically hurt me or you guys. Ok?''


"Yeah. . .I guess." He sighed. "But, how did you get that?"


"Um, Daddy is gonna have a conversation with you about that. Maybe after we play. Ok?"


"Ok."


"Kiss?" She turned her cheek to him and he pecked it.


"Love you Mama." He hugged her.


"I love you even more, baby." She rubbed his back until he released her. "Alright. What you want me to kick yall asses in first?"


They played board and card games for almost four hours together. They all had wide smiles plastered on their faces. Things felt normal. It felt right. After Nicki's several attempts at cheating in Blink by pushing Micaiah's hands away, Safaree and Micaiah came to the consensus that she should be made to sit out for five rounds. She was now sat watching them with MacKenzie and her lip poked out. Safaree glanced at her and winked. She discreetly gave him the finger so that her son didn't see it. Safaree chuckled.

"What you laughing at old man?" Micaiah asked. "You still ain't win yet."

"Yo, I think you cheating." Safaree began dealing the cards.

"Yup." Nicki chimed in. "That's what I was trying to say when yall put me out."

"Ma." Micaiah dead faced her and she rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. You better hope I don't get let back in this game."

"You can't beat me either!" He laughed and slapped his knee like it was the funniest thing he'd ever said.

"I'm bouta whoop yo ass right now though." Safaree said.

"Yup!" Nicki chimed in again. "You got this babe. You gotta redeem us." She laughed.

"Yall ain't never been ready." Micaiah said cocky.

"What?" Safaree looked at him with a mug.

"You heard me old man. YOU ain't never been ready. Ya wife ain't never been ready. Yo mama ain't neva gone be ready!"

"Oh, here we go." Nicki huffed and rolled her eyes seeing where this was headed.

"My mama?" Safaree asked with a raised eyebrow and a hint of offense in his voice.

"Yup." Micaiah gave him a 'What you gone do?' look.

"Nah, you ain't say that cause that my nigga is something YOU ain't ready for."

"Try me."

"My nigga, yo mama so short that she can sit on the curb and swing her feet."

"Alrighty." Nicki stood with MacKenzie. "Imma just go put Kenzie to sleep. Faree, have that talk and yall clean up this mess. I don't wanna wake up to this."

"Alright." Micaiah waved her off. "Yo mama so dirty. . ."

After giving MacKenzie her night time bottle and putting her to sleep Nicki made her way to her room. She cut on the t.v. then grabbed her phone and got into the bed. She was responding to emails when she heard Safaree's phone going off. At first she ignored it but it kept going off. She put her phone down and crawled over to his side of the bed. She picked it up off of the nightstand and unlocked the screen. Safaree had been using the same password for the longest so Nicki could always get into his stuff easily.

When she opened it she saw several missed calls from his friends, his mom, and of course Stephanie. She opened the text messages and saw her begging him to talk to her. Safaree hadn't replied to her in three days. The last message simply stated, "No. Working on my family we done". Nicki smiled until another message popped up. Stephanie asked him to meet up. Nicki chewed on the inside of her cheek before responding. Once Stephanie responded she deleted the messages and put his phone back.

"What you doing?" Safaree's voice boomed and scared her. She turned her head to see him smiling.

"Oh, um, trying to get comfortable." She laughed a little and her eyes followed him to the bathroom.

"I don't see how you do it." He stated from the bathroom.

"Do what?" She asked apprehensively.

"Be pregnant." She heard the toilet flush and he came into view at the sink at the same time his phone buzzed.

"I actually like it." She stared at the lit up phone hoping that it wasn't Stephanie.

"All you do is complain though." He laughed and walked back into the room and right to his phone.

"But its the closets I'll ever be to my baby." He just nodded and furrowed his eyebrows.

'Shit.' She thought. 'I should just apologize now. Nah, play it cool Nicki.'

"Is that work?" She asked.

"This late? Nah." He still had the same look but then it turned into a smile. "Yo, you remember Leah?"

"The bitch who tried to stab me?" She asked with an attitude.

"Yeah." He was still smiling. "Yo, look at this."

She looked over the screenshots that Rex had sent Safaree. She smiled in relief.

"Still a thirsty hoe." She rolled her eyes and handed him the phone.

"Thought that was your best friend." He joked.

"Bitch was never my friend." She sighed. "You talk to Micaiah?"

"Yeah." He watched her move to her side of the bed then got in.

"And?"

"And?"

"How'd it go?"

"Good until he realized that we have sex."

"Oh my God." She covered her face in embarrassment then looked at Safaree again. She shook her head. "That's so weird."

Safaree chuckled, "He looked like he wanted to beat my ass." He sighed and pulled her close. "What's this?"

"Um," She squinted and looked at the t.v. She hadn't even paid attention to what was on. "Oh, Pretty Woman. It's about to go off."

"I hate when movies end like this. Shits whack." He said in reference to the male character playing music outside of the females window.

"It's cute." Nicki smiled.

"Of course you'd think that.''

"Only because someone really special did that for me." She smiled thinking back.


Nicki, Candi, and Lauren pushed through the bodies in the club until they got to the bar. Surprisingly, Nicki was having fun. She really didn't want to go out but like always her friends dragged her out. While they waited for their drinks Nicki scanned the crowd until she spotted someone familiar. She instantly felt herself get pissed as she watched him in one of the VIP areas with nothing but hoodrats surrounding him and his boys.

"I'll be back." Was all she said before making her way over to him. She said nothing, just smacked him in the back of his head. He quickly turned around and his face went from a strong scowl to a softer one.

"Yo, what the fuck is wrong with you? I almost punched the shit outta you." He said.

"The fuck are you doing here?" She asked with an attitude.

"Yo, Nic, chill." She heard one of his friends say.

"Don't fucking talk to me." She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Safaree. "So, when you get up in the middle of the night to go to work this where you be going? This work now?"

"No and yes."

"You know what, fuck you! You a muthafuckin' liar! Not once did you say shit about going to a club!"

"Neither did you."

"I told you I was going out with my girls."

"Nicki."

"If you wanna hang around hoodrat bitches instead of being with me then by all means do you, Safaree."

"Excuse me?" She heard one of the girls say but ignored her.

She went to walk away and felt the pull of her arm. He knew that she hated to be  grabbed when she was pissed but he still did it. She turned around and began shouting obscenities at him until her friends and the security told her that it was time to go.

A hour later Nicki found herself in her room writing a new song. Safaree was going to hear what she had to say one way or the other. Just as she was geting in her zone she was pulled away by the booming sound of someone's car radio. She rolled her eyes and went to the window. When she looked out she was surprised to see Safaree. She knew he was trying to further piss her off because he knew better than to pull up to her house blasting music.

She threw on some shoes and quickly ran down the stair and out of the apartment building. She knew if she didn't get him to shut the music off that her elderly neighbor would file another complaint. The first was from her friends coming over being loud in their drunken state, the second was when Candi and her boyfriend decided to argue in the front of the building at three o'clock in the morning. A third complaint would mean her finding somewhere else to live.

Once Safaree saw her he leaned into his car and changed the song. He just needed to get her out of the house. Before she could put up any objections he began singing along to 911 by Wyclef ft. Mary J. Blige. She rolled her eyes, folded her arms, and dropped all her weight to one hip. When he dropped to his knees in front of her and placed his hands on her hips and gave his all to sing the chorus she began smiling.  

"Foregive me?"

"Kiss me?" He kissed her before going to shut off his car and carrying her up to her apartment.















Lol. Yall probably get sick of my movie and song references but I can't help it. Here's the song in case you've never heard it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Pua6D9DsE .

They Were One

Safaree and Nicki pretty much avoided each other since they had gotten back from the hospital last night. They treated MacKenzie for her new found banana allergy and sent them home. Nicki was still worried though. She cleaned her already clean house over again to keep herself from hovering over her child. Her phone began to vibrate on the bathroom counter. She quickly washed and dried her hands then answered.

"Hello?"

"Is my baby ok?" Candi asked worried.

"Yeah." She laughed. "They sent us home after they pumped my baby up with a bunch of drugs."

"Kenzie high as hell ain't she?" Candi laughed.

"Deadass though. We got home around twelve and she was already sleep. I woke her up around nine to change and feed her but she went right back to sleep."

"What was it?"

"She's allergic to bananas. She didn't even have a lot which I'm thankful for cause it could've been ten times worse."

"I know you freaking out still."

"I'm trying not to. Im scared to introduce her to new foods now though. Like, the look on my baby's face." She sighed.

"She gone be ok."

"Yeah, that's what Faree kept saying last night."

"Oh?"

"What?" Nicki laughed.

"He back to being Faree so that means-"

"Not exactly."

Nicki began telling Candi about how things had been transpiring between the two of them. Candi just listened to her instead of just jumping in and voicing her opinion. That's why Nicki didn't mind talking to her.

"So, was I wrong for going off like that?"

"I mean, I don't know. You should have at least listened to what he had to say. Plus, he was being honest with you."

"Yeah. Now I feel like shit, Candi. Thanks." She huffed.

"You're welcome." She laughed.

"Well, he should be up from the gym soon so I'll talk to you later."

"Ok. And Nic."

"Yeah?"

"Just take things one day at a time. Ok?"

"Ok."

After getting off the phone with her friend she put away all her cleaning supplies and walked to her room. She heard Safaree in the master bathroom. She pushed the cracked door open and sat on the counter. He sensed her presence while he showered.

"Sup?"

"I wanted to talk to you. . .about last night."

"What about it?"

"I wanted to ask you if you would finish telling me what you were saying about. . .you know. . .her." She heard him chuckle. "Nevermind then."

"No." He said before she could hop down. "I'm just not used to this but I told her no."

"And that's it?"

"Yeah, it was never that serious. I just wanted to let you know just in case you wanted to use my phone for some reason or saw it on the phone bill."

"That's it, Safaree? That's all you had to tell me?"

"Yup."

"Well, sorry for blowing up and thanks for telling me. Imma go check on Kenzie."

"Alright."

Nicki made her way to MacKenzie's room. She looked into the crib expecting to see her asleep but she was up on her hands and knees rocking back and forth, smiling.

"What are you doing little lady bug?" She smiled and reached in to pick her up. "You hungry mamacita?"

Nicki walked to the kitchen and placed MacKenzie in her high chair. Not only was she scared to feed her anything new, she was scared to feed her period. She stayed up most of the night researching allergies and found out that they can sometimes develop out of no where. A person can go their whole life not allergic to something and suddenly it changes. What if that happened to MacKenzie one day? She was just a baby and had yet developed the sense to seek help when needed. She sighed and began looking through MacKenzie's food cabinet.

"What's it gonna be Kenny? We got peas, sweet potatoes, chicken and apples-" She stopped when she heard MacKenzie squeal. "Chicken and apples it is."

"Such a coon." Nicki looked back at Safaree who was looking through the refrigerator and smirked.

"Don't call my baby no coon."

She opened the container of baby food and emptied it into MacKenzie's small bowl before heating it up. After it was done she pulled a chair up next to the high chair. Safaree was already sat on the other side keeping MacKenzie entertained. Nicki just stared at them for a minute. He was a good father above anything else.

"Oh, my bad." He said pulling MacKenzie's hand from his face in which she was repeatedly slapping.

"You know what. . . How about you feed her?"

"Um, ok." He took the bowl and spoon and began feeding her.

Nicki got up and went to stand by the kitchen sink. She hovered over the sink while she looked outside at nothing. She let her mind wander to the previous night.


"Hey, mommy? She's fine."

"Oh, thank God."

"Yeah, they have her sleeping now. We got here just in time."

"I'm so glad to hear that."

"You didn't tell Micaiah did you?"

"No. I know you wanted to."

"Can you put him on? Even if he's sleep." She didn't know why but she had the strong urge to just hold all of her children but since Micaiah was away she at least wanted to hear his voice.

"Mommy?" His voice was full of sleep.

"Yes, baby. Were you sleep?"

"Hmm." She laughed a little at him being half sleep therefore paying half attention.

"Listen, mommy has to tell you something about sissy."

"What?"

"She had an accident."

"Accident? What's wrong?" She heard the sleep in his voice change to fear and realized she didn't choose her words wisely.

"Nothing. . .anymore. She just had an allergic reaction to bananas. It was hard for her to breath but she's ok now."

"I wanna come home."

"No, baby." She laughed. "If you want to you can but MacKenzie is fine. I promise. I just wanted to be the one to tell you instead of you hearing from someone else."

"Ok."

"So, your gonna stay?"

"A little longer if that's ok."

"Of course but you have to come home sometime."

"I will."

"Put Grandma back on."

"Night Mama."

"Night babe."

"Hello."

"I just wanted to say goodnight and tell you that if Micaiah is too much of a handful that me or Safaree will come an-"

"He's fine, Nicki." She laughed. "Oh, but I meant to ask you when were you going to find some more help?"

"Like a nanny?'

"Yes. You need to start looking before the new baby-"

"Micaiah told you?" She asked irritated.

"He didn't have to. It was all in your face and the way you tried to lean away from me when I hugged you. You did the same with Micaiah. Why are you hiding it?"

"I'm not. I just. . . I just wanna be a hundred percent sure that everything is ok before I go announcing it."

"I can respect that but you need help."

"Ma, please."

"You're going to have two small children, Micaiah will be back in school with all his activities, you and Safaree have your things going on and-"

"Ma, I can handle it. All of it."

"Just think about it Nicki."


"Nicki." Safaree pulled her from her thoughts.

"Yeah."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"You been staring out the window for like ten minutes like a weirdo."

"Oh, I was just looking at this deer. I'm always curious as to how close they gone come to the house."

"Niggas get closer and closer every summer." He laughed.

"I think Micaiah ass be out there feeding them." She shook her head.

"That nigga think he crocodile Dundee or whatever that nigga name was." Nicki laughed before going to pick up MacKenzie.

"Get her a juice bottle, Safaree." 

After MacKenzie had her juice Safaree and Nicki played with her in their living room for a little while. Nicki was glad that her blow up the previous night didn't set their progress back any. Once she began to get sleepy they carried her up to her room and put her in her crib. MacKenzie instantly began crying and fighting her sleep.

"Where's her-"

"Here." Safaree handed her pacifier to Nicki.

When Nicki put the pacifier in MacKenzie's mouth she rolled over and let it fall out. She got up on her hands and knees and continued to cry.

"Kenzie, please." She laid her back down but MacKenzie rolled over and did the same thing.

"It might be that tooth finally breaking through."

"No, I just put Orajel on it."

"Just leave her then. She'll fall asleep eventually when she tire out."

"No."

"Nicki, you can't keep babying her like this."

"She's a baby!"

"But she need to get some indepence. When the new baby gets here-"

"Fuck it! You raise these got damn kids by yourself since you know everything."She didn't mean to be harsh towards him but her conversation with her mother had her second guessing herself.

She pushed pass him and went into their bedroom. She sat on the side of the bed and let her leg wildly tap. Safaree walked out of his daughters room and closed the door behind him before going to their room. He sat beside Nicki.

"I don't think I can do it." She sniffled.

"What?"

"Two babies, Micaiah and all of his stuff, working on us, my career. . .its just too much. I mean, we didn't plan on another baby. Everything revolves around MacKenzie for this next year or so. . .not this one too."

"Its gone work out, Nic."

"But, I don't even know what I'm walking into right now. Sometimes I catch myself wondering if I want certain things and then I feel like shit." She wiped at her tears.

"Things like what?" She didn't answer. She just stared at the ground. "Wanting things like what, Nicki."

"Another baby." She began to cry hard and he wrapped his arms around her and let her rest her head on his chest. "I know it's selfish because we lost two but I'm so tired all the time and hungry and sick but I can never take care of me because MacKenzie is crying about something or I'm worried about Micaiah or you and the emails and phone calls from work are nonstop. I-I really don't think I can handle it all."

"That's your problem though, Nicki." He pulled her up to face him and she wiped her face. "You're always trying to carry the world on your shoulders like I won't help and then when I try you get mad. . .like just now. I shouldn't have to beg you to let me help. You shouldn't have to fall apart to realize it.'' He stroked her cheek. "I love you."

That was the first time in along time that he had said those words and truly meant it. She scanned his face for a while before grabbing his hand and pulling him towards her. They began kissing and helping each other undress. Nicki crawled backwards on the bed, with him hovering her body and placing kisses all over her, until she was in the center. He searched her face to make sure that this was what she wanted and for the first time in along time her eyes read that she wanted him. Her guard was down.

"I love you too."

 She stroked his cheek before placing her hand on the back of his neck to pull him in for a kiss. As he pushed inside of her she let out a long, drawn out gasp. He fit her perfectly, in every way.

"I love you." He said every time he pushed inside of her.

"I love you." Was always the response when she felt him pulling away.

She wanted to remember every second of this, every inch of him. This time was better than anytime they'd ever made love. Maybe it was the built up tension. Or possibly the concept that this might be the deciding factor in their next chapter. Maybe it was the fact that neither broke eye contact the entire time. Finally, for the first time in more than a year they were connected: mind, body, and spirit. They were one.











That last part was the one that I said that I actually like on Twitter like days ago. Lol. Um, they good now so yeah. :) This is the end of the story. Thanks for reading.





No. . . I'm kidding.





Bye.

Back On Track or Backtracking?

Nicki laid in her bed lazily with her daughter next to her. They had been home for a few days now and things were just ok. Micaiah was still in New York but Nicki insisted on MacKenzie coming home. She was now regretting this.

"Kenny, please." Nicki looked down at MacKenzie who was slapping her chest. Nicki pushed her hand away and MacKenzie held onto Nicki's hand.

"Fine. You can hold Mama's-" MacKenzie tried to pull Nicki's hand into her mouth. Nicki pulled her hand away quickly.

"No, Kenzie. Don't bite Mama." MacKenzie let out a high pitched scream. Nicki frowned and mimicked her. First MacKenzie frowned but then she smiled and screamed again. Nicki screamed again and then MacKenzie.

"Look, I'm not doing this with you ma'am." MacKenzie let out an aggressive scream and began hitting Nicki's chest again. Nicki sat her upright and frowned at her.

"Motherhood is so beautiful they say. There's no love like the love you get from your child they say. Lies. All lies. You do nothing but use and abuse me MacKenzie Grace."

MacKenzie sweetly rested her head on her mothers chest and looked at her.

"Aw. I guess you can be sweet when ya wanna be." She sighed and picked up her phone. "Lets call brody."

"Hello?" Kaitlyn answered.

"Hey, Kai. You watching my baby today, right?"

"Yeah, you wanna talk to him?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. Micaiah!" She yelled. "Oh, and when you gone let me come out there?"

"I told you that you can come whenever." Nicki laughed. "Everytime I try to fly you out you be talking bout you got plans though."

"Imma come with Grams when she drop off ya son."

"Ok."

"Here he go."

"Hi, Ma." Micaiah sighed.

"Hey cupcake."

"Maaaa, don't call me that." He huffed.

She huffed, "Fine. Hello, Micaiah. What are you doing?" She said sarcastically and rolled her eyes.

"I was playing the game but you called and now I'm on the phone with you." He said full of sarcasm, a trait he obtained from his mother.

"Why you acting like you don't wanna talk to me? You be acting real funny sometimes son."

"Nah, you just call me a million times a day."

"I do not." She laughed and watched Mackenzie move down to her stomach and rest her head on it.

"You do." He complained.

"I didn't even wanna talk to you, your siblings did but since you acting all stank-"

"Don't be so melodramatic."

"Oop. Melodramatic? Who up there teaching you big words?"

" Ma, I'm bouta go hoop with my friends."

"Oh, yeah. I heard that you went to a party. What kinda games did you guys play? Were girls there?"

"My Dad told you?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Wh-, Told me what?"

"Yup, he told you." He sighed. "Bye, Ma."

"Caizer." She whined.

"Ma, I gotta go."

"I miss you."

"Hanging up."

"I love you."

"Bye."

She laughed and then hung up. She looked down to see MacKenzie sleep on her stomach. She laid back and decided to try to get some sleep as well before Mackenzie began terrorizing her again.



Nicki tried to quickly dress MacKenzie before Safaree got home. She had just spent hours cleaning the house and cooking for him. She was really determined to get her family back to where it was supposed to be. She heard the front door open and rolled her eyes. Technically he was right on time but he was too early for her.

"Safareeee!" She yelled.

"Yeah?!" He called up the stairs as he walked up them.

"Go sit in Micaiah's room and wait for me to tell you to come out."

"Wh-"

"Please, don't question me." She said loud enough so that he could hear her down the hall.

He waited in Micaiah's room for about ten minutes before he heard the familiar clicking sound of her heels. She appeared in the doorway holding MacKenzie. They were both dressed up. MacKenzie had on a red and white dress with white stockings, black baby doll shoes and a red headband that had a big red bow on it. Nicki wore a simple tight fitting black dress, her hair straight, and her sparkly black Louboutins.

"Wow." He smiled and she giggled.

"Come on." She said. "Here, take her."

She led him downstairs where rose petals led to the kitchen.

"It ain't gone be nothing crazy at the end of this road?" He laughed thinking about the last time she did this.

"No." She laughed. "Put her in her chair and sit down babe."

"Alright. What's the occasion?" He asked after putting MacKenzie down.

"Me and Kenzie are about to outgrow these dresses so I figured we'd dress up but we had no where to go." She said while fixing their plates. "So, then MacKenzie goes, "Why don't we make dinner for Daddy?""

"Did she?" He smiled and looked over Nicki's body as she placed his food in front of him.

"Yup." She smiled at him then went to place her plate in front of her chair then went to grab their drinks and MacKenzie's bottle.

"So, what'd they need you at the shop for?" She asked once she sat down.

"The guys messed up this memorial portrait on this man's car. Well, that's what he says."

"Why couldn't they just fix it?"

"Cause he started going crazy, threatened to shoot my shit up, a customer heard and called the police and I had to go up and see about it."

"I told you don't put that shit in the hood." She laughed.

"That's my top clientele. Besides, its one in the burbs too."

"They ain't shooting up the one in the burbs though."

"They ain't shooting up the one in the hood either."

"Mmm."

"Damn, she tore that bottle up." He laughed.

"I put bananas in it. I'm glad she like it, I didn't think she would."

"Why?"

"Cause Caiah hates bananas."

"Oh." He put his fork down and stared at her.

"Why are you staring?" She smiled and blushed.

"I wanted to tell you something. You know. . .since we tryna get better."

"Go ahead." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"Um, so, Stephanie called me today and she asked to meet up. She said she has something really important to tell me."

Nicki's smile dropped at the mention of her name.

"Why are you still talking to her?"

"I'm not. She just-"

"Fuck it!" She stood and walked over to the sink with her plate. She threw it in the sink and it shattered.

"Nicki."

"You don't wanna work on us!" She screamed in his direction.

"I do." He stood.

"Don't you dare take a step towards me cause its taking everything in me not to try to kill you."

"Nicki."

"What the fuck do you want from me?!"

"You!"

"No! Because you're still talking to her! Why are you talking to her?!" Her New York accent was thicker than ever as she screamed.

"She keeps calling. What was I was supposed to-"

"Block her number dumbass! I'm so done with this sh-"

She looked over at MacKenzie who was sweaty and red in the face. She looked like she couldn't breath. She ran over to her and pulled her out of the high chair.

"Call an ambulance!" She yelled. "NOW!"