Zo and I stood hand in hand in our matching attire, waiting for Ju to make her debut. Everyone had their cameras set to capture the moment.

The place was elegant. A castle-like feel with a wrap-around entrance. This location's usually used for wedding receptions.

"Everything's set to go." Zo snaked his arms around me from behind, his hands landing on my stomach. "They should be pulling up any minute."

"I wonder what my brother has planned. I hope it's not anything too crazy." I leaned my head back on his shoulder.

Zo turned toward the valet booth. "Oop, look who's here."

I stared over in that direction seeing Nelson and his family checking in their vehicle.

"Be nice." I reminded Zo.

"I am, I was just letting you know they're here." He rubbed circles on my stomach. Zo, all of a sudden, laughed, whispering, "Ju Ju has a lot of siblings, with two more on the way."

I laughed loudly. "She's closer to the finish line. I'm two months, still in the first trimester."

"Were we telling the family today or just Ju?"

"I'm not sure if Ju could keep it a secret. I think we have an opening to tell everyone after the fashion show." I replied

He kissed my neck.

Music blasting from a distance caught everyone's attention. There was a live band.

As they closed in on us, a loud siren went off.

An enormous float filled with kids, and a marching band following behind came in.

"Attention, attention, attention!" My brother Jr cleared his throat while speaking through a bullhorn. "Everyone, stop where you are!"

The beat of a familiar song the band played stopped once the float approached us.

It was dead silence.

The band members had a mug on their faces, and my brother had an evil smile eyeing everyone. After a moment longer everyone glanced around wondering what was going on.

Next thing we know, we heard a boom sound, startling everyone.

A burst of purple, blue, and pink fireworks shot into the sky. Everyone clapped.

The band started a drum roll while my brother got ready to speak into the mic. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to my niece, Julia Ada Martin." He acted as if he was Michael Buffer, prolonging the last part.

The drum roll sped up and gained volume.

Our baby finally came out from inside the float, gaining applause from everyone. She pranced up the stairs swaying in her purple, pink, and blue tutu dress while holding up her crown.

"Ok, Ju!" Jade shouted over all of our chants and whistles.

"That's my girl!" Mai exclaimed, snapping her fingers.

"Lets go Ju Ju." My sister Maliha shouted as well.

Julia took a seat at her purple velvet throne. The band started again playing that familiar beat. I kept trying to figure out the song.

A group of kid dancers ran out and began singing the words.

I immediately joined in singing the words.

My mouth hit the floor, noticing the kids sing-a-long. Luckily they skipped out on the bad words.

Jr had his phone snapping my expression. Zo stood beside me, laughing.

The kids were killing the entire routine from the song, minus the handstand parts, of course. Jr joined in as a hype man throwing his fist in the air, flicking it as he swayed side to side.

"Ayeee" we repeated as the dancers got more into it, with their Jabbawockeez routine.

Finally making our way inside the building everything was all set to go. Music blasting, the food was hot, and the candy decorated the tables throughout looking amazing. Along with the pink, purple and blue flowers.

The waiters brought out little finger foods for the tables.

"Hi," Nelson's wife came over greeting me. We were finally seated at the round table in the middle.

She was gorgeous, absolutely stunning.

"Hi, how are you?" I smiled shaking her hand.

"I just wanted to come over and introduce myself. Thank you for extending the invitation. Such a lovely party." She spoke in a southern accent, giving me a warm smile.

"Thank you so much. I'm Adira. This is my husband Zo," I pointed, he waved to her, "and our daughter's running around here somewhere with her uncle." I giggled, waiting for her to give her name.

"It's Alexa." She rubbed her baby bump.

"It's so nice to meet you, Alexa. How far along are you? You can sit if you like." I gestured, pointing to the vacant seat next to me. She gladly took it, wanting to chat further.

"I'm almost eight months along." She stared off in the direction of her husband Nelson and their three kids. "This should be our last, but every time they get older, it's like I'm having baby fever again. So who knows."

We shared a laugh.

"I can understand that. Although Julia is a handful by herself. I want her to have siblings." I nodded, agreeing, searching my purse for a piece of ginger candy. I was feeling queasy.

"How far along are you?" She leaned in and spoke low.

I giggled. "I'm two months. We haven't told anyone. We planned to announce it here."

"Now that's a birthday gift. Congratulations."

"Thank you." We shared a smile, then gave each other a look as if we wanted to say more but didn't know if we should.

Zo stood up. "Be right back. I want to make sure the staff is ready for the kids to get started with the runway."

"Ok." I poked my lips out. He chuckled, giving me a little wink before walking off.

There was little awkward silence between us, but we tried to cancel it out by enjoying the festivities around. Hip hop dance songs were playing, and the kids were on the floor doing every move.

The adults stood around conversing. The hired staff made sure everything ran smoothly and assisted anyone. Our little sisters were trying to show up the little kids. Zo's teammates were goofing around trying to dance as well. Char and Jr were with Julia dancing.

I popped the candy in my mouth, deciding to spark up a conversation. "So, what do you do?"

"I'm a psychiatrist. That's sort of how I met Nelson. He was a patient. We kept it professional, up until we didn't. I had to let him go as a client in order for him to pursue me." Her cheeks lifted, thinking about it.

"Wow, so you know everything about him." I giggled a little. "All the secrets."

"I do." She nodded. "I had to separate him as a patient to get to know him on a level of friendship."

She then gave me a look. I knew then she wanted to bring up the abuse.

"I'm glad to know things are better for him, mentally." I paused. "I guess you can say I had the worst of him."

She searched my eyes "He told me some unimaginable things about his past. I want to say to you that I'm so sorry for all you've endured."

"You have no reason to apologize. I'm just happy things are different. I lost my mind when Julia said she wanted to meet him. I didn't know what she would walk into." I sat back, shaking my head.

She nodded her head, understanding. "I was against us being together, because of him hitting you and all the mental abuse he made me aware of. And I can speak on this now with you because we talk about this often. —That was the only way I would agree with seeing him. He had to continue speaking on it, continue with another therapist, and take full responsibility."

I nodded.

She then went on to say, "he talk about Julia all the time. I encouraged him to reach out, but he said things were too damaged. He felt like it was too late, and she was better off without him." A smile grew on her face. "When your husband messaged him, he ran in the room to me, jumping up and down. We laid in bed together, crying."

We laughed lightly, because both of our eyes were glossed over.

"That's really good to hear, honestly."

"We were in the mall, picking out Julia's gift. He was panicking and overthinking. I made him leave and wait in the car. We had been in that mall for six hours. —So FYI, I picked out her gift." She laughed, and I started feeling better about having this sit down with her.

"I won't lie I'm still nervous about Julia getting close to him. She's my heart. And every time I see him, all of the stuff from the past resurface. —He and his mom put me through hell."

She peered at me, sympathetically, "I couldn't begin to imagine. You're strong, with the way you kept going after. —I only had one run-in with his mom, and that was the last conversation he had with her five years ago. They don't speak."

"Wow, really?" I asked, remembering how close they were.

"Unfortunately, she wasn't all for his growth. She even tried to say I was changing him. As if he wasn't capable on his own." She paused. "For whatever it's worth, —he's really trying to be a better person every day. But I understand your apprehensiveness, it's warranted. It's normal to feel how you're feeling. Only you truly know what you've endured."

"You're definitely a psychiatrist." I laughed humorously, she joined.

"I never stop working I guess."

"I hear you. I totally understand, I'm always diagnosing Zo when he tweaks something during a game." I laughed.

We enjoyed each others company a little longer while we waited for the show to start.

****

The kids were all set for the runway. Julia ran over to me. I was finally able to see my baby.

She jumped in my arms, wrapping hers around me. "Woah." I pulled apart and sat her in my lap. "This is Mrs. Alexa, Mr. Nelson's wife."

"Hi," Julia spoke shyly with a little smile.

"Hi, Julia. I love that dress." Alexa smiled back.

"Thank you." She stuck her fingers in her mouth. I pulled them out.

"It's really nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting us to your party."

"No problem." She tried covering her face.

"Later, I would love for you to meet my kids. They've heard so much about you." Alexa smiled back.

"I already have. They're my friends." She grinned, waving at them. They made their way over to us, followed by their dad.

"Stop running," Nelson ordered behind them.

The twin girls kept on running over to us, seeing who could get their first.

"Mom, this is my brother Neal." Julia pointed to him. He smiled, with cute curl all over his head, waving. "He just turned five.

"Nice to meet you." I smiled, extending my hand out to shake his small one.

"My little sisters Jena and Jurney, they're two." She went over to grab their hands. "Both of their first and middle names start with J and A like mine, mommy."

"Aww, that's sweet, Ju." We all laughed at how enthused she was. "It's nice to meet you two beautiful little ladies, as well." They giggled standing side by side in their matching floral print rompers.

Zo saw us gathered together and made his way over.

"It's fashion show time." He waved his hands around excitedly. Julia ran over and hopped in his arms, snuggling in his neck.

"Let's hit it." I stood. All the kids were participating, so they had them form a line behind the makeshift stage. The adults found their seats on both sides of the runway.

Zo's sisters Jade, Mai, and Gabbi, made their way out on stage to the left podium. Then my sisters Kamala and Maliha stood in front of the right podium. They were the announcers.

Our parents had walk duty. Any kids too young to walk alone, they accompanied.

I heard Zo chuckle something under his breath. I leaned in and asked him to repeat it. "He has a type for sure."

"What?" I lifted my brow. I could barely hear him.

"You and his wife look alike. He has a type." He laughed again.

"Be quiet, you." I giggled, shushing, and pushing him off. They were seated next to us.

I whispered. "I'm one of a kind."

"You damn right, you are." He pulled me close to him.

Char walked out from behind the stage, with a microphone in hand. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the fashion show of your life. Please give a round of applause to these beautiful babies as they come to rip the runway!"

Everyone stood, whistling, and clapping.

"Let do this!" She yelled out. The DJ dropped a beat. She made her way backstage to help them get ready to walk.

The show went on. The kids came out in their own rendition of rock star fashion. Shades, ripped jeans, funky styled hair, and blinged accessories. They were adorable.

Julia sashayed her way down the runway, waving and giving attitude. She had everyone on their feet, rooting.

While the kids made it back down the aisle for their final walk together, Char made her way out to the stage."Ladies and gentlemen give another round of applause for them. I see some future models in here."

We clapped proudly at all of our babies. The show went well.

I smoothed out my dress, readying myself to go on the stage.

"Now, if we could get Julia's parents up here. They have an announcement. I don't even know what it is. So hurry up." Char gestured for us to pick up the pace.

We laughed speed walking to the stage.

"I'm sorry, but before you make that announcement, we need to recognize this fabulous attire. My best friend is werking that dress. Can you give us a little something?" She had her hand in a praying position pleading.

I shook my head, no. This was not my party. Everyone in the room began chanting, "walk, walk, walk!"

I gave Char an evil stare before rolling my eyes. She blew me an air kiss thanking me.

Zo went over to stand beside Char, pulling out his phone to capture this.

I mustered up a little courage to show everyone where my daughter got her swag from.

Just kidding, I needed to pray as I didn't fall in these heels.

Holding my breath, I managed to make it down the runway and back, striking a little pose at the end.

I looked to Zo, noticing him now holding his phone up in one hand and Ju in his other arm. She repeatedly clapped in shock, seeing me, the not so girlie girl walking strutting my stuff.

I felt like I had just made her night.

Char handed me the microphone after successfully making it over to them in one piece.

"Thank you, thank you." I laughed as everyone took their seats.

Zo placed Julia on her feet.

"Firstly, thanks to everyone behind the scenes and in front, for putting this party together. The last few weeks planning has been crazy, but we made it." I did a little jumping dance.

"Also, thank you for coming out and celebrating our baby girls' sixth birthday. We want her to get to opening the gifts, but we have a little something to say to her before we do." I handed the mic over to Zo.

He cleared his throat dramatically before speaking. "Hey everybody. I won't drag it out or anything." He bent down facing her. "Ju, what do you think about adding on another sibling?"

He pointed the mic to her. She raised her brows. "Huh?"

"Mommy and daddy are having a baby." Zo sang out, hoping she was excited about it. We didn't know how this would go, especially now with all of her new siblings.

"Really? You're having a baby too? That's so cool." She jumped up and down, hugging us both.

Everyone stood clapping. Zo and I took a breather, relieved she was happy.

"I always wanted a big family. Now I have one. I can't wait!"

"I'm glad you're excited about it." I bent down to hug her.

Zo pretended to wipe the sweat off of his forehead, then spoke into the mic. "Phew," he laughed. "That was close. — Please enjoy the rest of the festivities. Thank you all again for making this event a success."

Marcel, Jackson, and the rest of the team started barking and shouting. Zo made a little barking sound back to them. They were also celebrating their win.

Another championship trophy to put in the shelf!

We went on to opening gifts, partying, and eating. Everything went smooth.

"Thanks again for the invite." Nelson gathered his twins, scooping them up in his arms. They were tired.