"I'm coming home today, mommy?" Christian asked, while packing all of his clothes in his Paw Patrol backpack.

"Yes, child. Now, hurry up so Chris can bring you home." I said, looking at him throw the phone.

"Stop rushin him. Well get there when we get there!" I heard Chris yell.

"Yeah, mommy, we get there when we get there!" Christian consigned, causing Chris and I to laugh.

I smile. "You don' turned my baby against me, sad. Anyways, call me when you get here, I have a surprise for you Christian."

"What is it?" He asked excitedly.

"Gotta wait till you get here. I'll see you later, love." I said.

"See you later, mommy."

I ended the FaceTime call and turned around to finish decorating the apartment.

I just got don't baking cupcakes, cake pops, and dog treat shaped cookies. I smile staring at the finishing product.

"He's gonna be so excited to see all this." I said to myself.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbing more desserts out of the oven, knowing August's four nieces and my one fat child was going to eat everything away.

I smile at the thought of having him back home and begin to scream in excitement. My baby was really coming back home.

My thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell ringing. I quickly ran to go answer the door and there was August, Travis, Chandra, and the four beautiful babies.

"Hi!" I said more excitedly than the first time of us meeting.

"Hi Sarah."

"Hey Uncle Aug's girlfriend." Chandra and the girls said.

I laughed, letting them inside. "He's just my friend. I promise."

"Ooh, brutha, you just got friend zoned." I heard Travis say, making me laugh.

"Aug don't eva get friend zoned, nigga." He laughed, pushing Travis to the side. "Wazzam, baybeh."

I blushed, tucking a piece of fallen hair behind my ear. "Hey August."

"When Christian gettin hea'?" He asked.

"Chris is suppose to be calling me to let me know when they're in their way. But that was like 10 minutes ago."

"Check yo phone then."

I looked down to see that I had a text from Chris from 9 minutes ago.

👎🏾

"Oh well, they should be here soon. I'm so excited, but nervous." I said.

August frowned. "Why? Ain' this what you wanted?"

"Yes, but I'm nervous he's not going to like this little party."

"He gon' love it. Stop second guessin. You straight." He pulled me closer to him, kissing the side of my face.

I smiled, before I heard a ding on my phone.

👎🏾

"He's here!" I screamed. "Oh, my gosh. Okay August can you open the door when they knock?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

I quickly jogged into my room, grabbing his presents I bought today and placed them into the living room, next to his new clothes and shoes.

"Knock knock." Christian yelled and August opened the door.

Once I saw him, I burst into happy tears. "Hi baby!"

"Hey mommy." He ran into my arms and I cradle him in my arms. "I miss you."

"Mommy missed you too, so much." I cried.

I couldn't help but cry. My baby was finally home. This is very needed.

I wipe my tears and smiled at him. "You missed me?"

"Yes!" He smiled.

"Come here," I grabbed him, holding on to his arm to tickle him.

Christian was home and now his welcome home party was ready and set to go.

•••

I watched from the kitchen as Christian and the girls played Just Dance. They were having so much fun and I was really happy to see Christian having fun with kids around his age.

"Hey gurl." Chandra said, taking a seat on the stool next to me.

"Hey."

"Ima cut to the chase, because I see what's goin on. When's the wedding?" She smiled.

I laugh, shaking my head. "What wedding and whose getting married?"

"You and Aug, obviously. I see y'all connection. That's the type of love connection I had with my kid's father." She said.

"Oh you and Travis?" I asked and she chokes on her water.

"Oh god, no. Travis is my brutha, gurl, right along with August. My husband is their brutha Melvin." She said, with a bitter smile on her face.

"Did y'all break up?"

"No. He's actually in heaven right na. He was shot and killed in 2010."

I gasped, "I'm so sorry for your lost."

"It's fine." She shrugged, smiling a little. "Now back to the wedding."

"There's no wedding. We're just friends."

She smirked, getting up off the stool. "Mhm, I betta be the first one to get an invitation, sis."

She walked off and I smile, shaking my head. "I guess."

"Ma, look. I got the high score." Christian pointed to the tv, showing me his score.

"That's good! You tired yet or you wanna open your things?" I asked as Travis, August, and Chris came back.

"I wanna dance more." Christian said, turning his attention back to the game.

August walked over to me and I squint at him. He reeked of weed and his eyes were low and red. I roll my eyes, pointed to the refrigerator.

"Gon' eat, August. There's chips on top and some chicken in the microwave." I said, mushing his face away from mine.

"I jus' want one kiss, man. I'ca eat lata." He laughed, wrapping his arms around me.

I smile up at him, pushing him away. "You need to eat now and you stank, move." I dragged.

"I see what it is. Yungin can't even get love from his girl. Shit crazy, ma." He said, walking away from me to grab three bags of chips.

"HA! I knew it! Whatchu call her, Aug?" Travis yelled.

August smiled, shaking his head. "Y'all doin too much."

"Nigga just called her his girl. ChaCha, run me my money and gimme ma' baybeh." Travis said, making me laugh.

"We ain' bet on no money, Trav." She laughed.

"We didn't? Damn!" He grabbed Callie from Chandra and sat on the couch. "Should'a. That could'a been a easy hunnid."

A few hours had passed and Chandra, Travis, and the four girls had left. Chris and August was in the living room watching some highlight clips of basketball, while I cleaned.

The party was absolutely amazing. From meeting August's family, to seeing how happy Christian got when he stepped through the threshold. Now that he's now, my baby staying home. Can't have another freak accident like Parker happen again.

"Baybeh, can you throw me some chips?" August asked.

"Baybeh," Chris mocked, making me laugh. "Y'all niggas gay. I'm bout to bounce though. A nigga need some pus–"

"I will punch you dead in the throat." I threatened.

"I kid, I kid. I gotta catch this flight to New York. Bye, nigga." He dabbed up August and gave me a quick hug.

"Bye Chris." I wave as he left.

"Baybeh, come hea." August mumbled.

I dried my hands off and sat next to August.

"Yes?"

"I ain' want nothin. I jus wanted ta' be near you." He said, picking me up and sitting me right on his lap.

"You can be so clingy at time." I joked, causing him to laugh.

"And? A nigga can't miss his baybeh? You been busy all day, plannin and perfectin lil man's party. Na that he slumped off junk food, I want ya attention." He said, kissing my neck.

I smile, "And you have my attention."

"Is that right. You wanna know somethin? You ain' neva give me ma' chips." He said, making me pull away straight facing him.

"You're ugly."

He laughed. "I'm the finest thing you eva seen."

"You're still ugly." I smiled, leaning in to give him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"You mind if I spend the night? A nigga ti'ed."

"I don't mind. You can sleep in my bed with me. It's a queen, so we'll have space."

"Okay. Whea' the towels and shit at? I'm bout ta' hop inna' shower." I got off his lap and we both stood up.

"It's in the closet, next to the bathroom."

He nodded, leaving me to go take his shower. Soon, I heard the shower running and the bathroom door close. I sighed, on my way walking back into the kitchen to finish cleaning, but my doorbell rings.

I open the door and immediately regretted it.

"Come out here and talk to me." Peter said. "Now!"

I gulped, walking out the door, closing it behind me. "Y-yes."

"So, this what we doing? You ain't answering text messages and calls now? You got me fucked up. You think this shit a game to me? I told yo dumb ass, you mine and you out this bitch playing house with some other nigga. Keep playing and ima knock yo shit loose."

"I'm not playi–"

Smack!

"Did I muthafuckin say you can speak back to me?"

I shake my head, tears threatening to fall. "N-no."

"You don't think I know about you and August, bitch? I see y'all. I gotta niggas all over the bitch watching you. You better tell that nigga to back up or ima blow this bitch up. Understood?"

I nodded, receiving another hard smack to the face. I fall against the door, causing a hard thud.

"Bitch, I said understood."

I cried, pushing him away from. "I understand, just please leave."

His face softened and he got down on his knee, kissing my face. "I only do this because I love you. I'll see you tomorrow, love."

With that he walked away and I stayed there laying against my door. I could feel my face swell up. I was so upset at myself for allowing him to put his hands on me. I got out of a bad relationship six years ago, just to be introduced to an abusive one.

It's so crazy how my day can go from amazing to bitter within seconds.

I heard the door open and I looked up seeing August with just a towel on. He looked at me, before grabbing me and lifting me off the ground.

He carried me bridal style to my room before grabbing my chin, examining my face.

"Maybe I'm seein shit, but why the fuck yo face fucked up?"

My bottom lip quivered. "August."

"Baybeh, ima need to tell me who did this ta' yo face?" He clenched his jaw.

"Peter," I whispered. "B-but it was a mistake. I made him mad and he–"

"You think that gives the nigga a right ta' put his dirty ass hands on you? I don' seen you wit fuckin bruises on ya neck, ya arm, na yo fuckin face. Fuck dat! You know how many time you don' pissed me off and I ain' neva laid a fuckin finger on you!" He said loudly.

I felt tears slipping down to my neck. "August, please."

He let my face go and walked out of my room. I didn't want August to see me like this. I tried to conceal my bruises with pounds and pounds of makeup, but I guess it didn't work since he saw them.

"Come take this bath, ma." August said. He was now in pajama pants.

I nodded, walking ahead of him to the bathroom. August turned his back as I stripped out of my clothes. Once I go in, my body relaxed.

"Can I look na?"

"Yes."

August turned around and knelt down beside the tub, staring me in my eyes. "I'on wanna see you like this, baybeh. That nigga gotta pay fa' puttin his hands on you. Why you ain' tell me he be hittin on you?"

I felt a tear slip from my eye and I shrugged. "I don't know. He wasn't always putting his hands on me. As soon as he saw how close we got, he became super abusive."

"I gotchu, baybeh." He kissed my bruised, swelled up cheek, entwining our fingers.