"You don't want to take your coat off?"

Emani sat on the couch bundled up in her coat and hat with her back pack strapped to her. She had been like this since her mom had dropped her off an hour ago.

"Mommy" She whined and cried.

"Mommy is at work she'll be back soon"

Emani ignored me continuing to cry with her bottom lip poked out, I had been surfing the channels trying to put on something that she liked that would calm her down.

"You like Doc McStuffins?"

This wasn't our first time together, she had been coming over after school during the week and overnight during the weekends for the past two weeks and every time this was what we went through until she fell asleep or my mom and Sammie came to get her.

: Ma, please help me she still crying and I don't know what she wants.

I was out of ideas on how to get her to feel comfortable around me, she just wasn't feeling me and that shit stung.

: Why is she upset?

: She wants her mom, she won't even take off her coat and hat to get comfortable on the couch.

I gazed over at her still slumped down on the couch because of her tightly packed book bag with all her covers and clothes for the weekend.

: Ermias she's a very adventurous child, you can't just sit her on the couch in front of the television and think she just wants to sit there and watch it all day.

: Well can I bring her over to you?

I didn't expect for Emani to react to me like this for this long, I thought she would at least be warmed up to me right now.

: Not today, you need to figure things out on your own, you are her father you need to build that bond on your own.

I wiped my hand down my face, what could I do with Emani, she didn't even want to be around me.

"Emani you want to take a ride wit me?"

"Are we getting mommy?" I sighed, this was going to be difficult.

"No but-

Her bottom lip quivered and the water works sparked up again. An idea finally popped into my head about where to take her.

"Emani, do you want to go see da fish?"

"Fish?" She sniffed sitting up.

I got some tissue off my coffee table squatting in front of her wiping her face and nose of all the boogies like I did Boog when she was grieving Cane.

"I know dis is scary for you but know I'm here whenever you want a hug or you want to play or to get da monsters away"

Emani looked me in the eyes and leaped into my arms wrapping her tiny arms around my neck. I got choked up from her finally being comfortable enough to hug me.

"Are you my daddy?"

"Yeah if dats okay wit you?"

"Yeah, kids at school have daddies I want one too"

I felt bad as fuck for being absent in her life for the first five years based off of who her mother was and the history she had with men, I was grateful that I have enough time to make that up to Emani now.

"Well then you got one, now let's go see dem fish"

"Yaaaayyyyyyy!"

She hopped like a bunny holding my hand walking out of the front door to my car.

"NAYBAHOOD!

I looked up to see Slim standing on the porch at Cane's house across the street, a furniture truck was parked in the driveway.

"What's craccin cuz?"

"You heard Boog coming back to Crenshaw?"

I honestly ain't hear shit after I embarrassed the fuck out of her in the hospital, she had cut me off from every phone, email and social media site. I tried everything to reach out and make things right with her but it was a fail.

"Word"

"Yeah man, we moving her in Cane spot" Blacc came out the front door and walked across the street scooping Emani up into his arms.

"Hey Mani"

He kissed her cheek putting her back down dapping me up.

"Damn dat is Sammie all over again cuz"

Blacc smiled staring at Emani who hid behind me when Slim came across the street with his fingers wiggling to tickle her.

"Uncle Slim gonna get you Mani"

"Nooooooo" Emani giggled running circles around me to get away from Slim and his childish ass until he caught her tickling her and tossing her up in the air before placing her down.

"You heard Boog moving in Cane crib while she film?"

"Yeah Slim just told me"

"Damn nigga you can't hold water, shit" Blacc chuckled, I saw Emani taking in every word my brother said.

"Blacc language man, it's a kid around"

"Oh my bad, it's crazy you really a dad"

It was unreal to me too, one minute I was running the streets trying to get a quick dollar now I was a business owner with a kid.

"Me and Mani about to go to da aquarium once her mom get off work let's link up"

"Aight cuz" Slim dapped me and playfully shadow boxed at Emani "See you lil Sammie"

"Bye Mani, Uncle Sam will see you later"

Blacc dapped me and kissed Emani's forehead.

"Who's Boog?"

Emani questioned me curiously while I strapped her into her car seat in my Benz.

"She's my friend, well used to be"

"She's not your friend anymore?"

"No she's mad at me right now" I poked my bottom lip out making Emani giggle.

"Just give her candy thas what my boyfriend does when I'm mad at him"

I flinched back like she had punched me in the face.

"Nahhhhhh you too young for a boyfriend"

"Mommy said it's okay"

I clenched my jaw of course her trifling mother would think shit like that was cute.

"It's not, it's okay to have friends but boyfriends and girlfriends are for grownups"

"Oh do you have a girlfriend?"

"Nah but I will soon kid"

Family dinner tonight at 71 Above bring Mani and be dressed nice.

"My muthafuckin' dawg"

Sammie greeted me with a warm embrace in the parking lot of the restaurant that she and her mom had invited me out to.

"Look at you it doesn't even look like you had a baby"

I was amazed how quickly she had snapped back and I prayed that I could do the same after having my baby in October.

"I'm ready to turn the fuck up tonight wit you Boog"

Sammie began walking to the entrance of the restaurant, I grabbed her hand to stop her.

"I can't Sammie"

"Why not? you on a strict diet for your film?"

"Sammie, I'm six weeks pregnant"

Her jaw dropped, it was perfecting timing to tell Miss Angelique who had just pulled up.

"Mom you not gonna believe this!"

"What's wrong Samantha? What you do now?" Sammie raised her hands in surrender.

"It's not me this time mom, it's her"

"I'm sorry, How you doing Erin?" Miss Angelique rolled her windows up getting out of her car.

"I'm doing good"

"What's going on with you?" Miss Angelique hugged me, I sighed stepping back.

"I'm having your son's baby"

"Sorry repeat that" I nervously stared at my freshly pedicured toes.

"I'm six weeks pregnant with Nip- Ermias baby"

Miss Angelique gasped covering her mouth and smiling. I sighed this wasn't the greatest news for me but I was glad to have people happy for me.

"Does he know?"

"No ma'am I haven't spoken to him since I left Crenshaw"

"Well tonight is your lucky night this dinner is to celebrate Ermias and Samiel opening their business"

I gulped down my fear, how would I react seeing him after a month? How could I tell him I was having his baby?

"I'm so mad we can't turn up"

"I'm just as mad as you are I love my weed"

Miss Angelique coughed awkwardly, I blushed shamefully at my outburst.

"Sorry"

"Oh please, I used to be young once"

All of us entered the restaurant getting on the empty elevator.

"Have you had any symptoms yet?"

"Bloating that's it"

"Lucky bitch" Sammie mugged me with her arms crossed over her chest.

"When I was pregnant with Ermias it was the most perfect pregnancy I had no symptoms and barely any pain during labor"

"What about me mom?"

"Honnnney you ripped me from the rooter to the tooter "

I snorted at how salty Sammie looked at hearing how terrible she did her mom.

We reached the private area that was decorated in Crip blue, Slim smiled at us while talking to Blacc.

"NAYBAHOOOOD" we shouted at the same time, Miss Angelique held my wrist.

"Baby only the members of the 60's say that"

"Um-

Sammie head snapped in my direction catching on to my hesitance.

"Get the hell out of here, you're a criplette?"

"Yeaaaaah" I dragged staring at Miss Angelique who nodded.

"I won't judge but I will tell you like I tell my sons and his friends please be safe and do good with it"

" I will"

"NAYBAHOOOOD"

Nipsey's voice took hold of my attention, I turned around to where he was standing dressed in a suit with a little girls in his arms.

"Damn what's all dis for?"

"We are celebrating you and Samiel's opening your first business"

Nipsey set the young girl down letting her run to Slim while he hugged his mom, my fist balled up at the sight of him.

" Sammie I'm telling you now don't sit me by yo brother"

"I won't you can sit beside me and mommy"

Anytime he made a move in my direction I kept moving away to not allow him to get close enough to speak.

" Before dinner is served I want to make a toast to my sons"

I sat down beside Sammie everyone had shot glasses beside their wine glasses, Nipsey grabbed the bottle helping pour people shots.

"Fuck how am I going to do this?" I whispered to Sammie who looked around.

"Don't worry I got you"

"Boog you need a shot too"

Everyone turned their bodies in my direction waiting for me to respond to Nipsey. Sammie reaches under the table throwing something.

"Ermias grab my phone from under the table I dropped it, I'll pour her drink"

Nipsey went under the table while his sister hurriedly took my water cup pouring some into my shot glass, Slim side eyed us and Blacc frowned at us sneaking.

"Here" Sammie got her phone putting it on the table.

"Sixth baby mom I know you not somebody's second baby mom" Whispered into my ear, Nipsey looked at us with a smug look.

"I have no clue what you are talking about"

Miss Angelique stood up holding her shot glass staring at the end of the table at Nipsey and Blacc.

" To my sons Samiel and Ermias I've watched you on the curb of Crenshaw And Slauson work so hard just to get here and I'm so proud that you both never quit and pushed forward even when things didn't go your way, you both deserve this and more I love you both dearly"

Everyone toasted taking the shot, I drank my water acting like it was strong to not be noticed by anybody else.

"Also I want to welcome Erin or as Ermias calls her Boog back to Crenshaw, we all want you to know that you are now family and no matter what we support you"

I fanned my eyes getting emotional knowing Miss Angelique was talking about my pregnancy, I sighed knowing this was the best time to announce it to Nipsey and everyone else.

" I would like to announce something to everybody"

"Ahhhh shit" Sammie sipped her drink with a sneaky smile because she already knew what was going to be said.

" I first want to say I thank all of you for welcoming me in with open arms, I don't even get that much love from my own family, I know a few of you just saw Sammie help me get water into my shot glass, well there is a reason behind it"

"I knew it!" Slim shouted out dramatically.

"I'm not allowed to drink because I'm expecting my first child"

I gulped seeing Nipsey process the announcement, his brother rubbing his shoulder happily made him realize it was his baby.

"Boog"

"I just wanted you all to know now I have to go to the bathroom I drank too much water"

I made the excuse to get away before Nipsey had a chance to approach me.

"Boog hold up" I continued to walk briskly ignoring him chasing behind me.

"Boog we gotta talk"

His tall ass reached me grabbing me by the arm, I snatched back roughly punching him in the chest.

"No!"

"Boog I been trying to reach you, to talk to you"

I hated my hormones right now for making me seem weak with all the crying I was doing.

" I didn't want to talk then and I don't want to talk now" I started walking again to the bathroom and he stopped me once again by my hand.

"You having my kid Boog you can't ignore me

"I don't give a fuck you don't get to just say what you want and hurt me then get in my face like everything is sweet, fuck you, now lemme the fuck go before I fuck you up"

"Boog you ain't built like dat" He smiled taking what I was saying as a joke.

"You really lucky your family is around and we in this fancy ass restaurant because you know how I get down ask your baby mom, oh congrats on your little girl she's beautiful"

I snatched my hand away storming into the bathroom locking myself in a stall to be a crybaby in peace.

"Why he gotta be so fuckin fine?"