(One Year Later)
"Everybody gather around. I'm about to sing for my babies!" Whitney yelled out into the crowd of guests that showed up to Brelynn and Brayden's first birthday party. Kevin and Whitney decided to throw a big birthday bash for the twins and invited all of their friends and families to celebrate at the Mendham Estate. Food and drinks were available everywhere as well as a mini carnival, a blow up fun house, live music and clowns. No expenses were spared for the party; Brayden and Brelynn were wonderful babies and Whitney and Kevin couldn't ask for better children.
All the guests, both young and old came under the huge gazebo where Whitney had a table. She and Cissy carried the babies over to the table and placed them in their high chairs, while Dionne, CeCe, and big sister Annie took pictures. The other big sisters, Lilly and Krissy helped put the candles on once Kevin carried the huge cake and placed it on the table. Big brother Joe assisted Kevin with everything. The adorable babies, eyed everything and simultaneously smiled, as if they knew exactly that the celebration was about them. They both shared their parents' good looks, and they constantly heard from everyone that they should follow suit and put them into modeling or the entertainment industry. But besides the popular People magazine cover that Whitney and Kevin did with them not long after they were born, they have been determined to keep them out of the spotlight and let them have as normal of a life as possible, as with all of their children. Each day they got older, Brelynn and Brayden developed their unique personalities. At times, they were laid- back like Kevin; other times they were shy like Whitney could be. Other times, they enjoyed the spotlight like their parents, Brelynn more so than Brayden. And of course, the twins were just as energetic and silly as their parents and smiled a lot. Everyone loved being around the little bundles of joy. Kevin and Whitney made sure that they spent time with all of the children and made sure that they all knew that they were loved the same.
"Happy birthday to youuuuuu." Whitney belted out once the candles were lit. "Happy birtthhhddaaayyyyy toooo my beautiful baybbiieessss. Happy birrthhhdaaayyy to youuuuuuu!"
Everyone cheered as Whitney and Kevin playfully helped the twins blow out their candles. "Cake!" Brelynn yelled out. "Cake!" Brayden repeated as he pointed at the little round cakes that were put in front of them. Whitney gave them each a kiss and laughed. "Yes babies, THIS cake is for you to play with. The big one is for everyone to eat." Kevin gave them their little cakes and they had fun making a huge mess out it. Everyone doubled over in laughter as Brayden stuck his tongue out and smeared cake all over his face. Kevin wrapped his arm around his wife and gave her a kiss as they watched on. He was still deeply in love with Whitney and felt proud to have such a beautiful, diverse family. Whitney was just as proud and was glad that she had finally found what made her the happiest. She loved her family more than anything else and wouldn't want to change anything in the world about her life in that moment.
Thank you God. I finally feel like this is what I have been looking for so many years ago she said to herself.
(A Few Months Later)
"Baby please?"
Kevin and Whitney were enjoying some peace and quiet, as they had breakfast on the patio overlooking the serene, misty morning. Kevin folded the newspaper he was reading and looked across the table at his wife.
"Have you been watching ER again?" He asked her.
"Kevin!" Whitney rolled her eyes and through her linen napkin at him. "Please?"
"No."
"Kevin."
"For the thousandth time, you don't need to get plastic surgery. You look fine just the why you are." Whitney tossed aside her spoon that she used to eat fruit and sighed. "You're my husband. Of course you are going to say that. She stood up and went next to him, pulled up her shirt and looked at her cleavage. "I just wanna give these bad boys a lift, maybe even some implants, huh? What do you think?"
Kevin inspected her bust. "I think you don't have to fix what isn't quite broken" he told her. Whitney sighed as she put her shirt back down. "What's wrong with your woman wanting to get a boob job? Most men would hop up and down over this." Kevin glared at her. "Does this have anything to do with this new album you are working on?" Whitney sat back down. "Well not all of it, but yeah. I mean, I'm about to be 35 years old and it seems that these pop stars are getting younger and attractive, if you know what I'm saying. I mean, I feel good about the producers that I am working with and that the music will be good. But this is my first full album in 7 years. I just wanna make sure that I'm the whole package still."
Kevin shook his head. He didn't understand how his wife still had insecurities when she was one of the most beautiful celebrities in the industry. "Well I know how you are once you make your mind up about something, so I'm okay with it so long as it's just a lift and implants. You're right, I can't complain about something like that. And also, we would have to find a trustworthy doctor who knows what the hell he is doing. I don't want you leaving with three breasts or something odd like that."
Whitney laughed as she sat in his lap and kissed him. "Thank you baby. This would mean a lot to me."
A few weeks later, Whitney found a great doctor and set up the surgery. It was still dark and Whitney was half-asleep when the limousine picked her up when it was time to do the surgery. Kevin had conference call with some producers for his new movie that he could not miss that same morning and would be coming later on as soon as it was over. Meanwhile CeCe accompanied her to make sure everything went smoothly.
"Um, you know that Kevin wants me to talk you outta this right?" CeCe asked her on their way to the clinic.
"You're not gonna waste your time doing so are you?" Whitney asked with a accompanying grin on her face. "Girl, no. I know what battles I need to pick. Besides I've been thinking about getting some lipo done myself." CeCe yawned. "You too?" Whitney excitedly asked, helping her to wake up some more. "Not really," CeCe said as she tried to stifle another yawn. "But that's all I could think of the get Kevin off your case. And it seemed to work." Whitney looked out of the limo. "Thank you sis. I know Kevin gets it, but I don't think he knows the pressure to look and sound relevant in today's industry. I feel like Clive is putting a lot of money into this new album to work, so I just wanna be ready."
"Sis, you don't have to put this pressure on yourself. You still look great, even after three kids. Are you afraid that you will be irrelevant or what?" CeCe could not understand how one of the most beautiful women in the world could not think she was adequate enough to societies standards. "Not really." Whitney lied. "I've been wanting to do this for a long while and I feel like the time is finally right."
By the time Whitney checked in and the nurses gave her a Valium, Kevin came in right before she was going into surgery. "You know Whit, it's not too late. You can change your mind." He told her. "No way!" Whitney said as she was clearly feeling the side effects. "And when I get my new boobies, I want those sexy hands alllll over my body." Kevin blushed as CeCe giggled. "It's the medication" she whispered to him. Kevin laughed. "Thanks for coming in with her CeCe. The doctors said it will be an easy procedure."
As Kevin spoke with the staff, Whitney beckoned CeCe to come over to her. "This medicine is making me feel… soooo… good…. Just like I used to feel when I did that other stuff!" "Other stuff?" CeCe asked, confused. "Okay sis, I've gotta huge secret that I need to tell you. You gotta promise not to tell nooooobody else." Whitney told her, as if she was a Kindergartener. "I promise." CeCe told her. "From time to time I would do…." – "Ready to go Ms. Houston?" The orderly interrupted her as he prepped her to leave. "It's Mrs. Costner, get it right!" she barked at him. "Sorry. I meant are you ready to go Mrs. Costner?" The orderly wasn't bothered at all by her comment, as he have seen all kinds of people say weird things under medication. Kevin told her that he would be waiting once it was done and Whitney did a Miss America wave as she was wheeled down the hall. CeCe and Kevin could only snicker at the madness. As they waited, CeCe pondered over what Whitney had said to her. I wonder what she was going to say to me? I know that girl has been keeping stuff from me. I love her so much, but it's hard to figure out what's going on with her sometimes.
A few hours later, Whitney had been wheeled into an recovery room.
"Hey beautiful. You're out of surgery and CeCe and I are here like we promised. Wake up sleeping beauty." Kevin told her. "Hi baby." Whitney half whispered as she put a small smile on her face. CeCe stepped out of the room to let them have their privacy for a few minutes. She really loved how Kevin had an unconditional love for Whitney. And after the Bobby fiasco, she was glad that God had them together and made him the man in her life.
Kevin came out. "Again, thank you so much for staying here. I think she's good and medicated for now. But I'm gonna let the nurses deal with her once the pain hits the Diva." They shared a laugh. "
Are you gonna stick around or what?" "I set aside my calendar today so I'm all y'alls" CeCe told him. "Well I'm gonna go grab us all some dinner. You know how she gets when she hasn't eaten all day." He kissed her on the cheek and left the floor. CeCe finally went in to see Whitney once again. "Hey Diva. How do you feel?"
"Game recognizes game," Whitney retorted. "I need another pain shot." "I can't believe you put yourself through this pain. I could never." CeCe said. "You gotta feel pain sometimes to get to the beauty." Whitney said. The nurse entered the room and gave her another shot of medicine and she immediately felt drowsy. "Sis, promise me that you will take care of all of my babies in case anything ever happened to me." "Whit, nothing is going to happen to you. Don't even speak that into existence." CeCe told her. "Promise me CeCe." Whitney ignored her. This has got to be the medicine talking. She thought to herself. She had never heard her friend speak so seriously about something, and it kind of scared her a bit. "You didn't promise me CeCe." Whitney still spoke with her eyes closed.
"I promise Whit." she finally said.
"Good." With that, Whitney drifted off to sleep.