March 12th, 2019
Dinner was amazing and they ended up having the mouth-watering lasagna and ofcourse, the incredible banana splits. Sophia was in seventh heaven.
The evening was very relaxing and it was so nice to be home surrounded by all of their own possessions and some color. Hospitals were very white and sterile. The scent of home was so comforting for all of them. Susan decided to make some of her famous hot chocolate from scratch which had always been one of Heather's favorites as a child. Yolanda whipped up some delicious buttery popcorn to celebrate Naya being home from the hospital. Sophia was loving the extra snacks.
They all took their seats on the sectional, recliners, and loveseat and were enjoying chatting about everyone's summer plans, filming the last episodes of the season, and most of all sharing how thankful they were that Naya was alive and doing so much better. Heather was once again holding her wife in the way she felt the least amount of pain which was across her lap with her head on her chest. They sat on their favorite spot which was on the chaise part of the sectional so Naya could keep her legs straight.
"Hey kiddo, what would you like to do for the big FOUR birthday coming up!" Mychal asks while bringing the can up to take a sip of his beer while they all look on curiously. Heather and Naya had a moment of realization as they glanced at each other that their daughter was going to be four on the 20th. They would have a brilliant, beautiful, intelligent, soulful, perfect four-year-old. Life went way too fast. With the whirlwind that has been their life for the past week or so they've been so far behind in planning her special day. They really needed to get on that. Sophia deserved more than ever to have a stress-free and fun day with her dance friends.
"I don't want a birthday this year Mickey," Sophia said and they all lowered their cups that they were about to take the first sips of the delightful hot cocoa that Susan made but were stopped when Sophia of all people said she didn't want a birthday party.
"Sophia, honey, what do you mean you don't want a birthday, that's not like you honey. You always want a party even if there's nothing to celebrate?" Heather asked confused and Naya looked at her wife with the same baffled, worried expression before turning her head back to her daughter.
"I just don't want a party this year. Mami isn't feeling good. Nobody likes to have a party when they don't feel good." Sophia responded with a casual shrug and went back to her Lion King puzzle on the coffee table. Sophia was becoming a whizz at puzzles. Granted they weren't large puzzles but she was still amazing with them.
Naya looked so damn guilty and at that moment because she felt like Sophia wasn't making the decision for herself and what she wanted but only thinking about Naya. Don't get her wrong it was insanely sweet and so mature for a four year old to even consider her parent like that, but Naya wanted Sophia to have the best birthday ever, especially after the hell she had been through. Naya wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out at the thought of Sophia wanting to sacrifice for her. it was supposed to be the other way around! There was also a sense of pride at how selfless, considerate and loving her baby girl was.
"Mi amor..." Naya began but stopped when she saw Sophia use the table to help herself stand up and run off quickly to her room.
"Mija!" Naya says worriedly while trying to move hastily but could barely get up up with her stiff and sore body much less move quickly.
Susan and Yolanda look towards the hallway where their granddaughter disappeared to both of them also astounded by what Sophia was saying because that girl always wanted a celebration.
Antonio and Andrew were dumbfounded as they looked at each other in confusion. Nickayla and Ashley were just getting up to go find and bring Sophia back since it was too hard for Naya to get up and she was sitting on Heather. Before the aunts were able to get up to fetch their niece, Sophia came running back into the room with a small stack of papers and wiped her eyes as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Everyone was alarmed at the little girl with tears in her eyes. Naya and Heather wanted to scoop her up, hold her, and wipe those tears away from her stunning blue eyes.
"Sweetheart..." Yolanda mumbles lovingly in a very grandmotherly-caring tone.
"Mija, come here baby girl. Give mami and momma a hug." Naya murmurs as she opens her arms for her daughter. Sophia climbed up on the chaise part of the sectional where her momma and mami were sitting and nuzzled into Naya's side with a hand on her mami's stomach. Her hand was so lightweight since she was so tiny that there was nearly zero pressure on her. "Talk to us, baby girl. Why are so sad?" Naya urges and Sophia looks up at Naya and then at Heather both nodding for her to share her feelings. Heather tucks a strand of her black hair behind her ear.
"What are those little love?" Heather asks pointing to the white pieces of computer paper on the couch. Naya looked curiously as Sophia picked them up and started to explain them.
Sophia wipes her eyes with her little fists and looks at the pieces of paper in her hands thoughtfully before speaking. I made these pictures when mami was in the hospital because I was super sad and uncle Kurtsy and Nessy told me to draw my feelings..." Sophia mumbled and handed the small stack of papers to Naya who took them in her hand and glanced at the first one. Heather leaning over looking as well.
"I drawed that when we were waiting to see you and they wouldn't let me in. I promised momma to tell you I was there and I was waiting for you." Sophia sniffled as she wipes her eyes and Naya has what felt like a jagged rock in her throat because this is the saddest thing she's ever heard. She looks at the drawing along with Heather and wipes a tear.
"Tell me about this one baby girl," Naya mutters. Sophia scoots closer as she sits on her knees and explains her drawing.
"I drawed the sky gray because even though it was sunny outside it didn't feel sunny in my heart," Sophia said and everyone started tearing up and the boys brought their elbows to their knees and put their hands over their mouths. The family saw what that little girl went through without Naya and it was something they never want to see again, but to hear it from her mouth and see her feelings drawn on paper just put a dagger in their hearts. Naya wanted to start bawling at that very moment. Knowing what her baby girl went through was worse than the physical pain of the accident. "I made myself sitting at my favorite park, you know the one with our favorite slide by aunt LeLe's house...but you weren't there, you were too sick to come so I had to go by myself and I was super scared and alone. Momma was going to come but I told her to stay with you so you wouldn't be scared but I was still super scared until I got to see you." Sophia said wiping her eyes and taking a shaky deep breath.
Susan and Yolanda were a complete mess as were Nickayla and Ashley. The boys were doing their damn hardest to pull themselves together but hearing Sophia articulate the pain that she experienced so well as a four-year-old was truly heart-wrenching. Heather and Naya started sobbing and held their arms out collectively for Sophia who shuffles and moves to the back of the couch where she can squeeze in between her mom's on Naya's good side. She kisses both of their cheeks while Naya hands the drawing to Susan who's closest to her before peeking at the next one. Naya immediately had tears in her eyes as she holds their baby girl. Sophia turns her has while keeping it on Naya's shoulder and points to another part of the picture.
"This is a rainbow crying because rainbows are super pretty things that are always bright, colorful, and happy but I wasn't feeling any of those things." Sophia sniffles and points to the picture. Naya could barely see through her eyes anymore they were so coated with tears, Heather was tilting her head back trying to catch her breath. Naya hands the photo to Susan and they pass them around before looking at the next drawing.
"This picture is when you had your sarrgery (surgery) and I was crying and screaming for you. Uncle Mickey was trying to catch me because I was going to run in the doors where they took you but he catched (caught) me and I kept telling him to let me go because you needed me." Sophia says wiping her eyes and shuttering. Heather wipes her eyes and shakes her head at the horrible memory that was seeing their little girl trying to get to her mami. Naya was sobbing and has to take a minute while she brought her daughter in for a hug. She hid her face in Heather's chest and Sophia was startled at first but kissed her mami and momma on the cheek and rested her head against Heather's chest while petting Naya's cheek with her tiny hand.
"It's okay mami, I feel much better that you're home but I was super sad those days. Aunt DeDe sat with me while a drawed this one because it made me so sad. "That's me sitting in the hall by where they took your bed because I was waiting for you," Sophia explained. Naya's sobs were racking through her body hearing the pure hell her little girl went through. She felt so incredibly guilty even though logically she knows she did nothing wrong, but her baby girl was suffering because of her and that's where her guilt lies. "Over there, that's my heart because I told it to go with you so you wouldn't be all alone," Sophia said pointing to a little floating heart by the doors in the hospital hallways. At this point, everyone was a fucking mess and Naya had to get up despite the throbbing pain, she didn't know where she was going, she just had to walk around for a minute and get these images of her little girl in pain out of her mind.
"Be careful my love..." Heather mumbles as she stands up with her wife just to make sure she has her balance or her muscles will tense and spasm while she walks and make her fall. Yolanda and Susan were clutching each other looking at the latest photo. Sophia grabs the last picture they haven't seen yet as her grandparents, uncle, and aunt are hugging this little girl so tightly.
"Is mami okay? Did I make her sad?" Sophia says somberly and Ashley kneels in front of her.
"No sweetie. The situation made her sad knowing the pain her baby girl went through. I know she feels bad that you were sad because of her..." Ashley says
"No no! I wasn't sad because mami did anything bad. I was super sad because she was hurt and I was scared because of what that bad guy did." Sophia explains.
"We all know that honey, and deep down so does mami, but your moms will do anything to protect you from any kind of pain and you were still sad because of your mami and that's super hard for her heart to realize even though her mind knows," Yolanda says. "I know It's a little tricky to understand but your mami isn't mad or sad at you baby girl. Not even a little bit. She's just sad that you were unhappy at all and she wishes she could have helped you." Yolanda finishes and Sophia nods slightly starting to understand.
"Ohh," Sophia says holding her drawing and looking towards the back patio where she could see her moms sitting before walking back towards the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Naya and Heather were sitting on the back patio and Heather was holding Naya as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Fuuuuuck. Heather..." Naya choked out and tried to catch her breath.
"She went through a lot, but do you know what? She is about the bravest, strongest, most resilient little girl in the world." Heather says before tilting her wife's chin up and looking into her chocolate brown eyes. "Just like her mami," Heather whispers before cupping Naya's face and kissing her as they hear the patio door open.
"Mami, momma? Can I come to see you?" Sophia asked hesitantly and sweetly earning a teary smile and nod from both Naya and Heather. Sophia opens the patio door just enough to sneak her tiny thin frame through the door before closing it once again. Sophia puts her piece of paper face down on the chair cushion her moms are sitting on before reaching her arms up and Heather smiled picking their tiny daughter up and settling her in her lap. Sophia smiles at Heather before turning to Naya.
"Mami nothing is your fault. I was just super sad because you were hurt and had big owies." Sophia says and kisses Naya's nose since she's leaning on her wife's shoulder. Naya cries and holds her arms out for her daughter and holds her so close while stroking her hand over her hair.
"You are such a brave and good little artist being able to draw your feelings like that. It makes mami so sad that you were so unhappy because I was in the hospital but you're such a special and creative little girl to tell us your feelings this way." Naya says kissing her daughter on the head before wiping her tears then doing the same with her daughters.
"What's that little love?" Heather asks pointing to the piece of paper that her daughter set on the cushion of the lounger. Sophia looks over and picks it up before giving it to Naya and tucking her hands in her lap.
"It's a special picture I drew of all of us snuggling because mami is going to be okay. The doctor said so and so did I because I'm a doctor too now, 'member? Now my heart is happy." Sophia says and Naya can't do anything but pull her daughter in for a big hug. Heather reaches around and wraps an arm around both of her girls.
"Little love?" Heather asked and Sophia lifted her head as did Naya. "What is this about you not wanting a birthday party though?" Heather asked and Naya wiped her eyes realizing they never did get a real answer to that question. Sophia looks at both of them.
"I just don't want one. Mami still hurts. I want to have fun with mami too so we don't need a party." Sophia said and once again the intelligence and compassion from their little daughter blew their minds every time.
"Honey, don't you want to have a party with all your friends from dance and have cake and all the birthday things?" Naya inquired as she and Heather both looked at their daughter but Sophia just shook her head.
"I want to snuggle with you and momma so you're cozy and not hurting from your owies. Then my aunties and uncles can come over and say hello and we can have mami's favorite pasta. That's all I want." Sophia said with a smile. Heather and Naya shared a look before Naya smiled and gathered her daughter's long hair bringing it to the front before stroking the length of it and looking at how gorgeous and special her nearly four-year-old is.
"You Mija are so perfect and kind. You have the best heart but I want you to have a really good birthday with your friends..." Naya says but Sophia is adamant.
"Maybe when I'm five. I want my mommies this year. I already got my special birthday present. It's the best birthday ever!" Sophia claps and her cute excitable Sophia squeal that we all know and love making Naya and Heather smile.
Heather and Naya smile at seeing the smile back on their daugher's face but are also looking at each other confused wondering if the other got Sophia a special present they didn't tell eachother about but both look equally confused.
"What was your special present little love?" Heather asked curiously and they both turned their full attention to the little girl.
"Mami's here." Sophia smiled. "The bad guy gave her bad owies but mami was super brave and that's the bestest present ever!" Sophia said.
"Mija..." Naya said as tears fell and Heather looked equally as touched.
"I love you." Sophia smiles and puts her arms around both of her moms.
"Sophia we love you more than anything. You are our biggest blessing." Heather says kissing her daughter's head.
"I love you the most and I can love alot!" Sophia said and they both hugged her once again and get little arms hooked around each of her moms.
The three of them came back and settled in the living room as Sophia cheerfully explained the new plans for her birthday. Of course, everyone was a puddle on the floor after hearing this four-year-old talk about how she wanted her birthday with her mami since she wasn't feeling good. Sophia was the most compassionate little girl in the world.
"Oh Nieta, you are such a thoughtful little girl. You're sure that's what you want to do?" Yolanda says leaning in slightly as the little girl stands in front of the coffee table working on her puzzle. Sophia turns and nods with a smile.
"Super-duper positive, abuela! It will be a great day!" Sophia says not noticing everyone smile back at her because something caught her eye on the window overlooking the front yard. Sophia runs over to the window and looks around making everyone around her turn and look on confused.
"What's up kiddo?" Andrew says as he sets his glass on the table.
"Nieta?" Antonio says sitting up straighter and elongating his neck to try and see if there's anyone at the gate. Naya and Heather look on curiously confused.
"I saw someone," Sophia says as her head twists and turns trying to find what she was looking for. The heels of her hands were on the window sill and the was leaning over on her straightened arms trying to look around and prove to everyone that something was out there.
"Maybe it was just a bird or rabbit..." Nickayla says and Sophia turns to her and shakes her head adamantly.
"No, Kiki. I saw a person right over there!" Sophia insisted as her voice become somewhat urgent and anxious. Heather felt Naya tense and try to sit up and look but wince at the stretching. Heather was internally going into protective wife and mom mode but tried not to show those frazzled feelings outwardly.
"Sophia, come here," Heather says already holding her arms out with her wife snuggled right next to her. Sophia turned and walked from one large picture window slowly taking a second to glance back at the front yard with a troubled look. She knew what she saw.
Sophia crawled up on the couch and sat with her legs bent up to her chest as Heather used her arms to bring her into their cuddle. Naya caresses her daughter's cheek with the back of her hand.
"Tell us exactly what you saw baby. You seem to be troubled by it." Naya asked and just as Sophia was about to open her mouth she was stopped and looked down at the coffee table to hear Heather's phone go off. They all safely assumed it was one of their friends despite it being nearly 8:00 pm however when Heather picked up the phone and turned it over after the second ring she saw that unknown number once again and quickly prompted someone to record and Nickayla hastily pulls out her phone. Heather presses the answer button and puts it on speaker.
"Hello?" Heather sighed and Naya snuggles closely with her. Sophia quickly motioned for Sophia to move from Heather's other side to come to the other so she could be in between her mother's. Susan quietly came over and picked Sophia up and moves her over just as the voice appeared on the other line.
"Is your wife going to fix my pickup?" the caller rasps out and Sophia instantly tenses and buries her face in between her mother's. They can't blame her because that voice is creepy as all hell. Naya holds her securely and Heather kisses the top of her head before answering the man. Naya is tense and terrified just like Sophia. It's so hard to be strong for someone else when you are just as frightened.
"Not a chance. You smashed into my wife! You won't be getting a damn thing from us!" Heather asserts and Sophia buried further into her mother's until they could barely see her because she sank so deep between them. Heather and Naya felt so bad that she was just as freaked out by this person as they were.
"Bad choice Heather..." The voice said and Naya jerked her head up and looked at Heather when a terrified expression at the voice uttering her wife's name so casually.
"How do you know me?!" Heather said ominously with determination as she held the phone out with the palm of her hand and waited for the response on the other end.
"Why is that important?" the voice said so raspily that it was becoming harder to understand.
"What do you want with my family?!" Heather says getting angrier as her family watched on in horror at the mind games this person was playing on them.
"Sophia is sure getting big." The caller lets out and everyone tenses in far and anger. Sophia whimpers quietly as she huddles deep within her momma and mami's bodies. Naya rubs her little back while looking up in horror and feels like she could be sick again but pulls herself together this time. Her little girl's name coming out of this person's mouth was enough to send her over the edge in fear and anger.
Heather concluded this must be someone that Sophia has seen recently but cringed and turns to Mychal and pointed to her daughter's quilt on the floor which he picks up and gives to her before quickly tucking it in around her and over her so she feels like she's in a cocoon of safety.
"By the way, nice yard." The voice says before the line does dead and everyone's heads frantically jerk to the picture window that Sophia was looking at with such determination just a few minutes ago where she was certain she saw someone. Antonio demands the card from Heather with this polices number so he can call. Heather reached into her pocket and pulled out the card and gave it to him.
Naya looks at Heather before her blood pressure started rising quickly and even Heather could feel and see her chest rise and fall. Heather quickly glances around the room at her family and they all are twisting their heads and bodies in every direction before the boys start getting up.
Heather puts a hand over her wife's chest and leans into her so Naya can feel her closeness and attempt to settle down.
"Shhh, I know my love, but I'm right here with you and Soph. I'm here, we are all here." Heather reiterated and saw Naya subconsciously tighten her grasp on their daughter while kissing Heather's shoulder. Sophia still hasn't looked up and they all know she's terrified.
Susan and Yolanda look petrified but Heather can see they are doing their very best to not show it around the girls. Meanwhile, their husbands and Mychal are determinately looking out the windows and trying to spot whoever this is. They all come to the unspoken conclusion that Sophia must have seen the person out in the yard. That alone petrified them more than anything.
Andrew and Antonio walk over and kneel in front of the couch. They hated to have to ask these questions but they had to know.
"Nieta?" Antonio said and Sophia lifted her head gradually until her tearful eyes were finally revealed. The sight broke Naya and Heather's hearts and they scooted impossibly closer to the little girl and held her as close as possible.
"Honey?" Andrew urged whole rubbing her back gently before Sophia looked up. "Sweetheart, can you tell us what you saw and where?" Andrew asked with a sense of urgency but gentleness as Sophia looked up. she nodded extremely reluctantly.
"I saw someone over there..." Sophia murmurs as she sniffles and wipes her eyes while pointing to the bushes by the driveway.
"Are you pointing to the green bushes by abuela's car?" Antonio confirms and Sophia nods slowly.
Did you see his face?" Mychal asked softly and Sophia shook her head.
"No, Mickey. He was wearing a black jacket. That's all I saw." Sophia explained and everybody nodded. Naya and Heather both embraced their daughter tightly. Heather had a newfound determination to find this guy who was tormenting her family.
"You did so well, my love. Thank you for telling us what you saw. That was super brave." Heather said before looking at her wife who she knew was doing her hardest to hide her anxiety in front of their daughter. She knew Naya already felt horrible for the hell Sophia's been through and blamed herself. Heather tilted her wife's chin up and looked into her dark brown eyes.
"You, my love, look exhausted. Why don't we get you in bed and you can rest." Heather said and Naya looked frantic at the thought of being separated from her wife.
"No! I want to stay here with you. Please..." Naya practically begged and Heather instantly kissed her lips to calm down her worried wife and nodded.
"Of course, beautiful. You can stay right by me, alright?" Heather reassures and Naya takes a calming breath to try and settle her mind. Heather picks up her daughter and holds her tightly before kissing her on the cheek.
"Hey little love, can Kiki and Ashley take you up for your bath, sweetheart while I help mami get comfortable on the couch? When you're done you can come right back here and we can cuddle." Heather said and Sophia looked up at her mother and nodded slowly while sniffling and wiping her face.
"But then I can come to snuggle my mommies? I'm scared..." Sophia whispered
Heather and Naya looked at each other end pulling her into a gigantic hug. Heather urges both of her girls to look at her.
"Nothing will happen to either of you. I promise. Momma is right here." Heather says before looking at Naya "Same for you, my love, I'm not leaving you, you are safe with Sophia. Nobody is touching my girls," Heather said before kissing them both on the cheeks and pulling them close for a minute until she winks at Ashley and Nickayla to come over. Sophia kissed both Heather and Naya before Ashley grabbed the little girl and the three of them headed upstairs for her bath.
Heather turned to Naya once Sophia was gone and kneeled so she was at her eye level. "Naya I want you to listen to me, okay" Heather spoke slowly and urgently. Naya nodded and held onto her hands that were outstretched in front of her. "Whoever the fuck this is that is playing these mind games, has no idea what the hell they are in for. They will never hurt you or Sophia again. Mark my words." Heather said forcefully as she rubbed Naya's knuckles with her thumb while gazing into her eyes making sure that her wife is hearing every word she was saying.
"Ok... I'm still so afraid. Baby this guy knows us. He knows Sophia, he's probably creeping in our yard right now. When did Officer Mac say that we would get here?" Naya said with urgency and fear at the same time.
"He should be here any moment and I know when your dad called, Mac said he was bringing several others with him," Heather said. Just as she was about to keep talking her phone went off. Everyone whipped their heads around and Heather quickly looked at the phone.
"It's Mac..." Heather said with relief and Naya exhaled before letting a tear fall and leaning into her wife's chest. Just the mere thought of that guy calling them sent shivers down her spine.
"Hi Mac, are you guys on your way?" Heather inquired impatiently as she held the phone in her hand and put it on speakerphone so the room could hear. She needed the police here. Mac spoke up right away.
"We have been here for about five minutes, and we are just letting you know that we are outside in unmarked vehicles, however, all five of us are still in full uniform," Mac says and Heather instinctively moves to the window to see but they have too much shrubbery to be able to get a clear view of the street. As much as they like that it was there to keep leering eyes off of their house, she sure wishes at this moment those damn bushes weren't blocking her view. "We are going to stay in the vehicles out here and hope that we will see some movement around the yard or observe any suspicious activity. I have five officers spread out so you are surrounded but we didn't want to show up at your doorstep since whoever is there is most likely keeping their eye on the front door and they would likely bolt the instant they get sight of police officers or cop cars outside." Mac said and Heather released a sigh and nodded. She felt better knowing their home was being watched, but this time by the right people.
"Okay, thanks." Heather sighed and the officer could tell how stressed they were.
"We understand how stressful this is, however, do not walk out the front or back doors. Stay inside. We are watching the house so they break in we will see it right away. If we see anything or if you see anything just give us a call right away, don't wait." Mac says and Heather nods before using her words since he can't see her.
"Yeah, okay, we will. Thank you, Mac." Heather says before they hang up. Heather sighs and walks back over to the couch where she sees her wife bent over, in what looks like a very painful way, with her elbows on her knees and hands over her face. Heather knew how terrified and overwhelmed she was for their daughter and themselves. This was a fucking nightmare that wasn't going away! Heather sat next to her and didn't say anything except sit as close to her wife as she possibly could before bringing her into her chest and allowing her to lean on her completely.
"I love you so much Naya," Heather says as she strokes the length of her wife's hair as she lays against her chest. "Come on sweetheart, let's get you some hot tea so you can relax a bit. I want to make sure we get you walking even if it's just to the kitchen and back so your muscles don't tense up too much." Heather says sweetly as she stands up and holds both of her hands out so Naya can grab on to them. Heather holds both of Naya's arms securely as she helps her wife into the standing position and lets her take a moment to steady herself before they start walking. "I'm so proud of you love. You've been doing so well. You are one damnstrong woman." Heather speaks of her wife who blushes but stays extremely close to Heather as they walk to the kitchen where their parents are.
"Hey! How does walking feel sweetheart?" Susan asks as she sets her coffee cup on the table that she was holding in both hands. The four older adults anticipated it could be a long night whether they liked it or not so they all started the coffee. Antonio, Andrew, and Mychal knew they weren't going to be getting any sleep as long as they know there was some fucking stranger outside the house, and knowing Sophia saw them was enough to send them into a tailspin. Those three men were fiercely protective.
"It's painful as hell but I have to keep doing it so I don't stiffen up so much. Everything is just so sore." Naya breathes out and whines a couple of times as she walks mindlessly around the kitchen. Heather never leaves her side and Naya can't help but smile in her direction. The fact that her wife loves her so unconditionally is so incredibly mindblowing but something she is endlessly grateful for. She never thought she of all people would have one of those relationships that everyone else envied considering the messy relationships she had before Heather. Nothing made sense before Heather came and completely changed her entire life.
"Mami! Momma!" Sophia squealed as she emerged into the kitchen from the hallway where her long dark hair was in tight ringlets as it always was when it was wet and reached her mid-back. Her aqua eyes are bright and blue. Heather, Naya, and everyone turned quickly making sure she was okay before breathing a sigh of relief at seeing the happy girl just modeling the pajamas that Chris left for her. One of them being an aqua blue pajama pant set with white piping detail that made her eyes look blindingly blue it was insane.
"Oh, Mija! Look at those fancy pajamas!" Naya smiled as she watched her daughter get adorably embarrassed with all the compliments she was receiving. Heather smiles at her baby girl and takes out her phone.
"Little love, pose so I can send a photo to Chris," Heather said as she got her camera out.
"That's not his name!" Sophia said turning into Naya with her hands on her hips.
"Oh, my mistake, uncle Kurtsy," Heather says before she watches Sophia pose and flip her hair making everyone giggle. Heather send the photo immediately to her uncle.
Outgoing Heather: You and your shopping addiction! You need to stop buying my diva child clothes...although she would disagree...
Attached photo of Sophia posing in her aqua blue pajamas.
Chris responds about one minute later as Naya glances to see the phone and smiles once again at the photo of her daughter.
Incoming Chris: I miss her *crying face emoji*
Outgoing Heather: You just saw her yesterday. And face-timed her this evening...
Incoming Chris: What's your point?...
Outgoing Heather: *eye roll emoji*
They were all in the kitchen talking right after the text exchange between Heather and Chris when they heard a knock on the door and safely assumed it was one of the officers. Everyone's heads go over to the door.
"It's Mac! I'll get it!" Sophia says as she runs but Andrew catches her before Naya nearly sprinted after her. No way was she allowing her daughter to answer the door, especially now, even if it is just Officer Mac.
"Oh no, you won't!" Andrew says scooping the little girl up and putting her on his hip before going to the door to let Mac in.
Andrew slowly opened the door to reveal a guy in a black hoodie that was not officer Mac nor any of the officers in uniform which officer Mac had said that even though they weren't in marked cars they were all still wearing their uniform.
Sophia looks at the guy and studies his face before she squirms out of her grandpa's grasp and flies to the kitchen as fast as she can.
"Momma!" Sophia shrieked and Heather was leaning against the counter until the heard the terrifying sound of her daughter calling for her but this time in a much more frantic tone of voice. Heather runs around the corner and looks down just in time to catch a flying Sophia who's choking and sobbing while clutching to her. Naya looks scared to death also trying to kiss her daughters head and figure out what the hell happened. "Momma!" Sophia screams and Mychal runs out to the living room to make sure this guy doesn't leave. Something tells him this is their guy. Antonio calls Mac to get them up here if they weren't already.
"Sophia! Honey! What is it, what happened?!" Heather says alarmed and protectively as she held on to her daughter tightly. Naya is right next to her stroking her hair.
"Mija..." Naya said soothingly but her insides were a complete mess.
Sophia looked over as tears were streaming down her face. "Mami. Momma. Don't leave me." Sophia said shaking and terrified. Yolanda and Susan got up off the dining room chairs as the girls surrounded Sophia.
"Never mi amor. Never." Naya said looking over to see what the hell is going on in the living room.
Heather was holding her daughter so impossibly tight but there was a break in the girls talking when she heard the sound of the man talking.
That voice...
The voice she heard on the phone every time. The barely-there, raspy, distressed voice was in her living room. She had to see this guy for herself.
"My love. I'm going to give you to abuela since mami can't hold you right now but mami won't leave you. I have to talk to this man and see who he is.
"No! Momma don't leave me!" Sophia sobs and Heather sighs and holds her. Naya has no idea what the hell is going on here or what to think as she too has tears streaming down her face.
"Sweetheart. I will be right back and abuela, grandma, and mami will stay right by you. Momma will be right back." Heather says before squeezing and kissing her daughter on the side of the head before leaning her own head back. "Hey, look at me angel..." Heather urged and waited for their blue eyes to meet. "Momma promises." Heather says and Sophia wraps her arms around her momma tightly before Heather unwraps the sobbing girl from around her body and places her in Yolanda's arms. Heather cups Naya's face and leans in to kiss her before mouthing, Ipromise. Heather kisses her on the lips before leaving the room. Sophia was screaming and completely terrified and had to be holding her mami's hand at all times. Naya was nearly crying just as hard as Sophia was hearing her daughter in complete distress and knowing she couldn't hold her. Naya was also panicking about what was happening in the living room.
"Momma. Mami." Sophia cried out and Naya just held her.
"Momma is coming right back to us, baby girl." Naya assured.
Heather walked into the living room as Mychal was standing in front of the door so he couldn't leave. Mychal was huge and a football player so this much skinnier guy had nothing on him, plus with Antonio, and Andrew there as well, they were safe. Heather walks up and doesn't initially recognize the face but definitely has heard that voice before.
"Ahh Heather, so we meet again! I've enjoyed our phone conversations. Wheres your wife who owes me a pickup?" The man says and Heather stops her mind from trying to place the voice because the second her wife is mentioned she snaps.
"Dont you EVER utter my wife again. You nearly KILLED her. You don't speak her name. EVER!" Heather yelled as she stepped closer to the guy who looked completely unfazed. Officer Mac along with four other officers step in the living room since Mychal saw them coming and opened the door.
The officers keep a close hand on their weapons in the event they will need to use them but Mychal whispers letting the officers know as far as they can see so far, the guy is unarmed.
"Wheres Sophia?" the raspy voice uttered and Heather walks up and smacks him across the face and holds him by the collar of his sweatshirt. Antonio and Andrew look on and male no attempt to stop her unless this guy makes a move towards her. Heather deserved the opportunity to kick his ass. The men watched this protective wife and mother defend her family and they couldn't stop this sense of pride they both felt in Heather. She was fierce when it came to Naya and Sophia.
"Dont you EVER talk about my daughter again. Don't ever mess with a mother... Do you understand me?! I will kill to protect my child and my wife. I am going to ask you once again and you better answer me or so help me God!... How do you know my daughter?!" Heather yelled.
The man smiles this creepy unfazed grin before looking at Heather and the other men surrounding him.
"We met when she was younger..." the raspy voice replies and the men look confused. All the woman are listening through the kitchen in between Sophia's sobs. Naya is visibly shaking hearing the man talk and listen to Heather defend them. Susan is holding Naya tightly making sure she doesn't fall.
Heather looks like she's ready to kill. She squinted her eyes and looks at the man still trying to place his voice. Heather is listening as the man talks to Officer Mac and listens to that horribly familiar voice and the more she hears it, she starts zoning out and starts getting a flashback in her mind while the guy is answering the police's questions rather hesitantly.
"For fucks sake dude it was a dare! Now, what the fuck are we supposed to do! If we bring her somewhere we will get caught or turned in!" one guy said panicked.
"He's right. This kid is famous, anyone could recognize her...I mean we could sell some photos and get enough money to escape to a beach somewhere or something" another girl said in a joking tone that made Heather step closer as a wave of fury washed over her. She's never wanted to kill a group of people more than she did in this very moment.
"Asshole we are already in deep shit! Why did we listen to you idiots? You guys are on your own. We're done!" a different young tattooed girl says which makes Heather's eyes widen as she perks around the tree trunk and catches a glimpse of one of the guys but doesn't see her daughter.
"Oh no you don't!" the one guy says and pulls the girl back over. "The six of us are in this together. Don't you DARE ditch us now!" he shouts and a high-pitched raspy scream cries out from the trees. She was completely shaken and scared to death by the man's loud outburst. The second she heard that familiar voice Heather snapped her head up.
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