March 12th, 2019
The two SUVs made it to the neighborhood security checkpoint which was at the entrance of the gated community where you had to verify you are a resident by showing your community card or a resident had to call and verify they are expecting guests who then had to show their drivers license at the checkpoint. The residents could also give a list of approved visitors so if anyone by that name comes through security, they can automatically be allowed in after showing their driver's license.
The two cars had swapped places and the all-girls vehicle was ahead of the guys, Nickayla, and Ashley just by the flow of traffic on the busier street but they were still directly behind.
Yolanda rolled down the window once she got to the tiny house-looking structure between the road to drive in and the road to drive out.
"Good evening ma'am, who are you here to see this evening?" the security guy says taking the four photo IDs that everyone handed over.
"Lea Michelle, she said we are all on this list already," Yolanda replied and the security guard looked down his list under that specific resident end saw all four of their names listed.
"Yes, I see all of your names on her list," the man says handing back the photo ID.
"Grandma, roll the window down quick!" Sophia said eagerly and everyone looked at her in confusion. Susan rolled down the window and Sophia waved at the security guard.
"Well look here! Hi miss Sophia!" the security guard smiled and waved. Naya manages to lift her head while raising an eyebrow along with everyone else. How does their four-year-old know everyone in this God damn town?
"Hi, Hank! I didn't bring my ID...or whatever that is. I have a snickers bar though...? Do you want that instead? It's better!" Sophia asks and everyone looks on with amused, and shocked expressions. Hank can't help but chuckle.
"That seems like a fair trade!" Hank replies and Sophia smiles.
"Grandma open that cubby and lift the glove," Sophia says and everyone turns their heads. Susan raises her eyebrows and looks at her granddaughter who just points insistently. Susan does as told and opens the armrest compartment, lifts the glove, and sure enough, finds a snickers bar, she shakes her head before smiling and handing it to the friendly security guard.
"Thanks, kiddo! This will be my special snack tonight!"
"You're a nice man! Night night Hank!" Sophia waves.
"Night Sophia! Say hi to Lea for me, alright." Hank says before they wave and drive off. Heather sends Lea a text saying their past security.
"Seriously, Soph?" Naya giggles and shakes her head.
"What mami?" Sophia asks curiously.
"Well first let's talk about your pal, Hank..." Heather says with a giggle and Susan looks at her granddaughter who's sitting next to her.
"Oh, Hank is a super nice man. I always see him when I come here or go places with aunt Lea or Chordy," Sophia said. (Chord lives in the neighborhood as Lea). "Every time he asks my aunties and uncles for their cards but I don't have one and I don't like feeling left out so I usually give him candy that I hide or one time I gave him a quarter I found in the seat." Sophia rambles with a shrug. Leave it to Sophia to have the car cracking up after the night they've had. Naya covered her face with Sophia's blanket as she laughed.
"Alright, now that your security pal has been talked about, let's talk about the stuff your hiding in abuela's car..." Yolanda asks looking through the rearview mirror at the toddler.
"Mami did it!" Sophia says while pointing to Naya before Yolanda can finish her sentence. Naya turns her head and glares at her daughter.
"Actually that wouldn't surprise me..." Yolanda sighs.
"That was easy..." Sophia says triumphantly and everyone laughs.
A couple of minutes later they were pulling up to Lea's gate outside of her house. Cory and Chord came out and opened it for the two cars before closing it once again. When the older men get out of the vehicle they greet the two younger men with a hug and thank them for letting them crash the party.
"Of course!" Cory said as he pats their backs before greeting Mychal while Ashley and Nickayla jump out of the vehicle and were greeted by Chord.
"How are you ladies doing? I hear you all had one hell of a night?" Chord asks both Nickayla and Ashley and the girls shrug with a sigh.
"Weird, scary fucking night but I'm sure our sisters will explain more once Sophia is down for the night," Nickayla says
"If she can even sleep, poor thing. She's kinda going in waves right now. She's obviously very attached to Heather and Naya" Ashley added and both of the younger men nodded somberly.
"That poor kid. Hopefully, this will be over for them." Chord says before walking to the trunk of Susan's crossover and helping the guys grab some bags. Heather lifts Naya out of the car and sets her down gently so she can move her legs a little after the car's ride. Heather can't help but make sure her wife is within eyesight the entire time which doesn't go unnoticed by Naya.
Sophia was reaching for Heather after she was unbuckled from the booster seat and she instantly clung to Heather.
Naya grabbed her blanket and bunny from the front seat right away and walked slowly over to her loves. "Here, Mija. Thank you for letting me borrow them, baby girl." Naya says as she hands over her pink bunny and her blankie.
"Your welcome mami. They liked cuddling with you. Sophia smiled. "Momma, it's dark outside, can we go inside where all the lights are?" Sophia asked while burying her face in her momma's neck seeking comfort. Naya rubbed her back and they closed the backseat door and slowly made their way to the house. They saw Chord and Cory helping with bags.
"Are you doing okay beautiful?" Heather asked her wife before adjusting Sophia on her hip and taking her wife's hand making sure she was physically connected with both her wife and daughter. Naya smiles and looks up.
"I'm about as good as I can be. Everyone is alive and alright, but I'm scared as hell. That really messed with my head. I can't believe it was him, I just..." Naya starts but is cut off with a kiss.
"I will make sure he doesn't get near you or Sophia. He will pay the price for what he did to both of you. Anybody who hurts my family will answer to me." Heather says while letting go of Naya's hand to wrap it around her back and arm instead. Naya leans against her as they walk into the house.
"Oh thank God!" The girls heard Lea say after the released Susan from a hug and walked quickly over to the three girls. "Are you okay?!" Lea said while kissing their cheeks and rubbing Sophia's back.
"I have no idea how to answer that if I'm being completely honest with you..." Naya says and Lea nods and frowns slightly.
"I'm just glad you're here," Lea says as the girls turn their heads and see all six giant air mattresses on the floor as they always are when a sleepover at Lea's is involved, at first it was a joke amongst them but now every time they come over its just tradition.
"Susan, Andrew, Yolanda, Antonio you all have the same rooms as last time, just make yourself comfortable. You know where the washing machine is if you need to toss anything in at any time. Just make yourself at home." Lea says and the older woman gives her a grateful hug as do the older men before grabbing their bags and bringing them to the bedrooms so they aren't sitting in front of the door.
"LeLe!" Sophia says lifting her head from Heather's chest and reaching out for her aunt who looks back over at her niece and smiles. Sophia looks back over at both of her mothers. "Don't leave me," Sophia says with an anxious tone and Heather kisses her daughter's cheek before handing her to Lea and taking a couple of steps back to hold Naya from behind and speaks up right away.
"Never, my little love. Both of us are right here with you." Heather says earning a nod from the little girl who turns in Lea's arms and wraps her arms around her neck.
Vanessa walks up and opens her arms for Heather and Naya who gladly accept her hug. "Thank goodness you're all okay. You had us worried!" Vanessa says and crosses her arms just as Sophia taps her shoulder from behind and Vanessa turns to see the toddler reaching for her.
"Nessy," Sophia said and Vanessa grabbed her and allowed Sophia to cling to her as she kissed her cheek and held the back of her little head.
"Oh, my Soph. We are so glad you're here!" Vanessa says
"Hey what does a guy have to do to get a hug around here!" Chord says loudly from across the room. Yolanda and Susan are smiling at Chord and they both already have cups of tea in their hand that Lea must have made being the host that she is.
Sophia bops her head up and her little eyes light up ad Vanessa sets her on the ground and pats her little but as she takes off for her uncle. Chord grabs her and throws her in the air making her laugh.
"Chordy! I'm a plane! Or a fairy!" Sophia says and everyone smiles hearing that sweet sound of her infectious giggle. Heather holds her wife from behind and kisses her head as they watch. Cory crosses his arms and pouts earning a giggle from Sophia before he is passed the petite girl who hugs him tightly.
About thirty minutes later everyone is scattered on the mattresses except for the older adults so keep making jokes that if they crawl on the gigantic bed there's a chance they won't be able to get back up. They aren't as young as they used to be, they joke.
Lea had gotten everyone water, tea, or coffee depending on what they wanted and they were all sitting around the beds talking. Since Sophia was still up they kept the topic of the guy's identity out of the conversation until she would fall asleep. She didn't need to hear any of that anymore. Living through them and seeing him pop back up in her life was traumatic enough.
They all pause they're chatting when they hear the doorbell. Lea pulls up her doorbell camera and spots some familiar faces.
"Soph, you want to get the door?" Lea asks knowing it's completely safe. Naya and Heather look at her like she's crazy after the night they've had but she tosses her phone to the girls so they can see who it is. Heather and Naya smile before showing Sophia who practically catapults off the bed and towards the door. Even though it's completely safe and the camera proves that Heather being the overprotective mother that she is still gets up and goes with her daughter who's squealing. Heather giggles and Naya watches the two people she loves more than anything. Every time she sees Heather protect their daughter she falls in love all over again.
Sophia is bouncing and squealing as she reaches for the door handle and peeks her little head through making the group of people on the otherwise break out in a fit of giggles at the little sneaky head peeking through. Heather laughs and opens the door all the way and Sophia is instantly swallowed in a group hug by Diana, Jenna, Chris, Kevin, Harry, and Amber.
Sophia has the biggest smile on her face as do Heather, Naya, and the rest of the room at seeing the joy in Sophia's face.
"Momma! Mami! Look! They did come!" Sophia squeals as she practically chokes every one of them with how tightly she's hugging them around their necks. Naya has the biggest smile on her face as do Yolanda and Susan. This was exactly what this little girl needed. To be surrounded by everyone that adored and loved her. "Aunt LeLe?!" Sophia yelled as she was finally put down so they could step inside. Heather hugged them all one by one.
"Yes, cutie pie?" Lea responded taking a drink of tea before bringing it down as Sophia came into view. "They're sleeping over too right? I don't want anybody to go!" Sophia says and Lea smiles at her.
"Well..." Lea sighs and Sophia links her hands in one big fist bringing them up to her chin and tossing out that bottom lip for added effect. Lea looks at her and was putty in her hands. "I suppose since we have the mattresses out it would be rude to send them home now wouldn't it?" Lea says and Sophia bounced happily. Heather and Naya noticed all of them brought bags so clearly Lea had already been expecting them. Well played, Lea. Well played.
"You're all staying! Lea and I said so!" Sophia says stomping back to the entry as she takes all of their suitcases and drags them to their designated spot where they always sleep. One by one she comes back and drags them. Some were a struggle and heavier than others but she was her momma's daughter. "Yay! I'm so happy! My heart feels like sunshine now!" Sophia said to nobody in particular but everyone looked at each other and wanted to melt on the floor at how precious she was. Kids say the best and most honest things so when Sophia said her heart felt like sunshine now that they were all together, was music to her mother's ears.
"Kurtsy! Did you come to see me?" Sophia bounced in front of him and he picked her up from where he was standing.
"Well, I certainly didn't come for any of these people! They don't even play dress-up with me..." Chris responds and Sophia looks over at everyone and shakes her head.
"That's not nice...but that's okay because I love to dress up!" Sophia says wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Well good cause I may have gone shopp..." Chris starts and Heather cuts in.
"Are you serious dude?! Gang, I seriously think an intervention is needed..." Heather says and Chris glares.
"You leave our shopping alone!" Chris says putting Sophia down and placing his hands on his hips in defense mode, of course, Sophia imitates him and her hands go straight to her hips too.
"Yeah! Pretties make us feel like sunshine!" Sophia said before taking a step closer to where Heather had sat back on the bed next to her wife. Sophia pouted her lip and looked down at the ground in front of Heather. "Do you want to take our sunshine away, momma?" Sophia said and Chris crossed his arms knowing they just won. Naya opens her mouth with a smile looking over at her wife who falls back and basically accepts she lost this argument. She foresees this happening a lot in the future. Everyone snorts out a laugh or has their hand over their heart. That damn Sophia is good...
The minute Heather falls back so she's lying on her back with her legs bent at the knees over the edge of the bed, Sophia squeaks and giggles before climbing on the bed and laying on top of her momma so their tummies are together. Vanessa is of course recording being the crew's personal videographer and photographer.
"You aren't playing fair little girl!" Heather says as she attacks her daughter with kisses and tickles making her laugh. Everyone looks on adoringly.
"Nay, how are you feeling?" Amber asked sitting next to Naya and giving her a gentle hug. Naya smiles and hugs back.
"Hurts like crazy because I did way more than I should have tonight. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow I know that much." Naya sighs and Amber frowns and rubs her back. Poor Naya had only been home and able to relax for a few hours before all hell broke loose.
"Aww, Nay! I'm so glad you all are okay." Jenna says as she hugs Naya gently from behind and kisses her cheek.
It was just after 11:00 pm and the crew were hanging out and talking casually. The older adults had bid everyone goodnight just a few moments prior and Sophia was barely hanging on and her eyes kept fluttering closed as she laid in the middle of the bed in a fetal position with her blankie and bunny.
Heather went into the kitchen with Harry but stayed by the table so she could see her girls. Heather got anxious the second the couldn't see either one of them. Jenna and Amber notice Naya squirming trying to get comfortable on the bed against the wall and feel so terrible for their friend. Naya is holding her stomach to try and make it hurt less.
"Nay, hun are you okay?" Jenna asks and Naya squint's leaning her head back against the wall.
"Sweetie, should I grab Heather?" Amber said and Naya groaned hating that felt like this. "Don't even answer that, I'm going to get her," Amber said as she started shooting down the bed but Heather was already coming towards her wife with a glass of water was a pain pill.
"Here you go, my love..." Heather said as she handed Naya a little white pill and a glass of water. Naya smiled in relief just having Heather back with her. Amber shook her head because of course Heather was on her way over, that woman was like a ninja when it came to her girl's needs.
Naya swallowed the pill and handed the glass to Jenna who set it behind her on the table. Heather felt her forehead and ran her hand through her long black hair. "Where does it hurt, beautiful?" Heather asks and Nays gestures to her stomach incision where the metal cut through. Heather reached out and put her palm flat over it and provided the most gentle but enough pressure to numb the dull continuous pain. Naya took a deep breath. "Would you like me to hold you, love?...actually don't answer that, I'm going to do it anyway," Heather said and Naya couldn't help but smile as did everyone else on the beds including Ashley, Nickayla, and Mychal.
Heather put a pillow against the wall for her to lean against and then grabbed a couple of pillows around them before Heather leaned black placing one of them on her chest and guiding Naya gently to lean back against her. Naya laid back carefully as her wife sighed in relief at the pill starting to work and being held by her wife. Heather placed a hand flat on her wife's shirt-covered bandage on her stomach and applied the slightest bit of pressure which seemed to provide relief.
"Are you feeling a little better, my love?" Heather asked and Naya glanced up and nodded shyly as she sat in between her wife's legs while laying against the left side of her chest and shoulder. Heather kissed her temple and held her keeping the pressure applied to her incision.
"I love you. Thank you." Naya hummed as the others look on.
"You know I'm still trying to find a date and end up as lovesick as you two..." Diana joked and both Heather and Naya shook their heads with a smile.
"Find your person Di, never look to anybody else, just make sure you find somebody who treats you well or I'll have to kick their ass," Heather says taking a sip of her drink before placing it back on the table to the side of her. Diana laughs softly and looks at her two friends.
"I wish I couldn't compare but it's really hard when your friends literally have the holy grail of relationships..." Diana sighs and Heather looks at her as does Naya.
"Di, what you need to do is make your requirements and expectations very clear, especially with men, if you don't tell them what you want, unfortunately, they can be a little pea-brained and will rarely catch on," Heather says making Naya and the girls smile.
"Wow, that was just a whole lot of offensive right there." Chord said and all the girls look at him
"Am I wrong..." Heather said raising an eyebrow as she challenged the blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy. Chord tilted his head back before speaking
"Women are so damn complicated though. Everything is passive-aggressive and teasing. They want something one minute but not the next, then..." Chord rambles and the girls shake their heads. "You ladies need a damn manual or something..." Chord says and Kevin, Harry, and Cory all raise their glasses
"Can I get an AMEN!" Cory said just as Amber tosses Chord a hardcover book.
"Here, you simpleton, there is your manual," Amber said as Chord and the others looked on in confusion and Chord mumbles the title of the book, Guide to making a good boyfriend, fiance, and spouse.
"Are you serious..." Chord whines and Amber raises her eyebrow.
"Do you want a damn date? Get reading..." Amber said giving him no time to rebuttal. Chord groans but starts scanning through the book knowing if he wants a date with Amber he will have to read this. Fuck.
So not to get all glum, but can we know what the hell happened tonight? All Lea told us is that something happened and you are staying here..." Kevin asked and Heather and Naya shared a look before peeking at their daughter who was in the center where all the beds met and was passed out. Everyone was mostly sitting up along the walls for support so she had the entire middle section for her tiny body.
"It's a nightmare... you guys it was the man who kidnapped her three years ago. He showed up at our home tonight..." Heather said and several of her friends looked like they were going to be sick at the pure shock. They were not expecting that. Some of them had their hands covering their mouth and looked at the girls and Sophia in horror. The guys looked ready to kill. Most of them looked confused as all hell.
"Wait, WHAT?!" Jenna said in disbelief as everyone looked at the couple in each other's arms in pure shock. Both Heather and Naya nod their heads along with their siblings.
"Why isn't his ass in prison?! His sentence isn't even close to being over!" Cory asked and everyone nodded waiting for an answer.
"He escaped. He said he kept working on bending the chain link fence until he was finally able to sneak through..." Naya sighed earning huffs and pissed-off expressions from their friends. "He even tried to grab and touch Sophia a couple of times, of course, my wife punched him in the face before he could.
"You punched him... damn, good job Hemo." Chord said and Heather tightened her grip on her wife.
"I would do it all over again in a second with anyone that threatens to hurt my girls, my family, or any of you. The fact that he even attempted to touch her I could have easily killed him where he stood, I broke his nose but I don't care." Heather said shaking her head. Naya turned her head to place a kiss on her wife's chest.
"You broke his nose!" Chris said and Heather nodded.
"Sure did, don't touch my wife and child and your noses will all stay intact," Heather said
"Just to clarify, you're referring to people not in this house correct?" Chris says and Heather rolls her eyes and nods.
"I'm pretty sure she cracked his balls too..." Ashley says making everyone turn at her and back at Heather.
"He lunged at Naya so I hopefully destroyed any opportunities for the man to reproduce." Heather shrugs.
"So basically everyone stays on Hemo's good side!" Vanessa says causing everyone to quietly giggle.
March 13th, 2019
They were all still chatting and it was just after midnight, the crew still asking a few questions about the next steps they were going to take and they were all cut off by the sound of Sophia jolting upright and screaming for Heather.
"Momma! He's back! He's gonna take me! Help me, momma!" Sophia sobbed and Nickayla rushed up and grabbed her niece before bringing her over to her sisters who were frantically reaching for their daughter. Naya was startled and Heather grabbed her baby girl and get her on her thigh on her right side and leaned her against her chest just like Naya was.
"Sophia...Sophia! Wake up, baby girl. Momma and Mami are right here, beautiful. Nobody is taking you anywhere." Heather said clutching both of her girls. Nickayla grabs her blanket and bunny to drape over her and Naya cries while caressing her daughter's hair and cheek.
"Mija..." Naya says softly. Sophia opens her heartbreakingly somber eyes and sniffles as she chokes on a few sobs.
"Mami?" Sophia looks over and then up and sees Heather kissing her head. "Momma? He didn't take me again?" Sophia whimpered just as the older adults ran into the room after hearing a scream.
"What happened?!" Susan said looking at Sophia and Naya in her daughter's arms.
"Sophia had a nightmare. She thought he was taking her again..." Ashley explained. The older adults looked so sad for this little girl but also furious at this evil man for putting her through these nightmares again. Antonio and Andrew wanted to give this guy a piece of their mind because watching their granddaughter like this was horrible.
"No baby girl. Nobody took you, we are all right here. Remember we came to aunt LeLe's and then everybody else came. Everyone's here baby girl." Naya reassured and Sophia buried her face in Heather's neck.
"Can I sleep with you? Please. I'll be super good and won't scream anymore..." Sophia said and everyone's hearts shattered at Sophia getting the implication that waking her grandparents up because she had a nightmare was in any way shape or form her fault.
"My little love, I'm not letting you or mami go anywhere tonight, okay my beautiful girls. You stay right here with us." Heather says and Sophia gives them a small smile before leaning in closer to Naya and keeping her face tucked into Heather's chest.
"I love you mommies," Sophia says before falling asleep as her hold on her bunny loosened. Everyone looked around a few of them fanning their eyes, grabbing tissues, covering their mouths, and a few of the guys looked ready to find this guy and just kill him for what he put these girls through.
Naya and Heather place kisses on their daughter's face before snuggling together in Heather's lap as a family
"We love you more. Forever and always." Heather says as she kisses both of her girls.