Chapter 7

Musa woke up alone the next morning Derrick had fallen asleep on the couch and she didn't want to wake him up. Getting up she went and checked on James surprisingly he was asleep. Taking full advantage of the situation she grabbed some clothes from her dresser then went and took a quick shower. When finished she poked her head into is room and he was laying there quietly staring at his mobile.

"Morning buddy." She said. Picking him up Musa and placing him onto the changing table so he could get a fresh diaper.

"Well Daddy's gone for a few days so it's just me and you." She told him. "Although it usually is just the two of us unless Derricks decides to play daddy on a whim." Musa thought to herself. "Okay now that, that's all done let's get you into some clothes for the day carrying him over to his dresser she pulled out a pair of black pants and a blue t-shirt with Elmo on it. Then placed him back on the table as she changed his clothes.

After James was dressed Musa took him to the dining room and placed him in his playpen while she went about getting a bottle ready for his breakfast and placing a few frozen waffles in the toaster for herself. When the bottle and waffles were ready she scooped James up sat on the couch with him sitting on her lap as she fed him with one arm and ate the waffles with the other just enjoying the quiet.

Once the two of them were done with their breakfast Musa rinsed James's bottle out she'd wash it later.

Looking down at James she asked, "So what're we going to do today?"

As usual she didn't get much of a response. "Well then why don't we go and visit aunt Layla." At that comment James just smiled. "Aunt Layla it is then since just mentioning her name puts a smile on your face."

Setting James in the Musa went about getting a diaper bag ready for the trip then grabbed James and strapped him into his car seat, snatched the keys off the table slung the bag over her shoulder and the two headed out to her truck and drove to the Fruity Music Bar.

"Hey Muse what brings you here." Layla asked as she entered.

"Oh nothing just killing time." She said sitting at the bar and placing James's car seat on the counter.

"Yo bartender can I get some service?" Musa jokingly yelled.

"Sure what'll it be?" Nabu asked coming out from the back.

"Aw darn I thought Riven was working I wanted to mess with him." She said dejectedly.

"Sorry to disappoint you but Riven works at night not the daytime." He told her scratching the back of his head.

"But he was here the other day."

"That's because Chris our normal daytime bartender got food poisoning so I called him in. Had to pay him overtime too." Layla said with a huff as she sat next to Musa.

"You say that like you weren't going to anyways." Nabu told her.

"I wasn't going to." She said crossing her arms "But he said he'd leave if he didn't get overtime."

"You do realize that when he said that he wasn't serious."

"Then why did you go along with it?" Layla demanded.

"Because he pulled a double shift I figured he deserved it."

Layla sighed, "I guess you're right."

"What can I get you to drink Musa?" Nabu asked.

"Just a soda is fine." She told him.

With a nod he grabbed a glass and filled it and placed it down in front of her and joined the girls on the other side of the bar.

"So what are your plans for today?" Layla asked.

"Not really sure yet. Derricks gone for a few days so I've got nothing planned."

"Derricks gone for a few days." Layla said with a smile.

Musa nodded hesitantly not liking the look in her friend's eye upon hearing that information.

"Then you're free tomorrow." She said.

"We've established this yes." Musa said.

"What're you planning?" Nabu asked also noticing that crazy glint in his wife's eye.

"Oh nothing." Layla said sweetly, "just a party."

"A party?" The other two asked together.

"Yeah a welcome home party for Riven. Since he's not working tomorrow we can get together and celebrate his return." Layla said clapping her hands together like it was the perfect idea

"Have you even asked him if he wants a party?" Nabu asked.

"Yeah Riven's never been that big on parties." Musa put in.

"No but he won't mind I'll talk to him about it tonight." She said.

Musa and Nabu looked at each other and shrugged they knew it wouldn't hurt to ask but they also knew that the answer was most likely going to be no.

"No." Riven stated simply as he poured drinks at the bar.

"C'mon Riven why not?" Layla whined.

"Because I don't like parties."

"Well then don't think of it as a party it's just a casual get together amongst friends. We won't even decorate your place."

"My Place!" He said.

"Well yeah we can't exactly have it here if we want it to be just the four of us well five if Musa brings James." Layla said, "And I expect your house to be clean and not clean by a guy's standard actually clean." She said and took the drinks.

"We're not having a party Layla."

"Great we'll all be there around four make sure your place is nice and tidy." She said and walked off.

Riven sighed and glared at her retreating form.

"Not taking no for an answer is she?" Nabu asked coming up next to him.

"No she's not." Riven replied gruffly.

"I know you're not up for this, but give it a chance we all really haven't been able to get together and just hangout for a while work and life gets in the way."

"Fine." Riven said with a sigh, "Just don't let Layla go overboard."

"I promise I'll keep her on a short leash." Nabu said.