Tuesday, December 25th, 2018 – Charlotte, NC

CJ awoke from his deep slumber with a smile on his face as he looked around his former bedroom. It was Christmas. A holiday that CJ loved very much and it was his favorite holiday aside from his very own personal holiday AKA his birthday. But this by-far was a holiday that CJ had been waiting on for a very long time with a deep level of excitement. CJ hadn't had a Christmas with his family in over 4 years because of his travels on the road and when he wasn't on the road he was at his home in Miami. But this time it was different. He was back in one of the few places he called in Charlotte, NC where he met his best friend, Denzel Brown and he met one of the most important women in his life, Kalani Rose. He always loved Kalani but he had to let her go instead of holding her back. And he as much as he made that decision to benefit her and benefit himself, he regretted that decision every day of his life. But that decision led him to Annalise who was quickly making her way into his heart and starting to fill the void that Kalani left but still the fact remained. She wasn't Kalani.

"Cedric get your but downstairs!" yelled his older half-sister, Desiree from downstairs making CJ chuckle as he shook his head and then got up from his bed and grabbed a tank top from his suitcase before he put it on and exited the bedroom to go downstairs and join the family.

(!)

"Merry Christmas son." said his 42-year-old mother who had a black short afro with caramel colored skin and black thin eyebrows. CJ walked towards his mom and placed a kiss on her cheek and hugged her before he walked over to his 45-year-old dad who was looking at a newspaper.

"Merry Christmas dad." CJ said as he walked towards his dad and hugged him. His dad chuckled as he then looked up from his newspaper and looked up at his son with a smile.

"Merry Christmas to you to son." His dad, Cedric Sr. CJ and Cedric Sr looked damn near identical except for the obvious difference in age and the fact that Cedric Sr had a bald head. You could almost say CJ was a spitting image of his father.

"Well where did the brat go?"

"Your sister Desiree went to the airport. She just wanted to make sure you were awake until she came back."

"Who is she going to get from the airport?" CJ asked as his mother handed him a glass of Orange Juice. CJ smiled and nodded towards his mom before he took a sip himself.

"Hopefully not her mother." Cedric Sr said as CJ's mother, Kimberly looked up at Cedric Sr and gave him a look making him look back down to his newspaper.

"She said something about going to get your sisters and your brother. And going to get your Christmas present." Kimberly said with a sly smile while CJ looked at her with a confused frown. CJ then turned his head as he heard his phone ring making him pick it up and look at the screen. He smiled at the name that appeared and pressed the answer button and walked out of the kitchen as he put the phone up to his ear.

"Merry Christmas handsome." Annalise said on the phone as CJ smiled while he stood in the hallway.

"Merry Christmas to you, beautiful." CJ replied. She giggled on the other end making his smile widen.

"Whatcha doing?" She said in a sing-song like voice making him chuckle.

"Nothing enjoying Christmas with my family. What are you doing?"

"Nothing just enjoying Christmas with my mom, grandma and my brothers."

"Oh, that's nice. Maybe one day I'll get to meet them."

"We're planning that already. Okay we'll see."

"I'm hooooooooooommmmmmmmmeeeeee." Cedric heard making him sigh on the phone as he heard his girlfriend chuckle into the phone.

"Well, I'm gonna call you later. Enjoy the Christmas with your family. Byeeeeee." She said as she then hung up the phone while Cedric exhaled once again before he turned around and made his way into the living room. Cedric walked into the living room walking towards his younger sister, Kamiah and engulfed her in a hug while Desiree walked through the door smiling as well to see her family all together.

Once Kamiah and Cedric pulled away from each other, Cedric turned his head and looked at Desiree who smiled at him.

"Now fear not dear brother. You may not see anything under the tree for you but I got you something that couldn't fit under the tree and I got you something so much better. I got you a gift coming all the way of Los Angeles." Desiree said as Cedric looked at her with a confused frown on his face. Desiree then moved out of the way and Cedric's eyes went wide and his confused frown turned into a look of shock.

A woman with a caramel-like skin tone walked through the doorway. She had an angelic face roundish shaped face with chocolate brown eyes. She had somewhat light black eyebrows that seemed to be shaped with a soft arch. She stood at about 5'2 and had a voluptuous build to add to her stature. She had long black curly hair with lips that had a natural color to them.

"Kalani?" Cedric whispered in shock.

"Did you miss me stud?"

A/N: So, I hope you guys enjoyed Christmas Part 1 AKA Chapter 8. Chapter 9 will be Christmas Part 2 and I'll give you guys a bit of insight on how Cedric and Kalani's relationship works.

Later Guys and Gals!