Derek woke up with the sun shining on his face. He yawned and looked up at Sara, still sleeping peacefully. He sighed and thought about the events of last night. Why could something like this happen to all of us? Momma G's been the best ever to us...and Chenille doesn't deserve that good for nothin' jerk. He closed his eyes again and tried to wipe it all away. He knew he couldn't. He looked back up to Sara. She looked so peaceful...how did he ever deserve this angel? He smiled to himself as he thought "They always said angels dressed in all colours..."
A smile played across Sara's lips as she opened her eyes and realized that Derek was watching her sleep. She smiled and slid down under the blue comforter with him. He was smiling at her and she knew it was going to be a rare thing for the next little while.
"Your wearing those geeky chick pyjamas again" he laughed into her stomach.
"Yeah well you're wearing green silk so I wouldn't be talking. We don't exactly match Mister!"
They both stoped laughing and looked at each other. Derek caressed the side of her face with his hand and sighed.
"I love you so much..."
Sara's eyes brimmed up with tears and she bit her lip.
"I love you too...and I'm here for you. You're not alone in this and don't you ever forget it. Ever. You're not allowed to."
"Like I would. How could I ever forget you? All the tears we've shared? Its just brings our lives this much closer together...its amazing really."
"SARA!"
Sara stuck her head out from the blanket, and smiled at Roy's uncanny ability to ruin the moment in every sense. Derek stuck his head out long enough to kiss her passionately, then duck back down into the warmth of the bed.
Roy walked into Sara's bedroom with two plates of pancakes.
"Good morning sweetheart. Mornin' Derek."
Derek pulled his head back out and smiled at Roy.
"You kids are going to have to come eat at the table because I'm sick and tired of Sara cleaning her bed."
"Roy, I only lived here for 2 months before going to Julliard and when did I clean my bed?"
Roy smiled and them and walked out of the room, leaving the two of them puzzled and confused.
Sara looked down at Derek and let out a short sigh. How could she be thinking of fun when her boyfriends grandmother was dying and her best friend had just been hurt so much by her now ex-lover. She gazed at the ceiling and rubbed Derek's back as they both lay there, knowing that they were both thinking the same thing. Mamma G's sickness was hitting them all where it really hurts. The heart. She thought of how everyone was going to take it if Mamma G actually died. "Wake yourself up Sara." she said to herself, "Of course Mamma G's gonna die. She's really old and she's got cancer and...oh my gosh I don't know. I just don't know what to do. I care about these people so much and I don't know what to do. I wish mom were still here. She's know what to do...but she wasn't there. She wasn't there to help me with her death, Derek was. And know I have to be here for him when someone close to him dies. Oh but Derek didn't know you mom! I know Mamma G and I don't know how I'M going to take it let alone Derek and Chenille..."
Derek looked up at Sara, deep in thought. He didn't know how she could be so strong, but at the end of the day still have time to cry for everyone. As long as he had known her she'd been a strong person. He knew he had helped her with her mom's death and by the look on her face, he'd say that was exactly what she was thinking about.
"Well," Sara started, "I guess we'd better get out there before Roy comes in, rips the blankets off and discovers what you're really wearing." ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
When they got back to the apartment, Chenille didn't let any of them have a second to talk for they were put to work immediately. She got Derek to take Christopher out to the playground while her and Sara put the finishing touches on the latest dress. Then they were all busy once again cooking, cleaning and putting stuff away. Chenille had decided to give Mamma G a day off and had sent her out to get some air, go for a walk and go visit a few of her friends. They put the day aside to forget everything last night had brought them and really just let themselves go numb. When Mamma G returned she insisted that they all go to Steps again because they had given her such a wonderful gift of a day off.
Chenille grinned. "Don't worry Mamma G, we were goin' ta hit Steps anyways. Don't we always?" ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nikki looked up at the flow of people coming in the door and groaned in disgust. They were always here weren't they. The band off the happy niggahs and the little white girl. All cosy and shit. Made her want to puke. Suddenly, she noticed an even more familiar face walk in the door. "Hmm," she thought to herself, "I didn't know he was out yet." A smile crept its way across her face. "Just my luck, I'm gonna have me some fun tonight." ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sara looked around the tight packed club of Steps. A few familiar faces popped out in the crowd and she waved at Snooks on his platform. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Nikki glaring at her, which only made her cling off Derek even more, not that he minded or anything. When Nikki's eyes left the couple, Sara saw her smile, which was never a good thing. She turned to look and see who was coming in the open double doors. Oh. My. Gosh.
She grabbed Derek's arm and pulled him over to one side, watching Chenille walk away with one of the guys from around. She hissed in his ear, "Look over by the bar and see which friend just made his guest appearence!"
Derek looked over his shoulder to surprisingly come face to face, Malachi.
"Sup Derek?"
Derek was at a loss for words. He thought they had locked him up for some serious time!
"Surprised to see me? Well I got out on bail. Cost those stupid niggahs I call parents to hop a account or two, but I'm out."
Derek regained his composure. "So Malachi, what are you planning to do now? Gonna kill me for not goin' with ya'll?"
Malachi looked down in disgust. "Ya know Derek? I expected more from you. Course I'm not gonna bust ya ass! You're ma brotha! No matter what shit went down then and you're not on ma back, its all good in this hood."
"Well, I'm bein' pulled out to bust a cap bro, so I'm gonna jet."
Derek was towed away slowly by Sara and a look of disgust implanted itself on Malachi's face. "Stupid niggah."
Then he felt the hands around his waist. He looked down to the familiar black manicured nails. "Damn," he thought, "I'm gonna get it on now..." He turned to face Nikki with a half smile on his face.
"Sup beautiful?"
"I'm bustin' my ass Malachi! I'm standin' here about to bust a cap if we don't get out there and get it on, its been so long.."
With the look on her face and the feelings Malachi had about tonight, he pulled Nikki close, grabbed her ass, and walked down to the dance floor.
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