Sorry it took so long. Anyways... here's chapter 16!

Mercedes POV

After getting some medications for Q we left the hospital and headed to Ciaras'. This was the first time Luke, Peyton and Nathan had been in the neighborhood where I had grown up. I parked the car and we got out an headed up the stoop stairs.

"Uncle Johnny!" I said as I ran over and kissed the cheek of an old man sitting in a rocking chair.

"Hey baby. How are you doing?"

"Good. You?"

"Just waiting for this old heart to give out."

"Uncle Johnny don't say that. You've been saying that since I was a little girl and you're still here."

"Oh girl... Does it really matter?"

"Not really, cause I know your gonna live forever."

"That's my girl. Always knows how to make my day."

I smiled and turned to my friends.

"Oh, Uncle Johnny these are my friends. Lucas, Peyton, Nathan. Guys this is my Uncle Johnny."

The all said hello.

"Nice to meet you all. Brooke, how are you sweetie?" He asked.

"I'm great Uncle Johnny."

"That's good. Well... what are ya'll waitin out heres for? Go on inside, Ciara is in there with Jorge and Ramon."

"Ramon is here?" I asked as Brooke took Q inside.

"Yeah. Jorge told him you were coming and he wanted to come see you."

"Oh, ok." I said giving him another kiss and heading inside with my friends behind me.

We walked inside and I saw Ciara sitting on the couch with Q and Brooke. On the two stools in the kitchen were Jorge and Ramon.

"Hey Z. Finally had time to come visit us little people?" Ramon said as I walked inside.

"Ha, Ha, you're funny." I said heading over to him and kissing his cheek. I kissed Jorge's cheek and introduced my friends. "Guys these are my friends... Lucas, Nathan, and Peyton." They all walked over to me and shook their hands. "Guys this is Jorge and Ramon."

"Nice to meet you." Ramon said shaking their hands.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Florida right now?" I asked

"I came home to check on Monica."

"How is she?"

"She's good."

"Good."

"Oh, Michael said he would like to talk to you. So... to give him a call."

"Alright I will."

Nathan gave me this look and I dismissed it. I would tell him who Michael was later.

"So... What's this I hear about you and Nick Cannon?"

"Ok, how long have people been saying things about me? And how many of them have been true?"

"Well... yeah, you have a point but... this one isn't like the one about you and 50." He said laughing.

"Shut up!" I said hitting his arm playfully. "I cant even go to dinner with someone cause they automatically think we're dating."

"That's the way it is."

"Yeah, I know. Hey have you heard anything from D?"

"He called me last night. Told me he made an ass of himself."

"Is he ok?"

Although he has blamed me for some things that were not my fault he is my brother and I still worry about him.

"He's ok. He said he was going to be in New York for a while. He has to get some things ready for the club opening."

"Ok."

"Z are you ok?" Ciara said walking over to me

"Yeah, why?" I asked confused.

"You look pale. Have you lost weight?'

"She probably has. She hasn't eaten anything since Monday." Brooke said turning away from Q.

"I had breakfast this morning!"

"And...what else?" Ciara asked.

"Well nothing... but..."

"Mercedes! You're gonna get sick again. You better start eating."

"Ok, will you guys stop telling me what to do? I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."

"We're just looking out for you Z."

"I know but... you guys worry to damn much."

"We have to worry twice as much. Once for us and once for your mother."

"Fine. Can we please talk about something else?"

We talked for a while and then it was finally time to go to the airport. Ciara drove her car and took Lucas, Brooke, Q, and Peyton to the airport. While Nathan drove my car and took me to the cemetery. While we were in the car he asked me...

"Who's Michael?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ramon said something about Michael wanting to talk to you."

"Oh, Michael is one of Ramon's clients."

"Clients? What does he do?"

"He's a music producer.He works with my brother most of the time."

"Your brother produces music?"

"Yeah.Ramon was working with Michael Jackson in Florida."

"Michael Jackson! You know Michael Jackson!"

"Yeah, I met him awhile back. He's one of the nicest guys in the world."

"Wow."

"Yep."

"What was up with Nick Cannon?"

"Oh, that was just something they got out of a magazine. See... before I left he asked me to go to dinner with him and I said yes. We were having dinner and when we left some paparazzi snapped some pictures and sold them to some magazines. We were holding hands so... they said we were dating."

"But you're not?"

"No. We were just being friendly."

"Oh. What about 50? Who is 50?"

"You don't know who 50 Cent is?"

"You know 50 Cent!"

"That's who 50 is."

"Is there anyone you don't know?"

"I don't know... yeah I think I know just about everyone."

"What happened with him?"

"We went out to a club had a few drinks. We were in New York so when the night was over we went back to the hotel. What do you think happened."

"Nothing I hope."

"Nothing happened. But since they took pictures of us walking together in front of the hotel they thought something did, actually they wrote that it did. It's hard to always have to defend yourself in the press, but that's the way it is."

"Wow."

"Did you like my friends?"

"Yeah. Their nice. How did you meet them?"

"When I was 10 Ciara moved into that house and we both hung out a lot and she became my best friend. And Jorge was... he was my first boyfriend."

"Your boyfriend?"

"Yeah. He was my first everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything."

"Why are we talking about this?"

"You asked, I answered."

"Right. I should probably think about what I say huh."

"Maybe."

When we got there we got out of the car and walked for a bit. We finally got near the grave and we stopped.

"Are you ready?" He asked

"No." I answered.

Hesqueezedmy hands and he stood there while I walked over to the grave and put a bouquet of red roses down on her grave. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I kneeled down and read the tombstone.

Karri Marie Davis

1963-2005

The best mother in the world. We miss you.

I felt the tears fall down my cheeks.

"Hey mom. I'm sorry that I haven't been by but... please understand why I couldn't bring myself to. I miss you mom... there are so many thing that I want to tell you... so many thing that I want to ask you. Things are so hard with you gone... but I know you're in a better place now. God took you away from me and I can't understand why... but I know I'm not supposed to... Dad's been gone a lot but he calls once in a while. I moved to North Carolina with Brooke. She's been helping me through it all. I met someone mom... He's the one who came with me today. His name is Nathan... and I really care about him... Please watch over me... I love you mom... I love you so much."

I kissed my fingers tipsand put them on her tombstone. I got up and walked to Nathan. He held me and wiped my tears away.

"I'm so proud of you." He whispered

I pulled him closer to me and buried my face in his chest. He held me tighter and stroked my head. We stayed that way for a while and I pulled away from him.

"Thank you Nathan. I couldn't have done this without you."

He pulled me closer to him and he pulled away.

"We should go. The plane is leaving soon."

"Ok."

I turned to look at the grave once more and turned back to Nathan. He held my hand and we walked to the car.

Like it? I hope you do! Shout out to OTH-Lucus'gurl thatnks for your review! I hope the rest of you can leave me a review this time! Please!