Barry approached the couch it was at that moment that Cookie looked up seeing Barry walking towards her.
Cookie felt uneasy when she looked into Barry's eyes and Lucious felt her tense up next to him.
But in true Lucious style, he kept his cool.
"Hey Loretha, you, all right? "Barry asked.
"I'm fine Barry I didn't know you were gonna be here."Cookie said.
"Yeah well I like music just as much as the next guy and I wanted to see what this rap party was about, "Barry replied.
"It's great everyone seems to be having a great time. "Cookie said.
"Including you two looking real cozy over here, "Barry replied.
"What's that supposed to mean? "Cookie asked.
"Well for someone you hardly know you're sitting close on this couch like if there weren't a room full of people here you two would be given each other a dental exam, "Barry replied.
As Lucious watched the exchange he didn't like the way Barry was talking to this woman she wasn't a hoe and he didn't like it that Barry was making it seem like that.
"Barry all we did was a talk I didn't know it was a crime to talk to someone, "Cookie said.
"To him, it is you know your father doesn't want you anywhere near him if you don't know him why isn't you can't stay away from him? "Barry asked.
"Barry what's your problem you don't own me or control me all I'm doing was having a good time and your acting like I'm cheating on you, "Cookie said.
"I'm beginning to wonder if you did cheat on me, "Barry replied.
"Look, man, your acting like a baby upset because someone is playing with your toy I don't know what she sees in you after completely disrespecting her in front of a crowd of people," Lucious said.
"The problem is you everyone knows what kind of things you do and here you are trying to mix my girl up in it, "Barry replied.
"No little boy you don't know anything she told you the truth nothing happened if you love her you should be a man and trust her you don't love her as you claim," Lucious said.
"What do you know you can't get a girl of your own you have to make moves on someone else's girl pathetic. "Barry spat.
"I'm the pathetic boy you an insecure baby compared to me at least I wouldn't humiliate my woman do you think your winning brownie points implying the girl you claim to love is a ho," Lucious replied.
"Oh my God, please stop. "Cookie said.
"No, Loretha this is too much this punk needs to leave you alone," Barry replied.
"Barry come on let's talk privately. "Cookie said.
Cookie and Barry went out of earshot of the other people at the party Lucius's gut told him something was about to happen so Lucious and three of his crew went outside.
Sure enough, he saw Barry with his hands grasping Cookie tightly shaking her yelling at her.
"Barry stops it your being a jerk and you're holding me too tight. "Cookie said.
Lucious grabbed Barry by the back of his shirt knocking him to the ground.
"What the hell is the matter with you-you don't put your hands on a female you punk! "Lucious raged.
Kicks and punches rained down on Barry to the point all he could do was moan.
"I'm telling you now she's not your girl she's mine you ended it the moment you put your hands on her. you stay away from her don't call come over anything it's done. "Lucious said.
"Lucious please stop he's had enough. "Cookie pleads.
"Come on let's get out of here," Lucious replied.
"I can't believe he acted like that I've never seen him so mad."Cookie said.
"He shouldn't have done it, to begin with," Lucious replied.
"He never lost control like that before I just never thought he would put his hands on me.
"Now I think that if I did marry him he would have eventually beat on me, "Cookie said.
"You don't have to worry about him anymore," Lucious replied.
"What if he lies to my dad about what happened, "Cookie said.
Before Lucious could say anything Cookie's cousin Bunkie walked over to them.
"Loretha listen, I saw what happened I'll talk to Uncle John and tell him Lucious and I came to your defense when Barry got rough with you, "Bunkie replied.
"Thanks, Bunkie, "Cookie said.
"Loretha, your family, and despite what people think about Lucious he's a good guy, "Bunkie replied.
"I can cover it with makeup if Barry happens to talk to Daddy I'll let you know. "Cookie said.
"Here I got this for you, it's your pager we all have one we have certain codes assigned so we know who to call. If Barry comes around you page me with the numbers of your address I'll know it's you. "Lucious replied.
"Okay thank you. "Cookie said.
"Keep it on vibrate and keep it with you all the time," Lucious replied.
"I will. "Cookie said.
"Are you hungry? we can get something to eat. "Lucious replied.
"Yeah, I didn't eat before I left the house. "Cookie said.
"Okay, let's get my girl something to eat," Lucious replied.
Lucious opened the car door for her and waited for her to get inside they went to get a pizza the place sold the best pizza in all of Philly it was their first date and Cookie couldn't help but love Lucious because of his care for her.
He wanted to keep her safe to him she was worth everything precious in the world and he wanted to show her that.
They ate in silence but she felt him watching her.
"What do I have something on my face? "Cookie asked.
"No I just can't help but to look at you your beautiful," Lucious replied.
"Thank you, I guess I have good genes. "Cookie said.
"I can tell you do, your mom must have been beautiful because you certainly are the prettiest girl in Philly," Lucious replied.
"You're sweet. "Cookie said.
"You bring it out in me, "Lucious replied.
The incident with Barry was completely forgotten and it was like before when they sat on the couch and just talked.
He held her hand in his lightly massaging her knuckles as they talked in truth he never suspected Barry would act that way towards Cookie Lucious believed that once Cookie figured out what would truly make her happy she would go for it.
And Barry's abuse towards her made the choice easier for her.
Lucious had one main rule none of his crew ever went after a woman with violence.
Even though Barry didn't hit her he just bruised her arms by gripping them too tightly and shaking Lucious still didn't agree with that it didn't matter to him how mad a woman made a man there was no cause for that.
Cookie watched Lucious rub his thumb along her fingers and it dawned on her what her mother told her and her sister's long before she died.
"Candace, Loretha, Carol come and sit down mama wants to talk to you, "Mrs. Holloway said.
"Babies, you know your daddy and I love you all very much and want the best for you one day if you're as lucky as I am your gonna find the man that's meant for you and you'll know him because when you look into each other's eyes and all you see is each other that's who was made for you, you could be in a room full of people and if you find you can't breathe and your heart races that is your heart and soul telling you that, that you have found the one.
Also, remember the heart doesn't discriminate whether we approve of the person you love or not we can't live your lives for you." Mrs. Holloway said.
"Hey Cookie, you okay? "Lucious asked.
"Yes, I just realized my mama was right. "Cookie said.
"Right about what? "Lucious asked.
"She told us that we can't help who we fall in love with and she told us the way to know if that person is the one the feelings we'd feel.
"What I felt when I first saw you was surprising because I never felt that with Barry with him it felt like an arrangement, not the fireworks butterfly feeling I get with you. "Cookie said.
"Yeah, you didn't look like you wanted to be around him if I'm being correct from what I saw, "Lucious replied.
"He could be clingy which made me uneasy but I dealt with it because he was nice and Daddy liked him. "Cookie said.
"He sounds like the typical abuser Cookie, he was sweet in the beginning brought me flowers every day was a real gentleman and then things started to change the moment some guy looked at me, "Lucious replied in a high voice.
"Are you making fun of me? "Cookie asked.
"No, I'm just saying that his behavior would have escalated worse if we didn't put a stop to it now," Lucious replied.
"Well, at least that's something I won't have to worry about now. "Cookie said.
Meanwhile, Barry was hurting pretty bad he didn't mean to grab Loretha like that he just couldn't contain the anger of seeing his girl with that lowlife thug and now he lost her.
He cleaned up his wounds and bandaged himself up he thought about getting revenge by going to Mr. Holloway but he realized Lucious might kill him if he did.
So he would leave her alone.
Despite what happened, it turned into a magical evening for Lucious and Cookie he held her hand as they walked to the car.
He drove them to get ice cream and then they parked enjoying their ice cream. they continued to talk.
"This was a wild night. "Cookie said.
"Wild but a good one I did good at the party and got the girl," Lucious replied.
"That's because of what I see in you people underestimate you Lucious. "Cookie said.
"And people see the world in you I know I do, "Lucious replied.
"You are just so sweet to me. "Cookie said.
"You deserve to be loved and taken care of that's all I'm trying to do, "Lucious replied.
"Well, you're doing a good job since we just became a couple. "Cookie said.
"For me, it's about showing you that I respect you and will provide for you and be faithful because you are all I want besides becoming a famous rapper building our empire, "Lucious replied.
"Those sound like wedding vows. "Cookie said.
"If everything goes the way I want it to, then yes you will be my Cookie Lyon the queen of our empire that we will build together that's what I'm working to make come true, "Lucious replied.
His words filled her with warmth and love she couldn't get over the beautiful future he had planned out or that he had chosen her to share it with.
She didn't understand why it felt right to be with Lucious Lyon but she wasn't going to fight it anymore.
She was going to see where it took her.
This feeling was bigger than her bigger than the disdain her father has for Lucious or even Candace's snobbish ways.
The feeling of freedom was addictive to her in more ways than one.
"What are you thinking about? "Cookie asked.
"I'm thinking about how wonderful it is to have you by my side and I don't ever want to go back to you not being here," Lucious replied.
"I don't want to lose this feeling either it feels like I'm dreaming but I know I'm not. "Cookie said.
"I know what you mean it cancels out anything you have ever felt before because it fills you up overwhelms your senses making you consumed with only this moment," Lucious replied.
"Exactly, it's surprising a little scary and thrilling all at the same time. "Cookie said.
"Music was what opened me up to feeling feelings so powerful like that," Lucious replied.
"For me when we were little mama loved to play different kinds of music RB and soul music she could sing so well I still remember her humming or singing doing things around the house.
"Candace asked her why she sang while doing housework. And she said because while your singing doing all that needs to be done you're not thinking about all the hours it will take to get things done. "Cookie said.
"Yes, it seems to make the time go faster," Lucious replied.
"She was on to something. "Cookie said.
"She passed on something incredible to your music can take a person far if you know how to use it, "Lucious replied.
"I know music makes me feel something that the idea of becoming a doctor hasn't done. "Cookie said.
"Your pops mean well he wants only the best for you. And in that, I agree, "Lucious replied.
Before they knew it was getting kind of late so Lucious drove her home.
Lucious watched her walk into her house making sure she was safe satisfied he drove home with thoughts of his Cookie putting him to sleep.
When Cookie went to her room she looked at the bruises on her arms and carefully put makeup on them once she was done she prepared for bed.
She put her pager under her pillow closing her eyes she went to sleep.
As the next morning rolled around the sunshine on her face waking her but instead of being annoyed by it
She smiled and rubbed her eyes getting up from her bed she gathered her things preparing for the day.
Heading to the bathroom she did her morning routine and went downstairs for breakfast.
Candace and Carol and her father were all gone so she had the house to herself.
Cleaning up her mess she left the house having nowhere in particular to go she was just walking when she heard a car horn.
"Hey, beautiful where you going? "Lucious greets.
"Nowhere in particular why? "Cookie replied.
"Well, I enjoyed spending time with you and was hoping to do so again," Lucious said.
"I had a good time too. "Cookie replied.
"I'm glad to come on get in let's go for a drive," Lucious said.
"Where are we going Lucious? "Cookie asked.
"I don't know I just want to spend the day with you," Lucious said.
"Sounds good to me. "Cookie replied.
"I hope so because if I can help it there's gonna be more moments like this," Lucious said.
"I'm looking forward to it."Cookie replied.
"How are your arms? "Lucious asked.
"You can see the fingernail marks now, and the bruises got darker they are tender but I'm okay. "Cookie replied.
"Here I figured you might need this it's an ointment with pain reliever in it. It should help," Lucious said.
"Thanks. "Cookie replied.
Cookie put the ointment in her purse making a mental note to use it later.
As they drove the radio was the only thing at the moment to break the silence.
They stopped in the parking lot of the local movie theater.
"What do you say we catch a movie? "Lucious asked.
"Sounds great. "Cookie replied.
They sat in the background that was dark that no one could see them back there.
Lucious wrapped his arm around Cookie holding her as they watched the movie together.
When it was over they went to get something to eat.
This time Lucious took Cookie to a soul food restaurant it was pretty popular because there was a line but they got in pretty quickly.
They ate and chatted and we're having a good time.
In two days she had more fun than she could ever remember having in a long time.
"You know yesterday, and today, feel like dates. "Cookie said.
"Well, I wouldn't consider the other day a great date when you got hurt but I think today kind of made up for that," Lucious replied.
"Most definitely. "Cookie said.
"I promise our next dates will be memorable for you, "Lucious replied.
"I'll hold you to that. "Cookie said.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Lucious replied.
"Good, because it's not like I'm not noticing the effort your putting in to prove to me your the guy I should be with. "Cookie said.
"I'm doing this to prove to you whether or not people think I'm worthy of you doesn't matter to me all that does matter is that you think I'm worthy of you, "Lucious replied.
"I'm not some goddess or queen expecting to be worshipped by guys who I feel are worthy to worship me.
"Don't get me wrong it's nice to be cherished by someone and everything you have done so far shows me you care about me."Cookie said.
"I understand, where your coming from I treat you similar to how my dad treated my mom.
"He treated her like his queen like his world only seemed to function right because she was by his side.
"And that day I saw you the first time I thought that's my queen the one who I'll worship and never let her doubt that she is the one," Lucious replied.
"You do realize we were kind of cliché about that, when we first met I heard of love, at first sight, the only people I knew who experienced that was my parents. "Cookie said.
"I know, it's special neither one of us expected that to happen to us. But I don't see it as a bad thing I believe fate thinks we're meant to be. "Lucious replied.
"I can't tell if that's true or not all I can say is the attraction is as real. "Cookie said.
"I find it's better to go with what you feel than fight it. "Lucious replied.
"Oh, I'm not going to fight this. "Cookie said.