It's been two years now and a new Lyon cub has joined the family little Hakeem laid on his changing table as Cookie changed his diaper put a fresh one on and put him in fresh clothes.
"Come on Hakeem let's go get you a bottle."Cookie said as she carried him downstairs.
Cookie walks to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of pre pumped milk warming it up. And proceeded to feed Hakeem while Kayla Andre and Jamal were eating their breakfast.
Lucious came around the corner with two boxes one filled with blank cassettes and the other with blank CDs setting them on his mixing table he went around the table and continued to work.
Cookie began to burp Hakeem placing him in his swing in the living room with the muted sounds of cartoons playing.
Cookie cleaned up the kitchen and then went about doing the laundry as for the most part Hakeem got all kinds of stains on his clothing and Kayla Andre and Jamal got the usual grass stains and dirt on their clothing.
Cookie had the baby monitor with her so she could hear if Hakeem cried. All she heard was coos and giggles.
Taking the clothing upstairs putting everyone's clothing in their appropriate places collecting the dirty laundry from each room putting them in the basket and washing that in the next load.
All the while making sure Hakeem was okay.
Cookie continued to work around the house until Hakeem began to cry needing to change him and feed him again.
Putting Hakeem back in his rocker in front of the tv Cookie Meanwhile was paying bills once finished with that returning to put the next load of laundry in the dryer it was getting close to dinner time and Shanice walking into the door with her kids and Kayla Andre and Jamal right behind them.
"Hey, babies how was school?"Cookie asked.
"It was good Mama," Kayla replied.
"That's good baby."Cookie said.
The kids went upstairs to start their homework.
Shanice helped Cookie get things ready for dinner.
half an hour later Lucious and Bunkie walked into the house all the while having a discussion so deep they weren't paying attention to anything going on around them.
"Lucious I told you since Frank gained that extra territory that it would work in your favor and I was right word of mouth will get you a long way when it comes to getting you more exposure. And look at what happened you got requests for parties and more battle raps and you managed to sell all the Cassettes and CDs you had in the trunk how long do you think it will be before people start to know your name in other places all over the world."Bunkie said.
"I don't know but when the time is right I will get my chance especially if a few producers show up to any of those but for right now we just make do with what we have going on we are doing good our families aren't going hungry they have a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs and we are all blessed because of it, "Lucious replied.
the two men went back and forth talking not once noticing their wives staring at them.
"I can't believe they don't see us cooking here."Cookie said.
"Men will always be oblivious even those two," Shanice replied.
"Hey, we heard that."Lucious and Bunkie say at the same time.
"Oh really that you heard but you two can't kiss your wives."Cookie scolded.
"Sorry baby I don't want to sleep on the couch," Lucious replied with raised hands.
"Just go wash your hands and get ready for dinner."Cookie said.
"Yes, Ma'am Lucious and Bunkie replied as they saluted their wives.
Cookie and Shanice look at their husband's shaking their heads as they continued to cook and set the table for everyone to get ready to eat.
Hakeem beings to cry again needing changed Cookie getting ready to get him is stopped in her tracks when she sees Kayla grab him and take him upstairs hearing her talking to him as she cleans him up.
"Oh wow, baby brother you'd think mama and daddy were giving you solid foods with the mess you made and the smell alone no one would believe a baby did that," Kayla said.
While Cookie Shanice Lucious and Bunkie laughed listening in to the whole thing.
Hakeem just giggled and cooed giving his older sister a gummy smile.
"Come on baby brother let's get you something to eat," Kayla said as she picked him up from the changing table.
Everyone sat around the table while Kayla handed Hakeem to Cookie so she could eat.
Cookie had a bottle sitting right next to her plate she grabbed it with one hand holding it to Hakeem's lips while she eats her dinner.
"So what happened that had you guys did not properly greet your wives?"Shanice asked.
"Well we were working the new areas allotted to us and managed to circulate more of the cassettes and CDs to more Dj's and battle rap hosts as well as our other products and Lucious is slowly gaining popularity in those areas we've had people come up to us seeking to book Lucious for their parties if I wasn't there to see it for myself I surely would have thought it was someone lying, "Bunkie replied.
"Oh, that's great especially when it teaches the kids to let nothing stop you from your dreams."Cookie said.
"That's true especially if It's something you have a passion for," Shanice replied.
"And we all know Lucious eats sleep and dreams music," Bunkie said.
"Yes he does when that is primarily what he talks about that is a sign that music is what he's meant to be doing," Shanice replied.
"Yeah, I agree music was my escape from the pain of my childhood which pretty much stopped the night my father died after that it became something to get me through when I had to deal with my mom's episodes I just didn't want to face the reality that she died the night my father died and that I wasn't enough of a reason for her to want to live," Lucious said.
"Lucious you know I understand when Auntie died Uncle John sunk into a depression so bad my mama thought he would never recover and she picked up the slack for Candace Cookie and Carol until Uncle John recovered somewhat though anytime after that if anyone so much as said Aunties name around him he would get this sad smile expression on his face, "Bunkie replied.
"That's what true love does to people and it sounds like both Lucious and Cookies parents had that if things had been different they would most likely still be married enjoying their grandchildren," Shanice said.
"You know when I was pregnant with Kayla I wondered what daddy's reaction would be."Cookie replied.
"It's in the past now Cookie don't let past regrets hold you back from your future," Shanice said.
They sat around the table quietly eating their dinner.
Shortly after that dessert was served and Kayla took Hakeem from Cookie changing his diaper and getting him ready for bed.
Andre and Jamal kissed Cookies cheek hugged Lucious and went to bed not long after that.
"Dinner was good as always when are you two gonna open up your soul food spot?"Lucious asked.
"Me opening up a restaurant that thought never crossed my mind."Cookie said.
"Well, it's up to you baby whatever you want," Lucious replied.
"Thank you baby your always so sweet to me."Cookie said.
They went to sleep waking up the next morning to Hakeem crying.
Cookie went to see him. "What's the matter little man are you wet?"Cookie cooed.
Cookie takes Hakeem out of his crib carrying him to the changing table.
"You had another blowout you think that's funny Mr stinky pants."Cookie said as she tickled Hakeem.
Cookie grabs the baby tub and proceeded to go to the bathroom to bathe Hakeem ten minutes later Cookie comes out with Hakeem taking him back to his room to get him dressed.
The older kids were already downstairs getting their school stuff together while Cookie prepared breakfast and a bottle for Hakeem.
Lucious came downstairs going right for his boxes of cassettes and CDs. He loaded them in the trunk of his car coming back in to wash his hands and sit down for breakfast.
Cookie set the food on the table and everyone sat down to eat.
Shortly after breakfast, the older kids kissed Cookie hugged Lucious and grabbed their stuff and lunches, and ran out the door to Shanice's car.
Lucious follows not long after kissing Cookie and saying bye to Hakeem.
Twenty minutes later Lucious pulled up to a spot in the new. territory.
Lucious walks to the back of his car pulling out two boxes with CDs and cassettes.
"Hey, Jerome I've got more beats for you," Lucious said.
"That's great Lucious since putting your stuff in rotation my gigs have increased," Jerome replied.
"I'm glad to hear it that just gives me more reason to keep this up. Until I can get good enough for a producer to put on."Lucious said.
"Oh, they will just keep circulating your beats and those producers that travel looking for new talent and your moment will come, "Jerome replied.
"That would be something," Lucious said.
"Yes, it would your getting closer with every beat you make," Jerome replied.
Meanwhile, Bunkie Vernon and Thirsty were at the storage facility loading up on products and getting more boxes of CDs and cassettes.
"So you had dinner at Lucious house last night?"Vernon asked.
"Yes me Shanice and the kids Lucious still can't believe the fact his beats are popular all over town we dropped of a few boxes in southwest Philly yesterday and the dude told him that the gigs he'd been playing people kept asking who's beats and how they could hire him for their parties, "Bunkie replied.
"He's got to be careful doing private gigs without a contract he could easily get screwed over without one, "Thirsty said.
"Lucious is many things stupid isn't one of them and besides he has us to keep him from getting screwed," Vernon replied.
"Vernon is right anyone who would think to try such a thing would be cutting their life short," Bunkie said.
"Well come on we have to meet with Lucious."Thirsty replied.
"Alright, Thirsty don't get your panties in a bunch, "Bunkie said.
"Oh that's funny Bunkie I think you're in the wrong business maybe you should open your comedy club called Bunkie's bust your gut comedy club."Thirsty replied.
Vernon decides to put a stop to it by slapping them in the back of their heads.
"Hey what the hell was that for?"Bunkie asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Because if your gonna act like the stooges I'm gonna treat you like them, "Vernon replied.
Nothing else is said between the three they load their car and get ready to meet Lucious after they dropped off their boxes taking to DJ friends outside the city limits and then they had to meet up with Lucious who was talking to some of the other dudes that were part of his crew but he didn't directly work with but they took orders from him.
Meanwhile, Cookie was at the doctor's office with Hakeem getting a check-up and shots.
Shanice and Jackie went with her and would later be joined by Rochelle.
Hakeem was sleeping in his carrier on the other side of him was Jackie Rochelle and Shanice sat across from them.
"How did the appointment go?"Jackie asked.
"Well, Hakeem got checked got a few shots he didn't even cry his lip just trembled but he didn't cry."Cookie replied.
"He's a really good baby but then again all your kids were good babies so you were blessed on that front," Rochelle said.
"I'll admit that I was truly blessed but so were all of you our kids have so much fun together."Cookie replied.
"Cookie has a point we have great lives considering we don't have a college education or jobs but our jobs as wives and mothers aren't easy and to be honest I have respect for my mom since she did that with me and my siblings without so much as a complaint," Shanice said.
"I agree there were so many occasions she could have complained by instead always had a smile on her face," Jackie replied.
"Enough now let's talk about something else."Cookie said.
"Okay, what's on your mind?"Rochelle asked.
"Well daddy's birthday is coming up when he was alive Candace Carol and I would bake his favorite cake make him breakfast the whole nine when his birthday came around after he died I went to the graveyard Candace and Carol were their things were kind of awkward between us even though I did see them at the mall before this occasion but let me backtrack here I stood a few feet away I didn't know they were going to be there and I didn't tell them as I hadn't talked to them in a while they didn't see me at first but when they did I walked up next to them we hugged cried a little bit and stared down at his grave. Every year on his birthday his and mom's wedding anniversary and the day he died we go up there and talk to him put fresh flowers on his grave and just sit there."Cookie said.
"I know that has to be hard for the three of you which is completely understandable under the circumstances because it makes you question if things could have been different if he was alive and forgiven you and want to be in your life and what kind of relationship he would have with his grandchildren," Jackie replied.
"That's true I just hate that the last conversation with him was an argument and him kicking me out."Cookie said.
"Cookie the fact is you can't change another person's perceptions of someone else and that's especially true about what your father thought of Lucious and though after all this time you carry guilt about this there is nothing you can do about it, "Rochelle replied.
"I know I guess it's just knowing his birthday is coming up has sparked a lot of feelings in me."Cookie said.
"We understand Cookie this is a lot to handle," Jackie replied.
"Yeah it is but I manage but let's change the topic."Cookie said.
They sat around the table eating their lunch not saying much to each other. Across town, Lucious and the others were doing pretty good there wasn't a day that went by that a drop wasn't made and the Cassettes and CDs also were selling off like hotcakes.
In between it all Lucious group rose in the ranks of Frank's organization which afforded them a lot more money and power. And afforded Frank more power within his territory.
Though they still had to deal with bosses trying to muscle in on territories they were not local as Frank had already had agreements in place that protected each other from going after their territories however those outside their state limits were fair game.
It was at this moment all the local bosses called an important meeting.
"By the look on your faces, I can see you're confused as to why I called you here bosses from out of town are trying to expand their reach from state to state.
"It is my understanding that they send men in to gather Intel seeing how we work how much product we put out and how much manpower we have then once the boss gets the Intel he calls for a meeting and attempt's to use veiled threats similar to how the other guy had done but he would be prepared to act.
"So I want all of you to be aware of what's to come I have no doubt we will handle this as we've done before," Frank said.
"Of course we will Frank just like we did before," Lucious replied.
"He's right the most dangerous man is the one that underestimates someone who can destroy them with a calculated move," Bunkie said.
"Which is exactly why I want all of you to be hyper-aware of everyone and everything that could be a potential problem," Frank replied.
"No problem Frank," Vernon said.
"Alright go on get out of here and remember be careful," Frank replied.
Lucious Bunkie Vernon and Thirsty walked out of Frank's house deciding to go get something to eat.
"Where are we going to eat?"Thirsty asked.
"A nice seafood place on the southside," Lucious replied.
"I didn't know there was one," Vernon said.
"That's because you don't go that way a lot so it's no surprise you would miss it, "Lucious replied.
"That makes sense besides I would usually go to that island seafood place," Vernon said.
"Well, this place has great reviews and is in the paper a lot," Lucious replied.
"Yes I read about it they get a lot of tourist business, "Thirsty said.
Lucious pulls outside the restaurant they all walk in being led to a table where they sit down and talk.
"Jerome wants me to come to his gig tonight," Lucious replied.
"Does Cookie know about it?"Bunkie asked.
"No I'll tell her when I go home she'll be excited," Lucious replied.
"I'm sure our wives will be excited about it, "Vernon said
"Hakeem hasn't seen you perform so it would be interesting to see how he would react to it."Thirsty replied.
"The noise might be too much for him, "Lucious replied.
"Not at all Lucious put these in his ears he won't hear anything but kids music while the crowd goes nuts, "Bunkie said.