Ohio
Sam & Cedes, Tony & Michelle
"The garden" Michelle asked knowing they rarely went out there "What for?" she enquired as they walked
"I can see it in your face, you've found it, it's the real thing, that thing you've always wanted that Sam and I have?"
"I think so" she looked at Tony stood talking to Sam down the grass "We haven't even kissed yet and I feel ..." she shook with excitement "I feel like a school girl" she grabbed Cedes hand telling her
"Exciting isn't it?" she asked a nodding Michelle "imagine feeling like that every damn day" Cedes rolled her eyes at the deliciousness of it "That's my life girl, and it looks like it's going to be yours too" they looked at their men talking to each other
"Our parents just told us their big in the drug industry, Sam wants in but..." she looked back at Michelle "We'll talk about that, I don't want him to change"
"Is Tony..."
"Yeah, but I guess that's what their talking about"
"Why aren't they including you?" she looked at them asking
"Sam's my man, he makes all the big decisions, of course if I don't agree I'll make him change it" she laughed
"Of course" Michelle laughed as they watch them walk back towards them
"Okay" Sam looked at Cedes and pointed at the chair behind her, she sat down waiting "We've made a decision" he told her watching as Tony grabbed Michelle round the waist "Tony" he looked at him to carry on
"Obviously the business is cut three equal ways, at the moment it goes into one big pot and everyone just lives" he told them "The business is valued at around $37billion today, which makes us stink in real terms, most of it is in property, businesses, hospitals and various local centres" he sat down pulling Michelle with him "The plan is.." he looked at Sam
"The plan is to make the streets clean" Sam announced "Obviously we'll have those we can never help, but we plan on focusing more on getting the streets clean, we'll keep the trade, so we know what's coming in, but we'll work on some other level"
"I'm planning on taking a back seat, it's fine when you don't have anything or anyone to look out for, I get where Uncle's coming from, having someone changes everything" Tony looked at Michelle saying "I think I have someone forever and that's worth stopping all that front line stuff for"
"I was hasty before" Sam looked at Cedes telling her "I have no intentions of putting you or Imogen at risk, I'm taking a back seat too, this is my forever" he sat down and grabbed her hand
"So it seems like the only person out there that's going to know it's our business is Uncle Martin, because we decided were going to ask him to be the front man on the dealing part of the business" Tony announced
"Oh and we're moving back to California, moving out of town and gong back to school" Sam finished "Maybe next month in time for my birthday" he smiled "Any questions, stuff you don't agree with, suggestions?"
"Not that I can think of" Cedes told him
"You?" Tony looked at Michelle asking
"No" she looked back at Cedes wide eyed, feeling funny for being included at this early stage
They went back to relay the information to their parents, it was received well and later they officially asked Martin to front making a toast when he accepted. Heath and Daniel sat watching Sam and Tony taking over the business, by the end of the meal, they'd been given their orders, they were moving out of the little town they lived in and being told they were about to enjoy some of that money they'd made living it up in Hollywood or somewhere, the next day the parents went home leaving them to make their plans.
"I've been waiting to do this all day" Tony grabbed Michelle as they stood on the step, the car out of sight and Sam and Cedes making their way back inside, her hands flew up because of the speed at which he spun her, he grabbed her waist to steady her "Sorry" he smiled puling her closer to him "Can I kiss you?" he looked deep in her eyes asking
"Yes" she gasped before he finished talking, her eyes closing while she waited for his lips to touch hers, it was intense, her body was tingling, she didn't even know where that had come from but it was happening, she couldn't stop this now and tell him it was her first ever kiss, it seemed like an age before she felt his lip brush against hers and then he was teasing her lips open, he was sucking softly at her lips begging them to join in, she finally caught herself and opened her mouth to give him access, before her hands grabbed his neck and she started begging him to keep up
"Wow" Tony finally let her lips go saying "Was that your first kiss?" he pulled back asking
"Yeah, could you tell?"
"I could tell you meant it" he smiled before he went back in, this time softer, she got the drift real quick by the end of that week they were a proper couple, the deed had been done and Tony wasn't leaving her for an inch, he was a changed man
Martin sent word that Zina, the children and he were moving back to California in a week and Tony needed to be there to hand things over, Heath had secured some properties in Hollywood, that they needed to come have a look at before the final spend, and Tony and Sam finally decided they'd live in Beverley Hills
They set about moving back to California Cedes was excited she'd always wanted to finish school and get that singing thing that niggled in the back of her mind up front to prove to herself she could actually do what she envied the girls on the TV for. Sam was already dreaming about his football, he'd taken five months out and that could be career breaking, but he was confident he'd been good enough to actually ask any Coach to give him a spot on their team.
They packed everything they needed into the barrels, boxes and bags and watched them drive off to do the three day journey back to California. Michelle and Tony were super happy, she'd finally told him she'd always fancied her hand in designing as a career, and he was up for making that happen for her. Tony found it hard to find something he really wanted to do but some soul searching found Music and Art to be his forte, three weeks later they were moving back to California, this time was going to be different, this time they all knew who they were.
California
They eventually brought two houses across the street from each other in Beverley Hills, their parents moved into their Hollywood homes, Sam's Mom was the happiest he'd seen her, the parents carried on the work they'd started in their community, Martin ran the business from Mary's old house in Los Angeles, saved for when Marcus came back and decided what he wanted to do with it, Zina and the children lived in Hollywood too
They'd wanted to go back to their old school, but life had changed so much for them, they finally decided to move to a school closer to their new home, where no one knew anything about them, they were A grade student catching up wasn't even an issue, that happened quickly and they breezed through 12th grade graduating with sufficient grade to get into their chosen vocations. Sam went straight into playing for the state team, he was away during the season but they had regular hook ups, he could afford it, everyone was living their dream.
3 Years Later
20 Years Old
It was Imogen's 3rd birthday and they'd as usual had a low key family get together to celebrate, they'd just given her a beautiful black and white Bichon Frise puppy, she was all over it, to the dismissal of all the other presents she'd been brought, Zina was fussing about the dress she'd brought her that the puppy was slobbering all over and everyone stood around laughing
Imogen had changed from the squashed up baby they saw minutes after she was born, she had uncontrollable curly long light brown almost tinted ginger hair, that needed to be kept tied up to keep it from being totally tangled up, and to put cream on it she hated having her hair touched, she'd even wake out of her sleep screaming at the slightest touch of a comb in her hair. They tended to keep it soft by washing it every day and raking oil through it to soften and smooth it and she was catching on that the game wasn't about swimming but getting that hair of hers under control.
Her eyes the colour of her Father's but the shape and how she used them was all her Mother while everything else about her looked like her Father, she'd make them laugh so hard when she screwed her little face up pushing her lips out together like she actually knew what her Mom meant by it, or she gave that vacant look telling you without word she was not having it. She didn't give genuine smiles away to just anybody either, she'd just close her eyes and raise her eyebrows before bringing them together in her classic Daddy frown and put sun glasses on when she was tired and wanted to close her eyes instead of listening to anyone, but there was always baking and singing.
Sam stood watching her pulling the hair out her new puppy while it ran around trying to get away from her "Stop now!" she shouted at it, her hands on hips, her frown on and her lips stuck out demanding he obey her order "Mommy" she screamed when she got no joy, he could see her fast falling out with her birthday present. He looked over at Cedes laughing with her parents, that was something they hadn't seen happening again a while back, he smiled as he watched the relationship that was once very much obedient daughter smiling as he now saw equals standing laughing, talking, exchanging stories and hugging "It's time" he looked at Tony smiling mischievously
"Yeah, it's time" he grinned his eyes searching the garden for Michelle "Let's do this" he grinned like a cat
"Cedes" Sam called her from over with the women "Come here" he held his arm up for her to come to him
"Shell" Tony smiled calling her with his hand action
"Challenge" Sam smiled looking at the two women "Whoever does the puzzle first get's the prize"
"Okay" Tony asked Michelle, as the two men emptied the boxes on the table, looked at each other and walked away
"There's about a thousand pieces here" Cedes shouted after them
"So I guess if I was you I'd stop talking and get on with it" Sam laughed telling her
The girls looked at each other tutting, for this damn stupid game the guys were playing
"Are you ladies done yet?" Tony came over kissing Michelle asking, she just looked at him and cut her eye "I'll help" he sat beside her grabbing some pieces "Sam" he called him over "The ladies need help" he told him Cedes watching as Sam came straight over
"Thanks babe" Cedes leaned into him smiling
"The numbers are on the back" Tony told them turning them all over
Twenty minutes later everyone was standing around watching them put the puzzles together, the girls didn't know Sam and Tony had a plan "Okay we done?" Sam looked up at Tony putting the last few pieces in
"Ready" Tony finally said
"I was first though" Cedes announced, making Sam laugh for not acknowledging that he'd just sat there and put it all together for her
"One, Two, Three" they nodded, just like rehearsed, and turned the puzzle off the box and over onto its back lifting the box off at the same time
"What?" Cedes screamed looking up at him "Yes" she jumped up at him saying over and over again looking back at the puzzle spelling out, 'Cedes will you marry me?'
Michelle was sitting crying into her hands "Babe" Tony hugged her waiting for her to stop crying "I didn't think it was that bad"
"It's not, it's really good I mean really fucking good" she muttered
"He's still waiting for an answer" Mary looked at her saying
"Yes of course it's yes" she grabbed hold of him
"We have a wedding to plan" Ann announced grabbing hold of Hazel's hand, the four women went into planning mode while the two couples went off to let what was happening sink in for them
5 Months later
They'd decided to have a double wedding and take separate honeymoons, the parents, as you'd have guessed planned everything except the dresses, while they went off to college or pursued their careers, with everything stopping a week before, their few friends went with them to a hotel for the hen night while the guys jumped in the jet and went off for the weekend to Vegas, the highlight of the actual day was the grooms slow walking down the Isle while their brides sang as the congregation smiled, swayed and held their chest for the sweetness as Cedes and Michelle harmonised on 'The Vow' by RuthAnne impressed when they got a pre-married kiss at the alter
When time is up and the sun it dies, do the rivers flood and the ocean dries, hand in hand under the falling sky, I will love you
When I'm oh so old and I lose my mind, I'll still look at you like it's the first time, so many say it, and it's all a lie, but I will love you
Cedes: You are the reason I make it through the day, you gimme the reason to let on my ways, the beauty goes, the money spent, and everything else fades away, you are my constant Both: Mmm
When we've walked the earth every inch and mile, laughed so hard until we cried, through every trial and every trial, I will love you
Michelle: Cause you are the reason I make it through the day, You gimme the reason to let on my ways, the beauty goes, the money spent, and everything else fades away, You are my constant Both: Mmm Cedes: You are my constant Both: Mmm (I... I... I...I will love you)
Cedes: When time is up and the sun it dies, do the rivers flood and the ocean dries, hand in hand under the falling sky, Both: I will love you
By the time they finished performing the audience was ready for a wedding, there were a lot of laughs throughout the day Sam and Tony both being the life and soul of their party, their wives soaking up the day, they eventually left the wedding venue for their separate honeymoon destinations and arrived back two weeks later, getting straight back to life. They all had college to finish and goals to reach, Cedes trying her hand at song writing and singing, something she'd always wanted to do and Sam carried on with his football career. Tony finally made it into Art school and did that via an extension class while Michelle made plans to start their family straight away.
2 Years Later
22 Years Old
Sam was due in for Imogen's 5th birthday party in four days, it was hard to believe she was going to be 5 already, going on 15 with that attitude she was carrying around, the Grandparents were setting about spoiling her even more for her day than they did usually, not possible, and Cedes was shouting trying to get order "Sam's due any minute" she announced hoping everyone would get the hint and fuck off home, but everyone except Michelle settled in
Michelle had changed somewhat since getting married, she'd turned into some sort of fashion guru, setting her own trend with blue hair today, she seemed to change that on a weekly basis, draping herself in Gucci that was her label, she really didn't care what it looked like if it was Gucci she had to have it, there was hardly any hint of her natural self left to recognise. She'd swell every now and again and Cedes thought maybe she was having some problems dealing with the new lifestyle, Tony seemed to have it all under control and Sam had told her on many occasions to leave their shit alone, she wasn't up for not doing as he'd asked, he had a habit of punishing her in the bedroom department, she didn't see him that regular as it was.
"Later girl" Michelle told her laughing as she left
"Later" Cedes face told her she wasn't happy as she cut her eye at their parents, who weren't paying her any attention, she watched Michelle leave hatching her plan not to feed or water them anymore until they got the hint and left
"We ordered lunch" Ann called across to her just when it seemed to her they were getting restless
"Oh Good" she replied sarcasm dripping, but she enjoyed the various pizza's once they turned up, she sat picking some Jalapeno peppers of a slice that Imogen insisted was hers only to watch her feed it to the dog before coming back to have another slice lovingly prepared for her "That's yours, from Mommy" Cedes kissed her daughter telling her, watching as she went to sit with her dog to eat
"Hi" she heard Sam's voice making her spin round smiling, his eyes searching the garden for her, she smiled when they finally rested on her "Love you" he mouthed seconds before Imogen shouted him
"Daddy" she yelled before she went charging towards him
"Sweetheart" he picked her up hugging her "I love your Mommy and I love you too" he whispered in her ear as they hugged
"We love you too" she lifted off him grinning at him as she spoke
"Thank you" he pulled her back in hugging her for as long as she'd let him before approaching the parents hugging and kissing as he went, looking up for Cedes every now and again, they'd been together for five years now, he'd been away for the game so many times it was almost second skin, but every time he saw her his mind sang those words 'Hey, lady, let me tell you why, I can't live my life without you (oh, baby)' forcing him to see her as that cheeky, sex starved 16 year old he'd met in Atlanta again and he fell in love with all over again, again. He stood nodding to some conversation the Dad's were having with him about business, he wanted them to finish before he moved off because his mind told him once he got hold of Cedes it was going to be a few days before she let him go again, she had those eyes that meant business, on him
Cedes stood with the biggest smile on her face as she watched him with their daughter, whispering in her ear, she knew what he was saying making her feel all warm inside, her smile wider when he finally felt her staring and looked across the room. She giggled inside watching him frustrated as he listened to whatever their Dad's were saying to him, bending as he put Imogen down realising she was struggling to get away from him, watching her run to her Mommy, his smile widening as he watched the two most important people in his life kiss
"Daddy said he loves us" Imogen told her
"And we love him too sweetheart" she told her watching Sam smiling, he could hear what they were saying, He finally closed the conversation down and made his way across to her smiling as Imogen shouted his name excitedly "Every time I see you walking by I cannot breathe, you don't understand but in time you will" she sung as he walked towards her, watching him smile
"I do" he told her pulling her in by the waist for the deepest kiss, breaking apart when Imogen made some noise telling them she thought they were yukie, they finally got the night to themselves and a few days before the party.
Imogen's Birthday
"We have an announcement" Tony clapped his hands as everything wound down
"Not another proposal?" Mary asked laughing
"No" he pulled Michelle closer to him "We're pregnant" he announced to screams of joy, Cedes went straight in for a hug "And we want to return the honour and ask you guys to be Godparents" he looked at Sam and Cedes
"Thank you" Sam hugged him with tears in his eyes, they'd had so many talks about Tony becoming a father he was happy it was finally happening for them
"When's it due?" Mary asked pushing people out the way to get to her daughter-in-law
"Just under 4 months time" Michelle told her opening her baggy cardigan to reveal her neat perfectly rounded baby bump
"Perfect ending to the night" Daniel tapped Tony's back "Your Dad would be so happy right now" he squeezed his shoulder before hugging him "Congratulations"
"Thanks, Uncle D" Tony widened his eyes at Sam for getting a positive comment from his Dad
Sam & Cedes
"Sam" Cedes purred as they got ready for bed that night, he didn't answer he just looked across at her, his face already asking what "You know with Imogen being like 5 now and well..." she stopped combing her hair in the mirror to turn to look at him "What would you say to us having another..."
"No" he smiled
"It would be easier to have one now than to wait until I've made my breakthrough song and then have to stop again, it makes sense to do it now" she turned to face him
"No" he looked at her making himself clear
"How the fuck are you just going to say no with no discussion?" she asked her voice raised
"There is no discussion, we're not going through that again ever"
"Not every pregnancy is the same"
"For you it would be"
"How the hell are we going to know if we don't try?"
"I said no"
"But if we don't try..."
"I said" he looked in her eyes, letting her know the conversation was finished "No"
"Sam" she had to have another try, the look on his face told her she'd lost that battle, she needed to time it better if she was going to win this war
"Cedes" Sam moaned as he got in bed to her turning her back to him and brushing his hand off her "I'm gone for a week tomorrow, is this really how you want to leave this?" he asked waiting for a while before he turned his back to her and eventually he fell asleep
The next morning she served more of the cold shoulder and turned her back on him when he came towards her for his usual kiss "I don't know that I'll be here when you get back" she told him her back to him as she pretended to do something in the sink
He had his ear phones in but he heard what she'd said, he walked up behind her pinning her to the sink, before he put one plug in her ear singing in her other ear "You so fucking precious when you smile, hit it from the back and drive you wild" he sang as his hand moved around to invade her skirt flicking her pantie line off her skin smiling as her head hit his chest "Girl I lose myself up in those eye-eye-eye-eye-eyes, I just had to let you know you're, mine" he sang letting his fingers invade her body, she was so up for it she sighed as her legs opened to let him in "Hands on your body, I don't wanna waste no time" he chuckled"Where did you say you were going to be when I got back?" he pulled his hand away asking her, watching her begging eyes as she swung round to look at him "You wasted the night babe" he kissed her lips and walked away 'Mine' by Bazzi she hated his punishment, she was angry straight away
"When are you going to stop listening to that fucking tired shit?" she hissed at him
"When I stop thinking about you I guess" he threw back at her still moving towards the door
"Bastard" she shouted after him
"Don't let me come back hearing Imogen using those words" he turned smiling at her, "You're Mine" he grinned singing, she wanted to pick something up and throw it at him but, she was up for winning the war.
That was the beginning of the baby war for them, Sam was determined there were going to be no more babies and Cedes couldn't see the problem, she was so consumed in her baby drama it took her a while to realise she hadn't seen Michelle for nearing two days, Tony had taken to not going into town and he seemed to be there every time she tried to go round to talk about her baby drama, so she'd gone to see her Mom and stayed for a while, being as Sam was out of town again
"I'm going back tomorrow, Sam's back on Sunday for a few days and I'm..." she looked at her Mom to see if she'd said too much already
"You're what?"
"Nothing" she fanned her hand through her hair, it was obvious there was something
"Mercedes" her Mom gave her the don't bullshit a bullshitter look "You've never been a good liar"
"Okay but you can't mention it to Sam" she sat forward in her chair "Promise me Mom"
"Promise" she smiled sitting forward with her
"We have a war going on" she giggled "I want another baby, he's saying no, but I know what it's like to be an only child, so does he, I know he doesn't want that for Imogen"
"What did he say?" Hazel asked her
"There's been no conversation just no, nothing else not even an explanation"
"That's maybe because he heard the doctor when you were having Imogen"
"Why what did the doctor say?"
"That you have Eisenmenger's syndrome, you have a bad heart, Imogen should have killed you, she's a miracle, you can't have anymore children Mercedes"
"He knows that?"
"Yes" she grabbed her hand telling her "He also knows that should it come to it, you'd choose the baby, but he told you he'd choose you and you'd hate him for the rest of your lives together"
"Where did I get this Eisen whatever from?"
"Heart defects run the family in different forms"
"Is that why you only had me?"
"You're our miracle" she cupped her face telling her
"So if it's that serious why don't I have medication?"
"Risk is the pressure pregnancy puts on your heart" she smiled "You really don't remember any of what happened when you were in hospital with Imogen?"
"I slept most of the time, sometimes I didn't even know what was a dream and what was reality, I was so drugged up" she sat back finally understanding Sam's dilemma, her body screaming for a child, her mind was logically telling her it was never going to happen, the thought of not being there for Imogen, or with Sam was unbearable
She went back home the next day, she didn't go straight to see Michelle's she needed to have a conversation with Sam, he arrived home the next day and she sat calmly telling him she didn't think it was the right time to have another baby because she'd decided to start her career. He wasn't convinced, he called her Mom to be told they'd had a confidential conversation, he knew that conversation they'd had the night before was the most difficult thing she'd had to come to terms with to date.
Weeks went by and he saw her disappear into herself, sitting around the house, not paying attention to Imogen let alone him, more nights were spent looking at her back, and there was no music in sight "Cedes what's going on for you?" he grabbed her hand as she walked past him in an attempt to get out of the kitchen because he'd walked in
"Nothing" she looked up at him giving a small smile "I'm fine"
"I know there's something, please talk to me"
"I can't ... I don't want to talk" she shouted at him dragging her hand away from him and walking off
He made more calls to her parents as the situation got worse, finally realising the problem was theirs to sort "Cedes" he burst into the music room one evening fed up with it all "We need to talk"
"I'm busy"
"What too busy for me?"
"Yes" she looked up at him her eyes filled with fire
He wanted to shout himself but that wasn't going to help anything "Cedes I wish I could leave this alone but..." he sighed "Have you fallen out of love with me, is it all the travelling?" he asked
"No it isn't"
"So you know what it is?" he asked walking towards her "Play me what you're working on" he smiled "please?" he sat beside her at the piano "Please?" he used his puppy eyes on her
"It's rough I think it has the making of my first single, I've got the chorus see what you think" she smiled more than he'd seen her smile in a while, she started playing the piano singing "Ooh I can't go any further, if you only knew, the darkness inside, I can't go any further, if you only knew the darkness inside of me"
"I want to know Cedes, I really need to know"
"Really?" she looked to the side of her at him "I think you know already"
"Do I?"
"This heart condition Sam, don't act like you don't fucking know" she stood up walking away from him angry
"We both know about that" he looked at her puzzled
"I didn't"
"We were both there when your parents told the doctor"
"I'd had that many fucking drugs I didn't even know what fucking day it was, you let me bang on about having another baby knowing all along I couldn't and that was cruel"
"That's why I just kept saying no, I thought you knew, honest Cedes I swear on my life, I thought you knew" he got up and walked towards her "I swear I thought you knew" he grabbed hold of her hand "I'm sorry" he let her go when he felt her trying to get loose "Cedes?" he looked at her trying to understand what was happening for her, not moving fast enough as she lashed out at him, he stood for a few seconds taking her slaps before he realised, she wasn't in control of herself and grabbed her hands restraining her, "It's alright babe, I've got you" he kept whispering in her ear until she calmed down "I'm guessing that was the darkness inside you sung about?" he asked as he sat hugging her
She laughed before she turned to hug him and cried in his arms for a long while, until Imogen appeared at the door, quickly followed by the Nanny "Daddy" she screamed at seeing him, his eyes on Cedes as she jumped up off him and left the room to go sort herself out
"Sweetheart" he scraped her up in his arms hugging her to him "I love you're Mommy and I love you too" he told her as she snuggled into his neck
"We love you too Daddy"
He rolled his eyes as the business phone rang, picking it up to hear Tony's voice "Sam we have business to sort out, five minutes"
"T can you not deal with this, I've got stuff going on..."
"Sorry Sam, I have problems too, but we have business, the girls understand that"
"Five minutes" he told him, rolling his eyes and closing the call down "Cedes" he shouted up the stairs as he grabbed his keys "Back in a while, business" he didn't hear anything from her and looked up their winding stairs to see her just standing there, she gave him a smile but it wasn't from the heart
"Hey lady, let me tell you why, I can't live my life, without you" he looked up at her singing, she gave him a proper smile
"Every time I see you walking by I cannot breathe" she sang back, it was weak but it was there
"I'll try not to be too long" he blew her a kiss and walked out the door
Tony & Michelle
This was Michelle's third pregnancy, she'd lost the others weeks in, the first were twins that came dislodged two days apart, just three months into their marriage, they'd been devastated and kept it to themselves when the second pregnancy ended just as abruptly five months later. After the first miscarriage Tony was in a bad mood, constantly snapping at everyone that jeered them about starting a family, and Michelle was going to a dark place with every day that passed. When they got pregnant the second time he'd show a front while everyone was around him but when Sam and he sat banging out lyrics or playing cards he'd present as a man with the world on his shoulders, eventually he swore Sam to secrecy, he needed to talk he told him everything, Sam shared some of his time with Cedes and offered an ear when he needed one, they got close
Michelle's mood changed drastically, he was scared for where she was going and demanded they see a GP, the next day they were in the surgery listening to the doctor telling them she was one of those rare Mom's that had Prenatal Depression, they opted for the diet control rather than medication conscious of the baby "Only six weeks of this" he smiled as he fed her a healthy bowl of power food
Tony took some well needed time out, he called Martin and backed off a bit, Sam seemed to have stuff going on that he wasn't talking about lately, they were both preoccupied with life, the business was slipping and they needed to work that out, they'd made a commitment some years back and although family life was important, they had great responsibilities.
His business phone rang one afternoon as he sat rubbing Michelle's feet, learning some techniques from the masseur, trying to relax her "Could you take over?" he asked grabbing for his phone and getting up "Martin, what's up" he asked leaving the room "I didn't even know that was happening, give us an hour" he told him closing the call
He quickly made the call to Sam "Sam" he called when he answered "We have business to sort out, five minutes" he went back into the nursery and said his goodbye's to Michelle, grabbed his keys and left
Sam & Tony
They found Martin waiting on the doorstep "Boss" he acknowledged as they walked towards the front door
"Uncle Martin" Sam laughed for him always being so correct about things
"Uncle" Tony nodded "What's so urgent?" everyone sitting down as he spoke
"Hostile take over on East side we think" Martin told them
"Do we have any men down?" Tony asked Sam listening and taking in what was happening
"None reported so far but we don't think this is the end" Martin reported
"You know what to do nip it in the bud, send a strong message" Tony told him
"Yes Boss and I also needed to tell you guys that Marcus is out"
"Marcus?" Tony asked shocked and excited, he'd been so far away these past three years it was impossible to go see him but the last time they talked he never mentioned he was even smelling coming out "That's great, where is he?"
"I don't know I told him where you guys were"
"He'll visit mom first" Tony told him they got up to make their way back home stuff was going on for both of them
Marcus
Marcus was making his way to another important stop, he'd have liked to have seen his Mom first but she was all the way out in the sticks and he wasn't going to get back tonight once he left town, he jumped in a cab and made his way over to Nadine's house
"Hey" he smiled as he got out the car to see her waiting for him on the doorstep
"I was last wasn't I?" she smiled wiggling as she waited for him to get to her, he pulled her in and kissed her, he'd waited nearly 7 years to do that. Nadine had begged him not to take the wrap for that assault, but it was one of his crew who he knew would talk so he took it, she'd told him before he got sentenced that she wasn't waiting and she didn't in a fashion, she got on with her life, but she loved him, so she kept in touch. Over the years their relationship had grown stronger and he'd made all sorts of promises about what life was going to be, she just needed to give him that chance to prove it
"You were the first one on my mind" he cocked his head telling her, pushing her inside the house
"Mom's in" she whispered to him
"Make your excuses and come on" he told her letting her go to go do what she needed to, there was some shouting before he saw her come out with her purse in hand rolling her hazel brown eyes at her Mom's drama "I knew she wasn't going to take me being back easy" he laughed kissing her again
"You better mean everything you promised me Marc" she stood warning him
"No more prison I swear" he held his hand up telling her "My families moved, did you know?"
"No I saw your brother a few times but I didn't ..."
"You should have told him who you are"
"I don't even know who the hell I am" she laughed
"Well you're going to meet all of them today" he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the waiting car, opening the door to let her in
Sam & Cedes
"Cedes" Sam ran into the house shouting, he needed to make sure she was alright "Ced..." he stood watching her, as he opened the bedroom door, cutting her hair off "What are you doing?"
"Making a stand" she looked up at him, still cutting without even looking
"A stand for what?"
"Well you know like everyone takes a stand against cancer, by doing something, I'm cutting my hair in protest against a bad heart"
"Seriously?" he walked towards her, looking at her hair, she'd already gone too far for him to suggest anything "They cut hair to support cancer patients, not for hearts" he smiled as he got to her
"Well now they can do it for my heart" she looked at him smiling
"Okay I think we can cope with this for maybe a month" he looked up at the mess she'd made of her hair "And then we need to invest in some of that Indian hair I see you messing with all the while"
"I'll be alright Sam" she grabbed his face telling him "I have you" she kissed his lips lightly smiling as he hugged her, making her feel safe
"You know I couldn't do anything without you too, don't you?"
"That makes me feel happy" she buried her head into his chest "I love you Sam"
"I think I've gone way past love Cedes" he kissed her head telling her "I want to be your man, I wanna be your man" he sang making her smile as he sang their song
"Better not pass me by, cause if you do you'll lose a good thing" she sung back at him
"Cause what I got to say, is seal with a kiss, and a wedding ring (wedding ring)" the sang together
"I'm glad we have a song, it says more than I can express" she told him
"I need to do some expressing" he smiled when she looked up at him "You've starved me for weeks"
"Is that what all this is about?" she looked round at him her face set in fuck you mode
"No it's about getting you back on track, so we can get back on track I wasn't saying for now just putting my feelings out there"
"Oh" she frowned
"What?" he asked for the look on her face
"I was hoping we could get some Bazzi action going on"
"Seriously?" he smiled as she pulled his t-shirt towards her
"Seriously" she took his lips with a force, he knew he was up for one of her special afternoons "Everything" she smiled at him
"Music" he pulled away from her to put his phone in the pod "Oh Marcus is back we have dinner at Tony's around 5pm" he mentioned as he stripped
"We might get there, depending on how I feel once I get started"
"It's business" he told her
"This is business" she lay naked on the bed waiting for him to join her "We're really gonna get into this are you ready, I mean really ready?" she laughed at 'I'm so fucking happy you're alive, swear to God I'm down if you're down all you gotta say is right, girl anything I can do just to make you feel alright, oh oh oh oh, I just had to let you know you're fine, running circles 'round my mind, even when it's rainy all you ever do is shine, you on fire, you a star just like Mariah, man this feel incredible, I'll turn you into a bride, you're mine' rung in the air as they got lost in each other 'Mine' by Bazzi
"Sam" Cedes called waking him up some hours later "Were you serious about going to Tony's?"
"What?" he jumped up asking "Shit did I fall asleep?" he looked around the room till he found her at the bottom of the bed
"Were you serious about Tony's?"
"Yeah about 5pm what time is it?"
"We have twenty minutes, you know that, right"
"Seriously" he threw the covers off him and jumped out of bed, grabbing her hand as he went
"What are you doing?" she giggled as she followed him
"Getting a shower, one of our special showers" he smiled
"We have twenty minutes"
"So stop talking" he turned the shower on, handed her a flannel and stepped in "All you gotta say is right"" he reminded her "Man of my word and all that" he laughed, they were late to Tony's but it was fashionably late and when Tony saw the smiles on their faces he didn't even make a big thing about it, just grabbed Imogen, who became the centre of attention
Tony & Michelle's
Everyone was already ranting over the arrival of Marcus, he was like the prodigal son, Cedes and Michelle met Nadine and all three had gone off to get acquainted, in the newly decorated nursery checking over the baby things, there was a ping of jealousy before Cedes told them about her situation and Michelle felt obligated to expand on hers, the three women sat hugging each other for a while before snapping out of it laughing
"We're going to be good friends" Cedes told the other women, nodding in agreement, before they went back down to join the others
"Who's this?" Marcus was bent down, trying again, looking at Imogen peeping from behind her Grandpa Jones' chair, when they got downstairs "What's your name sweetheart" his voice soft and inviting
"Imogen" she finally snapped back jumping on her Grandpa's lap
"Imogen, your the prettiest little girl I've ever seen" he smiled at her before turning to Sam "You guys must be so proud she's beautiful"
"We are" Sam smiled
"Dinners ready" Michelle told everyone moving them to the dining room
"So Nadine" Mary looked across the table in the middle of desert, Marcus rolling his eyes at his Mom's famous inappropriate conversation pieces "Marcus tells me you've been an item for over 11 years, how come I've never clapped eyes on you before?"
"I guess you could say we weren't exclusive" Nadine told her, looking at Marcus sat next to her
"On my part" he quickly added
"And what now, you are?" she looked at Nadine
"Now I am Mom" Marcus answered
"So Nadine's going to be family?"
"I haven't asked her yet" he looked back at Nadine smiling "But when I do I hope she says yes, I've got a bit to prove"
"A lot to prove, I want him out of the business, and ready for family life, you can't do both, I've seen that" Nadine told his family, everyone looking up at her announcement
"Out of the family?" Mary asked shocked, Marcus looking at Nadine, his look telling her it was the wrong time
"I don't want to come in lying Marc" she looked at him before turning back to his Mom "Marcus and I agreed to get back together when he came out under the premise that he leave the business, we leave the area and start a new life, I'm actually a Police Officer, which is why our lives together hasn't been plain sailing and maybe why you guys have stayed below the radar for so long" she looked at the fidgeting people around the table "I love my job and I love Marcus, I wouldn't wish any harm to him or any of his family, he knows where my loyalty lays"
"A cop?" Mary asked looking at Marcus "And you love her?"
"I love her Mom" he smiled
"I have no more to say, she's your choice, lets leave the young ones to themselves" she got up signalling to the others, she walked round and kissed them all leaving Nadine till last "Welcome to the family" she hugged her saying bringing a tear to Michelle's eye as she remembered Mom welcoming her in the same way some near five years ago
"So" Marcus banged the table smiling, when the parents left "This is a new order"
"That your not going to be involved in" Nadine reminded him
"Shit this is going to be hard" Marcus raked his hair back telling everyone "I can't stop her from talking she'll arrest me" he laughed
"Cedes is in the business anyway, she has to have a say" Sam told him "And if this is a new order..."
"And if Nadine and Cedes are in you can bet anything called money I'm in too" Michelle told them
"New order" Tony nodded
"Grab that guitar, you played years ago" Sam nodded at the guitar leaned against the wall
"I still do, but I'm a mechanic now" Marcus smiled "Curtesy of correctional education"
"We've all got careers, Sam's a baller, Mercedes sings, Michelle, designs and I do Art work for the local paper" Tony told him
"So we don't really need that part of the business anymore" Nadine announced
"God's Plan" Tony told them happy
"Drake's God's Plan" Marcus raised his eyebrow telling them "That's our anthem" he started strumming the tune "Mom always said that was one of Dad's things to say"
"Cedes said her parents said that too and I know mine always have" Sam smiled
"Arrrh" Tony cooed "They had a crew motto"
"Shut up and sing" Marcus laughed, Tony didn't argue he found the beat and started
Tony: Yeah, they wishing and wishing and wishing and wishing, they wishing on me
Marcus: I been moving calm, don't start no trouble with me, trying to keep it peaceful is a struggle for me, don't pull up at 6am to cuddle with me
Sam: You know how I like it when you loving on me, I don't wanna die for them to miss me, yes, I see the things that they wishing on me
Tony: Hope I got some brothers that outlive me, they gon tell the story, shit was different with me
All: God's plan, God's plan, I hold back, sometimes I won't (yeah), I feel good, sometimes I don't, (Hey), don't, I finessed down Weston Road, (Hey), 'nessed, might go down a G.O.D., yeah, wait, I go hard on Southside G, (yeah, wait), I make sure that north-side eat ... and still..
"I thought Cedes was the singer?" Nadine asked as they walked in interrupting the song
"Oh she is" Sam hugged her telling them "She's going to be a star, mark my words"
"God's plan" she smiled up at him
Two weeks later Michelle and Baby Jacob were home, getting settled in, Tony was moaning about sleep and Sam and Cedes were laughing at the memory. Cedes was still sad about the baby situation but her music project was keeping her focused and Sam wasn't spending so much time away, he'd get home for some nights in between games, for her.
4 Weeks Later
"Sam" Cedes tapped him, his phone waking her up "The business phone" she told him still half asleep
"What?" he shook out of his sleep asking
"The business phone's ringing"
"Shit it's 3am, I've got to be out in five hours, what the fuck's happened now?" he asked clicking the phone open to hear Martin shouting down the phone "What?" he shouted loud enough for Cedes to jump up concerned "As quick as I can" he jumped up telling Martin
"What's the matter?"
"Shit's going down, and our Dad's are there, who the fuck told them to get involved?" he hissed as he got dressed
"Wait Sam" Cedes jumped out of bed trying to get him to listen to what she was saying "Are you going down there to use a gun?"
"Cedes our Dad's are down there, I have to defend the family"
"No you don't" she grabbed his jacket off him telling him "No you fucking don't" she pulled it away as he tried to grab it off her, she stood in silence watching as he grabbed another jacket and made his way to the door "Sam" her voice trembling "I don't want you to go, I don't want this life for us, how the fuck..." her body weak as she stood realising she was asking him not to go try and save their parents life
"Can we talk when I get back?" he stood looking at her
"Yeah" she told him as he watched a tear roll down her face
"I know this is hard for you right now, and yes I know we have our own shit doing down but I love you, you know that right?" he grabbed her round the waist and pulled her to him, kissing her deep before letting her go and walking away
"I love you" was all she had time to say before he was out the door, she sat on the bed wondering how that could be after she'd just yet again hit him over the head with her shoe, she was going out of control and he was just being Sam stuck in this girlfriend for life situation with this mad woman, she cried hard
Tony had heard his phone and got up to answer it, they were tired so Michelle didn't even stir, he got dressed, kissed her forehead and left his family sleeping, he'd called Marcus on his way to let him know they'd been at threat
"I knew something was going down, Nadine hasn't come in yet and she hasn't called me" he jumped up "I'll see you guys there"
"Didn't you promise?"
"We all did" he told him closing the call
Twenty minutes later they were standing in Marcus' house shouting at the Uncles, telling them they shouldn't be getting involved in business this deep "There's nothing here is there?" Marcus looked at Martin asking
"No" he replied, he'd had instruction never to bring anything or anyone to the house
"Okay if anyone's coming here we have a snitch in the camp so think" Marcus looked around "Grab some whisky, get the cards out, lets create a guys night" he ordered as everyone went into action getting the scene set
"Why are we doing this?" Sam asked, wondering why he'd got out of bed and scared his wife half to death to go play a game of cards
"It's what Nadine told me to do if this should ever happen, that's why the house needs to be clean at all times" he replied
"So it's a police raid?" Tony asked
"No it's a turf war" Martin told everyone "We had to bad deal tonight, the cops must have caught one of our guys, he's obviously talked"
"How are you so sure about that?" Heath asked
"Because I know my crew" Martin told him "The house is hot, they know Marcus lives here, he's out and trouble starts, it's their obvious conclusion" he looked around the room "They'll come here before they do anything else, we're all clean, celebrating him being back" he threw the match sticks on the table while Marcus dealt the cards "If they don't find him here then they'll start on the houses and we need a bit of time to get them clean"
"So Marcus, you're going to get locked up again?" Tony asked looking at his brother
"No" he replied "I have an air tight alibi" he smiled at the guys around the table
"Something had better be air tight" Mary walked into the house shouting at them "I'm woken up at this god awful time of night by my screaming daughter telling me you've gone missing without a damn word, what the hell were you thinking, leaving her in that state?"
"Business" Tony told his Mom
"I'm sitting there reliving your Dad all over again, thinking I'm walking in here and I'm going to have to get shot this time because I can't outlive my babies" it was clear she was scared the way she was ranting "What's going on?"
"We're having a game Mom" Marcus got up to hug her "Sorry"
"Sorry?" Michelle asked looking at Tony "Do you know what I've been through?"
"Do you know what we've been through?" Cedes asked Sam's head popping up to get involved in the conversation hearing his wife's voice
"Cedes" he got up to get to her "You can't be here the cops are coming any minute"
"I can be where I want Sam, new order remember?" she reminded him Daniel and Heath looking on smiling and surprised
"Don't tell me your Mother's here too" Heath asked her
"We're all here" Hazel told him as they all finally walked into the house
"So" Zina walked in addressing everyone, she was the only one gutsy enough to do that "This is how it's going down, tonight, we've decided" she looked around at all the women standing around her "This ends now, this isn't who any of us want to be, Alex died, we'll never forget that or him, but it was his choice to use drugs and at the time I understood what you guys did, but we lost Tony in the cross fire and these boys have had to live without a Dad because of that move, who are we standing here willing to lose tonight?" she looked around the room
"Because I'm not willing to lose my husband or my child's father" Cedes told Sam
"None of us are, and this isn't worth it, we've got more than any of us ever thought we'd have, we're being greedy keeping this selling going and living off the other end of it too, we're never going to save everyone, we can't be part of the problem and the solution, it can't work we need to pick a side and I for one pick solution" Zina finished looking around
"So what do you suggest we walk away?" Martin asked "A lot of these guys know nothing else"
"So we give them something else, become part of the solution" Zina told him
"I don't even know how easy it is to even walk away, if that's possible I don't know, but I agree we need to" Tony told everyone
"We tell everyone that works for us there's no way out, how are we looking at a way out?" Marcus asked
"New order" Nadine walked in telling him "I brought the Pizza" she smiled walking over to him
"Do you know how much you guys are asking us all to walk away from?" Sam asked
"Do you know what it's like to live without a parent?" Ann asked him "I'm with Zina, who are we willing to give up tonight?"
"We can do this, we already have money in pots that benefit the community, we can walk away" Mary added
"You're worth billions, even splitting the money, if that's what you want you'd be set for life" Martin told them
"We'd be set for life Uncle Martin" Marcus told him
"We all work" Cedes looked around telling them "We can do this"
Heath and Daniel looked at each other smiling "God's plan" Heath told him as they both nodded
"The Ladies are right we need to walk away, I don't want to lose any more family and I'm sure we all feel the same, Martin can you wind in down carefully, we all know how difficult these things get" Marcus announced
"I agree" Sam and Tony said at the same time
"Where are the police?" Marcus asked looking at Nadine
"Right here" she smiled
"What you planned all this?"
"You guys are thanking me, right?" she looked at him frowning "I brought Pizza" she grinned looking at Heath and Daniel "Result" she smiled
"Result" Daniel smiled
"Sorry guys, we don't want this for our children or grandchildren" Heath smiled "We were in on it"
"We just needed you guys to make the decision" Daniel smiled watching as everyone's faces cracked a smile, which turned into a laugh
"Hold up" Michelle looked around the room "I really don't think its that easy, I've never really been in the business and even I know no one gets out alive, I think you guys need to put more thought into this"
"We created this monster and it's rules, we can walk away" Daniel announced seeming to put everyone's mind at ease "Martin you know how we want this to go" he looked at him nodding everyone looking on knowing the last word had just been said
"What happened to new order?" Sam asked his Dad, everyone looking at him knowing he was the only one that could actually get away with questioning him right now
"All this is part of creating that new order you talked about"
"I thought we had the say on the business" he looked around at Tony and Marcus for support
"Totally on the new business but this is shutting down the old one, we know what we had to do to get it, and you guys are not involved in that"
"I'm sorry but I've been involved in some crazy stuff, Marcus too I'm guessing, we're ready for this" Tony announced
"You're ready for nothing" Michelle looked at him, her face telling him what she didn't feel she could say right then
"You promised" Tash walked over to Marcus, Sam and Cedes looking at each other
"We alright?" she mouthed, smiling when he nodded his head, they had so much going on right now this was added pressure for him, Mercy just kept going down her hole about the baby thing, she wasn't coping with it very well at all, he'd just sit back waiting for her temper to break and dodge the flying objects, holding her when she cried and getting on with life
"Hey" his voice soft getting her attention, seeing her mind had wondered off to somewhere else, smiling again when she looked at him his hand stretched asking her to come to him "I got you" he whispered in her ear as he pulled her onto his lap "I just had to let you know you're... mine" he sang in her ear
"That's a vibe" Marcus laughed "Hands on your body, I don't wanna waste no time" he sung making Tash laughed
"Feels like forever even if forever's tonight" Tony Sang " Sam got me into the album" he told Marcus' wondering look,
Cedes, Tash and Michelle looking at each other smiling "Waste this night away with me, you're... mine" they sang before everyone burst out laughing
Suddenly a resounding familiar sound echoed through the house as everyone froze for a second listening to the sound of shattering glass muffled by the echo of a three gun shots making them simultaneously hit the ground. Marcus hitting his face so hard on the ground as he landed he actually broke his tooth, the noise from Anne indicating she was in pain bringing noise back into the room before the silence
"Are you alright sweetheart?" Daniel started crawling across the room to get to her "Anne sweetheart?"
"Haze? Daniel shouted looking at her lifeless body "Hazel" he banged the floor trying to get her attention
"Mom" Sam and Cedes shouted at the same time, everyone wanting to get up to see what was wrong but aware of the shooters outside