Chapter 9

Naya and Dianna were on their way back to reality, their little weekend away coming to a close. As Naya drove she was disappointed to be headed back to normal life, but she knew the two were happy to be going to collect Austin. Naya was surprised by how much she missed the little boy, him having wormed his way into her heart and life so easily. Time with just Dianna was perfect, and of course they needed that now again, but they weren't a complete family if one of the three was absent.

Naya pulled up her black four wheel drive over to the side of the road. She hopped out and made her way around to the passenger side, opening up the door for Dianna and taking her hand to help her out. The two women held tightly to each other as they walked up the long driveway, not needing words to converse. Arriving at the front door the two women walked straight into the Rivera family home, not needing to knock. Their senses were invaded by two things the moment they entered; the smell of Yolanda's amazing cooking, and the animated laughing of her and Austin.

Coming into view of the kitchen was a heartwarming scene. Yolanda moved about the kitchen with ease, balancing multiple instruments and pots while Austin sat atop the counter, his little legs dangling over the side. Throughout her childhood Naya could often find her Mami in the kitchen, she was the best cook she knew and in the Rivera household food was of great importance. It was one of those things that a woman was taught to use to spoil their significant other, and Naya was never more thankful for learning the tricks of the trade then when Dianna had come into her life. She was well equipped to treat her lover to exotic flavours and gourmet meals.

"My girls!" Naya's mom announced cheerfully, walking over to give them both a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome home. Did you enjoy your trip?"

"We did," Dianna said as she moved around to take Austin in a big cuddle and spin him around. "Thank you so much for taking care of this monster."

"Oh my pleasure. He was a darl. He has a lot of you in him honey," Yolanda told Dianna.

"That's what I tell her," announced Naya proudly. "Two peas in a pod."

"So you three staying for dinner?" Yolanda asked expectantly. She knew her daughter had a life of her own now but living in the big house and been lonely ever since Naya had moved out and the passing of Naya's father a couple years ago.

"What do you say babe? You're the one with the early start tomorrow," Naya reminded Dianna.

"We'd love to stay. It smells amazing and I think my cupboards are bare back home anyway. Besides, we don't get to spend enough time with you," she told Naya's mom.

"You're too kind. Di what do you say you give me a hand with the drinks," Yolanda suggested. Naya knew her mother's ulterior motives all too well, it was never simply a surface question. She eyed her mother, silently willing her not to embarrass her as she made an excuse for the two to be left alone.

"Hey bud let's go get your stuff together hey?" Naya suggested to Austin, chasing him up the stairs. It wasn't really a fair competition, what with Austin's legs being so much shorter than Naya's. A few stairs from the top though Naya whooshed him up in her arms and he laughed happily as she flew him through the air like a plane.

"She's really good with him," Yolanda commented, following Dianna's wistful glance at the pair.

"She is," Dianna agreed as she turned her attention back to the older woman. "She helps me everyday, I don't know how I did it before her," Dianna told her truthfully.

"You're a strong girl that's how. I always hoped you two would find your way to each other." Dianna blushed at her words, it felt funny thinking Naya's mom had been cheering for them all along. But it certainly was nice that she was so accepting of not only Naya's sexual orientation, but the fact that Dianna had a son in the picture too. "When Naya came home after the tour so heartbroken I doubted my vision there for a while. She never spoke of it but I knew that for something to affect her that much it had to be Dianna related," Yolanda said speaking of the special bond the two always seemed to have.

"I never meant to hurt her..." Dianna said tearing up, worried that Yolanda might think badly of her for crushing her daughter years ago.

"Oh I know dear," she said wrapping the young girl into a tight motherly hug. "My mija had some maturing to do before she was ready for all that you could offer her. She was just scared and didn't know how to handle it all. But it's okay now because she made it there in the end."

"We both did. She makes me really happy you know..."

Meanwhile upstairs

Naya helped Austin pack up the scattered toys and put them in the duffel bag; no doubt there could be a tantrum if they forgot one.

"So did you have fun this weekend little man?"

"Yeah!" Austin shrieked.

"Haha good. My mami is pretty fun huh?" Naya asked, remembering all the fun she used to have in this house as a kid. Saturday mornings when they'd have pancakes, weeknights when her and her sister would sneak out of bed and catch their parents dancing closely in the kitchen, and the late nights around the fireplace. She missed the times when they were all together, and with her Papi gone she wouldn't have another memory quite like that again. It made her so grateful for family, especially the new one she'd stumbled into.

"She's super duper fun." Austin's words were a little hard to understand but Naya spent enough time with him to translate expertly. Besides the kid was a fast learner for his age. She had no doubt the kid would grow up to be a smarty pants like his mom. "Naya..."

"Yes baby," Naya said as she pulled him onto her lap and tickled his side.

"Is she your mami like you're my mami?"

Naya was at a loss for words. That question was enough to stop her tickling in its tracks. Where was Dianna when she needed her? She hadn't read any parenting handbooks yet and wasn't sure how to best address this topic with a toddler.

"Well your mom is your mami..." she didn't know what Austin knew of his dad which made this all the more harder. Austin interrupted her thoughts.

"So," he said thinking, "I have two mommies?"

"Do you want me to be your mommy?" Naya uttered out. She couldn't believe the weight of the conversation she was having with such a young boy. She felt like maybe she was the one not mature enough for this conversation, instead letting Austin lead it.

"Yes," Austin said nodding his head rapidly, "I like you, and you make mom happy. She doesn't cry anymore"

Naya couldn't stop the smile from appearing across her face, or the strange feeling tugging at her heart.

"I like you too bud." Naya said hugging the little boy in her arms. She pulled back at looked at him, taking a moment before she spoke again. "So you think one day I could marry your mom?" In her now emotional state Naya couldn't imagine not making the situation permanent. As much as Dianna, Austin and her had become a unit, doing all the things a family would do together, she wanted the label, hell she wanted everyone to know these two Agron's were hers and hers alone.

"What that mean?"

"Well, it means your mom and me would be together forever, we would all live together. Either in your home now, or in a new house."

"New house. I want a yard...and a dog," Austin clapped at the idea before climbing down off Naya's lap and heading out the door and back down the stairs.

"I'll take that as a yes," Naya said to herself, not ever wanting to shake the smile from her face as she went to join the others.