Couldn't We Be

*"Guess what I did today?Those were the words I said to you, it was last May don't know the exact date..In my head there was a praise, then you showed me that you love me more than anything in your life, so I asked you would you do me.. the honor of being my wife? (Yes I will)I will be your man, your protector, your best friend..Until my humble life has ended and time begins again..Couldn't We be?" _ Case- Happily Ever After*

Eyes of Joshua:

"Authorities have recovered the body of LaNisha Fisher in ElPaso Texas who is believed to be in question for murder of beloved and respected head of law in New York City as well as all over the Tri-state area 53 year old Richie Lawson..Richie Lawson leaves behind beloved wife of 23 years and four kids as well as colleagues who loved and respected him so much, he will be missed..Suspect LaNisha Fisher who is believed to had committed suicide is also believed to have taken the life's of Nathiel Spencer, Melissa Rockwell, Tammy Spencer who was believed to be married to Nathiel Spencer..Suspect LaNisha was suspected to be grieving the loss of her daughter who had passed seven years back when in two years later meeting victim Nathiel having and affair with each other soon after having their just turned 5 year old son Jordenn Spencer who is also as we learned deceased, found in car outside of Fort Worth, Texas suffering from gunshot wombs as well..Police also suspect that this may be a love triangle gone wrong.A woman who snapped and in the end taking her own life.Sources say she was grieving the death of her daughter who passed seven years back and was seeking revenge.We will keep you updated as this truly sad and tragic story unfolds..Thank you for tunning into KWNYC..I am Vanessa Goldbloom and you've heard it first.."

"Mmm, mmm, mmm.. this a damn shame!This whole situation is a damn shame!Now why go and kill that little boy.."Grans said watching the news from the kitchen drinking her special tea from her favorite mug..They let me go this morning because they had no reason to hold me..All charges had been dropped since the body of Nisha had been recovered and all blame was placed on her..And since she was dead there was nothing else to the story or so they thought..But see they left out one detail, the last name of the suspect and the last name of the detective who called it in..But detective Fisher was still here and I'm sure with Nisha dead, she was ready to stir some heavy shit up..But right now that wasn't my concern..I was only concerned about Marina and Kai..Where they were at?Were they safe?I myself had no contact with them and Lawson was the only one who knew their whereabouts but he's maggot food now.I shook my head..

"Talkin' bout' beloved, that nigga Lawson was a fool!"I said shooing at the tv.."Them uppity news niggas don't know what they poppin', word life..Lawson was a straight hoe..That's a shame how these thugs and drug dealers are tearing down the community!"I said rubbing my beard and shaking my head..As grans turned facing me startled.

"*Gasp* BOY!"Grans said coming up to me slapping my arm then taking me in for a long hard hug."What are you doing here!?"

I raised my eyebrow.."I mean you don't want me hea' cause I can bounce.."I said laughing pointing behind me towards the door..

"Oh hush! How could you be making jokes at a time like this J?"

I shrugged.."It is what it is grans, you know anything about Kai or Marina?"

She sighed pulling back.."I've been worried sick all day..That there, what you seen on the news was where they were..I called Kai to warn her about Nisha and then next thing I know she just hung up on me..That was 2 days ago!Joshua I'm worried SICK!I can't sleep or do nothing, Kai and Taylor haven't been answering my calls..I don't know what's going on.."I picked up her keys and head towards the door without hesitation.."And where the hell do you think you're going boy?"

"If Nisha was found dead in ElPaso than that's where they have to be, I gotta go get em' and I'm waistin' time talkin' bout the shit.."

"BOY GET YA ASS BACK IN HERE AND SIT DOWN!"

"Grans I don't have time for this I gotta go.."

"I'M NOT ASKING AND I'M NOT GONE SAY IT AGAIN!"I just challenged her with a stare."SIT AND YOU SIT NOW GOT DAMMIT!"She said pointing towards the couches aggressively..I sighed doing as I was told..

"What's up grans?"I said as she made her way around standing in front of me with her hand on her hips tapping her foot..

"Boy what's wrong with you?"

"What you mean, I gotta go handle shit.."

"NO! NO YA DON'T!FOR ONCE YOU NEED TO SIT YOUR ASS STILL JOSHUA.."

I gave a slight chuckle.."Grans if you think I'm boutta sit while my daughter and woman are out hea' you off the meds.."

"Speak again without my asking for it.."She simply said as I took a big gulp and shut my mouth.."You are hot! You hot, Jonesy hot, Quan is HOT!Nisha is dead, Lawson is dead, Melissa is dead..LITTLE JORDENN IS DEAD JOSH!Do you get it!?These are the people you've been around!HAVE MERCY JOSH!"She picked up a joint sitting across from me and lighting it.."Birds of a feather baby, you get my drift?"She said looking up at me raising one brow..I tried to but my mind was racing rapidly with endless things that could be going on..

"Grans, I'm not good at waiting around..That's just not me, anything could be goin' down!"

"Jordenn is dead J, that don't scare you concerning Marina?"

"Reasons why I gotta go grans!"

She just laughed crossing her right leg over her left leaning back in her Lazy Boy recliner chair and taking puffs.."You always were bust first and ask later..Joshua, baby things HAVE TO change when kids come in the equation..It's time to start sitting back and asking!You gotta listen and ASK this time around baby!And I'm so glad you have that drop anybody against your world in you, means no one could ever walk all ova' ya..Natural born go getter.. always ready to lay down whoever gets in-between..But so was your father, uncle and their father..My Husband!God rest their souls but guess what J?They ain't comin' back..Sometimes you gotta let God work and sit back and be SILENT!Kai is a SMART and INTELLIGENT WOMAN!Trust her process..You gotta know she's doing everything in her power to see to it that Marina and Taylor are safe..God blessed you with that much!You need to put trust in that and be SILENT..Now you can't keep pushing these drugs forever baby..You want out then sit still..You got everything you need!You and the fellas need to spend some time apart and invest..You wanna get out and go legit now's the time.."

I put my hand on my head looking down.."How you expect me to just sit and be silent.."

She stud up shaking her head..She grabbed the ashtray and put it in front of me placing the lit joint down in it..Picking up another one and lighting it for herself..She kissed my head.."You have the choice to.. that's how, if you dead you don't..Baby listen to what I'm sayin' to ya!A moment of silence now or a moment of silence forever...Now the keys are right there, you wanna go out here looking around the world with nothing but pure heat in you realize what that will come with..The energy you put out now will ricochet on you WITHIN A BLINK OF AN EYE!"She snapped her hands.."THAT QUICK! Now I'm going to cook, there's a joint in front of you..I'd tell you to smoke it and go upstairs to rest Joshua..Ya need rest!But that's the last thing I told ya father.."And she left it at that!Walking away and getting everything out and prepared to cook..

A mile a second was exactly how my mind was racing..A mile a second..But somehow I was able to drag myself upstairs and let my thoughts stir me to straight to sleep..

Eyes of Kai:

I wasn't sure what I was walking into taking the risk of going back to Harlem..But I needed Joshua..We needed Joshua..Taylor got in contact with Quan and made sure everything was good before I made sure she was back in his arms..I wasn't sure if it was safe but I took the risk in going over Charices..

"Ms. Kaiii?"Marina said from the back..I eye'd her through the rear view..

"Yes ma'am love bug?"I said slightly smiling..

"Are we going to see GG Mama Fly?"

I sighed.."That's the plan love bug.."

"I miss her a daddy so much!They gone be um like happy and stuff when they see I know all of my addition!"

I didn't want to take her joy away but I didn't wanna tell her a definite that there's a chance we possibly might not see them this go round.."Don't forget you know all of your 0's, 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's in multiplication and you're also AMAZING at subtraction with THREE DIGIT NUMBERS!"I said making my eyes go playfully big..

"THAT'S RIGHT! YOU TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING!I'M READY FOR MIDDLE COLLEGE NOW!"She said laughing..

I couldn't help but laugh along with her through the nightmares that played in my mind.."Middle College?What's that love a bug?"

She shrugged.."I don't knoooow, BUT I'M GOIN'!You an Daddy wanna come too?"

I chuckled.."I'm sure he won't have a problem following you but something is telling me that you will when the time comes.."

"And, and I can't wait to tell Jordenn I know how to make an 8 without doing two circles together..Him go be so mad!"She said cracking herself up..

I just smiled the whole way to Charices and soaked in this moment between she and I.We finally pulled up around the back alley and the lights were on in the sunroom.You could also see her car from the back on the house..

"Oou ouu GG Mama here!What if her cook cause I'm HUNGRAAAAY!"I laughed getting out and helping her out of the car picking her up..

"Oh yeah well I'm HUNGRAAAAY TOO MUNCHKIN'!"She laughed as we came through the back door with the keys Josh gave me a while back..

"GG MAMA YOU UP!?IT SMELLS REAL GOOD UP IN HEA'!'Marina called as our noses had us in a frenzy from her chef expertise.We walked through the sunroom past the wash room into the living room and she had fell asleep watching Waiting To Exhale.

"She looks like she's resting why don't we go get you a nice warm bath..So I can feed you and get you some rest..We can talk to GG Mama in the morning.."

She smiled taking my hand"Okaaay.."She said as I swooped her up making our way upstairs silently..I could've waken up Charice but she honestly looked like she needed that sleep..She looked like she needed a peace of mind after worrying thin..When we finally got upstairs I put her down.."Okay munchkin.. go grab some night clothes out of your room and I'll go run your bath okay.."

"Yes ma'am!"She said all spiffy..She was so strong for her age..Strong in the mind..Strong in the heart that would take her so many places alone.I went in the bathroom turning on the lights..I could've sworn I put some bubble bath in here for Marina..I said to myself looking around..Ouu I got some in the guest room..I walked out the bathroom.."Marina you okay in there?"I called but I didn't hear anything..I ran in the room where the light was on but no Marina..

I ran out the room where she was right across the hall standing in the pitch black corridor looking in the guest room..I took a deep breath and walked up behind her.."You gave me a heart attack love bug..You okay?"

She nodded.."Shhhh look it's daddy, him knock out."

How could something that just sent sharp chills through me seeing him laying in front of me sooth her.Sometimes I felt as if though Marina was raising us all..I dropped the bath towel I had in my hand as he turned facing our way slowly opening his eyes.I covered my mouth..

Eyes of Joshua:

Just as soon as I was finally getting some decent sleep I could hear voices and movement.I thought I was still in dream mode when I seen Marina and Kai standing before me..But the way Marina ran up and hugged me I knew this was real...

"Daddy I thought I was never see you again..."She said as I couldn't seem to let my grip go..

"Daddy will always and forever come back for you, ALWAYS..I'll always be hea' don't cha know that nerd."I said getting teary eye'd..

Eyes of Kai:

My breathe left me as I looked up watching Joshua hold Marina in disbelief.."Joshua"I said softly..My body and soul quaked as the pulses intensified..

He looked at me and even in the dark making out each other's features nothing could stop our souls from connecting..

"Ms. Kai come over here.."Marina said escaping Joshua's grip and pulling my arm..He stud to his feet taking me in..

"Ma you're here."He said wiping my water driven cheeks..

"I missed you soo much.."We couldn't let one another go.This feeling so uncanny..This feeling was so far fetched..

"Daddy can we all just lay here?"Marina said holding both of our hands..

"That's not even a question nerd."

There we all three laid..Josh in the middle holding me and Marina so tightly..We both just stared into one another taking in the moment..So much happened we realized this moment we will never get back.But yet and still we had it, here and now.We didn't know how many of these moments we would get.The art and element of basking in team us..Marina fell asleep laid out across me and Josh..

"You still up?"Josh ask softly..

"Yes.."I blushed..In all of this chaos and madness only thing that made it right was our energies being shared together..

"What you think about marrying me?"

My heart stopped.."I think I wouldn't be wanna be with anyone else in this life but you..I know it's you it always has been."I could feel him smiling..

"Give me a sec ma.."I nodded as he gently picked up Marina and took her to her room..About five minutes later he came back turning on the room light.."I got sunin' I want you to see."He went to his suitcase and brought me over a picture..I stared at it for a long time..

"You still have this?"

He nodded getting on both knees..I was about to pass out.."Ma I really wanna go about this correctly and give you everything you deserve the right way..And, and I will I just..I want you hea' with me forever..Will you be my lady for the rest of our days?Would you marry a cornball like the kid?I mean I don't have the ring but I'll get one..I'll, I'll buy the whole damn jewelery store..I'll buy you the world..Whatever you wantJust say you'll be my wife?"

"I'll be your wife..I don't want the world or jewels..That's beyond me, I just want you and Marina"I said crying profusely..

"You will, word life?"I nodded.."I won't ever hurt you, I'll always protect you and Rina hea' on out..You got my all shorty, shit just ain't right without you beside me!"

"I feel the same.."I said as he got up and pounced on me..It was here I was reborn.All of my moments lead me to be with him.."Kid Josh?"

He chuckled.."Yes wifey?"

"Lay with me.."There was nothing more but silence..The lights went off as we held each other tightly..I knew that no matter what we had to face, it would all be worth it..We both fell fast asleep..There was no need for worry when it was just us two..Just how I always prayed to feel..

Eyes of Charice:

I woke up on the couch..I was in a day's, I couldn't believe all that happened..My heart and mind just couldn't stop thinking about that poor baby boy..I went to the kitchen and put all the food away cleaning up a bit..I turned off all the lights downstairs making my way upstairs to go check on Joshua..I could see the night light shining through Marina's room and hear her soother playing..My poor grandson was so hurt..He missed Marina so much..But to my surprise I made my way to Marina's room only to find her laid in-between all of her stuffed animals on her canopy..One with her dreams..When on Earth did they get here and get past me?Out of all the sorrow from these past weeks, seeing my great grand baby some how turned the darkest night into the brightest day.I knew Kai and Marina were okay.I knew Kai was strong enough to handle anything..I made my way across the hall lighty opening the door and smiling at the sight before..All my grand babies life he was always missing one thing..Kai.She pieced the puzzle together..Seeing them laid in each other's arms brought me a sense of peace and joy..Not only in their sake but I knew my husband and sons were looking out from above..I chuckled in the door placing my hand over my heart.."Make me more grand babies.. that's all I ask.."I uttered softly while gently closing the door..I made my way back to Marina's room picking her up without waking her and taking her in the room with me..I laid her on my chest in the bed rubbing her curls..She was a miracle child, she was precious..This would be all of our ways out..Right or wrong..It was meant to be this..

Too.Be..Continued...

A/N: °Thoughts?

°Questions?

°Concern's?

°Comment's?

WHAT'S GOOD FREESPIRIT FAM!!!?OH HOW I MISSED YOU ALL!HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER..MUCH LOVE AND PEACE..AND AS ALWAYS..

STAY BLESSED,REMOVE STRESS_-KELLS 😘🖤✌🏿