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Jayson's POV:

Today was Omari's big day! He was turning four, and I knew that he would enjoy every bit of it. We ordered bounce houses, water slides, games, anything that you could think of. His ass was so spoiled, so you know he had to have it all.

" Whose turning four today? " Kelly cooed, picking Omari up and tickling him. He just laughed.

" You seem nervous? " Dre mentioned.

" Why would I be? " I replied, nervously.

" Because you want him to be happy? Look at him. You can't tell me that he is not happy! "

When he said that, I looked directly at Omari. Him playing and laughing, having a good time. He was happy! That was my concern. I didn't want him to go through the things that I went through in life. People teasing him, doing him wrong. I didn't want him to get into the world and fail. And then I thought about it. If I wanted him taken care of, I would have to raise him the right way. Not saying that I wasn't, but being worried about this meant that I was insecure about something. I just had to find it, and fix it.

" Who did the decorating? " Bre asked Dre. He then pointed to me. " Chump, you did good! I didn't know you had it in you. " she sipped on her soda.

" My baby did his thing, didn't he? " Dre smiled, placing his hand on my shoulder. I kissed his forehead, and turned my attention back to the party.

Kendrick's POV:

" Alright everybody, time for cake and ice cream! " I yelled, watching all the kids run to the table. Once we all sung Happy Birthday, we served the cake and the ice cream. Bre, Kelly, and Jazz helped me.

" Boy, these damn kids gready as hell! " Jazz groaned.

" Now you know you cannot talk like that in front of these kids. " Bre reminded her.

" Damn lie! " Jazz rolled her neck as we all laughed.

After Omari had opened his gifts and everyone said goodbye to one another, it was time to put his tired butt down. Jay agreed to bathe Omari, and I said goodbye to the remaining people.

" Bitch, we had fun today. " Jazz chuckled with her heels in her hand.

" Yes, yo' grown ass got into that bounce house. " I laughed.

" And them kids beat her ass, too. " Bre chimes in.

" Alright, ladies, its time to call it a night. " Kelly intervenes, walking them out the door. " Don't forget, we have brunch at 11. Talking about the shoots, and stuff."

" I'm so glad you reminded me, thanks boo. I will be there! " I watched them to their cars, closing the door once they all pulled off.

As I walked upstairs to the bathroom, I overheard Jay having a daddy to son conversation as he was bathing Omari.

" You know daddy loves you right? "

" Yes, I love you too! " he replied.

" I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, or Dre. You know that? "

" Yes sir! "

" Promise me that if daddy starts acting crazy, you call Auntie Kelly! " Jay told him. I didn't know what the hell he meant by that.

" Got it. "

" Alright, now give me a hug boy! " they both laughed.

I went to the room and sat on the bed, thinking about what Jay had just said. Was he going away for work? No, he would have told me. Was he about to start doing drugs? No, his homies wouldn't allow that to happen. As I sat on that bed thinking, something told me that it would be the last happy day in the relationship.

The next morning........

I woke up with the spot next to me empty. I assumed that Jay was downstairs, but I knew he wasn't. I looked at the clock and it was 9:45. I walked to Omari's room to find him still asleep. I searched the house for Jay, but still, no sign of him. I decided that I would have to take Omari with me, which I had no problem with.

I looked into one of my clothes bins, pulling out a pair of clean underwear and a tank top, grabbing my towel and stepping in the shower. The hot water felt so good on my brown skin. Once I turned the water off, I heard heavy footsteps on the floor, and the springs of the matress. Where the hell has he been?

I got out the shower, dried off, and went to my closet. I had picked out a white t-shirt, my bleached blue jeans, and my all read vans. I threw on my leather jacket because I knew it would be a little breezy outside. I walked up to the mirror and checked myself out.

" Where you going all cute and shit? " Jay asked, his hands over his eyes.

" Brunch with the girls. Where were you? "

" Bae, I been under alot of stress. "

" What kind of stress? You know we talk about this stuff, babe. " I turned around to face him.

" To be honest, I don't know. I went to the bar last night and had a few drinks. Two turned into three and three turned into about five." he explained.

" You didn't think to call me?" I was quickly becoming impatient with him, but I realized that an argument is not what I wanted. " I'm just glad you made it home safely. "

He finally sat up, looking at me with those big brown eyes I could tell he had not only been drinking, but crying. I realized that instead of sweeping it under that rug and letting this become a habit, I would address it now.

" Do you remember when you told me that you wanted to make sure Omari had all that he needed? Things like going out late for a drink, getting drunk, and not calling a cab, is not going to help, babe. You've been crying, and I wish I knew why? " I ranted. From the look in his eyes, I could tell that I was getting through to him. " We made a commitment, Jay. Not only to ourselves, but to your auntie! To take care of that boy. We've come to far to stop because of a few bumps in the road. We need to talk about what's going on, I don't want this happening. " I explained.

" I'm so sorry, Dre. I'm so sorry. " he apologized placing his head on my stomach. " My pops went through this same shit. Lost communication, and he lost me and my mother. I don't want that to happen to us. " he cried.

" And it won't, Jah, we just have to keep pressing forward. " I kissed his forehead.

" I don't want to keep you any longer, you go and enjoy your girls, babe. You can leave Omari here is you want...... "

" Oh, no sir, you need some time alone. Get you some rest and make sure you're staying hydrated. " I chuckled a little.

He chuckled back, lightening the mood a little. I gave him a kiss, and walked to Omari's room who was just waking up. I grabbed him some clothes out of his drawer, put his hair in a quick ponytail, and we headed out.

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