(Lovergirlnote: This idea popped into my mind yesterday and I’ve just been ruminating on it🙂↔️)
You and Michael are currently at the park spending a date together. You’re a nature girlie so any chance to be outside or in nature, you’re all down for it.
Through the course of your relationship, Michael had learned to love and appreciate nature just as much as you. He also appreciated the fact that you were constantly teaching him to slow down and be present.
With this career, he’s been so used to always being on the go to the next location or the next roll that he’s never actually had time to “stop and smell the roses” as you would say. You had him slowing down and actually admiring all of the beauty around him. Whenever the two of you would go grocery shopping, you took your time with picking out the product.
“We can take our time, Kari. That’s how you get the best stuff,” You had said to him. During the grocery visit, he admired you the entire time. The concentration on your face as you felt each fruit. The way that you curly hair moved when you turned your head. The way the dress that you were wearing casually swished against your thighs.
Even in somewhere as simple as the grocery store, you looked ethereal.
From that point, he had been things slower in his life. With your advice, he had started to reset his nervous system and felt a lot more at peace with himself.
Now at the park with your drinks and your little picnic between you, you both enjoyed watching the kids and their families run around together. A few seconds later, a small yorkie came running up to you and Michael, and cuddled up to your legs.
You squealed in excitement and started petting the small dog. Michael smiled at seeing you so carefree and joyful. Soon the owner came up smiling at the two of you and you handed the small dog over to Michael.
You looked in his direction with a huge grin on your face, “You know what pet I always wanted as a kid.”
Now, to Michael’s defense, he was honestly expecting you to say a dog, cat, or even a hamster.
“What?”
“A tortoise!” You replied, the same smile overtaking your face.
Of course. Of course, you wanted a tortoise.
___________________
A week later, Michael was at a local pet shop searching for a tortoise for you as a present.
“You sure you want a turtle man? They can be a lot of work?” The sales clerk asked Michael.
Michael nodded, “It’s a gift for my girl. She’s always wanted one as a kid, so I figured that this is the best gift for her. Trust me, she’ll take care of this tortoise like it’s her child.”
“That’s really sweet. Let’s go get you guys a tank and the other essentials.” The clerk said guiding Michael to the tanks.
By the end of the trip, Michael is fully stocked with all of the essentials that you and your tortoise need. You’re supposed to be coming over tonight for dinner so he’s planning to surprise you with the tortoise.
Around 7PM, Michael hears you entering through the front door. He had given you a key to his house for your own use and so you could watch his house when he was gone for filming.
“Hey baby,” You chirped, leaning up to press your lips against his. Some of your lip gloss was still on his lips when you pulled back. He didn’t even move to wipe it off.
“Hey babygirl. I got everything all set up for us and then I got a surprise for you later,” Michael said, grabbing your hand and leading you to the table.
You both ate as Michael listened to you chattering about your day. At the end of dinner, he told you to close your eyes as he went to go get the tank that held your new tortoise.
“You got your eyes closed, baby?” Michael questioned teasingly.
“Yes. I’m about to explode from excitement,” You replied back, body jittery with nerves.
He set the tank down gently in front of you. The tortoise inside of the tank had conveniently stopped walking and was sitting in front of you. “Okay, you can open your eyes, babygirl.”
You removed your hands from your eyes and opened them. You leaned closer to the tank and a gasp left your mouth at seeing the tortoise inside. You started screaming and immediately threw your body into Michael’s.
He laughed at your pressing your body against his, and the feel of your tears in his neck.
You pulled back, “You got me a tortoise, Kari?”
“Yeah, princess. You said you always wanted one.” Michael stated. You moved to sit on his lap as you opened the tank and took the small tortoise in your hands.
“He’s so cute!!” You cooed gently at the small creature, who was already calm in your hands.
You rubbed his shell, “Hey little guy. I’m your mommy and this is your daddy.”
Yep, he was officially a turtle dad and he would gladly accept it for you.
“What are you planning to name him?” Michael asked, moving to pet the tortoise himself.
You pondered on the name for a second, “I’ll call him Michaelangelo. He can be Mikey for short. He was always my favorite ninja turtle and half of your name is there too.”
Michael accepted the name and told you that he liked it. Thus, your tortoise was now officially Michaelangelo Jordan aka Mikey.
You were in love with Mikey. You took him everywhere with you. You also had him spoiled rotten with all of the treats and trinkets that he could want for his tank.
A result of you spoiling your tortoise consisted of you making little crochet outfits his shell and little head. You crocheted matching hats for you, Michael, and Mikey. The three of you were a sight to behold sitting on the couch, watching tv with your matching hats.
Michael almost fell out when you and Mikey were spending the night and you put a little mini bonnet on the tortoise. You had shrugged when he saw it, “Our son need his shell protected too, Michael.”
Michael knew that your love and connection ran deep for the tortoise when your mom would call and ask where her “grandturtle” was. He loved it. He loved seeing how much you enjoyed having your tortoise and how much you were sharing those memories with him.
One day, you were at work and had asked Michael if he could watch Mikey for you. Naturally, he had accepted it and he found himself spoiling the tortoise just as much as you. He was scheduled for a Zoom-interview so he set Mikey up on the desk while he did the interview.
One moment, Mikey was asleep on the desk in the little bed that you had for him. The interview was going well and Michael was in the middle of answering a question when he saw Mikey walking casually across the desk.
His eyes tracked the tortoise as he got distracted from answering the question. When he saw Mikey about to take a dive off the desk, he moved to catch the tortoise. He sat back in the chair and the interviewer caught sight of the tortoise.
“Is that a tortoise?” She asked, excitement coloring her voice.
Michael nodded, “Yeah, my girl always wanted a tortoise, so I got her one a few months ago. This is Michaelangelo aka Mikey.”
The interviewer awe’d and then started laughing softly when she saw the small hat that Mikey was wearing. “Wait, is that a hat?!”
Michael laughed, “Yeah, my girl crochets these little outfits for him. We all having matching hats too.”
Michael placed Mikey back in his tank and finished the interview. After the clips were edited, the internet absolutely blew up at seeing Michael holding your tortoise. Everybody especially loved the way that Michael kept saying “my girl” when he was referring to you and the little hat on Mikey was going viral.
When you made it back home, you walked in and picked up Mikey to start cooing at him. “Michael, why is my baby going viral?”
Michael laughed and shook his head, “Well, your son woke up from his nap and decided that he wanted to be on my interview.”
You turned Mikey in your direction, “Hey mama baby. You just wanted some attention from daddy right?”
The next day, you made an Mikey an Instagram for fun. Michael was all on board for your shenanigans.
@michaelangelojordan: my mama made me this hat🙂↔️🐢
Tagged: @michaelbjordan, @yourusername
view comments
@yourusername: look at my baby🥹♥️
@michaelbjordan: my lil guy🥳♥️
@michaelfanpage: bro I love when black people get pets man😂😂
@georgiathadon: the little hat and his smile is sending me to the moon🥹😭😭
@milescaton: lil Mikey🐢💯
@wumnimosaku: wait he’s so precious😩😩
Later, you and Michael were sitting on the floor, feeding Mikey a piece of strawberry. You seemed focused on something before you started talking, “So if we breakup, does that mean I get full custody?”
Michael frowned at you mentioning a breakup. His mind hadn’t went anywhere near that every being a possibility. He wanted things to be long-term with you and him. Maybe marriage one day.
He moved closer so that his thigh was touching yours, “I mean, in theory, you would have full custody, but he still has my last name. I would have to stick to seeing him on Instagram, but you don’t have to worry about that because we’re not breaking up anytime soon. We’re together for the long run, princess.”
You smiled at him, “I like the sound of us being together for a long time. You, me, Mikey, and maybe a baby later on.”
“I like the sound of that too, babygirl.” He moved to press his lips to yours. He pulled back when he felt Mikey climbing on his leg. He pulled the tortoise up to sit between you.
You had crocheted him a little sweater with hearts on it. Michael wrapped his fingers around yours and stared into yours eyes, “What do you think about us getting a puppy?”
You nodded your head in excitement. By the time that you and Michael were married, you would have a house full of pets.
Robyn was baking up a storm, the way she usually does on the last day of every month. It was supposed to be a relaxing day, but unfortunately for her, Stack was here. She loved Stack- he was her best friend. Their childhood consisted of Stack cleaning up her scraped knees after falling in clearings in the woods behind their houses. Stack and Smoke had become her protectors, her guardians, after moving from Chicago as a shy, introverted child to Mississippi after the untimely death of her mother. Through the twins, she had acquired even more protectors.
Annie, with her calm, still spirit. Mary, with her liveliness and bravery. Grace, with her deep knowledge of how to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. And yet no matter how close she had gotten to this group of girls, Stack unequivocally laid claim to Robyn. It baffled Robyn. Throughout their childhood and adolescence, she had often asked him why he was protective of her. He always shrugged, threw her an irrepressible grin and simply said ‘because y has a long tail, and z has none. Stop asking me stupid questions.’ This usually led to a playful verbal argument, with the people around them playfully tuning them out. It’s not like Robyn could blame them, she and Stack chattered at each other at a million miles an hour, the shy, repressed girl that she once was? Long gone.
But that still didn’t explain why Stack was in her kitchen poking his nose into every fucking thing instead of staying out of her way. When Stack poked her melted butter that she needed for her pound cake, she decided that she had enough. ‘Stack, get your ass out of my kitchen!’ Robyn fussed, moving from the stove to the countertop. Stack ignored her, his massive frame swirling around her kitchen like an annoying gnat. ‘Damn, girl I’m not even doing anything!’ Stack exclaims unapologetically. Robyn rolls her eyes. ‘You in here not being helpful. If you’re not being helpful- get out! Why are you even here anyway?’ Robyn questions. At that, Stack’s playful grin slides off his face.
FLASHBACK
‘I don’t wanna do this anymore, Stack’ Brittany said quietly, looking up at the man she loved, but did not love her back no matter the pretty platitudes that came falling from his lips. Stack rubbed his head agitatedly. ‘What do you mean? The fuck you mean you don’t wanna do this? I love-’ Brittany raises a hand, unable to bear the lies anymore. She had stomach-ed so much deceit. Swallowed so many lies, all to keep Elias by her side. But no matter how many hours, days, weeks or months his body lay in her bed, his heart was never with Brittany. It was with her. With Robyn.
The first time Stack introduced Robyn to her, a cold shiver went up her spine. Not because she was a woman, not because she was beautiful. But because of the way Stack looked at her, like all the answers of the universe resided in her eyes, the sway of her hips, the music of her laugh. Stack had never looked at her that way. Not once. It was hard not to compare herself to Robyn. On the surface, it didn’t make sense. Brittany was model thin, ‘damn near white’ (a term she hated. Especially when it was applied to her) and petite. Brittany was tall, smoothly dark skinned , and voluptuous. She had long kinky hair, dyed a rich chestnut brown, deep dimples that made an appearance whenever she so much as opened her mouth. Brittany favored almost all of Stack’s ex-girlfriends she had come to learn- light skin, light eyes and a size six.
But Brittany and Robyn had similar careers. While Robyn was a pediatrician, Brittany was a child psychiatrist. Both of them were deeply intelligent, empathetic women who could more than hold their own with anyone- especially Stack. But only one of them had his heart, and Robyn didn’t even fucking know it. Brittany wanted to hate Robyn, wanted to belittle her. Wanted to make Robyn feel as small in her world as Brittany felt in Robyn’s. But Brittany couldn’t bring herself to do it. Robyn was too kind, too preoccupied with her own life, too unconcerned with the inner turmoil that Brittany was facing. Robyn couldn’t help it that she was a force of nature Stack was caught up in. Brittany thought she could bear it, but last week was the last straw.
It was her and Stack’s two year anniversary. Dressed in a pewter jersey Donna Karan dress, they had made reservations at the restaurant of their first date. The food was actually terrible, but the attraction had been immediate. Brittany sat at the table, staring at the chair where her partner should be, humiliation mounting by the moment. A waiter had come to ask about her order. Brittany dismissed them with a wave of her bejeweled hand before heading home. After two hours of rejection. Two hours of embarrassment.
It was late when Stack finally came back home, each step heavy with apology. He had curved his body around hers in supplication, pressing kisses and apologies into her neck, her spin, her jaw. Each one felt like a poisoned dart, because she knew where he was. Who he had been with. She slipped out of the bed, heading to the bathroom where she laid on the tiled floor and cried herself to sleep as quietly as she could. And as the weak light of the sun brought a new day, she knew she couldn’t do this anymore. She could no longer fight a war she had lost before she even stepped on the battlefield. When the day had started, Stack pleaded his case, and had promised never to reoffend. Explained to her that Robyn had lost a patient to heart failure, that it had crushed Robyn. He had only meant to stay a few hours, but he couldn’t leave her there. Not like that. Brittany had simply nodded, swallowed the rejection, accepted the second place she occupied in his heart. She did it. She did it one more time, because she knew even if he didn’t- she would never accept it again. That night, they made love, and it was more beautiful than it had ever been. She shook and cried, from pleasure, yes- but also in mourning. In knowing that she would never hold him like this, touch him like this ever again…..
‘You don’t love me, Stack! Stop lying to me. Stop lying to yourself! You love her!’ Brittany spit out in rage. ‘Who the fuck are you talking about?’ Stack stares at Brittany, perplexed, but Brittany knows Stack well enough. She sees the flicker of recognition in his eyes, before he hides it under faux confusion. ‘You know exactly who I’m talking about. So don’t make me say it. Have I not humiliated myself enough for you? Begging for scraps? Settling for half of you?’ Brittany hated this. She could feel her eyes burning and her throat aching. But none of that pain compared to the ache that was in her heart. She could stop. She should stop. But she wanted the satisfaction of hearing him say it. It was the least of what she deserved. She gave Elias everything, she wanted to leave with something.‘If this is about Robyn-’ Stack started. ‘Of course it is! It’s always about Robyn.’ Stack closes his eyes like he can’t believe this is his life. ‘Brit, I told you that-’ Brittany lets out a sharp, pained laugh. ‘Oh, I know what you told me. And you just had to come to her rescue, huh?’ ‘For fuck’s sake Brittany. You jealous of a dead kid now?’ Stack roars.
If Stack stabbed Brittany right in the heart it would have hurt less. Brittany was silent for a moment, looking at her Louis Vuitton cases that Stack had bought her, lined up against the wall of their open floor apartment. Her cousin was already outside, waiting for her. She turned back to look at Stack, still defensive, still lying to himself. She wiped the tears streaming down her beautiful face and said the last words she would ever say to the man she loved most in this world ‘Fuck you, Elias.’
PRESENT DAY
‘Brittany and I broke up.’ Stack says gruffly. Robyn’s mouth opens in shock. ‘What? Why?’ Stack just shrugs, ‘We grew apart. It happens.’ Robyn wipes her delicate hands on her apron. ‘Nah, something more serious had to have happened. Y’all were gonna get married’. ‘I missed our anniversary’. Robyn sighs. ‘Stack, are you serious?’ Stack bristles at Brittany’s disappointment. ‘Don’t start all that shit, I was over here because you called me right after Reuben died, remember?’ Robyn blows out a breath. ‘Yeah, but you could have told me that it was you and Brittany’s anniversary. I would have never told you to come over here if I knew that.’
Stack raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh yeah, and who would you have called?’ Robyn threw her hands up in exasperation. ‘Anyone! Mary is right round the corner.’ Stack shrugged. ‘I’m your best friend.’ Stack replied. Robyn’s eyes softened. ‘Of course you are, but you’re not my only friend. You know that.’ Stack tightened his jaw. ‘I really liked Brittany. Damn.’ Stack drummed his fingers on the kitchen countertop. ‘So did I. When is this pound cake going to be done anyway?’ Robyn rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not for you, so you don’t need to worry about that.’ ‘Oh yeah? And who’s it for?’ Stack pressed.
Robyn started working on the lemon glaze of the pound cake. ‘It’s for my date! Remember Craig? I told you about him.’ Something in Stack’s chest tightened. He remembered Craig. How could he forget Craig?
FLASHBACK
Craig had been infatuated with Robyn from the moment he saw her. She had been walking across the quad to the female dorms of Ole Miss, wearing a pink sweater and matching pink capris. She was practically glowing, her skin a rich mahogany, her senegalese twists piled haphazardly on top of her head. Craig had always been a go-getter, and so he immediately ran across the quad, his long legs eating up the distance, and introduced himself to her. They spent the entirety of college studying together. But as much as he wanted Robyn for himself, there was a problem.
Stack.
Stack didn’t even attend Ole Miss- he was in Alcorn State. And yet he was always around Ole Miss. Always around Robyn. Stack was like the sun- people simply gravitated towards him. It wasn’t just how good looking he was, it was how he would make people feel. Women fell at his feet. Niggas wanted to be him. But not Craig. If Stack was the sun, Craig was the moon. Mysterious, alluring, and with a beauty and a power all of his own. He didn’t need to compete with Stack. For anything. Stack knew this- and hated it. Things came to a head at a halloween party of their third and final year of college.
Drinks had been flowing and Stack had been flirting outrageously with a pretty co-ed. Craig swanned past, determined to ignore the man. But Stack was not a man who would ever accept being ignored. Especially not by Craig. He abandons his side quest to saddle up to Craig. ‘Didn’t expect to see you here, Don’t you have some books to stick your nose in?’ Stack snidely says to Craig. Craig rolls his eyes. ‘You know, I actually do. Lemme head back to the library. Robyn’s there. You know these types of things aren’t really her…vibe’. And before Stack could respond, Craig left, triumphant.
PRESENT DAY
Stack sat there in the kitchen, pound cake cooling, while Annie got ready. For her date. With someone else. He could hear her humming tunelessly, could hear the jingling of her makeup. Inside Stack’s chest, a storm was brewing. He knew his anger wasn’t just because it was Craig. He didn’t give a fuck about Craig. He would feel this way about anyone going on a date with Robyn. Before he could spiral, Robyn glided back into the kitchen. ‘Help me zip up this dress’. And Stack was numb, frozen. Looking at Robyn, more beautiful than ever, half dressed in a short red mini dress, kinky hair placed up into a large puff, gold hoops framing her delicate face.
And he just sat there.
‘Stackkkkk. Hello?’ Robyn asks impatiently. ‘I can’t’ Stack responds quietly. Robyn turns to look at him, cat-like caramel eyes boring into him. ‘Can’t what? Zip up a dress?’ Stack scrubs a hand over his face, shooting up from his chair. ‘This. I can’t do this. I can’t pretend like-’ Stack starts pacing the floor of her living room. ‘Stack, you’re scaring me.’ Robyn responds nervously.
Stack faces Robyn finally, clear eyed and steady. ‘I think you know’ Stack says quietly.
Robyn chews her bottom lip. ‘I really don’t know what you’re talking about, and you’re starting to freak me out.’ Stack stalks back to Robyn holding her face carefully in his huge hands. Robyn’s stomach swoops like she’s on a rollercoaster, and she wrenches herself from Stack’s hands, breathing heavily like she just ran a marathon, half dressed, eyes wild.
‘No’. Robyn responds simply.
‘Robyn’ Stack starts, wrecked, quiet.
‘No, Stack. No. You don’t get to do this to me. You don’t get to decide you want me because you blew up your home. You don’t want me. You just don’t want to be alone.’ Robyn says shakily, forcing the words out of her chest.
Stack stares at her like he’s been slapped. ‘How could you say that? Robyn-’
‘Is it because it’s Craig? Is that it? I knew you hated him, but damn Elias.’
Elias.
Robyn never called him that unless she was trying to put distance between them.
‘It has nothing to do with Craig. You know that’, Stack murmurs, quiet in a way he never was, quiet in a way that feels unnatural. ‘Then what is this about?!’ Robyn shrieks, hysterical now, clutching her dress to her chest like a lifeline. ‘It’s about the fact that I’m in love with you. And you know that’. Robyn just laughs humorlessly. ‘You expect me to believe that? You were about to ask another woman to marry you, Stack. A legal partnership. You were willing to stand before God and man and declare someone else as the other half of you but you expect me to believe you’re in love with me? Do you think I’m fucking stupid? Do you forget that I’ve known you since we were nine years old? That I know the women who’ve warmed your bed?’
‘Stop it’ Stack says lowly.
‘Brianna’
‘Robyn..’ Stack warns again.
‘Aniya’.
‘Robyn, listen to me’.
‘Mary’. Robyn continues.
‘Damn it, Robyn. I said STOP’.
Tears are running down Robyn’s face, makeup ruined. ‘No YOU stop. I know your type, Stack. You want docile. You want compliant. You want easy. You know I’m none of those things. No one is going to walk past me fast on the street and think I’m a white girl. I’m never going to defer to you just because you’re Elias Moore either. You know it and I know it. I will not be the safe place where you lick your wounds and heal your soul and then watch you build a better life with someone else with the tools that I taught you, I gave you. And you do not get to throw our friendship into your confusing miasma, twist it and call it love. After all this time. After all these years.’
Stack’s jaw tightened so much he could probably cut steel with it. ‘Is that what you think? That I’d risk our friendship, our life together…just to lick my wounds and get my dick wet before bouncing to someone else? Is that what you think of me? That I’d do that to you?’ Stack asked, voice breaking.
Robyn’s anger evaporated, seeing the tears in Stack’s eyes.
‘Stack, I’-’
But Stack simply shook his head. ‘Nah. Nah, Robyn.’ Stalking to the coat rack, he grabbed his jacket, hands trembling, putting it on with jerky movements. ‘Enjoy your date’, he said quietly, slamming her door behind him.
And Robyn stood there in her kitchen, shivering, cold and bare.
i do unironically think the best artists of our generation are posting to get 20 notes and 3 reblogs btw. that fanfic with like 45 kudos is some of the best stuff ever written. those OCs you carry around have some of the richest backstories and worldbuilding someone has ever seen. please do not think that reaching only a few people when you post means your art isn't worth celebrating.
The showrunners chose to make Louis and Claudia black and experience life in the Jim crow era. They chose to do the full race swap in season 1, not just making the characters but also the story black. They chose to racialize the violence that both Louis and Claudia face throughout the first season. No one was forcing their hands and they got praised for the stuff they did in the first two seasons, for bringing in the added nuance of systemic racism. So why should I as an audience member of colour give them any grace when they choose to write dialogues containing numerous racialized and gendered micro aggressions not just towards Louis or Claudia but also towards minor characters like Dee or Lemuel who weren't supposed to exist as they are (black) in the show?? Why is Daniel (a white man) who is supposed to be a Pulitzer prize winning investigative journalist who was lecturing Louis on his own story about the racism he faced referring to him as a "bucket of Louisiana fried chicken"?? Why is Armand textually belittled for being a CSA victim while Lestat is endlessly provided with grace and understanding in the text of the show for his victimhood?? Who thought it was alright to adapt a scene from the books involving white characters talking about parental betrayal and insert racially charged dialogues (that too old school racist shit not even the n word) when it was unnecessary to preserve the nuance of the scene?? Why is this show denying the racialized nature of domestic violence that they chose to portray in S1 ??? (Lestat getting mildly annoyed that Louis didn't enjoy going to the operas in nola when he had to act as Lestat's servant to be allowed in tf??) Why is Gabriella like that??
I cannot help but look at this season of the show as a sign of the times tbh. IWTV aired during a very liberal era of entertainment and now that fascism and white supremacy are on the rise everywhere white entertainers have become comfortable enough to fall back into old habits. Never thought this show in particular would have this problem when I watched the first season but it is what it is I guess
Robyn was baking up a storm, the way she usually does on the last day of every month. It was supposed to be a relaxing day, but unfortunately for her, Stack was here. She loved Stack- he was her best friend. Their childhood consisted of Stack cleaning up her scraped knees after falling in clearings in the woods behind their houses. Stack and Smoke had become her protectors, her guardians, after moving from Chicago as a shy, introverted child to Mississippi after the untimely death of her mother. Through the twins, she had acquired even more protectors.
Annie, with her calm, still spirit. Mary, with her liveliness and bravery. Grace, with her deep knowledge of how to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. And yet no matter how close she had gotten to this group of girls, Stack unequivocally laid claim to Robyn. It baffled Robyn. Throughout their childhood and adolescence, she had often asked him why he was protective of her. He always shrugged, threw her an irrepressible grin and simply said ‘because y has a long tail, and z has none. Stop asking me stupid questions.’ This usually led to a playful verbal argument, with the people around them playfully tuning them out. It’s not like Robyn could blame them, she and Stack chattered at each other at a million miles an hour, the shy, repressed girl that she once was? Long gone.
But that still didn’t explain why Stack was in her kitchen poking his nose into every fucking thing instead of staying out of her way. When Stack poked her melted butter that she needed for her pound cake, she decided that she had enough. ‘Stack, get your ass out of my kitchen!’ Robyn fussed, moving from the stove to the countertop. Stack ignored her, his massive frame swirling around her kitchen like an annoying gnat. ‘Damn, girl I’m not even doing anything!’ Stack exclaims unapologetically. Robyn rolls her eyes. ‘You in here not being helpful. If you’re not being helpful- get out! Why are you even here anyway?’ Robyn questions. At that, Stack’s playful grin slides off his face.
FLASHBACK
‘I don’t wanna do this anymore, Stack’ Brittany said quietly, looking up at the man she loved, but did not love her back no matter the pretty platitudes that came falling from his lips. Stack rubbed his head agitatedly. ‘What do you mean? The fuck you mean you don’t wanna do this? I love-’ Brittany raises a hand, unable to bear the lies anymore. She had stomach-ed so much deceit. Swallowed so many lies, all to keep Elias by her side. But no matter how many hours, days, weeks or months his body lay in her bed, his heart was never with Brittany. It was with her. With Robyn.
The first time Stack introduced Robyn to her, a cold shiver went up her spine. Not because she was a woman, not because she was beautiful. But because of the way Stack looked at her, like all the answers of the universe resided in her eyes, the sway of her hips, the music of her laugh. Stack had never looked at her that way. Not once. It was hard not to compare herself to Robyn. On the surface, it didn’t make sense. Brittany was model thin, ‘damn near white’ (a term she hated. Especially when it was applied to her) and petite. Brittany was tall, smoothly dark skinned , and voluptuous. She had long kinky hair, dyed a rich chestnut brown, deep dimples that made an appearance whenever she so much as opened her mouth. Brittany favored almost all of Stack’s ex-girlfriends she had come to learn- light skin, light eyes and a size six.
But Brittany and Robyn had similar careers. While Robyn was a pediatrician, Brittany was a child psychiatrist. Both of them were deeply intelligent, empathetic women who could more than hold their own with anyone- especially Stack. But only one of them had his heart, and Robyn didn’t even fucking know it. Brittany wanted to hate Robyn, wanted to belittle her. Wanted to make Robyn feel as small in her world as Brittany felt in Robyn’s. But Brittany couldn’t bring herself to do it. Robyn was too kind, too preoccupied with her own life, too unconcerned with the inner turmoil that Brittany was facing. Robyn couldn’t help it that she was a force of nature Stack was caught up in. Brittany thought she could bear it, but last week was the last straw.
It was her and Stack’s two year anniversary. Dressed in a pewter jersey Donna Karan dress, they had made reservations at the restaurant of their first date. The food was actually terrible, but the attraction had been immediate. Brittany sat at the table, staring at the chair where her partner should be, humiliation mounting by the moment. A waiter had come to ask about her order. Brittany dismissed them with a wave of her bejeweled hand before heading home. After two hours of rejection. Two hours of embarrassment.
It was late when Stack finally came back home, each step heavy with apology. He had curved his body around hers in supplication, pressing kisses and apologies into her neck, her spin, her jaw. Each one felt like a poisoned dart, because she knew where he was. Who he had been with. She slipped out of the bed, heading to the bathroom where she laid on the tiled floor and cried herself to sleep as quietly as she could. And as the weak light of the sun brought a new day, she knew she couldn’t do this anymore. She could no longer fight a war she had lost before she even stepped on the battlefield. When the day had started, Stack pleaded his case, and had promised never to reoffend. Explained to her that Robyn had lost a patient to heart failure, that it had crushed Robyn. He had only meant to stay a few hours, but he couldn’t leave her there. Not like that. Brittany had simply nodded, swallowed the rejection, accepted the second place she occupied in his heart. She did it. She did it one more time, because she knew even if he didn’t- she would never accept it again. That night, they made love, and it was more beautiful than it had ever been. She shook and cried, from pleasure, yes- but also in mourning. In knowing that she would never hold him like this, touch him like this ever again…..
‘You don’t love me, Stack! Stop lying to me. Stop lying to yourself! You love her!’ Brittany spit out in rage. ‘Who the fuck are you talking about?’ Stack stares at Brittany, perplexed, but Brittany knows Stack well enough. She sees the flicker of recognition in his eyes, before he hides it under faux confusion. ‘You know exactly who I’m talking about. So don’t make me say it. Have I not humiliated myself enough for you? Begging for scraps? Settling for half of you?’ Brittany hated this. She could feel her eyes burning and her throat aching. But none of that pain compared to the ache that was in her heart. She could stop. She should stop. But she wanted the satisfaction of hearing him say it. It was the least of what she deserved. She gave Elias everything, she wanted to leave with something.‘If this is about Robyn-’ Stack started. ‘Of course it is! It’s always about Robyn.’ Stack closes his eyes like he can’t believe this is his life. ‘Brit, I told you that-’ Brittany lets out a sharp, pained laugh. ‘Oh, I know what you told me. And you just had to come to her rescue, huh?’ ‘For fuck’s sake Brittany. You jealous of a dead kid now?’ Stack roars.
If Stack stabbed Brittany right in the heart it would have hurt less. Brittany was silent for a moment, looking at her Louis Vuitton cases that Stack had bought her, lined up against the wall of their open floor apartment. Her cousin was already outside, waiting for her. She turned back to look at Stack, still defensive, still lying to himself. She wiped the tears streaming down her beautiful face and said the last words she would ever say to the man she loved most in this world ‘Fuck you, Elias.’
PRESENT DAY
‘Brittany and I broke up.’ Stack says gruffly. Robyn’s mouth opens in shock. ‘What? Why?’ Stack just shrugs, ‘We grew apart. It happens.’ Robyn wipes her delicate hands on her apron. ‘Nah, something more serious had to have happened. Y’all were gonna get married’. ‘I missed our anniversary’. Robyn sighs. ‘Stack, are you serious?’ Stack bristles at Brittany’s disappointment. ‘Don’t start all that shit, I was over here because you called me right after Reuben died, remember?’ Robyn blows out a breath. ‘Yeah, but you could have told me that it was you and Brittany’s anniversary. I would have never told you to come over here if I knew that.’
Stack raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh yeah, and who would you have called?’ Robyn threw her hands up in exasperation. ‘Anyone! Mary is right round the corner.’ Stack shrugged. ‘I’m your best friend.’ Stack replied. Robyn’s eyes softened. ‘Of course you are, but you’re not my only friend. You know that.’ Stack tightened his jaw. ‘I really liked Brittany. Damn.’ Stack drummed his fingers on the kitchen countertop. ‘So did I. When is this pound cake going to be done anyway?’ Robyn rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not for you, so you don’t need to worry about that.’ ‘Oh yeah? And who’s it for?’ Stack pressed.
Robyn started working on the lemon glaze of the pound cake. ‘It’s for my date! Remember Craig? I told you about him.’ Something in Stack’s chest tightened. He remembered Craig. How could he forget Craig?
FLASHBACK
Craig had been infatuated with Robyn from the moment he saw her. She had been walking across the quad to the female dorms of Ole Miss, wearing a pink sweater and matching pink capris. She was practically glowing, her skin a rich mahogany, her senegalese twists piled haphazardly on top of her head. Craig had always been a go-getter, and so he immediately ran across the quad, his long legs eating up the distance, and introduced himself to her. They spent the entirety of college studying together. But as much as he wanted Robyn for himself, there was a problem.
Stack.
Stack didn’t even attend Ole Miss- he was in Alcorn State. And yet he was always around Ole Miss. Always around Robyn. Stack was like the sun- people simply gravitated towards him. It wasn’t just how good looking he was, it was how he would make people feel. Women fell at his feet. Niggas wanted to be him. But not Craig. If Stack was the sun, Craig was the moon. Mysterious, alluring, and with a beauty and a power all of his own. He didn’t need to compete with Stack. For anything. Stack knew this- and hated it. Things came to a head at a halloween party of their third and final year of college.
Drinks had been flowing and Stack had been flirting outrageously with a pretty co-ed. Craig swanned past, determined to ignore the man. But Stack was not a man who would ever accept being ignored. Especially not by Craig. He abandons his side quest to saddle up to Craig. ‘Didn’t expect to see you here, Don’t you have some books to stick your nose in?’ Stack snidely says to Craig. Craig rolls his eyes. ‘You know, I actually do. Lemme head back to the library. Robyn’s there. You know these types of things aren’t really her…vibe’. And before Stack could respond, Craig left, triumphant.
PRESENT DAY
Stack sat there in the kitchen, pound cake cooling, while Robyn got ready. For her date. With someone else. He could hear her humming tunelessly, could hear the jingling of her makeup. Inside Stack’s chest, a storm was brewing. He knew his anger wasn’t just because it was Craig. He didn’t give a fuck about Craig. This was simply facing the unshakable facts, of the proverbial rubber hitting the road. He would feel this way about anyone going on a date with Robyn. He has felt that way- and his response was to brush it off, to drink it away, to fuck it away, smoke it away. But he couldn't do that anymore. Not now. Before he could spiral, Robyn glided back into the kitchen. ‘Help me zip up this dress’. And Stack was numb, frozen. Looking at Robyn, more beautiful than ever, half dressed in a short red mini dress, kinky hair placed up into a large puff, gold hoops framing her delicate face.
And he just sat there.
‘Stackkkkk. Hello?’ Robyn asks impatiently. ‘I can’t’ Stack responds quietly. Robyn turns to look at him, cat-like caramel eyes boring into him. ‘Can’t what? Zip up a dress?’ Stack scrubs a hand over his face, shooting up from his chair. ‘This. I can’t do this. I can’t pretend like-’ Stack starts pacing the floor of her living room. ‘Stack, you’re scaring me.’ Robyn responds nervously.
Stack faces Robyn finally, clear eyed and steady. ‘I think you know’ Stack says quietly.
Robyn chews her bottom lip. ‘I really don’t know what you’re talking about, and you’re starting to freak me out.’ Stack stalks back to Robyn holding her face carefully in his huge hands. Robyn’s stomach swoops like she’s on a rollercoaster, and she wrenches herself away from Stack, breathing heavily like she just ran a marathon, half dressed, eyes wild.
‘No’. Robyn responds simply.
‘Robyn’ Stack starts, wrecked, quiet.
‘No, Stack. No. You don’t get to do this to me. You don’t get to decide you want me because you blew up your home. You don’t want me. You just don’t want to be alone.’ Robyn says shakily, forcing the words out of her chest.
Stack stares at her like he’s been slapped. ‘How could you say that? Robyn-’
‘Is it because it’s Craig? Is that it? I knew you hated him, but damn Elias.’
Elias.
Robyn never called him that unless she was trying to put distance between them.
‘It has nothing to do with Craig. You know that’, Stack murmurs, quiet in a way he never was, quiet in a way that feels unnatural. ‘Then what is this about?!’ Robyn shrieks, hysterical now, clutching her dress to her chest like a lifeline. ‘It’s about the fact that I’m in love with you. And you know that’. Robyn just laughs humorlessly. ‘You expect me to believe that? You were about to ask another woman to marry you, Stack. A legal partnership. You were willing to stand before God and man and declare someone else as the other half of you but you expect me to believe you’re in love with me? Do you think I’m fucking stupid? Do you forget that I’ve known you since we were nine years old? That I know the women who’ve warmed your bed?’
‘Stop it’ Stack says lowly.
‘Brianna’
‘Robyn..’ Stack warns again.
‘Aniya’.
‘Robyn, listen to me’.
‘Mary’. Robyn continues.
‘Damn it, Robyn. I said STOP’.
Tears are running down Robyn’s face, makeup ruined. ‘No YOU stop. I know your type, Stack. You want docile. You want compliant. You want easy. You know I’m none of those things. No one is going to walk past me fast on the street and think I’m a white girl. I’m never going to defer to you just because you’re Elias Moore either. You know it and I know it. I will not be the safe place where you lick your wounds and heal your soul and then watch you build a better life with someone else with the tools that I taught you, I gave you. And you do not get to throw our friendship into your confusing miasma, twist it and call it love. After all this time. After all these years.’
Stack’s jaw tightened so much he could probably cut steel with it. ‘Is that what you think? That I’d risk our friendship, our life together…just to lick my wounds and get my dick wet before bouncing to someone else? Is that what you think of me? That I’d do that to you?’ Stack asked, voice breaking.
Robyn’s anger evaporated, seeing the tears in Stack’s eyes.
‘Stack, I’-’
But Stack simply shook his head. ‘Nah. Nah, Robyn.’ Stalking to the coat rack, he grabbed his jacket, hands trembling, putting it on with jerky movements. ‘Enjoy your date’, he said quietly, slamming her door behind him.
And Robyn stood there in her kitchen, shivering, cold and bare.
AMERICAN DREAM
soldier!smoke x virginteacher!annie
NINE.2: Try A Little Tenderness
previous next
cw: none
summary: the military does a lot to a man. for smoke it gives him dreams. dreams of a woman he’s never met a day in his life. all he knows is the sweet sound of her voice and the outline of her body. it’s like his soul is crying for her, but he doesn’t even know where to start looking.
notes: part 2 of chapter nine!
When Thanksgiving morning came, Annie slipped from the bed and got dressed as quiet as possible. It was incredibly early and it was still dark except for the faint morning light that was creeping through the windows.
Elijah was dead asleep on the couch with one arm thrown over his head as his chest rose and fell steadily. Annie smiled at the sight, walked over, and pulled the blanket up high on him. He stirred a bit, but didn't wake.
She went to the kitchen, and as quickly as possible, she scribbled a note to Elijah letting him know that she left for the day. After that she quickly started gathering the pies, not realizing that in her rush she had miscounted. She grabbed four of the pies and hurried out the door.
She stepped outside and a few minutes later she was driving through Baltimore. It didn't take long for her to pull up back home. She grabbed the pies from the backseat and headed inside. The door opened and the smell of greens and ham hit her in the face.
Annie followed the smell to the kitchen where she found her grandmother, Aunt Clarisse, Rosette, and Olivia. Clarisse was the first to say something to her the moment she noticed her niece standing in the doorway.
"Look at who decided to come back home."
"Goodmorning," Annie laughed as she set the pies down on the table.
"Mornin', baby," her grandmother said from her place by the stove.
Little baby Olivia let out an excited squeal at the sight of Annie. She was practically bouncing from her spot on her blanket on the floor. Annie melted. She crouched down and kissed Olivia's chubby cheek.
Annie straightened and looked around the busy kitchen.
"What y'all doin'? Need help?"
"No. Your cousin done already messed up the greens," Clarisse shook her head.
"I didn't mess up no damn—" Rosette started muttering under her breath. But before she could finish Mama Nette popped her with a kitchen towel.
"Watch your mouth."
"What I get hit for? I'm too old for that," Rosette rubbed her arm. "And why Annie never get hit?"
"'Cause Annie listens," Mama Nette snorted.
"I listen," Rosette looked offended.
"No you don't."
"I do."
Clarisse and Mama Nette exchanged a look.
"Yeah right, Annie mess up all the time, but y'all don't ever get mad at her," Rosette rolled her eyes.
"Annie ain't never messed up nothin' I taught her," Mama Nette looked genuinely confused by the statement. "That's why she the only one that know all my pie receipes."
A smug smile spread across Annie's face as she bent down and scooped Olivia into her arms. The baby immediately settled against her chest. Annie kissed the top of her little head.
"Can't help that I'm the favorite."
Rosette narrowed her eyes at her, but Annie just looked with that same smug smile as she bounced Olivia gently.
"Shut up."
"Don't be jealous, Rosie," Annie laughed.
"You lucky you holdin' my baby."
The room erupted into laughter. Even Olivia giggled though she didn't understand any of it.
When they settled, Clarisse looked over at Annie, giving her a pointed look, "You not gettin' outta where you was at, Miss Thing."
"She was over at that man's house."
Annie stared at her grandmother in disbelief. The older woman kept right on stirring.
Clarisse slowly nodded as she looked at Annie, "Hm. You been shackin' up?"
Before Annie could even answer, Mama Nette spoke again.
"No," Annie sighed in relief, but then her grandmother continued. "But she want to."
The relief disappeared. Annie sat there feeling completely betrayed.
"I don't know why you keep doin' this to me." Annie sputtered. "There ain't no reason for you to tell everybody my business."
"You ain't got no business," Mama Nette finally looked over. "You wasn't doin' nothin' remember?"
Rosette looked entirely too entertained at Annie getting clipped by their grandmother.
Annie opened her mouth then closed it becasue she truly had nothing to say to defend herself.
"She gonna have to repent extra hard this Sunday for all this lyin' she been doin' recently," Mama Nette shook her head. "That man be having her all twisted up and she know she like it."
Annie rolled her eyes dramatically then she buried her face against Olivia's little shoulder. Olivia just patted Annie's cheek.
A few hours later the cooking was finally almost done. Most of the food was finished and packed up.
Annie stood in the dining room helping wrap a few things while Olivia sat on her hip chewing on the sleeve of her dress. The baby had spent most of the morning attached to her. Any time somebody tried to take her, Olivia would fuss until Annie got her back.
Mama Nette was doing one final count, making sure that they had everything they needed. When she got to the pies and noticed that there were only four she eyed Annie.
"Annette, why you only got four pies here?"
Annie looked at the table only to see that her grandmother was right. There were only four pies on the table. Her eyes immediately became wider.
Rosette's face had a smirk on it, "Looks like the favorite messed up just that quick."
"Where they at and are they done?" Mama Nette folded her arms.
"Yes they're done Mama. I just forgot 'em," then she rushed over to the phone.
She dialed Elijah's number. The phone rang three times before Elijah answered.
"Hello?"
"Oh good. You're up," Annie sighed in relief.
"Bunny, I been up," His sleepy chuckle came through the line. "Why you callin'?"
"I forgot two of the pies. Can you bring them? They should still be on the counter."
"Yeah, I got you."
"Thank you, baby."
"It ain't nothing."
"I'll see you soon."
"See you soon."
After hanging up, Annie helped her family load everything up into the cars. Once everything was put up, the two cars hit the road to Ray's house.
There were a line of cars on the street when they pulled up. The front door opened and family members poured out to help take the dishes inside.
Inside the home Ray had moved everyhting around to make space for everyone. He had put some tables together to make one large table in the middle of the living room. There was also a smaller table for the children and room for the food.
The house was loud with conversation and children playing. Food was already on the table and what they brought only added to it. Everything was just what Annie missed about home. Good food and family. The only thing she felt was missing was Elijah.
Suddenly, Victoria appeared beside her.
"So when he gettin' here?"
"Soon," Annie rolled her eyes, an unintentional habit.
A while later, Annie found herself standing near the window peeking out of it every few seconds. Five-year-old Joyce had attached herself to Annie's legs asking her a million questions. It distracted her enough to not look out the window every five minutes. It wasn't like she was waiting on anyone.
But when a knock hit the door, Annie pulled away from the little girl, giving some random excuse. She hurried to the door, pulled it open, and there Elijah stood with the two forgotten pies in his hand.
He was dressed nice in black slacks, a black button down shirt, and a dark blue wool coat. He even had on polished hard bottom shoes. His look made Annie smile. And it wasn't because he never made the effort to look nice, but Annie knows that Elijah could care less about how he looked. But clearly he had decided to put a little extra effort in today.
Elijah looked into her big, soft, brown eyes and felt the hint of nervousness in him disappear.
"Hey, Bunny," Elijah smiled.
"Hi, baby," she said sweetly.
They leaned into each other so naturally. Their lips met in a gentle kiss. And once they pulled apart Annie was smiling. She was so utterly happy.
"Thank you again for bringing the pies."
"You're welcome."
She looked at him for another second. Then leaned forward and kissed him again. This one lasted a touch longer.
She pulled back and grabbed his hand, "Come on let's get you inside."
She led him inside and the warmth of the family atmosphere surrounded him. The house was loud with conversation that floated from every direction. Laughter was mixed in along with the sounds of children running and playing.
Annie kept hold of his hand as she guided him through the house of people. She could tell that her family was looking, but trying to hold in their comments. They walked until they got to the food table.
"Put them right there," he set the strawberry pies down where she told him.
Annie noticed the way Elijah looked around at everyone. She knew how overwhelming her family could be, and for someone like Elijah she knew it could be a bit much. She squeezed his hand to get his attention.
"If it get too much, you tell me."
"I'll be alright," Elijah looked at her, his face not showing any signs of overstimulation.
"You sure?"
"Mhm."
She studied him for another second then nodded.
Unfortunately she never got the chance to start introducing him around.
"Elijah come here," Mama Nette's voice carried easily through the house. "And Annie go help your uncles with the kids in the kitchen."
Both of them looked over to see the older woman sitting comfortably in a chair in the den.
"Mama—"
"Gone on."
Annie huffed as she stared into the older woman's eyes. And Mama Nette stared right back. Neither woman looked away.
Elijah tugged at Annie's hand, "It's okay, Bunny."
"Fine," Annie looked uncertain, but she sighed. "But I'll be back."
She squeezed his hand one last time before disappearing toward the kitchen.
Elijah watched her go then looked at the older woman who was waiting on him. Mama Nette gestured to the empty chair near her as a way to tell him to sit down. And he obeyed, not wanting to go against her.
The second he sat down he understood why Annie was hesitant to leave him. There were four women and a baby staring at him. They were staring so intensely as if they were trying to see straight through his skin to his bones. He sat back in the chair and gulped.
Mama Nette noticed and the corner of her mouth twitched. She knew Elijah was a strong man, but the Richard women could could break down even the toughest of soldiers.
"Let me introduce everybody to you since they just wanna stare at like you a zoo animal," Mama Nette pointed around the circle. "That's Clarisse, Annie's Aunt. Annie's cousin, Rosette and Rosette's daughter, Olivia. That's Esther, William Junior's wife. And Victoria, my oldest granddaughter."
They all still just stared at him not making any moves to say a thing to him.
"Now go on and introduce yourself," Mama Nette folded her hands in her lap.
Elijah cleared his throat. Suddenly he felt like a boy instead of a twenty-seven year old man.
"Nice to meet y'all. My name's Elijah Moore," the words managed to come out easy.
"And that's your real name?" Victoria tilted her head.
"Last time I checked," Elijah looked over at her.
Mama Nette chuckled at Elijah's audacity. She could tell he wasn't a man to back down easily. And she figured he had to be to deal with Annie.
"Oh, you tryna be Mister Funny Man?" Victoria's eyebrows furrowed, completely taken aback.
"Ain't nothin' funny to me," his answer came quick.
"Good. 'Cause ain't nothin' attractive 'bout a man who can't take nothin' serious."
"I'm takin' this very serious."
That earned him a few approving nods.
"Where you from?" Rosette asked as she balanced Olivia in her lap.
"Clarksdale, Mississippi."
"So you a Delta man?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you know where we from?" Clarisse asked.
"Yes ma'am," Elijah rubbed his sweating and slightly shaking palms against his thighs. Something about the intensity of these women was making his anxiety act up.
"You ever been there before?"
"A few times."
"So that means you know what we capable of?"
"I think so," Elijah didn't quite know what Annie's Aunt meant by that, but he remembered the conversation he had with Mama Nette. He didn't think he wanted to get on the bad side of a bunch of Hoodoo women.
"What you do for work?" Victoria asked.
"I work at Ray's garage."
"That what you really wanna do?" Clarisse asked.
The question made Elijah pause becasue nobody had really asked him that before. At least not recently. Usually people asked what he did, but not if that was what he really wanted to do. He looked down for a second before answering as honestly as he could.
"I don't rightly know. I guess I ain't figured out exactly what I want yet. I know I'm good with my hands, so it works out," he shrugged.
"I bet you are," Rosette smirked as her eyes dropped down to his hands.
Elijah cleared his throat and shifted in his seat at her staring. For a half a second he considered hiding them, but then he realized foing that would probably make it worse..
"Got good workin' hands too," Rosette's smirk just deepened.
"Rosette," Clarisse said in warning.
"Sorry, Mama."
The women laughed as Elijah rubbed the back of his neck.
Thankfully, Esther moved the conversation along.
"How long you been in Baltimore?"
"Since April."
"Ain't been here that long and you already got your eyes set on my niece," Clarisse said.
Before he could answer, Victoria spoke.
"How long you plannin' on stayin' in Baltimore?"
"I—"
"Everything okay?" A familiar voice cut through the conversation.
Everybody turned to see Annie standing next to Elijah's chair. She walked up and rested a hand on his shoulder. She looked from the women to Elijah with concern written all over her face.
"Girl ain't nobody doin' nothin' to this man. He alright," Mama Nette as she turned in her chair. "Go back to the kitchen."
"You okay?" Annie ignored the woman and looked at Elijah.
"I'm alright, Bunny," Elijah lightly grabbed her hand and nodded his head.
She still looked suspicious.
Mama Nette waved her hand, "Take your ass back on in there."
"If we was gon' hurt him we'd already done it," her Aunt Clarisse said.
Annie huffed dramatically, but she listened. Reluctantly she started walking away. But in the process she let her hand slide from Elijah's shoulder then down his arm. Elijah caught the hand before she could fully walk away.
The women all watched as Elijah lifted it and pressed a kiss to the back of it. He did it as if it was second nature. It was the type of affection that made Annie smile when she finally walked away.
He turned beack to see all eyes were on him again.
"What exactly you want with my cousin?" Rosette tilted her head.
Elijah eyes moved between the women, wanting them to understand how serious he was about their Annie.
"I want everything with her."
The women exchanged glances.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody teased.
"Saying everything is a might big statement. You know that?" One of Clarisse's eyebrows rose in question.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Do you know what all that means when it come to Annie? She ain't no simple woman," Clarisse studied him carefully.
"Yes ma'am I do," Elijah confidently nodded. He already knew first hand how difficult Annie could be, but some would say he was just as bad.
"What about her makes you want her so bad?" Victoria asked.
Elijah took a moment to get his thoughts together, and not because he didn't know, but because he wanted to say it right.
"Truthfully, she saved and she don't even know it. When I got back from overseas I wasn't doing well. There were days I'd wake up angry, couldn't sleep, and didn't want to be around nobody. And you wouldn't know it by looking at me. But when I found her, she lit up something in me. It was like she planted herself in my blood and I ain't have a bad day since," his voice was calm as he spoke.
"I don't want nothin' temporary with her. She don't deserve that. She's the woman I wanna wake up beside every mornin'. I wanna take care of her . I wanna spend the rest of my life fmy life hearin' her talk because she can just go on about stuff she gets excited about. And I always want her excited about something. It's my job to keep her happy and that's what I plan to do."
"I love how she takes care of people whether they ask for it or not. She remembers everything and she loves her family. She always has enough love for everybody. I love how determined she is. She works hard and she has dreams and goals. Hell, I even love how stubborn she is," that makes everyone laugh.
Mama Nette takes a moment to just stare at Elijah. She'd never heard him talk this much. He seemed like a man that didn't say more than he had to. But it looks like that when it comes to her granddaughter, he had a whole lot to say and he needed to say it. That man loved Annie and it was written all over him.
"Ain't never heard anybody talk about her like that before. You must really love her?" Esther asked.
"I'm in love with her," Elijah's answer came out so quick as he looked at her.
Nobody said anything because there wasn't really anything to say. The sincerity in his voice was impossible to miss, and they could feel the love practically floating off of him.
"Annie," Mama Nette's voice floated thorughout the house, and within seconds, hurried footsteps were heard.
Annie appeared looking rather worried. She looked at Elijah, but he showed no signs that there was anything to be worried about. So, she turned her eyes to her grandmother.
"Yes, Mama?"
"Everything ready?"
"…Yes?" Annie blinked confused.
"Everybody let's go on to the table."
Everyone in the house started making their way to the living room. Even Annie, who was still trying to figure out what happened. Elijah followed beside her not giving anything away.
Certain foods had been moved from the food table to the table. Everyone gathered around the white tablecloth covered table. Mama Nette took her place at the head of the table and reached for the hands beside her.
"Everybody close ya eyes and bow ya heads," almost everyone obeyed even the small children.
Elijah was the only one still looking around at the full circle.
Annie briefly opened her eyes to see Elijah with his wide open. She tugged his hand that was in hers.
"Close your eyes."
He closed his eyes and lowered his head just before Mama Nette started praying. As soon as she finished everyone said Amen and let their hands go. They moved to find their seats and the children scrambled to their table.
Elijah automatically reached for Annie's chair and pulled it out. Then he waited until she sat to push it in. She smiled up at him.
"Thank you, baby."
He nodded as he took the seat beside her. And as soon as he settled in his seat he had the feeling of being watched. He looked up to see Ray, Marcus, and an older man looking at him from way down at the other end of the table.
Annie lightly tapped Elijah's arm, pulling him away from the three men's stares. He gave his attention to Annie. She was holding the plate that was in his spot in her hand.
"What you want on you plate?" she asked.
"Whatever you think," Elijah glanced over the spread.
Annie rolled her eyes, but did as told. She scooped some mac and cheese, greens, candied yams, and dressing on his plate. Then she got up to put some meat on the plate for him. She knew that she didn't have to do this because Elijah was perfectly fine doing things for himself, but she felt with all this pressure from her family she would ease his mind a little today.
She sat back down and set Elijah's plate down in front of him. He thanked her and she went to grab her own plate to start putting her food together.
"Annette."
Annie looked up to see her Uncle William staring at him from the other end of the table.
"Yes, sir?"
"How long you been with him?"
Annie's eyes flickered to Elijah before returning to her uncle. William hadn't even verbally acknowledged and now he was talking as if the man wasn't sitting at the table next to her.
"We been together a few months now."
"A few months. Ain't that somethin'," William hummed as he stabbed a piece of turkey with his fork. "Must be serious if you lettin' him come to Thanksgiving."
"Yes sir. If you say so," Annie knew how her oldest uncle could get.
"Since you bringing him to Thanksgiving, I'd say so."
Several people around the table exchanged glances. Across the table Uncle Ray was trying not to grin.
"Ray," William looked at his younger brother.
"Yeah brother?" Ray looked up from his food.
"How long he been working at your shop?"
"Since April," a smirk appeared on Ray's face.
"And how'd he get that job?"
Ray looked at Elijah then back to William, "Annie mostly."
Annie breathed out in frustration. She could feel the irritation rolling off of Elijah and she knew if this kept going he would be in his right to say something.
"Uncle Ray, you know that's not true."
"And is," he shrugged. "You always tryna save somebody."
"Girl woulda brought home a stray dog if Mama let her. Guess she kept up the habit."
Annie's face showed clear irritation as she dropped her fork down.
"Okay, y'all gone stop talking about him like he ain't sittin' right here. He's a good man and comparin' him to a stray dog is disrespectful. I know y'all tryna look out for me, but I don't like how y'all going about it. You can't say you protectin' me 'cause this ain't it. These things y'all sayin' is hurtful. Get to know him before y'all try to make assumptions about him," Annie looked between both of her uncles.
"That's right," Mama Nette muttered. Her sons could be a real piece of work at times.
William sighed and Ray looked down at his plate. Neither man liked being corrected by their niece like that, especially in front of the whole family. But neither one would go against her either.
"Ain't mean no disrespect," her Uncle William looked genuinely pained by the admission.
"Me neither," Ray said right after.
This was the closest thing to an apology that Elijah had ever heard from Ray's mouth, but he didn't care too much about that when he was irritated by the older man. He face was stone cold as he stared at the two men. One of the things he wouldn't ever take was disrespect from two grown men, or at least two supposed grown men.
"I understand that y'all protectin' her and all but anything anybody wanna know about me can be asked directly to me. I'm an honest man and ain't one to just sit and pussyfoot around, but y'all makin' it real hard to act civil. I'm a grown man not a dog."
Then, before anybody could say anything else a loud crash echoed from the children's table. Little Jeremy was staring at the floor in horror while a glass of sweet tea spread across the table and dripped into his lap.
The interruption only lasted a few minutes before everybody settled back into eating. Towels had been brought out and Jeremy had been reassured that nobody was upset with him.
Elijah had managed to avoid being the center of attention again. At least until Mama Nette spoke up from her seat. She had been watching him for most of the meal anyway.
"Elijah, you likin' the food?"
"Yes ma'am. Ain't had food like this in a long time," he glanced down at the crowded plate in front of him.
"Why you ain't?" Victoria looked up from where she was helping Joyce cut her ham into smaller pieces.
"I was overseas for a few years. And before that me and my brother was movin' around so much we couldn't really get no good homecooked food like this."
"You was in the military?" William Jr. asked.
"Since fifty-four."
"You Army?" William Sr. set his fork down.
"Yes sir," Elijah kept his face stone cold.
William nodded thoughtfully. Then he took a sip of sweet tea before asking the next question.
"You hunt?"
Annie looked at her uncle and so did some of the other men at the table.
"Only done it once or twice."
"Mississippi boy only hunted twice?" William raised an eyebrow.
"Yes sir. My daddy wasn't teaching us much of nothing."
"Fair enough," William slowly nodded seeming to understand there was more to that story. "If you shoot good you'll be alright. But we'll see 'bout that."
Elijah looked on confused. And he was about to ask what exactly the man meant by that, but the conversation moved on. The entire focus of the table shifted away from the topic completely. When he looked over at Annie she seemed to be just as confused as he was. But her confusion had some understanding to it.
"Bunny, what he said that for?"
Annie cleared her throat and looked at Elijah, "I think he just invited you to go huntin' with them."
"Why he do that? Seem like he don't like me."
"He only invites the men he respects to hunt with him."
The dining table had been cleared. Leftovers had been wrapped and stacked. Somebody had put the radio on. And the card table was out. The children went back to running through the house despite being told at least fifteen times not to.
Annie sat tucked away in the den with Olivia in her lap. The baby had screamed for her the last ten minutes of dinner, so Annie had no choice but to grab her. And the girl was finally in her arms, she refused to leave.
The baby was currently fight sleep with everything she had. Her tiny eyes kept falling closed before snapping back open every time her head started to fall.
"You so tired, huh?" Annie chuckled softly as Olivia blinked up at her.
The baby just shoved two small fingers into her mouth as an answer. A string of drool followed soon after. Annie grabbed a cloth from beside and wiped the baby's chin. Olivia curled herself against Annie's chest, her other hand fisted the woman's dress.
That was when Elijah appeared beside the couch. He had just gotten out of a conversation about cars that he got roped into by Annie's cousins, Percy and Johnathon. Now he looked relieved to have found Annie again.
He sat down beside her. His eyes moved from her face down to the baby attached to her. Olivia had somehow managed to wedge herself directly into Annie's side.
Annie followed his gaze, "What?"
"Nothin'."
It wasn't nothing because Elijah couldn't stop staring. Annie looked so natural holding a baby, even if the baby was family. It was like every move of hers was instinctive. He had noticed since the dinner table.
And it wasn't just the baby that Annie seemed to shine with. The older children were just as attached. They followed her from room to room, calling for her, wanting her attention. And every single time she'd stop what she was doing and answer them.
The sight of it all made he aware of his thoughts. He found himself wondering what Annie would look like with their children. What their babies would look like. He hoped they would have her pretty brown eyes, and her smile, and her laugh.
"What you thinkin' so hard about?"
"Hm?" Elijah came back to reality, blinking the thoughts away.
Annie shook her head and let out a little puff of a laugh. She had noticed the way Elijah had looked at Olivia and wanted to test some waters.
"You wanna hold her?"
His eyebrows immediately lifted, "I don't know about that, Bunny."
"And why not?" Annie laughed.
"I ain't never really held a baby before," he looked at the baby.
"Seriously?" Annie stared at him.
Elijah nodded.
"Well that's a shame."
He looked down at Olivia and she looked back at him.
"I think you'll be fine. Olivia's easy."
"I don't know."
"Elijah."
He sighed, but she was already moving the baby. And when Olivia noticed she was getting moved out of the comfort of her arms, she made a sound of protest. Her tiny face scrunched up as if she was about to start crying. Annie shushed her as she bounced her lightly in the air.
"Oh hush. You're alright,"
Olivia clearly disagreed. Still, Annie carefully transferred her into Elijah's lap. The second the baby settled there, Elijah completely froze up. His hands hovered around her awkwardly unsure where they were supposed to go.
"Baby, don't look so scared," Annie tried so hard to hold her laughter in.
"I ain't scared," he shot her a look. "What if she fall though?"
"She ain't gone fall, just put your arm around her."
Reluctantly he wrapped one arm around Olivia.
The baby stared up at him. And after several seconds, Olivia decided she was okay with being around this strange man. She yawned and reached out to grab the front of his shirt. She pulled herself up a bit on her legs and laid down on his chest. The other tiny hand that wasn't gripping his shirt, reached around to his arm and softly started patting it.
Annie practically melted at the sight. But when she noticed Elijah's confusion on the movement she spoke up.
"She wants you to pat her back."
Elijah nodded his head in understanding and hesitantly started to pat the baby's back as gently as he could. It didn't take long for her eyes to start closing and soon enough she was asleep.
Annie watched the sight quietly, not able to look away. He was being so careful handling something so small and precious. He looked so sweet with her. It truly made Annie wonder how he would be with their kids. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait too long to find out, if they could—
"Auntie Annie!" She looked up to see the children standing in front of her. "Come play with us!"
"What y'all playing?"
"Hide and seek!"
The children immediately started pulling on her arms to make her stand up. She did and was suddenly being dragged away.
Christmas Night, 1958
Inside Elijah's apartment, the lamps cast a warm glow across the living room. The Christmas tree stood in the corner near the window. It wasn't a big tree like the one Annie has at home, but it was good enough for the both of them. They had picked it out a few weeks earlier after Annie said that he couldn't do Christmas right with no tree.
They were currently sitting on the couch, practically under each other. Annie was curled into his side and Elijah had an arm on the back of the couch behind her. They'd spent most of the evening talking about the day, like how Ray had actually gotten Elijah a gift. And now, with the day being settled, Elijah thought it was time for them to give their gifts to each other.
Annie sat up straight, excited for whatever Elijah was going to give her. Elijah reached on the table and grabbed the box. He put it in her hands and she carefully began to open.
Elijah sat back and watched as her fingers worked the ribbon loose. The anticipation on her face alone made everything worth it.
She pulled the paper away and was met with the same coat she'd been stopping to look at every single time they went to the department store downtown. It was a beautiful cream-colored wool coat that cost far too much.
"You bought me the coat?" Annie asked as she lifted it out of the box.
"You kept lookin' at it, so I figured you wanted it but wouldn't buy it for yourself since it was so expensive."
She pouted, willing herself not to be too emotional.
Then she noticed there was a small box inside. She pulled it out and noticed the way Elijah looked away from her. He had suddenly become very interested in the Christmas tree.
"What's this?"
Elijah didn't respond, just nodded to the box. So she opened it.
Inside sat a simple yet elegant gold bypass ring with two small diamonds.
"Elijah," his name came out barely above a whisper.
"It ain't an engagement ring…yet," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I just wanted yo uto have it."
"Why would you spend this much money on me?" She shook her head.
"Who else I'm supposed to spend it on?" He made a confused face as if she asked the dumbest question in the world. "I wanna take care of you, Bunny. And you need to let me without askin' about how much it cost all the time. That ain't your problem, okay?"
The tone of his voice made her body get warm. Instead of verbally answering him, she just nodded her head in fear that if she did say something it would be something that neither one expected.
Eventually she slid the ring onto her ring finger on her right hand and it was a perfect fit. But of course it was. He probably had sneakily gotten her ring size months ago.
She stared at it for several seconds before giving the kind of smile tha treached her eyes. Then she looked at him with twinkling eyes.
"I got your gift too. It's in the car 'cause I can't bring it up by myself. It's heavy."
"What'd you buy me, woman?" He raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"You gotta go get it."
A few minutes later they were outside in the cold. Annie stood beside him in her new coat while he opened her trunk. Inside was a large gift box.
He carried it back into the apartment upstairs and set it down beside the couch.
Annie sat down on the couch and sighed as she looked at the box.
"I got this because Mama told me you didn't know what you really wanted to do, but you like workin' with your hands and fixin' things. So I'd figured you'd like this."
Elijah opened the lid to see a professional mechanic's toolkit. And it wasn't one of the cheap sets either. It was a Proto set. He ran his fingers over the polished metal while she looked on nervously.
"I picked it out myself. I did have to ask around a little for help, but I think I got the right stuff."
"You did just fine, Bunny. I really like it."
"You do?" Relief immediately washed over her face.
"Yeah."
He laughed softly the reached over and pulled her into his lap. Annie squealed at the movement. Elijah pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, baby."
He smiled and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. When they pulled away Annie stared into his eyes.
"I checked your mail earlier and saw that you got a letter from your brother."
She slid off his lap, walked to the small table in the corner, and grabbed the envelope. She returned back to her spot in his lap.
"You wanna read it?"
"Don't matter," Elijah shrugged.
But Annie knew him well enough by now to know he wanted to hear it.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Carefully, she opened the envelope and pulled out several folded sheets of paper. She dramtically cleared her throat and began reading out loud.
Most of the first page was Stack just talking about anything like the people he'd met and the random arguments he'd gotten into. Though Annie had never met Stack before, she found herself smiling because it felt like she was getting a picture of him through his words. He was clearly different than Elijah. He seemed loud and reckless, but funny and charismatic.
When she got to the next page, she started reading about all the women he'd been with. She slightly lowered the paper and looked at Elijah.
"You got something to say?"
"Nope."
"You judging my brother?"
"I'm not, just seeing if this how you was."
Elijah sucked his teeth, "Woman you know me well enough to know that ain't what I do."
The next page shifted into stories about his gambling ventures and how shook several men for money. He'd become so invested in it, but it seemed to be working out for him.
"I don't think I like your twin too much," Annie shook her head.
"He's fine, just gotta let him settle in and you'll get used to him."
"Don't think I would."
"You would."
She continued reading despite her protests. Halfway through the next page she instinctively took to reading it in her head, but Elijah tried to peek at the words forcing her to go to reading it out loud again.
"How that dream girl doing? You ain't said much beside 'she's real'. If she's so real then tell me something about her. What's her name? What she do? What's she like? If she's worth writing about then you write about her. If she ain't, stop talking about her."
Annie's eyes slowly lifted. Elijah was avoiding looking directly at her, which told her everything.
She finished the rest of the letter which was mostly Stack asking questions about Baltimore and whether Elijah planned on staying there permanently, and work. Then the letter ended.
"Have you been writing about me?" Annie carefully folded the papers together.Elijah finally met her eyes.
"'Course I have. That's my twin. He know everything about me and I know everything about him. This the longest we been apart, and I had to tell him about the woman that's changed my life," the answer came easy for him.
"Can't believe you lasted this long away from him."
"I spent my whole life taking care of him. And I'd do it again. But if being apart from him now meant finding you, then I'd make that trade every time. I love you, Bunny and he should know that."
The emotion hit Annie hard. Her eyes watered as she leaned down a bit to kiss him. When she pulled back, she stayed close enough that their foreheads almost touched. Her eyes searched his and whatever she found there made her smile.
"I love you too."
Annie laughed softly at his expression.
"I'm in love with you."
His eyes lit up and the smile that spread across his face was the most brightest and boyish smile she'd ever seen him have. It was the smile he rarely showed anybody else, besides maybe Stack. Annie realized she'd never seen Elijah look happier than he did right then.
end notes: so question for the people that make it this far...when do y'all think their first time is gonna be? i, of course, know. but i'm curious when y'all think it will be. especially if you've caught all of annie's little hints that maybe's she might be more ready than we think...
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