Through Thick & Thin

Chapter 6*

Chapter 6: Derrick



"Stawwwp!" Draya giggled as Taty ran, chasing her on her chubby little legs around the yard. Her two mini twists that Taty had put in a day earlier were flapping as she ran. I couldn't think of a cuter site. I smiled, my arms crossed across my chest as Taty 'pretended to trip. Draya excitedly jumped on her thigh, hugging it.

"I got yew!" She giggled.

"Aww, you did, huh? You're such a cutie." Taty said, picking her up and seating her in her lap. Draya began to play with the flowers on her dress, talking to a smiling Tatyana. It made me smile seeing my two favorite girls bonding. I walked over and sat beside Taty, tilting her chin to look at me.

She smiled and kissed my lips.

"Ew Da!" I heard Draya say, her little hands pushing me. Taty blushed and pulled away.

"Come on kiddo. You're due for a nap anyway." I said, picking her up out of Taty's arms.

"Noooo. No sleep, Daddy! Ta-ee" She whined, reaching for Tatyana with a pout on her lips. I chuckled, shaking my head and walking towards the house. I could hear a ruffle in the grass behind me as Draya continued to whine and carry on in my arms, but I ignored her, making it to the door. Just as we were walking in, Tatyana snatched Draya out of my arms, both of them giggling, and began running around the yard. I didn't want to laugh, trying to stay and stern 'Father-mode', but they were making me smile.

"Come on, daddy, try and catch us!" Tatyana laughed.

I gave in, following them around the yard before Draya decided she wanted to play on the tire swing in Tatyana's yard. I built her a playground back at home as a time waster while grieving Taty and I's then dead relationship. She hadn't really played on it, but she was eager to get on this swing as soon as she saw it a week ago when we arrived. She was pointing and pulling at my leg.

I smiled, seeing Draya so comfortable with the woman of my dreams as she sat in the middle and securely held her as I walked over to push. She excitedly flicked her chunky little legs. She was so happy and I felt like she was opening up. Back at home we had fun, but I can see she liked having Tatyana around, which was okay in my book.

As her laughing died down and her tiredness began to show, she began to doze off right in Taty's arms. I could see she too had tired herself out, her eyes drooping. I stopped the swinging, causing the ropes to jerk a little from the sudden movement. She hummed and looked around, back at me, smiling. I winked and nodded towards the house where I would lay them both down for a much needed nap. Taty stood and I reached for Draya, but she shook her head no, pouting and holding my baby to her chest. I chuckled, holding my hands up.

"Fine, come on." We walked happily silent to the house and once inside, she didn't even bother to go up to her room. Instead, she gestured for me to follow her to the open area on her patio in the back. It had one of those nice large hammocks. It had a big cushion and looked big enough for four people. I held it while she slid Draya in, then she went in. Draya cuddled right up to her. I smiled, getting in behind her and wrapping an arm around her waist. Soon, we were all off into a comfortable sleep, all wrapped in each other.

* * *

"...lipstick. Oh! Nana Daddy waking up!" I heard giggles and felt something sticky on my face. Sitting up, the hammock swung side to side as I flipped over. I groaned, siting up and rubbing my eyes. I could feel a sticky liquid wipe off on my hand. I looked down to see red. With slanted eyes, I looked up to see Tatyana's mom, Ms. Tina, and Draya hysterically laughing.

"Daddy you look pretty!" Draya smiled. I could see her face painted in makeup and shook my head, already having a bad feeling about it. Tina looked down at me trying not to laugh, but I could see she wanted to. Sitting up, I walked to the nearest bathroom and clicked on the light. Shaking my head, I looked at my reflection. Lipstick here, eyeliner there, blush everywhere. I looked crazy, but when Draya came in the bathroom tugging at my leg asking if she did good, I said, "Yes, baby. Daddy looks pretty."

Another set of laughs busted out and I turned around only to be met by a flash. I covered my eyes and moved Draya out the way to chase the cameraman. Turns out it was a camerawoman, Tatyana.

"Okay, okay." She laughed, handing me her phone. I deleted the picture and threw the phone on the bed and flopped down. I was still tired and wanted to get a little more sleep. My arm was thrown over my face when Tatyana straddled my waist. I opened my eyes to see her holding a few wipes that looked like the baby wipes I use to change Draya.

"Let me clean this off, pretty boy." She smiled, biting my lip.

"You think this shit funny." I said, pushing her back, but she only laughed and swatted my arm.

"Oh hush, she was just having fun with Ma." I shook my head. Those two were so attached since we came. Maybe even more than Tatyana and Draya. When Tina first saw her she said, Oh you finally brought me a grandbaby, aw she so pretty! Draya started calling her Nana, as Tina requested, and followed her around the house--cooking, joking and just enjoying her company.

"She was so excited to play in makeup. I couldn't tell her no. She is the sweetest little girl, bae. I don't want you guys to leave." As she finished wiping my face clean, she looked sad. I know she loved having me here, seeing as we've been apart for so long. I didn't want her to leave, and I know Draya would throw a fit if I told her we had to leave. There wasn't anything in the Chi left for me but mostly bad memories of a brother taken too soon, and good memories of a wonderful woman I gave my heart too.

"Well we do have to go back sometime. We're going to work this out, baby, don't worry yourself. Let's just enjoy the moment." I tried to hold her waist, but she slid away, sitting beside me on the bed. Her eyes began to water and her hands raised to her face.

"You said that when I l-left the first time, Dee. Look at us now," Her words were still coherent, but her shoulders were moving up and down as she began to cry harder. It hurt so much to see her like that. I scooted up to sit beside her, putting my arm over her shoulder and bringing her into my side.

"Baby don't cry. Things are different now." I tried to convince her, but her she pushed me away.

"Dee why you never come see me?" I looked down into those gray eyes and saw how sad she was. This must've been on her mind for a minute and everything was just rushing out. All her pent up emotions flowed out with the tears as she tried to talk and cry at the same time. I rubbed her back and shushed her before she had a panic attack or something. It was seriously concerning me. I got up after a few moments and shut her door. I grabbed some tissues and a bottled water she had sitting on the nightstand, handing it to her.

"Here, baby. Breathe. In, out. Yeah, like that. Calm down, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere." I coached, rubbing her back as she slowly calmed down.

"Okay. Just let me talk?" I nodded, rubbing her thigh for comfort.

"Derrick when I first saw you at the precinct I hated you. You and Ant," She hald-smiled. "Kenu was my best friend and you guys couldn't figure shit out about his killers. I had to keep repeating what happened and it was all too much. Anyway, as I grew to know you, I grew to love you. You were really trying to help me--especially when they sent me to kiddy jail. Remember that?" I laughed, shaking my head. She was miserable in there, but she was holding up well.

"I remember telling you not to call me baby girl, and then you started calling me baby. I remember how my heart beat was speeding up and I was blushing on that nasty phone. You was there for me the whole time though. When I didn't have anybody, I had you. I knew I had a crush on you when I began to get jealous, remembering you was with Toni. You was calling her name on the phone with me, I was so mad. You ignored me for weeks, but you still came for me when I was released. You had those big ass roses and a smile." She smiled at me, tracing patterns on my palm as she continued to talk.

"Then things were crazy at the famous Derrick Ward's house. Your best friend was pushing up on me and you was getting jealous as hell! Pretending not to like me," She nudged my shoulder playfully. "Then you finally kissed me. I remember it too. The same time I got my first orgasm." We both chuckled, remembering our little rendezvous in Victoria's Secret. I leaned down to kiss her, and she only let me get a peck.

"See there you go, trying to get some. I think you got some addiction issues." I smirked, not even elaborating, because she knew I was addicted. It only took a few weeks to get hooked, and she damn sure wasn't no virgin no more.

"Can I talk now?" I asked.

"Uhn-Uhn. I'm not done." She stopped rubbing my hand, her head down. "That day you came to Atlanta...Julie had scheduled an appointment for a potential new client at that restaurant. I was excited, because he was an entrepreneur with some beautiful designs and ideas. Julie knew how important that meeting was. He was willing to invest almost $100,000. I was so surprised, but he was very close with a cancer patient, like Julie and Ant's mom, so it meant a lot to him. You can't imagine how happy and confused I was to see you pop up. It'd been too long since I saw you. I...I never saw you look so hurt." She began to cry again, and I handed her the water bottle, but she shook her head no. I didn't want to discuss this, because we were in the now. I loved her and she loved me. The past was the past and I sure as hell did not want to relive the crazy shit, but I remained quiet, knowing she needed to get this out.

She stood up, pacing the room. After a minute or so, she spoke again, using her hands. "You looked like you could kill me--or maybe it was him you was after. It was so innocent, but when I jumped up, you probably assumed the worst. A handsome man taking your woman out, I get it. But, you came at me yelling. Your eyes had gone darker, I remember because the image haunted me for three years. I saw it in my nightmares. Your voice yelling not to ever call you again. You didn't want to ever see me again. That was it." She was crying and her mouth was moving, but her mind was somewhere else. She was still pacing, not looking at me.

"I asked myself, why would he leave? He didn't let em explain or nothing. I didn't think you loved me. I honestly thought you went back to Toni. Why not? You're taking care of her baby. Draya isn't your biological daughter, and I always wondered what made her so special, you had to keep her?" I was wondering if she felt some type away about Draya, because if she did, that was a problem. Draya is my baby blood or not and I loved her. No matter the circumstances.

"T, that baby was innocent. Her psycho mom and fucked in the head father didn't deserve to raise that baby. Do you know where Draya would be if I hadn't made sure Toni got through her pregnancy and insured she was going to be alright?" I stood up, walking to her. I was mad now. "She'd probably be dead, Taty. We all know that! She didn't ask to come in this world and even if I hated Toni and damned her to the pits of hell, I still had love for her. The real Toni I knew."

"Son of a bitch! Why would-"

"Tatyana, not like that. I'm talking about love as a person, as in that's still a human being. She hasn't always been the way she was. She had some good in her, but shit happens. I know I hurt you, and not a day goes past when I don't wish I could take shit back. Come see you more, not listen to Julie, build an emotional relationship that wouldn't be torn down by accusations. I'm not against you, Taty. I loved you then, and I love you now. Nothing's going to change that, baby." I said, walking up to her and taking her hands.

"I love Draya, Dee. I promise, like she was my own. But, I wish I could've carried your baby first. I wish I could've been on that hospital bed delivering a mini us. All of our love, effort, and blessings meshed together in the form of another life. I bet it's be a boy, too. He would have your beautiful heart and my gray eyes. Big ole' ears like his daddy," She smiled through her tears, breaking down.

"I wanted to be Mrs. Derrick Ward ever since I was seventeen and when I lost you, that shit cut deep, but I want us to move on. I want you to know that I forgive you. I want you to know how sorry I am, too. We both had obligations in our home states, but we could've done something. We gon' make it, baby." She cried, letting my hands go and hugging my waist tight. I buried my face in her neck, not wanting her to see that I felt my eyes watering. Brian's voice rang in my head, telling me not to cry.

"Baby, it's okay. Let it out. We need this." She knew me. She knew I was getting worked up. She knew me so good, I didn't deserve her, but I would spend my life showing her I did.

I lifted my head, damp face and all, and held her face in my hands.

"Baby, I love you so much. You are such a good woman, loving me through all these fuckin' flaws," She bit her lip, wiping a fallen tear off my cheek. "I can't promise you a perfect man, but I'm not leaving. I'll see about moving, getting a place here and in the Chi, I don't know. But we are going to make it this time. This shit is forever, and I know I mean that.

Kissing my lips, she wiped under my eyes.

"I know, baby, I know."

"I um, I been carrying something for a while." I said, pulling away. Her hands fell to her side and her face became curious. I reached into my pocket for my wallet and past a baby picture of Draya was a small silk bag in the pocket. I pulled the velvet bag out and dropped the wallet to the bed. I took Tatyana's hand and rubbed her ring finger.

"We got so much to work on, but I know one day you're going to my wife. You gon' walk around Atlanta swollen with our babies and smiling like it ain't nothing. I got this here three years ago, and been holding it ever since." I pulled the diamond ring out of the silk bag, hearing her gasp. I knew she'd love it.

Taking her left hand, I slid it on. "Now I don't want to move to fast, this is just a promise. I promise to always have your back, love you unconditionally, and listen before taking any action." We both laughed, her crying, but she was genuinely smiling now.

"I love you so much, baby, and one day, I'ma replace this with a nice rock. This small token of my love is just to remind you that I'm in this. We're in this, and we not going no where, okay?" Smiling, she nodded, pulling me to her for a hug. I hugged her waist, pulling away slightly to see her face. Bending my head, I kissed her lips. She kissed back, letting her arms tighten around my neck. I bent lower, hooking my hands underneath her thighs to pick her up.. She wrapped them around my waist, moaning into my mouth. I sat on the bed, right on top of my forgotten wallet, and let her lay me back as our kiss deepened.

I took her bottom lip captive, sucking it until I heard my favorite sound. "Mmm, uh." Smiling, I pulled my head back from her greedy mouth. She opened her hooded eyes, looking at me with so much love and lust. If her mom and my daughter wasn't in the house, I would've taken her right here.

"I gotta keep you guessing. You thought I was gon' propose, huh?" She bit her lip, bending down to bite my chest. "Ouch, damn!"

"You know I did. But, I am happy, baby. I'm so happy." I smiled, kissing her twice more until my phone vibrated in my pocket. I thought it may be Tina asking if we were done. I'm sure she noticed the closed door and occupied her favorite little toddler until she felt safe enough to check on us.

"Ignore it," Tatyana moaned, sucking my neck, her hands busy lifting my shirt.

"Mm, bae, stop. We can't here." I reluctantly stopped her. I had turned my baby into a bit of a nymph, but I wasn't complaining.

"We can." She said, lowering her kisses to my nipple. Shit was feeling good, but I couldn't disrespect her mom. This was her house.

"Come on, I promise we can sneak away later."

"Just a quickie, daddy." She moaned, moving to the other. My straining erection was being tormented by her fat ass, as she began to grind against it. My self-control was deterring and my conscience was too. I flipped her over, when my phone vibrated again. Nervous it might be her mom, I pulled it out to see Ant Emergency Line.

Anthony had got the phone a few years back as a joke when he first start messing with Ebony in case she was as crazy as we all thought she was, but I didn't think this call was a joke. Kissing Taty's lips, I answered, mouthing sorry.

"Hel-"

"Dude, why is Ebony's baby father Jerome? Jerome fuckin' Jackson!" I was shocked. He was the same cat who helped in the murder of Taty's brother, though we didn't find any incriminating evidence.

"Damn, what?!"" I said, rolling off Tatyana. She was annoyed, but this was crazy.

"And get this, the nigga got shot by Toni and the bitch has full blown AID's." I don't think I ever heard anything worse than that. My heart stopped as I calculated all the people who could be affected and infected right now. Especially my baby.

"Nigga, did you just say fuckin' AID's?!" Even Tatyana flenched at my words. My first thought--Could we die? And the second--Who all was infected. Too many names clouded my brain as I began to get dizzy, This shit was not cool.