Hearing her 4 month old whining over the baby monitor. Cookie stirred from her sleep. Mirning ight from outside making her close them in irritation. The whining continuing brought her a sigh. Attempting to get up only to find she couldn't. Lucious having her locked to his body. She groaned trying to wiggle out of his hold. Only for him to lock down tighter.
"Ughhh Lucious! Get your fat ass off of me!" She groggily snapped, her husband humming at her words.
"Not what you were saying last night." He tossed, his sleep rasp extremely deep.
"Man go on."
"I can tell you what you said. Your ass need to stop asking for my babies for I fuck around and give you another." He tossed rolling off of her. She sucked her teeth smacking his chest.
"Mmmm, give me like 45 minutes. I'll be ready for some pussy." He muttered.
"So nasty." She spat, fighting her giggle. Getting up she put a robe on. Prince's whines turning to cries. Taking the monitor with her, Lucious fell back into his sleep. Unsure how long but he woke up to being headbutted.
"God damn." He groaned out, holding his nose. Peering up at the culprit finding Rose looking guilty.
"Sorry." She rushed, continuing her climb over his body. Burrowing under the covers hiding behind him.
"I'm sorry daddy."
"I heard you baby." He hummed, she tucked herself closer to him.
"ROSE?! Come here! I'm not chasing you around this house." Cookie's loud voice carried. Lucious rose a brow turning to look at the little girl peeking at him from under the blankets.
"..man what did you...."
"Lucious, have you seen Rose?" Cookie asked, popping up in the doorway. A baby on her hip looking every bit domesticated. God she looked so beautiful. There was no explaining this warmth.
"No baby." He lied, she huffed stomping off. Waiting till she was gone he fully turned around.
"What did you do?" He asked, pulling the covers back. Getting his answer when he got a look at her with no sleep in his eyes.
"Rose....." He hissed, she whimpered burrowing deeper in the cover. Pulling it away again he cupped her head. She clearly had a fight with scissors....and the scissors won.
"I sowwwwwwy." She whined out.
"Where did you get scissors?" He asked, she shrugged looking at him with teary eyes.
"Gotcha little ass." Cookie snapped, something told her to double back her search. Seeing her, Rose tried climbing Lucious like a tree.
"Sowwwy."
"Trade me." Cookie offered, handing Lucious Prince. Rose throwing the epitome of a tantrum to avoid leaving the bed. Though Rose had become the little princess he had always wanted to raise and he'd rather not get on her. She needed some correction in the moment.
"HEY! Knock that shit off! Get off the floor!" Lucious barked, Prince giggled at the booming voice. Rose's tears pouring as she got off the floor. Lucious beckoned her with a finger.
"Oh no, don't be looking at me now. Go on over there." Cookie dismissed, once Rose switched saviors. Dragging her feet she looked up at Lucious with puppy dog eyes.
"Give me your hands." He ordered, she held her hands up for him. One of his hands popping both.
"Owie owie!" Rose shouted, jumping up and down the tears really flowing now.
"We do NOT play with scissors." He snapped, Rose sucked in a breath before she threw her head back. Lucious had always found it weird how kids could cry silently then suddenly and randomly go back to screaming. It was like their brains shut off for a bit. Rose's voice coming back to her with a screech then back to her sobs. Prince looking at her crazy.
"Come on little girl. See what I can do with this." Cookie sighed, grabbing her hand leading her out.
"What you laughing at little nigga? Yo daddy not scary?" Lucious spoke, turning Prince around to look at him. Wiping the young ones slobber Lucious figured he could get him ready while Cookie was busy. Heading to the nursery he grabbed everything he needed to give Prince a quick bath. His son splashing in the tub in his special bath seat.
"You better not shit in the water today. Yeah I'm talking to you." Lu tossed, letting him play around for a little bit. Getting down to business he cleaned Prince. Washing the thick hair he was growing. Hazel eyes mirroring his own getting drowsy. Getting him out of the water Lucious dried him off. Putting a diaper and a little durag on him. That's how Cookie found her baby, looking like a mini Lucious.
"What are you doing?" Cookie laughed, seeing him debating on two outfits he had picked out.
"Making Decisions." Lucious answered, heading into the closet to search for a fit himself.
"You're daddy just can't help but to match huh fatfat?" Cookie cooed, picking up the black jumpsuit and gold Versace shoes. Dressing the little one keen on rolling around the bed a bit of a struggle. Lucious exited the closet with his outfit for the day. A black and gold intricate print button up, and black slacks.
"What's Rose got on?"
"Black with a gold, blue, white coat she picked out." Cookie answered, checking the time.
"Your mini me." He chuckled.
"Yup, Juanita is downstairs with Rose. We can get a real breakfast after the doctors." Cookie voiced, going to look for her own fit for the day.
"How many shots is man man getting?"
"3." She answered.
"Damn, you're a Lyon though. Ride it out." Lucious spoke, stopping Prince from rolling off the bed.
Meanwhile....
Checking his phone Andre smiled responding to Jazmine's message. Heading into the family room to meet up with his brothers. He relished in employees addressing him as Mr. Lyon. Walking into the studio he could hear Hakeem working on a track. Jamal seated at the engineer station. His brothers were his ace in the sleeve for his current motion of plans. Making his presence known he waited for them to stop tinkering.
"What you call us for Mr. Boss man?" Jamal tossed, as Hakeem exited the booth.
"I need your help. The both of you." Andre spoke, Hakeem rolled his eyes. That was an obvious no brainer here.
"For?"
"Keeping pops out of Empire." Andre answered.
"OH HELL NO! Nigga don't you learn anything from fucking with that man? Hostile takeover not ringing a bell? Did he not JUST flip you like a pancake in his office?" Jamal spat, quickly gathering his things. Wanting no parts of whatever that nigga had going on. He hadn't been this cordial with his father since college. He knew to stay where the getting was good.
"I'm with Mal. You tripping tripping Dre. Die on your own, don't include me." Keem added, Andre groaned washing a hand over his face.
"Not like that! I'm not trying to steal Empire. Sit down and listen for a second. What I'm saying is I need your help keeping him away, so that I can move without him on my back. He wants me to prove I can run Empire. I can't do that if he comes back micromanaging." Andre explained, his brother's still not convinced he was on the up and up.
"So what do you need us for?" Jamal questioned.
"I'm getting there. Look, I ran across some pure talent recently. She's got a great voice, she's attractive, she just needs some shaping. I need her presented to dad. I can run the business fine. I can find talent easily, but making music isn't in my skill set. That's where you come in Mal. I need you to give her a mini makeover. If anyone knows how to grab dad's attention it's you."
"Wait....you tryna get dad a groupie?" Hakeem tossed, both his older brothers looking at him crazy.
"Mom would have us mounted on the wall. Under here lies my idiots." Jamal spat.
"Not a groupie, Keem. An artist! I want dad's attention from business to purely music. Dad alone is a stellar producer. A guaranteed hit." Andre explained.
"So you want me to help her bring something Worthwhile to the table?"
"Yes, this girl has star potential. Treasure's just awkward and a rookie." Andre nodded, Jamal hummed.
"I can do that. I need at least two weeks. One week to transform her, one week to bring her a song."
"You can't do a song Mal, I need her like fresh meat." Andre pressed.
"Which is why you need a song. A good voice with soul in it is enough to make Dad peek at her, but the stories she tells with her voice is how you grab mom. Once mom latches on, Dad's gonna go all in." Jamal explained, Andre nodded slowly. How he disregarded the role his mother could play he didn't understand. She was all for this transition of power. Plus the two of them together produced pure magic.
"So you think bringing mom and dad Empire's next big thing is going to keep dad busy." Hakeem asked.
"Yes."
"You are self destructive then." Keem shrugged.
"No, it's a distraction so I can work. I can't prove myself if he won't let me." Andre spat.
"He hasn't stepped in yet." Keem pointed out.
"I won't give him the chance." Andre hit back.
"Why you not worried about Ma?"
"Because Ma is over Empire. She wants what she missed as a mother. She's got everything she wanted and more." Dre voiced, relaxing in his seat.
"To say that means she won't give Empire up." Jamal spoke up, getting a head shake from Dre.
"And you call yourself mama's favorite and you don't know her." Dre poked, Jamal instantly on the defense.
"I know her!"
"Then you should know mama only wanted to be recognized and a part of Empire. Only reason she came in so hard was to break dad's false foundation and get his attention. She wanted dad and Empire is an extension of his heart. Therefore to reclaim his heart she had to claim Empire." Andre dropped, Hakeems mouth dropped open
".....that shit makes mad sense."
"Thank you Keem. Mom wanted her family back, a relationship with her boys, recognition, and dad. She has it all minus her sisters now but plus two kids. So..."
"Mom is content with being home." Jamal finished, he couldn't hide his saltiness at missing that. His life was getting in the way of his motherly nosey business.
"Gotta add a roaring fan base rivaling the damn beehive to that. Mom stays tweeting with her fans." Hakeem noted.
"Correction mom enjoys cussing people out." Jamal laughed, it flowing between them.
"Now dad needs more time to see he has what he wants. Without having to be a head of the company. So the longer he stays out of the office the better." Andre spoke, bringing the conversation back to point.
"Wait so if dad knows mom better than all of us. Why he ain't see that she wanted him? He acted like she was gonna dethrone him." Hakeem blurted, throwing them off track again.
"Cause she really was. Mom is a threat." Jamal dropped, getting a nod from Dre.
"To him?"
"Hell yeah keem. Only person who could take dad out is Mom. Mom when they are at odds could be his worst enemy. She could destroy him in more ways than 1." Jamal explained, wondering for a second fir someone who acted most like their mother. He was ignorant about Cookie outside the role as mother.
"Mom take dad out? Please, she don't give dad back half of the smoke he gave her."
"Mom is never going to go in 110% in a battle with dad. Never, she knows the power she has. And she loves him, matching his energy would turn into the most toxic explosion. More toxic then they already are. I'm talking big. They can come back from a lot....but that would end them." Andre chimed in.
"Bingo." Mal piggy backed.
"All the more reason why Mom is smarter than dad. She's aware of herself. Dad's a bull in a China shop. All brute, brain, and anger when you push him." Dre added.
"If dad's a bull what's mom?" Keem questioned, silence falling over the room as they thought hard.
"I think she's a jaguar." Jamal finally answered.
"A jaguar?" Andre and Hakeem echoed.
"Jaguars are stealthy hunters with an extremely strong bite that can crush their prey's skull. Mom likes to keep you guessing. She likes the mystery. One of the reasons I never want to fuck with her. By the time you know it's her you're dead." Jamal spilled, like this was an episode of Animal Planet.
"Hmm, never thought about it like that." Dre shrugged.
"Yeah see checkout it. Fuck with dad right? You're dead but he's gone get you somewhere to talk first. So expect a villain monolog before death. With mom....I honestly don't know how she rolls. I've never seen her do shit but we hear about her doing shit." Jamal continued.
"I feel like mom's on some rats eat you alive type madhouse shit." Hakeem blurted.
"Shit probably. Mom might just lock you in a room. With nothing but silence and darkness. Watch you go mad type shit. Either way you won't ever see her coming." Jamal snickered.
"We won't ever get the pleasure of seeing that. Which is all the more reason dad was focused on pacifying mom so hard. She can be a wolf in sheep's clothing way better than he can. How the hell you think she fit in with the Dubois so easily?" Andre smirked, he liked to believe he favored his mother's deception skills.
"So he kept her occupied to keep her from doing?" Hakeem asked, confused on the motive.
"Turning the board in her favor. Like they are now. If it's mom versus dad on something they go mom every time." Dre dropped.
"So Treasure is your way of distracting your greatest enemy?"
"EXACTLY! God damn Hakeem, how the hell did you graduate man." Jamal exclaimed.
"Fuck off, the edibles are hitting. But this shit straight outta dad's book. This is beautiful." Keem grinned.
"Speaking of the beauty pops. He never got his documentary. So he'll get a movie instead." Andre spilled, letting his brothers know another plan in the works.
"Movie?"
"Yes, a part of plan stay home. I'm going to talk to mom about letting their story be told. So Mal? You feel like being the head of a soundtrack with complete creative control?"
"Is the check going to be as fat as Hakeems lips?" Jamal asked, getting a pen thrown at him.
"Wait! What about me? Where do I come in on your plan?" Keem huffed, feeling left out of the grand scheme.
"Right, Treasure with a debut hit from dad. Plus the star grooming he does. If I'm correct in my vision for her. We're looking at a new Tiana."
"Woahhhhh, we don't need no new Tiana!" Hakeem snapped, instantly on the defense of his boo.
"Relax, this benefits her. We all know Tiana isn't popping anymore. She's been MIA musically. And mom isn't going to help her get back on her feet. So some beef will do just that."
"That's foul Dre, with losing Empire. To getting shot and then having the baby. Trying to be parents and shit, now she's obsessed with the gym. Shits been off you know that." Keem spat.
"I get that but the music industry doesn't. Which is why I need you to do your fiancé duties and motivate her to get in the studio. While I convince mom to help me help her." Andre spoke, he hadn't exactly planned out how to do that yet.
"I can do that."
"Good, because she's gonna need the return of Queen Tiana buzz to deal with the way media is gonna hit when Treasure drops on the scene. Fans will start the beef. We've seen it happen, they fuel the fire. Tiana gets gassed up when she's on top. She'll be on her "I'm Empire" shit again. Treasure is going to have to make some noise so I'll coach her on making a stand about new faces. That's where I need you again. I need you to give her a feature on your album. Fans will go wild. A&R will request that they collaborate on a song to kill the rumors. But it'll only further ignite them. I want Tiana to drop a comeback EP for fans. Treasure will drop a few more features then boom a big Empire artist tour. Revenue is going to be through the roof. Dad will be proud." Andre poured out, Jamal couldn't help but to raise a brow.
A tour, a movie, along with other artist albums set to drop. Andre was in his damn bag. He was for damn sure about to help it all come together. He was going to have to shelf his current album to get to work on When Cookie Met Lucious part 2, but for a cause like this He would gladly do it.
"Keem?" Andre pressed.
"Man......this better not fuck with T's career too much. I'm in but only to help my baby." Hakeem agreed, though he felt he might regret it later. Once he heard Tiana talking his ear off about shit.
"That's what I like to hear. A content Lucious Is a good Lucious. A good Lucious is a nice Lucious. That benefits us all." Andre grinned.
"Speaking of content Lucious. Look how cute dad and ma look." Jamal grinned, showing them some photos trending on Twitter.
Paparazzi capturing them heading into a restaurant with Rose, and Prince. The smiles infectious to see. Especially from his mother. That happiness was all Jamal had wanted for her since she got out. It had been too long since he checked in with the Queen. Life with Kai had just finally gotten back on track. He was very lucky to have a semi forgiving family. It would be another 6 years before his parents trusted Kai but that was okay. Pulling up to the Lyon mansion, he was greeted by Juanita. Heading upstairs he searched for his mother finding her lounging on the bed rocking Prince. Her laptop open and Angel's voice coming through.
"Is it too much? I want to look sexy but not whorish."
"Depends on what your after plans are." Cookie answered, watching Angel's face go scarlett. Jamal knocked, making his presence known.
"Mom I'm not talking that with you." Angel groaned, Cookie couldn't help but to laugh. These were the things she longed to do with a daughter. These wholesome moments like preparing for a date.
"I'm just saying. This is your first date since the two of you agreed to start over. If you need a few pointers....I could teach you a little something."
"That....is nasty Loretha." Jamal spat, flopping down on the bed. Inviting himself into her space.
"I agree! Hi Mally Mal."
"Hello sista soldier." Mal waved, getting a good look at her outfit.
"Nasty my ass. You were a whore Jamal, need a reminder." Cookie tossed, Jamal gaped at her.
"Way to throw me under the bus. I was not a whore mommy dearest. I was a free spirit." He argued.
"A glorified whoreeeeeeeeee." Cookie sung.
"Anywaysssss, excuse the senior citizen. Think this one gives off sexy and classy. With a hint of Jessica Rabbit seduction. Perfect to keep him thinking about you if you're not bussing it open." Jamal spoke, blocking his head from the hit he was sure was coming.
"I can work with that. Thank you Mal, and thank you mama. Let me finish getting ready." Angel snickered.
"Alright baby, love you." Cookie spoke, waiting for Jamal to relax. As soon as he did she swatted the back of his head.
"Love you too." Angel laughed, before hanging up the call. Jamal shut it, sliding it out of the way. Rolling to his other side to face his mother.
"What brings you to my humble abode?" Coolie questioned, Jamal shrugged reaching out poking Prince's side. The little one scrunching his face tucking himself deeper into Cookie's arms.
"Aww, you not gonna say hi?" Jamal taunted, poking him again. Prince made a sound close to the beginning of a cry.
"Stop, he's in a mood right now." Cookie spoke, adjusting her hold since he refused to be anywhere but her arms.
"How come?"
"He got some shots today. Took them without a single tear. He's just been clingy since. Won't even let Lucious hold him." Cookie answered.
"Soooo..."
"So what boy? What you really come to see me for? You in some shit?" She questioned, eyeing him with calculated eyes.
"Just to talk mama. I can't do that any more? You move back in with pops and we can't have no more gossip times?" He poked, feigning hurt feelings.
"How are you though mama?"
"I'm good, why you asking? My little fat fat is healthy, my kids are doing their own thing. Why wouldn't I be?" She tossed.
"I'm not asking about mama Cookie. I'm asking about just Cookie." He pointed out.
"Hurt....but I'm okay." She truthfully answered, Jamal still couldn't believe the cause of so much pain was so near. It really was the ones closest you needed to watch.
"Ma, can I ask you a real question and you give me a real answer?"
"Those questions weren't real?" Cookie tossed, he rolled his eyes waving her off.
"Are you happy mama? Like really really happy?"
"In spite of all things, I'm the happiest I've been in a long time Jamal." Cookie confessed, nothing but raw truth in her. Questions in his eyes she read.
"The road with your father has been long, bumpy, and hard. But through it all....I don't want to alter the past. It brought me to this point. Through his fuck ups and flaws, your father has my heart. He'll always have that, like I'll always have his. We're in a great place baby. He's really trying with you boys and I hope you know that. He wants to right some wrongs. I'm proud of that. He's worried he's gonna fuck up with Prince and now Rose. So he's retracing those fatherhood steps. I'm even stressing about this. I was away for 17 years....am I the good mother I think I am. We're in this together and honestly....it feels good to be back on the same team." Cookie spilled, Jamal could never get over how Cookie seemed to absolutely sparkle when she was talking about their father.
"Is this what you imagined when you got out?"
"Hell no....I did not want no more big headed babies tearing up my nookie. It's even better than what I had dreamed in those cells. Finding Angel, my grandbabies, what Empire has become, my fat fat. Never even thought about them." Cookie chuckled.
"Speaking on Empire....CEO Cookie coming back?" He tossed, wondering if what Andre said held truth.
"....I think I'm done running things. I'm not done with music, don't get me wrong, but I'm ready to die on my ass. It's been work survive work since I was young. Then it was survive survive survive in prison. When I got out more work...I've never had the time to sit and live in the moment. I'm near 50 Mal I've come close to death far too many times over the years. Waking up to my babies has been enough for me." Cookie sighed
"Plus I'm sitting this ass on a jet and going wherever I want. As soon as I feel good and ready." She gushed, pure excitement in her tone.
"You know.....Dre has some good things planned for Empire." Jamal hummed, peeking Cookie's interest.
"Like?"
"A movie about you and dad." Jamal dropped, he knew Dre wanted to bring it up to Cookie but he couldn't help but sprinkle that on her.
"Come again?"
"So he wants me to produce How Cookie Met Lucious part 2. He wants it to be a movie from you and dad meeting, to dad signing his record deal. Dad never got his documentary but in all truth there was no Lucious without Cookie. I for one think it's a great idea....but only if you and dad write it. So it's authentic but not too authentic, can't tell all the business." Jamal spilled.
"Didn't make it this far to go snitching on myself. Kind of feel like this is a sign." She responded.
"How so?"
"We've been stuck riding down memory lane all week." She spoke, noticing her little one asleep. Slowly setting him down on the bed her arms screamed in thanks.
"See it's a sign from the universe! Tell the tale of Lyons." Jamal pushed.
"Your father used to say that." Cookie chuckled, her mind taking flight through the years.
"I used to say what?" Lucious spoke up, entering the room. Paint on his arms from his relaxing music session.
"Tale of Lyons." Cookie repeated, Lucious chuckled walking over. Giving Cookie a peck on the cheek.
"And why did this come up?" He asked, Jamal smirked sitting up on the bed. As the answer left his mouth he watched the sparks appearing in his father's eyes. A Lyon movie was definitely in the works now.
Hope you enjoyed!🥰