Epilogue
4 Years later.
Normani plopped down on Lauren's office couch. This was insane.
Lauren was 30 minutes late.
Lauren had agreed to do lunch today but when they got to Legacy Productions she wasn't even there, so they said they would wait.
Lauren wasn't even answering her phone.
"Mommy!"
Mani looked up and saw her beautiful four year old rummaging through all the magazines on the coffee able.
Normani couldn't believe it had already been four years since Aubree was born. She couldn't help but be so proud at how beautiful Aubree was. She looked a lot more like Normani, according to Lauren. Aubree did have her eyes and nose but she had Lauren's smile. However she will admit that Aubree is like a mini her, although every time she looks at her daughter she also sees Lauren in her.
"What's up baby?" Normani smiled.
"Why does Mami have all these pictures of other girls," Aubree asked as her brows furrowed.
Normani smiled and leaned down over her daughter so she could peer down at the GQ magazines on the table.
"Well Mami has these because I took the picture of these people." Normani explained
Aubree's face light up, "You did this mommy?"
Normani hummed in response. Lauren's aunt Dianna had kept her word just like she said, she helped Normani get the job as a GQ photographer four years ago and that's what she has been doing ever since. And she's loved every second of it.
Normani smiled once more before kissing the top of Aubree's head.
At that moment the door opened and Lauren walked in. Normani had to admit, she looked hot. She was wearing a black V-neck, jeans, Nike's, a leather jacket and shades.
"Lauren Michelle Jauregui -Hamilton where have you been?!" Normani asked snapping out of the gaze.
"I know I know I'm late babe." Lauren winced.
"Yeah L-Laura where have you been?" Aubree asked with her hands on her hips and a pout.
She had obviously learned this from Normani. Whenever Normani would scowl at Lauren for something she would always use her first name. Aubree had quickly picked up on this but the only problem was that she couldn't really pronounce her name, she would just say Laura.
Lauren walked over to her little girl and crouched down to her eye level, "Don't be mad at me princess," Lauren said with a soft smile, "I'm sorry I'm late."
Aubree's pout didn't go away.
"Will you give Mami a kiss?"
Aubree shook her head, "No,"
Lauren smirked before leaning in and peppering her with kisses. Aubree couldn't help but giggle and try to pull away.
"Mommy help," Aubree squealed.
Normani chuckled, "I think you're on your own on this one honey."
Lauren laughed before finally stopping, "Will you forgive me?"
Aubree smiled and nodded.
"Good now give Mami a hug and a kiss," Lauren said and Aubree happily complied, "Okay now go say goodbye to Selena and Aunt Dinah and aunt Lucy
"Yes Mami," Aubree smiled and ran out of the office.
Ever since she could walk Lauren and Normani would always brought her to the company, whenever Mani did a photo shoot for Lauren or when Lauren had to babysit and she had to be at the office. Everyone that worked at the company knew her; Aubree actually knew the building like the back of her hand. She like to be with Selena a lot, she also like Dinah because she played guitar for her and Lucy always bought her whatever she wanted.
"Sorry I'm late babe." Lauren said as she gave Normani a hello kiss.
"It's fine," Normani shrugged, "Why were you late though?"
Lauren gave her a mischievous smile, "I was getting some work done."
"Work done? On what?" Normani asked.
"Myself," Lauren smiled.
"What are you talking about?" Normani asked.
Lauren smirked before taking off her shades and leather jacket, placing them on the couch.
"What happened to your arm?!" Normani asked immediately when she saw that Lauren's right forearm was bandaged up.
"You are going to flip!" Lauren said as her smile got wider.
"What happened?!" Normani asked more concerned, she was practically yelling.
Lauren slowly began to take off the bandage and as soon as it was off a gasp escaped Normani's lips. Normani's eyes were wide and her jaw dropped.
There, and elegant lettering of the name Aubree was tattooed on Lauren's forearm, it covered all of the inside of the forearm.
"It's so dope," Lauren said with a grinned.
"Oh my god babe!"
"You ain't seen nothing yet." Lauren said as she carefully began to take off her shirt.
A couple inches below her collar bone, above her bra was another bandage. Lauren took it off and there too she had another tattoo.
"You got my name tattooed on you?" Mani said with teary eyes.
"I got my wife's name tattooed on me," Lauren smiled, "And my daughters's."
Normani wrapped her arms around her neck, "I love you so much!"
Normani and Lauren walked out of her office hand in hand, they were about to go to Lucy's office to go look for Aubree. Just as they began to head down the hallway Lauren saw Selena coming out of Dinah's office.
"Hey Selena," Lauren called, "Have you seen Aubree?"
"Mm last time I saw her she was heading towards the studio."
"Okay thanks,"
They waved Selena goodbye and headed the opposite direction.
"What is she doing in the studio?" Normani asked, "Has she ever even been in there?"
"I don't know, usually when she's here most of the Dj's are in there and she's not allowed in there."
Normani just nodded as she nuzzled into Lauren's leather jacket. After Normani finally got over the shock of the tattoo's she put the jacket on since she was wearing a sundress and it was a bit chilly.
Lauren carefully opened the door to the studio and let Normani in, just like Lauren's music room this room was filled with instruments, sound systems and laptops.
But what caught Mani's attention was her daughter. She was sitting on the small bench playing the piano. It was a very sloppy version of Mary Had A Little Lamb.
"Did you know about this?" Lauren whispered as she stared in awe.
"No," she said a just as shocked Normani.
The piano stopped playing and Aubree looked up.
"Mommy!" Aubree greeted happily as she ran towards Normani.
"Hey cutie," Mani smiled, "Where did you learn to play that?"
"Aunty Ally and Demi," Aubree smiled, "When they are done rehearsing on stage they let me play with the piano. They taught me that, did you like it?"
"I loved it," Normani smiled as she bent down and kissed Aubree's cheeks, "You know who else knows how to play."
"Who?!"
"Your mami," Normani smiled.
"Hardly," Lauren chuckled.
"Will you play something for me?!" Aubree asked with a huge smile.
"Aunt Lucy is the expert, I'm better at the guitar." Lauren explained.
"I still want to hear something!"
"Maybe another day," Lauren said simply.
"Mommy make her play." Aubree pouts.
"Come on babe she wants to hear you." Mani pouted.
"Please don't pout," Lauren pleaded, "Besides she hears me all the time, I sing her to sleep."
"But she's never really heard you," Normani insisted as she pulled Lauren close, "At least the guitar,"
"Please mami," Charlie pleaded.
"Fine," Lauren gave in, "Have a seat,"
Mani sat in one of the stools and pulled Aubree on her lap, while Lauren pulled a stool a few feet in front of them and grabbed a guitar.
"Okay Little bug this one is for you and for your momma." Lauren smiled.
Normani winked at Lauren and hugged Aubree tighter as she clapped.
Lauren cleared her throat and began to strum the guitar.
"When I look into your eyes," Lauren began to sing as she looked directly into Normani's eyes.
"It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?"
Lauren got up from the stool and made her way towards Normani and Aubree while still playing the guitar.
"Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up"
Both Lauren and Normani knew that this was more than just a song for Aubree. This was from the bottom of Lauren's heart to Normani, because she loved her and that's what mattered.
"Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up,"
Lauren took a few more steps forward until she was right in front of her girls.
"I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am,"
Throughout the whole song Lauren's eyes were still looking into Normani's, it was like she had seen her for the first time. Despite everything they had been through, there were still strong, they were solid.
"I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up,"
Lauren ended the last strum and looked up at her girls, Aubree was clapping like crazy while Normani wiped a tear from her eye. As soon as Lauren put the guitar down Aubree jumped out of Normani's lap and went to hug Lauren.
"Mami you are like a superstar." Aubree smiled.
Lauren smiled and carefully picked her up, having her rest on her left arm and hip.
"Well I am pretty cool," Lauren gushed.
"Your better than Aunt Dinah!" Aubree exclaimed.
"That is true," Lauren smiled
Then something caught Aubree's eye, "Is that my name?!" She asked as she pointed at Lauren's forearm, after she had shown Normani she hadn't covered up the tattoo.
When Aubree started preschool, Normani had helped her learn how to read and write her name.
"Sure is little bug," Lauren smiled, "This is what you call a tattoo."
"A tattoo?"
"Yup, it's like a type of marker that you put on your skin and it stays there forever." Lauren explained.
"My name is going to be on you forever?!" Aubree gaped
Lauren smiles, "I love you that much."
Aubree's smiled turned to a frown, "What about mommy?"
Lauren and Normani chuckled; she took her free hand and pulled the collar of her V neck slightly down to show her Normani's name.
"I have both of my girls."
Aubree wrapped her arms around Lauren's neck, "I love you mami."
Lauren embraced Aubree as she looked at Normani who was smiling ear to ear at the sight of them.
"I love mommy too." Aubree said.
"That makes two of us," Lauren said as made her way to Normani, "Go on, give yo momma some love."
Aubree giggled at the way Lauren said it but still happily kissed her mom.
"I wanna be just like mommy," Aubree told Lauren, "I wanna take pictures of people and place and then you can have then in your office."
Lauren looked at Normani with a smile, "You'll be just like her."
Normani leaned in and pressed her lips against Lauren's, it was soft and sweet. She pulled away after a few seconds.
"Are you guys still hungry?" Lauren asked.
Aubree nodded as Lauren put her down, "Lead the way."
Aubree walked off and made her way out as Normani and Lauren followed closely behind.
Lauren wrapped her arm around Normani's shoulder and pulled her close to kiss the side of her head.
"I loved the song." Normani smiled.
"I told you I wouldn't give up on us, because if I had I would have you lost you and Aubree." Lauren said.
"I love you for that you know," Normani said as she leaned her head against Lauren's shoulder, "Look at us now, we're one big happy family."
Lauren smiled, "Just us, you, me & Aubree."
The End