"Daddy!" He said before he dropped down in the bed. He crawled over to Safaree and began shaking his arm like his mother would do to him. "Daddy!" Safaree groaned and his eyes opened slightly before closing again. Nicki leaned off of the doorway and began walking over to the bed. "Daddy, you have to get up or-" he looked over at his momma quickly before looking back down at his dad. "Or you won't get your gifts!" He huffed at Safaree not moving and looked at his momma. He shrugged and Nicki laughed at his face. She looked down at Safaree and rolled her eyes.
"Babe." Nicki said as her hand slid up Safaree's arm. He began stirring around. "You gotta get up, Safaree. We've done all this nice stuff for you and you're sleeping." He opened his eyes and Dos hopped up with his eyes bugged. Safaree sat up in the bed and Nicki folded her arms across her chest.
"You're up! You're up! Come on!" He moved his hands in a fast motion and then pointed towards the door. Safaree ran his hand over his face before yawning one last time. Dos pouted at Safaree still sitting there and looked over at his mom. She shrugged her shoulders with a laugh and looked between the two of them. Safaree reached out grabbing his son pulling him into his lap. He placed kisses all over his sons face while he was laughing. Nicki climbed into the bed and crawled over to them.
"I can't get any love?" Nicki sat back on her feet and pouted.
"Ahhh, come on cry baby." Safaree reached his arm out to Nicki and she crawled closer to him.
"Yeah! Cry baby!" Dos said copying his dad before he fell out in laughs. Nicki reached out tickling him and Safaree tightened his arm that was holding his back making sure he didn't fall too far back. Nicki stopped and grabbed at one his tiny hands and he looked up at her.
"You'll remember that." Nicki said giving him a playful serious nod before smiling. Her eyes directed to Safaree and she let go of Dos' hand before reaching up and grabbing Safaree's face.
"Happy birthday, baby." She said before pulling him into a kiss.
"Happy birthday!"
"Let's lay in bed all day. What you think about that?" Safaree said looking down at his son. "We can watch The Incredibles."
"But Mommy said there's people coming?"
"I'm glad it wasn't a surprise." Nicki said sarcastically. "How about we watch movies tonight and we celebrate today?" Nicki said looking over at Safaree. "I worked really hard on making today special for you, babe. It'll be fun." She placed her hand on his shoulder and stared at him.
"You don't like parties?" Dos asked while reaching for his small toy car that he left in his parents bed. Safaree held onto him as he reached for it. "I like parties. You get cake and presents."
"I used to. Me and your mama used to throw parties all the time. I like just hanging with you guys too."
"You hang with us everyday, babe. Come on." Nicki said with a pout. She knew he wasn't too excited about this birthday because of everything that was going on but she really wanted him to make the most of this birthday.
"Alright, alright. Let's do it. I want the cake." Safaree said before he smirked and looked over at Nicki. He wiggled his eyebrows and she hit him on the chest.
"Cut it out." Nicki said pointed her finger in his face.
"So how big are you now?" Dos asked him while he looked down at his car. Nicki and Safaree smiled at him asking how big instead of how old.
"40." Nicki spoke up before leaning over to kiss him again. "My handsome old man."
"One for every year?" Safaree said before leaning over to kiss her again.
"Maybe later." She winked before leaning back with a laugh causing him to miss her lips.
"That's big! Mommy, how big are you?"
Safaree laughed and Nicki twitched her lip. Safaree threw his little boy up in the air and caught him.
"Alright, come on." He said standing up. "Before your mama end up smacking us." He cradled Dos as he walked towards his bathroom to brush and get ready for the day. He looked back at Nicki before bending down and whispering in his ear. "She's 39."
"Safaree!" Nicki yelled out. Safaree and Dos laughed as Safaree picked up his pace running off into the bathroom. Nicki climbed off the bed and began fixing it up while Safaree got ready.
____________________________________________
"C'mon, lil man." Safaree said before he picked him up.
"I told you about that." Nicki said following behind them. She made a funny face at her son causing him to laugh.
"Hey!" Safaree said as he slightly turned to look back at her quickly before turning back around heading for the kitchen. "You gotta let me be me. This gon' always be my little man. Ain't that right?" He looked down at him.
"Yeah!" he said excitedly and Safaree held out his fist.
"My man." they bumped fists and Safaree smiled wide at his laugh. He walked into the kitchen and saw the big breakfast that was sitting at the table. Nicki caught his eye as she walked around him and put her hands on the back of the chair that Safaree always sat at when they would eat. He leaned down putting Dos down and held onto him making sure he had his balance. "Go take a seat, lil man."
"Okay!" he walked around and climbed up in his chair that Nicki and Safaree had gotten specially made so that he could feel like a big kid and sit at the table with them.
"You the best, baby." He bent down and kissed Nicki's lips. She put her hand on his back as he broke the kiss. He sat down in the seat and Nicki bent down kissing him on the cheek once more before taking her seat next to him.
"I helped!" Dos spoke out before Safaree could get his next word out.
"Oh yeah? What you do?" Safaree said before he grabbed a piece of bacon off of his plate and bit into it.
"Mommy said you like strawberries." He said before he grabbed a handful of cheerios and shoved them in his mouth. Nicki laughed at the fact that he picked up Safaree's habit of eating dry cereal because he didn't like it with milk.
"I do. And you gave me five of them. You did good, man."
"Thanks, Daddy. Are you gonna read my card?"
"Yeah. Should I read yours or Mommy's first?"
"Mine!" He shouted sitting up in his chair. Nicki cleared her throat looking over at him and he sat back in his seat. "Sorry." He said before he picked up his cheerios and put more into his mouth.
"I'll open them after we eat and I'll open yours first. That alright with you?"
"Yeah."
He said before reaching for his cup. Nicki looked between her son and her husband and smiled at the fact that they made they same faces. Nothing could break the concentration of a Samuels man when a plate was in front of them. Nicki picked up her fork and began to cut the side of her pancake.
"I think you should read his card first. Save the best card for last."
"Nuh uhn!" he said putting his cup down. "Mine has a picture,"
"Did you draw it yourself?" Safaree asked him.
"Yep. I used my crayons from school."
"Mine has a picture too." Nicki said before placing the pancake in her mouth.
"You didn't draw it."
"I still have a picture. And I have a better gift."
"I have a good gift, too! Daddy, you'll like my gift."
"I'll like anything you guys get me." He said before tossing a strawberry in his mouth. "What are we doing first?"
"We're gonna see cars!" Dos yelled out in excitement. Nicki laughed at the fact that her son couldn't hold water.
"Yeeeeeeaaah!" Safaree said rubbing his hands together.
"I know you haven't had time in a while. You've been working really hard on opening your sunglasses store. I know you wanna expand your collection out there."
"Good idea, baby." He said as he leaned over with his lips puckered. She met him for a kiss and they both snapped their heads in Dos' direction when he yelled out.
"Hey! It was my idea too!" He said with a pout as he folded his arms.
"You're right, baby." Nicki reached over to him holding her arms out. He leaned forward and she picked him up placing him into her lap. "How about we go get Daddy's first gift?"
"Okay." He hopped off Nicki's lap and she stood up too.
"You stay here." Nicki pointed a finger at Safaree and walked off following behind her son. Safaree shrugged and continued eating while he still had time for it knowing how anxious his son was. He grabbed his glass of orange juice and took a sip. He looked at the cards that were propped up on the table and smiled. He could tell Dos probably asked Nicki for a bigger piece of poster board once he seen how big Nicki's card was. He turned around at the sudden sound of noise.. Safaree dropped the fork to the plate and stood up,
"Yoooooooo!" Safaree said while looking at Nicki rolling in a custom painted black and gold motorcycle with Dos sitting on top with a helmet in his hands.
"It's an icon!" Dos said while a smile and extended the helmet out to his dad while sitting on the motorcycle. "Here daddy, this is yours." Safaree reached out for the helmet and took it. He cupped it between his arm and his side and held his hand out. "Give me some love man." Dos gave him a high five and Safaree bent down kissing him on the forehead.
"Do you like it?" Nicki asked while putting the kickstand down. She picked Dos up taking him off of the bike and put him on the ground.
"I love it." Safaree said leaning over dropping his helmet in his chair before turning his attention back to the bike. "This is crazy. I'ma have to get back to stunting with this thing." Safaree said looking over the Icon Sheene motorcycle. He looked at the seat that was black with Uno engraved in the seat in cursive gold letters. He chuckled at it before bending down to look at the footrest that had SLS engraved on it to. "The detail on this is craaaaaazy."
"Can you take me on a ride on it?" Dos walked around and stood next to Safaree. "I can get mommy to get me a helmet, too."
Safaree stood up and picked up Dos. "Of course. Whose gift is this?" Safaree asked looking between Dos and Nicki.
"It was all your mini me." Nicki said nodding her head towards Dos and stepping around the bike and standing next to them.
"But Mommy helped me pay for it. I had 7 dollars saved up but it wasn't enough and she paid for the rest."
Safaree chuckled and Nicki leaned into his back.
"He tried." Nicki said with a slight laugh.
"This is the best gift ever. I'll take you on as many rides as you want. Give me a hug." Nicki leaned off of Safaree's shoulder and allowed Dos to wrap his arms around Safaree's neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Love you, Daddy. Can you put me down now?"
"Love you more. Here." He put him down and watched him run around the table and back into his seat. He turned around wrapped his arms around Nicki and she wrapped her arm around him too.
"You foot the bill?"
"He really thought he was helping. He made me take that money from him and watched me give it to them. You couldn't tell him that he didn't pay for majority of that bike." Nicki licked her lips. "I'm glad you like it. He really did help with everything. We walked in and out of all the bikes he picked that one. He walked right up to it and kept it tapping it." Nicki laughed and looked over at her son who was focused on finishing his cheerios before looking back up at Safaree. "It was time to pick the color scheme and he said, "You know? Like you and Daddy's cover?" He was so set on that Safaree. I told him your favorite color is red but he insisted. "No, this color is better." She said mocking his voice. "Only thing I had an input on were the little details. But he told me, Faree, "You gotta put number one! Uno! Cause I'm Dos!" They laughed. "We love you, babe."
"I love you guys, I love you." He said before he kissed her forehead before kissing her lips. "Let's finish breakfast." he said before turning around pulling her body in front of his and walking over to the table with his arms still wrapped around her.
_________________________________________________
Safaree hopped out of the truck and walked around as quick as possible to help Nicki out of the car. He caught her hand as she already opened the door and stepped out. She tossed her purse on her shoulder before pulling the back of her shirt down. Safaree opened the back door and took off Dos' seat belt. He picked up, and pulled him out of the car putting him down next to Nicki. He reached up grabbing his moms hand and moved back when he seen Safaree about to shut the door. He nodded his head and they began walking.
"Are you excited, Daddy?"
"Yeah."
"I like cars. Are they gonna look like the ones in my movie?"
"Some of them." Safaree said as he placed his keys and his phone in his pocket. He put his hand on Nicki's back as they approached a step. He reached out for the door letting them step in first before walking in behind them.
"Cooooooool!" Dos said letting go of Nicki's hand and running over to the 1962 Ferrari 330. It was a candy apple red with a white circle that had a black 6 sitting in the center of it on the lower part of the hood.
"Safaree Lloyd Samuels, Jr."
He looked up at his mom with big puppy eyes knowing why he was being called by his full name.
"Don't run off like that. You know better." Nicki said walking closer to him. She looked down at him and they shared a look.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, man." Safaree said stepping around Nicki and placing a hand on his head before playfully shaking it. "Just chill out." He said before letting go of his head and stepping around the car getting a good look at it.
"This is a racing car." Nicki said as more of a statement than a question.
"How you know? What gave it away?" Safaree said making his way back to the front of the hood where Nicki and Dos were to stare at the engine.
"Why did something have to give it away, Safaree? I know my cars."
"No you don't. You can't even tell the Range Rover and the Escalade apart."
"Whatever." Nicki laughed. "It might've been the number that's plastered all over the car." She said while playfully rolling her eyes.
"What does this do?" Dos asked while he placed both of his tiny hands on the edge of the open hood and looked at the engine.
"This runs the car. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen." Safaree said looking down at the engine and licking his lips.
"I've never understood the fascination with this." Nicki said looking down at the engine not at all excited while folding her arms across her chest. "You guys say this is beautiful but it's nothing but pipes, babe."
"It's a guy thing. You wouldn't understand." Safaree said stepping forward to get a closer look.
"Can we sit in it?" Dos looked up at his mom.
"N-"
"Go on, buddy." A man said walking up to them. Nicki and Safaree turned around. "Let him in. He can handle it." He said stuffing one hand in his pocket while extending his other hand out to them. "David."
"Nicki."
"Safaree."
'
"Which one of you is more into cars, you or this little guy? What's your name?"
"Dos."
"No, babe. Tell him your real name."
"Safaree. I'm a junior."
"I think I like Dos." David said with a smile. "Hop in.
Dos pushed off the car and ran around to the side where David was holding the drivers seat door opened for him. He hopped in and sat down.
"Don't touch anything." Nicki said walking around the car to get a better view of him sitting inside. She stood next to Safaree who stood next to David. They watched as Dos looked at the inside of the car so fascinated not even having a thing to say. Which was unusual for their son. Nicki pulled her phone and stepped back adjusting the view for the picture she was about to take. She stepped back just enough to get Safaree in the shot who was looking in the car at Dos. She quickly snapped the picture when he leaned forward putting his hands on the steering wheel and stepping forward again with the guys while typing up her instagram caption.
Like father, like son. Happy birthday, babe.
She closed the app and tossed her phone back into her purse while listening in on Safaree and David's conversation.
"How much is this going for?" Safaree asked him while occasionally glancing at his son in the car who now made it to the backseat.
"This beauty was sold to us for 8.4 million. We fixed her up, got it a new engine, shined it up and we're selling it for about 9.3."
"That's not bad. I thought it would be around 12. This the one used in all the big races back in the day?"
"Same one. It's been dinged a couple times. It's not perfect. There's some wear and tear on the inside. But other than that. It runs like a beauty."
"I might need to come back when it's not a show day and take it for a spin."
"Whatever you want. Hey, you want to see a real nice one? Come over here. I'll show you something. Bring the little guy." He said as he pointed into the car at Dos now flipping back over into the front seat.
"Okay, that's enough of that." Nicki said stepping closer to the car. She reached out for his hand.
"But.."
"Come on. David's gonna show Daddy another car." he grabbed at her hand and climbed out of the car. "Shut the door. But gently, okay?" he nodded before gently closing the door and grabbing at Nicki's hand again before following behind his dad and David with his mother. They walked through the different cars and motorcycles and David led them all the way to the back. He led them to a glass shut off show room in the back and Safaree's eyes immediately lit up.
"Yooooo." Safaree stepped up to the car and ran his hand along the side of the shiny black 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.
"This could only fit me and Daddy."
"What about me?" Nicki said looking down at him. Safaree looked back between the both of them and chuckled.
"I don't know." he shrugged before letting her hand go and walking off to follow being Safaree. Nicki dramatically dropped her jaw and shook her head. David cracked a smile at Nicki before looking back over at Safaree admiring the car with little Safaree on his heels.
"This is the one that was used in Miami Vice." David spoke up. "Made the demand for this car go all the way up."
"I saw that episode." he said before licking his lips and stopping in front of the car staring down at it. "Only 22 were made."
"You've done your research."
"I seen it and was like.. I have to have it. One day it's gonna be in my collection." He said before licking his lips. "It's hard to find these. Most of them have been sold already. If I knew they had one in Malibu I would've been all over it."
"It's pretty." Nicki said speaking up.
"Pretty? This is beautiful." Safaree said shaking his head. "How much?"
"12.1"
Safaree let out a noise before giving a light chuckle and turning to look at Nicki.
"Nicki would never let me spend that much on a car."
"You're absolutely right." Nicki said laughing. She watched as Safaree shook his head again before turning back to look at the car. She let him stare at it for a moment before speaking again. "It's yours." Safaree snapped his head in her direction and gave her a serious look.
"Quit playing."
"I'm not playing." Nicki said with a smile. "It's yours. Tell him." Nicki said while looking over at David.
"She called about this car about a month ago. When I told her we had it in stock she paid for it immediately. Didn't even ask for the price."
"Yo, you serious?"
Nicki nodded. "Tell him, Dos."
"This is the gift mommy got you. I like mine but I like mommy's too. Me and you can go race!"
"How'd you know?" He said stepping over to Nicki and standing right in front of her.
"I was in the kitchen cooking and I could hear you going on and on about this car. You recorded the episode. I watched it back... made some phone calls... and voila!" Nicki said while holding her hands out. She turned him around back to him facing the car and placed her hands on his side while she looked around him smiling at the car.
"It's yours."
---
Nicki turned on the microphone and put it up to her mouth.
"Testing! Testing!" Nicki said with a wide smile. "Okay, it's working. I just want to thank each and every one of you soooooooo much for coming out here for Safaree's birthday. Whether you live here or we had to pay to fly you guys out here." The outside filled with laughter. "You know who you are." Nicki said cutting her eyes at Safaree's best friend Rex. "Thank you guys so much for being here to celebrate one of the most amazing, caring, and heartwarming people I know. He's been my greatest support system and an even greater father." Nicki said looking over at Safaree who was sitting to the side in a chair with Dos sitting in his lap eating a piece of cotton candy. "I hope you realize everyday how much we love you and how much you hold our little family together." Nicki said getting teary eyed. "I have been so blessed to be able to have my soulmate walk through this journey called life with me for 21 years. No matter what you bring happiness into my life and to everyone around you. You've been working so hard on your businesses this year you haven't even had much time to sleep. But I want everyone to know how hard you work and how much you strive to be a better you than you were yesterday. By the way, Safaree did not want this party." Nicki said turning to look at everybody. "So you guys coming out here forced him to be here and thank you guys." Nicki looked over at Safaree again. "My baby looks happy. So thank you. And lastly." Nicki took a breath. "Your positive energy is infectious. Your obnoxious laugh is contagious, and I couldn't ask for a better partner in life than you, babe." Nicki said be she puckered her lips blowing him an air kiss. "We love you!" Nicki said placing the mic down and walking over to him as the outside filled with "love you's." Safaree stood up letting Dos slide his body and stand up as well. He bent down giving Nicki's lips for a kiss.
"Thank you so much." Safaree wrapped both of his arms around her neck and kissed all over her face. "How did I end up with the best wife in the world?" Safaree said in her ear. Nicki's smile grew and she ran her hands up his back.
"I could ask the same about my husband." Nicki said as she rested her chin on Safaree's shoulder.
"Hey! What about me?!" Dos said as he tugged at Safaree's pants. They broke apart and laughed. Safaree sat back down and picked him up sitting him on his lap.
"I got the best mini me in the world." Safaree kissed him on the cheek and Dos smiled a cocky smile like his mother often would when Safaree would express his love for her. "Everything I do, I do for you." He kissed him again before hugging him tight causing him to laugh.
"Okay, okay!" He said trying to wiggle out of his grasp. Nicki looked down at them with a smile. "I can't breathe, Daddy!" He said dramatically before Safaree loosened his grip. Safaree sat him up in his lap and stared down at him.
"I want a speech from you next time. Can you do that?"
"Oh Lord." Nicki spoke up.
"Yeah! I will write one for your next birthday." He said completely losing focus of Safaree and grabbing some more of his cotton candy off the table. "And I'll have my own mic like mommy's. But I want mine blue." He said before putting some cotton candy in his mouth. "Can you make it for me? I don't want sparkles." He said as he looked up at his mother. Nicki laughed at him referring to her diamond studded pink microphone.
"Yes, I will get you one, baby."
"Family picture?" Grizz walked up through the crowd asking while holding the camera.
"Yes! Here. You sit on my lap and I'll sit on Daddy's lap."
"Do I have to put down my cotton candy?"
Nicki ignored his question lifting up and taking his previous spot on Safaree's lap before placing Dos in her lap.
"Everybody ready?" Grizz asked. Nicki nodded.
"Smile, babe." Nicki said and Dos put the cotton candy down from his mouth long enough to hold a smile.
"Got it."
"Okay, one more." Nicki said turning to look at Safaree. "Kiss me." He obeyed her demand and Grizz snapped a photo. "Just one more I promise." Nicki said knowing how impatient her boys got when she wanted to do a full photo shoot. "Kisses for the baby." Nicki said and bent kissing on her son. She held a kiss long enough for Grizz to snap it. "I love you guys so much." Nicki said looking between Safaree and Dos.
__________________________________________________________
"Come here." Nicki said grabbing Safaree's wrist.
"Where's-"
"Iesha has him." She said never turning around while still pulling him through the crowd. They smiled and exchanged words while making their way through everybody while Nicki continued to pull him. She brought them over to the side of their house nearest to their bedroom and leaned against the house.
"Why we all the way over here?"
"I just wanna be alone for a minute. Come here." Nicki said pulling him closer. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin on his chest to look up at him. "Are you enjoying today?"
"Yeah. This one of the best birthdays ever. You did good, baby. I feel loved. I gotta make it up to you. Anything you want."
"Anything?"
"Anything. You got something in my mind?"
"I'm sure I'll think of something."
They stared at each other for a moment and shared a comfortable silence. Safaree bent down and kissed her. Nicki stopped him when he went to kiss her again.
"I think I like your birthdays. You kiss me a lot."
"You love it?"
"I do." Nicki tightened her arms around him. "Reminds me of when we first got together. You were obsessed with me."
"I still am." He kissed her lips. "Was then." He kissed her again moving his lips to her cheek. "I am now." He kissed her on the shoulder. "Always will be, baby."
"I'll never stop being obsessed with you. Never ever ever." Nicki placed her hands on the back of his head.
"Foreva eva?"
"Foreva eva!" She yelled back before they both laughed. She gently pulled his head down signaling for a hug and he did just that as he wrapped his arms around her while moving them side to side and still kissing her face. "I wanna go on a trip, babe."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Somewhere nice. On the water."
"Nah." Safaree shook his head.
"Why not?"
"If the titanic can sink.. anything can. I like my life."
"Well you just ruined that for me. Jerk."
"Yo, let's go skiing. I wanna take my lil man."
"You know how much I hate being cold."
"So what. How me and my son gonna explore the world and try new things if we gotta stay in places that's hot?"
"You guys can't experience things without me. I don't wanna miss my baby doing anything for the first time without me there."
"Then it's settled. We're going."
"'I'm not making any promises."
"You would just be sitting in the cabin with the heat on a thousand degrees." They both laughed.
"You probably right, too." Nicki licked her lips and looked at the sky before turning her attention back to Safaree. "Are we really gonna go?"
"Yeah. I'll set it up. I'll call around this week and boom boom boom. But look. How bout this. One week we skiing. Next we on a beach."
"Deal."
"I'm excited now."
"Me too. I can't wait to just get away for a while."
"No friends. No family. No assistants. Just us."
"Just us." Nicki said agreeing.
They heard a starter firework sound off and and Safaree turned around while putting an arm around her shoulder. She wrapped an arm around his back and they stepped up to the railing of the balcony to get a good view.
The first set of fireworks shot into the air and burst into a bunch of white music notes. "Ooooh that's dope." Safaree said with his eyes focused on the sky. The fireworks kept going non stop and the colorful tie dye bursts caught Safaree's eye. He knew Dos would be jumping with excitement if he was standing over there with them. The word 'you're' popped up with 'my' following shortly after and a huge globe popped up into the sky. He pulled her as close as possible and kissed her on the forehead. Another set of firework popped up in the shape of a Ferris wheel. A bunch of 4th of July fireworks popped up before a specific one caught his eye. "#1 DAD" popped up in blue and a huge grin spread across Safaree's face. Motorcycles and cars filled these sky before Nicki's named popped up with pink hearts all around it. "Looove." Safaree said never refocusing his eyes. A rainbow color set popped up before it turned into a spiral and spun around before bursting. WE LOVE YOU popped up and Nicki tightened her arms around him.
"I just wanna be alone for a minute. Come here." Nicki said pulling him closer. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin on his chest to look up at him. "Are you enjoying today?"
"Yeah. This one of the best birthdays ever. You did good, baby. I feel loved. I gotta make it up to you. Anything you want."
"Anything?"
"Anything. You got something in my mind?"
"I'm sure I'll think of something."
They stared at each other for a moment and shared a comfortable silence. Safaree bent down and kissed her. Nicki stopped him when he went to kiss her again.
"I think I like your birthdays. You kiss me a lot."
"You love it?"
"I do." Nicki tightened her arms around him. "Reminds me of when we first got together. You were obsessed with me."
"I still am." He kissed her lips. "Was then." He kissed her again moving his lips to her cheek. "I am now." He kissed her on the shoulder. "Always will be, baby."
"I'll never stop being obsessed with you. Never ever ever." Nicki placed her hands on the back of his head.
"Foreva eva?"
"Foreva eva!" She yelled back before they both laughed. She gently pulled his head down signaling for a hug and he did just that as he wrapped his arms around her while moving them side to side and still kissing her face. "I wanna go on a trip, babe."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Somewhere nice. On the water."
"Nah." Safaree shook his head.
"Why not?"
"If the titanic can sink.. anything can. I like my life."
"Well you just ruined that for me. Jerk."
"Yo, let's go skiing. I wanna take my lil man."
"You know how much I hate being cold."
"So what. How me and my son gonna explore the world and try new things if we gotta stay in places that's hot?"
"You guys can't experience things without me. I don't wanna miss my baby doing anything for the first time without me there."
"Then it's settled. We're going."
"'I'm not making any promises."
"You would just be sitting in the cabin with the heat on a thousand degrees." They both laughed.
"You probably right, too." Nicki licked her lips and looked at the sky before turning her attention back to Safaree. "Are we really gonna go?"
"Yeah. I'll set it up. I'll call around this week and boom boom boom. But look. How bout this. One week we skiing. Next we on a beach."
"Deal."
"I'm excited now."
"Me too. I can't wait to just get away for a while."
"No friends. No family. No assistants. Just us."
"Just us." Nicki said agreeing.
They heard a starter firework sound off and and Safaree turned around while putting an arm around her shoulder. She wrapped an arm around his back and they stepped up to the railing of the balcony to get a good view.
The first set of fireworks shot into the air and burst into a bunch of white music notes. "Ooooh that's dope." Safaree said with his eyes focused on the sky. The fireworks kept going non stop and the colorful tie dye bursts caught Safaree's eye. He knew Dos would be jumping with excitement if he was standing over there with them. The word 'you're' popped up with 'my' following shortly after and a huge globe popped up into the sky. He pulled her as close as possible and kissed her on the forehead. Another set of firework popped up in the shape of a Ferris wheel. A bunch of 4th of July fireworks popped up before a specific one caught his eye. "#1 DAD" popped up in blue and a huge grin spread across Safaree's face. Motorcycles and cars filled these sky before Nicki's named popped up with pink hearts all around it. "Looove." Safaree said never refocusing his eyes. A rainbow color set popped up before it turned into a spiral and spun around before bursting. WE LOVE YOU popped up and Nicki tightened her arms around him.
___________________________________________________
"My baby's getting too big." Nicki said before letting Safaree pick him up. He stirred a little bit before he rested his head on Safaree's shoulder. Nicki pouted at her sleeping boy and ran her hand over his face gently before she followed behind him and Safaree. They walked through the crowd and into the house. She pinched at the back of Safaree's shirt and held it while they walked towards their sons room. Micaiah stepped out of the bathroom just before they were approaching it to pass it.
"I'll watch him." He said before fixing his shirt and pants one more time.
"You sure?" Nicki asked him as they still walked towards his bedroom. She let go of Safaree's shirt and slowed down a bit walking side by side with Micaiah.
"Yeah, I got him."
Nicki stared at his face and could tell something was off. She didn't know if it was because it was late or there was something going on with him. She made a mental note to be sure to check on him tomorrow morning not wanting to force him or ruin the mood of the night. They made it to his bedroom and Safaree stepped around the bed. He adjusted him gently not wanting to abruptly wake up knowing how that always resulted into a fit because he woken up out of his sleep. Nicki pulled the cover back and Safaree laid him down gently and watched as he squirmed. His body met the bed and his head moved up and down the pillow as he moved around to get comfortable. Micaiah sat over in the lazy boy chair and reached for his phone that was in his pocket. Nicki put the cover back over Dos while trying not to interrupt the good night kiss Safaree was giving him. Once he was done he helped make sure he was tucked in and stood up watching Nicki adjust the pillows aligned on the right side of the bed. He had a habit of always rolling over to one side of the bed and would continue if there was nothing there to stop him. Nicki bent down and placed two quick kisses on his face before standing up, pushing her hair behind her ear before her finger pointed at Micaiah.
"If he wakes up giving you trouble you call one of us."
"I got it."
"He shouldn't wake up. All that sugar knocked him out." Safaree spoke up.
"I got it." He repeated again with a slight laugh this time while looking down at his phone. Nicki snarled at him and walked off following behind Safaree who was headed out the door.
"Pay attention to my son." She said before she fully walked out the door and closed it behind her quietly. She sped up her next few steps to catch up with Safaree. She leaned into him and he moved his arm tossing it around her shoulder.
"I liked that cotton candy machine. We should keep it."
"You're not about to have our son bouncing off the walls, Safaree" Nicki reached out hitting the hall light as they passed it not understanding why every light in the house was on.
"It's for me." He licked his lips. "Usually it's too much sugar. But nah. It's different when you make it yourself and you make the flavor what you want. It was good."
"It was. I hope Patrick didn't eat mine."
"I don't even know why you let him hold it for you. Should have just brought it in the house."
"I was enjoying the show. I loved the fireworks show much. I hope Grizz got them all on camera. That man was worth every penny. They were beautiful." They stepped into the kitchen and Safaree laughed before sighing.
"We definitely gotta have somebody clean all this shit up."
"I don't even want to think about it." she laughed lightly. "Thank God for paper plates though, right?" she laughed again and Safaree removed his arm from her shoulder while he reached out for the door sliding it to the side. Before they could fully step out of the door and into the backyard they were met by Nicki's mother.
"I was just looking for you guys. Where's my grandson?"
"Caiah got him." Safaree said as he moved to the side letting Nicki around him and fully stepped out sliding the door closed.
"He's sleep." Nicki spoke up adjusting her hoodie. "Are you leaving?"
"Yeah, I'm tired. Your father said he's gonna stay back and he'll take Micaiah." She embraced Safaree's arms that were opened and he hugged her tight and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Appreciate you, mama." He said before letting her go.
"You've always been my favorite child." She said with a laugh before turning to Nicki to embrace her in a goodbye hug.
"Wow. Forget that you actually gave birth to me." Nicki said while playfull rolling her eyes and hugging her mother. They gave each other a double cheek kiss and Nicki held her before she could fully get out of her grasp. They both glanced over at Safaree who spoke out yelling back to someone who said something to him. They directed their attention back to each other as he walked off.
"Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?" Carol asked her.
"Yes. Just call me and Safaree and I will meet you guys there. Do you want us to pick you guys up?"
"No, we can drive. Just making sure we're still going. I know how my working girl likes to cancel last minute." Carol gave her a side eye. Nicki leaned back and gave her a dramatic mouth drop.
"I'm not feeling the shade tonight, Mommy."
"I'm just playing. I'll call you when I get home. Okay?"
"Okay. Love you."
"Love you too." they said releasing each other before Nicki walked through the crowd and found Safaree sitting at the table with his and Nicki's friends. She walked around the table and sat down on Safaree's leg.
"What's going on over here?"
"Peaks." Joyce spoke up. "It doesn't have to be today, but the peak of knowing Safaree. You can go last."
"Seeing you man up has been crazy." Rex spoke up before quickly taking another drink from his solo cup. "You really got a wife and a kid now. It's crazy to say it out loud. You've helped me out a lot. Nicki too." He said before nodding at her. "I got your back, man. You've pulled me out of some shit." Him and Safaree shared a common nod before everyone looked to the next person beside him.
"My baby shower." His sister said. "I didn't even have to ask. The second I told you that I was pregnant you took care of it. I think that's the best moment for me. It was my first child and at the time I wasn't financially ready but you handled it. You flew out the next day and took care of everything. That's the best moment for me. I'll never forget that. You a cool sister." Neek said before everyone laughed knowing the relationship between them and how they would call the other brother/sister.
"Okay, it's my turn!" Joyce said before shaking her breasts. Everyone laughed and Nicki playfully rolled her eyes at how crazy she is. "You helped me out with Zeplin so much. Even when I wasn't doing Nicki's make up for the day, you always wanted to babysit. At that time me and his dad weren't getting along well. He liked you a lot. You were good with watching him. You spoiled his little ass and that's why he's so damn high maintenance now. But thank you."
"Aye I ain't seen Zeplin in a minute. Tell him I said whuddup!" Safaree said before nodding his head and placing his elbow back on the arm of the chair before resting his chin in his hand again. He placed his hand on Nicki's waste adjusting her not liking the way she was pressing on his leg.
"Let me go!" Nicki said excitedly before turning in his lap a little bit more to look at him. "Okay, honestly. I was battling back and forth with which moment was the peak in my head. But I would honestly have to say the day I met you was the peak." She smiled before licking her lips. She rubbed her lips together while looking off for a moment not wanting to get to emotional before looking back at Safaree's face. "You've changed my life for the better ever since the day I met you. You're a pain in the ass." Nicki and everyone laughed. "But I couldn't imagine my life without you." she paused. "You've taught me a lot about.." Nicki looked up at the sky trying to make sure her words came out right. "caring for someone besides myself. I can admit for the longest time I was selfish. And meeting you was just different." Nicki shook her head. "I've never met someone who could be so selfless. Who could love so hard. Who could just want the best for that person and just not expect anything in return." Nicki said while talking with her hands. "And that's one of the most valuable things you've ever done for me, aside from giving me my son. You've taught me that it's okay to love someone wholeheartedly and express that feeling to them. It's okay to be vulnerable with the person you love. The person you cherish. The person you wanna spend the rest of your life with." Nicki said while placing a hand around his wrist. "You've taught me that love is the strongest emotion and the easiest to give when you're willing to receive it." Nicki said looking into his eyes. "That's what makes me look at you everyday and just see sparks flying."
