When she opened her eyes, two sleeping men greeted her. She smiled at the sight of the men curled up and rumpled on the cot the hospital so kindly gave them. Her mother knew Latoya needed her space so after a lengthy talk with Dr. Washington, Maureen went home but she was going to Latoya's house today.
She looked to her little table next to her bed. There was the biggest bouquet of pink roses on it. "JC and Justin bought me roses?" she thought out loud. Damn was that a monster bouquet.
"No not quite," someone said from behind her.
She quickly looked over shoulder and saw Chris was sitting on a chair. He arrived late last night. He'd been watching her ever since. When he called Justin's cell after not getting Latoya at her house, job or cell, he called his bud. He definitely did not expect to hear what Justin told him. He hopped on the next plane to NYC and made his way to Lenox Hill hospital. He had to see for his self to make sure that she was okay.
"Chris? What are you doing here?" She asked groggily.
"I should ask you the same thing."
"It's that fucking pill bottle's fault."
"I'll go kick its ass for you," he smirked. The two began to chuckle. Chris got up and sat on the bed. "Give me a hug. I think you gave me three gray hairs." Latoya sat up and wrapped her arms around the man. Chris began to shudder but their moment was cut short.
"Ew. Please no hetero business in the morning. My stomach can't take it," Justin complained. He rubbed his eyes and then smacked JC on the head, "Wake up. Latoya's awake now."
"Are you always this bitchy in the morning?" Chris asked.
"Yes," Latoya answered for him. Justin glared at the two.
"Good morning, Latoya. Chris. My inconsiderate husband," JC muttered to the room. He rubbed his forehead where Justin smacked him.
"Well I'm going to get some fucking coffee, since I'm so damn inconsiderate," Justin huffed out of the room. He slammed the door behind him.
Ah, yes the famous Timberlake diva attitude was in force this morning. "What's his problem?" Latoya asked.
"I've spent a third of my life with the brat and to this day, he's still hard to decipher." Chris said.
"Must be PMS," Latoya said. The men laughed out loud but secretly agreed.
*`*`*`*`*`*
"I believe I know how to walk. There's no need to strain your self. Especially with my added weight, Justin." He paid no attention to the woman as he lifted her from the passenger seat of his SUV. JC and Chris went ahead of the two, to put Latoya's things inside and get away from Justin.
"You can't walk and who else was going to do it? JC? Please." He rolled his eyes. "Definitely not Chris."
"Stop it. I don't know if should hit you now or wait until you put me down. Why are you picking on Chris? Hell you're even teasing JC a bit too much. What's wrong with you?" she asked quietly. She did not want the others to hear. She had a feeling Justin didn't want them to hear either.
"There's nothing wrong. Let's get you inside." Justin carried over the threshold. JC could be heard fluttering in the kitchen. He wanted to make some tea. Chris decided to help JC after feeling Justin glare at him.
"You're scaring everyone away. Well not everyone cause I can tolerate your ass with the best of them." She tapped his shoulder to put her down, which he did. She stood with her hands akimbo.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Come on and help me hop and go along these stairs, since the other men have retreated to the kitchen." Justin placed his arms around her back and the two slowly made their way up the stairs and to her bedroom.
"It's great that only Mommy is coming over. I don't think I can take anymore preening over." She laid down in her bed and sighed happily.
"Well don't talk so soon," Justin began. "You see while you were sleeping we called our mothers and expect them to be dropping by soon."
"What? Here? How soon?" The doorbell rang downstairs.
"Very soon." Justin smiled.
*`*`*`*`*`*
"Oh you have to take it easy, sweetie. Rest up and let my lazy son take care of you," Lynn told the younger woman.
All of the mothers arrived on Latoya's doorstep that early afternoon. It seemed to Latoya that they formed a Mom Squad or tackle team. She was poked, prodded, coddled, kissed, patted and fed to the extreme. And she didn't include Justin, Chris or JC. The couple was never too far from her bedside and Chris couldn't even get close enough before a mother cooed or Justin glared. All Latoya wanted to do was sleep. Even the babies were tired, they haven't kicked that evening and that was their usual playtime.
"Latoya, maybe we should get you a walking cane." Maureen fluffed her daughter's pillow one more time.
"Good idea Karen," Justin commended and then frowned. "But then again, since she's such a klutz, she might trip over it." Latoya seethed quietly. She felt a headache coming on.
"That'd be cool. We could get you a real badass walking stick. You'd be the coolest pregnant mother on the block." Chris offered from the floor. He sat on her carpet, leaning against the bed.
"She's the only pregnant mother on the block," Justin informed quickly from his perch on her bed. JC discreetly pinched his husband's arm in warning.
"I'm the only one who'd need a walking stick," Latoya said wryly. "That's a good idea Chris. Maybe I can get one that played music or lit up." The two smiled.
"Aww, I'm so happy you two decided to date." Karen smiled and then began to sniffle. "It's just so, so beautiful," she quietly wailed.
"Um, Mom. You and Lynn ready to go home?" The two women were going to stay at their sons' house. He got up and gave his mother a tissue. Latoya would have kissed JC right then and there.
"But who's going to take care of Latoya? Maureen has to work tonight and we can't leave her alone."
"No," Latoya quickly answered. "No that's okay. Chris is going to stay. I'm sure that he won't mind, right? The bed's fixed in my guestroom?" Latoya looked to JC, who nodded.
"Our room?" Justin asked. He couldn't believe she was going to give up his and JC's room like that. He couldn't fathom Chris staying the night.
"Yes. It was and still is a guestroom, Justin," Latoya looked weirdly at her best friend. She had no idea what he was on today.
"Maybe we should all stay," Justin didn't like to think of Chris staying in the house. Alone. With Latoya. Alone.
"I love you all dearly but if you don't get out of my house, I'm running away. Okay more like limping away but you catch my drift. I'm being smothered and you guys are wearing me out."
"Oh baby, why didn't you say so sooner?" Maureen implored.
"I did now but I just want to sleep. I'm fine. The babies are fine."
"Okay we'll come in the late afternoon. How's that?" JC offered.
"I love you JC. I'd offer to have your babies but it's a little too late for that," she smirked. "Now you all come hug me and then kindly leave," she said with a big smile, her dimples out in full force.
The women held onto the pregnant woman, each whispering words of encouragement and to call them anytime she needed something. JC hugged her next. He whispered, "I knew that scowl anywhere. Figured I should help you out. Consider it a gift," he referred to the shepherding of the Mom Squad. The women descended down the stairs with JC not too far behind them.
Justin hugged her last, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
"Hell no. I've been sentenced to four months of your ass. Do you think I want to even add one more day? You must be out of your ever loving mind." She rolled her eyes.
"You coming, Justin?" JC called from the doorway.
"Go ahead JC. Justin's warning me about the Do's and Don'ts," she fibbed and held onto Justin's arm. Justin looked down at the woman and wondered what was going through her mind. He nodded to his husband, signaling to go ahead of him.
"Okay. We'll be waiting in the car."
"Chris, can you get me an egg, cheese and sausage croissant sandwich from Dunkin' Donuts?"
"Sure no problem."
"And a large Coffee Coolatta, I know I'm not supposed to drink it but spare me this once please. And two Boston Cream doughnuts and an apple fritter. And get yourself something too, if you want."
"Isn't it a bit late to eat so much?" Chris stood up. Latoya wanted to be alone with Justin for a minute or two.
"So much? I'm eating for three. You're lucky the request was so short. Now do I need to write it down for you?"
Chris shook his head and walked to the door, "Didn't even go on a date and she sends me food shopping."
"Thank you," she called out to the mumbling man as he closed the door. "Now, why are you jealous of Chris? Before you come up with another lame excuse, let me warn you. I'm tired. I'm cranky and I'm carrying your babies, so don't fuck with me. You aren't doing anything by acting like an ass. Chris and JC didn't want to be around you today. And you smothered me like there was no tomorrow. I've seen how you looked at Chris when he talked to me. So I believe I've presented my evidence. Prove me wrong."
"You got into the wrong profession. You should've been a lawyer."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," she stated dryly.
"Are you really going to date him?"
"Yes, Justin. I am. He's fucking Chris. You know from the 'Bye Bye Bye' days, what's the problem? Does he have a third nipple or something?"
Justin laughed as he pictured a third nipple on his friend. "No. But Latoya you were my friend first."
"And I still am, unfortunately."
"Shut up. You love me, you told me so."
"Don't make me regret my decision."
"But Chris is cooler than me and if you date him and see that. Where is that going to leave me? You'd end up moving away from me or taking the kids away from me or-"
"Shut up. I wouldn't dare do that to JC."
"What about me?"
"Must it always be about you? Why can't I be happy for once? Besides, take away the bodies, you two are like clones. And Justin what you, JC and me have is something no one can even touch. So you don't have to worry about Chris taking me away or the babies." She laughed. She kissed the slightly curly head and then cuffed, "Now go Asshole. Apologize to Chris tomorrow. And apologize to JC...in bed. He'd appreciate it."
"Funny you should say that cause right when Gary called us from the pharmacy, guess what I was doing?"
"What?"
"JC. That's right Latoya. I had his dick in my ass when you called. I didn't even get to cum."
"Poor baby," she sarcastically remarked. "Please get out now, before you sully my mind." Justin kissed her cheek and walked out. Latoya sighed, relishing the first moment of peace and quiet she had all day. And then the babies decided it was time to play inside her stomach. "Great."
*`*`*`*`*`*
Justin closed the passenger door and quickly held his husband's hand and kissed it. His mother and mother-in-law were jabbering quietly in the back. JC put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. Once he put the car in drive, he glanced at Justin. "I'm so sorry for being a jerk," he whispered.
"No problem. I have a feeling Latoya straightened you out," JC smirked.
Justin latched onto JC's free hand, "Yes. And she also told me something else."
"What's that?" JC whispered.
"To pick up from where we left off this afternoon before the call," Justin licked his lips seductively and then looked out the window.