Times Are Changing

Wet hair in my face, as the water fell against my back. Pure bliss as I sat on the shower floor, with my knees up and head in my hands. It was a start to a new day, Monique, a new day. Nathan is probably still asleep, and I envisioned the sight of my son laying next to Nate; asleep as well. A small smile crept across my face, giving me the motivation I yearned for to get out of the shower.

"Nathan?" I whispered, with a towel around me as I peeked my head inside the room. Sure enough there he lay with Dominic next to him, both sleeping the same. A grin came across my lips as I gawked at them.

"Hmm?" Nathan stirred, making me question whether I should quickly disappear so he'll go back to sleep. Unfortunately he has to go to work, and so I cleared my throat.

"Wake up, you have work," I quietly reminded, glancing at Dominic.

"Ugh," Nathan groaned peeking an eye open. He slowly narrowed just that eye, then shifted it to Dominic whom rolled over. A smile came across his face as he smoothly slithered out of bed and joined me at my side. "Already showered? Couldn't wait for me?"

"Of course not," I snickered, playfully pushing him.
"Now go shower, you don't want to be late."

"Is your mom up?" He inquired with a big yawn as he stripped his clothes off.

"Should be," I answered, with a grim expression.
"She's used to the routine, Nate. Now quit stalling."

"Fine, fine," he grumbled, disappearing into the bathroom. I went back into my room and grabbed some pajamas, then hurried into the kitchen, changing while fast walking. I cooked some eggs, and bacon for Nathan, when I heard Dominic's cries.

"Yes?" I ask, leaning against the door frame and stared at Dominic as he glanced up at me.

"Ma," he called out, then widely smiled at me.

"Wakey, wakey," I cooed, going over to him. I checked his diaper and let out a deep sigh. "I need to potty train you."

"Yeah!" He enthused, not understanding a word I just said. Though sometimes I questioned if he did understand.

"Maybe I'll have Nathan do that tomorrow," I evilly schemed as I pushed Dominic back and grabbed a clean diaper. My son laid there, with his hands behind his head all cocky like. I narrowed my eyes at the characteristics of his father I discarded his old diaper in exchange for the new. "I can't wait for you to be old enough for school, then I can drop you off there."

"Huh?" He cocked his head to the side, and stared at me with furrowed brows.

"Don't worry about it," I mumble. I pulled his Spider man pajama bottoms up and held my arms out for him. He sat up and leaned into me so that I could pick him up. "You excited for num nums?"

"Num, num!" He mimicked as I sat him in his high chair, walking over to the freshly cooked scrambled eggs. I placed them in front of him, with syrup on the sides along with french toast that I cut up in bite size pieces.

"Eat," I coaxed and fixed myself a plate. Soon Nathan came into the room with his work shirt, and Dickies on. He grinned at the sight of breakfast and came over kissing the top of my head.

"I should just marry you," he teased. I smiled at him, as he sat down across from me and placed syrup on his eggs, the same way Dominic enjoys his.

"But you wont," I playfully retorted, taking a big bite of my french toast.

"Exactly," he chuckled. I felt a bit hurt by his response, however had to brush off the idea of him not wanting to marry me. I mean honestly what is he doing here then? His mother would gladly take him back home with her if he so chooses.

"So have you talked to your mom recently?" I questioned, now that I had thought about her in the first place.

"Eh," he shrugged.

"Why not?" I groan, annoyed at his lack of interest for his mother. When we were in high school he loved her dearly, but now... what changed?

"She's seeing another man, Monique. I can't handle that," he coughed up the news. I knew something had been bothering him for almost a week now and finally he spoke up about it. Of course he realized what he had just informed me, and groaned. "Let's not talk about it."

"But Nathan-" I reasoned, but he shook his head.

"Stop," he demanded, suddenly not interested in his breakfast anymore.
"So what about your mom?"

"Oh you know the same shit, different day," I accepted his change of topic.
"The days off request time is coming up, you know."

"I know," he laughed.
"We're going on some fun filled family adventure!"

"Yep," I pretended to be just as enthused, for Dominic's sake of course.

"So are we just staying the week there?" He quirked a brow.

"I believe so," I answered, furrowed brows revealing my uncertainty.

"Hmm," he mumbled. "Maybe I should pass then."

"Nathan," I groaned.
"You passed the one six months ago."

"Yeah, well, this shit is only supposed to be once a year! Not twice," he complained.

"Language," I scolded, gesturing to Dominic.

"My apologies," Nathan spoke directly to Dominic then turned his attention to me.
"Now she wants to make it twice?"

"She's planned this one since we showed up to the last one, we skipped last years, remember?" I question, at which he laughed.

"That's cause you were knocked up!" He howled with laughter, at which I stared at him with the least bit of humor in my expression. He coughed and patted his chest then composed himself and continued eating. Oh now he's interested in his food.

"It's not funny, Nate. I still can't believe I was pregnant for almost five months and didn't know," I sighed, staring at my plate. "I mean seriously, five months? How is that even possible. I moved out then bam the news happened, you and I were finally talking again and everything."

"Yeah and I told you I'm here for you," he sincerely spoke, breaking the tension in our atmosphere. Instead it was more soothing and lovingly. "Remember?"

"Yes and I appreciate it more than you know, since you didn't have to," I replied. He snorted and continued eating, then drank some orange juice.

"Yeah," he rolled his eyes and glanced at Dominic.
"How could I not be here? I make a great dad too."

"Mhmm," I wrinkled my nose up.
"Maybe if we get married, I can have another one?"

"Ha, ha! I think Kinic is enough," he declined that offer. Dominic grinned at his nickname and made some roar noise with his mouth full. I grabbed a napkin and wiped his face, at which he jerked his head away and yelled no.

"Aye, you don't tell me no. Understand? I'm not like other mom's, I'll beat'chu," I threatened staring at him with a serious expression.

"He knows that wont happen while daddy is here," Nathan reminded Dominic. I rolled my eyes and continued eating.

"You can't play him against me, Nate. I believe in punishment, he wont be a little brat, I want people to enjoy having him around. Just like my mom does," I explain. Nathan sourly laughed and stared at me.

"She enjoys having him around because she has empty nest syndrome, plus he's freakin handsome. He gets that from me," Nathan winked then stood up. "I have to go, come on Dominic! Grammy is waiting for you!"

"Ga!" Dominic hollered, which he means to say Grammy or Gamma but hasn't grasped the concept of it yet.

"Alright have fun," I waved as Nathan walked towards the exit with Dominic in his arms.

"Oh yeah," he turned with a wink.
"Let me know when you get to work."

"I shall," I assure and blew a kiss to Dominic; whom in return blew one right back.

"Lah you!" Dominic yelled as Nathan closed the door.

"Love you too!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, then glanced around the empty apartment. It's such a horrible apartment, one bedroom, one bath. Small living room and even smaller kitchen. The neighborhood is messed up also, which is why Nathan locked the door behind him and wants me to text him when I get to work. Just not a good place to be at all, but it's affordable and I'm saving as much as I can for a better place. Suddenly my phone rang and I let out a deep breath. "Hello?"

"Monique, where is Nathan with my grand baby?" She immediately spoke, no greeting, nothing.

"He's on his way mom," I assure with a smile, not that she could see.

"Well I'm glad he's still alive, I've been waiting for what feels like forever!" She exclaimed, probably waving her arms around all dramatic like.

"Mom, it's been like thirty minutes, don't worry," I laughed.

"We have a set time, Monique. I'm going to tell Nathaniel to stick to it," she hissed at which I laughed. "This isn't funny, you shouldn't take advantage of me."

"You don't work much anymore, and you love your grandson, there is no taking advantage here," I calmly remind. "We ate breakfast and I wanted to make sure Dominic finished all his food before he left."

"Dominic or Nathan?" She sneered. "Seems like Nathaniel's all you care about these days."

"Love you too mom," I groan, about to hang up.

"Now before you hang up, Missy. Don't forget you're coming over for a week, a full week!" She reminded, causing me to laugh.

"I know this," I assure her while going into the bathroom. I grabbed some of the stretch mark lotion and applied it to my stomach, happy with the results of them being less visible since I've been using it after giving birth to Dominic.

"And we're going some where special as well, so pack warm clothes, bathing suits and possibly a few sweaters, see you later, bye! Love you, muah!" Then she hung up. What the hell did she mean going some where? What the fuck?