‹ Prequel: Vital
Sequel: Different.

Times Are Changing

Out of mommy mode.

The beautiful sounds of the ocean hitting against rocks, and the seagulls awoke me that morning. I peeked an eye open to see the sun was barely rising, and Dominic still asleep. I went into the bathroom and examined the mess I call hair.

"Great," I muttered with a yawn. Curiosity of what the kitchen might be stocked with took over so I went in there and examined my choices. When my eyes landed on pop tarts, I assumed it would do; considering I didn't want to make eggs for everyone and Dominic can handle pop tarts as a snack right now.

"Ma!" Dominic screamed, I quickly rushed down the hall and smacked into something hard. Regaining my composure, I glared at the culprit.

"Watch where you're going, Porter," I spat and went inside the room to comfort Dominic.

"Sorry, I heard him cry and immediately ran over, I don't know what came over me," he apologized, watching from the door way.

"Shh, Dominic, it's okay," I cooed, holding him in my arms.
"Remember where we are?"

"Yeah," Dominic replied in his sweet little voice. I smiled and laid him back, reaching over to grab a diaper. When I took his pants off, I glanced at David with a what the hell kind of look.

"Are you going to perv on my son?" I rudely ask, at which he blinked and shook his head.

"Sorry," he apologized again, and stared at me.
"It's just weird, that's all."

"What is?" I reply, undoing Dominic's full diaper.

"Seeing you with-" David paused, glancing at Dominic, and when he did he got stuck again.

"Yeah, I know. He's a little cutie though, huh?" I brag, a big smile appearing on my face. "Daddy was going to potty train you though, hopefully when we get back he will."

"Daddy?" David repeated, glancing at me. I kept my eyes on Dominic, knowing David was going to read my expression.

"David," we heard Kiley clear her throat. I glanced behind David as he slowly turned around. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he answered and turned to me.

"See yeah," I wave and finished up with Dominic. I stood and held my arms out to him; he grabbed onto my hands and I lifted him up. "Good boy."

"Yay!" Dominic clapped his hands together as I carried him to the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?" Gaby inquired, peeking her head into the hallway.

"Yeah," I answer.

"Is Dominic okay?" John specified at which I laughed.

"No need to be on daddy mode, John," I tease. I heard him clear his throat while he chuckled.

"Ugh," John awkwardly laughed.

"Exactly John, now stop worrying and let's finish this," Gaby demanded, closing the door. I couldn't help that stupid grin on my face as I knew what Gaby was doing. I sat Dominic on the floor and handed him pop tarts, then searched the cabinets for a cup.

"So you made breakfast?" I jumped at the abrupt voice, and saw David.

"For D, yes," I answer.

"So how old is he?" David wasn't beating around the bush now as he grabbed another cup with ease and poured some milk.

"How'd you know where that cup was?" I growl.

"My dad, your dad, and I stocked this yesterday while you were unpacking," David explained, shifting his eyes to Dominic. "So how old is he?"

"You're the one that put all the food here?" I continue to change the subject.

"David," Kiley wined coming into the room.
"I don't want to be up at this hour, it's too damn early."

"It's eight," David reminded.

"Too early," she agreed then shifted her eyes to Dominic.
"Good morning."

"Pfft," Dominic made some weird noise and glared before going back to his pop tarts. I couldn't help but snort and rub his head with pride, he has a good judge of character.

"Well, I'm going back to bed. Come on," she coaxed and walked out. I stared at David with my brows raised.

"You heard the lady," I shooed before turning my attention back to Dominic.

"Okay," David whispered then he too disappeared. I let out a frustrated sigh as I stared at Dominic.

"Maybe it's best we pack up and go home," I quietly spoke to him.

...

Later on everyone gathered outside. I held Dominic in my arms and watched as everyone discussed plans.

"I want to spend time with my grand baby, and I'm sure Monique wants to spend some of her time here without him," my mom spoke up, taking Dominic from me. My mouth flew open after she said what she did.

"I enjoy being a mom," I corrected with furrowed brows.

"Now sweetie, no sense in him taking all your time," she continued to justify herself. I gave her 'the look' and she just smiled. "Fine! I want some time with my damn grandchild too, okay? So stop being greedy!"

"Well if you put it that way," I tease and kissed her forehead.
"Here's his stuff," I added, handing over the diaper bag.

"Yay!" Dominic clapped his hands and glanced around. I took a step back as the parents all walked off, consumed into Dominic and deep conversation. I quirked a brow then turned around with a sharp exhale.

"So what are we all gonna do?" John suggested, wrapping an arm around Gaby.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to relax," I state with a smile.

"Let's hang," Gaby enthused. I just shook my head with a giggle.

"I'm the fifth wheel here," I remind.

"What baby daddy didn't come?" Kiley inquired with a smile. I just laughed and walked off. Stupid bitch, little did she know. I went to my room and took a seat, glancing at myself in the mirror. A baggy shirt, and some Capri's. I look like a mom, not a nineteen year old with a son that enjoys talking sometimes.

"Breath," I mutter to myself as I reach into my suit case and grab my leopard bikini. I strip my clothes off and put it on, staring at my reflection. My thighs are bigger now, and I have light stretch marks on my stomach; of which I apply lotion to almost every day since Dominic was born. I let out a deep breath and turned the side. I didn't look that bad but ugh.

"What's Monique doing?" I heard Gaby from the distance, man her voice carries.

"She's probably doing mommy stuff," Kiley's obnoxious high pitch voice replied. I narrowed my eyes and grabbed my dark blue with faded rips cut shorts, along with a black off the shoulder shirt that has a leopard print kiss mark on it. Fine if this is how she wants it. I slip on some flip flops, brush my hair and grabbed my over sized sunglasses, applying red lip stain. Let's do this.

...

"Monique!" Gaby squealed when she saw me. I bit my bottom lip as I approached them, maybe this was a horrible idea. Horrible.

"Nice," John breathed out with a smirk.

"What?" I flirtatiously say with a smile.
"I'm relaxed."

"Relaxed is good," John exaggerated at which I laughed. I felt the pink come onto my cheeks.

"David let's go cuddle," Kiley muttered before David could turn around to see what the commotion was about. As his eyes connected with me, I felt my breath knock out a little. Stupid David. I grabbed my pack of cigarettes and lit one.

"Gimme!" Gaby cried out, taking one and lighting it.
"I didn't know if anyone else smoked!"

"Yet you told me how bad they were," I teased.

"I hope you didn't smoke while pregnant," Kiley immediately judged. I just smiled and gave her a quick look over.

"I personally think you have too many problems of your own, for you to worry about mine," I state with a cluck of my tongue. I breathed in the smoke and purposely blew it her way, causing her to cough a little. "Besides, I'm not fucking stupid, I quit everything when I got pregnant with Dominic."

"Exactly," Gaby agreed with a smile.
"I still can't believe you were pregnant at graduation and didn't know it."

"Ugh," I shushed when David furrowed his brows.

"You were pregnant at your graduation?" He inquired, staring at my face.

"What does that matter?" Kiley snorted.
"I'm glad you graduated though."

"Yep, all honors too," I retort. Gaby just nodded.

"You beat the odds, Mojo," Gaby complimented. I felt my eyes sting a little as tears threatening to make their way out.

"Yeah," I agree and took another hit of my cigarette.
"Anyways before we kill Kiley with all this smoke, I'm going to smoke over there."

"I appreciate that," Kiley said with a smile. "Thank you."

"Ah, huh," I wave when I heard David tell Kiley to wait there.

"Monique," he approached, glancing at Gaby.

"Yeah?" Gaby replied for me.

"I want to talk to you alone," he continued to focus his attention on me.

"David, I'm smoking," I point out the obvious. "We can talk later."

"Fine," he mumbled and stared at me.
"No wait, it's not fine damn it. I want to talk to you now."

"It's not going to happen, what ever you have in your mind right now is wrong. Just stop. Go to Kiley, she wants you, okay?" I ask, touching his shoulder.

"You heard the lady," Gaby was like my body guard as she lightly pushed David off. Once he was at a far enough distance, she turned to me with her mouth agape. "You dirty hood rat! You never told me that he was the father!"

"I've never told anyone who the real father is," I quietly say and let out a deep breath. "He just needs to quit, for I'll never tell."

"Monique," Gaby sighed.
"Isn't it obvious?"

"Is it?"
♠ ♠ ♠
Thank you guys so much for continuing to read! Right now I don't have a laptop charger, so I'm sharing my parents. That is a pain. So I am without a charger at the moment, also I just closed at work today and tomorrow morning I work again! Wooooo...yay me! If you guys aren't an adult yet, and you're reading this. Please enjoy Highschool, don't rush it. It's not all grand trust... anyways night. <3