Chapter 9*~

I looked at Aaliyah who was dressing Dawn as I held Layla. Boy the twins were trouble already. They loved to aggravate each other and not only that they always had Li’s attention when it was my turn to bitch and complain to her. I sighed and looked at Li as she turned around a smile on her face.

“Oh cheer up Justin. You wanted a big family remember?”

See it was just like her to play that shit on me. “But you’re not even listening to me...”

“I’m listening to you honey, It’s just a little hard when you have twins to listen to.” Aaliyah sat the twins down in the swings before turning to look at me again. “Justin honey I will always have time for you. You don’t have to act all pissed off all the time, I really do realize that you are here and I love you.” She kissed me softly and I smiled, kissing her back.

“Are you still going to stay home tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m just tired. Besides someone has to be here with the babies.”

I nodded, not even questioning her. I knew that she was tired but a mother of six would be tired. There was Alexandra and Sarah from her marriage with Matthew and then there was Dana, Drew, Dawn, and Layla all of our kids. Between the kids and her career she should be tired. “I’ll see you later then?”

“Sure will, have fun and stay out of trouble, ok?”

“Sure,” I kissed her before looking at the twins and shaking my head. “Stay out of trouble. No driving your mother crazy.” I laughed slightly and shook my head as Layla blew a spit bubble and sighed. Boy was I happy to be getting out tonight.

~*2 ½ hours later, Beyonce’s birthday party.*~

I watched as she walked up to me and I smiled softly. “Hey birthday girl. Happy b-day.”

“Thanks Jay!” She embraced me in a warm hug and looked me in my eyes. “Where’s Li?”

“At home with the kids, she said she was tired, so while she’s getting some sleep her mom is there keeping the kids occupied.”

She nodded and smiled warmly, “Well I just can’t leave you here by yourself. All alone...” She kissed me and for some reason I didn’t stop her, instead I stood there taking it all in. I looked Beyonce in her eyes and kissed her back. Life wasn’t fair as usual and I knew in the end someone would end up hurt.

~*The next morning*~

I woke up and looked over at Beyonce and shook my head. Shit I was screwed. I never went home? I looked over at her and she smiled softly.

“What’s wrong? You look like you got yourself into some trouble or something.”

I got up quickly and looked at her. “I have to go, I can’t believe I stayed here all night. Li is gonna kill my ass.” She laughed and I looked at her. I just couldn’t imagine what was so funny.

“She has no interest in you ay. If she did, then she wouldn’t be ignoring you like that.”

I turned around to look her in her eyes and I just laughed slightly and looked at her. “You’re just like the rest of them Bee, I really thought you were different, but you are so much like all those other women that it’s not even funny.” I shook my head and looked at my watch. “Shit, I was supposed to be helping Li with the kids this morning.”

“She’ll be fine...”

I just pulled on my shoes and looked at her. “I have to go.”

“Wait!” I turned around to look at her one more time and she sat up and looked me over. “remember what I said.”

I closed the door and shook my head. Damn was I in some trouble. I had to get home, and quick.

~*1 ½ hours later*~

I opened the door to the house and it was relatively quiet. I went into the living room where I heard the tv I looked in at Drew who was watching tv with the twins and I smiled softly. “Hey Drew, where’s your mother at?”

“Down on the beach.”

I nodded and headed for the door and opened it looking off into the distance and I could make her out from the door. I stepped down the stairs and onto the wet grass, it was raining ever so slightly. I walked further out running towards her now. When I got to her I turned her enough that I could see her face; her mascara was running down her face and her hair was drenched. She had been out there for awhile. She looked a little dazed actually. She was right there but she looked so far away. I touched her face and I sighed. “Li honey look at me.” She didn’t move and I sighed it was kind of weird how it looked like she wasn’t even there mentally. She was there in the physical but her mind was somewhere else. “Please,” I watched as she looked at me, tears falling down her cheeks. I felt so bad that I hadn’t really taken her so seriously over the past three months. I wiped under her eyes and I kissed her forehead and I didn’t even say what I should have because I think right then and there she understood as much as I did that we needed each other whether we liked it or not.