One Shot : Picture Perfect

Nicki sat up on her couch sipping on her juice as she went through her high school yearbook chuckling at her classmates. Finally getting to the page she had been looking for she smiled at her picture , under it reading “To survive is to stay alive in the face of opposition”. She remember carefully picking the Lauryn Hill quote and she was glad she did. It still proved true now. She broke through barriers there was no way she could’ve gotten to this point in her life if she was scared of being different.

“Nic!” Nicki’s attention never left the yearbook as she answered.

“Hmm?” She questioned flipping the page and taking another sip of her cranberry drink. Drake came into the livingroom fixing his shirt then sighed at Nicki.

“You hate being late, but you never do anything to be on time.” He told her slipping the book out of her grasp and sitting it on the table. Nicki fell back to the couch dramatically.

“I don’t even want to go..” She groaned into one of the couch cushions. “I look fat and my back has been hurting all day.”

“You look beautiful and pregnant. Last month you were willing to snap my neck if I didn’t set up an appointment now you don’t want to go.” Drake placed each of Nicki’s sneakers next to the couch to make it easier for her to put them on. “If I have to roll you out of here, you’re going.”

Nicki cut her eyes at him when he said ‘roll’ as she slipped her feet into her Jordans. Nicki was about to open her mouth until she heard something splash. “Get your seed, please.” She placed her hand on her temple. Drake laughed at Nicki’s short attitude, her hormones were not something to play with. He walked down the hallway and stopped at the door of the bathroom.

“Ava.” He called out. He didn’t hear anything so he knocked on the door before twisting the knob and coming in. “Why are you in the toilet?” He asked his daughter as she had both hands, and half her head deep inside the bowl.

“Daddy!” She screamed backing away from the toilet then pointing inside. Drake shook his head and peeked his head in the toilet to see her gold name bracelet at the bottom. He looked at his watch and saw that they were way behind schedule. “It fall.” She whined.

“I wonder how?” He quizzed her and she shrugged. “Go get your shoes and tell Mommy to help you put them on.” Ava groaned before stomping out of the bathroom. “The women I live with.” He sighed before looking in the toilet trying to figure out if he wanted to stick his hand inside. He shook the idea off and flushed the toilet, he knew Nicki would dig in his ass about it later but he didn’t care.

. . .

“Smile Ava.” Nicki coached. She held Ava in her arms, and Drake’s arms wrapped around her as they posed for the portrait. Ava reached up placing her finger in her mother’s dimple and the photographer took the chance to snap the photo. Drake took the opportunity to place one of his fingers in Nicki’s other dimple as Nicki frowned at the both of them.  The photographer laughed and snapped the picture, deciding that was one of his favourites.

“Y’all know wha?” Nicki asked trying to suppress her smile as she looked between the both of them.

“No ma’am, I’m sorry we don’t” Drake teased grabbing a hold of Nicki’s chin.

“Trust me, you’re going to find out.” Nicki countered her voice getting lower as she focused on Drake’s lips that were coming closer and closer to hers.

“Show me now.” He said taking her lips into his as Ava made a silly face at the camera. “Oh, that’s what?” Drake teased pulling away from her. They both continued to flirt and play around in front of the camera until Nicki got tired of standing on her feet, her back pains came back,  and got her normal craving for Drake’s spaghetti. After thanking the photographer and picking out their pictures they left to go back home. Drake in the kitchen cooking and Nicki painting Ava’s toes in their bedroom.

“You MOD cute.” Nicki complemented as she was finishing up the last toe.

“MOD cute.” Ava complimented as she studied her pink nails and then clapped. Nicki threw her head back and laughed at Ava’s small voice.

“Ugh! Tell yo zaddy I’m hungry.” Nicki said.

“Zaddy! Momma hung-a-ray!” Ava yelled out making Nicki fall back against her pillows cracking up.

“Why you always trynna teach my daughter incorrectly?” He questioned sitting Nicki’s plate in her lap and her juice on the end table.

“Why he mod Ava?”

“Zont be mod zaddy.” Nicki’s mouth dropped open as she laughed and looked at Drake who held his hands up.

“I didn’t teach her that.” Nicki laughed as she picked up her fork to swirl her spaghetti around the fork.

“You think all that for you? Ava, you better get you some before mommy take it all.” Drake pointed at Nicki’s plate and Ava quickly stuck her fist inside grabbing some pasta.

“Why wouldn’t you make her, her own plate?” Nicki asked frowning as Drake got into bed on the opposite side.

“Cause..”

Nicki rolled her eyes and continued to share her plate against her will. “Stop pouting. You know I love you right?” Drake asked.

“No.”

“You know.”

“No, I really don’t”

“Yup, you know.” Drake laid back content until he looked at Nicki and realized she stopped eating when her eyes landed on Ava’s wrist.

“Ava didn’t I tell you not to take that bracelet off?” She asked. Ava swallowed her food and looked to Drake.

“Well, I think it’s time I got in the shower.” Drake rose off the bed quickly.

“It fall in the toilet.” Ava answered as Drake practically ran out of the room closing the door behind him as Ava began to explain the story. Drake went to the bathroom and looked in the toilet praying that somehow the bracelet hadn’t went down but no luck, he cursed under his breath when he heard the bedroom door open.

“Drake!” Nicki stomped all the way to the hallway bathroom and glared at him as he pretended to be washing his hands. “Why the --” Nicki had to catch herself as she felt Ava’s small hand against her thigh. “What would possess you to flush the bracelet down the toilet.”

“We were late.” Drake answered drying his hands on a towel.

“You know what -- DRAKE!” She gasped looking down at the floor.

“What? I didn’t even do nothin!” He screamed.

“No. My water broke.”

“All of it?” Drake questioned. In his mind it was a legit question because the baby wasn’t due for another 3 months.

“What? Drake YES! My water just broke!” Drake grabbed her arm and dropped the toilet seat and made her take a seat. “Ava, go get the phone.” She ran the fastest her little feet would take her and grabbed the phone handing it to Drake. Nicki wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his stomach as he rubbed her back. Drake knew he had to be strong for both Ava and Nicki, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t panicking on the inside. A baby this early could cause serious problems.

(To Be Continued...Maybe)

<--- Ava, 3 years old.