They watched Danielle talk about Alishia, JC laughed as Alishia kept saying �no�.

�You fainted?� Justin asked JC.

He chuckled. �Yep.�

Justin laughed. �Ooo..your own wife just dissed your hair.�

Justin listened closely to what Kimberly said about their break-up and his cheating. She had never confessed her real feelings about the break-up.

�Aw.� JC and Justin said when Alishia hugged Kimberly.

�Staying for a while?� Just questioned. He smiled when she said she�d love to marry him and she knocked on wood not to jinx herself.

They laughed when Kimberly said. �I can hear them all the way down the street and around the corner.�

�That�s almost what I said.� JC said.

�Ooo�JC your slackin� man!� Justin said.

�Shut up!� He paused. �Can you watch Alishia tonight?�

Justin laughed. �Sure. So you can get your freak on? Get your freak on.� Justin sang, dancing.

�Shut up Justin and watch the tape.�

�Skilled?� He said. �Ooo she knows it.�

The 2 laughed at how the girls acted and talked about their sex lives and how their men kissed.

JC laughed at what Danielle said about Joey calling Alishia all the time. �He does call everyday.� JC said.

�Let the albino sing?� They both repeated what the girls said.

They finished watching the interview and watched tv.

That night Kimberly and Justin took Alishia to their house to baby sit. Kimberly and Justin walked in the house. Justin had Alishia in his arms. He went and sat down on the couch. Kimberly sat on the chair next to the couch.

�Baby girl can I ask you a question?� Justin asked.

�Sure.� She said.

�What did you mean when you said you were only staying here for a while?�

She looked up at him. �I don�t know?�

�Yes you do, you seemed a little freaked out when he asked the question. Do you even want to live with me permanently?�

�Justin�� She moved to sit by him. �Yes I do. It just kind of scared me when he asked about living together. I know I stay here with you. But it made me think about where our relationship is going from here?� What will happen?�

�Kimberly I love you so much, you know that.�

�I know that Justin, I love you too. But I wonder where is it going from here?�

�Baby girl, like you said I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you, but I want that you happen at the perfect time.� He said, he softly rubbed her cheek.

Alishia began to become fussy. She cried openly and loud.

�What�s wrong Lishia?� Justin said. He bounced her on his knee. She still cried.

�She might be hungry.� Kimberly said hading Justin the bottle.

Justin laid Alishia down in his arms, cradling her head in his arm. He put the bottle to her mouth and she sucked on it.

�Wow, she was hungry.� He said smiling down at the baby.

�Yeah, she�s so beautiful.� Kimberly said.

�Yes she is. Her blue eyes are gorgeous.�

�Just like her daddy�s. And she�s got Danielle�s dimples.�

�They�re so cute.� Justin kissed her forehead. Alishia smiled, still eating.

�I honestly think you�re her favorite uncle.� Kimberly said.

�Really? Of course I am. She loves me.�

�She does. She gets all happy when she sees you. You make her laugh, so do the other guys� but you treat her like she�s your own.�

He looked at Kimberly and smiled. �You�re her favorite auntie.� He said.

�The obvious, of course. I �m cool Auntie Kimmy and I spoil her to death.� She said.

�Oh really?� He laughed.

They spent the rest of the evening playing with Alishia until she became tired and they went to bed with Alishia sleeping in the middle of the bed. She clung to Justin, holding onto his wife-beater with her small hands.

�Oh my gosh, that was amazing.� Danielle said.

JC kissed her neck softly. �I love you.� He mumbled.

She turned her head to look at him. �I love you too.� She moved to kiss him.

There was silence for a while as they held each other.

�You�re thinking about Alishia aren�t you?� Danielle asked.

JC chuckled. �Like always.� He smiled.

�I miss her already.�

�Me too.�

The next day Justin and Kimberly brought Alishia home.

�Hey baby girl. Did you miss me?� JC said taking Alishia from Kimberly. Alishia kicked and made noises as her Daddy held her.

�Hey sweetheart. What are you laughing about?� Danielle said kissing Alishia�s head.

A week later

�JC.� Danielle said.

�Yeah sweetie.� JC said walking into their bedroom.

�Alishia needs more diapers. Can you get some?� she asked.

�Sure. I�ll go now.�

�Hold on, can we talk for a second?�

�Of course.� He sat next to her on the bed. He kissed her cheek.

�JC you pay for like almost everything and I feel useless.� She said.

�Sweetheart, why do you feel that way?� He said grabbing her hand.

�I have no job. You pay for everything I feel I�m living off of you and that�s the way it will always be and I want to be independent in my own way.�

�It�s okay. I don�t mind paying for things. I got the money for it. I should take care of my family.�

�But JC, I need to get my own job. Not stay here all day and do nothing.�

�What about Alishia?�

�There are places called daycares.�

�You don�t need to get all sarcastic, I don�t want my child staying at a day care.�

�Why not? She can make friends.�

�We�ll hire a nanny.�

�For Christsake JC, you can�t keep her�both of use locked up in a safe like we�re your prized possessions. We both need to get out. She needs to make friends of her own. Even if she�s only 7 months old. Who cares!�

�I understand that, but maybe you can wait until she gets a little older to get a job and then we�ll get a nanny.�

�JC, I�m not a fucking house wife to stay home to cook and clean and take care of the kids.� Danielle said getting angry.

�I don�t expect you to be. But don�t you want to be there when your daughter first walks or speaks a full sentence?�

�Yes JC, I do and I will be there.�

�Then why are you bringing this up?�

�Because I feel like I do nothing but take care of Alishia! And you talk about me not being there. What about you when you�re gone for the group? You yell at me because I won�t be there. You�re the one missing out.�

�Danielle, can we talk about this later?�

�NO, we�re talking about it now! Don�t try to change the damn subject .�

Alishia�s crys were heard from her room.

�You�re fucking lucky. We�re not finished.� Danielle said. Walking past him to Alishia�s room.

�Danielle.�

�I don�t want to talk about it anymore. Go get diapers.� She said disappearing into Alishia�s room.

�God damn it!� He said. He grabbed his keys and wallet and left to the store.

chapter 18