The Brothers

The next morning, CJ wakes up to his alarm going off. He gets up, does his morning routine and goes to make sure his mom is awake. He knocks on the door and waits for a reply.

"Mom." He says and knocks again.

On the other side of the door, Aaliyah and Colin are in bed still asleep after a long night. Aaliyah slowly opens her eyes as the knocking continues.

"Mmmm" she groans as she stirs in the sheets. She tries to get out of bed, but Colin rolls over and wraps his arm tightly around her, pulling her into him.

"Where you goin?" He mumbles.

"Jr's at the door."

"I don't want you to go."

"Baby, I'm gonna be gone for maybe and hour, maybe a little over that."

"That's to long." He whines.

"Babe. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Mmmkay. Hurry back."

"I will."

"Good, now please go answer the door so he'll stop knocking." Colin says turning to the other side. Aaliyah gets up, puts on her robe and goes to open the door.

"Hey papa."

"Are you up?"

"I am now. I'll be ready in about fifteen minutes, okay."

"Okay."

Aaliyah quickly gets dressed and makes her way downstairs. "You ready baby boy?"

"Yes ma'am."

After a couple hours, Aaliyah and CJ finish up at the DMV. Her son's finally a licensed driver and deep down, that scares her. She drops him off at school just in time for him to make it to class on time.

He walks in the building, and upstairs to find Ariella standing at her locker.

"Hey boo" she says as she sees him walk up.

"Hey beautiful."

"So, how'd it go this morning."

"I passed."

"Congratulations."

"So, I get my car tomorrow..which means I can take your beautiful ass on a proper date."

"That's a definite possibility."

CJ smiles. "Tomorrow night?" He asks.

"Sounds good."

"Cool. I'll see you later?"

"Yup. Text me." She says before he walks off.

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Aaliyah makes it back to the house and Colin's still lying in bed. She walks over to the curtains and opens them up, letting all the light into the room.

"Rise and shine."

"Is there breakfast on the table?" Colin mumbles.

"There will be."

"Then I'll rise when I smell food. Close the curtains." Aaliyah rolls her eyes and closes the curtain. She heads downstairs to start cooking. Just as Aaliyah's finishing up, Colin makes his way downstairs Aaliyah standing at the stove. He comes up and hugs her from behind. "Smells good." He says before kissing her neck.

"It's almost ready."

"Good, cause ya man is hungry!"

"Don't worry, you gone get fed real good."

Aaliyah finishes cooking and make both of their plates.

"I don't think I mentioned this, but O, Kash and the girls should be flying in later."

Colin smiles. "Yeah, I know. Cam told me. I told him not to say anything. Wanted to surprise him. You tell Kash?"

"I didn't have time to. I was a little occupied all night."

"Hm, wonder why?" Colin says and they both giggle.

"So what now?" Aaliyah asks.

"What do you mean?"

"The club..how you plan to step back on the scene. You know there will be questions...there's a lot of damage control to be done. The guys covered for you when you went in, they're going to want to hear it from the horses mouth."

"I plan on hitting the club tomorrow morning and tomorrow night, try to get back into the swing of things. I'll take the questions as they come. I need to head to Houston, check on my mom, and the club there. I need to go to LA, see how O's running things there. But he has complete control. He's done a real good job with it.

"I agree. It's sometimes hard to believe that that's Odell. Ya know. He's changed so much in the past seven years...for the better, of course."

"Simple. He grew up. I know his mom's proud of him. She stayed on his ass when we were younger, and always had me talkin sense into him. I'm glad he and Kash are doing well. Good to see Cam and Kai doing well too. Can't wait to meet their kids."

"Kai's boys remind me a lot of CJ when he was younger, and Kash's girls...let's just say apple don't fall too far from the tree."

"Oh lord. I know they run things over there in LA."

"They have O wrapped around their little fingers, Kash is the one that don't play." Aaliyah says chuckling.

"Figured. Before they get here, we have errands to run first."

"Well hurry up and eat and we'll go."

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Back in LA, Kash, Odell and the girls had just arrived to the airport where they're taking a private jet to Miami. After they're long flight, they finally touchdown in Miami in time to go to the hotel to get situated and then go to CJ's game.

Odell still has no clue that Colin was released and is back home and he'd be in for a pleasant surprise when they got to the football field. Colin was nervous, he didn't know what for, but he was more than ready to see his younger brother. He and Aaliyah arrive at the football stadium. Aaliyah in "#7's Number 1 fan" t-shirt, and Colin in a school t-shirt and foam finger. They walk in after paying for admissions and heads to the concession stand for drinks. After getting everything they need, Colin quickly spots Odell, Kash and the girls walking in. "Look who's here." Colin says.

"Here, go ahead and go over there. Give me your drink." Colin hands Aaliyah his drink and walks over towards them and Aaliyah follows behind.

"O!!!" Colin says. Odell quickly looks up to see who called him, and he couldn't believe his eyes. Akasha is surprised as well.

Once the they both get to each other they stand there and hug. "What the hell? How long you been out?" He asks still in shock.

"Couple days."

"And you ain't say shit."

"I wanted to surprise you fool. I see you still got these ramen noodles on yo head." Colin says pulling a strand of his hair.

"The ladies love it. Keeps me coming back to the club." He says carefully looking around to make sure Kash wasn't around.

"Same old Odell."

"Nah, not the same. I still acknowledge that I attract the ladies but I'll never step out on my lady. Ever."

"Look at my brother man. All grown up." Colin says as Kash and the girls walk up to them.

"Look who it is. Come here brother-in-law" mash says pulling Colin in for a hug.

"Nice to see you Kash. You lookin good."

"So are you."

"I try. You know I had to keep the image in tact to keep up with this one." Colin says as he puts his arm around Aaliyah. "And these two beautiful girls." He says squatting down to their levels. "You must be Ariyah, and youuu must be Akia." They both smile and nod.

"And you must be uncle Colin!" Ariyah says with a smile.

"I am."

"Mommy and daddy always talk about you."

"Oh yeah." Colin says looking up and O and Kash.

"Mhhm." She says nodding her head. "But your nose isn't as big as mommy says though." They all burst into laughter.

"Miss Ariyah...that mother of yours is something else."

"My mommy's the best!!"

"Yeah your mommy is awesome." Colin agrees. He stands back up. "Swear one of these days." He says pointing at Kash and she shrugs her shoulders.

They find some open spots and get seated. Cam, Kia and the boys arrive shortly after. When the game is over they all meet up with CJ before he gets back on the bus where he's going back to the school to get his car.

"Can I go out tonight..." he asks.

"No sir. It's already late."

"Ma, its 9 o'clock."

"Actually it's almost 10." She says correcting him.

"Oh my god. Dad. Help me out."

Colin looks at Aaliyah. "What?" She asks.

"Let him go out and have some fun." Aaliyah rolls her eyes. "Be back in my house by 12."

"That gives me just two hours..." CJ complains.

"Well you better make em count. Be safe and stay out of trouble." Colin says.

"Alright." He takes off and everyone else leaves to go out to eat for a late night dinner.