This is Us

Chapter 7

#Junior's POV

I got in bed with Chloé and we just talked about everything and anything. It's been hard spending these past few weeks with her but I put in a brave face through it all. I try thinking of how life will be without her and it's too much for me to bare. I mean I just found the little soul and now I'm going to lose her soon.

Chloé: You know I love you right?

Me: Yes and I love you too

Chloé: Promise me you'll always look after Mom and even when she shouts at you never walk out in her

Me: I promise lil sis

Chloé: Do you think they know if I love them?

Me: I know that they know you love them... All of them

Chloé: Maybe I should tell them when I'm asleep

I didn't know what she meant by that so I just smiled and nodded my head.

Chloé: It was fun having a big brother for a while

Me: I'll always be your big brother

Chloé: Even when I'm gone?

Me: I'll always carry you in my heart

Chloé: You have a bright future ahead of you Junior. Don't let anyone ruin it for you okay?

Me: I won't

Chloé: And look after mom okay. I know I'm saying it again but she'll be all alone soon and I want you to srand by her through everything. Don't let her out of your sight and look after our brothers

Me: Chloé what are you talking about?

Chloé: Just promise me

Me: Chloé I promise. I'll be with everyone through thick and thin

Chloé: I love you Junior and don't you ever forget that

She kissed my cheek and turned around to sleep wrapping my arms around her. I pulled her close and kissed her cheek goodnight.

Me: I love you too

#Amahle's POV

Chloé: I love you Mom, always and forever

I woke up and there was no one around but I could have sworn I heard Chloé talking to me. Brushing it off I went back to sleep.

#Dante's POV

We were not back to our house in Pretoria after a big mission. It was an easy success and we're all just in the lounge watching sports but Themba was fast asleep.

Chloé: I love you Uncle Dan, Uncle Sandile, Uncle Ayden, Uncle Jason, Uncle Sky, Uncle Mario, Uncle Dorian, Uncle Deon and Uncle Adam. Always and forever, I'll see most of you soon soon

We all look around and she wasn't here. I'm starting to think this mission got to us.

Me: Did we all hear that?

Sky: It sounded like Chloé

Adam: But she's not here

Jason: Maybe we're just hearing things

Sandile: The same thing though?

Mario: What's up with Themba?

Dorian: He's sweating bad

Ayden: Probably just a bad dream

Mario: Anyone wants to wake him up?

Us: Nope!

#Themba's POV

Chloé: I love you Uncle Themba and I'll see you soon

Me: Chloé?

Chloé: Shhh, now sleep

I look around and it was dark and I don't know where I am. I close my eyes and when I open them again I'm with the boys and they looking at me weirdly. I brush my face and I'm sweating like hell. What the hell just happened?

#Junior's POV

I woke up in the morning and Chloé was feeling a little bit cold. I rub my eyes and stretch. I sit up and shake her softly to wake up.

Me: Chloé wake up so we can go wake up Mom

Silence....

Me: Chloé?

It came out as a whisper. I shook her and still no response. I check her pulse and I got nothing. I check her wrists, chest and neck but nothing. I checked her breathing and she wasn't breathing.

Me: No, no, no Chloé don't do this to us. Mom!!! Mom!!! Somebody please help me!! Chloé please don't leave me please

I was now crying and shaking her but nothing. I trues CPR but still nothing. I repeated it over and over and over again but still no response. I finally gave up and at down at the corner of the room by the floor. I wrapped my hands around my legs and buriedy face between them and cried. Not a soft loud cry but a soft defeated cry.

Chloé: It's okay Junior, I'm at peace now and see I'm no longer sick

Me: But you left me Chloé, you left us all

Chloé: Don't cry okay. I need you to be strong for mom

Me: But you're gone now

Chloé: Like you said, I'll always be with you in you heart

Me: What about the others and mom

Chloé: This isn't goodbye. We will meet again, I love you

Me: No Chloé wait, please don't leave

Silence....

I look up and I knew that she was really gone. Her spirit was gone. I buried my head again and cried. How do I tell everyone that she's gone? What about mom? I get up and fix her up. I look at her beautiful face and kiss her cold forehead. I walk out and head to Mom's room.

I get in and she was still sleeping. I shake her softly to wake and and she does. She sees my red eyes and immediately worry washes over her.

Mom: Baby what's wrong? Why are you crying? Talk to Mommy

Me: Mom *sniff* Mom it's not fair, it's just not fair

I just burst out crying and she takes me in her arms. She tries to calm me down but it's no use.

Me: Mom Chloé is gone. She's gone Mom and she left me, she left us

I feel tears on my shoulders and I know she's crying. We cry together for about an hour than she decides to call some mortuary people. She then decides to call dad and the moment she mentioned that Chloé passed on, he hung up. We left the room only once to watch Chloé's body get taken away. After that we locked ourselves in the room not eating anything and ignoring everyone and and everything.

Eventually the uncles showed up cause they all started knocking on the door asking us to come out. We refused till Dad knocked and Mom asked me to open the door for him. He immediately pulled me into a tight hug and we walked over to Mom. She cried so loudly in his arms and he rocked them back and forth till she calmed down.

The next day Uncle Themba informed the rest of the family about Chloé's death. Mom tried acting strong but I could tell that deep down she was breaking inside. The funeral was in a few days and she was going to be buried with the rest of the Mkhize family. It was the day of the funeral and I was preparing to see the worst of Mom. Andre cried but Mom, she was broken. It's like Chloé died with a part of her.

I sat in between Mom and Andre as we watched the coffin get lowered. Mom just cried her lungs out in Dad. She even got up to go to it but Dad held her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Mom: Dante let me go to my baby girl. I need to see her

Dad: Baby let her go please, let her go

Mom: But it's my baby girl Dante, I'm little girl

Dante: Mami please let her go

Mom: My baby...

Dante: Shhh Mami she's all better now

It tore my heart seeing her in that condition but I had to stay next to Andre and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Mom refused to eat and she was losing weight drastically. She'd only drink either water or apple juice. I couldn't stop thinking about Chloé. Her laugh, her smile, her ocean blue eyes, her puffy blonde hair and she gave the warmest hugs ever.

We'll miss you Chloé, every singke day. A few days after the funeral we all went home and Mom was trying yo act like her old self again. Dad on the other hand was acting so weird, feminine weird. He better not be gay. Two months past and it was now June. Mom was finally almost her old self again. She was gaining weight again and she was more bubbly than usual.

Dad was suffering badly. We all started to think that he's sick, stomach bug maybe? He'd throw up everyday, he'd mix weird food together and his mood would change with just a blink of an eye. One would swear he was pregnant.

#Dante's POV

I've been having the worst two months ever and I hate being sick. The only thing I enjoy is my mix, apple juice with milk. That right there is what heaven feels like. Anyways I was now at the warehouse with the boys and Sky and Ayden kept looking at me weirdly.

Me: What is it?

Ayden: He seriously doesn't see it

Sky: They all don't see it

Jason: What are you guys talking about?

Them: Lala is pregnant

Us: What?!

Sky: It's obvious you guys

Me: But she doesn't have any symptoms of a pregnant woman

Ayden: That's because you have them?

Me: You joking right?

Sky: If you don't believe us then bring her in tomorrow

Themba: Why don't we just check her now

We drove home and found Mami watching TV with Junior. He looked so relieved when he saw us.

Me: What's with you?

Junior: *whispering* Mom had been crying over the littlest things today

Me: What happened?

Junior: Well I kinda, may have, accidentally told her that she'd gained weight

I just laughed a little and so did the guys.

Junior: You guys are laughing at my misery? That's just cold. I had to bake her a cake and make her pasta then I had to get her Doritos

Themba: Where's the cake?

Junior: She finished it

Sandile: Pasta?

Junior: Finished

Deon: Doritos?

Junior: Three packets finished

Adam: There's nothing left?

Junior: I didn't even get a taste of anything

Mario: I'm going to be an uncle soon, again

Dorian: We suspect that your mom is pregnant and your dad here has the symptoms

Junior: That would explain all the feminism coming from him and his weird mix of...

Them: Milk and apple juice

Me: Mami can we go to Sky's office for a check up

Mami: Why?

Me: He thinks that you're pregnant

Mami: OH that's because I am

Us: What?!

Mami: Yeah I'm far by two months. I consulted Dr Dempsey remember? Baby I told you this

Me: No you didn't

Mami: *crying* Dante man I told you this!! I know I did not you calling me a liar

I looked at the boys and they all were laughing but not loud enough for Mami to hear.

Me: Mami I'm sorry, I'm the one with memory loss

Mami: Well duhh ain't it obvious

She talked as of she wasn't crying two seconds ago and I just breathed out loud.

Junior: See what I have to deal with?

Us: We feel your pain

Mami: OH baby Dr Dempsey said we have a check up on two weeks so he can see how the twins are doing

Us: Twins?!

Adam: Boy doesn't shoot blanks hey

Me: Kanti uchabanga ukuthi ubani lo?

(who you think this is)

Sandile: Yorh he must be feeling himself to even speak Zulu

We all just laughed and I gave Mami one Hella kiss. I will do everything in my power to protect my babies and hopefully we won't lose them because of the surprise I have for Mami.

#Amahle's POV

Chloé's presence is still felt but it doesn't hurt as much anymore. I've accepted that she's gone and I'm happy knowing that she left me with two babies growing inside me. It's now June and we were all at our house. When I sat all I mean everyone, the guys and the girls. The girls and I where in the cinema room and the guys, along with Junior, where somewhere in the house.

Veronica: Am I the only one wondering if Missy here is as innocent as she looks?

Jone: With that man as a husband? Hell no

Katelyn: You guys do realise that that's her... You know... First, like ever?

Natasha: Seriously?! That nigga taught you how to kiss like that?

I look down at my feet blushing like hell.

Marica: So have you ever done any freaky s**t with him?

Me: Seeing as how he is my first, no. I don't know how to... You know...

Them: No we don't know

Me: I don't know how to do a b*****b or other kinky si t like that

Nicole: You have a lot to learn, thankfully yoh have us

Natalie: We'll teach you how to be a dominant every once in a while

Mbali: Have you ever watched p**n before?

Me: Hell no. Everything I learnt about s*x I learnt through Dante

Zoe: We have a long way to go

Mbali: Let's show her some lesbian porn

Katelyn: Or we could start slow by showing her how to do a blowjob

Me: Is this all necessary?

Them: Yes!!

Nicole: Let me connect my phone

We all look at her weirdly.

Nicole: Don't look at me like that. We all got p**n on our phones

Natasha: Besides little miss thing here

Me: I see why I'm the youngest here

Veronica: Girl your man knows nothing about being young

Marica: You say it like you know

Zoe: We all know

Natalie: Everyone knows Dante don't play it safe. Honestly the boys felt sorry for you

Me: *mumbling* That's because they know the truth

Them: What?

Me: Nothing

Nicole then pulls up a few vidoes on the screen while they explained to me how to do a b*****b. Usually I'd be uncomfortable but... Let's not even go there. Anyways we moved on to more p**n videos of couples f*****g but I got disgusted watching anal p**n. That s**t is nasty as f**k, seeing girls pooping on the guys d**k just made me want to throw up. I ain't never doing that s**t and f**k I ain't having my ass hole stretch so much.

Once we were done I was at a lost for words.

Jone: Can you lap dance?

Me: *stuttering* Hmm... Umm... N-No

Katelyn: I think we should let join take over this one

Natasha: Go easy on the girl

Veronica: Hell no, show her how to get down

Mbali: Just make her crave for you

Jone: Girls I got this

Me: What's happening?

Natalie and Nicole pull me up and sat me down on the stretched couch in the middle. Just the s*x Me by R Kelly starts playing in the background. Next thing I know Jone is coming towards me, while unbuttoning her shirt. It all sinks in. This Motherfucker is about to give a lapdnace. And to make things worse, the ladies are cheering her on by throwing money at her. Lord help me. She gets to my couch and gives me a baby kiss.

I nearly fall out my couch. Mbali, Verónica, Natasha and Natalie are dancing along while Katelyn, Nicole, Zoe and Busi keep throwing money. I swear if Dante was to walk in he would f*****g throttle all of us. I gulp down my apple juice I was holding, and Zoe runs to come fill my glass. By now Jone is only in her underwear. She takes off her bra, and Lord knows I want to look away but I can't. She seriously has perfect boobs. She wiggled them in my face and i flick one of her n*****s.

She flinched a bit, then starts twerking. Busi gives me money and makes me put it in Jone's thong. Natasha starts dancing with a basically naked Boni and I am able to get off my chair. I look around at these crazy bitches and i must say I like everyone of them. Once the song wraps up, Jone puts on her clothes and we are all killing ourselves with laughter. I just got my first lapdance?.

Soon it's lunch time and we leave to prepare the food before the boys come looking for us. We made steak with chips and garlic rolls, I've been so obsessed with them so you can imagine. We call the boys down and Dante kisses my chgek before sitting down. I dish up for him and Junior and we had a flowing conversation at the table.

Papi: You having a good time?

Me: I love the girls

Papi: What were you guys up to?

Me: We just watched a good movie that's all

I look at Katelyn smirking and she winks at me. Themba looks at us both trying to see what we're communicating about. I try to act natural just so that he doesn't ask questions. I can't afford to be punished while I'm pregnant.

#Dante's POV

Well next week I'm surprising Mami with our wedding. I know we were suppose to plan it together but she's just been so stressed lately that I thought it'd be best if I surprised her with it. The girls have been in my case w I th everything since I asked them to help me plan it. I do regret asking them but I had no choice seeing as how the boys know absolutely nothing.

Today we were actually fitting our suits since the wedding is in less than three days. The girls wanted to make sure that everything fits. The cake flavors were choose by Junior and the decor is all white, it's best that wag so we don't make mistakes. Obviously my best man is Mario since Themba has to walk Mami down the aisle.

#Sky's POV

I've been driving around and searching for this fucker. See about a week ago we killed a drug lord's son. It wasn't intentional, he just got in the way at the wrong moment. Now I'm tracking his asshole father because he won't get off our backs no matter how many times we threaten him.

I finally arrive at his new house that he's been hiding in and kill all the guards outside. Fucker didn't even get a better security system. I jumb the fence then make my way into the house. Literally there's no one inside. I walk around till I get to an open door. I peep inside and there he is drowning himself in scotch.

I walk in with my gun tucked behind me. I know a broken man when I see one.

Me: What do you want Diamond?

Diamond: I want revenge

Me: I told you that it wasn't suppose to happen that way. We didn't expect him to be there

Diamond: And yet he's still dead

Me: Why won't you let this go?

Diamond: You don't get it and you'll never get it. Not till you lose someone you which is in a few hours

Me: Diamond if you do whatever it is you want to do then you're good as dead

Diamond: I don't care and besides, I have nothing to lose. You can torture me or even threaten to kill me but I won't talk. You guys took everything away from me and I'm about to take everything away from you

I take my gun out and put one in his head. I text the guys to continue with the wedding and I'll be there as soon as possible.

#Amahle's POV

There were a bunch of people doing my make up and hair. Katelyn has been helping me get ready and when she showed me my dress I almost fainted. I can't believe Dante pulled all of this off. He even got me my Cinderella wedding dress. I remember telling me that I've always dreamed of being rescued by a Prince Charming and that was him, just sad that I never got to wead my dress.

Once everything was set Jone helped me wear my dress. She stayed behind from the other girls since Sky fit held up somewhere. Katelyn also can't be one of my bridesmaids because Themba is walking me down the aisle. I looked at myself in the mirror and I almost cried, I looked magical.

Themba walks in and his mouth drops. I look down and smile to myself. Even when I'm pregnant I still look good. We walk out and head straight to the car. We were late because of me obviously but thankfully everyone was already at the church waiting for me. I had a few missed calls from Dante but I couldn't attend to him. Just then the radio reports something I didn't expect.

Radio: "Police are now at the scene and there doesn't seem to be any survivors. St. Christine Church was bombed early today and...."

After that I didn't hear I single word. A tear accidentally left my eyes and flowed diem my face. Themba punched the speed and we were at the church in no time. I look out the window and my world just came crushing down. I tell Junior to wait in the car and rush inside.

I walk in and most bodies are being wheeled away, some are being covered and some still haven't been attended to. I look around and there are no bodies at the alter. I ask one of the paramedics if they knew where they taken and he said the St. Christine Mortuary. I ask Themba to drive there and we're taken to them.

For some reason they were being kept separately. I looked at all of them and they were all burnt badly but I could still recognise them. I then noticed that Dante's body wasn't here.

Me: Sorry doc but there is someone missing here

Doc: Well some bodies burnt to ashes so whoever that is must still be back at the church

I just crawled up on the floor and cried my lungs out. Junior crawled up next to me and we both just cried till we had no tears left to cry. Themba carried me back to the car and drove us home. The moment I got inside I just started crying all over again. First Chloé, not Dante and he took everyone with him.

Why am I destined to be left m? Why am I destined to always hurt? Just when I think that I've finally found happiness everything just comes crashing down on me. Two years!! Two fucken years!!! I couldn't even get two fucken happy years with my husband before he's killed. I got two kids on the way with no father.

I can't help but think of everything that we were suppose to share together. Our sleepless nights, our diaper changing and me waking him up because of my cravings. I look at Junior and he's just so broken. We both haven't said a word since we came back.

We kicked everyone out and locked ourselves in. Sky came to check up on us but we didn't open up for him. Themba would call to discuss funeral arrangements and I told him to take care of it just make sure that they all just buried together on the same day.

The funeral was so packed. Their business partners were there with their families. They all gave beautiful speeches that left me crying more and more each time. I didn't have the voice to speak so Junior read out his speech then my speech. Before they were finally buried we all threw white roses over their coffins.

Sky: We ride together, We die together. We love you guys

We watched as the coffins we lowered and reality hit that they're really gone. All of them, gone. I have no one. No husband, no crazy friends and no over protective brother-in-laws. I can't help but hate them for all the pain they causing Junior and I. They promised TK always be there for us, to always protect us. Now we have no one.

After the funeral Sky drove us home since the guy's lawyer wanted to read out all their wills. Basically they left everything under our names in the event that they all die, ironic. Dante also left everything under my name along with Junior and had a trust for the twins. What shocked me is the fact that he left some documents under my name stating that I am to take over his Godfather of all Mafia's position immediately. What?!

How can he ask so much of me. I barely know much about this business now he expects me to be a Godfather? I thought he was just a crime lord. Sadly I had no choice but to accept the position so I did and I hid the papers because without them then I'm doomed.

I was now sitting outside with Themba, Katelyn, Jone and Sky. We're all just reminiscing about the guys and how they used to argue about the dumbest things.

Sky: I remember the one time Dante called a meeting around 2 am and Aydne showed up in his boxers and slippers

Me: *laughing* What the hell?!

Themba: We were all confused and Ayden just said "You interupted my organism so f**k off"

Jone: I miss them

Katelyn: So much

Sky: *imitating Dante* If you fuckers even look at my wife I'll feed you your d***s for desert

Jone: He hated anyone who'd look at her in any appropriate way

Themba: Remember how he almost killed Drue and Derian for wanting to get with her

Katelyn: *imitating Dante* No one is allowed to call her Mami but me

Me: I miss my husband guys. There is and there will never be a man like him. I don't just miss his craziness, he's sense of humor or his possessiveness. I miss his laugh, his smile and the way he'd look at me. The way his eyes would tell me that he loved me and only me. The way his touch would tell me that he'd never let me go. The way his smile would tell me that he cares. I miss the way he'd cuddle me whenever I'm scared. I miss the way he'd rock us back and forth whenever I'd cry. I miss how he'd be there for me even when I didn't want him to. I miss how our souls would intertwine whenever we made love. I miss how we used to dance around the house and just enjoy each other's company. Tell me, why was all of that taken away from me? Why can't I be happy? Don't I deserve to be happy? Why is it my forever only lasted a year?

By now I'm crying and and Katelyn is hugging me from behind. I get away from her grib and run into the house. I head straight to the closet and I get his baseball bat. I start smashing everything in the house that's glass, thinking about all the pain I've been through. I think about everything and everyone that I have lost I think about my unborn babies, I think about Junior. I let out all my anger and frustrations till there's nothing to break.

I sit down defeated and Junior grabs the bat from me. He cuddles on the floor with me and we just lay there looking into space.