by D. Camille
Khalil looked at the table. “Yes.”
“Khalil, you got four First Class tickets?” she asked confused.
“Of course.”
Danielle frowned. “Why?”
“Because, I’m taking two Queens and a little King on vacation,” he explained.
She reached for the papers. “This is a fortune, even with me reimbursing you for the tickets you got for me and Kam.”
“You’re not reimbursing me for anything.”
“Khalil, I never expected you to buy our tickets. I agreed to let you order them so that we could all have seats together,” she explained.
“And we do.”
Danielle put her hands to her head. “Khalil…”
“Danielle, I’m coming to meet your parents, do you really think I’m going to let you pay for your own ticket?” Khalil asked confused.
“First Class tickets?”
He shrugged. “I’m not a billionaire like Rion, but I’m hardly a poor man. I’ve taken care of my responsibilities, so that I have the luxury of doing the things I want to do.” He took her hand. “I want you and the kids to be comfortable and enjoy our time away. Is that okay?”
Danielle eventually nodded slowly as she looked into his handsome face. “Yes, it’s okay and it’s so very thoughtful. Thank you.”
“So you were snooping through my papers?” he asked lifting a brow.
“They were on the table; it’s not like I was going through drawers.”
He pulled her closer. “That’s okay, I don’t keep secrets from you.”
Danielle froze and looked at him.
Khalil studied her for a moment. “But it seems that the Queen does.”
“I saw my therapist today; I’ve been seeing her since the accident,” Danielle said quietly. “To help me deal with the mental trauma.”
He nodded and waited patiently.
“Before I met you on the field trip, I’d taken this month vacation to find another job and a home…in Florida.”
“You were leaving?” he asked.
Danielle nodded slowly. “I’d gotten to the point where I just didn’t want my life to continue the way it was and I needed a change.”
She took a deep breath. “I wondered if I was making any difference as a judge and if I was helping any child or family. I didn’t’ have a personal life and had accepted that was probably never going to happen.”
Khalil caught the tear on her cheek that fell from her eye and she looked at him. “Then I met you and everything changed in an instant…and it scared me to death.”
“I know,” he told her softly.
“Then everything was going on with Spencer and Kyros. I realized today that while I was afraid for you and your son; I was also reliving my own trauma of the past, and while I may experience triggers from now on, I have to face them head on and not just become difficult,” she told him.
“I can handle your difficulties,” he promised.
Danielle smile softly. “You shouldn’t have to on a regular basis.”
He stroked her cheek. “I told you I can be difficult as well; I’m told that all the time.”
“I’m becoming well acquainted with the difficult Mr. Lewis,” she agreed.
“That’s what makes us real,” Khalil told her. “I never want you to hide who you are and what you feel.”
She touched his wrist. “That means a lot to me.”
Khalil kissed her tenderly.
“I never want you to hide who you are either,” Danielle whispered.
“I don’t.”
She smiled. “I noticed.”
“Can you handle my difficulties?” he asked.
“It may be a challenging task,” she teased.
He gave her a look. “Do you still want to leave Detroit?” he questioned.
Danielle felt his apprehension and touched his face. “No, I don’t want to leave Detroit. This is your home and you’ve done so much work here with so much more to be done.”
“The city wasn’t the reason I was leaving, it was just my head space,” she explained. “Now I have every reason to stay here.”
“Whenever you want to visit your home, I will take you,” he promised.
She lifted a brow. “Okay, just not First Class.”
“Let me take care of that, woman.”
Danielle leaned over and kissed him. “You’re such a stubborn King.”
Khalil sat her on his lap. “And you are a beautiful Queen.”
“I need to discuss something else with you,” Danielle said looking down into his face.
He nodded. “Yes?”
Danielle closed her eyes for a moment to gather her words and Khalil watched her intently. He began to gently rub her back for comfort.
“It’s okay,” he soothed. Khalil could tell whatever this was, it was painful from the slight tremors in her body.
Slowly her dark eyes opened to his and her words were a little more than a whisper. “There is a possibility… that I could have a child.”
“When did this happen?” he asked gently.
She swallowed. “Apparently, it’s always been a possibility; I just never believed it.”
Khalil looked confused and she continued. “My sister and Toya both agree that I misunderstood what the doctors told me and that I’d just latched onto not having a child to protect myself from further pain.”
“What did the doctors really say?” Khalil asked softly.
Danielle sighed. “I went to see him today after I saw my therapist and he confirmed what they said. Although, it would probably be a difficult pregnancy, I should be able to carry a healthy baby.”
She looked at him. “I’d still be a high risk, but with proper care, everything should be fine.”
“How do you feel about that?” Khalil asked.
Danielle looked away. “Amazed, confused, excited, fearful.”
Khalil turned her face back to his. “Would you want us to have a baby together?”
She bit her lip. “I would love to have your baby, Khalil.”
He gathered her close and kissed her lovingly before staring into her face. “More than anything, I’d love to add to our family, but I would never want to put you in jeopardy or cause you more pain. I want and need you most of all, Danielle.”
She smiled gratefully at him before embracing him tightly. “I love you Khalil.”
“I love you and whatever you want, I will be by your side.” He vowed holding her. “Baby or no baby.”
Danielle pulled back and looked at him. “So while I was at the doctor, he drew some blood,” she said hesitantly.
Khalil waited.
“They detected hCG,” she told him and now she waited.
He lifted a brow and looked at her. “You’re pregnant?”
“From the initial tests…yes,” she answered. “I still have to take more to confirm it positively since it’s so early.”
“And you want to do this?” Khalil asked cautiously. The last woman who’d told him she was pregnant with his child, didn’t want to have him.
“Yes, I want this baby so much.” Danielle told him earnestly. She looked down and placed a hand on her stomach.
Danielle lifted her watery eyes to his. “It’s the most unbelievably, incredible thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Khalil placed his hand over hers. “Thank you,” he said softly.
She sniffed. “Why are you thanking me?”
“Because you are the most unbelievably, incredible thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Danielle smiled through her tears. “We’re having a baby!”
“We’re getting married first.”
“Is that important to you?” Danielle asked.
“Yes.”
She looked at him and he explained. “When Melody got pregnant, our relationship was already over and now I know that was her last ditch attempt at us being together. I had no intentions of marrying her at that point, although I’d promised that I wo
uld take care of our child.”
“I’m a grown man and now I set the examples for my son and for all the kids who look up to me,” he finished.
“Do you feel like I’ve trapped you?” Danielle questioned softly. “Because I told you that I couldn’t have kids at first?”
Khalil graced her with one of his rare genuine smiles. “You never had to trap me Queen. I was willingly yours from the start and this only makes me love you more, if that’s even possible. You were my warm, lush, fertile ground, waiting for the King to plant his seed and I can’t wait to see what we’ve made together because whoever it is, he or she is going to be phenomenal.”
“You have such a way with words,” Danielle told him with a soft smile.
“I’m a Gemini, we’re natural communicators on one side.”
“And what’s the other side?”
He shook his head. “The side that people don’t often like.”
She kissed his jaw. “I think that both sides are equally intense and fascinating.”
Khalil stood with her in his arms. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?”
“I should just say that it’s not completely, one hundred percent positive so there’s a chance this could just be a false alarm,” Danielle relayed.
He nodded. “Then we’ll make it a certainty tonight or every night until it is.”
Khalil carried her to his bedroom and sat her on her feet. Turning, he locked the door, before giving her his full attention.
Danielle stood still as he slowly undressed her. “I’m beginning to really enjoy that.”
He smiled slightly as he looked over her sexy black underwear. “You weren’t planning to come with me?” he asked suspiciously.
Danielle wrapped her arms around his neck. “A girl always has dreams.”
Khalil picked her up. “You don’t have to dream about it, it’s real.” He laid her on the bed and rested on top of her.
“Does it come with oils and herbs?” she whispered.
He lowered his mouth to hers and treated her to sensuously, full lips. “You know what else it comes with?” he said while licking her lips.
She felt the evidence of desire against her midsection. “I very much remember that part.”
Khalil removed her underwear, leaving her naked before his eyes. Danielle stared at the ceiling, while he disappeared for a minute then returned. She felt the oil that he’d warmed, as he spread it over her body, giving special attention to her womb area.
Completing his task of massaging her all over, he stood and began to slowly undress.
She sniffed. “Is that Lavender?”
“Yes.”
Danielle watched him reveal that superbly built brown body. “And what does that do?”
He came to her and placed his warm skin on her well-oiled flesh. “It relaxes that beautiful mind. My Queen worries about too many things.”
She caressed his naked back. “When I’m with you, they somehow don’t seem as overwhelming.”
Khalil kissed her hotly. “Tonight, let’s make them disappear.”
As he joined their bodies inch by inch, Danielle’s thoughts gradually evaporated until she wasn’t aware of anything but him. When he was buried deep inside and connected both physically and spiritually to her, Khalil whispered passionately in her ear.
“We’re going to have the most beautiful baby…”
******
A few days later, Khalil showed Dr. Mathias Roberts around the Pride Center before their meeting.
“This is impressive Khalil and it’s all about us,” Mathias said impressed while looking at the black themed artwork.
Khalil nodded. “Our kids need to know who they are and where they came from. Not this whitewashed version they’re fed.”
Mathias agreed. “It’s good to see brothers giving back.”
“You too, black male therapists are hard to find,” Khalil told him. “Especially ones that will come and help out without asking about any compensation.”
“Malachi says that you and the Negus are doing things over here and if I can help, I’m down.”
“Let’s go to my office,” Khalil told him and they headed in that direction.
Inside, Mathias took a seat as Khalil sat behind his desk.
“So what can I do for you Khalil?”
Khalil sighed. “First, I was looking for a therapist to help out on this initiative I’m working on with the City for ex-prisoners, helping them deal with the mental aspects of assimilating back into the real world.”
Mathias nodded. “Okay, sounds like a great project.”
Khalil shook his head. “Then I ran into a situation that I’d never imagined. I had a pedophile coming after my son.”
Mathias frowned. “Damn, how’d you deal with that?”
“The only way I could.”
“Is your son okay?” Mathias asked. “You want me to talk to him?”
Khalil shook his head. “My son is fine. He knows nothing about this, but my concern is for young boys and men who aren’t fine.”
“Man, people do understand how many of our boys and men have been traumatized through sexual abuse. It can happen anywhere, by anybody. They don’t come with warning flags,” Mathias explained.
“I know. I didn’t think this guy was either,” Khalil agreed. “I want to host a group session and open it up to any victims.”
Mathias frowned. “I don’t know about that Khalil. Our boys don’t want this information known about them. They will take this to the grave because they don’t want be seen as gay or soft.”
Khalil rubbed his chin. “Then how do we get them the help?”
“Possibly do something after hours, where people couldn’t see them coming in and going out? Try to guarantee their privacy as much as you can, but still be ready for a low turnout,” Mathias advised.
Khalil nodded. “What if I had a presentation for all the boys that talked about sexual abuse and how to report it? What the signs are and how to protect themselves?” he asked.
Mathias nodded. “At least a presentation would include everybody and wouldn’t single out any specific person. Then maybe at the presentation have some flyers about the group session and then see who comes out?”
“Who should I have at this presentation?” Khalil asked.
“Anyone with connections to law enforcement, Child and Family Services, and possibly someone from the courts to explain the consequences that perpetrators do face and that they can be held accountable,” Mathias supplied.
“I can do that,” Khalil agreed.
“Set it up and I’ll be there to touch on the mental aspects and try to diminish some of the negative thoughts that keep victims from coming forward.”
Khalil looked out of his window. “At least this is a start.”
******
On the day of the presentation, Khalil had all the boys who participated in the Center along with other boys and young men from the community seated inside the auditorium. He looked out over their faces and felt his heart speed up. This was their future and if they were hurting, it was his job to do everything in his power to help and protect them.
He felt a hand on his back and turned to his foundation. “Hey, are you okay?” Danielle asked.
“Thinking about how some of these boys may be victims, is messing with my mind,” he confessed.
She took his hand. “Well, if there are, we’re going to help them.”
He brought her hand to his lips. “Thank you Queen and thank you for helping put this together.”
“I’m here because it’s important to me and so are you,” she told him.
They were soon joined by Mac, Tauri and the city’s new Head Prosecutor, Brooklyn Nichols.
“Quite a crowd of young people you have here tonight, Director.” Brooklyn said surveying the group of boys. “I’ve seen this type of presentation for girls but not so much for boys only.”
She turned to Khalil. “I’m glad you’re doing this a
nd I’m ready to prosecute any perpetrators that are identified.”
Khalil nodded. “Thank you.”
Moving away, Khalil addressed the group and saw Kyros sitting along with the Negus in the front seats. Mathias then spoke to the group about inappropriate touching and activities.
“No one is allowed to touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable,” he told them. “If this occurs, you should tell your parents; if you can’t tell your parents, you should tell a teacher, a counselor or a police officer.”
“Remember, if someone has touched you or done something to hurt you that has made you feel ashamed or afraid; it’s not your fault and you don’t have to carry those feelings around,” he finished.
Mac, Tauri, and Danielle all took turns talking to the children about their roles in helping them. As the police chief, Mac explained how the children could report crimes to her officers to have offenders removed.
Tauri assured them that the Prosecutor’s office would prosecute any and all perpetrators on their behalf and Danielle promised that she would work along with fellow judges to get harsher sentences for these criminals.
When they were all done, Mathias gave them information on how to report all crimes in addition to announcing the group session for those who were ready to talk about any ordeals. Khalil finally dismissed the group and turned to his panel.
“Thank you all for coming. I appreciate all that you’ve shared with the kids. Hopefully this information will put them on guard and help anyone come forward that needs to,” Khalil told them.
Mathias patted him on the back. “You got them the information, the rest is up to them.”
Khalil agreed and watched as the crowd disbursed. He looked down at his son, who was surrounded by men who loved and cared for him then thought about his new child on the way. Shaking his head, he looked up as Vic approached him.
“Hey Vic,” Khalil greeted. “Are all the refreshments out for the boys?”
Vic nodded. “Yeah, but I need to see you in your office for a minute?”
Khalil agreed. “Go ahead, I’ll be right there.
Khalil went over to where his group of family and friends were. The Negus greeted him as he reached down to kiss his son.
“That was on point Khalil,” Corvus told him. “As kids, we didn’t even think about stuff like this with the people in our lives.”
