by D. Camille
Moving to her side, Khalil slid an arm around Danielle’s waist and she smiled up at him. “Everything okay?” she whispered.
Khalil toyed with her twists then kissed her cheek. “Yes, my Queen.”
She rested her body against him. “Hmmm…I’ve always loved those definitive answers.”
Chapter 22
Khalil sat next to Danielle with her hand in his. He saw the worried look on her face as she prepared to deliver their daughter. Today she was scheduled to have a planned C-Section. Her pregnancy, overall, hadn’t been ideal but it also hadn’t been unbearable. Khalil, Kyros, Tasha and their family members had been there to assist her every step of the way, and now they were all gathered in the waiting room for Miss Lewis to arrive.
Danielle looked at him with big dark eyes. “This is it.”
He gazed at her. “Are you ready?”
She nodded slowly and he brought her hand to his mouth. “I’m right here and I’m so proud of you. I know this hasn’t been easy for you.”
“It’s all worth it,” she whispered.
Khalil smiled at her. “I can’t wait to see her.”
“Me too,” Danielle said returning his smile. “She’s going to be something else.”
He laughed. “My little Queen is going to control the board. Nothing is going to stop her, look who her parents are.”
The doctors arrived then Khalil and Danielle shared one last look. “Let’s bring this little girl into the world,” the doctor announced happily.
Two hours later, Danielle was settled into her room as a new mommy. She tried to wrap her mind around the thought that she’d actually given birth to a baby. She’d already settled into the role of being a new mommy to Kyros, but this was another first for her.
She felt a touch to her face and brought her focus to the man standing over her holding his daughter. “I agree. It’s amazing,” Khalil told Danielle, reading her thoughts.
“It’s my first time,” she whispered.
“It’s mine too… with my Queen,” he corrected. Looking into a tiny sleeping face, he said, “Kyros is not going to let anyone touch her. He’s going to be on constant Red Flag alert.”
Danielle shook her head. “He is truly a little soldier.” She looked around. “When is he coming in?”
Khalil took a seat. “I asked everyone to give us some private time.”
“Is everything alright?” Danielle questioned.
“Everything is fine Danielle. You’ve been so strong all these months. I’ve watched your determination to bless us with this precious gift. I wanted you to have time to bask in your accomplishment with our daughter.” He handed the baby to her and Danielle smiled through her tears, staring at a little nose and lips.
“She’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
Danielle laughed as she glanced at him. “I knew you’d say that.”
“It’s the truth.”
Danielle turned her attention back to the bundle in her arms. “Kyra Angela Lewis, welcome to your world.”
Khalil nodded. “You have to act as if were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”
“Hopefully, Angela Davis’ words will be Kyra’s motto throughout her life,” Danielle agreed.
“Black First,” Khalil vowed. “King and Queens united to change the world.”
“Even as ‘performers in the system’,” Danielle teased him.
He smirked. “Angela Davis fought the system, and won.”
“Then she became an educator at the University of California,” she pointed out.
“She taught in the History of Consciousness Department,” he rebutted.
Danielle shook her head. “I hope your daughter doesn’t inherit your debate skills.”
“Her mother is no lightweight,” he told her.
Kyra began to exercise her little lungs and they both smiled. “I guess we’d better get used to that.” Danielle commented.
“Kyros was the lightest sleeper, any movement and he’d wake up. I’m surprised Khayla didn’t haul it back to Detroit,” Khalil explained.
“She loves him as much as she loves you. Now she has her own son and hopefully, he’s letting her sleep,” Danielle said gently rocking her little miracle.
Khalil shook his head. “Lance has a son…and he’s my nephew.”
Danielle laughed. “And Brandon has a beautiful daughter, that looks just like a baby doll,” she added.
“Yes, she does…and Orion has added another son on his quest for five,” Khalil said still shaking his head.
“Well, I think two will be our limit,” Danielle informed him.
He stroked her head as he looked at the baby. “I’ve got everything I could’ve ever asked for.”
“A beautiful Queen, a son and a daughter, my family and my center,” he said softly.
Danielle looked into his handsome face. “I never knew a King was waiting for me.”
“I never expected a judge,” Khalil told her.
“I bet you didn’t.”
He stood to his feet. “Kyros is probably bugging the hell out of our parents, so I should let them in now.”
Danielle nodded. “Okay, thank you for the time.”
Kyros rushed through the door first and stopped at the edge of the bed. “Can I see her?”
“Of course, she’s your sister,” Danielle said uncovering the baby so that her brother could check her out.
Kyros looked at her in wonder. “She’s so little.”
Compared to the other Nigist’s babies that had been born, Kyra was small in comparison, coming in at barely six pounds. However, she was expected to make her weight up as she nursed. Between the days of pain, and being unable to keep foods down for a while, Danielle was thankful that her little girl had gained enough weight to still be considered healthy.
“Hi Kyra!” Kyros whispered to the tiny bundle.
Danielle looked around the room at both sets of grandparents and an ecstatic Toya. Kim’s husband had returned from duty and they stood back, along with Kam watching Kyros and the baby.
Khalil looked at his children filled with pride as Kyros said, “Hey Kam, come see our baby!”
As Kam and Kyros took in their fill of Kyra, the others came over to congratulate the new parents. Toya had tears in her eyes as she approached the bed.
Danielle felt the sting behind her own. “Don’t do that!” she admonished softly.
“I can’t help it!” Toya cried. “I’m soooooo happy for you! We have a baby girl!”
“You’re claiming her too?” Danielle asked.
Toya nodded. “Oh yeah, all I went through to get you to this point. I told you, I’m living my married, pregnant life vicariously through you. That’s the least you could do for your best friend.”
Khalil and Danielle laughed. “This really isn’t our child,” Danielle told Khalil.
Assata reached for her granddaughter. “No, she’s not.”
“That’s where you get that from,” Danielle told Khalil at his mother’s answer.
“Look at our little Queen,” Assata cooed. “The next generation of Nigists.”
Khalil shook his head as Danielle hid a smile.
Betty took the baby that Assata gently handed to her. “I thought this day was impossible, but my daughter told me that nothing is impossible with a King and I see that she was right,” Betty said looking at Khalil and Danielle with a smile.
The door opened and Khalil watched as the Negus entered. “We heard there was a new Lewis in here,” Brandon announced.
Khalil looked at them. “What are you doing here? You’ve got babies of your own at home to take care.”
Rion gave Khalil a manshake and a hug. “We had to be here for the birth of the little Queen.”
“Khayla and the Nigists send their regards,” Lance told the couple as he embraced them. “They’re all at home nursing and probably plotting their next moves. She told me to tell you,
she’d be in touch soon.”
Danielle nodded. “Please tell them I said, thank you and thank you for all of their help along the way.”
Corvus looked over at the baby. “Awww…she’s so pretty.”
Both Danielle and Khalil frowned. “What does that mean?” Khalil asked.
“It means she’s pretty,” Corvus repeated. “I was hoping she’d look like Danielle.”
“Shut up.” Khalil told him.
Once everyone had their time with the baby, Khalil not so discretely cleared the room to give Danielle some rest. He and Kyros walked their family to the exit, while Toya stayed behind with Danielle.
“Are you in pain D.?” Toya asked now that they were alone and the baby was in her bassinette.
Danielle twisted a little. “Not as bad as it has been before.”
Toya touched her hair. “Well, you came through this like you’ve survived everything else…like a trooper and now you have a beautiful baby daughter.”
Danielle took her hand. “Thank you T. Without you, I don’t think I would have ever gotten to this point.”
Toya smiled. “Girl, you was already pregnant with that man’s baby before you even talked to me about it.”
She smiled. “It was those damn herbs and oils.”
“Tell him to give me some,” Toya told her and Danielle laughed until it hurt.
“Stop! You can’t have me laughing like that,” Danielle complained while still laughing.
“What? I’m not playing.”
Shaking her head, Danielle looked at her friend. “I love you Toya.”
Toya squeezed her hand. “And you know how much I love you and our baby.”
“Stop claiming my baby,” Danielle warned playfully.
Toya shook her head. “Never, I’m still mad her middle name wasn’t Toya.”
“She’s named after Angela Davis.”
“So…Angela Davis wasn’t here with y’all, helping out during this pregnancy.”
Danielle frowned. “No, she just spent her life fighting for civil rights and against injustices for black people all over the country.”
“Okay, she got her spotlight already.” Toya told her and Danielle laughed some more.
Danielle lifted a hand and said, “Get out before I tear all these staples.”
Toya laughed and stood to her feet. She bent and kissed Danielle’s head. “Okay, your husband is going to put me out like he did everybody else when he gets back anyway.”
“Take care of yourself and our baby.” Toya said walking to the door. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you Toya,” Danielle said then watched her friend leave.
Danielle glanced over at the sleeping baby wrapped in blankets. She reached out and laid a hand on her little body.
“Hello little Kyra,” she whispered. “You have an incredible father and wonderful big brother.”
“On top of that you have grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…all wanting to love you,” she finished.
The baby squirmed. “I’ve loved you since I’ve known you were a possibility and I will always be your role model and advocate. I’m changing the world for you and your brother.”
Khalil and Kyros returned to the room and checked on Kyra. Kyros stood watching the baby. “Is she tired?” he asked as Khalil took a seat next to the bed.
“For now, she’ll be awake soon,” Danielle told him and he walked over to where his father sat before Khalil lifted him onto his lap.
“Are you tired?” Khalil asked the boy.
Kyros nodded. “I think so.”
Danielle smiled. “You two should go home and get some rest.”
Khalil gathered Kyros against his chest. “We can rest right here.”
“I wanna stay with Momma and Kyra,” Kyros said sleepily with his head on his father’s chest. “I don’t want them to be by themselves.”
Khalil kissed his head. “We’re always going to protect our Queens.”
******
A week later, Khalil hosted the support group that he’d started with Mathias. Although, he’d spent less time at the Center than usual, tonight he needed to be there for the young men attending the sessions.
Kim, Kam and Kim’s husband, Wesley were at the house helping Danielle out this evening, until he got back. The sessions were held after the Center was closed to protect the privacy of the attendees. They had become progressively larger as they went on which in Khalil’s mind was both good and sad. Good, that these boys were getting help, but sad, that so many had been abused at some point in their lives, by a relative, a coach, a teacher, a church member, guardians, inmates, and women, just to name a few.
After the session, Mathis wanted to speak with him about the progress of the group and future plans. Khalil looked at his watch, because he was ready to get home, however this was important.
Khalil finally managed to make his last rounds down the halls before locking up the building. One room still had lights on and he walked slowly to see what was going on, since it wasn’t one of the rooms they normally used.
He heard someone behind him and turned quickly with a frown.
“Hey Mr. Lewis, my bad,” Vic told him. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
Khalil shook his head. “That’s not a good decision,” he agreed. “What are you still doing here?”
Vic smiled and pointed to the room with the lights. “I was going in there with you.”
Khalil frowned again. “What’s going on in there?”
“You have to come and see.”
Following cautiously behind Vic, Khalil walked to the room. When he looked inside, he shook his head.
“Come on in here!” Toya yelled.
Stepping inside, Khalil looked around. “Toya, what is all this?”
Toya spread her arms around the room. “The community had a baby shower for you and Danielle today and all of this is for my baby Kyra.”
Khalil looked at the massive amount of baby clothes, diapers, and every type of thing a nursery of babies would need.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Khalil told her. “Danielle and I have everything we need for Kyra.”
Toya shook her head. “Look, you two didn’t take wedding presents and then you didn’t have a baby shower.”
“These people love you and they want to show their love for you and your family.” Toya looked at the door as it opened. “Besides, this wasn’t my idea.”
Khalil turned to the door. “Ms. Watkins?”
“Congratulations Mr. Lewis!” She told Khalil as she came into the room. “I told you how much we appreciate you around here. Where else could I afford for my daughter to take ballet with other girls who look like her?”
Khalil stood speechless. “This is too much.”
“It’s not even close, Mr. Lewis, for what you’ve done for us in this community,” Vic told him.
“Theresa contacted me and told me what the people wanted to do,” Toya explained. “And since I know how stubborn both you and Danielle are, I decided to handle this project on my own.”
She continued, “I registered our baby and made note of all things you two already had, so that we wouldn’t have duplicates. So to your argument that you and Danielle have everything you need for Kyra, I will say this is everything that you didn’t have.”
Khalil looked at her. “Danielle is going to kill you.”
Toya fanned a hand. “I’m not worried. When she starts dressing Kyra in these little cute outfits, she’ll forget all about this.” Toya picked up a cute winter coat and hat. “I love this one.”
Turning back to Theresa, Khalil held out his hand. “Thank you Ms. Watkins. That was so thoughtful.”
Theresa gave him a hug instead then stepped back. “You’re still fine, but you’re family now.”
He nodded. “I appreciate that.”
Mathias entered the room and smiled at Khalil. “Were you surprised?” he asked him.
“You knew about this too?”
Khalil questioned confused.
“Yeah, the ladies asked me to keep you occupied before and after the session, so you wouldn’t see the activity.” Mathias explained.
Khalil nodded. “So all that extra conversation after the session was to delay me?”
“It was needed too,” Mathias corrected. “Maybe not right now, but at some point.”
Khalil smiled. “Okay, well on behalf of my wife and daughter, I thank you all.” He looked around the room. “Not quite sure how I’m going to get all this stuff home.”
Toya raised a finger. “I’ve got that.” She pulled out her phone and spoke into it. “Hey, he’s here and we’re ready.”
Finishing, she looked at Khalil. “Malachi is bringing a truck around and he’ll drive all of this home for you.”
Khalil looked surprised. “Who else is involved in this?” He looked at Vic and Mathias.
“You can’t say no to these women,” Mathias said looking at Theresa.
“That’s right,” Toya said standing, then she and Theresa gave each other a fist pound.
That night, Khalil returned home with a truckload of baby items that everyone helped unload into their living room. Danielle, Kyros and the baby were in the bedroom sleeping, so they made sure to move silently until everything was unloaded.
Khalil thanked them all including Kim and Wesley before seeing them out to their cars. He looked down at Kim.
“Was everything okay?” he asked concerned.
Kim smiled. “She was fine and actually sat her hardheaded butt down and let us help her.”
He nodded. “I’ve warned her about that. She’s been feeling fine, but I don’t want her doing too much.”
“Well, at least she listens to you,” Kim told him before giving him a hug. “Take care and tell her I’ll call tomorrow.”
Khalil returned her embrace then shook hands with Wesley. “Glad to have you home my brother.”
“Glad to be here,” Wesley agreed.
“I have my opinions about our brothers serving a country that doesn’t respect or protect them, but that in no way takes away from my respect for you to be willing to risk your life for what you believe in,” Khalil told him.
