#but nothing that rocking back and forth and humming everything's alright can't fix

[pidgefudge]

why did i wake up in the middle of the night just to have a meltdown and promptly fall asleep again

[thatssonanii]

First Day

HAHN

Before the drama

Treasure sat at the table eating her breakfast Hanna made her. She kept her eyes on her plate trying to ignore the weirdly happy faces on the adults. Lainey stood behind her fixing her hair, Zion sitting to her left, Charles to her right and her other uncles, aunts and grandparents across from her.

"You excited for school, big girl?" Melissa asked smiling.

Treasure shrugged and smiled at her aunt. "Yes ma'am. Uncle Benny said its gonna make me smarter."

Melissa leaned her head on Benny's shoulder smiling.

"You worried about anyone bothering you?" Marcie asked.

"Nope. Uncle Eddie, Uncle Cam and Uncle Zion said that they're gonna shoot anyone who bothers me."

Hanna eyed her sons, who were avoiding her stare. "Now don't go to that school saying that, Treasure. I mean it."

"I know, Nana. PopPop said that's family business and dry snitching. And you don't tell on family unless they break the rules."

Caleb laughed, "At least we know she listens well."

"Chuck said if I don't wanna do it, I don't have to cause I'm the first daughter." Treasure giggled going back to her grits.

Lainey tapped her with the comb and leaned down to look at her daughter. "And what did Mommy say?'

"That if I have a red or yellow face I'm gettin my butt cut."

"That's right and you better remember that. Go brush your teeth and put your clothes on so we can go."

Nodding, Treasure scooted out of her chair and ran out of the kitchen up the stairs. Melissa and Marcie went behind her hurray in case she needed help and to check on the babies while Lainey went to grab her lunchbox and bookbag.

"You driving, Charles?" Lainey asked getting her thermos from the fridge to put in her lunchbox.

"Yeah. Your brothers and Caleb are gonna follow us." Charles told her drinking his coffee.

Lainey looked at her brothers and dad then shook her head. "No, y'all are not. For what?"

Caleb shrugged. "Cause that's my grandbaby."

Cameron smiled. "Just to make sure she gets there safe, sis."

"And meet her teacher," Zion added.

"Can't have just anybody teaching my niece," Benny laughed.

Eddie agreed with all of them then laughed, "And just so they know who they're dealing with if anything happens to our little princess."

Lainey closed her mouth. She knew whatever she said would fall on deaf ears. They were tagging along whether she liked it or not. The doorbell rang interrupting their conversation, Hanna got up to answer it. She gave a small smile when she opened it.

"Good morning, Mitch. You came just in time." She said letting him in. "Everyone's in the kitchen."

Mitch ran a hand through his hair as he passed through the living room to get to the kitchen. He'd rather not deal with Lainey's brothers and Charles but he would do anything for Treasure and Diego. He went to hug Lainey and kiss her cheek.

"Mornin'. Where's my big girl?" He asked with a smile.

"Good morning, Mitch. She's upstairs getting dressed. I didn't hear you speak to anyone else."

Mitch sighed and turned to the men. "Mornin, B, Caleb."

Benny kept his mouth closed as did Caleb, he wasn't stupid nor crazy. Rolling her eyes, Lainey pinched the back of his neck making him yelp an reach back to rub his neck.

"The hell?"

"If you're gonna be rude and disrespectful then you can leave, Mitchell. We're here for Treasure and nothing more. This is a big day for her and you're not gonna ruin it. Understand?"

Mitch held his hands up, "You got it, Ms. Parker."

Charles chuckled, "Mrs. Frederickson. That's a married woman you're talking to, Mitch. But you already knew that."

"You better stop playing with that man," Cameron joked.

Just as Mitch opened his mouth to say something smart, Treasure came running into kitchen and posed.

"I'm ready for Prek!"

"Aah, look at you, Mama. You look so beautiful," Eddie complimented with a wide smile.

Everybody laughed hearing Eddie be so nice and warm. It wasn't something he did often, only of Treasure or one of his nephews were concerned.

Mitch squatted and held his arms open, "There's Daddy's big girl."

Treasure ran into his arms hugging him tight. "Daddy, you came!"

Mitch kissed her head then let her go, "Of course. I told you I'd be here."

Zion scoffed loudly and mumbled under his breath.

Marcie came onto the kitchen quickly with lip gloss in her hands then kneeled down to Treasure's level. The men frowned.

"Marcie, what's that?" Cameron asked frowning.

Marcie showed her how to rub her lips together and pop them before answering. "It's lip gloss, Cam. She can't go to school edith dry lips. She can't be all crusty."

Benny sucked his teeth, "Vaseline woulda been aight."

Marcie laughed then handed the lip gloss to Lainey to put in Treasure's bookbag. She gave get niece a hug before going bad book upstairs. Standing up, Charles checked his watch and whistled.

"Time to go, Sunshine. Don't wanna be late."

"Kay," Treasure chirped going to Lainey so she could put her bookbag on, "Ready, Mommy?"

"I'm ready, Doll. Give Nana a kiss so we can all go."

Lainey and Treasure walked in front of the men into the classroom. Treasure was amazed at how big it was and seeing the other kids. The only kids she had really been around were her brother and cousins but they're babies and the few times she sent to the park. She walked around the classroom holding the straps her bookbag. When they approached the teacher, Lainey and Treasure both smiled not knowing the men stood behind them with frowns on their faces.

"Good morning! You must be Treasure," the teacher said excitedly.

"Yes ma'am," Treasure said rocking back and forth on her heels, "Treasure Malone. What's your name?"

"I'm Mrs. Honey." She said smiling.

Treasure giggled, "Honey? Like from bees?"

"Yes ma'am, like bees." She laughed turning her attention to Lainey. "You must be Mama? Or should I call you First Lady? Nice to meet you."

Lainey smiled, "Yeah, I'm mom. You can just call me Lainey."

Ms. Honey smiled them looked behind her briefly. "And behind you are uncles and dad?"

Lainey nodded turning to look behind her for a second.

"Her uncles, her dad, her stepdad and her Poppop."

"My aunties and Nana stayed home with my brother and cousins. They're babies, they're boring," Treasure told her holding a straight face.

The adults laughed and Lainey grabbed her hand. "Right so, you have all my contact information as well as theirs. I put them in order for you to call it the number above it is not answered please go in that order specifically. She has her own lunch and snack in her lunchbox. She's a bit of a chatterbox and she's allergic to bees and and fish."

Ms. Honey nodded taking everything in. "I gotcha. If you would like you could take her to hang her bookbag and lunchbox then she's welcome to play with the other kids."

Treasure pulled Lainey towards the cubbies. Caleb waited until they were by the cubbies to speak.

"Mrs. Honey, I'm Caleb, her PopPop. Nice to meet you. That there is my baby, our baby. I'm sure that she'll be safe in your care but just in case something happens know that I'm coming to you first. Clear?'

Mrs. Honey nodded slowly.

"Goldie means a lot to us and you now," Zion told her folding his arms, "That being said I don't want any of these kids putting their hands on her."

"Cause if somebody makes her cry or hurts her then them and their parents are gonna have to see me." Benny told her with a smile.

Eddie adjusted the gun on his hip. "I don't think I have to elaborate on how much your life depends on her safety, I feel like you get the point."

"And by chance you don't, we'll be happy to explain it, in great detail," Cameron added.

Charles stepped up as well as Mitch. Charles pointed to the man beside him. "He is her father, I am her step father. Him and I both can make you disappear. Completely."

Mitch smirked, "Wipe you clean from existence."

"So," Caleb said softly getting her attention, "If she so much as gets a hang nail one of our phones better ring. And we're the nice ones, just wait till you meet her Nana."

Mrs. Honey stared at the men unsure of what to say. She had dealt with protective parents but nothing ever like this. This was different. She knew these weren't just empty threats.

Treasure cane running back over to them with Lainey behind her. Ms. Honey watched them go from frowning to smiling. The little girl hugged each of them.

"Who's coming to pick me up?" She asked loudly.

"Who do you want to pick you up, Mama?" Eddie asked sweetly.

"Ummmm," she hummed tapping her chin, "Uncle Cam! He said I get ice cream if I'm good."

Lainey laughed giving her one more hug, "Alright, big girl, we're gonna go. Have a good day, be nice and have fun. Mommy will see you later."

As they left each male made sure to make eye contact with Mrs. Honey. They weren't taking any chances on Treasure. Lainey was sure they had threatened Treasure's teacher but again, she didn't bother to say anything to them, she knew how and when to pick her battles.