Penny walked into the Diner she worked at, putting her hair into a ponytail.

"Yo Penny!" Dan the Cook shouted, "You're late."

"Sorry Dan." She said, "had to drop my daughter off at my mommas house."

"It's alright, mornings are dead anyways."

"I know." She said, walking into the kitchen to clock in at the computer, "how was your weekend Dan?"

"Good, in-laws came into town, we had a great barbeque." He said, "what about you?"

"It was another slow weekend, just like any other." She said, "I saw an old friend, Omar Williams."

"Omar Williams!?" he asked in shock, "High School Legend Omar Williams? Wiley Willie?"

"Uh…I guess…why?"

"He was and still is the most sought after player right now, he 's been turning down all kinds of offers from the College league and the NFL."

"Huh…he never told me that." She said, "but I guess he really doesn't want to play."

The bell on the front door sounded, indicating a customer.

"We'll be right with ya." Dan shouted, "man Penny, I'm tellin' ya, if he were to accept, he'd be a star."

"If he were to accept he'd be miserable." She said, "it'd be like when I signed on for that singing contract with Wizard Kelly, sure it was fun, but it just wasn't me."

"At least some people got to have their fifteen minutes." He said with a crooked grin, "now go take that mans order."

'Yes sir." She said with a chuckle, walking out, "welcome to Dan's Diner how may I-" she stopped when she felt arms go around her and give her a bone-crushing hug.

"CUZ!" the man shouted happily.

"Uh…hi…you're…crushing…me…" she gasped.

"Oh sorry," he said sheepishly, putting her down, once he did, she got a better look at who it was.

"Cousin Ray Ray Jr!" she exclaimed, looking at the boy who was the spitting image of his father, the only difference was that Ray Ray Jr had worked most of his high school life to turn his fat into muscle, "god it's been forever."

" I know, since last family reunion." He said with a grin, "so how's my favorite cousin?'

"Great Ray Ray, I finally got settled in my apartment, now what can I get you?"

"Hmm…waffles, bacon, sausage, and eggs, triple all of it." He said with a grin.

"Do you actually have money to pay for that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Girl please, I'm a construction contractor now." He said, pulling several hundreds out of his wallet, "I get paid the Benjamin's cuz!"

She laughed, "I know, I'm just messin' with you." she said, "I'll go put your order in."

"So how's my little cousin? Lil' Dani?" he asked as she walked away.

"She's fine, she's gotten really good at crawling, if I take my eye off her for more then a minute she'd be half-way to china."

Ray Ray laughed, "you gonna let me and Tyesha babysit sometime?"

"You gonna have to fight my momma for that right." She said with a chuckle.

"I'm sure she's gonna want to have a night off one day to have a date night with Uncle Oscar." He said.

She shrugged, 'I wouldn't know, I haven't seen my daddy in over a year and a half."

"What?" he asked in shock, "why?"

"Don't know, he hasn't talked to me since he found out I was pregnant." She said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"That just ain't right cuz, you need me and pops to go talk to him? Maybe knock some sense into him."

'No it's alright." she said with a smile, "I'm doin' just fine without him."

He smiled, "you know cuz, you always so calm and collected, it makes me jealous."

She rolled her eyes, "I'm not that collected." She said. Bringing his food over, "anything else cuz?"

"Uh yeah, could you get me a pitcher of chocolate milk? No cup, just a pitcher."

She shook her head, "I could never understand how you guy's could eat so much food."

"We just like food." He said with a smirk.

She walked into the kitchen and grabbed one of the chocolate milk pitchers, walking back over to Ray Ray, who had already finished his food, "I don't even think you eat, you just inhale it."

He laughed, "You ain't wrong cuz." he said, grabbing the pitcher and chugging it, "aiight, what do I owe cuz?"

"Including the pitcher? 48.50."

He pulled a hundred out, "keep the change." He said.

"Thanks Ray Ray." She said with a smile.

"Anythin' fo my favorite cousin, speakin of cousins, have you talked to Chanel lately? She ain't hit me up since Christmas to give us our presents."

"Sorry, but Uncle Reuben and Aunt Leslie don't let her talk to me anymore, she tried, but her dad found out and put a stop to it."

"Man I forgot your other side of the family is all uppity and shit, bet they look down on me fo' havin' a family too."

"They'd look down on a dog fo' steppin' on their grass." Penny said, taking his plates away.

He laughed, "I guess you right cuz, well I gotta get goin', you give my love to yo momma aiight?"

"Of course Ray Ray." She said with a smile, walking into the back as her cousin left.

Omar picked up another bag of Concrete mix, pouring it into the mixer.

"Yo Omar!" his boss shouted, "hey man you're three hours over time, you know that ain't allowed.

He checked his watch, "guess I lost track of time." He said with a shrug, "sorry boss."

"Don't worry about it, just get off earlier tomorrow and you'll be fine."

Omar nodded and walked towards the small portable building they were using as an office, he clocked out and started walking home, his jacket tied around his waist and his shirt slung over his shoulder, his wife beater was covered in dirt and grime, and he was completely covered from head to toe in dust, he got into the building and went to his mail slot, pulling out bills.

"Hey Omar." He heard Penny say, he turned around and saw the young woman walk in, her waitress uniform covered in coffee and ketchup stains, her hair was a mess, put in a loose ponytail, In her arms she held Danielle, who was looking up at Omar with a look of awe.

"What up Proud?" he asked with a smile, "you just get off work?"

"Yeah, worked a little later then I planned though." She said, walking up to her mail slot, "what about you?"

"Same, I was supposed to get off three hours ago, I lost track of time." He took Danielle from her arms to give her more freedom to open her mail slot, "hey lil Danielle." He said with a grin.

She looked at him with wide eyes, "Bah!" she cried happily.

"Looks like she likes you," Penny said with a chuckle, pulling her mail out and putting it in her bag, "Come here you little stinky baby." She said, taking her daughter back, "thanks Omar."

"of course." He said with a grin.

She smiled, "so, do you always look like a chocolate donut covered in white powder, or just today?"

Omar looked at her in confusion, and then looked down at his arms, "oh…hehe…I didn't even know…sorry if I got any on Danielle."

"Eh, it's just dust, it don't hurt none." She started walking towards the elevator, Omar following, "so you have any idea on what else we're going to do on Friday night?" she asked, "other then eat pizza and watch movies?"

"Whatever you wanna do Proud, we'll do it." He said, "hell, if you wanna go bungee jumping, just give me the place and the cord and we'll go."

"What if I want to go to New York?" she asked with a smirk as they stepped onto the elevator.

"Done."

"Paris?"

"Lets do it."

"Mars."

"Lemme call my nigga ET and we'll be on our way."

Penny laughed, "You're somethin' else Omar."

Omar just smiled at that, "but fo' real Penny, whatever you want to do, we'll do it."

"I think a night in doors with a movie and pizza will be just fine Omar, unless you wanna bring me some ice cream."

"Rocky road still yo favorite?"

"You know it." She said as she stepped off the elevator, Omar following.

"I'll get you the hook up, but you gotta know that it's gonna be an arm and a leg getting' it, that's the good stuff."

"Hmm…well it's a good thing you're basically two people in one." She said, turning the corner and unlocking her door.

'Aw, that hurts proud." He said, clutching his chest dramatically.

Penny laughed again and went into her apartment, Omar leaned against the doorway, "so, why'd you follow me all the way to my apartment?" she asked, looking back at him with a smile, "you just bein' a gentleman?"

"Of course," he said, "you know I can't let a defenseless girl walk alone, it's against my nature."

"Defenseless?" she asked as she put Danielle in her crib, "boy I could beat you down in four minutes flat, I could do it in two, but I don't wanna break a nail."

"Oh that's right, you know Karate." He said, "you a dangerous lil' mama."

"Don't forget it." She said, walking into the kitchen, Omar just smirked and walked in.

"So you would actually fight me?" he asked.

"I wouldn't want to, but if I have to I will." She said, turning to him and leaning against the counter.

"You soundin' dangerous proud." He said, looking her up and down, "in yo little waitress get-up, smellin' like breakfast, lunch and dinner all rolled into one."

She rolled her eyes, "and what about you? Lookin' like a flour bag burst over yo head." She said, "Besides, I pull this look off."

"Gotta agree there," he said, walking right up to her, mere inches apart, "you lookin' fine Proud."

She chuckled, "wish I could say the same for you," she said, ruffling his hair and making some of the dust come out, she then slid her hand down to his cheek, "like I said, chocolate powdered donut."

"And what about you?" he asked softly, "Mariah Carey?"

"Mariah?" she asked snorting, "please, I was much more successful."

He laughed, "You right." He said, putting his hands on her hips, "and a hell of a lot mo' beautiful."

She blushed slightly, "I don't know about that." She said, looking down.

He put a hand on her chin and lifted her head, looking right into her eyes, "I do." He said softly as he leaned down and kissed her, Penny returned the kiss without hesitance, her other hand going to the back of his neck, sinking into the kiss, as the minutes passed, the kissing got more and more passionate, as Omar started to undo her blouse and Penny's hands started to travel up Omar's shirt, the thing that stopped them was the crying of a baby.

"Danielle…" Penny said softly, pulling away from Omar, she scooted past him and went into the hallway, going into Danielle's bedroom and picking up her daughter, she came back in and saw Omar smiling, "what?" she asked.

"Nothin'." He said, still smiling, "she hungry?" he asked, walking over to the fridge and opening it, picking up the bottle that was already prepared, waiting to be warmed up.

"Yeah, swear this girl is hooked on the stuff." She said as she placed the bottle in a pot and started warming it up.

"She's a growin' girl, gotta get big and strong like her mama." He said.

"With the way she eats, she's gonna get bigger and stronger then I ever was." She said, picking up the bottle and testing the temperature, before giving it to her daughter.

"And that's aiight, she probably gon' be better at football then you were."

"Oh you bringin' that up now?" she asked, eyeing him.

"Yeah, I am." He said with a smirk, "Miss 'I cant catch the game winning ball'."

"You're one to talk, Mr. 'I choked up most of the game because I didn't want a girl playing on my team'." She shot back, laughter in her eyes.

"Oh please, you know I liked you bein' there." He said.

Penny smiled and looked at Danielle, the little girl had finished the bottle, and was now dozing, "I'm gonna go put her down." She said, walking back into her room and laying Danielle down. When she walked out, Omar was leaning against the wall, "Can I help you?" she asked, feigning disinterest.

"Yes ma'am, I'd like to order a slice chocolate cake." He said, "You know, not a very big piece, kinda slender, milk chocolaty goodness."

"Hmm…don't know if I have some left…" she said, "maybe if you come back, I'll have a whole cake for you."

"Don't know if I can wait that long." He said, getting off the wall and walking up to her, "I mean…you displaying it right in front of me."

Penny looked down and realized her blouse was completely unbuttoned, showing off her black bra, she blushed a little, "the display is only fo' show sir." She said, buttoning her blouse back up, looking at him with a smile.

He smirked, "aiight girl, I understand you…" he said, yawning, "but I'm still gonna want that slice sometime."

She just smiled, "why don't you come back on Friday, I think I could talk to the chef, get it to you on the house.'

"That sounds good lil mama." He said, kissing her, "Now I gotta go, befo' stinky sends out the troops to find me."

"Yeah, lets not have anyone kicking my door down tonight." She said, walking him to the door, he stopped at the door and kissed her again, that same feverish passion surfacing between them until Penny broke the kiss, "goodnight Omar." She said with a smile, slowly closing the door.

"Goodnight lil' mama." He said one last time as the door finally closed. He was grinning like an idiot all the way back down to his apartment.

"Damn, you two work fast girl." Dijonay said, looking at her friend as they sat in her living room eating pizza, "I know you and Omar had some kinda silent thing goin' on during middle school, but I thought it died back in high school."

"It didn't die, but I was with Frankie." She said, "and I ain't one to cheat."

"True, but still, just thinking of you and Omar, you two would actually be a pretty good match, I mean he's like a big teddy bear.'

"You ain't wrong girl," Penny said, "since he found out I lived here, he comes up in the afternoons to play with Danielle, even preparing her bottle."

"Now I know Danielle ain't the only one he playin' with when he come up here." Dijonay said with a knowing smirk.

"oh grow up girl." Penny said with an eye roll, "yeah, we kiss-" she stopped when Dijonay shot her a look, "aiight we make out, damn, but we don't go too far, he respects me enough to hold off, ya know?"

"Mhmm…aren't you two havin' some kind of date this Friday?" Dijonay asked, "eat pizza, drink a little wine, maybe get some Aaliyah playin' to set the mood, get him to love up on you, heeey."

"Wine with pizza girl? Really?"

"You not gettin' the point I'm makin'." Dijonay mumbled.

"I am girl, but I don't know, should I really put out this early, you don't think that seems kinda…slutty?"

"Girl, you an Omar may have just recently met back up, but you two been makin' googlie eyes at each other since Middle school! Even when you was with Frankie, that boy was still there fo' you, all the way up til' he moved in sophomore year."

"I know." Penny said, "and I want to… god I want to, the way he makes me feel girl…"

'You start quoting Michael Jackson in here and I'm leavin'."

Penny rolled her eyes, laughing.

"Girl, I'm gonna tell you, it may be early, but you two are right fo' each other, I say go fo' it."

"Maybe…I guess I'll see how Friday night goes."

"And hey, you two already kissin' and makin' out, so you already a couple, if he can't handle not getting any snooki snooki from you, then he gets booted, heeey."