Meeting The Parents

The California sun beat down on Arell as he stepped out of the black SUV, squinting against the glare. The Westbrooks' residence loomed before him. Arell tugged at his collar, suddenly feeling underdressed despite his designer threads.

"You good?" Geoffrey asked, coming around from the driver's side.

Arell nodded, trying to project more confidence than he felt. "Yeah, just... you know. Big moment."

Geoffrey clapped him on the shoulder. "You've faced down worse than suburban parents, Arell. You've got this."

As they approached the front door, Arell could feel the weight of eyes on him. Cam and Rashad were posted up in another SUV down the street, while Geoffrey's security detail maintained a discreet perimeter. The whole situation with The Game still echoed in Arell's mind, but he pushed the thought away. Today wasn't about beef or the streets. It was about family.

Before Arell could even raise his hand to knock, the door swung open. Crystal Westbrooks stood there, a wide smile on her face. "Heyyy, look who finally made it!" she exclaimed, pulling Arell into a quick hug.

"What's good, Crystal?" Arell said, relaxing slightly at the warm welcome. "Thanks for having me."

"Of course! Come on in, everyone's been waiting to meet you," Crystal said, ushering them inside.

The interior of the house was cool and dim after the bright sunlight outside. Arell blinked, taking in the tasteful decor and family photos lining the walls. His eyes were drawn to a recent picture of India, her smile radiant. His heart did a little flip.

"India!" Crystal called out. "Your man's here!"

There was a moment of hushed excitement from deeper in the house, then India appeared in the doorway to the living room. Arell's breath caught in his throat. She was glowing, her skin luminous, her eyes bright. At four weeks pregnant, there was no visible change to her figure, but Arell thought he could sense a new energy about her.

"Hi, stranger," India said softly, a small smile playing on her lips.

Arell crossed the room in three long strides, gathering her into his arms. He breathed in the familiar scent of her hair, feeling some of the tension leave his body. "Hey, you," he murmured.

They kissed, soft and sweet, before India pulled back slightly. "How was Memphis?" she asked, her fingers intertwining with his.

"It was good," Arell said, leading her to a nearby couch. "Productive. Spent a lot of time in the studio with Dolph, working on his album."

India's eyebrows rose. "Dolph? As in Young Dolph?"

Arell couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, but enough about that. How are you feeling? How's..." he glanced down at her stomach, still flat beneath her flowing top.

India's hand drifted to her midsection. "We're good. Morning sickness is kicking my ass, but the doctor says that's normal."

Before Arell could respond, two young men entered the room. India's brothers, he realized. The taller one stepped forward, hand outstretched. "So you're the famous Arell," he said, his grip firm. "I'm Blake."

"And I'm Tyler," the other brother chimed in. "Heard a lot about you, man."

Arell shook their hands, noting the way they sized him up. "All good things, I hope," he said with a chuckle.

Blake's expression was unreadable. "Mostly. Though we've got some questions about your intentions with our sister."

"Blake!" India hissed, but Arell held up a hand.

"Nah, it's cool," he said. "I get it. Y'all are looking out for India. I respect that." He met Blake's gaze steadily. "I'm here because I care about your sister. And I want to be there for her and our child. One hundred percent."

Tyler nodded approvingly, but Blake's expression remained skeptical. "We'll see," he said finally.

As they settled into conversation, Arell felt some of the initial awkwardness start to fade. They talked about his music, about India's modeling career, about the craziness of LA traffic. It was almost normal, like he wasn't there to discuss the fact that he'd gotten their sister pregnant after knowing her for barely a month.

"Oh!" India exclaimed suddenly, sitting up straighter. "You have to tell me about Ares! How is he? When can I meet him?"

Arell's face lit up at the mention of his new pup. "Man, he's amazing. Still with the breeder for now, though. He's not quite ready for air travel yet."

Just as India opened her mouth to ask more, Warren and Candace Westbrooks walked into the room, their presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. Warren, a tall man with kind eyes and a stern set to his jaw, surveyed the scene before him. Candace, petite with India's smile, followed close behind.

"Well, well," Warren said, his voice a mix of warmth and caution. "If it isn't the young man we've been hearing so much about."

Arell stood, wiping his suddenly sweaty palms on his jeans before extending his hand. "Mr. Westbrooks, Mrs. Westbrooks, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Arell."

Candace bypassed the handshake, pulling Arell into a brief hug. "Oh, honey, we know who you are. You're all India talks about these days."

As they all settled back onto the couches, Arell could feel the weight of their gazes. Warren leaned forward, his eyes intense. "So, Arell, tell us about yourself. What exactly do you do?"

Arell took a deep breath. "I'm a musician, sir. A rapper. I've been fortunate enough to have some success recently."

"Success?" Warren raised an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

Arell nodded, feeling more comfortable talking about his work. "I have two songs at number 16 and 29 on the billboard."

Blake let out a low whistle. "Damn, you're really popping off, huh?"

Candace's expression softened. "That's impressive, Arell. But tell us more about you. Where are you from? What about your family?"

Arell swallowed hard. "I'm from Chicago, ma'am. My background's pretty diverse. My dad was Jewish, and on my mom's side, we've got roots in French colonial Africa. Some Barbadian mixed in there too."

"And your parents?" Warren prompted.

Arell's expression sobered. "They're... not in the picture. My grandmother raised me, but she passed away recently. My cousin Geoffrey is my manager, and he's really the only family I have now."

A sympathetic silence fell over the room. Candace reached out, patting Arell's hand. "I'm sorry to hear that, dear. It sounds like you've overcome a lot."

India squeezed Arell's other hand, offering silent support. Warren cleared his throat. "Well, young man, it seems you've made quite a name for yourself. But I have to ask - how exactly did you and India meet? There was some... confusion about her previous relationships."

India tensed beside Arell. "Dad, that's-"

Arell cut in gently. "It's okay, India." He turned to Warren and Candace. "The truth is, when India and I first met, she was involved in some marketing stunts. Fake relationships for publicity."

Candace's eyes widened. "India Love Westbrooks, what were you thinking?"

India's eyes welled up. "I wasn't. I got caught up in the fame, the attention. But with Arell... its all real."

Arell nodded. "It wasn't easy at first. When I realized what was going on with The Game and Soulja Boy, I was hurt. But India was honest with me. She decided to break it off with all that fake stuff."

Warren's expression was unreadable. "And those other rappers? They just accepted that?"

Arell and India exchanged a glance. India didn't know about The Game showing up at the villa in Florida, about the near-fight that had broken out. Arell decided to keep it vague. "There were some... difficulties. But it's all in the past now."

Crystal, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. "Okay, elephant in the room time. How are we handling this on the show?"

The tension in the room ratcheted up several notches. Warren leaned back, crossing his arms. "That's a fair question. Arell, I assume you know about 'The Westbrooks'?"

Arell nodded. "Yes, sir. I understand it's been a big part of your family's life."

Candace leaned forward. "It has. And this pregnancy... well, it's a major event. Our viewers will want to know."

Arell felt torn. He understood the show's importance to the Westbrooks, but the idea of his unborn child being thrust into the spotlight made him uncomfortable. "I understand that," he said carefully. "But I hope you can understand that my primary concern is India and our child. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with our entire personal life being broadcast."

India nodded in agreement. "Mom, Dad, I feel the same way. This is different. This is our child we're talking about."

Warren and Candace exchanged a look. Finally, Warren spoke. "What if we compromise? We acknowledge the pregnancy on the show, maybe do a couple of interviews, but keep the really personal stuff private. No cameras in the delivery room, no exploiting the baby for ratings. We set clear boundaries."

Arell felt a wave of relief. "That sounds reasonable. Thank you for understanding."

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics - including increasingly outrageous baby name suggestions from Crystal and the boys - Arell felt himself relax. This wasn't how he'd imagined his life going, but sitting here, surrounded by India's family - his family now, maybe - he couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, everything would work out alright.

As the conversation flowed, Mrs. Westbrooks disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a tray of sandwiches and lemonade. The aroma of fresh bread and herbs filled the air, making Arell's stomach growl.

"So, Arell," Mr. Westbrooks said between bites, "you're only 19, right? That's awfully young to be starting a family."

Arell swallowed hard, both from nerves and the bite of sandwich he'd just taken. "Yes, sir. I know it's not ideal timing, but I'm committed to being there for India and the baby."

Mrs. Westbrooks smiled softly. "Well, that's good to hear. Now, have you two thought about names yet?"

India groaned. "Mom, it's way too early for that."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Westbrooks said with a wave of her hand. "It's never too early to start planning. How about Bartholomew for a boy?"

Tyler nearly choked on his lemonade. "Bartholomew? Are you trying to get the kid bullied?"

"Well, what about Gertrude for a girl?" Mr. Westbrooks suggested with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Arell couldn't help but laugh. "Uh, those are... interesting suggestions. We'll definitely keep them in mind."

India rolled her eyes. "Mom, Dad, please. We're not naming our child after great-grandparents from the 1800s."

"Well, what are you thinking then?" Crystal chimed in. "Something trendy? Oh! What about something like North? You know, like Kim and Kanye's kid?"

Arell and India exchanged a glance. "We're... still figuring it out," India said diplomatically.

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics - including increasingly outrageous baby name suggestions from Crystal and the boys - Arell felt himself relax. Soon enough they shifted to other topics.

India leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Tell us more Ares! What kind of dog is he again?"

"He's a Cane Corso," Arell explained, his enthusiasm evident. "He's only ten weeks old, but he's already got this regal air about him."

Warren nodded approvingly. "Cane Corso, huh? That's a serious breed. Protective, loyal. Good choice for a man in your position."

Candace looked concerned. "But isn't that breed quite large? Are you sure you can handle such a big dog, especially with a baby on the way?"

Arell nodded, understanding her concern. "I've done my research, Mrs. Westbrooks. Cane Corsos are great with families when properly trained. I've got professional training arranged for him as well."

Crystal chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Ooh, we should feature Ares on the show! People would love to see a tough rapper with a big softie of a dog."

India laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Of course you'd say that. Always thinking about the ratings, huh?"

Crystal shrugged, unrepentant. "Hey, I'm just saying, people love a good dog story."

Arell chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know about all that. He's still a puppy, might not be ready for the spotlight just yet."

"Well, when he is, you let me know," Crystal said, winking at Arell. "We could make him the next big reality star."

India stood, tugging on Arell's hand. "Come on, let's take a walk. I want to show you something."

He followed her out onto the patio, where the air was cooler, carrying the faint scent of jasmine. They wandered away from the house, up a gently sloping path that led to a hill overlooking the city. The lights of Los Angeles stretched out beneath them, twinkling like a sea of stars.

As they reached the top of the hill, India leaned against a low stone wall, taking in the view. Arell stood beside her, feeling the warmth of her body as she pressed against his side.

"This is my favorite spot," India said softly, her eyes scanning the skyline. "It's where I come when I need to clear my head, get away from everything."

Arell slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. "It's beautiful up here. Peaceful."

India nodded, her expression pensive. "It's easy to forget that sometimes, you know? With everything that's going on, it feels like the world never stops. But up here, it's like... I can breathe."

"So," India began after a moment of silence, her tone lighter now, "what do you think of Crystal's idea? About putting Ares on the show?"

Arell laughed softly. "I'm not sure Ares is ready for his close-up just yet. But who knows? Maybe someday."

India smiled, turning to face him. "I think he'd be great on the show. And honestly, it might be nice to have something a little more... real. Less scripted."

Arell raised an eyebrow. "Less scripted, huh? That doesn't sound like reality TV."

India sighed, her smile fading slightly. "Yeah, well, that's the thing. Sometimes I wonder if I'm living my life or just playing a part."

Arell studied her, sensing the vulnerability in her words. "What do you mean?"

India hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know. It's just... this whole world, the fame, the show, the social media... it's all so fake sometimes. It's like everyone's playing a role, trying to be something they're not. But with you... it feels different. Like I can just be myself."

Arell's heart swelled at her words. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks. "You can always be yourself with me, India."

She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as she absorbed his words. "Thank you for that," she whispered.

For a moment, they just held each other, the city lights flickering below them like fireflies. Then, India pulled back slightly, a playful smile returning to her lips.

"You know," she said, her voice teasing, "this reminds me of when we first met."

Arell chuckled, his hands sliding down to her waist. "Yeah? How so?"

India's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Remember that dinner we had? When you couldn't help but ask about The Game?"

Arell groaned, the memory rushing back. "Oh man, don't remind me. I was so caught up in all that drama."

India laughed, resting her head on his shoulder. "You were, but it was cute. You were trying so hard to play it cool."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't going to overlook what I was hearing," Arell said, smiling down at her. "But you gotta admit, it was a little wild."

India sighed, her laughter fading into a soft chuckle. "It was, but that's all behind us now. I'm just glad you stuck around."

They stood there for a while longer, wrapped up in each other, before India pulled away with a thoughtful expression.

"Hey," she said, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Remember that movie we talked about that first night? 'A Bronx Tale'?"

Arell nodded, a grin tugging at his lips. "Of course. How could I forget?"

India's eyes softened as she looked up at him. "I've been thinking... what do you think of 'Calogero'?"

Arell's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Calogero? Like C, the main character?"

India nodded, a shy smile on her lips. "Yeah. I know it's different, but it's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Arell considered it for a moment, then smiled, feeling a warm glow spread through him. "I like it. It's got meaning, and it's not something you hear every day. Calogero... it's got a certain strength to it."

India grinned, clearly pleased with his reaction. "I knew you'd get it. But let's keep thinking. I want something really unique, you know? Something that stands out but still has meaning."

Arell nodded thoughtfully, his mind turning over possibilities. "Yeah, I feel you. I don't want to go the traditional route, like Arell Junior."

India tilted her head, considering this. "What about something like... maybe Leonard after La Capone, you knew him right?"

Arell smiled, touched by her thoughtfulness. "Yeah, we were friends, not the closest... but I don't want to just name him after someone else. Maybe we could take that energy and create something new."

India nodded, her eyes lighting up with inspiration. "How about 'Caponé' as a middle name?"

"Caponé Rose," Arell tested the sound of it, nodding slowly. "I like that. It's strong, and it's got history. But what about the first name?"

They both fell silent, each lost in thought, as they gazed out over the city the lights of LA shimmered in the distance.

"What if we took inspiration from something bigger?" India suggested after a moment. "Like the city itself?"

Arell looked at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You mean something like 'Cali'? Short for California?"

India shook her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Nah, that's too obvious. But what if we mixed it up? Like... 'Caleon'? It's got a bit of LA in there, and it's got a nice ring to it."

"Caleon Caponé Rose," Arell repeated, rolling the name around in his mind. "That's definitely unique. It's got a good flow, too. Caleon... I can see that."

India's smile widened. "Yeah, me too. It's different, but it feels right."

They sat quietly for a moment, savoring the sound of the name they'd created together.

"Any other ideas?" India asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Arell thought for a moment, then said, "What about something that ties into both of our names? Like a combination, but not in a cheesy way."

India raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What are you thinking?"

"How about 'Indell'? It's got a bit of your name and a bit of mine. It's subtle, but it still feels like it represents both of us."

"Indell Rose," India mused, smiling at the thought. "I like that. It's simple but meaningful."

Arell nodded. "And it could work for a girl or a boy. Indell Caponé Rose that sounds good for a boy."

India leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "We've got some good options here. Caleon Caponé Rose, Indell Rose... I feel like we're on the right track."

Arell grinned as the two of them continued tossing around name ideas, their laughter mixing with the warmth of the evening. "You know," he began, looking at India with a playful glint in his eye, "back in Chicago, they used to call me Spike Sevens."

India raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Spike Sevens? Where did that come from?"

He chuckled, the memory bringing a nostalgic smile to his face. "It started because I used to watch a lot of Tom and Jerry as a kid. You know, the bulldog, Spike? I was always getting into stuff, and my boys said I was like Spike, tough and always in the middle of the action. The 'Sevens' part came later, in high school. I was really good at long-range shots so they used to say I was shooting from the seven-point line, even though that doesn't exist. Eventually, they just started calling me '77' I even ended up choosing it as my jersey number."

India laughed, clearly amused by the story. "Spike Sevens, huh? I love that."

Arell nodded, his mind churning with possibilities. "Alright back to names. What about 'Red Rose' for a girl?"

India's eyes lit up. "Red Rose… I love it. It's bold, but it's still got that softness. Hmm, what about skylar."

Arell hummed. "Why not something more unique like Skyloré?"

India nodded in agreement, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Skyloré… that sounds really good actually."

Arell grinned, the excitement of finding names that resonated with both of them growing stronger. "Or what about something that plays off my old nickname? Like Seven Rose."

India smiled, clearly liking the idea. "Seven Rose… that's got a ring to it. It's got a history, a meaning, and it's unique enough that it'll stand."

They both sat in silence for a moment, letting the names settle in their minds.

India leaned into Arell, resting her head on his shoulder. "We've got some good options here. I feel like we're on the right track,"

Arell nodded, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "Yeah, I definitely like that middle name Caponé. And I want the name to be unique… not bland, I want our kid to know they come from something special."

<>

So problem.

Don't take my concepts or ideas and use them without my permission, I don't mind it but confirm with me first.

I mean when someone else has to inform me that another person took the whole concept, even the name of Arell Rose and the cover of this novel, yeah that's a problem, its easy to comment on a chapter and inform me, I even put my discord in a past chapter. 

I don't mind anyone using the stuff I have, like the boys chapter on patr*0n, and the Naruto fight I just posted on there as well. Just confirm with me first.

I'll even help you improve the ideas, I'm good at that, I just don't have time to write like the 10 potential fics I've had laying around, and I'll easily give them to you, like the mj and prince one.

Also on chapter 122 rn, do you mind him receiving a song with over 1b views rn? it ties into plot and will further something you'll see in like chapter 118 I think