raphael is dead: It was evening. Raphael Cirruzo, drug dealer and hustler, sat outside of Guiseppe's Cafe, doing a crossword puzzle. He had just gotten through recovering from two gunshot wounds to the chestplate, thanks to a run-in with some Haitian gang and a shootout that rendered him and his crew injured and various Haitians dead. After going through the ICU, some court scares, and the realization that this was his life, Ralph was back on the streets. During his stay in the ward, he had gotten word that Brooklyn was looking for him with urgent news. So he asked that word get back to meet him here on this day at this time. He pushed his glasses up on his nose with his middle finger, and tapped his pencil against the crossword book.

It had been a while since Brooklyn had seen him, and she didn't exactly plan to do things like this but it had been put off for entirely too long. She had been working at a talent agency as a receptionist, signing people in and taking their directory photos for them while they waited to get assignments. It was fun for her, sitting there and watching people who clearly had no talent and thought they were the next big thing reading Hamlet and reciting monologues from the latest hit 'indie' flicks only to be put in the background of a bar scene. Brooklyn didn't come alone, though. At her side was a small girl, almost spitting image of her minus a very prominent brow line courtesy of the other piece of her genetic puzzle. The girl didn't like the idea of walking so far, but she was promised a happy meal afterward so she cooperated. Brooklyn spotted Ralph at that table and smiled, picking up her pace a little and then slowing down once she got close enough to pull up an extra chair for the girl, who was well aware that this wasn't a McDonalds. "Train delays.. We should've been here like twenty minutes ago."

raphael is dead: "...Hm?.." He looked up from his book. It was Brooklyn and a little girl. He put down the puzzle, and took off his glasses. "..It's alright. I haven't really trippin', trust me. " He smiled a toothy grin. "..Who's that? Your niece? She's a cutie! " Ralph looked at the little girl and smiled warmly, as warm as he could. "...What's your name, honey? What are you doing with Brooklyn? " Ralph, in the back of his head, thought, Damn that kid's got some thick eyebrows. And that was it. Nothing more. He looked back up to Brooklyn. "..Were you babysitting? Whatever you have to tell me must be important to bring your niece out here. So what's up? Came to tell me you're getting married? I mean, I get no phone calls for damn near forever, and you suddenly appear out of the blue, right after I got hit? I mean, I'm excited to see you as always, but you gotta' understand..." Ralph's eyes travelled to the girl and then back to BK. "..I've been through some shit since we last left off. "

She saw him look at her a couple of times and not make the connection, the girl smiled but she was a combination of uncomfortable and really hungry. Making a face she turned to Brooklyn saying 'Mommy can we go now?'' while Brooklyn just reached over to rub her leg and settle the girl to sit still. She told Ralph her name, but her voice was low and she just barely looked at him. She was small, and his facial features were kind of big and intimidating for someone her size. Brooklyn didn't say anything to him, just looked at him quirking a brow of her own with her head tilted down some hoping he'd catch on.

raphael is dead: "...What? Mommy?.." Ralph slapped his forehead. "Are you serious? You went off and had a kid?! Why didn't you- Well, I understand. If that's somebody elses baby, then I ain't gotta' know about it. " Ralph didn't really get a good look at the child, only those eyebrows. "..So who's the guy? And is he still with you? He probably got scared because he couldn't handle a child. Ran off like some little punkass. What's his name? I'll make him pay up. " Ralph scowled. He was truly angry at this phantom man, running off on BK like that. Ralph still harbored feelings for his former down ass bitch, and everytime she came around, they flared back up.

"You must really hate yourself right now then. Do they have anything here for her to eat?" As soon as she said that, Khiari jumped up looking at her whining about McDonalds and how she didn't want to eat any nasty food. To keep her from crying, Brooklyn quickly took her statement back and stood up, taking the little girl's hand. "We can walk and talk - take her to McDonalds and let her play in the ball pit while we .. Figure things out, because we do need to talk about this." She was mad at herself for not bringing this up earlier and letting him know, but with the way Ralph was living she didn't expect him to live very long - therefore eliminating the problem of bringing them together. But with a push from her mother and older brother she decided to set this up.

raphael is dead: "Need to talk about what?" Ralph was in denial now and his heart was racing. "Talk about the kid?" Ralph grabbed his things and stood up, pushing his chair in. He realized that it might've been his, but he didn't want to count his chickens just yet. After taking a couple of glances at the child, he finally noticed that he wouldn't need a paternity test. Hell, the kid looked just like him and Brooklyn mixed. This little mulatto baby couldn't be his. It wasn't real. He was supposed to be childless until he reached the drug motherland and lived like a fat cat. Mixed emotions were starting to show themselves. Mixed thoughts raced through his head. What kind of man was he to leave his child fatherless? But it wasn't completely his fault, was it? What was he supposed to do? Deny to the end? He knew the damn kid must've been his. Or at least she thought it was, no telling how many cats BK had slept with since he'd been gone. "..A'ight, let's go. " He began walking.

Khiari was several steps ahead of them, minus the times they stopped at intersections and she grabbed her mother's hand to cross the street. Close enough to keep watch on, but far enough to where she couldn't hear the adult conversation. Brooklyn ran her fingers through her hair and took a look over to Ralph, not really knowing where to start. It was a little over four years late with delivering the news, but she kept her secret out of the fear of her safety and the safety of her child. She knew his life was crazy and didn't want to put herself in danger, but now with the girl getting older it wasn't fair for her to not know her father, or for him to know his child. "I'm sorry I took so long to tell you.. She's really smart, though. Might start school this summer to get a head start on things."