Category: Tank/Lula

One-Shot: Singles Ministry

A/N: One-Shot Prompt from molly9429. 🙂 I hope I did it justice. Thanks!

This starts a year before Lula’s visit to San Antonio.

Mrs. CJ’s POV

Marquise mentions that the young people of the church want to start a singles ministry. I laugh and encourage him to encourage them in that. He grins.

“They want you to join the committee.”

Huh. “Why?”

“You single.”

“I’m widowed.”

“You ain’t married.”

And I never wanna be again. No thank you. I had enough struggle in my life with men. The only men in my life now are my boys and grandsons. That’s enough.

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Chapter 61.7 Boundaries

Tank’s POV

I’m watching the dot on my Escalade come back closer to the apartment. When I called Bobby and asked him to head her off, I was grateful I remembered he had a takedown in east San Antonio tonight. I can see he caught her just in time; he said he spotted her moments before I called. I got lucky there.

I hear the key in the lock and a quick conversation outside. Lula pops her head in and looks at me.

“Bobby’s with me,” she says quietly. I nod and they walk in. Lula takes off for the back and Bobby sits on the sofa.

He looks over at me. “I cleared the way,” he whispers, “but I’m riding your ass about how you opened that shit. Tank—”

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Chapter 61.5 Cold Water

Tank’s POV—Friday

My meeting with my lawyer was routine. I changed the allocations in my will, added my nephews to the beneficiaries list, and added Lula as my primary heir.

The addition of Lula caused my lawyer a problem.

“Mr. LaPierre, have you discussed a pre-nuptial agreement with your intended bride?”

I raise an eyebrow. “My fiancĂ©e is not like that.”

Queue a million divorced men rolling their eyes. I smile mentally. I can see Ranger raising an eyebrow now.

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Chapter 58.7: Will you give ME a chance, Part II

A/N: PPP means “Puff, puff, pass.” Weed Etiquette. I’ve never smoked.

Bobby’s POV

I’m trying my best not to laugh, but this is funny. Chiapas all over again.

Tank’s high as a kite. He’s laid out on the living room floor, passed out, a smile on his face.

Mrs. CJ and Lula are laughing their asses off and the sisters are staring at Tank in shock.

“Is he going to be OK?” Chenae asks, crouched next to Tank. She glares at Lula. “You should be trying to help him instead of laughing at him.”

Lula just waves. “He high, Chenae. Only a few ways to work that off.” She grins at me and I burst into laughter. Fuck it. I start video-taping this. No one will ever believe me if I don’t. Continue reading →

Chapter 55.9: Will you give me a chance?

Lula’s POV

I’m headed back to Carencro for another visit. Lester’s ’bout to head to the Jersey Shore, something Steph’s doing with the company men. We talked yesterday and she seemed distracted so I decided to catch up with her later.

I know Batman is out the country so I’m wondering what’s up. She’s usually only that distracted when he’s around.

I really enjoy my time with Mrs. Carol Jean and it’s hard not to want to spend time with her. She’s fun and feisty and she likes to tell me stories about Tank’s childhood. It’s obvious that Tank’s her favorite and he loves his momma. We finally decided that maybe we should think about buying a house in San Antonio, so she joined us and she and I went house hunting every day.

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Chapter 52.3: I stand by my choices

Lula’s POV

Mrs. Carol Jean cooks a traditional Louisiana breakfast the next morning and gives me another reason to love her. I swear, I wish this woman had been my momma. She cares and she knows how to smother shrimp and grits in cheese and butter.

“Have I met all the family? I remember you mentioning your mother-in-law. Is she still alive? Is your mother still alive?

Mrs. Carol Jean shakes her head. “My momma dead of cancer. Never knew my daddy. My mother-in-law is still alive but that’s like asking ’bout Tank’s daddy. He never goes to see her, doesn’t talk about her and doesn’t acknowledge her. She believed her son, never believed Pierre was Antoine’s. Don’t open that can of worms.”

Got it. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

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Chapter 51.3: The Truth about Love and Marriage

Lula’s POV

I need to talk to Steph. I got decisions to make and I want to do this right. I’m never gonna do this again.

“Now, I like colors and you like colors too, Lula, so we need to start thinking about yo wedding colors. You give it any thought?”

Nope. I’ve obssessed over it and I spent the past two weeks admiring my ring and handling Tank. Daily. Nightly. In our apartment. Everywhere in our apartment. In the RangeMan apartment on the temporary dining room table. Bobby’s still blushing red but I’ll bet he’s learned to knock first.

I can feel Tank cringe next to me. Before I can say anything, Tank cuts in.

“No pink, Momma.” He looks at me. “I know, it’s your wedding, Lula Bear, but I don’t do pink or any shades of red.” I’m ready to go rhino when he lifts and kisses my wrist. “I was a Crip, baby, and even though I put that part of my life behind me, you still won’t catch me in red.”

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Chapter 47.5: Good News Gets Around

A/N: This starts from the end of “Yes, I MEANT It.”

Bobby’s POV

San Antonio, 8p.m. CST

I’m grinning like an idiot and I can’t stop. Lula looks so happy. She and Mrs. Carol Jean are examining her ring, cooing over the diamonds and the inscription Tank put in. My Love is Forever Yours. I’d tease him about that but hell, I’m jealous. Lula’s the right woman for Tank. She livens his dour ass up, and I’m thrilled she’s here. He’s been in a much better mood since he found out she was coming.

“So, strippers at the bachelor party?” I murmur. Tank raises an eyebrow and I grin. Hey, you and Ranger may be taken (oh please God let Ranger get his shit together) but Les and I aren’t. “Come on, we’re looking forward to celebrating the end of your bachelorhood.”

“Not with strippers, you don’t,” Lula says, looking up. Her face is fierce and Mrs. Carol Jean is smiling at me. “You can celebrate with strippers if you wanna, but no Tankie at that party.” She leans over to him and whispers something that makes Tank blush red. Like, literally, red. Mrs. Carol Jean hoots and laughs loudly and I join her. Whatever it was, it must have been good for Tank to turn colors.

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Chapter 45.5: Yes, I MEANT It

Tank’s POV

Shiiiit! That’s not how I wanted that to go down. I envisioned a nice lunch on Saturday afternoon with just my momma and Lula. Somewhere nice and quiet and peaceful, where they could sit and get to know each other. Not a trial by fire, complete with my nosy ass sisters and brother and none of my hellion nieces and nephews. I knew I shoulda called ahead and let her know I was bringing Lula to see her.

Ranger has Steph as the woman in his life that attracts mayhem, but my mother is the master of the three-ring circus.

My sisters and brother are already in the van, ready to head back to Lafayette Parish, when Momma turns to me.

“I like her. Hold on to her, Pierre. She’s a good woman, no matter what her past. And it’s clear she loves you, but I’m telling you baby, something in her past got her scared. You need to talk to her. You wanna marry her and have babies, you gon’ have to get past whatever it is that’s got her spooked.”

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Chapter 43.5 I Guess You Did Mean It

A/N: This chapter begins the Monday after “Come Talk to Me”.

Lula’s POV

The envelope is sitting on Connie’s desk when I walk in, and she’s smiling to beat the band.

“Special delivery. Just for you.”

I blink. Who in the hell would be sending me shit, especially to the bonds office? I take the envelope from her and open it.

A first class ticket from Newark to San Antonio. Leaving in one week.

Tank.

He meant it. He actually meant what he said.

I’m looking at the ticket, dumbfounded, when Connie speaks.

“You wanna know the value of that ticket?”

I nod.

“About $1500.”

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