"I'll see you when I return alright? I love you." Keith said from his end of the line before disconnecting. He was going on another business trip, and would be gone for a week or so.

Picking up another onesie and folding it, I placed it in the basket as I looked around the room. It was the room next to mine at home which I decided to use as the nursery. It had taken a total of one week to get it ready. I had planned on doing it all by myself but he had insisted on helping and I had agreed. Apparently he already had one ready over in his own home with the hope that I'd return or even if i didn't, for those times the kids will spend the weekends or so with him.

I folded the remaining tiny clothes and put them where they should be before leaving the room.

I checked the time before going to my room to search for my shoes. It had been a while since I last left the house. My obstetrician did tell me to exercise a little from time to time and so I decided to take short walks around the neighborhood every evening. Grabbing my phone and earphones, I waddled out of the room and halfway down the stairs, I met Mr Howard.

"Good evening." I said to him to which he replied before dropping the horrible news.

"Mrs Amanda James is here to see you."

My eyes literally bulged out of my sockets as I whispered-screamed what?! It didn't make sense that she'd be there to see me.

"Tell her I'm not around" I whispered to him and he said he already said I'm around.

"Tell her I'm sleeping then." I said again with desperation seeping into my voice and just then I shrieked when I heard my father say behind me "You shouldn't run away from your problems Maya."

"Stop creeping up on people. I told you to stop doing that dad."

"It's not my fault you didn't notice me." He replied with a shrug and stuck his tongue out at me and I laughed at how ridiculous he looked. My dad and I had come a long way in that one year and for that I was really happy.

"Stay with me while I talk to her?" I asked with a hopeful voice and he chuckled before saying no while tapping my nose with his forefinger. "This is something you have to do on your own."

"I don't know how to face her. She doesn't even know I'm pregnant, and then she'd think I slept around and it's another man's baby and then..."

"And then you'd tell her to get the fuck out of your house. You tell her to go fuck herself with her opinions and then you tell her she can't come to your house and say shit to you."

I pinched his side with a small smile while muttering language before saying "Dad, if you swear around my babies when they're both, I'll cut your tongue." and he gave me an apologetic smile. Between my dad and Keith, I don't know who swears more but I did promise them that they'll both lose their tongues if they swore around the kids.

We finally got to the door and I whispered a thank you to him while he went to the kitchen to look for lord knows what. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and walked in. I definitely didn't miss the horrified gasp that left her mouth.

"You're huge."

"I'm pregnant is what I am." I replied with an eye roll.

She cleared her throat and pushed the stay strands of hair behind her ears.

"A good evening to you Danica."

"Good evening to you too Amanda. Did you want something? I was on my way out before you came."

"I..I want to ask you for something. Please I need you talk to Keith. He has refused to speak to me since you signed the divorce papers. He listens to you, so please plead with him for me, I can't loose everything I've worked for my whole life."

I was shocked. Never did I ever imagine that a day would come when the Amanda James would need my help, would ask me to talk to her golden boy for her.

"Well I did tell him all that and he still served the papers to me nonetheless. There's nothing I can possibly do to change his mind. The most I can do for you is tell him to finalize everything after I give birth. What he does then is up to him."

"The baby is his?"

"Well I don't know. You did call me a slut a number of times. The baby could belong to one of my numerous boyfriends. You can see yourself out Amanda. Do take care of yourself and have a nice evening."

And with that, I waddled out of the sitting room and out of the house like a boss with a small smile on my face. I wasn't a mess like I'd thought I'd be. I could feel the inner me crumping somewhere in my mind and that made me chuckle a little.

A gasp left my lips when a contraction made me stop in my steps. The first time it happened, Keith and I had panicked and rushed to the hospital only to be told it was just braxton hicks. Since then, I had experienced it a number of times, but this one seemed a bit stronger than the last ones. Brushing it off as nothing, I continued. It happened two more times and I tried not to panic. It was too early, so I didn't believe I was going into labor. But by the time I got back to the house, I was already sweating bullets and almost crying because of how much it hurt. Amanda's car was still there when I got back.

She got out of the car and approached me as I tried to keep a calm demeanor. Deep down I was so scared.

"I waited behind because I wish to apo...are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I managed to grate out before another contraction hit me. Oh God. That's not right. It's too soon. I know I've been feeling it constantly since last night but it's still too soon. It's just them hicks. Let it be just the hicks.

"Danica? What is it?"She asked as she reached out to touch me. I slapped her hand away."Don't touch me. You've never been nice to me before, why do you suddenly care? Oh God it hurts so much. It's too early."

I heard her tell her driver to go and inform my dad of what was happening. Needing something to hold on to, I started slapping the car as the first tear finally dropped before the dam broke free.

"Danica take a deep breath, just breathe."

"Leave me alone. I want my dad. I want Keith. I miss Keith. I want Keith. He should be here not there on some stupid business trip."

"Maya breathe." I heard and opened my eyes and saw my dad through my wet lashes. "It hurts."

"I know. But you have to try. Come on. I already called the hospital. Let's get you there."

"It's too early."I muttered again as another wave of contraction hit me.

"I know. All the more reason why we should be on our way so there won't be complications. Come on sweetheart. One step at a time."

And so one step at a time, we finally made it to the car and I saw Mr Hector put the overnight bag I already packed in the trunk before getting in behind the wheel while my dad held my hand and muttered comforting words. I pulled a tissue from the box and blew my nose before drying my eyes while telling myself everything's going to be fine. I had read up on pre-term labor before, so I tried to give myself hope with all the positive stories I had read online from different people.I talked to my dad in order to distract myself and about 30 minutes later which felt like an eternity, we made it.

The next couple of hours were a blur. I was pricked with what felt like a million needles and hooked up to machines I didn't even know what they were for. The doctors told me that they'd do everything they can to prevent them from coming but they'd proceed with the birthing if it couldn't be prevented. I was scared and I felt so alone. I shouldn't be doing this by myself I thought as time passed by. Finally, they managed to stop it. I didn't want my babies to come before time.

I felt myself zonking out as I looked at my hand that had the IV. I shouldn't be doing this alone was my last thought before I finally fell asleep.