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"Um, is she okay?" Maniya sniffed. It was currently 8am and her dad had just rung to let her know about her mom's miscarriage.

"Ion know to be honest Niya, she's shaken up," Dave said lowly into the phone.

"Daddy are you okay?" Maniya asked him. She knows that when it came down to Naala, Dave always sacrificed his feelings to make sure she was okay.

"I'm straight," Dave said clearing his throat. "I'm gonna bring her home now, tell your grandma we're coming,"

"I will, love you," Maniya said wiping her eyes. Dave replied and they hung up.

Naala was sat up in the bed, tapping through her phone when Dave re entered the room. He rose a brow at how concentrated she was.

"What are you doing?" He asked putting his hands in his pocket.

"I have a big case coming up, I'm catching up," Naala responded, not taking her eyes away from the screen.

"You're working?" Dave asked stepping forward,

"Yes I am. Is that a problem?" Naala finally looked up at him.

"Naala we just lost -" Naala didn't even let him finish the sentence before she got on the phone.

"I won't be in this morning but I'll still be checking my emails," She said to the person on the phone. "3pm that's perfect," Naala agreed the time with them and hung up.

"You're not going back to work today," Dave said as soon as she hung up the phone.

"Why not?" Naala questioned slipping out of the bed. Dave rushed to her side and she swatted his hands off.

"I'm not disabled stop it," Naala muttered softly. Dave held her put her clothes on and then bent down to help with her shoes.

"I don't want you going straight back to work Naala," Dave said to her, while he got up. He held her hand but she let go.

"What would you prefer I do? Stay at home and let our dead baby bleed out of me?" Naala responded coldly. "I'm going to work,"

With that Dave didn't say another word, he didn't speak when the doctor discharged them. He didn't say a word, when the doctor said they could try again, he remained silent. The entire ride home while Naala searched her case, spoke to three different people about the meeting she was planning on having - he stayed silent.

"Has your mom left?" Naala asked when Dave put the car in park.

"Why would she leave?" Dave mumbled, taking her bags out of the car. Naala breathed out and shut her eyes, that was a relaxing technique she'd learnt.

"I don't want her in my house," Naala said getting out of the car. Her movements were slow due to the cramps she was still experiencing. "Did you hear me?" Naala questioned Dave as he walked ahead of her.

"What do you want me to do Naala? Kick my mama out?" Dave said helping her up the steps. That's exactly what she wanted.

"Yes, I can't deal with her right now." Naala gritted out, as she held onto him tightly.

The change in her voice made Dave look down, he could hear the pain.

"Okay. I'll tell her to leave," He replied rubbing her back. "If that makes you feel better?"

"It's never going to feel better," Naala said looking at him strangely, "Why would you say something like that?" Dave sighed, he couldn't say anything right today.

"I'm sorry," He mumbled. "I know you're hurting," Naala ignored him and took her purse from his hands.

"You don't know anything," She said sliding her sunglasses onto her face. Dave wondered why she was putting sunglasses on to go into the house but he didn't say anything.

"Are you gonna let me take you to work at least?" Dave said unlocking the door.

"Why so your mom can find another thing to speak about?" Naala muttered as she heard footsteps running down the steps. "I'll go back tomorrow," She added.

Dave saw Maniya and quickly shook his head, for her not to mention it.

"Oh my poor boy," Sonia said walking straight past Naala and up to Dave pulling him into a hug. "I know how much you wanted that baby," She added staring at Naala.

"You can't even do one thing right," Sonia said to Naala causing Naala to stop in her tracks. Dave opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Naala was furious, her face had gone red and her eyes were watering.

"Do you know what? That's enough," Naala said dropping her purse. "I've been respecting you Sonia because you are my husband's mom and he loves you for whatever ever reason but I am sick of you disrespecting me." Naala shouted. "I have just lost my baby -" Naala's voice cracked so she stopped to get herself together.

"I have just lost my baby, and you think now is the right time to tell me I can't do anything right? I know I can't!" Naala shouted. "I can't look my husband in the eye because I can't give him what he wants, do you know how that feels?" Tears streamed down Naala's face as she ranted.

"Mama," Maniya said, her eyes also welling up with tears.

"I can't do what every other woman can do, so please do not remind me. I want you out of this house because I can't get better with you here," Naala pointed at Sonia.

"Baby it's okay," Dave said standing in front of her, he wrapped his arms around her to restrain her flaring arms.

"No Amir I want her out," Naala screamed. "Get her out of here," Naala cried into his chest, she was letting go of all the tears she'd been holding onto.

"I'm not leaving, this is my son's house - he paid for it," Sonia responded sitting down.

Naala pulled away from Dave and picked up the nearest thing to her, which was a vase and chucked in Sonia's direction.

It smashed by her feet but Naala didn't stop, she kept throwing things at her, not caring what broke in the process.

"Naala stop it!" Dave shouted. Maniya stood back by the staircase, away from the broken glass.

"Not until she leaves," Naala screamed throwing their wedding picture at her.

"She's crazy!" Sonia exclaimed, Naala was playing into her hands. All Sonia wanted to prove was that Naala wasn't stable and that was exactly what she was doing.

"Naala come on, baby please," Dave said dragging her away from Sonia.

"I want her gone," Naala weeped in the hallway. Dave nodded,

"I'll get her to go," Dave reassured her. He hated seeing her like this and he also hated his mom for making her feel this way.

"Why are you back here with me when she's still here, get her out of my house Amir," Naala cried pushing him towards the door.

"Love you need to calm down, she'll go I promise you," Dave said soothingly to her, his arms wrapped around her tightly.

"I just want my baby back," Naala sobbed into his arms. "I want them back," She repeated.

"I know you do Naala, me too," Dave said holding onto her. He felt his eyes stinging and he let out a few tears.

Maniya was in the living room, hearing her mother's cries and screams for her baby that wasn't coming back. Sonia sat on the couch, happy with what she had done.

"You're a horrible person," Maniya said to her, "My mom hasn't done anything to you, what do you have against her?"

"Stay in a child's place," Sonia huffed mugging Maniya.

"I'm not a child. I can see that you hate her but why?" Maniya questioned.

"Because your mother is an expired old trick. She's way past 30 trying to have babies, no wonder it doesn't work. I told my son to find a nice young girl, if you didn't run around calling them your parents I would have suggested you," Sonia smiled.

"Mama that's enough!" Dave shouted. He had gotten Naala up the stairs before she heard that but he heard it just in time. "You don't know when to stop. Leave," He said pointing to the door.

"I'm not leaving," Sonia crossed her arms, "Tell your wife to come and drag me out," She said sitting back.

"Please mama, just till she's better," Dave pleaded. Maniya couldn't believe it. She couldn't understand why her dad wouldn't just put her out.

"Mmm," Sonia frowned. "Will you consider what I suggested?" She asked with a raised brow.

"I'll consider it but you have to go," Dave said walking her to the door.

"I'll be back," Sonia warned snatching her purse from the hooks by the front door.

~~

"Phat their only carrots," Dave said holding the fork up to her mouth.

"Phat hates carrots," She said blankly turning her head away from the fork.

"Dad can I go on my game?" Saint asked coming in the kitchen,

"Nope, you know you're not allowed on that," Dave said shifting Malia on his lap to feed her properly.

"I'm still using it," Saint said running off just as Malia burst into tears because Dave mixed her rice with the chicken. She didn't like her food touching, at all.

"Phat wants mommy!" Malia scream through her tears.

"Shut up I'm practicing," Sinai shouted from up stairs and Dave heard Saint shouting back meaning they were arguing.

"You can't even play the dumb violin," Saint argued back.

"Dad!" They both shouted for him to assist the situation.

To say Dave was stressed would be an understatement. He was juggling looking after 3 kids with school drop offs and pick ups, studio time and interviews about the new album.

Naala had been locked in their room, only coming down for water and going straight back up. She barely ate or interacted with anyone.

"I can't do this bro," Dave huffed. He put Malia down and let her cry it out. He stomped up the stairs, snatched the controller out of Saint's hands,

"Give me that," He spat, unplugging all the systems in Saint's room.

He went into Sinai's took Sinai's violin, "Read a damn book or something, y'all are giving me a headache," He complained and stormed back down the stairs.

He was fed up and they knew that but that didn't seem to stop them from bothering him.

When he felt like they had all calmed down enough, he put Malia to bed and came back downstairs on his own.

The full bar stared at him longingly and he stared right back. He needed a drink, he craved one. That would be the only thing to relax him right now.

The sound of sniffles took his attention away from the bar and to where the sound was coming from. Naala was walking into the kitchen, her hair disheveled and her face stained with tears.

"Hey," Dave greeted quietly. Naala looked up but didn't respond. She opened the fridge and brought out a bottle of wine that was untouched due to her being the only adult allowed alcohol.

He watched her eyes look around the room until she saw what she needed.

"Don't just stand there looking at me, pass me a glass," She said, her voice void of all emotion.

Dave nodded and stood up, pulling a large wine glass out and sliding it across the counter to her.

"Thanks," She mumbled pouring a full glass for herself. "Good night," She said turning on her heels.

"Naala can we talk?" Dave said, almost begging. He longed to speak to his wife more than anything.

"About?" Naala questioned before sipping the drink in her hand.

"About the baby Naala," Dave responded. She had shut him out all this time.

"I thought you were intelligent," Naala replied. "There was a baby, now there's not. What's there to talk about?"

"About how you are. About how I am. Let's just talk Love," Dave mumbled. Naala's hard exterior crumbled slightly but not enough to give in.

"What do you want me to tell you?" Naala said leaning against the wall.

"Anything Naala. Anything," Dave said growing frustrated with her nonchalant attitude.

Naala chuckled taking a big gulp out of her wine and looking at him,

"I'm horny," Naala shrugged, "I'm horny but everytime I think of sex I think of our dead baby so that dries me right up,"

Dave looked at her and shook his head, "What's wrong with you?"

"You asked me to talk, I'm talking," Naala replied. "What? You want me to tell you that every time I close my eyes I picture the blood. Or that when I wake up in the mornings for 10 seconds I'm still pregnant, then I remember and then I can't breathe," Naala said with tears in her eyes. "It's like someone is sitting on my chest, and I genuinely can't breathe,"

"Is that what you want to hear Amir?" Naala cried. "What more do you want from me?" She asked.

"I didn't mean to make you upset, I just wanted us to talk," Dave said moving closer to her. "Maybe we could name the baby, something, anything?" He pleaded.

Naala cried harder dropping the wine glass, the glass shattering against the marble floors. Her cries got harder and her screams got louder when Dave tried to come nearer.

"I don't want you near me!" She screamed at him. "I want my baby back but you can't do that so leave me alone," She sobbed.

Dave could barely get a word in before she ran up the stairs and into their room slamming the door.

From that night, Dave was banned from their bedroom. He didn't see her and she didn't ask for food or water - she was starving herself.

~~

"She's been like that since Friday," Dave said leaning against the bedroom door.

"Has she been eating?" Miani questioned with a sad look. Dave shook his head slowly,

"She won't even talk to me Ma," His voice cracked. It felt weird for him to be emotional but so much was going on for them.

"You know she doesn't mean to do that, she's grieving" Miani defended.

"But I'm grieving too. All I want to do is hold her and tell her it's gonna be okay but she has me sleeping in the guest room," Dave vented. "It's killing me being away from her," He added, a tear sliding down his face.

Miani sighed and nodded, "Don't cry," She wiped the tear of his face. "I'll talk to her,"

"Please?" Dave asked. "I just want my wife back," He said sinking to the floor and taking his spot outside the door, like he's been doing every night to make sure she's okay.

Miani braced herself before opening the bedroom door. The air was cold, the curtains were all drawn and the room was silent.

She saw Naala's small body bundled up in the middle of the bed. As she got closer, she took in Naala's face. It was red and puffy probably from the excessive tears. Her hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head.

A dip in the bed, caused Naala to stir in her sleep. The familiar coconut scent she had become accustomed to filled the air.

"Hi my angel," Miani whispered softly as Naala's eyes fluttered open.

"Mom," Naala croaked, her throat sore for crying herself to sleep. "I —"

"You don't have to speak, I know," Miani said shushing her. Naala closed her eyes, feeling safe and warm in her mom's embrace.

"I know you feel like this is the end Naala but it's not. I don't want you blaming yourself or taking it out on your husband. Death is not easy, it will never be easy but you are strong, so strong," Miani lectured wiping Naala's tears.

"It hurts so much," Naala said through her tears.

"It will hurt forever, that's not going to change but you live through the pain. You have a family that cares about you, a man that's been camped outside this room because you wouldn't let him in," Miani reminded her.

"I disappointed him, I can't face him. The look on his face when the doctor told us what happened will forever haunt me mama, I failed him." Naala cried, her entire body shaken with grief.

"That's not true Naala." Miani protested. "He wants to be here with you, to grieve with you but you're pushing him away,"

"I don't mean to." Naala sniffed putting her head on her mom's chest.

"I know angel, that's my fault," Miani whispered, running her hand through her hair. Miani always suspected that Naala behaved that way because she never experienced a relationship that was natural.

Miani started to feel bad, especially because soon she was about to ruin Naala's world again. She hated that her dad had chosen now to visit but it was now or never.

"Your grandfather wants to meet you, let's do lunch tomorrow," Miani said after a few minutes of silence.

"I'm not up to it mommy," Naala said honestly, she didn't feel like meeting anyone.

"You have to get out of the house Naala - it's been 6 days." Miani convinced her. Unbeknownst to Naala, she had no choice in this matter. The lunch was happening whether she liked it. Her grandfather would bring the restaurant to her, he didn't play.

"Can Amir come with me?" Naala asked lifting her head up, "I need him with me," Miani did not want to agree to that but she knew Naala wouldn't go without him.

"Fine," She agreed, now that this was in motion, she had someone she needed to see.

~~

"I'm meeting someone," Miani said as she approached the hostess. She pulled her black Chanel sunglasses off her face and folded them, placing them in her bag.

She spotted her date for the evening and she walked in his direction.

"Finally," He spoke sitting back. "I almost left, didn't think you would turn up,"

Miani rolled her eyes, "Trust me I almost didn't show up," She spoke sitting her purse on the seat next to her.

"So to what do I owe this pleasure Miani?" He said leaning forward, taking in her features.

"It's time Jacob," Miani said simply, the look on her face told him all he needed to know. His face hardened and he held a stern glare.

"No, I don't want my daughters involved in that shit," Jacob said with a clenched jaw.

"We don't have a choice anymore Jacob, do you think I want them involved in this?" Miani snapped,

"Tell them the truth then. You made her hate me, when you lied," Jacob argued. "Naala hates me because of your lies!"

"I lied to protect her from all this," Miani whispered moving closer. "Our families, this lineage, —"

"You didn't lie to protect her from anything, you lied to protect yourself. You don't want to admit what your family is, what your father is," Jacob said shaking his head.

"Don't act as if you didn't have a say in all this," Miani said with a disgusted look. "You could have said no but you didn't,"

"I wasn't going to go against him," Jacob laughed. "You of all people know what he's capable of,"

"He's my dad, I know what he was capable of but you agreed to keep them in the dark!" Miani snapped.

"She's going to hate you," Jacob shook his head. "The same way she hates me and you'll deserve it,"

"Don't say that," Miani frowned, she couldn't bare to think Naala would hate her again, their relationship has come so far the last 5 years.

"Miani her whole life is a fucking lie!" Jacob shouted gaining some glances from people at the restaurant. "Her whole life is a lie," He lowered his voice.

"I was protecting her," Miani said confidently.

"From yourself. You were protecting her from yourself," Jacob chuckled shaking his head. "When this blows up on you, don't come running back to me,"

"You're being dramatic," Miani responded, "Eli wouldn't let anything happen to me," Miani said referring to her dad.

"He's the devil," Jacob spat. "And now our children are going to pay the price," He said before standing up from his seat.

Miani sat in silence, thinking about everything they just spoke about. Naala's world was about to come crumbling down at the hands of her parents mistakes and there was nothing she could do about it.

~~