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The driver parked directly in front of Naleli's front door, allowing Naala to run out and get to the door.

The front door was already unlocked, so Naala went straight in. The house was dead silent and all the lights were off. Naala turned them on and walked through the house, trying to find Naleli.

"Naleli," Naala whisper yelled,

"In here," Naleli responded making Naala speed up. She got to the room and saw Naleli sat on the bed while Tarek was laid out, bleeding.

"How long has he been like this?" Naala asked rushing towards him. She checked his pulse which was very faint.

"Naleli how long?" Naala shouted putting her hand on the gunshot wound.

"Two hours," Naleli shrugged standing over him,

"Oh my God," Naala mumbled, "Tarek wake up," She tapped his face.

"Why did you do this?" Naala turned to look at Naleli,

"We we're arguing and he started talking to me like he was crazy," Naleli said dismissively.

"Get me something to take this bullet out," Naala said taking off her jacket. "I can't believe you Naleli, I said I wouldn't do this again,"

Naleli ignored her, walking to the back of the house to retrieve the things Naala needed.

"And of all places to shoot him," Naala grumbled using tweezers to fish for the bullet in his arm.

"I knew it wouldn't kill him straight away," Naleli replied sitting down with her legs up. "I don't know why you care,"

"Because you care," Naala answered. "You're having an episode and once you realise what you've done, you're gonna be upset," She said to her.

"I doubt it," Naleli mumbled watching Naala. "Can you hurry up? There doing a rerun of insecure," She spoke taking the remote for the tv.

"Get up and hand me that," Naala spoke through gritted teeth, pointing to the gauze.

Naleli tutted and got up, handing it to her. Naala continued to sew him up and when she was done, she attempted to wake him.

"Lawrence is so fine," Naleli frowned at the tv screen. "Don't you think La?" She asked Naala who was busy trying to get Tarek to wake up.

"He's not my type," Naala mumbled patting Tarek's face.

"I forgot cheating ass niggas is your type," Naleli laughed throwing her head back.

"Shut up," Naala frowned splashing water in Tarek's face.

"Mmm," Tarek murmured, the pain evident in his voice.

"You're so lucky," Naala huffed closing up the medical box. "What if he died Naleli? You can't keep doing this,"

"He was talking to me like I'm stupid, I'm not stupid," Naleli said not taking her eyes off the tv.

"I get it but there's other ways. Why did you have a gun in the house anyway?" Naala complained at her.

"Are you done?" Naleli sighed loudly,

"He's waking up so you can deal with him," Naala replied standing up.

"Whatever. Next time I'll make sure he dies," Naleli said simply.

"Should I be worried?" Naala asked her, "This isn't like you Leli, you're normally on top of it,"

"My emotions are all over the place," Naleli announced. "I'll speak to the doctor, maybe he needs to up my meds," She said like it was nothing.

"I'm coming with you," Naala responded. "You're the glue that holds me together Leli, I can't lose you,"

Naleli looked at her sister and felt bad. They both needed each other badly and by her not taking care of herself, she couldn't take care of Naala.

"I'm not going anywhere without you," Naleli teased, "I'm having a bad day, that's it," She added hugging Naala.

"Do you want me to stay? I can get Amir to take the kids to school tomorrow," Naala offered returning the hug. "We can watch Scandal," That was Naleli's weakness.

"Okay, first can you help me get him upstairs," Naleli mumbled,

"This is the last time you shoot him and call me to help you," Naala warned,

"Maybe," Naleli shrugged looking down at him. "You get his hands, I'll get his feet," She ordered reaching to pick him up.

~~

Naala woke up to her phone buzzing beside her, realising that Dave had been blowing her up all morning.

"Shit," Naala mumbled sitting up. She looked to the side and Naleli was no longer beside her.

"Hey bae, I'm sorry," Naala answered the phone.

"You can't just disappear like that Naala, you sent Peter home too?" Dave replied, relieved to hear her voice.

"Because I knew I was gonna stay. I didn't want him waiting outside all night," Naala explained to him.

"I've sent Chris over there with my car," Dave said into the phone. "Are you okay though?"

"I'm fine, I'll be back soon. Can you get them ready so we can leave as soon as I'm back?" Naala asked getting out of the guest bed.

"Yeah we can drop them off together, there's something I wanted to show you," Dave replied.

"Another surprise?" Naala said softly,

"I spoil you too much," Dave said lowly. "He's outside Naala, come home," He spoke.

"I'm coming, I love you," Naala responded,

"I love you too baby," Dave chuckled before they hung up.

Naala walked into the guest bathroom and did her hygiene with her products she left at Naleli's. She changed into something comfortable and put her hair into a tight ponytail.

Leaving out of the room, she walked towards the front of the house, when she heard strange noises.

Naala turned to the side and saw her sister on top of Tarek,

"I'm sorry," Naleli moaned rolling her hips on top of him. Naala turned away quickly, a small giggle escaping her lips.

"Just like me," She mumbled to herself speeding up before they realised. Naala got out of the house and the cold hit her, causing her to shiver slightly. She spotted Dave's Range Rover Sport, right outside.

Chris jumped out of the car immediately and opened the door for her. "Good morning Mrs Brewster," He said politely.

"Good morning," Naala answered getting into the car, the warmth just how she liked it.

Chris got into the driver's seat and pulled off, turning up the radio for her. He wasn't much of a talker which Naala appreciated.

"Atchoo," Naala sneezed randomly. Rummaging through her purse, she tries to locate her pack of tissues.

"Chris do you have any tissues?" Naala sniffed looking up.

"There should be some in the center console where your husband sits," Chris pointed out. Naala thanked him and opened the console.

When she picked up the pack of tissues, a gold wrapper shone brightly. Naala blinked a few times before picking it up. Underneath it was a pink lacy thong, one she knew she didn't own.

"When was the last time my husband used this car?" Naala questioned clutching the empty condom wrapper.

"Yesterday ma'am, he uses this car most." Chris responded looking in the rearview mirror. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"No," Naala breathed out. "Nothing at all," She added looking out of the window.

The entire ride home Naala thought of ways to approach this. Her first thought was to kill him, that would be her easy option. The next thought was having to explain to her children that she killed him.

"We're here," Chris announced. Naala hadn't even realised that they pulled up in front of the house.

"Thank you," Naala smiled putting the thong and wrapper in her purse.

Chris opened her door and let her out of the car. Naala went into the house quickly, hearing the noise of all the children getting ready.

"Not that way, Mommy does it better!" Naala heard Malia cry,

"Phat it's the exact same," Sinai said to her putting the bow in her hair.

"Malia stop crying," Naala said walking into the room. "Let me do it again, come,"

"Hey ma," Sinai said hugging her. Naala hugged her back and kissed her head.

"Did you sleep well baby?" Naala questioned sitting Malia down between her legs.

"I did, where were you?" Sinai asked her mom.

"With Leli, have you had breakfast?" Naala asked changing the subject. She finished Malia's hair and stood up.

"Go and eat something," She told them both, leaving them to do it on their own.

Dave wandered through their bedroom, holding Samar. He woke up fussing and it didn't help that Naala wasn't there.

"Hey," Naala said simply entering the room. "Is he hungry?" She added holding her hands out for him.

"Ion think so," Dave replied handing him over. He leaned down to give her a kiss but Naala turned her face, kissing Samar's cheek.

"You okay?" Dave said watching her closely. Naala shook her head and turned to him.

"I want you to be honest with me because it's taking everything in me not to pack my stuff and leave you," Naala said calmly.

"What happened?" Dave questioned with a confused look.

"Look in my purse," Naala pointed to her purse that she dropped on the bed.

Dave obliged and opened her purse pulling out the contents.

"Who have you been fucking in your car?" Naala asked him lifting her top up to feed Samar.

"You honestly think this is mine?" Dave laughed holding it up.

"Don't laugh at me," Naala frowned. "We haven't been having sex until two nights ago so who have you been fucking?

"No one Love. This isn't mine," Dave replied putting the stuff down.

"Amir why are you lying to me?" Naala sighed. "I always tell you to be honest with me. I don't care that you've done it, just tell me who it is,"

Cheating was nothing new to Naala, especially with Dave. She had grown used to his ways.

"I didn't fuck anyone else Naala, why would I do that?" Dave replied back to her. He was starting to get angry that she was accusing him of that.

"Then what is this?" Naala shouted,

"I don't know!" Dave shouted back at her. Naala drew her head back and stood up, patting Samar's back.

"Don't shout at me," Naala pouted, "You're the one cheating," She sniffed.

"I'm not cheating on you baby, I don't know where that came from but it's not mine. I'm not lying to you, I would never lie to you," Dave wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you telling the truth?" Naala asked looking up at him.

"Cross my heart hope to die," Dave smirked kissing her lips. "I'll talk to Chris, sometimes he uses the car,"

"Please don't lie to me," Naala muttered shifting Samar in her hands.

"I promise," Dave said honestly. He wouldn't make the mistake of cheating on Naala again, he learned his lesson last time.

"Mom!" Saint shouted from outside the room,

"Let him in," Naala said turning her face from Dave again. He nodded and walked to the door flinging it open for him.

"Dad I don't want to go school today," Saint said as soon as he entered the room.

"Why? You already dressed," Dave answered sitting beside Naala.

"My back hurts," Saint replied with a pout. Naala's head popped up,

"Lemme see it," Naala demanded fixing Samar's neck. He was still eating with his hand securely on her shirt.

Saint walked closer and Dave helped lift his shirt up. His skin was decorated with bruises, some old, some new.

"I'm gonna kill her," Naala gritted out. "He is 8 years old, what is the need to hit him like this?"

"Did you tell your daddy about it?" Dave asked Saint. He paused for a while trying to differentiate between his dad and his daddy.

"He wouldn't listen to me anyway," Saint shrugged. Naala smacked her teeth and shook her head,

"You haven't got to worry about her anymore, you won't see her again," Naala said pulling his top down. "Okay?" She said to him, running her hands through his hair.

"Can I stay with you guys today?" Saint asked sitting on Dave's lap.

"Whatever you want," Dave nodded, "You know I love you right?" He said to him.

"Yuck Dad," Saint laughed softly. Naala smiled and watched them interact, she loved how Dave took both Samar and Saint as his own when he really didn't have to.

~~

"Why've you brought us to this big empty building?" Naala muttered softly taking Dave's hand.

"I wanted to show you something," Dave repeated. That was all he had been saying since they got into the car.

"Is it a new house? If it is can I get a game room?" Saint asked excitedly, he was holding onto the stroller whilst Naala pushed it.

"Not a house Papa," Naala shook her head. "It looks like an office space," Naala added looking around.

"Your office," Dave announced as they stopped in the middle of the room.

"Mine? Amir quit playing," Naala gasped letting go of his hand.

"You wanted to get back to work, this is the first step. I've got some decorators coming in tomorrow, just for you," He smirked at her genuine shock.

"That's so sweet," Naala cooed reaching up to hug him. She was stood on her tiptoes with her hands firmly around his neck. "Thank you so much,"

"You're welcome," Dave kissed her quickly. "Come and look at your actual office," He said taking her hand again.

"Saint push your brother," Naala said looking back at him. Saint agreed and started to push Samar's stroller which was surprisingly light.

"This is amazing," Naala squealed stepping into the massive room.

"Do you like it?" Dave questioned hopefully,

"I love it! You're the best," Naala smiled holding onto him. Dave was trying to encourage her to get back to her normal routine and she loved that.

"There was also something else I wanted to give you," Dave said turning to her. He dug through his pockets making Naala squint at him.

"Without you, my life was dark. I was mad at the world, I was mad at you for leaving me that's why I treated you that way. Nothing could ever make up for what I did but I'm gonna try," He said getting down on one knee.

"No Amir get up," Naala shook her head, "You don't have to do this again,"

"This time I want to." Dave replied simply. "The first time I proposed to you was because I thought that's what you wanted but now I know, it's what we both want."

"I'm in love with you Naala Miani Love, I'm in love with every single thing about you. I can't imagine a life without you in it. So please, please, please, please, will you marry me - again?" Dave finished.

Naala sniffed and looked down at the diamond ring he presented her with. It was truly breathtaking, nothing like she had ever been given before.

"Mama are you gonna say no or something?" Saint spoke from behind them. Her long silence was becoming deafening.

"This isn't what I want," Naala said softly. "You're my husband already, I don't want us to do it all over again,"

"It would be a clean slate, with a clean mind and heart baby. I wanna do right this time," Dave said convincingly.

"It will be different this time Naala, I'm not gonna let you down," He said caressing her hand.

"Okay," Naala nodded, "I'll marry you again," She reluctantly agreed. Dave smiled and slid the ring onto her finger kissing her hand repeatedly.

"Can we get food now?" Saint groaned from behind them. Samar also babbled in his stroller, as if he was agreeing.

"Yeah what do you wanna eat?" Dave spoke standing up properly. He wrapped his arms around Naala and squeezed her tight.

"I love you," Naala smiled with tears in her eyes.

"I love you too baby," Dave said letting her go. "Whatchu wanna eat then?" He directed his question to Saint.

"Chicken Sandwich," Saint and Naala said at the same time. Dave shook his head and chuckled.

"You done turned this boy into you," Dave said holding the door open for them.

Naala pushed Samar out first and towards the car they rode in.

"Dad lemme get on your back," Saint said tugging Dave's hand.

"Bet," Dave bent down and let Saint jump on his back.

"Nasir you are too big for that," Naala laughed walking ahead of them.

"She talk too much," Saint mumbled under his breath, "I feel sorry for you pops," He said quietly.

"She do don't she?" Dave chuckled lowly,

"Amir remember that tonight," Naala called over her shoulder.

Saint gasped and squeezed Dave's shoulders. "You be going in the room with my mama?"

"Whatchu know about that?" Dave spoke turning his head to check the street before they crossed it.

"Daddy always be taking Tete Dess in the room. When mama used to take Phat and Nai out, they be in the room all day," Saint snitched.

"How you know what they doing?" Dave asked Saint trying to be quiet.

"Cuz it gets loud and I have to turn my game up. I remember when him and mommy used to go in there, that's how Sammy came," Saint explained it the best he could.

"That's sex," Dave said bluntly. "Don't let your mama know I said that but that's what sex is little man,"

Saint's eyes widened like he had an epiphany. "They be doing sex?" He asked in bewilderment.

"That's how you have babies," Dave replied,

"You do sex with my mom?" Saint questioned with a mug. "Ion want no more babies,"

"Why not?" Dave asked him,

"Mama forgot about me when Sammy came. Ion want that again," Saint told his dad.

"Even a little sister?" Dave responded. He was serious about having one more baby with Naala, he was just waiting for the right time to ask her.

"I got Phat and Amari," Saint shrugged,

"You gon have one more soon," Dave announced as they reached the car.

"One more what?" Naala asked taking Samar out of the stroller. Chris got out of the car to help them in.

"Mom you pregnancy?" Saint gasped,

"It's pregnant dumbo," Dave bumped his shoulder.

"No I'm not pregnant, Amir don't feel his head up with that," Naala fussed handing him Samar.

"Your mama doesn't know yet but she will be soon," Dave spoke to Saint. Naala spun around and smacked the back of his neck.

"You don't know when to stop," She said to him with a mug.

"Sammy say leave us men alone," Dave said rocking Samar.

"I'll show you men," Naala muttered getting into the car. Dave got in beside her and Saint got in on the other side.

Chris pulled off and the family rode in silence, both Saint and Samar asleep.

"Mrs Brewster, I apologise for what you saw this morning," Chris said after a while. "I got carried away and I forget I kept it in there,"

"Did my husband tell you to say that?" Naala asked looking at him.

"Come on baby," Dave sucked his teeth. "Why would I lie?"

"Not at all ma'am, your husband only uses this car when I drive it. He hasn't had anyone in the back with him apart from you," Chris spoke honestly.

"Hmm, don't let it happen again," Naala waved him off.

"Okay boss lady," Dave added throwing his hand over her shoulder.

"I'm still watching you," Naala pointed at him. Dave smirked bringing her face closer.

"Gimme a kiss," He said lifting her chin up. Naala planted a kiss on his lips lightly.

"Stop telling him that we're having another baby," Naala added after pecking his lips a few times.

"Why can't we?" Dave mumbled his hand resting on her breast.

"Because we have 3 girls already Amir, taking my total to 5. I'm not even 30 yet," Naala laughed,

"One more is not gonna hurt though," Dave answered,

"It's not gonna hurt you," Naala replied quietly, "Samar isn't even one yet,"