"Love you almost done?" I said walking into the bathroom. Tonight we was invited to the Hawks game so me and her were going and Maniya was staying with the babies. Luckily for her, they sleep early.

"I don't like my hair," She pouted running her hands through it,

"I like it like this," I said playing with it, "Why don't you curl it at the ends like you normally do?"

"Mmm," She said sluggishly moving around, she plugged the curling thing on, and leaned against the counter.

"Baby girl you've got to give your mama a break" I said walking up behind her and putting my hands on her round stomach,

She sighed and leaned into me, "I was never this sick with Saint or Sinai, it's driving me mad," She mumbled.

"You can stay home, Ion want you feeling like this when we're out," I said rubbing her stomach,

"No I promised I'd be there for you," Naala replied turning around in my arms, "Curl my hair for me?" She asked with her bottom lip poked out.

Sighing, I leaned down and pecked her lips, "Teach me how to do it,"

She smiled softly and pulled away from me picking up the curler.

"Ok so you take a strand of the hair and wrap it round like this," She showcased. After watching her a few times, I took over.

"Be careful it's —"

"Fuck!" I jumped when the curler hit my finger, burning my skin.

"It's hot baby," Naala laughed at me through the mirror.

"Ain't shit funny," I grumbled putting my finger in my mouth to soothe the pain,

"I'm sorry," She pouted. She took my finger and put it in her mouth, sucking it gently.

"Better?" She asked taking it out of her mouth,

"You're so nasty," I smirked at her before carrying on with the hair.

"Harper's Bazaar contacted me last night, they want me to do a segment for them," Naala said after a while,

"What's that?" I said scrunching my face up, "Sounds like a circus or some shit,"

"It's a magazine," Naala chuckled, "They want me to model for them,"

I nodded, "What about work? Are you allowed to do that?"

Naala huffed, "That's the problem. I don't mind doing it but I don't want to abandon my actual career,"

I picked up the last strand of hair and wrapped it around the curler,

"It's not as if I can go back to work because I'm still on family leave but I just don't have the drive anymore," She continued.

"Ion want you giving up on your job because of what happened." I said referring to Sinai's accident.

"I'm not —"

"Naala I know you. You're afraid to go back to work because you don't want to leave them at home. I know you," I repeated,

"Their my babies Mir, I can't leave them again," She said her voice breaking. "I don't want anything bad to happen to them," She said with tears falling down her face.

I put the curler down and rubbed her shoulders, "Stop stressing. You don't need to go back to work, I gotchu you,"

Naala nodded wiping her eyes and looked at me, "Maybe I should take a small break, do other things,"

"You know I will support you whatever you do," I said truthfully, "If you wanna model, ima be there. If you wanna just be a stay at home mom then I will be there."

Naala pouted, "I love you Amir,"

"I love you too," I responded kissing her. "Put your clothes on so we can go," I said tapping her ass,

"Can you make sure Sinai takes her meds?" She said looking back at me. Recently we found out that Sinai had been throwing the pills out when we give them to her. So now someone has to watch her whilst she takes them.

"I'ma make sure," I mumbled. I walked back out and Maniya was lying on the couch with Saint on her chest,

"You sleep?" I said standing over her,

"Well not anymore," She blinked at me,

"Okay rudeness," I replied, "Where's my other monster?" I said looking around,

"She's in my room, she said something about charging her iPad," Maniya said with her eyes closed,

I nodded and went towards Maniya's room, pushing the door open I heard Sinai's voice and another child's voice,

"And then we got ice cream Veah, it was so fun!" Sinai smiled at her iPad. When I walked into the room properly, she ended the call quickly.

"Hi daddy," She said quietly, "I wasn't on FaceTime, I was playing around on my camera,"

"What have I told you about lying Leilani, you was talking to Neveah right?"

Sinai nodded shamelessly, "I never get to speak to her,"

Since Naala stopped speaking to Azure, the kids didn't see each other.

"You don't have to hide it baby. If you want to see your cousin I can do that for you," I said softly. She shouldn't have to suffer because of what Naala and Azure had going on.

"But what about mommy?" She asked me crawling into my lap,

"I'll talk to her," I replied, "Where's your medicine?" I asked squeezing her shoulders,

Sinai screwed up her face and mugged me, "It's so nasty daddy,"

"But it stops those things that don't make you feel good," I explained lifting her off my lap,

"Mommy doesn't take her medicine though," Sinai said looking at me, "Aren't they meant to make her better?"

I clenched my jaw at the thought of Naala being off her meds, "Mommy doesn't take them?"

Sinai shook her head, "Not all the time. After you leave she throws them out Daddy but she said I shouldn't tell - am I gonna get in trouble now?"

"No baby, you did good telling me," I said to her. "Go get your medicine so me and your mama can go,"

Sinai sighed and got off the bed, leaving the room. I sat in silence thinking about what she just said. There were no signs that Naala wasn't taking her meds, she hasn't broken down in a while and she hadn't been having any hallucinations or shit like that unless she'd been hiding it from me.

"I got them daddy," Sinai said walking back into the room, she was also holding a cup of juice.

I took the meds from her and poured one into my hand, "Ahh," I said making her open her mouth, I dropped one in and she sipped her juice, slowly ingesting the pill.

"Ahh," She said sticking her tongue out. I nodded and ruffled her hair,

"That's my girl,"

"Can I get back on the phone with Veah?" Sinai asked hopefully,

"Yeah but not too late, Ion want to hear from your sister that you've been up late," I warned. I gave her a kiss on the head before leaving out the room. Maniya was still laid out on the couch but now she was on her phone,

"Make sure she goes to sleep by 12 Niya," I spoke making her look over at me,

"Okay, have fun you two," She smiled just as Naala walked out of our room. She was dressed in a two piece denim set, the jacket was oversized so you couldn't see her stomach,

"Do I look okay?" Naala said smoothing her skirt out, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her into me.

"You haven't got a longer skirt?" I asked pulling it down with my other hand,

"Stop," Naala said moving my hand, "It's not that serious, Niy do you like it?" She asked spinning around,

"You look good Mama, make sure daddy takes some pictures," Maniya said bringing out her phone, "Daddy pose or something, you look like a lamppost," Maniya said pointing the camera at us,

I put my middle finger up and Naala pinched my side, "Smile Amir," I mugged her for a second and then mugged the camera,

"You're so childish," Naala grumbled getting out of my grip. She leaned down and kissed Saint and Maniya's cheek,

"Where's my baby?" She asked looking for Sinai,

"Erm, she's sleep," I rushed out. I knew if Naala went looking for her, she would see that she was on the phone with Neveah.

"Already? That's not like her, I'm gonna check on her," Naala said trying to move around me,

"She's cool Love, we already late cuz you took ages," I said stopping her from getting past me. She sighed,

"Ok, I'm sorry let's go," She replied fixing her purse, "Bye Papa bear," Naala cooed at Saint lifting him up,

"How you gonna say bye and then pick him up?" I said sucking my teeth, "Naala come on for real," I said watching her kiss all over his face.

"But my baby is gonna be 7 months old tomorrow," She replied, "Can you believe that Mir, he's gonna be 7 months!"

Saint babbled back making her laugh, "I know baby he's jealous of you - yeah he's so jealous of you my little man," She said bouncing him up and down.

"Mama y'all are gonna be late," Maniya said standing up,

"I already said that," I mumbled. Naala cut her eyes at me,

"Who pissed in your cereal?" She asked me handing Saint to Maniya,

"I just wanna go Naala," I huffed pulling my phone out and checking the time, "It's almost 8 and I was gonna take you out after,"

"Aw you wanted to take me on a date?" Naala pouted, "See Niya, your dad is a big softie," She said pinching my cheeks,

"Let's go," I said swatting her hands off, "I'm not gonna say it again," I said gripping her waist,

"Oooo," Naala giggled, "You know stuff like that turns me on," She said leaning up to rub my face,

"Okay EW," Maniya groaned walking away from us, "Can y'all just leave before I'm sick in my mouth?"

Naala laughed and pecked my lips, "We're going," She smiled. I held onto her hand and led her to the elevator,

"Are you okay?" She asked squeezing my hand,

I nodded without saying anything, "Are you sure Amir? You're really quiet," She said tugging on my hand,

I ignored her and waited for the elevator. I heard her sigh as we waited. We got on the elevator in silence and went down to the lobby where a sprinter was waiting for us. I opened the door for Naala to get in,

"Thanks," She mumbled getting in. I nodded and got in sitting opposite her.

"You can't even look at me?" She questioned after a while, "What did I do this time?"

"..."

I felt something hit my chest and it was her purse, "Don't ignore me, what is it?"

"Why've you got to be so violent all the time huh?" I said lowly,

"Because you know how to push my buttons," She replied leaning forward,

"Whatever Naala, I ain't in the mood to fight with you," I said pulling my phone out. Naala mumbled something under her breathe before she snatched my phone out of my hand,

"Naala I'm trying really hard not to go off on you right now," I said to her,

"About what?!" She shouted, "Go off on about what Amir?"

"Stop shouting," I said sternly, "I don't want to fight with you, I really don't" The look on her face softened,

"Then tell me what's wrong," Naala replied softly, "I didn't mean to shout, I'm sorry - I let my anger get in the way of us having an adult conversation,"

"Dr Black taught you that?" I asked raising a brow,

Naala nodded, "She did. Our last session was about communication, something I'm very bad at so I apologise,"

"I accept your apology." I said sitting back in my seat,

Naala nodded and got up, sitting beside me. "Now can you tell me what's wrong? Is it something I did?"

"My mama is in Atlanta and I can't bring myself to go see her," I responded,

"Your mama is here? In Atlanta?" She asked me searching my face for answers,

"She moved down here, she hasn't spoken to me since what happened with Sinai. Chanel told me she sold the house and moved here. She didn't even tell me Love, what kind of mother does that?"

"I don't know baby," Naala said rubbing my arm, "But that's not the only thing bothering you, I know you," She said with a smile. Copying exactly what I told her earlier,

"You've not been taking your meds," I watched her closely to see if her smile would falter but it didn't,

"I haven't because I'm pregnant. Both Dr Black and my OBGYN suggested that I pull back on them and get something lighter,"

"Why didn't you say something then instead of throwing them out?" I asked her, this sounded funny to me,

"I was going to tell you but then I got distracted with this trip. I promise I wasn't trying to not take them, I just wanted to show you that I can deal with these things on my own, without you having to do it for me," She said the last part quietly,

"You think I don't let you do things on your own?"

"Not really baby, I know you only do it because you want the best for me but sometimes it's too much," Naala said looking up at me, "I love you Amir but sometimes I feel suffocated,"

"You're smiling," Naala said moving away from me, "Why are you smiling? Are you mad? Baby I didn't --"

I cut her off by kissing her passionately, we kissed for long before we pulled apart and I pecked her lips twice.

Hearing her say that didn't make me angry, it actually made me feel proud. I wasn't happy about the fact that she felt suffocated because that wasn't my intention but I was glad she was growing,

"I'm not mad," I said simply, "I love you that's why I'm always there, I want you in my skin at all times. But I'm gonna step back and give you space,"

"I don't want space Mir, but I do want you to let me handle some things not just things to do with the house or the kids," She said leaning into me,

"What do you want to do?" I asked with a smile,

"Let me be your assistant," She cheesed, "I've seen how many calls and emails you get, I want to help,"

"Ion know Love, I thought you want to model?" I asked her,

"I do but that won't take up all my time - please?" She questioned looking me in the eye. I weighed up my options, it saves me having to look for someone to hire,

"Okay," I said finally, "Only till you have the baby. You can only work from home, and if it gets too much, I'll hire someone,"

"Yay," She smiled, "Thanks baby," She added kissing me,

I kissed her back and pulled her into my lap, "You're growing up on me," I whispered into her neck,

"I am huh?" Naala replied, "Mir?" She said playing with my fingers,

"Mmm," I hummed,

"I want you to go and see your mom tomorrow, you can take the kids," Naala said making me look at her,

"I don't want to see her," I responded, "She left without saying a word to me Naala. I've looked after my mom for as long as I've known how and that's how she repays me."

"I know it hurts. That feeling of abandonment, oh I know it is so well, but a smart man once told me that you need to hear someone out to let that pain go," She smiled at me,

"I said that," I mumbled rubbing her hand,

"Yeah you did and that helped me speak to my mom and now it hurts just a little less," Naala said, "Just hear her out baby,"

I nodded and sighed, "I'll hear her out but I'm not taking the kids, she doesn't deserve to see them,"

"That's fine, that's a good first step," Naala said putting her head on my shoulder,

"I can't wait to make you my wife," I said leaning down and kissing her head,

"Me either. It would make all my dreams come true," She replied quietly. An idea came to mind and before I could stop myself I said,

"Then let's get married," I said sitting up,

"We are getting married silly," Naala laughed at me,

"Yeah but why wait? Let's do it," I smiled at her,

"You want to elope?" Naala said titling her head,

"Nah, we can do it at home but soon, when we get back,"

"There's a lot to do, I have to get a dress, bridesmaid dresses, food, entertainment --"

"Money ain't an option, how long do you think it will take?" I asked her pulling out my phone again,

"Like 3 weeks at least," She responded, "But Amir that's crazy,"

"How? You already said you don't want to get married when you just gave birth so now is perfect. I'll find a wedding planner then we'll go from there," I replied,

Naala stared at me as if she was considering everything, "No budget?" She asked after thinking,

"Anything you want baby," I nodded,

"Then let's get married," She shrugged.

"Let's get married," I repeated staring at her, "I love you so much Naala, it scares me," That was the truth. Sometimes I found myself needing Naala to function, it scared me that I let someone have my heart like this - but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"I love you too Amir, more than you know," Naala responded, leaning up and kissing my cheek.

We stayed cuddled up until the sprinter finally pulled up to the stadium. There were camera's everywhere and it was like Naala noticed at the exact same time,

"I hate paparazzi, they never get my good side," She groaned,

"You haven't got a bad side," I said helping her out of the car. As soon as we started walking towards the entrance the camera flashing begun,

"Over here!" They shouted, "Come on beautiful, give us a smile!" Another one shouted, Naala turned to the side and flashed a fake smile,

I helped her into the doors and the flashes became less, a steward led us to our box and we sat down.

"I don't know anything about basketball," Naala said looking down at the court,

"I know," I laughed, "When I cheer, you cheer," I said putting my arm around her, she put her purse on her lap and took out her phone.

"Smile," She said holding her phone up. I looked at the camera and held my middle finger up as usual,

"Stop," Naala said nudging me. I sucked my teeth and then leaned down kissing her cheek,

"Happy now?" I said after she snapped a few pictures,

"Perfect. Now I can post these on facebook," She smiled tapping away on her phone.

"Ooo baby look they have hotdogs," Naala said watching someone serve hotdogs on the aisle beneath our box,

"You want one?" I asked sitting forward,

"Yeah remember my onions and a soda please?" She asked as I stood up. I nodded and left the box, jogging down the steps to the food stand.

Just as I got to the stand, a girl bumped into me, spilling her drink all other my sneakers.

"Oh my God," She gasped covering her mouth, "I'm so so sorry," She said apologetically,

"You're cool," I said but inside I was pissed off,

"No it's not, those look expensive as well - I can pay for them to be cleaned," She said rummaging through her purse,

"No, you're cool," I repeated stepping to the side to let other people pass by,

"No I must," She said putting her hand on my shoulder. I looked at her weirdly before shrugging her hand off,

"Like I said shawty, you're good," I said moving back,

"Your accent is strong, New York?" She smiled,

"Born and raised," I nodded. The food stand line moved up so I stepped forward, thinking she would take that as a sign but she still carried on talking,

"That's crazy, I've never been to New York," The girl said, "I heard it's beautiful,"

"Word?" I mumbled, "That's crazy,"

"I'm sensing you don't want to talk," The girl said looking at me. Now I was at the front of the cue, I ignored her and ordered the stuff,

"Can I get two hotdogs, one with everything on with extra onions and the other plain with mustard. And then can I get a large Sprite?" I asked pulling out my wallet,

I handed the man a twenty dollar bill and stepped back. The annoying ass girl was still stood beside me,

"Two hotdogs?" She asked, "Either you eat a lot or you're here on a date."