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"Naala I ain't playing hurry up," Dave said standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Daddy do I have to come?" Maniya asked coming out in the hallway. Today was Naala's 7 month check up and they were finally finding out the gender of the baby. They could have found out last month but with everything going on, it slipped their mind.

"Your mama wants us all there so put your shit on," Dave cursed. He was stressed out because he didn't know how to break it to Naala that he had to go on tour for 4 months.

He'd been trying to put it off for as long as possible and now he was leaving in two weeks, right after Sinai's birthday.

"Alright damn," Maniya mumbled storming back in her room and slamming the door.

"These damn girls man," Dave huffed picking Saint up when he tried to crawl up the stairs. Saint was at the stage where he was trying to move around on his own.

"I told you about baby proofing the house but do you listen to me? No," Naala sassed walking down the stairs. Dave sucked his teeth and walked off,

"Are all y'all on your period or something?" Dave mumbled to himself thinking no one could hear him.

"What's a period daddy?" Sinai asked popping up from nowhere.

Dave jumped and looked down at her, "Where you just came out from?" He asked her.

"The pantry," Sinai said sheepishly.

"Ah hell," Dave said because he knew she would have messed it up and Naala was walking in there.

Right on cue, Naala screamed loudly. "Who's been in my pantry?" She bellowed walking out with her hand on her hip.

"Quit shouting," Dave responded sitting on the stool behind the counter and putting Saint back on the floor.

"You was in there?" Naala asked pointing at him. "I swear I have to do everything damn thing in this house." Naala muttered to herself.

"Why you over there grumbling?" Dave spoke out, "Man y'all are blowing me for real,"

"Your family is blowing you?" Naala asked loudly. "Amir get out of this kitchen because I'm about to flip,"

Naala was already in an irritatable mood and Dave's nonchalant attitude was making it worse. Her back was sore, her feet hurt and she felt like she'd gained almost 10 pounds over night.

"Man Naala eat something and shut up because you are never you when you're hungry," Dave replied laughing.

"You think this is funny?" Naala quizzed squinting her eyes at him. "Alright I got something for you," She said storming past him.

"The appointment starts at 1 and y'all are still playing around," Dave shouted standing up. "Maniya get your ass down these damn steps. Naala put those ugly ass feet in shoes and stop complaining, Sinai pick your brother up and get his bag."

Dave's loud voice boomed through the house silencing everyone's noise. Naala scrunched up her face but put on her Hermes slippers. Maniya came down the stairs with a stank face and Sinai picked Saint up.

"That's what I fucking thought," Dave mumbled grabbing his car keys.

"You didn't have to say I have ugly feet," Naala said pushing past him.

"Just get in the car," Dave groaned. He took Saint from Sinai and let everyone out of the house.

"Keep up that attitude and your little friend can't come on the trip," Dave said to Maniya as she walked towards the car.

Sinai's birthday was coming up and the family were going to Disneyland. Maniya begged her parents to let Tai come and Naala convinced Dave.

"I ain't got an attitude," She said getting in the car and slamming the door. Maniya had been acting this way towards Dave for a few days now and he couldn't understand why. Dave looked at her and nodded. He strapped Saint in and helped Sinai into her seat.

Naala was already sat in the front seat, he wasn't driving the truck today so she was able to get in on her own. Her head was against the headrest and her eyes were closed as she rubbed her stomach.

"You can't see what your daughter's doing?" Dave asked Naala,

Naala opened one eye and peeked at him, "She's only my daughter when she's acting up huh?"

"Mommy?" Sinai said sitting forward in her seat. Naala turned her head and sat up,

"Sit back baby, and put your seatbelt on. Amir you can't even put on a damn seatbelt?" Naala asked sitting up and trying to reach to the back to help her.

"I'ma let that slide cuz you're carrying my baby and I know she's fucking with you," Dave grumbled stopping the car and getting out. Naala watched him go to the back and strap Sinai in.

"He's in a mood right?" Naala asked Maniya who nodded quickly.

Dave got back into the car and drove off not saying a word. Naala watched him for a while before she said,

"What's the matter with you?" Naala questioned watching him hold onto the wheel tightly. "You woke up angry at the world and for what?"

"I ain't angry," Dave scoffed gripping the wheel.

"You are being a bit moody daddy," Sinai spoke from the back of the car.

"See even your kids can see it," Naala said rolling her eyes, "If you didn't want to come you should have just said that,"

"Naala shut up talking to me," Dave replied without thinking.

"Excuse me?" Naala whipping her head to him. "You've got some fucking nerve Amir," Naala cursed forgetting the children were at the back.

"You woke up all angry and then here you are taking it out on me! What did I do?" Naala shouted,

"You've been bitching since you opened your eyes Naala, that's what the fuck you did," Dave shouted back.

Naala and Dave went back and forth, getting louder and louder. Sinai and Maniya watched hopelessly at the back,

"Mommy stop shouting," Sinai said but the noise Naala was making overpowered her.

"I'm carrying your child, yours!" Naala shouted. "So if I'm bitching, guess what your gonna do? Shut up and listen because I'm fucking tired okay?"

"You're like a broken record man, all you do is bitch and nag all fucking day. I don't get no breaks, you don't think I'm tired?" Dave said loudly looking at her.

"Don't curse at me Amir, I will reach over and punch you in your face, I'm not playing." Naala said turning to him.

Sinai sat back and started to cry, she had never seen her mom and dad argue like this. Dave was red as hell and Naala's leg was shaking fast - they were moments away from blowing up on each other.

Maniya heard Sinai's sniffles and decided it was enough.

"Y'all just stop!" Maniya shouted making both Naala and Dave stop speaking. "Nai's crying because y'all are fighting,"

"I'm sorry aight," Dave said looking back at Sinai who was balling her eyes out. "Daddy's sorry Nai,"

"Tuh," Naala scoffed. Here he was making her look like the bad guy again.

"You got something you want to say?" Dave asked glancing at her.

"Please don't talk to me because I'm so close right now," Naala muttered looking out the window.

"Whatever Naala, you always trynna fight for no reason. Our daughters crying and you're sitting here being a child," Dave said shaking his head.

"Do you know what? Turn this car around," Naala said crossing her arms, "I'm not going to the appointment when you're like this,"

"Like what?" Dave scrunched up his face,

"Like this!" Naala snapped. "I'm pregnant Amir, I'm gonna have times when I'm angry or emotional or hungry, but what I expect you to do is be there for me."

Maniya heard her mom's voice crack and she sighed. Here we go, she thought.

"You do this every time," Naala said tearing up, "What did I do now? I do everything I can. I cook for you, I clean, I look after our kids what more do you want from me Amir? Tell me," At this point she was crying hard.

"Stop crying," Dave said lowly, putting his hand on her thigh.

"I hate this," Naala cried into her hands, "I hate being pregnant, and you don't help. I do everything on my own,"

"Naala I'm sorry, stop crying you know I don't like seeing you cry," Dave mumbled pulling the car on a random street.

"Mama it's okay," Maniya spoke softly taking off her seatbelt.

"Amir get away from me," Naala said through her tears as he reached over to touch her.

Naala took of her seatbelt and got out of the car. She started walking down the street but didn't get far because Bully was trailing her.

Dave stepped on the security because he knew he wasn't gonna be around for long.

"You want me to go after her?" Maniya asked her dad.

"Nah just let her cool off," Dave replied. "Nai come up here," He said helping Sinai climb over to his lap.

"You'on got to cry," Dave said wiping her dried tears with the pad of her fingers.

"Do you still love mommy?" Sinai asked laying her head on her dad's chest.

"I love her so much," Dave responded. He was feeling bad, he let his guilt get in the way.

"Are you guys gonna break up?" Sinai asked lifting her head up. Dave shook his head quickly.

"Never," He replied. "Why don't you go back and sit with Niya and I go and check on your mom?" Dave suggested. Sinai agreed and went back to her seat, cuddling up to her big sister.

"Im'a be back," Dave nodded at Maniya as he got out of the car.

He sped walk to where Naala was leaning on the wall. When Naala saw him coming she stood up straight,

"I don't want to talk, I'm exhausted and I don't have it in me to keep doing this with you," Naala spoke raising her hand up.

"I'm sorry baby, I took my anger out on you and I was wrong," Dave said stepping towards her.

"It hurts me to fight with you, I hate fighting with you because you're the love of my life." Naala answered with tears in her eyes, "But I'm tired Amir, I'm so tired and you keep going, and you don't stop,"

Dave sighed standing over her. He let her talk because he was the one in the wrong.

"We've only been married a month and I shouldn't feel this way. I shouldn't feel like I'm doing this on my own. You get up in the morning, you leave and go to the studio and I don't see you for the rest of the day. We have 3 children and I'm 7 months pregnant - I'm exhausted." Naala said looking directly at him.

Everything she was saying was true. Dave had been abandoning his family to work. He felt like he was slacking with his music so he'd been going harder since the wedding.

"I didn't realise you felt this way baby, I'm sorry," Dave said holding her hands. He didn't realise how much this was affecting his wife.

"How would I know how I felt if you haven't even spoken to me properly or touched me?" Naala said lowly. "If this isn't what you want then it's not too late —"

"Don't say shit like that," Dave spoke quickly. "Y'all are all I want. I put music first and I'm sorry, it's not gonna happen again - I promise. I love you Naala, I'm in love you"

"Then why do I always have to remind you?" Naala replied with attitude letting go off his hands and walking back to the car.

Dave sighed and threw his head back, how was he gonna break it to her that he was also going on tour soon.

Naala got back in the car and turned to the back seat. "I'm sorry y'all had to see that, this baby is really playing with my emotions,"

"I get it Ma," Maniya replied. Sinai stayed quiet playing with Maniya's fingers.

"Nai do you forgive me?" Naala asked her watching Sinai's movements.

Sinai shrugged and avoided eye contact with her mom. She was upset that her mom was shouting and that now her parents weren't in a good place.

Dave got in the car and started it up. "Let's go," He said pulling off and back into the direction of the doctors office. Maniya watched the cold interaction between her mom and dad and shook her head - Dave was still messing up.

They drove in silence until Saint woke up and started crying. "Niya give him his pacifier please?" Naala said reaching in her purse and pulling it out.

Maniya took it and tried to put it in his mouth but he kept spitting back out. "He's not letting me," Maniya said looking at her mom.

Naala sighed and tucked her lips in. "Hand him here," She said putting her purse on the floor. Maniya carefully lifted Saint out of his seat and passed him to Naala.

"What's the matter stinka butt?" Naala cooed at him. Saint's cries quietened down as he heard his moms voice.

"You just wanted mommy huh?" Naala said kissing his cheek. She sat Saint on her lap and smoothed out his hair.

"I appreciate you mama, don't ever think different," Dave said rubbing Naala's thigh. "I love you and I appreciate you, aight?"

Naala nodded and concentrated on Saint, it wasn't that she didn't believe what Dave was saying it was that she was still hurt. Dave pulled up at a red light and glanced at her,

"Can I have a kiss?" He asked licking his lips. Naala turned her head to the side and pecked his lips.

Maniya wanted to shake her head so bad. Don't get her wrong, she loved her dad but she saw the way he treated her mom and also she was always the one that had to pick up the pieces when Dave wasn't there.

"I love you," Dave said once again, waiting for Naala's response.

"I love you too," Naala replied truthfully while looking at him. She hoped love would be enough for them.

~~

Naala laid on the bed at the doctors office with her shirt rolled up waiting for the nurse to come in.

"So that's where we see your baby sister," Dave said holding Saint up and explaining it to him, like he could understand.

"Can one of y'all get me a pickle out my purse?" Naala asked, she was nervous and she needed a snack.

"Uhn uhn those stink mama," Sinai complained. Maniya laughed and agreed.

"They're so nasty," Maniya shook her head. Dave sucked his teeth and took the purse.

"It's like y'all like seeing her cry," He mumbled because he could already see Naala's eyes watering.

"You can talk," Maniya mumbled under her breath. Naala caught it but Dave didn't hear what she said.

"Here baby," Dave said handing her the pickle.

"Thank you pumpkin," Naala replied puckering her lips. He leaned down and kissed her. Naala was feeling bad, she didn't mean to explode on him, it was her hormones.

"Yuck," Sinai cringed at her mom and dad kissing. Dave pulled away and mugged her,

"Hush," He joked mushing her head. Sinai mugged her dad back and sat next to Maniya.

The door opened and in walked the nurse. Her eyes scanned the room and she smiled,

"Full house today?" The nurse said making Naala smile,

"I wanted them all to be here when you tell me it's a boy," Naala cheesed, she knew it was a boy.

The whole family was adamant that it was girl, only Naala stood alone in her idea.

"Man it's a girl," Dave groaned looking at Saint. "We don't need no more boys, you got Cabo,"

"A dog Amir?" Naala said scrunching her face up. She opened her pickle then looked at the nurse, "Do you mind if I -"

"No please do, I know those craving can be crazy," The nurse said setting everything up.

"That ain't no craving she eats them normally," Dave responded causing Naala to squint her eyes at him,

"Mind your business I'm talking to - what's your name?" She asked the nurse,

"Diamond," The nurse replied thinking that this family was hilarious.

"Right I'm talking to Diamond, so please stay out of our conversation," Naala said rolling her neck.

"Period mama, he's always in someone's business," Maniya added getting on her phone,

"Bet. Give me that phone cuz it's my business what you're doing on it," Dave said holding his hand out,

"Mommy," Maniya whined handing the phone over,

"Girl he's not scaring anybody," Naala waved him off, "Give my baby back her phone,"

"But it's my business," Dave retorted being difficult.

"Well actually daddy, me and mommy went to buy Niya's phone, you weren't there," Sinai added being messy. Naala smiled because only her daughter could be this messy.

"That's right baby, your daddy is a very crazy man," Naala laughed eating some more of your pickle. "Ooo that's cold," She mumbled when the nurse started searching for the baby.

After a few moments, she stopped and put the apparatus down. "I need to step out and get the senior OBGYN, I won't be long,"

Naala's smile turned into a worried expression, "What's wrong?" She asked the nurse.

"Oh nothing there's just something I can't explain but Dr Brooks will be able to," The nurse smiled and left the room.

"It's okay Love calm down," Dave said standing by her and rubbing her arm.

"You don't know that, why did she rush out of the room like that?" Naala said fearfully.

"I'm sure it's nothing Ma," Maniya added also standing to her feet.

The doctor came into the room and smiled, "Diamond told me she's found an abnormality, I just need to check it out,"

"An abnormality?" Dave repeated. "She didn't say all that,"

"See," Naala pouted feeling tears cloud her sight. "Somethings wrong isn't it?"

"That's what I'm here to find out," Dr Brooks spoke soothingly.

The doctor used the ultrasound sound machine to find what the nurse was talking about.

"Ah there it is," The doctor said before placing the scanner down. "If you can see just there," she pointed at the screen.

"There's two sacs but only one baby." The doctor explained.

"So what does that mean?" Dave asked holding Naala's hand.

"Well it means that on conception, the eggs formed two embryos however they began in separate sacs. As you can see there is only one baby, so the other baby didn't make it past a certain stage." The doctor said sympathetically,

Naala was stuck alongside Dave, they didn't understand what was happening.

"In non medical terms, you were pregnant with twins but one did not receive enough nutrients to survive, it seems like the full grown baby took over." The doctor continued. Naala cleared her throat,

"We only came to find out the gender," She said lowly. "I didn't come to hear this so is it a girl or boy?"

"Naala," Dave tried to say,

"No I can't take anymore bad news, I can't," Naala said letting tears fall,

Dave made eye contact with the doctor and indicated for him to do as Naala said.

"What did you want?" The doctor asked Naala looking at her clipboard.

"I want a boy, two girls and two boys - it's perfect," Naala said wiping her eyes.

"I said it's a girl, we can try for a boy next time," Dave added.

Naala looked at him like he was crazy, "Excuse my language but nigga there isn't no next time. This is my third and last pregnancy,"

"Yeah right," Dave scoffed. "Doc please shut her up,"

"Looks like mommy lost the bet," The doctor exclaimed, making Naala start crying again.

"That's not fair," She pouted through her tears, Dave tried to make light of the situation,

"Pay up," He said putting his hand out. Maniya didn't know whether to be happy or just sit down.

"Yeah mama you owe me $10," Maniya added with a smirk.

Naala laughed and covered her face, "Check again," She said to the doctor.

"Ain't no more checking, I told you I had a little princess on the way," Dave smiled rubbing her belly,

"Move," Naala muttered pushing his hand off.

"I told you I had a baby sister," Sinai said excitedly, "I said it remember mommy?"