I waddled from my bed room to the living room and sat down with my bowl of fruit. Travis walked from my room changed into his sweats from work. It's been a couple weeks since everything was brought out. Travis hasn't left my house and just worked his last day. I shook my head at him as he sat down beside me.

"What?"

"I can't believe you not going to work"

"Hey if I have to set maternity leave then I can set paternity leave too" he smirked "Plus since you hit full term this week, I want to be here just in case you go into labor"

"So basically you're going to annoy the yell out of me until the babies comes"

"Precisely"

"Can you not?"

"Chill" he laughed "Can't you just spend time with me and not complain"

"I"m not complaining but you always rubbing on my belly and I can't take the kicking"

"That's not my fault they just ready to come out and meet Daddy"

"You legit ready to do this" I smiled

"Of course" he my feet to his lap and rubbed them "The love of my life is giving birth to the blessing that are my beautiful daughters"

I rolled my eyes at him "Stop Trav"

"What?"

"Put my feet down"

"Aye chill" he sighed "We gotta y'all about it eventually"

"We've had this talk multiple times for the last few weeks you been back around. We not happening again. We've been good and I can really see us becoming best friends again... but I can't do a relationship with you anymore"

"You still haven't said why"

"Because I choose not—"

"You full of shit! I know you're afraid Micah"

"It's not—"

"It is! I'm not about to tell you to let it go and leave it in the past... but relationship are hard. They get fucked from time to time... it's a choice to continue and work to make it better. I want to be with you and be a family"

"You have another family to deal with"

"Don't do that!"

"It's true!"

"But you know why that even exist!"

"You know what? Answer me this: if I wasn't pregnant, would you even be here right now? Or would you be living your life still engaged to Khari"

He didn't speak but he never looked away from my eyes. Before either of us could say anything else, Reagan open the front door with her key. She was followed Ralph and Keith.

I moved so I was no longer in Travis grasp. Reagan helped me up but as soon as I hugged her, I felt the water gush down my legs.

"Oh my God" I whispered

"Fuck! Okay!" Keith steppes in front of me "You're okay sis we going to get you to the hospital and call Lizzie to meet us there. Travis help me get her downstairs to the car. Reagan pack up some clothes for Travis. Ralph get Micah's bags! Move"

Travis was in a trance just staring at the floor. I turned and grabbed his face. Our eyes met and I smiled at him. He smiled getting up and began to walk me outside with Keith on the other side. We made it downstairs before I started feeling the contractions. When they hit though... I thought I was dying.

Since I was contracting it took a minute for them to get me in the car but once I did. Travis damn near flew to the hospital. It felt like we got there in no time. Keith went in and got a wheelchair while I held onto Travis' shoulder and he rubbed my back.

"We got this mama okay?"

I nodded

"It's going to be me and you"

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" I screamed through a contraction "Make sure they call everybody"

"Ralph already did baby just breathe"

Keith came out and sat me in a wheelchair. Travis pushes me as we followed Keith. I held onto Travis arm and squeeze through the contraction. Keith took me straight to a delivery room, where he hooked up my IV and got me situated.

The nurses came in to check me and I was 3 centimeters dilated. At my last appointment, I was barely one so surprise was all over my face.

Within an hour, contractions were rolling in nonstop and I was ready to pass out. The nurses were surprised when they checked me and I was only 4 1/2 centimeters. They tried to assure me that the progress was significant but I wasn't feeling it. I got to the point where I put everyone out of the room except for Travis. Keith was allowed to come in with the nurses and check me but that was it.

Travis closes the curtains, deemed the lights, and started playing music on his phone. He rubbed my back while kissing my belly as I laid on my side facing him.

"You good baby girl?"

"I can-n-n't do this" the tears from nonstop pain rolled down my face "I can't"

"Yes you can mama" he moved my hair from my face "Baby girl you're the strongest woman I know. You can take on the world baby. This is nothing for you. It breaks my heart to see you like this but I know you're going to do an amazing job bringing our little ones into the world"

"But hmmmm it hurt ahhhhh" I moan and hummed through the pain "I ca—"

Travis cut me off giving me a passionate kiss.

It was as if time stood still for a moment. I hadn't felt his lips in 6 months. Realistically I just started hugging him within the last two weeks. His lips felt like heaven on earth and the perfect distraction to the pain in my back. I had to grab his shoulders when the next contraction hit. I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me.

He kissed me until the contraction passed. We stared into each other's eyes and I felt weak for him again. I closed my eyes gripping his shoulders again feeling another contraction.

"No" his said softly

I open my eyes confused.

"I still wouldn't be with her if you didn't have my babies... Our babies don't change the fact that I'm in love with you Micah. They didn't make you the love of my life. We made them because you're the love of my life"

"Then why be---"

"Because I knew I couldn't be with you. I thought being with her was better then being alone and away from you... I knew I fucked up and I knew I couldn't go back... Then I had other people boosting us together... I didn't want to be sad but I'm miserable without you"

"I can't do this Travis" I cried "It hurts so bad"

"I know baby girl" he kissed my forehead "But I'm here and I got your back. I'm supporting you through all of this mama. We gone make it through this labor and everything else. I know I don't get to have you... but I'm always going to be here"

I nodded my head as he rubbed my back through another contraction.

"Fuuuuuuck! Go get Keith!" I laid down "I felt a head!"

"Shit!"

Before he could move, I grabbed him. I push the button and told the nurse I needed help. Travis stood at the foot of the bed and looked between my legs. His eyes popped out in shock. Something changed and he rushed into action.

He grabbed the bulb and got between my legs. He lifted them higher and into the stirrups. I could feel him moving something around. Travis told me to push and I did. My conscious mind was thinking "what the fuck is he doing?" but I was in too much pain to think. My heart and soul told me to trust him. I suddenly felt relief as Travis stood up holding our oldest daughter.

"Oh my God!"

"She was sticking out" he used the bulb on her nose and mouth "Come on mama"

As he rubbed her back and patted it, Lizza and a bunch of nurses rushed in. They paused in shock before rushing in and grabbing my baby, but the minute she left Travis arms she screamed loud and proud. Tears poured from my eyes as I watch them let Travis cut the cord and finish cleaning her up. It was beautiful watching Travis stick by her side.

"Okay Momma" Lizza spoke "Baby #2 is crowning! I need some more pushes. It may feel better or easier but you gotta push momma!"

I nodded my head and tried to push. After two, her head was out and they gave me a small break. Travis came to my side and held my hand. I pushed again and out came our baby. She whimpered but wasn't crying. Travis cut her cord and she was cleaned like her sister.

"My babies!"

I laid back and took a breath only wincing when they got the placenta out. Travis grabbed our first born while the nurse brought me my little baby.

"What are their names?" the nurse brought the papers

"This is Marley Taja Barron" Travis kissed Marley's head

"And this is Mehkie Talia Barron" I kissed Mehkie who snuggled into my arms more

Lizza and the nurse finished cleaning up and left us to spend time with the babies. We agreed to call the nurse when we wanted the others to join. We spent almost half an hour just enjoying our babies.

Once they moved me to my maternity room, I called for our family to come in. First came in my momma and Travis' dad who both took a baby and gushed over them. Ralph and Reagan came in next with Keith and Carmen right behind them. I was super surprised to see Olivia walk in after Tim. It was hilarious to me that she was basically hiding. She didn't even reach for one of the girls. I eventually called her over and put Mehkie in her arms. I knew Olivia wasn't so bad but she was weak and followed others. She didn't have to like me to be there for the girls.

After a couple hours everyone was leaving. It was only Ralph and Reagan with us when Dave. Parker, and Chris walked in with flowers and bags from baby stores. I laughed at them instantly turn to mush as they gushed over the babies. They didn't even notice Travis was there, but when they did everyone was quiet. Chris walked up to him and stuck out his hand. Travis shook it and they both respectfully nodded.

"These babies beautiful kid" Dave sat beside me holding Marley "You did damn good"

"Thanks DJ... It's crazy that after everything I'm finally a mom"

"It wasn't meant to be when it wasn't with who you were meant to be with"

"Dave it---"

"I know you still in love with that nigga kid" he smirked at me "Look at him, he's everything you want and need. You told me yourself"

"It isn't that easy though"

"Make it easy... Look if I haven't learned anything from my situation... I know I would do anything to give my daughter the family she deserves. Her mother and I never worked but it was never more than a fling. I still want to give my daughter the perfect family. I don't be wilding out her because I know my one is waiting on me"

"You're such a romantic ass hood nigga DJ"

"I just want you to be honest with yourself. You could be with anyone you want"

"Who said I want to be with him?"

"You" he sighed "I know you stubborn and still hurting but that's relationships kid. Shit happens and they hurt... but you work through them and become better"

"I just want to focus on being a mom"

"Do that... but this won't go away"

Dave kissed my forehead before getting up. Dave got everyone to start saying goodbyes. Once they were all gone it was just Travis, me, and the girls. I shifted and let Travis get in the bed with me. I now had Marley while he held Mehkie.

I couldn't stop thinking about my conversation with Dave. Regardless of what either of us wanted we didn't need to be together. I was done trying to make something out of nothing when it came to us. I was always going to love Travis... and I honestly didn't see myself with anyone else, but I wasn't going to to be with him either.

"Thank you" Travis spoke softly interrupting my thoughts "For everything"

"We both did a lot to each other and for each other Travis... "

"But you gave me so much more than you realize Micah... I'm a father and a better man because of you. I removed so much negativity from my life... You helped me make those decisions even when you weren't with me"

I sighed "Travis... we're never going to be together... I can't do that again"

"I know" he looked into my eyes "But'd I'd rather be alone and raising my daughters with you than faking to be happy with someone else"

"You gotta be happy though. You can't stop your life for me"

"I'm not... and I don't expect you to stop your life for me"

"But?"

"But you and I won't be happy without each other. You love me and I love you. We a family. I'm never going to force you to be with me... I couldn't if I wanted to" we both laughed "But I know I love you more than life. I know I want you to be happy"

"This won't be easy though Travis"

"As long as we're best friends... it'll work in my eyes"

I nodded looking at Marley then over at Mehkie. I smiled at our beautiful daughters then at the man I loved who was already smiling at me.

"I love you Micah"

"I love you too Travis"

"Welcome to the rest of our lives..."

Marley & Mehkie Barron ❤️

❤️