Dr: Okay Miss Ndlovu, you're 9 centimeters dilated, now, I'm gonna ask you to push at the count of 3.

Mbali nodded, the Dr counted from 1-2-3. She screamed, as she pushed, nothing happened, she pushed again at the next contraction. She did that five times with nothing happening.

Mbali: I can't, Sanele I can't push anymore.

Sanele: Yes you can, you got this, just imagine the little bundle of joy in our hands baby, you can do this.

Mbali: I swear if this baby - ahhhh-

She pushed again.

Mbali: -looks like you-

She pushed again, feeling like she was doing much progress.

Mbali: -after I tore my vagina, you dead Sanele!

Sanele's face paled

Dr: Okay, one last push Ms Ndlovu, just one final hard push and you can have this baby in your-

Mbali: Oh shut up!

She pushed as hard as she could in her state and soon the room was filled with a baby's cry.

Mbali fell back to the bed, sweat dripping from her forehead, she's been at it for an hour now. Exhaustion didn't start to describe her state right now, she felt Sanele's lips on hers, she couldn't bring herself to reciprocate it.

Sanele: You did it sthandwa Sam.

Mbali: My baby?

After that she passed out.

The Drs took the baby after cutting the umbilical cord. The baby got cleaned and put into NICU. Having a ventilator to help him breathe. Soon after an hour, Mbali woke up. Feeling the pain shoot through her body, her mind registered that she just gave birth, but where was her baby?

Mbali: Sa-Sanele?

Sanele who had been holding her hand with his head resting on top of hers. She was now in her private ward. The group had been sleeping peacefully on the room, cuddled up in the couch. If she wasn't worrying about her baby right now, she would've gushed about how cute they all look, especially with Siya's legs on top of Snakes's. He was gonna get it when he wakes up.

Sanele's head shot up at her sweet melodic voice calling out to him. He took in her confused and alarmed face. He cupped her face and smiled, making her to smile also.

Mbali: My baby?

Sanele: He's fine, he's in NICU.

Mbali's eyes started to well with tears. She knew something like this would happen, it was a preterm baby.

Sanele: Hey, hey he's doing fine, you gave birth to a fighter.

He kissed her tears away from her face, before smashing his lips on hers.

Mbali: Yeah?

She whispered to his lips with a smile. He nodded kissing her nose, her eyes and forehead.

Sanele: Yeah.

Mbali: I wanna do something.

Before Sanele could ask, she screamed so loud that Sino who was at the edge of falling on the couch actually fell buttfirst.

Sino: Ouch!

She whimpered in pain.

Snakes: The fuck was that for little one? Get your stupid legs-nxn

Siya groaned as Snakes pushed his legs off causing him to almost fall as well.

Lisa: Why does my body hurt?

Siya: That'll be me!

Mbali: You guys stayed?

She erupted in giggles with tears, appreciating her family for being there for her.

Sino: Of course we did sis.

Lisa: There's nowhere we'd rather be, well except for my bed right now but yeah.

Mbali laughed lightly taking in Snakes' hug.

Snakes kissed her forehead.

Snakes: You okay little one?

Mbali nodded as everyone hugged and kissed either her cheek or forehead.

Sanele: Eh xap, leave my woman alone now.

Sino: So?

Mbali: Have you guys seen him yet?

They all shook their heads.

The door opened and the Dr came in with a wheelchair.

Dr: Figured you'd want to see your baby.

Mbali smiled warmly as Sanele scooped her up placing her on the chair, they wheeled her to the NICU.

Mbali: Can you guys wait for a bit please?

Sanele: Okay chipmunks, scram!

Snakes hit Sanele's head before walking to the benches.

Sanele: You know I'm still older than you right?

Snakes: Sure.

Sino: Men!

Sanele wheeled Mbali in the room, and then closed the door. She stood up carefully not to fall, she steadily walked to the incubator where her little cherub laid with his eyes closed. She gasped as she saw the tubes and the ventilator. Sanele hugged her closely to his chest.

Sanele: He's okay my love, he's fine.

Mbali: H-he has so many tubes Sanele.

Sanele: I know.

His own heart breaking upon seeing his family like this, his son so fragile and small inside that thing. The mother of his child so broken and crying.

Sanele: Look at me, what do you want to name him?

Mbali smiled as she looked at his eyes with her own.

Mbali: Lungelo, Lungelo Tyler Nkosi.

Sanele kissed her hard, as if conveying his emotions to her.

Sanele: Lungelo Tyler Nkosi it is then.

Just then the door opened and a nurse came in.

Nurse: It's time for his check-up.

Mbali looked at her with a small smile.

Mbali: When do you think I can hold him?

Nurse: In a week or so, the Dr will explain the rest to you.

She nodded and Sanele held her as she sat on the wheel chair again.

Siya: How's Siya Jr looking?

Mbali: Beautiful, he's beautiful.

She responded with sincere look on her face, a lot of love in her voice.

Sanele: You guys can see him next time, he's going under check up right now.

Snakes patted his shoulder, he could see the hurt in his eyes as he spoke of his son.

Snakes: You a father now son.

Sanele nodded as he chuckled.

The Dr went to Mbali's room and explained that they baby Lungelo will be have sensors monitoring his breathing, temperature and heart rate also his blood pressure. The ventilator will be removed once they have deemed it stable for him to breathe on his own.

A week went by, Lungelo was doing good with each day passing, they removed the ventilator but he was still to be inside the incubator. It was not safe for him to be out of it yet. Mbali was heartbroken that she couldn't hold her baby for another week. Sanele kept her calm and the group had a chance to see baby Lungelo as well, Siya deciding to call him Siya Jr. Everyone was in love with him and just couldn't wait to hold him and spoil him rotten.

Sanele: Want to go see him?

Mbalo: Yeah.

Sanele: Come on.

He helped her climb off the bed, she could now walk on her own but not a long distance and she couldn't stand for long.

They looked down at their child's sleeping form.

Mbali: When do you think he'll wake up?

Sanele: Soon, he'll wake up soon.

He turned her around and cupped her face in his large hands. Mbali could drown in the thousand emotions that displayed on his face, love, happiness, sadness, confusion and gratitude.

Sanele: You have no idea how much I love you. You've made me the happiest man alive, this gift you've graced me with, I don't how to say thank you. I love you so much.

Mbali was not weeping as Sanele pulled her into his chest.

Sanele: I don't how I landed a woman as yourself in my life.

Mbali: I love you too.