"Nayeli are you dead ass?!" Armani yelled into the phone. "Bro, we gotta go—because my daughter is coming my nigga let's go!" she heard him fuss at Duck.

"Babe calm down, it's gonna be okay, you're gonna make it," she said, more so to soothe herself. She was very nervous at the moment, and she didn't know what to do. Her first thought was obviously to call her husband and inform him.

"I have to, I'm not missing this for shit. We're in the car now, baby. You wanna wait? Matter fact, don't. Call your dad and tell him. Have him take you to the birth center, I'll meet you there, I'm closer to there anyway," he said quickly.

"O-okay," she nodded, putting on a random dress she had for this occasion specifically. She had hers and Noémie's bags packed already.

"I'll see you soon baby," he said. "I love you," she could hear the smile in his voice and it made her smile too.

"I love you too," she pouted. After they got off the phone she finished getting dressed, grabbed the hospital bags and waddled her way downstairs to sit in the kitchen. "You picked a hell of a time to come, Nomi," she giggled, picking up her phone to call her dad.

"Hello?" Gionni said.

"Hey daddy," Nai sighed, feeling her first contraction start.

"Hey princess. You okay?" he asked, sounding concerned at her tone of voice.

"Well...yes? Kinda. My water broke, and I just had a contraction," she responded. At first, it was just silence. Then she heard him moving around. "Daddy! I need you to come get me, Mani was at the arena when it happened and—"

"I'm on my way babygirl, don't worry, be calm. Me and mommy are coming, okay?" he instantly said.

"Okay, see you soon," she smiled, he always went out of his way to comfort her, even though she wasn't panicking yet, he knew she'd probably start soon.

She did the breathing her doctor taught her at her last appointment, trying to remain relaxed, literally waiting on her next contraction. When it finally came, she gripped the counter, eyes squeezed shut. To her own surprise, she was not screaming and crying yet.

Once her dad and mom arrived fifteen minutes later, Gionni took her bags, and Nadira helped her into the G-Wagon, since it was higher up.

"You excited, Sweet Pea?" Nadira asked, rubbing Nai's back as she rocked back and forth in the seat of the truck.

"I'm scared," she admitted, the reality of it all finally hitting her. She remembered when Nadira was unconscious for hours after having Omari, how she thought she was never gonna wake up. She remembered all the articles she read about black women and their birthing experiences, and it terrified her. Armani tried to get her to stop, but it was like she couldn't.

That's why she opted for a birth center instead of a hospital, and she was most likely going to deliver Noémie in the water. She read about the benefits of water for the mommy and for the baby, so she wanted to do that. She found herself a very nice birthing center, she and Armani toured it and met with her nurses and midwife, and Nai was excited to go that route.

But she was still terrified to give birth.

"I understand, babygirl. Trust me, I do. But it's gonna be one of, if not the most beautiful experience you'll ever have. I applaud you so much for going natural baby, because it's hard, but you're gonna do it, and it's gonna be all worth it when you hear that baby cry. I promise. Me and daddy and Mani, and Lea and Bri are all gonna be with you, it's gonna go great okay?"

"Yes ma'am," she sniffed, her crying starting along with the next contraction.

"We're so happy to see you again, sweetheart. You comfortable?" her midwife, Erica, asked.

"I am," Nai nodded with a smile. "I'm just waiting on my husband, then everything will be perfect," she continued. Everyone she wanted in the room when she had Noémie was there, her parents, Noémie's Godmothers and Armani's mom's. Actually everyone was there, but everyone couldn't go in the room where she was having Nomi.

But Mani was stuck in traffic. Last time he called he was on the verge of a breakdown because he thought he was gonna miss everything and miss the birth of his child, but Nai assured him she wasn't even dilated enough to start pushing. They both knew that could change fast but she was trying to calm him down.

Duck called a few minutes ago and told Nai he had to takeover driving because Armani was freaking out, and he couldn't stop shaking. It was making her nervous but she was glad he had Duck there with him.

"And how about pain? Did you wanna take a walk? You need the water to help it at all?" Erica asked, rubbing Nai's shoulder comfortingly. Another thing she loved about the birth center option was that there was a literal tub in her room. Her bed was full sized, so Armani could lay in it with her, and everyone was so nice.

The room was like the mid point between a home birth and a hospital birth, since they had all the equipment a hospital had, and the comfort of a home. She loved it.

"Um, they're a little worse now, I'd like to take the walk please, and can I have some more ice?" she asked innocently. She'd been crunching on ice the entire time she was there, about an hour.

"Sure dear," Erica laughed. "I'll get that ice for you and then we're gonna get you up and do some walking around, okay?" Nai nodded and she left the room.

"Girl this is fancy. Making me wish I had Brooklyn in here," Bri laughed.

"You always could, for the next one," Nai bounced her eyebrows up and down and Bri laughed again. They all knew Brooklyn wouldn't be their last, just like they knew Noémie wouldn't be Nai and Mani's last. Noon on the other hand was team one and done. She wasn't pregnant, but when she did get pregnant, she only wanted one.

Which is why Duck prayed for twins.

"I'm here!" Nai and everyone else heard, and a second later saw Mani huffing and puffing at the door.

"Hey papa," Nai cooed, seeing him look all stressed. "See, everything is okay, you didn't miss anything, babe," she said, opening her arms for him. He immediately walked over to her and she sat up, he hugged her close to him, kissing all over her face.

"I wanted to be here the whole time," he sighed, leaning his forehead on hers.

"You're here now, baby. That's all that matters. I think Nomi was waiting for her daddy anyway," she giggled, kissing his lips. "Erica is about to come take me on a walk, you wanna come?" she asked him, hand on the back of his neck.

Everyone around was just awed by how cute they could be sometimes.

"Yes, of course, you need help getting up, lemme help you," he immediately offered and just then another contraction hit, making her eyesight shut tightly. Armani rubbed up and down her back slowly while she sat through it. She whimpered and whined for the duration of it, even though she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Hey mama, let's actually check your dilation before we do the walk, your contractions are really close together, okay?" Erica said, seeing Nai already having another one. She got her back in her bed and checked her out, and her eyes went wide. "Well, you just jumped from a 7 to a 9, sweetheart. That walk is gonna be right to the delivery room," she smiled.

"Oh shit," Mani breathed out. It seemed like Noémie really was just waiting on Armani to get there.

Nayeli, Armani, Nadira and Noémie's Godparents all followed Erica into the room with the pool that she'd be delivering in. It was wide and spacious, and there were places for everyone to sit down. Nai got out of her dress, and she was already in a sports bra underneath that way she wouldn't be exposed, even though at this point she couldn't care less who saw what.

She was helped into the warm water and it immediately soothed her more than she thought. The midwife wanted to get her acclimated to the water so that when she was ready to push it would be a rush to get her in.

"Alright baby, it's game time," Mani grinned, not being able to help himself from being excited. Nai couldn't even be mad at him for it.

"Okay sweetie, remember what went over. You push when you're ready, okay? Don't worry about pushing on every contraction and straining yourself, do it when your body tells you to," Erica said, causing Nayeli to nod, taking deep breaths.

Over two hours later, Nai was exhausted. She was sweaty and in pain.

"Armani," she whined. "I can't take this, I really can't," she moved around uncomfortably. He was already at her side, arms wrapped around her shoulders, pressing kisses to her temple every few seconds, doing his best to soothe her, or at least let her know he was there.

"I know it hurts, mi amor," he mumbled, starting to rock her side to side. "But you're doing so good mamí. Ella va a estar aquí pronto, sólo un poco más. Lo estás haciendo tan bien, (She's going to be here soon. You're doing so well)" he said in her ear, making her smile through her tears, eyes closed listening to him speak.

"She's crowning, Nayeli," Erica smiled, after witnessing their moment. "You're right there, just give one more big push and she'll be here," she coached. Nai nodded, sitting up more in the pool and waiting for another contraction to hit. When it did, she used all the strength she had in her body to push one more time, and she could feel her coming out.

"Oh my goodness!" Nadira gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Lea and Bri had the exact same reaction, being moved to tears. As a surprise to everyone, Duck was crying too.

Armani was in complete awe, as Erica pulled Noémie up from the water and placed her on Nayeli's chest, finally able to see her and hear her cry. His heart was pounding as he laid his eyes on his daughter, he felt like the word love had a whole new meaning.

Nayeli was completely overwhelmed with emotions. She couldn't have even dreamt of what this moment would feel like. Her entire life just changed in a matter of seconds. Her heart just grew ten sizes, and her world got so much brighter.

Nayeli had to be taken from the tub to deliver her placenta, and after that, Noémie was taken to be weighed and measured, and given her first bath, which Armani was eager to record. He smiled the entire time, not being able to take his eyes off his beautiful baby girl.

Nayeli was currently getting her to latch and she was doing well.

"You're so beautiful, mama's pretty baby. I love you so much, you're better than anything I could have imagined," Nai spoke, completely and utterly in love with her daughter.

"She's gorgeous," Nadira cooed. "Ugh your father is gonna have a fit," she sniffed, rubbing her eyes.

"Thank you, mommy," Nai smiled. "Mani...you wanna hold her now?" she asked. It was almost like he was afraid to hurt her. He didn't remember newborns being that tiny, and that fragile.

"Y-yeah," he nodded hesitantly. Nai lifted her into his arms, and he instantly teared up when he looked at her face again. "Oh wow," he whispered, with a smile. "Hi, mamas. It's daddy," he sniffed, rocking her side to side. "Te quiero tanto, mi preciosa bebita, (I love you so much, my precious baby girl
,)" he said, astonished at how much he loved person he just met.

"Thank you baby," he said, finally looking back at Nai, who was smiling widely. "I love you so much, thank you," he kissed her forehead and her lips, and she.

"I love you too," she said, watching her husband and her daughter bonding.

After another 10 minutes, Nai was wheeled back into her room, and everyone was eager to see Noémie. Everyone who held her cried a little bit, especially since Nadira hadn't stopped yet.

"You're so beautiful, my little angel," Gionni grinned down at her sleeping face. "You look just like your mommy when she was a baby," he said, making Nai smile. Seeing Gionni Cartier as a grandfather was a beautiful sight.

"My sweet little baby," Nadira cooed, taking her right from him.

"Nadira!"

"You're hogging her!" she whined.

"You're both hogging her actually. Her Godparents have been waiting," Nayeli chuckled, making them both look up at her, all guilty looking. "Yes, please share," she laughed.

That night, Nai rested peacefully, and Armani couldn't seem to sleep. He watched over Nai and Noémie with a permanent smile on his face, not being able to believe the life he was blessed with.

"Daddy got y'all," he said, kissing Nai's forehead and walking to Noémie's bassinet and kissing her forehead too. " Forever. You don't ever have to worry about anything, daddy's here," he said, looking his daughter over, rubbing his thumb over her tiny face, ready to give her the best life he could give.

Noémie Anaïs-Soraya Dixon
September 3rd
6lbs 4oz
16 inches

WELCOME BABY NOMI 💕💕💕

i hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! i wanted to show an alternative birth than what i usually do, bc there are soooo many options, you're not limited to only one.

nai was a little nervous but baby girl is here now and we're all so exciteddddd! pictures soon come lol

leave some thoughts on this chapter! fun fact, the song for this chapter was originally written for his daughter, but it sounds so much like a love song lol so that's why i chose it bc as we can see, armani is in love.

but anyway! i hope we loved it, tell me what y'all wanna seeeeee!

till next time 💕