My baby is coming, I am in labor.

"Push" London says.

Ahhhhhh!!!! I lay my head on the pillow.

"You've got this" Ry says kissing my forehead even though it's damp with sweat.

"He's right. You are strong" my mum says holding my hand.

"Push!" London shouts and I push with all I've got.

"I am tired" I tell Ryan, he wipes the sweat on my face away.

"I know but don't be yet. Please, our baby is almost here" he pleads looking at me with concern.

"I know you are tired but you are crowning, just give me one last push" London tells me. "Can you do that?" she asks and I nod. "Okay Mae, one last push and give me everything you've got"

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

"That's it" London says and I hear it.

My baby cries. She is here.

"You did it, she's here" Ryan says.

The nurses take her and clean her up before bringing her to me. The nurse places her in my arms and she is all red but beautiful.

"She is beautiful" Ryan says kissing my head. "We are a family" he adds and I smile.

Seeing her face, I forget everything I just went through, the pain all melted away at the sight of her face. I hold her to my body skin on skin and she stops crying. Her eyes are still closed. The nurses take her away telling me they would bring her to my room. My mum follows the nurse out while Ryan stays with me.

A while later, I am in my ward and she's brought to me. I carry her, her skins looks calmer now, she's no longer as red as she was. I place her on my skin and just hold her. She opens her eyes and look at me.

"You are actually here" I talk to her. Ryan stands beside me.

"Do you want to hold her?" I ask Ryan and he nods.

I place the baby gently in his arms, she holds on to his finger, her hands are so small compared to his man hands. You can actually see the connection bond between them at that moment.

"I promise to protect you" he tells her, "You both" he says looking at me and I smile.

"What name did you decide?" he asks.

"Ziva meaning light of God" I tell him and he smiles.

"She is truly a light".

I was told to breast feed her and I did, took a couple tries but I got it. Ziva falls asleep and Ryan calls the group in. Everyone is here except Raina and Larson.

"Where are they?" I asked.

"Room next door" Ava answers.

"What happened?" I asked worried.

Just then, we here a baby cry.

"That's what happened. Raina went into early labor" Lucas says.

"Apparently you going into labor stressed her out inducing her own labor" Ava says.

"Is that where your mum is at?" I asked Ryan and he nodded.

"Where is my baby?" Ava says and walks to be cot.

"She is so cute" Lucas says.

"Meet Ziva Olivia King Black" Ryan says.

"Ziva, it's perfect. You are perfect" Ava says cooing silently.

***

It's been two days since I gave birth. Raina and I met up and laughed about how much our babies love each other that they decided to come together. Raina named her boy, Shepherd. Shepherd Mason Black Hunter. I am discharged and free to go. I hold my baby in the back seat while Ryan gets in the driver seat.

"Slow down" I tell him as he starts the car.

"We are not moving yet" he says.

"Slow down!" I know he is slow but if feels like he is speeding.

"Okay"

We finally get home and I see balloons and confetti everywhere, there is a banner that says, 'Welcome home Ziva' hung in the house. My family is the best. I make a mental note of thanking everyone before going to our room.

"We are home" I tell Ziva.

I look around and it is only Ryan and I, I am used to people being around and now it's just Ryan and I.

"Are we going to survive?" I ask Ryan dramatically.

"Yes we are" he answers.

I breastfeed Ziva and place her in the crib we have in our room and we try to get some sleep, try. Ziva wakes up ever so often at night.

"Sleep" Ryan tells me when Ziva cries again.

"Thanks" I say not bothering to argue.

When I wake up later, I see Ryan in Ziva's room, he is holding her to his chest and rocking back and forth, his eyes closed. I smile at the image in front of me and quickly take a picture making sure I didn't use flash. the light from the night lamp is okay enough to light the picture. He opens his eyes when I walk closer to them.

"I have got this, go rest" I tell him and he can't argue because he doesn't want to wake Ziva up. He gets up gently and I sit down on the chair, unbuttoned my shirt and hands her to me gently, we are both grateful she doesn't wake up. I place her on my bare chest and start rocking back and forth.

'This is my new reality for now'

I smile to myself.

***

"Hi Ziva" I greet my baby cooing and carrying her. She just stares at me. She's two months old now and things are better. She still wakes up at night a lot and Ryan and I haven't gotten any sleep but it's all worth it for her. Suzie takes her from me after feeding her to bath her.

"You get to spend the whole da with me" Suzie says to Ziva putting on her diaper for her. We chose a pink patterned gown for her and shoes pairing it with her cap. It's cold out today and we want to make sure she is cozy even if she isn't going out. I go to my room when Ziva is all ready and go get ready too. I am meeting up with Ava and Raina today, we are going dress shopping for Ava's wedding. I reflect on my little pooch in the mirror. I have began loosing the baby weight. I make sure to exercise daily or when I can to loose the weight but also make sure not to stress myself about it. I still look pretty and Ryan says I am beautiful. I quickly get ready wearing a black jean and black top, my boobs leak a lot that is why I chose black so even if it does leave, it wouldn't be too obvious. Welcome to motherhood, right?

"How do I look?" I ask Ryan as I step into the room.

"Like a princess" he says and I laugh, he's been way to corny lately. He kisses me and I go downstairs.

"Hey" Raina says walking in with Ava.

"Hi. How is my baby" I greet carrying Shep.

"Hey" Ava greets hugging me. "Where is Ziva?" she asks.

"With Suzie"

"Wait for me, Ziva. Aunt Ava is coming" she says and runs up the stairs to meet Suzie.

Suzie moved into the main house to be closer to Ziva, I apparently did not have a choice.

"I hope Suzie doesn't mind watching two kids. My nanny had a family emergency" Raina says as we walk up the stairs.

"Are you kidding me, Suzie is so excited. She would not stop asking when you would be here" I tell her and she smiles. Shep moves in my hand and I adjust carrying him. He is looking around even though we know he cannot focus on anything.

"He is so handsome" I tell Raina.

"I know" she says touching his cheeks.

"I heard my favorite nephew is here" Ryan says walking in. We are in Ziva's play room with Ziva, Ava, Raina, Shep and Suzie. Raina picks up Shep and walks around with him cooing at him.

"Who is my favorite nephew, you are" he says giving Shep Eskimo kisses. I smile at him. Ryan has been the perfect dad, I wake up at night and see him dancing with Ziva singing to her and smiling, even when I am with her, he waits till she is done feeding and carries her. He is so happy to be a dad and I am happy he is the father of Ziva.

"Are we ready to go?" I ask the girls.

"I am" Raina says giving Shep a forehead kiss.

"Let's go" Ava says handing Ziva to Suzie. I smell her head, she smells like a baby. I know she a baby but new baby smell is the best. I kiss her head and Ryan and leave with the girls.

"No!" Raina says.

I give the thumb down when Ava comes into view with the ugliest dress I have ever seen. Its all puffy with so many bows. Five bows is too much for a dress, this one has ten, ten freaking bows. There is no way she is wearing that.

She comes back with a cowgirl wedding dress with a matching hat. She begins to do the cowboy hat.

"Yeehaw!!" Ava says rounding a invisible whip.

"Wow" I say laughing at the sight before me.

"You are pulling that off at all, get back" Raina says and we laugh.

She comes back with a sultry wedding dress. Let me describe it: Imagine a child's tutu dress, with that image in mind, see a sweat heart neckline, a white pop socks and white lace gloves. Yep, that is what Ava is wearing.

"That is something" I say when she steps out.

"Hmm...Hmm" Raina says her hand on her chin.

"Time to be serious" Ava says and goes into the changing room.

Ava goes back in and finally, the nice dress comes out. She is wearing a dress that hugs her body, it is tight all the way to the thigh and flares out at the bottom. Its an off-shoulder design. the trail of the gown is just long enough. It is perfect.

"It's Perfect" I say when she come out.

"You look beautiful sweetheart" Ava's mum says kissing her cheeks.

"How do you feel?" Raina asks.

"Like a princess" she answers.

"You are a princess" I tell her.

"Are you going to get it?" her mum asks.

Ava looks at her reflection again and then nods. She has a dress. Raina and I already had our dresses. Ava picked them out for us and said we didn't get a choice. So I guess we do not have a choice. She wouldn't even let us see it, Raina and I are scared.

We all have brunch together before going back home. Lucas, Ryan and Larson are all home playing a game when he get home. We leave them and go play with our babies.

***

Ziva - 6 Months

Ava and Lucas have been married for three months now. The wedding was perfect and went according to plan. Ace came around with is wife, his wife, Lara is now a part of our girl group since she is our age mate. We keep reminding Ace that he lucked out with her because she is above his league. I remember when we first met her, it was during Ava's reception.

"Mae" Aca calls me. I look back and see him with this beautiful girl in his arms.

"Ace" I greet moving to hug him but Ryan holds me back. I look at him and he sighs releasing me. I hug Ace.

"Who is this?" I ask looking at the girl "She is beautiful" I add and she smiles.

"I am Lara, his wife" she says, she has a beautiful French accent.

"His wife, huh?" Ryan says relaxing. I mentally shake my head at him.

"Yes" Ace says smiling. "Lara meet Mae and Ryan. We all grew up together". Lara hugs me. Okay, she's friendly, I like that.

"She is way out of your league" I tell Ace smirking.

"I tell him every day" Lara says laughing. Ryan laughs too.

"Okay, I like you" I tell Lara. "Come meet my girls, they are going to love you". I link my arm with her and lead her to where Ava and Raina are at.

"Girls, meet Lara. Ace's wife" I tell them.

"Ace married and didn't tell me" Ava asks looking hurt.

"Who is she?" Lara asks looking bothered by Ava's emotion to her marriage.

"Ace is her brother" I tell Lara and realization dawned on her.

"Oh, he told me he wanted t surprise you. I am sorry for not recognizing you earlier, I have only seen you in pictures and you look different under this light" Lara apologizes.

"It is no problem but I am going to kill Ace though" Ava say smiling.

Lara fits into our group immediately, she is pretty awesome and not going to lie, I love her accent.

I am with Ava, Raina and Lara in the garden having brunch.

"I have news" Ava and Lara says at once.

"Okay" Raina says looking between the both of them.

"You go first" Lara says talking to Ava. Ava takes a deep breath.

"I am pregnant guys" she says smiling.

"What?" we all shout.

"I am pregnant" she repeats.

"Oh my gosh congratulations" I say hugging her.

"Why are we all having kids together?" Raina says hugging Ava, Lara hugs her too.

"What is your news" I ask Lara.

"Well... I am also pregnant" Lara says and we stare at her.

"Ok, this is getting weird" I say.

"First Mae and I are pregnant together and now you and Ava" Raina says.

"Congratulations" I say and we all hugged.

I cannot believe two more kids are joining our family. We are becoming so big. We spend the whole day talking about pregnancy and babies. Ava and Lara carry Ziva and Shep saying they cannot wait for their own kids.

After they all leave and Ziva is in bed, I go to my room and shower. Ryan is in bed reading a book when I come out of the bathroom. With only my towel on my body, I jump in bed with Ryan sitting across his laps

"Ziva is asleep right now, we only have a few minutes before she might wake up" I tell Ryan, who drops the book on his night stand.

"Is she now?" he says looking at me. I drop my towel giving him a full view of me. "Did I tell you how much I love your pregnancy breasts" he says looking at them.

"Not recently" I tell him.

"Well I do" he says and kisses me. He kisses down my neck, my shoulder, in between my breasts and my stomach. I feel wave of desire flow through me everything his lips touch my skin. I remove his shirt and kiss his mouth intensely. Just then we hear Ziva cry in the monitor. Ryan and I freeze.

Oh please stop crying

She suddenly stops crying, Ryan and I, worried, look at the monitor screen and see Suzie had gone into her room and is carrying her, petting her. Oh thank goodness.

"Where were we" Ryan asked making my mouth with his. I laugh. Ryan places his arm around me and flips us. "You are so beautiful" he says looking at me. I grab his neck and bring his mouth down to mine.

"Someone is in a hurry" he says laughing at me.

***

Ziva is Two

"Mama" Ziva wobbles into the my open office holding her hand up

"Yes, love" I say carrying her. Seeing her walk to me like that reminds me of the first time she walked up to me. I was with Ryan in Ziva's room, we were playing with her on the floor, one of her toys rolled away and she crawled to get it back. She sat down holding her toy when she got it.

"Good girl" Ryan says and we clap. It was a milestone for us and we were proud of her. She laughs at our praises and crawls towards us and before we know it, she starts walking. I was so happy that Ryan had his camera on, he made it an habit to always record our play time with Ziva, he says he wants us to have many footage of her growing up. She walked up to me her hands raised up.

"Mama" she says when I carry her.

"My baby" Ryan says and carries her. "She is so grown up now".

I remember us holding her two arms and walking with her, she kept bouncing on her feet and laughing. We had to baby proof the house because as she became more confident in her walking she started going everywhere, she wouldn't let any one carry her, she wanted to walk on her own.

"Mama, pway" Ziva says.

"Mummy is going to play with you baby" I tell her.

I carry her to her room and play with her, I read her books and she laughs every time I laugh. Right now she mirrors everything Rian and I do so we are careful of the things we do or say around her. As I start the book she hands to me, I feel sick in my stomach and run to her bathroom and throw up.

"Mama" Ziva says standing beside me, she is holding her favorite blanket.

"Mama is fine" I tell her after washing up.

I go back to read to her. Trying not to think about how I am feeling at the moment. After she falls asleep, I go to the bathroom and check when last I had my period.

I can't be pregnant, right?

I see that I am late. Oh no. I quickly get to the store, letting Suzie know that I am going out, I get a pregnancy test and get back to my bathroom.

Ring Ring Ring

The alarm on my phone dings.

I tentatively check the result.

Pregnant

I do not know how to feel, I just stare at it for a while. Still looking at it, my hand goes to my belly and I am happy. I am going to have another child. Ziva is going to have a younger one. I did not know time had gone, until I heard Ryan come in. He just got back from work.

"Mae?" Ry calls.

"Yes love. I am about to shower" I answer from the bathroom. I am about to hide the tests but I stopped myself. I cannot make the same mistake. I quickly shower and put the test in the robe I have on.

"Hey" Ry says and kisses me when I come into the room.

"Hi" I respond.

I quickly go to the closet and get a small package that came with something I had gotten. I place the test in it.

"I have something for you" I tell Ry, he is shirtless and about to go shower.

"What is it?" he asks and I give him the package. "What is inside?"

"Open it" I say smiling.

"You are no fun" he says pouting and opens it. He looks at the result and then looks at me. "Are you serious?" he asks and I nod.

"We are having another child" I tell him and he carries me up.

"Thank you" he says and kisses me.

***

THREE YEARS AFTER

"Ziva, Xander!" I call my kids. Ziva is five years old while Xander is almost three.

"Yes mummy" Ziva calls and runs to me hugging me before sitting with Shep. Ziva and Shep are the best-est of friends, inseparable. They also go to the same school and always have play time together. They see themselves as the protectors of Asher, Molly and Oliver, Stacy. Asher and Molly are Ava and Lucas' twins while Oliver and Stacy are Lara and Ace's kids. Stacy is a few months old.

"Where is Xander?" I ask Ziva.

"With daddy" she says.

"Sorry we are late" Ry says carrying our son, Xander.

"You are always late for movie night" Raina says.

"Tell me about it" Ava adds.

"Sorry, Xander wanted to use the loo" Ry says apologizing.

Xander gets down and walks to his sister trying to climb the chair, she and Shep use their little strengths to pull him up placing him in-between them. I cannot believe I am a mother of two. Well, all my friends are mothers of two which we all find weird. How is it that we all have one boy and one girl each. As much as we find it weird, we find it awesome. Ryan sits with me kissing my forehead.

It is our weekly movie night and everyone is gathered. Ryan and myself, Ava and Lucas, Raina and Larson, Lara and Ace. Our kids are all sitting together too except for Stacy who Larson is carrying. I love family movie night. We alternate where we do it and this week it's at Ryan and I's home.

"Are we ready?" Larson asks.

"Yes" we all answer and the movie begins.

I rest my head on Ryan's shoulder. I am with the people I love and care about. My family.

I am happy.

THE END.