It was already November, which means that I was officially 9 months pregnant. My due date was quickly coming up. We were counting down the days, because we were both eager to hold our daughter and also because I couldn't get comfy at night, plus I was crying more than usual. My due date was the 15th, but I didn't think I would make it til than. Norman had already had our bags packed, well he packed them since about 5 months. My bestie was with us for the long term since her boyfriend had come back to New York to just argue about how he didn't do anything wrong and how it was her fault. No matter what she could stay with us for however long she needed.

Everynight was about the same, in bed before almost anybody else, try to get comfy and fail, moan and groan and then finally curl up to Norman and then get a little bit of sleep. Every morning was about the same, I would normally wake up in Norman's arms and glance over at the clock. I noticed everyday it was a little later everyday latest we ever slept in was almost 11:30. I treasured moments like this because we were fixing to say goodbye to sleep. From about the 1st of November we had Mingus with us he was going to be with us until a little after his sister go here since we knew he didn't want to miss this for anything. He would get up before everybody else and I would hear him start playing his video games. I walked into his room and just stood in the doorway and just smiled, he was just like his dad. He paused the game and turned around and looked at me and just smiled and walked over and hugged me and my belly "Hey sissy! You going to come see us today?! Mom and Dad are really nice trust me! Plus I really wanna meet you!"

It was already past my due date and we talked prior that if I passed my due date that if I passed my due date the next week we would induce labor. I wasn't all on board wit it, because maybe she needed extra time not that it would make her more perfect, sine she as already perfect. Everyday I hoped she would choose to come soon and I hoped that the doctor visit was called off. Norman said that is was my choice. We went with the flow for the next couple of days because I knew it was only a matter of time. We went to bed at about 8:00 on the 17th and about 10:00 I woke up out of a dead sleep to a surging pain in my stomach. I shook Norman awake and told him that I thought I was in labor. We got the bags and headed to the car about the time I got out of bed, my water broke. I started panicking and crying. Everybody in the apartment woke up and saw me crying. "What the hell is going on?!" I heard my friend utter as I tried to keep calm and I bit my lip as contractions happened. Mingus ran up to me and tried to calm me down I looked at him and smiled "Your daddy taught you well. Thanks for all the kindness you've shown me."

We headed to the hospital and quickly went back. They prepped everything and I kept crying. Norman kept trying to calm me down but it wasn't working. I happened to look at the clock and saw it almost 12:00. "How long have I been here?!" I managed to pant out. "About an hour and half" the nurse replied. I broke down even more and looked in Norman's eyes and whispered "I can't do this..." He looked in my eyes and told me "Yes you can I know you can!" All I wanted to do was push but the doctor didn't say could so I tried to refrain from doing so because they said I wasn't dilated much at all. Another hour went by and they decided to just see what was happening. They did an ultrasound and saw she wasn't in the correct position so they chose to do an emergency C-section. I looked at Norman and said "I'm so weak that Ii couldn't eve do this. I'm sorry!" He looked at me and kissed my forehead and said "Listen to me, you're not weak! You're this baby girl's mother and you're stubborn and it just so happens that she is the same exact way. I know that you're worried and that things are going wrong but just because you need help right now doesn't mean that you're weak, heck you've carried her for 9 months, most people wouldn't be able to do that. You're stronger than you'll ever know!"

They prepped me for the C-section and the reality set in that I was going to be a parent, not that the entire 9 months weren't reality enough. The entire process was stressful mainly because I wanted it to be over and plus the not knowing what was going to happen. I held on to Norman's hand for what felt like forever until I heard the cries and broke down more than I ever did in the past. "It's a girl!" I heard the doctor say. Norman and I looked into each others eyes. "You did it, see I knew you could do it. Now comes your biggest challenge yet being a parent, but don't worry I'm going to be there for you no matter what." I wiped the tears away, and just smiled "What did I ever do to deserve someone as sweet as you?" I muttered. They cleaned our daughter up and handed her to me and I just brushed her cheek and she opened her mouth and a little whine came out. I started laughing and held her and just admired her little face I kissed the top of her head as Norman took a picture for Instagram. "Proud to announce that at 3:15 A.M. little Miss Mercy Reedus made her grand introduction into the world via C-section. Can't thank everybody enough for their well wishes during this time. Mommy and baby are resting comfortably. "

I finally let Norman hold her and took a picture to upload to my personal Instagram page with the caption "Daddy and Daughter together finally. He can't keep his eyes off of her. #JEALOUS. No, but seriously who knew this man could get any cuter?! I'm so so in love with him and our precious little family! #SoBlessed " After a short period of time they let us have visitors and the look on Mingus' face was so cute. He ran up to the side of the bed and just looked in "awe" at his new sister. He picked her up with a little guidance, surprisingly I knew a lot going back on my previous baby sitting jobs. Norman took another picture with the caption "My son and his brand new sister! They seem to be adjusting to each other perfectly! I couldn't ask for anything else. #Happy #Complete #Family" After Mingus got done holding her my bestie got to hold her and I saw her eyes light up at the sight of her. "You both did perfect with the genes. Haha. No, but seriously you guy did great in the looks department. So, did you guys finally pick out a name yet or not?" - "We did, her name is Mercy." My friend smiled and said "Hello there Miss Mercy." She handed her back to me as soon as she started to cry. "I think she's hungry momma." - The nurse came in and helped me get started nursing her. Surprisingly she started right as I attempted. This was my life now. I couldn't ask for more. All I wanted to take her home and work one on one with her.

Everything checked out perfectly with our little bundle of love and my incision wasn't infected and seemed to be healing nicely. We both got released on Thursday, everything seemed to be moving to fast. It seemed like just the other day, I found out and was worried how everybody would respond to the news. The trip home was weird in a matter of a few days we went from an empty car seat to a filled one. I kept looking in the back to see our daughter sleeping. Wednesday afternoon my bestie took Mingus back to the apartment, because there wasn't really room for 3 people to sleep in the room. I looked at Norman and he looked back and asked if anything was wrong and I replied "Nope just doesn't seem like I deserve all this..." He looked at me and asked "Why do you always have to put yourself down all the time?! You always say that and let me tell you something, YOU DO DESERVE TO BE HAPPY! Just because all of your ex's were jerks and treated you badly doesn't mean you deserved it. They didn't know what kind of a woman they had. You deserve to be treated like a freakin queen!" By this tie I as crying my eyes out. "Than-Thank you for that." I managed to stutter out. "You are more than welcome. Trust me, you deserve this. We're a family. Together forever. We're in this together."

We got home and I tried my best to calm down before I got out of the car. I got out and picked our baby up out of her car seat and headed to the apartment. I didn't realize how big in demand Norman was until I had cameras in my face. It was cold outside so thankfully I had a blanket and prayed it kept her out of the news. Norman shielded both of us the best he could. We finally made it to the apartment with Mercy crying up a storm because of all the noise and commotion. Ii sat down on the couch and just felt horrible. Ii picked her up trying to calm her down and kept whispering to her "I am so sorry sweetie for this." Norman came over and sat down next to me and with his head down. "I'm sorry to the both of you. I can't ever make up for this going back on our talk earlier, you don't deserve this." I grabbed his hand and looked in his eyes and said "Listen, this isn't on you. Nobody deserves this and this little girl won't love you any less because of this. I hate this but sadly these "people" will do anything to sell stories or photos. I'm used to it by now and I don't love you any less." We both smiled at each other and looked at our little girl screaming and crying. "She doesn't deserve this life." echoed in my brain.

I let Norman change he while I went to get her bottle made "Here I'm pretty sure she wants this by now." I said with a smile. "But I thought you were going to nurse her..." Norman said. - "Yeah, but you can't obviously feed her if I kept it that way, if it counts I provided it myself so... yeah. Why in the world did you think I had the pump on the list of gifts?" Norman took the bottle and started feeding her. I took a picture making sure her adorable face wasn't visible. I looked at the picture and Norman was smiling. I uploaded it to Instagram with the caption "Daddy - Daughter bonding already. Look at the smile on his face! #Family #Cute #Adorable" I took another picture but this I had and noticed she was looking up at her daddy and he down at her smiling. All of a sudden she refused to eat anymore. he picked her up and burped her and she spit a while bunch of stuff up on him. I started laughing and took her from him. "I'm going to take a shower, I'm starting to feel like Daryl here..." Norman said as he kissed me and Mercy. "Be right back 'Cupcake'" "Will you stop calling her that? I'd rather you call he 'Little Ass Kicker' why cupcake? I agree its cute but still." I said with a smile. "But she's cute like a cupcake..."

I carried her into the bedroom which is where I asked for her crib to be moved. I put her on the bed and laid down next to her, I knew that I should never go to sleep with but she fell asleep next to me and I was completely exhausted. Norman walked in and saw us laying there and I had my thumb on her little cheek and my lips on her forehead. He took a picture and uploaded it with the caption "Got out of the shower and I walked into my bedroom and found this. This little girl has a great mommy and my life can't get anymore perfect." I got woken up to the sound of the bedroom door opening because Mingus had just gotten home. "DAD!" Norman walked over and pointed at me and Mercy. "Shh... your sister is sleeping." - "Oh sorry." He walked over to her and rubbed her little head and smiled. "I'm happy she's finally here. Now I just have to wait for her to start playing and... the jerks to mess with her so I can kick their butts into next week." I looked at him and then at Norman "I can certainly tell you both are related." I said with a smile. "So, do you wanna play video games with me dad? Mom just got me this new one and I thought..." - "Sure! Just let me make sure your uh step mom and sister are settled in." - "Still not comfortable saying that? It's okay I get it." I said to Norman. "Just never really been in a relationship like this. Most people treat him different since he's not theirs but you treat him like your own."

I sighed and got up off the bed and went over and hugged him and looked into his eyes "I'm not like everybody else, sure there was a time when I used to despise kids but something changed. I love you and your son. Hell, he used to come up to me and tell me how much he likes me compared to other women you dated. I don't know why, but yeah. He also said we're probably going to be together forever because of how we act together." - "Because of how we act together?" - "He said something along the lines of we click and that we get along and that you smile a lot more with me..." I looked away right as I heard a little whine escape from Mercy's mouth. I leaned back onto the bed "Ouch!" I cried as I picked her up. "What's wrong?" Norman asked concerned. "Nothing I just hit my stomach. This is going to be hard to deal with." I picked her up and tried to shush her back to sleep. "Let me take a look at it to make sure nothing came loose." - "No, that's okay." I tried to get away but he stopped me. "Why are you so damn defensive about this? You think I'll look at you different all of a sudden?! You had a kid and that scar is a badge of honor!" The things this man said always made me feel important and made me cry. I let him see and he kissed my scar and said "I'll love you no matter how many scars you have." I smiled because he really meant it. When we first got together I tried to hide my scar on my wrist. One morning I woke up to Norman looking at my wrist. I pulled my arm under the pillow and Norman pulled it out and traced the marks. "How did you get these?" - "They came from a friend's cat." - "Bull. Tell me how you really got em." I told him the story of each mark and he looked back at my wrist and said "Promise you won't ever do that again." I bit my lip and choked out "Promise." Mercy's crying brought me back. Norman picked her up and calmed her down "Already a daddy's girl" I said. I followed Norman into Mingus' room ad he handed her to me. I at down on the bed and watched Norman and his son have father-son time. I looked down and Mercy was looking right at her daddy. Norman looked back at me and saw her little blue eyes looking at him. He took her and held her and laid her down in his lap and I was amazed at how he bonded with her. The phone went of and I noticed Sean called. I picked up the phone "Hello!" - "Hey! Gotta say that baby is one of the cutest I've ever seen. So how you both holding up?" - "We're okay. She's a real easy going baby. When are you going down to visit her?!" - "I think there's a convention close by and I'll swing by on my way home. Is Reedustein there? If so can I talk to him?" - "Sure, let me go get him."

I handed Norman the phone and took Mercy out of his lap and went to go fix her bottle and Mingus followed me into the kitchen. "Can I feel her? I mean if you don't care." He looked up at me and I sad "If you think you can handle it. Wanna hold her while I fix the bottle?" - "Sure!" I saw his eyes light up. I walked over to the couch and handed her to him "Now hold her this way okay? I've learned that if you hold her a certain way she'll cry less." I got her bottle and handed it to him. taught him how to feed he and I smiled this was perfect. Trying to make conversation I asked him "So did your mom see your sister yet?" - "Yeah, dad sent her a picture when he told everybody else. She said she was really cute." - "Can I ask you something? I mean not to get to personal?" - "Eh, sure." - "So, have you and my dad thought about another baby? I mean I know you just had this one, but I know you wanted another." - "Ha. Um well we're going to take it as it goes. We took it as it goes this time and look what happened. Meeting your dad was unexpected, but everything happens for a reason." I hugged him. "No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you." - "Thank you. I knew there was a reason my dad fell for you." I blushed. I've tried to make people's lives better because I know how it feels to be treated like garbage. I think I finally made a difference. We both were laughing towards the end and Norman hung up the phone he walked into the room we were in "Okay, what are you two planning?" We just looked at each other and said in unison "Nothing..." - "Whatever you two have planned just don't bring my daughter into it. I'd like to keep her little mind from being warped as long as possible." I laughed "You think we'd honestly do that? You've got us confused with somebody else..." I hugged our daughter and looked at the clock 7:30 I remember when about this time fun and games would be starting. I could barely keep my eyes open. From being up at 4 in the morning and not really sleeping. Norman offered to pick up the slack but I knew it was my job and I wasn't going to hand her off just to sleep. The doctors told me to take it easy for a few weeks but I got up every time she cried. It was to the point where me and Norman both wanted to hold her. We wanted to try to make each other share. As cute as each of us was with her we wanted to hold her I liked to just feel her skin on my skin. I loved her with all my heart.

We got settled in about 10:00 and Mercy finally fell asleep in her daddy's arms. I smiled "She's already got you wrapped around her finger." - "Nah ever since I found out about her she had my heart." I found out after a few times if she could feel your skin she'd go to sleep or calm down. She loved her daddy already, she couldn't take her eyes off him. We decided it was time for bed. I walked into the bedroom and noticed the black blob in the crib. I smiled and Norman walked into the room "Look" I whispered. Norman walked over and saw Eye in the crib asleep "Hey atleast one person is getting sleep." He said. He went and picked him up and put him on the bed. I kissed Mercy on the forehead and went to get into bed, and Eye strutted up wanting me to pet him. "Hi buddy! What's up? See the new edition? he just looked up at me and I kept petting him "Little noisy right? Don't worry" We turned off the light and I cuddled up to Norman "I love you" - "I love you too" I curled up into the crook of his neck. I fell asleep and woke up at about 12:30 and tried to get up but Norman was already up trying to help her. "I just changed her but that doesn't seem to be the problem." - "Here give her to me" I tried to nurse her and she latched on. We got her fed and changed and held her until she fell asleep. "Ahh... this is the life." I said sarcastically. "Come on lets go back to bed before she wakes up again." Norman said. I looked at the bags under his eyes and breathed really hard. "Come on you're exhausted I can tell, you need sleep" - "Okay let's go" We climbed back into the bed and I curled up next to him. I woke up to the sound of crying and the sound of Norman shushing her a he carried her over to me and said "I think she wants her mommy. I held her and she just looked up at me with such emotion in her eyes. I leaned down and gave her a kiss and she slightly smiled. "Awe! She just almost smiled!" - "She loves you, why wouldn't she smile?" I brushed her face admiring at how soft her skin was. Norman sat down on the bed and leaned over to kiss me and she started having a fit. "I don't think she likes us getting close to each other." - "Yeah maybe that's why whenever we lay down she cries?" Mercy just laid in my arms and looked at her daddy. "I think she wants your to leave her mommy alone." I said as I lightly pushed his shoulder. "Okay. Okay. Two against one here." The door creaked open and out of a blackened hallway Eye came in and jumped on the bed and started rubbing on Mercy.

I woke up with my head on Norman's chest and looked at the clock 8:00. I wondered why I didn't get woken up by cries and I glanced over at the crib and she was asleep and I noticed something black next to her. I get up and thought "NO! We left blanket in her crib!" I got up and heard purring. I looked and Eye was snuggled up next to her purring away. I went over and tapped Norman on the shoulder "Wha- what's the matter?!" I heard him say with a grunt. "Look at what I found in Mercy's crib. Come here." He got up and looked in her crib. "I thin this means he likes her? Right?" - "Ha. Yeah, it does." He leaned down and kissed me. "No matter what happens we'll be together Why do you think she did that?" - "I dunno. Maybe she doesn't want another sibling?" I looked at Norman when he posted the picture of Eye and our daughter with the caption "Things that you see that make you go 'awe'" I went into the kitchen to make something for breakfast. I heard a door open and saw Mingus walk in and look at me with a weird look "Dad actually let you back into the kitchen?!" - "I'm hungry so I wanted to cook. Plus my stitches haven' busted yet so.. but long story short, no he doesn't know I'm in here. Make you a pancake if you keep this between us. Huh?" - "Eh sure, but if you get hurt dad's going to be mad. Oh by the way my mom is coming for a visit today. Is that okay?" - "Sure. Anytime she wants to swing by she can."

I was in the middle of cooking when I heard a cry. I went to go get her and Mingus said "I can get it." He ran into the bedroom and picked her up and carried her to the couch. I got plates down and put the food on them and walked over and picked her up. I put the plates on the table and went to go change her. I changed her clothes and I brought her out and made her a bottle and fed her. Norman came out of the bedroom in new clothes after a shower. He looked at our plates and smiled "Where's mine?" I pointed to the kitchen, I left a few pancakes and eggs in the pans. I let our daughter eat and put her in my lap and waited til she fell asleep to try and eat. This is life now eating luke warm or cold food. I didn't mind it at all I wanted to be the best mom I could be if eating at a later time was a way to achieve I, so be it. I finally got the chance to tell Norman about Helena coming for a visit. He was surprised by the late notice. He looked at Mingus and asked why he kept it a secret until a few moments ago. "I kinda wanted it to be a surprise." - "It's okay anytime your mom wants to visit she's welcome understand? So you going back with her or staying?" - "I'm staying until next Sunday. She just wants to see her." he said pointing to his sister. I smiled.

It was about 1:00 and I was sitting on the couch and heard a knock on the door. Norman went and opened it and Helena walked in. Mingus ran up to her saying "Mom! Mom! Guess what?! I have a sister!" and he pulled her over to the couch where I was. I smiled at her. She looked down at my arms and asked if she could hold her. I handed her over. She looked down at her "Awe you are so cute! Look at your chubby cheeks. You look just like your mommy." - "Norman calls her 'Cupcake'" - "That seems like something he'd do. So how you holding up? Parenthood everything you expected it to be?" - "Its going pretty well. She's a pretty good baby. You know the usual. I feel like the world stopped when she got here. She's a healthy baby so I count that as a blessing." Mercy let out a little whine and yawned and opened her eyes. "She's prefect you two. She's so cute and beautiful. You both did a great job. So how much do you remember after all these years?" she asked looking at Norman. "Most of it actually. Books help out a lot. Plus her being a good baby helps out too." Mercy woke up and started crying. Helena handed her back to me and I grabbed her bottle up off the table. "So, how are you feeding her? Just wondering." - "I'm nursing her most of the time but I put it in a bottle when I'm out in public."

I looked at the clock and it was about 4:00. "Helena would you care to stay for dinner?" - "Sure. If its not to much trouble." - "None at all." Norman started cooking and I tried to make conversation. Mingus came in and wanted to hold his sister, so I handed her to him and he sat down and smiled at me and his mom. I watched as he played with her, well as best as he could since she really couldn't play or do anything. She grabbed a hold of his finger like she usually did. Norman said that dinner was ready and Ii went to go change Mercy before dinner. We sat down and I put Mercy in her swing so she could relax until she fell asleep. We started eating and I tried to keep up a conversation. I kept smiling at Norman in between bites, and he kept smiling back at me. "So um how was your day today?" I asked - "Eh you know the usual. Work. Work. Work. Like I said the usual." Helena said back to me with a smile. "So Mingus, how is school going?" - "Uh well good I guess." he looked at me with a weird look. "Okay so, how are you liking being a big brother?" Norman asked. "I freakin' love it! She's so tiny plus she likes to watch me play video games. Thanks Dad!" Me and Norman just looked at each other and smiled.