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His tears finally beat his hold and rolled down his cheeks when she sat back on one arm, with her head facing the ceiling. A tight scowl rested on her face when she propped one leg up on the bed and released a scream that was filled with so much pain that it nearly broke Auto in two. To keep his mind from going off the deep end, Auto sat next to her on the bed and pulled her head to his shoulder as Forever stood up and situated the hospital gown around her so that she wasn’t exposed.

“It’s almost over, Nova. That sweet baby will be here soon,” she spoke softly while rubbing her back.

Auto was so happy that she’d stepped in because he was weakening by the second. There was a lot of stuff he could fight and would fight, but Nova hurting made him hurt, and when he was too down and out, there was almost nothing he could do about it.

“Auto, come walk with me to this nurse’s station right quick,” Blue stood, joining Egypt.

“Yeah Blood, we need to get one of them to come check her again, see if she’s ready to push.”

Auto looked at Nova, and she gave him a weak smile while nodding her head. When he was sure she was good, he left the room and hit the hallway with his boys.

“That fucking baby needs to bring its lil’ ass on. Got my girl in there shaking and shit.”

Egypt chuckled. “Just when I thought she’d finally grown out of that jitter girl stuff.”

The three of them continued talking and lightening the mood as much as they could. Prolonging their walk on purpose to make sure Auto had enough time to calm down.

“Auto!” Azayna screamed down the hallway.

Three sets of eyes flipped to Azayna as she held her head out of the door, screaming loud enough for the whole floor to hear.

“Tell them Nova’s pushing. She said she can’t stop.”

That one declaration sent the floor into oblivion. With Auto and about three nurses rushing to her room, the floor turned into pandemonium within seconds. One thing after another happened at warp speed, and before Auto could grasp one thing, something else happened, but the biggest of them all was when his baby finally slid out, and the cry pierced the room.

“Look at it, Nova,” Auto beamed. “Look at your baby, Moo-Moo. You did it, baby!” He kissed all over her head while staring at the newborn, covered in a bunch of nasty looking stuff with a cord hanging from its belly button.

“Congratulations, mom and dad. You have a beautiful baby girl.”

Auto and Nova kissed happily with big smiles on their faces.

“Dad, would you like to cut the cord?”

Auto moved to cut his daughter’s umbilical cord before freeing them to clean her. Back and forth between her and Nova’s bed, he made sure both of his girls were good. Once they were both clean and situated, their visitors were welcomed backinside. Being the proud husband and father he was, he sat at the head of Nova’s bed, with his daughter in his arms.

“What is it?” Azayna questioned while running to him and the baby.

“Auto’s third weakness,” Nova hinted at her daughter’s gender.

Egypt stopped in place with his eyes buck wide. “Nigga, it’s a girl?”

The feminine laughter took over the room as Azayna, Nova, and Forever all laughed at the exasperation in his voice.

“Yep. She pretty too. Come look at my baby, blood. You got to see this shit,” Auto spoke to Egypt while marveling at his daughter. “Real talk, it’s really amazing what women be doing with their bodies. You should have saw the way Nova’s shit split open. I probably could have fit up in that muthafucka.”

Nova swatted at his arm with a swift shake of her head. “Will you shut up!”

“I already know, bruh. When Zay pushed Zon out, I just knew my sex life was over for good. Ain’t no way pussy snapping back after that.”

“I really hate the way y’all two think.” Azayna’s disgust was comical as she shook her head.

The friends all laughed at her while gathering closer to the bed to see the newest member of their crew.

“What’d you name her?” Blue’s deep voice drowned out everything that was being said.

“Autumn Jasira,” Nova told them while rubbing Autumn’s little fist.

“Man, I ain’t never think I’d love something as much as I loved my Granny-girl, then I met Nova. Then I knew for surethat was it. Wasn’t shit coming before her, but sitting here looking at my baby,” Auto sighed, unable to finish his sentence.