RECAP:

"Why didn't you give him my name?" He asked. I screwed him.

"Don't you ever ask me that. You know why." I cut my eyes at him.

"I'm baffled."

"Don't act clueless, Reuben, don't you dare. You know exactly why. I don't want to have this conversation right now, I'll end up swearing and shouting and I don't want to do that around him." My eyes began to tear up.

I wasn't going to name my son after a father who has done nothing for him. He hadn't bought him anything, didn't check up on me to see if I was alright. He didn't ask me if I needed anything. He chose drugs and money over the birth of his child, over me. What father in their right mind would ever do that? My child didn't deserve to be named after that low life.

I could never forgive him for that. I needed him and he wasn't there.

"Baby-"

"Don't 'baby' me. Everytime you do something wrong you expect me to forgive you. Stop doing that. The day for me to forgive you has long gone. This is your son we're talking about, not just me. And he deserves better than what you're offering. My son doesn't come second place to money or drugs. He has got to be your priority, he's certainly mine. If you weren't going to do anything for him I would have given him up for adoption to make sure he has both parents in his life. I thought we were going to be a family unit but boy was I wrong. If you can't be here for the first hurdle how can I expect you to be there for the rest? You know what, talk to me another time. I'm too busy looking after the child you refuse to be a father to. Goodnight." I wiped my eyes.

"Baby girl-"

"Goodnight Reuben." My tone was harsher.

I never took my eyes off of my son. I was doing this for him. Reuben needed to know that his son comes first; always.

END OF RECAP

I ended up staying the night at the hospital. I was so drained, physically and emotionally. Reuben had absolutely obliterated any remaining respect I had for him. Missing the birth of your child when you could have been there is not something anyone should do. He's lucky I even gave TJ his surname.

I left the hospital at around 17:00. The move from the wheelchair into the car was not fun, I was so sore but all I wanted to do was go home and take care of my boy.

I watched as Jake brought him into the car, placing his car seat next to me. He was sleeping at the moment, which was great for me because he had been up most of the night.

It was such a weird feeling, I felt all empty and jiggly but I still felt like I was pregnant. Lol, it makes no sense, I know. I didn't mind how I was feeling too much, I was just excited that I finally got to see my boy.

My brothers were so helpful when I got home, they tried not to disturb TJ and I for a while and also brought me food whenever I was hungry so I didn't have to leave TJ to make myself food. I found out very quickly that being a mother was a very demanding job. I was constantly holding him when he was awake, checking his nappy, breastfeeding etc. If I wasn't exhausted before, I definitely was now! It was only my first day really, and I did find it a little overwhelming at times but I did have my brothers, Jake and Courtz to support me.

Jake had been great also. If I accidentally peed myself, he was right there to take TJ off my hands while Courtz helped me clean up. I couldn't have asked for better friends.

TJ had fallen asleep so I took the chance to also take a nap. Jake had been with me all day the day I gave birth and the day after, he hadn't left my side once. It had now been 2 weeks after I had Malachi and Jake was still coming to see me everyday and spending the night at least 4 times out of the week, even though he was still 'working'. That's what Reuben should have done. His actions really did anger my soul. I tried to phase out his negativity and concentrate on my son but it was getting harder. I shouldn't have to rely on my friends and my brothers to help me take care of my child; he should be here to help me too. It's not fair that I'm the only parent my son had in his life.

I was folding clothes as it normally helped me to calm down. Weird, I know. Jake seemed to notice that I was upset and looked up from his phone.

"Talk." He instructed. It was funny that he knew when I was feeling low. I sighed. Just thinking about it made me mad.

"Reuben's such an arse." I whispered, not only because I had just gotten TJ to sleep but because I could feel myself about to cry. It wasn't good that I was feeling this way. He got up.

"Hey, don't cry." He enveloped me in a hug.

"It's just so frustrating. Why doesn't he want to be involved in his child's life? I didn't ask for this, it's not fair that I have to do this by myself."

"You're not. You've got me. You've got your bros and Courtz too."

"Yes and it's great having you guys around to help me but it's not what I wanted."

"I understand." He hugged me tighter and I snuggled into him.

"If you don't want me to let go I won't." His chest vibrated as he spoke.

"Your hugs always make me feel better. I love our hugs." I admitted.

"I enjoy them just as much as you do. Maybe even more." I could hear that he was smiling. He was amazing and I didn't let him know nearly as often as I should that I appreciated everything he had done for me and the baby.

"Thank you." I spoke.

"For what?"

"Being there for me. You've been such a great help."

"Oh, come on. I'm your mate. I'm just being a friend."

"Friends aren't nearly as involved as you are."

"If I can see you need support, why should I withhold mine from you? Your son deserves you at your best, I'm just trying to make sure you're always at that." He said. I smiled into his chest.

"You're such a good guy." I commented.

"Thanks."

"No, seriously. You do so much and I don't thank you as much as I should."

"I'm just doing what any good friend would do."

"You're a great friend then."

"You're great too."

"I don't know what I would do without you."

"Same here."

"Get out of my house, prick!" I could hear the faint voice of my brother shouting at someone. Jake heard too and we released each other, sharing a confused glance. I made sure TJ was still sleeping before I left him alone with Jake.

I walked down the stairs slowly.

"I just want to see my kid."

"Two weeks after he was born? Nah, get out of my fucking house."

Sean and Reuben came into view as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Babe-" Reuben looked at me.

"Shanae." I corrected him. His shoulders slumped.

"I beg you tell this bodybuilder to move so I can see my son." he said.

"Why now?"

"What? I just want to see him."

"You didn't even tell me you were coming."

"Do I have to? That's my son."

"And when did you decide that? You haven't done a thing for him and now you want to claim him as your son? You're a joke." I laughed.

"I'm sorry. Please just let me see him."

"You don't deserve that privilege."

"You can't stop me from seeing my son, Shanae."

"It's been two weeks Reuben! You could have seen him earlier. You haven't even asked about him or me. You don't even know his bloody name!" I wasn't in the mood. I heard footsteps behind me and looked up to see Jake with Malachi in his arms. He looked at Reuben and back at me.

"I think he wanted his mum." He said coolly.

"Him again? You're letting him around my child?"

"Well he's done more for him than you have!"

"I'm his dad! I should be the one holding him."

"Be a bloody father to him and then maybe you can!" I yelled. TJ started crying and I took him from Jake.

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry." I rocked him until he settled down a bit.

"When are you going to get him registered?" Reuben sighed.

"I already did it." I replied nonchalantly. He scoffed.

"Wow. You did it without me?"

"I've done plenty without you." I spoke with sass.

"Chill b." Jake squeezed my shoulders and Reuben scoffed again.

"Oh, I see. He's been fulfilling my role innit? I should've known."

"Should've known what?"

"That you would choose him over me."

"I didn't. He was there, you weren't. That's your fault."

"I was working."

"My entire pregnancy, he was there, you weren't. He provided for my son, you didn't. He was present for his birth, you weren't. After all that, you think I'd just drop Jake and I's friendship just to please you when you haven't even been around? You must be mental. Be a dad, and maybe Jake wouldn't have to be around here helping me so much."

"Let me in then."

"Did you bring anything?"

"No-"

"Well he needs nappies, wipes-"

"How am I meant to know those things if you won't let me see him?"

"He's a baby, of course he's gonna need those things!" I spat. He sighed and rubbed his eyebrows.

"You should have been on some pill or something." He spoke lowly but it was very clear. I was gobsmacked to say the least.

"Are you serious?" I gave TJ to Jake and he retreated back upstairs.

"Are you fucking serious? He's here because of what you did!" I progressed down to the landing.

"If you were on the pill-"

"I wasn't on any pill because I didn't want to have sex, you know that, you c*nt!"

"Okay."

"I can't believe you would say that to me! Reuben that is so insensitive, how dare you? How dare you try to proclaim that you want to see your son and then scold me for not being on the pill when I wasn't ready to have sex? You're basically saying you don't want him. How fucking dare you?" He was definitely scum to me now. My adrenaline was pumping and I wanted to hit him so bad. This is the angriest he had made me.

Sean noticed that my emotions were heightened right now and stood in front of me so that I could not physically get close enough to Reuben to hit him.

"I'm just saying." He shrugged.

"Don't go there with me, Reuben. Don't try it." I picked up the unlit candle next to me and threw it at him. He really wanted to die today. I tried to run up on him but Sean wouldn't let me. He held me back as I continued throwing whatever I could get my hands on at him.

"You piece of shit, Reuben. I swear that's the type of shit that's gonna make me not want you in Malachi's life. You're a prick. A class A prick. Fucking waste of life, I can't believe you." I was so mad. His words really hurt me.

"Sam, calm down."

"You heard what he said, get off me." I tried to push Sean away.

"I heard."

"That's so wrong. He's out of order." I spoke to Sean but I stayed focused on Reuben.

I couldn't believe he was saying those things to me.

"Get out of here." I told him. He stared at my pissed off state and walked away. Sean closed the door and stared at me.

"I won't let him in unless he's brought things for Malachi."

"Thanks." I nodded.

I went back upstairs to Jake and TJ.

"Are you alright?" He asked. I sighed.

"Yeah."

"Good." He put Malachi in his cot and walked over to me. I smiled as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I got you." That's all he said but it meant so much to me.

He was making dinner today and I was excited to try his food. He said it'd be Turkish food but I had no idea what Turkish food was like.

He made us what he called 'manti'. It looked quite like ravioli but he made it clear that the two were different. My mouth was watering while he was cooking, it smelled so good. When it was finally ready I couldn't wait to dig in.

It was sooo good.

"Damn boy. Who taught you to cook like this?" Trey asked, stuffing his face. Jake laughed.

"Well, after my dad got locked up my mum started getting extra clingy with all of us. She wanted to spend time with us all the time and so her and I spent our time cooking together. She basically taught me everything." he told us.

"She taught you well." I commented. It was nice having a sit down dinner with everyone. It made me feel better about the situation with Reuben. Oooh that boy was gonna get it, had Sean not held me back. Anyway, I heard Malachi crying on the baby monitor so got up to go and nurse him. He was cluster feeding so I was nursing frequently.

Jake walked into the room with my unfinished food.

"I thought you might like to finish eating up here with him."

"Thanks." I smiled, talking the plate from him and putting it next to me.

"He's growing mad fast." He looked at Malachi.

"Yeah, he really is. It's probably because he's been eating so much." I shook my head. Feeding him constantly was sucking the energy from me.

"It's good that you kept him."

"I wasn't going to give my son away. He's no-one's gift but mine." And Reuben's, I thought.

"True." He nodded.

"My mum wants to see him. And you." He sat at the end of the bed and I pulled my boob back into my nursing bra.

"She does?" I picked Malachi up gently and put him on my shoulder so I could burp him.

"Yeah, she loves you already." He smiled. I laughed.

"I look forward to meeting her, Chloe and Amy." I grinned.

"Rah, you remembered their names?" He asked, referring to his sisters.

"Of course." I smiled.

"After I've finished healing and that." I added.

"Yeah, definitely." He nodded.

Having a newborn really was difficult. Everything I did was for him. I was constantly around him and feeding him and changing him. All of my time was consumed doing things for him.

I wasn't complaining though. My little boy had stolen my heart the second I laid eyes on him. I was not about to complain and bout being his mother. While it was tiring, I quite like that someone was relying on me.

"I'm going next door real quick." Trey popped his head in the bathroom. I nodded. I heard him leave and got up.

It was time for Malachi's bath before I put him to bed. I was running the water when I received a call.

I rolled my eyes at the name that appeared on the screen. Sharnell. I declined her call several times before she decided to text me instead.

I'm outside

Why was this heffa outside my house? I went back into my bedroom and peeked out of the window. She really was out there.

It's cold man open up plz

The bitch could freeze to death for all I cared. She began knocking- no, thumping the door like she was the bloody police.

"Shanae, I know you're in there!" She bellowed through the letter box. Lord give me strength.

"Should I send her away?" Jake asked.

"Just ignore her, she'll get tired eventually." I sighed.

"I'm not leaving until you open this door! Shanae!" She yelled. I sighed again.

I made my way back to the bathroom, closing the door to drown out the sound of Sharnell. I began to take Malachi out of his clothes. He enjoys bathtime, thankfully, so I knew he wouldn't fuss to do much. I began washing him when I heard angry footsteps thump up the stairs.

"Shanae." Her voice sounded close. A knock on the bathroom door startled me.

"Are you in there?" How did she get into the house?

"Get out, man." Trey's voice could be heard.

"Why did you let her in then?" I kissed my teeth.

He opened the door.

"How did you expect me to get into the house? She pushed past when I opened the door." He explained.

"Shut up, Trey." She said. He swivelled around.

"And you can get the fuck up out of here." He screwed her.

"Sharnell, what do you want?" My tone was bored. Trey moved so I could see her.

It really had been a while. She had on a white short puffer jacket, a short denim skirt and white converses. No wonder her thirsty arse was cold.

"Look, I know the last time we saw each other we weren't the best of friends-"

"What, do you want?" I questioned again.

"I just wanted to see my best friend again. And meet my nephew." She smiled. This bitch.

"I am not your best friend and he is not your nephew." My anger was slowly beginning to rise.

"Come on, Shanae. We've been friends for time."

"No, we were friends. We aren't cool anymore." I turned back to Malachi.

"Is that him?" She asked.

"Get out." I was so sick and tired of people treating me like a mug.

"I just want us to be friends again."

"No, that's not going to happen. Now you can leave. Bye."

"Shanae man."

"Bye." Surprise visits from people I didn't like seemed to be a regular occurence. Trey led her out of the bathroom and escorted her out of the house.

I just wanted to focus on my son now. I smiled as he looked at me. He was my world and I would do anything to protect him.

Hey guys! Lol, remember when I said I might upload again in the next week? Lmao yh I think we both knew that wasn't gonna happen.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though it's taken me weeks to upload it. Uni life eh smh.

I'll try and upload again soon and by soon I mean like hopefully before the year is over.

Oh and if you haven't already, please check out my other stories 'Rejected' and 'The Error'. I know I haven't updated 'Rejected' in a very long time, I'm working on it!

I love you guys! Stay blessed, stay beautiful and stay humble darling.

Love Samantha Xxx