It'll Come Naturally

"I'm alright. I understand the situation." As much as Michelle was a gang member, she was also a considerate wife.

"Every man should be there for his wife when she's giving birth!" exclaimed Cynthia. Nobody anticipated that Michelle would go in labor while Luke was away.

"Well, he wouldn't be able to help me even if he were here. It's not like he's the one who's going to give birth," Michelle said jokingly. "And besides, I still had to be isolated, right?" Michelle said all these things with a reassuring smile. The chicken soup she had dreaded earlier on was actually very delicious. It was just the thought of having to consume strictly just soup for a month that heavily burdened Michelle. She wondered if she would gain more weight in the coming month.

"You are such a considerate wife! Most women would have held a grudge," said Cynthia. She was grateful that both her sons, Edward and Luke, were lucky enough to marry wives who weren't selfish and demanding.

"Mom, I know if I threw a fit it would only get between me and Luke," Michelle explained, "It would only break us. I love him, and I'm not willing to lose him over something so petty." She knew Luke loved her and she knew it was a matter of work that Luke had to leave the country. She had no intention of brewing a storm over something so simple.

"It's really so kind of you to say that. Oh, baby, you have such a great mother!" Cynthia then planted a kiss on the cheek of her grandson.

"Hey! What a beautiful and warm family we have," exclaimed Daisy who came rushing from behind Cynthia. She had just gotten off work and made her way to the hospital immediately as she clocked out.

"You're finally here, Daisy. Still haven't gone home huh?" Daisy came without Justin, so Cynthia knew Daisy had come directly from work. If Daisy had gone home first, she would have Justin tag along. Justin was also eager to see his little cousin.

"No, I haven't. I came here as soon as I could." Daisy walked up to Michelle and gave her the warmest congratulations. "You're a mother now," she said with her eyes crystallizing from the tears of joy she was trying to hold back.

"It's an important stage in a woman's life to have babies. From this, you will grow a whole new instinct; a whole new identity," Daisy explained.

"Thank you, Daisy," said Michelle. She looked at the baby in Cynthia's arms and felt utter affection.

"How do you feel? Was giving birth as horrible as you thought it was?" Daisy asked for details as she couldn't help but tease Michelle for finally sharing the same torment and agony on giving birth, remembering how frightened Michelle had been a couple of days ago. "No, it wasn't, actually," Michelle laughed. "I was such a fool." Michelle covered her face with both hands in embarrassment. She felt ashamed of herself because she had overthought so many things that could go wrong before giving birth.

"Like I said, take it easy. Let birth take its natural course." Daisy remembered the day she had given birth to Justin. She had been both in physical and mental pain then. Fortunately, luck came after all that she had to suffer.

Right after learning that Michelle had a boy, Justin kept pestering Jonathan to visit them. Jonathan had no other choice but to succumb to the boy's stubbornness and took Justin to the hospital.

"Mommy, why isn't it a baby girl? Uncle Duke already has a boy. Uncle Tom also has a boy. There's no girl, mommy! I want a baby girl," Justin grumbled as if something could be done to shift the gender of the newborn baby. "Why do you want a baby girl?" Daisy asked with a patient smile. She was curious of Justin's answer.

"So that I can protect her," Justin answered confidently. No matter how clever Justin was, he was still a child.

"It's not just baby girls who need protection. Boys need protection as well." After saying this, Daisy was torn between laughing and crying.

"Boys don't need protection! They can fend for themselves. Only girls need protection and you said that to me! You said boys should be strong enough to protect girls, right? Have you forgotten?" Justin exclaimed in a serious manner. His mother used to tell him that as a boy, he should protect his mother who was a woman.

"I didn't forget it. But, look, this baby is so little that he can't protect himself yet. As an older brother, you are to protect him until he is old enough to do it himself." Daisy wiped the sweat off her forehead. She found that it became harder and harder to convince Justin with her words as he grew older.

"I still prefer girls. Aunt Michelle, can you give birth to a baby girl next time?" he asked with a hopeful and innocent expression.

Michelle laughed. "You naughty boy! I can't promise that. I can't possibly predict the outcome." Michelle was amused by Justin's childish words. She hadn't even decided on having a second baby yet.

"Mommy, please give birth to a girl!" Justin turned to Daisy and pleaded.

"Take that thought out of your head!" Daisy turned against Justin's wishes without second thought.

"I knew it. Aunt Leena is going to have a baby soon. I'm hoping she gets a baby girl." It was at this moment that Justin forgot the odds between Leena and him. It seemed that he would set aside personal conflicts and grievances if it meant he could take care of a baby girl. "Even if your Aunt Leena has a baby girl, it's still not your duty to protect her. Your Uncle Kevin is a soldier and he is in charge of protecting his child," Daisy said, trying so hard to hold back her laughter. She could not help but make fun of her son.

"But Uncle Kevin will surely be busy, so the baby girl will be under my care." Justin flashed a big grin as he began to imagine the things he would do to protect his Uncle Kevin's baby girl in his place.

"Fine," Daisy gave up. "But I don't think your dream will come true," she added with a shrug.

"Don't you and your Aunt Leena have problems getting along? Do you think she'll ever ask you to protect her daughter?" Michelle joined Daisy in teasing the boy.

"Dang it! I almost forgot. Aunt Michelle, will Aunt Leena forgive me if I become nicer to her from now on?" Justin asked hoping to get the answer he wanted to get.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

"Why don't you give it a try? It just might work." Michelle burst into laughter this time. Justin was such an adorable and charming boy that he seemed to be convinced that Leena was for sure going to have a daughter.

"Okay, let's stop teasing the child. Why don't you have another baby?" suggested Cynthia while stroking Justin's head affectionately.

"What? You must be kidding me, mom. Michelle just gave birth! Give her a break. At least a year or two." Daisy stared at Cynthia in disbelief.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐