Da Future

[50shadesofprotag]

Soooo in the future! Hilda managed to woo Silver and keep him for more than a week.

When Hilda's about 26 and Silver's 24, she's finally got him doing more "couple"-like things with her.




It's a good thing they're a somewhat decent age to be parents?

Comments

[50shadesofprotag]

[The doctors start going through their options. A c-section now would probably kill Hilda, and she's definitely in no state to deliver as she is. But if they saved Hilda, the only ways they knew how, the baby would be lost or severely injured...

...And while they're in a panic, at least this moment hooking her up to a blood transfusion, Hilda weakly pulls Silver closer to her.]

Silver. Silver, listen to me.

[Her voice is low, but there's that fire and determination sparking under the frailty and weakness.]

My family will never give up. None of you can ever give up. Not you, not the babies... and not me.

[She lets go, hauling herself upright and pushing as hard as she can, letting out a pained wail. The doctors immediately respond, though they can't stop her. They work with her, in that tense and loud and painful fifteen minutes that it takes for the boy to be delivered.



Hilda collapses. Her eyes glazed, her skin a deathly pale, so still she can't even shake from the pain or the weakness any longer. But upon hearing her son crying, she smiled. And she closed her eyes, as if to finally rest.

The doctors frantically move to revive her, nurses having to move Silver out of the way as they break out the defibrillator and emergency equipment to revive her.

A nurse asks Silver if he wants to see his children or wait for his wife.]

[tsuntrader]

Hilda-

[His voice cracks, and that's all he can bring himself to say. He doesn't let go of her or even hear anything and before he knows it she's collapsed and he hears the crying of their second child and

and he's being ushered out of the way.

His face has completely paled and he keeps his mouth open just to breathe easier.

He looks up and stares at the nurse with a thousand yard stare for a second as if he can't quite comprehend what she's trying to tell him, but before she can look away or react he nods and when he realizes that his nod doesn't quite answer her question he looks in the direction of their children before looking at the nurse again- please. Please let him see them. Let him hold them if he can, if he's allowed to. Please...]

[50shadesofprotag]

[The nurse nods, patting his arm gently. She gets the babies, now that they're cleaned up and wrapped up, and brings them over. She'll help Silver hold both of them, and escort him out of the room.

The first thing he's given is a pair of birth certificates and a couple of forms, in case he decides to keep himself idle and busy and let the nurse accompanying him hold onto one or both of the babies.




The second thing he receives, after twenty minutes, is a single statement from a doctor, who is very hesitant to speak.

"I'm afraid she didn't make it. We were unable to revive her."]

[tsuntrader]

[He doesn't mind doing the forms, although he doesn't quite understand some things he has to fill in, so he occasionally looks at the nurse and hopes that she understands what he's trying to convey. If she doesn't, he moves on and leaves it blank for the moment. When he reaches the point where he can no longer focus on what he's reading he puts it down for the moment and holds his kids again, instinctively rocking them and letting them hold onto his gloved fingers.

He still hasn't said anything by the time the doctor returns. His face remains pale, but the shocked expression has turned into something more passive and exhausted.

He listens to the doctor's words without changing his expression. It takes him a moment, but he finally speaks up with only two words.]

I know.

[His voice is passive and level. He knew. He knew from the second he had to let her go that she was gone. That was it for her.

He can't give up, was it? No, he... He won't. He'll be the best dad he can be for his kids. That's a promise.

But right now, he doesn't want to think. He doesn't want to speak. He just wants to hold onto his two kids. Their two kids. That's it.]

[50shadesofprotag]

[By now, the daughter had taken a break from her crying fit to open her eyes. Both of theirs were blue, though the girl's was definitely a much more vibrant hue. The nurse explained that their eyes would reach their real color after some time... but that his little girl would probably have bright blue eyes.

Barett, unlike Blue, is a very quiet baby, just fussing quietly and hungrily, grabbing at his father as much as he can. Both were blissfully unaware about their mother, gurgling or fussing like any babies would, pleased to be held and growing used to this silent creature holding them.

The doctor nods, asking if there's someone that Silver would like to contact.]

[tsuntrader]

[Blue and Barett. A boy and a girl. Good thing they picked out two names.]

Are they hungry? Do they need anything? [He's heard the doctor's question, but he hasn't entirely processed who to call, who to turn to, and that's not his primary concern right now.]

[50shadesofprotag]

[The nurse will go and get baby formula prepared, though they won't have more than a small batch. There's a lot of papers that need to be filled out, regarding how to handle Hilda's body. Hilda marked on her health profile that she would be an organ donor, so they're currently dealing with that...

...In the mean time, Silver's gently urged to look into funeral services, and given several pamphlets to look at.

Which is mainly why the doctor asked if there was someone Silver wanted to contact.]

[tsuntrader]

[It's a good thing that Silver's listless and preoccupied with caring for his children and keeping them safe, because otherwise, he probably would have broken something right now.

Instead, he idly fills out paperwork, giving about three seconds thought to anything he doesn't understand or thinks is stupid or doesn't think is just his decision before skipping it over.

After a while, he looks up at one of the doctors.] Can I use my Pokégear?

[infinitegrin]

[The doctors nod, encouraging it. The helpful nurse offers to hold one of the babies so that he can use his PokéGear freely.


Emmet answers, excited, and knowing no better.]

Hello, Silver! You're calling early--did the baby come? Is it on its way? Where are you all, how far are you down that line?

[He... knows no better. He's very very tired, but he sounds ecstatic! (Sorry Hilbert, he tries to whisper-shout...)]

[tsuntrader]

[He's about to speak, but he hears Emmet's enthusiasm first, and it leaves an silent pause in the call.]

They're here, dad. Both of them. [Other than the pause, there's nothing alarming about the tone of his voice. He sounds completely normal.] Are mom and dad with you?

[He can't worry them. Not when they have the twins to take care of.]

[infinitegrin]

[Twins!! Goodness, so many twins, Emmet's beaming. He carefully gets out of bed (and shushes Hilbert, telling him to go back to sleep) and goes downstairs so he can speak in more comfortable hushed tones.]

They're asleep right now. Should I wake them up? Or are all of you resting, right now? Oh, are they identical twins? Or did you get a boy and a girl? What a nice surprise!

[tsuntrader]

No, don't wake them up. [...] We're gonna need your help, dad. Can you come here?

[infinitegrin]

Oh? Sure! I'll be there in a little while.

[There's some shuffling! He'll grab his clothes and get dressed and all that.]

Is miss Hilda worn out? She must be! But I'm sure she's proud.

[tsuntrader]

[...] She was definitely proud. [Isn't that right, you two? She worked so hard to make sure that you two came out happy and healthy... She's got every right in the world to be.]

[infinitegrin]

Alright, I'll be there soon, alright?

[He hangs up, not catching tone or other cues over the line. He'll take about 15 minutes to get there, since he goes by Subway, but he arrives at the hospital and is led to where Silver is.]

Congratulations! You've arrived at a station named Fatherhood! I am proud of you, Silver!

[tsuntrader]

[He takes his time looking up and in Emmet's direction. It... It was one thing over the phone when he couldn't see Emmet's enthusiasm and big grin.

It's another thing to have it thrown right in his face. He doesn't say a word.]

[infinitegrin]

[Oh... something about that expression isn't right. Emmet comes closer, looking worried and putting a hand on Silver's shoulder.]

Hey... is everything okay? You're whiter than my coat...

[tsuntrader]

...She's gone, dad.

[He brings his head back down to look over the twins. To make sure that everything's okay with them, to make sure they're comfortable. Barett's fallen asleep, but he rocks Blue a little to keep her from fussing.]

[infinitegrin]

[Emmet's jaw drops, and he stares in shock. She's... gone. And the hurt that Emmet feels... it can only be a fraction of the pain in Silver. He goes and sits next to Silver, here, hold them a little lower. He wraps an arm around Silver's shoulders, giving him a hug.]

I'm sorry, Silver, I'm so sorry. She was wonderful, and she was lucky to have you and you were lucky to have her.

[He doesn't say any more than that, knowing Silver didn't need to hear an endless stream of words. He figured Silver might not cry, not just yet, but he held his son close anyway.]

She gave you such beautiful children, look at those eyes...

[tsuntrader]

[He was lucky, he was so lucky, he-

...]

Blue and Barett. They're perfect.

[...] Is it okay if I go back to live with everyone? I don't want it to just be us. The house will feel really empty. [He asks it idly, without thinking about it too much.]

I... I don't know what to tell her mom. [...] Hilda was going to breastfeed them. I'll have to take a trip to the store so they won't be hungry.

[infinitegrin]

Let's finish what we need to finish here, then we can stop by the store for formula. I'll take you home with me, and we'll figure it out from there. Okay?

[tsuntrader]

I have to stop at the house for Hilda's Pokémon.

[...] I already filled everything out for them. [The twins, that is. He couldn't care less about everything else they've been telling him to take care of.]

[infinitegrin]

Even stuff for Hilda?

[Because that's important... Emmet reaches over and grabs the form himself.]

...I'll take care of it. It won't be but a minute before we can depart for the next station. I'll pick up all of the things from your house, after you're home and taking care of the babies.

[tsuntrader]

...Thanks, dad.

[...] You hear that, you two? We're gonna head home soon. I think you'll like it. I know I do. [He'll smile. He'll smile for them and them only, even if it doesn't quite meet his eyes.]

[infinitegrin]

[Emmet rubs Silver's hair, bumping his head against his son's temple.]

It's okay. I love you. I love you dearly, and so did she. Hold them close... she lives on in them.

[She'd tell you it's okay to cry, he's tempted to say. She'd tease you, but it'd be okay, as long as it didn't make you give up.

...


Emmet gives Silver's forehead a kiss before getting up. He'll fill out the forms, for now... temporary storage for Hilda's body, until they can find her will or speak with her mother. They can return to the house, briefly. Emmet helps gather up the Pokémon, all of the baby stuff, and...

...

He returns, after going into the bedroom. He found a paper, folded up, labeled to Silver. In Hilda's writing.]

Do you want to read this, now?