cambox | Da Future

[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.]

[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.]

[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?

[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...)]

[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.]

[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!

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

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.

[...] 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.]

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!

[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.]

[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...

...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.]

[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...

[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.

Edited 2013-02-25 03:00 (UTC)

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?

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.]

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.

...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.]

[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?

[...] What is it? [Yes. That's a yes.]

[He offers to hold the babies, trading them for Hilda's letter. Inside, it's written in her slightly sloppy but loopy handwriting.]

Dear Silver,

If you found this and pieced it together from scraps in the trash, then why are you digging in the trash? Gross! If you found this in my desk before we go the hospital, then close this thing right now and mind your own business, fuck!

If you found this because I'm dead, then I'm not that surprised. I had a feeling something might go wrong with the pregnancy, so I've set some things up just in case. First of all, my bank account uses your name and the date we met each other for the first time (the castelia date, not the nimbasa date) as a password. I've saved up everything I possibly could, and given you full rights to access it. Second of all, I told my Pokémon about it since you're going to need their help instead of them needing you. And third of all, I've already set up the stuff for funeral things, found a good cheap place so it won't break the bank and you can take care of the baby without me.

I give you total permission to find some other girl or boy to be the stepmom or stepdad. Even if I doubt you'll do something like that, just know that the answer is "yeah go for it, I don't give a fuck I'm dead". Whatever you think is best for the kids, that's the best answer and that's what I'd agree with.

And no matter what, Silver, it isn't your fault. I don't care if you broke my neck yourself, no matter what, you had nothing wrong to do with anything. And if you did, then I'll deal with you after you die of a ripe old age of 60+. (Seriously you stay alive for those kids as long as you can or I will make your afterlife half an eternity of black eyes.)

I love you. Even if I do die, and even as I'm writing this thinking that I will, I don't regret a single thing. If I die and the baby lives, then I'm dying happier than I've ever been in my life, and you should be happy too. Aside from the fact that I'm dead, it's okay to be sad about that as long as you're also happy about our kid.

I don't know what else to say other than keep the ring and keep my hat if you want. Get me cremated, I don't want to be a creepy rotting corpse in the ground.

I love you, and say hi to the kids;
Hilda

[It comes. It finally comes. Tears finally stream down his face, and once he's done reading, he pulls his collar up to try to hide and muffle what crying he can't keep quiet.

That's... That's Hilda alright. Only Hilda could write something like that. She's. She's really gone, and she's not--

How- how did she know? Why didn't she say anything? Why? Why'd this have to happen? Why does everything so right have to go so, so wr-

And no matter what, Silver, it isn't your fault.

If I die and the baby lives, then I'm dying happier than I've ever been in my life, and you should be happy too.]

It's okay, it's okay...

[Emmet's about to cry, himself. He keeps a hold of the babies, who are falling asleep, but he leans over and butts his head against Silver's. He'd hug Silver, but those precious bundles won't be put down.]

It's okay to cry. You don't have to hide it. Come on, let's sit down, and I'll lend you my shoulder.

[O...okay. Okay. He'll sit down. He'll sit down and cry, but... Let him hold one of his kids. Barett. He'd ask to hold both, but he knows that Blue is fussier and doesn't want to risk waking her up when she's settling down.]

...When I tried to pick out a couch, a kind old woman insisted on getting me on the nicest one on the store. She overheard me talking about how I wanted it for Hilda so she could be comfortable.

[...] She pushed herself. She pushed herself so hard for these kids, and she did her best to never complain. We'd say all the time that everything would be okay because we're together. We had each other.

[The breaks and pauses in his voice as he tries to talk through his tears is getting worse and worse, and he doesn't want to make the babies fuss, so he pauses for a moment to look at them. Both of them.]

I love them. Both of them. What am I supposed to say about their mom when they get older? Will they really be okay with just a dad? Will they be happy? [What if I'm not good enough? The fear he had nine months ago returns to him, and it's worse than before. He can't reassure himself that he and Hilda will be able to do it together this time.]

(no subject)

infinitegrin - 2013-02-25 04:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

tsuntrader - 2013-02-25 04:28 (UTC) - Expand