Damn it, damn it, damn it!
Elfman hadn't been on a mission in months, not with Ever's belly getting so big. He never liked admitting it, but he was scared to leave her alone. Scared of what might happen. He consoled himself that all real men were concerned for their unborn children.
But money had been getting tight, and Ever had demanded (not asked – Ever didn't ask) that he go on a mission and earn some cash. The baby wasn't going to take much longer, and though they'd bought all the basics and enough diapers to fill a warehouse, it would be good to stockpile some cash for a while.
He hadn't been gone for that long! But the hotel had a communication lachryma, so he'd decided to call home. No one picked up. So, he called the guild to see if his big sister could check on Ever for him. But Mira hadn't answered, Fried picked up instead. He was all red faced, shouting about why he wasn't there! It was all going down, now!
It was too early! That was the main thought Elfman had as he feet pounded against the country road at a great velocity. It should be a couple of weeks yet! Was the baby okay!? Why wasn't he there!? What sort of Man wasn't around when his wife and child needed him to be there!? He was going to miss the birth of his child!
That thought spurred him on to greater speed, and it wasn't too long until the buildings of Magnolia passed in a blur. Where was the damned hospital again!? He spent a few minutes yelling at bewildered strangers to get directions and continued to run.
He crashed through the hospital doors – apologizing loudly as he almost ran into a dozen people and headed upstairs to the maternity ward. In the corridor, he finally saw his big sister standing there, tears in her eyes. She didn't speak, just smiled and nodded towards the door.
His life had been full of noise in his mad dash, but as he reached for the door, everything became so quiet. He pushed the door open.
The first thing he saw was Ever, lying on a hospital bed, her face glossy with sweat. Her eyes rolled up to him, weary with exhaustion. She made a small smile too and Elfman couldn't return it, his heart still seized with worry. The only other occupant of the room was a male doctor standing next to an incubator. He turned and smiled at Elfman.
"She's absolutely fine, Mr Strauss," he said gently and warmly. "She gave us a little scare coming so soon, but she's all there, ten fingers and toes. She's a perfectly healthy baby girl."
Elfman advanced tentatively on the incubator, his heart pounding as he looked down with his prodigious height. It had all become so silent again as he first laid eyes on his newborn daughter. Only the occasional beep of a machine and the tiny sound of her breath came to his senses. He knelt to bring himself closer, placing his hands on the glass of the incubator.
Little Bea Strauss opened her eyes and rolled them up to look at the white-haired giant above her. She made a little gurgle and reached out her tiny hand up towards him. She couldn't reach, of course, but that didn't seem to make her unhappy.
"You're wrong, doc." The doctor was a little surprised. Elfman's deep voice came out so quietly that he wasn't sure that he'd heard it. Wrong? Wrong about what? Tears began leak as Elfman continued to look at the little creature that had captured his heart in an instant. Evergreen smiled, knowing exactly what he would say. What else could he say?
"She's a Man."