November 11, 1994
Rudolph West couldn't believe what he was hearing, "What?"
The doctor standing before him winced in response and looked directly at him with eyes racked with guilt, "I'm sorry, your wife did give birth, but... the child was stillborn. There was nothing we could have done to save it, I'm sorry!"
Feeling hollow, Rudolph tried to focus on something else, namely the other piece of news he was waiting for, "And my sister?"
The doctor's shoulders seemed to relax slightly upon the change in subject and answered his question, "Ah well, that news is far better, your sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, before falling asleep." As if remembering the previous news he gave to Rudolph, the doctor quickly added, "A poor consolation I'm sure though... If there's anything and I mean anything I can do for your family, don't hesitate to ask!"
Upon saying that, the doctor quickly stumbled away as if trying to escape from an all consuming fire leaving Rudolph with nothing to do, but process the horrific news.
A feeling of absolute grief and loss overwhelmed Rudolph as he stumbled his way to a nearby hospital bench and collapsed onto it in a heap.
As Rudolph sat there sobbing his eyes out, he suddenly heard a voice coming from just outside his peripheral vision, "Is there a problem?"
On any other day, Rudolph would have either ignored the stranger or politely told him to mind his own business, but utterly consumed by sorrow, Rudolph was desperate for someone to talk to.
"It's my wife, she... just gave birth to a stillborn. Oh god, she so desperately wanted kids, this is going to destroy her." At this point, Rudolph would have been sick if he didn't already feel empty inside.
"I... can't even imagine what that feels like." The strangers voice was comforting and Rudolph turned his head slightly to see a blond haired blur though tear soaked eyes. Clearing
Feeling slightly better having told the man, Rudolph couldn't help but vent all of his current frustrations. "That's not the worst of it though!"
Surprised, the blond haired man raised and eyebrow and prodded Rudolph for elaboration, "Oh? What do you mean?"
Rudolph felt that he had no choice but to explain since he'd already said so much, "My younger sister, Iris also gave birth tonight. She wasn't even married! It was just some man she met at a college party. They were drunk at the time and neither even knew the other's name. She can't have kids now, she's only 18, she's got her whole life ahead of her!"
In pity, the stranger began to pat Rudolph on the back, "Heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking, but... there may be a simple solution to all your problems."
Upon hearing this, Rudolph pounced for answers and grabbed the blonde haired stranger's shirt, "There is?! You have to tell me!"
Quickly, but calmly, the stranger pulled Rudolph's hands off his shirt and answered him, "I think you already know the answer."
Shocked, Rudolph began to stutter, "Y-You can't mean..."
Taking advantage of Ruldolph's shock, the man continued, "You said it yourself, your wife desperately wants a child, while your sister has an entire life ahead of her and sure as hell doesn't need a child holding her back. This is the best option for all concerned, don't you think?"
Rendered utterly numb by the stranger's logic, Rudolph found himself agreeing with him. This was the best option, for both Iris and his family.
Surprisingly, there was no need for Rudolph to get up to find the doctor, he soon came back holding paperwork, "I know this probably feels like some sort of sick joke to you, but the others insisted that you fill these in."
Deciding to take the strangers advice, Rudolph stood up and gestured for the doctor to walk with him. "Doctor, there could be one way you could make it up to my family..."
Watching Rudolph and the guilt ridden doctor walk away, the blond haired man slowly touched his right cuff-link and began to speak into it. "Stage 1 was successful." He chuckled humorlessly, "You know it's funny, that took me back a lot further than I thought it would."
There was a brief pause as whoever he was speaking to processed his statement. Before too long another man's voice crackled out of the cuff-link.
"Do you mean figuratively or literally?" The other man seemed to be honestly confused about what the blonde haired stranger meant.
The blond haired man simply smirked in response and answered his question, "Both. I have a lot of experience with pulling this kind of crap, thanks to my 'parents'." As he bitterly said this, his expression darkened as if reliving a bad memory.
Clicking his teeth in understanding, the man on the other end replied smoothly and almost casually. "Ah yes, what records that remain do state that you were raised by con artists, a stain on the family name for sure."
Uncertainty crossed the blond haired man's features and in reply to the other man's statement he said, "I get really uncomfortable when you talk about my life as if it were in a history book, you do know that right?"
A dry chuckle could be heard coming out from the cuff-link, "I know."
"In any case, the chances of all this happening..." Before the blond could say anything else, the other man's voice swiftly interrupted him.
"Better to not dwell on the sheer improbability of it. What matters is how we take advantage of this situation."