A/N: Thanks for sticking with me!

Dazed, Fox cleaned the mess on the floor then shuffled into the main room. She didn't feel any pain yet, and now that the initial surprise had faded, she knew it was too soon to go to Erudite, if they didn't send her back home, then she'd just lay bored in a bed for who knows how long. Fox picked up her phone and took a deep breath, she didn't look forward to releasing this hound, but she needed to let Eric know what was going on. With luck, he'd listen to Fox and not panic, not race back to her and drag her to Erudite, but who knew? Fox was Eric's one weakness.

Fox texted, Phone me when you get a minute, then sat down to wait.

A few minutes later, her phone chimed and Fox took a deep breath, pressing it to her ear. "Hey."

"Hey baby, what's up?" Fox could hear him shuffling papers, but he sounded calm. Out with it Fox.

"Don't panic Eric, there's no rush, but my water broke-"

"What?!"

"I said don't-" Fox held the phone away with a grimace. Fox had heard pounding footsteps just before Eric hung up. Great, that freight train was on the tracks and racing out of control back to the apartment; Fox just hoped he didn't bodily pick her up and carry her to Erudite. For lack of anything else to do right now, Fox sat down on the couch. Thumping footsteps outside preceded his arrival and the door flew open.

"Eric, calm down-"

"Fox? Does it hurt?" Eric fell on his knees in front of Fox and reached up, grabbing her face. His steel-grey eyes were wide and in all honesty, he looked pretty cute, harried, but cute. Fox grabbed his forearms.

"Eric, calm down."

"But-"

"I'm fine, there's no rush yet. We have hours to wait still."

Eric set his jaw, ready to argue and Fox continued. "Go back to work."

"No-"

"Eric, if you're going to be spending the next few days with me and the babies, you need to go back to your office and organize your paperwork in case someone else has to take over."

Eric frowned and Fox cupped his cheek, he closed his eyes and leaned slightly into her hand.

"Go, I'll be fine, I'll call you if anything changes."

Eric opened his eyes again and stood, pulling out his phone. "I'll get Tris to stay with you until I get back."

"Good idea," Fox stood and wandered into the kitchen, suddenly thirsty. Strong arms banded around her from behind and she felt Eric's lips at her ear.

"Tris is on her way over, are you still okay?"

Fox turned in Eric's arms and pressed as close to him as she could. He exhaled raggedly and tightened his arms around her, burying his head in her hair.

"I don't want to leave," he murmured quietly.

"It's just for a bit, then you'll be back."

Eric shook his head and buried his head deeper. Fox leaned back and reached up, gripping Eric's chin and guiding his mouth to hers. He pressed his lips to hers hungrily, his hand reaching up to cup Fox's cheek and curl into her hair. Pulling away, he rested his forehead to hers and sighed before pulling reluctantly away and walking to the door. He opened it just as Tris was reaching up to knock and Fox smiled in relief. Maddie babbled happily at her Uncle Eric and he smiled as Tris handed her over. Sidestepping Eric, Tris walked quickly over to Fox and grabbed her shoulders.

"Any pain?"

"No."

"You're sure your water broke?"

"Pretty sure."

Tris nodded and turned back to Eric and Maddie, Maddie shrieking as Eric blew bubbles on her belly. Noticing the women again, Eric grinned sheepishly and handed Maddie back.

"I won't be long," he promised as he strode away, the door shutting behind him.

Tris turned back to Fox and raised her eyebrow. "Okay, he's gone...how are you really feeling?"

Fox nodded, "good still, no contractions yet."

Tris grimaced, "trust me, they'll come." She looked around. "Do you need to pack a bag or take care of anything here?"

Fox shook her head and Tris jerked her chin to the couch. "Then sit and relax, you'll need the energy."


Fox's contractions started not long after that, and Tris carefully timed them. They weren't bad yet but Fox didn't complain, she knew they'd get worse. Eric phoned and texted ten times in the next three hours he was gone and he returned to the apartment just as Fox hung up with her doctor in Erudite.

"You want to have a quick shower?" She asked Eric, "doctor recommended we come in soon."

Eric hesitated, obviously torn between doing what Fox asked and going directly to Erudite, but Fox made a shooing gesture at him and grinned. Rolling his eyes, Eric disappeared into the bedroom.

Tris grinned, watching the exchange. "He's a lot calmer now."

Fox shook her head with a snort. "I doubt it, he's probably freaking out in there and just didn't want us to see."

Tris sniffed the air. "He's been smoking."

Fox nodded, "yeah, he does when he's stressed."

Tris smiled reassuringly. "You'll be fine. Do you want me to come in with you two?"

Fox shook her head, "nah, come by later with Four if you want; I'll keep you posted."

Tris nodded and stood, picking up a wetly giggling Maddie, with one last reassuring hug, she left. Fox glanced down at the waiting overnight bags stacked at the door then turned and walked into the bedroom. Eric was just emerging from the shower, velvet skin glistening, muscles soft and pliant. Fox's eyes drifted down, his cock, a healthy size to begin with, hung long and low from the heat and Fox's heart sped up. Eric looked up at her just as Fox licked her lips. Normally, that was all it took for him to throw Fox down and bury himself inside her, but Eric frowned and shook his head.

"We gotta go."

"Spoilsport...c'mon; don't be a shit-ass."

Eric chuckled as he pulled on boxers and reached for a t-shirt. "I've phoned ahead for a truck to take us, are you ready?"

"Are you?"

Eric looked directly into her eyes as he yanked the shirt down over his torso. Even if the next words out of his mouth were a lie, Fox saw the truth in his gaze. "No, fuck no."

Fox bit her lip. "Me neither," she confessed.

Eric reached her in two strides and pulled her to his chest; Fox melted into his reassuring heat and tucked her head under his chin. For a long moment, Eric just stroked her hair, his hand a soothing weight at the small of her back. Gently, he pushed her away and finished dressing. Pulling on his jacket, he reached for Fox's hand.

The ride to Erudite was mostly silent, the soldier assigned to driving them efficient and careful, worried about suffering Eric's trademark wrath, especially with such precious cargo. Eric's face remained impassive, but his thumb ceaselessly stroked the back of Fox's hand and his other hand never left her thigh. Fox found her contractions began to strengthen rapidly, and she gripped Eric's hand tighter, taking deep calming breaths.

"Drive faster." Eric snapped.

Eric paced back and forth as the nurse asked Fox a whole list of questions. His agitation grew with Fox's pain and he was nearly growling by the time the nurse left.

"Eric, sit down." Fox ordered. He sent her a baleful glare before collapsing into the chair beside her bed. "You stomping around like a dick is not going to make this any easier, so calm the fuck down."

Eric's mouth quirked and he had the grace to look chagrined, "sorry baby." Nobody else would have been able to put him in his place like that, and they both knew it. He reached out and took Fox's hand.

The doctor appeared minutes later, no doubt warned about the irritated Dauntless leader prowling around. He shot Eric a bland professional smile before focussing fully on Fox.

"I hear your water's already broken, and your contractions are getting stronger?"

Fox nodded, "yeah, they're getting closer too."

The doctor pulled on a glove and reached for the blanket. "I'm just going to check you and we'll see where we're at."

Fox bit back a grimace, mildly uncomfortable and flashed Eric a warning glance as a low growl built in his throat.

The doctor pulled back and discarded the glove. "Three centimetres." He glanced at the clock, "I'd hazard a guess we're going to delivering tonight. Would you like to receive any painkillers yet?"

Fox shook her head and Eric grumbled under his breath. He and Fox had been argued numerous times about this. Fox didn't want painkillers and Eric didn't want her in pain. Their Dauntless had come out, neither had given an inch and they'd had to buy a new lamp three separate times. The doctor waited and Fox shook her head again.

"Alright, I'll give you some time, the nurse will be in again shortly. There's really not much we can do until you're fully dilated." The doctor gave one last reassuring smile and left.

"You need to take some painkillers," Eric growled, low in his throat.

Fox shook her head, now that she was getting a taste of real contractions, she was more apt to agree with him on this, but her stubbornness and pride were still alive and kicking.

Eric reached out and took her hand, began to rub across her knuckles with his thumb. "You don't need to prove anything to me," he murmured softly.

Fox nodded, "I know, I just...I want to try without first, I'm Dauntless, remember?"

Eric smirked faintly, "Dauntless doesn't automatically mean stupid and masochistic."

Fox rolled her eyes.


Hours later, Fox finally relented and accepted a shot, it took the majority of the pain away and allowed Fox to finally sleep a bit. Eric snuggled up behind her, his arm wrapped around her, his face buried in Fox's throat; and that's how Four and Tris found them when they stopped by after supper. Fox woke first, and smiled at Tris when she saw her sitting there.

"How you doing?" Tris whispered.

Fox grimaced, "I wimped out and took a shot."

Tris shook her head, "that's not wimping out, I did too, a couple of times...how's Eric handling it?"

Fox smirked, "just like we expected, like a grizzly bear with a sore ass. He made one of the nurses yelp a bit ago...dropped her tray and everything."

Four stepped up behind Tris and rested his hands on her shoulders. "That sounds like the big man, nice to know impending fatherhood hasn't made him soft."

"Speak for yourself," Eric grumbled sleepily behind Fox. "I've caught you babbling like a damn fool to Maddie before too."

"Good evening to you too, Coulter." Four chuckled easily.

Fox soon found her way into the warm tub and quickly refused to leave. The warm water worked magic on her pain, making it bearable enough she could handle it without another shot. She would refuse any more, the first one had made her feel stupid and loopy. Eric even stripped down to swim trunks and climbed in behind her, pulling Fox's back against his chest and holding her, murmuring soothingly into Fox's ear as she breathed through each contraction. It was a welcome change, Eric had been nearly impossible all day. An intimidating presence at the best of times, Eric was downright impressive as he'd paced back and forth, losing his mind in the most Dauntless way possible. Fox had grown tired of trying to tell him to calm down, had been about three seconds away from slapping him silly earlier; really, for a man who'd witnessed and been party to torture and death as party to any number of Dauntless interrogations, who regularly took the lives of factionless in order to protect his faction; you'd think he'd be a little more blasé about all this. But, Fox was Eric's weakness, and he became tender as a lamb around her. Having Four and Tris join them seemed to help, Four's naturally chill presence was starting to rub off on Eric. Now, in the tub, Eric was a comforting, warm presence behind Fox, his lips at her ear, his words soft and soothing.

The doctor had already figured out that Twin A, the little hooligan Eric clone that had been break-dancing non-stop in Fox's womb for months, was in the lower position and would be born first.

Reluctantly, Fox exited the tub as the doctor checked her one last time and announced she was ready to push. Refusing one of the ridiculous gowns the hospital used, Fox quickly pulled a fitted black maternity tank top over the black sports bra she'd already been wearing and stretched gingerly out on the bed. Four grinned sheepishly and retired to the waiting room, 'you're like my sister Fox, I don't want to be seeing any of that,' while Tris confidently grabbed Fox's left hand.

The doctor glanced up at the clock, it was looking like he'd be right, although evening, they still had a few hours left before midnight. "Alright, Fox, now push."

Fox squeezed the shit out of Eric's hand as she pushed; initially Eric had whined a bit about it until Fox had snapped at him that 'goddammit Coulter, this is half your fault, shut the fuck up!' and Eric, suitably humbled, had suffered in silence ever since. Tris had giggled and leaned over to Fox's ear."

"Remember I had to tell Four the same?"

Fox giggled back, panting between pushes. "I don't remember you saying 'goddammit Coulter'."

"I did say 'fuck' though."

Fox managed a genuine laugh.

"Okay baby, push." Eric murmured in Fox's ear, he'd finally settled down beside her and was saying useful things instead of asking the doctor every thirty seconds 'is this normal?' until Fox had been tempted to ask Tris to sleeper-hold him.

Fox bit her lip at the sharp pain. She'd managed to keep herself to a few gasps and breathy moans, she wasn't willing to start wailing and screaming like the poor woman down the hall, obviously a Candor based on the fact that she wasn't holding any of her thoughts to herself.

"The baby's crowning, Eric would you like to see?"

Eyes wide, like a rabbit caught in a flashlight's beam, Eric stood and hesitantly peeking around the drape. He went pale and plunked down beside Fox's head again, and if she hadn't been preoccupied with a fucking watermelon trying to rip it's way out of her, Fox would have laughed at his expression.

"One more big push, Fox...and your son is here!" The doctor gently set the squirming, bloody infant on the blanket a nurse had spread on Fox's chest and stepped back with a smile.

A rush of emotions nearly flattened Fox, the pain faded, the awkwardness of having her bare ass exposed to half of Erudite faded, all she saw was her newborn son. He had Eric's dark blonde hair and disgruntled expression, his eyes screwed up as he wailed like an enraged kitten, his mewls fierce but still so teeny.

"He's so tiny," Eric breathed, gently touching their son's tiny hand.

"Hey, little guy,' Fox whispered and the baby stopped his wailing, opened big blue eyes and locked them with Fox.

"Oh-" Tris breathed, transfixed.

"Eric? Would you like to cut the cord?" The doctor broke in. Eyes wide, Eric stood back up and accepted the scissors a nurse held out to him, hesitantly, he cut the umbilical cord then turned back to Fox. The shock was starting to wear off and he leaned down, stroking Fox's hair back from her forehead and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. Pulling back, he rested his forehead to hers. "You did it, baby."

"Halfway there-" Fox bit back a gasp as a sharp pain clawed at her.

"I guess Twin B is ready," the doctor quipped, plucking the baby carefully off of Fox and handing him to a waiting nurse. Fox felt cold at the loss of contact with her son, and his fresh wail at their separation stabbed at her heart, but another wave of pain soon stole her attention. Tris and Eric returned to holding her hands and encouraging her and Fox pushed hard, ready to be done with this whole birthing mess.

Fox felt a new pain, sharp and quick and she gasped. Almost immediately she began to feel tired and leaden. Her vision began to go grey around the edges. Dimly she heard the doctor tell her to give one more good push and her body responded even as her mind began to swirl away. Her sight narrowed to a tunnel and everything began to recede. Fox tried to speak but was suddenly too tired, distantly, she saw Eric turn to look at her, his eyes widening in shock. Faintly Fox heard him yell her name, but she was so warm and content, floating away, and everything slowly, gently, went dark.

Eric watched in amazement as Fox's next effort pushed their son slip free of her body and into the doctor's waiting hands. Eric had thought their first son was tiny, but their second was smaller still. He shared his brother's dark blonde hair and strong voice and Eric turned back to Fox, the joy dying on his lips as he saw the grey tone of her skin, the rapid, shallow inhalations.

"Fox? FOX?!" He grabbed Fox's face and screamed.

"Oh shit, she's hemorrhaging!" Eric heard the doctor shout. Passing the baby to a nurse the doctor began shouting for supplies and help, nurses descending on them like flies.

Eric's heart stopped as Fox slowly focused on him, then the light left her eyes.

Tris' head snapped to the side, eyes widening when she saw the lifeless look on Fox's face. Eric was screaming her name, clutching her face and there was nothing, just nothing, in Fox's half-closed eyes.

"Get them outta here!" The doctor barked. Nurses converged on Eric and he shrugged them off with a snarl. Tris leapt to her feet and jumped in front of him, clapping her hands to Eric's chest; she'd been able to get through to him once before in a similar situation, maybe she could again.

"Eric! We need to give them room to help her!"

Eric's eyes met hers, comprehension flaring. He relaxed enough that Tris could pull him with her out of the room; behind them, Tris heard the nurses and doctors shouting to each other, barking orders, the sound of ripping plastic and medical alarms. The doors swung shut behind them just as they heard a nurse bellow, "she's crashing!"

Eric turned to rush back in and Tris knew this time she wouldn't be able to stop him. "Four!" She yelled over her shoulder, pulling desperately at Eric's arm. Scrambling, she rushed in front of Eric and pushed with all her strength at his chest, but he was irresistible. Tris heard running footsteps, then Eric was yanked bodily backwards by Four, they crashed in a heap a few feet away and Tris launched herself at them, grabbing Eric's face. Four banded his arms around Eric's, holding him down and Tris babbled to get and keep his attention.

"Eric! Eric, calm down! We need to stay out here and let the doctors work!"

Four twisted, pinning Eric to the ground and looked up at Tris in stunned confusion. "What the fuck is going on?!" He demanded.

Tris didn't answer yet. "Eric? Eric."

Eric went boneless under Four with a ragged exhale. Sentience again returned to his gaze and he met Tris' eyes, fear and pain replacing the blind, panicked determination.

"Let him up," she ordered Four and he reluctantly released Eric, stumbling to his feet and grabbing Eric's shoulder to help him stand. Tris took Eric's hand and pulled him over the chairs, pushing him to sit. Breathing hard she turned, Four was right behind her, baffled.

"What the fuck, Tris?" He asked again. He glanced at Eric, who sat with his head in his hands, breathing hard.

Tris sighed, tears springing to her eyes. "It's Fox...she started bleeding, bad."

"Well, is she okay?" Four demanded, his gaze snapping from Eric to Tris.

Tris shook her head and shrugged. Tears began to fall down her cheeks and Four pulled her to his chest. Hearing footsteps, Tris pulled away from Four and looked over to see Eric walking slowly away down the hallway, away from the delivery room, where they could still faintly hear the staff yelling at each other. "Eric?" She called.

Eric didn't turn and continued to walk away, his shoulders hunched. He flapped his arm once behind him to signal he wanted to be alone and Tris buried her head in Four's chest again, fresh tears falling.


Eric stumbled numbly down the hallway, not paying attention to where he was going and not really caring. The dead, lifeless look on his wife's face kept flashing through his brain, and he found it hard to breathe. They'd taken Fox to a special room to give birth in and Eric found himself at her old room, the one they'd spent all day in while she was in labour. Their overnight bags were still there, the blankets still rumpled on the bed. Eric collapsed onto the bed and curled his hands into the blanket, it smelled like Fox and burying his face in it he finally let go and cried. Everything came up, all the worry and anxiety of the day and Eric couldn't catch his breath, his heart beat erratically in his chest.

He couldn't imagine Fox dying like this, bleeding out before his eyes; leaving him alone, alone to raise their two boys. A dim part of his mind, an angry, vengeful, irrational part deep down inside growled that this was his fault, if he hadn't made Fox pregnant, hadn't buried himself deep inside her and spilled his seed; then she'd still be alive, alive and with him still. Another shameful part of him, equally as irrational and blind with grief, was willing to trade the twins for Fox, trade his career, their life at Dauntless, his own life, anything, as long as he could be with Fox again for awhile first. Anguish cleaved his chest in half and Eric now understood the phrase 'prostrate with grief', lying here on the bed, awash in Fox's scent, where she'd possibly spent her last hours, he couldn't move, didn't want to move; if he laid here long enough, he'd die too and join Fox on the other side. The idea was getting more tempting by the minute.

Eric had been hard and cold, an Erudite in Dauntless clothing, unfeeling and cruel before Fox; he'd kept women at arm's length, useful only for physical release, not worth the time or effort for anything deeper. That had all changed when Fox had strode confidently across that rooftop towards him on her Choosing Day, head held high; challenging Tris to jump first and leaping almost nonchalantly after her. From that moment, Eric had been lost, tied irrevocably to this vibrant redhead, his soulmate, his other fucking half. Life without her was incomprehensible, illogical; why continue to exist when the best part of you is gone, when all that stretches before you is a dark, freezing abyss of grief, misery and heartache? If not for the fact that Fox had given him their sons before leaving him, Eric would have leapt willingly into that abyss.

The moments he'd spent with Fox in his arms, with her underneath him, wrapped around him, held tightly against him were the best of his miserable life, he would never experience even a shadow of that again if Fox had died tonight. His tears continued to flow, soaking the blanket beneath his head, but Eric had stopped making sound, his grief had turned silent. He realized now that he hadn't cheated fate, hadn't dodged the proverbial bullet; he'd done bad things in his life but he'd hoped that he would escape with a happily ever after anyway; he'd hoped that Fox was his despite the shadows of his past, and, in the cruellest irony, fate had waited until the most crucial moment to pull the rug out from underneath him, to punch through his chest and rip out his still-beating heart.


He lost track of time, drifting in a haze of pain and anguish, his tears drying on his ashen skin. Flashes of Fox tormented him, memories of her smiling at him, catching her tongue in her teeth before favouring him with a grin; the soulful look on her face as she'd straddled his lap and cupped his face, bending to press her lips softly to his. The way she'd lean into him, press herself to him when she was crying or upset, like he was her rock, her safe place. Eric vowed to raise their boys right, they would know every single fucking day how amazing and special their mother had been.

A hand touched his shoulder and Eric barely noticed. He didn't care.

"Eric?" Tris' voice was soft, she moved around the bed and crouched to be level with Eric's gaze. He watched her dully, taking in her flushed cheeks and red-rimmed eyes.

"The doctor needs to talk to you, he's here...will you sit up?"

Eric pondered closing his eyes, shutting out everyone and ignoring everything until he knew no more, but then a voice growled in his ear, in his mind's eye he could see Fox standing there in front of him, her hands on her hips.

"Goddammit Coulter! Stop laying here feeling sorry for yourself and get up!"

Exhaling raggedly, Eric lifted his head, slowly sat up with a groan. Tris nodded to a figure behind Eric and the doctor stepped into view. He sat heavily in a chair across from them and Tris sat beside Eric, Four sitting in a chair at his other side.

The doctor looked exhausted, and like he'd rather be anywhere else than right here. Eric waited silently for confirmation of his doom.

"Your wife is alive, Mr. Coulter."

Eric blinked, certain he'd misheard him, that his heart and mind were painting a desperate illusion. Tris grabbed his hand and inhaled sharply beside him. The doctor continued hesitantly.

"We were able to control her bleeding and repair the torn vessel, but...there were complications. Although Fox was already unconscious, we still sedate the patient to avoid them waking up again unexpectedly during any procedures we are currently performing. The normal sedation serum we use here is contraindicated in nursing and pregnant women, it transfers too much to the breast milk. We use another sedative instead, with a slightly different mechanism of action, safe for nursing mothers."

Eric listened carefully, his heart cautiously starting to beat again. If the news the doctor brought was all good, he wouldn't be sitting here in front of Eric like he was waiting for his own execution, Fox may be alive now, but whatever the doctor was about to say could be worse than death.

"Fox reacted negatively to the sedative, and has slipped into a deep coma. She is wholly unresponsive to any stimuli and is currently on a respirator. Her brain scans show minimal wave activity."

Stunned, Eric swallowed but couldn't form words. Four spoke for him. "Is it permanent?"

The doctor sighed heavily. "I don't know, we have never had a reaction like this before, has Fox ever had any abnormal responses to serums in the past?"

Eric forced himself to answer. "Yes...when she was a child, her faction purposefully overdosed her on peace serum for months until she became immune."

The doctor raised his eyebrows in surprise. "They did? That is...cruel and unusual punishment, in my opinion. That was not included on her medical history."

"Amity is good at hiding things, and Fox didn't like to talk about it."

The doctor pressed his finger to his lips in thought. "Without further investigation, I can't say for certain, but that definitely could explain her body's extreme response."

"What now?" The fates had replaced Eric's heart in his chest only to start stabbing it with a dull knife. Fox was alive but unreachable; here in body but unresponsive in mind. Eric could sit beside her and gaze at her wasting body, kept alive by hissing machines and never speak with her again? Never have her open her eyes at the sound of his voice? Never have her reach for him and murmur his name? There were things worse than death. Eric lowered his head, utterly spent. Hesitantly, Tris put her arm around Eric and leaned against him; Four rested his hand on top of Eric's; neither spoke because really, what the fuck do you say?

"How are my sons?" Eric asked hesitantly.

"Thriving, considering their early and dramatic entrance." The doctor relaxed slightly, finally able to deliver some good news. "We've moved Fox into a private suite and I can have the nurses bring your sons in as well."

Eric nodded, still reeling. He knew little about caring for newborns, but having them with their mother seemed only right. Tris cleared her throat.

"Eric, I had Four go home and bring back some of my milk, I've been stockpiling and freezing it, I'd like to donate it to your sons, that formula that's available here is garbage."

Eric nodded again, not entirely there anymore, he was drifting down the hallway to Fox's room, passing by the nursery to gaze at his boys.

The doctor smiled, "thank you, that is very generous, I agree, although formula is nutritionally complete, breast milk is best, especially for newborns. I'll direct you to the twin's nurse." He looked back at Eric and hesitated before asking. "Would you like to be taken to Fox now? The nurses can bring your sons to you there."

Eric took a deep breath, would he ever be ready? Nodding, he stood stiffly. He followed the doctor silently, Four and Tris trailing behind him.

"We'll wait outside," Four said quietly as they reached the room. As he turned to leave Eric reached out and clasped his shoulder, squeezed once in thanks. Four nodded silently back, eyes shining, pulling a quietly sobbing Tris to his chest.

Exhaling slowly, more scared then he could ever remember feeling, Eric followed the doctor into Fox's room. The suite was large, nearly identical to the one Eric had been in with his broken back, but there were bassinets pushed against the wall and rocking chairs nearby instead. Fox lay on the large bed, silent and grey. That horrific fucking machine was wheezing mechanically, Fox's chest moving robotically with each hiss. With the exception of her deathly pallor, Fox looked completely normal, completely healthy, and that, somehow, made all this worse. She looked like she could open her eyes and sit up at any moment, but, would she? Would she ever again?

"Do you have any questions?" The doctor asked quietly.

"Can she hear me?

"I don't know."

"Will she wake up, ever?"

The doctor chewed his bottom lip. "I can't say, we will test her everyday and redo the brain scans; as I said before, we have never experienced this, it pains me to say I have no idea." He paused before adding, "I'll send the nurse in with your sons."

Eric nodded vaguely, stepping towards Fox's bedside. He sat heavily in the chair beside her. Reaching out, he took Fox's hand and winced at how cold it was, how slack. He wondered morbidly if this was what had greeted Fox a few months ago when he'd lain comatose and unresponsive, having barely survived the vehicle accident that had taken two of his men and permanently disabled a third; his own hand, cold and slack, the robotic hiss, the complete lack of anything, the very air in the room dead.

"Don't leave me baby, please." Eric begged quietly. "I can't do this by myself."

A soft bang at the door took his attention away from the cadaverous figure on the bed. Eric turned and saw a nurse pushing a clear bassinet towards him. Swaddled tightly inside were two little bundles. Eric's heart began to race, Fox should be here, really be here, for this. The nurse looked up and smiled sympathetically.

"Mr. Coulter, I've brought your sons. The doctors says they'll be staying in here with you and your wife, but I'll be coming by frequently to check up on them."

Eric nodded, unable to tear his eyes away from the tiny snuffling creatures in front of him.

"They've been fed with some of the breast milk your friend has provided, and will probably just sleep. Would you like to hold them?"

"Together?"

The nurse nodded with a small smile. "They're small enough to both fit, and twins usually stay more settled if we keep them together."

"O-okay."

The nurse smiled kindly at him. "You'll do fine, dad." She paused. "Would you like to do skin-to-skin?"

"Huh?"

"All babies, but especially newborns and preemies benefit greatly from being held directly against their parent's skin. Their temperature regulation is steadier, they gain weight faster, sleep easier, are less fussy."

"Uh, okay." Reaching up, Eric grabbed the back of his shirt collar and pulled his t-shirt off.

"You can move a rocking chair closer to the bed if you want," the nurse said, holding one of the twins.

Eric pulled the chair closer and nervously sat. He'd never held a baby like this before, shit, he hadn't held Maddie or Ariel until they were a few weeks old, he'd refused, they'd seemed so breakable.

"Lean back and relax," the nurse said softly. Quickly, with expert hands, she pulled the swaddling away from the baby in her hands and laid him carefully face-down on Eric's chest. Eric jumped slightly at the sensation, he weighed practically nothing, was warmer than Eric expected. Snuffling contentedly, his son squirmed only slightly before relaxing against Eric with a bubbling sigh. Eric's hand instinctively cupped his little bottom and his other hand, large enough to completely cover him, stroked lightly at his son's back.

The nurse smiled down at him. "See? It comes natural, you're holding your oldest son, Twin A; and here's B, his little brother."

His second son was laid carefully against his chest, but Eric was no longer surprised by the non-existent weight and surprising heat of his tiny body. Like his brother, Twin B snuffled contentedly, turning his head to mouth at Eric's chest a moment before relaxing into sleep. Looking down at them, Eric watched in amazement as the boy's hands crawled towards each other and touched.

The nurse smiled wider. "They know each other, they've spent their whole lives together so far. You'll find that, they'll seek each other out." She pushed a pillow under Eric's arms to help support the twins and laid a fluffy blanket over them, pulling it up so only their faces showed and tucking it around them. She rested the call button beside Eric and straightened. "Just call me if you need me."

"Thank you-?"

"Mary."

"Thank you, Mary."

"You're welcome." Turning, nurse Mary left the room.

Eric bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to each of his son's heads. Eric was relieved to discover that she had been right, his body seemed to know just how to cradle the twins against him, and they knew exactly how to snuggle tight against him. Despite Fox laying so motionless in front of him, Eric felt a wave of peace flow over him, infusing his limbs with warmth. He would be strong for his sons, would sit here and hold them while they waited for Fox to join them.


Eric soon fell asleep, lulled by the warmth of his sons against his chest. He'd already fallen hard for them, their baby scent, their snuffling, their tiny fingers and toes. A deep, violently possessive love filled him, he would die, would kill for his sons the same as he would for Fox. Waiting here to see if Fox would wake and return to them became bearable with his babies against him, warm on his skin. He drowsed, head fallen forward to rest between his sons and they instinctively nuzzled closer to his face.

It was so freaking cute that at first Mary didn't want to disturb them, but the twins would soon wake on their own, demanding to be fed and changed. Mary had to admit she was surprised, her first impression of Eric Coulter earlier today as his wife was in labour had not been favourable; he'd been in the way much more than he'd helped. His brutish size, tattoos and piercings had not helped better her thoughts of him, he'd looked like the ultimate knuckle-dragging Dauntless savage, capable only of breeding, fathering gangs of equally brutish children without sticking around to actually raise his get; not the gentle giant currently cradling his two sons so tenderly, his massive hands all but swarming their tiny bodies. His earlier bad behaviour had been new daddy nerves and worry for his wife. Reaching out, she touched his shoulder.

"Mr. Coulter?"

Eric started slightly and lifted his head, fixing bleary eyes on her.

"I brought some bottles, the twins will be hungry soon."

Eric nodded and yawned, dropping his head again Mary heard him murmur softly, "midnight snack, little guys."

Mary set the second rocking chair across from Eric and pulled the blanket down to expose the twins. "I'll take one of them and show you how to feed them? Then we can change their diapers and you can have them back for awhile after."

Eric nodded, then yawned again. "Sorry," he murmured.

"Don't be, it's been a long day. I can take the twins back to the nursery tonight so you can get some sleep?"

Eric hesitated, then replied, "yeah, okay. I'm not sure I can handle them both yet."

"It'll come, don't worry." Mary reached over and gently plucked the smaller twin off of Eric's chest, her fingertips brushed his skin and Mary bit back a smile; a small part of her wondered idly if Eric would turn that smouldering gaze on her if Fox died and take her home to help raise his sons. Don't be ridiculous, she chastised herself, if Fox dies, he'll never look at another woman again.

Settling down in the rocking chair Mary gently lay the baby across her forearm; watching her carefully, Eric did the same.

"Okay, just brush his little cheek with your finger," Mary instructed. "He'll turn his head and open his mouth. Keep the bottle tipped enough so he doesn't swallow any air." Mary stroked her baby's cheek and gave him the nipple as he opened his tiny mouth. Nervously, Eric did the same, smiling when his son latched on. He carefully tilted the bottle, glancing quickly back and forth between his and Mary's. Mary smiled encouragingly, Eric was a fast learner, a careful study and a natural; she'd never have to show him this again.

"Have you thought of names yet?"

Eric glanced over at his wife, and Mary's heart squeezed at the pain in his eyes. He cleared his throat and looked down at his son. "We had a few narrowed down...I don't want to do it without her though, so..." He trailed off and tenderly stroked the downy hair on his son's head.

Mary felt compelled to reassure him, although a large man, he looked so damn small and sad right now. "You have a few days before the records department will start hassling you...hopefully your wife is awake by then."

Eric looked up at Mary, and the stark, desperate hope in his eyes nearly made Mary cry. "You think so?"

"I'd like to think that the world isn't so cold and vengeful to keep you apart for too long." Mary replied quietly.

Eric sniffed and lowered his head again, his breathing becoming unsteady. Mary began talking again, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Okay, we'd like them to drink at least half of the bottle, he'll stop sucking when he's done. If you think he is, you have to burp him...take that little blanket I left on your knee and put in on your shoulder."

Looking grateful for a distraction, Eric complied.

"Support his head, like this, and lay him against your shoulder." Mary demonstrated and Eric mirrored her, eyes wide.

"He's so little," he muttered and Mary smiled.

"They're a decent size for early twins, Twin A was 4 lbs 2 oz and little B was 3 lbs 13 oz...okay, once you have him settled, rub his back or pat it lightly; be careful not to jostle his head too much."

Eric watched her a moment before beginning to rub the baby's back. It didn't take long to hear a tiny burp and Eric chuckled at the sound.

"Okay, you can lay him back down, I'll just get B here to burp too." As if on cue, little B burped and Mary smiled. Lifting him she turned him slightly towards Eric. "Okay, he spit up a bit, that's normal, just wipe it off."

Eric nodded, stifling another yawn. Little A was nuzzled securely in his arms, already going back to sleep.

Mary stood and moved to the bassinet. Laying little B inside she quickly swaddled him then gently took A from Eric and swaddled him too. "I'll take them back to the nursery now, they'll be up every few hours for a bottle and you should try to sleep."

Eric stood and, remembering he was shirtless, crossed his arms over his chest. Mary found the gesture endearing, like a little shy boy. He stepped towards the bassinet and Mary backed away to give him room. Eric leaned down and murmured quietly to his sons, pressing a gentle kiss to the tops of their tiny heads then straightened again. He glanced over at Fox and Mary saw the longing in his eyes. She cleared her throat and said hesitantly, "as long as you don't move around too much when you sleep and don't disturb her IV lines and monitors, you can sleep beside her, the bed's big enough."

Eric looked back at Mary, mildly surprised and Mary smiled encouragingly back. "Millie is one of my friends, she said that Fox would sleep beside you when you were here, and it seemed to help keep you settled. It's not often in Erudite that we get to witness that level of love."

Eric looked away quickly, eyes becoming shiny.

"I'll leave you now, and I'll tell the morning nurse to bring your sons back over."

"Thank you," Eric's voice was not entirely steady and Mary turned quickly away, pushing the bassinet in front of her, wanting to give the grieving husband some privacy.


After Mary pulled the door quietly closed behind her, Eric moved to Fox's bedside. There was enough room for him to lay beside her, and his heart ached to be near her again. Kicking off his shoes and socks, Eric sat on the edge of the bed, then delicately stretched out beside his wife. He'd almost gotten used to the respirator's rasp, he was able to tune it out, at least; and Eric turned carefully onto his right side to gaze at Fox. The mechanical, robotic way her chest rose and fell with the machine was eerie and Eric stopped a shiver; Fox had had to deal with the same thing with him and she'd managed.

Reaching over, Eric tenderly stroked the back of a bent finger against Fox's cheek, her skin was cool and she didn't react to his touch, not that Eric had expected her too; she was drifting somewhere far away, and Eric could only hope that she wasn't in pain or afraid.

"Come back to me, baby." Eric whispered, stroking along Fox's jaw line, "I miss you, our babies miss you...please baby-" Eric's voice broke and he cut off, swallowing hard. He pulled his hand away from her face and took her hand now, twining his fingers with hers and exhaled unsteadily. Curling carefully around her, Eric snuggled closer and sighed, closing his eyes.


A nurse checking Fox's vitals accidentally woke Eric later, but he quickly dropped back down, exhausted. He didn't wake the second time the nurse came in and she paused, admiring the way he curled around her patient, clung to her and moulded his huge body against her; possessive and gentle all at the same time. Her heart squeezed and she hoped that everything worked out for this unfortunate couple.

"Mr. Coulter?" A soft voice spoke.

Blinking, Eric raised his head from the crook of Fox's neck and squinted at the nurse.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but I've brought your sons."

Eric glanced at the clock, it was mid-morning already; groaning slightly, Eric sat up, careful to not disturb Fox. The nurse turned away and busied herself with the twins to give Eric a moment to collect himself. He padded into the bathroom and emerged a few minutes later, the nurse holding one of the twins and humming softly to him. She turned and smiled.

"They've just been fed, Mary says you were doing skin-to-skin with them?"

Eric nodded.

The nurse smiled, "that's the best comfort for a newborn." She glanced at the nearby rocking chair and Eric stepped forward, pulling it closer to Fox's bedside. Grabbing the blanket, he sat, his knees almost touching the bed and accepted the tiny bundle the nurse passed him. She'd unwound the swaddling and Eric lay his son carefully against his chest; like yesterday, the baby snuffled a minute then relaxed, curling his little fists against Eric's skin. The nurse gently placed his brother beside him and they squirmed closer, drawing a smile from Eric.

"Call if you need anything...would you like some breakfast?"

"Yeah...that'd be great, thanks."

The nurse smiled and adjusted the blanket covering the twins as they snuggled against their father's chest before leaving. She returned a few minutes later and set a tray next to Eric's chair. Easily cradling both boys with one arm, Eric ate. Dauntless food was better, but the hospital kitchen had attempted to duplicate his faction's food and they'd done an alright job. As he ate, Eric spoke, talking to Fox and their sons about everything and nothing. The twins slept through the whole conversation, their warm little bodies cozy against Eric and he felt himself relaxing. All they needed was Fox to wake up so they could go back home and things would get damn near perfect.

"Eric?"

Eric turned his head to see Four and Tris at the door. Instantly Eric's heart dropped. He'd forgotten all about them last night, in the waiting room.

"Hey Four, I'm sorry, I forgot-"

Four grinned. "Don't worry, we came in and saw you sleeping in the rocking chair with your sons, so we went home." Four took the other rocking chair and Tris settled in his lap.

"How's she doing?" Four asked quietly.

Eric explained what he could, his arm tightening around his sons as his emotions threatened to get the better of him. Leaning down, he kissed each boy on the top of their heads before raising his gaze to Four and Tris again. Tears shone in both of their eyes.

"What?" Eric grinned, sniffing back tears of his own.

"You look so natural like that, holding your sons...I never thought I'd see it." Four replied.

Eric grinned, "me neither, don't tell anybody."

Four and Tris stayed for awhile, and Tris even managed to wheedle Eric into handing over one of the twins so she could coo at him, Four smiling down over her shoulder. They left soon after, and Eric was alone with Fox and the twins for awhile until the doctor came in with a large mobile machine. It was to scan Fox's head, to read her brain wave activity, if there even was any, and see if she was improving. Eric walked up and down the hallway with his sons, completely oblivious to the growing group of drooling nurses watching him from the desk; Eric's chest may have been covered by two infants and a blanket, but his powerful back was still on full display, and that, coupled with his adorable daddy skills, was making more than one nurse weak at the knees. After a few minutes, the doctor called Eric back into the room and dismissed the nurses that had been helping him with the scan. Eric sat cautiously, scanning the doctor's face for any hint of what he was about to say.

The doctor took the other chair and smiled. "You're settling in well with your sons," he noted.

"It'll be better when their mother can join us."

"Yes, about that...the scan has shown marginally more brain wave activity, but not enough for me to say with any certainty whether or not this means Fox will wake back up."

Eric chewed his lip for a moment, blinking rapidly; he refused to break down and cry in front of this man, he needed to stay strong for his sons; tonight he would curl into Fox's side and cry, beg her to come back to him, but not now. "I'm guessing the longer she stays this way the worse her prognosis?"

The doctor nodded soberly and Eric sniffed, dropping his head to nuzzle his sons.

"I'm sorry for the less than encouraging news...her blood tests show no traces of sedation serum remaining, so if we don't start to see an increase in her brain waves by tomorrow then I estimate her chances of regaining conscious to drop to almost zero."

Eric gasped for air, feeling like he'd been kicked in the stomach. So that's it? That fast? His chest locked down and he found it almost impossible to draw another breath. The doctor stood and rested his hand on Eric's shoulder.

"I apologize for being abrupt, being Dauntless I knew you wanted the truth, however frightening it is."

Eric nodded, his chest beginning to loosen, although he didn't want to know, he asked anyway. "And if she doesn't, if her brain waves don't go up, what happens to her body?"

The doctor sighed and gazed at Fox for a moment before beginning to speak. "She could remain as she is now, but in a persistent vegetative state, basically just a body kept alive by machines...or her body could start to shut itself down, maybe slowly, maybe more quickly, until she slipped away, or the decision was made to pull her from life support."

The tight feeling returned. Pull her from life support? Watch her shut down, or watch her just lay there, forever? Eric wasn't sure which was worse. As Dauntless, neither were acceptable and Eric vowed to save Fox from that lingering fate, even if in so doing he would be tearing out his own heart and soul and burying them with his dead wife.

The doctor patted his shoulder one more time, then left. Eric looked over at Fox and before he could stop himself, tears began to flow down his cheeks. Sensing a change in their father, the twins began to squirm against him and mewl. Eric swallowed hard and whispered.

"Please baby, please...please don't leave us."

Standing, Eric cradled the twins to his chest and moved to the bed. Slowly, carefully, he manoeuvred himself to lay beside Fox and rolled on his side to face her. Gently he lay the twins between them and tucked the blanket around their little bodies. With contented little burbles, the twins squirmed until they were touching each other and fell back asleep; Eric almost envied them. Looking back up at Fox he gently took her hand and pulled it over to rest softly on top of the twin's blanket.

"Here baby, here's our sons. They're waiting for you to wake up...I am too." Eric sighed and stroked up and down Fox's forearm, biting his bottom lip to keep from breaking down again. Although surrounded by his family, Eric had never felt so alone.

His eyelids began to droop, although only mid-day, Eric was exhausted; he dropped his head to the pillow beside Fox and gazed at her as his eyelids grew heavier. He wished they were back at Dauntless, at home, enjoying a nap together instead of here.

Fox's hand twitched and Eric raised his head sharply. "Fox?"

Fox groaned in reply, her fingers curling into the blanket.