The doctor shakily lit a cigarette as he cried, the rain hiding the tears that were streaming down his face.
He couldn't save them.
He had done the best he could, and it still wasn't enough.
It wasn't often that he'd find himself in dire situations such as this, but when he did- every time felt like the first time.
The worst part was always telling the loved ones of those who were lost.
He looked at the building, unsure if he could go back in.
He took a deep breath as he stood, throwing his cigarette on the ground before putting it out with his foot.
He was the only doctor available. He couldn't give up now.
Dr. Roman looked to the sky, praying that he wouldn't return to too many messages from other patients needing his services.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaku sat outside the door of their room.
Dr. Gerard had called his medical staff from the castle to help with Kate's surgery after their moment of desperation.
It had been over 5 hours, and the last thing Kaku saw was Kate lying unconscious as blood began to pour out of her. He remembered screaming and crying frantically as Cutter dragged him out of the room, Dr. Gerard's medical team rushing in.
I can't be without you, Kate. Not again. Please...
"Kaku."
Dr. Gerard exited the room, followed by the rest of the medical staff. The staff members each bowed to Kaku as they passed before leaving.
Kaku quickly stood up, losing his balance for a brief moment from sitting too long. "Doc, please..."
Dr. Gerard stayed silent, simply motioning for Kaku to enter the room.
Kaku entered the room nervously, Dr. Gerard closing the door before following his medical staff.
"Kate?" He approached their bed, Kate's back turned to him.
His heart dropped as he looked at the several machines on either side of the bed.
Kate slowly turned to face him, holding a baby in each arm.
She was now dressed in a silk grey robe, and her color seemed to have returned back to normal. "Kids, this is your papa."
Kaku covered his mouth as he began to sob. The relief that came from knowing Kate was alright, and the insurmountable amount of joy he felt knowing he was now a father overwhelmed him.
He rubbed his eyes with his palm, trying to fix his blurred vision. "Hi-" he choked as he sobbed harder.
Kaku carefully sat beside Kate, kissing the top of her head as he looked down at his children. "Golly... aren't they... wait a second!" He took a closer look at their blankets.
One was pink and the other was blue.
Kate nodded as she smiled, Kaku's expression was enough for her to know what he wanted to say.
"A boy and a girl. Just like you've always wanted."
Kaku rubbed his hair back, still in disbelief. "But... how did the doctor not know you were carrying twins?"
Kate chuckled lightly. "Even Dr. Gerard was surprised. Apparently the way our little boy was positioned in my belly would have made him undetectable even by the equipment they have on Dress Rosa. He's never seen anything like it. It's a mystery as much as it is a miracle."
Kate looked up at her husband, nodding her head towards their babies. "Would you like to hold them?"
Kaku swallowed nervously as he nodded.
He bit his lip to fight his tears as he held his children for the first time, not wanting any to fall on them.
He laughed softly, tapping the tip of the boy's nose. It was just like his.
He stared at his children, taking them in.
The girl's hair was the same color as Kaku's, while the boy's hair was black like Kate's.
They're perfect.
"Heya kiddos. I'm papa. I know you don't understand me yet, but I hope you know how much I love you both. I also hope you know how lucky we are to have your mama. She's an amazing woman."
Kate wiped a tear from her eye, the sight filling her heart with joy. "I still can't believe we're parents."
Kaku gently bounced his arm as the girl began to cry. "There there..." He looked at Kate. "Have you decided on names yet, mama?" He smiled, still in disbelief.
Kate nodded. "I really like the name Lily for our little girl." Kaku and Kate had a feeling they were going to have a girl based on Kate's "instincts" and old wives tales. They were stuck between 3 names, but once Lily was born; Kate felt there was no name more fitting.
"My little Lily." Kaku smiled as Lily stopped crying. He pondered for a moment before looking back at Kate. "Sorry, honey. I'm completely stumped for a boy's name..."
Kate smiled, gently stroking the boy's head. "This name never came to mind while I was pregnant, but as soon as I saw him- I just knew it was the one."
-.- -.-.-.-.-.-
Cutter stood outside of the front door, bowing to Dr. Gerard as him and his medical staff made their way back to the castle.
Much to Cutter's disapproval; Dr. Gerard rejected any form of payment, saying it was the least he could do for all the times Cutter had helped him in the past.
Cutter turned as Kaku came through the door, a large smile on his face. "Cutter. I can't thank you-"
Cutter held a hand to his subordinate's face. "No need for any of that. Just...make sure you show up for your next assignment." He chuckled slightly. "I don't expect Kate to give birth again any time soon."
Kaku laughed as he rubbed the back of his head. "You've got that right! Speaking of Kate; she'd love to see ya!" Kaku pointed his thumb back towards the house as he began to walk.
Cutter growled. "Where the hell are you going?!"
Kaku chuckled, continuing to walk. "Well, the nursery only has 1 crib! I'm going to go quickly buy some wood and then fix another one up before the day is done! Stay with Kate till I get back would ya?"
Cutter rolled his eyes, his abrasiveness a defense mechanism to hide how nervous he was feeling for some reason.
Cutter gently knocked on the door. "Kate, it's Cutter. I'm coming in." He closed the door behind him, holding a bouquet of flowers he had gone to buy while Kate was being operated on.
Kate smiled at her friend. "Cutter, you've already done so much. You didn't need to get me-" her jaw dropped as she looked at the flowers. "Lillies? How did you-"
Cutter began to sweat.
Oh shit.
He only knew that they were Kate's favorite flowers due to Bacha's ability.
The blonde cleared his throat. "Heart told me."
Kate laughed. "Ah, I see. Well, Cutter, I'd like you to meet...Lily!"
Cutter placed the bouquet on the beside table before standing near the edge of the bed.
The CP0 leader smiled down at the little girl. "Hey there." He held a finger out, laughing as Lily squeezed it. "You're strong. Hopefully you won't grow up to be as clumsy as your mother." Cutter laughed as Kate playfully nudged him with her shoulder.
He then looked over at the little boy. "How about you? Are you strong?"
Cutter moved his finger towards the boy, but pulled back when Lily started to cry.
Kate panicked slightly. "Shit. Sorry, Cutter. Could you lend me a hand? I gotta feed Lily."
Before Cutter could attest, Kate held the boy out to him. Cutter took the boy carefully, his "memories" of when he had first became a father flooding his mind.
The boy's blanket came loose, the top part slipping from his head.
Cutter went to fix it, but then stopped abruptly. "What the..."
Kate smiled as she looked up, still breast feeding Lily. "Cool right?! I'm sure Dr. Gerard already told you about it, but that baby is a bit of a miracle!"
Cutter shakily stroked the hair that started at the nape of the boy's neck and went up to the middle of the back of his head.
It was blonde. Like his.
His heart dropped, remembering what Bacha had told him.
"HEY! Don't go changing too much! If you do, certain memories of people from the future you saw may transpire into our world!"
Cutter chuckled.
Too much?
He had changed almost everything.
How Kate became pregnant with twins, and the boy's odd hair was no longer a mystery to Cutter. However, he couldn't help but think that maybe it was just coincidence...
Kate smiled sweetly at her son. "Cutter, I have something to ask you..."
Cutter raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
Kate smiled at the blonde man. "Well, Kaku and I discussed it and thought it made the most sense. You didn't only save me, but you savedmy whole family today." She cleared her throat. "Kaku and I would be honored if you would be Archer's Godfather."
Cutter thought he would faint. He never thought he would ever hear Kate say that name again.
This confirmed that everything wasn't a mere coincidence.
"Archer..." he looked down at the boy, using every ounce of his will to prevent himself from crying.
Kate laughed. "Random right?! I didn't even think of it while I was pregnant, but as soon as he came out I was like 'yupp that's Archer!'" She continued to laugh, only stopping when Lily became fussy.
Cutter smiled at Kate. "It would be my honor. Thank you, Kate." He stifled a cry as Archer reached out to hold his finger.
Cutter never considered himself a "good" person. There were enough things he had done that guaranteed him a one way ticket to the underworld.
However, in that moment; he felt as if this was the Universe's way of rewarding him for his sacrifice.
Although his life was now 10 years shorter; it had all been worth it.
Thank you.
Cutter looked at the clock. "Don't newborns need to sleep around this time?" He prayed Kate wouldn't ask how he knew, kicking himself for referring to another thing he had learned from his "memories".
Kate hit her head with her palm. "Right! Oh my gosh I don't know how I'm going to do this whole parenting thing..."
You are an amazing mother, Kate. You will be just fine.
Cutter carefully handed Archer to Kate.
Kate laid back as she gently rocked the babies.
She then began to hum Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2.
Cutter's favourite song. The song Kate had hummed to their son every night in his "memories".
Kate looked at Cutter, noticing the shocked look on his face.
"Nice song, right? I have no idea what it's called though. It's like I gained all this weird knowledge as soon as I gave birth!" She shot up slightly. "Do you know what it's called?"
Cutter smiled as he took a seat in a nearby folding chair provided by the castle staff. He held his arms behind his head as he leaned back with his eyes closed.
"No idea."
He continued to smile as he listened to Kate hum the song until he also fell asleep.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaku had just returned from a work trip and was greeted by his family at the docks.
He wore his CP0 uniform, while Kate was dressed in a white dress with loose short sleeves and white wedges.
They walked towards their home, Kate walking ahead of Kaku as he followed.
"Kate, wait."
Kate turned back to her husband, a confused look on her face. "Everything okay?" She moved her hair behind her ear, the wind tousling it out of place.
Kaku chuckled as he stared at his wife. "Sorry, I just feel like I'm dreamin."
Beautiful.
Kate laughed, playfully patting Kaku's chest with one hand as she wrapped her free arm around his waist. "You weirdo! We've been married for over 5 years now!" She looked at the rings on her left hand, sighing happily.
Kaku rubbed Kate's hair back as she looked up at him. "5 years, 10 years, even 50 years from now- I know I'll always be amazed by you. Darn skippy I will!" He leaned in to kiss her, but was interrupted by 2 voices coming from down the hill.
Lily laughed as she continued to run. "Come on Archer! If we get to the house before they do, we can eat the cookies mama baked!"
Lily wore a loose denim dress, her hair tied in pig tails. Archer excitedly followed behind her, wearing a green Galley La sweater and jeans.
Kate laughed as she pulled away from Kaku. "Oh no you don't! Those cookies are only for kids who eat their veggies first!"
The kids screamed playfully as Kate began to chase them.
If someone had told Kaku while he was younger that every moment of suffering was worth it..that everything would turn out even better than just fine...
That he would one day have a family, a life as wonderful as this; he never would have believed them.
Kaku smiled as he let out a sigh. He wanted to remember this moment.
He took in the view of their house sitting at the bottom of the hill.
He took in the sight and sound of his family laughing gleefully as they ran.
He then looked up at the Sun as it began to set, painting the sky a beautiful mixture of blue, purple...
and orange.
