Disclaimers: I do not own CM or its characters. I do own all OCs.
Spoilers: None
Rating: T

Notes: Thank you to those who reviewed on the last chapter! Here is the next one. You find out the triplets' fates of whether they're diagnosed with ROP.

Important: In my research of Retinopathy of Prematurity is screened for and treated while an infant is in the NICU. However, as this was 40+ years ago, and the following steps are important to the story, Lucas, Juliet, and Jennifer were not screened for it during their stay in the NICU.

Enjoy! :)

January 17th, 1979

Previously on… Chronicles

The examination is thorough. On all three babies. The conclusion, however, is worse than what Michael could have ever imagined…

The babies, all wailing, uncomfortable, hungry, and needing to be changed, are handed over to James. Emilia goes with him, and it leaves Michael, Doctor Jared Howard, and Doctor George Davidson in the room together.

"Please," The tired dad sighs out. "Please, just… Just tell me."

George and Jared share a look, the former sighing as he states.

"I am so sorry to tell you this, Mr. Jareau, but–"

*Pittsburgh Pediatrician Doctor's Office*

"I am so sorry to tell you this, Mr. Jareau, but, it seems as if all three triplet babies, Jennifer, Lucas, and Juliet, have signs of Retinopathy of Prematurity."

It almost feels as if someone punches him in the gut, like those words do not just float through the air, registering through his ears and into his brain, but the aftereffect, his reaction is to struggle for air for several moments.

In fact, right as he goes to actually respond, he finds that he actually cannot breathe. His eyes widen and his senses go haywire – his heartrate speeds up, his palms are sweaty, his fingertips are cool and tingly, he can hear blood rushing in his ears, and he grabs at his chest trying to suck in air, but failing.

"Mr. Jareau!"

Dr. Howard stands from his seat, reaching out to the man.

"Mr. Jareau, you're ok. You are having a panic attack, and you will be ok."

Michael looks at him, but it takes a few seconds for the words to make sense, and even then, they still do not make sense.

"I-I can't breathe!" He chokes out while looking terrified.

Dr. Howard makes his sentences short, clear, and concise. Trying to have a rambly-type conversation is pointless. People who are having a panic attack need to be reassured that they are ok, out of danger, and to be kept company and calmly walked through as their body settles down.

"I know, but you are ok." Dr. Howard bends down in front of him. "Here, bend down… put your head between your knees, there you go… Now, take nice deep breathes. In… and out."

Michael continues to grasp for air, trying to fight him. His body is feeling the effects and his anxiety heightens even more because he tries to gulp in air but fails, which makes him panic even more, and this cycle continues on and on and on.

"I-I can't… breathe!"

"In and out, Michael!" Jared interrupts. "Just in and out, listen and focus on my voice. Breathe in… And let it out… In… and out…"

Finally, his senses begin to clear up, though it is slow. He can breathe in deeper and deeper all at once, which leads to his heartrate slowing down, and it clears up that tight feeling in his chest.

He keeps his head between his knees until he can take gradually five deep belly breathes in, one after another.

Michael slowly sits upright, cheeks tinged a bit red. He is incredibly embarrassed – what was that?! And unable to speak, he just… stares at a random spot across the room.

"Are you all right now, Mr. Jareau?"

Dr. Howard checks as it would be unprofessional of him to simply ignore what just took place. But, Michael is so embarrassed, and now wants to just go home and essentially pretend the last 10 minutes did not happen, therefore answering with,

"Yes, of course. Thank you, Dr. Howard. I think the shock just got the best of me, but I am all right now."

He then turns towards the other doctor, signaling quite obviously the end of this short-lived conversation.

"Sir," Dr. Davidson starts. "I understand that this is a lot to take in. I would like to give you my number, and have you to, please, come back in the next few weeks as a follow up. More examinations will need to be done as we move forward, and decisions are made about treatments."

Michael nods to this, numbly and quietly taking the little rectangle-shaped card that holds the answer to how the Triplets' futures will turn out, as far as their eyesight is concerned.

He leaves the office, turning left, walking four doors down, turning right, and entering the second door on the left of that hallway. It is James's office, and he finds the kids inside – Emilia, Amaya, Kai, and the babies.

Emilia is bottle-feeding Juliet, while James feeds Jennifer. Michael says nothing of his earlier panic attack, and simply gathers the babies and Emilia, and lets James help him out to the car.

*Later*

Michael heads home after dropping Emilia off at her house so that he does not have to worry about her. He just needs… some time alone. He takes the babies inside, not changing their diapers because James did that, and gives them their medicine.

He then completely ignores the piles of laundry, the toys scattered in the living room, and the breakfast plates in the kitchen, and proceeds to fall into bed, completely exhausted from the last several months of stress, anxiety, and pressure.

Michael only wakes up a few hours later when the babies are singing a trio of needing to be changed again, and fed, and have their medicine administered. He sighs, running a hand over his face as he does a double-take and curses himself – he almost gave Juliet a third more than the recommended dose of her medicine.

Soon, the kids come home.

They talk over each other and greet Michael and the babies, and he has to remind them no touching, and then he has to deal with the fact that Elijah has detention tomorrow, and he also has to help Emma with her homework, and stop an argument between Emma and Roz, and has to remind Elijah, once again, to change clothes before picking up either triplet.

Michael is thankful that Gabe and Caleb are no longer living here. As harsh and terrible as it sounds, Michael genuinely does not believe he could cope much longer with them.

Every day he received a notes or phone calls about Caleb's frequent misbehavior at school, about disobeying teacher's commands, and his inability to hand in his work to the teacher… Furthermore, Gabe's teacher sent home notes every single day of how he is refusing to read, write, do his worksheets…

He is exhausted. Absolutely bone-aching exhausted. His head aches, his shoulders are tense, his stomach is in knots, and he wonders…

Does he yell at Roslyn, or speak in a gentle voice? Does he let Lucas cry it out, or pick him up and comfort him? Does he send Elijah and Emma to their rooms for fussing, or let it go under the guise of everyone is under a lot of stress?

At the end of the day, he is packing lunches, checking homework, administering medicine and formula, giving baths, saying no to TV before bed, stopping three arguments and two fights, and wants to just pack up and fucking run.

With Sandra no longer here, he had hoped things would smooth over, at least a little. But no such luck.

He had thought that once Sandra was kicked out — once he said no more. He could not take her behavior towards the children, what she said and how she treated Caleb before it happened — things would be better.

That Emma's attitude would improve; that she and Roz, or Eli, would no longer be arguing, fighting over the stupidest things.

This was for the best, he reminds himself. Sending Caleb and Gabriel to live with Anna and Angus — James's parents — was the best decision for everyone. For their mental health, for Michael's sanity. Keeping Emma and Roz and Eli here instead of sending them away…

It was because they wanted to stay home with him. Because Roz and Emma are Daddy's Girls, and Eli's anxiety is best kept uderwraps at home. Because Roslyn begged to stay home, and Eli refused to leave, even if it meant going to his grandparents' house.

This is for the best. It is what they wanted.

It's for the best.

It is what he reminds himself, once he gets through the afternoon and evening, and every child has been put to bed.

It is what loops on his mind as he walks down the hallway, eyes half-closed, peaking into each room, kissing each of his daughters on the forehead, doing the same with Elijah, before covering up the babies, and crawling into his own bed.

Just a short chapter. I didn't mention much of the ROP except to say that all three babies have it. This will be mentioned again soon, and it will be explained more thoroughly, particularly how severe the ROP is for each baby.

Also, Sandra is no longer living with Michael. He will be filing for a divorce. After her behavior towards Caleb (in January) he kicked her out. She does have PDD (Postpartum Depression), however, it will not be mentioned as she will not be involved in this story from here on out.

Next will be a super-special chapter! It will be confusing, however, it sets the scene for what is revealed in future chapters. Then another doctor's appointment for the triplets, and something very important is revealed. Finally, for chapter 29 we have the very first "Jemily day" chapter!

Please review and let me know what you thought! :)