Morning everyone! This chapter has themes of death, stillbirth, and grief. As always take care of yourselves and thank you for reading.
Snake-Snack: I'm about to head out. Any updates?
Trashman: Doctors are with him. They said he can leave today but like damn he's not lookin' so good.
Snake-Snack: Has he told you anything about his home life?
Trashman: Dude won't spill his bloody guts. Doctors are guessing he doesn't have a home but don't want to make assumptions until Ro tells them.
Trashman: Don't suppose you'd be willing to have an indefinite sleepover?
Snake-Snack: I'm surprised you know the word "indefinite".
Trashman: I'm not dumb I watch movies. But seriously, please?
Snake-Snack: I already prepared the guest room. We can take him out shopping for some personal belongings if he's feeling up to it after I pick you up. If not, your clothing will probably fit him.
Trashman: Might be a bit baggy… Can you bring him something of mine to wear out of the hospital? The ones he was found with look like they went through a dulled wood chipper while he was still in them.
Trashman: Also probs should do the shopping thing tomorrow. Ro needs some time to just clean up and destress I think.
Snake-Snack: Of course. Is there anything else you believe he would need or would make him more comfortable? Or anyone you think could help? Logan and Patton have both offered to come to the hospital if you think there is anything they could do.
Trashman: Don't think so, don't want to overwhelm him. Not that I think he can be overwhelmed at this point, he's not responding to much.
Snake-Snack: He's likely still in shock or denial. I'm in the car now, I'll be there in like twenty minutes if I managed to beat the morning rush.
Remus sighed as he glanced down at his phone, tapping his foot impatiently as he reread their conversation and waited for Janus to arrive. He knew it hadn't even been twenty minutes yet but he wanted his mate here already, he felt like he was going insane just sitting there waiting for the doctor to let him back in. They needed to do an exam on Roman and asked him some questions, so Roman decided he wanted to have privacy. Remus understood that, but he was still dying to know all of the answers he was currently being denied. This was his brother, he had every right to be worried and concerned.
Remus jumped as the door beside him opened and the doctor walked out as soon as the door closed he practically pounced on the unsuspecting beta.
"So is he okay? Did he say anything about how any of this happened? Is there anyone I need to pay a 'friendly' visit to?" Remus asked.
The doctor seemed a bit startled and flustered but did their best to regain their composure.
"You were supposed to have been in the waiting room, sir. I suppose it doesn't matter now, he asked me to bring you back. As for your questions the patient has requested to keep it all confidential. The only thing I am able to tell you for his own safety is that he does not have a place to return to. We must ask if you have plans to care for him or if we should begin contacting omega refuges and see if there are any that can take in one with special care needs," the doctor explained.
"Bitch those places suck ass. My mate already agreed to take Ro in," Remus replied waving off the implication that he'd even dare leave Roman.
The doctor gave an understanding nod.
"We'll give you and your mate the rundown of the care he will need to recover before you leave," they said.
"When can he leave?" Remus asked.
"We still have a few more things we need to ask him, however, he will be able to leave soon. We asked him if he'd like to see his child before we send her to the funeral home down the road and he said he'd like to, you'll likely be able to take him home relatively soon after he is done," they explained.
"Thank you," Remus said before, leaving the conversation to enter Roman's room.
His brother looked up when Remus entered, a small smile on his face. He was now sitting up in the bed, his body now free of all the machines and IVs he'd been attached to earlier.
"Hey Ro, everything okay?" Remus asked, sitting on the edge of Roman's bed.
Roman only gave a small nod as an answer and Remus wasn't honestly sure what else he expected.
"So, my mate is going to be here soon and you'll get to meet him," Remus said, hoping to spark a conversation.
"Mate?"
"Mhm, don't worry I'm just as surprised as you. Back when we were kids I was not exactly the type that'd ever have a proper mate but here I am," he paused a moment to see if Roman would like to comment but when he didn't he just continued talking. "But yeah, his name is Janus, he's the alpha of our household. He's pretty chill, bit argumentative if you get him in the mood and likes to make deals in, like, every situation. Pretty cute if you ask me, plus he's not a total ass like most alphas out there. He's actually a giant sweetheart even though he doesn't show it to, like, anyone but his mates, trust me you'll love him. Besides me there are three other omegas. There is the dad friend, Patton, who's like cheerful twenty four seven, even when he isn't the happiest person. He's also really good at cooking, like mouth orgasm good, you need to try his brownies. Next is Lo-lo, or well, Logan technically. Super serious, hard to get a reaction out of, seems to know everything, but super fun if you manage to make him curious about something, so you can do some crazy shit with him in the name of science. Finally is the newest to the pack, Virgil. Three words, hot emo nightmare. He takes a hot minute to adjust to new people but he's pretty chill, well except for right now since he's about to go into heat so he's kinda super bitchy and paranoid, plus clingy to Janus since he only agreed to get a bond mark during his last heat so like, still super sensitive to the whole thing."
"They sound nice," Roman mused.
"They are, you're going to love them," Remus grinned back.
"I'm glad."
"Hm?"
"That you found happiness. I was worried what had happened to you. I'd hoped you found your freedom away from that world. You're back in it, but you seem happy about it," Roman explained.
Remus chuckled and smiled.
"That's 'cus I willingly went with Janus. He was my friend before he was my lover. I worried about you a lot too after finding Janus, wondering if you were okay even if you hadn't gotten a choice in things. I thought I'd never know but, here you are. I really am glad to have you back bro," Remus said, resting his hand on top of Roman's.
The door swung open and a nurse walked in carrying the still body of an infant, wrapped in a pale pink blanket, their head covered by a small wool hat.
"Mr. Roman, here's your daughter."
Remus backed up a bit so the nurse could hand Roman his child. Remus watched Roman tremble and cry, a smile still plastered on his face.
"Hey baby," he whispered.
The nurse stepped back to give Roman a moment to be with his child so Remus did the same thing. Remus honestly wasn't sure how to react as Roman spoke softly to the baby in his arms as if it were still alive and listening. It was like how he'd expect any other mother to talk to their baby after just giving birth.
Remus's phone buzzed in his pocket so he pulled it out to glance at the message from Janus. Apparently he had arrived in the hospital and was heading to Roman's room. Remus slipped out of the room to meet up with Janus who soon came into view.
"Hello, Remus. How are you holding up?" Janus asked, taking him by the hands the second he stepped close enough.
"I'm alright. Roman's currently in there with his baby talking to it. I kinda feel like it's suddenly going to wake up as a zombie and eat all of our faces off," Remus replied.
Janus chuckled.
"Well, are you going to introduce me to him?" Janus asked.
Remus nodded and led him into the private hospital room to see Roman again.
"Hey Ro-Bro, someones here to meet you," Remus said as he carefully walked over to Roman.
Roman looked up at the tall, striking alpha. His face was sharp and angular which easily made him intimidating, and yet those eyes of his completely canceled that fear, they were sincere and kind. They were very noticeably two different colors, his right eye was a dark brown almost black while the left was a bright golden amber. His golden brown curls were neatly slicked back out of the way making him look very well put together and professional.
"Greetings Roman, I may call you Roman correct? I will gladly call you something else if you have another name you prefer over your childhood one," Janus explained.
Roman looked down for a long moment and Remus wasn't sure if he'd even respond at first.
"Master named me Prince… But I liked Roman," he replied slowly like he wasn't sure if he was actually allowed to voice that opinion at all.
"Well then you're welcome to go by Roman then," Janus smiled kindly as he scooted a bit closer to look at Roman's daughter. "You gave birth to a very beautiful little girl. I imagine she looks a lot like you and Remus did as babies."
Roman chuckled a bit before cradling the baby in a single arm so he could tap his own nose.
"She's got her father's nose," he pointed out.
"Really?" Janus paused thoughtfully. "Well he must have had a very nice nose then."
Roman smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, he was a pretty handsome guy all around but he did have a really good nose," Roman mused.
Janus looked down at Roman, wondering what the story between Roman and the father of the child was but not pressing for details.
"Do you have a name for her?" Janus asked.
"Bellissima, or Belle for short," Roman replied.
"Oh, you named her the Spanish word for Beautiful? Is there any reason for that or did you just like it?"
"My master spoke to me in Spanish a lot when he was happy. He thought it made him sound more intelligent and romantic," Roman explained.
"Sounds like an interesting guy," Janus chuckled.
The conversation started to drift off so Janus piped up again.
"Do you consider yourself her mother or her father?" He asked curiously.
Roman hummed thoughtfully.
"I'm not sure? Both, I guess. Probably would have raised her to call me dad or papa but I call myself her mother, if that makes sense," Roman said, clearly unsure about his word choice.
"Well I guess you get to celebrate mother's day and father's day," Janus replied.
"But she-" Roman started.
"Is still your daughter which makes you a parent. There is nothing that changes the fact you gave birth to this beautiful girl," Janus cut in.
Roman looked at him, fresh tears pouring down his cheeks as he moved to lean against Janus's chest.
"Thank you," he whimpered.
Janus tentatively soothed down his hair, unsure if Roman would be alright with it but when he met no negative response he gained a bit more confidence in his actions and released the same calming scent he'd use on his mates.
"Mr. Roman," the nurse eventually piped up. "I am not going to rush your time with your child, however, I do have some questions I must ask you if you are ready now."
Roman looked up at the woman curiously. Janus pulled Roman more securely against him, trying to silently tell him that he was there for him.
"I overheard you mentioning you would like to name your child Bellissima, correct? If so I'm going to need to have that filled out on all of the proper files," she began.
"That's what I want to name her," Roman agreed.
"Next, once we take her back are there an momentous you would like to leave the hospital with? Perhaps a lock of hair or make prints of her hands and feet?" She asked.
Roman glanced over to Janus who nodded towards the nurse, telling him it was alright to say whatever he wanted.
"The handprints and footprints?" Roman requested.
"Alright, finally, if there aren't any requested funeral homes we are sending them to the House of Light Funeral home just down the road from here. They help all families of stillbirths to relieve some of the burden. There will still be some expenses but they offer free coffins, burials, or cremations in this type of situation."
Roman's scent quickly became more distressed as he trembled against Janus, clearly not wanting to discuss that. This time Janus spoke up for him.
"That will be fine. Thank you," he said.
"Alright, be sure to call them to make plans for everything as soon as you are able," the nurse said. "That should be everything. Once you are done holding her we will have to have a conversation with your caretakers but you'll be free to go."
"If I let go of her, I'm never going to get to hold her again am I?" Roman muttered.
"There is no rush, Roman. You can let go whenever you feel ready for it and Remus and I will be here for you whenever you do," Janus replied.
Roman didn't respond, only holding the still form closer in his arms, quiet tears falling down his cheeks. He began to hum softly to the child, the notes shaky and not always on the right pitch because of his tight throat, there was still something devastatingly beautiful about it, about a mother's first and last song to their child. When Roman's voice finally trailed off he looked up at the nurse and nodded. She walked over and tentatively took Belle from Roman's arms. Roman stared down into his now empty arms, tears welling in his eyes, ready to spill over as he trembled. Remus sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around Roman.
"I'm here for ya," Remus promised.
"It's going to be okay, I know it doesn't feel like it right now but it will," Janus added, resting a hand on top of Roman's in an attempt to be a quieter presence for Roman.
The door opened as the doctor walked in, nodding to the nurse so she could return the baby.
"Mr. Dolion I presume?" they said walking over to the alpha with an outstretched hand.
Janus shook the other's hand and nodded.
"I'm glad you've arrived. Your mate has informed me you will be taking in the patient into your care, is this correct?" The doctor asked.
"That would be correct," Janus agreed.
"There are a few details we will have to go over so you can properly take care of him," they explained.
"Alright, we can set out into the hall to discuss that. First, is Roman allowed to get changed?" Janus waited until he received confirmation from the doctor and fished an outfit out of his bag. "I didn't know what you'd like to wear Roman, so I just grabbed one of Remus's small, more normal, outfits. I hope it fits. We can go shopping tomorrow if you are up for it."
He handed Roman the folded up clothing, the man giving him a questioning look in return as if asking if it were really alright to wear the clothing he was being given.
"You can get changed in private while I go speak with the doctor," Janus said before nodding for Remus to follow him out, taking his bag with him.
Remus trotted up after Janus a grin on his face.
"Damn, you're really good at handling all of that. You're super normal about it too. Have you, like, hung around dead babies before or something?" Remus asked once they left the room.
"Yes of course, it's not like Logan simply woke me up very early this morning to lecture me about how to speak to someone that just lost their child," Janus rolled his eyes before tossing his bag at Remus. "I brought you some clothes too. Go get changed."
Remus grinned brightly.
"Thanks babe, I love you!" Remus said, starting to skip away to the bathroom.
"Heh, love you too," Janus muttered before turning back to speak to the doctor about the necessary care Roman would need.