Chapter 5:
Kylo was still reading and rereading Rey's notes when the medic called him.
"Sir, its about Rey." The medic said, her voice not incredibly urgent but still not her usual calm self.
"What's wrong? Is she alright?" Kylo said frantically.
"She's alright. Her condition has improved slightly. I just wanted to inform you that she's requested to see her son and I felt the need to inform you."
"She wants to see him now?"
"Yes. I told her that if she passed the basic medical exams and agreed to begin therapy that I would take her to see her son."
"She isn't required to do anything."
"Understood sir."
"Is she going to see him within the hour."
"As soon as she's dressed sir."
"Does...does she want me there."
"I'll ask sir."
Kylo sat in silence for a few moments while the medic fetched the answer. He hoped that Rey would want him to be there when she met her son. He was still having a hard time processing that it was his child. Hell, he was still trying to process that Rey had a child. A month ago, he hadn't even considered it a possibility that those love and lust filled nights they shared through the force could result in a pregnancy. And now he was trying to comprehend that she had conceived his child and spent her entire pregnancy running from him and fighting him tooth and nail.
He could have killed her a countless amount of times. He struck her with his saber at least twice. He could still see the scars on her arm and shoulder. He would have to apologize for that. He felt awful.
She was pregnant throughout all of those fights...
The guilt came over him again like a wave crashing onto his head.
He didn't deserve to be the father of her child. He wished that it had been the son of that blasted pilot his mother loved or that ex-storm trooper's. Not his.
"She said that she wants you there." The medic finally said, snapping him out of his dark thoughts.
"Did she say 'want' or 'allowed'?"
"Want."
"I'll be right down."
...
Kylo walked beside Rey as she was pushed in the med chair. She looked like death, but he wouldn't tell her that. He looked like death as well but for different reasons. People aren't meant to be this cruel:there damaged souls begin seeping out and affect their appearance to earn people to the twisted nature of the monster that stood before them. He had to admit, she did look a bit better. Ever so slightly.
"You can't hold him, unfortunately." The medic warned as they approached that section of the medbay. "He's still very weak. Stable but weak."
The reached the door, but the medic paused before putting in the code.
"I have to warn both of you," the medic said, her voice serious. "It's not a pretty sight. There are wires and machines attached to his body. And he's really small. Really really small. But please know, we are doing everything we can to ensure his safety and comfort and health."
"I understand." Kylo said.
All Rey could manage was a nod.
The medic opened the door.
The room was rather small with machines lining each wall, each one beeping and lighting a different colored monitor. In the center of the room was a small plastic box with what appeared to be a hundred wires coming out of it.
That's where Rey's son was. Laying on his back, his little arms at an odd angle and everything that wasn't wired covered in a soft white onesie and knit cap.
He had never seen a baby so tiny.
Rey and Kylo nervously approached the infant. They couldn't bring themselves to say anything. They just stared at the tiny thing struggling for life.
"He's doing much better now." The medic tried to assure them while breaking the silence. "He's put on a full pound and two ounces and his lungs are almost fully formed. His heart is doing good as well. Just a little more time."
Rey and Kylo were silent. What was there to say?
Rey put her fingers to the glass. She looked so broken. If she wasn't before, she definitely was now. Silent tears were beginning to fall down her cheeks and her eyes were glazed over.
The infant's hand flinched a bit when she put the rest of her hand to the glass. He could sense her. And Kylo saw the corner of Rey's mouth twitch.
It didn't last long. Her tears began falling harder than before and she was starting to heave.
Rey closed her eyes and exhaled. The force hummed.
Suddenly, the machines around them began a different pattern of beeping and the medic looked around confused.
"What's wrong?" Kylo asked, terrified.
"The machines are indicating that the infant is suddenly, and rather rapidly, getting better." She said, checking each machine in a rapid motion, "His lungs are retaining more oxygen. His heart rate is stronger. His brain activity is more complex. Motor function increasing-everything."
Kylo looked to Rey and saw that despite the infant looking much better, she looked even more like death.
"Rey, no!" He snapped her hand away from the glass.
She didn't respond. She just went limp in his arms.
"Medic!" Was all Kylo had to say before she was instantly carting Rey out of the room and back to her medbay.