I have no one to blame but myself for this. I don't regret it. Please place bets on how many epilogues you're going to get.
Reasoning with a toddler was impossible, Soul knew that, and while he loved his daughter with every last fiber of his being, Izzy was completely and utterly in the throes of the terrible twos and he was just about to have an epic meltdown of his own. "Izzy, please," he started but finished in his head with mama's going to murder me if I'm not showered and ready to go for this goddamn rehearsal dinner because I've already fucked up by letting you get away with not having a nap today and oh for the love of Christ will you please go to Shel.
Izzy was now in limp-baby stage where she turned to jelly in Soul's hands as he tried to transfer her little body to Shelley's waiting arms. "No, dada, no!"
Soul cursed himself for ever doubting Maka about that letting other people watch her thing because now every moment of leaving her somewhere was like this: an epic battle of her refusing to budge while his heart was still breaking in little pieces over those soft little cries. It's fifteen fucking minutes, Evans, get your shit together, and if you have to, deposit her on the damn floor. The hardass voice in his head then shriveled as Izzy belted out another woeful cry. He sighed and as he pulled her back towards his chest he considered what flowers to request at his funeral.
As he was bringing Izzy back she opted for stiff as a board, another charming move that toddlers so often resorted to, and in the process threw her tiny head back to connect firmly with Soul's face. Soul was strangely sure he heard it before he felt it, and while he definitely could still pull back the clear memory of Maka cracking him one to the nose, that moment had absolutely nothing on this stunning icicle of pain that struck his face. "Oh, fuck," he bellowed as he tried to not only catch his daughter in the crux of his elbow as she fumbled but also get another hand up quick enough to cup at the blood.
"Soul," Marie chided from the kitchen.
"Mom, here, now!" Shelley called out in fright as she helped Soul juggle, getting Izzy deposited on the floor while Soul hunkered down on his haunches.
"What is it?" Marie was just about to renew her lecture on cursing in front of the multiple babies that ran the house when she skidded to a halt, the blood oozing through Soul's fingers enough to give her flashbacks. "Oh, fuck."
Soul waved a pathetic hand as he barely managed the mewl between his fingers, "-owel."
"On it," Shelley started a panicked run past Marie.
"Come here, baby." Of course, now Izzy was pliable, letting Marie pick her up and deposit her on her hip, jostling to try to quiet the sobs to sniffles.
"Black Star," Soul grumbled barely past his fingers as Shelley returned with two towels, one for Soul to drop in his lap and the other to clutch to his face.
"Brother!" Shelley moved for the stairs, echoing that call a few times before solid footsteps came from the stairs.
Black Star rounded the corner and after one look at the scene started to bray laughter.
"Fucker," Soul managed.
He let a few more cackles out before he squatted in front of Soul. "Dude, seriously? Maka's going to kill you."
"It was an accident," Marie reminded him softly.
"Oh, yeah, sure, a week before the wedding," Black Star paused to clear the tears from his eyes as he let out an amused sigh. "That's a lot of blood…"
Soul grimaced under the towel. If the words didn't come from his mouth, or from Black Star's, maybe he could live in a fantasy world where this was just going to be a little sore in the morning.
"Broken, huh?"
He felt the weight of it and his stomach churned. "Hospital."
"Yeah, yeah." Black Star looked up at Marie. "Break the news gentle to Maka."
Soul groaned as he got up on his feet. "'imme," he grunted as he held out an arm for Izzy.
"Soul, I can take her, really," Marie started but Izzy was already launching herself into her father's arms. "Fine, I'll deal with Maka when she gets here."
"Thanks," Black Star crowed for Soul as he started towards the front door.
Izzy was clutching tightly as they made it to Soul's car. He tossed the keys at Black Star as he moved to the backseat so he could sit while he coaxed Izzy into her car seat. After some agonizing juggling, he got her in, leaving his hand in her lap so she could cling to him as he buckled his seatbelt. "Let's go."
The ride was uneventful, even peaceful as Izzy conked out completely, tiny fingers loosened and chin leaking drool onto her chest. Unbuckling her was like defusing a bomb but luckily those beautiful green little eyes didn't even threaten to open, just her head plopping lethargically against his shoulder as he hoisted her up.
"Want me to take her?" Black Star offered arms but Soul sighed in reply.
No, because somehow I feel guilty. Soul didn't have to watch the clock because even though this wasn't anything like the last time with his dire, chest oozing wound, the emergency ward was nowhere near bustling and they were quickly moved back to a room. Soul tucked Izzy in the crux of his arm and waited.
Nurses breezed in and out, then someone Soul was entirely convinced was too young to be a doctor. That means you're getting ancient, old man. Two babies, technically married even though you convinced her to try that all again… and even with the pain, he managed a crooked smile. By the time the blood was drying to a dark brown and the doctor was laughing at Black Star's dramatic retelling of the story that he had made up, the frantic footsteps started in a hallway.
Victor was half asleep in her arms because that was a baby that was barely ever bothered by anything, even his mother's frantic tears. Maka squeaked to a short stop as she hit the doorway, letting out a blubbering breath. "Soul!"
"Hey, babe," he came back nasally and pathetic.
Black Star was up, slipping the baby out of Maka's arms. No protest from the little boy, just a giggle to match his uncle's as he preemptively cackled at the explosion he knew was coming.
"Earmuffs," Maka snapped and Soul placed his hand over Izzy's ear that wasn't against his chest. The doctor watched agape, his eyes flicking between Soul and Maka. "I'm about to say something I do not mean but I need to let it out because: Isadora Marie Evans how could you! I swear to God, twenty years from now I will break your husband's nose the week before your wedding and see how the hell you like it." She let out a frustrated yelp as she moved to Soul's side, letting one soft hand fall on his shoulder while the other pressed at Izzy's head. "Mama didn't mean that and she's sorry and she's so glad you didn't break your head in the process," she let squeak out between hissing teeth.
"Twenty?" Soul grunted. "More like thirty. Maybe never."
"Alright, Spirit," Maka raised an eyebrow but turned her attention to the doctor rather than his annoyance. "Is it really broken?"
"Afraid so," the doctor chuckled. "It's not crooked or anything but he's going to bruise up pretty well. Ice and tylenol."
Maka stamped her feet just three times before she lifted her eyes to the ceiling and let out a huff. "Dinner's canceled."
"Maka," Soul soothed as he slipped a hand to her hip, bringing her a step closer.
"And you'll probably have two black eyes for all the photos." She paused to slap a hand over her eyes to deny the tears before she rubbed it down her face to bring her eyes back to him. Soul got her close enough that he could reach up and touch her face, rubbing a thumb tenderly against her cheek. "But at least we'll have a good story to tell and Izzy will forever be in my debt."
"She's too cute, you'll forgive her," Soul chuckled. "Makes you want to have another one, doesn't it?"
"You're joking," Maka scoffed.
Soul's shrug was noncommittal.
Maka turned a withering glance to the doctor, "Tell me there's some brain swelling or-"
"Hey," Soul tapped her cheek lovingly to bring her eyes back to his. "Take the kid, will you?"
She acquiesced, lifting the sleeping toddler out of his arms to press her against her chest.
"Doc, am I good?" Soul stretched his legs and got to his feet as he tried to wring the cramp out of his shoulder. Izzy was in no way a lightweight anymore.
The doctor nodded, "Just make sure you're icing it. Tylenol as needed."
"Thanks." But before the feeling was even coming back to his arm he was reaching for Victor. "Black Star, give me my little man."
Black Star chuckled as he handed over the baby who happily started to babble even at his father's brutalized face. "Home?" He balanced his son as he snaked an arm around Maka's waist.
Her kiss was delicate, her eyes staying open to avoid clocking him and adding more damage to her daughter's. "Home."