Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 306 - Without illustration.
Raptor's POV, A few weeks later.
For the third time in my life I sat next to the woman of my dreams and held our newborn baby girl.
She was so tiny in my arms. Never once did I expect to be here again holding one. Never did I expect to have another child. She was the sweetest looking pup I've ever laid my eyes on. My eyes could only picture that little girl I met on that walk with Hunter way back when she was still a part of my life.
Zeta laid next to me and to no surprise she was lost in this moment. She got what she wanted and she was now the proud mother of a baby girl. Everything felt right and in this moment I just wanted to sit here and hold her in silence.
Moments later the door could be heard opening and when we looked up we found Marx walking in. As he began to shut the door he asked us both.
"So how is she?"
Looking down at the bundle of joy I held, I replied with Zeta reaching over to scratch my head.
"She's perfect Marx. I….I just can't right now. I'm sorry. It's just unreal to me that I'm here."
Giving me a smile, the cat approached us. Reaching in to check my daughter's condition he whispered.
"She's beautiful, Raptor."
Looking up into his eyes I replied.
"Thank you for doing this."
I had Marx take Zeta in when she went into labor earlier today. I needed him to be the one to do it. He's earned it and I couldn't trust anyone else other than him. Leaning in just enough to give me a small hug, Marx remained quiet as Zeta said her piece now.
"Thank you Marx. Really it does mean a lot to us that you did this. I couldn't have asked for anything better. There isn't someone I know of that he trusts more than you. So again….thank you so much for what you've done."
Leaving my arms Marx was nearly about to cry. I felt the joy he had present within his heart and with that in mind he looked back at my girlfriend to reply.
"You don't have to thank me. I'm still just shocked you guys even wanted me to be the one to deliver her. It means the world to me that I got the opportunity. So thank you. Both of you."
"We love you Marx." Zeta told him bluntly as Marx took a second to look back at me. What he got was nothing but my approval of the statement just said. With a full heart he took a step back to wonder.
"Do you want to show the others?"
"Do they know?" Zeta asked as I made sure no one knew a thing beforehand. With my eyes going back to our baby I replied.
"No."
I knew showing everyone my baby would amount to so much happiness. Everyone knew Zeta's day was soon, but it would come as a complete shock to actually see the baby without knowing the birth even happened. So with my eyes looking back up to Marx I informed him softly so not to disturb my sleeping newborn.
"I want her sister to be first. Is she here?"
Shaking his head he replied.
"I'm not sure. You can radio her. She has to be around the capital somewhere. You know she's taking her job seriously training all the recruits."
Nodding my head I went on to urge him.
"Hand me my radio there."
Looking down at where my vest was laying, Marx pulled off the radio and handed it over to me. Once I turned down the volume I asked among the system.
"Lieutenant Diskov? You reading me?"
Zeta just chuckled lightly as within seconds we got back from her counterpart.
"I'm reading you Commander. What's going on?"
Doing my best to come up with an answer that played out nicely, I took a few seconds but replied with.
"I need to borrow you for a few minutes over in medical. Marx has a few questions he needs to run by you in case there are problems with Zeta's delivery. Can you spare the time?"
Marx just seemed excited now to see her reaction to what was coming and thankfully she was fooled easily enough and replied back respectfully.
"Yeah I'll be right there. Where are you in medical?"
"Just head through to the ER and I'll meet you there." Marx urged her from over my lap.
"Roger that. See you soon." Pepper replied as she cut communications.
Marx got right on up and asked me while heading for the door.
"What should I do?"
"Go out there and when she arrives just have her come to the room." Zeta told him as he nodded and left us together.
Looking back into her eyes I asked her.
"What do you think she'll do when she sees?"
Looking at our baby she replied.
"One of three things. The first is pretty simple. She's ether going to scream her head off. Or she'll start crying uncontrollably. Or what's most likely going to happen is that she'll faint."
Laughing gently to her honesty I whispered back.
"I hope Marx has fast reflexes in that case."
We both just went back to watching our baby girl. I couldn't explain why. You'd just have to be a parent yourself to know.
Pepper's POV.
Here I am walking through medical covered in dirt, sweat, and grime. I've been so busy today training that I nearly forgot what it felt like to be lazy. However there wasn't going to be much time for that even if I had the chance to relax. Someone had to do this and I'm glad it's me. I thought to myself as I entered the ER to find Marx waiting for me. Once I got close enough he turned back around and started to guide me further inside. At which point I asked him.
"So what do you need to know now?"
With a big smile on his face he replied as we stopped at one of the nearby private rooms. Putting his hand on the doorknob he replied while turning it open.
"I need to know what you think."
Taking my first step inside once he gave me the space, I questioned in confusion at his response.
"What are you talking about? What do I think about….?"
With my eyes looking ahead finally at what would be in front of me now. I stopped my entire body when what I saw had brought my heart to a halt.
My sister laying down in one of the beds and Raptor sitting in a chair alongside her. What he held in his arms had instantly forced me into tears. I felt my legs begin to shake and then my throat was nearly closed shut from the shock. With both of them looking at me, Zeta asked a question that I couldn't comprehend rationally.
"You told me you wanted to be the first to see her right?"
I was speechless. Marx who stood at my side leaned over my shoulder to urge me happily.
"Go say hi to your niece."
I was barely able to move my legs and when I did Zeta said to me with a smile.
"Everything worked out in the end Pep."
Stopping in front of Raptor I quickly looked at both of them to question.
"When? Just now?"
Zeta nodded as Raptor slowly stood up with her baby cuddled in his arms. Leaning into my body he whispered.
"Here. You can hold her."
I was fucking crying. Everything I did went out the window as far as being a badass goes. I couldn't help it as I took the exchange wholeheartedly.
She was this tiny baby wolf and currently she barely had a coat of fur to support her small body. Just from the looks of her right now I could expect her to grow up to have Zeta's black fur, but god only knows what could happen during the next few weeks of her development.
I was starting to shake again. Raptor just smiled and reached in to softly rub her head with his right hand. I felt my heart pick up it's pace when she opened her eyes to stare at me. Two perfectly aligned gold eyes. I couldn't stand here any longer, so I made myself sit down next to my sister who reached up to do the same thing Raptor just did. The little wolf reacted by trying to look in the direction her mother was. Adjusting my body so she could see her, I asked her softly.
"Who's that?"
Barely a noise could be heard leaving her lips as she just looked back at me.
"That's your momma." I told her as I reached in to gently scratch her head. The little baby proceeded to yawn as I had to ask the question.
"What's her name?"
Raptor and Zeta looked at one another for a moment. As if waiting to see what would be said from the other. After a few moments Raptor replied.
"Samantha."
Zeta then came forth to tell me.
"After mom."
I knew that beforehand. The second Raptor said the name I understood why it came to be. Accepting that truth I smiled and looked back at Samantha to ask her.
"Is that your name? Samantha? Samantha Voltz?"
"Samantha Diskov." Raptor corrected me as I looked back up at him. Reaching in to take Sam back into his arms, he went on to say.
"We're not married. For now she's a Diskov and we're both okay with that."
"Can I call her Sam?" I asked my sister who nodded and quickly replied.
"I expect you too. It's probably gonna be what most people refer to her as. Best she get used to that early."
With Raptor taking his chance he began a slow track towards Marx who suggested as he got close.
"I want to be sure she gets the best start she can in this life. If you're okay with it Raptor I'd suggest we keep Sam strictly to medical for the next day or two. That goes for you as well Zeta. I want you to rest. Today was a tough day."
With Raptor walking up to the door, I turned to ask him.
"Where are you going with her?"
"Just outside for a few minutes. Don't worry about anything. I got her. We'll be back."
Zeta who was stuck to the bed begged me just in case.
"Go with him. Please."
Giving her a big hug before that, I cried into her side.
"I can't believe this. You could have fucking told me you went into labor."
"It wouldn't have been as fun if I did." She replied with a small chuckle as I gave her a kiss and quickly turned around to find Raptor opening the door.
Raptor's POV.
Marx came to my side to hold the door and the second I walked out with my baby I heard a few of the nurses who were sitting behind the reception desk for the ER all begin to coo. I looked up to see a few of them coming over to see who I held. One of which was Bella who came right on up to Marx and I to state.
"Oh my god. She's so precious."
"Thank you." I replied back as I tried to keep moving. My pace however was only a few feet at time. Sam was just taking in the sights as I made sure not to let her go. With the nurses still looking on in awe, I managed to reach the entrance of the ER in about a minute. Marx got the door as I asked him.
"Is it okay if I take her outside?"
Coming up to me directly he replied.
"Only for a few minutes. Her skin is very sensitive right now. Make sure to cover her face from the sun as best you can."
"Okay." I said back as I left medical to begin my slow trip to the main lobby.
Along the way more people stopped to smile and react to the sight of my daughter. Two of which were the same men who helped me the night I woke up to walk early in my coma days. Both men came to me and together we stopped so they could see. With the big wolf standing over me, he whispered softly so not to scare her.
"She's beautiful, Commander."
"Thank you." I replied back as the echidna asked.
"What's her name?"
"Sam." I replied as the wolf went on to inform me.
"Char's outside with Roz and the others going over some of the recruits. General Hoffer should be with them as well."
The men let us by and the second I walked outside with my daughter I noticed just how nice today was. The sun felt great and I knew nothing was going to ruin this moment for me.
I knew where everyone was at and that was thanks to Marcus giving me back those powers of his. Zeta knew what happened between us and she was okay with it so long as my focus remained strictly on this little angel in my arms. I promised her I'd make sure of it. With Pepper soon at my side looking over Sam once more, I listened as she said to me.
"I can't believe this happened. What are you going to do now Raptor?"
On the approach to where my friends were training at I replied while gently making sure I had my hand covering Sam's face from the direct sunlight.
"I'm going to do what I promised your sister I would do. That's making sure I'm here for this child. Supporting her as she grows and making sure no matter what happens she'll always have a father to go to for anything. No matter what it is she decides to become, I'll be sure she's properly supported. I'm going to make sure she's loved. I'm not taking any more risks with my life. I need to be here for them."
Pepper was perfectly content with that answer and upon looking back up I found Char with his back towards me. General Hoffer however turned just in time to react to what he saw in my arms. At the same time Roz noticed and shouted out at the recruits who were all busy training.
"Attention!"
Char turned almost instantly at the command to widen his eyes. Covered in sweat and emotion he muttered out in disbelief.
"Raptor? Who is…?"
Giving him a smile back and proceeding to walk right to where he was standing, I saw the moment his eyes found my daughter. He dropped his guard completely along with the rest of my brothers who came in to see her for themselves. Almost breaking out in tears Char asked me in shock.
"When?"
"Just now." I replied.
Seeing her golden eyes he went on to mutter.
"This is unbelievable. Where's Zeta?"
"In bed." I replied as Roz came up to my side to wonder.
"What's her name?"
"Sam." I told them back as I looked back up at Char to state.
"I'm taking her back inside. I just wanted you guys to see her."
The second I turned back around, I felt Hoffer come up to my side. Walking with Pepper and I back to the main building he asked us both a very serious question.
"So what now?"
With my eyes resting on my daughter I replied.
"We keep going."
All of my thoughts were into thinking about the future. I had my chance to start over again and it was in the form of this baby. I had everything I could ask for to make sure this worked out right for once. I had Zeta who I knew would be the perfect mother. I had her sister who I knew would protect them with her life and do her absolute best to provide as an aunt.
I had Char and my brothers in arms to watch my back as I balanced myself on the thin line of being both a father and a president. I had my country and all its people to support me. I had G.U.N as an ally and it's leader as a close friend. I had no enemies to worry about. No fears to consider going forward. Hunter was gone according to Vetra who came back to me a few months prior with her desert eagle as proof and Ying PMC was going through the process of reforming thanks to the chinese government. Which meant Zeta would be forgotten in time and her past would go away, allowing her to be whatever she wanted to be now that she was truly free from it.
My country and its people were all my family. We were getting back on course and in time I planned to merge with Iran. After years of fighting we could make a true difference together and there was still time to make things right between us and the world. By the end of my term as president of the middle east, I wanted to be able to leave it in the hands of the next person without any problems. I wanted to make sure my family was taken care of and when I decided to retire, I wanted to be able to settle down. Wherever that place would turn out to be.
I lived a crazy life. I've done so many bad things. People will try to always shine the light however on all the good I've also done with my time, but at the end of the day I'm still a monster. I've never excelled at being a good father or even a decent husband. It's taken me years to learn the truth and along the way I've discovered things I shouldn't have. Marcus and his world is a completely different story and for now I was unable to take it further. Not from my inability to do so like Roslin said, but because I had something more important now to look at for other than myself. I'd learn to live with it and accept not becoming what Marcus thought I could be. I'd learn to keep it to myself and the few people who knew. Much like my past it will soon be forgotten…..and…..and…..?
And I'm happy with that.
The end.
mT Shadow.