vii: doctor's office

Will was immediately on edge. The nurse had brought Emilia to go get a lollipop, but Nico and Will and Dr. Patters were still sitting in the office. He was a doctor too; he knew the drill about giving bad news to the parents before so the child didn't have to see their reaction.

"We've concluded that Emilia has alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder," Dr Patters said. "She's adopted of course, so we'll never know for sure…"

Nico and Will looked at each other.

"But when a woman consumes alcohol during her pregnancy, it disrupts a baby's growth and development."

"So we're looking at fetal alcohol syndrome," Will said.

"Yes," Dr Patters said. "I have some literature here for you."

"Thank you," Nico said making a reach for the pamphlets. Will didn't, and that's when Nico realised that he knew about this. So Nico nodded as the doctor told them that this wasn't a death sentence for Emilia, that there had never been a time with more resources and awareness, that it wasn't clear yet how severe her case was, but they would have to revisit her blood tests and neonatal medical history… The doctor stepped out to go grab them something else and Nico turned around to Will.

"Okay, no bullshit here, what are we looking at?"

"It could be grim, it could not be. We are looking at vision problems, hearing problems, learning disabilities, mental retardation, sensory processing disorder, attachment problems, the epilepsy continuing…" Will said. "There could be other physical damage, cardiovascular and such. Since she wasn't in and out of hospitals nonstop as a baby they think that we're safe for that, but she's fallen through so many cracks in the foster system…"

"This just means we have to go through with the adoption even more," Nico said. "I will sleep in the recliner with her on my lap for the next fifty years if I have to."

"Unless I'm not working nights," Will interjected.

Nico nodded and leaned back in his chair. He lazily flipped through some pamphlets and the pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place.

"We need to really make a push with Hades and Apollo," Nico said. "We need to figure out who her immortal parent is. This isn't like Cata, where it'll suck but she can wait until she's twelve to be claimed, we need to know now."

"I'm texting Dad right now," Will said putting his phone in his pocket. "Do you think Dionysus?"

"I don't know," Nico said. "She's two. We don't have a lot to go on. Although I guess we can assume that her mother is the mortal by now."

Will nodded. He took Nico's hand.

"She had this yesterday," Nico said. "She had this the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that. But she was always our Emilia."

"Our Emilia who makes that squeaking noise," Will smiled. "And who eats her Cheerios like a lizard."

"I think you mean 'eat like a laser'," Nico grinned, mimicking Emilia's quiet and churned speech. "You're thinking about medical terminology and terrifying case histories and babies in your hospital wing. Don't."

"This is our daughter, not a… not a baby who didn't make it through the night," Will said.

"Right," Nico said. "And who knows how much she'll grow and how she'll end up, you know?"

"I know," Will said, taking a deep breath.

Dr Patters came back in, holding a pile of paperwork in one hand, holding Emilia's hand in the other. Emilia wobbled forwards with a hand in her mouth. Nico was proud to see that she hadn't pulled her hair out of the braids he'd made that morning yet, and there was that other feeling that was kind of pride but mostly just gush that came with just seeing his kid for the first time after being apart for a bit.

"Hey Emmie," Will said. "I heard you got some toys to play with."

"Firetruck," Emilia nodded.

"A firetruck?" Nico asked. "Oh my gods. Was it red and everything?"

"Wee-ooh, wee-ooh!" Emilia said.

"Whoa," Will said. "Did the firetruck make noise too?"

"Wee-ooh, wee-ooh!"

"Ooooh," Nico said scooping her up. "You made it yourself? That's some good stuff, Emilia."

Emilia smiled and Nico smiled back and then Will smiled and the Doctor smiled.

Yeah. They had some good things going on, here. Good enough to give Emilia heaven if she wanted it, and to stir up hell if she needed it.