The Optional Ingredient – Milk

My eyes journeyed the bland walls that made up the equally bland room and sighed.

It's been five hours since we first got here, and still no news from either Daisy or Bill. My gaze fell on my watch. It read two a.m.

Still no news.

A yawn came from behind me, and my gaze fell on Red's slightly stretching form. He stared at me with half-shut eyes, trying to force slurred words out of her lips.

"What time is it?" he asked in between another yawn.

"Two," I replied, rolling my eyes in a slightly mocking way. As expected, he suddenly jolted upright, trying to blink away whatever sleep he had left in his system.

"Green?" he asked, bewildered. He began to rapidly examine the venue, and slowly, reality began to sink into him. That he was on the hospital, that he tagged along after I received a call from Bill that Daisy was about to give birth. Of course, I just had to receive the call when I was at his place, which explains why he knows. And also, why he's here.

"Oh," was all he could say. He started rubbing his eyes and slapping his cheeks to keep himself awake.

"I told you to go home already and get some sleep," I reprimanded softly. "You look more pathetic than you usually do..."

"No, no, I'm fine,"he reassured me, trying to stifle a third yawn. "I can practically stay up for hours..." His yawn had defeated him by the time he was about to say "hours", and soon, he was dozing off again. I snorted, startling him yet again away from dreamland.

"What time is it?" he asked again, and began going through the cycle of wondering and finding out where the heck he was. Again.

"You know, I wouldn't move too much if I were you," I said, gesturing at the other figure sitting on his other side. His gaze followed mine, and found another person leaning against his shoulder, dozing peacefully.

"I wouldn't want to wake Yellow up..."

Upon realizing that Yellow, too, was indeed with us when we came here, Red made a (rather exaggerated) effort to stay still. However, Yellow must've noticed the sudden change in her surroundings for her eyes began twitching, and soon she was back with us.

"Good morning, Red and Green," she whispered, rubbing her eyes. "No news yet?"

"None," I replied.

"Oh God, I'm sorry, Yellow," Red apologized. "I forgot..."

"N-no, it's fine!" Yellow immediately assured him. I-I'm sorry I slept on your shoulder without permission..."

"Ah, no! It's..."

I coughed as interruption. They both felt silent.

"Uhm," Yellow hummed. "I'm going to... uh..." She awkwardly pointed to the hallway.

"Go get us something to drink..."

"Coffee," I said. She nodded in acknowledgement, and then rested her eyes on Red.

"Oh, uh..." he blinked, looking down. "Just... get me milk, I guess?" He paused for a moment, and then added, "Thank you."

Yellow smiled good-naturedly, stood up, and went. Red and I followed her with our stares until she disappeared by the corner.

Then Red jerked again.

"Wait, why did I let her do the buying?"

"Honestly, Red..."

"No, I mean... I could've done it and let her rest here... I don't she's had any decent sleep either..."

"Red, relax," I stressed, grabbing him by the shoulder. He stared at me, and I stared at him back, trying to kill whatever anxiety he had within those eyes.

"Sorry," he finally said, looking down.

Instead of giving him a disapproving frown, I surprised the both of us by giving a low chuckle as I shifted in my sit.

"So you and Yellow," I started, and immediately got a reaction from him.

"Uhm..." he hummed, looking away uneasily. I noticed a small guilty smile forming in his lips which he tried but failed to hide. I immediately understood.

"I see," I sighed, nodding.

"H-hey," he started again, his face turning a small shade of pink. "I-it's nothing like that... We just began hanging out more like we used to and... Look, Green, I don't want you think that I've forgotten..."

"Red," I said again. He stopped, and I smiled.

"It's fine. I don't mind, really." And then added. "You deserve it anyway..."

He looked at me with that same stare whenever I say something like that—a look of slight hesitation—and I'd reply like I'd always do. I'd nod.

It's true. Red deserves to be happy. At least he could move on from everything. That's already fine for me.

She would've been happy for him.

Yellow arrived momentarily and the conversation had to be cut short, not that he nor I had much more to say to one another.

It was still hard to start a conversation with him alone. I'm almost thankful Yellow's always there to at least be some sort of medium. The wounds are still too deep, after all, and I doubt that Red has fully forgiven me despite how he seems to find ease in being my company.

I'll admit it: it was easier back then when we had that someone who'd play the referee; the one who'll grab both of our hands so that, in some way, we are still intertwined despite the unspoken distance we always liked to build between each other, despite the term "best friends" that hung above our heads.

I miss her.

The door from the delivery room opened and out came Bill, looking more ragged than he usually did, talking with a nurse. His eyes, though obviously tired from lack of sleep, was alert as he followed everything that the doctor said. I watched his expression, trying to decipher whether Daisy was in a dangerous condition or not, so I'd be ready to pounce on him if ever. But somehow—and lucky for him too—the doctor finally held him by the shoulder and we all heard it: "Congratulations".

We waited for the doctor to leave before approaching Bill, who was all smiles now. Not even my warning glare killed it, which means nothing that serious had happened.

Daisy and her child were safe.

-m16-

I opened the door with Bill behind me. Both Red and Yellow agreed to wait outside, since non-family members were not allowed to go in, but they allowed Bill to carry the child outside to let them have a peek. My eyes wandered around the small room, and found Daisy in her bed, cradling a bundle of cloth, cooing at it. She looked up at the sound of Bill's voice calling for her, and smiled at the sight of me. I hurried to her side, and despite the fact that Bill was there and I goddamn hated showing my emotions to other people, I still hugged her, and asked her twice if she was okay.

And twice did Daisy laugh at my questions.

"You're such a worry-wart," she said, giving me a small kiss on my cheek. I smiled.

From her arms, a small yelp came and the bundle of cloth began to move. I moved away a little, afraid that I might have done something, but the smile in Daisy's lips as she cooed the baby back to sleep assured me that I have done nothing wrong.

She gestured for me to come and have a look. I came near, and gently moved the cloth away to reveal the small, sleeping face.

"She's so pretty, isn't she?" she whispered, moving her near me. "I can't believe this is my child..."

I was about to quip something, but I figured I shouldn't. She might get mad.

"Say hi to Uncle Green, sweetheart..." She began handing her to me. I refused at first, but before I knew it, my arms were already wrapped around that precious little thing. The baby moved, but other than that, she didn't budge at all.

It was adorable.

"Hey," she said, looking at me. "Bill and I have been talking, and we both agreed to let you give her her name..."

I stared at her with disbelieving eyes. She nodded enthusiastically, and gestured for Bill, who stayed by the door, to come closer.

"That's actually right, Green," he said as he took his place next to her.

"Why me?"

No answer. They just looked at each other knowingly, and then back at me, all smiles.

"Well?" Daisy asked. "What do you have in mind?"

I stared at both of them hesitantly, and then back to small figure in my arms. Strange enough, there has been a certain name playing in my mind all this time.

"Jasmine," I blurted softly. Again, she moved, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say that her curved lips were forming a smile of approval. I looked at the two of them. They seemed to like it.

I certainly did. It was a very nice name. It reminded me of my favorite flavor of tea; back when I used to still drink tea, that is.

Gently, I rocked the baby, and whispered:

"Welcome to the world, Jasmine."

-FIN-

And that's pretty much Cold Coffee.

To all those who were so patient to wait for this, thank you very much for putting up with me. You don't know how happy I am to receive so much support from fellow Oldrivashippers! I salute you guys for staying in this fandom!

LoveLots!

"You deserve freedom from all these shits that's been happening to you, Red, and I know you know that. But you're not going to get it if you wallow too much in the past and seal yourself knowing only the things you were able to know and being left ignorant of the others.." – Green, Cold Coffee