Chapter 10: Fear
Mmm… What's that sound? Slowly opening my eyes, I rolled to my side to look at the alarm clock at my bedside. It's 3:00 in the morning… Ugh… Is that Plutia…? She doesn't sound too good.
"Neptune…?" I tapped my husband… wherever I hit with my hand.
"Ngh…" I sensed Neptune turn around. "...Yeah?"
"Can you go check on Plutia?" Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Neptune already sitting up, stretching his arms and letting a sigh.
"Sure. Poor girl." Neptune glanced at the baby monitor as I lazily stared at the radio, worried about my baby girl but too exhausted to move. Plus, it's really cold…
"Plutie… what's wrong, pudding cup?" I could hear Neptune's voice as he tiptoed into Plutia's room.
Ah… I hope she's okay… No, Plutia's a healthy girl. There's no way-
"Noire…" Oh, no. There's concern in Neptune's voice. "You might wanna come over here. I think Plutia has a fever…" A fever!? Oh, my baby!I should call Arfoire and tell her that I can't make it to that audition tomorrow.
"Neptune, I'm co-"
"Oh my god!" Huh? "N-Noire! Get over here now!" What!? Throwing on my night robe, I ran over to Plutia's room, ignoring the fact that it's basically still night time.
"Wh-What's wrong?" Neptune had turned on the lights and was standing over Plutia's crib. It looked like he hadn't moved a muscle. Jerking his head towards m- Uh oh. There's fear in his eyes. Why is there fear in his eyes? In Neptune's eyes!?
It was then I realized Neptune's face was shaking and he was tightening his grip on the railing of Plutia's crib.
"Plutia's…" I didn't wait for him to finish his sentence as I ran over to my daughter's side.
"Plu-" Oh no…
Plutia was lying still, her arms and legs shaking uncontrollably. My baby had her eyes closed, but that didn't stop her from showing discomfort. Is this… a seizure!? I looked over to Neptune, only to find him stunned and silent.
"Neptune… Noire…" We turned around to find Blanc at the doorway, still wide awake. Upon seeing our faces, my husband's best friend rushed over to us and took one look at Plutia. Nodding her head, Blanc turned to Neptune. "Get another blanket, so that Plutia won't be cold." Then she turned to me. "Noire, watch over Plutia. I'm going to get my phone." What?
"Why?" Why would she need her phone at a time like this?
"I'm calling for an ambulance."
Soon enough, an ambulance arrived to take our daughter to the hospital. Blanc pushed both me and Neptune to go with them, saying that she'd have Vert help her look after the goddesses. Also because she wanted Vert to cook just in case if we weren't back in time.
Oh god… Plutia… My baby girl had stopped shaking now and she was lying still, but she was breathing heavily. The medic in the ambulance stared at my daughter before staring at me.
"Don't worry, mam'. You're child is going to be fine." A reassuring smile appeared on his face as I solemnly nodded. I felt a hand cover my own… Neptune…
"Neptune…" My husband slowly looked away from Plutia and tightened his grip. ….His lips are trembling… and he's breathing heavily. Neptune's taking this just as hard as I am.
"...Yeah?" I leaned my head on my husband's shoulders, Neptune absentmindedly stroking my head. Ah… that feels nice. But… I turned towards Plutia once more. Tears were beginning to form in my… I can't look!
I pressed my face into Neptune's shoulders, my tears staining his hastily thrown on t-shirt.
"Plutia's… Plutia's…" I felt Neptune's hand continue to stroke my head, hesitating once in awhile.
"Yeah… I know." The medic at the side nodded and shifted back Plutia, staring at my baby with hope in his eyes.
The medics pulled Plutia out of the ambulance on a stretcher, passing by security and into the operating room. Neptune and I tailed behind our daughter when a nurse stopped us at the door to the emergency room.
What is she doing!?
As Neptune was about to ask what I was just thinking, the nurse shook her head.
I'm sorry, but only person at a time can go inside the emergency room to accompany a patient.
"B-But, Plutia's barely two…" Adamant, the nurse stood her ground.
"I'm sorry, but there are safety precautions that must be taken." But… Plutia…
"...Noire." Huh? Neptune placed a hand on my shoulder before cupping my cheek with the same hand. "I'll stay with Plutia for now."
"B-But-"
"Don't you have an audition tomorrow?" Neptune crossed his arms.
"Yeah, but…" I can't go with Plutia like this! "I can miss it! Even if I have to give up my spot!" Neptune's eyes widened.
"Noire, you can't do that!" Scratching his head, Neptune turned around. "Look," My husband faced me again. "I can skip work tomorrow, so you get some rest." What!?
"No. Your job is more important than being a voice actor." Neptune sighed.
"But it's also easy to find a substitute for, unlike your job." Geez…
"Are we really going to argue about this right now when Plutia needs us?" Neptune flinched before staring at the ground for a second.
"But..." Neptune closed his eyes, tapping his foot on the floor. "Ah! I got it! Why don't you ask Mom if whether you can miss this job, and I'll look after Plutia while you talk to her. Then, we'll swap places so I can do the same with my boss." Hm…
Crossing my arms, I bit my lip as let Neptune's proposal roll around in my head. It'd be fine if I just stayed with Plutia by myself… But Neptune can be stubborn when it comes to Plutia's health… At the same time, I don't like the idea of having Neptune skip work…
"Noire?" Huh? Neptune was looking at me, concerned. "Are you okay?" Nodding my head, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
"I'm okay. I'll call…" It's still awkward when I say this… "...Mom and see if I can skip the audition." Neptune grinned.
"Alright, I'll check on Plutia." Neptune nodded to the nurse, who, before letting him into the emergency room, handed me a form.
"If you would, please fill out your daughter's information while we speak with a doctor." Oh…
"R-Right…" I took the clipboard and looked at Neptune, who waved to me. Once Neptune had entered the emergency room, I tightened my grip onto the wooden board and walked over to an empty seat nearby the door. Where's the pen… Oh, right here.
Name… Plutia Planeptune.
Age… 2.
Reason for… Re-Reason…
M-My eyes...
She's in... the...
OH, PLUTIA!
I covered my face as tears spilled down my face.
"Plutia…" Come on, Noire. This isn't the end of the world… Plutia's going to be fine. Right?
She's going to be fine...
Plutia'll be okay...
But…
But what if she has a terrible disease!?
What if she's not gonna make it!?
What if I can't see Plutia's smiling face?
What if this'll be the last time that I get hold my daughter?
No, Neptune's in there. But he can't stop Plutia from dying… Neptune doesn't have magic… nor is he a doctor.
What will Neptune think about Plutia… Or Histoire? Arfoire? Mother? Uni? Nepgear? Everyone? But I can't tell them… they'll get worried… But… But…
"Noire? Noire!?" Huh!? Looking up from the clipboard, a familiar, comforting pair of blue eyes stared in front of me.
"B-B-B-B-Bl…" Neptune's best friend stood in front of me, hands on my shoulders. Blanc pulled me closer, wrapping her arms around me.
"It's okay, we're here…" Bl-B-Bl-
"BLANC!" I dropped the clipboard and buried my head into Blanc's shoulder, staining her unwashed sweater with my sorrowful tears. "Plutia's… Plutia's…" Blanc sighed and moved next to me.
"I know, I know…" Reaching into her pocket, Blanc pulled out a stack of tissues and held it out to me.
"Thank you…" Taking a tissue, I wiped my tears and blew my nose. "What about…" Patting me on the back, Blanc smiled.
"Vert's taking care of them for me." Huh?
"But how did you?"
"I have a license." Oh. I actually forgot about that. "Nevermind that," Blanc pulled her arm away and crossed her arms, staring hard at the door Plutia and Neptune had vanished behind. "How's the little one doing?" Biting my lip, I reached over to pick up the clipboard.
"I… I don't know…" Sniffling, I stared at the door once again. Oh, Plutia…
"I don't see anything to worry about." What. I turned to encounter a reassuring grin.
"Plutia's a strong one." Blanc rubbed her forearm. "Literally and health-wise…" Chuckling, Blanc stretched her arms and leaned her back against the chair. "I'm more worried about her parents." Huh? Neptune and me?
"Us?" Banc nodded.
"Obviously, you know how Neptune can be." Yeah… my husband can be very protective, over everyone actually…
"Yeah…" That reminds me of the time when Nepgear stayed over for a bit, since she was studying for college entrance exams. Neptune was too afriad to let Nepgear go out alone, saying that "She's still an idol in peoples' eyes! Who knows that kind of creepy, perverted, old dude is out there?"
"Well, I'm not that concerned for him, I'm more worried about you." Wh-What?
"Me?" I pointed a finger at myself. I couldn't believe it. I know that I can be protective over Plutia, but Blanc suggesting that I could cause someone to worry-
"When I mean you, I mean that you worry yourself to the point that people have to worry about you, which in turn causes you to worry about them, creating a cycle of worry." Oh.
"I-I see." Blanc sighed and stood up.
"Glad to see your in the right mind… sorta." Blanc left the pile of tissues at her seat. "I'm gonna get some coffee… even the coffee here sucks. You want a cup?"
"Okay, I'll have a cup." Blanc nodded. Man, Blanc's such a good friend. What would I… Oh, wait. "Blanc!" My husband's best friend turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Thank you." Grinning, Blanc gave a thumbs up before heading down the hallway.
…I guess I should finish filling out this form, huh?
After I turned in the form, Blanc returned with two cups of coffee.
"Here, two creams and a sugar. Just enough to keep you awake." Thanking her, I took the warm caffeinated beverage and took a sip, relishing the feeling of warm coffee sliding into my stomach. "So, Neptune come by yet?" Shaking my head, I let my hands sit on my lap as they wrapped tightly around my coffee cup.
"No… not yet." Neptune hasn't walked outside of the emergency room ever since he first walked in there. Is Plutia really alright?
"I bet he's just too stubborn to leave Plutia alone." I giggled at Plutia's joke as Neptune and a doctor, who looked very similar to Compa, with a shorter body, darker hair and a doctor's job instead of a nursing job.
"Mrs. Planeptune?" Standing up, I walked over to the doctor who nodded her head. "Hello, my name is Dr. Compa." Huh? "My family mainly works in the medical field, so you may have met me before." Oh, so I guess she's related to Compa after all. Wait, does that mean we've been calling Compa by her last name? Wait, never mind that,
"Plutia! How's my daughter?" Nodding, the doctor flipped through a clipboard.
"From the tests we've taken, Plutia just had a febrile seizure." A what!? "Now, before you panic. A febrile seizure is nothing to fear." I glanced at Neptune- Oh thank goodness, he looks relieved. "However, in order to make sure she's perfectly okay. I'd like to the pediatric hospital branch nearby for the night. Is that okay?" Huh?
"Did you not ask Neptune for permission?" The doctor sighed.
"I did. However, your husband insisted that I ask for your response." What?
"Nep-" My husband shook the back of his head.
"I didn't want to make a bad decision that could cause tension. Anyways, I'm fine with whatever choice you make." ...Well, obviously…
"I'll let Plutia stay the night here." It's just the night, after all. I want to make sure that Plutia's alright. Neptune nodded as the doctor scribbled onto the clipboard. Blanc patted me on the back.
"Okay, we'll let you know in the morning when the remaining tests will be done."
"Okay…" Biting my lip, I let Neptune and Blanc guide me to the car and Blanc drove us back home.
...Plutia.
Please be alright…