Flashes of dark colors, blurred images with distorted contours, sinister sounds made of rustles and rumbles of thunder that from afar were getting closer and finally fire and flames that burned alive with life of their own. And then a voice..
"Wake up!"
Nina opened her eyes, wincing. Her heart beat was racing after another seemingly meaningless dream. For months now that vision had haunted her sleep, yet she had not been able to find its meaning. None of those confused frames were familiar to her, yet the sense of unease increased with each awakening. She felt that they were not simple nightmares, far from it, they had a sinister and imminent taste of omen. And then that voice. That voice that seemed to her to have already heard, so delicate and at the same time clear and categorical. She swallowed with difficulty and began to look around, becoming aware of her current position. She soon realized that she was no longer in her room, but lying on a bed with the sides in a room of an aseptic white. She wore a sort of white robe with blue dots and soon realized the unconfortable presence of a needle tucked into the hollow of her left elbow. She slowly carried a hand to her belly, realizing that something was missing. Immediately her brain reconnected everything and she realized that she was in a hospital: the panic assailed her after finding that her belly was gone and when she tried to move a thick stab forced her to stay on the mattress. At that moment the door opened and two nurses made their entrance, one holding a folder and another towels, sponges and a basin.
" Miss Walsh, you're awake. How are you feeling?" asked the first, a young girl in her thirties who was about to approach her to carefully check on her.
"I... what happened?" she asked confused, feeling the anxiety mount inside her.
"Keep calm and don't fret, or you will risk blowing up the stitches.".
Stitches? What stitches? SHe instinctively realized the wound in her lower abdomen, which was beginning to pulsate and burn.
" Are you in pain? We've given you morphine, but the effect has to be over by now. If it's unbearable, we can give you some more, but we'd like to avoid it unless it's strictly necessary.".
"I'm fine." she replied briskly, waiting for answers.
That flashy cut meant one thing and one question now rang in her head.
"Where is he?" she asked in an almost hysterical tone.
The women smiled at her thoughtfully, as they checked her parameters and pinned everything on her medical records..
"Don't worry, your baby's fine. Since he was born prematurely, he is being subjected to the latest clinical tests to make sure that everything is normal, but soon you can see him, do not worry. Now, if you'll excuse me, we'd like to help you wash, so you don't have to make any effort."
The blonde nodded carelessly, letting the two nurses assist her completely. She was fine. Her baby was fine. Soon she would finally meet him, she would finally discover the color of his eyes, his hair, the scent of his skin. She was agitated. She wasn't ready for this, it all happened so fast that she didn't have time to mentally brace herself. Her second son had been born and neither this time she hadn't been able to see him just out and listen to his first cry. She was sure that that newly denied experience would impact the first meeting and began to be seriously afraid of what was waiting for her. What if she wasn't up to the task? What if she couldn't be a mother, as she had totally failed with Steve? If, if, if and another thousand if continued to whirl in her head, twisting it more and more.
"That's it. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ring the bell, is that red button next to the bed."
Nina swallowed, nodding vigorously with her head. The nurse noticed her upset mood and smiled softly at her.
"Don't worry, Miss Walsh, the worst is over. You just have to be patient for a little while longer and you'll soon know your little miracle. But first there's someone else eager to see you."
"Who?" she asked in a shrill voice.
"Your brother. He didn't even go home, he's been here since last night waiting for you to wake up. I hope you won't be offended if I tell you that in addition to being a beautiful guy, he's also extremely thoughtful and kind, you're really lucky." sighed the girl dreamily.
Nina was speechless. Once again Steve had stood by her, though not physically, and had not abandoned her. He was incredible.
"Can I let him in? It's pretty proven." she asked before taking leave.
"Y-yes, of course." she said, mumbling.
"All right, we'll call him. The midwife will be joining you soon. Goodbye!"
The women greeted her with a smile before leaving the room. It was barely a minute before the boxer came in like a tornado, rushing at her.
"Nina... Oh, thank God you're okay!" he exclaimed, hugging her straight away.
It was a strong and delicate embrace at the same time, full of affection and relief, that left her even more bewildered. She wasn't accustomed at certain manifestations of tenderness, no more at least. Steve for his part knew how much the woman cared about her spaces, but he simply couldn't help it. The anguish had devoured him in the previous hours, knowing how much they had risked, and now he could finally release all the accumulated tension. When he felt the woman's hand resting timidly on his shoulder to approach him a little more he seemed to dream. However, he decided to come down to Earth, aware of how delicate his mother was at the time.
"How are you?" he asked, crouching beside him.
"Let's say I've had worse times, but also way better..." she sighed, trying to ignore the annoying tingling of the stitches. " What happened, Steve?"
"My God, it was terrible. You had a placenta detachment, which caused you to bleed so badly. You risked both your lives, but the medical team did a great job. And finally I can say that everything went well."
"Do you... You have seen..."
But she couldn't finish the sentence that someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." they answered in unison.
Slowly and with little steps entered a smiling woman, holding a bundle of blankets in her arms.
"Good morning, Miss Walsh. I'm Dr. Kelly, your midwife. Sorry to interrupt, but there's someone here who can't wait to meet you."
Nina and Steve's eyes glowed when the woman approached the bed, offering what she was holding. Instinctively the blonde's arms stretched out to welcome him in her arms, and for the first time her eyes rested on that creature.
"Congratulations, that's a handsome boy. A little brat and honestly I've never seen such a big baby born so far ahead of its time, but my job has taught me that you never stop learning."
Nina watched her son holding her breath, studying every detail of his very young face. The midwife was right, he was already large and perfectly formed as if he were already a child of a few months. Yet he seemed so small and helpless in her arms... He slept clutching the blanket between his small fists, his face frowning in an almost frowning expression. Yet despite the very few hours of life, his features were so well defined that they left her speechless. There was so much of her in him, and there was also so much of his father as well, like his thick, dark hair and pointed face. His mouth and cheekbones, on the other hand, were identical to hers when she was a child, she remembered from the photos seen in the family album that her father Richard so jealously hid. The baby suddenly growled, probably felt the shift and slowly opened his eyes slightly almond-shaped. A bright, crystalline blue left both in awe. The same eyes of Nina and Steve were now staring for the first time at her mother and brother, imprinting their faces on his very young memory.
"Y-y-you're... Beautiful..." the woman muttered, unable to look away from her child, so similar to her, so similar to her beloved Jin.
"He is..." Steve added, very excited.
"I agree, he really is a beautiful child. Have you already decided his name?"
The name. Of course, how could she forget? Actually, Nina had spent the last few months looking for one, but no one seemed to really convince her. Having been born a month early, he had not given her time to finish searching and deciding his name.
"I, honestly... Not yet..." she confessed in embarrassment. " I wasn't ready yet and..."
"Sure, Miss Walsh. This little guy was in such a hurry to come into the world, but some choices take longer. Don't worry, given the circumstances, we can safely record it tomorrow if you recognize it as yours." said the midwife in a sweet and reassuring tone.
Nina sighed of relief.
"I... of course, I recognize him."
""Very well then. Would you like to try to breastfeed him?"
Here is another task that Nina would never have thought she would have to face in life.
"I don't think I know how..."
"No problem, I'm here for that. I'll explain you how."
"I'll leave you alone then." said Steve, aware that his mother needed privacy at such an important and delicate time.
He left the room still euphoric. They were both fine and his little brother was a real giant. He felt so proud and happy and couldn't wait to spend time together. He was already seeing himself with him in a few years to run in the meadows, play football, hide and seek, to help him do his homework. The dark thought of the war still raging raged through his head for a moment, but it wasn't enough to ruin his happiness. He would live his life to the fullest as long as they could and he would always protect them, even at the cost of his life. She returned to Nina's room a good half an hour later when the midwife came out and found her lying on the bed with her baby resting on her chest. For a moment he felt almost jealous of that vision, but he immediately realized that it was a simply unprovoked reaction. He didn't want his little brother to go through what he had to go through, he was really glad he could grow up differently. He took his place next to his mother and remained to observe them in silence with his hands under his chin.
"Well...It's definitely a Williams." commented Nina, smiling as she moved a lock of his hair.
"Yeah. Good blood doesn't lie." the boxer smiled back. " Didn't you really think of a name?"
Nina sighed. Steve knew the baby would be a boy, but he didn't meddle in the name issue out of respect, since the woman herself never went on the subject. But now he was really curious.
"I've read a lot lately, but I haven't met a single name I really liked. Honestly Irish names have never made me crazy, I would like to pick one with a meaning..."
"Were you thinking about a foreign name?"
"Actually I would like him to have two names and for the second one I have already decided. If I have to be honest, I would like to give him a Japanese name."
Steve nodded. He had no say in the matter, and if his mother wanted to pay homage to the origins of the child's father, he could not argue.
"To be honest, I don't really like Japanese names either, but there's one that stuck out more than the others."
"What name?" asked the blond.
"Keiichi. It has different meanings based on the kanji used, but what most impressed me is "blessing", "happiness". Also "unique."
Keiichi. It wasn't bad and the meaning was very sweet. In all honesty it seemed a perfect name.
"I like it a lot, it has a nice sound, it's not too long and has a deep meaning. I think it's the right one."
"You think so?" asked the woman, without taking her eyes off the second son, who slept peacefully on her breast.
Steve nodded. Nina continued to study the face of her baby, realizing that the ideal name had been in her mind for some time and now that he was there in her arms it made even more sense.
"You're a lucky boy, you know that? I'm asking you to forgive your mom for being a bit of a mess, but you have a very special big brother who loves you so much. You are so loved, Keiichi Richard. You are so lucky..."
And she finally realized that she, too, was really lucky after all. And more importantly, she wouldn't be alone anymore.
