Rock and Roll

- Part III -

Oliver gazed at the scratch marks on his right wrist. It was burning, warm and itchy, on his skin. For a moment he tried to convince himself that Miku was not a cat, and only cats would do such horrible deed on purpose. He looked back at the woman dozing off beside him as the hospital staff did what should be done to woman after she gave birth. This was a new record for the blond teenager to witness an actual birth, to receive all torment and disappointment Miku had been keeping, and to feel what it is like to have your hand slowly twisted.

Her face had no expression at all. Void. Almost dead. No. Miku looked like she was just sleeping, like she never gave birth at all – strands of her hair stuck on her wet-soaked face. Even at sleep, she was still pretty.

The woman had fainted after her child was taken out of her womb, the babe's cries lulled his mother to sleep. Yes, his mother. It was just a shame she didn't see him enough as the doctor handed the child to Oliver so he could show it to her. She already passed out the moment the child first cried. It was only then that the blond noticed her grip had gone lose.

Oliver jittered as he carried the child in his arm. Well, the feeling was not jittery exactly, more like a mixture of nervousness and excitement. First of all he hadn't held a child this vulnerable in his entire life. That was exciting. The baby was so soft and warm, and his face was just absolutely serene. Though he was a bit clad with blood stains here and there, the newborn was still a beautiful sight. The blond learned how to hold a life in his arms especially when someone almost lost hers just to deliver the baby in this world. Second of all, the fact that he was actually the first person to see the child – yes, not even Miku – made his heart jump. Oliver wouldn't mind being this kid's father. However, that was impossible.

A few minutes ago a nurse took the baby from him saying that she would bring the child in the nursery. She even asked Oliver to fill up a certain document on the nurse station about the child's name, not knowing that he wasn't Miku's husband. Perhaps looks could be really deceiving nowadays. At least he knew that he wasn't that old-looking? The blond glanced at the sleeping woman once more before deciding to leave the delivery room. He could not do anything for her anymore, so it was time to take an exit. As he stepped away from Miku he realized a bigger problem to face: Gumi and her rage.

When they brought Miku to the hospital, it was decided that Gumi would accompany her friend on her delivery. Why, there was no Len anywhere. The green-haired girl talked to Miku, telling all things that might calm down the woman. Oliver was just there, sitting next to Miku as she did all breathing exercises Gumi was instructing her to do. Even the blond himself had to follow Gumi so just to calm down. Of course the preparation was wasted the moment he helped transferring Miku on the bed. The next thing Oliver knew was that her nails dug deep in his scalp, and he was running alongside with her as the nurses pushed the bed to the delivery room.

Oh, this is so bad. Gumi wanted to have the best friend of the year award. Shame, Oliver stole it.

The blond pushed the doors apart and heaved a sigh. Gumi and Kaito were standing adjacent to him, both had serious expressions on their faces. They must be praying for Miku's safe delivery.

"What do we have here?" Oliver started, picking his way to the two. Gumi wipped her head to his direction, eyes wide and teary.

"How is she? The baby? Is everything fine?"

Somehow this was a lot calmer than his expectations.

"Yes, everything's fine but my wrist." Oliver raised his hand to show them the unlikely marks he got. This would be a good remembrance. "That babe's really charming. You should see him in the nursery later."

The girl let out a sigh whilst a smile made its way on her face. Oliver heard a thank God slip past her lips. Gumi still got the bff award of the year. Look how she's worried.

"Did you really see how she gave birth?" Kaito asked.

"Well, no. I'm not the doctor, you know. And it's not like I'm interested to witness such." The blond sagged his shoulders. He wouldn't forget how she struggled to give birth, how her cries seemed to shatter even the heavens. Half of him was concerned with the baby, and half of him was concerned whether she'd get through it or not. With all these things going on in his mind, Oliver wasn't interested to see how does a babe come out actually.

"I'll call Len."

"Done already," Kaito tapped his shoulder. "Just go and freshen up." The look he was giving the blond seemed to sense his anxiety. Nodding, Oliver turned to take his leave.

"How about the baby's name?" Gumi's hand stopped Oliver from going anywhere. Name? The blond turned around and frowned, why ask him?

"Miku fainted. Didn't she tell you what name she wants for her kid?"

"No, never. She refused to name the child after knowing that Len's still seeing his ex."

"Childish, isn't she?" Oliver shook his head in disbelief.

"But," Gumi continued, "she thought of naming the boy after Len once. She also considered names like Leon, Leonard, Leopold and Lendl. Basically after Len."

"Why don't we just wait for Len? He can still name the kid, can't he? You know by now that hehad no affair even if he was seeing his ex, yes?" Kaito inserted, beaming like a chesire cat. "After all he donated half of the kid's DNA."

The three stood in silence for a good half-minute, contemplating whether they should interfere with this affair. They understood that Miku and Len liked each other more than mere attraction, that both were too coward to admit it was love. Everyone could tell that these two deserved a chance, but the choice was all theirs to make.

It wasn't really their business to mind. No, not really. They were just like Olympus gods sulking on such a tragic romance between mortals. Nevertheless it wasn't bad to wish people happiness, no? Oliver sighed at the thought of it. He hoped so much for Len and this girl.

Just then loud and heavy footfalls broke their silence. The noise was coming from one of the hallways leading to the delivery room. A loud thud startled Gumi, it sounded like something heavy fell on the ground; followed by an unintelligible noise, then a weary guy emerged from the corridor a few feet away from Oliver and friends. Len with his mussed dark hair jogged to Oliver's direction upon seeing his blond cousin. He was carrying his beloved guitar with him as he ran to them, his face pale.

"Kaito, Oliver," Len said in between his gasps, letting his guitar to fall off his shoulder. "Gumi," he also called her, nodding briefly to acknowledge her presence. He didn't care if he broke his guitar by dropping it on the ground just like that, for the matter of importance was more valuable than it.

Kaito and Oliver stayed silent, perhaps waiting for Len to ask them the big question. Both were saucer-eyed, eyes glistening with so much hope that they could prove to Gumi that their dude–this dude–Len, was serious with his intentions to Miku. Though yes, everything started with a drunken intercourse, at least Len grew to have genuine intentions.

Len, still recovering from his breathless journey from wherever he came from, fell on his feet. He was really pale, beads of sweat trickled down from his hairline. Oliver couldn't help but think that Len actually looked like he had been through a labor too with all that sweat dropping shit.

"Where..is she? What happened?" Len tried to get up soon, still panting. "Is she...okay? What. Talk." When his two guys continued to stare, he yelled. "Where is Miku?! What happened?"

Silence isn't the greatest answer one can get in his entire life. It poses so much suspense that makes a person downright jittery. No one knows what will follow after the dramatic silence, no? Is it good news or not? Only the other speaker knows. That is why Len's heart skipped a beat when Oliver and Kaito remained quiet.

Was it bad or was it good? What happened to the mother and her child? Didn't he make it? The silence was worrying him more.

"Where's the room?" Len asked calmly this time. He didn't wait for an answer though, he just pushed the two apart and looked to the room himself. It didn't take him long, nevertheless, for the doors beside him opened and nurses pushed out a bed where an unconscious Miku was lying asleep.

He quickly tugged at the people pushing her bed, asking them what happened to her and the child. The nurses answered reluctantly while giving him a puzzled look. When one of them dared to inquire what was his relationship with Miku, he told them that he was the father of her child. The redhead nurse half-screamed 'what?' hearing Len's response and turned to point Oliver. 'Isn't he the husband?'

"No, he's my cousin. Thank you for keeping Miku safe," Len stood aside and gave them a half-hearted smile before walking back to his friends. Miku was fine. Now, to the baby.

"So all this time they thought you're the dad," Gumi chuckled at Oliver, couldn't believe that this guy would be mistaken as a father. "I can't see why not, though."

"I don't look that old," Oliver shrugged and nodded at Len as he joined them back. "Are you fine now, Len?"

"Yes. You should have told me she's fine. I thought something happened. You know I hate silent answers but you still pull that trick," Len sighed and ran his fingers through his dark locks combing his hair back. "I need to my son."

"And name him," Kaito added as he started to walk down the hall.

Len almost pressed his face against the clear glass as he intently stared wrapped in blue cloth. He and his friends were in the nursery right now, and the nurse looking for the babies showed them Miku's child. It was an understatement that the father was tearing up, his forehead leaning against the glass.

Kaito and Gumi just watched the band vocalist as his shoulders shook. Len kept on scratching the glass as if he wanted to hold the child in his arms. Too bad only Oliver had that privilege a few minutes ago. Meanwhile, Oliver was also moved by such scene. Len truly loved Miku and this baby, he waited for so long to see the child. Oh dude, he only wished to see his cousin happy.

"Aren't you overreacting, Oli?" Kaito pulled the blond teenager by his side, swatting his arm every time he'd try to wipe his tears.

"I'm just glad to see Len happy. What the heck, stop hitting me! These tears are genuine!"

Snorting at the scene before her, Gumi decided to ask the thing intriguing her the most. "Hey, Kaito and Oliver," she called. "I know that...Len's being sincere here and all. That he really loves my best friend, sister, you name it. But...Miku does have black hair originally, you know. Len, too. Why's the darling blond?"

Kaito and Oliver looked at each other for a moment, then turned their heads to the girl at the same time. "Len is a blond," Kaito whispered. "He dyed his hair black for the sake of looking like a rock star - whatever."

"Yeah. He thought no one would take him seriously if he claimed to 'rock and roll' if he's not deviant looking. And black is a thing for rock bands, in case you didn't know." Oliver called his cousin afterwards, telling him that the nurse station was now asking for him to name the baby.

Gumi was mildly surprised with such revelation, and she was imagining how did he used to look with blond locks. Sure, he was a looker as he was right now. However, that still made the difference.

"Did Miku know that? That he's not black-haired?" she followed the three as they picked their way to the nurse's station. "I mean, wow. That's shocking."

"Never. He never told anyone," mumbled Kaito, keeping his voice low so Len wouldn't hear them. Anyway, that wasn't the issue right now. Len would have to comfort Miku an awful lot and he must explain everything to her. The blond must succeed doing so, because Kaito and Oliver went to Miku today for the same reason. Len cried to them last night while asking for help. He wanted her and their baby, that was all.

That was all.

Rock and Roll completed.

I know this sounds rushed. Maybe it really is. Sorry.

Expect me posting your requests after this. I'll find time finishing them all. Request box is still OPEN. It's okay to make multiple requests.

-ivannt.