"I know... but you can't blame me for still being worried sick.", Bucky told her as he squeezed her hand. "True... but we know that we're both in good hands. Nola's work will be incredible, and I think the Heart will make sure that everything's good.", Audrey told him.

Bucky took a deep breath, nodding as he would pray so much all night if he has to, to keep his faith in the Heart, in the Great Kings and Queens of the Past, in Nola. "I love you so darn much, Audrey Barnes...".

Audrey smiled, "I love you so much, James Barnes...", and he smiled a bit before kissing her deeply and reverently and tenderly, and pulled back, gazing at her, and leaned down to kiss her baby bump, "Reese Franklin Jr. Barnes, you behave for your mami and Aunt Nola and the nice healers, okay?".

A warm kick answered, and he smiled, "I love you too, Reese...They will make sure that you'll be especially great.", and Audrey gave a small chuckle, brushing a hand through his hair, and stroked alongside the baby bump with her other hand, and then footsteps were heard, and they looked over to see Nola, all stocked out in the best sterilized healer robes and such, giving them a gentle smile, "It's time. We will try to send someone out every hour to give a tidbit of news, but it will at best take a lot of tonight, okay, Bucky?".

"That's fine.", Bucky sighed as he took his leave. "You just hang in there, okay, Audrey.", he said on his way out. "Don't worry, Bucky, I will.", Audrey told him before they got her ready for prep.

At the same time all of that was going on, Eleanor and Franklin had decided that while everyone else was distracted with Audrey and worry about her, that maybe it was the right time for their decision while the others were unaware.

Eleanor looked at Franklin, and he gave a little smile, and Eleanor nodded, before Franklin cleared his throat, as the others looked at him as they respected him, being the President and all, even if he isn't one here, being a normal guest, they still paid attention when he wants to say something.

Franklin took a deep breath, "I know most of you didn't know, as we had asked Kida and Milo to keep this quiet, but as Reese is clearly involved thanks to us, one of the major reasons why he came back was forgiving us, even if we didn't deserve it as we...we really tried to be parents and all for him and the other children, even with the tradition, that stupid tradition of letting nursemaids and staff take over the care of the children, not us when we were busy...His past death was one of the causes on the road into our fractured relationship, and being sick before the crystal, it had worsened our relationship, along with blinding my messed up mind to my mistakes...my mistakes that hurt the children, and especially Eleanor...", glancing at Eleanor in slight shame, even if he knew things between them had been getting mended, and there were signs of possibly getting her full forgiveness, as Eleanor patted his hand with an encouraging smile.

"The truth is that we came here for the vacations is to mend our relationship, at least to a level of friendship and forgiveness as we didn't...we didn't love each other anymore...Oh, we deeply care for each other as we couldn't forget our simpler past with being best friends and cousins, but we couldn't feel actual love for each other intimately. This week, actually on the morning before you got married, Rebecca, Dazis, we...we found out that we could be legally apart, at least here in Atlantis...", Franklin finished with an exhale.

"So... you intend to go through with that?", Rebecca asked as Franklin nodded, "It is for the best, in the long run of things, I don't know how much time we have left... but...", as he took another deep breath.

Eleanor then replied, "And honestly, we'd be better off as cousins and best friends...I missed the persona of Frankie like currently right now, more than what he was, the persona of stuffy yet humbly political Franklin. And yes, it's true that we'd be still technically married on the surface world, as sadly, the world up there doesn't deal well enough with divorced women, blaming them instead of the men, if we did the, rarely done but not unheard of, American version of divorce, the news and the people's judgements would somehow hurt the grown children more, their families, slandering the Roosevelt name, us, even if Frankie here would still say that it was his fault, not mine.".

Dazis blinked in surprise, "They would do that?", horrified to hear that, and Eleanor sighed deeply as Franklin replied, "You would be surprised at how the people see through lens around a symbol of their country...They think the Presidental Family deserves to be perfect, happy and everything...The judgements and news would be less slandering if one of us became a widower instead of a divorced couple, as people would know how much stress the war and all was, with the paperwork, with the sendoff and return of soldiers, and such. All the same, I'm not going for elections ever again, never. It caused too much pain, stress, mistakes, and more on me, on Eleanor, on the children.", with a deep sigh.

"And of course, even with that crystal, I don't think you could still keep it going much more.", Eleanor added. Franklin shook his head, "Couldn't do another campaign trail, that's for sure. But yes...".

Steve and Peggy glanced at each other, having seen Franklin at his worst and best in the Oval Office and such, proving their assumptions well enough.

Nerissa asked curiously, "You're doing it tomorrow, after the operation gets done?", and Franklin replied, "Since it's my birthday, it makes sense to mix it with good news about Audrey and Reese, and the divorce ceremony, and yes, it may sound awful to some of you, but we're not truly matched people. We do need this, and to know that Reese is not upset and very understanding that we are good as parents and grandparents, but not good as a couple, it means a lot to us.".

"If that is your desire.", Steve said. Honestly, it probably was for the best but still, it was painful just to hear, much less see, considering that the two of them seemed to have gotten back closer with one another since coming to Atlantis.

And so, with Bucky returning to the waiting room, telling the others that the operation has just started with prep, and that it would be a long night. Seeing that the kids couldn't sleep easily in the waiting room, and such, many of the family hugged Bucky, and took all the kids to the palace for a major sleepover including Marina.

"Dada pinky promise calling family back?", Marina asked quietly as she hugged Bucky, and Bucky replied softly, "I promise...Your uncle Steve and Papi Manuel is staying with me, so I won't be alone, okay?", as he had insisted that Nerissa needs to sleep in a comfortable bed for her sake as she's pregnant, and such, since the waiting room wouldn't be right for her and Kala, ruining their wedding night, even if they aren't in the mood, they deserve to be comfortable at least, and he knows Audrey well to say the same.

Marina nodded, "Okay, Dada...", kissing him on the cheek, and Bucky smiled, "That's my good brave girl. Now, go on, behave for your aunts and uncles, alright?", lowering her down to the floor as he ruffled her hair affectionately.

"Yes, Dada!", Marina smiled reassuringly and went to join the others. And so, it was a long night with the three men in the waiting room, praying, dozing, and fidgeting, roughly hearing a tidbit of news every hour or so to say that there haven't been complications so far, or that the Heart is settling through the surgical room to assist.

Kala sleepily murmured in her sleep, instinctively reaching to touch Nerissa before realizing that the sheets were cool, and she glanced to the view where a bay seat has been built recently, seeing Nerissa gazing through the open-air window, and Kala sighed softly, getting out of bed in her articles, like Nerissa, as they were gentle with their wedding dresses, packing them away, not blaming each other for not being in the mood to celebrate their wedding night.

Kala noticed the absentmindedly stroking of Nerissa's hand on her baby bump as she sat down gently, wrapping an arm slowly around Nerissa, seeing her wife's eyes blink and turn to see her before sighing softly, "I know he said that it would be somewhere between a few hours and several hours, but I'm a bit nervous, even if I know what Nola can do as she's the head healer and everything, thanks to your memories and hearing the stories from Jacques and Sia...And this little one kicked the bladder for the first time some minutes ago as well, and after taking a leak, I saw this spot beckoning me...so here I am...I'm...I will come back to bed in a bit, I just...", resting her head on Kala's shoulder.

"It's alright.", Kala told her. "You take whatever time you need and whatever you need to do. I know you're deeply worried not just with Audrey but our child as well.".

Nerissa glanced up at her in surprise, "How did you-?", and Kala joined in to stroke Nerissa's baby bump, "Nerissa, I know you're afraid that you might have a similar situation like Audrey did with Marina and now Reese, since you are her sister and all...And I remember how you and Audrey grieved for your mother, not knowing if her sickness was connected to her pregnancies with you and Audrey, but she made good memories with you two, at least enough for Audrey to vaguely remember while you remember more...But I'm not from the surface, and our baby is already different thanks to being half Atlantean...They got a determined mother in you, my raven.", kissing her on the temple gently.

"Thank you.", Nerissa smiled as Kala leaned into her once more, "I've waited so long for you, Nerissa... I will do whatever it takes for you... whatever you want for the rest of our days.".

"So will I.", Nerissa kissed Kala. "After all, we pretty much declared that at our wedding, now, didn't we?", she teased. Kala chuckled warmly, "Indeed. I'm so happy that we're wives together. And I'll be with you right here until you want the bed...", with a smile. Nerissa smiled, "I love you, Kala...", and Kala spoke softly, "I love you too.".

They rested there for a while, gazing through the view upon Atlantis, feeling the occasional kick from their child as if they are falling asleep, and it must have been at least a couple of hours, since they went to bed a few hours ago when a knock came at the door urgently, "Nerissa, Kala!", revealing Peggy's voice.

They got up from their bay seat to the door, seeing that it's still dark, only a couple hours before dawn, and Kala opened the door politely, peeking through, "Peggy?", and Peggy smiled widely, "Just got a runner from the healer center! The operation's over, and they're both okay! Sleeping and recovering, but they're okay!".

Nerissa took a huge sigh of relief when she heard that. It almost felt like a weight was being lifted from her shoulders. "Thank God...", Nerissa whispered as Peggy smiled, "I know, you don't know how relieved I was to hear that as well and I'm not even related to her!"

"You're pretty much a sister-in-law to her with how close Steve and Bucky are.", Nerissa chuckled. Peggy grinned, "True. Anyway, Reese's heart condition is all but gone, and he's all intact, with Audrey all good, no marks of the operation, but she's resting to recover her strength and all, especially with the fact that Reese can be born anytime now. We can't go visit yet as visiting hours is not available until 8 after breakfast. Bucky is the only one allowed in her recovery room now, with Nola occasionally checking, just in case for post-effects from the operation, but it looks like everything's all clear.".

Kala nodded, "Right, that makes sense...Others know?", and Peggy smiled, "Going to tell them. You were the first ones I told. Better leave ya to take more sleep, we all need it, and I am sure Audrey doesn't mind if we are a bit late, as she knows all of us would have been turning around in bed and all.".

Nerissa exhaled, "Thank you, Peggy...It means a lot.", and Peggy smiled, nodding before moving on, and Kala closed the door, gazing at Nerissa, "You think you can sleep now, Nerissa?".

"Yeah, though I have an idea to help with that...", Nerissa moved with a mischievous smile, her hand caressing Kala's ridge through her article, and Kala moaned in pleasure, looking at Nerissa, "You sure?".

Nerissa nodded, "We have more to celebrate for, along with being wives, Kala, and sure, it's technically our wedding morning instead of night, but I want to be in the mood, don't you agree?", her other hand playing with one of Kala's breasts through the bra.

Kala growled softly, "I'm already in the mood...", scooping Nerissa up in her arms, kissing her wife on the lips passionately, glad that her baby bump is only a minor obstacle now instead of later down the road, and Nerissa moaned in pleasure, wrapping her legs around Kala's waist, and so they went to celebrate in their bed as they deserve to be, in newlywed bliss.

A few hours later, Audrey's nose twitched as she woke up slowly to the smell of breakfast, and opened her eyes, gazing around as Reese kicked hard against her hand, the faint sound of grumbling within her, and she smiled happily with a wince of pain from the kick as she vaguely remembered the good news from Nola after recovering from the harmless, and all-person anesthesia that Reese is much stronger and better now without the heart condition to hinder him with pain and such, and saw a moving tray of breakfast lids of two, and saw Bucky resting his head on his arms on the side of the bed, realizing that he hadn't heard anyone putting breakfast and waking him up.

Audrey reached her other hand to caress through Bucky's hair, "Bucky, wake up, mi amor. It's breakfast time...", smiling as Bucky sleepily blinked, "Whazzit?", slurring slightly in sleep before his eyes snapped open, looking immediately to see Audrey smiling happily and lovingly, "About time, sleepyhead...Good morning, mi amor...Come kiss me, Bucky...".

"You don't even need to ask twice...", Bucky chuckled as he took her into a kiss. "How are you feeling right now?", he asked her as she sighed, "Tired, still, but very much alive, that's for sure.".

Bucky nuzzled into Audrey's hair, "That's good...I prayed so much all night. I tried to sleep between here and there...I love you, Audrey.", and Audrey chuckled softly, "I had a feeling you were going to be like that...I love you too, Bucky...", before their hands on her baby bump felt an eager kick as her belly grumbled a bit more.

Audrey chuckled as Bucky laughed, and Audrey smiled, "Breakfast's right here back behind you...", and Bucky turned around slightly, grabbing the bar of the rolling breakfast cart, bringing it closer, and took a tray of a breakfast lid, lifting it up, and Audrey smiled brightly, "You have to admit that the hospital food is 5 stars better than on the surface.", as she received the tray, resting it on another pillow next to her, and began to eat with a relieving sigh of delight, "So good...Don't worry, Reese, food is on the way...", as Bucky got the other tray for himself, and began to eat as well.

"And he's holding up good too?", Bucky asked as Audrey nodded, "Yep, no more complaints, it seems. Everything seemed to be fixed and now he can just rest easy until he's ready to come out.".

Bucky chuckled softly, "And to think, he and Franklin might just have cojoining birthdays today...", and Audrey smiled, "Maybe...After all, they're finishing up the vacation tomorrow.", stroking her baby bump with a free hand as she kept eating between comments.

Bucky nodded, and so they enjoyed breakfast, with Audrey waddling carefully with Bucky's help to the bathroom and one of the few recovering patient wing's gardens for fresh air, before returning to the room where Audrey was again checked by Nola.

Nola replied as she scanned Audrey, "Looks like everything's top notch of your body, regular heartbeat and such, and for Reese, has he been active for you this fine morning?".

Audrey nodded, "More than before, testing his new strength on my bladder and kidneys, unfortunately...", and Nola chuckled softly, "Couldn't blame him. He grew up over the past few days to full term quite determinedly, and now I guess he is seeing the consequences of being in cramped spaces which he is already settling into position to leave.".

Bucky blinked in surprise, "He's already prepped to be headfirst?", and Nola chuckled, "Getting there, but yes. If I am not mistaken, he might be ready in a matter of hours. But first, I believe you have a little girl who's in the waiting room after getting the good news. Shall I get her?", with a warm smile.