Eleanor took in the others' looks at them, "Have we done something wrong? I couldn't dare dream of hurting Audrey, let alone the baby!", as Franklin patted her shoulder, petting it softly, "I'm sure they would explain what's going on as I'm as confused as you are, Eleanor.".
The others tried to think of what to say before Steve replied, "Well, sir, it's really important to be open-minded here, okay? Let's start on this. Do you believe that all good and innocent souls watch from the heavens?".
The Roosevelt couple gave him a look for a moment as once again they were being asked about being open-minded. "Yes...", Roosevelt nodded. "Though, I will admit, I'm not exactly the most devout of men with it comes to church compared to, say, others.".
Peggy replied, "We don't do church here, because we all believe in all-found faith to the Great Kings and Queens of the Past and the Creator in the fact that we do not ask selfishly of the powers that be. When we do that, we get miracles in our lives that goes by the way of reincarnation, hence some of our children. For me, it was Asher, he came back after I lost him in miscarriage.", glancing at her middle youngest who is playing in the kids' section of the waiting room with a wistful, blissful, grateful sigh as Steve squeezed her hand gently.
It took a few moments of silence when suddenly it clicked for Eleanor. "Wait, you don't mean to tell me... Oh my God...", she whispered as she suddenly started to tear up. "You don't mean that their child is...".
Milo nodded gently, "Yes, Eleanor, it's your boy, Frank Jr.", having read the papers, and heard the account from Thaddeus long ago when it happened as Franklin's breath caught, choked up with tears, "H-how?".
Kida replied, "Peacetime. I think he was waiting for a chance to be conceived by a set of parents he really likes to have, having seen how each couple cares for their children, and he chose Bucky and Audrey since you and Eleanor trust them the most next to Steve and Peggy...He knew somehow if he was reborn in somewhere between the war, he couldn't be able to handle the infusion of himself into a new body, even with his past condition without medicine or a really good hospital...Babies in theory, their souls were said to be wise and knowing beyond their years in heaven, yet having emotions all the same...And of course, he would know everything between you, having watched over you from the heavens, and coming back home to be born again, he must have wanted you guys to get better, to mend the pain between yourselves, and he is clearly understanding within his soul that you are better off getting divorced than married, which he is not upset about which I believe of.", with a soft nod.
Eleanor just burst into tears, some sad, but others happy as the wave of emotions really just hit her so hard at that moment while Franklin was trying to hold back his own.
The others remained quiet, giving the couple time to rejoice and grieve altogether in a bittersweet way, and after several minutes, with deep breaths and such, Eleanor then spoke concernedly, "Can he get through the operation?".
Sia replied, "It's not exactly like the surface, Eleanor, as we have more advanced healing, and from my guess, I believe your boy aggravated his past condition into fact by causing Audrey heartburn with his frenzy to eat more snacks and food throughout the past three days, using Audrey's crystal energy to boost himself into full-term. Some of the requested surface equipment are, I believe, is sensors for the oxygen, heartbeat, and such, if I am right about understanding Joshua and Bebinn's words. Nola will do the operation, but first, Audrey needs to rest for a while, with the baby needing to slow down in his hurry as he's having the basics of healing right now before the prep for the operation is ready as we found out that having Atlantean hospital technology together with the surface technology is somehow better than alone itself, maybe because it reaches the prime time it used to be before the Great Flood.".
"So, you think the odds of success are high?", Franklin asked as Sia nodded, "Yes, especially if Nola would be the one doing it. But that still isn't a sure chance of success, any number of complications could happen, but the chances would be slim. I just didn't want to give you absolute certainty in the off chance that I could be wrong.".
Eleanor sniffed, "Oh, gods...It's...Oh, Frankie, he's coming home!", with a sob, and Franklin rubbed her hand, her back, "I know...I...I am shocked yet I'm actually believing this...Jr, he made the right choice in Bucky and Audrey...We're essentially grandparents, yet parents as well at the same time as he knew that we are too old sadly, but it's like...".
Jacques replied, "A sunset into a sunrise for him.", with a smile, and Franklin exhaled, nodding with a smile, "Yeah...yes, that's right...We really gotta talk with Bucky and Audrey, to reassure them that it's alright...", with Eleanor nodding, "Yes, we need to tell them that they are the perfect parents for Jr!".
Footsteps sounded out, and they looked up to see Joshua carrying Marina, putting her down as she sprinted to the other children to join their playtime, and he smiled gently, "Let me guess, everything's explained?".
Eleanor replied, "Yes...can I and Franklin see them? We promise we won't be loud.", and Joshua nodded, "Of course, but not for too long. Audrey only can handle a few visitors each turn for at least a couple of hours while she's still awake, but she will need to sleep and rest then before we get the operation going at a steady point where they are both stable, understand?", looking at the others, knowing that they would want to see Audrey, encourage her that she can do it, to be strong to handle herself and the baby in the operation.
"Of course, we don't want to do anything that risks anything more...", Franklin said before the two of them were led on. In the room, Bucky was holding onto Audrey's hand tightly as she was gently brushing his hair. "I'm sorry we frightened you so, James...", Audrey told him as he smiled a bit with a few tears on the verge of his eyes.
Bucky chuckled softly, "You only say my real name when it's serious, Audrey...And it wasn't completely your fault nor the little guy's fault, we just didn't expect it out of nowhere like that. I'm just so relieved that you're alright now, both of you...", with a warm sigh as he stroked her baby bump with his other hand.
"I am too... it... I really was scared for a bit there... that it was...", Audrey shook her head. "Like with Peggy that first time?", Bucky raised an eyebrow as Audrey reluctantly nodded.
Bucky leaned up to kiss her on the lips, "Hey, I would always be here for you if that happened but thank the gods it wasn't that...But still, a heart condition...", with a soft murmur as Audrey's arm is veined with a tube to the healing water after the action of Nola and the female healers putting her almost completely to immerse herself and the baby in a tub of healing water when they got here earlier, smoothing the heartburn away within Audrey's heart.
Now with Audrey in bed and awake while she's resting partially, the vein tube is connected to her arm, to her heart, to the inner system that leads into the womb to help the baby calm down from his scare, to make sure he doesn't suffer pain from aggravating his heart condition any further, like he did earlier, making hiccups, cries and such of pain during the ride which was terrifying and scary for the couple as Audrey had felt every agonizing moment of the baby's emotions.
Audrey exhaled with a little smile, "You have to admit his persistence to want to grow to full term, and now he is, we couldn't blame him for being determined...", as she enveloped Bucky's hand on her baby bump with hers, feeling the baby tumble around, giving little kicks as if he's ashamed and guilty of his actions over the past few days and tonight.
"Still hard to think at times... the fact that we're going to have a son... but of course, can't ever be too simple with our children, huh? Always something to worry us half to death and keep us on our toes, huh?", Bucky said.
Audrey gave a little giggle, "I guess since we are mainly connected to Atlantis, the whole family of our friends from the first expedition and all were prone to have unusual lives as we're not exactly normal...I have a strange feeling when our children are grown up, they would keep the trend going...".
Bucky chuckled, "When you point it out like that, I think you're right...Marina and our son here...Siblings, but also their own persons...Just like the other kiddos and all...Heck, we're not even going to age normally either...", with a smile.
Audrey smiled as she brushed his hair warmly, "It's like Peggy said to me once. Normal is overrated, anyway.", and Bucky gave a warm laugh, "We are so going to have tons of albums to look back on...Lots of adventures...You hear me, kiddo? You listen to Mami here and everything is going to be fine, and you can literally be able to be anywhere.".
An eager kick came, not too hard or not too excited, but enough to show his determination, listening to Bucky, and Bucky chuckled, "That's my trooper.", with a kiss to the baby bump. They heard a knock, and they glanced at the door, with Joshua ducking his head in, "Hey. I got Franklin and Eleanor. You still feeling good, Audrey?".
"Much better now, still a bit worried but... certainly not in the almost full panic it was before.", Audrey admitted. "So... are they good themselves?", she asked Joshua.
Joshua nodded, "Yeah, they know what's going on, and they're surprised, but happy and anxious.", and Audrey smiled in relief as Bucky exhaled with a relieved sigh, and she replied, "Send them in.".
"Alright.", Joshua nodded and opened the door fully for Franklin to roll in, with Eleanor after him, and then closed the door after them, and the couple stopped momentarily, looking at Audrey and the baby bump mainly, and Audrey smiled softly, "It's okay, guys, come closer. He's resting yet awake. I think he just wants to be sure that we're here, considering his scare...".
"Are you sure we'll be alright?", Eleanor asked as Audrey chuckled, "Yes, you're fine, please, come closer...". Franklin rolled to the other side of the bed, siding to the bed, with Eleanor lightly sitting on opposite him, next to Audrey's up rested pillow of the bed, as they glanced at the baby bump before Franklin cleared his throat, "Sorry...", looking at Audrey.
"We're not in public or anything, you two. I'm decent in a very comfortable hospital gown, on a very comfortable bed...It's okay, say something, go touch...All reincarnated babies in this family are aware, but aware on a strong sense, but still vague as they are somewhat like normal babies when they get born, for they are not all-knowing now like in the heavens, so he still remembers important things including you two.", Audrey smiled reassuringly before gasping softly at a tentative kick, "I think he's realizing that you're in the room as he must have figured out that I'm talking to you right now. You two are part of this and we're hoping that you aren't upset that he chose us...It's still amazing to us.", gesturing warmly for them to lean closer from the wheelchair and such.
"Doesn't have much of a choice in not being able to choose us.", Eleanor cracked a small joke. "Just too old now...", she said as Audrey and Bucky almost wanted to laugh at that idea considering that they knew a few parents around here thought 'too old'.
Since Nola and Joshua had thought that before they received miracles in their triplets while being in their 40s, but yeah, it's technically true that Franklin and Eleanor are in their 60s, making them too old for conceiving and raising kids now, but it doesn't mean that they aren't too old to at least spoil the kids and such.
Franklin reached his hand out, glancing at Audrey who nodded again, "He won't bite. He would just kick, that's all.", with a warm smile, and Franklin exhaled, resting his hand on Audrey's baby bump through the blanket and the hospital gown, speaking clearly but not too loud, "J-Junior?".
A kick came in earnest, not too hard, as Franklin gasped, laughing softly with tears, "Eleanor, it's him...", looking at Eleanor, holding her hand in mid-air, pausing as she looked at Franklin and the baby bump back and forth with awe and shock before she moved her hand to join near Franklin's hand.
"I know it's a lot to take in...", Audrey said. "Considering everything but...", shrugging helplessly. "No, no... it's okay...", Franklin said as he was trying to wipe his eyes.
Eleanor was all but in awe and bittersweet joy as she and Franklin felt the kicks, "He's a bit more active than before...", tears in her eyes.
Bucky suggested, "Probably because he knows he is in good hands, getting real help for his heart condition to slow the palpations to be less painful on him than before, and now it can be fixed tonight...He'd possibly look like me and Audrey a bit more, but he would have a couple of features from you guys when he's ready to come out into the world, perhaps sometime after the operation, or during tomorrow.", with a nod and a gentle smile.
"And you're sure he'll probably could be alright?", Eleanor asked as Bucky smiled, "Ma'am, I promise you; we'll take care of him with all our heart and effort, hell, perhaps even a bit more considering that he's also a part of you two as well.".
Audrey replied, "And honestly, we would get away with Junior easily if he's named after a family descendant...including you, sir...", and Franklin replied, "No...I...I made that mistake...I don't want to do it a third time, even if it was truly his name...Being Junior is well enough...", and a kick answered him, and Franklin sniffled, smiling, "He knows that his other brother with the same name is better off with it...".
Bucky replied, "Well, I suppose we could let him decide...James Junior?". No reply. "Manuel Junior?". No reply. Bucky pursued his lips in deep thought before blinking in surprise and asked, "Reese Junior?". A kick.
Franklin and Eleanor widened their eyes as Franklin spoke softly, "Resse James Jr. Barnes?". No reply. Franklin exhaled, "Reese Franklin Jr. Barnes?". A kick. Franklin gave a sob as his pseudo-son clearly had forgiven him for his mistake and wanted him still as part of the family.
Eleanor glanced at Bucky, "Reese?", and Bucky smiled wryly, "I think he doesn't want to forget his past of being a Roosevelt as far as he could remember, so Reese is taken from some of the surname.".
"I think that's a very well-fitting name for him now...", Franklin said. "Thank you, both of you... for doing that little bit for us.". Audrey smiled warmly, "You're welcome, Franklin...", before she yawned briefly, and Eleanor smiled, "Come on, Frankie, let's head back to the waiting room and give the others their turn while Audrey is still awake before she gets too tired...Audrey, you and Reese can do this, you will get through the operation...".
Audrey nodded, "Thank you. I know we will.", and the Roosevelts smiled before they left the room, heading back to the waiting room. Indeed, the rest of the makeshift family had their turns, to have gentle hugs and such with Audrey for barely an hour before it was noticed that Audrey is too tired. Joshua then ordered that visiting hours are over for the others except for Bucky which Joshua and Nola wouldn't blame him for, with the scare and all.
Bucky stayed with Audrey as she went to sleep, managing to fit besides her, wanting to hold her, feel her and Reese as he couldn't sleep without knowing that they are breathing comfortably, lasting for at least a few hours with Nola and Joshua occasionally checking the vitals and such.
Finally, it was time for the operation...Audrey caressed Bucky's cheek, "Everything's going to be okay, James...After all, I'm the daughter of Ana and Manuel, sister of Nerissa, and mother of Marina and Reese, and wife to you, and a friend to our huge makeshift family. I and Resse have everything to fight for...", as she used the bathroom, and then now resting on one of the surgical beds, before the doors that led to the surgical wing.