Robert spends the whole of that weekend emotionally processing the news, while also trying his best not to burst into happy tears when he tells Chase.
Chase is of course delighted, but also doubly worried about him.
Chase immediately gets on his computer to help Robert organise his healthcare going forward. Robert needs a GP, vitamins, the health insurance scheme from SDN, maybe even parental leave in a few months.
One of the elder's more immediate concerns is Robert's physical state...
Robert lost a lot of weight while in hospital - muscle and otherwise. Combined with his depressive state and poor diet, him being healthy enough for the second baby to hang on is a miracle.
Robert can only meekly protest, as he knows his brother is in the right. He hadn't been eating right in the last few weeks. After the loss, he could barely muster the energy to eat a lone Twinkie or a sip of water.
Something has got to give.
(Speaking of twinkies, he rediscovered the one he dropped in the breakroom on his desk after he left the medical ward - along with a napkin-wrapped donut of his liking. Now who could have done that?)
Robert's post-shift review with Blazer on Friday had been surprisingly upbeat. Despite the Z-Team's resistance and doubt in his abilities, they still followed Robert's lead. Invisigal's mission at Granny's had been the only major failure, and that was with an untrained medically-compromised solo super.
The three openly wonder if a mixture of tough love and trust is the key with the ex-villains.
Robert himself was trying his best not to shake in his seat from his medical review. The branch's main practitioner had sent him away with recommendations for OBs, and a prescription for pre-natal vitamins.
In Robert's joy, he'd completely forgotten to tell his new boss the good news.
Phenomaman seemed intimidating, but the alien's expression softened immensely as he took in Robert's appearance. In hindsight, he probably sensed something the average person couldn't - and seemed briefly pensive.
On Monday, Royd comes around to help transfer the Mech suit from Robert's storage unit to the SDN lab. Robert is honest about his sudden change of plans.
Royd is only mildly disappointed that Mecha Man won't be back in action for some time - but that's drowned out by his infectious congratulations! Plus the delay will give him and his tech team plenty of time to work on the new suit.
Robert requests an eject button and a parachute in the new model - citing that they might have saved the hero a lot of trouble if he had them the night of the explosion. Royd agrees - the mech can be replaced, but not the pilot.
Robert is in a pretty good mood, all things considered.
Then his new work computer yells a bunch of pornographic pop ups at him, and his emotions boil over all over the place. The Z-Team apologise for the ill-thought-out prank, and Robert quickly forgives them.
(Chase still threatens tf out of the team once Robert leaves with Blazer. His baby bro needs support, but he can do a lot better than a group of fuckup ex-criminals.)
When Blond Blazer calls Robert into her office, he thought it was because she overheard him telling the team about his pregnancy.
Being told that he was expected to fire one of the Z-Team was like a slap to the face.
Robert: "Uh, I am not doing that. This is barely my second shift, and if we cut one of them, it just sends the message that we don't care."
A brief argument leads to Robert and Blazer agreeing to see how the Team reacts if they think one of them is being cut. Then they'll hold a meeting about it before second shift.
Sabotage occurs, obviously. Robert is seconds away from kicking their asses when he calls the team meeting.
He formally reveals his medical development to the team. Sonar looks smug about knowing first.
He was not aware of the Cutting before him and Blazer met that morning. He was too busy mentally processing his own shit.
They need to shape up or ship out. Robert knows from today that each of them wants to be in the program, even if they're hesitant to admit it. Blazer's idea may have been short-sighted, but it definitely lit a fire under their asses.
Second Shift goes a lot more triumphantly.
Visi more bluntly tries to quit, only for Robert to reel her back in. He thinks even if her powers aren't ideal for the field, she can do so much good with them. That makes her feel even more guilty...
Thunderstruck is captured with their teamwork, proving Robert's point.
The team feel a little betrayed, but overwhelmingly relieved, when Blazer ultimately decides not to cut anyone from what she's seen throughout both shifts. She discusses having the Z-Team shadow more experienced heroes to better train them up.
Bonus Beef introduction to the Z-Team as suggested by @everyone-loves-everyone ;
In all the time Robert and Chase have known the chunky dog, Beef has shown no aggression to anything except the rare tough piece of meat.
So it's a huge surprise when Robert burst into tears at his desk, and Beef starts growling at the guilty party. Maybe even tries snapping at Punch Up when the Irishman gets too close for the dog's liking.
Chase has to hold the angry meatloaf back for the first time in his life.
The Z-Team are understanding at least, if not amused by the chubby dog trying to square up to them.
Beef is Robert's personal shadow for his time at SDN. The dog will purposefully follow him to the bathroom and breakroom like a little bodyguard.
At home, Robert realises that his beefy boy has been very protective of his stomach for weeks now! Damn dog knew about the hidden baby before anyone else did!
+Delightful Visi ideas from @ispeekrandom
Visi has... so much to repay Robert - not only for what she did, but for what he does to uplift her. He not only believes in her worth as a hero, but openly works with Blazer to better utilise Invisigal's powers and skills.
Robert just thinks the donuts and craving runs are the ex-thief's way of thanking him for the Thunderstruck situation. In reality, it's the smallest way Visi thinks she can start repaying him.
She still has a lil attraction to Robert, but not to the level of canon. Z-Team still teases the heck out of her for having a crush, like they're in grade school. XD
When push comes to shove, Visi will help Robert take his revenge on Shroud. Even if she's the one holding the knife...