Holy crap, Adam you need to wake up and see what's happening
Belphegor: *walking quickly beside the gurney as the medical team wheels Adam through the hospital doors* Straight to the maternity surgical wing. Keep him on oxygen, keep monitoring his temperature, and someone notify the operating team that weāre here.
Lucifer: *hurrying beside Adam, one hand hovering uselessly like he wants to touch him but is afraid to get in the way* Adam? Adam, sweetheart, weāre here. We made it.
Alastor: *walking on Adamās other side, smile thinner than usual, eyes sharp as he watches every nurse and doctor move around them Pride Ring Hospital*.
Nurse: *checking Adamās chart while another nurse starts attaching monitors* Patient is Adam. Forty-two weeks pregnant, fever present, possible dehydration, scheduled for emergency cesarean.
Lucifer: *flinches slightly at the word emergency* But heās going to be okay, right?
Belphegor: That is what we are here to make sure of. firmly Both of them.
Adam: *barely stirring on the gurney, brows pinching as the bright hospital lights pass overhead* Mmnā¦ too brightā¦
Lucifer: *immediately leaning closer* Hey. Hey, there you are.
Alastor: *softening his voice, one clawed hand carefully brushing Adamās hair back from his damp forehead* Wakey wakey, darling. Only a little. No need to be heroic.
Adam: *blinks slowly, unfocused, trying to figure out where he is* Whā¦ whereā¦?
Lucifer: Hospital. Pride Ring Hospital. Youāre safe.
Adam: *his eyes open a little wider, confused and foggy* Hospitalā¦? Whyām Iā¦ whyām I moving?
Nurse: Weāre taking you to pre-op, sir. We need to do a quick examination before surgery.
Adam: *tenses immediately* Surgery? Whoās going surgery?
Alastor: You are my dear.
Adam: No Iām not *tries weakly to sit up, panic cutting through the feverish haze* No. No, wait. What the fuckā why am I in a hospital?
Lucifer: *goes pale, then forces himself to sound calm* Itās okay. Itās okay, Adam. Belphegor has everything ready.
Alastor: *places a gentle but firm hand on Adamās shoulder, not pushing him down harshly, just grounding him* Easy now. Youāve been very sick, sweetheart. And very stubborn. A dangerous combination, Iām afraid.
Adam: *breathing faster, looking between* Lucifer, Alastor, and the nurses I was in bed. I was sleeping. Why are thereā why are there people touching me?
Lucifer: *takes Adamās hand carefully* Theyāre helping you. Theyāre just checking you and the baby.
Adam: *looks down at his stomach, then back at Lucifer, voice small and hoarse* The baby?
Lucifer: *squeezes his hand* The baby is still there. Weāre going to get them out safely.
Adam: *confused tears start gathering in his eyes before he seems to realize it himself* Noā¦ no, Iām not ready. I donāt wannaā I donāt wanna do this right now.
Alastor: *his smile fades into something much gentler, his thumb slowly stroking Adamās hairline* I know, darling. I know. But your little tenant has overstayed their lease.
Adam: *breath hitching* Alastor, donāt joke.
Alastor: *quietly* I wasnāt...
Belphegor: *steps closer, voice low and steady* Adam. Listen to me. Youāre overdue. Your body is exhausted, you have a fever, and the baby is too large for a natural delivery. The safest choice now is a C-section.
Adam: *stares at her, trying to process it through the fog* Cut me open?
Lucifer: *quickly* Youāll be asleep for it. Or numb. Orā whatever Belphegor says is safest. You wonāt be alone. Weāre right here.
Nurse: *gently adjusting the blood pressure cuff on Adamās arm* Iām just checking your blood pressure, okay? This will squeeze for a moment.
Adam: *jerks slightly at the sensation* Stopā donātā donāt tie me down.
Alastor: *immediately leans closer, voice smooth and low, almost like a radio hum softened into a lullaby* No one is tying you down. Itās only a cuff, Adam. It lets them see how hard your heart is working.
Adam: *swallows, still breathing too fast* I donāt like it.
Lucifer: I know. I know, baby. Just look at me, okay? Donāt look at the machines. Look at me.
Adam: *turns his head toward Lucifer, eyes glassy and frightened* Lu? Whatās wrong? You look scared.
Lucifer: *laughs shakily, eyes wet* Yeah. Well. You scared the shit out of me, so thatās fair.
Lucifer: Donāt you dare apologize. Just keep looking at me.
Nurse: Still elevated. Not dangerously high, but heās warm. Heart rate is up.
Adam: *tries to pull his hand free when another nurse reaches for his other arm* Whatās that?
Nurse 2: IV line. Fluids and medication. Youāre dehydrated, sweetheart.
Adam: *voice cracks* Back off! I donāt want needles!
Lucifer: *leans in more, brushing his lips against Adamās knuckles* I know. I know. Squeeze my hand.
Adam: *grips Luciferās hand tightly*
Lucifer: Owā okay, good grip, very good grip, wowā
Adam: *winces as the IV is placed* Fuckā¦
Lucifer: Thatās it. Thatās the hard part. You did it.
Adam: *mumbles* I hate all of you.
Alastor: Of course you do, darling.
Belphegor: *watching the monitors* Babyās heartbeat?
Nurse: Strong. A little stressed, but strong.
Adam: *immediately focuses on that* Stressed?
Belphegor: Not failing. Not gone. Just telling us we need to move quickly.
Adam: *his face crumples for a second* Is it my fault?
Lucifer: No. No, Adam, absolutely not.
Alastor: *voice goes firm, almost sharp with protectiveness* Not another word of that.
Adam: But I kept saying I didnāt wanna give birth. I kept saying the baby should stay inā
Lucifer: You were sick and half-asleep. That doesnāt mean you hurt them.
Alastor: Babies are notoriously inconsiderate little creatures. They do not make medical decisions based on grumbled fever-nonsense.
Adam: *looks at him weakly* That supposed to help?
Alastor: Sort of. At least a little I hope.
Lucifer: *leans close, forehead almost touching Adamās temple* Listen to me. You carried them this whole time. You kept them safe for 42 weeks. Now itās our turn to help you both.
Adam: *breathing shakily* Damn it Lucifer, I canāt be crying like a little bitch.
Belphegor: *checking Adamās chart while the nurses continue their exam* Adam, I need you to answer a few questions. Do you know your name?
Adam: *hoarse*Yeah. Itās Adam.
Belphegor: Do you know where you are?
Adam: Iām pretty sure at a hospital, right?
Belphegor: Yes. Good. Now do you know who these two are?
Adam: *glances at Lucifer first* Short king panic disaster.
Adam: *then glances at Alastor* Creepy deer husband.
Alastor: Accurate enough.
Belphegor: Good. A little confused, but oriented.
Adam: frowns Iām not confused.
Belphegor: to the nurses Prep him for transfer to the surgical suite. Keep Lucifer and Alastor with him until anesthesia is ready.
Adam: tightens his grip on Luciferās hand again Wait. Youāre leaving?
Lucifer: No. No, Iām staying right here until they tell me I canāt.
Lucifer: Then Iāll be right outside. And Iāll be the first thing you see when you wake up.
Alastor: Second, perhaps.
Adam: *quiet for a moment, then whispers* Donāt let them take our baby away from me.
Alastor: *his expression softens completely* Never.
Lucifer: The second itās safe, theyāre bringing the baby to you. I promise.
Belphegor: Assuming all goes well, the baby can be placed with you as soon as youāre stable.
Adam: *opens his eyes just enough to look at Belphegor* Assuming?
Belphegor: *doesnāt sugarcoat it, but keeps her voice gentle* Surgery always has risks. But you are in the right place, with the right team, and we are not wasting time.
Adam: *nods faintly, overwhelmed*
Nurse: Weāre going to move you now, okay?
Adam: *suddenly nervous again as the gurney starts rolling* Waitā wait, I donātā!
Lucifer: *walks with him immediately, keeping hold of his hand* Iām here Adam. Iām right here.
Alastor: *on his other side, fingers still combing slowly through Adamās hair* Breathe, darling. In and out. No need to fight the entire hospital. Save some violence for recovery.
Adam: *shaky inhale* Fuck. I donāt wanna wake up alone.
Alastor: You have my word.
Adam: *eyes flicker between them, still feverish, still afraid, but a little calmer* Promise?
Lucifer and Alastor: *in unison* Promise.
Adam: *murmurs, drifting again as the medication and exhaustion pull at him* Baby better be cute after all thisā¦
Lucifer: *laughs softly, wiping at his own eyes with his free hand* They will be.
Alastor: With our combined influence? The child will be devastating.
Belphegor: *walking ahead as the surgical doors come into view* Weāre almost there.
Adam: *barely awake now, still clutching Luciferās hand* Donāt goā¦
Lucifer: *voice breaking, but gentle* Iām right here, Adam.
Alastor: *leans down, pressing a careful kiss to Adamās forehead* Sleep for now, sweetheart. When you wake up, youāll finally get to meet them.
Adam: *breathes out shakily, eyes fluttering shut again* Mākayā¦
Lucifer: *keeps holding his hand until the nurses pause at the surgical suite doors*
Nurse: This is where we need to take him in for final prep. One of you can come in once heās sterile and ready, depending on what Belphegor allows.
Lucifer and Alastor: *instantly, in unison* Me.
Belphegor: *looks between them, unimpressed* We are not doing this in the hallway. Which one of you of the father?
Lucifer and Alastor: *in unison* I am!
Belphegor: *sighs* Okay weāll deal were that bridge after the baby is born. Lucifer, youāll come in first if you can remain calm. Alastor, you stay close. If Lucifer faints, panics, or attempts to āangelically assistā with surgery, you swap.
The surgical doors open, and the team begins wheeling Adam inside. Lucifer follows as far as heās allowed, still holding Adamās hand until the last possible second. Alastor stands just outside the doors, smile gone, hands clasped tightly behind his back, listening to the steady beeping of the monitors like itās the only sound in Hell that matters.
