My body felt numb.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

"Then try and do something about it! What must be done?" I demanded.

"We'll have to perform an emergency cesarean section to take the baby out. If it stays in there any longer it'll die. They both will." He explained. "I have to get my other team members to assist me. I cannot do this alone. I can't go to my wife and children tonight, with the death of an infant and it's father on my hands. Nurse Fay, go and call the other surgeons. Tell them they're needed in the private ward." He told her and she nodded, scurrying out of the room.

I swallowed, gazing at Asche who was barely breathing now, his face pale.

"What are the chances, Reynolds, I need to know." I pleaded, feeling my throat tighten with emotion.

His lips turned down and he took his glasses off rubbing his eyes. He probably hasn't slept in days. A doctor's job is never done. "Fifty percent chance for Asche if the baby is successfully removed. About Twenty-five if he delivers it through his anus, which is highly unlikely. He can barely keep his eyes open. The child is in distress as well. We must remove it now or we'll lose them both. Will you give us permission to perform a c-section? You'll have to sign the papers if he's unable."

"If that's what will save them both then yes, I will," I said without a doubt.

He placed his glasses back on, his expression was still grim. "I must also inform you that if it happens where both of them are in critical condition and a decision has to be made where only one can be saved, you have to make that call. Be mentally prepared. This happens sometimes and it's a tough pill to swallow. I just want you to know this. Let me prepare to roll him into surgery. It's going to be a long night."

He strode past me to switch the brakes from the wheels of the bed, waiting for his team members to come. I went over to Asche and held his hand in mine.

I needed to feel him. To remember the touch of his skin because when they wheel him into that room, I may not be able to come in.

"Asche, can you hear me, love?" Tears filled my eyes and I blinked them away.

He moaned in response and his eyeballs rolled behind his lashes. "If you can hear me, I want you to know that I'll always love you and I need you to be strong for me, love. For our baby. Okay?" I kissed his hand just as the team came bustling in, ready to take my mate into surgery.

The nurse, Fay, was leading them with a notepad in her hands, offering it to me. It was a consent form for them to do the c-section on Asche. I quickly scribbled my signature and gave it back to her. She gave me an encouraging smile, mouthing. "He's going to be alright. He's in good hands."

Yet my heart thundered in my chest.

***

I paced the waiting room biting my fingernails and running my hands through my hair ever so often. Zyros paced as well, the suspense was eating us alive.

Deja-vu struck hard and it didn't help with the boiling apprehension I felt inside. I lost one child, am I going to lose another as well as my mate?

Must bad luck follow me for the rest of my life? I trembled, unable to even think properly. My mind felt jumbled and I felt lost.

Asche was basically unresponsive. Was our child slowly killing him? Was his body too fragile to birth my seed?

Urgh! I wanted to set something on fire!

"Drakos, calm down your face is becoming red." Felicia stepped over to me with growing worry.

"You do not know what I'm going through right now!" I snapped, my eyes wet with tears. "My mate may not make it, my child may not make it and I must stay calm! The bloody fates have fucked me over repeatedly and I must stay calm!?" My eyes were inflamed and Felicia gasped, taking a step back.

"Brother, get a hold of yourself!" Falcon hurried over, grabbing Felicia protectively by the shoulder, moving her away. "You are drawing attention to us and you are frightening your own sister! Have you gone mad!?" He hissed, clearly angry.

I focused on Felicia, noticing the utter terror in her eyes, instantly feeling regret.

"Felicia, please forgive me. It was not my intention to snap at you. I'm just...I'm just not myself." My voice cracked.

"It's alright." She reached out and touched my arm. "We all understand. Do not shoulder this on your own. I feel your grief brother, we are as one and when you hurt, we hurt. Asche would not want you to lose yourself. Because if you do, how will you ever be able to find him?"

Tears stung my eyes and I swallowed a hard lump in my throat. "I'll try. Their fate is in my hands and I'm not just speaking figuratively. I feel as if I'm going to have a mental breakdown. If he dies, I cannot go on without him. If our child dies, another part of me will be torn to pieces. I'm crumbling and I can't keep myself together much longer. I can't do it, I cant make that decision, it'll kill me. I'd rather kill myself before I do."

"Hush, brother. Don't say such things," She embraced me and I felt another pair of arms swathe around me as I wept on her shoulder. It was Falcon's.

"Let's think positive. They both will make it." She said.

Falcon kept silent as Felicia rubbed my back and he stroked my hair. I must be dreaming. A horrible nightmare that I'll wake up from only to find my mate lying beside me in our bed at the penthouse, sleeping peacefully, swollen with our child.

The doors of the surgery room opened and Dr. Reynolds emerged from within, looking worse than he did before they rushed Asche in.

I broke free from my siblings and went over to him, quivering.

His eyes held bags beneath them as he looked at me. The doctor was tired and I knew he tried his best. I fought the urge to drop to my knees and burst out in tears.

Everyone gathered around for him to deliver the news.

"The baby made it," He said.

The audible release of breaths filled the space, however, I sensed a 'but' coming right after.

"However, Asche is losing blood rapidly. We're trying to give him a blood transfusion but his body is rejecting it. He's vomiting out the fluid. I'm sorry, we tried our best. He doesn't have much time left. He's bleeding out quickly."

An anguished wailed tore from my lips and Falcon held me as I covered my face and wept.

"You have to try harder!" Stephon cried. "He can't leave us! He made a promise!"

Kirk engulfed him in a comforting embrace as he sobbed brokenly.

"I'm sorry." Dr. Reynolds repeated sadly as the room was filled with agonized cries.

***