Weeks had passed since Abyss last saw Lucy. Though he continued his mission to aid various facilities, volunteering his time and resources, the conclusion of his contract with the clinic meant he hadn't checked in on her.
Despite his busy schedule, his thoughts would occasionally drift back to Lucy, wondering how she was faring. He knew, however, that he couldn't afford to linger on these thoughts; there was still so much work ahead, and he was acutely aware of how far he'd strayed from the original purpose of his time in Main World. Time was slipping by faster than he had anticipated.
One evening, after a long day negotiating with an orphanage he planned to support, Abyss walked home alone under the amber glow of the setting sun. The quiet was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone; an unknown number flashing on the screen. Abyss hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Blake Orpheus?" a woman's voice on the line asked.
Abyss confirmed his identity, his curiosity piqued.
"We're calling because you were listed as the emergency contact for Miss Lucy Williams," the woman explained. "Miss Williams has been hospitalized, and we felt it necessary to inform you."
Abyss's heart sank. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Urgency spiked through his veins as he pressed for details and asked for the hospital's location, which the woman provided promptly.
"What happened to her?" Abyss asked, already picking up his pace as he made his way toward the hospital.
"The information I was provided stated that one of her illnesses flared up and severely impacted her system," the woman on the phone explained. "She's currently in critical condition."
The call ended, and Abyss sprinted toward the hospital. As he arrived, he hurried to the reception desk, confirming Lucy's room number before rushing to her side.
Upon entering, he was met with the sight of Lucy, frail and pale, lying in the hospital bed with an oxygen mask covering her face. Her breaths were labored, her heartbeat weak and uneven; he could hear it from where he was. The room was filled with a somber silence as doctors hovered over her, their expressions a mix of concern and resignation.
Abyss approached one of the doctors, his voice strained. "How did this happen?" he asked. "Did she refuse her medication again?"
"No, it's not that," the doctor replied, shaking his head. "Lucy's condition is complicated. Her body is a battleground of various illnesses, some active, and some dormant. Sometimes these conditions clash, and when they do, the effects can be catastrophic."
Abyss's eyes widened in horror as the doctor continued. "Given her current state, I fear she has only a few weeks left at best. And that's if we're extremely lucky."
Abyss felt a surge of helplessness wash over him as he watched Lucy's fragile form, his heart heavy with the weight of her suffering. He stood there, powerless, unable to grasp the extent of the pain she was enduring, knowing all too well that time was slipping away from her faster than anyone could imagine.
A few days passed in the hospital, and Lucy finally stirred from her unconscious state. As she opened her eyes, she saw Abyss, who immediately reacted to her awakening.
"Lucy?" Abyss's voice was filled with surprise and concern.
Tears began to stream down Lucy's cheeks as Abyss turned toward the door, calling out for any nearby doctors. The medical team arrived swiftly, performing scans and attending to her needs for several hours, leaving Abyss waiting anxiously outside. When they finished, he was finally allowed back in.
As he walked into the room, Abyss noticed the deep sadness in Lucy's eyes. She sat on the bed, her silence heavy with unspoken sorrow. Abyss approached quietly and settled on a chair beside her, his concern evident.
"How are you feeling?" Abyss asked softly.
"I don't even know anymore," Lucy replied, her voice trembling with pain.
The room fell into a quiet stillness, Abyss struggling to find the right words. He observed that the oxygen mask was no longer on her face, which was a positive sign, but he knew there was still much she was grappling with internally.
"I don't even know why I keep trying to stay alive," Lucy suddenly said, her voice cracking as tears pooled in her eyes.
"Don't say that," Abyss responded gently, trying to offer comfort.
"But it's true," Lucy continued, her frustration evident. "I don't think there's anything left for me in this world. No one will even miss me."
Upon hearing her words, Abyss stood and moved closer to her on the bed. His expression was serious, more resolute than she had ever seen, as he took both of her hands in his.
"Look at me," Abyss said firmly, causing Lucy to hesitate. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you have nothing left to live for."
Lucy's silence spoke volumes, her reluctance clear. But Abyss wasn't finished. "I understand your frustration," he continued. "I might not be in the same situation, but trust me, I understand it."
Time passed in silence as Abyss held her gaze. "Tell me if there is anything at all in this world you want to do," he said, his voice earnest. "Anything at all, no matter how stupid it may sound out loud, and I will help you make it happen. And if you truly have nothing left, I won't press you further."
The silence stretched between them before Lucy's tears finally broke through. She slowly turned to Abyss, her sorrow etched deeply in her eyes as she struggled to find her voice.
"I want... a family," Lucy confessed softly, tears streaming down her cheeks in abundance. "I want to have a child, and a husband. I want to know what it feels like to be a mother."
Abyss listened to her words, feeling the weight of her longing and the dreams held back by her fragile health. Despite knowing the obstacles ahead, he smiled gently. Leaning closer, he placed a tender kiss on her lips. Lucy's eyes widened in surprise, but as she slowly closed them, she melted into the kiss, allowing herself to be vulnerable in his embrace.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. During that time, Abyss and Lucy were married, a union that was surprising to everyone. But even more astounding was the news that followed: Lucy was pregnant with Abyss's child, something doctors had deemed nearly impossible due to her numerous health conditions.
They moved in together, and Abyss remained constantly by her side, helping her through every challenge. Although Lucy's illnesses persisted, she fought back with relentless determination. Weekly checkups became routine, but each time, Lucy defied the odds and continued to persevere.
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As the months passed, Lucy's pregnancy progressed, and every doctor was baffled. Her conditions, which had once posed significant risks, seemed to have a different result than what had been anticipated. Even more miraculous was the baby she carried. The baby was healthy and untouched by any of Lucy's ailments, a medical anomaly that left specialists scratching their heads.
Finally, as the ninth month arrived, the day came for Lucy to give birth. She was wheeled into the hospital on a stretcher, with Abyss never leaving her side.
"You have already overcome all odds against you," Abyss whispered, holding her hand tightly. "You're stronger than anyone could imagine, and I know you can overcome this too."
Lucy smiled through the pain, drawing strength from his words as they entered the delivery room together. The doctors prepared for the operation, and it was already clear that it wouldn't be easy.
Lucy struggled through labor, each push taking everything she had. The nurses urged her to keep going, and Lucy, breathless and exhausted, tried her hardest. Abyss stayed close, gripping her hand firmly, his presence a constant reassurance.
"You can do this," he encouraged, his voice unwavering even as Lucy screamed in agony. "I'm right here."
She clung to his words, fighting through the pain with every ounce of her being.
The doctors turned to Abyss, their expressions tense as they urged him to step outside, but Abyss's reaction was immediate and fierce. He shot them a menacing glare, his voice unwavering and firm.
"I will not leave," he declared, his tone unyielding.
"You will not leave," one of the doctors repeated, his voice sounding oddly compliant, before refocusing on Lucy.
Lucy's eyes widened in astonishment at the strange exchange, but the relentless pain quickly tore her attention away. She continued to push, her cries echoing throughout the room. As moments went by, the doctors suddenly called out that they could see the baby's head.
Abyss's face lit up with joy as he turned back to her, his grip on her hand tightening. "Do you hear that, Lucy?" he said, his voice filled with hope. "You're so close. I know you can do it."
The sound of Lucy's strained breaths filled his ears, and though her agony was unmistakable, Abyss held onto hope, urging her forward with every encouraging word.
As the moments dragged on, Lucy turned her head to Abyss, her face pale but adorned with a genuine smile. She mustered the strength to speak, her voice tinged with gratitude. "Thank you…" she whispered. "for everything."
"You don't need to worry about all that now," Abyss replied, his smile unwavering. "Just focus on what matters now; your family and the dream you're about to make real."
Lucy pushed on, her body straining with each effort. The room began to blur around her, and the lights above seemed unbearably bright. The noises of the doctors and machines faded into a distant hum, but then, piercing through the haze, she heard the faint cries of a newborn.
Abyss's gaze snapped toward the nurses, who were carefully lifting the child from Lucy's body. Lucy, still dazed, could hear the cries even clearer now. However, she could barely make out the shapes before her, the overwhelming light above her washing everything out as she glanced toward it.
She felt detached and surreal, her breaths rapid and uneven as if she were in another realm. The glare of the lights intensified, almost blinding, as she instinctively raised her hand, shielding her eyes from it in slight frustration.
"I need shade," Lucy whispered, her voice nearly inaudible as she gasped. "Shade... I need... Shade."
Abyss immediately turned to her, alarmed by the frailty in her voice. But before he could respond to her, the doctor caught his attention with a gentle smile.
"Congratulations, Mr. Orpheus," the doctor announced. "It's a boy."
Abyss stood in stunned disbelief, his breath catching as a small, trembling smile crept onto his face. "It's… a boy?" he repeated, the words filled with a mixture of joy and disbelief.
His smile broadened, a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh escaping his lips as he turned toward Lucy. "Lucy," he called softly, his eyes brimming with joy as he turned towards her, "it's a…"
But as his gaze settled on her, his heart sank. Lucy lay still, her eyes nearly closed, her head turned to the side towards him. Yet, on her face remained a clear, broad smile; one that appeared beautiful. Abyss's ears filled with the slow, fading rhythm of her heartbeat, the sound becoming an unbroken flatline from the machine beside them that echoed ominously throughout the room.
Panic set in as the doctors rushed to her side, frantically working to revive her, while nurses whisked the baby away for cleaning. Abyss stood frozen, unable to tear his eyes from Lucy's peaceful expression. Slowly, he backed up and collapsed into a nearby chair, his body heavy with a sorrow he could scarcely comprehend.
The frantic attempts of the doctors blurred around him as he watched them press the defibrillator to her chest, each jolt a desperate attempt to revive her. Abyss felt utterly powerless. Suddenly, a strange, wet sensation on his right hand pulled his attention away for a moment. He glanced down, his left hand touching the drop on his right briefly before reaching up to touch his cheek, brushing against what appeared to be a teardrop.
His eyes stung with the unfamiliar sensation of tears as they spilled over, his shock and sorrow overwhelming. Everything around him felt surreal, but as Abyss slowly raised his head, his eyes drifted toward the door, now slightly ajar, where a towering figure, around eight feet tall stood silently.
It was Nekro, who remained silent, his eyes clouded with a deep sadness as he looked back at Abyss. The doctors and nurses rushed around him as they darted into the room, their frantic movements moving them around Nekro as if they were oblivious to his presence.
In his right hand, Nekro wielded Banisher, the Scythe from the Divine Arsenal, as his sorrowful gaze met Abyss. Noticing this, Abyss slowly rose to his feet, the weight of the moment pressing heavily upon him. He understood the order of things and what Nekro's presence meant. He knew that he could not interfere with it.
Without a word, Abyss moved toward the door, his steps slow and heavy as the doctors continued their desperate attempts to save Lucy. He passed by Nekro, who remained still and facing forward, offering a silent acknowledgment of Abyss's grief. Nekro chose not to turn to face him, sensing the unspoken pain his fellow god carried as he walked out of the room.
After a few moments of stillness, Nekro finally stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the room. His presence was calm, unhurried, and heavy with the inevitability of his task.
A woman gently rocked a cradle, her eyes fixed lovingly on the tiny bundle inside. A soft smile graced her lips as she gazed down, filled with a quiet joy.
"You know, it's okay if you want to cry," she whispered, her voice tender and soothing. "Mommy's here to wipe your tears and take care of you."
The woman was Natalie, her expression tender as she looked at the baby nestled in the crib she gently swayed. A bottle of formula rested in her hand, ready to comfort her child. Sol sat a short distance away, a quiet smile on his face as he listened to Natalie's gentle words. Suddenly, the sound of the doorbell rang through the room, causing Sol's smile to falter as he rose from his seat.
"I'll be back," Sol said softly, his gaze lingering on Natalie. "I'll go see who's at the door."
"Were you expecting anyone?" Natalie asked, her eyes briefly meeting his. Sol shook his head, confirming that he was not.
As Sol left the room, Natalie turned her attention back to the baby. She continued to rock the cradle, her smile softening.
"You know," she said quietly, her eyes full of affection, "it's good that you're so calm, but it's a little concerning that you barely cry, Klaus."
Meanwhile, Sol reached the front door and opened it. On the other side stood Abyss, holding a small bundle wrapped in a blanket. Sol's breath caught in his throat, his expression shifting to one of shock and immediate understanding as he took in the sight before him. Abyss's usually stoic and cheerful expression was broken, his eyes filled with sorrow as silent tears streamed down his cheeks; a sight that had never been witnessed on a God.
Minutes passed, and Natalie continued to engage with Klaus, his serene silence persisting. Eventually, Sol reentered the room, his movements slow and heavy, and the weight of the moment hung around him.
"You were gone for a while, Sol," Natalie remarked, still focused on Klaus before finally turning towards Sol. "Is everything alright?"
As she looked up, Natalie noticed the deep sadness etched across Sol's face. Her own smile faltered, replaced by concern. But before she could speak, her attention was drawn to a faint, soft crying coming from the bundle Sol cradled in his arms.
"Nat," Sol began, his voice unusually soft, almost fragile, "there's something important I need to ask of you… something extremely important."
Natalie's eyes slowly shifted to the blanket in Sol's arms, and she saw the infant nestled within, its cries delicate yet heart-wrenching. She immediately understood the request Sol was about to make.
Gently, Natalie stepped forward, her movements calm and assured as she grew a warm smile. She reached out and took the crying child from Sol, cradling it tenderly in her arms as she smiled towards him.