Chapter Text
"Hmmngghh.." Chance whimpered, squeezing Guest's larger hand tightly as another contraction made itself known. Guest wanted to help Chance through this with his words, but he learned from when Daisy was in labor that sometimes, silence was just fine. The last thing Chance wanted when going through a contraction was sound, especially someone talking. It broke the last bit of focus he could muster up as the muscles in his lower abdomen tightened up. Chance bit his lip, slowly rolling his hips in a circular motion while remaining planted on a yoga ball that the nurses had offered when he had told them that he wanted to do this naturally. They said it could help him relieve pain while also helping their baby girl get into a better position for a smoother delivery. The gambler had done so much research on natural deliveries and what could help in the experience. Everyone had said it hurt...BADLY, but he really never understood until he found himself in the same position. "Guest...I can't do this..." They whimpered, stopping their hip movements as they lowered their head, feeling tears build up in their eyes. The ex-soldier took that as his sign he could finally speak, so he did just that.
"Yes you can, baby. Just breath- I'M FUCKING BREATHING!" Chance interrupted, snapping his head to the side, squeezing his husband's hand tighter, trying to show his anger...but his strength was quickly fading. Guest remained silent for a few seconds, not wanting to interrupt Chance if they had anything else to say to him, but when they also stayed quiet, he took that as his sign to speak. "The nurses said you can ask for an epidural anytime. Do you want me to request one?" He asked, looking deep into his husband's eyes, it was very clear that Chance was fighting that decision. He was six centimeters...but this pain was making him want to scream until his throat bled. "I-I don't want..." He couldn't even finish his sentence as the contraction finally hit its peak. "I want my mama.." Chance cried, feeling a wave of sadness overtake him, as if the pain wasn't bad enough. Guest frowned, gently moving his head to Chance's neck, delivering multiple kisses. Chance's mother had died seven months ago and Chance took it hard...really hard. Guest felt so hopeless seeing his husband mentally rot away in bed, especially since he was adamant that he wanted his mother to be in the delivery room with them.
Chance had always told Guest about his mother, mainly cause the ex-soldier was terrified to meet her. What if she didn't approve of him being a Guest? But, when he did meet her, he wished he had met her sooner. She was so benevolent and even offered to pay for dinner, Guest didn't allow that, but the offer was still nice. "I know, baby, I know..." He whispered, keeping his head buried. Chance wanted to go completely natural, just like his mother did with him, and after she died, it made Chance more encouraged to go natural. "Water..." They breathed out, staring directly at the bathroom that the hospital room had before speaking again. "I want to have her in water..." Guest had paused, staring at the bathroom ahead of them before he also connected the dots. "Alright, baby...let me go find a nurse." He said, standing up slowly, just in case his husband needed him, but fortunately, they were just fine.
Thankfully, Chance had met all the requirements to deliver in a tub, so after removing the last remaining pieces of clothes they had on, Guest had gently helped them into the tub, a warm sensation in his heart as a smile immediately hit Chance's face when everything below their chest was submerged in the water. It felt like pure bliss when the pain finally eased. "Aaahh...yeah.." Chance moaned in relief. The pain was still there, but it felt like the same ones he was having when he was four centimeters dilated. The nurses immediately moved around, checking both Chance and the baby's heart rate, which both appeared stable. Guest got on one knee, remaining just outside the tub. The couple had an amazing view of outside, and thankfully, the window was so high up in the hospital that you'd need a very specific angle if you wanted to see them. Chance smiled when they felt Guest's fingers run through their hair, comforting them with no words exchanged.
"I love you...I love you so much." The ex-soldier muttered, unable to stop staring at the handsome man that he had managed to secure, even after everything they had both been through. Thankfully, the contraction had eased, which allowed the two husbands to properly talk to each other. Chance sighed and leaned back in the tub, basking in the warm water. "I finally accepted you were telling the truth when you gave me our daughter." They said, choosing to talk to the other nurses, who had commented on the two lovebirds. Meanwhile, Guest couldn't look away from Chance. Everything about them was perfect...their hair, their face, their golden eyes, that radiant smile...he loved their soft hands, their legs, their hips, their stomach, pregnant and not pregnant. He had done so much wrong in his life...but despite that, life still deemed him worthy of happiness, he even got two beautiful daughters, albeit one was still on the way.
--
Naturally, when the actual birth began nearly two hours later, it was an incredibly stressful time. Guest was holding Chance's hand while he screamed, no doubt scaring any other patients who were still expecting their baby. "You can do it, baby. Focus on me." Guest ordered, watching Chance's eyes look directly at his face, their lips slightly parted as they gasped for air. Before Chance could say anything in return, another contraction had them biting down hard. "FUCCCKK!!" They screamed, pushing as hard as they could. It felt so surreal. The baby that he had taken care of and felt in his belly for nearly forty months was actually coming out...he was going to see them soon? He was terrified. Did he look good? Were his screams scaring their daughter? The contraction only allowed for one large gasp of air before the pain hit hard, forcing Chance to get this kid out of them. "Hnnggh...AAAH!" He cried out, tears rolling down his cheeks as he gripped his husband's hand tighter.
"You're doing good, Chance! Keep going." A nurse encouraged, grabbing a soft rag and crouching down at the front of the tub, gently wiping the sweat off of his forehead. Another nurse had came in with two warm towels, placing them down on the counter. "I-I don't feel like..I'm progressing- hngghh- ow, ow, fuck!" The gambler admitted, looking deep into Guest's eyes before whispering to him. "Please..go watch..I'll be okay." Guest remained on his knees, gently rubbing his husband's hand. "I'm not leaving you." He responded, watching Chance sob, resting their head on his chest. Guest put his hand on Chance's back, softly rubbing circles. "Let it all out..." He whispered, looking down into the water. There was nothing yet. He hoped their daughter would come out without a struggle. "I want you to watch...please." Chance said, feeling the contraction ease up. It wouldn't be like that forever, but it gave him a breather. "Are you sure?" The ex-soldier asked, humming when Chance nodded. If that's what he wanted, then so be it. "If you ever want me to come back, just tell me."
Guest stood up, following a nurse who gave him a good spot to sit at. It was a spot that gave him a view of everything going on in the tub while also keeping him out of the way of the other nurses and the midwife. After everyone escaped that hellhole they were forced in, nearly everybody went on with their lives. Nobody wanted to meet each other, they just wanted to be alone in the safety of their own home. Guest couldn't blame them, the first thing he did was immediately show up to his home. He didn't tell them about what happened...all they needed to know was that he survived the war and he was back. It was an amazing week...until cracks began to form. At first, they were small, but Guest and Daisy noticed them instantly. Guest was struggling, both because of the war and Forsaken. He was so confused on how something like that was even possible...would there be other victims?
The war really bugged him. He could barely sleep at night, he was becoming more paranoid, just the sounds of popcorn popping had him flinching. He'd begin to dissociate whenever he was playing with his daughter...he didn't even do much when it was his and Daisy's anniversary. He never realized it was their anniversary, the days were flying by. Eventually, it was clear the two were unhappy and when Charlotte began to suffer because of it, they did what was best for her. They divorced. It was peaceful, no arguments. War changed not only the person in it, but the people closest to them, they understood that. Even if their relationship wasn't destined to be forever, they still got their beautiful daughter they would never trade for anything in this world.
During the divorce, Chance had reached out to Guest, both of them were struggling. They met up at Chance's home and just drank, venting to each other about everything that had went wrong. Life hadn't gotten better since they escaped, it got worse. Chance was still in debt, but he was trying to find a job to pay it off. He even gave himself a limit on how much he could spend on gambling each month. It was hard sticking to that, especially when he felt so lucky...but he stood firm. Eventually, seeing Chance slowly pick themselves back up gave Guest the ability to believe in himself. He wanted to get better for his ex-wife and his daughter...but he considered himself too weak to do it. Chance helped him the entire way, the two started off as friends, but then it became best friends.
Then, they finally began to date. Guest tried hiding it from Daisy, she didn't need to know that...but with a daughter that stayed with him every weekend, it was bound to get spilled that Guest had someone else staying at his house. Daisy wasn't mad, in fact, she was happy. She was happy that Guest was finally beginning to recover, even if he had to leave her to find it. Guest wasn't just a husband to her, that was her best friend and that would never change. Guest still went out of his way to help her as much as he could. Chance and him had tied the knot three years later...and now they were welcoming their child.
"Okay, Chance. Get ready to push, your contraction is coming up." A nurse warned, looking at her watch. Chance nodded, gripping the tub harder as they tried to take a deep breath, but the contraction hit them in the middle of it, making them gasp and cough, moving their head down. "Alright, start pushing." The midwife ordered, moving her gloved hands into the water to check what was going on between Chance's legs. "HMMNGGGHH!" Chance growled, flinching when fingers abruptly touched their thighs. "You're fine, Chance. I'm just checking for a head." She reassured, beginning to check. "You're doing amazing, baby." Guest praised, freezing up when he saw a baby's head peak out from Chance's vagina. That...That was their baby? She was actually coming? Guest knew their daughter was coming, but seeing her took him by shock still.
He couldn't hold back a smile. "I see her head, Chance!" Guest spoke with excitement, hearing a sigh of relief come from his husband, who was encouraged to push harder. Another push had the top of their daughter's head slowly push open Chance's labia as she began to enter the world. The gambler gasped and punched the outside of the tub. "FUCK!" He shouted, more tears rolling down his cheeks at the burning sensation as he was stretched open. He was warned by Daisy to expect bigger kids when they talked to each other shortly after Chance revealed his pregnancy, she really wasn't joking. Guest extended his hand, feeling Chance grip it tightly. "It burns!" They whined, feeling sweat slide down their forehead before a nurse promptly wiped it all off.
"Don't push too hard, Chance. Give more gentle pushes." The midwife ordered, looking at Guest when she noticed his gaze on her. "Why can't he push as hard? Is something wrong?" The male asked, clearly worried until she shook her head. "No, nothings wrong! Pushing too hard when the baby crowns could increase the risks of tearing." She warned, looking over at Chance. "Chance, hun. Do you want to feel your daughter's head?" She asked softly, watching Chance whimper before nodding desperately, unable to form genuine words. "Okay! Move your hand between your legs and you'll feel her." She said, watching Chance do just that. When his hand moved between his thighs and his palm rubbed against the top of their daughter's head, something ignited inside of him. Feeling her small patch of hair and her skin was enough to keep going.
Chance still remained weary as they pushed gently, feeling more of the head come out. He could feel it all. Guest was stuck watching the scene. His daughter wasn't putting up much of a fight as she got pushed out. He had noticed immediately that his daughter's skin was blue with a bit of purple. "Why is her skin blue?" He asked, looking at one of the nurses, who reassured him that it was completely fine. He hadn't never witnessed birth before...Charlotte was supposed to be a vaginal birth but due to complications midway through, he had gotten pushed out of the room. It made him sick with how worried and scared he was. He couldn't even sit down as he paced back and forth, hoping his wife and daughter were safe.
Thankfully, they were...but the birth was so traumatic for Daisy that she made it clear for then and into the unforeseeable future, she was done with kids. One was enough for her. Guest respected her wishes and made sure they never did anything without protection. Chance's soft pushes came to an end when the contraction ended, making him breathe heavily. His hair was slightly damp, his hands were wet from both sweat and the bath water. "Hgghh..uggghh.." They groaned, looking up as a nurse offered them some cold water, which they gladly accepted. "You're doing amazing, Chance." The midwife praised, hearing a mumbled 'thank you' in return. The nurse who had brought in the warm towels decided to speak up, looking at the sight in the tub. "You two must be amazing. Your daughter is ready to see you both."
--
Chance was forced to switch positions, choosing to sit on their ass. They couldn't stop looking down between their legs, stuck looking at their daughter's head, which was almost out. "One more push, Chance!" The midwife encouraged, which was just the push they needed as they took a deep breath, then pushed hard. They only pushed for two seconds before they stopped, gasping when their daughter's head finally came out. "Good job, Chance!" The nurse who was in control of wiping the sweat from their brow praised. Guest was trying not to cry. "Come on, baby...you can do it." He joined in on the encouraging, watching closely as their daughter's body moved further out...but quickly, an issue arose. The shoulders. Just one big push from Chance made them cry out and stop pushing. "Guest, I need you!" They pleaded and almost instantly, Guest was right next to their head.
"It's okay...I know it hurts, baby." He comforted, moving his hands to his husband's shoulders and giving him a gentle but firm massage. "The shoulders are always the worst part, but just push a few more times and then we can help pull the baby out, Chance." A nurse replied, already preparing for the baby's arrival as she grabbed one of the warm towels. "You hear that, honey? You're almost done..." Guest said, softly kissing Chance's cheek. "You've gone this far...just a little more." He said, hearing Chance whimper and nod before pushing again, unable to resist a scream.
"Almost there, Chance..."
"You can do it!"
Finally, the top of the shoulders came out and Chance fell back, nearly hitting their head on the tub, but thankfully Guest had caught them. "A-am I done..?" They whispered, looking up at Guest. The midwife carefully grabbed both shoulders. "Almost. Just one final push, we mean it this time, Chance." She said, ready to pull right when Chance began to push. "I don't think I can!" Chance sobbed, their head and lower half throbbing in pain. "Don't say that, honey. Give one strong push and our daughter will be here." Guest said, looking between Chance's legs. There was their daughter...they were so close. "One more push and you can get all the rest and food you want, Chance." A nurse said, mainly as a joke, but that seemed to get Chance motivated.
"HNGGH! AAAAHHH!"
...
Chance fell back as instant relief filled their body, along with unnerving emptiness. They could barely make out as Guest told them that they did it. They didn't even hear their daughter's cries, but they did get to witness their baby girl get placed on their bare chest. She was squirming and crying loudly but instantly calmed down when she heard her parent's heartbeat. Guest had a single tear roll down his cheek as he grinned. "She's beautiful, Chance." He said, noticing the lack of response from his husband. "..Chance?"
--
Guest sat on the couch that was nestled by the window, staring at his daughter, then at his husband, who was out cold. Good. He really needed that sleep. Very carefully, he moved the cart that his daughter rested in closer to him, hearing the soft coos that she made while remaining bundled up in a red blanket that Chance's mother had made when she had a dream that Chance was pregnant. She kept asking repeatedly if the two were expecting, but they always said they weren't...until they actually used a pregnancy test. Oh, his mother always teased them about doubting her after that. The material was soft and there were words from a lullaby that she had always sung to Chance when he was a baby written on it. It was her final gift to them...and they loved it.
She was truly gone too soon. Guest wasn't rich, he was divorced, he already had a daughter from a previous marriage...but that never stopped her from taking her in and giving him her blessing to marry her son. Would Charlotte's partner do the same with him? Will Charlotte even mention him..? What if she feels like this baby is just a replacement because he can only have her on weekends? He really hoped she didn't think that, or would ever think that. He didn't want to upset his daughter. He loved her dearly...but would it stay that way? What if he couldn't love them both? He already failed her once by acting the way he did when he first came home. He knew Daisy said good things about him and Chance. but Charlotte was getting older, she would begin making her own decisions.
But, if he did shower her in love- what if he couldn't shower his second daughter? What if she grew up seeing a difference in the way Guest treated them both? What if they both hated him?
"Hnnggh.." Chance moaned, locking eyes with his husband, then his baby. She was beautiful...was that the blanket his mother made him after her dream of him being pregnant? Chance tried to get up, but the pain in his lower half made him suck in a breath. Guest stood up quickly. "Hey, hey..stay still, I'll come to you." He said, gently moving the cart back to Chance's hospital bed. The gambler lifted himself as best as he could, feeling tears in his eyes. "Y-you...you actually got them to use the blanket.." He whimpered, looking up at Guest, who placed a hand on their back, rubbing softly. "It's only fair that she shares this moment with us." He whispered, both of them staring at their daughter, who cooed again before opening her eyes for the first time.
They were golden, just like Chance's eyes. She also had his skin tone. "She's beautiful..." They whispered, smirking. "Your genes really don't work, do they?" They added, watching Guest side-eye them. "Oh, just wait till she starts gaining her personality." He said, hearing Chance laugh. "You give the most beautiful kids." He sighed, looking up at Guest before asking. "Do you want to tell Charlotte and Daisy that she's here?" Right, the last update they got was that Chance's water broke and that was seven hours ago. "Are you ready to have visitors?" He asked, blinking a few times as Chance looked back down at their child. "Yeah...one visit won't hurt."
--
"Try to be quiet, Charlotte, the baby needs her sleep." Daisy whispered, watching her daughter nod and silently speed-walk over to the cart, getting on the tip of her toes to see the baby. "Woah..she's pretty!" Charlotte giggled, not paying attention as Daisy also walked over, smiling at the sight before looking at Guest and Chance. "Your genes don't put up a fight." She said, hearing Chance agree while Guest looked away, also smiling. Everything about today was perfect. He got to see Charlotte, he got to meet his baby girl, Chance was healthy and safe, and Daisy was also happy. "They really don't." Chance added, looking at Guest. "Aww, is someone embarrassed?" He teased, noticing Guest focus solely on his baby. "He really hasn't changed, huh?" Daisy said, looking at Chance. "Nope, not at all."
Guest kept looking at his two daughter, but he did sneak glances at Chance and Daisy, who were talking about all types of things, occasionally making fun of Guest. They were both getting along. They didn't see each other as threats, but as friends. Charlotte was talking to the baby, telling her about how her week had went. Everything was peaceful. Chance was happy, Daisy was happy, Charlotte was happy, his newborn daughter was happy, he was happy. Maybe he was overthinking everything. He loved his two daughters, he loved Chance, and he still deeply appreciated and cared for Daisy. Everyone else was getting along and there were no fights or backhanded insults. He was so scared that his feelings would make everything around him crash down, but it was clear that the only issue here was his worries.
Guest gently brushed his older daughter's hair, giving her a tight hug as she hugged back. They let go and instantly, his daughter was right back to the baby's side, telling her about how loved her daddy will make her feel. He moved over to the left side of Chance's bed, putting his hand on their head and rubbing their short, gray hair. Daisy and Chance both stopped talking, which confused Guest, who smirked. "...What were you two talking about?" He asked, hearing Chance casually respond. "Talking about if this hospital does vasectomies." They whispered, hearing Daisy giggle before adding on. "I think its about time you try using some birth control." She said, smiling alongside Chance as the two looked at Guest. "Haha, very funny." He said, pausing as they kept looking at him.
"...That's a joke, right?"