Can I call you Dad? Ch. 7

Hell.

That's all Miranda could describe her current situation. Just days away from her due date, belly swollen to max capacity, pain in places never thought possible, lack of sleep beyond what she would consider normal for her usual insomnia, currently at two weeks with not a wink of sleep, and worst of all, Krory was gone.

Sent on a mission one day and didn't come back, and still hasn't. So far he had been gone for a month, hopping from mission to mission around the world. For this, she cried, hoping it would at least ease her physical pains or exhaust her to sleep but no; she couldn't find sleep regardless of how painfully exhausted she was.

She wept every night in the large bed that felt so cold and empty.

Tonight was no different.

Miranda desperately clutched the pillow belonging to her fiancé, burying her face in it wishing it was him, though his scent was starting to disappear from his own room and her mind. She fought the urge to wipe her tears and whatever else was spilling from her face on his pillow in fear of soiling all that she had left of him. Her body shook as she sobbed to herself, biting her lips to stop herself from outwardly weeping; it was nearly midnight and other occupants of the Black Order were asleep. She despite her pain she refused to bother others for the sake of her own mental breakdown.

'He's dead…He's dead…he…has to be…' she thought to herself,' He wouldn't leave me…he...he would never! They're lying to me, he's dead and they won't tell me!' Miranda whimpered, slowly cracking in her attempt to keep the noise level down. With her emotions already in shambles, the increase in hormones of her pregnancy of course didn't help the situation any.

'Vhy….vhy ist this happening? Ve didn't do anything…'

"I vish…this could all be over…" she whined.

Like a strike of nostalgia her plea was heard.

Suddenly her insides contorted, more so than a normal contraction, her eyes grew wide realizing that what she was feeling was her water breaking.

"Vhat The Hell! Don't you know sarcasm vhen you hear it?" she screamed into the sky, recalling a time when she wished for time to stop, with much misfortune her wish was answered.

Miranda quickly sat up but only to get knocked down by a painful contraction, she lay there clutching her belly in pain while desperately looking around the room for help at the hour of night. Luckily, she found her golem resting silently on her dresser, feeling no strength to move she desperately reached out from where she was for the small device.

Another contraction hit and hit her hard, she whimpered out loud, now not at all caring is anyone heard her, if anything that was what she needed most. Help.

Fighting off a wave of intense pain she pushed herself forward just enough to grab the small thing and turned it on.

Without letting the other person speak, Miranda let her tears flow and cried into the golem in her shaking hands, "L-Linalee help me!"

For a moment there was no answer, Miranda panicked and cried again," Linalee wake up! Hel-"

Before she could finish her plea, she heard her own door being kicked open by dark boots. There the young girl stood, looking tired but also in a panic, as well as in her shorts and tank top pajamas.

"I-I-is it time?"

A contraction hit again, Miranda whimpered and curled into a ball," J-Ja!"

"O-Oh God it's time, oh Gods its time….w-well…c'mon lets get you out of here!" Linalee, despite having no idea what to do, she quickly scooped the small crying woman in her arms and ran for the only place where someone did know what to do.

She hopped from floor to floor with careful grace towards the medical wing, doing her best to ignore Miranda's cries of pain and her desperate need for Krory to be with her.

It wasn't long before the medical wing doors were kicked open, nearly off its hinges, scaring the wits out of the nurses who were still up.

"Emergency!" Linalee announced as Miranda screamed, clutching her belly.

Within moments there was organized madness within the wing, a bed was wheeled out, trays with water and rags were brought out and other equipment all ready for this big moment in Black Order history, the world's first child of two exorcist parents. The Head Nurse was soon on the scene, helping Linalee place Miranda on the bed; who now didn't bother holding back her cries as the contractions became constant.

"Miranda please hang in there! We're almost ready" The Head nurse held her hand reassuringly, not at all bothered by the small woman's amazing strength," Linalee could you please notify Supervisor Komui? We'll handle it from here"

Linalee hesitated; she watched the madness continue throughout the medical room. Of course she had been a witness to severe injuries and other emergencies take place here yet there was a different air about tonight's circumstance. Miranda cried out in pain again, bringing the young girl back into reality.

"O-Ok…I'll be back Miranda!"

For a moment forgetting her pain, Miranda's head snapped up in a panic, she wanted to cry out for her friend, not wanting to be alone but her baby wanted out and soon.

"Gyaaaaaah!"

Linalee took off back into the halls of the Order, the cries of Miranda echoed throughout the building, finally earning the attention of sleepy, irritated and curious exorcists and finders. It wasn't long before even some nurses were sent out to reassure everyone that all was well…for the most part.

Within moments the young girl made it to her brother's office, in the habit of kicking things tonight, she took a swift boot to his doors before entering.

"Komui! Brother! Please be awake Miranda is-"suddenly her words died on her lips. Expecting her brother and his staff to be asleep on the blanket of paper covering the floor, she instead found Komui sitting at his desk, with two suited people in front of him.

"Oh, hello Linalee" Leverrier politely greeted with a smile, Howard Link nodded his hello.

Linalee knew better than anyone that there was nothing but evil intent behind his innocent smile. She found it difficult forming words, his presence here and at this time meant that they were on a mission, and nothing could stop them.

"I-I…um…Miranda…" she stammered, ripping her gaze from the Officials to face her brother, seeking answers.

Komui's eyes were narrowed and intense, she had never seen him so upset and powerless before, his fingers were intertwined tightly barely hovering over his lips, a small gesture to stop himself from breaking, "I know…I'll be there soon" he replied softly, not looking up, he would crack if he saw his little sister's look of horror.

Finding no words, or reason to here any longer, Linalee quickly jumped back out into the halls where she was needed, ignoring the feeling of them watching her.



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"Miranda! What are you doing!"

Hours had passed and there was only slow progress, the Head Nurse tried to keep cool but time was crucial and Miranda's will was broken.

"I…I…I'm sorry…I can't…I can't do it…" she sobbed, clutching the sheets in pain.

"If you don't your baby is as good as dead!" she screamed," Don't you dare give up on us now"

"I can't!" Miranda screamed back, now aggravated, feeling very alone, no one could understand her pain physically and emotionally. Yet in her anger she showed progress, the Head Nurses blinked in surprise, finally spotting the head.

"I said push Miranda!" she tried again, hoping to coax out another angry response.

Her theory worked, Miranda screamed back, "I told you I CAN'T DO IT" once again more progress was shown, apparently she had incredible ability when she was upset but Krory could've told you that any day.

It was then she felt it, the home stretch of all her pain and misery for the past nine months, forgetting her own words before she put in all of her willpower and strength in one last push.

"AAhh…AAHHH!"

Soon another cry replaced her own, the small wail of the Black Order's first baby.

"It's a girl! She's beautiful!" The Head nurse held the bloodied child in her grasp with a big smile. Miranda was busy trying to catch her breath, not because she was in labor for hours on end but because she finally saw the source of nine months of hell and she took her breath away.

"Oh…oh wow…" she panted finally, watching them cut the cord and clean her baby.

"Miranda! You did it!" Linalee cried happily, finally let in the medical wing after being forced to wait outside until it was over. The young girl quickly ran over and held her friend, Miranda, despite how exhausted she felt, clung to her friend.

"J-ja…I did…" she laughed at herself with tears of joy in her eyes.

Unfortunately, their happiness was short lived. Soon the door opened again for more visitors, Miranda felt Linalee stiffen and gasp; there was a silent yet eerie presence in the room.

"Oh we just missed it…oh well, we can begin now" Leverrier shrugged off his disappointment, nodding the order, Howard Link made quick strides over to the nurses.

The Head Nurse blinked in confusion, "W-wait what are you doing?"

"Sorry but we'll be taking the child now" there was little sympathy in his voice as he gently took the now cleaned and wrapped up bundle in his arms.

"V-vhat are they…" Miranda whined in pain as she sat up, watching them in confusion. Just then it all clicked, finally recognizing the men she had seen visiting the Black Order often and on occasion see them around her check ups with Komui, any time she had asked about them to him he would never answer.

Linalee called out, "Wait! Link! At least let her hold-"

"Time is of the essence" Leverrier cut her off," We must begin now"

"Begin! Begin what?" but as she finished her question, an answer came to mind.

"Wait…are you…but we gave up on those experiments years ago!", she growled, now there were tears streaming down Linalee's face, fighting off horrible memories of children being forced to sync with innocence, only to die in the end.

"Things have changed" he answered plainly, Link left the room with the wailing girl in his arms, but just before leaving the room himself he stopped to smile back at Miranda..

"Thank you Miss Lotto" he said, and left.

In a matter of seconds it had felt like they had reached in her chest, and crushed her heart. She remained silent for a moment, in complete shock of what had just took place. The room was quiet save of the distant cries of her child that slowly became softer and faint as the further they went. The nurses and Linalee exchanged glances of horror, true they Order was desperate for more exorcists yet this was too extreme, but there wasn't a thing anyone could do but watch.

Suddenly Miranda snapped.

"PLEASE VAIT!" she screamed, now scrambling to get out of bed and run after them. But Linalee was quicker; she wrapped her arms around Miranda, holding her arms down.

"Miranda! Please-" she begged, fighting another wave of tears threatening to spill over.

"Let me go! PLEASE! DON'T DO THIS" now sobbing, she continued to struggle against the young girl but her exhausted body just couldn't overpower Linalee's iron grip. Yet she wouldn't let up, soon her struggles were turning violent and desperate, kicking and screaming.

Soon the other nurses joined in holding the hysterical woman down, "She's going into shock, we need to sedate her" the Head Nurse ran off for a moment to retrieve a sleep gas

"I'm so sorry Miranda" Linalee forcefully pushed her down back onto the bed as the nurse placed the mask over her nose and mouth. Finally she slowly stopped struggling; her arms and legs went limp as she breathed the gas in. Her body was already exhausted from birth, it didn't take long for her to eyes to close and fall into a deep asleep.

The room let out a resounding sigh of relief as Miranda breathed softly finally getting the sleep she deserved.

Linalee took a seat next to the bed while she watched the nurses move at almost snail speed, putting things away and cleaning up. Joy completely absent from the room, only depression and worried thoughts filled the air.

Just minutes had passed when there was a gentle knock on the door, the room paused for a moment with all eyes on the door as it slowly opened.

"…is she ok?" a small voice asked.

"Brother!" Linalee stood up.

"…I've…I've tried everything" he started, knowing full well what they wanted to know,"…for months…I can't stop them" Komui removed his hat and let his shoulder slump, running a frustrated hand through his hair, refusing to look at Miranda though she was dead to the world now.

"What are they doing now?"

"They're running tests…to see if she can be an accommodator"

It was quiet, it was true then. They want to make her an exorcist.

Komui wrung his hat in his grasp, "I know…we've tried on relatives of exorcists and failed…there…might actually be a chance with two exorcist parents…" he trailed off, he was no more curious than the men that took the child away. He's a scientist, yet just knowing that he was curious made him feel ashamed.

Linalee looked back at the sleeping Miranda, "Y-you're kidding…but if they fail then…"

Before she could finish her concern, the small communication device in Komui's ear turned on, another voice called out.

"Supervisor! Krory just checked in!"

Komui sprung back to life, pressing a button on the ear piece to reply quickly, "Where is he?"

"Looks like Ireland, it will take him at least four days to get here though"

Finally, Komui cracked a small smile, "That's not the point, keep him on the phone I'm on my way"

"Brother?"

He turned back before leaving the room, glancing back at Miranda's seemingly lifeless body," Please stay with Miranda, I'm going to bring him back home" he put his hat back on his head and quickly headed out.



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"Komui? Is there something wrong?"

Finally after being on hold for a good twenty minutes Krory heard back from home, this time it was Komui's voice.

"Look, we don't have a lot of time, you need to get here as soon as possible"

The panic in the Supervisors voice was more than enough to tell Krory a few things, his eyes widened and heart jumped for joy.

"…it's Miranda isn't it? Did she deliver?"

There was a small pause.

"S-she did, but things are complicated over here. You're technically not allowed home yet"

Now Krory paused.

"…Not allowed…" he tried his best to wrap his mind around this strange concept of not being allowed to go home and see his baby.

"Please understand, I'll explain everything when you get home" "Now listen there is a medical loophole that we can use to our advantage, if you're mortally wounded no one can reject you from coming home right?"

Unfortunately, Krory saw a window of opportunity and he wasn't going to let it slip by, regardless of the consequences or letting Komui finish with his plan.

"So just hop on a train and pretend t-"

Komui stopped himself as he heard Krory cry out in pain and the Finders accompanying him panic.

"Gyaah! Oh my God are you crazy?"

"D-did he just stab himself?"

The Supervisor fought the urge to slap his forehead, of course he would go this far if it meant he could come back.

Krory groaned "…T-tell her…I'm coming home…"

And with that the line was cut. Komui sighed and plopped back into his chair, gently rubbing his temples.

Reever sighed, placing a new pile of papers next to Komui's desk, "So now what? Krory is four days away, Miranda is unconscious and our lovely officials have the baby like a science experiment"

"Well we can't do anything, but he can" he smiled a bit, everything that Komui had been talking about, being a man and being there for his family, all came down to this moment.

"He just stabbed himself with some foreign object so he could come back and save the day, I sincerely doubt he's going to take four days to get here"



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Meanwhile, Krory was busy washing his bloody his hands in a river near the train station as his Finder's looked on.

"Wh-what's going on?" one asked gently, not quite sure what to make of an exorcist suddenly grabbing the sharpest object within range, in this case a broken wine bottle, and thrusting it into his own stomach, barely missing any important organs that might have really cost him his life.

Krory stood up and winced, holding his new bandages around his waist and slowly making his way into the station where the train had just arrived.

"I don't know, but my family is in danger and we're leaving NOW" he growled, walking past the two who snapped into place like soldiers being yelled at by an angry commander, letting him pass.

"Y-yes sir!"

Thankfully, the train was more than half the trip the rest was on foot or horse, Krory could rest now and run the rest of the way there if he could, and he would.

He carefully took his seat, leaning his head against the window, looking out towards the North where home was.

'Please, just a little while longer…'