𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

you're late. again.

[SETTING.🐾] I.L BASE: Medical Wing. Chaos. Vicky's in labour. The girls are scrambling. Matt is racing through the corridors like the world's on fire.

The doors slammed open.

"VICKY?!" Matt's voice echoed down the stone corridors of Iron Lion.

He was soaked from sea spray and stormwater, boots thudding against the floor like thunder, shirt half-torn from the escape, hair sticking up wildly like a man struck by lightning.

Which... wasn't far from the truth.

A nurse tried to stop him. He nearly ran her over.

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

From the end of the hall, Frypan poked his head out of the med room. "Room 3 and you better pray she hasn't ripped someone's head off yet!"

Matt bolted.

Inside, the chaos was real.

Nancy was fanning a red-faced Vicky while Harriet held her hand. Sonya was pacing. Teresa was checking monitors. Brenda was holding ice.

Bea stood off to the side, wide-eyed and definitely trying not to cry from secondhand labour stress.

"-I SWEAR TO GOD, IF HE'S OUT THERE ON A VACATION-" Vicky screamed, throwing a towel across the room.

And then: "VICKY!"

The room froze.

Matt stood at the doorway, wild-eyed, panting like he just ran through war (which he kind of did).

She blinked. Then narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"You're late."

"BABE-THE STORM-PIRATES-LIGHTNING-THOMAS GOT BIT BY A FLYING FISH-"

"YOU LEFT ME WHILE I WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT TO CHASE CANNED BEANS!"

"WE NEEDED SUPPLIES-" He stopped mid-step. "Wait. Did you say eight-?"

Brenda whispered, "She counted wrong. It's nine now."

Matt's eyes went wide. "I MISSED AN ENTIRE MONTH?!"

Another contraction hit. Vicky screamed. Matt ran to her side so fast he knocked over a tray of surgical tools.

"Okay-okay, I'm here, baby, I'm here-crush my hand, scream in my face-do whatever you want-"

Vicky grabbed his hand.

CRUNCH.

"YEP-YEP THAT'S-THAT'S A FRACTURE-" Matt wheezed, but didn't let go.

Brenda was sobbing from laughter. "This is better than a movie."

Nico, who had just entered and witnessed the full hurricane of Vicky, quietly backed out of the room. Frypan met him at the door.

"I told you," Frypan muttered. "She's scarier than the pirates."

Back inside, Vicky was still yelling.

"Next time you leave for more than TWO HOURS, I'm gluing your feet to the floor!"

"Sounds fair," Matt gasped as his knuckles turned blue. "I deserve this."

Then came the nurse's voice. "Time to push!"

Matt turned pale. "OH NO."

"I'm gonna kill you first," Vicky growled.

"DO IT AFTER!" Matt shouted. "JUST LET ME SEE OUR KID FIRST!"