When Walls Crumble

Chapter 33: Luka

~~~EIGHT MONTHS LATER~~~

Adrian and Alya were pacing nervously outside of the hospital room after her cries of pain were replaced by a baby's cry.  

The doctor came out to reassure them that she was fine and so was the baby.  They were allowed in to see her.  Her hair sat straggling around her shoulders and she appeared slightly out of breath.  Her child was propped up on her shoulder.  Alya took her free hand.  

"How are you?"

Marinette sighed.  "What kind of question is that?"

Adrian gently stroked the baby's head.  "How's this kid?"

Marinette smiled.  "Adrian, Alya, meet my son."  She re-positioned her baby so they could see his face.  "He looks like his father."

Alya raised his eyebrow.  "Right now, he looks like a cute potato.  I don't see any resemblence to either of you yet.  He's just a bundle of baby."

Marinette laughed as her parents rushed in.

"We got here as soon as we could!" Sabine gasped.  "What were you thinking, having the baby early?"

Marinette shrugged.  "Ask him."  She held up her son.  Her parents cooed and awed and moved over to the left side of the bed, touching his little hands.  

A sudden shadow blocked the light.  Marinette saw a familiar face smiling at her son, his blue-tipped hair illuminated by the rising sun directly behind him.  

She blinked and Luka was gone.

"Marinette, can I hold my grandson?" her mother begged.

"No, I want to hold him first!" her father whined.  

"I get to first, I'm her mother!" Sabine laughed.  "Let me hold my precious grandbaby!"

Marinette carefully handed her son to Sabine, who cradled him gently as Tom looked over her shoulder.

Adrian stepped up and brushed her damp hair out of her face.  "You okay?" he asked.

She nodded.  "It's a little surreal.  I actually am a mother and...he doesn't have a father."

Alya squeezed her hand.  "You'll be fine, Marinette.  I've never met anyone as insanely talented and clever as you.  You'll figure it out.  You always do.  And Nino and I will always be happy to help."

Marinette laughed.  "In a few months, you'll be out of action, Alya.  Your little girl will take up all your attention when she comes."

Alya rolled her eyes.  "But can I...?"

Adrian beat her to the question.

"Can I hold him?"

"No!" shouted Tom.  "I'm next!"

"Shhh" whispered Marinette.  "Let's not scare your grandson."

Adrian sighed dramatically.  "Whatever.  But I'm after gramps over here."

"Hey!" Alya protested.  

Marinette buried her face in her hands.  "You're all too much.  Did anyone call Juleka and Anarka?"

"Yeah.  Juleka's went to voicemail, but your mother-in-law said she would get her and they were coming.  Just a couple more minutes, probably."

Marinette nodded.  She watched anxiously as her son was passed around, worried that someone would drop him or hold him wrong, but that never happened.  When the Couffaines arrived, Anarka practically snatched the baby from Marinette while Juleka admired him from afar.

The new grandmother started tearing up immediately.  

"It's...he looks so..."

Marinette smiled.  "I know, mama.  He looks like his father."

Juleka spoke up.  "What are you going to name him?"

"Luka.  His name is Luka."

The captain froze.  "Are...are you sure?"

"I'm sure.  And we had decided that if we had a boy, he would be named after my father, so that will be his middle name.  Luka Thomas Couffaine."  Anarka handed the boy back to his mother.  "My Little Luka," she breathed.  

Adrian smiled. It had been a hard eight months on her as she struggled with her own conscience and the complications of pregnancy. But she made it and he knew she would be alright from the joyous smile on her face as she held her firstborn son.