Fragile Tension (Alan Wilder x Martin Gore)

15: The New Life

November 8th, 1986, 4:12am:

Dave was awakened by the sound of the telephone blasting throughout his bedroom.

"Okay, okay, I'm up!" He grumbled to himself, reaching for the phone.

"Yeah?"

"Dave, it's Alan."

"Morning, Al." He yawned. "What are you doing awake at this hour?"

"Martin's in labor." Alan blurted out to him without a care in the world.

"Wait-"

"I know." His bandmate gave brief, jagged answers.

"No,"

"Yes..."

"How?!"

"3am. He woke up in pain."

"Are you serious?"

"Totally."

"Does Fletch know?"

"Yeah - just phoned him."

"But, it's not the 11th yet-"

"The baby is gonna come when they want to, Dave, and they chose today! Look, I don't have time to talk - we're going to the hospital now. I'll try to keep you updated."

"Don't worry about us; you two just focus on having this baby. We'll be rooting for ya!" He assured him.

"Hah, your support means everything. Talk to you soon."

"Safe travels, mate. Take care."

"You too."

After the line went dead, Dave placed the phone back and pulled his duvet up.

He wouldn't be falling back to sleep.
~~~~~
November 8th, 1986, 11:07pm:

A writhing sensation ran through Martin as he lied on the operating table. He clutched onto Alan's hand, shaking like a leaf.

"Think about the baby, Martin, think about the baby." Alan adjusted his hairnet and held Martin's hand in both of his. "I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too..." Martin breathed. 

Looking up at the clock and then back down at Martin, Alan looked through the deeply-coloured but slightly transparent sheet which covered his torso.

"You're doing so well, baby, just a little longer."

Tears streamed down Martin's face as he awaited the delivery of his child.

Their child.

The minutes felt like hours. Never in their lives had they experienced emotions such as these.

But the moment the clock struck 11:11pm, they became two entirely new people.

"IT'S A GIRL!! 11:11 on the dot!" The doctor announced.

The baby's piercing cry could be heard on every ward of the hospital.

"GIRL, MARTIN, GIRL!!" Alan cried, he and his partner crying like newborns themselves.

"I knew you were gonna cry," Martin weeped so heavily, it made his vision blur.

Alan leaned his forehead up against Martin's where they continued to cry.

Beyond the sheet, the nurses present in the room quickly cleaned the baby girl and clamped her umbilical cord. They then swaddled her and placed a baby pink hat on her head before bringing her over to meet her parents.

"Say hello..." The nurse said in a baby-ish way, placing the baby in the gap between the sheet and Martin's chest.

"H-Hi, my little love." Martin took hold of her tiny finger.

"She's so beautiful, baby." Alan looked at her through his puffy eyes. "Hello, sweet girl. Welcome to the world."
~~~~~
As his partner and new daughter were being taken to Recovery, Alan saw an opportunity to tell his patiently waiting bandmates of the arrival.

His hair still ruffled from his hairnet and his composure slowly but surely rebuilding, he pushed the waiting room door open.

Dave and Andy's eyes immediately lit up; they could tell by the look on their bandmate's face that it had to be good news.

"Well?" Dave spoke up.

Alan sighed deeply before speaking. "The newest member... of the Depeche Mode family..."

"Go on," Andy encouraged him to continue.

"... Is a six pound, two ounce, nineteen inch baby girl."

"Oh you're joking!" Dave jumped up in euphoria, squeezing Alan.

"Why do you always think I'm joking?" Alan replied, laughing but becoming teary eyed again.

Andy simply said nothing and joined in on the hug.

"Congratulations, Dad!" He eventually said joyously.

"Thank you," Alan sniffled. "She's so perfect, it's scary!"

The three of them put their heads down, thanking the Heavens above for their daughter, their niece and their new band member.
~~~~~
Four days later, November 12th, 1986:

Flowers of vibrant colours, gifts and cards with the words 'Baby Girl' and drawings of landing storks imprinted on them decked every aspect of the flat.

Wearing one of Alan's knit sweaters, Martin slowly made his way around their interior, taking it easy. His life was now filled with a permanent pink, in every direction he looked.

Eventually, he reached the living room where he found Alan sitting beside and looking over the bassinet in which their new baby girl slept in.

"Hey," He said sweetly, conscious of the fact that the baby was sleeping, as he eased himself in.

"Hey, babe." Alan looked up from the bassinet and smiled.

Martin walked over and sat down beside him, pecking him on the lips. He then looked into the bassinet at their daughter and rubbed her tiny cheek with his thumb.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes, she is. She's beyond words."

"I just can't believe that she's here now and that we get to be her parents. When did I deserve this?"

"You've always deserved it, Mart. More so than anyone else." 

Their daughter beginning to awaken, Alan picked her up and passed her to Martin, who cradled her in his arms.

"Oh, baby girl, your daddies just love you so."

"Our princess Poppi..." Alan stroked her head. "We always wanted somebody to share the rest of our lives with, and we just found them."

'Alan Wilder and Martin Gore are thrilled to announce the arrival of their daughter, Poppi Lee Wilder, who was born on November 8th at 11:11pm weighing six pounds, two ounces. Both she and Gore have since come home from the hospital and are doing exceptionally well. Depeche Mode will be taking a short hiatus as they adjust to having Poppi in their lives; they thank their fans in advance for their understanding.'