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Chapter Text

Dad On Call

. . . . . 

Lan Zhan adjusted the angle of his camera to ensure that the makeshift baby bed was also captured in the frame. As a third-year medical student, they were asked to make a physical exam demonstration as a final project for their pediatrics class. They were encouraged to use models, dolls, props to aid them in their presentation and well… they have a live baby at home so.

“I will be quick, I promise.” He addressed the baby who was curiously looking a him. A smile broke on the little boy’s face upon recognizing his face. The little one was babbling and gnawing at his foot as Lan Zhan finalized his set up. He passed the baby his favorite pink bunny before starting the recording.

“Good day doctor, I am Lan Wangji from class A year level three.” Lan Wangji was praying that the rain outside won’t interfere with his recording. The weather forecast said it will be a week of heavy rain and thunderstorms hence the suspension of today’s classes. He just hope Wei Ying would get home soon from his short meeting at the local daycare. “Today I will be demonstrating to you the examination of cranial nerves to an infant.” There were small twitches on lips every time the little child squeals in delight. “Here we have L.Y. an eight-month-old male.” He gestured at the child who is now sitting and took an interest and got a hold of his stethoscope. “He will be helping me for this demonstration. A short back-ground on him, he’s healthy and his development so far is at par with his age.” And the little child squealed in agreement. If there was a small pride oozing on his voice, no one would notice with his impassive face. His eyes though, held a gentle glint in them every time he looks at the baby.

“Olfactory nerve is difficult to asses at this age, although since he’s already eight months old, we know that his olfactory senses are already working since five to seven months. We shall start with optic nerve and test his visual acuity. We will observe his facial response and tracking as he regards my face.” Lan Zhan faced the baby who immediately broke into a grin revealing his erupted baby teeth.

“To continue with optic nerve, and now with oculomotor nerve, we will test his response to light.” Wangji held out his penlight which A-Yuan made grabby hands at the new interesting toy. “Since he’s eight months, when light is flashed in his eyes, he should close his eyes until the light is taken away. Ideally the room should be dim to…”

The pair continued their examination with A-Yuan thinking that his father was simply playing with him. They were so engrossed with their own little activity that Wangji didn’t notice the rain getting stronger outside. “For cranial nerve eight or vestibulocochlear nerve, we will present the infant with a loud…” suddenly a very strong thunder startled both of them as the lights in the room flickered. A-Yuan’s lips wobbled and Wangji was quick to pick him up and keep him close in his chest.

Despite his efforts to comfort the child, tears still fell from his eyes and pitiful indiscriminate “adadadadada…” were mumbled in Wangji’s shoulder where A-Yuan buried his face. Wangji was surprised, if Wei Ying was here, he would be convinced that those were A-Yuan’s first words. Wangji would know that his first discriminate words won’t be for two more months.

“Shhhh A-Yuan…” he paced around the room, gently rubbing the baby’s back. “A-die is here. A-die will protect you. I will keep you safe.”

Later when Wei Ying borrows Lan Zhan’s laptop to send an email to his co-teacher, he saw a thumbnail video on the desktop with Yuan’s smiley face on it. Thinking that it’s not one of those edging each other’s boundaries file, he clicked the video and had tears blurring his eyes at the end.

Finally, after months of having Yuan, Lan Zhan recognized himself as A-Yuan’s dad despite being the one signed on the infant’s adoption paper.

Chapter Text

Dad On Call

. . . . . 

It was supposed to be a normal medical mission in a remote countryside, but in an understaffed hospital in a middle of a thunderstorm, with a critically labouring mother who came alone, Lan Wangji was roped in assisting with the delivery.

She was young, on her history he’ll get to see later, she’s about his age. But when you’re a medical student they say you are socially retarded so despite the age of twenty-three, Wangji still thinks it’s too young to have a child. Just thinking about the responsibilities that entails with growing another human being for at least eighteen years is already daunting. 

Add to that, he’s barely begun living his life, he doesn’t even earn his own money. He just received a message from his brother earlier that he’s been promoted to third year for heaven’s sake! So stepping in the shoes of the young mother, who barely looks prepared herself, with nothing but the clothes on her back, not even a baby blanket, bleeding and worrying about the wellbeing of her son is mortifying to say the least. 

He hear her prayers, tears trailing her tired face, she hopes to see her son alive and fighting for his little life. She begs whoever would hear to just safely get them by tonight. Tomorrow she’ll worry how they’ll get by, just save her baby who’s decided to come early. Lan Wangji was already listing all possible risks the child could have, keeping focus on something to ground him. 

His lungs would be underdeveloped, he may develop poor feeding, he’s going to be very small, the baby would have to be put in an incubator… they don’t have an incubator. He doesn’t even want to start on the mother’s condition, and why it pushed her to early labor. 

Despite his stony expression and her being in a haze of pain, she still saw in his eyes how grim their chances are. He willed himself to stop thinking of the worst and hope. If not for him, but for her and her unborn child. Hope that in a midst of the terrible storm their lights would stop flickering much like the lighting out side, hope that this woman would see the sun rise again, hope that her child would greet the world with an exuberant cry. 

In a rare display of affection, he reached his hand to hers that was gripping on the cold rails of her bed like a life line. Relief and gratitude flooded her and he wonders, how long did anyone show her kindness that she found comfort in his cold, and clammy hands. Wangji would really like this babe to survive even if chances are stacked against him, this tiny creature yet to be born seem to be the only light tethering his mother to live, much like he and his brother were to their own mother. He could recognise the despondency and the look of uncertainty on her. Wangji fixed his eyes on the fetal monitor, mind counting the times he’s squeeze his hand as contractions hit her.

Not too long now.

Finally it was time to push. Her screams would forever haunt Wangji, she was crying for so many things but he admired the her determination to safely deliver her baby. His hands barely knew reprieve as waves and waves of contraction hit her, and he could only imagine the pain she’s going through. The new cry broke out and it was over. 

It was strong, loud, and indignant. Yet it brought peace, and a collective breath of relief was let out by everyone in the room. It was very anticlimactic if you ask him. Wangji had to let go of her hand to assist his senior, but it was okay. As soon as his hand left hers, her little son took over with that firm grip of his as he quietly rests on his mother’s bossom.

Her tears of agony turned to joy as she watch her son feed from her breasts. It was far from over, but at the moment everything was perfect and she wish it could stay that way. Her son was a comforting warm weight on her arms chasing away all uncertainties in her world, and she loves everything from his soft wispy hair down to his tiny curled toes. Her son was perfect and no one can make her think otherwise. “Yuan…” she whispered out, voice still raw from screaming. “My little A-Yuan.”

Wangji was the one to take him from her later after feeding. They have to weigh him, bathe him, do some tests before returning him to his mother, and the task fell on him. All the while the baby must always be kept warm. Babies can't regulate their body temperature well, so they must always be kept warm. He’s expectedly tiny… and wrinkly… and red.  Wangji hasn’t held anything as fragile as the newborn and if he’s being honest, he doesn’t get the charm and cuteness people fawn over babies. But perhaps it is the beauty of life he can appreciate. How can something so delicate be strong at the same time?

“Take care of him will you?” the baby’s mother smiled, and it was blindingly beautiful. Her soft eyes so trusting and tough, Wangji can’t help but be more conscious of his hold on her child. Her touch, as she guides him, was so reminiscent of his mother. He gave her a nod before whisking her son away, all the while her longing eyes trails after them.

He didn’t know it would be the first and last time she’ll hold her son.

How do you comfort a newborn with no concept of mourning, as he seeks the warmth he knew from his mother?

Wangji didn’t know what to do with a wailing newborn he’s suddenly entrusted with watching as his seniors do the more critical work. 

He knew the child’s mother simply meant take care of him as he do all the duties as a health care worker, but now with her gone, what will happen to this little one? The baby blinked his eyes, and they looked at him, pitiful, and unaware… and so openly trusting.

With all the risks he considered earlier. This was the complication he didn’t see coming.

Chapter Text

Dad On Call

. . . . . 

“Wangji he is so tiny! Look at his toes, they’re smaller that my fingernails!” His brother gushed in hushed whisper in consideration of the sleeping infant, making Wanji’s lips curve by minuscule as he amuses himself with his brothers gentle enthusiasm.

A month and half ago, Xichen received an odd message from his brother asking him to amass a few baby items and even pull out their old baby things from where their uncle kept them. It was hard explaining to their uncle since Wangji didn’t provide any context, so Xichen assumed that his brother, out of the goodness of Wangji’s heart, will be donating them to the community he’s volunteering in. Then a few weeks ago, his brother asked him to a few baby questions, but well maybe his brother was having a pediatric case, so again, he didn’t pay it much attention. A few days ago, Xichen picked his brother from the bus station, and what a shock it was to see a bundle of blankets secured in his brother’s arms, and it’s definitely not laundry.

“You can carry him Xiongzhang, he’s sturdier than he looks.” Both brothers softly gazed at the slumbering infant, taking comfort on the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

“Oh but I might wake him.”

“It’s okay, he’s due for another feeding anyway.” Wangji watched his brother with barely contained excitement. “You can feed him if you like.”

“Oh I can?”

“Hmn.”

At his brother’s cue, Xichen gently lifted the babe in him arms, and held him close. The little one barely opened his eyes as he was jostled, before snuggling to the warm body close to him. “Wow, he’s heavier than he looks, but, lighter than the babies in our nursery.”

“He’s... making an improvement.”

“That’s good. Have you told uncle?” The elder queried, but received mo response from his brother. “I’ll take that as a no. When do you plan to tell him?” His brother continued to ignore him, and though not with many words, but his brother conveys great nervousness.

“Wangji, you can’t keep Yuan from uncle forever. You can’t introduce them when Yuan is in the university himself.” Wangji looked properly chastised as he hands Xichen the newly warmed bottle. “Uncle will be upset for losing so many grandfather-grandson time. You can’t hoard Yuan for yourself.” Xichen draped a spit cloth on one of his shoulder and carefully maneuvered his nephew before taking the offered bottle. It took a while before Yuan was able to latch, but with his uncle’s patient guidance, he was able to feed.

“Wangji, you know we have to tell uncle soon. We’ll be needing his help. Between you and me, we know about kids through our pediatric classes, but nothing more. We lack the practical experience. Well I help take care of you, but you were hardly the typical baby and child. You cried after feeling guilty of wanting a bunny, and did not throw a tantrum because you didn’t get the bunny. I don’t know how to deal with an unruly child if Yuan turns to be one.”

“I’ve been reading parenting books, journals... and forums... and blogs.”

Xichen studied his brother, and he gets it. His brother is trying to take responsibility because he knows that Wangji knows that he bit more than what he can chew, and their uncle would chew him out. But his brother is proving that he can do it, and while admirable, it would be extremely difficult for him to do it alone, especially since his brother is still a student himself. Deep inside though, Xichen knows why his brother is afraid to approach their uncle about this, Wangji is too attached to Yuan to let him go. It will break his brother to give up his baby if It comes to that.

“Wangji, while helpful. You know that’s not enough. What will you do when classes start? Are you taking the year off?” From his brother’s expression, it seemed like his brother hasn’t thought that far. “While third year isn’t as hellish as second year ( total lie, I swear! We’ve been lied to! ) it will get very busy with loads of reports, cases, and group works on top of lectures and exams. You’ll also begin having a few clinical visits, and most nights you’ll be running with less than six hours of sleep. You barely get time for yourself, where will you have time to take care of a baby?” Xichen can see his brother is conflicted, and the gravity of his actions are materializing in front of him now. He knows Wangji has a vague idea all this time, but it’s different hearing it out loud. The struggle on his little brother makes Xichen feel guilty for attacking this conversation that way.

“We’ve been taking it by day.”

Xichen felt guilty, he knows the past month  has been a struggle for his brother and Yuan, with the uncertainty if the baby would survive. “I’m sorry Wangji.” When Yuan was finally done feeding, Xichen held him against his chest and lightly patted the baby’s back for him to burp. “You know uncle won’t be so mad, I’ll help you in telling him. And you know I’ll help you in anything right?”

Wangji just nodded. “Anyway, we’ll look into your options later. Maybe we can hire a nanny to help you?” The younger Lan nodded though there’s a bit reluctance there.

Xichen rocks the gurgling baby and resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks.