Chapter Text
"Seriously Red! Of all the times you had to pick to go into labor it’s now.” Frank growled driving to the hospital with a pregnant and in labor Matt Murdock in the passenger seat.
“I didn’t ask for her to come now. It just happened!” Matt growled back as Frank just sighed and hit the gas when the light turned green. Frank yawned and glanced at the radio clock seeing it read 2:30 in the morning. He cranked up the heat knowing it was at least negative degrees outside.
“Of course she decided to come in the middle of the COLDEST night of the month. Just like her mother…always inconveniencing me…” Frank grumbled wishing to be back in their warm bed instead of the cold November winter in New York.
“So sorry OUR child is an inconvenience!” Matt shouted hitting Frank on the shoulder.
“Ow! Hey no hitting.”
“Then get me to the damn hospital and I won’t!” Matt spat when he let out a cry of pain, hand lashing out to grip Frank’s thigh. Frank glanced over at Matt, eyes closed, panting in distress.
“Come on Red hang in there. I have no idea how to deliver a child and I really don’t want to be one of those stories where a baby is delivered in the backseat of the car.”
“Can’t you drive faster!” Matt asked as Frank just rolled his eyes.
“So killing people is off the charts but breaking the speed limit isn't?” Frank asked in mock shock as Matt turned and glared at him. Frank glanced over and hated how even with those sightless eyes, that glare could pierce his heart and make him shiver with fear.
“Sorry look there is black ice on the road and I rather not possibly hit it and crash us. Just deep breaths all right, the hospital is nearby.” Frank said suddenly slamming down on the breaks and blaring the horn at a car that ran through a red light barely hitting them.
Matt covered his ears, the horn harsher on his senses than usual and screamed. “STOP!” He shouted slapping at Frank’s hands who batted them away and hit the gas again.
“Mother fucker. Just because it is early morning doesn’t mean he can do that. Why are you so pissy about the horn anyways. You live in New York you should be use to it.”
“Look my senses are a little haywire right now okay. Everything seems more intense and…oh fuck…it hurts!” Matt sobbed as Frank cursed softly before hitting the gas letting fate decide their outcome.
Frank slammed on the breaks in front of the ER and turning off the car got out seeing the hospital valet walk over. “Do not hurt her you understand me.” Frank growled tossing the valet the keys as the young beta nodded and gave Frank a ticket. Frank opened the passenger side door and unbuckled Matt, taking the whimpering omega in his arms.
“Um would you like a wheelchair?”
“I am fine.” Frank said closing the passenger door with his foot and jogging into the ER. The sooner he got Matt to the quiet maternity ward the better.
They entered the ER only to see it filled with people sporting different serious injuries. The screams of pain and cries of distress filled the space as Matt felt his senses overload. He usually could regulate his senses and tune certain things out but with the pain of labor already making his senses extremely sensitive, this was just the icing on the cake.
Matt realized that for the first time in a long time he was, for lack of better words, completely blind. “Frank I can’t see…I…” Matt said in a panic, breaths coming out fast, and chest heaving.
“Matt hate to break it to you but you are blind. Been since you were a kid.”
“I know that idiot! I meant I can’t see. There is too much going on. I…” Matt tried to explain when it suddenly hit Frank. Matt used his senses to build a picture which allowed him to move around any space and just life in general like someone who wasn’t blind.
“Look it’ll be okay, we’ll get you to the maternity ward where we’ll be away from all this noise.” Frank said moving further into the ER and shouting over the din “I NEED ASSISTANCE!” Matt groaned and buried his face in the alpha’s chest trying to be calmed by his mate’s scent.
“What is going on?” A nurse asked rushing over as Frank turned seeing the red haired beta appear.
“My mate. He is going into labor.” Frank said as the nurse nodded.
“How often are the contractions coming?” She asked taking Matt’s wrist to check a pulse when he pulled it back crying out.
“You have to forgive him. He’s blind and his senses are overloaded.” Frank said as the nurse nodded.
“They come…every 5 minutes.” Matt said suddenly as the nurse bit her bottom lip.
“What?” Frank asked as the nurse looked around.
“Male omega births happen quite quickly. He’s almost to the point where he’ll need to start pushing.”
“Okay well take us to the maternity ward or something.” Frank said as the nurse rushed over to the nurses station. “Hey! Where are you going!” Frank shouted following her as Matt let out a whimper.
“Hush…please stop shouting.”
“Just focus on your breathing darling.” Frank said sitting Matt down in an empty chair and running after the nurse.
“FRANK! Come back! I need you!” Matt suddenly cried out not feeling his alpha and instantly feeling lost in a swirl of sounds, smells, and tastes while his contractions came quicker and more painfully.
“What is going on!” Frank demanded as the nurse looked up.
“Look several pipes bursted in the maternity ward thanks to the cold weather forcing us to move the patients there into other wings. This of course filled up most of the rooms in the other wings and well you’ve seen our ER…”
“Yeah it’s like a damn war zone what the hell happened and what does all that you said mean?”
“A bus slipped on some black ice and slid into an intersection crashing into another bus and several cars. We’ll actually be having more injured coming in that we may have to evacuate some to other hospitals. What this means for your mate is that we are trying to find him a room.”
“Look I am sure he’ll just be glad to give birth out here.”
“That will not be necessary. Glinda please tell me we have something and a doctor to deliver the baby?”
“Not looking good Sasha. I think room 104 may be available but doctors…look we may have to get a resident or something.”
“I don’t care. As long as they have medical knowledge and can safely deliver my mate’s child we’ll take it.” Frank said as Sasha and Glinda looked at each other then at him.
“Very well. Come on. Glinda page the resident.” Sasha said as Frank raced over to where he left Matt seeing his omega on the floor in the fetal position, hands covering his ears.
“Matt. We have a room come on.”
“I can’t see. Make it stop. Too much…it hurts…” Matt whimpering crying as Frank saw is unseeing eyes just staring off in a disconcerting matter.
“I know but let’s go.” Frank said scooping Matt up and walking after the nurse when an ambulance bus pulled up.
“We have 6 more critical cases.” Someone shouted as Frank entered the room the nurse was in.
“Put him in this gown and then lay him on the bed. We don’t have much time.” The nurse said handing Frank a hospital gown as she started grabbing tools, gloves, and different machines.
Frank set Matt on his feet and quickly disrobed the omega putting him in the gown. He led Matt over to the bed coaxing him to lay down and as he did so saw tears running down the omega’s face. “Frank it’s too much I can’t…”
Frank just stood there seeing Matt on the bed when memories suddenly came flooding back. His wife looked at him just like that, said those exact words. He was barely there for their first child’s birth…barely made it. She had refused to start without him.
Together they brought their first child into the world. He had held their daughter as she breathed in her first breath only many years later to hold the same child as she breathed her last, as his second one did after. He had been a father, a mate, a husband…he would be all that again…the big question was could he be all that again. He hadn’t meant for this happen. Neither he nor Matt did.
Usually omegas can’t conceive, or have a very low chance of, outside of a heat. They thought they were safe in that one life confirming, heat of the moment, sex. The same moment that made Frank claim Matt. God they were stupid. Though after, Matt had said a bond mark he could handle, in fact it could do them good since they seemed to be drawn to each other…especially during missions.
But a child? That took them both by surprise. Frank still remembers when he first learned about it. He had been going to pick Matt up for a sting operation they were going to do together only to find the omega sitting on the bedroom floor, eyes straightforward.
Frank had asked him why he wasn’t in his costume when Matt told him to go to the bathroom and look in the sink. Frank had decided to humor the man wishing he hadn’t. He saw the test, he saw the two damn lines. He knew what that meant. Had seen it twice in his marriage to his wife.
It hadn’t computed at first and he had decided to tease Matt about it saying heaven help whoever the father was to which Matt had told him he had better start asking Heaven then. Frank had been denial. He had thrown the test at Matt and stormed out.
He couldn’t go through this again. He couldn’t be a father again especially with how many enemies he had now. Sure he took most out and would continue to do so but if the world learned that Frank Castle, the Punisher, had a child…had a mate…who’s mate was the fucking Devil of Hell’s Kitchen…that child would be such a target.
He could handle a mate, he could handle having Matt feeling what he was and vice versa but that…that was something he could not handle. For a month Frank had avoided Matt, refused to return the omega’s calls, visit him, he endured the angry text messages from Karen and demands from her to go to him. He had told himself if he ignored it, ignored everything, it would go away. It seemed to be working until Frank had learned that Matt was out there fighting.
Laying flat on the roof, Frank studied four men through the scope of his gun. They were low level drug dealers that were scoping out the area to see if it was good for a larger drug deal to go down. He wouldn’t act, just gather information, and come back to fully take it down.
He continued watching when he suddenly saw a familiar figure, dressed in red, land in front of the group attacking them. “So that’s why the bastard closed the bond.” Frank thought before packing his stuff up and rushing to assist.
Usually Frank would honor the other man’s request to not kill just maim, but this time he could care less. He was pissed. With four sure shots, the drug dealers fell to the ground when Matt turned to him and glared.
“Don’t give me that look Red. What the fucking hell are you doing! Out here fighting, not just risking your life but the life of a baby!”
“Like you fucking care!”
“Of course I care! You have no right to put my child in danger! You could have killed it! Caused yourself to miscarry.”
“Oh so now you are ready to claim it, care for it. Where were you a month ago! Where were you when I called you, texted you, left you voicemails to please reach out to me so we can talk! Where. The. Fuck. Were. You!” Matt growled pushing Frank back causing the other man to stumble.
“Matt…”
“No! Answer me Frank. Why now! Why do you fucking care now!”
“Because you are out here fighting and…”
“It’s my body and my life Frank. I can do whatever I want.”
“Even if it means possibly losing the baby!”
“Even that because why I should I care about something if the other party doesn’t. I am not going to raise the kid alone.”
“Adoption idiot. You could always put it up adoption.”
“Let me rephrase. No way in hell was I going to go through the pregnancy alone and abortion well...that wasn't an option. So I would just let God make the decision on the fate of the child.”
“You selfish bastard!”
“Me selfish? Oh that’s a good one.” Matt said with scoff removing his mask. “You abandoned me Frank. For a month you let me handle everything by myself. I even decided to say fuck it and not even go to the appointments that Karen made for me."
"Did you?"
"If just to shut her and Foggy up. But it didn't mean anything. Not the questions, not the fucking sonogram to make sure the baby was okay, not the..."
“Wait sonogram?”
“Yeah. Got to see, well more like hear, the child live...Karen made sure to describe everything to me…but again. It didn't mean a thing. By the way, here.” Matt growled reaching into one of the holsters he kept his batons in, pulling out a folded piece of paper and tossing it at Frank. “Enjoy. I don't want it.” Matt said turning and starting to walk away as Frank picked up the piece of paper from the ground and opened it.
He knew what it was. He had seen several of them with his wife. There on the photo paper was their child. His and Matt’s pup. It was tiny and barely noticeable but it was there. Frank looked up seeing Matt almost to the street and ran after him.
“Matt stop! Wait!” Frank shouted grabbing the omega’s arm.
“We’re done Frank. Have the picture and go. You don’t need to be here anymore.”
“Damn it Red! I am scared alright? Scared because this child…this child would come into a world where the Punisher has enemies. Where Daredevil has enemies. Our enemies will put two and two together Matt…”
“I know. Trust me this has gone through my mind. But if for some reason we decide to do this, our enemies honestly would be right idiots to mess with our child don’t you think?”
Frank chuckled and said “Yeah. I just…I don’t know if I can go through this again Matt. I had this once and…”
Matt turned as Frank met his sightless eyes getting lost in the cloudy blue of them. “I know you did. I know this is bringing back a lot for you but Frank…I can’t do this alone. I need you. If you don’t want any part of this then so be it. I’ll…I’ll figure something out.”
“Like trying to induce a miscarriage by fighting?” Frank growled as Matt looked away.
"It’s not…right but…I honestly can't bring myself to get an abortion. Crazy I know since both are practically the same...”
“What about adoption? We go through this and then put him or her up for adoption. Keeps everyone safe.”
“Could you do that Frank? Because I don’t think I could. Not after carrying it and birthing it.”
“But you could kill it? You could live with yourself knowing you possibly caused a miscarriage?!”
“I DON’T KNOW! I DON’T FUCKING KNOW! I am very overwhelmed with everything okay. I just...I can’t be a parent Frank. I am a walking disaster.”
“Like I’m not?” Frank asked as Matt just ran a hand through his hair.
“Maybe we shouldn’t do this. Maybe the child would be better off without us…”
Frank looked back down at the sonogram slowly tracing the outline of their child. “No. This child…this child would be a target no matter what we do. I much rather have this child somewhere where he or she can be easily protected. Can be taught to protect him or herself. I don't want to lose it.”
Matt looked at Frank saying “You mean…”
“I’m sorry Red. Sorry for being selfish…for being scared. But I…I want this. Do you? Can you honestly tell me you looked at that screen and not feel anything? Not want to bring that child into this world?"
Matt looked down and placed his hands on his flat stomach. “I...you're right. The way Karen described it…hearing that heart beat…I do. I want this Frank. But I’m so scared. I don’t know what I am doing.” Matt whispered when Frank took Matt into his arms.
“Shh I know. The good thing is that at least one of us has experience in this. We’ll get through this. We’ll figure this out together. I’m sorry Red. So sorry. I love you.”
“Me too.” Matt whispered taking in his mate’s scent and opening the bond once again.
“Sir? Are you all right?” Frank was instantly brought back to the present by Sasha calling out to him as Frank just blinked and nodded.
“Hmm? Yes I am. Sorry what’s going on?”
“I’m about to give birth to your daughter you big oaf!” Matt growled from the bed as Frank walked over.
“Right. Yes. I’m here.” Frank said taking Matt’s hand watching his omega whimper in pain before falling back against the bed.
“I can’t focus on anything…there is so much going on…I can’t…”
“Matt focus on my voice can you do that?” Frank asked as Matt nodded and opened his eyes.
“Mr. Murdock?” Frank turned smelling another alpha enter the room realizing it must be the resident.
“What do you want!” Frank growled not liking this unknown alpha approaching his mate.
“Mr. Castle this is Micah, he is a resident here and the only one available to deliver the baby.”
“No! No way is that alpha getting anywhere near my mate or child!” Frank snarled when Micah just held up his hands and stepped back.
“I understand. Usually we do not have alphas deliver babies but you have to trust me. I am here to care for your mate. To see your child comes safely into this world.” Micah explained as Frank looked at Matt who seemed unresponsive just staring blankly ahead, chest heaving from pain.
“Fine. But the beta stays.” Frank growled as Micah looked at Sasha who nodded.
“I will stay and ensure that he doesn’t do anything except deliver the baby.” Sasha said as Frank just nodded and turned back to his mate.
Micah let out a breath and walked over as Sasha prepared Matt for delivery. “Okay Matt, can I call you Matt?”
“Yes…” Matt said as Micah nodded and sat on a nearby stool looking under the blanket.
“Alright looks like everything is going well. I want you to push when I say so Matt.”
Frank looked at his mate when Sasha handed him a damp towel. Frank took it and gently wiped Matt’s forehead.
“I can’t focus…my senses are everywhere…I feel like…I…” Matt said breathing fast and heavy.
“Matt you need to slow your breathing.” “Matt push now!” “Focus on the doctor!”
All three commands came at once to Matt’s already overworking mind and senses as he tried to tune out everything happening in the ER. He couldn’t. The pain from the childbirth, even with the numbing medicine, was keeping him from focusing.
“IT’S TOO MUCH!” Matt screamed slamming his eyes shut when he felt his body instantly start pushing.
“Matt it’s okay. Focus just on me.” Frank said into Matt’s ear which seemed to cut through everything.
“Frank…”
“That’s right. Push when I say push.” Frank said nodding to the doctor who nodded back. “I am the only one that matters. Now push.”
Matt did so screaming as this method continued on for about 40 minutes when finally there was a final scream from Matt, silence, then the wailing of a baby.
“You did it!” Frank said looking over seeing the resident hand the wailing baby over to Sasha who took it in a towel. Frank looked down at Matt who’s eyes were open and staring straight ahead as tears rolled down his cheeks.
After Frank cut the umbilical cord and talked Matt through delivering the afterbirth, he saw the nurse return with their daughter swaddled in a purple blanket. She handed her to Frank who gently took the baby smiling. He looked down at her, complexion that of his with Matt’s auburn hair and a dusting of dark freckles running across her nose and cheeks.
“Frank…where is she…I…can’t see her…can't feel her…I smell her…hear her heartbeat...where…” Matt asked weakly but also in some distress as Frank came over.
“She’s here. Hang on…” Frank said adjusting Matt’s arms and slowly depositing the small bundle into them.
Matt lifted a shaky hand tracing the baby’s face before letting out a sob. “Describe her to me Frank…my senses are still going crazy…I can’t…I need you…”
“She has my skin tone, olive like, but your hair and freckles. The freckles run across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. She has your face and my nose. And…” when suddenly the baby opened her eyes and let out a soft sound. “She has one blue and brown eye. The left is blue and the right is brown.”
“She got the best parts of us it sounds like. Is she healthy?” Matt asked as Frank looked at Sasha who nodded.
“Yeah Matt, she is. She is a healthy 7 pound baby. She’s looking around and now she’s looking at you Matt. Looking at you and smiling.” Frank said with a smile of his own as Matt also smiled.
"Hey baby...it's me. Your mom...I'm here now..." Matt said softly taking her small hand in his, feeling the soft skin and tiny fingers.
“Is there a name you would like to for the birth certificate?” Sasha asked as Frank looked at Matt.
“You still good with the one we decided on?”
“Yes. Her name is Trista Aurora Castle-Murdock.” Matt said as Sasha just smiled and wrote it down.
“Gorgeous. I will go and make up the birth certificate.” Sasha said leaving when Micah reentered.
“Congratulations, both you. Something wonderful in all this chaos. Now if you excuse me I need to dash.”
“Of course thank you. About before…” Frank started as Micah just waved him off.
“It’s all good. I get it. Take care of yourself, both of you. She’s a gorgeous little bundle of joy.”
“Wait doc…her eyes…”
“Are fine. It’s called Complete Heterochromia. Nothing in her blood work came back unusual. Her pediatrician may test for other things but more often than not, it’s nothing to worry about. Just something to make her a little more special.”
Frank nodded as Micah left and turned seeing Matt nuzzling their daughter. “You wanna try to feed her? She may be hungry.” Frank said as Matt just nodded.
Frank helped open the top part of Matt’s hospital gown, helping his still shaking mate guide the baby to a nipple. Trista instantly latched on and closing her eyes started nursing. Frank sat next to Matt and adjusted him so that he was in a more comfortable position.
“Talk to me Red.” Frank said softly brushing back some sweaty strands of hair from his mate’s forehead.
“I can feel and hear her heartbeat…things are starting to quiet down…I can focus a bit better.”
“That’s great. She’s really gorgeous Matt, we did good. You did amazing. I am so proud of you.” Frank said cupping Matt’s cheek turning his face some.
Matt smiled saying “I am glad we did this. I love you Frank.”
Frank just smiled and resting his forehead against Matt’s said “I love you. I am really glad I get another chance to be a father…even more glad I get this chance with you.”
“We’re parents Frank…we have a baby.” Matt said with slight awe to his voice as Frank chuckled.
“Yes we do Matt. Yes we do.”
“Thank you…thank you for doing this with me. You don’t know how much I needed you. Still need you…I need you so much right now. I’m not sure I can do this…be a parent…be Trista’s mother.”
“You can Matt. If you can be Daredevil and take down Fisk. You can raise our daughter. Remember you are not alone. I am not leaving you. We’re gonna raise one kick ass little girl.”
Matt chuckled and nodded saying “Yeah we are. We should uh call Karen and Foggy…they won’t mind being woken up for this…we need to let them know that they will be having a god daughter.”
“I’ll go ahead and call them. You good for a bit?” Matt nodded as Frank got up and grabbing his phone from his pocket left the room.
Matt focused on Trista’s heartbeat, hearing it strong, soft, and fast. It reminded him of the heartbeat of a bird. He felt her unlatch from his nipple and gently rested her against his shoulder. He rubbed her back hearing a soft burp just like Frank had told him to do during one of their many learning about babies session.
Matt kept her against his shoulder and nuzzling her, took in her scent. It was like the scent of air after a refreshing rain mixed with the smell of honeysuckle along with a dash of smokiness. There was also a hint of lemon and woodsy smell. Matt smiled getting more of her scent along with putting more of his scent on her. He kissed the side of her head, feeling the soft wisps of hair that Frank told him were like his.
“My beautiful girl.” Matt whispered finally able to paint a picture of her from everything he was able to gather from Frank and his own findings. He was slowly feeling his senses start to return to normal, finding his daughter’s heartbeat really soothing his nerves and helping him find his center again.
Matt heard Frank reenter who said “Karen and Foggy are thrilled with the news. They’ll come here in the morning with some breakfast to meet her.”
“Good. I like that idea.” Matt said sleepily as Frank walked over and gently took Trista from his arms.
“Get some sleep Matt. I will keep an eye on her.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Frank said watching Matt close his eyes and instantly fall asleep. Frank chuckled and took a seat nearby cradling his daughter. He looked down at her seeing her also asleep and smiled. He could do this. He could once again be a father and this time see his child grow up. He knew deep down that just because he had this new child, this new family, didn’t mean he would forget his previous ones. His previous family. They would still be in his heart and mind but now, now they would just have to share it with a new addition. Something he doesn’t think they would mind.
“Well little lady, you ready to face this world?” Frank asked as Trista just made a soft noise and turned nuzzling against Frank’s chest. “Yeah you’ll be ready. Your mom and I will make sure of it. That’s a promise.” Frank added gently stroking a pudgy little cheek before looking over at his sleeping mate smiling.
Yeah, they would definitely make their daughter ready for this world. Who better than the Punisher and the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.