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Having a child was such a happy occasion. Now, they were preparing for the day that the baby would arrive. One thing that Rouge wanted to keep a secret was the gender of the baby a secret until the moment that the baby came. Roger had been doing nothing but doting on her since the second that he had learned of the pregnancy. Roger was constantly traveling and going to work. Whenever he was home, he was constantly doing everything that he possibly could.
They had gotten everything ready. They had a nursery ready. They had clothing and anything else imaginable that they would possibly need.
Roger was impatiently and happy waiting for the moment that their child came into the world. He was trying to make sure that everything was settled with his job so he could be home. The pregnancy had been rough on Rouge. Constantly putting her onto bed rest and she was sick all the time. But she was powering through it with a bright smile on her face.
Rouge was laying in her bed whenever Roger stepped in with some tea and snacks for her. He smiled brightly as she gave him a tired smile whenever he walked over to her. He sat down the tray before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” Rouge murmured and ran her hand over her swollen stomach, “We’re okay.” Roger smiled as he saw that Rouge dropped her gaze down and smiled herself. “The baby is kicking.”
She reached out for his hand, grabbing ahold of it and bringing his hand to her stomach. She moved it over the course of her swollen abdomen before settling his palm down. Roger waited for a second before he felt the soft thump underneath his palm. “That is definitely a boy. Such a strong kicker.”
“The baby could be a girl.” Rouge murmured.
Roger grinned, “I have a feeling about this one.” He stated as he shook his head, “But I would be happy no matter what the baby is.” Roger smiled a bit as he leaned back and said, “Go ahead and eat something, my love.” Roger leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before he was pulling back to look at her gentle smile.
“Thank you.” Rouge murmured.
“And rest up.” Roger stated as he stood up, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Rouge was smiling at him the entire time that he made his way from the room. “I love you.” Rouge called out to him.
“I love you too.” Roger said back to her.
Roger turned and walked out the door as he kept that grin on his face.
Roger was doting on her. He was doing absolutely everything for her that he could. Going out at crazy hours to go in search of any craving that she might have to get it for her. Making sure that she had everything that she needed from pillows to blankets. He would give her massages whenever her feet or back ached from the changes in her body. Roger was doing everything that he could.
He had taken to building up the entire nursery despite not knowing if their baby was a boy or girl. They wanted to wait for the birth to know. They wanted it to be a secret of their own. It didn’t matter to them if the baby was a boy or girl. The baby was their child.
The clock was ticking. The baby would be here before they knew it. Rouge was growing more excited for the moment that their newest addition finally arrived into the world.
Due to the bedrest, everyone had been pitching in and helping whenever Roger was away. He couldn’t spend every waking moment with her whenever he had his own duties to fulfill. Currently, Shanks was with her and assisting her in whatever she needed. He was a bright, smiling young boy with the cutest bright red hair that Roger had taken in whenever he was just a baby himself. Roger had officially adopted him not long after. Rouge came into his life whenever he was a young child. He was practically her son too. He was seventeen now. They grew up so fast.
Shanks had placed down a cup of tea for her on the bedside table as he adjusted his straw hat – a token that he had received from Roger whenever he was younger – and smiled brightly at her, “Is there anything else I can help you with, Mom?”
“No, darling,” Rouge said back with a smile. She grimaced a bit as she ran her hand over her stomach as she felt the slight twinge in abdomen. She let out a sharp breath as she breathed through it. It had been happening off and on.
“Mom?” Shanks questioned, “Why do you keep wincing? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Rouge murmured as she nodded, “I’m fine.” She went to adjust again, and Shanks reached out to fluff up her pillows for her, “Just the normal.”
“You’ve been doing that a lot.” Shanks stated with a shake of his head, “Should we get you to a hospital?”
“I’m okay,” Rouge said with a smile. She let out another sharp breath as she murmured, “You can help me to the bathroom. I think I just need to go to the bathroom–” As Shanks moved to help her up to her feet, Rouge stopped as she suddenly felt a splash between her legs. She inhaled sharply as she looked down at her feet and her eyes widened. She looked up towards Shanks, and the red-haired boy was staring at her feet in shock.
“Mom…” Shanks started before looking back at her, “I think…”
“My water just broke.” Rouge whispered, “I’m in labor.”
Well, this was quite the surprise.
Roger was busy at work. He was preparing to get everything in order so he could take his leave once the baby had arrived. They had been doing everything that they could to try and get him out of here so he could be home with Rouge. With Rouge’s pregnancy being quite difficult, Roger wanted to be there for her whenever she finally went into labor. It would seem that their baby was being quite stubborn about wanting to make their arrival.
Roger had been standing with Rayleigh and Gaban whenever his phone came to life in his pocket. It had stopped him mid-conversation as he fished around in his pocket for his phone. Shanks’ Caller ID flashed on the screen and he quickly answered it. “Hey, Shanks–”
“Dad, you have to get down to the hospital. Mom is in labor.”
Roger could practically hear the record screech in his mind as the words started to settle in. “What?”
“Mom is in labor. I got her to the hospital, but her water broke. The baby is coming.”
“Are you still with her?” Roger questioned as he looked between Rayleigh and Gaban. Both had gone silent and were now watching him. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Shanks’ voice carried through the line, “They are checking her in now and taking her to a room.”
“Can I talk to her?” Roger questioned.
“Yeah, hang on–”
Noise came on the other side of the line as Roger quickly assumed that the phone was being passed over to Rouge. Roger’s heart was pounding as he swept past Rayleigh and Gaban to head into his office. He had quickly started gathering up his car keys, wallet, and jacket to prepare to get out of the building.
“Hi, honey.”
“Oh, Rouge,” Roger mused, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Shanks is taking good care of me. Just get here quickly, okay?”
“I’m already on my way.” Roger stated as the two of them exchanged a few more words before Roger was hanging up the phone. A bright, proud smile came to his face as he saw that the others were now all standing up and looking at him. “I have to go. Rouge is in labor.”
“Why are you still standing here?” Rayleigh shot back with a happy smile.
“Now you see me…” Roger exclaimed as he started to run down the hall and called back, “Now you don’t!”
Roger had a much better place to be right now.
His wife was in labor and their child was coming, and that is the place that he needed to be right now.
If there was one thing that Rouge could say about labor, it was that it sucked. The pain of the contractions were getting greater the longer that she progressed, and she was already eagerly awaiting the moment that her baby would be here. It would just be better if Roger were here. Shanks was staying by her side until Roger arrived. He was a fantastic help with being right by her side.
As she laid there, she continually found herself looking towards the door. Waiting for the second that Roger came barreling through it with his bright smile and the many apologies that would surely follow. It was almost time. Their baby will be here soon. Roger couldn’t miss this.
“Is there anything else I can get for you, Rouge-sama?” Shanks questioned as he gave her a gentle smile.
Rouge shook her head, returning the smile, “No, darling, I’m alright.”
“Okay.” Shanks said back. He was checking his phone often. Rouge knew what he was doing. He was waiting for Roger. She was in the Labor and Delivery Ward. It was locked down, so the Nurses would need to let Roger in whenever he arrived. Roger was just taking his sweet time actually showing up.
The Nurse was checking her dilation again. She was already incredibly close before, and it was bringing up the anxiety. She wasn’t nervous about childbirth, but she was nervous about Roger not making it in time for the birth.
“Alright, Rouge-san,” The Nurse announced, “I will go get the Doctor. You’re fully dilated. It’s time to push.”
“Wait!” Rouge exclaimed as her eyes widened. She looked between Shanks and the Nurse before shaking her head, “I can’t. Roger isn’t here yet.”
“I’ll find out where he is, Rouge-sama.” Shanks said quickly. The tone of his voice sounded like he was trying to calm her down, but it wasn’t doing much to help at all. He was already moving to pull out his phone, but stopped the second that Rouge let out a soft whine of pain as the next contraction hit. “Okay, okay, I’m calling–”
“I’m here!” Rouge felt the instant relief from hearing Roger’s voice and then suddenly the man came running into the room. The door had flown open as he stumbled on his feet. Rouge suddenly didn’t feel the pain as she stared at Roger in awe. His appearance was certainly… disheveled. He was grinning from ear to ear, but his appearance screamed as if he had been in a fight. Roger stepped forward, keeping that bright smile as he looked at Rouge, “How are you doing?”
Rouge blinked, looking back to Shanks before back at Roger. “Honey… What happened? I’m the one in labor and you look worse than I do.”
Roger smiled, shaking his head as he got to her other side and grabbed her hand. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
“Is there a reason you look like you have been hit by a truck?” Rouge questioned.
Roger just shrugged, “Ran into a couple complications, but I am here now.” He reached over, running his hand through her hair, “I’m more worried about you. The both of you. Are you okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t be here.”
Rouge smiled, “We’re okay.” She leaned over a bit, pressing her lips into his wrist as the relief coursed through her. “You made it just in time.”
“It’s time to have a baby.” Roger murmured.
Rouge just smiled and whispered, “Time to have a baby.”
She let out a sharp breath, putting her complete focus back on labor. It was time to do this. Their baby was waiting for them.
It had taken a while, but finally their baby was here. Rouge was out of breath, but she felt nothing but euphoria. A bright smile was on her face as her newborn baby had been placed on her chest, and the Doctor happily announced that it was a boy.
“Oh,” Rouge murmured in exhaustion as she looked down at the beautiful face of their baby boy. She could see the freckles that dusted over his cheeks as she smiled. “He’s so beautiful.”
Roger was still petting at her hair, soothing it back while his other hand came up behind Rouge’s arm and behind the baby. “He is.” Roger replied, “You did beautifully, Rouge.” Rouge turned his gaze up towards Roger as he leaned in and pressed his lips into hers. The kiss was brief, and the words were left unspoken. Roger broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers. “He looks just like his mother. Absolutely… beautiful.”
Rouge’s gaze returned back to their wailing baby. He was clearly not happy with now being out of the safety and security of his mother’s womb. It didn’t take long for her to slowly sooth him and his small cries turned into little coos. He had little wisps of black hair on his head that Rouge started to toy with. It made her wonder what their son would be like. If he would be like his father or if he might take after her. It didn’t matter to her. He was perfect.
“He just needs a name,” Roger went on to say as he gently caressed the back of the baby’s head.
“Ann for a girl…” Rouge murmured based off of the memory that came to mind, “Ace for a boy.” Her smile got a bit bigger as she leaned closer to Roger. “His name is Gol D. Ace.” Whenever she looked up, Rouge saw the look on Roger’s face. He looked surprised, but a smile of pure happiness quickly followed. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Rouge replied, “It’s perfect.”
Those had been the names that Roger had picked. Rouge loved them. The second she first laid eyes on her newborn son, she knew that was destined to be his name. Ace was perfect.
“Oh, our little boy,” She murmured as she nuzzled her cheek against the baby’s, “Our little boy… Our son.”
“He’s perfect.” Roger added in.
Rouge sat up slightly despite Roger’s attempts to get her to lay back down. She kept Ace cradled in her arms as she motioned for Roger to sit down. Quietly, he gave her a knowing smile and slipped down next to her. He kept his arm securely around her back as Rouge returned her gaze to Ace with a smile. Roger leaned over, pressing a kiss to her temple, “I love you, Portgas D. Rouge.”
“And I love you,” Rouge murmured as she turned her head and smiled at her husband, “Gol D. Roger.” Roger leaned in, pressing their lips together into another kiss. Suddenly, between them, Ace had started to wait as the kiss broke and Rouge immediately turned her attention to the baby to calm him back down. “It’s okay, my love.”
She still had a lot of questions about what transpired between Shanks’ phone call with Roger to his arrival at the hospital, but she could ask about it later. Right now, she just wanted to spend time with her little family. She could see Ace’s eyes now whenever his cries stopped once more. They were a soft wine color like hers but with a circle around the iris of a soft violet like Roger’s. His eyes were absolutely stunning.
At that moment, she knew.
Their little boy was going to be just like them.
He was going to be a flame that no one would ever be able to extinguish.
“Welcome to the world, Ace.” Roger murmured as he reached out and let the back of his finger trace over the baby’s freckled cheek. “This world might not be perfect, but you will thrive in it.”
The smile on her face just continued to grow as she leaned back into Roger and his arms looped around her. His arms were like a protective barrier between them and the outside world. Nothing else mattered at that moment. All she could see was them.
It was just them.
For right now, she could forget the world.
She had the love of her life, and the one thing that was created from that love.
And she couldn’t ask for anything else.