Best Defense

Hospital

...Sean Danial Warner POV's....

I hurriedly stood up when I saw a female doctor who was handling Franda coming out of the operating room, she walked a few steps towards us while opening her mask. "How, doctor? Is my wife and daughter okay? No problem, is it?"

"Your wife will still not be conscious for some time before the influence of the anesthetic is gone, sir, while your baby is born, female and very beautiful. But, because his birth age was faster than we expected, we had to monitor his vital organ development to see if there were any further complications. And yes, I'm sure they'll be fine."

I exhaled a sigh of relief, one heavy burden had just been a device off my shoulder. "How long until my wife wakes up?"

"I can't be sure, the effects of drugs can be different for everyone. We have to wait."

I exhaled again a long breath while shrinking my palms rubbing my two throbbing eyes. "Can I see my wife now?"

The doctor smiled and nodded at me. "Of course, after she's done, she's transferred to her treatment room. I have to go now, the nurse will tell you that your wife is welcome. And I hope he'll come to his senses soon." He patted a glance at my arm then smiled once more to cheer up before stepping away.

I threw myself into the waiting room chair, closed my eyes while leaning my head on both palms. Then the sound of someone talking made me flinch. I didn't realize that Franda's family was still here.

My chaotic thoughts made me almost forget everything, I can't even remember the last time I saw them, even though it had been almost two hours that we had gathered in this place.

"Calm down, she'll be fine" my mother-in-law told me. He patted my arm gently.

I tilted my head to look at him, and smiled. I feel grateful because he is so strong and strong. "It's upside down, mom. I should have strengthened you." I always, and he smiled.

Her hands were raised to wipe the remaining tears on her cheeks. "Panda is not an ordinary woman, I have been taking care of her since childhood and I know how strong my daughter is" she said in a trembling voice, holding back tears. "He's not a quitter, his determination is very hard especially if he feels right. You've experienced it before, haven't you?"

I nodded my head, and my mother-in-law continued. "I loved him more than my own children and I knew him well. One thing I need to tell you is, if when he realizes later he does not want to talk, then follow his will. Don't say anything until he's willing to make a sound."

I nodded again, unable to find a sentence to say. I was too weak to do anything, even to think I couldn't.

"It's my fault, mom." Suddenly those words just came out of my mouth.

"Don't talk like that, you didn't even know that Panda was coming." my mother-in-law muttered softly.

I turned to Franda's biological mother who was still sobbing. "That doesn't change the fact that Franda is experiencing this because I forced the woman to come." I said as I pointed with my chin.

My mother-in-law shook her head. "We want him to meet Panda. Don't blame yourself." My mother-in-law tried to refute me, but her words could not justify anything at all.

"Mrs. Warner?" A female nurse appeared from the corridor leading to the treatment room calling out to me. "Patients can receive visits for the next two minutes before we return to check on them."

I nodded at him, then looked at my mother-in-law. "Come, mom. We should see it."

Slowly I and my mother-in-law went into Franda's care room, while Edward accompanied Franda's biological mother outside. The familiar smell of drugs ambushed my nose as soon as the door opened.

I walked closer to his bed. For some time today, I feel like my heart is being thrown out of my body and as fast as lightning is being returned, and my throat is stuck when I see it lying there. His eyes were tightly closed, but his forehead was wrinkled as if he was having a nightmare in his sleep.

His face was so pale, his lips were dry, an infusion hose was stuck in his left hand, and I noticed his slightly smaller stomach. Makes me think of my son. I'll see him after this.

I tried to control myself as I stepped closer to her side, then leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, Franda. I'm really sorry." I whispered before pulling my face from her.

My mother-in-law did the same thing from the other side of the bed, she kissed Franda's forehead and wiped her tears that were dripping there. "I'm sorry mommy, sweetie. Mommy loves you." He spoke in a soft tone filled with regret, as if he had just made one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made.

For a moment we just kept silent looking at Franda who was lying helplessly. I pressed her palm against my cheek, feeling her warmth on my face. Then my mother-in-law's voice broke the silence.

"This incident," he said, "exactly as when mommy first saw her, the day after the deaths of her parents. He was lying with tears that did not stop flowing. No sound from his mouth. And when mommy looked into his eyes? Mommy can't see anything but pain."

"She was too young, she was only four years old, but she was presented with such a bitter reality." My mother-in-law sobbed, one hand rose to wipe her tears while the other hand rubbed Franda's head.

"No one can feel how painful it is to be a Panda, not even mommy herself, Sean. He was scared to death, almost every night having nightmares, and then he would wake up and cry for hours. He didn't dare close his eyes until the sun was really high."

"It happened, Sean. Panda had all those painful days, and what was more heartbreaking was that we were with him but couldn't do anything to help him."

"I'm sure those times were hard on you. I can't imagine what it's like to be you, mom." I said, describing the day in my head, and I shuddered in horror.

Facing Franda's unpredictable emotions has made me almost desperate, what if I was supposed to do what my family did. Every day we face the same problem for years to come.

"Well, that's family." said my mother-in-law. "No matter what the circumstances, we all love him. More than anyone, more than anything."

"Will he forgive me after this, mom?" I asked as I looked at Franda's face and kissed the back of her hand.

My mother-in-law nodded, her gaze also fixed on Franda. "Panda won't be able to linger angry at you. It was already one of the common secrets, Panda always meant it when he chose someone. You already know how he survived with Nino. The trust he gave her was never half-and-half, Sean. And that goes for you now." I nodded in understanding hearing my mother-in-law's words, I could catch the menacing look from her eyes as I glanced at her at a glance.

I smiled at him. "I love her, mom. I'll never leave her." I mean it. It had never crossed my head to leave Franda for a second since she accepted me.

I can't possibly part with a woman like her. Franda was the only woman who could make me crazy, not only because of her beautiful face, but also her gentle heart and her admirable mannerisms.

My poor franda.