Auto

12

The next day was a tough one. It had been almost a month since Grim disappeared. Tonya laid her head in what little lap Frankie had left, her eyes closed, focusing on Frankie stroking her hair.

"How is she?" Auto frowned, taking in the sight.

"Not good. It's worse now that she knows he didn't mean to."

Auto didn't miss the accusative tone.

"Well, I thought it would be better than her thinking he just decided to rape her."

Frankie glared viciously. "Get," She shooed him, "Go get us some ice cream. You're making my poor baby feel worse."

Tonya smiled a little. She loved Frankie. Frankie was more than a best friend; she was a sister, at times a mother.

Tonya's own Mother was still in Mexico, unable to cross the border. Her Mama forbade her from coming to see her, because she knew if she went to Mexico she would not be able to get back into the States.

Her Mama bled for her to have a better life. Whenever she would protest that's what she would say.

"Sangré para que tengas una vida mejor. Así que vívelo. Eso es lo que puedes hacer para que esos sacrificios valgan la pena. Vive tu vida, mija. Vívelo bien."

(I bled for you to have a better life. So live it. That's what you can do to make those sacrifices worthwhile. Live your life, daughter. Live it well.)

So that's what she did her best to do. She worked hard in school. She wasn't a genius, but she slaved to understand the concepts she needed to, and when she couldn't grasp it, she asked Frankie for help.

Everyone else either treated her like she was stupid, or simply couldn't explain it so she could understand.

But not Frankie.

She patiently, kindly, respectfully—

Peed on herself?

Tonya sat up, looking down at the wet spot on Frankie's sweatpants.

"Eh...hermana?"

Frankie was ghostly, her brown skin taking a pale undertone.

"My water broke," she whispered to no one in sheer panic.

Tonya's brown eyes widened comically, as she fought shock.

"You mean...like a glass of water?"

Sharply, Frankie glared at Tobya, tears filling her eyes.

"Like the amniotic sack my babies have been living in for the past eight months has ruptured and gushed down my legs," she spat sarcastically.

Tonya's nose scrunched up in disgust. "Ew. TM-f*****g-I, Frankie."

"Just call 911!!!"

"Okay, okay, gosh!" Tonya yelled back, giving the laboring woman the stinkeye.

Tonya called 911 while group texting Auto and Grim.

As the ambulance wailed, signaling it's approach, Tonya calmed Frankie down.

It was time.

Frankie huffed and puffed, until an ambulance came to whisked her away to the hospital. As the paramedics loaded her into the emergency vehicle, she screamed at Tonya to call Jason.

"Who?"

"Auto! Call Auto now!"

***

Auto was frozen outside the now quiet delivery room. He had been here nearly a whole night. As soon a he'd gotten the call, e rushed right over.

Only he couldn't bring himself o go in. What if Grim was right? What if him being in their lives would only big them pain?

Or worse, what if he destroyed everything? Frankie. The kids.

He couldn't take the chance. So as Frankie was sleeping, he crept into the room. He saw them.

Gorgeous.

But wait...

Instead of a girl and a boy, there were two boys. Both blinking right at him, tears welled in his eyes. They were perfect. And identical. He picked up one of the little boys, and hugged him to his bare chest. He'd read skin to skin contact between a newborn and his parents helped developed a bond.

The infant softly cooed, quietly keeping his brown eyes on his Father.

Auto rubbed the baby's cheek, smiling softly.

"Hi there, baby boy." He whispered sweetly. The both babies closed their eyes at his baritone voice, recognizing it.

After all, he'd always talked to them when they were still inside Frankie's belly.

"Daddy loves you," he assured him, looking down at the name on the crib.

"Tommy."

Tommy silently, took all this in, yawning. It had been a stressful experience for him too, the whole 'coming out' thing, and frankly, he was just tired.

Tommy yawned cutely. As much as he enjoyed all the attention, he just wanted to sleep for a while.

Noticing the droopy eyes so much like his own, Auto chuckled to himself quietly. Kissing the baby's forehead, he gently brushed his eyelashes, making his eyes flutter shut.

Then, he lifted him up, nuzzling his nose. "I love you, son."

Reluctantly, he put the napping child down.

Then he made his way the other side of the cib, where the other baby lay. Gently, Auto picked him up as well.

He marveled how small his little guys were. Looking down at the name, stopped for a moment.

He felt a wave of guilt nearly drown him. He choked, lifting the child up.

"Little Jason," he smiled.

Jason. She gave him a junior.

Ironically, the little boy looked exactly like him. They both did, but Tommy had his mother's almond eye shape.

Jason Jr. blinked. So this was Daddy? He had already met his Mommy and he definitely liked her. And she still came with food too!

When came out, someone had said welcome to the world. And man was the world interesting! It was full of stuffy, and everything was so bright!'

He'd been in the dark for so long...Literally. Daddy looked very happy to see him, which was good. He had been waiting for the guy to show up.

I mean, every day in the Dark Place he heard his Daddy talking to Mommy and to him, but today, some stranger welcomed him to the world and Daddy was no where to be found.

Auto talked to his son for a little while, before kissing him.

"I love you son." he whispered.

Them he put him down, and just stood over th crib.

"Take care of your Mommy okay?"

He knew one of them would start crying soon, so, full of reluctance, he stepped away from the crib and went to the bedside.

Frankie was exhausted. Smiling softly, Auto thanked her, kissing her head. He closed his eyes savoring the feeling.

Just as he began to think, perhaps he should stay, Tommy started crying. He slipped away as Frankie stirred pausing at the door, considering what he was leaving behind.

But he know he was leaving them alive, and in the end, he felt, that was what mattered most.

He slipped out of the door jay as Frankie came too, sadly thinking she missed him so much already she was imagining his scent swallowing the room.