Annie is calm.

If by calm, you meant screaming profusely at every medical official staffed at Willmore General Hospital to “find her husband or suffer”, then yes, she is an absolute delight. If you couldn’t already tell from the tone of my voice, this is a total disaster.

Annie is freaking out because she’s never experienced labor before, and because it was a week early. She is also worried that Ethan would miss it. I assure her that it wouldn’t take him upwards of five hours to get here, but she didn’t appreciate my attempts at humor.

Apparently, it was absolutely vital that a dragon’s father be present at the birthing. The baby will change once from human to dragon and bond with its family. The custom requires both parents there, otherwise, the baby dragon won’t be able to connect with other dragons in its colony.

The baby can only change once, and after, the baby wouldn’t change again for another twelve years, if it was a dragon. If it is a rider, then this is the only chance Ethan would get to see his child as a dragon.

I wonder if my real parents saw me as a dragon when I was a baby. I doubt it. I don’t feel any “bond” like the one they refer to.

“Oh god, it hurts,” Annie whines to no one in particular. “What if the human doctors can’t help me?” My blood is already running cold at the thought. Apparently, the doctors were thinking the same thing.

The maternity doctor, Dr. Nell, pulls me out into the hallway to remark the same worry to me again. His face is a little too pale for my comfort.

“We don’t know anything about supernatural births. I can’t be liable for losing the child if this goes wrong.” Dr. Nell says. I understood that he was protecting himself from a lawsuit by saying that. But I could also see that he was trying to be gentle. At least he wasn’t against the thought of helping a dragon.

“There’s really nowhere else we can go…” I pause, thinking. “What if I put you on the phone with Annie’s doctor? She could run you through everything you need to know about a dragon birth.” I was grasping at straws, and I knew it. No phone call could remedy this issue. I didn’t really expect him to agree, but I had to try.

“We can try that.” Wait. Did he just agree? This human was really going to help us out, just like that? I didn’t even have to bed. There aren’t a whole lot of humans who would bend over backwards to help other supernaturals.

I dial up Dr. Maize’s number, and listen while it rings. Hopefully she isn’t too busy. I didn’t have Annie’s primary care physician’s number, and from the way Annie is currently screaming, I don’t think it would be smart to ask. When the call went through, I let out a breath of relief.

“Dr. Maize speaking,” She answers professionally.

“Dr. Maize, it’s me. Sam. I was hoping you could run a human doctor through a dragon birth? I know it’s a long shot but… Annie is in labor and I don’t know who else to call about this.” I spit out the words as fast as I could. Maybe if I said it fast enough, she wouldn’t realize how truly crazy this idea was.

“Is Ethan there with you?” Dr. Maize asked hesitantly. Of course she would ask about Ethan. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I relay the bad news.

“No. We can’t get a hold of him. Colin went back to get him, though.” I say as I stare out the windows at the sun. It was nearly five, and already getting dark. Curse daylight savings.

“Okay, good. Put me on speaker with the doctor. I assume he’s right next to you?” Dr. Maize asked. She sounded annoyed, but I let it go. I mean, who called a troll doctor about a dragon birth? Me. Because who else did I know that happened to know the inner workings of giving birth to a dragon? No one. Obviously.

I did as she said, and put the phone on speaker.

“To whom am I speaking?” Dr. Maize’s professional voice flipped on like a switch. There was no place in the human world for informal troll doctors. If she didn’t act seriously, they wouldn’t take her seriously. I knew she wouldn’t take that risk. I wanted nothing more than to tell Maize to be herself and say what she wants how she wants, but it wasn’t my place.

“This is Dr. Nell. I’m the attending physician. I’m willing to help, but I’m unsure of the procedure so if you could-”

“Give her the biggest room available, and clear it of unnecessary equipment. When a dragon baby is born, the baby will change from human to dragon. The dragon baby isn’t the reason space is needed. The space is needed for when the dragon parent changes form to accept the baby into the family.” She dumped the facts onto the doctor without hesitation. To his credit, Dr. Nell looks like he was trying his best to remember every detail.

“Once this happens, the mother will feel the pull toward her baby. No matter what, you must give the baby to the rider. Without physically touching that connection, the rider will be devoid of the bond the family shares. This bond is the most important, and can’t be broken for any reason.” Dr. Maize tried to emphasize the importance by making her voice more stern.

Dr. Maize continued talking, but I zoned out. Did that mean, somewhere out there, I was connected to a mother and father too? Or did they miss their chance to connect with me? I am haunted by these questions. I probably don’t have a bond with any other family than the human one that raised me. The fact that I was adopted shouldn’t matter. I have a family, even if they don’t like what I am.

“...Even if the baby’s heart isn’t beating, hand it over to the mother.” Dr. Maize finishes. I don’t think I missed anything too important. Dr. Nell nods frantically as he notes things on a small pad of paper. This is clearly a lot of stress that he is not prepared for.

When Dr. Maize hangs up, I take my phone back and go into Annie’s room. They were already preparing to move her, per Dr. Nell’s instructions. The biggest room available was a suite clearly meant for rich people. I asked him about the money, and he told me not to worry as space was the only problem. They would charge for a regular sized room. Thank god.

“Sam… Ethan has to be here!” Annie grabs my wrist and rolls on her side to face me. That couldn’t have been good for the baby. Her hands are clammy from sweat and shaking from the anxiety. She wasn’t doing well. Too much stress in this situation isn’t good for her or the baby. Ethan, I swear, you better get here soon.

“I know, Annie. I know. I’ll try calling again. Colin and him will be here any minute. Everything is going to be fine. He wouldn’t miss this for the world, I promise.” I tried to keep my voice even. Project serene thoughts, I tell myself. Be calm. She needs me to look like I am in complete control of the situation. I can’t look like I was falling apart at the seams, even when I already am.

I tried calling Ethan again, and was met with the same empty voicemail as before. Before I can even offer to try and call again, she forces her phone into my hand.

“Try calling with my phone,” She said. The nurses start to wheel her out of the room and down the hall. I follow behind with Dr. Nell.

Finding Ethan’s contact under Annie’s phone wasn’t hard. It is the one decorated with heart emoji’s and smiling faces. I click it and listen to the painful rings of the phone. I know he isn’t going to pick up. Why would he pick up when Annie calls but not mine?

“Annie, I already told you. Whatever baby clothing or accessory you found, we don’t need it. The colony gave us enough at the shower to drown a small dog in so no-”

“You crazy bastard! Annie is in labor! How could you not check your phone earlier? I’ve called at least twenty times!” I effectively cut him off by yelling into the phone. I wait through the long pause for an answer, and didn’t get one. Did he lose signal? The dojo was on the bottom floor of the colony so maybe…?

“Annie… Annie’s in labor? Where are you? I’ll be there as soon as I can!” And then he hangs up. I didn’t get a chance to actually tell him where we are. Does he know we ended up at a human hospital? Of course not!

Annie is wheeled into the large suite room and I frustratingly redial the number. While it rings, I tell Annie the good news.

“He picked up! He forgot to get the address from me, is all.” I tell her soothingly. Ethan picked up again, and immediately expressed that he was sorry for hanging up so suddenly. Is he… Is he crying?

“We’re at a human hospital. Willmore General. Can Colin catch a ride back from you? He went back to get you. Normally, I would never ask but…” I drift off. He is quiet for a while. Either he was offended that I’d dare ask him to give a lift without his own rider, or he was trying to stop crying.

“Ethan?” I ask hesitantly into the silent phone receiver.

“What? Yeah. I’ll give him a lift. I’m on my way!” Ethan’s voice is croaky from the sound of fresh tears. I tell him the address, and he thanks me. I could tell he was really uncomfortable about the fact that Annie is in a human hospital. I would be uncomfortable too.

I set the phone on the fancy nightstand of the hospital suite and lend my hand to Annie. She squeezes it without mercy and it took all I had in me not to complain. Even if she broke my hand, I refuse to complain.

“Mr. Zodiac, a word?” I looked up at the formal voice and was face to face with Dr. Nell. Only this time, he seems agitated and nervous at the sight of me. I nod, and walk out into the hallway to speak with him. No one has ever called me “Mr. Zodiac” so naturally, I was curious.

Who even told him I am a Zodiac?

“There’s someone in the lobby requesting to meet with you. She’s kind of terrorizing the nurses… she claims to be the Zodiac known as Mazareth Arra.”

Ah. So that’s how he knew.