Victor didn't think he could love another human being as much as he loved his baby. When he got the news he came running, leaving behind all his unfinished business. He felt guilty for not being with his mate during the time of his need. His maid recounted how much pain Robin had to go through before the healer took him to surgery. Robin's physical state scared Victor. He thought he would lose the love of his life but with God's grace Robin survived and the little angel he brought to the world survived as well. The healer handed the baby to him and he knew his life would be altered forever. The little thing looked at him with so much vulnerability that he knew he would die for him. Kill for him.
Victor's stay was unexpectedly extended when he learned Harold Marcell and his son Marco Marcella had escaped the palace prison during Victor's absence. Someone inside the palace had helped them. It was dangerous for them to be free. Victor might have defeated Harold Marcella, but that didn't mean the man couldn't come back to power just as quickly. He should have killed the man. Victor made the decision to spare Harold's life primarily out of concern for Robin. Despite Robin's strained relationship with his father, Victor recognized the importance of their relationship. Robin grew up under the supervision of that man. Saw him as his father. Taking Harold's life would only serve to cause unnecessary suffering for Robin, and Victor couldn't bear the thought of adding to Robin's stress.
In an effort to locate Harold, Victor spared no expense, deploying private investigators and exhausting every resource at his disposal. However, Harold's influence and connections proved more formidable than Victor had anticipated, making him exceedingly difficult to track down. As Harold remained in hiding, Victor felt an intensified need to protect his partner and their child.
The healer entered the room and stood at the doorway with unease.
"Your mate has woken up," he announced. Victor had been taking care of their baby for the last two days with the help of a few maids. Although his instincts were telling him to take the baby away from any strangers. He didn't know who to believe anymore.
Victor's stood up, feeling a weight lift up his shoulders. He had been waiting for Robin to wake up. He needed to make sure his mate was safe. "Can I see him?" Victor asked.
"Yes. He wants to see his baby."
Victor nodded. Their baby wanted to see his mama as well. No wonder Robin wanted to see his baby. That man had fought a battle against death to bring their baby into the world. He cradled the baby and walked towards Robin's ward.
Robin almost jumped out of bed when he saw Victor enter the room. He extended his hands to hold the baby. Victor gave him his baby and smiled proudly as he saw his mate with their baby. Robin looked different in the white hospital gown. Not the regal prince but a vulnerable omega whose safety was in Victor's hand.
"He is so beautiful," Robin sobbed.
"He takes after you," Victor said.
Robin stared at the baby for the longest time, taking his fill. When the baby stirred in his arms Robin jolted. The baby mewled with the beginning of a cry.
"He is hungry," Robin said as a matter of fact. He removed his gown to the side to try to latch the baby to his now puffy nipples. Although an omega's chest remained flat, they still produced milk from mammary glands within his body. The baby refused to latch. He cried with wonton when Robbin tried again.
"What happened? Why isn't he drinking?" Robin asked with frustration.
The bay's wail stressed Victor. "He is hungry," Victor said, feeling clueless himself. He didn't know how this worked. He wasn't there when Nina was born and Arthur was dealing with his own things to come to help Victor through parenthood.
"I know I am trying to feed him," Robin snapped with frustration.
"He is not able to latch. Let me give him a bottle," Victor offered.
"You have been giving him a bottle?" Robin asked with accusation.
"I had no other choice. You were in a coma."
The baby's cries only increased, ringing the whole room. Victor yelled for the nurse and she came in running and looked at the two of them sensing how stressed the two of them were.
"Why isn't my baby latching?" Robin cried out.
The nurse walked up to him and took the baby from his hand. She rocked the baby and it quieted.
"Sometimes the baby needs to learn to latch. It will happen with time."
Robin wasn't disheartened but he didn't argue with the nurse.
"You hold the baby," the nurse said to Victor, handing him his son. Victor waited anxiously as she prepared the bottle and gave it to Victor. Victor held the bottle on his tiny little, he wiggled his head before sucking on bottle's nipple with eagerness. When Victor looked up RObin was staring at their baby, eyes full of pain as the nurse explained to him something about breast pumps. Victor understood RObin's hurt. Robin had been waiting for this baby so eagerly. He had spoken at length about breastfeeding. Spending hours after hours in the palace library reading all the books about being an omega mother.
"You want to hold him?" Victor asked, extending their baby towards Robin. Robin shook his head, looking to the other side as his lower lip wobbled.
"Hold him, love. He has been missing his mama." With some coaxing, Victor was able to gently hand over the baby to him.
Robin was a brave omega, it was the first time Victor had seen him break.
"It's post-pregnancy hormones. He will be alright with time," the nurse whispered to Victor as she was leaving as if she saw Victor's concern.
As the baby fed him and cooed in Robin's arms his worries eased. He was smiling down at him when the attendant brought food for him.
"Thank you," Victor said, as he took the tray from the attendant's hand.
"Let's place him in the crib for now. Have your meal while he is quiet."
"I don't feel hungry," Robin said, cradling his baby close to his chest.
"You haven't had anything in the last three days. If you don't eat something you won't recover quickly."
Robin must have realized Victor was right. He gave his baby back to Victor who placed him in the crib. Victor then stepped forward, brought the tray to the high table, and fed his mate.
The baby started to cry again by the time they were done. Victor handed over the baby to Robin once again and Robin tried to breastfeed him once again to no avail. The baby veiled with frustration.
Victor couldn't watch his mate struggle. Neither could he see his baby hungry.
"Maybe I should make a bottle," Victor said a few minutes later.
"I am trying! Can you please give me a minute?" Robin said in a burst of anger. Victor gritted his teeth and backed up. Victor knew he had to give them time. He might be concerned but Robin had their son's best in his heart. Being an omega mother wasn't easy. The surge of hormones paired with the difficult traumatic delivery was taking a toll on Robin. As much as he wanted to help Robin he couldn't make the baby latch on his breast, Robin had to do that himself. HE had to tramp down his fatherly instinct to see his son fed.
Victor went away from the bed to make a bottle for the baby just in case. When he came back a few minutes later Robin was sobbing holding the crying baby on his chest.
"I can't feed him, Victor. I am a bad mother. My body isn't making milk for my baby."
"You heard the nurse. Give it some time. You just woke up from a three-day coma. You haven't drunk or eaten anything in the last three days. Do not push yourself so much, Robin."
Victor took their crying son from Robin's arms.
"I will take care of him. Why don't you get some sleep? You can try again when you wake up." Robin started crying harder at Victor's words.
"Shh...you did good. You are an amazing mother, trust me. You might not realise it but I can see it."
"Feed him the bottle," Robin said. Victor nodded before putting the bottle to the baby's mouth and he immediately started to suckle. Victor that path to parenthood was going to be a struggle but they won a war against the world's strongest tyrant, they could do this as well.