Page 92 of Ravaged From Fate

Axel, under the weight of everyone trying to cuddle him, calls out in the affirmative.

“Of course you lot can fucking see him.”

And that’s when I meet Maddie Leaver for the first time. She’s snuggled up in bed, covered in sweat, cuddling her newborn. Axel leads us all in.

Everyone congratulates her.

“Caspian?” Her eyes light up when she sees the giant. He smiles warmly back. “You made it?”

“Yep.”

“And you’re still characteristically monosyllabic. How nice.”

He chuckles. “Yep.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I would like you to meet someone,” Caspian tells her. He ushers me towards him until I’m standing by his side with his arm lovingly around my shoulder. “This is Elsa Barlowe, my love.”

Maddie blinks at me, then bursts out with a beaming smile. “Hello, Elsa.”

“Hi,” I reply. “Sorry to barge in like this in what is a pretty delicate time…”

“Ah, it’s perfectly fine. I’m happy to see Caspian again. Thank you for bringing him to me, Elsa. I’ve been very worried about him.”

“I wouldn’t miss your baby for the world, Maddie,” Caspian replies.

Maddie winks at me. “Welcome to the madhouse.”

“Congratulations,” I say. It’s all I can do. I feel like I’m intruding here. I’m sticking out like a sore thumb in this little family of friends who’ve known each other for forever.

“Elsa’s a nurse who’s just delivered a baby,” Caspian says, his face beaming with pride.

“Really?” Maddie asks me.

“It was the first time, out in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty scary, but the mother and child are perfect.”

“I like her already,” Maddie says to Caspian, nodding at me. My boyfriend’s smile somehow widens even further. Despite his stoic appearance, the man clearly takes the opinions of his band family very seriously.

“You look amazing for having just given birth,” I remark to Maddie.

“Thanks, but the whole ordeal was pretty crazy.”

“Well, you look beautiful,” I say.

“Do you guys want to hold the baby?” Maddie asks the room.

Chloe chuckles. “Do you trust us?”

“I trust you all with my life and more.”

They all pass the newborn around. The boys all look so awkward, these international rockstars, with a cute innocent baby in their muscular arms. It’s very cute.

Seeing the baby up close is overwhelming. He barely opens his eyes and makes gurgling sounds that are the most adorable thing on the planet. Look at me, I’m a nurse and I’m still awed by the miracle of life.

“He’s got bright green eyes,” I remark softly. “So gorgeous.”

“The same eyes as Axel and Chloe,” Caspian says.