บท 5: CHAPTER FIVE: THE DAY SELENA WAS BORN

Under the full moon's silvery glow, Seth and Steve sat on a cliff, basking in the cool breeze's gentle caress. The Realm stretched before them, a breathtaking panorama.

"I hear you're going to be a father soon," Steve said, his voice tinged with excitement.

Seth's response was laced with melancholy. "Yeah, I guess."

Steve's brow furrowed. "You don't seem too thrilled about it."

Seth's sigh hung heavy in the air. "You're gonna be called Father," Steve teased, trying to coax a smile.

Seth's chuckle was tinged with sadness. "What's on your mind?" Steve asked.

"A name for the baby..." Seth's voice trailed off.

Steve's laughter erupted. "You know you suck at naming!"

"I do not!" Seth protested.

"Yes, you do," Steve insisted. "Let Helen handle it. She's got better taste."

Henri ambled over, joining the conversation. "What's the discussion?"

"Seth's struggling to find a name for his baby," Steve replied, grinning.

Henri's eyes sparkled. "Doesn't he know he's terrible at naming?"

Steve shrugged. "He knows but won't admit it."

"I pity the child," Henri joked.

Seth interrupted, "Hey, I'm right here."

Steve ignored him. "Helen would do a better job."

"Definitely! We can save the baby," Henri agreed.

"Good luck finding a name," Henri called out, walking down the hill.

"Where are you going?" Seth asked.

Henri chuckled. "Unlike you two lovebirds, I need sleep."

Seth shuddered. "We're not a couple."

Steve smirked. "You should be with Helen, not gazing at the sky."

Seth's eyes narrowed. "Sophia's with her."

Henri's face lit up. "Sophia!? Let's go!" He dragged Seth away.

"Sophia's a feast for the eyes; sleep can wait," Henri said, grinning.

Steve declined, shaking his head. "I'll pass on watching you two make fools of yourselves."

Henri laughed. "Your loss, kiddo."

As Henri and Seth disappeared into the night, Steve's expression turned contemplative. He gazed out at the Realm, his thoughts swirling.

Fatherhood. A new chapter for Seth, but what did it mean for their friendship? Would responsibilities and diaper changes replace late-night sky-gazing and carefree adventures?

Steve's smile faltered. He felt a pang of loss, a sense of impending change.

"Things will never be the same, will they?" he whispered to the moonlit sky.

The Realm's vast expanse seemed to shrink, and Steve felt the weight of uncertainty settling in.

Sophia massaged Helen's stomach. "What are you going to name her?" she asked.

"Her?" Helen replied, surprised.

"It's definitely going to be a girl," Sophia said with a smile.

"Whichever it is, we'll gladly accept it. And Seth said he'll handle the naming part," Helen said.

"But Seth is bad at naming, you know," Sophia pointed out.

"I know, but that's his way of being a father to the baby, and I think it's cute of him," Helen said.

"Nah, you're just in love," Sophia teased, her expression deadpan.

"I guess you could say that," Helen replied, both women laughing.

"I'll come see you tomorrow. Later," Sophia said.

"Thanks for coming today. Bye," Helen replied.

Sophia, the Realm's best medical practitioner, used her shadow or the environmental shadow to cure her patients. She was inept at fighting, but when it came to healing injuries, she was unparalleled. After finishing her examination, Sophia packed her equipment and left the Remmick's house.

Minutes later, Seth and Henri arrived, anticipating Sophia's examination. "Hey, Princess," Seth said with a smile.

"Where the heck have you been?" Helen snapped.

"Calm down, honey, I was with Steve," Seth replied.

"You put me in this condition, and you have the guts to hang out with your friend!?" Helen exclaimed.

"It's not as if you didn't enjoy the process," Seth teased.

"Baby, I was trying to find a name for our kid," Seth defended.

"Ugh, excuse me, children, where is Sophia?" Henri interrupted.

"She's already left, and what are you doing here? I know you ain't here to see how I'm doing," Helen replied.

"Ugh, goodnight," Henri said, leaving.

"How are you two?" Seth asked in a slow, pacifying voice.

"We're fine, Mister," Helen replied.

Seth sat beside her, placing his head gently on her stomach to listen to the baby's movements. "Help Daddy apologize to Mommy," he whispered.

"Get off me, fool. I'll forgive you once you're done massaging my back. It's kinda sore," Helen said.

"Don't worry, I got it," Seth replied, finding a gentle spot to kiss her cheek.

Helen lay on her side as Seth gently caressed her waist, massaging it ever so smoothly. He poured a bit of massage oil on his palm and smoothly rubbed it on her skin, using his thumbs to press gently in a circular motion on her waist. She fell asleep during the massage.

Seth gave her a smooth head massage to help ease her tension, and when he was done, he washed off the oil and joined her in bed.

Early in the morning, a loud cry woke Seth up. He jumped out of their bed to find his wife screaming in pain, with a part of the bed wet.

With a confused look, he asked, "What's happening? Babe, are you okay?"

"Seth, the baby!" Helen exclaimed.

"What's wrong with the baby?" Seth asked.

"My water broke!" Helen groaned.

"Your water? I don't understand," Seth said, bewildered.

"The baby is coming out!" Helen cried, her voice raised.

"Like, right now?" Seth asked, shocked.

"Don't ask me that!" Helen snapped.

"Sorry, babe. What should I do?" Seth asked.

"Call Sophia!" Helen exclaimed, breathing fast.

"Okay, be back in a minute," Seth said before rushing out.

Before he could summon Sophia, Helen called him back. "Rub my waist, Seth."

"Your waist, what for?" Seth asked.

"Just do it!" Helen's voice sounded like thunder.

"Yes, ma'am," Seth replied, rubbing her waist.

"What about calling Sophia?" Helen asked, struggling to get up.

"You called me back to rub your waist," Seth explained, assisting her.

"For crying out loud, send a Shadow clone!" Helen exclaimed.

Without waiting for Helen to yell at him again, Seth made a Shadow clone and sent it to Sophia's place.

"If she doesn't get here in time, you'll help me deliver this baby," Helen said.

"Whichever it is, I'll do it," Seth replied, though hesitant.

"I'm here already," Sophia said, arriving just in time with the clone.

"Thank God you're here. Let's take her to your place," Seth suggested.

"It's too late for that… She'll have the baby here. I need you to lay down, Helen," Sophia instructed, helping Helen onto the bed.

"Fetch me some water, Seth," Sophia requested.

Helen screamed while trying to push out the baby. She would scream each time she pushed, holding firmly onto the bed cover. Seth returned with a bucket of water.

"Where should I keep this?" Seth asked.

Helen's face contorted in agony as she pushed with all her might. Sophia coached her through the process, her voice calm and reassuring. "Bring it here, push harder, Helen. I can see its head."

The room was filled with the sounds of Helen's labored breathing and the faint scent of sweat. Seth watched in awe as the baby's head began to emerge. But as the reality of the situation hit him, his eyes widened in fear. The sight of a human head popping out of another human's body was too much for him. He felt his vision blur, and everything went black as he fainted.

Sophia didn't flinch, her focus solely on delivering the baby. "Give it one last big push, Helen. Come on, you got this."

Helen screamed in pain as she gave it her all, pushing the baby out. The cries of the baby sent a joyous shock through Helen's exhausted body. It was a successful delivery.

Sophia beamed with pride. "Congratulations, it's a girl. I told you."

She used the bucket of water Seth had brought to clean the baby and cut off the umbilical cord. Once she was done, she wrapped the baby in a warm towel and handed her to Helen.

Helen's eyes lit up as she held her baby girl, feeling an overwhelming sense of love and connection. "She's beautiful. Good thing she doesn't have his looks."

Sophia chuckled and shook her head, glancing at Seth's lifeless body on the floor. Helen giggled and handed the baby back to Sophia, then fell asleep, exhausted.

Seth slowly regained consciousness, rubbing the back of his head. He looked around, taking in the scene before him. Sophia was holding the baby, and Helen was asleep. He felt a wave of relief wash over him, followed by a sense of wonder and awe.

"Idiot, you fainted!" Henri exclaimed, laughing. He had arrived with Steve shortly after Seth fainted.

Steve chuckled. "You sure know how to fall, Daddy."

Seth ignored them and walked over to Sophia. "Can I hold her?" he asked, his voice filled with emotion.

Sophia smiled and handed him the baby. "She's yours."

Seth gazed lovingly at his daughter, feeling a sense of pride and joy. He gently stroked her cheek, marveling at her tiny features. "She's perfect," he whispered.

Henri walked over to Seth, curiosity getting the better of him. "What's her name?"

Seth smiled, a look of pride on his face. "Selena… Selena Remmick."

Henri's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that's actually a good name. I trained you well."

Helen's eyes slowly opened, a gentle smile on her face. "Hey, Sunshine."

Seth's face lit up. "Hey, beautiful. How are you feeling?"

Helen tried to sit up, but Seth gently pushed her back. "Easy there, Tiger. You need to rest."

"I want to hold her," Helen said, her eyes fixed on the baby.

Seth handed her the baby, and Helen's face lit up with joy. Steve, however, felt a pang of jealousy watching his best friend become a father. He quietly slipped out of the house.

Helen looked up at Seth, a smile on her face. "So, what do we call her?"

Seth grinned. "I think Selena is a good name."

Helen nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. "I like it. Welcome home, Selena."

Seth leaned over and kissed Helen on the forehead, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Thank you, Helen. I love you."