Marvel: Breezing Through History as an Eternal

[New York. 19th of August, 2001]

Ajak was walking rather hastily towards the Queens hospital center along with Sprite and Sersi following her. She was bringing some clothing in her bag, and as she entered, she spotted Pluto, running back and forth, his face looking anxious as hell.

“Has it started?” Ajak questioned Pluto instantly as she arrived, both of them didn’t stop however, as they continued to walk to the operating room.

“In a couple of minutes.” Pluto said nervously. “The doctor said that it’s impossible to do the normal way… we need to do a caesarean delivery…”

“Well, the doctor didn’t know that she is an Eternal.” Ajak stated.

“I don’t think it matters…” Pluto continued. “I mean… How could I know that the baby weakened her during the pregnancy? She barely could walk these past couple of weeks… let alone do it the normal way…”

“You’re underestimating your wife, Pluto, she’s a strong woman.” Ajak snorted. “This is why you should consult me first if you want to do something like this…”

“Well, the last time I tried to consult you, you wanted to erase Thena’s memory.” Pluto jabbed.

“So is she going to be okay?” Sprite asked anxiously.

“She’ll be fine.” Ajak reassured. “The body of an Eternal can withstood many things.”

“And the baby?” Sersi asked again.

“That… we don’t know…” Ajak grimly said. “I have never seen this event before, while it is a momentous occasion, it is also full of anxiety…”

“You can say that again…”

As they arrived at Thena’s room, they could see that they were already putting Thena on a wheelchair to be brought to the operating room.

“Hey, let me do that.” said Pluto to the nurse, to which the nurse let him.

The nurse then led them to the operating room, and all of them were anxious as hell, well, except Thena herself…

“Hey love, you okay?” Pluto asked calmly.

Thena rolled her eyes. “You asked me that every single hour, I’m fine, don’t worry about me…”

“Well this is the first time we have seen an Eternal born, Thena.” stated Sersi. “We haven't seen one for millenia.”

“I know…” Thena murmured. “But I could tell…” she said, caressing her baby bump. “Everything’s going to be alright…”

“I find it disturbing that you are the one who isn’t anxious here Thena.” Sprite commented casually, but she was still nervous too. “And you’re the one who’s going to give birth…”

“You all are honestly too much.” Thena snorted. They then arrived at the operating table, where the nurse took it from there.

“I’ll be fine, relax.” said Thena as she was being pushed to the operating room. “By the time he comes out, you better have a good name for him! Remember, two names!”

Pluto sighed. “Sure love… sure…”

—

Pluto and the others were sitting patiently outside as the procedure was going. Gilgamesh and Makkari then suddenly walked in on them, bringing some food with them.

“Sorry we’re late,” Gil said. “Bought some donuts if you’re hungry…”

“Yeah, well, I could have one…” Pluto quickly took one donut and ate it whole, making Gil raise his eyebrow.

“Relax man, she’ll be fine.” Gil reassured him. “Is she in there?”

“What do you think?” Pluto grumbled. He then saw Makkari and nodded to her. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Makkari shrugged. “Yeah, well, I’ve nothing to do in the ship, might as well see my nephew, or is it my niece?”

“It’s nephew.” Ajak said while smiling. “Stop eating Pluto, your wife’s inside and you’re stuffing yourself…”

“Well I can’t go inside, so what am I supposed to do besides dreading the result…”

“Think of a name, like she said.”

“Hm… I already got a name in my mind, don’t worry about it…”

—

Pluto was sitting impatiently as well as the others. Phastos had come while Pluto waited, and he brought some gifts for the boy. He commented on the fact that they should’ve just operated on her in the Domo, so it won’t be too dangerous for her, but Pluto said that Thena insisted that the boy was borned in a Hospital, so he could do nothing about it.

“I also saw some men bringing a congratulations banner outside…” Phastos stated. “Your friends or something? I could see the Stark Industries name in one of them.”

Pluto hummed. “Probably from the company, no big deal…”

“Damn, you made a name for yourself in these past years huh?”

Pluto snorted. “Don’t really like it to be honest… just in it for the money, although recently, the military is banging my doors to offer an investment in a project that wants to recreate Project Rebirth.”

“Project Rebirth?”

“The serum.”

“Oh… that sounds bad…”

“It is… it’ll be like atomic bombs all over again if they suceeded.”

Phastos frowned. “Yeah… not good at all…”

—

Another thirty minutes have gone by, and another Eternal decided to stop. It was Ikaris…

“Ikaris!” Sprite exclaimed as she saw him. She ran to him, and hugged him.

“Hello Sprite…” Ikaris smiled weakly as he patted her head. “Is the baby…?”

Pluto shook his head. “Not yet… any minute now…”

Ikaris nodded, he then turned to Sersi, and the atmosphere turned awkward instantly.

“Hello Sersi.” Ikaris greeted her politely.

“Hi…” Sersi stammered awkwardly.

After that, they didn’t say anything as Ikaris sat on a chair, waiting for the operation to be finished.

—

The doctor soon opened the operating room door as the red light on top of it goes off. Pluto instantly stood up, walking towards him.

“The baby has been delivered safely Mr. Smith.” smiled the doctor as he shook his hands. “Congratulations, it’s a boy.”

Pluto sighed in relief. “Thank you doctor… What about my wife?”

“She’s under anaesthesia right now, if you want to check her, go ahead. The boy is in the baby room, you can visit him after.”

Pluto nodded as he turned around to the other Eternals. All of them nodded to Pluto, letting him leave. He quickly entered the place, and walked towards Thena’s bed. She looked like she was sleeping, but Pluto knows better.

“Hey… you alright? Is it painful?” Pluto questioned softly as he caressed her hair.

Her eyes opened as she heard Pluto’s voice. “Turns out… Anesthesia didn’t work on Eternals…” she chuckled weakly.

“Oh no…” Pluto sighed in regret. “I should’ve done something…”

“It’s okay darling, I’m okay…” Thena kissed Pluto’s hand. “You should see him… you better give him a good name, I’m not going through all that pain just for you to name our boy ‘John Jr.’...”

Pluto chuckled. “Will do love, will do…”

—

Pluto walked towards the baby room as a nurse guided him inside. The then was brought to a hospital crib, where for the first time, he saw his son, his baby boy.

Pluto walked towards the crib that’s been protected by glass. He looked at the boy, he has had hair since birth, dark brown hair that would probably darken overtime. Pluto saw his face, and he looked just like him, but he hoped that he wouldn’t get his violet eyes, he wanted to see Thena’s gorgeous blue eyes in him.

Pluto caressed his head as he smiled softly and the boy. He looked calm, unlike the other babies that are inside the room, and once he felt Pluto’s touch, his hand tried to grab it.

The baby’s hands were holding Pluto’s finger, unconsciously pulling Pluto towards him.

“Hello little one…” Pluto sighed contently. “I’m your father…”

“Sir, you can take him to his mother if you want.” the nurse said. “His recovery is astounding, he’ll be a strong boy when he grows up.” smiled a nurse near him.

Pluto nodded. “Thank you, nurse.”

—

Ajak and the others were now sitting beside Thena’s bed, already in their hospital room. It was a VIP room, probably the most expensive room in the hospital.

“So you felt pain during the procedure?” Sersi questioned softly.

“Not really.” Thena shrugged weakly. “But once the surgery finished, I just felt incredibly tired.”

“Healing factor must’ve kicked in.” Ajak hummed. “I could heal you right now… but it’s better that you recover slowly, I heard the pregnancy was draining you.”

“Yeah… couldn’t even stand for the last week…” Thena sighed. “But it’s worth it.”

Ajak nodded with a smile as they heard the door open. Pluto had entered the room, with a baby in his arms, a nurse following him, bringing the crib.

“Hi guys…” Pluto cooed softly. “Here he is…”

Thena instantly tried to sit up, even though Ajak told her not to. Once the bed was readjusted, Pluto gave her the baby, and the boy quickly made himself comfortable in Thena’s arms. The nurse left, leaving the Eternals alone.

“He looks just like you Pluto…” Gil commented as he looked at the boy who was being caressed by Thena.

“I hope he gets Thena’s eyes though.” Sprite commented.

“I hope so as well.”

“So, what’s his name?” Ajak questioned Pluto, making the others turn to him.

“Theodore.” Pluto answered. “Theodore Smith.”

“Honestly, we don’t care about his human name P.” Gil said. “What’s his ‘other’ name?”

Pluto smiled as he sat on the bed, caressing the boy with Thena. She stared at Pluto with her blue eyes, and Pluto answered softly.

“Helios,” he said. “The 12th Eternal among our family.”