What to expect when your expecting (claude)

[Morphia]

Tour planning was one thing you didn't want to do when you were experiencing a number of things:
The first was heightened power struggle between your superiors and equals of the Hell Fire Club.

The second was when you were having internal struggles between the VP of your company - yourself- and the president.

The third is when you were in the third trimester of your pregnancy.

Morphia was currently going through all three.
Which made planning a tour for some of the talent at Blood Raine a living hell.

With her tonight was her chief of security, whose company would be the supply the guards and back stage security for the event. Who also happened to be the White King of the Hell Fire Club, and who also happened to be the father of the child in her womb.
Needless to say they currently only cordial when in business situations like tonight.

They'd taken a break from planning and Morphia had gone to the kitchen to make some herbal tea for herself.
"Are you sure I can't get you anything?" She called back into the living area where Claude was going over arena's and show times and making notes for the contracts.
She was only asking really to keep him placated while he worked, she didn't really give a fuck if wanted anything or not.
It was then that she felt a sharp pain in her lower stomach, it did't feel like the baby kicking, it felt more like something pushing down very hard on her body from the inside.
She closed her eyes and placed a gloved hand on her stomach, taking a deep breath before going back to making her tea.

[Claude LeBeau]

It was utterly ridiculous that Claude was present to personally organize Morphia's little bands security. He had underlings that had underlings that were more then qualified to handle a job of this level. But Morphia was going through that whole....end game of pregnancy thing and being a right cow. He had a good mind to let someone younger and less pregnant usurp her while she was weak but knowledge of how she could perform when not carrying around a baby made him hold his hand for now. That woman was a drug alright but it wasn't morphine. It was cocaine, or heroine. He wasn't sure which.

"I'm fine." was the only response he gave, he had a glass of bourbon within hands reach and food was on the way so he was fine. He just had to handle some work that was quite frankly far beneath him.

[Morphia]

When the kettle whistled Morphia poured the steaming water over her tea bag in the small pot and turned to get a mug from cupboard.
After grabbing one of her favorite mugs she turned and suddenly the pain hit her once more, this time much worse.

With out thinking she reacted, dropping the mug and letting out a groan through her teeth. She leaned down as she reached for the mug now in pieces on the floor.
It took her a moment to get all the pieces and when she stood she noticed blood on the floor, her stomach still feeling as if it was being ripped open from the inside out.

Morphia gasped checking her hands for cuts, nothing. Then she noticed she couldn't feel the baby moving any more and it hit her- this had happened before when she'd lost the baby with Suichiro- Morphia was miscarrying.

"C-Claude." She called her hand on her stomach. "Claude!" She now shouted.
She was afraid to move, she was afraid to go to hospital she knew what they'd say. But she knew she had to- and fast.

[Claude LeBeau]

When Morphia called Claude moved, it was a thing of reflex or instinct. The years of honing himself to respond and act when needed. It had never been for this reason, but it paid off none the less.

When the Cajun arrived his eyes broke down the situation until he knew enough to know what was going on. He brought a wrist up by his mouth and pressed a thumb against an concealed pressure sensitive film over a finger nail that triggered a radio. "Get a car ready." His Cajun twang ever present, even now. With eyes that seemed cold and uncaring he moved towards Morphia and moved his hands to pick up Morphia. "Lets go."

[Morphia]

In agonizing pain Morphia held on tight to Claude as he lifted her up.
"Fuck." She said gripping her stomach hard. "Oh fuck fuck fuck." She didn't want him of all people to see her like this, it's probably what he wanted all along for her to loose the child.

He considered it a weakness to her, he had repeatedly told her to get rid of the child, and even when it was to late in the pregnancy he offered to get in in contact with some of his 'friends' who could help her.
So far all it had done was piss her off.
Morphia had always clung to the fact that once she had the baby healthy and full term she could lord it over him that she'd done it. Now all she could do was lean on him while he got to tell her he told her so.

[Claude LeBeau]

Morphia was in his arms and cursing constantly while Claude carried her away, a pair of his thugs soon falling into step. It was unfair to call them thugs, they were very talented people. Former SS. Did what they were told and only needed to be told once. But it was neither here nor there. They were on the move and Claude was informed the car was ready.

When they arrived, sure enough it was. Another guard waiting with the door held open and two up front, one ready to drive and one ready to gun down people who got in the way. The car itself was a bullet-and-laser-proof Bentley. Very stylish, consumed diesel like nobodies business. Morphia was put down in the back, there weren't short on space at least. Claude stayed within reach, knowing her current dependency on him would form an emotional connection he might need later on.

The car left as soon as possibly, they knew how to operate.

[Morphia]

It wasn't a long ride to the hospital as they were midtown New York City, when they got there a nurse was waiting with a wheel chair apparently some one had called ahead.

Morphia was moved from the car into the chair the nurse immediately grabbed her wrist and began taking a pulse.
"We need to get her in for an ultrasound." The nurse said, she was a dark skinned woman with large eyes and a serious glare. The type of woman that would have intimidated normal folk, she was probably very used to bossing folk around.
"Are you the father?" She looked at Claude handing him a clip board. "We need to know her medical information, if you could fill that out the best you can."

The nurse motioned to a porter a tall young man with short cropped hair.
"I need here in maternity for an ultra sound."
The young man nodded and took the handles of the wheel chair pushing Morphia away from Claude.

[Claude LeBeau]

When the nurse asked for Claude to fill the medical information the Cajun just nodded towards one of the men walking with him, a moment later a pre-filled out form was handed over. Claude had made his money expecting outcomes and preparing for it. The Black Queen having health concerns was an obvious and easy one to prepare for.

Still, staying in the hospital for any period of time would be utterly unacceptable. Once something more appropriate and easier to keep an eye on could be organised, which was already happening, she'd be moved.

[Morphia]

Morphia was moved back into an room with equipment much like her OB had in her office. It was really all happening very fast, but Morphia didn't want them taking their time with this sort of thing. She was in pain and she was loosing her baby.

The nurses went back and forth about whether or not the babies heart was beating until finally a doctor came in.
"Your chart tells me your a mutant, Ms. Stutgard." He said "The nature of your mutation is a bit... well I wouldn't have suggested you getting pregnant."
"Well I wouldn't have suggested it either, doc, but one can't always help how things turn out." Morphia said wincing in pain. "Any way, I'm here now..."

The doctor gave her a cross between an thin impatient smile and an apologetic one. "I'm afraid your mutation is causing the babies heart to still, almost as if it were in a coma. Your body is reacting to the baby as if it were dead."
"Is there anything you can do?" Morphia said, her gloved hand on her stomach.
"Because you've already entered the third trimester we can go ahead and take the baby. This isn't a promise that the baby will live, but it is a promise that we'll do everything we can for him."

Morphia blinked for a moment. She hadn't really ever asked the sex of her child, she wasn't really one for surprises but she hadn't really thought to ask. She gave a sort of crooked smile, she was going to have a son.
"Lets do that." Morphia informed.
The doctor nodded and motioned for the nurses to get her moved back to the ER.
"Is your husband here, Ms. Stutgard?" Asked the doctor.
"My ... friend is here with him, in the lobby." Morphia replied.
"I'll keep him apprised of your situation." With that the doctor turned and made his way down the hall to speak with Claude.

[Claude LeBeau]

Claude was waiting outside. Arms crossed and foot tapping with impatience. The men with him looked much the same. Eventually a doctor showed up to explain the situation. Her mutation was the problem. There was something very strange about it, mutants with dangerous abilities were common, why did her offspring not have something to protect them or an immunity? He'd ponder it later.

Once the doctor was gone, Claude stepped away and took out his phone. Standard doctors would not be sufficient, he'd get in a specialist. Someone who knew mutants. He already knew who to call. Being the King of the Hellfire Club had the benefits of connections a plenty.

[Morphia]

In the ER an anesthesiologist was prepping Morphia for surgery. She was feeling woozy and groggy, and she wasn't sure what to expect next.
The lights in the room began to blink out, and she wasn't sure if it was a power surge or her own inability to keep her eyes open any more, then suddenly she was hazy state.

It felt like hours had past before Morphia came to her whits again. She'd been moved to what looked like another room and her legs were in stirrups, the doctor was prepping her for deliver.
It was humiliating, but she knew it was necessary to keep her baby alive.
"Ms. Stutgard, I want you to relax, we're doing every thing we can to help you."
A wave of pain shot through Morphia and suddenly she felt her body contract.
"My baby..." Morphia began through grit teeth. "Is my baby going to be alright?"
"We're doing everything we can." The doctor said.
And suddenly, the room went hazy once more.

[Claude LeBeau]

~Some time later, after the birth~

Claude was in the hospital. He had left for a time and returned once he knew everything he tended to oversee was under control. The secret was out amongst the Club that Morphia was popping out her babe but nobody seemed interested in making a powerplay, not so long as Gambit The Terminator was still contracted as her personal attack dog.

Regardless, the baby was born and as soon as Morphia was on her feet and raising the little tyke he was finished with being King, it was about time he made his move for Lord Imperial. It was as he was pondering this that a little radio went off. Not a radio he carried, but one being carried by one of his guards. They message was vague due to limited time to speak but it would appear they were under attack and it appeared the attacker was beyond his men.

The Cajun didn't delay. With swift and angry movements he made his way down the stairs to where the call had come from and sure enough, his men had been annihilation. A dozen of the best trained soldiers in the world, manhandled by someone with a telescopic baton and what appeared to be an imitation of Claude's stealth suit.

"Cute." started Claude as he took measure of the...would be assassin? "Hopin' to be just like me when you grow up?" he continued while peeling off his jacket and tossing it aside before rolling up the sleeves of his blue shirt.

"Not exactly." replied the attacker, his voice hidden mask behind an electric scrambler. But the LeBeau did manage to work out the accent, sounded like someone was coming after him from the old city, New Orleans. He'd be having a word with the New Orleans assassin guild.

At least the attacker gave Claude the courtesy of preparing and put his baton away, it would appear to would be a gentleman's round of hand-to-hand. Fists were raised as the pair dropped into their respective stances and started to circle. It would have been handy to be able to see his face and read him, but it was pointless. When he finally did make an opening move, he telegraphed his attacked about a year ahead of him.

A black covered first swung out for Claude's chest but he brought up an arm of his own, parrying the fist and closing in with a knee strike to his opponents stomach, but that too was blocked. "Surprised?" he asked before bringing p an open palm to strike Claude in the face.

The Cajun Assassin stumbled backwards and almost looked impressed. His attacker masked everything from his face to his speed, but he showed his hand too soon. Within moments the two were caught in each other, exchanging fast and furious attacks. It was a constant barrage of moves that were parried or blocked. It almost looked like it might stalemate until Claude took a hold of his opponents wrist, the returned surprise that Claude could out-manouvre his opponent bought him the fractions of a second he needed to take advantage. The back of his fist struck his opponents face before he pivoted on the spot to bring the same hand to strike the back of the head. While the attacker was stumbling and reeling from the attacks Claude followed up with a simple kick, driving the sole of his finely tended French leather shoe to the chest of his opponent, sending him soaring back across the length of the room and slamming into the wall and leaving a shattered imprint.

"Your not bad kid, but there's nobody as good as me." informed Claude LeBeau as he took a moment to put some loose hair behind his ears. "You've been upgraded, the files don't say anything about upgrades." Claude didn't respond, instead taking steps towards his still downed opponent as re-forming a fist. Just as he was about to strike his attacker reached for something on his wrist, a watch like device that at a press released a field of unknown energy. As soon as the expanding globe of energy passed across Claude he appeared to practically freeze on the spot.

It was at this point the attacker rose up and seemed to examine the drastically slowed down Claude. "Still moving? Impressive. But not impressive enough. This time, its not clean, but next time. One of us won't walk away." he didn't use the opportunity to deliver Claude a beat down, but he did move on. Everywhere he moved through out the hospital everyone was frozen. Moving as if he knew precisely where he was going the attacker in a stealth suit like Claude's found the little babe.

The individual took a moment to stare at the child within the incubator before placing what looked like a sensor atop the babe's habitat, soon he was working his watch device and a few moments later they were gone. Attacker, baby and incubator.

[Morphia]

When Morphia awoke the doctor was whispering to what she thought was one of the nurses, and she couldn't tell if it was her imagination or if Claude was in the room.
She felt a wave of panic wash over her as she tried to sit up but her head felt like it was spinning and her entire body ached.
"What happened?" She asked groggily putting her hand on her head.

The dark skinned nurse from before made her way over and checked a the IV drip.
"It's okay honey, we're gonna get this all sorted out." the nurse said.
Morphia didn't like the sound of that at all. She struggled again to get up this time succeeding but feeling the strain of it in her lower back.
"What's going on? What are we going to get sorted out?" She looked from the nurse to the doctor.
She now noted that Claude was in the room and beside him wasn't another nurse- it was a policeman in full uniform.

The nurse looked up at the doctor and sighed, helping Morphia prop her self up on the pillows and raising the hospital bed.

"Ms. Stutgard, there's been a... complication with your baby." The doctor said, looking back at Claude and the Policeman for a moment, then back to the mutant woman before him.
"Complication?" Morphia's yellow eyes darted between the three faces in the room before she leaned her head back against her pillows. She knew it, she'd miscarried, she'd lost the child. Morphia bit her lip, a feeling of grief welling up in her chest.
"You see, some one broke into the hospital, and... took your baby." The officer spoke up now, he was a new york native by the sound of his voice.
"Took my baby?" Morphia now shot up again, sitting up straight. "What the hell do you mean 'took' my baby?"
The nurse rushed to Morphia's side only to be swatted away by the asian woman.
"Your child was kidnapped from the ICU by an unknown assailent. Mr. LeBeau here was just telling us how the attacker came at him first... he appeared to be some sort of meta human" The Policeman went on.
"With the amount of equipment he was connected to, he won't last long out side of the hospital... " The doctor added, looking a mix between regretful and resigned.
The police officer shot the doctor a warning look then turned back to Morphia.
"We're going to do all we can ma'am. It's likely the kidnapper will call with demands, once that is done we will trace the call and get your baby back."

Morphia looked at Claude, her eyes brimming with tears. She had never cried infront of him before, and right now her pride was non exsistant, she didn't care if he saw or if any one saw.
Some one had robbed her the only thing in life she'd ever truly wanted. Who ever they were, they were going to pay with their life.

[Claude LeBeau]

Once the doctor and cop had said their piece Claude took out his phone, dialing a number while he stepped outside. A pair of his guys were waiting for instructions. "Find out if someone from the Guild is in town. Bring them in." His men didn't need to hear anymore, they heard the phonecall. Everyone was moving out.

Once they were on the move Claude stepped back inside the room. His black and red eyes looked to the doctor and cop, his face was very uncaring. "Get out...now." He was Claude freakin' LeBeau, he didn't need cops and doctors spouting crap. He had better resources and a better idea of what was going on then the hospital and the cop's entire station combined, a thousand times over. They wouldn't handle this and they wouldn't handle Morphia.

[Morphia]

The doctor moved out, and the cop left hesitantly, the nurse trailing behind them.
When they were alone Morphia stared long and hard at Claude.
"Do what ever the hell you need to get me back on my feet." She said her voice hard, her eyes resolute.
"Put a gun in my hand if you need to because I'm going to get my son back."
Her voice was weak when she said the word 'son'.
She wasn't used to feeling so much for anything or any one, but she wanted her child back.

"Why didn't you stop him? Why did you let this happen?" Morphia then asked to Claude directly, her voice like Poisson. Like ice.