Hazel grinned, saluting. “Yes, sir!”
They left the mansion, Raph driving, Wyatt in the passenger seat, looking down at his belly. It was only now, when they were away from family, that the lines on Wyatt’s face returned.
“I’m almost certain I want the natural birth,” Wyatt said, fidgeting. “But chances of rupture are 40%.”
Raph’s stomach flipped every time he thought about it. He’d been ignoring it, knowing it was a hurdle they’d have to face, sooner or later. “I’ll be there. Whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.”
“Thanks.” Wyatt smiled wanly, squeezing Raph’s hand.
They made the drive to the apartment in silence, Wyatt’s hand on his belly. When Raph set his palm on Wyatt, he felt the baby kick, too. And a smile worked its way onto his lips. “I can’t wait to meet Ben,” he said. “You’re absolutely sure it’s a boy.”
“Yes, he is.” Wyatt swatted at him. “I feel it in my bones.”
Raph wasn’t sure how that worked, but he wasn’t going to question it.
Halfway to the apartment, Wyatt winced. “No, wait. I think the labor’s starting. Let’s head to the hospital.”
Raph forgot to breathe. “Already? I thought you said it’d be a while yet.”
“Hospital, Raph.”
Raph took the nearest U-turn, and hit the gas. Would they get there in time? Would Wyatt give birth in the car? The hospital was ten minutes away—Raph wouldn’t have the slightest idea what to do. He should’ve read up on births in greater detail.
He held his breath as they sailed down the streets, the Sunday morning traffic light. Wyatt rubbed his belly. Raph glanced at the cars around him, looked in his mirrors, hyperaware of the traffic. He had to get his omega to the hospital safe. Their baby would be here soon.
Gods, he wanted to see what their baby would look like, wanted to hold him in his arms. “Fuck, I can’t wait.”
Wyatt cracked a smile. “You really can’t. You’re amazing.”
Raph rolled his eyes. He was just Raph, not amazing or anything.
Then Wyatt winced again, and Raph panicked a little. “We’ll be there soon, I promise.”
The hospital’s parking lot was almost full when they pulled in. Raph parked, cut the engine, and hurried around to Wyatt’s side, opening the door for him.
“I can do this myself,” Wyatt said.
“Let me help,” Raph said. “You’re gonna be swearing at me later.”
Wyatt laughed. “Watched too many movies, have you?”
“You’re not going to swear later?”
“I’d probably curse you to hell and back.” Wyatt grinned, squeezing his hand. “It’ll be the first time I have someone I know with me.”
Raph’s heart ached. “Not just anyone,” he said, sliding his arm around Wyatt’s waist. “You’ll have your alpha with you.”
Wyatt blushed, a rosy tint on his cheeks. Raph grabbed the overnight bag, and they made their way slowly across the parking lot, Wyatt waddling, Raph supporting him.
“I bought a cow plush along for you,” Raph said, nodding at the overnight bag. “It’s in there.”
Wyatt raised his eyebrow. “I never did ask why you got one for each of us.”
“I’d spoken with Sam for a bit. He said his brother got a giraffe plush for his omega—I thought you and Hazel might want one, too. Then Hazel wanted to get one for her brother, and it seemed odd if there wasn’t one for me.”
Wyatt laughed. “Is it right at the top of the bag?”
“Yeah.” Raph grinned, unzipping the bag, handing the plush toy to Wyatt.
The cow was a tiny thing, with silky-soft fur and little friendly eyes, and a wide smile under its muzzle. There were two above their bed—Ben’s was in his cot, waiting for him.
Wyatt hugged it to himself, a smile breaking across his face. “It’s so adorable.”
Raph shrugged, but couldn’t help smiling. “Thought of names for the cow?”
“Yeah. I think I want to call it Cow.”
“Cow? Really?”
“Why not?”
Raph shrugged, and Wyatt pressed a kiss to Raph’s shoulder, his other arm cradling his belly.
They checked in quickly. Raph sat Wyatt in a wheelchair, and the nurse wheeled him to the labor ward, where Raph helped him onto the bed.
Halfway through, with his feet still on the floor, Wyatt winced again. He squeezed Raph’s hand, and breathed out, his face paling. “Fuck, that hurt.”
Raph grimaced. “Sorry.”
“It’ll be worth it.” Wyatt smiled, then wriggled onto the bed, his movements awkward with his belly so big. Raph leaned in, scooped him up, and set him against the pillows. Wyatt sighed, making himself comfortable. “Did I get a lot heavier?”
“You’ll never be too heavy for me.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes, but he was smiling wider, now.
The midwife was a younger omega, one who didn’t know who they were. Wyatt leaned into Raph when she appeared, relaxing. At some point, they would have to figure things out, like what they told people about their relationship, and what their children shared with their classmates at school. Maybe they’d move out of Meadowfall by then, or maybe they’d be okay staying here.
Either way, Raph was certain that things would turn out fine. They had the support of their parents, and they had the resources to move. If things got messy for their children, they would relocate, to somewhere where he and Wyatt would be seen as alpha and omega, and not brothers.
“Oh, fucking hell,” Wyatt hissed, crushing Raph’s fingers in his grip. Raph held him, leaned over to stroke his back.
“Push,” Raph said. “Push!”
Wyatt glared. “Don’t you dare, Raph. Don’t you fucking dare.”
“That’s supposed to happen, isn’t it?” Raph grinned. “I annoy you with all the unhelpful suggestions, and you snap at me.”
Wyatt frowned. Then he grinned, breathing in. “Fine. Tell me to push. It’s not like I don’t know what to do.”
And Wyatt was probably glad, too, from the way he looked down at their hands, his eyes soft. Raph could only imagine Wyatt ten years ago, lying by himself on a hospital bed, in labor, with no family around him.
So he pressed a kiss to Wyatt’s temple, running his wrist down his omega’s forearm. “You’ll smell like me when you
