Most of the answers, Valen already knew. Birthday, address, blood type. Then he looked further down the form, and saw Second parent’s details.
Would that be him, or Harris? It should be Harris, when Harris wanted the baby more than Valen did. Sometimes, Harris cupped Sam’s belly and kissed him on the temple, and they’d both look down at the baby bump, their gazes expectant.
Yeah, Valen wanted Sam’s baby, too, but in the way he wanted to be Sam’s alpha, be there for everything Sam needed.
Couldn’t see himself getting along with a baby. What if he hurt the child? What if he broke it, like how he’d learned violence from his parents?
Logically, Valen knew how to burp a baby, feed it, change its diapers. He’d read up on all the things. He would care for Sam’s baby. But watching Harris and Sam, he always felt like the odd one out. He didn’t yearn for that child.
Wasn’t ready for a kid, didn’t know how the hell he’d be a good dad. How would he be good enough of an alpha for Sam, if he wasn’t crazy about that child?
When Sam paused at the blanks for the second parent, Valen said, “Maybe you should write Harris’ name.”
“No, write Valen’s,” Harris said, meeting his eyes.
From the look on his face, Harris wasn’t budging. But he was the perfect father. He’d even asked Sam if he could be the baby’s dad.
Sam looked up at them both, hesitating.
“Valen’s DNA,” Harris said, raising his eyebrows as though he expected Valen to challenge him.
Gods, that wasn’t fair, was it? Harris deserved to be the baby’s legal dad.
“Fine,” Valen said. Wasn’t like he’d desert Sam or the baby.
Sam filled in the form, then returned it to the counter. Then they waited, Valen holding Sam’s hand, tracing circles into his palm. Rubbed his thumb over Sam’s scent gland, breathing in dahlia.
“What if I’m no good as a dad?” Valen blurted. Held his breath as his lovers looked at him.
“We’ll help,” Sam said. “I’ll teach you.”
“What Sam said.” Harris reached behind Sam, curling his fingers into Valen’s shoulder. “Not like you’re raising the baby alone.”
He really wasn’t. Valen breathed in, then out. Sam had lost the previous baby, and Valen hadn’t a clue when it happened. He wasn’t going to let down his omega again.
So he brought Sam’s hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles. “I promise to do my best,” Valen murmured against his skin.
“Same here,” Harris said. “Tell me if I’m doing something wrong.”
Valen chuckled. Harris, doing anything wrong? He was so much calmer than Valen was. “You’ll be a great dad, Papa.”
Harris’ cheeks darkened. Valen held his breath. It was so rare, seeing Harris blush. He wanted to reach over, kiss Harris on the lips.
What was so wrong about two alphas dating, anyway? It wasn’t like they were harming anyone else by doing it. Wasn’t like some omega out there was missing out if Valen kissed Harris. Especially if Valen was kissing Sam next, anyway.
“We should get us matching mugs,” Sam said. “Yours will have ‘Daddy’ on it, and Harris’ will have ‘Papa’. And mine...”
“Yours will have ‘Dad’,” Harris said, lacing his fingers with Sam’s. Sam blushed a bright pink.
It was an awesome idea. Three of them, having matching things.
“What if we have matching underwear?” Valen asked. “Something lace.”
Harris raised an eyebrow. Sam flushed, but his eyes dropped to Valen’s hips, then Harris’, as though he was trying to picture it in his mind.
If Sam wore a lace underthing? Yeah, Valen could see it. He’d probably rip it off the next instant. Devour Sam, make him scream. Harris, though... Valen would want Harris wearing it longer. Needed the image to set properly in his head, Harris growling, his cock pushing past a flimsy lace covering. Valen gulped.
Sam leaned into Valen’s arm, his hair a dark, wispy mop. Valen breathed in his dahlia, watching as a slow smile crept along Sam’s lips.
He hadn’t appreciated Sam enough, had he? Despite the house-cleaning, despite driving Sam to work, and touching him until his spine arched, Valen sometimes felt as though he never gave Sam enough.
Harris was his alpha. But Sam was his omega, and Valen wanted to give Sam everything he had.
He had nothing on him right now for his omega. The baby clothes were all in the mansion, tucked into a lace-trimmed box and tied with ribbon. There were the rings, too, but Sam didn’t seem ready for them.
So Valen touched Sam’s jaw, turned Sam to face him. “You’re the best omega I’ve ever met,” Valen whispered. “And the bravest, and the most wonderful and capable, and I know you’ll be the best dad there ever was.”
Sam stared at him, his mouth hanging open. Then he swallowed, blinking hard. “Oh.”
“Really,” Valen said. Stroked Sam’s knuckles, kissing his skin. “We’ll have a beautiful baby, and then maybe Harris will give you the next one, and I’ll have dibs on the baby after that.”
Sam choked on a laugh, his eyes crinkling. Harris reached over, sliding his fingers into Valen’s hair. “Didn’t know you were that much of a sap, V.”
“I mean it,” Valen said. Especially because Sam had gone through so much with the pregnancy—the fatigue, the nausea, his body growing to harbor the baby. And Sam had been working full-time lately, too, taking on a few more hours here and there to make up for Wyatt’s absence. “I want you to have all my babies.”
And maybe Valen felt like he didn’t deserve Sam. Sam was strong, and brave, and he’d taught Valen how to love from the beginning, when Valen had looked at his own parents and despaired about his own future.
Valen stared at his omega, touched the scar on Sam’s wrist, his heart full.
“Sam Brentwood,” the nurse called.
Sam jumped, looking up. “It’s my turn already?”
“Seems like it,” Valen said, helping him to his feet. “You’re coming with us, Big H.”
Harris froze in his seat, frowning. “I shouldn’t. The ultrasound’s for an alpha-omega pair, right?”
“You’re
