“No news yet,” Brad said. “We might have to wait a while more.”
Ian groaned. “I thought I was in a dream. This feels like a nightmare.”
“Even with me here?”
“You make it better.” Ian buried his face against Brad’s shoulder, as though he was trying to hide from the world. Then he sucked in a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and straightened.
And now he looked like the in-control professor that Brad had seen the very first time, back when he was a freshman at college. Brad straightened Ian’s skewed glasses. “I’m here,” he said. “I’m paying the bills, by the way.”
Ian looked incredulously at him.
“She’s my daughter, too,” Brad said. “Move in with me. You and Gwen. You’ve been to my place enough to decide if you wanna stay, right?”
Ian chewed on his lower lip, his eyes full of longing. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“If you come live with me,” Brad murmured, “I could fuck you into the bed every night.”
Ian’s eyes grew wide, at the same time a dark flush rose up his neck. “Brad!”
“Think about it.” Brad squeezed Ian’s ass, kissing his jaw. Smelled the coil of musk on Ian’s skin. Ian liked that idea, then; Brad had thought he might.
“But that’s if—that’s if the surgery goes okay.” Ian squirmed.
“I’ll come help you move,” Brad said. “Probably easier while Gwen’s recovering in the hospital. You don’t have much stuff, do you?”
Ian shook his head. “No, we don’t.”
“I want you in my bed,” Brad whispered. “Want to make you mine.”
Ian’s blush crept up his cheeks. He looked away, almost shy. It made Brad’s heart kick, knowing he had this effect on his omega.
So Brad slipped his hand up Ian’s shirt. Ian’s pulse thumped against his palm like the brush of a kiss. Brad dragged his wrist right over Ian’s heart, leaving walnut there, too.
Ian swallowed, looking down. “You’re too kind, you know.”
Brad snorted. “I have my own ulterior motives.”
“Such as?”
He leaned in, kissing the scent gland on Ian’s neck. “I want to leave my mark here.”
Ian’s breath hitched. “You really want me.”
“Yeah. Still don’t believe it?”
“Maybe I’m starting to.”
“Good.”
Brad meshed their lips together. Pulled Ian close and kissed him thoroughly, until Ian squirmed and broke the kiss.
“We shouldn’t,” Ian mumbled. “We’re in public.”
“We’re Gwen’s parents,” Brad said. “And I’m comforting you.”
Ian gave a crooked smile. So Brad cupped his face, pressing their foreheads together. Just held his omega, looking into his eyes, waiting as the seconds ticked by.
“I’ll get you a doctor’s note from the emergency department,” Brad said. “And one for the surgery, too.”
Ian winced, but he nodded. “Thank you.”
Brad didn’t want to leave him alone, but he figured it was better than having Ian return to the crowded emergency department, and being away from their daughter.
Brad headed to the emergency department, waited around for minutes for the note. Wondered if Ian might’ve succumbed and hurt himself during this time.
When he returned, he found Ian slouching in the gray plastic chairs, his sleeves unbloodied.
Maybe Ian was getting better.
The weight on his heart easing, Brad folded up the doctor’s notes, tucking them into Ian’s hand. “You doin’ okay?”
Ian nodded, and Brad sat next to him, holding him close.
It felt like another eternity before the operating room light turned off. The door swung open, and Brad’s stomach clenched.
He couldn’t breathe as he scrambled to his feet, getting Ian upright. Brad held Ian’s hand as they hurried forward, stopping in front of Dr. Fenway.
Even though Brad knew the risk wasn’t as high as it could be, it was still unnerving, waiting for the doctor to speak. Wondering what he’d do if there was bad news. Ian swayed on his feet, his face pale.
Fenway nodded at them, pulling off his mask. He looked tired, his hair mussed. But he cracked a smile and met their eyes. “Gwen’s doing fine. The surgery was a success. It’ll take her a while to recover, and we’re keeping her under close observation for now. But if all goes well, she’ll be allowed to have bedside visitors over the next two days.”
The boulder on Brad’s heart rolled off; he sucked in a deep breath.
Ian made a soft, helpless sound, turning. Brad glimpsed the relief in his eyes, and the glisten of tears. Then Ian blurred, and Brad heard him thank the doctor. Saw them shake hands.
Brad could barely see Ian’s outline; he realized he was crying, then.
Gwen was alive. She would be okay.
Fenway disappeared back into the operating room. Brad pulled Ian against himself. Held him, breathing in rose and honey, thanking every god there was that his daughter had gotten through the surgery.
“I’m s-so happy,” Ian mumbled, trembling against Brad. “I just—I can’t even…”
Brad kissed his forehead. Swiped away his own tears, holding Ian tight. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been as happy, or as relieved. “You were right. Turned out fine.”
Ian laughed shakily. “She’s a fighter, our Gwen.”
Our Gwen.
Brad’s throat tightened. He held Ian, waiting with him until the nurses emerged, pushing Gwen’s gurney between them.
She looked tiny in the bed. There were tubes and wires and a mask on her face, but she was alive.
Brad swallowed hard, amazed, his heart full.
They followed Gwen to a room in the cardio ward, watching through a window as the nurses transferred her to the hospital bed. Then they checked her vitals, and Brad made sure everything was okay with his daughter, before he turned to Ian.
Ian’s eyes were red, but there was the faintest smile on his lips.
Brad kissed him. Hugged him close, his chest full to bursting. He almost wanted to stand sentinel outside Gwen’s room, until she opened her eyes and smiled again.
But there was also his omega, Ian all brittle and pale, and he needed more care right now.
“Let’s go home,” Brad said after he’d had his fill of watching Gwen sleeping in the ward. He couldn’t do anything to help her, other than ensure she had enough rest. “We’ll come back as soon
