It shook him, thinking about Ian dying.
Brad strode into the bathroom, washing his face. He pissed, then looked at his phone again.
I’ll be at the appointment soon. Afterward, can we get a pickle/ham/egg&mayo sandwich? I’m having a craving.
The appointment.
Brad held his breath, checking the time. He had ten minutes before it started.
He yanked on some clothes. Realized he was too late to make Ian his sandwich. Shouldn’t have overslept.
Brad cursed at himself, jogging out of the house. Hopped into his car and drove to the prenatal clinic, glancing at the clock the entire way. He’d probably get the sandwich ingredients on the way home. As disgusting as it sounded, Ian was craving it because he was pregnant. With their baby.
That calmed Brad down somewhat. Ian was still alive, and he was here. And Brad could hold him and make sure Ian knew Brad loved him. That was important.
He pulled into the clinic’s parking lot, right into the empty spot next to Ian’s car. Brad’s heart leaped when he found Ian in the driver’s seat, his head bowed.
Then he realized that those white earbuds were lodged in Ian’s ears—Brad had never seen Ian hunched over in his car, save for the one time in the parking lot, when Ian had been crying.
His chest squeezing, Brad cut the engine. Jogged around the hood of his car to Ian’s window, tapping on it. Ian didn’t hear him; he’d probably gotten the volume on too loud. Couldn’t blame him, though.
“Ian,” Brad muttered, trying the door handle. It was locked. Maybe Ian would look up when the tracks changed, or something.
Brad knocked on the window again. Leaned in close, pressing his nose to the glass. They were late for the appointment, and Brad wasn’t sure how to tell Ian he was here, short of rocking the entire car. Ian wouldn’t hear his phone.
Just when Brad was about to heave at Ian’s car, Ian stirred, looking up. His eyes were red, his mouth a thin line, and he looked just as fragile as Brad had been feeling.
Ian blinked, grimacing. So Brad knocked on the window. “C’mon, open up.”
Ian opened the car door. Brad reached in and released his seatbelt. Then he hauled Ian out. Hugged Ian close, burying his nose in Ian’s hair. Ian smelled like rose and honey.
“You okay?” Brad murmured, rubbing his back. He eased an earbud out of Ian’s ear, then repeated himself.
Ian sucked in a shuddering breath, before nodding. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
His voice was hoarse and his eyes were sad, but he was here. He was living and breathing in Brad’s arms, and Brad blew out a sigh of relief.
“C’mon, let’s get you registered for the appointment,” Brad said. “I want to see our baby.”
Ian cracked a smile. Brad pressed a kiss to Ian’s lips, breathing the air he exhaled. Felt intimate, just being close to his omega, touching him.
“All right,” Ian said. “Sorry.”
“Nah. You just gotta apologize to the doctor, because she’ll probably mind. I’m fine, though.”
Ian’s eyes brightened further, and Brad slipped an arm around his omega’s waist, sweeping him into the prenatal clinic.
Brad had never been to one of these. Past the receptionist’s desk, the walls were pastel-colored, painted with rainbows and clouds and unicorns. A lullaby tinkled overhead, and some couples sat in the waiting room.
Ian registered with the receptionist. “It’s been a while since I was here,” he said. “I don’t know if you have me in your database...?”
The receptionist beamed, handing him a clipboard with a form. “Why don’t you fill this in with your updated details, and I’ll get you all set up?”
“Thank you.” Ian took the clipboard, following Brad to the seats.
Brad slipped his arm around Ian’s shoulders, nuzzling his cheek. “You came here when you had Gwen?”
“I did.”
Ian filled in the form—some things Brad knew, and some he didn’t. Things like Ian’s blood type, and his next-of-kin.
“You’re not putting me down as your next of kin?” Brad asked, eyeing the Tony McMillan name suspiciously. “I’m your alpha.”
Ian blushed, glancing up at Brad. “I... wasn’t sure you wanted to be.”
Brad rolled his eyes. He slid his fingers into Ian’s hair, nuzzling his cheek. “I’m here with you. How else do you want me to prove it?”
Ian gave a lopsided smile. “I just wasn’t sure, I guess.”
He struck out Tony’s name, and replaced it with Brad’s. Then he filled in the second parent’s information. Brad’s heart swelled when Ian wrote his name down. He’d never seen his name together with Ian’s on a form before. Ian doing this… it made their relationship a little more permanent.
Brad thought about kissing Ian senseless right there in the clinic. Figured Ian wanted to keep their relationship quiet. So he waited for Ian to turn in the form, before curving his arm around Ian’s back. He stroked Ian’s baby bump with his fingertips, discreetly dragging his wrist down Ian’s clothes.
“Brad,” Ian murmured, but his smile was wider now, his eyes less shadowed.
“Wanna tell me what’s wrong?” Brad kissed Ian’s shoulder.
“I had a run-in with my mother.” Ian sighed.
“Huh. I had a run-in with mine, too.”
Ian frowned. “I thought...”
“I dreamed about her.” Brad cracked a smile. “Felt too fucking real. Hurt like a bitch when I woke up.”
“Oh.” Ian’s face fell. “I’m sorry.” He cupped Brad’s cheeks in his hands, looking at Brad in concern. “Are you okay?”
Brad shrugged. “Fine, I guess.”
“Was it a good dream?”
“Best dream ever. I asked if she wanted to attend our wedding. She said yes. And she would, you know. If she were still here.”
Ian opened his mouth, blinking hard. “That’s... that’s very nice.”
“So you’re marrying me?”
Ian’s throat worked. He smiled, and looked away. “Maybe.”
“Not a yes?” Brad nipped at Ian’s earlobe.
“Brad!” Ian frowned, leaning away. He glanced at the other people in the clinic, but the couples were minding their own business.
“It’ll be weirder if we aren’t kissing,” Brad whispered. “Can you imagine? Coming here with a bondmate you can’t stand?”
Ian
