He waited until Ian relaxed, rubbing Ian’s back. “You okay?”
Ian blew out a breath. “Yeah. We’ll have to be leaving soon.”
“Like, right now.” Brad leaped to his feet when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.”
He all but ran through the house, flinging open the front door. Levi had a bag with him, looking disheveled, his glasses askew.
“Hey,” Brad said. “Thanks for coming. Ian and I are just about to head out.”
Levi nodded. “I hope it goes well.”
“Same here.”
Brad hurried back into Gwen’s room. Ian was on his feet, and Brad walked him out into the living room, touching the small of his back. Levi looked warily at Ian’s belly. Brad kind of felt the same.
He grabbed the overnight bag, then brought Ian to the car, helping him into the passenger seat.
“I’m fine,” Ian muttered. “I can do this myself.”
Brad wanted him to be safe, though. He made sure Ian was strapped in comfortably, then hopped into his seat, backing the car out into the street.
When he began to drive, Brad blurted, “If—if anything happens, just remember that I love you, okay?”
Ian looked sidelong at him. “What do you mean?”
Brad swallowed hard. He couldn’t say it. Time and again, he’d thought, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you. But he didn’t want Ian to worry, didn’t want to remind Ian of his age. Except Ian’s age was still something Brad remembered every day.
“I’m afraid of losing you,” Brad said, his breath stuck in his throat. “I just—I just think about it all the time.”
Ian opened his mouth, pausing. Then he looked down at his belly, smoothing his hand over it. “I’m sorry for the burden.”
“No, that’s fine,” Brad hurried to say. “I just… I want a thousand years with you, you know? Or… or fifty. That’d be nice.”
Ian smiled, his cheeks growing dark. “Same here. I just figure I’ll cope better if I lived every day like my last. I’m savoring every day with you. Every moment I see your face, or hear your voice. If I die—”
“Don’t say that,” Brad croaked.
Ian looked steadily at him. “It’s a fact of life, Brad.” He squeezed Brad’s hand. “It has to happen at some point. That’s the way everything goes.”
Brad regretted even starting this conversation. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“If I die,” Ian repeated, “then I want you to remember that you’re the best thing that ever happened in my life. The same with Gwen. I’m never going to stop loving you. And I know that you love me, too. And I’ll forgive any mistakes you ever make. Remember that.”
Brad choked up, and they had to pull over so he could wipe his eyes dry.
When they began driving again, Ian had a couple more contractions in the car. Despite what Ian had said, it made Brad panic again. He wasn’t ready to lose Ian. He’d never be ready.
They got to the hospital in record time. Ian was hunched over and hugging his belly when they pulled into the parking lot. Brad hated that he was only able to hold Ian’s hand during the drive.
The receptionist at the emergency room checked them in. Then they waited, and a doctor examined Ian. After more waiting, a nurse wheeled Ian to the labor ward. Brad held Ian’s hand the whole time, watching Ian’s face.
Now that Ian was in the hospital, Brad could relax a little. They had a babysitter watching Gwen. They were prepared for the stay.
Even then, Brad’s nerves frazzled when he helped Ian into the hospital gown. He glimpsed the nurse staring at Ian’s scars, but said nothing. Just caught Ian’s nape, tipped his face up, and kissed him. Ian blushed.
He was beautiful, and Brad prayed to every single god there was when Ian cried out, pressing his arm around his belly.
“How long is it gonna be?” Brad murmured, climbing into the hospital bed behind Ian, just holding him.
“It might be a while.” Ian panted, gritting his teeth.
The contractions were coming faster now. Brad had lost track of how long they had spent waiting in the emergency room, and then the labor ward.
All he knew was that Ian’s contractions faded enough to let him relax somewhat, and then they wracked through him all over again.
Brad wished he could take that pain for his omega, so Ian wouldn’t have to go through this at all.
“You’re so damn brave,” Brad murmured, stroking Ian’s hair when he clenched his jaw. “Xavier will be here soon, and then you’ll get to rest. I’ll take over.”
Ian smile wanly, turning to bury his face in Brad’s chest. The next contraction rolled through him, and Brad closed his eyes, murmuring into Ian’s ear, stroking his back.
When the midwife came in, she shooed Brad off the bed. She was an older omega with graying hair and a kindly smile. Brad watched as she took Ian’s pulse and blood pressure, then measured Xavier’s pulse with a fetal heart monitor.
“Is his heart okay?” Ian asked, his voice tight.
The midwife smiled. “He seems to be.”
Brad relaxed slightly, watching as Ian continued to worry, his face pinched. That made Brad worry, too.
The midwife pulled on a glove and set Ian’s feet apart, flat on the bed. Then she slipped two fingers into Ian. Brad growled, possessive. Mine.
She clucked her tongue at him. “You’re a couple inches dilated, hon. Not long, now.”
The midwife left them soon after. Brad climbed back into bed with Ian, and Ian squirmed. “She might come chase you back off,” Ian said anxiously.
“I don’t care.” Brad kissed the tip of Ian’s nose, brushing Ian’s sweat-damp hair from his face. “I’m staying with you through the whole birth this time.”
Ian’s face lit up with joy, and it made Brad’s heart skip.
The next few hours passed slowly. Brad read a children’s book to Ian and Xavier, and Ian hummed between his contractions.
Then the contractions grew more frequent, a couple minutes between every one. When Ian panted with pain, Brad’s fear returned.
“Push when she tells you,” Brad
