“Not ten hours, though,” Kai said. Then he looked up, his expression set. “I’ve booked my flight. Heading out now.”
“I hope you’ll make it in time for the birth.” Spike leaned in close to blow a kiss.
“Safe travels, Kai,” Micah said, looking hard at their alpha. “Don’t rush.”
“I promise.” Kai smiled warmly at them both, and then the call ended.
“He’s freaking out inside,” Spike said. “He even forgot to—Ah, shit. I should text him.”
“Forgot to...?” Micah frowned.
Spike grabbed his phone and tapped out a message on his private conversation with Kai. Don’t forget the bows.
Kai’s response was almost immediate. Shit. Thanks.
Yeah, Kai was really rattled. Spike would be surprised if Kai’s shoes actually matched.
Then he went back to Micah, whose skin was faintly damp with sweat. “Are you ready?” Spike asked, stroking his palm down Micah’s belly. Over the past few weeks, York had helped Spike move their bed into Micah’s room. Now there were two double beds side-by-side in there, and not much walking room left, but at least the three of them didn’t have to cram onto one double bed again.
Spike and Kai’s room had been converted into a nursery, complete with a changing station and a cot. Spike had gone and bought the rest of the baby clothes in different sizes. They’d filled the nursery with stuffed toys and wall charts and colorful mobiles that Kai had sent, and it made Spike anxious now, just waiting for their baby. Not being able to do anything until then. What was he going to do when the baby arrived?
Micah grunted, glancing down. “I think my water just broke.”
Panic squeezed Spike’s throat. “Okay. Okay. Fuck. We should get dressed and get to the hospital.”
He hurried to the closet, pulling out a loose gown for Micah. Got Micah dressed. Then he dressed himself, and hammered on York’s door.
York poked his head out, frowning.
“Micah’s water broke,” Spike said. York paled. “You coming with us to the hospital?”
“Yeah.” York glanced at Spike’s shaking hands, and added, “Maybe I should drive.”
Probably.
They grabbed Micah’s overnight bag, then headed out, York driving, Spike cradling Micah in the back, unwilling to let him go.
“I’ll be fine,” Micah said, even as worry flickered through his eyes.
“I’ll believe you when the baby’s out,” Spike muttered, running his fingers through Micah’s hair, stroking his face.
He’d read countless stories about complications during childbirth. Placenta previa, unusual heart rate readings, and even more things that no one expected. And then there were the omega- and infant-mortality rates, and it was enough to make Spike want to throw up.
No, he wasn’t ready to lose Micah, especially not right now.
They got Micah admitted into the hospital. Spike paced. Micah waddled with him, albeit slower, one hand on the wall of the room. Spike wanted to reach for Kai and bite down, so at least he wouldn’t be shaking and needing to do something. But Kai wasn’t here yet.
“I’ll be at the cafeteria,” York said, seeing himself out of the room.
And now Spike was alone with Micah, the velvet box in his pocket, Kai’s flight details in a text on his phone. Spike groaned, scrubbing his face. He wanted Kai here, too. But it wasn’t like any of them could hurry his flight.
Gods, Kai was probably panicking by himself on the plane. Spike’s chest squeezed. He pulled his phone out and called Kai’s number, reaching his voicemail. The beep sounded. Spike thrust the phone at Micah. “Here, give Kai a voice message. Tell him you’ll be fine. Otherwise he’ll freak out worse than I am.”
Micah huffed, but his smile was warm. “Hey,” he said into the phone. “I’m all good. Take care of yourself first, okay? Drive safe.”
Spike took the phone back. “You heard him,” he growled. Then he ended the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket, his heart thumping like a ricocheting basketball in his chest.
A contraction rolled through Micah. Spike scooped him up and deposited him on the bed, rubbing his back, his belly, trying to get Micah as comfortable as he could.
Micah writhed in pain, and Spike’s chest hurt.
It was only when the contraction passed, that Spike relaxed. Micah panted. Spike brushed Micah’s hair out of his face, kissing him all over.
The minutes crawled by. Spike had prepared stuff for them to do during the labor, small games and shit, but he couldn’t even summon the interest in them right now. Could only pace as the midwife came in to check on Micah.
An hour passed, then another. Micah’s contractions grew more frequent, until they were about fifteen minutes apart.
Spike’s phone buzzed. “He’s off the airplane,” Spike said, showing Micah the text. “Just gotta get a car and drive here.”
That was another whole hour. Would Kai miss the birth?
“We haven’t thought of a name yet,” Micah said after the next contraction. He waved at the overnight bag; Spike handed it to him. Micah pulled out a list of names the three of them had slowly settled on. “Which do you think?”
Spike looked at the list, but the letters swam when he tried to focus. His nerves were making things difficult to read. “I don’t know. They’re all good.”
They went back and forth over the names, but Micah kept glancing at the door, too. It didn’t feel right making this decision without Kai here.
The minutes crawled by even slower.
Then the door opened, and it was Kai, it was finally Kai back in Meadowfall, and Spike’s heart did somersaults. He tore through the room, throwing himself at his brother.
Kai caught him with strong arms, his lips hot when Spike dragged him into a rough kiss. Kai tasted like vending machine coffee, and he smelled like elm and rental car, and faintly, musk from a few hours ago. Beneath Spike’s palm, Kai’s heart pounded. Yeah, Kai was scared, too. So Spike released Kai, hauling him to the bed.
At Micah’s side, Kai stopped, his gaze raking over their omega—worried,
