Golden morning light slipped through the curtains, painting soft stripes across the white hotel sheets. Beyond the balcony, the sea shimmered quietly beneath a cloudless sky, and the distant sound of waves rolled gently onto the beach. Luca stirred first. For a moment, he didn’t move. He simply smiled.

Curled against his chest was his husband, Ethan, still fast asleep. Ethan’s broad shoulders rose and fell with slow, peaceful breaths, one muscular arm draped protectively across Luca’s waist. Or at least… where his waist used to be.

Five months pregnant with quadruplets, Luca’s once-athletic frame had transformed almost overnight. The rest of him remained lean, but his belly curved proudly beneath the sheet, impossibly round for this stage of the pregnancy. Even asleep, Ethan’s hand rested instinctively across it. Luca laid his own hand over Ethan’s. “I think you’ve claimed them already,” he whispered with a grin.

Almost as if they had heard him, there was a firm kick. Then another. Ethan’s eyes blinked open. “…Morning.” “Morning, sleepyhead.” Another thump landed beneath Ethan’s palm. His face lit up instantly. “Oh… they’re awake.” “They’ve been practicing gymnastics since six.”

Ethan laughed softly, rubbing gentle circles over the curve of Luca’s belly. “They definitely got your energy.” “My energy?” Luca raised an eyebrow. “You’re the bodybuilder who insists on waking up before sunrise.” “That’s different.” “Oh?” “I choose to wake up.” Luca rolled his eyes dramatically. “I assure you, I did not choose to be used as a trampoline.” They both laughed.

For a while neither of them spoke. Ethan simply admired his husband, committing the moment to memory. “I still can’t believe we’re here,” he said quietly. “Neither can I.” “One last holiday.” “Before four tiny people completely take over our lives.”

Ethan leaned in and kissed Luca’s forehead. “I wouldn’t change it for anything.” Luca smiled. “Not even for uninterrupted sleep?” “…Okay,” Ethan admitted. “Maybe I’d miss uninterrupted sleep just a little.” “Aha!” “But I’d miss you more.” The teasing faded into comfortable silence.

Outside, the resort was beginning to wake. Somewhere below, plates clinked in the breakfast restaurant, and someone laughed beside the pool.

Ethan stretched slowly before slipping out of bed, careful not to disturb Luca any more than necessary. Morning light caught the definition across his shoulders and back as he walked towards the bathroom, every movement relaxed and effortless after years of training. There was nothing boastful about the way he carried himself; his strength had become part of him, quiet and reassuring. Luca watched him with an affectionate smile, unable to look away.

“You know,” Luca called after him, “it’s actually unfair.” Ethan glanced over his shoulder. “What’s unfair?” “You wake up looking like a magazine cover.” Ethan laughed. “And you wake up looking adorable.” Luca folded his arms dramatically. “Adorable? That’s the best you’ve got?” “I was going to say breathtaking.” “Better.”

Ethan disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of the shower starting moments later. Luca lay back against the pillows, listening to the gentle rush of water while absentmindedly resting both hands beneath the curve of his belly. It seemed even larger in the morning, stretched proudly beneath his skin, the movement of four tiny lives making the duvet rise and fall every so often.

When Ethan stepped back into the room a few minutes later, hair still damp and a towel draped over his shoulders, he stopped in the doorway and simply smiled.

“…Wow.” Luca looked down at himself. “What?”

Ethan walked over to the bed, resting a hand gently on the top of Luca’s belly. “I swear you’re even rounder than when we went to sleep.” Luca gave him an exaggerated look of disbelief. “I’ve grown overnight?” “I think so.” “You realise that’s impossible.” Ethan grinned as another little kick pressed against his palm. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.”

“You know…” “What?” “I’ve never been happier.” Ethan smiled the kind of smile that only appeared when he looked at Luca. “Me neither.”

He kissed him again, longer this time, before glancing toward the balcony. “Come on.” “Where?” “The breakfast buffet.” Luca groaned theatrically. “I’ve been awake for five minutes.” “And you’re carrying four babies.” “…That’s true.” “So?” Luca grinned. “I’m absolutely starving.”

The breakfast restaurant buzzed with the gentle energy of the morning. Fresh pastries filled woven baskets, tropical fruit gleamed beneath the lights, and the smell of coffee drifted through the open-air dining room as holidaymakers wandered between the buffet stations.

Ethan returned to the table balancing two overflowing plates. “I might have underestimated how hungry you are.” Luca looked up innocently. “You brought one plate.” “I know.” “It’s for me.”

Ethan laughed, setting it down in front of him. “I should’ve guessed.”

Luca had chosen a loose white linen shirt, leaving the bottom few buttons undone where they refused to meet around his prominently rounded belly. Five months into carrying quadruplets, there was no disguising it anymore. The fabric framed the smooth curve rather than hiding it, and Luca wore it with quiet confidence.

“You look incredible,” Ethan said as he took his seat. Luca glanced down at himself before smiling. “I’ve decided there’s no point pretending I can button this anymore.” “There wasn’t yesterday either.” “Oh, hush.”

Ethan reached across the table, resting his hand gently against the curve of Luca’s belly for a moment. “I mean it,” he said softly. “You’re beautiful.” A warm blush crept across Luca’s face.

The warm Mediterranean sun spilled across the balcony as Ethan zipped up the beach bag.

“Sunscreen?”

“Packed.”

“Room key?”

“In your pocket.”

“Sunglasses?”

Ethan paused. “…Still on the bedside table.” Luca laughed. “I knew I’d forgotten something.”

By the time Ethan returned, Luca had changed into a pair of deep-blue swim briefs that sat comfortably beneath the curve of his pregnancy. His loose linen shirt was unbuttoned, leaving his prominently rounded belly on full display.

Ethan crossed the room, dressed in fitted black swim briefs that highlighted years of dedication in the gym. He wrapped his arms gently around Luca from behind, careful not to squeeze too tightly. “You look incredible.” Luca leaned back against him. “So do you.” “I think you’re biased.” “I married you. Of course I’m biased.” Ethan smiled. “And I’d do it again tomorrow.”

Luca turned, giving him a quick kiss before resting Ethan’s hand against the front of his belly. One of the babies gave a tiny kick beneath his palm. “They’re excited for the pool too,” Luca said. “Or they’re wondering why breakfast has stopped.”

The pool sparkled beneath the afternoon sun.

Holiday music drifted through hidden speakers while children laughed in the shallow end and couples relaxed beneath oversized umbrellas.

As Luca and Ethan walked across the pool terrace hand in hand, a few people glanced their way. It wasn’t with judgment so much as curiosity. Luca’s pregnancy was impossible to miss. His lean frame made the smooth, rounded shape of his belly even more striking, and in his swim briefs there was no disguising just how much it had grown.

Luca caught Ethan’s eye. “I think we’re attracting attention.” Ethan shrugged with an easy smile. “We’re a handsome couple.” Luca laughed. “I don’t think that’s all they’re looking at.”

They eased themselves into the cool water, sighing in relief as the heat melted away. Luca floated gently while Ethan stayed close, one hand always ready to steady him. “This,” Luca said, closing his eyes for a moment, “might be the best part of the holiday.” “The pool?” “The feeling.” Ethan smiled. “You mean being here together?” Luca nodded. “Just us… and our four little passengers.” Another ripple crossed the surface of his belly beneath the water. Ethan laughed. “I think they approve.” “So do I.”

As the afternoon sun began to soften into gold, Luca stood in front of the hotel mirror fastening the final button of a cream linen shirt. The top buttons were left open, while the lower ones remained undone, the fabric naturally falling around his now unmistakably pregnant belly. At five months with quadruplets, there was no disguising its impressive size, and tonight he had no intention of trying.

Ethan emerged from the bathroom, rolling the sleeves of a navy shirt to his forearms.

He stopped in his tracks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look this handsome.” Luca smiled shyly. “You said that this morning.” “I meant it then.” “And now?” Ethan crossed the room and rested both hands gently beneath the curve of Luca’s belly. “I mean it even more now.”

Luca looked down at himself before laughing softly. “I was worried this shirt made me look enormous.” “It makes you look like an expectant dad who’s absolutely glowing.” “I’ll take glowing.” “And,” Ethan added with a grin, “it makes me look incredibly lucky.”

The restaurant overlooked the sea, its terrace lit by candles that flickered in the evening breeze. Waves rolled lazily against the shore while a guitarist played gentle acoustic music nearby.

They ordered slowly, sharing starters before choosing fresh seafood for Ethan and homemade pasta for Luca.

When dessert arrived, Ethan couldn’t help smiling. “I thought you said you were full.” “I was.” “And?” Luca placed a hand on his belly. “They weren’t.”

Rather than heading straight back to their room, they wandered to the hotel’s open-air cocktail bar.

The evening air was warm, and fairy lights twinkled above the terrace while a pianist played softly in the background. Ethan ordered a sparkling lemonade for Luca and a mojito for himself. They settled onto a comfortable sofa overlooking the illuminated pool.

Luca leaned against Ethan’s shoulder with a contented sigh. “I don’t want this holiday to end.” “Neither do I.” “But…” “But,” Ethan smiled, “I’m looking forward to what comes next even more.” Luca rested a hand over his belly. “I think they are too.”

Another gentle flutter rolled beneath his palm. “They’ve been surprisingly active tonight.” “They’re probably dancing to the music.”Luca laughed. “Let’s hope they’ve inherited your rhythm.” “I was hoping yours.” “My dancing peaked at our wedding.”“And it was perfect.”

Back in their suite, the excitement of the evening melted into sleepy contentment. Luca eased himself onto the bed with a quiet sigh, rubbing his back.

“I don’t think my feet belong to me anymore,” he yawned. Ethan smiled as he changed into lounge shorts. “I did offer to carry you.” “And miss showing off my elegant waddle?” Luca laughed.

A few minutes later they were both in bed, Luca curled against Ethan’s chest with Ethan’s arm resting gently around his belly. “Today was perfect,” Luca murmured. “It really was,” Ethan replied, kissing his forehead.

A tiny kick nudged Ethan’s hand. “I don’t think they’re ready for bed.” “They definitely don’t take after me,” Luca smiled sleepily. “I’m exhausted.” Ethan chuckled softly. “We’ll feed all five of you again at breakfast.” “Promise?” “I promise.”

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Reykjavik, Iceland

Björn, a 29-year-old Nordic fisherman, kneels in a birthing pool in a modern Icelandic hospital. His pale, freckled belly is enormous and rock-hard with each relentless contraction. He roars through the peaks, water sloshing as he rocks his hips. The midwife calmly guides him in Icelandic while his partner holds him steady. The pressure is overwhelming; he feels the baby descending rapidly.

If you want to see the full version of this photo, join me on Discord 🔥

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