…birth fics + things…

And now, your husband was presenting on exactly how successful the company had become, particularly in this last quarter, and you were to be presenting next.

You adjust yourself in the chair again, trying to ease any of the discomfort in your body, but it's pretty futile. Your husband's eyes dart over to you for a moment, narrowing imperceptibly as he spoke. He has been trying to get you to go on maternity leave for weeks now, but you've refused. Even this morning, as the two of you got ready for work, he tried to convince you to stay home.

"It's not going to happen, love," you said loudly as you hefted your now much larger breasts into a bra, pulling the straps on to your shoulders and hooking it around your back.

You heard your husband grumble from the walk-in closet.

"You're overdue by almost two weeks," he called out into the bedroom. "The baby can come basically any second. And I swear your stomach has dropped since yesterday. You really should stay home."

You've managed to don a pair of sheer black pantyhose, pulling them up your legs and over your belly, before shimmying into a dark gray pencil skirt.

You certainly couldn't deny anything your husband has said. All of what he said was true, and then some. For the past few days, it’s felt like more and more weight had descended into the bowl of your pelvis, and your belly definitely hung lower and lower. Despite it’s size, it had always been a fairly “perky” stomach, but that had changed significantly in the last few days. Plus, you had been dealing with your fair share of Braxton Hicks contractions lately, too.

But you wouldn't be caught dead telling him that.

"I tell you what, my dear husband," you replied, as you zipped up the back of the skirt, drawing it tight under your belly and around your hips. You turn to look in the mirror, admiring how it hugged your curves. 9 months pregnant and you still got it.

"I will go on maternity leave when you go on paternity leave.

More grumbling from the closet.

"I'm sorry, my love, what was that?"

"I said," he shouted, clearly annoyed, "that I don't want to go on it yet."

"Well, neither do I."

He stepped out of the closet, wearing a sharp navy blue suit and a gray tie with gold diagonal stripes.

"Oh, darling, now, really?" he demanded.

"What?"

"That skirt? Those stockings?"

You rounded on him as you finished buttoning up your white collar maternity shirt. "What's wrong with my skirt and stockings?"

"Can't you wear sweatpants like a normal pregnant woman?"

You felt anger flare in your chest. "I don't want to wear sweatpants," you snapped. "Why are you suddenly so hung up on my clothes?"

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I just…want you to be comfortable," he muttered, dropping his hand and looking away from you.

You softened a little at his admission, and approached him.

"You're always so uncomfortable and I just wish…there was something we could do to help with that…"

Once you were close enough, you wrapped your arms around his waist and pulled him as close to you as your baby bump would allow.

He still wasn't looking at you. You could see the tension in his jaw and shoulders.

"You know I could never be comfortable in sweatpants, love, especially at work," you said as you reached up to adjust his tie.

He sighed again, closing his eyes and tilting his head down to rest against the top of yours. "I know, darling," he said, resigned, his hands coming up to cradle your stomach. Your baby gave a solid kick against his palm.

"Look,” you began, smoothing his tie back against his shirt, “I promise I'll go on maternity leave tomorrow."

He pulled away a little in surprise, and you looked up at him, smiling.

"Really?" he asked, relief on his face.

"Yes." You leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I just really want to present at the board meeting today. I worked so hard to leave the company in a good place before we left! Let me just have this victory lap."

"I know, I know." He kissed you again, running his hands from your stomach to your hips and back again. "And you deserve a victory lap."

"You're goddamn right I do," you said, grinning, pulling away from him. "I mean, who successfully negotiated the merger with Equiva?"

"You did."

"And who saved the company almost 20 million dollars in the last three months?" you asked, pulling on a suit jacket to match your skirt.

"You did."

This conversation continued in much the same way as the two of you gathered your things to leave for work…at least until, much to your husband's chagrin, you put on your 3 inch stiletto heels.

That was several hours ago, but it felt even longer than that. Your husband has been watching you like a hawk all day and even in the middle of his presentation, his attention wasn't totally diverted from you. You try to keep your face neutral, idly tapping your pen against your cheek.

He finally looks away from you, and you let out a small exhale of relief. You would not put it past him to stop this entire meeting in a heartbeat if he thought something was wrong.

The minutes tick past. You try to not squirm and shift around so much, but you can't help it. You're so uncomfortable. The pain in your back is getting worse, and so is that incredible pressure in your hips. Your stomach has been cramping and tightening over and over again, intensifying that pressure. You attempt to spread your legs to ease some of the discomfort in your pelvis, but that pencil skirt you insisted on wearing doesn't allow for much of that. Are these more Braxton Hicks contractions? Or are these…real–?

You quickly push that question out of your mind, huffing.

You try to pay attention to the meeting, but you can't help it, your focus is turning more and more inward, the more and more your body tenses and twists against your will. Even your baby seems to be against you, kicking up a storm against your ribs. You try to keep your breathing steady and even, and you cup your hands underneath your belly and press up, weakly attempting to lift some of the weight off your straining back and hips.

Maybe your husband was right…maybe you should have stayed home…

You don't know how much time has passed when you suddenly hear your husband say your name, startling you out of your thoughts.

"...our amazing CFO, who will now report on last quarter's record earnings."

Everyone applauds as you stand up and your husband heads over to his seat opposite yours, never taking his eyes off you. You just barely manage to suppress a groan as you haul yourself up on unsteady feet, a hand still cupping your heavy stomach.

You force a smile as you approach the front of the meeting room. It almost feels like your baby's head is already wedged in between your legs, and you vainly try to not walk so bowlegged. You stand behind the podium, looking out at the two dozen other executives and board members, and begin your presentation.

You're incredibly thankful that you practiced it so much that you could basically present it in your sleep. Standing has made your back pain even worse, and it feels like gravity is slowly pulling your baby deeper into your hips. You keep trying to spread your legs, but again, that damn pencil skirt keeps your thighs much closer together than you'd like.

You can feel sweat break out along your hairline, and you keep compulsively running your hands through your hair to try and subtly wipe it off. Your stomach feels like it's permanently seized up, gone completely rock hard, and it seems to hang lower than even this morning. 

You can see your husband out of the corner of your eye. He's leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed, his lips a hard line. You know that face. That's the face he makes when he's trying to figure out if something is wrong.

You swallow hard. You get a little flustered and you stumble over your words a bit, but you keep going. You are going to finish this presentation, dammit. 

You shift your legs again, trying to find some measure of relief. God, the pressure is getting so bad, it's making the whole lower half of your body shake, and now you're cursing your stiletto heels along with your skirt. You have one hand holding the remote to flip through the slides, but the other is gripping the edge of the podium so hard that you wouldn't be surprised if you crushed the cheap wood in your grasp.

A terrible spasm shoots through you, making your voice catch for just a moment. It sends pain radiating up your back, down your thighs, and makes your vaginal muscles clench involuntarily. You almost groan at the sensation, as it felt like they were clenching down on…something…

You're now flipping quickly through the last of your slides, just going over the very basic points for each one, and another sharp pain rockets through you. Your voice wavers as you resist the urge to moan. It takes all of your willpower to not just tear off your skirt right there and drop down into a squat behind the podium, to push your knees as far apart as they can go, to try to make some space within your pelvis to ease some of this maddening pressure. 

Fuck, this is all getting to be so much that you almost feel like you need to push…

You can't help but notice that your husband is shifting around in his seat almost as much as you were. He knows this presentation almost as well as you, and he knows you're rushing through the end of it. He looks like he's about to jump out of his chair right when you shoot him a pleading look. Please. I'm almost done. Just give me a few more minutes. Please.

Your legs are pressing so hard against the sides of your skirt, you're surprised the seams haven't ripped. You're so hot that you're simultaneously both frustrated that you left your suit jacket on and grateful you did, otherwise everyone would be able to see you sweating straight through your white blouse. Your stomach has never felt heavier, and it’s hanging so low that the underside of it is peeking out from under said blouse, and you are confident it was definitely not doing that when you got dressed this morning…

"In conclusion," you say, your voice straining slightly. 

The pressure inside you is climbing, climbing…your muscles are spasming and it feels like your baby’s head is so deep inside you it's already trying to force your legs apart. You clear your throat, and take a breath.

"In conclusion, I –"

The pressure reaches it's apex. You almost cry out from the pain. But instead, you feel something break inside you, and to your horror, fluid gushes out from between your legs to splatter audibly on the floor.

There's a moment of shocked silence. You're visibly shaking as you look down at the puddle beneath you.

"I – I think my water just broke," you say softly.

There's a moment of commotion from your colleagues, but then your husband is on his feet.

"Out!" he shouts. "Everyone, out!"

The small crowd of people quickly head towards the door as your husband rushes straight at you, looking furious.

"You're in labor, aren't you?" he demands. "God dammit, I told you that you should've stayed home!"

As soon as he's close enough, you reach for him, barely paying attention to what he's saying. You pull him close and press your head to his chest, gasping and moaning. The pressure is now the worst it's ever been, becoming completely unbearable, and without hesitating, you grit your teeth, grab fistfuls of your husband's jacket, and push.

That heavy weighty feeling deep inside you slides even lower, and you let out a guttural groan, almost of relief, as you finally give in to your body's demands. You can barely hear your husband speaking to you over the blood rushing through your ears and the desperate noises you're making (he's saying something about getting to the hospital), but then realization seems to strike him and he demands, "Are you pushing?"

You can only nod in response as you stop for a moment to catch your breath, before wincing and taking in sharp inhales of air between clenched teeth as your stomach somehow tightens even more.

"Don't! Don't push!" he yells, panicking. 

"I can't!" you grit out. There is so much pain and pressure and weight inside of you, wedged tightly inside your pelvis, and you need to get it out now!

"I can't, hnngh, god, I can't, oh god, oh, oh!"

You gasp, feeling something new... You let go of your husband's jacket to reach under your skirt, and you cry out in shock as your fingers brush against your completely soaked stockings. Your labia is bulging out from you – the baby's head is right there!

"Help –!" you cry breathlessly, releasing your husband to reach behind yourself, fumbling with the zipper of your skirt. "Help me get this off!"

Your husband starts to object, but another contraction grips you, making you wail, cutting him off.

"There's no time!" You grab his hand and force it underneath your skirt, between your barely parted legs. Your husband curses in surprise, his fingers pressing against your opening as it distends outwards from your child's encroaching head. "The baby is coming now!"

He quickly reaches around to try to unzip the skirt. You fall back against the podium, still desperately trying to separate your legs to make room for your baby. He's yanking on the zipper, but it doesn't move.

"Fuck, it's jammed," he mutters, but before you can say anything, he slides his hands quickly up your thighs, rucking the skirt up your hips and underneath your enormous belly, allowing you to finally spread your legs. That action alone makes it feel like your baby drops several inches, almost like it was about to fall right out of you, but was caught at the last minute by your seizing vaginal muscles, the sensation making you yelp in surprise.

You're leaning back against the podium now, gripping the edge of it, in as wide a stance as you can manage in your heels, bending your knees slightly. You're panting and whimpering, and all your muscles start to tighten and clench again in another contraction. You throw your head back with a groan, feeling your body heave against the hefty mass of your baby as it slid forward a bit more, and you quickly join in with a desperate push of your own.

You groan even louder as you feel yourself start to spread wide, your parting lips brushing against the fabric of your underwear as your baby's head starts to crown.

"Oh god, it's coming, it's coming!"

You suddenly realize that you still have your panties and stockings on, but your husband is way ahead of you, already trying to tug your leggings down.

"Shit shit shit," he mutters. The stockings aren't budging – you hiked them up over your stomach when you were getting dressed earlier this morning, but your pencil skirt is cinched tightly around your hips, preventing them from easily sliding off your legs.

"Oh, get them off, please!" you beg, voice straining from your efforts. They're so tight against you that they almost feel like they're pressing the baby back in at the same time you're trying to push it out.

Your husband lets out a noise of frustration, before dropping to his knees and bunching the stocking in the inside of your left thigh in both hands.

You stop pushing for just a moment, just to take a breath, but your pantyhose immediately drives the baby back into you, and you wail in anguish.

“Get them off, get them off!”

Your husband seems to be trying to rip them open, his nails digging into the fabric, but they’re sliding in his grasp from their sheerness and from being doused in fluids.

Another contraction takes you, hard and fast, and you can barely gasp in a bit of air before you’re pushing again, struggling to force the top of your baby to stretch out your skintight nylons.

“Please get them off!”

"I told you you shouldn't have worn these!" he shouts, before finally ripping them apart, tearing a hole up towards the crotch. You jump when you feel him hook his fingers into your panties and tugs them to the side, the cloth once again brushing against your most sensitive parts.

"Holy shit," he breathes. All the anger in his voice disappears instantly, replaced with shock. He stammers out your name, looking up at you. "I – I can see the head!"

You try to respond, but all you can do is nod. You can definitely feel the head, hard and unforgiving, causing a terrible pressurized burn between your trembling thighs as you try to maintain the push, shrieking and crying out in agony.

The contraction mercifully ends, but you whimper in despair when you feel the baby slide a little back inside you, even without the stockings. You pant, your eyes sliding shut, trying to catch your breath in preparation for your next push. 

God, everything hurts. Your stomach hurts from the intensity of your contractions, your back hurts from the straining weight of your belly, your hips hurts from your baby filling the space between them with it's seemingly massive body, your legs hurt from having to keep them so far apart, your feet hurt from those stupid high heels, even your throat is starting to hurt from all the noises you're making.

You suddenly feel your husband's hand gently rubbing the outside of your leg, startling you. You look down, and he's gazing back up at you, eyes wide, his other hand still between your legs. Your normally calm, stoic husband looks uncharacteristically scared and excited at the same time.

"The baby's almost here," he says. "It's almost here. You're doing so great, darling."

You can't help but give him a shaky smile, but that quickly turns to a grimace as your uterus tightens painfully inside of you. You gasp as you feel the baby slip out of you a little more, even without you pushing, and you take a deep breath and bear down.

You almost immediately throw your head back, biting back a cry of pain. You're being spread and stretched and pulled apart, and god, god, it burns so much. You want to stop, you want all of this to stop, but your body bears down anyway, indifferent to your suffering, forcing your huge baby through an opening far too small for it.

"Push! Push, darling!" your husband shouts.

"I can't! Oh, god, I can't!"

"Yes, you can! Push!"

You grit your teeth and do as he says, because what other choice do you have? Shutting your eyes tightly, you push with everything you've got, the burning sensation magnifying with every centimeter of ground your baby makes.

"Nnngh! Gah! F-fuck, oh god, it hurts!"

"Keep going, love!"

You take a deep breath and heave against your baby as hard as you can, when the burning spikes suddenly and horribly, and an anguished scream is torn from your throat.

"The baby's crowning!" your husband yells.

You barely register what he's saying as another sharp spasm immediately shoots through you, triggering you into another involuntary push. You almost instantly regret it, as your baby lurches down and a sudden lancing pain, the worst pain you've felt so far, jolts up from between your legs, feeling as if you were being cut open with fire.

"The head's halfway out!"

You scream in sheer agony, arching your back, tossing your head, and standing up on your tiptoes in your heels. The contraction fades, but to your horror, the searing, stinging pain from your baby's skull remains, splitting you so impossibly wide that you're sure that at any moment, your sensitive flesh was going to tear right open. You can vaguely hear your husband yelling at you to breathe, but you can only let out another ear piercing scream and push, desperate to get the head out and end the agony.

Your inner muscles clench and spasm around your child's enormous head, trying to find purchase, as you struggle to expel it from your tortured body without the aid of a contraction. You're howling mindlessly from the pain, almost bucking your hips as if to shake the baby free, and for one terrifying moment you think it might be stuck. But then there's a sudden popping sensation, like a cork from a bottle of champagne, making you gasp. Fluid sprays your inner thighs, and a sudden merciful release of tension and pain floods your system.

You slump back a little against the podium, releasing the edges to catch yourself on your elbows. Your legs are shaking wildly now, and it's a small miracle you're still standing up.

"The head's out! It's out!"

You try to lean forward to see, panting and gasping, but your stomach is in the way. Your husband has both hands between your legs and you can feel the backs of them brushing against your skin. Something heavy dangles uncomfortably from your body. You're trembling from exhaustion and effort, you're drenched in sweat, and your vaginal walls throb painfully against your baby.

"Check –" you manage to stammer out, remembering something from one of the many books you read in preparation for the birth. "Ch-check for the c-cord."

Your husband grunts in acknowledgement, and you inhale sharply as he slides his fingers between your battered, sensitive lips and the baby's head. You adjust your stance a little and feel your thigh brush against it, sticky and hot.

"Shit –" he mutters.

You gasp, feeling a contraction start.

"Shit, god dammit –" He says your name sharply, immediately grabbing your attention. 

"What?

"Don't push."

Panic grips you, almost as hard as the contraction.

"D-don't?"

"I think the cord is around the baby's neck, don't push!"

You feel your husband's fingers fumble around, and the pressure inside you starts to grow.

"Ah!" You pant, rocking your hips back and forth, but your husband stops you with one firm grip on your upper thigh.

"Hold still."

You freeze, your inner walls pulsating and tightening around your baby's heavy, squirming body as it rotates within you. The sensation is overwhelming, and you tilt your head back, mouth hanging open as you pant desperately.

"Hurry," you manage to gasp out between breaths.

You're fighting, fighting against that growing wave of unbearable pressure, with everything you have, but it's not enough. Your muscles seize up, almost violently, and push against your will, and with the aid of gravity, you feel your labia start to spread apart again.

"Don't push!" 

"I'm not, I'm not!" you cry breathlessly. "I swear I'm not – I – oh! Oh, god!"

Your body crushes down on the baby again, inching it out of you.

"Oh no, god, please –"

"Hold on –"

"Please, I need to –"

"Ok –"

"I need to push!"

"OK, push!"

And with a great guttural yell, you bear down once again, thrusting your hips forward. Mercifully, your baby starts to slide out of you, one shoulder popping out –

"Oh!" 

– and then the other –

"OOH!”

You shudder, your baby hanging halfway out of you, your body still gripping onto it stubbornly.

"You're so close, darling, just one more –"

You push your knees apart, drop your hips into a slight squat, and give one final desperate push. There's an incredible rushing sensation, startling you and making you shriek, followed by a torrent of liquids gushing out from between your legs, and suddenly, all of that pain and pressure is gone.

You're still somehow standing upright, gripping the podium behind you for dear life. Your head is still tossed back, looking up at the ceiling, mouth hanging half open as you catch your breath. Your vaginal muscles are still weakly clamping and twitching around nothing, sending small shudders through your aching body.

Suddenly, you hear a cry.

Your head snaps down to look, and you see over your still enormous belly, your husband, kneeling on the floor in a puddle of milky pink fluids, the whole front of him completely soaked. 

But there, in his arms, is a baby.

It's bright pink and wailing, kicking it's little legs and flailing it's little arms. Your husband looks up at you, looking completely shocked, and says, in a shaking voice,

"It's a girl."

You blink, the words slowly filtering into your mind.

"A – a girl?" you stammer, breathless.

He nods, holding the baby – your daughter – up to you, and as if on instinct, you quickly unbutton your blouse. Once it falls open, you gather your baby in your arms and cradle her against your skin, as she continues to cry in protest.

Your husband falls back onto his butt, resting his arms on his raised knees, his head hanging down. His shoulders are shaking, and you don't know if he's laughing or crying. As you watch him, dazed, you vainly attempt to comprehend the magnitude of what just happened. You just gave birth during a meeting at your job, and your husband delivered the baby. You're standing in 3 inch pumps, your stockings are torn open, your skirt is bunched up around your hips, and your breasts are completely out on display (although still in their bra). Your baby is wriggling against you, wailing loudly, still covered in blood and amniotic fluid and who knows what else, the umbilical cord dangling between you. You're completely out of breath, your head is spinning from exertion and shock, and you suddenly say out loud to your husband, without even really realizing it,

"I ruined your suit."

Your husband snaps his head up to look at you, looking absolutely incredulous.

"What?"

"I – I ruined your suit –" you say again.

He bursts out laughing.

"I really liked that suit –" you add, weakly.

He scrambles to his feet, still laughing, and as if in emphasis, wipes his hands on the back of his sleek wool pants, before bringing them to rest on your hips as he leans down to kiss you.

"I love you so much," he says.

You start to respond, when suddenly the doors to the meeting room burst open and a group of EMTs rush in. Someone must've called 911. They all descend upon you and the baby, helping you onto a stretcher, examining the baby, and interrogating you with a myriad of questions (including one EMT, a woman, demanding in shock, "You gave birth in those shoes?!")

You lose your husband in the chaos for a moment as you lay down on the stretcher with your daughter still resting on your chest. Panic grips you, and you call out his name. He's suddenly there by your side, your hand in his, looking at you as if you're the only person in the room.

"Don't leave me," you say, feeling uncharacteristically vulnerable.

He kisses the back of your hand fiercely. "Never."

"Hey, hey, Mr. Midwife!" one of the male EMTs says jovially, holding out a pair of scissors to your husband. "You did so well delivering the baby, we thought you might like to cut the cord!"

Your husband smiles brilliantly as he takes the scissors with his free hand. The EMT directs him to cut the cord between two clamps, just an inch or so from her belly button, and with a few quick snips, your daughter's body is separated from your own.

They drape a blanket over you and your baby and wheel you out of the meeting room, past all your shocked colleagues and coworkers, into the elevator and then outside to the ambulance, your husband staying by your side the whole time. Your baby is still mewling and crying, and that same female EMT from earlier suggests that maybe she's hungry.

Once in the ambulance, you shrug off your shirt and undo your bra, freeing your breasts, and you bring your daughter up to one dark nipple. She instantly latches on and begins nursing, and you gasp in surprise and joy.

You look up at your husband excitedly, who laughs and kisses the side of your head. Now that the shock has started to wear off, an overwhelming sense of love and protection for your daughter has replaced it. You can barely take your eyes off her, you count her fingers and toes over and over again as she nurses. You smooth her little wisps of hair back, the same color as her father's, as she blinks up at you with eyes that match yours. Your husband traces the curves of her little cheek with his finger, before pushing that same finger against one of her palms, and her tiny hand closes around it.

He kisses you again, his hand stroking through your hair, as he says softly to you, "You were amazing, darling. You were so amazing. I love you so, so much."

You turn to kiss him on the lips. "I love you, too." You tilt your head forward to press against his, closing your eyes. "You were pretty amazing yourself. I can't believe you delivered our baby."

"Hey, I just caught her. You were the one who did all the work."

At the hospital, your daughter is quickly whisked away for tests as you deliver the placenta. The lovely staff were kind enough to lend your husband a set of clean, dry, hospital green scrubs. When your daughter is returned to you, she's all swaddled up, and given a clean bill of health, coming in at 9lbs, 13oz.

"Nine pounds?!" you exclaim as your husband takes her from the nurse.

"And 13 ounces!" the nurse adds, cheerfully. "22 inches long and a head 15 inches around."

"Oh my god," you say quietly, completely stunned. "No wonder that hurt so much…"

"You can say that again! Can't believe you delivered her with no pain medication!"

Your husband sits down in the rocking chair next to your bed, cradling your daughter close as he starts speaking to her, not paying attention to your exchange with the nurse.

"Hey, sweetheart," he says in a sing-song voice. "Hey, you gave us quite a scare today, showing up when you did."

The nurse checks a few things before leaving you with your new family, insisting you get some sleep.

You lean back against the pillows as you close your eyes, your hands resting on your slightly deflated stomach, listening to your husband speak softly to your daughter. You're exhausted. There are muscles in your body that you didn't even know exist that are already starting to ache. You want to stay awake, to watch your husband interact with his first born child, but you can already feel yourself drifting off. Bits and pieces of their "conversation" filter in as you start to doze, but it's his comment of, "...now that you're here, Mommy is finally gonna take some time off and relax…" that grabs your attention.

You rouse yourself from sleep as best you can. "Not yet," you say, your words slurring together.

"Hmm? What was that, darling?"

It takes you a moment to respond as you drift in and out of consciousness.

"'m not taking maternity leave yet."

You hear your husband laugh.

"...didn' finish…my quarterly reportsssss…"

"You're kidding, right?"

"...need to finish 'em tomorrow…"

He laughs again, but he sounds much more uncertain this time.

"You're…you're kidding," he says. When you don't respond, he repeats more insistently, "Darling, you're kidding, right?"

Leo took the ball from his hands and tossed it back to Jamie, watching him toddle after it with a toothy grin.

Luke squirms and whines, wanting down and Leo lets him, not willing to fight him on this right now.

Jason comes out onto the porch soon after Luke takes off into the yard again. He wraps an arm around Leo’s waist, pulling him in for a kiss, putting a large hand on Leo’s belly.

“How’s everyone doing?”

Leo scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest but still leaned into Jason’s side. “My bladder is a punching bag, my back hurts constantly, and my feet are swollen. Luke doesn’t know how to share, and Jamie thinks everything is rainbows and kittens. He didn’t even cry when Luke took his ball.”

Jason laughed softly, turning to face Leo, wrapping his arms around Leo’s waist. “We can put them to bed early tonight. Luke has been playing all day, he’ll just pass out.”

Leo leans into Jason’s arms, his belly pressing up against Jason’s. “Maybe we should. A nice quiet night would be heavenly.”

Jason’s smile turns heated and heat pools in Leo’s gut, making him flush.

“I can give you a massage, with that new body oil you bought. Or we can take a hot bath together.” Jason looks like he could go for those now, but Leo pats his chest.

“Or we can do both? I could really use both. Later.”

Jason grins, leaning in for another kiss, Leo’s belly making it difficult but not impossible.

“Both it is then. I say we put them down around 8 and see how it goes.”

Leo agreed, turning back to where the kids were now digging holes in the yard and sighed, keeping an arm wrapped around Jason’s waist.

“They’re gonna need baths tonight.”

Jason, wrapped his arm around Leo’s shoulders, absently running his thumb in circles down Leo’s arm. “They always need baths.”

Leo hummed softly, comfortable now with Jason standing here with him.

Luke grabbed a clump of dirt and tossed it over his head, laughing as it rained down on top of him. And of course Jamie always follows his big brother’s lead, doing the same thing and giggling.

Leo sighs, rubbing a hand over the side of his belly. He wasn’t sure they’d get the night they wanted.

  ***

At 8:30, the kids were finally fed, bathed, and tucked in, out like a light. Luke passed out the second his head hit the pillow but Jamie fought it as hard as he could. He ended up falling asleep on Jason’s chest on the couch, his fist still in his mouth.

Leo sat on the edge of the bed as Jason came in, running a hand through his hair as he closed the door behind him. Leo had watched everything on the baby monitors and smiled sympathetically.

“Rough night?”

Jason snorted, moving closer to the bed and plopping down on his side. “You could say that. Did you know that Jamie is now super into talking about bugs?”

Leo rolled his eyes, a small smile on his face as he shifts a little to look over at Jason.

“He must’ve been listening when I was telling Luke about the bugs he caught in his bug box.”

Jason rolls over onto his side, reaching across the bed to pull Leo closer, wrapping his arm over Leo’s thighs.

“I swear he’s going to be the smartest kid. I found him trying to read one of your books the other day.”

Leo hums, running his fingers through Jason’s hair, loving the simple downtime they didn’t get so often anymore.

“Luke is gonna be a football star like his daddy. What age do they let kids start playing sports?”

Jason hummed, thinking. “I’m pretty sure they can start football at 5. Tee ball too. Not sure about basketball or soccer.”

Leo paused his fingers, looking down with a smile. “You want him to do all of that?”

Jason shrugs, as much as he can the way he’s wrapped around Leo. “Wouldn’t hurt to try. He might actually enjoy one of them.”

“I’m sure he will,” Leo says, resuming his massage of Jason’s head.

Jason’s eyes flutter and Leo smiles softly. “Too tired for that bath tonight?”

Jason’s head whips up and his eyes open wide, shaking his head hurriedly. “Nope, not too tired for that. I’ll go get it ready for us,” he said quickly, planting a kiss on Leo’s lips before bouncing off the bed and into the bathroom.

Leo couldn’t help but chuckle. Jason was more of a dork than he’d admit.

The bath turns on and Leo sighs, moving his legs over the edge of the bed. When they’d moved into the new house, they’d opted for carpet in the bedrooms but wood floors everywhere else, and he was glad for that now as his bare feet reached the carpeted floor. He didn’t like to be cold.

He pushes himself up, one hand under his belly and the other on the bed until he feels stable enough. Jason comes out soon after, already stripped down.

“I would’ve helped you up you know.” Jason comes over, wrapping an arm around Leo’s waist.

Leo rolled his eyes but accepted the help with a smile. “I’m pregnant, not helpless.”

“So you say.”

Leo scoffed, slapping Jason’s arm and Jason laughed, leading Leo over to the bathtub full of bubbles and rose petals.

Leo raises a brow, looking over his shoulder at Jason who just shrugs. “We haven’t done this in a while,” was his only explanation. Leo wasn’t going to complain.

Jason’s hands came up around his middle and Leo smiled to himself, feeling Jason’s hands at the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head. Leo didn’t bother arguing as Jason knelt down next, his hands on the waistband of Leo’s pants. Leo leaned forward, putting his hands on Jason’s shoulders as he pulled his pants down, stepping out of the legs one at a time.

Naked and relaxed, Leo takes Jason’s hand as he steps into the tub, waiting for Jason to step in behind him. Jason sits first, and then he helps Leo’s heavy form sit carefully into the tub, keeping the water from sloshing over the edge.

The heated water eases his back ache almost immediately and he sighs, leaning back into Jason’s chest.

“This is perfect.”

Jason hums in agreement, his hands moving to rub small soothing circles over the sides of Leo’s belly. The top of it peeked out through the bubbles and Leo smiles down at it, rubbing the bubbles over the stretched skin.

“I have an appointment next week. They want to do another ultrasound.”

Jason hums again, leaning forward to rest his chin on Leo’s shoulder, absently running his hands over Leo’s belly.

“The doctor says I’m larger than I should be at this stage. They don’t think it’s twins, but they want to do another ultrasound to make sure.”

Jason’s fingers pause and he leans to the side, looking at Leo. “What do you think?”

Leo shrugged, lifting a hand and letting the water and bubbles drip from his fingers. “I don’t know. I think we’re having twins and they’re just hiding from the camera. I’ve read stories of other omegas having that happen.”

Jason moves back to resting his chin on Leo’s shoulder, his hands going back to Leo’s belly. “How do you feel about that?”

Leo sighs, leaning his head back against Jason. “It wasn’t the plan, but I’m not upset about it. We wanted more kids anyways.”

Jason nods, his hands moving up to the top of Leo’s belly and then up to his chest, massaging soap over his puffy nipples.

“My mom’s excited for more grandkids. I think she doesn’t even care about me anymore.”

Leo snorts, his hands coming up to cover Jason’s. “Your mom spoils them absolutely rotten. Your dad too. Luke is already asking when he’ll get to go on another fishing trip.”

“Only because dad bought him a 100lbs of candy and then just dropped him off before the sugar rush could kick in.”

Leo laughs, remembering the absolute nightmare it had been to deal with not only the sugar induced tornado of a child, but also the tummy ache he had the day after.

“Maybe next time, we ask him not to do that.”

Jason shook his head, smiling softly as he moved his hands up and down over Leo’s chest. “Good luck with that. Dad is a stubborn man.”

Leo smirks. “So are you. You must take after him.”

“I won’t deny that.”

Leo chuckles and Jason’s answering chuckle rumbles through Leo’s back, making him relax even more.

They sit in comfortable silence for a bit, just running their hands over each other until Leo interrupts it.

“My mom said she wants to be present for the next birth,” he says, switching lanes now. He hadn’t really known how to bring this up but he didn’t think Jason would care.

 Jason hums, his hands rubbing distracting circles over Leo’s inner thighs.

“That’s up to you. She can stay in the guest room if she wants. You’ve never exactly been good at sticking to your due date though.”

Leo sighs, spreading his legs a little, urging Jason on. “It’s not my fault our kids were eager beavers. Luke was only two days before his due date anyway.”

“Yeah, but Jamie was two weeks early.”

Leo had to admit Jason had a point. “Whatever. Mom can stay in the guest room for as long as she wants. She’s only 2 hours away.”

Jason kept running his fingers over the insides of Leo’s thighs, driving him a little crazy and he closed them, trapping Jason’s fingers there.

“Either do something with those fingers or stop,” Leo said.

Jason paused but smirked, moving a hand up to palm over Leo’s aching cock.

“Whatever you want, dearest,” Jason teases, and Leo groans, dropping his head back. He’s been so sensitive recently. Which, he supposes he should expect by now considering it always seems to happen at this point in his pregnancies.

Jason’s hand wraps around the small member and Leo’s mouth opens on a silent gasp, his thighs squeezing together.

It only takes a few small jerks and Leo comes hard, clouding up the soapy water with his small spurts of cum. It was nothing compared to the buckets of cum Jason produced, but he didn’t care.

“Let’s get out of here. I still want that massage you promised.”

Jason chuckles, kissing up the back of Leo’s neck before standing, his cock half hard between his legs. He ignores it in favor of grabbing a towel off the hook, wiping his legs and chest down before wrapping it around his waist.

Leo just leans back and watches, enjoying the view.

“The gym should be paying you to work out there. It’s clear you don’t need it anymore.”

Jason smirks, looking down at his stomach. They weren’t the chiseled abs he’d had in high school, or the meatier abs he’d had in college, but they were still defined. A comfortable pillow for Leo’s head.

“Maybe you should join me one day. I want to show off my beautiful husband.”

Leo scoffed, accepting the help up and out of the tub. Soap and water dripped off of him as Jason grabbed another towel, using it to dry him.

The water had been holding a lot of his weight and now his back was beginning to ache again, arching slightly as he watched Jason dry him off.

“The only reason you’ll find me in a gym is to take you out of it.”

Jason laughs, wrapping the towel around Leo’s waist, under his heavy belly. “I knew that when we started dating.”

Leo waddles carefully into the bedroom, Jason right behind him. “Leave me alone. You know I’m not into that stuff.”

Jason nods, a smile still on his face. “I know I know. I’m not trying to make you feel bad.”

Leo unwrapped his towel, dropping it to the floor before hoisting himself back into the bed. Jason makes sure Leo is settled before dropping his own towel, wiping himself off one more time before tossing it on the floor next to Leo’s and then climbing onto the bed.

He grabs the bottle of oil from their bedside table and reads the ingredients, raising a brow at the lavender and rose combination.

“That’s new. I thought you didn’t like rose scented stuff?”

Leo pulls himself back against the pillows, sitting back against them and letting his belly rest between his legs. “It wasn’t as bad mixed with the lavender.”

Jason uncaps the bottle, taking a whiff and hums. “You’re right. This is nice.”

Leo rubs his hands over his belly. “Good, because you’re about to rub it all over my body.”

Jason gets the hint and squirts some into his hand, capping the bottle and putting it off to the side as he rubs his hands together, the gentle soothing scent of the lavender filling the room. It smelled divine.

He started at Leo’s feet, massaging carefully and meticulously, paying attention to certain parts that made Leo groan a little more. And then he worked his way up Leo’s ankles, his calves, his thighs, and up over his belly.

The oil slid easily over Leo’s belly, dripping down over the sides of it. Jason took his time there, rubbing over each stretch mark, taking care not to miss a single inch of skin. Leo felt a kick against his side and Jason smiled wide, his hand resting over the spot.

“Your kids are always active, aren’t they.”

Leo huffs, looking down tiredly at Jason. “They get it from you.”

Jason doesn’t bother denying that. “You still married me anyway.”

Leo hummed, letting his head fall back against the pillows. “Terrible idea.”

Jason just continued running his hands over Leo’s body, massaging and digging into the parts Leo always complained about. By the time Jason was done, Leo was out, snoring softly.

Jason smiled fondly at his husband, his mate, his everything.

“Goodnight,” he whispered softly, pulling the blanket up over the both of them and wrapping an arm around Leo’s middle, falling asleep soon after.

  **

  Jason was too busy grumbling about the crowds to notice Leo had paused, a hand on his lower back. Jamie was currently riding on Jason’s shoulders, happy as a clam with Luke holding onto Jason’s hand.

Leo’s idiotic idea to come to Disney when he was only a month away from his due date was just that. Idiotic.

Luke shouts at Jason to stop and Jason turns, looking back to Leo with a concerned look on his face.

“You okay?”

Leo nodded, holding onto his back with both hands, his belly protruding far in front of him.

“Yeah, just needed to rest for a second. We can keep going.”

Jason didn’t look like he believed him for a second. “Let’s go sit down for a bit. Get some water and snacks for the kids.”

Leo couldn’t even argue. That sounded marvelous.

They made their way over to a large restaurant, walking around the sitting area until they found a table big enough. Leo sat heavily, unable to keep the small groan from his lips at the relief on his ankles.

Jason settled the kids into chairs, giving them their toys and then knelt in front of Leo, brow furrowed. “Do we need to leave? I don’t want another repeat of Luke’s birth. Especially not with the twins.”

Leo shook his head, breathing heavily from the walk over here. “I’m okay, just tired. I’ll let you know if it gets to be too bad.”

Jason once again looked like he didn’t believe him, but he thankfully let it drop and moved back to the kids, asking them what they wanted to eat. Both wanted chicken fingers and Leo groaned. That was all they’d eaten the past two days.

“Don’t you want some fruit or mac n cheese? How about a burger?”

Luke shook his head, not even looking at Leo. “Chicken!”

Jamie, following his brother’s lead, threw a hand in the air. “Chicken!”

Leo sighed, but Jason pats his back. “It’s ok. We’ll get them something different when we leave tomorrow.”

Leo nods, watching Jason disappear towards the long line of people waiting to order. He spread his legs a little, letting his belly rest on his thighs, rubbing his hands over the aching pain on his side as he watched the boys play with their action figures.

Neither had even seen Star Wars but they still wanted the toys. It had irked Jason a little more than Leo thought it would.

He smiles fondly as the boys slam their figures together, making booming noises and then sending the figures sliding over the table. Jamie laughs and Luke does it again, a smile on his face too. They fought like thieves most days, but Luke was still a good brother. Took good care of Jamie.

Another sharp pain lances through Leo’s side and he hisses, bringing a hand up to his side. The babes had been much more active than usual today, kicking and prodding his lungs, ribs and bladder. He’d already had to make several potty breaks.

Another kick to his bladder and Leo groaned, feeling the pressure there starting to increase. He’d need to go soon. Very soon.

Jason appears around the corner and Leo breathes a sigh of relief, not really wanting to wet his pants in front of all of these people.

“I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Jason nods, busying himself with passing out food to the kids, breaking their chicken fingers up so they’ll cool off faster. Leo takes care of himself, bracing his hands on the edge of the table and lifting himself, groaning at the shift of his weight once again back on his ankles.

He brushes a hand over Jason’s shoulders as he starts walking, using the handrails to get up the stairs and start walking towards the bathroom. He’s only about halfway there when he feels wetness in his pants. It spreads, warm and thick over his thighs.

Fuck. That wasn’t pee.

He looked around frantically, a hand tucked under his belly, so very thankful he’d decided to wear black pants today.

A young woman, no older than twenty, stops in front of him, her face kind as she asks, “Is everything ok?”

She puts a hand on Leo’s shoulder and he shakes his head, smiling and embarrassed. “I think my waters just broke.”

Her eyes grow wide, glancing down at his belly and then back up to his face, seemingly checking to make sure he’s not joking. Leo nods, grimacing at the feeling of his waters dripping down his legs.

She looks around, seeing a chair not too far away. “Why don’t you sit? Are you here by yourself?”

Leo follows her lead, thankful to be getting off his feet once more and shakes his head, sitting with a huff on the chair. “My husband is here with my other two kids. They’re right over there,” he says, pointing to where he can just see Jason’s head over the walls.

She nods, patting Leo’s shoulder. “Let me go get him for you.”

Leo nods his thanks, spreading his legs to accommodate the pressure suddenly increasing between his legs. It was far too early. He should still have a month!

There’s a commotion and he looks up, seeing Jason hurrying over. Leo’s eyes widen, looking behind him.

“Where are the kids?”

Jason rolls his eyes, kneeling in front of him. “With Eva, the girl who told me you were over here. What’s going on?”

Leo didn’t like the idea of his kids being with someone he didn’t know, but he couldn’t exactly blame Jason. “My waters broke. We need to go.”

Jason, unfortunately used to the shitty timing by now, nods and stands, helping Leo to his feet. The pressure is so much worse when standing and he has to widen his stance.

“Let me get them in the stroller and then we can go.”

Leo just nods, following at a much slower pace as Jason hurries back to the kids. By the time he gets there, the kids are strapped in. Luke is looking back and forth between Leo and Jason, Jamie is screaming, and Jason looks like he’s going to have a stroke.

“I told you this trip was a bad idea,” Jason grumbles, pushing the stroller up next to Leo, letting him grab the handle.

Leo wants to argue, but he’s too busy trying to focus on moving his feet. “Save the ‘I told you so’s’ for later please.”

Jason, despite the frustration on his face, frowns with worry. No matter how many times they did this, Jason would always be a worry wart.

Jamie is still screaming by the time they get out of the restaurant, his little face bright red and Jason groans, taking him out of the seat and putting him on his hip. Leo tries to keep a brave face on, reaching over to Jamie and patting his back.

“I’m sorry buddy, but Papa needs to go. We’ll have to come back another time.”

Jamie sniffles and wriggles out of Jason’s grip, reaching for Leo. He knows he shouldn’t, but he reaches for him anyway, settling him onto his hip. Jason puts a hand on the small of Leo’s back and pushes the stroller with the other hand.

Luke, too smart for his age, reaches up and puts a hand on Leo’s clenched fist. “It’s okay Papa.”

Leo wants to cry at the genuine feelings on Luke’s face, but he keeps them back, holding onto Jamie’s smaller body. Jamie’s head tucked into his shoulder and he smiled, missing getting to cuddle with his babies.

The trek back to the front of the park is slow going, especially with Leo needing to stop every few minutes as contractions flood through him. He’s progressing faster than usual and he’s starting to think they might not even make it out of the park.

“Jason, mmfh, the baby’s coming. I can feel it.”

Jason’s eyes widen in fear and he looks around, searching for something.

“The exit is right there. Can you at least make it out of the park?”

Leo groaned softly, bending his knees a little to relieve the intense pressure. “I think so. But we need to hurry.”

Jason nods, taking Jamie from his arms and putting him back in the stroller. By whatever miracle, Jamie stays quiet this time, letting them move a little faster.

Leo keeps both hands clenched around the stroller handle, focusing on each step, one step at a time. One step, two steps…he watched as the exit got closer and closer, the pressure almost unbearable now.

“Almost there,” Jason encourages, his hand on the small of Leo’s back as a small pressure.

A few more steps, another contraction cramps through his middle and he gasps, pausing to sway his hips side to side, waiting for the pain to subside. As soon as it does, they’re moving again and with a few more steps, they’re out.

“I can make it,” Leo says, knowing they still had to take the monorail to the transportation center. Jason nods, believing him and leading him towards the hill.

The hill is hell. The increase in elevation, the extra work to push the stroller, Leo can hardly stand it. By the time they get to the top, he’s gasping, unable to keep the pain off his face.

“Daddy what’s wrong with Papa?”

Jason ignores Luke’s question, rubbing a hand over Leo’s back as he groans through another contraction. They were so close together.

“We should’ve asked for an ambulance. Or at least a wheelchair,”

Leo shakes his head, feeling slight relief as the contraction ends. “You couldn’t have pushed both. And we don’t need that. I can do this.”

Jason wanted to strangle him. “I know you can do this, but it doesn’t mean I like seeing it happen. I’m starting to think you’re doing this to me on purpose.”

Leo huffs, resting his forehead on his arms and swaying his hips back and forth, the line far too long for his liking. “I promise I’m not.”

His stomach contracts hard and he gives in a little, bending his knees slightly and pushing, just enough to relieve the pressure. But he feels the heavy weight moving already, so much closer than he’d thought.

The line starts moving and he groans, walking forward once more, the weight between his legs so much worse than it had been before. The crowd moves forward, pushing them into a cart full of other people and Leo grabs a pole.

A man, much older and with a kind face stands up and offers his seat to Leo, completely unwilling to accept Leo’s feeble attempt at arguing. Leo sits down with a groan, resting his head on the window as the doors close. He feels his stomach tightening again and he pushes, unable to hold back.

This time really was a lot faster. He could already feel himself starting to stretch around the baby’s head. He let out a small groan, ignoring the looks from the other people in the car and lifted a leg, feeling his hips getting wider. He grips the pole in front of him, looking at Jason’s frightened face, and then pushes again.

People murmur and gasp as they watch the bulge in his leggings grow larger, his baby’s head pressing up against the tight fabric.

The young woman next to him stands, a hand over her mouth at the sight but Leo can’t even bring himself to care that he’s in public. His baby was coming out now.

“Jason,” he groaned, reaching for Jason. He moved closer, people shifting to watch as Leo labored, pushing hard. The monorail slows to a stop and Leo gasps. He can’t move, can’t stop pushing, gripping Jason’s hand harder than ever as the baby’s head stretched him further and further, straining against the tight black fabric.

Whispers started and Leo cried out, pushing hard and jerking his hips as the baby’s head was suddenly out, bulging out from his pants.

Leo sobbed, resting his head against the window again, barely lucid enough to lift his hips for Jason to pull his pants down. Blood and slick flooded out of him, his baby’s head dangling between his legs.

“I can’t believe this is happening again,” Jason murmured, his hands gentle as he checked around the baby’s neck for the cord. Leo just shook his head, starting to think he’s cursed to never have a planned birth.

A cast member comes into the car with a walkie talkie in hand, his face pale. “The paramedics are on the way. They said to just let you do what you need until they get here.”

Leo groans, the man’s face paling even further. “I don’t need them.”

The man looks so lost, scratching his head. “I’m sorry sir, it’s company policy. It’s a liability.”

Leo couldn’t answer, feeling another band tighten around his belly, shifting down. He puts his chin to his chest, his grip on the handle tighter as he pushes, Jason’s hands ready to catch their third baby. Leo’s mom would be so disappointed to know she missed another one.

“You’re doing great baby. One more push.”

Leo nodded, baring down again. Jason pulls at the same time and with a splash of fluids their baby is out, a tiny screaming little girl.

The crowd cheers, watching from behind the gates, and Leo wants to bury himself into a hole and never come out.

“The baby is out,” the man reports, looking relieved but still like he might faint.

Jason places the squirmy baby on top of Leo’s belly, frowning. “He’s having twins though.”

Leo doesn’t even register the shock going through the crowd as another contraction takes over. He reaches for the pole again, holding fast as he gave another push, feeling the baby shifting lower, the way already loose from their first.

There’s a commotion outside the door and suddenly two paramedics are there, a med kit in their hands.

“Hi there,” the first one says, an older woman. She smiles down at Leo, assessing the situation as she puts on some gloves. “Looks like you’ve had a little girl. My partner here will take care of her.”

The man in question steps closer, his own hands gloved.

Leo doesn’t really want to pass her over but he does, mostly because he feels another contraction coming.

Jason puts a hand on Leo’s calf, squeezing as he watches helplessly.

“How far along were you,” the woman asks, pushing a gloved hand between his legs as he felt himself stretching again.

“32 weeks,” he gasps out, his head falling back against the window as he lets go of another push.

She gives a low whistle, her fingers probing around his hole. “Hell of a place to be spending your last few weeks.”

Leo steadfastly ignored the pointed look Jason threw in his direction.

He grunted again, pushing into her fingers as his hole spread open, revealing another head of hair.

“Are they yours too?” She asks, pointing to the stroller where Luke and Jamie were watching with wide, horrified eyes. Leo grimaced, nodding.

“At least it’s not your first time,” she said kindly, moving to look between his legs. Her partner hands her a towel and she places it under his hole, doing whatever he needed.

Leo grabs the back of the chair, spreading his legs as much as he can, and bares down, a long groan coming out of him at the stretch.

He’s not paying attention as the paramedic takes a pair of scissors to his pants, getting rid of that obstacle, and he’s grateful. He moves one foot to Jason’s thigh, pushing against it as he groans again, his body working against him.

The woman presses her fingers to his hole again, encouraging him and he listens, pushing into it. He pushes hard, takes a breath, and pushes again, just like he did all the other times.

It took longer, but on one bigger push, he feels himself stretch wider, wider and wider, the babes nose pushing past the tight skin and then the whole head, leaving him gasping for breath.

“Ahhh there they are, great job Papa.” Her words are nice but Leo would much prefer Jason.

She checks for the cord, satisfied, and then let’s Leo work through the next few contractions. He grunts, groans, gasps and then he’s crying out as his 4th baby, another girl comes out, leaving him exhausted and sore.

Jason happily accepts the offer to cut the cord, Leo taking the brief respite to take a breather, and then he’s being moved onto a stretcher.

The crowd gathered watches in awe and amazement as he’s wheeled out, his two babies tucked into his arms as Jason follows with the stroller. It’s not exactly the way he’d planned it, but he was starting to think it didn’t matter. He loved his little ones anyway.

  **

  Having twins was a whole different ball game. Exhaustion wasn’t even close to describing what Leo and Jason were dealing with.

Leo was incredibly thankful for his mom, and mother-in-law. For the past month and a half they’d been alternating helping out at the house and taking Luke and Jamie whenever they needed a break.

Jason was at his whit’s end, his face haggard and unshaven, bags under his eyes matching Leo’s. But despite all of that, despite the sheer lack of sleep they were getting, Leo loved it. Getting to know Annie and Elise’s personalities over the last month was a blessing.

Even though they’d been born early, they were both healthy enough to come home after a week in the hospital, and ever since then it has been learning curve after learning curve.

Jason walks quietly into the nursery, Anna sleeping soundly on his shoulder, and Leo smiles up at him, careful not to dislodge the bottle from Elise’s lips.

“She’s finally out. Why don’t you get a nap?”

Jason shook his head, ever so carefully placing her into her crib, waiting a few more seconds to make sure she stays awake, before letting out a relieved breath. “I’m oddly not even tired enough for that. I think my body has caught on.”

Leo huffs a laugh at that, the bags under Jason’s eyes evidence against that statement.

“Then you can trade me. I could use a 5 year nap right about now.”

Jason smirks. “I’ll take her. Go lay down.”

Leo had been joking, sort of, but he didn’t hesitate to pass Elise over to Jason. Jason cooed softly down at her and Leo’s face softened at the scene. He stood up with a groan, his body still sore even after a month, and kissed Jason’s cheek.