it's been years since it's last happened, but Daeron ends up truly held by his mommy. tucked deep into his chest, balled up between Maekar's legs, like a child. and Maekar is holding him, shifiting his babies head to lay against his shoulder, smoothing the hair from his eyes and the tears off his cheeks. rocking every so slightly.
he can't even be angry. that would be far too hypocritical. Maekar thinks the feeling in his gut is something like fear. something like guilt. something like "oh this is how my parents felt". but his baby needs to be held.
he makes him a promise. it'll be over his own and Baelor's dead bodies that a hair is harmed on the child's head, if Daeron chooses to keep the babe.
when Daeron asks how he knows that, after sullying Baelor's son and heir. Maekar just takes a deep breath, and even if some of it was known, if there had been guesses made by his children, and tells the full truth of who their sire was.
"he could never harm your babe, because he could never harm you, sweetling. he would rather die, that I know," he kisses Daeron's forehead, leaving his lips there, "he never let anyone ever hurt you or your brothers and sisters. and they were born of the same... passion."
and Daeron feels... safer. with that. he asks his mommy if it's scary. being pregnant. if having a child is scary. if he should rid himself of the little one. because he is scared. he'd so scared. but is it worth it?
and Maekar doesn't have an answer, he had been scared, at Daeron's age or even younger, to carry the bastard child of his brother. but he also loved Baelor so deeply, and longed for his children so wholly, hat yes. yes it was worth it. but would Daeron feel the same?
he really doesn't know. but for the first time since his son stopped being a little boy, he just... opens up to him. in a way he previously struggled. tells him all about all his pregnancies and such. all night long. until Daeron's long asleep, cradling his belly. Maekar's been thumbing it for a while now. Daeron's hand had wormed under his before he fell asleep, wanting to be held by his mama. wanting to hold his baby.
Maekar will raven his brother in the morning, find some way to meet. to discuss this. because they can give their boys the protection they themselves didn't have.
in the end, after the intial stress passesā which Maekar only allows himself to see. telling Baelor the news himself and facing any outward reaction he could have alone. he knows that emotion overrules logic, and that fear may make Baelor react in a way that could scare their sons. and he talks him through seeing that this was what happened in their youth all over again āBaelor would insist, if Daeron wanted the babe, that he keep them. it would be cruel to want otherwise. they will figure something out.
and they tell Valarr, well, they let Daeron have that honor, with both of their support, and while he's just as scared, by the gods is he excited to be a dad.
(and Daeron deserves to feel mommy's love for a while. just two omegas cuddles together in a moment of need.)
