Story plot: Peter goes into labor (which he very much does not feel ready for despite being overdue) while working on some suit upgrades and is determined to finish, which is a bad idea because it ends in him giving birth at home with no one to help but Wade
Symptoms: cramps, sensitivity (the pregnancy made Peterโs already heightened senses even worse), mood swings
Kind: Neko x Human (ive always had a soft spot for Peter with fluffy little kitty earssss)
Laboring position: going back and forth from standing/leaning against desk to sitting most of the time
Pushing position: leaning on someone
Position of the babies: normal
Complications through birth: birth denial for a while, long pushing, water doesnโt break until first one starts crowning
Clothing on birth: fully clothed with a loose hoodie (one of Wadeโs) and some loose shorts
Aftercare postpartum: baby care + selfcare
โPeterโs fluffy white-tipped ears flickered nervously under the hood of Wadeโs old, worn-out grey sweatshirt. He was perched on a stool in the bright, metallic chaos of the workshopโthe very definition of overdue and extremely grumpy about it. The suit upgrade he was working on, a new flexible polymer for the wrist-mounted web-shooters, was his last distraction.
โโJust need to run the heat cycle one more time,โ Peter muttered, peering intently at a tiny display screen while a low, rhythmic ache coiled in his abdomen. It felt like bad cramps, not the real thing. Not yet.
โWade, who had been hovering near the doorway doing a truly remarkable impersonation of a concerned golden retriever, spoke up, his voice muffled by the mask he wore purely out of habit. โSweetheart, youโve run the heat cycle six times. And those โcrampsโ are coming faster than my payment checks.โ
โPeter flinched, his sensitive ears flattening against his skull. The soft thrum of the fabrication machine suddenly sounded like a roaring jet engine. โWade, can youโฆ can you please turn that thing off? And lower your voice? Itโs too loud.โ
โWade instantly dropped his tone, rushing to hit the kill switch on the machinery. The silence was immediately jarring, and Peter sighed, rubbing his temples. The sensitivity was killing him.
โโI know, baby. The senses are going haywire,โ Wade cooed, stepping closer. โBut Peter, that was a pretty significant contraction. Youโve had three in the last fifteen minutes. We need to call the doc, or at least go upstairs to the main bathroom like we planned, okay?โ
โโNo. Iโm fine,โ Peter insisted, the denial kicking in hard. He wiped a damp forehead with the sleeve of the oversized hoodie. โItโs justโฆ warm in here. And theyโre not painful enough. Itโs false labor. Iโm almost done, Wade, just give me ten more minutes. I donโt want to leave this hanging.โ
โWadeโs arms crossed over his chest. His eyes, visible through the mask fabric, narrowed. โTen minutes? Youโre thirty-six hours past your due date, you look like youโre about to fight Thanos in the fetal position, and youโre still trying to solder things. This is not a distraction, Pete, this is birth denial, and it's over. Weโre moving.โ
โSuddenly, the mild cramping tightened into a ferocious wave, stealing Peterโs breath and causing him to gasp and lean heavily against the cold metal desk. He gripped the edge so hard his knuckles turned white.
โโAgh!โ The sound was involuntary, a sharp, choked noise.
โWade was instantly at his side, steadying him. โOh, honey. That wasnโt mild. That was a tidal wave. No more arguments. I love you, but youโre grounded.โ
โPeterโs tail, which heโd tucked into the loose, comfortable shorts he was wearing, flickered once and lashed out angrily. The sudden surge of pain, coupled with the frustration of not finishing his work and the fear of what was coming, triggered a massive mood swing.
โโDonโt touch me!โ Peter snarled, pushing Wade away with a strength that belied his state. His feline eyes were wide and glistening with tears. โI said Iโm fine! Why canโt you just listen? I donโt want to do this yet! Iโm not ready for twins, Wade, I donโt know how to be a dad to two! Justโฆ leave me alone with my damn circuitry!โ
โWade took the blow of the words, his face softening with raw pity. He knew this wasnโt Peter; it was the adrenaline, the fear, and the sheer power of the labor taking hold.
โโI know youโre not ready, baby. Nobody is,โ Wade said gently, stepping in again and wrapping his arms around Peter, ignoring the weak struggles. He smelled like gunpowder and cheap shampoo, and for a moment, the sensory overload settled. โBut they donโt care if youโre ready. Theyโre coming. And Iโm right here, okay? Iโve got you.โ
โWade scooped the smaller man up, suit parts scattering forgotten across the floor, and carried him quickly up the stairs to their bedroom.
โWade managed to get Peter onto the birthing ball, which they had set up in front of the large window, offering a view of the city Peter loved. Peter leaned forward, resting his heavy bump and head on the desk, the cool wood providing some relief from the overwhelming heat of his body.
โThe contractions were coming every three minutes now, long and deep. Peter would sit, rocking gently on the ball, then stand and lean over the desk, using the steady surface to brace himself. He still felt like he was just managing severe crampsโpainful, but not the shattering, pushing pain he expected.
โโItโs not working, Wade. Iโm just bouncing. I need to push them out,โ Peter gritted out, his breath hitching as a strong contraction peaked.
โโWeโll push when your body tells you, Petey-Pie. Let gravity help for a bit longer,โ Wade said, kneeling behind him and massaging Peterโs lower back. โJust breathe. In for four, out for eight. Youโre doing so good, angel. Youโre halfway to having two little nuisances to terrorize the neighborhood with.โ
โPeter slumped, exhausted, his body swaying heavily. โIโm so tired. Why hasnโt my water broken? All the books say the water breaks early. What if something is wrong?โ
โโNothing is wrong. The first little squish-face is just protecting his or her sibling. Theyโre cozy little bubbles right now,โ Wade reassured him, checking the clock. They had been at this for over eight hours since the first noticeable cramps began.
โAs the hours dragged into the late afternoon, the contractions completely stole Peter's ability to think, much less stand. Wade had to help him move from the desk to the ball and back.
โโWadeโฆ I thinkโฆ I think I need to use the bathroom,โ Peter groaned, panting heavily as he slumped on the ball.
โWade knew that feeling. It was the feeling of a baby pressing down. โNo, baby, thatโs not the potty. Thatโs the baby,โ he stated calmly, though his heart was hammering. He helped Peter off the ball and stood him up, keeping him leaning against the desk. โOkay, next one, when it hits, just tell me where you feel it.โ
โThe next contraction hit like a lightning strike. Peter cried out, an animalistic sound, and his knees buckled.
โโI canโt stop it! I need to push!โ Peter screamed, his whole body shaking as an undeniable pressure seized him. โWade, theyโre coming! Theyโre coming right now!โ
โWade realized they were past the point of changing location. He had barely time to spread some of the waterproof blankets theyโd set aside on the floor before Peter was pushing instinctively, letting out a raw, desperate roar.
โCrowning and the First Cry
โโPete, stop! You have to stop pushing, I need you to lean on me now. Come on, face me, put your arms around my neck!โ Wade commanded, using his most dominant, steady voice.
โStaggering with the force of the push, Peter turned, his face buried in Wadeโs neck. Wade braced his back against the wall, taking Peterโs full weight. Peter was now in the leaning on someone position, his feet wide, gravity helping the powerful efforts.
โPeter let out another guttural cry, pushing with every ounce of his remaining energy.
โโI canโt do this, Wade, itโs too much! It burns, I canโtโGAAAAH!โ
โAnd then, suddenly, a sharp pop and a rush of warm fluid saturated Peterโs loose shorts and the blankets below. The water had broken, but only as the baby was crowning, just as Wade had feared, making the final stage even more intense.
โโThe water broke! Okay! Okay, that means the head is right there! Push into me, Peter, push into my shoulder! Give me everything youโve got!โ Wade yelled, holding him tighter.
โIt was a long, excruciating five minutes of continuous, desperate long pushing. Peter was screaming, his ears pinned back, his breaths coming in ragged sobs.
โโOne more! Give me one more big push for the first kid, darling! Youโre amazing! I see hair!โ
โPeter let out one final, ragged push, arching his back. He felt the intense, burning pressure give way to a sudden, incredible relief as the head and shoulders passed.
โA high-pitched, angry, glorious wail split the silence.
โWade, miraculously managing to support Peterโs full weight, looked down with wide, wet eyes. He caught the tiny, slippery body in the shorts Peter was still mostly wearing and quickly adjusted them to make a small sling.
โโYou did it! Oh, Peter, look! You did it! Itโs a boy! Hey there, little guy!โ Wadeโs voice cracked with emotion. He quickly checked the baby, wrapped him partially in the sweatshirt, and handed him up to Peterโs chest, where the newborn immediately quieted, smelling his parent.
โPeter was sobbing, exhaustion warring with the shock of holding his child. โWeโฆ we did it, Wade. Oh God. Heโs perfect.โ
โBefore Peter could even fully register the first baby, the painโwhich had briefly recededโcame back with a vengeance.
โโAnother one! Itโs coming! Fast!โ Peter gasped, clutching the first newborn tightly to his chest. The second twin, now unimpeded by the first, was dropping quickly.
โWade was already moving. He helped Peter maintain the leaning position, but this time, the process was accelerated. The birth canal was already open, and the contractions were furious.
โโOne push, Pete! Just one hard push!โ
โPeter didn't need prompting. With a grunt and a fierce effort, the second baby was out in a swift rush. Wade caught the tiny form just before it hit the blanket, a mirror image of the first.
โโItโs another one! Another boy! Or a girl, I canโt tell, Iโm crying too much! Wait, itโsโฆ a girl!โ Wade announced, sniffing loudly and carefully placing the second, smaller twin onto Peterโs chest next to her brother.
โThe twins lay there, one nestled in each arm, their tiny screams quickly turning to soft, searching noises. Peter stared down at them, his Neko ears twitching slowly with the overwhelming calm that replaced the storm.
โโTwoโฆ two tiny kittens,โ Peter whispered, running a thumb over the soft, dark hair of the girl.
โWade cut both cords, his hands surprisingly steady despite the tears streaming down his face, and then sat down heavily on the floor, leaning against Peterโs legs, utterly undone.
โโTwo,โ Wade echoed, burying his face in Peterโs thigh. โWe have two. We did it, baby. Just us.โ
โPostpartum: Love and Laundry
โThe adrenaline eventually wore off, leaving Peter shaky, sore, and entirely in awe. Wade, after making the necessary calls and arranging for a very surprised midwife to come check on them, shifted into full aftercare mode.
โFirst, self-care. He carefully moved the new family, blankets and all, to the center of the bed. He brought Peter a huge glass of water and a protein barโPeterโs favoriteโand helped him pull off the bloodied, sweat-soaked hoodie and shorts. Wade replaced them with a fresh, clean set of his own clothes, softer and looser than ever.
โโOkay, you eat, you drink. Iโm going to clean up this disaster before the midwife gets here,โ Wade stated, gently kissing Peterโs head.
โโWade, wait,โ Peter mumbled, exhausted but lucid.
โWade paused. Peterโs eyes, heavy-lidded, were fixed on him.
โโYouโre a hero, Wade. Seriously,โ Peter whispered. โYou didnโt panic. You got us through it. Thank you.โ
โWade knelt by the bed, stroking Peterโs cheek. โDonโt thank me, baby. You were the one doing the real work. Now, rest. Baby care time starts now, you have two tiny bosses demanding milk and cuddles.โ
โWade then spent the next hour tending to both self-care and baby care for Peter. He brought a warm washcloth and gently wiped Peterโs face and neck, then helped him get the twins latched for their first feed. He set up a makeshift changing station right on the bed, fetching diapers and burp cloths.
โAs the late-setting sun cast long shadows across the room, Wade settled beside Peter on the bed, one arm wrapped protectively around him as the two exhausted parents watched their twin son and daughter sleep peacefully, nestled together on Peter's chest.
โโWhat do you think we should name our little heroes, Papa Bear?โ Wade murmured, kissing the top of Peterโs soft, newly-calm ear.
โPeter smiled, utterly depleted but happier than he had ever been. โI thinkโฆ I think weโll figure it out. Together.โ
