“Hee hee hoo. Hee hee hoo.” Whoever the hell invented this breathing technique to counteract labor pain is a sadist. They do nothing but make me look like I don’t know how to tell a knock-knock joke right.

“Is…there anything I can get you?” Ethan is standing awkwardly in the corner of the room while we wait for the nurse to come back.

She put some attachments on me then took off and said to call her if the number on the monitor went below 110 or above 160. The monitor shows a steady 140-ish, so I’m trying to get comfortable and settle in for the long-haul. “No,” I pant out between breaths. “Unless you know how to wield a scalpel to rip this thing out of me…” I ask, giving him a hopeful look.

Ethan offers a small smile for the first time since I’ve met him, and it changes his entire appearance. Ethan Carson is a very attractive man. Not surprising since Andy is cute as hell. But those hazel eyes and the deep dimples in a slightly more mature and chiseled package are hard to look away from. To distract myself, I decide to further question him on why he’s looking for Andy now.

Andy has never mentioned his family. Every time I try to ask, he gets weird and changes the subject. I figured it was an abusive situation, so I haven’t pressed him for details. But if what Ethan is saying is true, they seemed to be pretty tight. I don’t understand why Andy didn’t go to Ethan for help instead of choosing to live on the streets…or wherever the hell he’s been staying. I take a few deep breaths then look up at Ethan through squinted eyes. “Tell me about your brother.”

Ethan seem surprised by my question, but his mini smile from earlier morphs into a real, genuine toothy grin.

“Andy’s a cool kid.” He takes a step toward me, coming from out of the shadows. “If you’ve met him, you know he’s sweet and caring and wants to be everyone’s friend.”

I don’t confirm what he already knows, merely nodding to indicate that I understand.

“My parents are going through some kind of mid-life crisis or some shit. As soon as he turned eighteen and was legally tested as omega, they basically told him he was on his own.”

I raise an eyebrow, finding it hard to believe. “You never had a clue he was omega? Really?”

Ethan shrugs. “I guess we knew he wasn’t alpha, but I kinda assumed he was beta. He’s athletic and kinda tall. Not scrawny like…” His eyes bulge out and an expression of horror flashes across his face. “I didn’t mean. Fuck, I’m sorry. I just mean a lot of omegas are on the smaller side, and Andy’s always had a bigger build. Not huge but not skinny.”

I nod through a few more shallow breaths. “Yeah, I get it. I probably would have pegged him as beta too if I saw him on the street.” The memory of my first seeing Andy makes me bark out a pained laugh since I did find him literally on the street.

Ethan closes the distance between us and stares at me with beautiful hazel eyes that look exactly like his brother’s. “So, you do know him?”

It takes a second for my mind to clear enough for me to realize my mistake. “Shit.” I shift my weight onto one hip, trying to find a more bearable position. “Talking to me right now isn’t fair. I’m a little distracted.”

Ethan blows out a long breath and his chin falls to his chest. “Thank god he’s okay.”

Before I can go into all the reasons why he can’t start stalking Omega House, Andy pushes through the door and rushes to my side. “Freddie, oh my god! Are you okay? How far apart are the contractions?” He watches the blinking monitors as if the numbers and lines actually mean something to him.

“Andy?” Ethan walks around the bed toward his brother with his arms out. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Andy closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before turning to look at his brother. I’m not sure what kind of reunion I was expecting, but this isn’t it. “Hey, Ethan. Can we talk later? I promised Freddie I’d help him through this.”

Ethan stops short, lowering his arms with a confused look on his face. “Uh, yeah. Of course. Should I wait outside?”

Andy looks at me for an answer. If I wasn’t in so much pain, I could probably tell what response he wants from me. But as it is, I can’t focus on anything, much less facial ques.

“I don’t care either way. I just need some fucking drugs and then you guys can do whatever the hell you want.” I’m mid contraction and can hardly breathe. “Can you find the nearest dealer, please?”

Ethan turns toward the door. “I’ll ask the nurse when he’ll be here. Be right back.”

As soon as Ethan disappears, Andy presses the heels of his palms to his eye sockets and groans. “God, I’m sorry this is happening right now. If you want me to leave too, I will. I know you don’t need to deal with my family drama while you’re trying to push out a human.”

I motion to the bucket of ice chips on the counter then toss a few in my mouth once Andy hands it to me. “You don’t have to leave. The distraction is good for me. I hate this part for obvious reasons. He can stay in here…or you can make him wait out there. Whatever you want.” I hand him the bucket when I see another contraction starting to build on the monitor. “But for what it’s worth, he seems like a really good guy who’s been really worried about you.”

Just as I’m about to break Andy’s hand from squeezing it so hard, the nurse walks in with the blessed anesthesiologist behind him. Happy days are here!

It takes the tech an eternity to get everything set up. Once he does, he has me sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. He has to insert the line for the drugs between contractions, and with them getting closer and closer together, I want to get this going so I don’t miss my window.

“Who’s the father?” the tech asks from behind me. I look up and see mirrored panic cross both Ethan and Andy’s faces. “We need some help with this part.”

Saving us all from any more awkwardness, I reach for Andy’s hand and tug him in front of me. “Andy is my birthing partner.”

Ethan is watching us carefully, and I can tell he has a lot of questions, but he wisely keeps his mouth shut. This definitely isn’t the time or the place.

“Okay, Andy.” The technician urges him closer with a wave. “Just wrap your arms around Dad’s shoulders right here and hold him still. If he moves a little bit, that’s okay. But we want him as still as possible when we’re working in the spinal column.”

Andy takes a deep breath before wrapping me into a bear hug and squeezing as hard as he can. He’s taking this responsibility of keeping me still very seriously. And as I rest my check against his chest and wait for the tingling sensation to start, my eyes lock with Ethan’s. He has the same terrified look Andy had, but he’s upped the ante by pulling the corner of his lower lip into between his teeth, nibbling on it the way I’ve only dreamed of being nibbled on.

Fuck, he’s hot.

“All done. You can lie back now. You should start feeling relief in ten or fifteen minutes.”

I don’t want to break away from Ethan’s hypnotic stare, but Andy pulls back, leaving me no choice but to come back to reality.

* * *

I don’t know how other people give birth without drugs, but I can say with certainty that it ain’t my bag. As soon as the drug starts to weave through my spinal fluid, all the pain disappears, and I feel better than I have in months. I still can’t breathe well, but the lack of aches and pains is like a miracle. I feel human again and look around the room, realizing it’s just me and Andy.

“Where’d Ethan go?” I ask in my usual voice, not at all breathless or pained anymore.

“He went to the cafeteria for some coffee. Said he wanted to give us some privacy.”

I roll my eyes at that. “Uh, I think the time for privacy passed when he watched the first dilation check. He’s probably signing up for a vasectomy right about now.”

Andy smiles and sits on the edge of my bed, placing a hand on my foot. “Nah, he seemed pretty interested in the whole thing. I’m pretty sure he still wants kids.”

I shudder to think of what that poor man had to witness. “Well, I’ll apologize to him tomorrow. At the moment, I feel too good to be embarrassed about it.”

“Don’t be embarrassed.” Andy’s gaze shifts down to my belly. “It’s so cool. I can’t wait to have a baby.”

“Seriously?” Is this kid mad? He just turned eighteen. He has his entire life ahead of him. “Even after watching me pee constantly and waddle everywhere I go for the past week? That didn’t just start last week, by the way. It’s been going on for months. Months!”

He laughs and checks the monitor again. He’s been watching our vitals since he first got here. His protective instincts are impressive considering he’s not mated or even in a relationship. “That’s the best part about being omega. The special part, right? I grew up assuming I was beta, so I never thought about having kids. I knew I’d have some but didn’t think I’d be able to carry them myself. Since getting my status confirmation, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of having a baby someday. So, yeah, thanks for letting me share this with you. Being in here is pretty awesome.”

A forced cough catches our attention and we both look at the door. Ethan is standing there with two cups of coffee in his hand. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I thought you might want a cup.” He’s looking at Andy but the aroma is divine.

“I’d love some, thank you!” I hold out my hand but Andy swats it back down.

“If you want more ice chips, the bucket is right there. Nothing else for you until this baby is O.U.T.”

“When did you become so bossy?” I scoff and look at the bigger, beefcake-y version in the doorway. “Are you interested in becoming a delivery coach for the afternoon? I think a position is about to open up.”

Ethan smiles widely, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I think you guys have everything under control in here. Naheed and Jace wanted me to let you know they’ve called Max and Curtis. They’ll all be in the waiting room.” He reaches in and places a cup on the counter. “I’ll just leave this in here and wait with them.”

He ducks out of the room before Andy and I can say anything else.

“Um, I think you’re wrong about him being interested in the glory of childbirth. That man couldn’t get out of here fast enough.” I make grabby hands at the steaming coffee cup on the counter. “Please, just one sip.”

“Nope.” Andy places the bucket of ice chips on my belly like it’s a table. “Have these. I’ll be right back.”