“Okay, now we’re not going to have a tantrum and upset our sweet lion mate today, are we, hon?” Trent pulled Beau to his feet and held him loosely around his growing waistline. They were at the garage getting ready to walk across to the Doc’s office and have a second ultrasound scan. Doc had postponed the last one because they’d been dealing with the Lamont pride. Now, ten days later, it was time to see just how much the little one was growing. “This is a first for me too, you know, and I want the chance to dance around and yell, and be all happy about our new son.”

“I’m quite excited myself,” Beau’s pale green eyes gleamed. “I’m sure this one is going to be sporty. He’s started kicking me at all hours of the day and night.”

“No stereotyping, remember. We promised we were going to be good parents.” Trent shook his head as he laughed. “He could be practicing his tap-dancing skills.”

“Tap dancing?” Beau quirked his brow. “Just don’t buy him any clogs.”

Trent smiled. There were times when he couldn’t believe how much the Fates had smiled on him. Yes, they would need a bigger house in time, but for now the people closest to them all lived close enough to pop into what was fast becoming a comfortable home. Liam had finally made his tearful goodbyes from Ra and the others, although already the pack were showing signs of being frequent visitors. Beau’s new offices, complete with a new PA were well on the way to getting set up and now the men were house hunting.

“I should probably ask if you’re okay,” Beau said softly. “You seemed to drift away there for a minute. You are happy with us, aren’t you?”

“More than you can ever know, my sexy-pudding mate,” Trent laughed as Beau smacked him across the arm. “Well, you are, and it’s beautiful and you, my mate, you glow. Pregnancy really is a good look on you.”

“Do you think we could wait until this one is out and walking on his own two legs before we start thinking of pups? I hear wolves tend to breed more than one at a time.”

“You’d have my kid, too?” Somehow, in all the excitement of everything else going on, Trent hadn’t even considered the possibility, but now he had…. Oh, boy, calm down wolfie.

“Our kids, babe. No matter what happens in the future any offspring are always ours.”

“Hang on a minute,” Trent bent his head and sniffed long and hard where his mating scar was indelibly marked on Beau’s shoulder. In and out, in and out. That’s it, nice and calm now. “I’m fine,” he said finally pulling his head back up. “Just yeah, you’ve made my wolf very happy.”

“Just your wolf?”

“You make me happy almost all the time.” Trent looked up at the wall clock. “Come on, it’s time for our appointment. Liam did say he would meet us there, right?”

“Yep, he won’t miss it. Now, what’s this about almost all the time. Are you still holding onto a grudge because I ate all the cookies?”

“I was hungry, and dinner wasn’t ready yet.”

“So was I, and with my bump I can’t wait like you can.”

Trent howled with laughter at the look on his mate’s face. “Doctor’s first and then we’ll go and buy a crate of cookies, deal?”

“If I can walk that far,” Beau huffed as they left the garage. “I have a horrible feeling I’m starting to waddle.”

“It’s a very sexy waddle,” Trent hung back so he could watch Beau move. I’ve got the sexiest mates, he thought as Beau glared at him and motioned for him to catch up.

“My ass is getting bigger,” Beau grumbled as Trent pulled open the Doctor’s office door.

“Your ass is beautiful. Hi sweetie,” Trent’s grin widened as he caught sight of Liam in the office, holding up a packet of Beau’s favorite cookies. “Ooh, did you bring me snacks?”

“Mine,” Beau growled, muscling Trent out of the way. “Hi babe, I’ll name my first born after you if those are for me, now gimme.”

“The romance is gone,” Liam sighed as he handed over the packet and moved in to hug Trent. “All he wants me for is my cookies.”

“I don’t recall cookies being considered a necessary food group when it comes to growing babies.” Doc Farriday was standing at the door to the treatment room, watching them. Beau’s eyes widened, and he quickly shoved two cookies into his mouth and then hid the packet behind his back, giving the doc a wave with his other hand.

“Come on through, you three. Let’s see how much weight the baby has put on and how much of it is daddy’s butt.”

“I told you my ass was getting bigger,” Beau hissed as he followed the doctor into the room.

“All the more for me to grip onto when I’m pounding it,” Trent whispered back. Liam winked and covered his mouth to hide his laughter.

/~/~/~/~/

Beau stared at the screen. There it was – his son. No longer looking anything like a jelly bean; in the last three weeks the little mite had grown substantially. “He’s very healthy,” Farriday said, clicking some buttons on the machine, “You can see a lot more of his features now. By my estimates, I’m sure you’ve only got a few weeks left to go.”

“I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Trent couldn’t take his eyes off the screen and Beau saw a single tear roll down his mate’s cheek. “It’s like a perfect miniature being, living in your belly.”

“He is perfect in terms of weight, length of limbs and rate of growth,” Farriday said. “If he had to be induced now, then he’d survive outside of the womb, but I’d like to keep him in there a little longer if possible.”

“I can’t believe how much he’s grown. My little jelly bean.” Liam’s lip was trembling, but his eyes shone with happiness. “Oh babe, you have no idea how much I love you.”

“Are you talking about me or the overgrown jelly bean?” Beau didn’t want to ask, it wasn’t something they’d said to each other before and somehow it seemed really important to know. Aside from that one text from Liam, the L word had never been mentioned between any of them.

“Excuse me a minute,” Doc Farriday got up and left the room.

“You, babe,” Liam tore his eyes off the screen. “You, you overbearing, arrogant, leave crumbs in the bed cookie monster. I love you, the same as I love Trent. I love my mates; it’s just that simple really.”

“I…er…I….” Beau struggled a bit, not sure if Trent felt the same way and not wanting to make a fool of himself.

“I love you too, hon,” Trent said softly, squeezing his hand. “You and Liam both. You guys have made my world complete, you really have.”

“I love you, too. I love you both,” Beau felt his eyes tearing up. “I’ve just never said it to anyone before. Come here, both of you.” Overcome, he opened his arms and they were instantly filled and while there was a part of him that wasn’t sure how dignified he looked with tears running down his face and his huge naked belly sticking up, covered in goo, it was one of the happiest moments of his life.

/~/~/~/~/

Liam was still whistling when he sauntered into the Sheriff’s office to sign out for the day. “I’ve done my time, I’m heading home,” he yelled out to Mal who was manning the front desk as usual. “Old man Skylar has been told that if he lets his pigs out again they’ll be impounded, and Mrs. Hooper’s laid her weekly complaint about bikes running down Main Street in the middle of the night.”

“Did you get cookies?” Mal grinned.

“Three packets and I’m going to hide them in my locker here,” Liam waved the packets in question. “I need an emergency stash now Beau’s eating us out of house and home.”

“Don’t let Rocky sniff them out or next time you get the munchies all you’ll find in that locker of yours is scrunched up packets.”

Liam glanced at the Sheriff’s office door which was closed. “Is the big guy okay?” He asked leaning over the desk.

“Yeah,” Mal’s look at the door was fond. Liam wasn’t sure how long Mal and Rocky had been friends but they doted on each other. Not in a ‘I want to sex you up” way, but a deep and solid friendship stemming from shared experiences. While Rocky could be quick to bite first and ask questions later and never thought of his personal safety, Mal was the calming one and the only one Rocky listened to when he was wolfed out. “I think he thought being Sheriff was all about fast cars and shoot outs, or even tracking missing kids and shit like that in his wolf form. Instead he spent the afternoon going over budgets with Ra. I told him to take a nap.”

“Ah, the joys of red tape,” Liam laughed. “Is Joe in yet? Can I take off?”

“Yep, he’s in the locker room. See you tomorrow.”

Heading out back, Liam saw Joe clipping his radio to his belt. “Hi Joe, how’s it hanging.”

“High and to the left, thanks for asking.” Joe flashed a quick smile. “Didn’t you have your appointment with the Doc today?”

“Sure did. Do you want to see?” Liam pulled out their latest scan picture that was already looking creased around the edges. He’d been showing everybody. “Isn’t he big?”

“At least he looks like a baby this time,” Joe smiled and handed the picture back, before closing and locking his locker. “So, how did the Doc seem? Is he okay?”

Stuffing the picture back in his pocket, Liam looked at his co-worker. Joe was a big guy. Word around town was he was actually a bull shifter but being so tall he carried his muscles well. Joe’s open facial expressions weren’t a gimmick. He was as honest as the day was long and more besides. “He seemed his normal cranky self. Have you got a thing for the hunky doc?”

Joe shrugged. “Just being polite. It’s our job to keep an eye on the welfare of all our citizens.”

“You like him.” Liam sidled closer. “I promise not one word of it will pass my lips. But hey, why haven’t you asked him out? I’ve barely seen you taking a drink at Cam’s on your night off.”

“I get enough dealing with people during my shift. I’m not really the going out type.” Joe fiddled with his padlock. His fair face was bright red.

“You know you’re welcome to come out with me and my mates anytime, well, after the baby is born. Beau’s not one for going out much at the moment either.”

“It’s all good, but thanks.” Joe was still playing with his padlock and something nudged the back of Liam’s brain.

Stepping into Joe’s personal space, Liam looked around before whispering, “Is Doc your mate?”

“Don’t say that,” Joe urged quickly, his eyes wild as he checked they were alone.

“I won’t say anything,” Liam kept his voice low, “but what the hell happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Joe said crossly. “Every time he sees me he gives me shit. He thinks I’m young, dumb and well-hung, and those aren’t attributes he’s interested in, or so he tells me.”

“You’ve got a responsible job, you don’t go out and make a fool out of yourself. What’s his problem?”

“I don’t know, and don’t you dare ask him.” Joe glared. “I might not be smart like him, but I’ve got my pride. If he doesn’t want me as a mate, then I have to accept it. You of all people know what that’s like.”

“Yeah, you’re right, I do know what it’s like and it sucks.” Liam gave Joe a quick hug. “Hey, at least I know why you don’t mind the night shifts now. I’m guessing you patrol the town quite closely overnight.”

“The only good thing is he doesn’t seem to have anyone over, nor does he go out.” Joe sighed sadly. “Don’t tell Rocky or Mal, please? I know you guys are all close, but this is my shit and I have to deal with it.”

“I can’t lie if I’m asked, but I won’t volunteer anything, will that do?”

“For a shifter, it’s the best I can ask. Go on, get on home. Your mates will be wondering why you’re late.”

“And I’ll tell them the truth, that I was chatting with a friend.” Liam reached up and ruffled Joe’s hair. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“I work with you, doofus. I see you all the time, now get on home.” Joe ducked his head and headed out of the locker room and Liam followed.

“We’re going out for that drink soon,” Liam warned. “These taskmasters can handle the place on their own for a few hours.”

“Who are you calling taskmasters,” Mal said indignantly.

“Later.” Grabbing his jacket, Liam shrugged it on as he left Joe and Mal jokingly debating the concept of taskmaster.