“Finally. I get some peace with you,” I whispered into Elliot’s ear longingly. I curled my legs against his thighs and thrust my pelvis gently into his backside.

“Hold me,” Elliot whispered.

I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around him. The smell of his cologne put me at ease. Lately, our days had become so busy that I didn’t know when I was going to have time for “just-us.”

“I’ve missed you, Elliot. I’m so sorry things have been so hectic. I probably shouldn’t have run for office while you were pregnant,” I admitted.

Elliot curled his head toward me. His lips tenderly graced my cheeks, and for a moment, I disappeared into heaven.

“Don’t apologize, baby. Do you know how proud of you I am? Well, guess what? We all are, Tate. And yeah, I’m pregnant. My chest is unbearably sore and some days I just want to break down and cry. But this is just the beginning of something wonderful, and it’s all for Griffin, in the end,” Elliot said.

His wisdom was growing more and more each day. Whenever I felt lost, I could count on him to ground me. “Thank you, my omega,” I said. “It’s almost over, I guess. Just a few more months and the election results will be here.”

“You’re going to win. But you need to turn the videos into the media,” Elliot warned. “It’s already been a month. Why are you waiting?”

I stared at the silky strands of hair that ran down to the top of his neck. I traced my fingers over his ear and kissed him tenderly. I didn’t want to have to do anything today, except lay in bed with my pregnant fiancé. I knew he was silently going through the hardest test of his life.

“Because I just want to be here with you,” I said. “You’re pregnant. I need to take care of you. Plus, they did drop the case against us as soon as the backlash from the town happened.”

Elliot rolled over and faced me. His fingers rolled against mine. I could taste his sweetness on the edges of my lips leftover from when we kissed earlier. He was perfect, and now that he was pregnant, I felt even closer to him.

“Tate, you take care of me every single day,” Elliot said. “You took care of fixing up Griffin’s room. You bought every accessory. You proposed in the sweetest way possible. What else could you do for me that you haven’t already done?”

“I don’t know. I could buy you a mansion,” I said. “Take you on a trip around the world. I just always feel like I could do more.”

“You feel that way because you’re the exact opposite of guys like Sid,” Elliot said. His arm snuck across my side, and his baby bump pressed against my abdomen. I could feel our son kicking again.

“Maybe,” I said.

“I don’t want a mansion. I don’t need to fly around the world. All I’ve ever wanted was this, right here. You, Rowan, Griffin, and this beautiful home on the lake,” Elliot said.

“God, I love you,” I groaned with pure tenderness and affection.

“I love you, but I’m going to be mad if you don’t turn the evidence in against your opponent today,” Elliot said. “You still remember when we first met, right?”

I let out a short chuckle. I can still feel the heat against my feet as I stomped out that torch with my boots. “I’ll never forget it,” I said.

“They damaged your home, tried to hurt your son, and they taunted you with horrible insults. It’s time to show everyone their true colors,” Elliot said.

I curled up against my omega before kissing the back of his neck and grabbing his butt. “Okay, I’m leaving. But when I get back, I’m going to need a long cuddle session,” I said.

“Lather me up with oils, please,” Elliot purred. “I’ll be here, sleeping.”

I stopped at the doorway and looked at my omega fondly. He had been working so hard for this, and I wished I could let him know in some small way.

I stepped into my car and leaned back against the leather seat. I took a deep breath before turning the keys in the ignition.

Okay, Tate. This one is for your family.

As I rolled into the parking lot of the news station, the journalist waved at me. “Park around back. I saw a white truck driving by about a minute ago,” he said.

I looked in all directions before quickly parking in the back, where it was more secluded. I stepped out of the car and handed the videos to him. “I just want to set the record straight,” I said.

“There is no explanation needed,” the journalist answered.

And that was all it took. I stepped into my car and drove back home to be with Elliot. I had no idea what was going to happen, but I had a feeling that this was the day our troubles would end for good.

At that moment, all I wanted to do was be with my omega. I walked through the door of our home and saw that Elliot had moved to the couch. The television was on, and he was asleep. His arms were draped around Rowan. It was such a loving picture that I had to take a mental snapshot.

Lee was sitting in his rocking chair, happily watching TV. Elliot opened his eyes slowly and smiled. “Hi, baby,” he whispered. Rowan woke up and waved at me too, before closing his eyes again.

“My three loves,” I said.

I laid down on the couch and relaxed. “It’s done. I handed the tapes off to the journalist,” I said.

“I wish I could see the look on Sid’s face,” Elliot said.

“It doesn’t feel real yet,” I admitted. “I keep wondering if I’m dreaming.”

“You are dreaming, dad,” Rowan said. “But we’re all dreaming with you.”

I laid my cheek across Elliot’s stomach and listened to Griffin’s small feet and hands press against the tight womb. “Do you feel him?” Elliot asked.

I had the biggest smile in the world on my face. I could hear the faint sounds of our baby sloshing around. He was almost ready to live his life.

“I do,” I said. “It’s mind blowing that created something so beautiful during a time of such hardship.”

Elliot took my hands, placing them around the bottom end of his baby bump. “That’s because this family is so beautiful,” Elliot said. “And life is full of so many changes. I was so scared when I found out I was turning into an omega. But now that I’m pregnant, things suddenly feel so effortless.”

“I don’t know how you did it, Elliot. But you’re strong, much stronger than I could ever be,” I said.

“Lies. But I’ll take it,” Elliot said with a tired smile.

Rowan then placed his hand against Elliot’s belly too. He leaned his small head against Elliot’s womb and listened to his baby brother.

Turning his head toward Elliot, he asked, “Can he hear me?” Elliot nodded silently. Rowan’s eyes widened. “Hi, Griffin. I’m your big brother,” he said.

I scooted my body closer to my lover and wrapped my arms around him. Though I felt safer now, the need to protect him was still there.

Rowan kept speaking to our baby Griffin, and we listened with love in our hearts. It was sometimes hard to think about all of the darkest moments this family had been forced to endure, but I had a strong feeling that everything happened for a reason. I wasn’t going to tear myself apart anymore. I could finally accept how things happened.

“I’m going to teach you all sorts of things,” Rowan whispered. “We’re going to stay up past our bedtime. We’re going to read scary stories outside by the lake. We’re going to sit and listen to our favorite mp3’s together. And when you grow up, I’m going to take you fishing on the lake. I’m going to make you proud, baby brother.”

“Rowan, darling,” Elliot said. “That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“It was,” I added. “But you’re not staying up past your bed time.”

“That’s what you think,” Rowan muttered under his breath. I grinned, but only because Rowan was such a good son. I knew he’d be a loving older brother toward Griffin.

Rowan stretched his arms and left the room, probably to sit on his X-box or play on his tablets. “One month,” I said.

“Hm?” Elliot asked, yawning.

“One month left,” I said.

“Until the election?” Elliot asked, closing his eyes again. “I’m excited, baby.”

“Omega, no. Screw the election. I’m talking about our baby,” I said, chuckling. “We have one month until our baby is here. Our child. Can you even believe it?”

Elliot sat up and combed his hair with the palm of his hand. He leaned against my shoulder and seemed to breathe in my oaky scent. “Life is a dream now for me,” he said, eyes glazed with wonder and honest tenderness. “And every single day, I get to count my blessings.”

Elliot and I held each other and sat in silence. Sometimes, you didn’t need to say anything. Sometimes, all you wanted to do was sit together and enjoy the ever-spinning world.

This was all we had, and all we ever wanted. To be in each other’s arms was our saving grace. Our life was never supposed to be about Sid or any of the corruption around us. That was just one small chapter in our life.

Our life was about us. Our home. Our family. Rowan and Griffin, and all of those precious moments together. We knew that the world was safe when we were close to each other.