Sam was slow to waking, the same as he always had, though he felt more motivated to rise out of bed than usual as the delectable, smoky scent of bacon filled his nostrils. He let out a wide yawn as he let his arms stretch out in front of him, the movement long and catlike, as he stirred himself into waking. He finally stood, his back popping as he straightened himself. The release of tension between his shoulder blades made him sigh blissfully as he padded into the en suite bathroom. He turned on the shower, and once the water’s temperature was to his liking, stepped inside, letting the two shower heads pour water on him from the front and the back. As he began to wash, he let out a quiet sigh as he let his hand drift around the generous swell of his belly—he made a mental note to check the calendar for what specific day his next appointment with the doctor was and when his ultrasound was scheduled, and simply let himself enjoy his shower, the water running down his body in rivulets.

It was some time later that he stepped out and toweled himself off, dressing into a pair of maternity yoga pants and a loose fitting shirt—though not as loose fitting as it had been when he purchased it two months ago, he noted—and let out another pleased sigh, still only half awake and glad that he could afford to be lazy about his waking today. He breathed in deeply, his stomach growling at the scent of breakfast still being cooked, and he padded over to his slippers by the door and stepped into them, intent on coming out to see what had inspired his bond mate into making breakfast. He hadn’t even made it to the door to open it when Adam stepped in, shutting the door as quietly as possible. Sam opened his mouth to wish him a good morning, but Adam stepped over, pressing his finger to his bond mate’s lips.

“Shh,” Adam said, his voice low. “Go back to sleep—or at least, pretend to be asleep.” His Alpha grinned. “I’m helping Jenny fix you breakfast, and it’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“She’s making me breakfast?” Sam cooed, his heart melting at the thought of his little girl, standing at the stove and trying not to burn the bacon. Then he remembered it was likely that she would burn the bacon, and Sam smiled wryly. “Maybe…maybe make sure she doesn’t set fire to anything?”

“I will, I will. I just didn’t want you to go and ruin her surprise by coming downstairs.” Adam chuckled softly as he gave his bond mate a peck on the lips. “It would have broken her little heart—so go on, get back in bed, mister!” Adam said, patting Sam on his rear to usher him back to the bed.

“I’m going, I’m going!” Sam laughed as he toed his slippers off and crawled into the bed he had only recently managed to extricate himself from.

Adam nodded, pleased, and promptly snuck out the door, no doubt to run and save the bacon from overcooking. Just as well, Sam thought as he nuzzled into the pillows, letting out another sleepy yawn and drawing the heavy down comforter up to his chin. The extra little cat nap was nice and just what he would no doubt need to start the day.

For today was a very special occasion, or so he was led to believe.

It was some time later, long enough later that Sam had fallen back asleep, he felt himself being gently nudged awake. He was aware enough he could hear his daughter trying not to giggle and Adam making soft shushing noises around his own chuckles. Sam had to fight a smile as he kept his eyes closed, letting out an exaggerated snore.

“Daddy!” Jennifer let out a giggle. “Daddy, I know you’re not sleeping!” There was a gentle pat on his cheek of a tiny hand. “Wake up!”

“I can’t,” Sam said, his eyes still closed. “I’m still too sleepy.”

“No, you’re not!” Jenny said, and he didn’t have to look at her to know she was pouting. “You gotta get up! It’s your aminiversary!” She said proudly, and Sam couldn’t stop himself laughing at her mispronunciation.

“It’s anniversary, honey.” Adam corrected her gently.

“That’s what I said, Papa!” Jenny argued as Sam finally opened his eyes and sat up.

Jennifer was perched on Adam’s side of the bed, her little hands still on his shoulder. She turned to him and let out a squeal of delight as she launched herself at him for a hug. Sam wrapped an arm around his little girl and looked up at Adam, holding a tray laden with a myriad of breakfast foods and a glass of orange juice, waiting for the chance to set the tray down. Sam let out a laugh and let his little Jenny go so she could bounce back to her original spot.

“Well, it’s not just my anniversary, now is it, sweetheart?” Sam asked Jennifer as Adam carefully set the tray down in front of him.

“No, it isn’t,” Adam agreed as he kissed his bond mate’s cheek, his nose, his forehead, before returning to his spot sitting by Sam’s knees. “But I’m not the one pregnant, so I get to spoil you more today.”

“I’m not sure that’s how that works,” Sam said, laughing. “But I’m not really in a position to argue, am I?”

“Absolutely not.” Adam said, giving a firm nod of his head. “Now go on—tuck in, would you? We worked so hard on it,” Adam winked over at Jennifer in a comically exaggerated way. “But Jenny worked the hardest.”

“I did!” She exclaimed, puffing her chest out with pride. “I cooked the bacon!”

Sam didn’t mention that it was crispy enough to stand on its own when he picked it up—she was a sweet little four year old that didn’t need to have her hard work stomped on—and bit into the rasher of bacon. It was only slightly burned, he realized, pleasantly surprised at the peppery, savory flavor of the meat. Eyeing the eggs, he was delighted to see that they were sunny side up—just the way that he liked them—and knew Adam had, no doubt, been the one to make those.

“I think this bacon is the best bacon I’ve ever had,” Sam decreed, patting his daughter on the head in lieu of giving her a kiss, mindful of the tray covering his lap.

“Yay!” Jennifer cheered, looking like the cat that got the canary.

“Now come on, little one,” Adam said, patting Jennifer on the back to usher her off of the bed. “Time to get you ready to go to Auntie Arie’s house—she’ll have my neck if I don’t have you ready to go by the time she gets here.”

“‘Kay!” She said, eagerly hopping off the bed and dashing down the hall to her room.

Adam took the moment of privacy to stand and lean over to properly kiss Sam, which the Omega took full advantage of, his hand sliding along his bond mate’s stubbled jawline. Adam let out a low growl of pleasure, and Sam squirmed at the sudden wet warmth that had begun to form at the noise—his most recent pregnancy had done him no favors in the way of calming his hormones—or his reactions to his bond mate’s advances—not even in the slightest, and Adam knew it.

“Take your time with breakfast, hon.” Adam said, his voice a low purr as he straightened. “I’ll make sure Jenny gets out the door properly dressed.”

“Have I mentioned I love you?” Sam said dreamily as he bit into a piece of buttered jelly toast—strawberry jelly, he noted with delight.

“It’s been brought up a time or two,” Adam chuckled as he paused by the doorway. “I love you, too.”

Sam tucked into his breakfast in earnest once Adam had moved down the hallway, no doubt to check if Jennifer’s overnight bag was packed properly—she had a penchant for removing all of her extra clothing in favor of just packing stuffed animals, though they were working on breaking her of that habit. He bit back a moan as he broke the yolk on one of his eggs, watching with delight as its gooey center ran out to fill the plate sluggishly—truly, it was the best part of a good breakfast, he thought as he dunked a sausage link in the yolk and munched on it thoughtfully.

He took full advantage of Adam’s advice, nibbling on his breakfast slowly as he simply mired himself in the quiet noise of the house: Jennifer asking innocently if she should leave a stuffy for her little brother in case he got lonely in her daddy’s tummy—why she and Adam were convinced that the baby was a boy was beyond him; they hadn’t had the ultrasound yet!—and hearing Adam laugh and help her pick a stuffed animal out to keep behind.

The sounds of domesticity, sounds that, a few years ago he had been terrified he would have to experience alone, filled his ears, muffled but joyous, and he drank them in as he ate. He had come a long way—they had come a long way from that one cold winter night when he had fled the apartment he had thought was his home, had fled the man he thought was his bond mate, had run from the thought that he would ever be worthy of anyone or anything good in his life ever again.

Sam had never been more glad to be wrong, he thought, returning to his breakfast with a smile.