“Do we have to this today? Can’t we wait a year or two? They’ll figure things out sooner or later,” Lucas asked Tucker who was sitting beside him on the bed. They had a couple of hours before it was time for them to leave for their three-hour drive to Disneyland.

Tucker chuckled. “It’s better if we get it done and out of the way. You and I know secrets can only be kept so long with our group.”

“Why do you always have to be so rational?”

Tucker leaned in and kissed him soundly. “Next time you can be the rational voice.” He kissed him again nipping at his lips. “Go ahead and call your folks and I’ll call my brother.” He got off the bed grabbing his phone in the process.

“That’s not going to work every time you know,” he said to his husband as he reached for his phone.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, baby.”

“Why the hell do you have to be such a damn good kisser?” he yelled after Tucker; all he got back was a chuckle.

He contemplated whom he should call first, Christen or Tyler. Either way, if one of his brothers knew what was going on, eventually his parents would find out in the end. He dialed Tyler’s direct office line, knowing that his brother would be at his desk.

“Hamilton.”

Lucas froze when he heard his dad's voice on the other end. “Dad, what are you doing there?”

“I stopped by to speak with Tyler, but he was in a meeting,” Asher answered, and the defining silence told him his father wanted to know how he was doing.

“I’m fine, you know? Still pissed at you and Mom, but I will get over it.” Like he always did was left unsaid, he didn’t want his dad to feel like shit more than he probably already felt.

“We did what we thought was best, Lucas.”

“You know, Dad, I get that, I really do. But what I don’t get is why you and Mom felt that you had to lie to me for years. Why?”

“Honestly, we didn’t think it would be a problem once you started dating girls. We thought of telling you the truth, but we saw how happy you were, we decided to leave it alone.”

Lucas sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He was happy for the majority of his life and dated a lot, it never once bothered him that he couldn’t get pregnant. Closing his eyes, he tried to see things from his parents' perspectives. If it were Zoi, he would have done the same thing, but with one exception—he would have told her and not kept something so important from her. He opened his eyes when he heard Tucker walk back into the bedroom, remembering the real reason why he’d called his brother in the first place.

“I need to see my entire medical record, Dad.”

“Okay,” the older Hamilton said.

Lucas closed his eyes hating that his father sounded so defeated. “Dad, I have something to tell you.”

“What’s that? I know what your mom and I did will take you some time to get over, but I hope you know you can always come to us about anything.”

“Tucker and I got married in Las Vegas last night.” There, he said it. His father was so silent on the other end of the phone he prayed the man didn’t have a heart attack. His parents knew how impulsive Lucas was before he and Rebecca got married. He'd curbed his impulses a bit, but being with Tucker and having a new lease on life and possibly love, he didn’t want to miss out. With Tucker, Lucas felt as if he could jump off a cliff and his lover would be there to catch him before he hit the ground.

“I . . . is this what you want?” his father finally asked.

“Yeah, it is,” he answered staring at Tucker who hovered at the door.

“Do you love him?”

“I see myself falling in love with him one day,” he answered truthfully.

“Then, I’m happy for you. Tucker is a good man, and I’m sure your mom will feel the same way when I tell her.” They were both silent for a few minutes. “I love you, Lucas. I hope you know that?”

“I love you too, Dad.” He hated the defeated tone in his father's voice and wished there wasn’t a distance in emotion and miles between them. He wanted to hug his dad and tell him that everything between them was going to be okay and that they will eventually go back to the way things used to be.

“Enjoy your time off, give my love to Tucker and kiss my granddaughter for me.”

“I will.” They hung up the phone and Tucker joined him in bed and pulled him into his arms. “How did it go with Julian?”

“He’s surprised but happy and supportive of our choices.”

“Good, at least things went easier for you.”

Tucker pulled back and looked at him, just as his stomach flipped. “Save whatever you’re about to say until I get back.” Tucker looked at him in shock, and Lucas hopped off the bed and ran to the bathroom.

Gods, I’ll never get used to doing this, he thought as he bent over the toilet. 

* * *

Lucas opened the front door stepping aside waiting for Tucker to bring Zoi inside. They had just returned from their trip and were happy that no one from their family was there to greet them. Going from the airport to his house, they still hadn’t dealt with their living situation but figured they’d work things out as the time went.

“I’m going to take her to bed. Why don’t you lock up and go to bed too?”

Yawning, Lucas nodded not arguing. He was extremely tired. They had a lot of fun, especially Zoi. He and Tucker had fun taking her anywhere she wanted during the day, and at night, they continued to explore each other’s bodies before falling asleep. Dropping their bags after closing the door, promising himself he’d get to them tomorrow, he headed to the kitchen and over to the fridge stopping when he saw the note on it.

Doctor's appointment three in the afternoon. Shit, I’d forgotten all about it.

It was his first official doctor’s appointment. With the last two doctor's appointments, he refused to see the baby because he hadn’t believed that he was pregnant. But now he couldn’t run away from it, and he didn’t want to. Placing a hand on his stomach, his eyes caught the platinum band on his finger and instead of feeling regret, he was overcome with a different emotion. A mixture of love and awe. He turned when he heard Tucker enter the kitchen.

“I’m having a baby,” he said.

“Um . . . yeah, I think we established that already.” He got a glass from the cupboard.

“No, you don’t understand,” Lucas said stepping away from the fridge. “I’m really pregnant, as in having a baby, and it’s going to come out of my . . .” His eyes widened, and he gave an unmanly squeak when he thought about how or where his kid was going to come out. Feeling lightheaded, he must have blacked out for a minute because when he opened his eyes, Tucker was holding him up.

“Come on, baby, I need you to breathe for me. You can do it, in and out.”

He followed Tucker’s instruction and then pulled away, stumbling over to the nearest chair, plopping down in it, putting his head between his legs and rocking back and forth. Tucker put a hand on his back, rubbing circles hoping to calm him down. He raised his head and was thankful when he was handed a glass of water. He took a couple of sips then handed the glass back to Tucker.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah,” he said looking at his husband. “That was my first freak-out, ever. I’ve been in dangerous situations, and I’ve never freaked out like this before.”

“You’re human, Lucas, not Superman.”

“How come you’re not freaking out?” he asked Tucker.

“Truthfully, I have no idea. I suppose the day he or she is born, I’ll probably freak out then, or maybe I won’t.” He shrugged his massive shoulders.

Lucas covered his face and groaned. “I am so embarrassed.”

Tucker removed his hands from his face. “You don’t ever have to feel embarrassed with me. I want to see and know everything about you, which includes all of your imperfections.”

Lucas nodded then took a deep breath feeling better. Inside he was still freaking out, but with Tucker sitting beside him he was starting to feel much better. “I have my first official doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”

“What time?”

“Three o’clock,” he told him.

Tucker nodded. “Okay, I’ll be able to make it since I’ll be around.”

“You don’t have to come; it’s the first appointment.”

“I want to be there. I wasn’t there for most of Rochelle’s appointments, and that was one of my many regrets. I was so focused on my career, I missed a few milestones while she was carrying Laura.” He was still holding Lucas’ hands. “You’re giving me a second chance. I don’t want to miss out on anything.”

Lucas stared at Tucker wondering if the man knew how honest he was, not only with words but in expressing his feelings as well. “Okay.” He leaned closer to Tucker and kissed him. “Thank you,” he said when they separated.

“You never need to thank me; we’re in this together. Come on, let’s get you to bed, you go back to being Lucas Hamilton, tomorrow.”

“That’s Hamilton-Stevens,” he said standing to his feet, pulling Tucker with him.

“I stand corrected.”

Lucas wrapped his arms around Tucker’s neck. “I think you need to be reminded . . .”

He didn’t get to finish because Tucker claimed his lips in a kiss that told him that he was going to be very tired the next morning.

* * *

Tucker picked up his cell phone answering it without looking at the screen. “Stevens.”

“Tucker, it’s Diane.”

“How the hell did you get my fucking number?” he asked impolitely.

“It’s the digital age, you can find anyone if you know exactly how to look for them.”

“Fine, what the hell do you want, Diane? We said all that needed to be said the last time we saw each other.”

“I’m calling with a warning. My parents found out that you got married to a man . . .”

“The only way they could have found out is if you told them, so cut the bullshit and get to the fucking point.”

“Fine,” she snapped, but Tucker didn’t care if she was angry. “They are not happy to find out you are living in the house you shared with my sister and living a sinful life. They want you to hand the property over that rightfully belongs to them.”

Tucker barked out a laugh. Walter and Brenda wanted nothing to do with him for years, and now that he’d found happiness, they wanted to take it away from them. “Is that it?” he asked after he'd stopped laughing.

“Yes, Tucker, don’t make this harder than it already is, they . . . I mean we cannot abide by the lifestyle you lead."

He knew there was a reason he disliked Rochelle’s parents the first time he met them. But he'd loved his woman and would have put up with them for the rest of his life to make his wife happy.

“You and your parents have some fucking balls. Well, they will get the house I shared with my wife, and now my husband, over my dead body.” He hung up and made a note to change his cell phone number. They knew that Tucker was the one that bought his home as a gift to his new wife. Rochelle had nothing to do with it. Everything was in his name.

* * *

Later that morning, Tucker stood in front of the window looking out of it, but he was also listening to Assistant Director Terry Anderson go over specifications for their joint training.

I can’t wait for this shit to be over.

“We have thirteen different teams, and that’s not counting the new recruits that will be joining the training,” Anderson said to the group of six men and three women. “The first two teams will be mine and Stevens'. Will your guys be ready?”

Tucker looked over his shoulder at Anderson as if he’d just asked the stupidest question known to man. And really it was, his guys were the best and did their jobs with one hundred and eighty percent, the other twenty was when they felt like goofing off. Anderson squirmed in his seat and cleared his throat backing down like Tucker knew he would. He was one of the biggest ass kissers known to man.

Anyone with an ounce of power he’d kissed up to them just to get a piece of the power. Everyone knew the only reason he got his current job was that he got married to FBI Director Aaron Knight’s daughter, a woman he didn’t love or respect, evidence to all the times he’d been caught cheating. The others in the room felt the same way he did, that Anderson was simply waiting to find another person he could fuck and move up the ladder.

“Okay, guys, let’s take a break,” Erich Meadow said. Everyone nodded and got up, but Tucker stayed standing at the window and saw everyone besides Erich leave. “Can you please hide your dislike for the guy just a little?”

Tucker sighed and turned around to look at his friend. Erich became his partner after Nick died and was there for him as much as he could be when Rochelle and Laura died. Erich was the same height as Tucker, with a bit less body mass but could handle his own in a hand-to-hand fight. Erich had thick black-blue hair and ink-black eyes that gave him the nickname "Raven" which fit him perfectly because he saw everything.

“Why should I? The guy is an ass kisser, and you know how I feel about him.”

“You never change,” Erich said to him.

“I didn’t know I was supposed to change.”

Erich shook his head. “All right, want to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“I’m married, and he’s going to have a baby,” Tucker said surprising the shit out of his friend.

“Congratulations,” he said in shock, after a few minutes. “Is that what’s bothering you?”

Tucker chuckled. “Thanks, and no, that’s not what’s bothering me.” Erich leaned back, steepled his fingers together and waited for Tucker to explain. “He already has a little girl, the cutest most charming thing you’ve ever met. Sometimes I find myself watching her and wondering if Laura had lived how different would things have been. She’s only two, but she reminds me so much of her at that age. I want to be a good dad to her, but I can’t keep wondering if I’m going to fail her the same way I did Laura.”

“How?”

“How what?”

“How are you going to fail her? How did you fail Laura?”

“I wasn’t there when she died. I wasn’t there to take . . .”

“You can’t keep beating yourself up about not being there for them, Tuck. It’s going to keep eating you alive, man.” Erich stood and walked over to him. “What happened to your family was terrible, and I’m not going to tell you to get over it. Because truthfully, no one can forget something like that. But one thing you need to do is stop blaming yourself. I know you’ve heard it and even said it to yourself a lot, but you need to believe it.”

“Easier said than done.”

Erich didn’t say anything to him for a few minutes, and Tucker appreciated it. It was true he’d said it to himself countless times, but it was hard for him to believe it.

“So, married and a kid, well kids. Who’s the dude that got saddled with your grumpy ass? I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Not going to comment on it being a guy?” Tucker asked with a raised eyebrow.

Erich shrugged. “Who cares. So who’s the unlucky guy?’

“Lucas Hamilton,” Tucker told him.

He surprised Erich for the second time. Everyone knew the Hamilton name, only Tucker and a few close people knew that they were a part of the Seeker organization. He’d only found out about the Hamilton affiliation with the Seekers by chance a few years ago when they were looking for the same unsub for different reasons.

“Lucas Hamilton, the playboy, once married, and broke the hearts of half of the women in New York when he got married the first time?”

“Yup, that’s the one,” Tucker said proudly.

“How much life insurance do you have?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Like I said he’s a heartbreaker and the women of New York will be gunning for you,” Erich chuckled.

“Well, they can’t have him,” Tucker snapped but not in anger.

“And he’s pregnant?”

“Yup, and yes, we really are married, did it last week.”

“You don’t play around, do you?” Tucker smiled, goading his friend. “So, how do you feel about it all?”

“Other than what we talked about a few seconds ago, I’m good. I can see myself falling in love with him. He’s smart, impulsive, pushes me to do things outside of my normal humdrum life, and gods, he's so caring. You should see him with his daughter, they are so good together.” He could feel the smile on his lips and did not feel the need to hide it. “And he’s so fucking bossy.”

“Are you sure you’re not already in love with him?”

He didn’t respond, actually he didn’t get a chance to because his cell phone rang. He smiled brightly seeing that it was Lucas.

“Is that your man?”

“Mister Hamilton-Stevens, how can I help you?”

Lucas chuckled on the other end of the phone. “Want to meet for lunch?”

“Mind if I bring a friend?” he asked looking at Erich.

“Yeah, sure. Wait, is he single?” Lucas asked.

“What the hell are you up to?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Lucas said.

“Why don’t I believe you,” he said with a smile. “Where do you want to meet?” Lucas gave him the name of the restaurant, and they hung up. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and looked at his friend. “You ready to meet the new husband?”

“He’s bringing a friend, isn’t he?”

“It wasn’t my idea,” he defended.

“He’s got you wrapped around his little finger already, doesn’t he?” Erich grumbled as he walked out the door with Tucker following behind him. “At least, tell me the guy is good-looking.”

“Can’t do that.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

He had no idea who Lucas was bringing to their lunch date, but he enjoyed seeing his friend look so worried.

* * *

“I didn’t think they would hit it off so well,” Tucker said to Lucas. “You realize you’re turning into your meddling mother, right?”

“I can use being pregnant as an excuse,” he said making Tucker chuckle.

“That will only work if they don’t work out.”

He looked over at Tucker’s friend Erich and Matt, a smile graced his face at how cozy they both looked. It was nice meeting one of Tucker’s friends, but the second he saw Matt, Erich had completely forgotten that he and Tucker were around. Matt was the same way. Lucas guessed his assistant was good-looking, with his fire-red hair and green eyes and milk-white skin, he’d never really paid much attention to the other man. The lunch was a way to reward Matt for the job he’d been doing while he was out of the office. He was seriously considering promoting Matt after he earned a business degree.

“I need to go back to Providence tomorrow morning, and I might need to stay for the rest of the week.”

“Okay, Zoi and I will be down to stay for the weekend.”

“I guess until we figure things out, we will need to do things this way,” Tucker said to him.

“Do you want to borrow the Hamilton jet?”

“No, that’s okay, I don’t mind the drive. Besides, I’ll need my car for the week.”

It just occurred to Lucas that Tucker might be bothered that he was very wealthy, granted he didn’t throw it in his husband’s face, but he couldn’t help but wonder.

“Maybe we should move to another table,” Tucker said out loud causing Erich to look their way and Matt to blush.

“Shut up and pay attention to your own man,” Erich told him.

“Oh brother, you’re already calling him yours after just meeting him,” Tucker said.

“I don’t mind,” Matt whispered just loud enough for them to hear.

“Well, there you have it,” Erich said then turned to Matt who was just as red as his hair. “He wants to be mine.”

“I’m trusting you to be good to him, I might have just met you, but break his heart and I will not hesitate to break you,” Lucas said to Erich.

Tucker didn’t stop him, and he ignored Matt’s surprised gasp along with the cocky grin on Erich’s face.

“I guess they weren’t exaggerating,” Erich said.

“Whoever they are and whatever they said about me, believe it,” he said plastering a smile on his face.

“Well, Tuck, I see you are in good hands,” Erich said looking at Tucker.

“I know I am,” Tucker said, and Lucas heard the pride in his husband's voice making him blush which completely erased his “I will hurt you” scowl.

* * *

“I need to ask you something, and I need you to be completely honest with me,” Lucas said to Tucker.

“Okay.” He looked over to the passenger seat at Lucas. They were on their way to Lucas’ doctor's appointment.

“Are you threatened by my wealth?”

“Should I be?”

“That’s really not an answer, Tucker.”

He’d never really thought about it. He knew Lucas was wealthy, but his wealth had nothing to do with the person he was and cared for. “No, I’m not.” Lucas sighed and slouched down in his seat. “Were you worried that I would be?”

“It never occurred to me that you were, but at lunch when you turned down the jet, I couldn’t help but think about it. I’m used to women throwing themselves at me because they were impressed with my bank account. Rebecca, independent and strong-willed as she was, felt intimidated by it all. I had to force her to spend money, and things are going so great for us, I would hate for me having more money to be what causes an argument between us.”

Tucker pulled into the parking lot of the doctor’s office and turned to Lucas after turning off the car. “I will be honest with you, I don’t need your money.” Lucas went to say something, but Tucker stopped him by placing a finger on his lips. “I have a great job, long hours and working weekends notwithstanding, and I’ve made some very good investments over the years. Granted, I’m not as wealthy as you and your family, but if I decide to quit my job tomorrow, I won’t need to work for the rest of my life. Finances won’t be an issue if we make it one, and I’m not afraid to spend money.” He smiled, and Lucas kissed his finger that was still on his lips.

“I . . .” Lucas stopped speaking when a car horn sounded.

“You what?” Tucker asked wanting to know what he was about to say.

“Nothing, it’s not important,” he said offhandedly. “Let’s go.”

Tucker stared at him for a few seconds, wondering what he was going to say if they were not interrupted. “Okay,” he said unbuckling his seatbelt, getting out of the car and walking beside Lucas holding his hand; he’d find out sooner or later what the other man wanted to tell him. 

* * *

They were sitting in the waiting area, and Lucas kept going over the words he wanted to say to Tucker in the car. He knew he cared about Tucker, but it felt as if he wanted to tell him that he loved him. It’s too soon, isn’t it?

“Mister Hamilton.”

“That’s me,” he said getting up and walking over to the nurse, handing her the clipboard with all his and Tucker’s information that was needed. He was seeing Doctor Wilson, who came highly recommended from Ethan.

“Come with me,” she said to Lucas then looked over his shoulder to Tucker who had remained seated. “Sir, I’ll have him back to you in a few minutes, and then the doctor will see you both.”

She took Lucas to another room, and all he could think about was what he was going to say. They’d gone as far as getting married since finding out that he was pregnant but saying "I love you" were words that couldn’t be taken back once they were said. He meant every word he’d said to Tucker on the day they got married but saying "I love you" would mean something entirely different.

Fifteen minutes later after he was poked and prodded, weighed and almost died, he and Tucker were sitting in front of the doctor. Doctor Wilson was scanning his chart over his moon-shaped glasses and every so often would hum and nod, it all made Lucas nervous. His dad had faxed over everything he needed that morning. He’d read the report and his parents downplayed how serious his situation was when he was a baby.

“Well, Mister Hamilton-Stevens, you had a medical miracle,” Doctor Wilson said looking up at him finally.

“Then can you tell me how I got pregnant if the doctors tied my tubes.”

“It says here that two years ago you had an emergency surgery from a bullet wound to your stomach. It seems while the doctors were repairing the damages to your stomach they fixed your tubes while they were operating on you. Now, I don’t foresee any issues with your pregnancy. However, I still want to keep a close eye on you . . .”

“Wait a freaking minute,” Lucas said stopping Doctor Wilson. He needed time to absorb the information.

He remembered what happened two years ago. He and his team were chasing Alfonso Gianni who was dealing in more than just stealing priceless art. Lucas had gone undercover, and in the process was shot in his stomach, he literally thought he was going to die. They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re on the brink of death, and his surely did. It had taken him months to recover from being shot. He remembered the doctors telling him they had to repair intestines and other things and now it all made sense.

“Okay, now that we know what happened. Once I have this baby, can I get pregnant again?”

“If that is your wish. Like I was saying, I do not foresee anything major affecting you during your pregnancy, but I would like to limit your diet and keep a very close eye on you.”

“Do you think the holes could open back up?” Tucker asked as he reached for Lucas’ hand.

“No, I don’t think they will. From your files, I think you were a bit underdeveloped when you were born which was the reason for the holes in your stomach. If the doctors had caught it right before or after you were born, I’m quite certain you wouldn’t have needed to have your tubes tied.”

Well, hell, either way, I would have gotten pregnant.

“Any more questions?” Doctor Wilson asked.

Lucas shook his head no. What more could he ask? He’d gotten the answer he’d been seeking since the day he found out he was pregnant.

“Very well, now for some more good news, it’s time to hear the baby’s heartbeat,” Wilson said with a bright smile as he got up from his chair. “This way, please.”

Lucas and Tucker stood, he was excited, and it brought back to memory the first time he heard Zoi’s heartbeat. He looked at Tucker who hadn’t smiled since they walked into the doctor’s office. He resembled the man he’d met a couple of years ago and not the one who wore a smile on his face a couple of hours earlier. Was he having an inner freak-out and trying not to show it? Is he worried about getting me pregnant? He had so many questions wondering what Tucker could be thinking about.

He squeezed Tucker’s hand expressing that everything was going to be fine. Tucker turned and looked at him, then wrapped an arm around his shoulder pulling him close then kissed him on the side of his head. Lucas pulled out of his arms and looked at him, they were both tall, but Tucker was much taller than him. He winked and smiled at his partner before getting on the exam table. He never took his eyes off his lover, wanting the other man to see that he was fine with being pregnant and there was nothing for Tucker to worry about.

He lay back on the table and lifted his shirt as the doctor asked and he saw Tucker’s eyes shift from concern to arousal. This time he could plainly tell what his husband was thinking and if they were not there for a specific reason, they would be testing just how sturdy the exam table was. He pulled away from Tucker when Doctor Wilson's cold stethoscope touched on his chest. Lucas refrained from rolling his eyes when Doctor Wilson hummed and nodded.

“I must say, you are very healthy, Mister Hamilton-Stevens.”

“Lucas, please, and thank you.”

"Very well, now, with the advancement of technology and this new device, we will hear the baby’s heartbeat.” The device he held up looked like miniature earbuds.

Lucas nodded, and Tucker walked over and stood beside him while Doctor Wilson placed the small earbuds on his stomach. His excitement was building, the room was so quiet it surprised him when he heard what sounded like water before the steady staccato of beats reached his ears. He looked at Tucker who was staring at his stomach as if he could see through his skin and directly to the baby.

He reached for his husband’s hand and squeezed getting his attention, and that’s when he saw tears pooling in his eyes. He remembered the same feeling when he heard Zoi’s heartbeat. He was overcome with joy hearing the steady beat and was happy that he had a partner to share it with. Tucker smiled. It reached his eyes, and for the first time since they walked into the doctor’s office, he saw the man that was at lunch with him earlier that day.

He and Tucker snapped their heads to the side when there was a short delay and the staccato of another beat syncing together.

“What was that?” Tucker asked.

“As I suspected,” Doctor Wilson said humming and nodding so often that it now annoyed Lucas.

“What did you suspect?” Lucas asked in concern, but he had a feeling what it was, it would be his luck that his worst fear would come true.

“Congratulations, you’re having twins.” Lucas' eyes widened just as there was a loud thud. He and Doctor Wilson looked at the floor to see Tucker passed out cold. “Oh my, he didn’t take that well, did he,” he said followed by a hum and nod.

All Lucas could think was, what the holy fuck?

* * *