Home sweet home…
Rohan and Jamie welcomed their two new residents to the house—although Rohan immediately second-guessed the decision as soon as he laid eyes on the two. Both of them resembled Gray in some way… and that’s all he needed. Two little reminders of the man he did his damnedest to ignore.
But then, he’d have his own two little reminders in two months’ time.
After Avery had finally agreed, they’d sent a car to pick up the boys and their belongings and awaited them on an abnormally warm spring morning. Rohan didn’t quite understand why he felt so nervous about meeting the two boys Jamie and Gray had already told him so much about, but he was.
As soon as the car pulled into the drive, he opened the front doors and waited at the top of the outer stairs. The boys were wide-eyed as they climbed from the car and even more wide-eyed when they saw Jamie. Rohan could sense their shock at seeing Jamie… and that made his gut twist all the more.
The driver began to unload the boys’ bags and their new manservant, Tole, trotted down the stairs to gather them. Both boys climbed the stairs and stared at the exterior of the house.
“Hello, Jamie,” Lake said solemnly as he stood just outside the door. The boy turned his gaze to Rohan. “Thanks for letting us stay here.”
Auggie, the younger of the two, hid behind his brother some and peeked at Rohan.
“You’re welcome,” Rohan said as he realized he was looking into a set of eyes almost identical to Gray’s. He’d already noticed the familial resemblance in Avery when the young man had come to visit a few days before. He’d hold out hope his own children looked more like him.
“Come on in,” Jamie called, waving them inside.
The pair crossed the threshold and stopped just before Jamie’s chair.
“How do you like the house?” Jamie asked, all smiles.
“It’s even bigger than the one we used to live in!” Auggie said with glee as he looked around.
“We put you both into a bedroom beside Gray’s. He’s upstairs now if—”
Lake scowled. “One bedroom? Really?”
Rohan’s brow shot up. “There was only one more left on that floor, and we thought you’d want to be close to your uncle.”
Lake adjusted the strap in his backpack. The teenager eyed Rohan as if the boy was sizing him up. “I guess that’s fine.”
“So glad you agree,” Rohan murmured. “Why don’t I take you up to see your room?”
He took the boys up, leaving Jamie in Jefre’s care. The youngest omega asked a ton of questions as they made their way up.
“Who else lives here?”
“Just me and my omega.”
Auggie looked up at him, surprised, before looking back to the stairs. “Just you and him? This house is so big.”
“Well now we have a little help filling it up for a while,” Rohan said.
“Are you the father of Gray’s babies?”
Rohan stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down at the earnest boy. “Why don’t we go find your uncle?”
“Well, that’s why he’s here, right?” Auggie asked. “And why Jamie came to visit us all the time.”
Rohan didn’t know how much Gray had shared with his nephews before and didn’t know if he should be the one answering the questions. “Let’s just find your uncle.”
“We’re not idiots,” the teenager said just behind them. “We know you’re probably the father.”
Rohan eyed the boy again and sighed. “It’s not my place to answer those kinds of questions… so I’ll leave it for your uncle.”
“In other words… yeah, you are,” Lake said before pushing past them. “Left or right?”
“Left,” Rohan said on a sigh.
Lake led the way to the last bedroom on the second floor. It was even bigger than the one Gray was in, but hadn’t been properly prepared when the omega had arrived. He showed them to the bedroom… one with two double beds and double dressers. It still had enough space for two small desks and a nook with a small couch and a TV.
“I assume you boys like video games?” Rohan asked.
“Oh yes,” Auggie said, wide-eyed. “Do you play?”
“I haven’t in many years,” Rohan answered.
“He’d probably suck at it now,” Lake said, wandering over to the TV. But his eyes got even wider. “You’ve got the new Playkit 5? It’s not even for sale yet.”
“A friend of mine works for the company and gave me a system for you to try. There are a few games included, too. Not sure exactly what he put in there.”
Lake shrugged off his backpack, without another word, and started the game. Auggie tugged on Rohan’s arm.
Rohan looked down.
“Thank you.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“Lake would say thank you, too, if he wasn’t such a butthead.”
Rohan chuckled, and the boy smiled up at him.
“Would you like to see your uncle?”
“Sure,” Auggie said excitedly.
They walked next door, and he watched as Auggie rushed in and jumped onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around his uncle and squeezed tight. “Uncle Gray!”
Gray smiled and hugged the boy back…
And Rohan had to take a step away. The sight of his omega, filled with child and holding another…
Not my omega. He’s not mine.
Nevertheless, the instinct roared in his chest.
Gray’s stare slid to his, as if he sensed the bond tightening.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Rohan murmured.
“Where’s Lake?”
“Playing the new Playkit Rohan got for us,” Auggie said.
“Did you thank Rohan for that?”
“He already did,” Rohan said, forcing a smile. He took another step back. “I’ll call the boys down for dinner later.”
Gray’s stare went to his, and he felt the pull wrapping around him again. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Rohan murmured, looking away.
“No… I mean for all this. It was too much to ask of you. Two boys and a pregnant omega invading your home.”
You belong here.
Rohan drew in a breath, shocked by the thought—but that didn’t help when Gray’s scent filled his nose. Before he could stop his mouth, it spoke the words he’d thought. “This is your home, too.”
Gray’s eyes widened.
“For as long as you need it to be,” Rohan added, trying to save them both the discomfort.
Gray nodded, wide-eyed, and looked away. “So have you any homework?” he asked Auggie.
“I just had to read, and I did it in the car on the way.”
Rohan escaped the room and rested back against the closed door, breathing heavily.
“Are the boys settled for now?”
Rohan turned his head to see Serge seating Jamie in the wheelchair at the top of the stairs. Jamie had a knowing look on his face…
“Lake is attacking the video games, and little Auggie is inside with Gray.”
Jamie smiled softly. “Good. I’m going to take a nap until dinner. Serge will bring up my broth and tea, so why don’t you have dinner with the boys.”
“Okay. My love.”
“Maybe you can have it in Gray’s bedroom. There’s a small table and chairs in there, so it could work. And it would keep him company.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Who’s going to keep you company?”
“Oh, I will,” Serge said with a smile.
“I’ve already instructed our new manservant to set everything up,” Jamie said with a smile.
Serge rolled the chair toward their bedroom, leaving Rohan there to wallow in self-loathing.
* * * *
Together, at last…
“Hello again.”
Gray lifted his stare from the book Avery had sent over in Auggie’s backpack, reeling from the little he’d read. He opened his mouth to say hello and suddenly realized he couldn’t remember the man’s name. Shame hit him as he searched his mind.
“I apologize, but I think the pregnancy hormones are destroying my brain. What was your name again?”
“Tole,” the manservant said as he dragged the small table from the corner of the bedroom closer to the bed.
“That’s right. Tole. How are you?”
“Wonderful,” the man said before slipping from the room. He walked back in an instant later with a large crate in his hands. After placing it on the floor near the bed, he pulled out a tablecloth and covered the table.
“Might I ask what you’re doing?” Gray asked, frowning.
“Mr. Jamie asked that I set up dinner here—so you didn’t feel so lonely,” the manservant said as he began to take china from the crate and place it on the table. “I’ll still bring you a tray so you can stay in bed, but the others can eat at the table alongside you.”
“You shouldn’t have to go to so much trouble. They can come up and visit with me after dinner,” Gray said.
“It’s no trouble,” the manservant said with a smile. “I think it’s rather sweet of Mr. Jamie. To think of someone else when he’s got so much to be worried about himself.”
Gray clenched his hand at the sound of pity in the manservant’s voice. “Soon, he’ll be well and I’ll be out of this bed, and we won’t have those same worries.”
The manservant lifted his head from where he was placing silverware, looking somewhat confused.
He will get better… don’t count him out yet.
The beta’s expression faded, and he went back to work, setting the table.
For three.
“Is Jamie joining us?”
“No. He’ll be having his supper in his room. He’s feeling a bit tired tonight, he said.”
Gray eyed the third place at the table. “Who’s our other guest?”
The manservant gazed at the table, frowning. “Other guest?” He stepped back and looked. “Lake and August… and Mr. Rohan.” He lifted his stare to Gray. “There’s only the three of them. Have I made a mistake?”
“Oh, no, I suppose not,” Gray murmured. “My mistake.”
The manservant smiled. “I’ll head down and bring the food up. Be right back.”
A few moments after the manservant left, the door opened and Rohan strode in. “Knock, knock.”
Gray drew in a slow breath. Being this close to the man who’d claimed his body was getting harder by the day. The house was filled with Rohan’s scent. It lingered in every room. “Hello.”
Rohan smiled slightly. “I understand we’re having dinner in here tonight.”
“You don’t have to… if you don’t want,” Gray said, looking away. If he stared into Rohan’s eyes too long, he felt the need to babble. If he opened his mouth, all the wrong things would come out. “I know we probably shouldn’t.”
“Since my muleheaded omega set this up, I don’t think we can get out of it now.”
Gray lowered his head, shaking it. “I suppose not.”
The things Avery had told him slipped into his mind. Gray looked at the book in his lap, wondering if he should show it to Rohan. He felt such a strong tug toward the alpha… and sensed the man felt the same. Were they truly mates? But if the laws had changed… did that really matter anymore? And with Rohan’s deep and abiding love for Jamie, how could he even bring up the possibility?
Gray’s affection for his friend also kept his mouth shut. There was no way he was going to try to legitimize the feelings he had. “How’s Jamie? I heard he wasn’t feeling well.”
Rohan lifted his stare and met Gray’s. “Tired, he says. I just checked in on him before I came here.”
The manservant slipped into the room, without dinner. “Sorry, gentlemen. Seems like you’ve lost a couple of your eating companions.” He began taking up two of the plates and the silverware.
“Lost them?” gray asked.
“Mr. Jamie was feeling a bit better, so Lake and August are teaching him how to play a video game in their bedroom. They’ve asked to eat in there this evening.”
Gray’s stare went to Rohan’s and vice versa.
Tole went to the door, plates and silverware in hand. He paused and smiled. “I’ll have dinner up momentarily.”
Once they were alone, Gray opened his mouth, but Rohan cut him off.
“It’s one meal. It won’t kill us,” Rohan said before taking a seat at the table beside Gray’s bed. “Jamie and the boys are being taken care of, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Isn’t there?”
Rohan eyed him. “Instinct or not, I don’t think we’re in much danger of crossing any lines as big as you are at the moment.”
Gray chuckled some, trying to relax. “Thanks for reminding me I’m as big as a whale.”
Rohan tilted his head to the side. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Isn’t it though? I’m huge.” He ran both hands over his very swollen stomach. “I’m so big I’m not allowed to stand up for more than a few minutes now.”
“I think you’re beautiful,” Rohan whispered, leaning closer. He placed his own hand on Gray’s stomach and caressed the swell. “Seeing you big and full with my children?” He paused, smiling, his eyes all aglow. “It’s likely one of the most stunning things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Gray closed his eyes and felt his womb spasm. He cried out in pain and reached for his stomach.
“What is it?” Rohan was immediately at his side, sitting on the edge of the bed. Worry was painted on his face.
“I don’t… I don’t know,” Gray said between trying to breathe. The pain increased by the second, until he was crying out.
Rohan fished out a phone. Gray could barely pay attention to anything the alpha said… or even who he was talking to. He could only focus on the pain wracking his body.
Just breathe.
Just breathe.
Another pain slammed into him, bowing his back and bringing a scream from his lips. He felt movement in his stomach, like the babes were moving within him.
But something was wrong.
He didn’t know how he knew, but he did.
Gray opened his eyes and saw a wall of faces observing him. Everyone in the house was there, watching in his moment of agony.
“We’re taking you to the hospital,” Gray heard Rohan saying at his side. “There’s an ambulance on the way.”
“Get him on his knees,” Serge said, pushing through. “It will put less pressure on his back.”
Another pain hit and took Gray’s breath away. He felt the covers pulled back and a cry of anguish. Looking down, he saw nothing but blood soaking the sheets.
“Dear gods.”
He was rolled to his side… the pain letting up just a little, but not enough to make much difference.
A hand took his from the other side of the bed. He looked up and saw Jamie’s concerned face.
Don’t let our babies die… don’t let them die…
* * * *
As the EMTs were readying to wheel Gray out, Rohan turned to everyone. “Serge, can you stay with Jamie… Tole, can you keep an eye on the boys?”
“I want to go,” Jamie said. “I can’t sit here and worry.”
“Me, too. I want to be with Uncle Gray,” Auggie said, concern etched on his face.
“Same here,” Lake said. “We deserve to know he’s going to be okay.”
“And I will call you as soon as I know anything,” Rohan said.
“We go,” Jamie said, turning to Serge. “Can you go with me and help?”
“Absolutely,” the nurse answered.
The last thing Rohan needed was to worry about the three of them, but he knew Jamie wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Fine,” Rohan said, urging the ambulance on. “I’ll drive us.”
“No,” Jamie said. “Go be with your children. Serge can drive the rest of us.”
“Our children.” Rohan paused a minute… until he heard Gray’s scream of pain and the instinct took him again. He turned and raced for the ambulance before they shut it up and slipped into the back.
He took Gray’s hand in his as he sat alongside the omega, doing his best to calm the man down. “It’s going to be okay,” Rohan murmured, not sure who he was trying to convince.
* * * *
Gray knew the minute the drugs kicked in. He was still in pain, but there was a dullness to it… and the world around him seemed a little fuzzy. Shiny. Beautiful. He smiled. “I feel better.”
Rohan eyed him before smiling slightly. “Better than the screaming pain you were in while we drove here.”
“It still hurts,” Gray mumbled, laying back on the bed. “Just… not as bad.”
“Good,” Dr. Forsythe said as he pulled back the curtain and moved into the small room. “Because I need to go inside and move the babies.”
“What?” Gray slurred.
“Do you remember what I said earlier?” Dr. Forsythe asked him.
“Not really,” Gray murmured. He had been in a lot of pain. He remembered something about the babies had turned, but everything else was a blur.
“The babies turned. They got into birth position, but they’re crowding one another and both trying to go first,” the doctor said. “I need to move them and then you’re going to give birth.”
“It’s early,” Gray muttered. “I have almost two more months.”
“It’s okay,” Rohan said, suddenly appearing through the fog around him. “The doctor said they’re far enough along.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Gray mumbled, watching as Rohan’s hand took his. He felt the warmth there, and it filled him. “I needed you here with me.”
Rohan wiped a cool cloth at Gray’s forehead and smiled down at him. “There’s nowhere else I’d be right now.”
“Our babies are coming,” Gray said, smiling. “Two babies.” He chuckled, the world suddenly very funny. “I can’t believe I’m having two.”
“That’s right,” Rohan said with a smile. His face was really rather handsome and even more so when he did that.
“You should smile more. You’re definitely sexier when you do.”
Rohan’s mouth opened, but he said nothing.
“Since we have two, maybe I can keep one. You and Jamie have one… and I get to go home with a souvenir. A little piece of you.”
Rohan still didn’t say anything. He looked to the doctor. “Just how much drugs did you give him?”
“He’ll need them in a few more minutes, trust me,” the doctor said.
“I really do feel kind of funny,” Gray mumbled over his shoulder. He began to laugh. “Funny’s a funny word, isn’t it?” He wiggled his lips. “Funnnnnnneeeeee.”
“We can laugh about funny once your babies are here. Let’s get you up on your knees,” the doctor said.
He, Rohan, and a nurse helped Gray to his knees before he felt a hand behind him.
“This isn’t going to be comfortable,” the doctor said. “Just try to breathe through it.”
Already semi-forgetting what was happening, Gray looked over one shoulder. “What?”
Rohan and the nurse held one each of his hands as he knelt on the delivery bed. Behind him, the doctor reached within. At first, the pain wasn’t too terrible, but when the doctor began pushing, he felt as if he was being ripped apart. Gray bit back a cry of pain. The humor immediately evaporated as he felt clamps stretching his inside open.
“Breathe,” Rohan murmured. “You’ve got to breathe.”
“Almost there,” the doctor yelled.
Gray drew in a shuddered breath before crying out as a pain slammed into him. Sweat broke out heavily on his brow, his whole body trembling from the discomfort.
And then it was simply… gone. He took a deep breath… and then felt a contraction hit.
“Got it,” the doctor said. “They’re ready to deliver. Let’s get us the omega first, hmm?”
Gray heard the doctor murmuring quietly to the other nurses behind him. He looked to Rohan.
“What’re they saying?”
Rohan’s frown made him sense it wasn’t good. “Nothing… nothing at all,” Rohan answered.
Gray was about to argue, but another pain hit him—not as bad as the ones he’d had before, but still strong.
The doctor said something behind him, but his own cry covered most of it.
“Push, my darling,” Rohan said. “Push!”
Gray bore down, just as he’d been taught by the birth nurses in Dr. Forsythe’s office—or at least the best he could remember to. The pain was intense… the more he pushed, the more the pain became.
“Perfect,” the doctor called. “Let’s take a few second break and then I want you to do it again.”
“You’re amazing,” Rohan said at his side before wiping his brow of sweat. “You’re doing so well.”
Gray didn’t feel as if he was doing anything well. He hurt all over, his body one giant spasm. “I just want them out! Get them out of me!”
“Let’s push again,” the doctor called.
Gray squeezed the hands in his and bore down with all his strength.
“I can see a head,” the doctor yelled. “One more good push and we’ll get those shoulders!”
Gray paused a second and drew in a breath before bearing down again. He felt as if he was being ripped apart… and then moments later, he felt a let up and something sliding from him.
“Baby number one is here!” the nurse at his side said.
“I want to see him,” Gray said, trying to turn around.
“In a moment,” the doctor said. “We still have one more baby to deliver.”
Gray looked up at Rohan—and could see concern on his face as he looked to the other side of the room. “Is he okay?”
Rohan forced a smile to his face. “Perfect.”
He sensed there was something wrong. “Liar,” he spat seconds before another pain hit. He was already exhausted. There was nothing left in him to birth the bigger boy. “Gods… can’t you just take him out?”
“I’ll do what I can,” the doctor said. “But I need your help.”
“Come on, Gray… you can do it,” Rohan said before pressing a kiss to his temple.
“I can’t,” Gray cried, his body shaking.
“Yes, you can,” Rohan said. “You have to… don’t you want Jamie to see these beautiful babies you’ve made?”
Gray lifted his stare to Rohan. “Yes.”
“Then let’s go.” Rohan smiled.
“Gimme a push!” the doctor said behind him.
Gray summoned everything he had in him and bore down. Again, he felt ripped open. The second babe was bigger than his twin… and would tear Gray all the more. The pain was excruciating… and he didn’t know where the strength came from to push the huge boy from his body.
But he did.
Later, when Gray heard the child wailing, he collapsed to the bed and cried himself—a mixture of pain, joy, love, and sadness welling within him unchecked.
He barely felt the doctor finishing things up and closing his womb. He’d learned all about the many stiches he’d have and how careful he would need to be for many weeks after the birth, but it was a distant thought in his mind.
A tiny tot all wrapped up in a blanket was laid beside him and nestled into his arms. Gray smiled down at the babe, more tears coming. When he looked up, he saw Rohan had a fresh shine to his eyes, as well.
He checked the boy over, counted the toes and fingers, and then looked about.
“Where’s the other baby?”
Rohan’s face tightened. “They’re still working on him.”
Gray lifted his head and saw the tiny omega in an incubator, several doctors working over the still child.
No.
Oh dear gods, no.
Gray sat up, holding one babe.
“We’ll get you two up to a room now,” one of the nurses said as he tried to take the alpha babe from Gray’s arms.
“No,” Gray said, moving his arm out of the way. “We won’t leave until we know he’s okay.”
“It’s best if the doctors have the space they need to take care of him,” the nurse said.
“He said we’re not leaving,” Rohan said, placing a hand on Gray’s shoulder. “And we’re not leaving until we know.”
Not once had Gray heard the smaller baby cry. “Is he breathing? Why isn’t he crying?”
“He is breathing… but his lungs are weak.”
Gray’s doctor walked over and interrupted the nurse. “Your omega was gripping the cord when he was born… and because of that he wasn’t getting enough air. Adding to our concern is the embryonic sac was torn before he came out…he’s opened up to infections without that protection. But he’s in the best place right now… our pediatric doctors are excellent. Let’s get you upstairs so you can get cleaned up and rest some. You just went through hell.”
“I won’t leave until—”
A cry came from the tiny omega. A loud wail, in fact. And after that, he kept on wailing.
Gray sagged against Rohan in relief. He looked up and saw Rohan’s smile. “Thank the gods.”
When he looked back over, he saw relief in the doctors attending the omega and knew they were likely in a better place now.
“We need to get both babes cleaned up. Weighed and measured. Check all their vitals and make sure they’re both in tip top health,” Dr. Forsythe said. “So can you hand over your second boy so they can do all that?”
Gray lifted the babe to the nurse, even though he didn’t want to hand the child over. He’d be doing that soon enough.
For good.
A sob rose up his chest as he felt the child-bond wrapping around him. Just handing the infant over for a moment had him close to whimpering.
“We’ll get you wheeled up to your room. The nurses will take good care of you… and by the time they’re done, we’ll get these little guys up to visit with you before you get some rest.”
The nurses and Rohan helped him move onto a stretcher that was rolled into the birthing room. Lying on his side, felt his body growing more and more liquid. The world was fuzzier by the second, too.
Rohan’s hand slid into his after the stretcher was wheeled out of the room.
“We did it,” he slurred… and then giggled. “They really must’a given me good drugs.”
“Starting to kick in, hmm?”
“They usually come on a little stronger once the babies are born. Which is a very good thing,” one of the nurses said. “As bad as he’d been ripped up, he needs it.”
Gray sighed. “Ripped up? I don’t feel ripped up.”
“You will later,” the nurse said with a grin.
Rohan took Gray’s hand and brought it to his lips. He pressed a gentle kiss there. “You were amazing in there.”
“Yeah?” He looked up at Rohan and smiled. “I love you.”
* * * *
I love you.
Rohan froze a little inside. A piece of him wanted to revel in those words and repeat them—pronounce his love for this omega who’d just given him children.
And another part of him shamed him for wanting it. How could he be in love with two men?
I can’t.
I love Jamie… I love my omega.
“That’s just the drugs talking,” he murmured, trying to explain it away. Because if it was true… if Gray was in love with him… then their situation was even more pathetic.
Luckily for him, Gray soon drifted off to sleep, or so it seemed. They rolled him up to the paternity ward.