It had been almost a week, and Josh could feel his pregnancy progressing rapidly. The doctor at the ER had referred him to an obstetrician that specialized in shifter pregnancies, and male omegas in general. He was still nervous, as he sat with his mom in the office, waiting for his name to be called. He’d never been pregnant before, and this was going to be his first ultrasound. What if something was wrong with the baby? He wanted this, fatherhood, a family, more than anything in the world, he realized, sitting there and holding the small swell of his stomach.

For once, he knew Tristan actually wanted it, too.

Josh had been visiting him in jail as much as possible. His bail hearing was scheduled soon, but neither of them expected him to be allowed to post bail at all, after having proven himself to be such a flight risk.

That day, he was going to see Tristan after his appointment, and he could show him their ultrasound. He couldn’t wait to see the look on his alpha’s face when he saw a picture of their baby for the first time.

“Joshua Miller,” he was called, and he reached over and gripped his mom’s hand.

He hadn’t wanted to leave town with Tristan in the local jail, so instead his mother had come to stay with him a bit, and she had been an enormous blessing. His father didn’t seem to like having her staying above the bar, but they both tolerated each other for Josh’s sake. He needed the support around him, especially with Tristan unable to be there. His mother kept him fed and taken care of, and made sure he got the rest he needed, but even more than that, Shannon provided emotional support. His hormones had been wreaking havoc with his emotions, and that was even harder without Tristan around.

His mother joined him in the room with the doctor, as he’d asked her to, and she sat with him while he answered questions, and let himself be examined. Then the doctor left, and he was asked to lay back and present his stomach for the ultrasound technician. Some cool blue gel and a little pressure was all it took, and then Josh’s eyes were fixed on the screen, straining for some evidence that his baby was alive and well inside of him.

“You won’t see much,” she explained. “But if you look there, you can see that your baby has a heartbeat. Everything looks good.” She let Josh listen to that steady little heart, and tears came to his eyes.

“I can’t believe it’s real,” he whispered. He squeezed his mom’s hand, and looked over to see tears in her eyes, too. She brushed his hair back, kissing his forehead.

“I’m gonna be a grandma,” she realized, and he laughed softly in amazement with her.

“Yeah. Yeah, you are.” He wiped tears from his face. “Can I get a picture for the other dad?”

“Of course,” the technician agreed. “The doctor will be back in to talk to you soon.”

When the doctor came back in, she explained the results of a few other tests they’d done. Everything was going well, it seemed, but she had some dietary recommendations, and told him the same thing that the other doctor had. He needed sleep, and rest, without extra stress. He was doing his best, but his mate was still locked away behind bars. She told him that he would probably experience less severe morning sickness soon, and that the womb his body had created for the baby was about the size of a grapefruit. He tried to feel it, but it didn’t seem that big to him. She touched him gently with gloved fingers, showing him the shape of it.

“Wow,” he murmured. “That’s crazy.”

She smiled at him. “And you’ve put on several pounds. That’s a good thing,” she assured him.

He nodded, relieved to hear it, but conflicted, as well. He’d always been proud of his muscular, masculine figure. It would be strange to see himself rounded with pregnancy. Worth it, he figured. He glanced at his mother, who was still trying not to cry.

“How did you even forgive me?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood a little.

“I still haven’t,” she laughed. “I’ll never fit into my pre-baby clothes again.”

He smiled at the doctor. “Thank you for everything. I’ll be back…”

“Next week, preferably,” she said, “And if not then, as soon as possible.”

“Okay,” Josh agreed. He pulled his shirt back on as she left, thinking to himself that he would do everything he could to make sure this baby had its best start in life.

As they left, they were given a folder with some information about the pregnancy and preparations for birth, and the ultrasound photos the technician had taken for him. He didn’t see much, some shapes, maybe, that indicated something growing, but he still felt overwhelmed with joy. Even if he couldn’t quite interpret the images, they were evidence that he really was pregnant, and that this baby was coming no matter how much stress he was under.

“Do you want me to drive you to see Tristan?” Shannon asked, and Josh sighed gratefully.

“Yes, please. Thank you, Mom.”

“Of course,” she agreed, sliding into the car, and she gave him a little grin. “Just call me Grandma.”

Tristan’s parents had become grandparents when Joanne had Bev, but Josh knew his own parents were still waiting for him to carry on the Miller name. He wondered if Tristan would let him give the baby his last name. It was so important. And would his kid grow up to want to take on the family bar?

“I have to tell Senior, now.”

Shannon shook her head. “I can’t believe you’ve made me keep this from him, Josh.”

Josh shrugged, staring down at the ultrasound in his hands as his mom drove.

“I just didn’t want to get his hopes up if...if it wasn’t real. But it’s real. Look!”

She smiled over at him, but mainly kept her eyes on the road.

“Just wait until the baby is big enough for you to feel it kicking your insides. ‘Real’ becomes ‘too real’ real fast.”

Josh couldn’t imagine that yet, and just shrugged, smiling.

“I’m just happy to have proof. Something to show Tristan, since he can’t come to the doctor’s appointments with me.”

“You know,” Shannon admitted, reaching over to pat her son’s thigh. “I’ve been impressed by your loyalty to each other through all of this. Considering how rocky things have been… Any other couple would be torn apart by this.”

“Maybe that’s why we’re not,” Josh said, glancing out the window. “Because we’ve already been torn apart, and we know how that feels. I don’t want to live without him anymore, and I think he finally feels the same way.”

Shannon nodded. “Then I’m happy for you, son.”

Josh took a deep breath. “You can save your congratulations for when he gets out of jail. Until then… I can’t be fully happy.” Looking down at that ultrasound, however, put him pretty close to the line. He was so excited to meet their baby.

Shannon pulled up to the jail. “You don’t need me to come in with you, do you?”

“No, Mom,” he assured her. “Thanks. Maybe...come back in an hour?”

“Sure thing,” she agreed, and he got out of the car, looking at the jail sadly. This wasn’t where his freedom-loving, world-traipsing, independent alpha belonged. They had to get him out of there.

Josh was relieved when he was allowed to bring the ultrasound photo in to see Tristan, and they put them in a room together, with just one guard, relatively private. Tristan must have been behaving.

“Tristan,” he said, relieved, and he knew from previous visits that he wasn’t allowed to touch the man, so he didn’t try to hug him, even though his fingers itched to touch the other man.

Tristan smiled adoringly at him as they sat across from each other.

“Hey,” he said, “You went to the doctor today, right? Did it go okay?”

Josh grinned at Tristan and showed him the ultrasound. “They gave me two copies, you can keep this one. I know it doesn’t look like much, but it’s real. The baby’s in there, they let me hear its heartbeat, baby.”

Tristan covered his mouth, his bright blue eyes getting wet and shiny with tears as he was overwhelmed with joy the same way Josh had been. Josh watched intently, and seeing his own happiness reflected in Tristan’s face just made him even more certain that this could really work.

“I see it,” Tristan said softly. “Our baby. Josh, I… I can’t thank you enough,” he said, wiping tears from his face.

“For getting pregnant?”

Tristan shrugged, shaking his head. “Just for standing by me through this. Letting me be a part of it as much as I can. I know most people don’t want a criminal to father their child, but…”

Josh reached over, and almost touched Tristan, just barely stopping himself.

“Tristan, you know that’s not how I see you, don’t you? You just did what you had to do, to get away from a bad situation. I just wish you’d never gone.”

Tristan shrugged. “Sometimes, I do, too,” he admitted, staring down at the ultrasound.

Josh took a deep breath, trying not to lose it and spend the whole visit crying. His hormones were out of control, and made that a little more difficult than usual. He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders.

“Uh, has anyone said anything about your bail hearing?”

Tristan nodded. “The Captain is coming to visit me tomorrow,” he said, “And then apparently I might get a hearing after that. It might have to happen on the military base, though. I’m not looking forward to that.”

Josh frowned. “They’ll do it here, won’t they? They won’t ship you all the way back there just for this.”

Tristan shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t really know. It seems like they can do whatever they want. I’m still technically on duty.”

Josh hated to hear that, and he pressed his hand to his belly, trying to stay calm.

“We’ll figure something out,” he assured Tristan. “Even if you end up in prison, I’ll visit you every day until you get out. I don’t care. You’re my mate, and this baby’s father.”

Tristan sighed, relief clear on his face.

“You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that.”

A knock came to the door, signalling they only had five minutes before Josh had to leave.

“How are you doing?” Tristan asked. “Are you okay? Taking care of yourself? Has the morning sickness gotten better?”

“Yeah,” Josh said, “Yeah, don’t worry about me, my mom is taking good care of me, and it’s better by the day. You just work on getting out of here so you can take care of me yourself, okay?”

“I love you, Josh,” Tristan said, and Josh gave him a mischievous smile.

“I love you, too,” he said, and suddenly leaned in, sneaking a quick kiss on the lips before he left. There wasn’t much the guards could do, since he left right away, anyway. He left his mate, glowing in the cheeks. Things would work out. He knew they would.

* * *

“Kyle?” Josh asked, holding his cellphone to his ear. After waking up to Tristan in his house, invading his life, Josh had decided he needed a distraction. Bartending was pretty much the only thing Josh had experience with, and he was hoping his almost-hook-up could get him a job at the stupid, trendy bar he worked at.

“Josh? Is that you? It’s been a while,” Kyle admitted. “What’s up? Do you think we can finally try getting together for a drink again?”

It was tough. Josh knew he should give Kyle another chance. He liked the man. But Josh knew he’d only disappoint Kyle. Even after all this time, he was too hung up on his stupid, selfish alpha bad boy, and it wasn't Kyle’s job to force him to get over that.

“Maybe, but just as friends. I was actually hoping you could score me a try-out at your bar. I need some work.”

Kyle’s shoulders dropped, but he smiled, still friendly enough.

“Sure,” he agreed. “Come down on Tuesday around eight or so, we’re never busy then and I’m on shift. I’ll introduce you to the manager. If you’re lucky, he’ll start you right away.”

Josh sighed in relief. It seemed he hadn’t ruined what could be a good working relationship with the man just by being awkward.

“That sounds great. Thank you so much, Kyle.”

“No problem. And maybe we can get a beer again, all right? Just as friends, I promise.”

Josh realized he could use a friend or two, since his very best friend in the world was now his ex. “It’s a plan,” he agreed, and when Kyle hung up, he found himself hopeful. Maybe he really could have a new life in the city, without Tristan.

That Tuesday, Josh showed up at the bar, and just as Kyle had said, it really was dead. He wandered in and found the man by the bar. He was touched when Kyle smiled, waving him over.

“Hey, Josh! Looking good. You’re here just on time, the boss was about to leave, I think. I’ll go get him.”

Kyle went into the back, and brought out a man who reminded him very much of Bill, Tristan’s father, who had a smile so white and friendly that it usually seemed fake. In this case, Josh feared that it was fake.

“Hi there,” he said. “I hear you’re looking for a job. I’m Lars, I run this place.”

“Hi,” Josh said, and found himself a little nervous as he offered Lars his hand.

To his surprise, Lars touched him and then pulled back as if he’d been burned.

“You’re a werewolf,” he spat, his eyes burning with sudden hatred as he looked at Josh.

Josh shook his head, amazed. Growing up in a shifter town, he’d never encountered this sort of prejudice, he’d only seen it on TV.

“Uh, yeah,” he admitted. “How could you tell? That’s not a problem, right?”

Lars shuddered. “Ugh, it makes all my hairs stand on end just to touch one of you filthy dogs. Get out of my bar. Just go.”

“Wait,” Kyle said, surprised, and looked at his boss in confusion. “You’re really going to discriminate over that? Shifters are everywhere.”

“This is a human city and a human bar. We don’t cater to animals here,” Lars said with disgust. “Get this disgusting mutt out of here.”

Josh looked at Kyle, horrified, and deeply confused. Did what Lars had said hold any truth? No wonder he’d been having such a hard time getting to know anyone in the city. Was Kyle a rarity just for talking to him?

He pleaded silently with Kyle to stand up for him further, to leave with him, and refuse to work for a bigot like Lars. But Kyle just shrugged helplessly.

“I’m sorry, Josh. I’ve got to pay my bills.”

“You won’t find any friends here, mutt,” Lars spat, and Josh felt numb as his feet carried him away from the extremely hostile man, and the spineless bartender he’d thought could be his friend, or even something more, at one point. He had no place in the city at all, did he? He should have known the moment he’d walked into the stupid, pretentious bar. He had his own bar, his own traditions and family name to carry down, in his town, where shifters were normal and their way of life was protected.

Josh realized that even if he couldn’t have Tristan, even if he couldn’t have the life he wanted with the man, and settle down to raise their children as he’d always dreamed, he had ties in town that his mother just didn’t have, and the slow, easy, friendly way of life that the country offered appealed to him far more.

He’d take a bar brawl over that racist asshole any day.