Hades growled anyway, on alert until she finally left the room. Then he relaxed, and Aaren grinned fondly at him.
“You’re such a growly alpha,” Aaren said delightedly.
“Can’t help wanting to protect you both.”
Aaren’s smile grew. His contractions began to grow more frequent. Hades hovered when Aaren got out of bed and paced the room; he tried to offer snacks, but Aaren didn’t have space for anything inside him right now.
“I know,” Aaren said when he finally sat back down on the bed. “If everything else fails, we’ll copy our friends and pretend to be good parents. We’ll fake it ‘til we make it.”
Hades laughed, feeling so incredibly fond. He brushed his wrists all over Aaren—over his face and down his arms, under his hospital gown to get all of his chest and belly. He did Aaren’s back and legs too, and since there was no one else in the room, he rubbed his wrist all over Aaren’s cock.
“Hades,” Aaren squeaked, turning pink.
“Mine,” Hades said, pleased.
When Aaren’s contractions grew more intense, Hades tucked himself behind Aaren on the hospital bed, sitting with his legs on either side of his omega, Aaren’s back resting against his chest.
“Can’t wait to meet our little one,” Hades murmured over Aaren’s shoulder, looking down at his hands on Aaren’s round belly.
Aaren tensed and shook through a contraction, gasping in pain.
“Fuck,” Hades muttered. “I don’t like this part of the pregnancy. I don’t like that you’re hurting.”
“I think I can ask for an epidural now,” Aaren panted.
He got his epidural and relaxed a little, but it was still a struggle to push. Hades held him close, rubbing his back and his belly, kissing him wherever he could reach.
It was one of the longest few hours of his life, waiting as his omega struggled through this.
“You’re doing so good,” Hades said in Aaren’s ear. “I’m so proud of you.”
Aaren sobbed a little. Then he gave a huge push, and a small, bedraggled shape slid out of him.
Aaren panted, sagging back into Hades. Hades couldn’t help staring at the little baby, the midwife cleaning off their child. He kissed Aaren wherever he could reach, so relieved that this was finally over. “You did it, sweetheart. Good job.”
Aaren mumbled and flopped against him, exhausted.
Then the midwife came up to them, setting the wailing baby on Aaren’s chest. “Congratulations on your son,” she said.
Their baby was tiny. A little face, little fingers and limbs. Hades’ heart swelled so full, he thought he might burst.
“Hey, Jeremiah,” Aaren murmured, soft and soothing. At the sound of his voice, Jer quieted down, listening. Hades grinned.
“I think he looks like you,” he whispered.
Aaren dipped his head to look, carefully cupping their child with his hands. He sucked in a shuddering breath. “He’s beautiful.”
“Just like you,” Hades said.
“No, like you,” Aaren mumbled.
Hades huffed and leaned around Aaren to press a kiss to Jeremiah’s ear. “Hey, kiddo. Welcome to the family. We’ve been waiting a while to meet you, and we can’t wait to bring you home.”
“You’re amazing,” Aaren said tearfully. “Both of you.” He carefully trailed his fingertips over their baby, then took Hades’ hand in his own, dragging both their wrists down Jer’s back to scent mark him.
After everything he and Aaren had been through, Jeremiah’s birth felt like a whole new chapter, like a fresh start on a life that they would both take together. This was home, and this was safety. It was everything Hades had never dared to dream for himself.
“I love you both,” Hades said hoarsely.
