When I finally got out of the Wing Mini, my carrier pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged him back like I was Jondi’s age and being told I couldn’t fly at the new playroom. I’d been a parent for a long time but this was my first pregnancy and despite all my education and secondhand experience, I was afraid. More afraid than I could tell Beryl. My alpha was nervous enough without me letting him know I was nervous enough for all of us.
Dad held my face in his hands and kissed my forehead before saying, “You’re going to be alright. It’s all going to be okay. Before you ask the baby is with Ty and Feral. Doctor Lawngry could’ve gotten you in this afternoon, but I figured you’d want to decompress before going to see him. If you really want to know, we’ll have Philip swing by. Cypress said they’re not doing anything this afternoon. I haven’t told everyone, but you know I tell Cypress most things. He’s my Eran. Well, my Eran without the dating history. Or Evie could even do the ultrasound.”
I nodded along as he spoke because the sound of his voice made my lion purr. When he stopped talking, I told him all about the lake house and how the hell Beryl and Jondi were getting on. He didn’t look surprised at all.
“Of course, they’re getting along,” he smiled. “They just needed some time to get to know each other. Beryl’s a good guy. He’s just… I think this is his first time being in a relationship where there is real reasonability. No one becomes the perfect mate and parent overnight. That takes time and practice. Now, let’s get you inside. We grabbed subs from Sandy’s. I hope you’re up to eating.”
“So far it’s just been bacon that sets off my morning sickness,” I frowned.
“What betrayal!” Dad said, bringing a mock offended hand over his heart.
“It’s definitely a betrayal! Like the pigs are getting revenge from beyond the grave!” I nodded as we walked inside the house.
It was good to be home and back in our little territory.
***
That evening after my parents went home, Philip did stop by with his portable ultrasound machine. We had just tucked Jondi in for the night and were sitting on the porch. It was a cool-ish evening without a cloud in sight. It was almost firefly season, and I couldn’t wait until they twinkled every evening lighting up the world.
“Wasn’t sure what you two decided, but thought I’d stop by just in case,” Philip said in lieu of hello as he walked up. “Not that this replaces going to see Michael at the clinic, but it will let you know one way or another. Have you taken a test yet?”
“No,” I shook my head. “I figured throwing up because of bacon and the gummies helping was enough for a positive.”
“Not always. Those gummies help with just about any sort of stomach upset,” Philip said. “Ships stock ‘em for motion sickness now.”
Beryl shifted in his seat, and I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. If he went all cave-alpha I was going to trip him before he ever got near Philip. He was a family friend here to do us a favor not someone to be treated like a threat.
“What’s on your mind?” Philip glanced at Beryl. “Just mind you, one of my mates is a dragon. I’ve learned a few tricks and if all else fails, you should know Cypress is a nesting omega dragon.”
“Nesting?” I grinned.
“Well, no egg yet but soon from all the scans,” Philip nodded. “Really soon.”
“Congratulations,” I said, still smiling. “Beryl’s not going to bite you.”
“Well, let’s let him talk and see what he’s thinking,” Philip said, resting one foot on a step.
“I was going to offer you my seat, if you wanted to sit down,” Beryl said.
“Do I look that old?”
“Healer’s perk,” Beryl shrugged as Philip adjusted his hat.
“Well, better than wanting to bite me. I’ve had just about all the biting I can take from first timers. Why I retired,” Philip said.
“Do we need to go inside?” Beryl asked.
“We can do the scan anywhere Jade feels comfortable,” Philip said.
I pulled my shirt off over my head and Beryl stood up in front of me as if everyone living on the farm hadn’t seen me running around in just a diaper as a kid.
“If you’re not pregnant, I’d be surprised,” Philip chuckled as I stretched out on the porch and he walked around me to sitbetween me and the front door because Beryl’s energy was the same sort as when an alpha didn’t let you walk on the outside of the sidewalk because it was the ‘dangerous’ side.
I rested my arms under my head and grinned up at Beryl. Then motioned with my eyes that he should sit down. My lion didn’t mind having his belly exposed to the world but Beryl looming over us like that when we weren’t about to romp made him nervous as if a threat would crawl out from under the porch and eat us at any moment. To his credit, Beryl did sit down on the porch floor with us once he realized he was making me uneasy.
“How’d Jondi like the lake?” Philip asked, making small talk while he booted up his little portable ultrasound machine.
“He had fun,” I smiled up at him. “He’s excited about being a big brother.”
