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Frey’s eyes bugged out of his head as he squealed, causing Emmy to whine in protest. “Sorry, darling, Uncle Lennon shocked your Popi.” He kissed her forehead. “It’s the best news though, because you’re getting a cousin.” This was said softly.

When Frey lifted his head, Lennon couldn’t help but match his grin. “When are you due?”

“The doctor said my due date is the beginning of May. He can’t be exact because I was in denial at first and the stress can alter my dates,” Lennon explained, keeping his voice down so it didn’t carry.

“Is that something to do with your bat?” Frey asked, looking interested.

“Yep. We have the ability to increase our gestation.”

“Wow, how cool.”

Frey couldn’t have children after taking heat blockers for too long, making Lennon watch Frey closely as he responded. “It is. I just never thought about it until now.”

“Didn’t you want to get pregnant?” Frey placed down the empty bottle and moved Emmy up o to his shoulder where he placed a cloth and gently rubbed her back.

“To be honest,” Lennon felt his cheeks heat, “I didn’t think about it. My bat got excited when Kodi followed us home a couple of days before my heat was due and forced it early. When Kodi came back with food on Sunday, my doctor thinks my body was out of whack and that’s why I got pregnant when we…”

Frey giggled, not that Emmy noticed, as she was fast asleep, mouth open and drool leaking out onto Frey’s shoulder. “Was that the first time you—”

“It was. How unlucky am I?”

The giggles stopped, and a worried frown appeared. “You don’t want the baby?”

It was a question he should have expected, yet it took him by surprise after what he’d just said. The truth was, he wanted this baby regardless of how it happened. He wanted to be mated to Kodi, like he’d told Lane.

“I do. I just never expected it to be now. Maybe when I was thirty, married and settled in a house. Not living in a one-bedroom apartment, unmarried and unmated, having to explain to my family that I got knocked up by my boss.” His laugh was all nerves as he shrugged at what was going to happen the next evening.

Frey got up and went to the small portable crib that sat on the opposite side of his desk and laid Emmy down in it. He placed the pink blanket that Lennon had found with cute elephants on it, over her. It was her favorite. She liked to ball the soft fabric and rub it against her face.

When Frey appeared happy his daughter was settled, he came to Lennon and took both his hands, wearing an earnest expression.

“Do you love Kodi?” Lennon nodded. “Does he love you?”

“Yes.”

“Then nothing else matters. When Emmy came into my life, it wasn’t planned. Heck, Booker and I were barely dating and we hadn’t had sex. None of it mattered. Whatever I thought life would be like, I hadn’t perceived I wouldn’t be able to conceive a child. The universe found another way to give me what I wanted.” He squeezed Lennon’s hands. “It’ll all work out. You have me and the guys to help you. Just like y’all helped me. Your family and Kodi’s, I’m sure, will be there for you, too.”

Lennon was glad he’d come now when Frey’s reassurance was something he’d not known he needed until he heard it. “You’re right, I’m just nervous. Kodi mentioned mating in front of Lane, except he’s not said a word about it since,” Lennon confessed, feeling a little stupid for getting all emotional when Kodi had declared he loved him.

“If he’s mentioned it, then I’m sure it will happen.” Frey ran his finger over the bracelet Lennon hadn’t taken off since Kodi had slipped it on him. “This is beautiful.”

Lennon loved it, just not as much as the sentiment attached to it by Kodi. Each stone on this bracelet represents a shared moment we spent together, where I didn’t want to leave you. Where I fell just a little deeper in love. “It is. Are we all good?”

“Of course! When are you going to tell the others?” Frey let go and moved back around to take the seat behind his desk.

“I’m not sure, but it might need to be next Saturday at the Christmas party as I won’t be drinking.”

Frey chewed on his lower lip. “I’m sure we can come up with an excuse if you aren’t ready to tell anyone else. Do Lane and Derick know?”

Lennon shook his head, his bangs flopping over his forehead, and he shoved them back. “I only know that Kodi has told his brothers about us because you mentioned Booker talking about it. The reason I didn’t say anything to everyone else was because I’ve been stuck up my backside waiting for the blood tests, which we got yesterday.”

“You’re forgiven. And I won’t say anything until you tell me differently.” He tapped at the desk. “Now shoo, I have a lot to do before five tonight.”

Lennon left and returned to his own office to finish up. Kodi had something on that evening, with no plans to come to Lennon’s. When he got home, he had a shower and slipped on his reindeer onesie, heading to the kitchen to bake for the family party.

He put on Christmas music and while baking, started to imagine what the following Christmas would be like with a baby. He hummed along with the tunes, a soft smile appearing at how he would teach their child to bake. Kodi had surprised him in Lane’s kitchen. Lennon knew he could cook, but he’d somehow thought baking wouldn’t be something Kodi was interested in. He was wrong. Kodi had gotten just as messy as Lane and Lennon, laughing at his dad when his attempts were far less successful than Kodi’s.

By the time Lennon had the kitchen cleaned and the storage tubs full of the family’s favorites, he was exhausted. He slept late the next day, the worry about his parents reaction a constant buzz in the back of his thoughts.