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Taeui is exhausted, to say the least.
It’s not really anyone’s fault. Ilay has been doing his very best to try and keep any work off his hands, even simple things like grabbing his own water or walking up to the gardens but whenever he was really exhausted, like he is now, he really really just wanted to blame Ilay anyway.
No one would blame him either, because Ilay’s relentlessly horny escapades were the sole reason why he was pregnant just 4 years after their first baby.
Taeui’s omega was screaming at him to curl up in his warm nest and take a nap but it was only afternoon. He knew the boys would come back after their swimming session, where Ilay had taken to tutoring Ivan, their almost 5 year old son to learn swimming. It was the weekend and usually Ivan and Taeui spent them together, running around, playing and coloring but ever since the second trimester hit Taeui had started to feel the symptoms he knew all too well, slowing down his energy through the day.
Ilay was, well, no different than he was the first time. Maybe he was even more careful now, considering how they weren’t as young as they were the first time. But Taeui was definitely more relaxed compared to the first time. He wasn’t wracked with anxiety and pressure now knowing what he knows about taking care of a baby. And he knew he could always rely on his alpha.
“Maaaamaaaaaa!” He heard a loud scream from a little ways away and Taeui’s mother instincts flipped a switch inside him as he quickly dropped the bowl of cookie dough he was holding onto the counter (a pregnancy craving) and mindfully walked as fast as he could outside. From behind the transparent glass doors, he could see the situation transpiring right in front him.
Ilay, his husband, was sitting on the edge of the pool, drying his hair and muttering something to his son, a smaller, tinier and currently more angrier version of him while the 5 year old made wild gestures, accusing his dad of…something.
Taeui got close enough to hear and survey Ilay’s annoyed expression closer. Ivan quickly turned around, feeling his mother’s presence behind him and ran up to his legs, hugging him tight. Taeui wordlessly rubbed his back as he picked him up.
“Ivan honey, are you okay? Ilay, what did you do to him?” he chastises, as Ivan just quietly rests his pudgy cheek against Taeui’s shoulder as his mama pushes his wet snow white hair off his forehead.
Ilay’s expression turns bored as he clicks his tongue, standing up as well to step out of the pool, grabbing the towel nearby to dry his hair with it.
“What do you mean, what did I do to him? I was trying to teach him swimming, like the both of you wanted me to. And then the little brat chickened out.” he says, perfectly even, as he flicks his hair back.
“Daddy keeps trying to make me put my head inside the water.” he mumbles straight into Taeui’s mouth, barely audible but Taeui understands anyway, comforting him with his scent.
“Aw, it’s okay. I think he was just trying to teach you. You can’t swim if you don’t put your head in the water, honey.” he says, chuckling a little.
“Put him down, he’s heavy now. You’re not supposed to be carrying too much weight.” The alpha instructs, dutiful as always and Taeui glares at him. He doesn’t want to be told when and where he can pick up his child! He opens his mouth to protest but Ivan’s already scrambling to get off him, dropping to the floor off his own accord.
Tay sighs, but smiles. The only thing Ivan would agree with Ilay on was the level of pampering and safekeeping their fragile Tay needed.
“I’m fine.” he said to Ivan anyway, taking another fresh towel and drying Ivan’s hair. Ivan was still sniffling and Tay felt bad for him.
“Ilay, if he’s scared why would you force him like that?”
“He has to learn at some point, we’ve been out here trying to swim for at least a week now. If he doesn’t learn it now, then when will he?” he grumbles, crossing his arms as he sits beside Taeui, a hand coming to rest at the small of his back. Taeui leans against his arm, like a backrest but still frowns, pulling his son close to kiss his cheek. Ivan returns the affection with a hug, his arms wrapped around Taeui’s neck loosely.
“Mama, can’t someone else teach me?”
“You little –” Ilay begins, but resigns when he meets Tayi’s glare and exhales, rubbing the juncture of his nose and leaving it to Tay to handle it.
“How about if I watch Daddy teach you and I can give him pointers on how to help you better? And if he tries to force you or push you too hard, I’ll stop him?” he says, a wide smile as he watches Ivan’s gray eyes light up as he hugs him tighter.
“Okay!” he says cheerfully.
“You’re being a huge baby right now, Ivan Riegrow. What, are you afraid of drowning?”
Tay has to hold back a chuckle as his hand comes to swat at Ilay’s shoulder. Ivan pouts at his father, looking over Tay’s shoulder, still clinging to him like a koala bear.
“Ilay, he is a baby.”
Ever since birth, he’d taken after the alpha with this characteristic as well, always wanting to be close to Tay in any way it was possible. It was obvious he was more attached to Tay than he ever was to Ilay but Tay knew that Ivan and Ilay’s relationship was special too, in their own way. It was just subtle.
“‘M not afraid of drowning.” he mutters quietly, his eyes darting away.
How stubborn, Tay thinks and then smiles, kissing his cheek again. Everyday he sees a part of Ilay in Ivan. This was the one benefit of them being similar. Ilay could understand Ivan on a personal level. Tay wonders how much of himself he sees in their perfect son.
Tay watches as Ilay’s eyes soften, a look especially reserved for him and their son.
“Kid, it’s not the worst thing to be afraid. You might not know this, but I’m afraid of some things too.” he says, his voice laced with emotion that Tay has only heard on rare occasions. He looks at Ilay, his eyes shining as he grips his son tighter.
“Like what?” Ivan asks, curious.
“Like losing Mama or losing you.” Ilay says, with groundbreaking certainty and there’s no room for doubt. Tay’s hand moves down from his shoulder to hold Ilay’s open hand, his fingers interlacing with the alpha’s.
“Oh.” Ivan says, a little dumbfounded.
“So, do you really think I’d let you drown? Not a chance in hell. And besides, you know your mom would never let me hear the end of it.” he says, pinching his son’s cheek.
Ivan grins, his shark teeth glistening under the morning sun and he lurches forward from Tay’s arm to give Ilay’s arm a half hug. Ilay purposefully presses a chaste kiss to Ivan’s forehead a second and pats his back.
“Get inside and change. It’s lunchtime in a little.” Tay says kindly. Ivan hops off his lap, stretches and leaves, disappearing into the house.
Ilay’s hand curls around his waist in an instant, leaning in closer to nose against his scent glands, scenting him in broad daylight.
“What are you– Ilay, stop.” Tay complains weakly, meaning entirely the opposite.
The pregnancy hormone addled brain and the strong omega instincts insist that his alpha touch him and fuss over him all the time. Any attention he receives from Ilay has him humming, sated and yet yearning for more.
Ilay scents him thoroughly, covering him in his smokey heavy alpha scent so much so that he’s pretty sure no trace of his own scent would be apparent anymore.
Ilay’s ice cold hands (just the way Tay likes it) slips under Tay’s oversized shirt hiding his bump and gently caresses the belly.
“It was really nice what you said to Ivan earlier. Did you mean it?” Tay tilts his head, a hand coming to run his fingers through his drying hair.
Ilay nuzzles against his cheek, teeth scraping over a healed bite mark, not like a threat but a promise. Tay shivers. He’s very much aware that they’re still sitting by the Riegrow mansion pool but he can’t pull himself away. Once again, there’s no one else to blame but Ilay.
“Taeui Riegrow, what’s the point of asking questions you already know the answers to? Are you making fun of me, by chance?” he hums the question along his neck, nipping across Tay’s honey tanned skin.
“N-no, of course I’m not.” his breath hitches, as the alpha swiftly slides a hand under either side of his thighs to lift him up, sliding him to straddle his lap. Taeui adjusts quickly, used to Ilay’s antics after years of struggle.
“When have I ever lied to you, hm? Just for the record, the same goes for this little girl here as well.” he announces, a hand carefully caressing the bump. Tay feels emotional for some reason and he blinks back tears.
“I hope this one also isn’t the exact carbon copy of you. That would be the end of my days.” Tay grunts, feeling a little sorry for himself and Ilay laughs, a deep, airy, carefree laugh that is also only reserved for Tay and their budding family. Tay feels a little lucky whenever he gets to hear it. Ilay brushes his fingers against Tay’s cheek, a hand flying to his nape.
“Who better to handle an Ilay than you? But no, I hope she’s just like you. It’s only fair. One of you, one of me.”
Tay’s heart positively bursts forth with joy. He’d never thought of this sentiment before let alone think that Ilay would want a child that looks just like him. His alpha was always full of surprises, or maybe he was just dumb enough not to realize earlier. Ilay always looked at him like he was.
“One of you, one of me. And with that we’re done. NO MORE.” Tay says firmly, trying to get it through the alpha’s stupid brain. He even pokes his firm muscled chest with his finger to get the point across. Ilay playfully bites his blushing cheek before picking him up in a princess hold.
“No promises.” he says, with a casual shrug and rightfully earns a smack across his shoulder before Tay settles in the alpha’s arms comfortably, his arms looped around his neck.