by Beau Brown
“Oh, fuck,” he hissed, arching his back. “I can’t do this. I just can’t.”
My gut clenched at the obvious agony in his voice. “Yes, you can.”
“It hurts too much.”
“I know. But you have to do this. Come on, Fox.”
“Liam,” he moaned. “I’m afraid.”
His words were like knives in my soul. But there was absolutely nothing I could do to help him. He had to go through this. “Honey, I know. I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. But right now, you’re the only one who can get our baby here safely. It’s up to you.”
He twisted and groaned. “Oh, God.”
“Come on,” I coaxed. “You can do this. You have to.”
Wiping his face with his wet hands, he nodded. “Fine. But I’m never having another God damned baby. Fuck, this. It’s torture.”
“Whatever you want.”
He clenched his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut. “Okay,” he panted out the word. “I’m… I’m ready.”
I examined him one last time, and he was definitely there. “You’re fully dilated.”
“I would fucking hope so.” He scowled, pushing his heels against the corners of the tub.
“Okay, if you’re ready, I need one medium push.”
“Just one?”
“Yep. Just one. Not too hard. I need to see what we’re working with here.”
He nodded, tensed his muscles, and bore down. His face trembled, and I knew he was in pain, but he seemed more focused now. He groaned, and I touched his leg when the baby’s skull appeared.
“Okay, back off. Give it a second.”
Breathing hard, he did as instructed. His face was flushed and his chest heaved, but he lifted his head and met my gaze. “Again?”
I nodded. “Yes. Give me two hard pushes. I think this is going to be quick.”
“Not quick enough,” he growled.
It took about six more agonizing pushes for our daughter to make her appearance. But when she finally came, she was pink and screaming at the top of her lungs. Hearing her cry filled me with relief, and I held on tight and wrapped her in a towel. Looking down at her chubby cheeks, and tiny little fingers, my heart ached. I’d never felt anything like the rush of emotions flooding me at the sight of our daughter. But I couldn’t just relax and enjoy looking at her, I still needed to tend to Fox also. I set the wiggling, screeching child on the tile floor and helped Fox pass the placenta. Then I drained and refilled the tub with clean water, making sure that Fox was cleaned up and safe. By some miracle, he hadn’t torn. I was relieved as hell about that, seeing as I didn’t have the tools to sew him up if he had. I couldn’t exactly use dental floss for the job.
My clothes were a mess, so I changed, and then helped Fox to the bed. I washed and dried the baby, and handed her to him. When he took her in his arms his entire face changed. He kissed her head and smiled up at me, looking exhausted, but happy. “I can’t believe she’s here.”
“Me neither.” I perched on the edge of the mattress, watching the two of them together. It was hard to believe I hadn’t even known Fox a full year. I could barely remember a time when he hadn’t been the first thing I thought about in the morning, and the last thing at night. He was my everything. An omega I hadn’t even known existed before, was the one person that made my life joyful. Meaningful.
“I was thinking about names,” he said softly.
“Were you?”
“Considering how much we bickered when we first met, I thought it might be ironic if we called her Harmony.”
“Is that what we’re shooting for? Irony?”
He smiled. “No. I also happen to like the name.”
I nodded, peering at our child. “I like it too.” I touched her velvety cheek. “Yeah, let’s call her Harmony.”
He took my hand. “Thank you for being calm.” He bit his lower lip, and frowned. “I was terrified.”
“You did fantastic.”
“Thanks.” He sighed. “I’ll have a new compassion for what the omegas I work with are going through.”
“You were already compassionate.”
He raised his brows. “Not like I will be after going through childbirth myself.”
“Fair enough.”
The baby was fussing a little, and he shifted her closer to his chest. “Do you think she’s hungry?”
“I’m sure she is. Are you up to feeding her?” I stood, and hovered awkwardly. I usually delivered the babies, and left the delivery room. The nurses were the ones who handled helping the new mothers and fathers breast feed.
Staring down at Harmony, he laughed. “I don’t think it matters whether I’m ready or not. She’s ready.”
I grimaced. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
He held the wiggling baby to his breast, his face pinched. “I’ve never seen it from this angle before.”
I laughed nervously. “But you know how to do it?”
“Hell no.” He chuffed. “Telling someone how to breastfeed is very different from doing it.”
“Here, maybe sit up more.” I helped him wiggle into a better position.
“Yeah. Maybe that’s better.” He put Harmony’s mouth against his nipple and smiled up at me. But when she latched on, he yelped, and clenched his jaw. “Oh, that’s weird. That is damn weird.” He blew out a few times, grimacing.
“Does it hurt?” I could see from his expression, it didn’t feel good.
“It’s not exactly pleasant.” He winced, watching our daughter suckle. “I guess it’s nice to be able to feed my daughter, but… maybe we could bottle feed her too.”
“Whatever you want.” I rubbed my breast in empathy for what he must be experiencing. “Not counting the discomfort of nursing, how are you feeling overall?”
He stroked Harmony’s bald head. “Not bad. Tired.”
“Tomorrow we’ll call and make an appointment for you and the baby.”
He frowned. “Why do I need to be examined? Of course Harmony needs to be seen, but I’m fine.”
“Because I’d feel better if someone besides me looked you over. I’m not infallible. I could have missed something.”
“I feel great.”
“Fox, don’t argue. You’re going to see your OBGYN, and Harmony is going to see a pediatrician.”
“Fine.” He sighed. “I’m too tired to argue.”
I grinned. “We should mark this day on the calendar.”
He rolled his eyes. “I assumed we would anyways, since it’s our daughter’s birthday.”
“Oh, yeah.” I laughed.
Harmony had slowed her suckling, and seemed to be dropping off to sleep. Fox tucked the blanket around her, and met my gaze.
My heart warmed at the look of affection shimmering there. “I love you,” I said quietly.
He smiled. “Promise?”
“If I didn’t love you, I’d be in Los Angeles right now.”
“Good point.” He wrinkled his brow. “Sure you don’t resent me for that decision?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Seriously?”
“I still feel guilty on occasion.” He dropped his gaze.
“We’ve talked about that so many times.”
“I know. But it was such a great offer.” He gritted his teeth.
“You made me a better one.”
He shook his head. “Pfft. I threatened you.”
“I didn’t feel threatened. I knew you loved me, and you were fighting for us.”
“I do love you… so much.” He flicked his gaze to mine.
“All I need is your love.”
“You have that. I just want to be sure we’re okay.”
“We’re good. I don’t care about that job. The two most important things to me in the world are in this room right now.”
He nodded and smiled hesitantly. “Okay.”
“And I love it here in Sweet Water.”
“I hope so.”
I leaned toward him. “I mean it. This is the perfect
place to raise Harmony. I don’t want to hear about that damn job offer anymore, okay? It’s the past. I’m happy with where I am. In fact, I couldn’t be happier. This feels so right.”
He held out his hand and I grabbed it. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“Yep.” I squeezed his fingers.
We were quiet for a few moments, and then he said, “As soon as the sun comes up, I need to call Mom and Priscilla.”
“Your sister is gonna be pissed. You delivered a week early, and she’s two weeks late.”
He grinned. “If she doesn’t have that baby soon, I’m not sure what she’ll do.”
“Let’s pray we don’t find out.”
“Hey, why don’t you get back in bed too?” he asked in a hushed tone. “Come hold your daughter.”
I stood slowly. “Okay.” I took off my pants and slipped under the covers. When he passed Harmony to me, my insides felt like goo. I’d held so many babies in my time, but something about holding my own child was incredibly different. “She’s beautiful,” I whispered.
“Yeah.” He leaned on me, resting his head on my shoulder. “She really is. I mean, I know everyone thinks their kid is cute, but she truly is adorable.”
I grinned. “I’ve never seen a cuter baby.”
He sighed and tickled her chin. “I might have been a bit hysterical earlier when I said I’d never wanted anymore kids.”
“Yeah?” I studied his face. “We can stop with one if that’s what you want.”
He glanced up. “Thanks for saying that.”
“I mean it. I just want you happy.”
“Can’t say I’ve ever been happier than this very moment.”
“Me neither.”
He squinted. “Maybe if I had a plate of nachos too, that might be even more amazing.”
My lips twitched. “Nothing dampens that appetite of yours. Not wind, rain, sleet, or child birth.”
“I wasn’t hungry during the delivery.”
“Thank heavens for that.”
Harmony made little cooing sounds, and we both sighed.
“Best day ever,” he said, stroking her fuzzy head.
I nodded, smiling as I put one arm around him. “Best life ever.”
Epilogue
(Three Months After the birth)
Liam
“I think they really like each other,” Priscilla said, as she knelt beside her young son cooing in his car seat. She’d brought her baby over to visit with Harmony, even though neither infant was capable of doing anything much other than spitting up and dirtying diapers.
I tried not to look skeptical. “How can you tell?”
Fox was sitting next to her on the floor, trying not to laugh. “I doubt he even knows she’s in the room.”
“That’s not true.” Priscilla frowned. “I’m pretty sure William smiled at her.”
“I suspect he just has gas.” Fox laughed, waving his hand in front of his nose.
Priscilla looked like she was about to argue, but then she suddenly plugged her nose. “Oh, God. Not again.”
I held up a sofa pillow in front of my face. “What do you feed that child?”
Laughing, Priscilla said, “Shut up. That stench could easily have come from Harmony.”
Fox fake gasped. “How dare you. Our little angel would never do such a thing.”
“Right.” She shook her head.
We all three sat in silence for a few moments, watching the babies.
Priscilla glanced over at me. “Did your mom enjoy her visit, Liam?”
“She did. I don’t think she wanted to leave.” I sighed. “She even said she’d consider maybe moving to Sweet Water. But I doubt she will. She likes her independence too much.”
“You don’t think she’d do it just to be closer to her only grandchild?” She gave me a searching look.
Shrugging, I avoided her gaze. “Probably not. But I know she loves Harmony. It’s just how Mom is. How she’s always been.”
Fox stood and sat beside me on the couch. He slipped his hand into mine, and I knew he wanted to comfort me.
I smiled at him. “It’s okay. I’m used to how she is. I don’t doubt that she loves me.”
“She did seem to dote on you while she was here.” Fox smirked. “Almost more than the baby.”
“Fortunately, your family has been so great.” I met Priscilla’s gaze. “Your mom especially has been amazing. If it wasn’t for her, we’d be paying through the nose for childcare.”
“She loves doing it.” Priscilla laughed. “Even though I’m only working three days a week right now, she insists on helping out.”
“How long are you going to keep that schedule?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. I thought I’d want to rush back to work, but I’m really enjoying being home with William. Doug is fine with me working less, so I’m taking advantage of that.”
Fox glanced at me. “I feel kind of guilty that I love going to work every day.”
I frowned. “You don’t have to be guilty. I love my job too.”
“I know, but as an omega, I feel like something must be wrong with me that I don’t have the desire to just stay home.” He shifted uneasily.
“Hey, knock it off.” I leaned toward him. “You’re a great dad. You don’t have to be here twenty-four-seven to be a good dad. Harmony is a happy baby. No guilt allowed.”
“I guess.”
Priscilla grimaced. “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
“It’s not your fault.” He laughed. “I’m glad you’re loving the whole mom thing. I love being a dad too, but I also love my job.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” Priscilla smiled. “You don’t need to be guilty for wanting to work, anymore than I need to be guilty for wanting to stay home. Both choices are ours to make.”
“Yeah.” Fox sighed. “You’re right.”
I grinned. “This was like a play date and a therapy session rolled into one.”
Priscilla laughed. “I guess it was.” She got to her feet, and stood with her hands on her hips. “Well, I guess I should go. Doug promised to take me to dinner tonight. We haven’t gone out alone since the baby was born. I’m looking forward to doing my hair and wearing makeup.”
“Do you need us to watch William?” Fox asked.
“Nope. Mom already volunteered.”
“Of course.” He smiled. “Hey, do you still have Dr. Plimpton as your pediatrician?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I love him.”
“Me too. He’s able to give Harmony her shots and she barely cries at all.”
Priscilla laughed. “I know, and I love that he has all those toys for the older kids to play with.”
“Yeah, that’s a great idea.” Fox frowned. “That reminds me. I was there the other day when that asshole Jake Windmire came in with his five-year-old son, Avery. The bastard wouldn’t let the kid play with any of the toys.”
“Seriously?” She scowled.
“Yep.”
“What is wrong with that man?”
Fox shrugged. “He’s a jerk. He made poor Avery just sit there quietly in a chair, watching all the other kids play.”
“But why?” Priscilla asked, looking annoyed.
“He said life isn’t about having fun.”
“Wow. He’s something else.”
I frowned. “Who’s Jake Windmire?”
Fox rolled his eyes. “Some alpha who owns a ranch out on the edge of town. His omega died giving birth to Avery, and he’s been taking it out on everyone ever since. I mean, I feel for the guy, but it’s not that poor kids fault.”
“He doesn’t abuse the boy, right?” I narrowed my eyes.
“No. Nothing like that. I think he actually loves his son. He’s just a stick in the mud.” Fox shook his head. “He goes through nanny’s like they’re potato chips. Can’t get any of them to stick around.”
“Of course not. He’s unpleasant, and his ranch is in the toolies.” Priscilla bent down and kissed Harmony
on the head. “See you later, Princess.” She waved to me and grabbed the car seat. “Let’s do this again later in the week, bro.”
“Sure thing.” Fox walked her to the door. Once she was gone, he picked Harmony up from the blanket on the floor, and settled beside me.
I held Harmony’s little hand in mine, marveling at her tiny little fingernails. “That’s sad about that Jake guy.”
“Yeah.”
I met Fox’s clear gaze. “I feel for the poor guy though, losing his omega must have gutted him.”
“Apparently. Although, it’s hard to imagine that curmudgeon in love.”
“Maybe he’ll find a new omega and change.”
Fox gave a gruff laugh. “I don’t see that happening. I mean, he’s good looking and all, but he’s just such a colossal dick.”
I grinned. “I can always count on you to be blunt.”
Laughing sheepishly, Fox said. “If you ever meet him, you’ll understand.”
“Let’s hope I don’t.”
“Okay, enough about that grump.” Fox rested his head on my shoulder. “I just want to think happy thoughts about us and our family.”
“I love the sound of that every time I hear it.” I smiled down at him. “Our family.”
When he nodded his head, his silky hair tickled my chin. “Things are just about perfect.”
I cocked my head. “Just about?”
He slid his arm around my waist, nuzzling my neck. “I apologize. Things are absolutely perfect.”
I gave a smug smile. “That’s more like it.”
“I forgot for a minute I was talking to Dr. Perfect.”
“I forgive you.”
He gave me a sly look. “Or am I talking to Dr. Sexy Pants?”
My face warmed as I winced. “Oh, God. How did you hear about that?”
“Oh, baby, I didn’t need to hear about it.” He gave an exaggerated wink.
I chuckled, aware my face was still hot. “I have no control over what silly names people come up with.”
“I know.”
“Let’s just pretend those ridiculous names were never invented.”
He ran his palm over my thigh. “I’ll do my best, doctor.”
“Don’t make me come up with painful names for you too. I’ll do it if pushed.” I grinned.