by Wolfe, H. M.
”They are right, brother, you are the one who’s wrong in all this," Emery spoke in a surprisingly flat voice for his shy self.
The three men exchanged a confused look, shrugged, and gathered around the four little blond kids. ”All right, what happened?” Joraan asked. ”Emery, please, enlighten us.”
"Lochlin said there is no such thing as men having kids, and Evan said Uncle Elliott is going to give birth, and then Lochlin said Uncle Elliott is just very fat and Aidan said...”
"Wait, wait, did you say that Aidan was involved in a fight?!" Joraan shook his head in disbelief.
”No, he didn’t, he just told Lochlin to go and ask Papa, and that Papa also has a kid hidden inside him, and then Lochlin called Aidan names,” Emery said in one go.
”OK, son,” Vincent intervened, ”what exactly did your brother call your cousin?" he asked, thinking that the dispute got out of control big time if the kids…
”He called him Brentano. "Mind your business, Brentano," Lochlin said. So he’d called Aidan names. Not bad names, just names.
The three men exchanged another look, incapable of reacting for a few seconds. Then, they burst into a wild fit of laughter. They laughed so hard, their abs started to hurt, their faces reddened and tears sprang from their eyes. Caught in the moment as they were, none of the men noticed Alastair and Mallory, who was staring at them for a few good seconds.
Catching his breath, Joraan explained the newly arrived men the reason behind his and his partners’ unstoppable laughter, the reaction becoming contagious. Only the apparition of Gerrard, his little face serious and concentrated as ever, put an end to everything. As always, the thirteen-year-old went first to Alastair, greeting and hugging him tightly.
”Hello, grandfather, I missed you so much,” he whispered into the man’s shirt, sighing softly. The bond between the two of them grew tighter by the day, so, even if it was only a week since Alastair visited him and his father, to Gerrard, it seemed like a month.
”I missed you too, dear, dear boy,” the man whispered back, kissing the boy on the top of his head. ”But guess what? Mallory and I are here to stay until Elliott has the baby, and we’ll be living with you.”
Gerrard’s eyes widened, the kid gasping in surprise. ”Wow, great!” Then, frowning a little, he said. ”Sorry, I almost forgot. Liam is in dad’s office with a man I haven’t seen before. They sent me to tell you.”
”Thank you very much, young master Gerrard,” Alastair used the ceremonious language that amused his grandson so much. ”Finally, I will get to know the mysterious man that nephew of mine insists so much I should meet.”
The Stark clan’s patriarch preferred to walk the distance between the mansion and Elliott’s former house, now the residence of his son. Thinking about Rayne, Alastair’s heart swelled with pride. In the short months since he had been appointed the director of the Van der Meerwe Medical Institute for Human Genome Research, the young doctor’s career had evolved spectacularly.
The two works he’d already published drew the attention of the medical world — a lot of reputable scientists backing up his theories with their studies on the subject. Of course, Rayne’s achievements had also met harsh criticism, but, instead of becoming engaged in sterile debates, he preferred to focus on his work, letting the results speak on his behalf.
In spite of his busy schedule, Doctor Stark, as he was known after Alastair officially recognized him, always found time for Gerrard. He was taking the kid on trips or to museums, talking about anything and everything, sharing their dreams and plans. When his son expressed the desire to pursue a career in diplomacy, Rayne wasn’t disappointed, on the contrary, he encouraged Gerrard to follow his dreams, whatever they were.
Lost in his thoughts, Alastair didn’t realize he’d arrived at his destination. Climbing the stairs leading to the spacious patio, he entered into the house, going straight to Rayne’s office, that previously had belonged to Elliott.
”Hello, father, nice to see you again,” the doctor greeted Alastair, hugging him warmly. The former head of the CIA examined his son’s face, finding it a little pale, the bags under his eyes a little too dark. He didn’t comment, though, knowing that Rayne worried over Elliott’s pregnancy, more difficult than his initial estimation. ”Good to see you too, son,” Alastair said, instead. ”You, too, Liam,” he turned to his great-nephew.
”Great-uncle, let me introduce you Elliott and his kids’ guardian angel, Ezra’s protector and Darien’s rescuer, Leon Stanley.”
The man, who by then, was in a partial shadow, stepped into the light, extending his hand. ”It’s an honor to meet you, Colonel,” he said.
”Stanley?! Are you petty officer Stanley’s son? Derek’s little boy?” Unable to mask his emotion, Alastair went next to Leon, examining him from all the possible angles. The same eyes, the same smile, even the hair was the same, long and tied in a loose bun.
”Yes, Colonel Stark, sir, my father was Petty Officer Stanley, Derek A., and he was honored and proud to serve under your command,” Leon saluted his father’s commanding officer.
”What a son he has!” Alastair exclaimed, putting both his hands on the younger man’s shoulders. ”My great-nephew Ezra speaks very highly of you and the time he was in your care.” The redhead checked his watch. ”He and Elizabeth should be here any minute, meeting you will be a delightful surprise for the boy. He’s progressed a lot under his cousin’s care and guidance.”
Alastair gave Leon a tight hug, thanking whatever deity governed the Universe for giving him the chance to have so close to him a piece of his brother in arms. To make things even better, the one who’d rescued, one way or another, four persons close to his heart was none other than Derek’s son.
A soft knock on the door brought Alastair back to reality and, as he let Leon go, the door opened, Ezra stepping inside, Elizabeth hot on his heels. Without saying anything, the kid threw himself in the arms of the man who, for several months, was like an older brother to him, taking care of his scarred body, screwed-up mind, and a shattered soul.
Leon engulfed Ezra in a warm, protective hug, stroking his slightly wavy, pitch black hair with the tips of his fingers. As he held the kid close to him, the man felt him shaking. Frowning, he said to himself that something was still terribly wrong with Ezra, that he was frightened of someone or something, but couldn’t speak about it.
Rayne’s phone started to beep, and, as the doctor looked at the caller’s ID, his eyes darkened, worry shadowing his face. He answered, trying to relax and hoping everything is just a false alarm.
”Hello, Eugene, how did all of you sleep? The doctor listened with great attention, starting to become increasingly alarmed. Something was extremely wrong.
”What do you mean, Elliott hasn’t woken up yet?! Did he stay up late last night? I told you not to... He went to bed earlier than usual and hadn’t woken up yet?” Rayne inhaled sharply, managing to calm himself down. In a matter of seconds, he became the composed doctor, his emotions full under control.
”Listen, Eugene, call Tarquin and Daniel, tell them to come to your place. Try to wake up your husband, as gently as you can. If he doesn’t wake up, though, don’t panic, let him sleep, watch over him, OK? The ambulance from the Institute will be there in no time. I’ll also email my team to get ready.”
”What’s wrong with Elliott?” Leon and Liam asked at the same time, worry etching their faces.
”I think he went into labor, way earlier than I anticipated, almost three weeks in advance, Rayne answered. ”Boys, who of you is the fastest driver? I could use one, high-speed ride,” he looked to both of the men.
”Give me the keys. I’ll drive, Eugene will pay for the speeding tickets,” Liam grinned.
In no time, they were at the institute, the ambulance arriving shortly after. Rayne vanished from sight, leaving all the others behind. Gradually, Claudio and Rosa Brentano, Alastair and Mallory, Martin Cornelius and Christine, Sebastian, Vincent, and Joraan also arr
ived.
All of them encouraged Eugene and prayed for Elliott and the unborn babies. Looking at his best friend and adoptive cousin, Daniel already dreaded the moment when he would give birth, not because of what he would be put through, but for the pain and suffering his dear Tarquin would experience.
The hours passed tortuously slow, and there was still no news about Elliott and the babies, no sound came from the surgery room, nothing except a heavy, uncomfortable silence. Eugene was devastated. Ever since Rayne told him that his husband was carrying triplets and that the pregnancy was if not risky, at least very complicated, he’d taken care of Elliott and his needs even better than before, hoping everything would be all right in the end.
While almost all the Starks and Blooms were gathered around Eugene and his parents in the waiting room of the Van der Meerwe Institute, showing their support, Benjamin, alone in his bedroom at the mansion, was busy planning his next move. He spent the whole morning talking over the phone with his minions, leaving each of them precise instructions.
The man sighed in frustration, feeling how the anger started to boil inside him. However, Benjamin could not afford to let it out, not yet, anyway. Not when there were so many things he had to take care personally. Not because he didn’t trust the minions. Although they also had made several mistakes that jeopardized his carefully devised plan.
No, it was not that. But sending the minions to fight against his nemesis would equal sending an innocent lamb directly under the knife of the butcher. Hidden in the shadows, running his companies with an iron hand, having the support of the most dominant Triads in Hong Kong, the goddamn bastard was seemingly invincible.
Always destroying what took Benjamin years to build, ruining his credibility and undermining his actions, his rival had laughed in his face for years. He should have killed him thirty-five years earlier, when the psycho was nothing more than a snotty five-year-old, staring at his fourteen-year-old cousin engaged in sexual activities with a much younger boy.
The hellish creature instantly knew what it was all about, his dark green eyes cutting through Benjamin like the sharp blade of a Japanese sword. And, for the last ten years, the mad creature was hellbent on making his life a nightmare.
Just thinking about it, Benjamin felt the need to destroy everything around him. Instead, his blood froze at the sight of the little white envelope on the floor. Without any doubt, someone had silently slipped it under the door, the man thought, and it wasn’t the doing of the pathetic teens who lived there.
With shaky hands, the man picked up the envelope and opened it. He stared at the photos, irrefutable evidence of his illegal activities. Activities that placed him in compromising company, wrong places and wrong times. Anyway, it was the little note that made Benjamin lose it. ”Enjoy it while you can, Benny, the time flies. Tick-tock”
Back at the Institute, time continued to pass slowly, too slowly for all those in the waiting room. Suddenly, the sound of a cry put an end to the heavy silence, making Eugene bolt.
”Elliott!” he yelled, fear and pain constricting his chest. ”Please, God, don’t let him die. Don’t let them die,” the man fell to his knees.
”Listen to me, cugino,” Daniel spoke in a soft, yet firm voice, ”nothing bad is going to happen, everything will be just fine. That husband of yours is much stronger than he seems, take my word for it,” the man cast a look full of signification in his own husband’s direction.
A second cry was heard, followed almost immediately by the third, both of them stabbing through Eugene’s heart. After about half an hour, that seemed like an eternity, Rayne appeared from the operating room, looking pale and exhausted. His pregnancy was getting more and more visible by the day, and he already experienced its first effects.
”Congratulations, Eugene,” the doctor smiled tiredly, ”you are now the father of three. One little boy and two tiny girls.”
”What about Elliott? Is he…how did he...” the Detroit don stopped, the words refusing to form and leave his lips.
Your husband is also fine. He did great, better than expected. The anesthetic and the other medicines we administrated make him a little droopy right now, but he will be completely awake in about an hour or so. Did you have time to think about the names?”
”Elliott and I used to joke all the time about him having twins, before you officially confirmed it was triplets, so yes, we picked out the names. Florence and Felicity for the girls, and Elian for the boy.”
Hearing how Eugene was going to name his children, the consigliere went to him, tears in his eyes. ”Grazie, figlio mio,” he said, pulling his son in a warm hug.
”It was all Elliott’s idea. He liked the names of your brother, sister and nonna Felicia very much. You’d told me so much about them,” Eugene smiled through tears.
It was Christine’s turn to congratulate the happy father. Kissing him on the cheek, she smiled brightly. ”Letting you in Elliott’s life was the best decision I’ve ever made,” the young woman said, her eyes shining with happy tears.
”Hey, good people, leave the poor man alone,” Liam said lazily, dragging the words, ”he has some babies and a husband to go see. Run, I’ll cover you,” he grinned.
Eugene didn’t wait to be told again. In a blink of an eye, he was in the room where Elliott lay in bed exhausted, but smiling happily, while he stared in awe at the three tiny bundles in the crib next to him. Touching the damp strands on the blonde's forehead, Eugene gently kissed him. Then, with infinite care, he took the babies in his arms, one by one, placing them on Elliott’s chest.
”Look what you did, my love! They are so precious, and I can’t find the words to describe how much I love all of you” Eugene said, lost in adoration.
”We both did it, husband,” Elliott replied, looking at the face of the one who taught him what it was like to be loved. His rock. His comfort. The father of all of his five children.
They stayed like that, in silence, listening to the peaceful breathing of their babies, feeling the beats of their tiny little hearts. And, surrounded by silence, Eugene and Elliott celebrated - a celebration of love, life, and light.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
M lives with the coolest mom in the Universe and a fat, gay, submissive tomcat. She loves writing stories about boys and men who love, cherish, respect and protect other boys and men.
E.L. is an introverted, single mother and grandmother living with her furbaby Mortimer Mouse in the Rocket City USA. It’s where her love of all things of space history and science is satisfied with the Space and Rocket Center and Marshall Space Flight Center. She hopes one day to see man travel to the stars like in her favorite TV shows of Dr. Who, Firefly and Star Trek. In the meantime she loves to dive into the world of MM books, reading what ever she can get on her Kindle and interacting with her tribe of people on Facebook.
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