“Don’t worry, love. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before--” I don’t finish my sentence, my words cut off as something splashes across my feet and the ground. Ah. Right. Viktor’s water just broke and splashed thoroughly through the little shorts he was wearing.
“Fuck yes!”
I wrinkle my nose at the mess but it doesn’t matter because Viktor is pulling me towards our house, cackling maniacally to himself. I shake my head and follow along.
The two of us hop into the shower. I rub Viktor’s back, starting to time his contractions that have started thanks to his water breaking. He breathes through them so beautifully. He’s so strong. I admire him so much. I am so lucky to call him my mate and our children will be so lucky to call him their father.
“Do you wanna move to the bedroom?”
Viktor wrinkles his nose. “It’s gonna be so messy. I don’t wanna clean that up.”
I kiss his nose. “I’ll clean everything. Don’t worry about that.”
“Don’t wanna move.”
“You don’t have to,” I say softly, holding my mate and smiling. Even now he’s thinking about everyone but himself. “You’re allowed to be selfish.”
“Sounds fake.” He looks up at me. “Maybe I’ll sit in the bath?”
I nod my head and turn the shower off. Then I help Viktor out so I can clean the bath and make sure it’s okay for him to sit in. Once it’s clean and filled with warm water, I help him back inside.
“Oh, this is nice,” he murmurs, tilting his head back against the lip of the tub. He closes his eyes, his body going lax.
While he’s soaking, I hurry to the kitchen, getting some ice chips and some water and some easy snacks. Viktor needs to worry about bringing our baby into the world so it’s my job to take care of him however he needs.
I stack a bunch of towels nearby as I kneel on the floor beside the tub, holding up a cup for Viktor to sip from. He’s sweating and his cheeks are red from the pain but even so, he’s beautiful.
I push Viktor’s hair out of his face, running a cold washcloth over his neck, wiping the sweat from his face. I’m present and available. I encourage him and hold his hand and do everything in my power to make this easier for him.
“Okay,” he says eventually and I don’t know if hours or days have passed, only that Viktor is looking up at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “I think it’s time, Duncan.”
My heart stutters in my chest. I bring my hand to my chest, slamming my necklace against myself. I suck in a breath and I can feel the magic washing over me, steadying my heart, steadying my nerves.
I take Viktor’s hand in my own, giving him a nod. “I’m here.”
“I know you are,” he says with a soft smile. “It hurts so bad.”
“I know, baby, but it’s okay. You can do this. You’re almost done and then you can rest.”
Determination flares in Viktor’s eyes. I wish there was a way to take his pain away. Instead, I hold him as he starts to push.
“That’s it,” I murmur, “just like that, Viktor. Keep going. You’re almost done.”
Viktor lets out a final cry before his body goes slack. I reach into the water, pulling our baby out. I use the towels to wrap them up and wipe the gunk away before holding them up for Viktor to see. His eyes are heavy and he looks exhausted. Despite that, he smiles up at me.
“A little boy,” I say with a grin. Our baby lets out a fierce cry and it might be the most wonderful sound I’ve ever heard. “He’s got a pair of lungs.”
“He’s perfect,” Viktor says with a watery smile. Viktor sits up enough that he can hold our baby while I work getting all the more unpleasant parts of giving birth taken care of like disposing of the afterbirth and cutting the umbilical cord. All the while, Viktor makes sure to keep himself and the baby warm.
Once everything is done, I help Viktor out of the bath and shuffle him into our bedroom. The whole time, he can’t seem to look away from our baby’s face. He’s just as enamored with him as I am with him.
The three of us get into bed, Viktor holding our baby and me holding him. This is perfect. This is everything I didn’t know I wanted or needed in my life.
“Viktor,” I breathe out, overwhelmed with how much he means to me. “You were incredible. You were so strong and so calm. I couldn’t be more proud of you even if I tried.”
Viktor turns his eyes towards me, glistening with unshed tears. “I love you,” he says softly. “The only reason I could handle all of that was because I knew I could lean on you. You are everything to me, Duncan.”
“That works out because you’re everything to me, too.”
