“I won’t complain,” Malachi replied.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” Alfie sniffled, “I know I’ve been such a cow these past few weeks.”
Malachi lifted Alfie gently and sat down with his mate in his lap.
“Don’t say that, love. You’re pregnant with our baby.” He placed a kiss on Alfie’s cheek. “And you’re absolutely perfect.”
“I love you.” Alfie sighed and snuggled into his body. It was less than five minutes until his mate’s breathing evened out.
* * *
Chi had carriedAlfie up to bed and let him sleep until his papa called that he was on his way to the clinic and would meet them there.
Malachi placed a hand on his mate’s back. “Love, it’s time to go.”
Alfie snuffled but didn’t wake up. Malachi chuckled and went for a surefire way to wake his mate up. He went on his knees and leaned forward and sealed his lips to his mate’s.
It took a second before Alfie responded. He groaned into Malachi’s mouth and his hands went around his neck.
“My favourite way to wake up,” Alfie sighed into his mouth.
“We have an appointment with papa. Come on, love. I’ll help you get ready.”
Alfie sighed. “I feel better, though. I think I can manage, but I do need to pee.”
“Good.” Malachi let out a relieved sigh. “I have some crackers and Sprite for you.”
“I think Cam said I should have orange juice,” Alfie said. He sat up in bed and stretched, then swung his legs around and got out of bed. When Alfie stretched, Chi couldn’t help but take in the lines of his mate’s body. Even though he’d lost a little weight, he still looked perfect. Still, Chi hoped they would get good news from his papa and hopefully the nausea had finally stopped.
Alfie got dressed and came downstairs, and Chi handed him some crackers, fig rolls, and peanut butter. Apparently, that was what he was in the mood for.
He grabbed a Tupperware bowl and poured the plate Chi had prepared into it, and went to the fridge where he grabbed three juice boxes of orange juice and handed them to Malachi.
His mate then turned around and pulled one more out, unwrapped the straw and stuck it in the carton, and began sucking.
“Okay. Ready when you are,” Alfie said, before finishing the rest of his orange juice.
* * *
He hoveredover his mate as he lay spread out on the exam table while his papa spread slimy blue stuff over his small baby bump. He couldn’t help but smile at how adorable it looked.
He couldn’t wait to meet their little one, but Chi also hoped that the constant morning sickness was done. Although as he’d learned, morning sickness was a misnomer since it was basically all day.
“Alright, boys, are you ready to meet your little one?” His papa was smiling just as hard as they were.
“Alfie, sweetie, you’re halfway through, so if both of you want, we can see the gender today.” His papa’s voice was excited, and Chi knew if they decided not to find out the sex of the baby, his dad’s ears would be talked off by his papa.
His papa grabbed the handheld wand device and began to run it over Alfie’s baby bump, his eyes fixed on the ultrasound display screen.
Alfie smiled at the whooshing sound as their baby’s rapidly beating heart filled the room. Malachi felt his eyes water at the sound. He threaded his fingers through Alfie’s, needing the connection with his mate in that moment.
It was their second time hearing it, but it still took his breath away. Hearing their child’s heartbeat was a gift he never took for granted. Malachi was lucky he worked with his brothers and that his papa was a doctor.
He couldn’t imagine missing any of this, even designing and decorating the nursery. Although between Axel and his papa, he was basically a joiner, putting things together as they were delivered.
The image of their child came on the screen. “That’s our baby!” Alfie’s voice was filled with awe.
Malachi took a step closer to the machine for a better view.
