“And that’s only if you can handle those. If you need me to, I can whip you up a breakfast burrito.” Even if I didn’t want to cook, I would if it meant feeding my mate what he craved.
“No need.” Thomas picked up the menu of his choice. “I think Orange Chicken and pot stickers sound amazing tonight. Can we have an order of egg rolls and a wonton soup?”
“Of course.” I pulled up my phone and went to the restaurant’s app to place the order. The paper menus were helpful when deciding on where to eat, seeing the options laid out in front of you. But for ordering, I preferred the app over actually calling it in. “Just tell me what you want and I’ll get it.”
Once the order was placed, we went back to the couch to wait. Spice curled up in the spot between us.
“So, are you ready to tell me what you’ve been feeling uneasy about?” Thomas grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I know you have been fretting over something, but I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up. I’m done waiting though. So, talk.”
And so, I did.
“I’m worried about you. About what could happen.” I took his hands in mine, and Spice got up and left like he does when his humans get too mushy. “But I know that it’s my issue to resolve and I’m working on that.”
“Is it getting better?” Thomas tilted his head and bit his lip. “I don’t want to quit—”
“I’d never ask that of you.” I ran my finger against his finger. “I know what being a firefighter means to you and I’d never expect you to give that up. That’s why I’m sharing how I feel and am looking for a therapist who specializes in family counseling for rescue workers. Because I want to stop worrying about these things and not let it rot away inside me until it becomes too big to ignore.”
“I wish I knew how to make you feel less anxious.” Thomas sighed. “I know that this job is hard on families.”
“It is, but it’s worth it because it’s what you feel called to do.” I lifted his hands to my mouth and placed a kiss on his knuckles. I will figure out how to stop freaking out every time you go to work. I promise.”
“Hey, at least you have time to adjust to it before I ever see action again. I’m on this admin duty until my paternity leave begins and then will be out of work for about six months. I think we can work this out in that time frame. We’ll do it together.”
“We’ll do it together. Always.”
Chapter Seventeen
Thomas
My stomach felt so tight and full, I was thankful I was carrying an egg and not having a live birth. The fact that I was pregnant with a bear shifter’s offspring meant that I could have had to go through six to eight months of pregnancy. Luckily my dragon genes kicked in and I only had to carry the egg for two months and then wait another six weeks for the hatching. It wasn’t as short as a wolf or fox gestation of two months, but it definitely wasn’t as long as a bear or, goddess forbid, the nearly two years that an elephant shifter suffers through.
“I think it’s time for you to go on paternity leave.” Jason stared hard at my stomach, his eyes squinted. “You look like you are about to pop. I know we have had you on administrative duties around here, filling out the paperwork and making the meals instead of going out on calls, but I really do think it’s about time for you to stay home. Isn’t there a nest you need to build or something? My brother said he had to build one for his pregnancy.”
“Isaac and I have been setting up a nesting area in our bedroom since we first found out this little one was on the way.” I rubbed my stomach, feeling the tightening on a contraction begin. “But I think you might be right about starting my leave.”
“Oh, thank the goddess. I was preparing for a whole argument.” Jason sat down and let out a deep breath. “My brother would have argued with me right up to the moment labor started.”
“Well, the funny thing about that—” A contraction took my ability to speak away.
“Fuck.” Jason jumped up and came to my side, helping me sit in a chair. “You’re having contractions, aren’t you?”
“Ding. Ding. Ding. You win a prize.” I forced the joke out between pants. “Can we skip over the panic part and jump straight to you calling my mate to come get me? I would love to deliver this egg in the comfort of my own home; not have it be known as the firehouse dragonette.”
Isaac didn’t take long to arrive since he was at the bookstore in town buying the newest release by his brother. And the drive home seemed to whirl by in a rush of contractions, box breathing, and telling my baby to stay inside my belly for just a little bit longer.
“Thank you, honey, for getting us home in time.” I lay down in the nest we had built in the corner of our bedroom. Several quilted blankets, fluffy and soft pillows, and colorful stuffed animals surrounded me. “I didn’t want to end up like one of those omegas who end up giving birth in a car or on the side of the road.”
“That’s my job, getting my mate home to have our baby in comfort.” Isaac helped me undress so that we could deliver the egg easier. “Now, we just need to help get the egg out through the omega line and keep it warm.”
“Did you call the midwife?” I closed my eyes as I experienced one of the worse pains yet. “Ryver said that he would be available anytime this week to help us through the birthing process.”
“He’s on his way, but he told me to be prepared to assist you if the labor progresses faster than it takes him to get here.” Isaac examined the stretched and red omega line that already showed signs of separating. “Hopefully he will make it on time, but if not, I do have a little experience with the process. Although they were live births, I am sure that it’s similar with birthing the egg. And I know what to look out for in case we need to rush to the hospital for an emergency assist from the medical team.”
“I don’t think we’ll need that.” I was glad that the hospital was only a block from my apartment though. It made me lessnervous about trying a home birth. “Can you just hold me for a few minutes while we wait for Ryver?”
“Definitely can do that.” Isaac maneuvered around so that I was lying against him, his arms wrapped around me and his hands rubbing my swollen belly. “How’s that? Are you comfortable enough?”
“Perfect.” I leaned into his body, feeling the energetic strength of our mate bond. Some of the pain was transferred from me to him through our bond, and I felt my body relax a bit.
