Chapter 26
The day had come.
Finally, the six months were complete.
They were having their baby today.
Theo had noticed that something felt off with Liam, how he was tensing every couple hours, hand going to his stomach. Theo had raised his eyebrows, but Liam waved him off, telling him that it was just because his due date was in a week, he was just feeling it early.
Theo had jut nodded, continuing on with making lunch, but still couldn’t get it out of his head. Something was definitely off, and he was going to figure it out.
Derek, Stiles, Brett, Mason, Corey, Lily, Lauren, and Katherine were all coming over for lunch, Theo making a pasta dish and some garlic bread. He figured it would be easy on the eyes and the stomach, and he would be able to get everyone sated for the time being. Liam opened the door for everyone, giving them soft smiles and hugs, one hand staying over his bump. Theo came up behind him while the pasta and sauce cooled, wrapping his arms around him from behind, hands going over the bump as well. He smiled at Katherine and Lauren, Lily wrapping herself around Liam’s leg. He looked up when Mason arrived, Mason making grabby hands for Liam, and Liam giggling, opening his arms.
Mason hugged him close.
“I don’t care how close you are with Brett. You are making him and I both the godfathers of this child, and you cannot change my mind.” He said, and Liam just laughed, nodding.
“Of course. Our baby girl will have so many dads it’s not even funny.” He said, and Theo agreed. She’d be well protected and cared for.
“Bubba?” Lily asked from the ground, looking up at Liam.
“Yes, bear?” He asked, getting down to her level carefully.
“Are you gonna forget ‘bout me?” She asked, her eyes filling with tears.
“No, no! Of course not, bear. I could never forget about you.” He said, and Theo smiled a little when she gave him a big hug, tiny arms squeezing around his neck.
Lauren cleared her throat, and Theo looked at her, shoulders tensing. She rose an eyebrow, and just pulled him in for a hug.
“Thank you.” Is all she said.
He nodded, Katherine patting him on the shoulder, walking with her.
He looked up when the last car arrived, Brett and Corey stepping out. He tensed again at the sight of Brett, but the Alpha put his hands up, basically saying that he wasn’t going to do anything. He relaxed a bit, greeting Corey with a smile. Corey smiled back, heading over to Mason, grabbing him by the waist and turning him around. Mason smiled and kissed him, wrapping his arms around his neck.
Theo smiled a bit, turning back to Liam, and finding Brett helping him up, Lily attaching herself to his leg. He frowned, but understood. Brett had been with Liam longer, known him longer, and he was just the guy knocking Liam up (Lauren’s words once, not his).
“Baby, Brett said he had something for you?” Liam asked, looking between them.
Theo just nodded and smiled.
“Yeah, he did, I totally forgot. Let’s go, man.” He said, and Brett nodded, walking with him down to the walkway of the garden.
“You didn’t need to show me something, did you.” Theo said, and Brett shook his head, taking a deep breath.
“I just… wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night. It wasn’t right. Liam is your mate, and he’s having a kid with you. My Alpha instincts are still there with him, but I’m working on it.” He said, and Theo nodded.
“Thank you, Brett. That means a lot.”
“I uh, also wanted to tell you… I’m moving away. Across the country. To France.” He said. Theo nodded again. He wasn’t worried, but he knew Liam would be heartbroken.
“Liam—”
“I know. I’m going to talk to him after lunch.” Brett said.
“Okay.”
And they left it at that.
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Lunch had been a good affair, everyone smiling and laughing, throwing around jokes, telling stories. It was fun.
Theo watched Brett and Liam step out, go upstairs into one of the bedrooms.
It had been silent, the only sounds Theo could hear were murmuring, then it had turned to crying. He sighed softly, putting his napkin down, getting up and walking to the room. Stiles was right there with him, and he raised an eyebrow.
“What? Liam’s my little brother. Fuck off, Theo.” He said, and Theo just rolled his eyes.
Both of them made their way to the bedroom, cracking the door to see Brett holding Liam on the floor, in his lap, with his face pressed against his chest.
“I know, I know… but think of everyone you have here. Think of the life you have now.” Brett whispered, and Liam looked up at him.
“I love everyone and everything here, but I need you to stay to complete that mold, B. I need you here.” He said, his voice getting choked up.
Theo felt his heart clench, and he could tell it had the same effect on Brett, the Alpha bringing Liam closer, holding the back of his head with his hand, pressing his face gently into his chest.
Stiles grabbed Theo’s arm pulling him back into the hallway, and they both walked back to the dining room, sitting down in their respective places. They nodded to one another, both going back to finishing their food.
Liam and Brett came down about ten minutes later, Brett holding Liam’s hand. Theo didn’t tense this time though. He knew the nature of their relationship, and he knew nothing was going to happen. He smiled softly at Liam who gave him a watery one back, sitting down and pulling his garlic bread closer to him. He looked over at Brett who was wiping his eyes, and pulling his phone out.
Maybe he’d stay. For Liam and their baby girl.
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Mason and Corey offered to do the dishes, but Theo knew they just wanted alone time with one another. He just smiled and let them go at it, not really caring at the moment. He had his baby to take care of now.
He went to the couch where Liam was laying with Brett, and placed himself by Liam’s feet, running a soothing hand up and down his calf. Liam gave him a tiny smile, but kept his head on Brett’s chest.
Theo turned on the TV, and they all found a series of movies to watch. Their bellies were full, and they were all relaxed.
Today was going to be a good day. Theo just knew it.
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Dinner rolled around quick, Theo not knowing what to make. He had only gotten as far as lunch. Liam had stood, one hand on his belly, other hand steadying him against the side of the couch.
“I’ll go make some of that grilled chicken and wild rice.” He said, and Theo hopped up, following him into the kitchen, grabbing the ingredients they would need.
Liam stuttered a little in his steps, hand going right to his belly, his face contorted into a grimace. Theo set the seasonings down, and the chicken, going over and putting a hand over Liam’s belly. Liam just looked at him, a small reassuring smile.
“I’m alright. Don’t even worry about it..” He said. Theo just deadpanned him, raising an eyebrow.
Liam just shrugged, continuing to get pots and pans, pulling the chicken out.
It was halfway through making the food when he smelt it. All the wolves could smell it.
Immediately, the kitchen was flooded with Brett, Derek, and Theo, eyes all directed at Liam’s now soaked pants.
“Oh, fuck.” Liam whispered.
Theo didn’t know what to say or do. He couldn’t move. It seemed that Brett couldn’t either. It was Stiles who pushed through, grabbing towels, walking Liam to the cars. Stiles had somehow managed to get a nurse on the phone. Theo and all of them managed to make their brains start working, all of the Alpha’s setting out to get to the car. Theo and Brett in the back with Liam, Derek and Stiles up front.
Everyone was in a panic, talking and yelling over one another, all asking too many questions. Liam was crying, eyes squeezing shut, hands clenching themselves into the seat. Theo took one, and Brett took the other, draining a bit of pain. They knew it was dangerous to take too much at one time, so they both took turns taking little by little.
They ended up at the hospital sometime later, Liam crying even harder now.
“It’s okay, baby, you’re going to be okay.” He tried to soothe, but Liam just looked at him.
“You don’t have a fucking child trying to push themselves out of you!” He said, and Theo nodded. Fair.
“Li, you need to take deep breaths.” Brett said, and Liam sent him a look too.
“Fuck off, Talbot.” He said, and Brett raised an eyebrow, getting eye level with him.
“You’re the one who said he didn’t want me to leave, not for anything. So I’m not going to.” He said, and Liam just closed his eyes, groaning at another contraction.
A nurse came and got them, getting Liam to one of the rooms, helping him into a hospital gown. Liam winced at a lot of it, hand grabbing Theo’s the whole time. He actually growled at the nurse when she moved Liam too fast.
“Sorry, sir.” She said, helping Liam down onto the bed.
They measured his contractions, all of them getting closer and closer together as the hours went on.
Then, Liam went into labor.
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“I fucking hate you!” He sobbed, and Theo smiled softly.
“I love you too.” He said.
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“Oh my god, my vagina is ripping into two.”
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“Brett, I swear to god, now is not the time to be throwing up.”
Theo laughed a little, but shut his mouth the minute Liam looked at him.
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Leila Marie Raeken.
Seven pounds, Four ounces.
Mop of dark brown hair, and bright blue eyes.
She looked up at Liam, her little eyes filled with so much love and care, Theo had to stop himself from crying.
“Hi, sweet girl…” Liam whispered. Theo stood next to them, watching as everyone entered the room.
He looked around at all of the faces standing before them.
Katherine.
Lauren.
Lily.
Brett.
Stiles.
Derek.
Liam.
Leila.
Himself.
His home. His family.
Family.