Chapter 29Gavin
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
GAVIN
Taking out the garbage is just an unpleasant chore if you want to keep a tidy home and the smell of rot at bay. Pine Glen is my home, and Alan fits the definition of trash better than most refuse produced by humans. I have a feeling no one is going to miss him, and if they do, they’ll never be able to find him. Looking for him will be a major misuse of time better spent doing literally anything else.
Strange Brew is empty and dark, the door locked when I return. A note taped to the door lets me know Jules has been taken home. Probably by Iolani, Baz and Altair. Callum and Silo would’ve stayed behind to eat—or put away; I can give credit when credit is due—all the leftover food before it spoils.
I unlock the diner door. The bright blue and pink congratulations banner is gone, along with all other signs that a few hours ago we were having a baby shower for Jules. I’m still angry, but mostly hurt for Jules—what was supposed to be a good day and a happy celebration was ruined by a ghost from his past. Alan will never bother him again.
In the employee bathroom, I strip and wash the wet dirt from my hands and arms before changing into a spare set of clothes I keep in my office. I shove my dirty clothes into a bag and pocket my phone and wallet before locking Strange Brew behind me.
The whole way home I speed, fully intending to gather Jules into my arms and ask if he wants to spend some time as a pika. He’s discovered, over the last several months, that as his body has changed he’s more comfortable when he shifts and makes a nest in my hair to sleep or relax.
I like spending that quiet time with him, as a hawk or a human, just existing together. So if he wants I’ll snuggle the shit out of him while I pet the soft spot right behind his ears until he feels better.
Nothing about today has gone like expected.
The house is quiet when I arrive. Baz and Altair are pressed together on the sofa, sharing the same blanket and pretending to watch a nature documentary. About fungi, of all things. They don’t bother to pull away from one another, not since I’m more than aware of their... unbrotherly-like relationship.
Thane thinks only he has problems.
At least his son is sleeping with my son, and not his brother.
“Jules is taking a nap. I think Mom is out back,” Baz says as I kick my shoes off and toss my wallet and keys on the table beside the door.
“Callum?” I ask. The diner was clean and the food was gone when I arrived, so he could’ve come home. Or decided to stay the night with his mate, at Thane’s place.
Baz rolls his eyes. “With Silo.”
I leave them to their... documentary and head down the hallway. The bedroom door is shut and when I open it, I don’t see Jules. But a high-pitched, pained squeak from the corner of the room draws my attention to the massive nest Jules spent the last couple of weeks building.
My heart drops to my stomach and I rush forward, falling to my knees beside the nest and reaching for my mate. He’s on his side, panting for breath with wide, scared eyes. I yank my clothes off, tossing them over my shoulder, unconcerned about where they land.
“It’s okay. I’m here. You’re doing so good.”
He squeaks, a little softer, as his ears flatten against his head. His belly ripples and I suck in a sharp breath, letting the shift roll through me.
Much closer to the ground, with a set of wings and not the best balance when walking, I carefully climb into the nest and settle behind Jules. He pants for breath, his tiny body shaking and shivering under the wing I drape over him.
There isn’t much I can do for him other than be here. This part is all on him. But I brush my beak over the top of his head so he’s not alone. He will never be alone again.
He presses his small body against my ribcage, trembling and pawing at the blankets as he squeaks and pants.
It’s only a minute before he pushes baby number one out.
He had to be waiting for me.
I should have never left him alone, not so close to his due date.
Even if Alan needed to be dealt with, I could’ve dealt with him later.
Jules rolls enough to reach the first baby with a pained chitter. He uses his tiny tongue to work the soft, wet membrane surrounding the hairless and blind pika off before he collapses with another squeak.
The second baby comes just as fast; Jules is exhausted as he works to remove the second membrane and collapses into the nest again.
It breaks my heart that I can’t help when he clearly needs it, but my beak is too sharp, and we agreed early on it’s for the best if I don’t try to assist him during labor; just be present and provide emotional support. I want to do more for him but all I can do is stretch my wing further to cover our babies as they search out and latch onto a swollen nipple.
In a few hours, they will experience their first shift, and Jules and I will make the shift with them. For now, I gently scratch Jules’ fluffy head with my beak. His ears twitch and he closes his eyes before passing out. I don’t sleep—can’t. Instead I watch over him and the babies as the sun sinks towards the horizon.
The second baby to be born is the first to shift. A tiny, hairless boy with plump cheeks and a soft round body.
I catch him on a wing with a wince. Pain radiates through my hollow bones as the boy starts to cry. Jules’ tiny body jerks against mine as he startles awake.
The first baby twitches and shifts with an ear-piercing screech—another boy. This one is just as hairless and plump, and perfect as his brother.
Jules scrambles away from my side. He braces his weight on his hands and knees so not to knock into any of us before reaching for the crying twins. I tuck my wings in and roll away, landing on my back with ten toes, and ten fingers.
“You did amazing.” Tears burn my eyes and I blink several times as Jules settles against the edge of the nest, a baby in each arm.
They each latch onto a nipple.
“We have babies.” He peers down at our sons before his damp eyes meet mine. “You’re a father again. I’m a dad. Holy shit. I’m a dad.”
I laugh and carefully pull him and our babies close. “You’re going to be a great dad.”
“You wanted a girl though.”
“There’s always next time. If that’s something you want.” I press a kiss to his head and reach out to stroke one of the twins’ bald heads.
Pikas are born hairless and blind. They’ll start to grow hair and develop sight in a few weeks.
Jules rests his head on my shoulder with a tired sigh. “You’re going to have your own Little League team.”
“Let’s not go that far.” I comb my fingers through his hair. He’s still tired. He needs proper sleep, in a proper bed, but neither of us will be getting any real sleep for a while.
He presses a kiss to my bare shoulder. “I love you, Gavin Strange.”
“I love you.” I love him, and I love our family. I’ve never been happier.
He shuts his eyes with a tired sigh.
Eventually, I’ll help him into bed and let everyone know, if they don’t already, that our family has officially grown by two. Right now, I’m content to hold my mate and new sons against my side as Jules gets some much-deserved rest.