Epilogue
Epilouge
Rowan
Last year during the off season, I took extra jobs in order to pad my bank account and afford my college tuition.
I worked at the rink in the pro-shop during open skate, I did work around the marketing office, and I even drove the Zamboni for open skate and team practices.
Plus, there was the occasional event I went to as the actual mascot. I kept busy.
This year... I got big. Really big. So big that putting on my costume wasn’t happening.
Reid kept busy with coach things. He reviewed a lot of games, kept vigorous notes, worked endlessly with Evan and Mario on new strategies and plays. It was amazing to me just how much there was for him to do on the off season.
That didn’t stop him from doting on me. A lot. Non-stop.
So much so that I… maybe, kind of, sort of…
got tired of it. Not that I would ever tell him that.
I loved the attention, and I did my best to make sure Reid was taken care of also.
I learned to make his favorite smoothies, and I noticed that on Thursdays he was slower to get out of bed in the morning, so I got up and made his breakfast and prepared coffee for him.
But in the last few days, he had turned a corner. A very protective corner.
I was due in two days, and perhaps I would miss all the attention he showered me with.
Then again, I had a feeling he wouldn’t stop once the baby was born.
He was already making plans for us to have a housekeeper come in twice a week, and also, he hired a personal chef so that we would have meals ready for us.
It was a little over the top, but then I tasted Chef Mac’s meals, and I was on board.
I closed my laptop and sat back. I’d officially turned in my last assignment for school, handed off all my work to the marketing team, and I was now on extended omega leave.
For as much as the league could do more to be welcoming to omegas, they did offer a good leave program.
Since I qualified as a full-time employee, I got twelve weeks paid leave, and Reid did as well.
He would take some time off, but I doubted it would be the full twelve weeks.
Pre-season started in sixteen weeks, and there was a lot of work to do.
I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes.
Before I knew it, Reid was there behind me, running his hands down my chest and over my belly.
The baby responded with a resounding kick.
My body hummed with pleasure at having my alpha’s hands on me.
“How was your day?” I asked.
“Too long,” he said and kissed my neck. “Did you get all your work turned in?”
I nodded.
His hands rubbed over my belly in the way that he always did. He never seemed to tire of having his hands on me. Neither did I.
“Do you need anything? I can get you water, or juice, or those crackers you like lately?”
I shook my head. “I’m fi—” There was a weird tug between my legs and then a gush of liquid. “What the fuck?”
Reid went on high alert. “What? What is it?” Panic filled his voice.
“Oh, fuck, I think my water broke.”
For some reason I wasn’t expecting that.
I thought I’d go into labor with contractions that started slowly, and then I’d time them casually, at home, while relaxing, and we’d go to the hospital when they got close enough together.
Right now, I wasn’t even feeling any contractions!
If it weren’t for the weird warm sensation between my legs, I’d just be sitting here relaxing.
Instead, I was leaking fluid on the couch.
I went to stand, but Reid put a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll carry you.” The quiver of panic in his voice was unrecognizable. This was a man cool under fire in all circumstances. Except for this one, I guess.
He leaped over the couch as if he couldn’t bear to waste a few seconds walking around it, then he swept me into his arms.
“Reid! I can walk!”
“I know you can, kitten, but let me do this.”
I didn’t have the energy to argue. Apparently, I was going to have a baby today. I let him carry me to the car and set me in the passenger seat. We’d already put the suitcase we needed in the back. Reid had insisted on being ready weeks ago.
The drive to the hospital was quick. I kept waiting for the contractions to start, and Reid kept asking me if I was in any pain. I was not.
When the building came into view, it hit me just how much our life was going to change. The last nine months had been such a whirlwind. Having a family had felt so far into the future just a year ago, and now it was within my grasp.
“I love you,” I said. “Some days I can’t believe you’re mine.”
Reid smiled at me. “I feel the same. Some days I kick myself for not taking you up on your offer all those years ago. We could have had so much more time together.”
“Let’s go meet our baby,” I said.
***
Twenty-four hours later, Hunter Reid Garrison entered world. My labor pains hadn’t started in full force until several hours into the “labor” itself. But now I had my beautiful son on my chest. He slept peacefully; meanwhile, my heart hadn’t slowed.
“He’s here,” I said, and tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my vision. I couldn’t help myself. I was so happy.
Reid was next to me, leaning most of the way on the bed with us. “He is perfect. You did so well. I’m so proud of you.”
“I love him so much,” I said and hiccupped a sob. The tears were coming on strong now. This was the most perfect moment. My alpha, my child, my whole life right in my arms, surrounding me with their love. “Thank you for giving him to me, Reid. I love you.”
He kissed my cheek and brushed away my tears with the backs of his fingers. “I love you, my omega.”
“Just think, his team will be winning the cup his very first year in the world,” I said.
Reid laughed. “Kitten, you’ll jinx us with talk like that.”
“No, I won’t. An omega can dream. You taught me that.”
“What are you dreaming for now?” Reid brushed the hair from my forehead and kissed me there.
I sighed. “Nothing. I think I have my hat trick. You, me, and Hunter.”