Chapter 22
PREGNANCY
It took a while to sink in. “I... smell different?”
Aaren sniffed at himself, especially his underarms. Was it him, or did he catch a whiff of honey?
“You smell like honey, on top of the tulip scent,” Hades murmured, his head tucked in close.
There was no mistaking what that meant. Only pregnant omegas had an extra honey scent layered over their own floral scent.
“Oh gods,” Aaren said, his stomach dropping. “I’m still not ready to think about this.”
There might be a baby inside me. Oh gods, oh gods. What am I going to do?
“Aaren,” Hades murmured, rubbing Aaren’s back. “Remember, everything will be okay no matter what you choose.”
“But what if I fuck everything up no matter what?” Panic edged into Aaren’s voice.
“You won’t. Even if there were trouble, I’ll be here to help. It won’t ever become too terrible.”
That sounded like a lot to promise. All the same, Hades’ gaze was steady, his offer so reassuring that Aaren leaned into him.
“Do you want to take a test today?” Hades asked.
Aaren’s heart jolted. “Oh gods. Um.”
“What if we get a few kits just to have on hand? You don’t have to do them today. Just whenever you’d like.” Hades rubbed his back.
“Okay,” Aaren said slowly, breathing in and out. “Probably better to find out sooner than later.”
Hades brought Aaren to a drugstore, picking up three different brands of pregnancy test kits and ringing them up at the counter. Aaren couldn’t help blushing at the cashier’s curious look; he tucked himself against Hades and stared at the floor.
Hades kept his arm around Aaren, guiding him out of the store. “One last stop.”
“I thought the lawyer was our only stop?”
“Cookie. You’re doing really well, and I think you deserve a reward.”
Aaren’s heart skipped. “Okay.”
They stopped by Ben’s Buns, a bakery with butt-shaped buns decorating the shopfront. Hades asked Aaren to pick out a few butt-shaped cookies; and when they had been paid for and tucked into a paper bag, he gave them all to Aaren.
“Don’t you want any?” Aaren asked.
Hades shrugged. “I bought them for you.”
Aaren pulled out the most delicious-looking cookie, the dark chocolate one with extra chocolate chips, and handed it to Hades.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” Hades grinned, breaking it in half and giving a piece back to Aaren.
The cookie was every bit as amazing as it looked. Aaren whimpered, trying to eat his half as slowly as he could.
“C’mon, let’s go home and get you ready for work,” Hades murmured, his mouth full of cookie. “Maybe you might even squeeze in a tiny nap.”
“I love naps,” Aaren said. He hadn’t quite recovered from his cold; he was still feeling kind of fatigued.
He napped in Hades’ car and woke up when they parked in the driveway. Plastic rustled on his lap.
For a moment, Aaren didn’t remember what he was holding.
Then it sank in: Pregnancy test kits. His stomach dropped.
“We should just get it over with,” he decided.
Hades nodded, jogging over to open the passenger door before Aaren could.
“I can open it myself,” Aaren grumbled. He snuggled into Hades’ side anyway, clinging to him as they made their way into the house.
Hades was the one who opened all the kits and read their instructions. He stood with Aaren in front of the toilet, holding three unwrapped test sticks. “In case of a false reading. Anytime you’re ready.”
“This feels really weird,” Aaren said with his pants down.
Hades shrugged. “I helped you with the bathroom when you were down with fever. This isn’t much different.”
He’d seen inside Aaren’s ass, seen Aaren at his grossest, and he was still sticking around.
“Okay,” Aaren said, and peed.
Actually, it was a painless process. Since Hades was the one tracking the time, all Aaren had to do was straighten his clothes and sit on the bathroom counter.
“Are you nervous?” Aaren blurted.
Hades wet his lips. “A little.” At Aaren’s raised eyebrows, he sighed sheepishly. “Okay, more than a little. This... could be a huge change. I had not imagined a child in my future.”
“Me neither,” Aaren said, all the possibilities unfurling before him. Baby? Or no baby? “I’m not gonna think about this ‘til we see some results.” He held Hades’ hand; Hades squeezed his in return. “I think you’d be a great dad though. You take such good care of me.”
Hades opened and closed his mouth, looking torn.
Then his phone alarm went off. Both of them jumped. Aaren immediately looked down.
Two lines.
He looked at the other kits just in case. Both had two lines too.
I’m pregnant, Aaren thought. Oh gods, I’m pregnant.
There’s a baby in my belly.
“Oh gods,” Aaren breathed, horrified. “Why would anyone trust me to be a dad?”
“I would,” Hades said. When Aaren looked up, he found Hades still looking torn, his gaze intense. Hades gathered Aaren into his arms and hugged him tightly. Was he happy about this? Sad? Aaren wrapped his arms around his alpha, hiding his face in Hades’ chest.
For a while, all they did was breathe.
“I feel like I should be doing something right now,” Aaren blurted. “Run around screaming myself silly. Check if I’m dreaming. Or hallucinating. Oh gods.”
“You’re not dreaming. This isn’t a hallucination. Otherwise, I’m dreaming right along with you.” Hades leaned back slightly, looking down at the curve of Aaren’s belly. He covered it with his large hand.
“You don’t have to decide what to do right now,” Hades said. “Think about it carefully. There’s time. If you decide to keep the baby, I think you’ll do great. Know why I say that? It’s because you try your best at work; you treat people with kindness. Even the ones who don’t deserve it.”
Aaren jolted at the reminder—Ballus.
Terrible, insensitive, abrasive Ballus, who cared about himself and not Aaren. Aaren really, really did not want to bring his vulnerable belly anywhere near that jerk. Not that Ballus had hit him so far, but... “I guess I’m sleeping over for the foreseeable future.”
Hades rumbled, rubbing Aaren’s back. “We’ll have to start moving the rest of your things home.”
“I already have my most important things.”
“Good, good. We can get everything else you need; let me be the one to buy them for you.” Hades gave him a sharp smile.
Aaren bobbed his head. “Okay.”
“Tell me if you have any cravings, okay? Or any symptoms that I can help with. This is my fault too. I want to help.”
More nodding. How many other alphas would even offer this much, when their omega was pregnant?
Aaren wriggled his fingers under Hades’, staring at his belly. Am I keeping the baby?
Suddenly, he realized that this wasn’t just any baby. It was Hades’. And Hades had not looked at Aaren’s belly with anything like revulsion.
In fact, Hades kept touching Aaren’s belly like he couldn’t take his eyes away from it.
Hades wanted the baby.
And so Aaren had to keep it.
“Think about this carefully,” Hades said firmly; it was clear that he wasn’t trying to pressure Aaren into a decision, one way or another.
Aaren looked up at him, his throat tight. “I’m—I’m keeping it.”
Hades’ eyes grew round. It was possibly the most surprised he’d ever seen his alpha.
“Y-You are?” Hades said breathlessly, leaning closer.
Aaren nodded. Of all the different choices he could make, this was the path that lit up the most brightly. “I’m still scared, though.”
“Same here. We’ll be in this together,” Hades promised, squeezing Aaren’s hands.
“I trust you,” Aaren said.
Something must’ve shown on his face when he walked into the Wine Shack.
“Aaren?” Olson squinted at him.
“Yes?” Aaren tried to look innocent.
Olson came out from behind the bar, putting his hands on Aaren’s shoulders. He peered at Aaren’s face. Then he sniffed, and his eyes widened. Olson cycled through a few expressions then: Shock, exasperation, maybe a hint of anger. “Did Hades do anything to you, that you didn’t want him to?”
Aaren shook his head. “He’s fine. We, um.”
Olson relaxed slightly. “You know, right?”
About the pregnancy, Olson didn’t say aloud.
Aaren’s heart kicked. “Yeah.”
At that, Olson sighed. “Gods, what am I going to do with all of you? Meeting alphas and having babies.”
“So did you,” Aaren pointed out helpfully.
Olson laughed. “So did I.” Then he focused his laser-sharp gaze on Aaren. “How are you feeling?”
“It’s kind of unreal,” Aaren whispered. “Like maybe I’ve got an alien baby growing inside me, but it’s Hades’.”
His boss snorted. “And your... to-be ex? What are you going to do about him?”
“We’re working on it. Hades doesn’t want me to go back.”
“Yeah, none of us wants you with him. So you’re moving in with Hades for real?”
Aaren blushed and ducked his head. “Seems like it.”
“Good.” Olson gave him a quick hug. More quietly, “Congrats.”
Emmy sidled up to them, all wide-eyed and bouncy. “Aarey! What’s going on? Did you kick the rotten jellyfish to the curb?”
“Not yet, we’re working on it,” Aaren said. He couldn’t help touching his belly though. Why didn’t it feel different? Despite the world-changing news he’d received, his belly felt the same as it did yesterday.
Emmy zeroed in on that.
“Oh boy,” Olson muttered.
“Aaren,” Emmy gasped, his eyes almost falling out of his head. “Does that mean what I think it means?”
Aaren blushed and nodded at Emmy.
“No pickup lines in here, please,” Olson said hurriedly.
Emmy squealed. “I’m gonna send your alpha a book of pickup lines. There’s some for pregnancy in there.”
Aaren’s eyes grew round. “You have pregnancy pickup lines?”
“Of course!” Emmy said.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Olson said, stepping away. “Please don’t chase away my customers.”
Emmy threw his arm around Aaren’s shoulders and tugged him into the kitchen, his tone turning secretive. “Give me your alpha’s phone number. I’ll send him some emergency pickup lines.”
Curious, Aaren told him Hades’ number. Emmy whipped out his phone and opened a new message. Over Emmy’s shoulder, Aaren watched as his friend began to text his alpha.
Emmy
HI HI HI AARENS ALPHA
Hades
Who is this?
Emmy
THIS IS EMMY
YOU NEED HELP
WITH PICKUP LINES
Hades
Hi, Emmy. I... appreciate it.
Emmy
i will give you all the pregnancy pickup lines they will help you win aarens butt so many times
if you use them with the butt blessings aarens butt will blossom like a flower
Hades
As long as they keep his butt safe and unharmed, sure.
Do I want to know what butt blessings are?
Emmy
i will give aaren some to give you
you should put up them in every doorway in your house
Aaren gasped. “Every doorway?”
Emmy ducked behind the bar and emerged with some colorful squares of paper. He produced two markers too. “Here, let’s make butt blessings.”
“I hired you to work,” Olson yelled into the kitchen.
“But this is a butt blessing emergency!” Emmy yelled back. “Aaren’s butt needs to be blessed!”
Olson sighed very loudly. “Three minutes.”
Emmy cheered. He thrust a marker and some paper squares at Aaren. “C’mon, hurry! Draw them!”
Aaren had seen Emmy’s butt blessings before, so it wasn’t too difficult to start drawing the crude cock and balls on each paper square. Aaren added wrinkles and hair to the balls like what Emmy was doing.
When they were done, Emmy clutched his paper squares and raised them above his head. Aaren copied him.
“Follow me.” Emmy looked up and waved the paper squares through the air. “Oh dick gods, oh butt gods, give us your creamiest blessings to fill Aaren’s life and his alpha’s too. May they have many butts full of blessings.”
Aaren repeated what Emmy had said, waving his own squares through the air.
Emmy made several loud sucking sounds.
“There!” he said brightly, giving his squares to Aaren. “Now they’ve sucked in all the good dick juju. Remember, put them in every doorway. Right above your head so it can jizz blessings down on you. Put one above your bed too.”
Aaren’s heart leaped. “Thank you Emmy!”
“Of course! Now, I’ll write you and your alpha some special pickup lines,” Emmy said. He picked up his phone and began typing.
Emmy
i gave aarey some butt blessings
time for your pickup lines!!!
aaren will love them completely and his butt will blossom like a rose for you
have you fucked roses before?
Hades
Wtf?
Emmy
have you put your love cucumber into a flower before???? pollinate it and give it your innocent manly dew drops
Aaren could just imagine Hades staring at Emmy’s texts, struck speechless. He giggled. “I don’t think he’s fucked flowers before. But maybe someday he’ll want to try?”
Emmy gasped.
Emmy
aarey says youve never fucked a flower before
youre missing out
its ok aarens butt is better anyway
Hades
Is Aaren there with you?
Emmy
yes but shhh im writing you pickup lines!!!!!
Aaren felt his own phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out, holding his breath.
ESC
So... flower fucking?
Aaren
Omg that was not my idea!
ESC
I would decorate you with flowers though. Maybe some petals to go with the lace next time?
Aaren
I like
Emmy gave me some butt blessings to put up around your house. Do you want to? He says they should go in the doorways and above the bed
ESC
Sure.
Aaren
Really?? Even the one above the bed?
ESC
I don’t see why not.
Aaren
You’re the best (smiley emoji)
ESC
You’re the best, sweetheart.
Aaren barely had time to feel all warm and squishy inside. Emmy crowed, waving his phone in the air. “Sent!”
Aaren caught Emmy’s hand to bring his phone closer, to see what he had sent to Hades.
Emmy
Your belly is round with the love and man seed I have stuffed inside. It’s round like the moon pulling on the tides to give the Earth a wedgie. That is how you know we were meant to be together. When my love rod wedgie goes between the round moon globes of your ass like a divine intervention.
Hades
Okay...
Emmy
Your belly is like a crystal ball. In it I can see our future.
It’s full of foggy tentacles that will hug you and suck out your brains.
But I will save you with my love sword and wash them away with a flood of my creamy dewdrops.
I will beat our victory song on the drum of your belly with my love drumstick.
Hades
I appreciate your contributions.
“See! He’s gonna use them!” Emmy crowed.
Olson poked his head back into the kitchen, eyes narrowed. “What did you do now, Emmy?”
“I gave Aaren’s alpha some pregnancy pickup lines,” Emmy whispered loudly. “They’re in the book I’m writing, 699 Pickup Lines For Your Wriggly Heart Muffin.” He waved his phone at Olson. “Look! Won’t they drop your panties too?”
Olson scanned the texts and pursed his lips. “They’re... very enlightening. Please don’t give them to Rex.”
Emmy gasped. “Of course not! I will write new ones for your alpha!”
Olson groaned and turned away, but his shoulders were shaking with laughter.
“You’re a good friend, Emmy,” Aaren said.
“Of course!” Emmy beamed. “Now, do you want to know how to spice up your sex life?”