Chapter 17
Aweek later, Walker’s unit finally got back to base. The barracks were quieter than usual for a Friday night. Most of the guys were down at the smoke pit or trying to sweet-talk someone on FaceTime.
Walker sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. No calls or emails from Fernando for a full week. The faint echo of boots in the hallway came and went.
“Gunny talked to you yet?” Pug asked from his own spot sprawled across Walker’s bed.
“Yeah,” Walker said. “He brought up the bonus.”
Pug huffed. “They’re throwing numbers at me too, and acting like I’m crazy for even thinking about getting out.”
Walker glanced at him. “You are thinking about it?”
Pug finally sat up. “Yeah. I am.” He rubbed his hands together like he was trying to warm them. “Eight years, man. I missed my sister’s wedding. My dad’s surgery. I don’t even know what my nephew’s favorite color is.”
Walker nodded slowly. “Blue. It’s always blue.”
Pug gave a weak laugh. “You know what I mean.”
Outside, someone shouted, and a door slammed. The building settled again into a humming, fluorescent stillness.
“They keep talking about career,” Pug went on. “About picking up staff, about twenty years, and a pension. I don’t know.”
Walker looked down at his phone again. “I joined at eighteen. Thought I’d do four and bounce. Then it turned into this.”
“So what changed?”
Walker was quiet for a long moment. “Fernando and I went to visit his family. They’re… I don’t even know how to describe it. It was really nice.”
Pug sat up and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You thinking about moving there?”
“Yeah.” Pug finally met his eyes. “We are.” The words hung between them, and Walker couldn’t help but feel disloyal. He had put off telling Pug for weeks now.
“You feel guilty?” Pug asked, eyes soft.
“Every day,” Walker admitted. “I feel like I’m quitting on the guys, and I owe the Corps more than what I’ve given.”
Pug nodded. “That’s what gets me. You start to think leaving means you didn’t love it enough.”
Walker shook his head. “I love it. I just don’t want it to be my whole life.”
Pug breathed out slowly. “I got accepted to a university back home. Mechanical engineering. I didn’t tell anyone here.”
Walker blinked. “You serious?”
“Yeah.”
Walker grinned. “You’re going to be the only guy in class who knows how to field-strip a rifle.”
Pug smirked. “That will be real useful in Calculus.”
They both laughed.
“Whatever you do,” Walker said, quietly holding out his hand, “you’re still my brother.”
Pug clasped it, grip firm and familiar. “Same.”
They stood there for a second longer than usual. Outside, someone started up a truck in the parking lot. Life moved forward, with or without them.
“You scared?” Pug asked.
“Terrified.”
Pug nodded. “Yeah. Me too.” He let go of Walker’s hand and stood up. “Let’s go see your omega. I’ve missed Beans, and your apartment is better than here.”
Walker grinned again and agreed. A moment later, he was on the road, Pug following his bike in his truck. Soon enough, the neighborhood rolled past, and he kept it easy, shifting smoothly, letting the road carry him home to Fernando.
Soon, they stood in front of the apartment door as Fernando unlocked it. The front door clicked shut with a soft thud, and Walker immediately heard it. Music swelled dramatically from the living room.
“Hmm.” Walker dropped his keys into the bowl by the entryway. It wasn’t just music. No, Walker knew this. This was belting. Full, unapologetic Broadway belting.
He shared a look with Pug, and they grinned when a dog howled in harmony as Fernando sang about unrequited love at the top of his lungs.
They rounded the corner slowly.
Fernando was on the couch. Curtains half-drawn. Only the blue flicker of the television lighting the room. Onscreen, Les Misérables was in full emotional devastation mode with Anne Hathaway’s character mid-solo, eyes glassy with heartbreak.
Fernando’s eyes were also glassy. He was holding Beans in his arms like a baby.
“…And I dreamed a dream…” the TV sang.
Fernando sniffed loudly, and Beans licked his cheek.
Walker cleared his throat. “Honey, I’m home. Pug is here to visit, too.”
Fernando jumped like he’d been caught committing a felony. He fumbled for the remote but hit volume up instead. The orchestra swelled. “Damn it.” He stabbed at buttons until the room fell silent.
Pug tsked and walked over to the couch. He pulled Beans out of Fernando’s arms. “You shouldn’t have to see this, sweet boy. Let’s go for a walk.”
Walker moved closer, noticing the half-empty box of tissues and the fuzzy blanket wrapped around his shoulders. A bowl of popcorn untouched.
Walker sat beside him, close enough that their knees touched. “What’s going on?”
For a moment, Fernando didn’t answer. His jaw tightened, the way it did when he was trying very hard not to feel something. “She loses everything, Walker, but she still hopes it’ll get better.” His voice cracked, and he winced. “The school fired me because of Uncle Diego.”
“Fuck, sweetheart,” Walker said gently. “I’m so sorry. Can we appeal it?”
“No, I don’t want to bother with it.” Fernando looked embarrassed. “I don’t know why this stuff gets to me anymore.”
“Because you’re a human being with a pulse?”
He huffed out a weak laugh. “Welcome home. I’m sorry you had to see this.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m glad I’m here.” Walker reached for the remote and hit play. The song resumed softly. He shifted, tucking Fernando against his side and stealing part of the blanket. “I’m going to make Pug get us Chinese food. We can watch musicals all night.”
Fernando sniffed. “If we’re going to spiral into theatrical despair, we should watch The Greatest Showman next. We can cry and aggressively inspire ourselves.” He gave Walker a sideways look. “You’re not going to make fun of me if I sing along, are you?”
“Oh, I absolutely will,” he said, kissing the top of Fernando’s head. “So will Pug, but we’ll do it lovingly.”
Another sniffle escaped Fernando, but this time he didn’t hide it. “By the way, I’m pregnant too.”
Walker looked down at him slowly. Fernando wore a scowl, and his dark eyes almost seemed to dare Walker to say something negative.
“I took three tests,” Fernando continued. “All of them said the same thing. I have a doctor’s appointment next week to confirm, but I’m pregnant.”
The word hung there. Pregnant.
Walker stared at his omega, then his mouth opened and closed. Confusion and panic filled him, but one thing kept him steady. Fernando was there too. “Are you okay?” he asked finally, voice quiet.
Fernando nodded quickly, then shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m scared, and I didn’t want to tell you over text or anything. I just… I wanted you here.”
Walker let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. The silence stretched just long enough to be worrisome. Then he reached for Fernando and pulled him into a hug, one hand cradling the back of his head.
Fernando let out a shaky breath and pressed his face into Walker’s shoulder.
“We’re having a baby?” Walker whispered, the words sounding unreal.
Fernando nodded against him. “Yeah.”
Walker leaned back just enough to look at him, his expression softening, something like awe creeping in. “Wow.” A small, almost disbelieving laugh escaped him. “That’s big.”
“Too big?” Fernando asked, searching his face.
He shook his head immediately. “No. Just big.” He cupped Fernando’s face in his hands. “We’ll figure it out. Okay? Whatever this looks like, we’ll figure it out together.”
He quickly texted Pug to pick up food and a cake. They needed to celebrate.