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“I think he’s helping Noah with Jacob,” Victor said.

Daniel huffed. “I wanted to let him know he was on the money about the assistant coach. He was arrested an hour ago for identity fraud.”

“Come on, I want to meet Mattie and show him his present.”

“You got him a present?” Victor said, a little panicked. Mo grinned. “I got him one from you too.” He'd found a child-sized jeep that Mattie could actually drive around the property, with a remote-control override for when adults needed to take charge.

"He's going to lose his mind," Zack chuckled, knowing what it was, his hand resting on the noticeable curve of his stomach. "And probably run everyone ragged asking to drive it."

They heard excited voices from the kitchen when they opened the door and rushed to follow everyone else to the door where three large minivans were pulling into the driveway. Then it seemed like everyone was hugging and kissing and talking all at once. "Daddy!" Mattie's voice rang out, and Zack's face lit up with joy as the small boy broke away from the group and raced toward them.

Zack knelt, arms open wide, and Mattie crashed into him with the full force of a two-year-old's enthusiasm, his little arms wrapped tightly around Zack's neck.

Mo watched as Zack closed his eyes, holding his son close, the emotion on his face raw and unguarded. After everything they'd been through, this reunion felt like a missing piece sliding into place.

"I missed you too, buddy," Zack murmured, his voice thick. "More than you know." Then, much to Mo’s consternation, he stood with Mattie still clutched in his arms, not able to hide the wince. Riley’s head whipped around to his brother immediately, even as he was being greeted by his husband Jax and their kids. Victor noticed and reacted quicker than Mo could, and before Zack knew what was happening, he was sitting at the kitchen table with Mattie still clinging to him, insisting he was okay.

Mo relaxed. Mattie was adorable. He immediately put on Mo’s gift—a t-shirt saying “Big Brother” in huge letters that Mo couldn’t resist trying to help him spell out.

Then he opened the jeep and, of course, all the kids had to take a turn in it.

Zack sat and watched them all indulgently, until Daniel, Luke, and Olli decided to take their family home. Christopher disappeared with his wife and the rest of the kids, and just as he was deciding that bending down and lifting Mattie hadn’t been kind on his back, both Riley and Jax appeared in front of him. Victor and Mo arrived as well, and he knew Jax was waiting for Zack to ask what he was having. “So,” he said carefully. “I don’t care what it is. I think I’d rather be surprised.”

Jax chuckled. “Well, at least you don’t have to wait long to find out.”

Zack rolled his eyes but nodded. “You’d know more than me, but so long as everything’s slowed down properly, then it could be another eight weeks, I’m guessing.

Jax and Riley looked at each other and Riley shook his head. “Try eight hours.”

Jax snorted. “More like two.”

Zack felt the color drain from his face. “What?”

“You’re in labor, buddy.”

“No,” Zack said, his voice rising in panic, and thankfully Alex appeared and lifted Mattie up, asking if he wanted to show him how to drive the jeep. “I can’t be. It’s too early.”

Riley bent down. “It’s okay. He’s going to be okay. He's able to survive on his own.” He looked at Victor. “Let’s get him upstairs, yeah?”

“Upstairs!” Mo shrieked. “But we need an ambulance. What do you mean upstairs?”

Riley gazed at him. “Mo, he’s a guy—”

“I know,” Mo screeched. “But I also know you haven't got a surgical area upstairs and Dr. Adams isn’t here.”

“Surgery?” Victor said. “What—”

“Because he needs a c-section,” Mo snapped, like Victor was the most stupid person on the planet.

Riley grinned and moved to Zack’s other side. Between him and Victor, they got him upstairs.

“Mo,” Jax said calmly when it looked to Zack like Mo was going to tear his hair out. “He doesn’t need a c-section. He’s going to give birth naturally.”

Mo paled. “What do you mean?” He waved a hand at Zack. “I’ve seen all that man has, and trust me, he’s a hole short.”

They all laughed and if Zack hadn’t had been struggling with his breathing, he might have enjoyed the stunned look on Mo’s face as Jax explained.

Mo flushed bright red. “You guys are never gonna let me forget this, are you?”