Page 17 of An Omega Fox for Walker (Beartastic Summer of Love #4)

Walker

After my omega started feeling better, the pregnancy had been a dream.

Preparing for the baby while receiving a promotion from my new company allowed us to buy everything that Fennec wanted to have for the nursery, and a shower at my office filled in the gaps.

We had enough diapers to last the first six months of the baby’s life—fortunately in different sizes—and clothes, toys, bottles, everything.

The only thing missing was our child who was currently, even with the variations in a mixed-species pregnancy, taking their sweet time in arriving.

“If I get any bigger, the baby is going to just explode out of me like that old movie with the space monster.” He pressed a hand to his back and groaned. “Not even practice contractions. Who goes this long?”

“I’m sure we’re not setting any records.” I set our plates of spaghetti on the table. “Come sit and eat. You’re probably grouchy because you’re hungry.”

“I’m grouchy because my child plans to attend high school inside me. Where’s the garlic bread?”

“You said not to make any because it was too many carbs. We have salad?”

“I’m not a rabbit. I want garlic bread.” My omega, although he did have an occasional bad mood like everyone, and a grumpy side that could show up from time to time, never was demanding or unreasonable. “Now.”

Oh hell no. I rarely played the alpha card, but if there ever was a time, it was now. Not because he insulted me but because he kept rubbing his back, and something the healer had warned to watch for had come into my mind.

“Back hurt worse than usual, omega?”

“So bad.” He stretched it out but winced. “Ever since this morning, it’s been so sore. I blame it on being the size of a whale.”

Ignoring that comment, I picked up the phone.

“Who are you calling?”

“The healer. I think you’re having back labor, and I want to get you to describe your symptoms and get his opinion.”

“No need, alpha.” He wasn’t angry anymore, his tone more wondering. “I’m in labor.”

“How do you…” I turned to find him standing in a puddle. “Oh.” I completed my call and let the healer know what was going on.

Spaghetti dinner forgotten, and probably just as well he didn’t have such a heavy meal in labor, I grabbed his bag and carried it out to the car, returning to find him leaning over a chair and huffing.

“Birthing center time, omega. The healer wants us there as soon as possible so he can help you with the pain if you want. He says back labor can hurt a lot.”

“I don’t need him to tell me that. It does hurt a lot. How long does he think it will go on?”

“He probably can’t know that, can he?” I guided him out the door and into the car, carefully fastening the seat belt we’d had fitted with an extender over his belly. “Isn’t every omega and every labor and delivery different?”

He chuckled. “I suppose it is, but I’m not a fan of pain or uncertainty.” Both of which tended to define giving birth. “But our baby will be worth it.”

“Yes, they will, but let’s get you to the healer and see what he can do to help you through this. I think pain meds were already in your birth plan.”

“I’m not a hero, alpha, just an omega who has been in pain for twelve hours or so and doesn’t like it much.”

“Got you.”

The suite we’d reserved at the birthing center was not available, the nurse my omega had fallen in love with was off shift, and no pain meds.

Birthing plan out the window, but once we were settled in our ordinary non-suite and the healer examined him, he immediately called for a nurse and pulled up a rolling stool.

“How long did you say you were in labor?”

“I only realized it about an hour ago,” Fennec said. “But my back has been hurting bad since early this morning.”

“No wonder. Well, I was going to have a dinner break, but I’ll do that in an hour or so after you and your baby are comfortable. I’d say you’ll be pushing shortly.”

Unfortunately, we’d waited too long for pain meds to be administered, leaving him breathing exercises and pleasant thoughts as the only thing he could do, but he wasn’t grouchy or complaining.

Our child was coming fast, and while the healer sipped a smoothie a nurse brought him to keep his energy up, Fennec let out a wail that must have been heard down the hall and maybe into the parking lot.

The healer set his cup aside and rolled his stool over to check my omega’s progress. “Ready to push, Fennec? Your baby is crowning.”

I couldn’t breathe, just stood holding the cup of ice chips I’d been feeding to him and staring at the healer’s intent expression. “Already? Doesn’t this part usually take longer?”

“There is no usual, alpha. Now, hold your omega’s hand and do your job. He’s going to need you more than ever for the next little while.”

Fennec gripped my fingers, his short, blunt nails digging into my skin, but I didn’t care. I looked from his face to the healer’s, trying to tell what was going on and if everything was all right. They both looked so serious.

“Okay, push.”

Fennec bore down, grunting with effort. His pain must be through the roof, but suddenly, it was not his focus.

He ground his teeth, growling, and paused to pant for just a few seconds before pushing again.

On the third time, I saw it. Our baby’s head cupped in the healer’s hand as he used the other to guide our little daughter free from her omega father’s body.

My omega fell back panting, and the healer waved me over. “Time to cut the cord, Papa. Your little girl has arrived.”

I let go of my omega’s hand reluctantly, but I wouldn’t miss this opportunity. The nurse handed me the scissors and showed me where to cut. And then, she scooped her up, wrapped her in a clean, soft blanket, and carried her past me to lay her on Fennec’s chest.

“Here she is. Do you two have a name for this little girl?”

I looked at my omega, and he nodded. “Her name is Edie, after my cousin who helped bring us together.”

“Edie Marie,” Fennec said. “And aren’t you the most beautiful girl ever.”

Yes, she was.

Some people thought bear shifters were lazy, at least in the winter.

Lots of naps, eating honey toast, and sipping cocoa in front of the fire.

Chilling in the warmest, coziest way. Some people thought that, and if they meant us?

They were right. Our winters would be like that, our summers outside in the fresh air.

Fall visits to pumpkin patches and spring gardens being planted with little hands helping out.

Of course, I would have a job, but the rest of the time?

Family time.