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The months flew by with all the things every other pregnant couple did. We shopped for baby clothes and furniture, went to healer appointments, bought books and watched videos about what we could expect to happen, and generally enjoyed the whole time.

Pike’s morning sickness eased right on schedule, at the end of his first trimester, and his belly expanded to a big round bump that I loved to lay my head on and talk to the baby. One day, while I was doing just that, my omega stroked my hair and said, “Can you take me to the overlook again? Quinn said I shouldn’t shift after this week, but I’d love to go up and see the lake one final time.”

“Are you up for it?” The hike was not terribly strenuous, but Pike was not the most athletic pregnant omega. He preferred to lie around after work and cuddle on the sofa. “We could go somewhere easier?”

His lip thrust out in that adorable pout he wore when I tried to stop him from doing what he wanted. “I can do it. My cat wants to see the lake again. And it’s going to be forever after that before we can go again.”

“All right.” I didn’t want to thwart what would make him happy. “I’m in. Let’s take a picnic and go on Monday.” Since Glen had come back recently, his father having surprised everyone by not only surviving but fully recovering, we’d also taken on another part-time barista, and my mate and I had started taking off on Mondays and Tuesdays. A full weekend of sorts where we could do baby prep or run errands or generally relax. We’d spent most of those days on the aforementioned sofa, reading, snacking, and watching movies. I loved those days when it was just us, but if my omega wanted to try something a little more athletic, I was up for it. My bear was more than up for it. He was ecstatic, and I hoped that meant he knew that everything would be all right.

The evening was cooler than last time, but the sky every bit as beautiful overhead, and as we shifted and started up the trail, I was very glad to be here. Maybe we needed to get away more, even after the baby came. My business was successful enough to give us that free time.

Pike was remarkably graceful as he padded along, his paws light on the earth. I followed, letting him set the pace. He was not as energetic as last time we were here, which I would have expected, but as long as he seemed all right, I wasn’t going to try to slow him down. This would be the last time his cat was out for a while, and he’d want to enjoy it.

The trail wound higher and higher, until finally we found ourselves at that magical overlook. The full moon’s enchantment was always special to shifters, and as we arrived at the spot, I shifted back to two-legged, followed by my mate. We hadn’t seen a living soul the whole time, and no other cars were parked at the trailhead, so I felt comfortable gathering him to me and kissing him. I eased him down to the ground onto a patch of soft grass and drove inside him, craving the connection. On his part, he thrashed his head from side to side and offered growls of encouragement.

An urgency compelled me to close my fist around his cock, jerking him in rhythm with my fucking, craving us both to come before I completed something that had been put off long enough. He was tight, as always, and I had to adjust my angle to get balls deep, but as his cum splashed onto my chest, and mine filled him, I bent and sank my fangs into the side of his neck, marking him. Finally. Completing something that I’d wanted forever. He palmed my head, holding me there and panting, shivering and whimpering in reaction. My knot swelled, connecting us in another way.

I held him close until my knot subsided then kissed him again and stood, bringing him up with me to stand and look down at the full moon’s reflection on the dark waters of the lake. A cool breeze came up too soon, and we had to shift back into our fur and head back for the car. “I’m so glad you suggested this, omega,” I told him when we were in our skins, dressed, and headed back for the house. “Would you like to take a babymoon before they come?”

“I’d like that very much.”

“Then that’s what we will do.”

I knew just the place where we could go and spend a few days just being us before us became three. My omega was so grateful for the little things, but I wanted him to have everything, all his dreams. He loved travel, so even though we were tied down by the business and soon by our family, I would make sure to find ways to incorporate travel into our life together.