To be expected, fic
Feb. 13th, 2022 08:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Title: To be expected
Author: isamazed
Word count: approx. 2,450
Characters: Becker/Ryan, the pups
Rating: T
Warnings: pup!verse (Alpha/Omega verse with puppies and mpreg), discussion of abortion
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. I only write for fun…
A/N: Written for cordeliadelayne's Valentine's Day Gift Box 2022 on
primeval_denial. The prompts I used were 1) What part of sorry was difficult for you to understand? and 2) I hate it here.
The pups (and the entirety of pup!verse) belong to fififolle. Thanks for lending them out!
Thank you, fredbassett, for being a wonderful beta!
Also, pup!verse is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. So I thought it would be fun to send their world into upheaval again ;-)
This follows on from Unexpected News. However, the storyline started with Unexpected Circumstances.
Ryan glanced at Becker as unobtrusively as possible. They were driving home after the doctor's visit that had revealed Becker's true condition, something neither of them had expected at all.
Pregnant. With twins.
It was... Wow.
Ryan had been shocked – still was, to be honest – but he couldn't deny that the idea of little paws on the floor and extended furry cuddling sessions wasn't enticing.
He'd loved the time when their trio had been small and still in their pup-forms. It had been a challenging time, no doubt, especially in the beginning when he and Becker were still trying to find their footing in a surprise mating, and being thrust into parenting three excitable pups just a few weeks later had come with another boat load of challenges.
Of course, there had also been the part where Becker and Kay almost hadn't survived the delivery. A thought at which Ryan's heart still clenched painfully after all those years. Jesus, he couldn't even think about what would have happened if...
Ryan stopped that train of thought in an act of pure willpower and tried to focus back on the matter at hand. Right, the surprise of Becker being pregnant again.
It seemed to be their thing: unexpected life-changing events.
It was irritating, really, that they didn't seem to be able to plan any of those huge milestones when at work they both were level-headed and in control. But that was life for you, Ryan supposed. He'd definitely learned to roll with the punches during his time at the ARC.
He glanced at Becker again. The omega sat in the passenger seat and stared into nothingness. Clearly, he was miles away.
They'd been equally shocked at the revelation at first. But while Ryan's heart had flowed over with love and gratefulness at the sight and sound of their babies in Becker's womb on the ultrasound machine, the omega had seemed to shut down.
At least it's not three.
Becker's words echoed in Ryan's mind.
Did they mean that Becker didn't want to have more pups with him? He thought he'd been an active and involved alpha-dad all these years but maybe Becker still felt like he carried the majority of the care work? He knew Becker still experienced a lot of prejudice and judgement and outsiders would automatically turn to the omega for anything related to parenting or their household.
Or did Becker not feel secure enough in their relationship to start over again at this point in their life? Ryan always tried to show Becker that he was in this as much as he'd been since day one because he knew that even after all these years, Becker was often worried about being a working omega dad and if it hurt his family. Ryan supposed it came with Becker's upbringing and would never fully subside. He had tried to make a point especially during the last few weeks that had followed Becker's surprise heat and subsequent health troubles.
Or did Becker simply mean that … that he was relieved there were not three pups, but two? Ryan had to admit that the idea of another set of three furry whirlwinds had sweat forming on his brow. He wasn't getting any younger.
But maybe it was that Becker really didn't want to have more children at all? Ryan remembered how Becker had struggled to come to terms with being a mated omega – he'd even refused to move in with Ryan for a while – and becoming a father had also been hard for him. With the career choice he'd made and the years of hiding his omega nature, Becker had never really let himself even think about having pups of his own, let alone three. And then their mating and the pregnancy had basically come out of the blue. And now they were going to have five pups.
Bloody hell. Five kids.
It was practically unheard of: a mated couple having another pair of puppies while the older ones were still in the house but if anyone could master a challenge like this, it would be them, Ryan knew.
They had the experience, the organisational skills, the resilience, and the support system. They had all the honorary aunties and uncles at the ARC who'd help them. Their trio had started pup sitting to add to their weekly allowance. Surely they would jump at the chance to look after their own siblings? And not to forget their own parents. First and foremost, Becker's dad who could never get enough of his grandchildren. He was besotted with them, and despite his advancing age, Allen would happily take over pup sitting duties again, no questions asked. He lived and breathed for his grandchildren.
But most important of all, they had each other and a bond that went way beyond what most other mated pairs shared.
If Becker was willing to face this adventure with him, Ryan would gladly do it.
And if Becker wasn't... It would break Ryan's heart but he would support him through the fallout nonetheless.
In fact, purely from a medical standpoint, they should openly discuss what was the best course of action. With the dramatic birth of their triplets, Becker's organs had suffered some permanent damage. He was also older than most pregnant omegas – even if you counted those who had a second pair after the first pups had become independent enough – and it would be a high-risk pregnancy in any case.
The thought of anything going wrong and losing Becker after all, or their unborn pups, was terrifying. The few hours earlier that day when they had to wait for the test results had already taken all his self-control and perseverance to prevent a breakdown in front of his equally scared omega. But Ryan had had to be strong for both of them until the omega specialist identified the true issue. There was no way he'd have let himself fall apart then and there. The only other time he had felt this helpless had been when everything had started to go wrong during the triplets' birth.
Which led his thoughts back to the pups in Becker's belly.
Pups!
Still wow.
They arrived in their street and Ryan parked the car in front of their house. The kids had come home while they were gone as was signalled by their bicycles lying in a heap on the front lawn.
Seriously, was it too much to ask for them to take the bikes into the shed in the back? One day the bloody things would get stolen, and they would all have to go through a huge drama.
They exited the car and immediately heard shouting from inside their house. Obviously, a fullly fledged argument was happening inside. Ryan closed his eyes briefly and prayed for strength because they really didn't need this. Not right now.
“I'll take care of this, Beck, you go upstairs and rest a bit, yeah? I'll be up in a minute, too.”
Becker nodded gratefully and immediately climbed the stairs once they were inside.
The shouting was infinitely louder so much closer to the source and Ryan tried to find out what this was about.
“Oh my god, you're such a drama queen, Kay!” Alex cried. “What part of I'm fucking sorry did you not understand?”
“You're sorry? YOU ARE SORRY? Are you kidding me? You broke it on purpose, arsehole!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Ryan inserted himself between them in the living room. “Firstly, language! Secondly, what the heck is going on here? You're entertaining the entire neighbourhood! Calm the – , everybody calm down now!”
“Alex dropped Kay's Bluetooth speakers,” Marcus provided in a distressed voice, clearly pained by all the antagonising.
“Traitor,” Alex hissed. “It was an accident. My hands were slippery!”
“No! I saw it, you threw them down because you were mad that you dropped yours into the bath last night!”
“I did NOT! It was a bloody accident.”
“Okay, okay, please, kids. Let's calm down,” Ryan tried to pacify them. Jesus, he'd take night manoeuvres in a snow storm over puberty fights any day. “So, we have two broken speakers, right? How about you help a bit with garden work for a week or two, and your dad and I will see if we can get you new ones. How does that sound?”
“No! It's not my fault and now you want me to work for it? Alex smashed them!”
“Kay, please,” Ryan tried to reason with her.
“No! Oh my god, I don't believe this! I hate it here! I hate you! This isn't fair!” Angry tears gathered in Kay's eyes and she ran outside into the garden, disappearing in the old tree house they still had in their apple tree.
“Kay, wait!” Marcus hurried after her. He never did well when his siblings were upset, his omega need to care clearly showing.
“Oh, for fuck's sake,” Alex grumbled and stomped after them. “Kay! I really didn't do it on purpose. I'm sorry!”
“Language!” Ryan shouted after them and then all the tension left him in a whoosh. He took a step toward the door frame and banged his head against it a couple of times. Teenagers. The horror.
And now they were going to have two more in a couple of years and go through all the joys of puberty again.
Probably.
Ryan sighed. What a day. He knew their triplets well enough that they would make up now – probably Marcus would offer to help with the gardening, the good soul, so that was settled. Next ...
He wasn't quite ready to immediately tackle the difficult conversation he had to have with Becker, so he busied himself with making two cups of tea. Ginger tea for Becker to help with his stomach, black for himself. He took a few mindful breaths while he waited for the water to boil and felt how his mind settled. Good, that would definitely help with their conversation.
When he entered their bedroom carefully to avoid spilling their beverages, he found Becker curled up in a ball staring at the wall. His heart ached at the picture of his troubled omega.
“I brought tea, babe,” He sat the cups on the bedside table and placed himself on the edge of the bed close to his mate.
He was relieved when Becker shuffled around to let his head rest against his thigh. He carded through the thick glossy locks. He marvelled at how they always were so soft, even now with a bit of grey in them.
Becker let a soft whine slip and slowly relaxed at the caress. Ryan loved that his strong, independent omega felt safe enough with him to let go, to show his true emotions. He was thankful every day that Becker gave him this gift. Next to their pups, Ryan felt this was his greatest achievement.
“Will you let me know what's going through your head?” he asked quietly.
Becker snorted softly and closed his eyes briefly. They both knew what occupied each other's thoughts.
“We didn't plan on this. It's... It's quite a surprise.”
“Yes, it is,” Ryan agreed. “The question is, though, is it a good surprise? Or a bad one?”
“What do you think?” Becker tried to evade.
“I don't want to force you into anything, Beck. It's your body. Why don't you tell me what you think first?”
“Ryan, please!” Becker whined for real now.
“Okay, I'll go first. But please tell me you won't let that cloud your decision, okay? I'll be there with you all the way, either way, no matter which way we choose going forward, you hear me?”
Becker smiled a sad little smile and pressed a kiss to Ryan's thigh.
“All right then,” Ryan started. “I must admit it was a bit of a shock. We have three pups already which is more than most people do.”
Becker nodded. It was true, after all.
“I won't lie, it would be exhausting, it would be trying sometimes, and there would be nights – and days – when we would wish back the freedom of not having to take care of small pups. They would bring us to the point of questioning all our life choices from time to time.”
Becker nodded again, the corners of his mouth turning down. Could Ryan hope they were on the same page about this after all?
“So, despite all that,” the alpha continued. “I'd be honoured to have and raise those pups with you, Beck. I love you more than I ever thought possible to love anyone, and we have three great kids already, and how could I pass up the chance for more tiny furry paws if the little ones might have their o-dad’s beautiful fur, strong will, sharp mind or gorgeous eyes? I'd be an idiot not to want that.” Ryan tried to push all his emotions into the few sentences.
Becker sat up, stunned, and looked at him wide-eyed.
“You do? Want that? Have two more pups with me?”
“Yes!”
“Wow,” Becker looked at him, dazed. “I want that, too.” A smile slowly dawned on his face. “But I thought it might be too much, five kids.”
They smiled at each other like fools for a second and then they lay in each other's arms, holding on tightly. Ryan pressed a hard kiss on Becker's mouth.
Raised voices drafted inside from the garden where the kids' fight apparently flared up again. Ryan sighed and sat back.
“Oh believe me, the five of them will be a handful,” he chuckled.
Becker grinned and nodded his head towards the window out back, “You sure you want that again, too?”
Ryan smiled widely.
“Yes, I want all of it. The whole package.”
This continues in What To Expect