#Yes it's mpreg yes he should have gotten an abortion

[happybunnykat]

Do you ever read a fanfic where the drama is SO manufactured you just have to. Take a moment.

[cyhyr]

The Sixth Day of Whumpmas:

Countdown

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: M

Pairing: implied Kakashi & Iruka

WC: ~2550

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Additional Tags: omegaverse, mpreg, omega!Iruka, baby OC, Danzō, pregnancy, depression, labor & delivery, hate speech, mentions of abortion

A/N: This is in the same verse as On a Need To Know Basis (Rated E) and Reunion (Rated T), but timeline-wise it's right smack between the both of them. I should come up with a title/tag for this verse, huh? Thoughts, anyone?

Tagging: @kelkage @atereal

Anyone else who wants in on the tag list lemme know!

~

Iruka flicks through the calendar, counting each month as it goes by until he gets to nine, and then selects the date he’s pretty sure he can expect the pup to be born. He circles it and then sighs, dropping the pages to flutter back to the current month. He drops his pen.

Eight months to go.

~

He has to let the principal know about his new “status” and he is not looking forward to it. The man’s had it out for him since he started as a teacher’s assistant, clearly being discriminatory towards Iruka’s Uzushio heritage. But he makes sure that his clothes are neat and his hitai-ate is positioned correctly, and he treats this just as he would a field diplomacy mission.

It still doesn’t go well.

At least at the end of it he still has a job, but for how long is the real question.

Iruka stops by the hospital after school to have his first check-up. It’s disgustingly invasive, and he nearly sobs during the pelvic exam as the doctor slides the speculum into him without even slicking it up first. He supposes that she is in a rush, or maybe she is a new doctor and simply forgot, but that doesn’t change how much it hurts as the cold metal drags along his inner walls. He holds himself together until after the exam and when he’s alone and dressing again he lets a few tears fall.

He limps home. His initial count for the due date was fairly accurate. He was only off by a few days.

Seven months to go.

~

Iruka frames his sonogram printout. His pup looks like a little alien, but they’re still cute. Once he gets onto the other side of this first trimester he’ll start thinking about names.

On his way home from the hospital he notices that he’s being followed, and he looks up to see a small squad of ANBU peering down at him from the rooftops. His breath comes shakily and he squeezes his eyes shut, placing a hand protectively over his belly. Iruka continues on to home and seals his apartment up tight once he’s inside.

There’s no bump to see yet, but his scent has started to change. The people on the street stare, and more than once he’s gotten odd sneers from the mated betas who run the market. They hiss and whisper behind their hands, and if Iruka wasn’t shinobi he probably wouldn’t have to hear what they say.

“Unmated and pregnant? How awful.”

“Why hasn’t he aborted?”

“Aborted?! He should have been on birth control!”

“Wonder where the alpha parent is…”

Iruka curls up at home and tries not to cry.

Six months to go.

~

The first trimester is done and he plays host to Danzō again.

“You’ll need an alpha for after the pregnancy.”

“I really don’t,” Iruka assures him. “I already asked about needing alpha pheromones for the pup’s development and they said—”

“I’ll determine if you need an alpha.”

Iruka growls low. “I should think that my doctor would make that determination.”

“Yes, normally; however, you are carrying the future of a strong clan line and have no alpha to advocate for you. Therefore, it falls to the Council.”

Iruka doesn’t know enough about parental rights during pregnancy to rise back. He’ll have to spend his weekend in the archives instead of at the Mission Desk. He stays silent.

“You will choose from the selection I’ve given you. If you do not choose, an alpha will be assigned to you.”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to just call Kakashi back?”

Danzō curls his lip. “That’s not a valid option at this time. Hatake is needed in the field, and his mission can easily last long past the birth.”

Then he leaves, a small pile of dossiers left on Iruka’s kitchen table along with scent samples. Iruka flips through them all. None of them smell right; none of them are Kakashi. He falls into bed and groans, holding his belly and trying to keep himself from crying. Have they even sent a messenger to Kakashi telling him he’s to be a father?

Probably not. Danzō likely doesn’t want Kakashi to know, so that he can claim the pup for the village when they’re born.

Iruka gives in to the tears.

Five months to go.

~

He tries to get outside, to lay in the sunshine and warm himself, but with his bump so obvious now and his scent fully changed from unmated to pregnant, people stare worse than before. Iruka has even had a student ask him why he’s growing a pup but has no mate, and he had to quickly change the subject because it’s a new term of his employment with the Academy that the students remain uninformed about why he’s decided to keep the pup.

One little boy outright asks him why he doesn’t get rid of it. Normally Iruka would just… make excuses and move on. But the principal is right there, and he has to ignore the student and he’s never ignored a student before.

He is taken aside during a free period and informed that this is his last warning. “I won’t have some Uzushio slut poisoning the future of Konoha. The fact that you caught is proof enough you’re not fit to be a role model for these children, but I won’t have you excusing your behavior to them.”

Iruka doesn’t fight it. He just finishes his day and reminds the students that asking about another person’s body is inappropriate.

He lays in the park on his back, desperate to feel warm again. He instead feels shifting in his belly and rests his palms over the slight swell, trying to smile. Trying to find a brief flicker of happiness in the life he’s growing. But he’s being forced to carry this child and he doesn’t even have a way of telling Kakashi of what had happened.

The sun is cold. He shivers and goes home.

Four months to go.

~

Anko throws him a baby shower, and if nothing else it’s a nice change from having eyes watch him with disgust and pity. Instead, all afternoon he fields questions about names and parenting books and when is it appropriate to get the little one their first kunai set?

Iruka enjoys the positive attention, but it’s exhausting. And it’s clear by the end of the day that even his friends don’t see him as Iruka anymore, but as an incubator for the pup.

Anko, Izumo, and Kotetsu all stay later to help him set up the gifts in the spare bedroom in his apartment, the one that Naruto sometimes stays in. Anko and Izumo go out to get dinner halfway through putting the crib together.

Kotetsu, who stays with Iruka, says, “Y’know. No one would have blamed you for wanting to abort. It can’t be easy, being pregnant and unmated.”

Iruka drops the screwdriver he’d been using with a snarl. “Why does everyone want me to abort this pup?! Why can’t anyone be happy about this?!?”

“Iruka, that’s not what I said—”

“Isn’t it, though?! It’s certainly what you meant. I—” Iruka swallows a sob and continues, “I did this to myself and it’s not the pup’s fault that I went through a heat without protection. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t abort anyway!”

“... What?”

Iruka chokes on his words. “N-nothing. Forget it.”

“What do you mean you can’t—”

Iruka slides back down to his knees and picks up the screwdriver. “Hand me the next packet, please.”

“Iruka, what’s going on? Are you being blackmailed into having this pup? Whose is it?!”

“The next packet, please,” Iruka says harder, holding out his hand.

He stares Kotetsu down until his friend sighs and drops the issue. He hands Iruka the next baggie of hardware, but makes sure to say, “You can talk to me, y’know. I’m your friend and I care.”

Iruka takes the baggie and thanks him, then turns back to the crib.

Three months to go.

~

The first school day of the third trimester, Iruka goes to work to find that his class is being taught by someone new. She informs him that the principal wants to see him, and he knows that he’s being let go. He holds his head high as he listens to the principal go on about safety and how larger teachers aren’t as agile and how he’s sure Iruka would appreciate the time to get his house together for the pup.

But he collects his things and stops in to say good-bye to his class.

He doesn’t get an offer to return to teaching after the pup is born. He wasn’t expecting one.

Iruka goes home and curls up on his bed, feeling his pup kick and roll around, and stares off into the room. For a week, he does nothing but feel and stare, with the occasional trips to the bathroom and kitchen.

The obstetrician asks him how his class is doing. He answers honestly, “Last I knew, they were great.” She hums and continues her exam. He stares at the ceiling and hopes it’ll be over soon. He’s sick of being pregnant.

Two months to go.

~

Danzō visits again and demands that he make a decision. Iruka stands in his kitchen and shrugs, drinking the fifth glass of water he’s gotten himself today—it’s only ten o’clock. He might have a problem.

“If you will not make the decision, I will do so for you.”

Iruka shrugs again. “You’re already controlling the rest of my life, why not my choice of alpha too?”

Danzō, it seems, doesn’t like Iruka’s snark. “Watch your tone. If you would step up and make a decision I wouldn’t have to—”

Iruka scoffs. “It’s just us, Danzō-dono. Let’s not lie to each other and say that you’re not pleased as shit that you get to control who’s going to provide alpha pheromones for my pup, who just so happens to be of a clan stock that is nearly extinct, yet known for having a very strong genius gene.”

Two of the ANBU in the room with them flicker to his side and each put a kunai to his throat. Iruka doesn’t flinch, and takes another sip of his water.

Danzō growls lowly and stands up. “We’ll be in touch.”

“Of course we will.”

He and his ANBU leave and Iruka barely makes it to the sink to throw up.

One more month

~

He goes in to see the obstetrician and hugs his belly the whole while. She tells him that she’s received orders from the Council to induce labor on his due date if he hasn’t already started. She asks if he’s aware of this decision; he shrugs and asks if it’s healthy for the pup to be forced out of him before they’re ready.

“Well…”

He goes home and sits in the nursery. He hasn’t had the energy to set up anything yet. Aren’t omegas supposed to get nesting instincts sometime in the third trimester? Is he really so broken that he can’t even nest correctly?

He looks at the box of clothing he had been gifted, and tries to find the will to at least wash them. Most still have tags. His pup can’t live in just a diaper…

He needs to get diapers, too. And wipes, and crib sheets, and bottles, and possibly formula—he doesn’t trust himself to produce. Instead, he sits in the room and watches the shadows creep across the wall and the sunlight fade to night.

He wipes his face; his cheeks are damp.

Soon.

~

None of the alphas Danzō has shoved toward him want anything to do with him. They all say that he smells sour and of rot, and that omegas should smell sweet, especially the pregnant ones. Iruka stands in front of the Council and wavers from side to side; with the way the pup keeps kicking and flipping around all hours of the night he’s barely getting any sleep. Tsunade-sama at least has the decency to look truly worried.

Danzō finally snarls and stands. “I’ll do it, if none of the ANBU will step up.”

Iruka picks his head up and growls back. “My pup will not be raised as a weapon.”

“You waived the right to make that choice when you spread your legs and began to—”

“That’s enough!” Tsunade roars, slamming her fist on the desk. “I won’t sit here while you degrade one of my shinobi."

“For the good of the village, that pup will need an alpha’s influence—a strong alpha—and this I will do,” Danzō steps towards him and turns up his nose. “I will mate you, and you will—”

“No.”

“I am not giving you a choice.”

He bares his teeth and readies himself to bite, and Iruka puts his fist into Danzō’s fangs and knocks him back, having gotten him off-guard. Then he throws down a tag and activates it, escaping through the window to his left during the flashbang.

Iruka runs, getting deep into the woods behind the Hokage mountain before needing to stop and—

“Oh gods, no, not now, not yet—you can’t come now!”

The first contraction hits him and he whimpers and sits himself down against a thick tree. He throws his head back and grunts through the next one when it comes almost ten minutes later.

By the tenth contraction they’re coming five minutes apart. Night falls. Iruka pulls a scroll out of his pouch and unseals a pile of blankets and a pillow. It’s a terrible nest, but any nest is better than no nest, and he curls up on his side to ride out the next few hours.

It’s the most agonizing night of his life, alone in the woods giving birth to his pup on the ground. He finally pushes the pup out, screaming and burning, while on his hands and knees.

She lands on soft blankets, bloody and loud, a pair of lungs to alert all of the Land of Fire of her presence. Iruka wants nothing more than to hold her and clean her up, so he cinches and cuts the cord first and then picks her up and presses her close to his chest. She grizzles and roots for his nipple, and though he’d already made the decision to bottle-feed her, he follows both their instincts, takes off his shirt, and lets her take her first feeding from his body.

Labor continues as he nurses her, Iruka pushing the afterbirth out into the nest with a wrinkled nose. The first beams of sunlight come through the leaves of the trees as he, exhausted and proud, looks down at his pup—his daughter, with tears in his eyes. He wraps her in one of the few clean blankets and sets her down on the pillow just long enough to redress himself.

Then he picks her back up and pushes his nose into her silver fuzz and mutters, “Hikari, my little love. I’m sorry you had to be born like this.”

Tired, dirty, and holding his daughter tight, Iruka makes the slow trek back to the village. He and Hikari will need to be admitted to the hospital and checked over. He needs to ask Tsunade-sama for assistance in keeping Danzō from claiming his pup for the village. He needs to get Hikari a bottle and a diaper.

Did he ever buy bottles and diapers?

Shit.

[yikesharringrove]

Umm, I accidentally deleted the request for this while moving it to my inbox, so here it is. (Also this is like, four months old).

I’m gonna rec this fic which is super well written and adorable

Steve is ftm. (Personally, I’m not a big fan of mpreg unless it’s like, biologically plausible 🤷‍♀️)

Under the cut bc it’s long and there’s a little bit of smut.

-

Billy’s hands were shaking as he raced out of the house.

He had a bag slung over one shoulder, had already put two others in the Camaro.

His dad had gone in hard today. Three days after Billy graduated high school and he’s already calling him a deadbeat, a fuck up. Telling him to get a job like he hasn’t worked every summer and most weekends since he was fourteen.

He lit a cigarette as he slid into the driver’s seat.

He was gonna make one stop on the way outta town.

-

Steve had given Billy a spare key months ago, after he was tired of always having to go downstairs and answer the door.

He liked it when Billy just made his way up, started kissing whatever skin was already exposed and asking Steve if he’s wet.

Tonight, Steve thought, was no different.

Billy was kissing up his calf, mouthing along his knee, a few fingers creeping up the leg of his shorts.

Billy was the best sex he’s ever had. Not a lot of gay guys will go down on Steve, some won’t even fuck him. He had been real hesitant to tell Billy, start having regular sex with his best friend, because he didn’t think Billy would want anything to do with him when he knew what he was bringing to the table.

But Billy had told him not to be an idiot, ate him out, and pounded him into the mattress.

And Steve was in love.

So he let Billy fuck him whenever he pleased, because at least Billy was giving him the time of day, at least he was getting some.

He opened his eyes, smiling lazily down at Billy.

“‘Time is it?”

“Almost two.” Billy was curling two fingers into his waistband, slowly pulling down his shorts, like maybe Steve wouldn’t notice.

Steve lifted his hips, and Billy whipped off his shorts, diving right in for his pussy.

He ate him out with the same fervor he did everything. Making all these gross slurping sounds, sucking on Steve’s cock and shoving his tongue inside him.

He made Steve cum twice on his face, as was the norm, before wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, and getting right to business.

He fucked Steve like he was mad at him.

He often did. And Steve knew he wasn’t mad at him, moreso mad at the other him, the him that’s ruined Billy’s life since before he was even born.

Steve wasn’t as dumb as everyone thought. Knew that when Billy snuck into his bedroom at odd hours of the night and absolutely ravished him, something bad had happened with his dad.

So when Billy finally rolled off of him, and lit a cigarette, Steve knew better than to ask.

“I’m leaving.” Steve just hummed at him. Billy sometimes stuck around after sex.

But Billy didn’t move.

“Like, leaving Hawkins.” Steve just hummed again. Billy talked a lot about leaving Hawkins. Steve had always secretly dreamed of running away with him. 

Billy just studied his face in the dark, stubbing out his cigarette and rolling over to hols Steve close to his chest.

Steve closed his eyes, let himself pretend.

Pretend that Billy loved him back.

-

He woke up to rustling, Billy getting dressed to leave as weak sunlight began to trickle through his curtains.

“Oh shit, didn’t mean to wake you.”

He smiled lazily at Billy.

“You comin’ back over tonight?” Billy looked stiff.

“Probably not. Sorry.”

“That’s okay. I’ll see you later, then.”

“Yeah. Later.” Billy was sitting on the end of his bed, had just finished tying on his boots.

And then he moved, quick as a flash to kiss Steve softly before he was thundering down the stairs.

Steve was just falling asleep as the Camaro roared away.

-

Billy had skipped town that night.

And Steve never forgave himself.

-

Steve was leaning over the counter, his head pressed into the cool top of it.

“I threw up all last week, and I just feel like shit.” He had been whining to Robin practically all morning at Family Video.

“Do you think you have the flu?”

“I don’t know, Rob. I mean, my stomach hurts a lot, but like, it feels like I’m just having awful cramps.”

“Are you on your period?”

“Nah. Don’t get it very often with the hormones anymore.”

“Normally I’d suggest pregnancy, but I know you’re in a bit of a dry spell.” He rolled slightly to look darkly at her. “Still no word of Billy?”

“No. The one person in Hawkins that isn’t too transphobic to fuck me, and he skips town.” Steve sighed. “I should’ve known, too. He was being super weird that night.”

“Whatever. When you and I skip town, we’ll have the time of our damn lives, and get you laid.” He laughed softly.

“I’m just gonna go to the doctor this weekend. Get a full physical.”

“Let me know the verdict at and I can come over with some medicine, if you need.”

“Thanks, Rob.”

-

Steve was lying back on the stiff exam table.

He had already given blood and urine samples, and was just waiting for the doctor to tell him what the fuck was wrong with him.

Sometimes his hormones had to be adjusted, and caused all sorts of weird shit to go haywire in his body.

Dr. Mauch was a kind woman, always been pleasant and accepting of Steve, even referred him to an endocrinologist for his hormones.

She didn’t smile when she came in, though. Just sat down at her stool.

“I’m going to go out a limb here and say that this is not news you’ll be happy about hearing.”

Steve felt his heart drop to his stomach.

“You’re pregnant.”

He blinked.

“No.”

“I’m sorry, Steve. But you most definitely are.”

“But, but I’m on blockers, and testosterone, and I haven’t had sex in months.”

“I’d say about six months.” His mouth was dry. Billy had left in late May. About six months ago. “And being on hormones is not an effective method of birth control. Some men still get pregnant after taking them.”

“I’m not, I don’t look pregnant.”

“Some people don’t really show their pregnancy. My sister was rail thin the entire time, had a perfectly healthy baby girl. It’s all about your body type.”

“So, so you’re telling me, that I’m six months fucking pregnant.”

“Yes.” He slumped back onto the exam table.

“What are, what are my options?”

“Well, unfortunately, not many. Abortions are only legal in Indiana up to 20 weeks, or five months, or unless the person pregnant is facing severely compromised physical health. There’s always adoption.”

“No one’s gonna want a baby from a trans guy.” She pursed her lips.

“I think that’s a harsh statement. Many people are desperate for babies.” Steve just stared at her.

“So, if I have to take it to term, should I like, go off my hormones.” His stomach gave a lurch at the idea.

“I would recommend it. There’s very little research one pregnancy in transgender individuals. We really don’t know how hormones can affect the baby.” Steve sighed. “I would say, get in with an OB/GYN. I can recommend a few I know and send them your medical history. Your name change and hormone therapy is part of all of it, so hopefully they will be kind.” Steve sighed.

“Thank you, Doc. I really appreciate it.”

“I’m sorry for the disappointing news.”

“Nah, it’s fine.” She gave him a copy of their appointment notes, a list of OB/GYNs for him to research, and a hug before she left.

He drove home slowly, feeling exhausted, like the weight of the fucking world was on his shoulders.

He got home to find Robin sitting on his front porch, her nose buried in a book, a pizza box sitting next to her.

She looked up at him, and he burst into tears.

-

“Look, Max, if he contacts you in any way, tell him to call Steve, okay? It’s important.” Robin was yammering to Max on the phone, trying to get a way to contact Billy.

Steve was laying on the couch, had his shirt rucked up over his stomach, pushing it out and sucking it in, trying to see any change in his body.

“Just give him Steve’s phone number and tell him he’s an asshole.” She hung up the phone, perching on the armrest at Steve’s feet.

“She know where he is?”

“No. She said he ran off and hasn’t contacted her at all. She didn’t even know he was leaving.” She slid onto the couch, let Steve put his feet on her lap. “You think he’d come back? If he knew?”

“I don’t know. I’m not really asking him to. I mean, I don’t think I’m in a place to take care of it, but I kinda just want him to know it exists. Like, I think he deserves that.”

“I get it.” Her voice was soft. She watched Steve stare at his tummy some more. “I’m sorry. I’m sure this is just, dysphoria out the wazoo.” Steve huffed a laugh.

“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. I think ‘cause I’m not showing. I don’t look pregnant, so how can I be pregnant, you know?” He sighed tugging down his shirt. “Going to the doctor’s gonna be a damn nightmare, though. They’re too used to dealing with women. It’s gonna suck.”

-

Steve was right.

Even though his primary care doctor had sent his medical history, he still got deadnamed and misgendered at reception, and intake, and by the nurse, and the doctor when she finally arrived.

They gave him a pelvic exam, getting him in for a sonogram as well.

And as the doctor was moving the imagining wand around on his tummy, and he heard the heartbeat for the first time, something caved inside of him.

A baby. He was having a baby.

And part of him, a really fucking big part of him, was starting to love it.

-

His parents were home for four days.

And Steve had waited for the final day of their homesteading to tell them.

He’s glad he did.

Diner was as quiet as always, and Steve had nearly choked on the words.

“I’m pregnant.”

His father had gotten out his wallet, asked how much an abortion costs.

“I’m too far along for that. Nowhere will legally do it.”

His mother had just stared at him. His father asked how far along he was.

“Close to seven months. I didn’t even know until like, a week and a half ago.”

And his father had stood up, and the yelling began.

“I can’t believe you. You kick up this huge fuss, make us change your name, and the way we refer to you, go around telling everyone your a boy, and you get pregnant like the little slut you are.”

And he had told Steve to back his shit, told him he was not welcome in my house anymore.

And Steve didn’t have a lot of shit he cared about, the clothes he liked fit in one duffel bag.

His mother didn’t look at him as he left.

-

He had called Mrs. Henderson from a payphone.

Nobody else could give him a ride anymore, and he wasn’t expecting her to drop everything and drive him somewhere, but she had freaked out at the words kicked out and for getting pregnant, and told him to stay where he is.

She was there with a tight hug and a travel mug of honey lemon tea within twenty minutes.

Steve had asked for a ride to a youth shelter he had read about, but she shook her head, said you’re coming to live with me and Dusty and Steve had cried in her passenger seat, and again in her guest bedroom.

-

Steve groaned.

He had finally begun showing, just a little bit out a mound near his belly button.

But he felt like shit, had taken to spending most days in bed.

He bat away whoever was shaking him.

“Go away.”

“Steve, it’s Max.”

“I’m sleeping.”

“I found Billy, you asshole. I have his address.” Steve sat bolt up straight.

“You, where is he?”

“Boston. He went east, for some reason. But he sent me a letter, out of the blue, and I told him you had something important to say, but he said he doesn’t have a phone.” She handed him a slip of paper.

“Thanks, Max.” He gave her a weak smile, found her chewing her lip.

“Is he the father? The other father, I mean.” He had told the party about the pregnancy, figured rumors would begin spreading soon enough.

“Yeah. He’s the other father.”

“He wouldn’t have ditched you. If he’d known.”

“I know.”

“He’s not like that.”

“I know.” She stared him down. He kept his face open, honest.

“Are you gonna write to him?”

“Yeah. I just, I don’t really know what to say.”

“Just keep it simple. Tell him he’s got a kid. Let him choose what he wants.”

-

It took Steve almost a month to draft a letter.

He didn’t really know what to say.

He settled on the bare minimum.

I’m pregnant. And it is most definitely, without a doubt, yours. I’m not expecting anything from you. I don’t want money, or for you to move back to Hawkins. I just thought you deserve to know about your kid.

He read the letter about three times, one hand pressed delicately to his little bump.

I’ve decided to keep the baby. I’m going to raise them. You’re welcome to meet them, and be in their life if you choose, but if not, I’m not going to hold it against you.

He sealed the envelope, leaving it on his nightstand.

And then his contractions started.

He didn’t get around to sending it.

-

Claudia was the only person in the room with him when he gave birth.

She held his hand the whole time, coached him through his breathing.

And when his son was born, she pet his head, told Steve how beautiful he is.

-

Steve was slumped face down on the bed.

He had just gotten Oliver down, calmed him down enough for him to finally sleep.

He rolled over, scrubbing a hand down his face.

He had barely slept all week. But Oliver had smiled at him for the first time yesterday.

He turned to lay on his side, zeroing in on the envelope on his nightstand.

He sat up quickly.

Fuck. He needed to send that letter.

He didn’t bother thinking about it, just wrapped his sweater tighter around himself, and hurried to the mailbox. He put the little flag up, leaving the letter in the little inner clasp.

He looked back down at Oliver, running one finger over his fuzzy little head.

-

He didn’t hear from Billy for three weeks.

He knew the letter wouldn’t take more than a few days to get to him, and it would take just as long for Billy to get him back.

He had pushed Billy out of his mind, figured if he wanted to be part of Oliver’s life, he had given him enough of a chance to be.

He put on a thick sweatshirt, had taken to wearing baggy tops to hide his tits, too sore, too big to bind anymore. Oliver squealed at him when he leaned against the side of his crib, reaching out for him.

He strapped him into his stroller to take him on a walk, stopped dead in the doorway.

Billy fucking Hargrove was in the driveway, standing next to the Camaro like he had just gotten out of it.

His eyes were wide, trailing from Steve, to Oliver, and back again.

“Is that my kid?” Billy’s hair was shorter than when he had left.

“Oliver. His name is Oliver.” Billy stepped around the car.

“Can I, can I see him?” Steve brought the stroller down the driveway, taking Oliver out of the stroller.

Billy held him like he was made of gold.

“He’s beautiful.”

“I think he looks a lot like you.” Billy smiled at him.

“Thank you for telling me. I’m sorry I couldn’t get here, I was waiting for my semester to end.”

“It’s okay. I just, you know. Thought you deserved to know about him.” Billy stared at Oliver, his smile going soft as Oliver squealed, tugging on Billy’s hair.

“I want to be in his life. If that’s okay?”

“Of course it is. He’s your son too.” Billy brushed his thumb down Oliver’s nose.

“Thank you, Steve. And I’m, I’m sorry about how I left. I was going to-” he cut himself off, looking back at Oliver. “I was gonna ask you to come with me. Chickened out last minute.”

Steve’s heart was banging against his rips.

“I would’ve gone with you. Used to dream about running away with you.” Oliver started getting fussy, making disgruntled little huffs. Billy passed him back to Steve. “I was in love with you. You know that?”

“Yeah, I knew that. Was to chicken shit to do anything about it.” Billy was still looking at Oliver, the way he nestled into Steve’s neck. “He loves you a lot.”

“It’s been the two of us for awhile.”

“You’re a good dad. Always kinda figured you would be, though.” Billy took another breath. “You know, you could’ve told me sooner. I would’ve come back.”

“I don’t want you to, to change you life. Don’t quit school, or something.”

“Steve, I got a kid. I want to change my life for him. For, for you.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“No never did. I’m choosing this. I’m choosing my family.” Steve hesitated.

“Would you like to come in? Have some breakfast? You could give Oliver his bottle, If you wanted.” Billy’s eyes lit up.

“I’d like that.”