I wrote this, and its pretty much done. but I thought I would put out the first chapter to gauge interest. I'll be editing and uploading a chapter a week. Enjoy

The slight blonde sat under the icy spray and groaned. It had been unpleasant at first, a shock, but now it felt like the only thing keeping him from bursting into the flames of a full heat just yet. He was still fully clothed, his kids sitting and playing on the bathroom floor while he held back his cycle to the best of his ability

Ideally this would be when his mate would be watching them and caring for him while he lay in a nest… But it wasn't an ideal situation. Matthew was a single mother. There was no mate to take care of him.

He wasn't completely alone in this though, Ivan was still around for the kids. He took them every other weekend… and much to Matthew's irritation, the week of every one of Matthew's heats.

It wasn't that Matthew didn't want them to see their father… He did, they loved their Daddy, and he loved that Ivan loved them back just as much! It was more complicated than that…

He could hear a knock on the front door. sighing, he grabbed his phone and hanging his top half out of the shower, he dialed Ivan

"Hello?"

"Hey Ivan…" He sighed, calls of 'hi daddy!' in the background. "You'll have to come in and get them… you have the key right?" this heat had started hitting when he was asleep, by the time he woke up, this had been his only option.

"Da, I'll be right there" The phone clicked off and Matthew tossed his and curled his legs up to his chest.

"You guys be good for Daddy okay?" He said gently from the shower as Aurora and Alek started getting visibly excited at the sound of the front door opening. "Come give mommy kisses" He said holding back his sadness at the lame goodbye, smiling brightly instead.

"Kay mommy! I'll make sure Alek is good!" Promised his sunny little four year old as she leaned in to kiss Matthew's forehead.

Alek, who would turn three in a few months pouted "I'm good!" He exclaimed

"Of course you are" Matthew chuckled, kissing his cheek and quickly returning to the cold spray. The bathroom door opened a second later and Matthew looked up sheepishly at Ivan, who was now covered in excited children "sorry…" he said cringing "I woke up and it was already getting started… their bags are in their bedrooms on their dressers"

"Is fine" He said gently, picking up Alek, and hugging Aurora to his side. "You going to be able to get to your room alright?" He asked hesitantly, and obvious attempt at being polite.

"I'll be fine" Matthew answered smiling "I'll call you when it's done." he said tightly as Ivan nodded and looked away awkwardly. It was undeniable that Matthew's scent was beginning to fill the bathroom. After all.. the Alpha whose mark was still on his neck was right there, it was only natural. But it was still embarrassing for both parties involved.

"Right kids, let's get your things. Yao is out in the car waiting" Matthew beat back the growl, settling for a tensed jaw he could simply blame on starting heat.

That, that right there was the complication. Yao. He watched his kids run off excitedly saying an awkward goodbye to Ivan as they did. So excited to see Daddy's.. new mate. It was a bitter feeling. Every other weekend, and for a full week every three months, that- that- person got to play house with his children.

He didn't like it.. especially in the fragility of his heat. His body screamed, trying to lure back the Alpha. Biologically it was wrong. Omega's didn't lose Alpha's after mating… well, they did, but it was something their body fought violently. giving babies for an Alpha to protect and love, being small and vulnerable themselves to kick that instinct in and keep them around… But people also had feelings, and sometimes those trumped biology...

The split, if it had even happened otherwise, might have been more bearable… normal feeling if it hadn't been for the circumstance of everything. Alek had only been six months old when Ivan had confessed his transgression. It had been the most painful thing Matthew could have ever heard.

Ivan's co-worker, Yao Wang, had started his heat while at work. Ivan, being the kind man he was, had carried him into the office emergency heat room when the beta security was taking too long… except then he hadn't come out right away.

Matthew had felt like a ton of knives were going through him when Ivan explained he'd wound up marking him… They'd been having minor issues already in their relationship, but they'd been working through them. High school sweethearts who got married the moment Matthew turned eighteen. He was only twenty-two when he was signing divorce papers, all done with a baby on his hip, and a toddler in her father's arms.

To his continued heartache, after the hurried decision to split, Ivan had chosen to date the homewrecker, moving into his apartment right off the bat, and upgrading to a two bedroom so he could still have visitation.

Matthew wasn't a spiteful person, he was sweet and genuinely cared about people. So naturally he'd agreed to visitation right away when Ivan had asked. He trusted that his ex-husband loved their kids and would continue to be there for them… but It didn't stop it from killing him inside.

The first time he'd seen Yao out around with his children, he'd just been out running errands, Alek was still only eleven months old, sitting on the other Omega's hip while he kissed Ivan… Matthew had turned around, gone home and locked himself in his room to cry. someone had just stepped in and stolen his life and he was left alone… How was it fair that he was the one who'd been wronged, and Ivan and Yao got to be happy together?

At least when he had the kids with him he could be happily distracted. Caring for two babies on top of working was pretty time consuming. Yao had offered to watch them during the day while Matthew worked. Obviously that had been shot down quickly. Matthew claimed he'd rather have the kids in socializing with other children so school wouldn't be a shock, but thanked him for the offer. things had been even more tense between them since then.

"Bye mommy!" "I love you mommy bye bye!" Came the called as the front door opened followed by "Make sure you bolt this behind us Matvey"

Matthew swallowed back an ache that clung to the mildest form of care in his vulnerable state and called back "I love you both too, and I'll make sure to lock it, Have fun!" He heard the door shut and felt tears well in his eyes as his whole life walked out the door.

Eventually he got up, sighing as he walked to the door, sliding the bolt in place before heading to his room to make his nest and ride out the week alone.

Finally, six days rolled around, and thankfully Matthew's heat tapered. He was almost in tears of relief when he woke up cold that morning. He took a quick shower, washing away the filth of his week and stuffing his nest in the oversize washing machine before calling Ivan.

"Will you- hold on Matvey- stop pulling your sister's hair! is not nice Alek!" Matthew raised an eyebrow. "S-sorry… caught me breaking up a fight." He said with an uneasy chuckle.

"It's fine. I'm done, you can bring them back now" He said quietly, standing at his dresser, drawing little circles on the top of it with his finger.

"Alright, we're just about to eat lunch, so I'll bring them over right after. does that work?"

"Yeah, sounds good... " He paused before continuing quietly "Tell them I say I missed them" His heat hormones still rode, adding a silent 'and you… I miss you…'

"I will, we'll see you soon" he brushed the tears away and forced a smile,

"Okay, see you soon"

Matthew hung up the phone, frowning. Was this attachment ever going to weaken? Would he ever go through a heat without it killing him to hear Ivan's voice.

He moved out into the living room and sat down. He almost regretted keeping the house, it made things worse.. It had been bought for them when they got married, their families pooling together to support the young couple. It was fair sized, three bedrooms, one floor… No heat room, but they'd just altered the bedroom door and window so it functioned the same. It held a lot of memories… a lot of painful ones.

Ivan opened the door, turning to scoop Matthew. The Omega squeaked, grabbing hold in surprise then laughed "Ivan! You carry me over the threshold the first time not every time!"

"but it's to ensure no demons snatch you away, da?" He leaned down nuzzling against Matthew's hair and whispering in his ear "I'll carry you across every time to keep you safe" Matthew blushed, reaching to kiss him as Ivan carried him into the house.

He had stuck to his word, picking him up every time. Even if they were arguing, Ivan would scoop him up and continue the argument as they went across the threshold, placing him down and moving on with the point.

It was cute,Right after Ivan's confession had been the first time Matthew had pushed his hands away and walked across on his own.

"I felt him kick!" Ivan's young eyes were opened wide, a hand on matthew's stomach as Aurora kicked him for the first time.

Matthew had chuckled "She's a kicker!" He said subtly arguing the sex.

"I bet he's going to be a strong little guy. An Alpha, just watch" He said affectionately rubbing the bump. Matthew rolled his eyes by smiled, a hand carding through Ivan's hair. The russian looked at him with a soft smile, leaning in to kiss him gently. "I love you and our little boy so much" He murmured

Matthew had smiled, cradling his face and returned it "I love you and our little girl too"

Ivan had been set on it being a boy. he was so sure. Obviously he had been so wrong, but he'd cried happily when they placed her in his arms the first time. Daddy's little girl from day one.

Not all the memories were happy, and the second pregnancy had been a little less intended then the first.

"How did this happen?!" Ivan exclaimed loudly as Matthew scowled, shaking slightly.

"Shush! you'll wake Aurora and I just got her down!"

He kept arguing, but his voice was a hissed whisper "Know what else will wake her? When a baby is crying again!"

Matthew felt tears sting the corner of his eyes, "It's not like I did this on purpose…" He said quietly "you could have stayed out of the heat room, or used condoms..."

"And where would I have slept!?"

"Not on top of me!" Matthew snipped, causing Ivan to look surprised at the outburst. The omega had tears running down his cheeks "If you don't want it, just go! I'll take care of them myself, because I'm not dealing with a third baby!" His protective streak for his children broke through "And maybe if you'd slept on the couch then, you wouldn't be staying there tonight, cause you sure as hell aren't sleeping in the same bed as me!" he went into their room, shutting and locking the door.

It hadn't ended in some romantic apology, but merely three days of near silence before they just fell back into step and continued on.

Things had gotten better and worse in waves. But it was fine… normal couples fought. Normal families had issues, and 90% of the time it was good. Matthew felt loved even when they fought… he thought Ivan had felt the same…

Again, tears sprung to his eyes. Stupid post heat emotions. He sighed and stood, wiping his eyes and went to sit on the porch to wait. He'd feel better once he had his babies again.

When the car pulled up, that point was proven, a wide smile breaking across his face as he jogged out to help get Alek out of the car while Ivan moved to Aurora.

"Did you have a good time with Daddy?" Matthew asked as he undid the buckles.

"Of course they did… what a stupid question" Yao grumbled under his breath, Matthew's breath caught as he looked up startled.

"Yao! don't be rude." Ivan snapped as Matthew numbly pulled Alek out of the car, focusing on him instead walking up to the porch as Aurora ran up, hugging him as well, Matthew finally happy.

Ivan walked up with their bags in hand and Matthew sent the children into the house with them giving Ivan a raised eyebrow in question. They'd discussed not being unfriendly in front of the children….

"I'm sorry… he's in preheat." Ivan said with a sigh "I'll talk to him"

Matthew nodded, still a little irritated, but understanding to a degree... "Alright… If you guys want me to keep them this weekend so you can focus on him-"

"No need!" Yao shouted from the car "I can deal with my heat by myself thank you very much nosey!" Matthew started and stared wide eyed as Ivan cringed. Oh… he was not sticking his hand in that…

"Uh.. well.. if something changes…" He said quieter "We can always change weekends.. it's not a big deal…"

Ivan nodded "Thank you Matvey, I appercite-" The car horn honked and Matthew looked at the seething Yao.

"Uh-huh. well… good luck?" He said turning to head back into the house with a quick goodbye.

Yao had always been a bit… rough around the edges when he was annoyed… but this was a new level.. they must have been having an argument. He pretended that thought didn't fill him with smug happiness. It wasn't that he didn't want Ivan happy, it was just he couldn't find it in himself to want them to be happy together. Not a happiness that was built on breaking apart a family.

His thoughts were happily shattered a second later as two happy children came out of their room. Matthew knelt down, hugging them both close and nuzzling his head in between. "Oh~ Mommy missed you both so much!" He exclaimed, squeezing them tighter gaining giggles. He pulled back smiling widely "so, what did you do?"

He stood and walked to the couch, a child holding either hand as they babbled and yelled over each other about the fun they had. Matthew just sat, enjoying the noise that chased away all the quiet he'd had.