Chapter 3
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Eric ran his hand over Alan's abdomen amazed by the slight raise he was feeling. Alan told him about it earlier but still, to feel it. How could he have missed this before?
"Look at you, you're in total bliss right now." Alan laid in his normal position on the bed, propped up by pillows to avoid the uncomfortable backboard. He had tried to read but Eric looked too cute right now to ignore.
"Is that so wrong? Being with the one I love and watching the child we created together grow?"
"Of course not. I just can't get over it. You, the bad boy, melting over feeling an ever so small growth in my abdomen."
"I'm only letting you see my weakness"
Fixing his position just slightly he ran his fingers through Eric's hair. This happiness, this state he was in was indescribable. Eric had always made him happy, always sent his heart soaring but ever since he became pregnant those feelings, those reactions tripled at least.
"Tell me, how long have you hoped for a child Eric?"
"Hmm?" Looking up from where his hand rubbed he focused on Alan's face. "I don't know, a year, year and a half maybe. I realized how badly I wanted to one day be a father after our job passed us near that children's park in London."
"I remember that assignment, they were right across from the park. We watched the children playing from out targets roof."
"That's the one. Seeing them, seeing the parents with them I knew then I wanted to be a parent. You always wanted a baby right?"
"Well actually, no, not really. Growing up I was indifferent and then I knew how hard it was for my mother to conceive so I had mixed feelings. And then I met you and fell in love with you and thought you didn't want kids. But, then it would be nice to have a baby. I mean we bought a three bedroom house so deep down we had to have known this would happen sooner or later."
"You're happy though right? With this decision, with my actions so far, with how things are being handled?"
"I am." Sitting up completely he brought Eric up with him. "I wanted this baby please don't worry. I am very happy with everything."
"That's good to hear. You would tell me if you weren't right?"
"I would."
Eric walked into the living room behind Alan after they had cleaned up from dinner. Sitting together on the couch Alan picked up one of his pregnancy books to pick up where he left off. He wanted to see what experts said would be good for him and the baby. While not disregarding what the doctors told him of course. Reading something about the development during the fourteenth week he showed it to Eric figuring he would get a kick out of it. Turning off the TV they moved closer together and looked over the information. Neither could stop the smile on their faces as they read about the baby being able to start to hear their voice. Both dropped a hand on Alan's abdomen while they used their other hand to hold the book.
Alan stood up from his desk only to place both his hands on top and stop.
"Alan? Are you alright?" Both Eric and Ronald watched him with worried and concern looks. Slowly releasing the tightness he held in his eyelids he looked at both of them.
"I'm fine. I need to remember I can't stand up too fast. I get dizzy when I do."
"You're alright now though?"
"I am. It only takes a moment for me to get it to stop." With that he stepped away from his desk and the three of them went to get lunch.
Eric came up the front walk to see a package on the steps.
"Al, did you order anything?"
"Me, no why?" Seeing the box he was now just as confused by it as Eric was.
"It's for you."
Keeping the door open for Eric to bring the package in the house he went into kitchen with it.
"That's my name but I know I didn't order anything." Alan looked it over while Eric handed him scissors. Opening it up he pulled out what looked like a giant pillow in a vacuum sealed bag.
"What in the world is this?" Putting it down he went through the box to see if it had a receipt.
"Trying to replace me huh? I gotcha."
Giving him a look as he looked over the paper he noticed its name, "Snoogle total body pillow."
"Snoogle? That's some name."
"Oh, there is something written in the comments. 'Alan this will help you greatly at night. Especially as you grow. Love Mom."
"Well that explains a lot then."
"She spent seventy on this?! What is she crazy?!" Grabbing he phone he called her wanting an explanation.
Crawling into bed Alan heard the joke Eric made about the pillow he received. He had been waiting all night for that, he knew it was coming.
"You're not going to use it?"
"Nah I'm sleeping pretty well right now. Plus, I'm not up to listening to you tease me."
"Allow me one and I'll be good. Plus, last night you tossed about all night. And weren't you complaining of back pain from it? Try it, it could help."
"One. Any more and I'll hit you with it understand?"
Getting out of bed he grabbed it and after a minute of figuring out how to use it properly he closed his eyes Eric noticed not even fifteen minutes later he was out cold.
Alan felt good, except for the massive headache, the back pain from standing all day, and now his hands were swollen. Really? This was too much. Kicking his shoes off after work he noticed his ankles and toes looked swollen as well. So much for feeling good. He knew it was too good to be true. Being off tomorrow would be great. He wanted to do nothing more than take a long bath, curl up and read with his feet up.
Entering the kitchen Alan saw Eric making himself coffee while breakfast for them cooked.
"Morning Alan."
"Morning. Question, does my stomach stick out the bottom of this shirt?"
"No, it looks tight though."
"I can handle tight. I do not want my stomach sticking out."
"Your fine then."
Meeting his mother at her house they sat and talked about how everything was going including the pregnancy. Laughing, he stopped and fixed himself in his seat. Resting a gently hand on his stomach he rubbed the area gently.
"Everything alright sweetie?"
"I believe so. I feel this strange, almost like a fluttering sometimes. I'm not sure what it is."
"That's the baby hun. They are kicking or moving and you feel it at times. You know they can hear you right?"
"I do. Eric talks to them every night. I do as well but he can get closer."
"He is really excited about being a father isn't he?"
"He is. He is building the crib apparently and won't let me see it until it's done. He loves to talk to them, and rest his hand on them. I hope this excitement doesn't end once they are here."
"I'm sure it won't dear."
They had talked about a few other things before heading into the kitchen to start dinner. Tonight was the night everyone was getting together. It helped that Alan happened to be off since his father was working. His mother just recently decided to retire from head of General Affairs but his father didn't feel ready to. Since they lived much longer than humans many reapers didn't retire until much older and even then they only partially went into retirement. It helped when they had some major event in the living world, though events such as those were rare.
Eric noticed Alan stayed mostly quiet at dinner and hardly looked up from his plate. It probably had something to do with his own parent's lack of appearance at the table. He figured something like this would happen as he had heard many times that his mother still disproved of their decision not to marry. He would have to address this issue to Alan and make sure he understood none of this was either of their faults. For now though he would have to wait and watch him. At least Alan's parents were happy for them. That seemed to be helping him.
Once home and Alan was out of the shower Eric confronted him about earlier. Coming out of the closet trying to fix his shirt he stopped
"Forget about it."
"That means it really bothered you."
"Just drop it."
"No. My parents not joining us got to you. Talk to me."
Sitting on the edge of the bed, his back faced Eric. He hated that he was so observant.
"They hate me don't they?"
"I didn't think so." Seeing Alan look over his shoulder and not say a word he moved closer to him. "They don't, they hate our decision but, it's not theirs to make. We know what we are doing."
"Maybe if I talked to them, they way you did for mine. Then maybe we can get them to change their minds."
"Alan, you don't have to do that. Actually you have to promise me that you won't talk to them."
"What? Why?"
"Just promise me you won't."
"Fine." He hated the fact that Eric was keeping something from him but dropped it and went to lie down.
Finally a day off. After weeks of paperwork and running around for different things Alan could relax. First he had to do something but it shouldn't take too long before he could. Walking up the front steps of Eric's parents' house he rang the doorbell hoping they were home. He knew he told Eric he wouldn't but he had been doing so much for him, he had talked to his own parents and got through to them. He had to at least try and do the same for Eric. Shoving his hands into his pockets he waited nervously for the door to open. Seeing it open slightly before Mrs. Slingby appeared he tried not to lose any composure.
"Hello ma'am. I am sorry for dropping by like this but I hoped I could talk to you for a moment. Not saying a word she opened the door and let him in. Escorting them into the family room she let him sit and went to sit across from him.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" He felt himself stagger hearing the tone and attitude in her voice.
"I hoped I could talk to you about our decision. I know you're not happy with our thoughts to not marry. Please understand it was a mutual decision. Neither of us feel the need to marry. We aren't going to change our names and we feel it's stupid to go through all the motions. Spend all the money for nothing."
"How could you do that to your child?"
"Excuse me?"
"You created a child with my son, not married."
"Marriage doesn't guarantee a healthy child."
"You changed my son's morals."
"I did no such thing. Ma'am please. We want you involved in our child's life. Eric would love for all of us to be close again."
"Eric knows what will become and happen to your child."
"Ma'am I don't understand."
"Your filth went to your child. You both will be sickly and probably won't survive the birth." At those words his heart stopped, his blood started to boil.
"How dare you?! How dare you say that about my child?! This child is doing well, heathy and growing well I'll have you know."
"Your actions will kill your child."
Having heard that he was on his feet and walked out of the house. He couldn't tale this anymore. He didn't deserve this.
In the dispatch Alan went up to Ronald who was at his desk.
"Alan what are you doing here on your day off? Love this place too much?" Seeing the look on Alan's face he became worried that something was seriously wrong.
"Is Eric here?"
"No, he got called out. I can call him back if you need me to."
"No, don't call him back. But can you send him a message to come straight back as soon as he is done?"
"Sure. But is everything alright?" His eyes looked bloodshot and he seemed ready to cry.
"I just really need to talk to Eric."
"Let me put this message out and then I'll unlock the meeting room for you."
Bunching himself up tighter he nodded and waited for Ronald to finish.
Eric ran down the hall getting back to the dispatch as soon as he could. Once he read Ronald's message that Alan was there and a mess he dropped everything to get here.
"Alan. Why are you here? Is everything alright? Are you okay?"
Seeing him hunched in one of the chairs he went into the room and sat in the chair next to him.
"Oh Eric. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have, you told me not to but I thought if I,"
Realizing right away what happened Eric wrapped his arms around him and brought him close.
"It's okay, she is wrong, she doesn't know what she is talking about. I'm so sorry she said that to you." Feeling his shirt start to become wet he pulled Alan closer. How dare anyone talk to Alan like that, family or not, no one got away with this.
Eric opened the door to let Ronald into the house. He was grateful he could come over once he got out of work. He personally left early to get Alan home and resting.
"What happened? Is Alan alright?"
"He is in the bedroom trying to rest. I have a favor to ask. Would you mind staying here for a few minutes while I run out? I have to take care of something but I don't want to leave Alan alone."
"Sure I can stay here it's why I came over. But can I ask what happened?"
"My parents are not crazy about the fact that Alan is having my child. They have voiced their concerns to me before but today they told Alan. They told him our baby is going to die, and he won't survive child birth."
"Oh god, that's sick. No wonder he is a mess."
"I need to put an end to this. I refuse to put Alan through this anymore."
"Go ahead. I'll keep an eye on him."
"Thanks."
Eric stormed into his parents' house to find them in the study.
"Oh Eric,"
"No! How dare you?! Do you have any idea what you've done? How distraught Alan is?!"
"I just tried to get him to see the truth, what he has done."
"He has done nothing wrong! This was our decision and our child is and will be fine! Both will make it through delivery with no problem and we will be a family."
"We are just trying to protect you Eric."
Those words made him blow up, he couldn't take it.
"I don't need protection I am old enough to take care of myself! I know what I'm doing. And hurting Alan does nothing but tick me off, related to me or not."
"He will leave you Eric, men like that do it all the time. Once the child is born he will leave you."
"Can you hear yourselves? We are in love we have been together for years. We have never been some fling. We are too old for that. Do me a favor, never contact me again. I'm done with this, done with you both. Never contact me, Alan, or our child. Never come to my house, never try to talk to me at work. From this day forward never consider me your son. If you ever hurt Alan again you will be sorry."
Turning he left the room and house. He was done with this. He had Alan, he would soon enough have his baby, he didn't need them.
Home he thanked Ronald and went into the bedroom to see Alan, who apparently hadn't left the room while he was gone.
"It's over Alan. They will never bother you again. They will never get to you again. I'm so sorry you had to be involved." Sliding his arms around him on the bed he brought him close. He needed to take away the pain he was feeling. "You know I love you right." He kissed his neck hoping to get him to understand how sorry he was. "They don't know how happy I am, how wrong they are." He kissed his neck again. "You and the baby will continue to be fine. I will never let anyone harm either of you, ever. I will always protect you."
"I'm going to kill our baby."
"No you won't. Alan look at me." Feeling Alan bunch up tighter he pulled him closer to his chest. "You know our child is doing well. They don't know what they are talking about." Feeling him start to cry again he moved them both so he could hold him better. He hated this, he hated seeing the state Alan was in. "I love you, everything is fine, I love you."
Hearing his alarm go off Eric wasn't too surprised to feel Alan still in bed. Usually he was up sooner but he knew he didn't sleep well. He barely got him out of bed to eat last night. He had showered, dressed, and made breakfast before he heard Alan start moving.
"I think I'm going to stay home today." Coming into the kitchen Alan was still in his pajamas and looked exhausted.
"You need the rest. Want me to stay here with you?"
"No, its okay. I'm going to stay in bed all day and try to get some sleep. Could you tell William for me?"
"Sure. If you want me home just call and I'll leave work."
"Okay."
"Hungry? I have breakfast made for you." Getting up he had Alan sit and he made a plate for him. He was really getting worried, he seemed so out of it. Hopefully he would bounce back to his normal self soon.