Grif was wide awake since almost an hour now. However, he didn't had the intention of getting up. It was way too cozy to just lay here, head tucked under Simmons chin, listening to his slow and regular breathing. The pain killers still made Simmons very tired, causing him to sleep a lot. The Hawaiian didn't mind, because it meant more laying around and cuddling with his love. Three of the best things he could imagine. Slacking off, napping and cuddling.
During the last hour, Grif had thought about yesterday. It made him still all smiles when he thought about the proposal and Simmons agree. the was so fucking god damn in love with this nerdy cyborg, he couldn't imagine how to react if he said no. Cuddling closer with a content sigh, Grif felt Simmons tightening the embrace.
The smile didn't fade as he thought about the future. Simmons and he would marry soon. And Grif already had concrete plans about that. And they would live and be happy together. Somehow, the Hawaiian was a bit disappointed that they couldn't have kids on their own. But hey, there were lots of orphans, waiting for a home and a family.
The breathing of Simmons changed slightly, indicating that he was about to wake up. As he opened his eyes, Grif could see a sleepy smile spread across his lips as he saw Grif looking at him.
"Hey…" muttered the cyborg sleepily.
"Hey there." Replied Grif, mirroring Simmons smile, before leaning in to kiss his boyfriend, no fiancé.
Simmons sighed happily, replying the kiss, while his right hand slipped under Grifs shirt, gently drawing circles on the back of the tan skinned man. The touch of the metal ring on Grifs skin made him shudder.
Expectantly, he licked over Simmons bottom lip, asking for entrance, which he got granted right away. Both of them let their tongues dance lazily, before parting again, not wanting to be out of breath.
Grif again snuggled closer, tucking his head again under Simmons chin. "Let's make a bed day."
The irish-dutch man hummed in agreement, the vibration making Grif smile harder.
Grif was about to drift away, when Simmons suddenly asked him something.
"You already have plans for… our wedding?"
A huge grin appeared on Grifs face, looking up to Simmons with joy gleaming in his eyes. "Absolutely! We gonna marry at the beach! With all our friends and family! And a huge badass fire to sit around after dinner and enjoy the evening!" Simmons blinked, looking startled, what made Grifs smile falter. "Uh, I mean, only if you want to."
Again, Simmons blinked, before he chuckled lowly. "Leave out the family for my part and I'm good."
"Neat!" Grif beamed at his boyfriend, no fiancé. Gosh, that would take some time to get used to that.
"Hey Grif."
"Hmm?"
"Do you already know who will be witnesses to our marriage?"
"Tucker will be my groomsman."
Simmons rolled his eyes in faked annoyance. "Why did I even bother asking…?"
The Hawaiian still was beaming although Simmons faked to be annoyed. "Come on! He's my best buddy."
"I know. I didn't say I'm not okay." The faked annoyance disappeared, replaced by a fond smile and a kiss to Grifs forehead.
"And who are you gonna ask?"
"Hmm… I don't know. I didn't had that much time to think about."
"If you're going to ask Sarge I'm not gonna marry you!"
"What!? What's wrong about that?" Simmons voice got a shrill note.
Grif chuckled. "Nothing. But please not Sarge. You know, he and I are not exactly on the same page."
The cyborg sighed exasperated. "Okay, fine. Then how about Wash?"
"You're such a kiss-ass."
"Why am I a kiss ass all of a sudden when I want Wash as my groomsman?"
"Because he was our CO?"
"Who should I ask then? Donut?"
"Ugh, please not."
"Caboose?"
"I don't want my wedding go up in flames."
"See? Who else should I ask? Tucker is already going your groomsman, I want neither Donut nor Caboose and you don't want Sarge to be my groomsman. There aren't much alternatives left. And I won't ask someone of my family."
"Okay." Admitted Grif in an overly dramatic sigh to admit his defeat. "Okay, you got a point there. In this case you're not a kiss-ass. But all the other times I said so."
"And you're a lazy slacker!"
"Nerd!"
"Fatass!"
"I know and that's why you love me." Simmons was so taken aback because of this statement that he shortly forgot to even retort something to this.
He blinked several times, before answering with a smile. "Yeah, same counts for you too." The cyborg didn't give Grif any time to answer, already kissing him again – Shutting him up effectively.
Eventually, both of them had to get out of bed as it was afternoon and their bellies grumbled. They haven't eaten in a while. Luckily, they still had the plates of yesterday to warm up and eat. Simmons didn't had to move out of his comfort zone, facing all the alien faces out there, mustering him because he was the victim of five assholes who beat him up. At least Grif assumed that Simmons was more comfortable staying here because of that. He knew Simmons and he knew the feelings you have after being beaten up. So he well… assumed, he guessed?
Anyway, they were eating their lunch in quiet, enjoying each other's presence.
After the lunch and cleaning up, Simmons settled back on the couch, taking out his data pad to read the news from earth. Grif didn't read them. He didn't want to because he was lazy and because there was always the same in the newspapers. Political intrigues going on, some people died because they were at the wrong time at the wrong place. Some died because they deserved it and so on and so on.
Whilst Simmons was focused on the news, Grif lounged on the comfy couch, using Simmons flesh leg as pillow, trying to nap. Napping after eating is always the best napping. With Simmons fingers weaving through his hair even more.
The second time this day, Simmons woke him up, just before he fell asleep. The Hawaiian pulled a face. "Aw man, I was just about to nap!"
"Oh- uh- sorry. I didn't meant to wake you up. Please go back go back to sleep." Muttered Simmons. Grif could see a blush coloring the tips of his ears.
Grinning a bit sleep drunken, the tan skinned man replied. "Nah, it's okay. I'm awake now. What do you want?"
"Well, uhm, you remember Kai – uh - saying something about you… wanting to have your own kids?" stumbled the cyborg out, his ears getting a deeper shade of red.
"When should that have been?"
"Uh- just before… Ahm- she tried to jumponmybonesduringbreakfastinfrontofyouall?" The deep crimson blush intensified again, spreading across Simmons whole face.
Grif closed his eyes, laughing at the memory. Then he had been furious. Today he could laughing about that incident then.
"Yeah I often said that. That's the thing when you're bisexual. I often said I want to have my own brood. But well, not really possible though." Grif gestured between them with his hand before continuing. "But I guess if we want to start up a family, we also could adopt kids. I guess there are always kids around being happy to have a place they could call home."
"Why should it not be possible for us to have our own brood?"
"Wait, you didn't ask me that because you suddenly dug out a fond memory from back in the days, haven't you?" Suddenly the gears connected in Grifs head, making him blurt out the next question coming to his mind.
Simmons smiled again, still weaving his fingers through Grifs hair. The short sting of pain indicated the Hawaiian that Simmons loosened up a knot in his hair.
The cyborg took his time to answer. "No I didn't ask just because of that. I'm curious. We can plan our future now. And I want to know what your ideal image of a future is."
Grifs glance wandered up to the ceiling, thinking about what his ideal picture of his future after the military would be. To be honest, he never thought about it. Because he was dead sure that he would never be able to have a live after the military. Until some weeks ago when the radio transmission came in.
"I don't know exactly, except of one thing. I want to share my future with you." A small 'heh' came from Simmons, Grif taking this sound as invitation to continue. "And we're moving to Hawaii. That's something I wanted too. Maybe I establish a surf and diving school. Besides the tourists coming for lessons I can nap at the beach in the sun." Simmons laughed silently at that statement. "And yeah, Kai was right. I would like to have my own brood. But it isn't that bad if not. As I told you. If you like to start up a family too, we can still try to adopt some orphans, what do you think?" Grifs cheeks slightly warmed up, getting a deeper shade than usual.
Simmons smiled knowingly. Grif furrowed his brows. That bastard knew something he didn't know. And he was using it to tease him. "Here. Read that."
"Aw come on! Reading is too exhausting for me!"
"Well, I won't read it out for you and if you don't want to read it, you'll never know what's written there.
"Jackass." Grumbled Grif, taking the maroon data pad, reading the news article Simmons showed him.
Grif heard Simmons answer a "Love you too." While he was reading the article.
"Wait a second. Did I just read what I thought I read?"
"If you mean that it's possible for a man to get pregnant and give birth to a child without getting transformed into a woman, then yes, you did." Answered Simmons, his fingers loosening another knot.
"And the conception will be all natural. Without an alien involved. And it's reversible." Added the cyborg after disentangling a third knot.
Grif read the article again. And again. And a fourth and a fifth time. He couldn't believe what was written there. Men were actually able to give birth to a child now. As of the drastic decimation of the people, doctors invented a method to actually allow men to bear a baby. And that this system was proved, as the thousandth baby was born this way, everything completely natural. As natural as it could be at least.
"What do you think?" Simmons fingers had stopped weaving through his hair. The hand was laying on Grifs head, Simmons mustering him attentively.
Grif read the article a sixth time before answering. "I think… It's a great idea. If we agree to start up a family, why not trying it on this way?" A wide smile tugged at the corners of Grifs mouth. Simmons replied with another fond smile.
Laying the data pad aside, the Hawaiian leaned up to place a kiss on Simmons lips. Kids with Simmons, their very own kids. Grif could hardly believe his luck. He would marry Simmons; live in Hawaii and having Kids with him. That was gold standard.
"When we're back home, we are going to buy a badass house near the beach, marry and get kids. Like a normal family."
"Except that nothing is normal in our case." Snorted Simmons, letting Grif lay back down on his lap.
"Hey, we are we." Answered Grif with a shrug. Simmons laughed again.
They were dorks, but they were okay the way they were. Simmons slowly began to understand the real meaning of this phrase Grif often used to say.
During the same time, while Grif and Simmons were happily enjoying their day off, Wash and Ala decided to not get Grif for the drills today to enjoy it with his fiancé, the two special ops were trying to keep everything in check.
They had to keep Caboose from putting everything on fire. Sarge from shooting the next best looking strange (He would never admit it, but what happened to Simmons also affected him). Keeping Donut from running in the door to Grif and Simmons room to give them the framed photo of their proposal-kiss (it was a frame in the color of a blood orange. A mix of Grifs and Simmons armor colors).
And lastly making Tucker run his laps.
Beside all that, Ala often disappeared towards the toilet. Since some days, she often felt nauseated during the morning. She knew assuredly that it was one special reason. But she had to prove it first. In going to the doc (Luckily they had a gynecologist on board) on one of the front decks.
Wash and Carolina were sparing now for at least an hour and a half more, so she would have enough time to organize everything.
Luckily, she didn't meet Donut on her way through the hallways. That gossip addict wouldn't leave her alone until he knew what was up. Just now he was sitting sulking in his room, waiting for the dinner to come to hand over the photo with the handmade frame. According to the shadows under his eyes, he had been working all night on it.
As much as Alaska liked the bubbly pink armored solder, as much she often wanted to shoot him on the next moon they passed by. He was a nice guy, but he often overdid it. Especially when it came to his reputation as godfather (Or godmother?) of gossip.
Arriving back at her and Washs room after almost an hour later, she slipped out of the ring. She wore it now on her left ring finger, since she stopped sparing and only trained a minimum every day. Putting it in the little box she used to keep it when she wasn't wearing it at her finger or necklace, she left for the bathroom. Her stomach revolted again.
She kept the others, except of Wash, out of it on purpose until the time would come they would be ready to say it. She knew from her mom that during the first three months, the chances of a miscarriage are relatively high. Her sister was a late arrival and before her birth, her mom lost one of the babies. She had been about fifteen then as Kristina had been born. Old enough to understand what was going on. Even with moms miscarriage.
After returning from the bathroom, she just was about to sit down on the couch, putting on her ring, as the door opened and a sweaty Wash came in. Around his left eyes began to blossom a nice black spot. "Ouch, did Carolina get past your defense?"
"Obviously." Muttered Wash, leaving for the shower after kissing Ala hello.
It didn't took long for Wash to shower and return to the couch, slumping on it as if having no strength left. "Carolina seemed to have the upper hand during sparing." Commented Ala, seeing another bruise forming on Washs shoulder. Her fiancé only groaned in reply. "Since you aren't around to even out the odds I'm getting my ass handed every fucking time." Alaska snickered answering. "You know I can't. Now even less."
"Yeah I- Wait. What?" Immediately Wash had been sitting straight, looking at Ala with wide eyes. "Don't tell me… You are fucking kidding me right now, aren't you?"
The black haired girl smiled awkwardly, nodding. "Well yes, I was at the doc today because of my morning nausea. Turns out I'm pregnant. Second week."
A long silence settled, Wash staring at his fiancé disbelieving, while she smiled back. A smile between happy, sheepishly and awkward. As Wash, after minutes of staring, didn't answer, she looked worried. "Wash? You okay?" Her words seemed to snap him out of whatever realm he was wandering.
"Yeah, yeah I'm okay." Rubbing over his face, he again mustered Ala. "I'm just. A bit overrun by the news."
"Well, they were also quiet some news to me." Admitted the black haired girl, stretching out her hand to touch Washs.
"I know we said we would wait until we're back on earth. I didn't expect it to happen so fast."
"Me neither." Muttered Wash, before a wide grin began to spread across his face. "But it's great!" Pulling the white-blue armored soldier towards him, Ala felt his strong arms wrapping around her. "It's just great!" muttered her love before kissing her.
Smiling into the kiss, she replied it. She knew that Wash sometimes had problems to get along with new situation. So he took this reaction as best possible reaction he could muster. He was happy and they were soon going to have a little fellow.
"You know, we should tell the others!" suddenly the joy seemed to roll over Wash, making him grin and all giddy. The black haired laughed at that rare sight, before shaking her head. "Not now."
Washs face fell. "Why not?"
"Because the chances of a miscarriage in the first three months are pretty high. I don't want to hold up hopes and destroy them later. I'd like to wait and tell them after the first three critical months are over. Okay?"
"Okay." The ex-Freelancer looked a bit sullen, obviously, because he couldn't tell his friends the news at dinner.
Suddenly, ala felt like a strange kind of déjà-vu. This behavior had been typical for Wash back in Project Freelancer. North often told her about this giddy and happy way Wash used to be when something exciting happened. That was until Epsilon was implanted.
Shaking her head mentally, she again smiled at Wash. "We now have also other things to discuss and worry about. Such as asking our witnesses of our wedding, organizing the wedding itself, searching for brokers for our house in Honolulu…" Began Ala to tell all the points open. The Blood Gulch Crew settled on living in Honolulu, but they still had no houses, so that would be the first thing to do. Finding houses in close proximity of each other.
Wash interrupted her, laughing. "Okay, okay. I get it. First settle and sit out the dangerous time."
"Right!" Ala grinned at her soon to be husband.
Leaning into the embrace, Ala sighed happily, enjoying the moment. Until Wash interrupted. "Although I would have loved to tell them today."
"I know Wash, I know."