It had been a week, and all Yuri had seen was landscapes. It was a gorgeous journey, though they were moving at a fast pace. Otabek barely slept the first week, and by the second week, they had passed many towns and villages.

"We are almost to safe grounds," Otabek said.

Yuri turned and peaked into the wagon, Trouble and his family all curled up together on the blankets in the wagon. Most nights they slept under the stars. Yuri found he did not mind this. The air was cool, but Otabek was warm. He would wake up to the cats curled next to him, and Otabek holding him tight- his hand protectively over his stomach.

It was just as they started the third week, they slowed their pace. Yuri felt a horrible sickness overtake him. When he woke that morning, he could barely scurry from under the blankets before he found a bush to get sick in. Coughing and heaving, it was terrible.

"Yura?" Otabek called, coming over where he was, holding his hair back.

"Not feeling well," Yuri mumbled.

He was covered in sweat and his head was pounding. Once his stomach was empty, Otabek ground some ginger into his water and held him tightly. Yuri had no idea where they were, once again trusting this alpha to lead the way. He had no idea even which direction his homeland was in- but somehow knew Otabek did.

It would be a long journey- and they had reached the halfway point.

"We will stay in town tonight," Otabek said, kissing his temple. "We will also move a little slower today so you may rest."

"Beka," Yuri groaned, his stomach flipping again. "Don't slow down all on my cause."

A large alpha hand back over his stomach, and Otabek held him tightly. "We are safe now."

It had been bittersweet packing up his things. It was never a place Otabek had planned to stay forever. Just part of his life's journey. Meeting Yuri changed so much- for the better. He felt his past decade was all in preparations for this single moment. For the first time in his life, he saw a future where someone else was in it with him.

It wasn't that he wanted to be alone, he had just never found the right one- beta or omega.

Holding Yuri tightly to his side, he smelt it more. The soft scent that seem to embrace Yuri. Instinct had his hand placed over his stomach- protect .

Yuri was something to protect, and now so even more. Seeing how pale and washed out his face was, the cold sweat covering his body- he knew exactly what it was. He had brought along ginger, remembering how it helped to soothe during these times.

"There is a stream, let's go wash up," he said.

There was a tremble to Yuri's limbs, and Otabek just easily picked up his omega and carried him over. "Stay here," he whispered, kissing his omega on the forehead before heading back to the wagon. They had just washed their clothes and bathing cloths, so after gathering a few, he returned to see Yuri laid in the soft grass, snuggling with Trouble.

"That cat is never going to leave your side," Otabek chuckled. Of course if he got near the damn thing, he would hiss and run off- or meow and demand to be fed. Yuri giggled and sat up. Seeing that smile on his face warmed his heart. Reaching into his tunic, he grabbed a mint leaf to hand to Yuri. "Chew this, helps with your stomach."

Shedding their clothing, they both stepped into the chilly water. For him, he like to quickly submerge and let the shock get over faster. But not Yuri. Inch by inch- squealing, and he was giggling more now. Otabek noticed his color was returning.

Yuri did enjoy staying at the Inns. He would sneak his cats in after dark and back out at first light. The beds were nice and the food was fresh and hot.

But what he really loved was laying under the stars at night. Wrapped in a quilt, holding his alpha. Otabek said there would be less of this as the lands were growing colder the further north they went.

His sickness stayed strong and it puzzled Yuri to no end. Every morning he was rushing himself to a small bucket Otabek requested kept in their room- emptying his stomach. His alpha had also become overly protective of him. Keeping an arm wrapped around his shoulders, growling at anyone who approached them in the kitchens for dinner.

Mostly he skipped breakfast and Otabek made sure they rested til late morning before heading back out. He felt he was slowing down their progress.

"Beka… we can keep going, I'll just rest against you," Yuri mumbled as he climbed back into the bed, curling up to his alpha.

Hands playing in his hair- that was starting to grow again, and Otabek kissed the top of his head. "Yura, I planned for this," Otabek said, his hand moving over his stomach again. "We are still on schedule."

Yuri was confused. How did someone plan sickness in their travels? Shaking his head, he was still a bit too weak to even argue. Reaching up, he laid a hand over the scar on his neck, sighing contently.

"I can't wait for you to meet grandpa," he mumbled before falling asleep.

"We should be there within a week if it is right town I am thinking," Otabek said.

The lands were looking more familiar now. Large snowy mountains and plains of white. The weather was cold, and Otabek had gotten them thick coats to wear. He could see his breath at every turn, the cats keeping to the shelter of the wagon.

"You'll stay with me… right?" Yuri asked.

"Well I was hoping you wouldn't send me away," Otabek replied, wrapping an arm around him so they sat snug against each other.

"I'd really like to keep the bond," he whispered, not expecting to want this- especially after his force bond. His feelings had grown so strong over this journey. Otabek telling him stories of his upbringing, his family and life in general. All the omegas he helped run away, and why he did it all. Yuri felt a connection even deeper with Otabek.

Sure, what had happened to him was terrible- but if he had not endured it, he never would have had that chance meeting with this gentle alpha. At times he had to wonder how the fates worked. What twisted logic and game they played. Either way, Yuri smiled and held his alpha tighter.

He wanted his grandpa to know he was ok- alive and very well. He had a strong alpha who genuinely made him happy. This kind, gentle alpha who held him through his sickness, and even took the cats with them on their journey. An alpha who helped other omegas escape a wrongful fate before them.

Yuri realized, he was falling in love with this alpha.

"It is downright disrespectful to have an alpha making an omega in his state travel!" the barmaid said as they strolled through the tavern, getting ready to leave.

Yuri looked over his shoulder, seeing her glare at his alpha.

"Excuse me?" Yuri asked, stomping over where he was.

"I made sure my comment was loud enough to be heard!" she huffed, crossing her arms under his breast.

"Yura…" Otabek called, "Ignore them, let's go."

"You should have him resting! Not out gallivanting across the countries! Especially in his state!" she cried.

"My state?" Yuri asked, confused. Sure he had been sick, but he was better now. Confusion riddled through him as he looked between the barmaid and his alpha.

"Ma'am, the state of my omega is none of your concern," Otabek growled, wrapping his arm around Yuri tugging them out.

"You better hope these travels don't hurt the pups!" she screamed, throwing a glass mug at them, shattering on the wall.

The moment they stepped through the door and out into the cold, Otabek was gathering the cats and piling them into the wagon. "C'mon Yura," Otabek said, "I managed to get us some fresh bread and meat for later today."

"Beka…" Yuri gasped, realization washing over him, his hands moving and cradling his very flat stomach.

Otabek turned to see a very confused omega realizing what was happening inside his body. Moving over where Yuri was, the strong protective scent of his alpha surrounding him before his arms did.

"Are you just realizing it?" Otabek asked.

"Is it true?" Yuri asked, looking up into gentle eyes that stared down at him.

"I do believe so," Otabek said.

"And you're… you're ok with this?" Yuri asked, his hands moving from where he was hugging himself, to hugging his alpha.

"Yura…" Otabek said, kissing his forehead. " The pride of any alpha is to have one omega. One omega they love dearly, giving them a legacy. It's makes that alpha immortal. One child or many children- they will bear our name for generations to come. "

Yuri gasped, and held his alpha harder, crying. "I… I love you Beka."

"And I love you, Yura," Otabek whispered.

FIN