takers dark lover, he need not worry about that. M.j's place, why thank you. LadyDragonsblood, preggo Heath is adorable. I like getting into the psychology of a character. I never want to see a child abused, but I could see how they help if used properly. We had one for my cousin when he was a kid, he was a bit unruly back then. My brother liked to run off in stores when he was little & it kept me so nervous, but we never put him on one. Tragically there are far too many sickos. Thank you so much, sweetheart.

The Darkest Corners;
Chapter five/ 'Motherhood'
Rated; M/ L (some adult situations, mpreg, a smidge of angst)

After the incident at the store, they decided to head back to Adam's. Chris would be home any minute, he had already called and said he was getting off early. Adam made everyone a light lunch while Jay and Heath chilled in the living room. Gerard was sitting at the table, coloring a picture of a rocket ship in space. Adam had been told that before the attack Gerard had been very artistic. Phil showed him some of his old drawings one day. It was amazing to know that he could once do such brilliant sketches. He sat Gerard a peanut butter and jelly sandwich down with a sippy cup full of milk before taking a plate of sandwiches out to Jay and Heath.

Heath was lounged back on the couch, his aching feet propped up on the coffee table, happy to be off of them. Jay was beside him, one hand absently on Heath's swollen belly, the other holding the TV remote and flipping channels. Jay took the plate as Adam handed it to him, he had gotten them drinks beforehand. Adam sat down in the chair and fiddled with one end of a baby monitor. He had picked it up today and wanted to see how it worked. Really he hated the concept of spying, but he needed extra eyes and ears for his boy.

Heath fed Jay a bite of a sandwich, giggling when he nibbled at his fingers. "You cad. I need those."

Jay left the TV on a hockey game. "Yeah, you do." He stuck his tongue out.

"Dirty Daddy." Heath finished off his own sandwich.. at which time Gerard had decided he was done with his and being alone and bounded over to the couch to crawl up on the other side of Heath, snuggling him and kissing his cheek. The problem with this was that Gerard's face and hands were covered with grape jelly and peanut butter. Heath froze and squealed. "Gah, sticky.. ah.. no no no.."

Gerard only giggled, getting up to his knees and covering the tense redhead in jelly kisses, sticky fingers on his neck and cheek.

"Please stop.. oh, please.." Heath shuddered, giggling too. "Not in my hair.."

Adam watched them, lips quirking in amusement. Jay sat back, away from the sticky. "You're gonna have to get used to that. Babies are sticky."

"And messy."

"Leaky and stinky." Jay snickered.

"Leaky and stinky?" Heath closed his eyes as a sloppy raspberry was blew on his cheek. "Is that what I should start calling you then?"

"Hey, I do not stink." Jay folded his arms. "Or leak. You leak."

"We all leak sometimes, Jay." Adam said nonchalantly.

Heath giggled and pushed Gerard back. "Go get Jay. Go on."

Jay sat up. "Go get.. what? Hey, no." He was tackled anyway and had a lap full of a sticky bouncing Gerard.

Heath pointed and laughed. "Ha-ha."

By the time Chris came home, Gerard was half-asleep, still occupying Jay's lap. Heath had wiped himself, Jay and Gerard off with a damp cloth and now he and Adam were discussing The Walking Dead on a fangirl level. Who was hott, Shane was hott, Daryl was hott, and right as Chris got by the couch, Adam said "I think the Governor's hott."

Chris looked down at him and cocked and eyebrow. He shook his head and looked down at Gerard and Jay- who were both drifting off.

Adam shrugged. "What? So I kinda like that calculating sexy murderous type.. on television."

Chris scoffed and headed to the kitchen. "Pffftt, whatever.."

Adam waved him off. "Oh, he's still got a boner for Carol."

"I do not." He just liked the way the character was developing, okay. Chris came back through with a can of soda and bent to kiss Adam before popping the top and sitting in the chair.

Heath smiled at Jay. His Daddy's head was tilted back against the couch, eyes closed and mouth open, his arm was draped across Gerard's lap as Gerard had his head laying on his shoulder, fighting to keep his eyes open and failing. Jay was asleep and just looked so adorable that Heath could've melted. Heath carefully got out his phone and took a picture. He got this little warm feeling at the thought of finding Jay asleep with their baby one day.

Adam nodded toward Gerard. "He ran off from me today. In the store. Scared the shit out of me."

Chris shook his head. "Told you he wasn't ready to go shopping."

At the sound of Chris's voice, Gerard lifted his head and stared at him blearily before crawling out of Jay's lap and over to the chair to crawl up in Chris's. Jay shuddered, his eyes opening a bit. He had gotten warm and that warmth was gone. He turned and snuggled into Heath's side, hand going to rub his belly.

"Hey, what'd you do today, huh?" Chris rubbed his back and Gerard mumbled into his neck.

Adam got Heath's phone and took a picture to send to himself. His phone was in the kitchen on the counter. Heath patted Jay's thigh. "I think we're both ready to go home and take a nap. Come on, Daddy."

Jay snorted awake and blinked at his redhead. "I'm up.. who won?"

"Whoever you wanted to win." Heath kissed him and scooted to the end of the couch to wiggle himself out of the seat.

Jay gave a lazy smile. "Sweet."

Then Heath was tugging at his hand and steering him in the way of the door. "I'll drive."

"Pregnant people can't drive." Jay yawned.

"Yes, they can." Heath said, taking his phone back.

"Neither can sleepy people. You get into a wreck and die and I'll kill you." Adam scolded.

"So much irony in that." Chris drank the rest of his soda.

Heath leaned over and kissed Gerard on the head. "You be good for these old fogies."

"Young people." Chris snorted and lifted Gerard up to carry him to bed. He'd sit here and hold him all night, but he seriously needed a shower and comfortable clothes.

Heath chuckled. "See ya guys."

Adam saw them out, waving and locking up the door. He slouched. Fuck, he could use a damn nap too. He must be getting old. Adam peeked in Gerard's room to find Chris had laid him on the bed and was sitting on the edge, stroking his hair back. "He's precious, isn't he?"

Chris smiled as Gerard batted at him in his sleep and rolled to his side, making a content little sigh. "I can't deny that." He looked up at Adam. "I'm okay with him, but why him? I mean out of all the patients you've seen."

Adam sighed. "I don't know. He just stole my heart. I remember when they brought him in that day, I was getting ready for my shift to end and there was all this yelling and a flurry of activity like there always is when a fatal case comes in. They didn't think they could save him. They told me what had happened later and it just made me think of my own mom, you know. What would I do if I found her like that. He stayed hooked up to all these tubes for months, head in bloody bandages."

Chris watched as Adam paused to shudder. It must have been a horrific sight.

"I was changing his bandages when he woke up. And he stared right at me, and said 'mom?' in this scratchy little voice and it broke my heart to tell him no, I wasn't his mom. He started crying, saying it hurt. The doctors took over from there. Apparently, his mom had wavy blond hair like mine." Adam fluffed said hair. "That was the last time he mentioned or remembered her. He says he doesn't remember her. It's sad."

"So he had one little glitch of recognition. Damn."

"I took care of him though. He'd panic when anyone else did, he'd cry when the doctors had to do tests and check him out. I bathed him and fed him and read to him. He grew on me. I just couldn't let him go."

-xx-

The hallway was dark and long, but there was this brilliant white light off in the distance. Adam was dressed in a flowing silk white gown, his hair gathered to the side over his shoulder. He walked down the hall slowly and cautiously, taking small steps and looking ahead to try and see how far away the end might be.

He didn't know why, but he was anxious. His stomach was knotted up with his nerves and his heart was in his throat.

There were children's voices, happy little whispers and giggles. And then there was the baby. It was making these sweet little coos, squealing happily.

Adam's heart swelled and he moved faster, coming to a room. He hesitated, hearing the crying, afraid to peek in and not knowing what he'd find..

-xx-

Adam woke up in Gerard's bed, groaning and rolling over. Chris had gone to take his shower and Adam curled up with Gerard to take a quick nap. He looked down to find Gerard playing in the floor.

Gerard crawled over to peer at him. "You sleeped on my bed."

Adam smiled warmly and pressed his forehead to Gerard's, carding fingers in the back of his hair. "Mhm. You have a good nap? I bet you're hungry." He realized he was hungry himself, his tummy growled and he got up, stretching. He smelled the food instantly. "Ooh, Chrissy must be cooking."

Gerard followed him as he headed out of the room. Sure enough, Chris was cooking, in just his jeans, shirtless with a KISS apron on, singing Big City Nights into a spatula. Adam covered his mouth and giggled and Chris turned around, smiling brightly. "Hey. I'll have noms ready in a few minutes."

Adam smiled and went over to wrap his arms around Chris's neck, kissing him. "You are noms."

"Mmm, you can have me later."

During dinner Gerard thought it'd be a good idea to feed himself.. with his hands. And hid under the table when Adam said anything regarding a bath, only agreeing to it when Chris promised- and pinky swore because Chris Irvine would never break those, his own rule- to play with him after. Gerard didn't mind Adam giving him a bath. He had come a long way since when they first started and Gerard would fight him and get them both soaked. But Adam never yelled or lost his temper, he'd just start humming a little melody.

Gerard had asked him what it was and Adam said "It's just something my Ma used to hum to me when I was little to calm me down. She'd put me in her lap and run her fingers through my hair and tell me everything was going to be alright." He thought fondly of the woman who had raised him and Jay practically on her own, remaining strong even when they went through the hardest of times.

Adam didn't need to hum it during bath time anymore, but still did after nightmares. Gerard just had to be sure to remember to close his eyes and keep his head tilted back when Adam wet, washed and rinsed his hair. Adam had a good shower-head at home though and it made it easy and quick. Gerard even liked how the soft rag felt on his skin, massaging him and making his eyes want to roll back in his head. It felt good, relaxing him and making him want to fall asleep in the warm water. But he still got uncomfortable when Adam got to more private areas and he'd tense and try not to squirm. It got really uncomfortable when he squirmed. It always made him feel weird, even though Adam was gentle and respectful and wasn't trying to hurt him.

He got a weird feeling like that when Phil kissed him and tickled him. And he wanted to ask Adam why he got that weird feeling and his stomach did this little flip-flop thing, he really did. He tried once at the institute, but Adam got really nervous and started stammering before changing the subject. Most other adults seemed to like to do that.

What Gerard didn't know was that Adam came home that day, flushed, huffed and threw his keys down on the table and said "I'll never be able to have the birds and the bees talk ever!"

And after Adam stomped his foot and stalked off down the hall, Chris burst out laughing hysterically and said "What?" But Adam always could be a tad over-dramatic and twitchy about the smallest things. When he told Chris, his lion simply assured him that if they ever had kids of their own, when they were ready, he'd be able to have that talk.. and if not, they'd probably be in the know by their teens anyhow because they used the internet and info was easy to come by. He also told him that Gerard was in his thirties and it didn't matter if he got a boner. "Boys get boners, Adam. It's a natural part of life. Now stop being such a girl."

Adam hit him with a throw pillow. He thought maybe it'd be less confusing if he just explained it to Gerard, but quite frankly he was embarrassed.. and he didn't want to teach his baby filth just yet. He was sweet and innocent and pure, and most importantly, he had never tried to grab Adam's ass like other male patients had before. To Gerard he was mothering, not just some tall hott blond nurse. Fortunately for Adam, Gerard just got good at ignoring it and not bringing it up.

Adam rinsed him off and wrapped a towel around him as he stood up to dry him off. He helped him out and rubbed the towel over his head, making Gerard protest and squirm away. Adam pulled the towel away and giggled at how his black hair stuck up at various angles. Gerard grumbled and shook his head like a dog to make it straighten back out. Adam instead sat him down on the toilet and gently combed it out and dried it. He was more than used to the boy flinching and fighting the dryer and complaining.

-xx-

Phil sat in Mike Mizanin's apartment, nursing his fourth- fourth- bottle of Pepsi in his lap. Mike looked down at his friend as Phil sighed and sunk further into his couch. He hated seeing his buddy like this. "I know.. why don't I call over that stripper with the glittery pants? I think he calls himself Fandango or something. Psh, stage names." Miz twirled his hand by his head in such a diva-like manner it should have been funny.

Phil shook his head. "You go ahead, I'll pass."

Mike huffed in disbelief. "What? If you can't enjoy a sweaty gyrating man dancing in front of you, what can you enjoy? Mor then?"

"Hell no." Phil took another gulp of Pepsi and grumbled.

"I'm teasing, man.. I just, you're.." Mike sighed. "I think you've had enough of those."

"I'll tell you when I've had enough." Phil actually cracked a smile. He only had one addiction, and that was Gerard. "Sorry. I'm just a buzz-kill tonight. I went and saw him, Adam actually took him home and.. I kissed him when Adam was showering. Fucker actually trusted me with him and I kissed him and told him not to tell. I told him to lie for me. But fuck, I wanted him." Phil rubbed his hands over his face. "And that makes me a pervert."

Mike snorted. "Your boyfriend would make anyone a pervert. C'mon, Brooks, shit. You said after the attack he was a child. It sounds like he like started over, forgot all his adult life and started with a new slate. Can't you maybe, I don't know, just teach him everything all over again?"

"It's not that simple. He'll never be normal-normal. His mind-set is a child's, it'll always be. He's.. I don't wanna admit it, but he's brain damaged." He just missed him. He missed being able to go to bed with him every night and watch horror movies with him. It hurt not having him anymore.

"But you could still teach him and he'd understand... right?"

Again Phil shook his head. "That would be taking advantage of him. He doesn't know any better."

Mike scoffed. "I think you're just trying to pound that crap into your head. Or Adam is one. He's still an adult, you know."

"Maybe so. But he'll always look at me in this innocent way that makes my dick hard, and I'll always be the big bad predator."

"Ha!" Mike laughed. "You won't even take advantage of a couple of paid whores, I'm not worried about you taking advantage of Gerard." Mike plopped down in Phil's lap, wrapped his arm around his shoulders and patted his arm. "You could always take advantage of me. I'm always here, and I'll always love your sorry ass. No matter what you do." He kissed his cheek.

Phil twitched. Mike got off when he pushed at him, cackling. "I'm glad you find my tragedy funny. And you wish." He folded his arms, grumbling.

"Please, you so want this handsome face." Mike motioned to said face, grinning. He was handsome, in this boyish class-clown sort of way. But Mike dressed nice and always managed to look like the most important person in the room. He had dirty blond hair that he kept cut short and styled in the front, with big blue eyes that sparkled and a million watt smile that lit up everything.

"I'd like to punch your face."

"You wanna fuck this face." Mike teased and Phil rolled his eyes. He looked like a cherub, a little angel. The kind of angel that would mischievously shove you in a mud puddle and laugh hysterically before picking you up and cleaning you off while apologizing and still laughing. That was the thing, he'd always pick you up.. and blame you for being clumsy. But Phil knew that he himself could be a royal asshole, and even so, Mike put up with him.

No, he and Mike had never done anything other than pick and poke and tease at each other. The lovable goof-ball was his closest friend and he wouldn't trade him.. but he also wouldn't tell him that.

"Look, um.. just.. in all seriousness, bro." Mike fought back his smirk, Phil hated being called bro. "But seriously, if you try anything and he says no, then back off. But if he doesn't object, I don't see why that'd make you a predator." Mike shrugged, lifting his eyebrows, lips pressed together in this way that Phil thought made him look like an adorable little frog he'd like to kick across the yard.

Look, non-sexual stickiness for once. Good ole Punkers, drowning his sorrows in Pepsi. My boys being all sleepy is like the cutest thing. & if they mention The Walking Dead & you don't watch it, don't worry about it. There are no spoilers or in depth discussions. I just name-drop.