Chapter 10
Athos leaned against the outer wall of the police precinct. It was a mild winter in the city; his blazer being enough to keep him comfortable.
White puffs blew out of his mouth, but they weren't from the cold. He heard footsteps coming from around the corner.
There was a sigh of frustration. "I thought you quit those years ago," Aramis grabbed the cigarette between Athos' fingers, tossed it on the ground and firmly stamped it out with his foot.
Athos rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything.
"Is something bothering you?" Aramis asked. "Sylvie all right?"
"She's fine. She's perfect," he sounded frustrated.
"Athos?" Aramis said.
"I thought smoking would be the less destructive of my vices." Athos let out a humorless laugh.
"Sylvie's gonna kill you when she finds out," Aramis said.
"Come on," Aramis said. "What's going on? I'll stand here guessing until you say something."
Athos glared at his friend. It didn't last as he turned his head facing forward. "I'm going to be a father in a few months."
"And you're freaking out," Aramis said and Athos nodded in confirmation. "Well, I'm probably not the best person to give advice."
"Aramis," Athos grimaced.
"Come on," Aramis grabbed Athos' arm pulling him towards him. "Maybe you should talk with d'Artagnan. He and Constance are having their first child too."
"Yes, I haven't forgotten," Athos huffed following Aramis reluctantly. "From all accounts, I believe d'Artagnan had the best example from his father."
"So, this is about your father," Aramis stopped and turned back to look at Athos. "Athos, if not for you, three out of the four us would have fallen apart."
Athos rolled his eyes. "You are grown men."
"I can think of several times you and Constance called us children," Aramis had an impish look on his face.
Athos shook his head. "Come on." They walked back inside the precinct.
TM
Athos asked d'Artagnan for a ride home at the end of their shift.
"Everything all right?" d'Artagnan asked while he drove.
"I wish I could be as calm about becoming a father as you," Athos said.
D'Artagnan laughed receiving a slightly hurt look from Athos.
"Believe me, I have been freaking out for at least the last two months."
"Well, you had the perfect example from your father." He winced realizing the subject of d'Artagnan's father was still a little tender since his unfortunate death a few years ago. "I'm sorry, d'Artagnan."
"No, it's all right," d'Artagnan glanced over with a smile reassuring Athos it was fine. "Look, no amount of good parenting examples is going to prepare you. This whole parenting thing is mostly guess work."
They arrived at Athos and Sylvie's apartment. They were in their new apartment now, but not completely unpacked yet. The nursery was the next priority.
"Want to come up for a bit?" Athos asked.
"No, I gotta get home, Con is waiting for dinner," d'Artagnan said.
"Just a week until her due date," Athos said.
"She is ready," d'Artagnan said.
"Tell her I said hi and give her a kiss from me," Athos climbed out of the car.
"Same to Sylvie," d'Artagnan said.
"Thanks for talking me down," Athos said sticking his head through the open window.
D'Artagnan nodded and waved as Athos stepped back from the car before it turned into the street.
TM
Athos walked into the apartment finding Sylvie sitting on the couch. He walked over to her pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "That was from d'Artagnan. He said to say hi," he then pressed a lingering kiss to her lips.
"Let me guess, that one was from Aramis," Sylvie said.
"You're a cruel woman, Sylvie Boden," Athos sat down next to her wrapping his arm around her shoulders pulling her close.
Sylvie settled comfortably in his arms. "You seem better."
He thought he had been hiding it well, but she was an observant woman.
"I've been thinking about my father and the fact that I'm going to be one soon. It scared me," he said.
"Are you still scared?" She asked tensing in his arms.
"Terrified," he said, but added quickly with a genuinely happy smile. "But elated."
Sylvie relaxed in his arms. "That's good," she said. "We can be terrified and elated together."
Athos pulled back enough to look at Sylvie. Shock was all over his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't think about how you might be feeling."
"Love, it's all right. We both know now. That's all that matters," she said kissing him.
The kiss lasted several moments and Athos was thinking he wanted to take this into the bedroom.
"Bedroom," Sylvie finally said pulling back from him and letting him help her up.
"You're not hungry?" Athos thought he should at least ask while they continued walking into their bedroom.
"Later," she said sitting down on the edge of the bed.
Soon Athos followed her going to the floor kneeling between her legs.
TM
His phone ringing woke Athos. He felt Sylvie move as she too woke up. After making love they pulled some food together and brought it back to the bedroom staying there for the rest of the night, only leaving to go to the bathroom.
"d'Artagnan, everything all right?" Athos asked.
"She's in labor."
Athos could hear noises in the background. He picked out Constance's voice. "d'Artagnan, put Constance on the phone." Athos could hear the panic in d'Artagnan's voice.
"Athos," Constance sounded slightly winded.
"Con, do you need me to come over?" Athos asked.
Sylvie was already up getting dressed.
"Would you?" Constance's voice was hopeful and maybe a little desperate.
"We'll be there in fifteen minutes, think you can hold on?" Athos stood up putting the phone on speaker.
"Yes, we should be ready when you get here," she said. "Is Sylvie coming too?"
"Of course, love," Sylvie said.
"Thank God," Constance said.
"Just hang in there," Athos said exchanging a look with Sylvie.
TBC