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Aleksi was six months into his pregnancy and he was over it. He didn’t understand how Joonas had gotten pregnancy glow and looked like some sort of fertility god and all Aleksi got was nausea and an aching back. A bitter part of Aleksi wondered why Joonas had an easy pregnancy and his was so difficult, but at least his mates were there offering to help in any way they could. Olli was making him ginger tea around the clock to help with the nausea and Tommi was running off to get him anything he craved at any hour of the day. Aleksi was constantly getting foot rubs, back rubs, kisses, shoulder massages, and so much love from his mates, but it didn’t change the fact that pregnancy was turning out to be draining in ways Aleksi hadn’t even dreamt of.
Now that he was so far along in his pregnancy, he knew he was having a daughter. Unlike Joonas, Aleksi liked trendy names and had selected Emma as the name of their second daughter. At first Joonas had taken it hard.
“I wanted them to have a matching theme, that way it’s recognizable that they’re siblings,” Joonas had said when Aleksi announced the name he selected.
“They’re still going to be sisters,” Aleksi said, taking Joonas’s hand. “Regardless of Emma’s sire, regardless of anything. They’re going to be siblings and nothing can change that.”
“I know,” Joonas said, squeezing Aleksi’s hand. “I just wanted them to have a matching theme. I’ll live though.”
A few weeks later Tommi suggested Olivia as a middle name and Aleksi fell in love with it instantly. Now that they had a full name they were turning one of their guest rooms into a nursery. It didn’t feel fair to make Esteri share with a newborn, so they moved the bed and other furniture out and painted the once light blue room a sunshine yellow. As Aleksi sat on in the rocking chair they had moved out of Esteri’s room and into the new nursery, watching his mates attempt to assemble the crib, he couldn’t help but remember when his mates attempted to assemble the very same crib for Esteri. Esteri had since outgrown the crib and they switched cribs when she started trying to climb out of it to avoid falls.
“Last time Aleksi did it like this,” Niko said and proceeded to do it wrong.
“Please just let me help,” Aleksi pleaded.
“No,” everyone said at once.
“But I can do it! I did it last time!” Aleksi whined.
Esteri, cuddled up to him, nuzzled her face against his belly and Niko’s face softened. “We know you can, love. But we want you to relax. Cuddle with Esteri while we do this.”
Aleksi huffed but brought Esteri closer. The little girl patted his baby bump and he couldn’t help but smile.
“You know what’s in there, little star?” He asked.
She shook her head.
“Your baby sister is in there,” Aleksi told her.
“Siser?” Esteri repeated to the best of her abilities.
Aleksi smiled. “That’s right, your sister. Her name is Emma and she’s gonna love you so much, little star.”
Esteri beamed. She only understood so much at 19 months, but they tried explaining that there was a baby in Pa’s belly and it was her little sister. One of Esteri’s little baby friends, Matilida, had a sister so Esteri knew vaguely what a sister was.
“Fuck!” Niko shouted, bringing Aleksi’s attention off their daughter and back to the alphas trying to assemble the crib.
“Oh for Christ’s sake, let me help,” Joonas said, pushing Niko gently out of the way.
Aleksi watched in amusement as Joonas quickly got the hang of it and with Tommi’s help, the crib was built in no time.
“Mama strong,” Esteri said.
“That’s right, Mama’s very strong,” Aleksi agreed, watching Joonas beam at the praise.
They finished up the crib and moved it to where they wanted it in the room.
“There, now the room looks perfect!” Joel said.
“Speaking of looking perfect, you look lovely today, Allu,” Olli said.
Aleksi blushed. “Oh hush.”
“No really, you look gorgeous,” Olli insisted.
“Stop lying,” Aleksi huffed.
“No he’s right,” Joel said. “You look beautiful.”
“You’re really glowing,” Niko told him.
“Glowing?” Aleksi repeated.
“You have pregnancy glow,” Tommi said simply.
“No I don’t,” Aleksi scoffed.
“Yes you do!” Joonas shot back. “I can’t believe you don’t see it.”
“Pa pretty,” Esteri said, reaching up to pat his face.
“See, even our daughter thinks so!” Niko giggled.
“Then I guess it must be true.” Aleksi said, smiling down at her.