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Buck just sat there in shocked silence until he heard a throat clearing.
“Look, I-I’m flattered that you guys thought of me, but I-I can’t help you two. Even if I-I wanted to, I just can’t,” Buck stuttered through his rejection.
“What? What do you mean you can’t help us even if you wanted to?!” Kameron exasperatedly demanded. Buck had to wonder if the Beta pair had only asked him to be polite. The attitude the woman sharing a table with him was exhibiting made him think that they expected him to say yes immediately with no hesitation.
“I-I’m not in a place to mentally deal with what being a donor would mean,” Buck gently explained. “But, even if I was in that place, I’m an Omega. Even with medical intervention, getting anyone pregnant would be extremely difficult. And only possible if I wasn’t already pregnant myself,” he admitted to his former roommate and the other man’s wife.
“You’re an Omega?!” “You’re pregnant?!” Connor and Kameron asked at the same time. Connor sounded incredulous and Kameron sounded heartbroken and envious.
“I decided that I wanted to be a parent so I went through IVF with an anonymous sperm donor. Got the confirmation that the embryo transfer took just this morning,” Buck excitedly told them. “I’m three weeks along, so I still have a ways to go before I’m officially an Oma. Which means I’m also not producing sperm anymore and I won’t until I give birth,” Buck gently reminded the couple.
“What do you mean?” Connor demanded. “First you’re telling me that you of all people are an Omega then you say that you don’t produce sperm?”
“Just, how can someone like you claim to be an Omega?” Kameron added her own demands. “You and Connor lived together, he would have noticed that you’re an Omega.”
Buck could see the couple becoming more hysterical the longer the conversation went on. Buck was used to people being surprised that someone with a physique like his was an Omega, but he didn’t think it deserved this kind of response.
“I was on heavy suppressants and scent blockers when I lived with Connor. And honestly, my secondary gender is no one’s business but my partners and doctors. And I know Omegas and Alphas are rare, male Omegas even more-so, but you two are my age. The bare bones of Omega and Alpha biology was covered in basic sex ed even when we were in school.”
“One of the things we bonded over when we first started dating was our similar family values. Both of our parents opted out of the Omega and Alpha sections of that class,” Connor muttered.
“Okay, look, lesson time. Omegas can become pregnant no matter their primary gender. Every Omega is different when it comes to how often they have heats. Mine are every three months, followed by a heavier than normal period, and manageable with suppressants. I can go through them and live my life. But if I spend my heat with someone, I will become pregnant without specialized birth control. Are you two with me so far?” Buck checked in. Both nodded so Buck decided to continue.
“Because my primary gender is male, I can also produce sperm. But my count is low and getting a female Beta or another Omega pregnant naturally would be a miracle to call the Vatican about. And only possible as long as I’m not in heat or pregnant. In either of those situations, my body stops producing sperm and doesn’t start again until my heat is over or, in this case, until I give birth.
“Now, I’ve been through the process of using donor sperm through a sperm bank. So if you have any questions I am happy to answer them. But only if they’re about using an anonymous donor,” Buck specified. “Otherwise, thank you for inviting me, I wish you two all the best, but don’t contact me again,” he firmly told them as he stood, throwing a few bills on the table to cover his meal.
Before he could even take one step away from the table, Connor was grabbing his arm to stop him.
“We asked you because we don’t want an anonymous donor. Those profiles can tell us their height and hair and eye color, but it can’t tell us about them. When we decided to go the donor route we chose you because I remembered how kind you were back then and that’s the kind of person we want our child to grow up to be,” Connor tried to entice him, his voice pleading with Buck to listen to him and help the couple.
“Those profiles also tell you the medical history of each donor. About two years ago I learned that I have, or had, an older brother. He was diagnosed with juvenile leukemia and I was conceived to be a bone marrow donor. But he was too sick, the transplant didn’t take and he died. My immediate family all have a history of persistent depression that is more than manageable, but requires constant treatment, with either medication or therapy. I have ADHD on top of the depression. Knowing all of that, I refuse to sire or carry a child whose life I would not be a part of.
“I’ve changed my mind about advising you on the donor process from the receiving end. Please don’t contact me for any reason,” Buck firmly told them before leaving the restaurant.
Buck didn’t stop to listen to the couple as they called out for Buck to “please, just think about it.” One great thing about his height being all in his legs was that he was able to get to his car, get it started, and pull out of his parking spot before the other two were able to leave the restaurant.
Getting away from the situation was all well and good, but Buck had no idea where to go from there. His first choice would be to go talk to Eddie. The man was his best friend and had been there for Buck every step of the way so far, even hanging out in the waiting room for all of Buck’s doctors’ appointments. But Eddie was on shift with Chimney and Bobby. Next he would probably go to Athena, but she was still dealing with the fallout of her parents and the case that had haunted her since she was a kid. Maddie was just a complete no go. Buck loved his sister, but she could be more than a little overbearing in stating her opinions of a situation and trying to make them Buck’s opinions. Hen was available though, and she would absolutely listen to him and give it to him straight while still caring about his feelings.
Arriving at the Wilson residence without warning was probably a bad idea, but Hen was quick to invite Buck into the house. With all of the stress that Hen was under, Buck was only slightly surprised that the older woman was day drinking. Part of Buck really wished that he could join her in her day drinking. Unfortunately, Buck was not going to be drinking for at least the next nine months, but most likely longer if he chose to nurse, which he was hoping would be possible since it wasn’t always an option for male Omegas.
Alcohol probably would have made it a lot easier for Buck to tell his stuttering story about what had happened over lunch.
“So, these people, one of whom you’ve never met and another that you hadn’t seen since you were dating Abby, just ambushed you and asked you to be their sperm donor out of the blue?” Hen exclaimed.
“I mean, first-first we talked about when Connor and I roomed together, then we talked about how they met. That led to-to the whole ‘now we’re ready for kids but it hasn’t happened yet’ thing. So-so like it wasn’t completely out of the blue, but it-it was basically just like that,” Buck agreed. “And-and like I feel for them, you know? Like, you and I, out of everyone should know what it’s like, not being able to have a straight path to being a parent. Es-especially when it comes to needing a sperm donor.”
“I mean, for me and Karen, yeah we needed a sperm donor, but I don’t understand how you would need one. And I just can’t see you doing that. You have such a big heart, Buck,” Hen comforted him, covering his hand with her own. “The biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. But doing this, you would be donor, not dad. You would need to do your part and then walk away, maybe without ever meeting the baby. Would you really be able to do that?”
“No. No I wouldn’t be able to just walk away. Which is part of the reason that I told them no right away. But also, being a sperm donor is physically impossible for me at this point because I’m already pregnant,” Buck admitted. As soon as the words were out of his mouth Buck regretted it. The only one who had known Buck’s plans to go through IVF was Eddie, and his best friend was also the only person that Buck planned to tell before he reached the end of the first trimester.
“Wait, what do you mean you’re already pregnant?” Hen coughed out after downing a shot right before Buck’s confession.
“I’m an Omega. People know so little about Omegas and tend to have all of these beliefs about us and how delicate and fragile and feminine we are. I tend to only tell my romantic or sexual partners because they need to know. Better to warn them I have a dick and a vagina before they see me naked,” Buck chuckled.
“You’re right, I tend to think of Omegas as these tiny, delicate women with major nurturing and maternal instincts. You are far from tiny or delicate, but God Buck, you are so nurturing and you are going to be the best Oma or Daddy or whatever you want to call yourself,” Hen assured him, standing up to give the tall Omega a hug.
“I’m leaning toward Oma. Yeah, I’m a dude. But Oma just feels right. It’s because I’m an Omega that I’m able to do this mostly on my own.”
“Can I ask about that?” Hen inquired reaching across the table to pull the bottle and her glasses closer to her new seat right next to Buck.
“Which part?” Buck asked as he took a sip of his own drink, just some simple Country Time lemonade that he was told Karen had made that morning.
“The decision to have a baby yourself. I mean, it’s pretty obvious to anyone who knows you how much you want to be a parent, but I’ve only ever seen you date women, so I’m a little shocked that you would want to go through a pregnancy.”
“I mean, yeah, I’ve only ever dated Beta women, but I was always open to being the one to carry a child if whoever I ended up with didn’t want to or couldn’t,” Buck explained. “No matter who I ended up with or who carried the child, fertility treatments were always going to be needed. Hell, I might have always needed to have a sperm donor even if my partner carried the baby. But the whole partner thing hasn’t been going well.”
“Just because your relationships haven’t worked out so far, doesn’t mean that the right person isn’t out there for you,” Hen comforted him. “The right woman is out there for you.”
“I know, but my biological clock is ticking and I honestly just didn’t want to wait. I had enough savings for a round of IVF, the treatments and the donor sperm, so I decided to pull the trigger,” Buck explained.
“How far along are you?” Hen asked, starting to get excited.
“Only three weeks. I got the results from the blood test back just this morning,” Buck told her, matching her enthusiasm.
“I’m guessing that you want me to keep this between us until you’re out of the first trimester?” Hen questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“If you can remember this conversation,” Buck snorted under his breath. “I’m going to tell Eddie, but otherwise, yeah. If you could keep it just between the three of us? Omega pregnancies tend to be pretty hardy, our bodies are literally made for pregnancy, but it’s still better to wait,” he told her in a louder voice.
“And how does Eddie work into all of this? Was he your donor?” Hen asked.
“No, I used an anonymous donor. He’s an Alpha, my height, blue eyes, darker hair than mine. Former army, athletic, enjoys flying. At the time that he donated, he had no outstanding health issues, no genetic risks, both parents living, and no other pups,” Buck listed. “Eddie and I are friends, and we’re going to keep co-parenting Chris, but this just isn’t a journey that we’re meant to go on together in that way. I know Eddie will always be there for me, whatever I need and that if something happens to me, Eddie will step up. But we have our reasons for why Eddie isn’t the biological parent of my pup, and it’s none of your business.”
“Message received. I’ll let Eddie come to me if and when he wants,” Hen said, throwing her hands up as she gave in. And took another shot. “I am so so sooo happy for you, Buck. You are going to be the best, most amazing Oma. Whatever you need, Karen and I are here for you.”
“Well, I would expect nothing less from Auntie Hen and Aunt Karen,” Buck told her with a soft smile.
“So, did you have a plan for your loft? You’ve only got,” here Hen paused and looked down at her hands, moving her fingers like she was using them to count, “thirty-seven more weeks before that baby gets here and it is going to fly by. Then there’s work. You need to go on light duty, and technically you can work through the first trimester, but you need to tell Bobby.”
“I’m going to tell Bobby as our captain next shift and request to take a step back. No more rope rescues, I’m not going into fires. Focusing on traffic collisions and medical calls. As for the loft, I have no idea. Right now I feel comfortable and safe there. My scent is everywhere and Eddie and Chris’ are pretty present too, which is a huge comfort to me as an Omega. And Maddie and Chimney originally brought Jee-Yun home from the hospital to Chim’s apartment, which only had one bedroom,” Buck rambled, running a hand through his short curls.
“Their bedroom also has four walls and no stairs. Your loft will work for now, and the first few months after the baby is born. But it’s gonna get crowded real damn quick, and once that baby starts crawling and pulling themself up, those stairs are going to be a real problem,” Hen reminded him.
It always astonished Buck just how much sense Hen could make while drunk.
“I know. I just have no clue where to even start. The loft is the first place I’ve picked and lived on my own, but even then Ali played a big part in that,” Buck groaned. “I don’t think I want to keep living in apartments, but I don’t know if I want to rent or buy. Then I have to consider whether or not I’ll be able to take care of a yard with a new pup.”
“I think Karen knows a guy, I’ll see if she can get you in touch,” Hen told him, her words finally starting to really slur. Buck decided it was time to cut her off. Buck gently nudged his lemonade into her hand and got up to get another glass and the pitcher. Only to end up doubling back to take the tequila into the kitchen with him. “Can you tell me why you keep saying pup?”
“Omegas and Alphas have instincts that are similar to wolves, so young Omegas and Alphas are called pups. When an Alpha and an Omega have a baby together, it’s guaranteed to be one or the other. Both baby and pup work though.”
“Tell me all about this again when I’m sober?” Hen asked.
“Of course,” Buck assured her before her phone started to ring.