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Robby had this one last shift then he would be off for three months straight. Dennis was on maternity leave so he couldn't wait to have Robby to himself. Although being pregnant is exciting and Dennis is ready to meet their little one, he was also so excited to be able to do everything again. He felt so limited, no cigarettes, no drinking, no work, no sushi, people always wondering if he needed help, can't tie his shoe, no rage cleaning. He never realized how much he would miss so many things from before pregnancy.
Dennis was still in bed while Robby was getting ready. It was only 6am, Dennis had no reason to be up, he just wanted to soak up every last minute of Robby before he had to leave for work.
“Why are you up, go back to sleep” Robby said with his eyebrow slightly raised
“Only if you join me” dennis replied with a smirk
“Last day of work and then you have me all to yourself” Robby smiled and walked closer to the bed to give Dennis a head kiss
“Mm’ your leaving earlier than usual” dennis eyebrows bunched slightly
“Yea, I’m gonna be gone for three months, so I wanna make sure everything is perfect for when im gone” Robby sat down next to Dennis on the bed while moving a hand up to rub his round stomach
All Dennis could do is cheese; he loved this part, Robby being all mushy gushy, all over him. He really didn't want him to leave now.
Dennis let out a very dramatic sigh “Fine I guess i’ll stay here all day alone”
Robby barks out a laugh “I'll be home before you know it, just eat, relax, and rest. That means doing nothing you know you shouldn't be doing.”
Dennis goes to open his mouth and say something but Robby gets his words out first
“That means no serious cleaning, and definitely no heavy lifting” robby gave a eyebrow raise and look that said “I know what you do when i’m not home”
“So you want me to die of boredom got it” Dennis had his eyebrows raised with a straight mouth
Robby laughed “If it means you’re being careful” he gave him a meaningful kiss, tucked him in and they shared their goodbyes
On his way out Robby almost tripped over a new cat litter container they bought the other weekend and made a mental note to move it so Dennis wouldn't trip.
—-
When Dennis had awoken again it was nearly 10 am, the sun was glistening through the curtains and Bub their cat was curled up next to him. He barely had time to process waking up before he felt a growing pressure near his lower abdomen and automatically knew what it meant. Being 34 weeks pregnant meant constant bathroom usage. This was just the first trip of the day.
He didn't plan on getting up and ready for the day but since he already was, he did his little morning routine, headed to the kitchen and started his day.
The day was going by pretty fast, it was one pm already. He ate breakfast, used the bathroom for what felt like a million times, he watched a couple episodes of tv, doomed scrolled, texted Trin, texted Robby, fed the cat. So many things and he was still bored out of his mind. He knew he could think of a million things that needed to be cleaned and taken care of before the baby came. He thought about what robby said rolled his eyes and reached for a book instead.
Another couple hours went by, it was four pm now and Dennis was officially losing it. He wanted to listen to Robby but the temptations were there, so he gave in. What could Robby expect he was nesting.
He started off downstairs and went from there. The garage was getting messy and full with stuff that had places to go, but Robby always said “later, later” and later never came. There were baby items that belonged in the nursery, new cat litter, cat food bag and shoes that belonged inside. The nursery was upstairs so he took small trips, brought everything inside first and then started bringing stuff upstairs. He had music playing, everything was going great and he finally wasn't bored anymore.
Then the cat litter came, it was heavy but Dennis has been fixing Bubs litter for forever now, and he's just moving the container upstairs it's not like he's gonna clean the litter box. He's carried this container up the stairs a number of times, one time pregnant wouldn’t kill him and plus robby wouldnt know. It took some time but he did it. When he made it upstairs, his back was aching like never before. “Maybe I should have listened.” Dennis admitted out loud as stretched his back out. He pushed the container with his legs the rest of the way to its location.
By the time Dennis was done, and by done, it meant out of breath, tired, sweaty, ankles sore, back aching like hell, it was already half an hour past 7pm, he didn't even realise. He didn't clean everything he wanted to but he got a lot of progress done. He knew he needed to get cleaned up and get rid of this ache before robby came home. It was dinner time, but he was not in a cooking mood whatsoever; he figured they could eat takeout or left overs something that didn't include Dennis making it. He went to take a shower instead, he wasn't expecting Robby for another 45 minutes at least. That gave him enough time to shower and sit down and act like all he did was rest and
———
When Robby checked his watch it was 7pm. The ED was steady and no one was dying, surprisingly. He was hoping to get home by 8pm, that was earlier than usual but he was so ready to shower and snuggle with Dennis. He had a long day, felt like he worked a double shift somehow. He had been thinking about Dennis all day, what he was doing, if he ate, if anything was wrong. He hated being away from him while he was so pregnant, but Dennis said it makes no sense for him to sit around with Dennis all day when he could be helping at work. He felt somewhat guilty about leaving for so long, he knew they would be more than fine without him but he just felt like he was abandoning his ship. At the same time, he was more than ready to be gone for three months. All he had to do was finish some charting, check in on some rooms and do hand off with nightshift.
“So three months huh, how are you gonna survive without us?” dana asked from behind robby with a slight laugh
“Ha Ha, I’m bolting out of this place as soon as I can.” Robby replied. Guilt creeping up his neck
“Well take care of our bloodhound, and you call if you need anything and I mean anything. Even if it's just to see the little darling or you guys need some sleep. Wouldn't be my first rodeo” Dana replied with a wink
Robby smiled and gave a silent thank you
By the time hand off came it was seven thirty, earlier than usual. He triple checked on some patients, changed, got his stuff from his locker, said his goodbyes and of course had a small conversation with Abbot. There was really no need for big goodbyes between Abbot and Him, Abbot had been over a bunch of times so he knew he would see him over these three months.
“Can’t believe you're going to be a parent” Abbot said, shaking his head. They were talking in the ambulance bay, Robby hadn't been to the roof since him and Dennis got serious.
“Neither can I, sometimes it's almost unbelievable.” he took a pause to let out a breath. “Getting married wasn't a huge shock but I never thought I'd be a dad, I thought I ran out of time. Robby said slightly laughing, shaking his head while rubbing the back of his neck.
“How is he, I bet he’s losing his mind without work” Abbot asked
“Oh yea, I come home and something is cleaned, a room is redone or he's done a bunch of puzzles” "Don't tell him this but it makes me mad, he's growing a life and just won’t sit down. Just this morning before I left I told him lay down relax just chill and he acted like i told him to stare at a wall all day” Robby replied
Abbot let out a laugh “I mean he was a farm boy, so I wouldn't expect anything else” they laughed simultaneously then silence pooled between them as they started off at the city wondering when their next talk like this would be “well I should get in there, shift won’t start itself. Take care of yourself brother text call if you need anything I mean that”
Robby showed a warm smile and reached out for a hug “hey same to you, i’m not here for three months but i’m a phone away always, take care of our ED for me” he said walking towards his car. Usually he walked but he wanted to be home as quick as possible
He couldn't wait to get inside to hug Dennis, kiss him all over and just be with him for three months straight. The day was shit and he was ready to get it off him. As he stepped out the car into the garage he noticed something slightly different, he couldn't place it at first, but then he got it as he walked inside. The garage was clean, the house smelled amazing and Dennis was showering at night. Dennis made it a habit on off days to shower before Robby got home so Robby could just hop in.
As robby starts to walk around upstairs he passes the nursery and sees it filled with stuff from the garage. He raises his eyebrow and thinks about it for a second, the more he walks through the house the more he finds stuff in places they weren't this morning. He was starting to get pissed off. He walks over to the closet where they keep extras and boom there it was the cat litter. Now he was mad, did he have a reason to be mad not really but why couldn't Dennis just listen. He went downstairs and poured himself some whiskey, sat at the table and let his thoughts roll.
Dennis is out the shower and freshly dressed, he doesn't realize Robby is home so he thinks he's still in the clear. As he waddles down the steps humming a song stuck in his head he notices robby in the kitchen and jumps.
“Micheal, what the hell, almost made my water break” he laughed and walked over to him to get hugs and kisses but was met with a weird vibe. His eyebrows bunched “I didn’t think you’d be home till at least 9, how was shift?”
“Fine” is all Robby muttered out
“Ooooookay, I wasn't in a cooking mood, finally using my pregnancy card.” Dennis joked trying to get a smile from Robby “I figured we could do take-out or leftovers, anything is fine with me. Did you prefer something”
“Im not that hungry so whatever you want should be fine.” robby said flatly
Dennis face was scrunched trying to read Robby’s “Is something wr-” dennis went to say but got cut off
“Im gonna go shower and change, order me whatever you get” robby stood kissed his head and walked up stairs
Dennis assumed something went wrong at the hospital so he didn't take Robby's mood personally. Dennis had been there before too, he figured he just needed the day to be washed off.
By the time Robby was out of the shower, the food was on its way.
“Foods almost here” Dennis said pulling out some plates and forks as Robby walked downstairs
All Robby could give was a head nod and sat down on the couch, turning the tv on flicking through channels trying to distract his mind.
Dennis' hormones were working ten times harder so he was quickly getting annoyed with the vague talking and attitude. He walked over and sat next to robby and usually Robby was quick to pull him in but today nothing. They sat there for sometime with their knees touching and as Dennis went to ask whats wrong he was interrupted again this time by the food.
As he was struggling to get up Robby got up first and said “just sit, I can get it” Dennis, still trying to get up, mouth open ready to argue but robby spoke first harsher this time “Just sit down whitaker” dennis had nothing but wide eyes
Whitaker was only used at work, and only at home when Robby is mad, which was rare. As he made his way back Dennis finally got his question out but not so nicely like the first time he tried “what is your issue?”
Silence hung in the air as Robby placed the food down and walked over to the living room
“Did you clean” is all Robby said
Dennis was genuinely confused.
“Huh” he said with his mouth agape and faced extremely confused.
“Did. You. Clean.” Robby said with a straight face. Clearly he wasn't happy
Then it hit Dennis' mind, Robby must've noticed “Um I swept a little” Dennis said with a nervous laugh behind it. He wasn't lying, it was the truth just not the full truth.
“Right and that's all you did” robby said with a sarcastic tone
Dennis was starting to get mad, so what if he cleaned? He's not handicapped he's pregnant. “I hope your issue isn't about me cleaning, it's not that deep”
“All I asked from you was to rest, relax, don't clean and definitely don't carry heavy stuff. I know this might be new news but you're pregnant.”
Dennis couldn't help but roll his eyes and scoff “And I did just that”
“So why is the cat litter upstairs” that shocked Dennis, his eyes widened “and the nursery filled with the stuff, from the garage.” Robby said
Dennis was silent with a slightly shocked face he wasn't expecting robby to know to a T
“It didn't move itself” Robby said waiting for a response
That got under Dennis' skin “you can lay off, it's done and I'm not hurt so calm down with the attitude” Dennis said with an eyeroll and waddled away to the kitchen. He was hungry and this conversation was straight up annoying him
“And what would've happened if you did get hurt, or worse you fall and can't reach your phone to call anyone?” Robby said as he followed him into the kitchen
“Oh my god Micheal you're being insane.” Dennis said while gesturing his hands. “First off i’m a doctor so I think i’d know when I need to take a break, two I'm a grown adult I can do as I please, why are you being so…..overbearing” Dennis gave an eyebrow raise “its not a good look” he added sarcastically
“Overbearing really because I want my pregnant husband to be safe while I’m gone” robby said looking down shaking his head
“You say that as if I'm nine and a moron” Dennis replied, his feelings were starting to get hurt now, he hated nothing more than being treated like a kid. Being the youngest sibling meant constant babying by his family. After a while he got used to it, plus Robby always made Dennis feel smart, seen, heard, everything his family didn't. So for Robby out of all people to be the one to make him feel like this, felt somehow ten times worse and his heightened emotions weren't helping either.
“Yea well you know sometimes you can be-” Robby didn't finish his sentence because all he could see when he turned to face Dennis was his lip quivering, mouth forming into frown, eyes getting glossy. He could tell he went too far, made an argument out of nothing when in all honesty he’s so nervous and scared to bring their baby into this world knowing he can't do everything to protect them
Dennis just walked away with nothing to say. Robby felt horrible and his heart started to feel so heavy.
—-
Sometime passed by, the food got cold and Robby felt horrible.
Dennis was on the back balcony hiding. He felt stupid for crying over nothing he knew robby meant well and he knew he should've listened, maybe their night would've gone better. He felt like a baby crying; he knew it was mostly because his hormones were out of control. He went back and forth between sad and mad, back and forth on what he could've done differently, if it was his fault, or if it was Robby's. He just wanted the control back not just of his emotions but his body, his life.
Robby grabbed some water and headed towards the back, he knew he’d find Dennis on the back balcony. It's where he always went when stuff got hard or needed to clear his mind. Soon as he opened the back door he heard sniffling and his heart tightened. Why was he such a jack ass was all he was thinking.
Robby let out a fat sigh and went out. Dennis must've not heard the door open cause he jumped when robby placed a hand on his shoulder. He sat down next to him and they just sat and stared off.
The town was quiet so all you could hear was Dennis sniffling.
“Im s- s- sorry I sh-” Dennis said head stuff in his hands still crying, he was having hiccups from crying so much
“Hey hey, you have nothing to be sorry for at all, I'm sorry i- i’m so so so sorry” Robby said as passed Dennis some water. Dennis sat up and took the water
“I should've processed my emotions right before just getting upset and letting them all out but you know…. me and emotions aren't friends." Robby nervously laughed not knowing if it was the right time for a joke.
“I'm just- I'm so nervous about bringing our baby into such a crazy world and I know that's not an excuse for how I acted. I already go crazy not being able to protect you all the time and now the baby, I just, I don't know, my mind went insane thinking about all the things that could've gone wrong with you cleaning alone and I snapped.” Robby let his head fall feeling embarrassed about how he went about this
Dennis was finally calming down, still drinking water slowly but his hiccups were going away. He turned and started rubbing Robby’s back "I know I know it's okay to be scared. I'm scared too, why do you think I was cleaning, i’m nesting like crazy so everything is perfect. We are doctors, we see some of the craziest shit in one week that most people won't see in their lives. It's hard, it scares the shit out of me but I'm calmer though when I take a step back and remember I have you and our friends from the ED. It's scary so scary but you have me and I promise we will be together during this whole journey.”
Dennis reaches to turn Robby’s face towards him. “It's okay I'm okay and hey I'm sorry the least I can do is actually just sit and rest and not add to your stress. I will admit before my shower my back and ankles were aching so maybe I should listen.”
Robby tilted his head and gave a ‘what the hell’ look. Dennis laid his head on Robby's shoulder
“I don't think you're a moron or a nine year old, I just meant you can be stubborn sometimes and fight me on something when I just want you to be okay. I’m sorry if I made you feel less than or incompetent.” Robby leaned into Dennis bringing him in closer
“And of course I know you're a grown adult who can do whatever but you're also my baby carrying our baby so I'm gonna need you to be a bit more careful and sit down more. Robby says as he gives Dennis a bunch of head kisses “Im so sorry baby, I ruined our night and now dinner is cold”
“It's okay it's okay, nothing is ruined and we have a microwave. I will try to be less stubborn, maybe I can't help it, the hormones are killing me they are heightened to the max. I don't even know why I was crying so hard, I mean yea I was sad but mostly mad but i just couldn't stop crying."
Dennis let out a hard breath he seemed to be holding in. “It's gonna get more scary from here on out but we just have to remember that we have each other and we have to talk about whatever is hard or if something is wrong, nothing will scare me away.”
“Oh I've known that since your first shift, after the pedes room. Robby laughed
Dennis tried to stand but fell back and Robby caught him instantly, helped him stand up all the way and pulled him into between his legs. Dennis gave him a shy smile and leaned in to sit his chin on his head. Robby held Dennis’ waist and gave his belly a bunch of kisses.
Robby looked up to see Dennis who was looking away and his eyes were becoming glossy again “hey hey what’s wrong, are you okay?”
“Yea yea just the hormones and I just get a little bit sappy, I love you so much” Dennis said with a small sniffle and wiped his tears away. He let off a small shiver he didn't even notice how cold it was when he first stepped out
“I love you even more.” Robby said, grabbing Dennis’ arm to kiss his wrist. “Now come on, let's get you inside and warm. I'll reheat dinner and we can watch whatever you want, hey about that show you and santos are always talking about”
Dennis smiled and walked inside behind Robby “No no no thats for her and me she would kill me if she knew I was watching it without her”
Dennis and Robby continued to have a goodnight, they ate, and ended up watching some old show Robby constantly talks about. Dennis fell asleep right on top of Robby after eating, not even 20 minutes into the third episode. Robby couldn't help but smile at him and give head kisses every time he remembered he was there. Robby knew how scary these next few months were going to be but he knew he had to just take a deep breath and remember everything he had. His husband, a baby on the way, friends and that wasn't so scary.