Work Text:
Something is different.
Beef doesn't know what it is, but it's something.
Courtney is home today, which means he gets to stay home too. He likes to go out, he likes the big building where all of his friends who sneak him extra treats are.
But home is good, too. Home with Courtney staying on the couch all day, giving him scratches and belly rubs whenever he clambers up next to her, is even better.
She's sick, and Beef always cuddles with her when she's sick, to make her feel better. But it's different. She's not buried under piles of blankets, or sniffling, or moaning in pain every time she moves.
She takes him for a walk, which is always good. But the walk is different, too. It's shorter, and Courtney suddenly makes a funny sound, dragging him by his leash as she runs behind a bush and throws up, quickly pulling him away after.
She goes into the bathroom and shuts the door when they get home, there's water running, and then she comes out and climbs into bed. Beef whines until she picks him up and puts him on the mattress next to her.
"You're spoiled," she mumbles, scratching under his chin. "You'll have to get used to sharing all this attention soon."
Her words don't mean anything to him. But the scratches are nice, and she smiles and pats his head when he cuddles up to her, near her stomach.
She's different. Smells different.
Beef falls asleep, waking up when Robert gets home and comes into the bedroom.
"Hey, are you feeling better?"
He sits down, causing the mattress to shift and displace Beef from where he'd been comfortable. An apologetic scratch on the head makes up for it.
"A little," Courtney says, sitting up slightly. "How was your day?"
"Kind of crazy being down a hero, but nothing we couldn't handle."
Courtney laughs a little. "Well good, because you're going to be down a hero for a while."
"What do you mean?" Robert sounds worried. "Courtney, is something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong. At least I don't think it is."
"What are you saying?"
She sits up straighter, lifting her shirt. "What I'm saying, genius, is that you're not going to want me back in the field for a long time."
Squirming between them, Beef puts his front paws on her lap and sniffs around her stomach. Something is definitely different about her.
"Look at that, he catches on quicker than you," Courtney teases. She takes Robert's hand and places it on her abdomen where Beef was just sniffing. Beef takes the opportunity to climb into her lap and curl up, pushing Robert's hand more firmly against her skin.
"Courtney, are you saying that you're...that we're..."
She laughs again. "Yes, dumbass. You knocked me up."
Beef doesn't know what that means. Or why Robert starts laughing too, or why he picks Courtney up in his arms so quickly that Beef is unceremoniously dropped onto the bed. Or why Robert is now kissing Courtney's stomach.
He just knows his people are happy about whatever is different, and that's all he needs to know.