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“The meeting has been planned for over a week, honey, we can’t just cancel now! You would lose the sponsorship!” Yuna Hollander's voice vibrates through the tinny speaker of Shane’s phone, aggravating the headache that refuses to shift from his temples. “Especially on such short notice!”
Shane tries not to sigh, he really does, but it comes out of him with an air of pure exhaustion. He was meant to be attending a meeting with a new brand later in the day - something his mother had been trying to arrange for months. Something about the brand being ‘up and coming’, expected to become the new face of some kind of skin care product. He didn’t really know much, other than the fact that it was a Korean brand trying to branch out into the western market and his mother was dead set on him becoming their ambassador.
He would usually be more amicable towards his mothers conquests of brand deals, but since learning of his pregnancy just three weeks ago, he’s been hit with all the fun symptoms that a first trimester entails. It seems even a man who keeps track of every micro and macro nutrient entering his body isn’t exempt from morning sickness and all the other fun additions.
The snow leopard hybrid's head has been killing him all morning. Since waking at 6am to his obnoxiously loud alarm - too loud for his throbbing temples - he had been suffering. The over the counter pain meds just weren’t touching it. Add that to the amount of morning sickness he’s been experiencing - and afternoon and evening sickness - and Shane very much doesn’t want to dress up in uncomfortably formal clothes just to put on a fake smile and feel like shit for a brand he couldn’t give two shits about.
His mother continues on through the speaker, but Shane hears none of it. He’s too busy being distracted as a pair of strong arms wrap around his waist from behind, pulling him into a soft yet firm chest. He instantly melts into the touch, his head tipping back and tilting so that he can nuzzle into the strong scent of tobacco and pine. The arms tighten just a fraction more, a pleased grumble ruminating against Shane's back as soft lips press against the top of his head.
He doesn’t even fight as his phone is being taken away from him and lifted up to the wolf hybrid's human ear, he’s too busy taking comfort in his mates arms.
They had figured out rather quickly that one of the few things to soothe Shane’s aches and pains was Ilya’s scent. The omega had spent more time than usual curled up in their nest, making sure that Ilya was regularly scenting their many blankets and pillows. It had become the new norm for Ilya to find his mate on their bed, purring to himself as he rubs his cheeks and neck against the alphas side of the sheets. His tail wrapped around his stomach as subconscious protection for the small life growing inside.
“Hello Yuna - yes - no -,” Shane can’t hear what his mother is saying, but he trusts his husband to solve the issue without his help - if anything, she’s more likely to listen to Ilya than him. It was frustrating sometimes. “Yes, we will probably visit doctor if it doesn’t get any better.”
Shane can’t help but smile at that. It’s not as if Ilya is lying per se - just omitting the truth. They would see a doctor. In two weeks, for their first ultrasound. Just the thought of being able to see physical proof of the child growing inside of him has a small chirp leaving his throat. Ilya seems to already know his thoughts, the alpha chuckling low under his breath as his free hand rests slightly heavier over Shane’s lower stomach.
“I love you too, Yuna,” Ilya ends the conversation, fluidly slipping Shane’s phone onto the kitchen counter beside them. “I thought you were going to stay in nest and rest today? What are you doing in the kitchen, moya lyubov?”
Shane lets out another sigh as he turns in his husband’s embrace, now slightly looking up to meet his eye. He could easily get lost in the pools of hazel he finds there. His mate’s eyes had always been stunning to him - a mix of greens, blues and browns. The colours shifting depending on whichever lighting had the luck of landing on such beauty.
“I wanted to try and eat something, I’m so fucking hungry Ilya,” the snow leopard practically whines, his ears pressing into his dark hair in misery. Even his tail grows limp, slipping from his natural place around Ilya’s waist.
He had tried to drink his usual breakfast smoothie a few hours earlier, but it had quickly come back up, leaving a delightful burning in his throat. This had become a regular occurrence over the past week - even his safe foods were no longer safe. And he was hungry because of it. He’s a professional athlete, even with being on a macrobiotic diet for years, his body was used to consuming thousands of calories a day. Lately he wasn’t getting anywhere close to that.
“I know, sweetheart,” one of Ilya’s hands moves to cup his cheek, the thumb automatically caressing the splatter of freckles painting the lightly tan skin. “What if I cooked something for you?”
Shane’s ears perk up at the offer. It wasn’t too often that Ilya got to cook for them - both with their busy schedules during the on season and Shane’s strict diet. However, whenever he did, the omega had gotten to enjoy a number of Russian dishes he’d never tried before. They were always delicious.
Ilya chuckles, his hand raising to lightly stroke over the soft fur of one grey ear - careful with how sensitive he knows them to be. His own wolf ears are perked happily on his head, his tail flicking with contentment at being able to take care of his pregnant mate.
“I will take that as ‘yes’,” the wolf grins before letting go of Shane and walking around the kitchen, starting to gather up ingredients from the cupboards before approaching the fridge. “I have been waiting for perfect time to make my Mama’s bulyonchik. I remember her mentioning before how it was one of the few things she could keep down when pregnant with my brother.”
Shane just watches, taking a seat at the island counter as his husband putters around the kitchen in what is now their cottage. He can’t help the small purr that vibrates through his chest as he takes in the sight - not that he would stop it anyway, he knows how much Ilya loves hearing his contentment. The snow leopard has no idea what bulyonchik is, but he trusts his mate enough to know he will love it either way.
They end up discussing their upcoming ultrasound as Ilya chops up ingredients, adding them to the pot on the stove as a heavenly aroma fills the open-plan living area.
“Do you want to find out? We could get them to do the tests now, or wait until they can see on the next scan in a couple of months.” Ilya carefully adds chicken to the pot, Shane’s mouth practically drooling as the soup - he’s assuming it’s a soup - somehow becomes even more appetising to his starving body.
“Do you want to know now?” Shane questions back, his nose crinkling as Ilya raises his eyebrows at him, giving him the familiar look that means ‘I asked you, I want an answer.’ Shane just sighs, looking down at the countertop as he thinks about it.
After learning of the pregnancy, they had scheduled a simple appointment with Shane’s usual doctor - checking his health and making sure there were no issues so early on. During the appointment the doctor had mentioned doing blood tests for both determining the foetus’s primary sex and species. It wasn’t even something either of them had considered, seeing as the pregnancy itself had come as a shock. They had yet to discuss whether they wanted to add the testing to their next appointment.
“I don’t know,” Shane answers honestly, “I guess I just don’t really mind either way. I will love them no matter what.” He shrugs his shoulders before looking back at Ilya, the alpha seemingly frozen in the middle of their kitchen, staring at him with what Shane refers to as his ‘emotional puppy face’. “What?” He questions.
“I love you,” Ilya speaks softly, stepping up to the island counter before leaning over it to plant a gentle kiss on Shane's lips, “- and I will also love our child however they are…” he stops for a moment, eyes flickering over the omega's face. “- but I hope they inherit your freckles, they are my favourite.”
Shane can’t help but blush, the skin beneath the natural constellations turning more rouge than usual. It happens every time Ilya compliments them, no matter how often he does it. He’s just too soft for his husband.
“Shut up, I hope they get your hair,” he reaches out, tracing a rogue curl around his finger.
“Ahh, yes, we will be spending fortune on curly hair products for the rest of time,” Ilya grins, earning a tug of the very curl Shane had been previously playing with.
“Asshole,” Shane grumbles as the wolf moves back to the stove. He watches as Ilya seems to finish up the soup, taking out two bowls before ladling it into them. The alpha places a bowl in front of Shane, passing him a spoon before making his way around the island and taking the seat next to him. Shane’s tail instinctively wrapping around his ankle.
The soup is almost golden in colour. The broth clear, allowing Shane to see the mixture of vegetables, chicken, and fine noodles swirled inside. His stomach grumbles loudly just looking at the bowl. Ilya chuckles, knocking their shoulders together before nodding his head at the bowl in front of Shane, signifying for him to eat.
The first spoonful brings bursts of flavour across his tongue. The broth is mild yet seasoned perfectly. The noodles are soft yet firm enough to not fall apart in the golden liquid. Shane finds himself slurping down the whole bowl in no time, the scent of warm tobacco swirling around him as Ilya feels pride in providing for his mate.
“Is good?” The alpha questions, already knowing the answer as his eyes glint.
“Yeah, it’s really good, thank you,” Shane sighs out, swallowing his last spoonful almost mournfully. He barely has time to be sad about the delicious soup being gone before Ilya is sliding over his still half full bowl. Shane looks up at him, brows furrowed. “You need to eat too.”
“Yes, but I can eat other food without my body hating me. Eat.”
Shane can’t even bring himself to argue further, happily tucking into the rest of the soup as a low purr rumbles through his chest, his tail unhooking from Ilya’s ankle and swishing behind him joyfully with each spoonful. He’s even happier to see Ilya get up and start portioning up the rest of the food into their glass meal prep containers - seemingly enough to keep him full for the next couple of days.
The snow leopard feels comfortable for the first time all day with his stomach full of a food that it doesn’t seem to be rejecting. He lets out a small yawn, closing his eyes as sleepiness takes over his body.
“You should rest, kotik,” Ilya grumbles out, gently resting the last of the now clean dishes on the drying rack. Shane opens his eyes lazily, letting out a contemplative murmur.
“Only if you join me.”
Ilya smiles softly, walking back over to him and pulling Shane up off of the bar stool and into his arms. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to the feline's lips.
“Always.”
They end up in their nest, Ilya lying down on his back with Shane curled into his side, nose nuzzling into the scent gland on the alphas neck. His fluffy tail wraps around Ilya’s thigh in a possessive hold as deep purrs and the occasional happy chirp fill the room. Their scents warm the area around them, gentle eucalyptus and jasmine merging with comforting tobacco and pine. It’s pure heaven to Shane’s sensitive senses. He feels drunk on the bliss of it, never wanting to leave the cocoon they’ve created for themselves.
He spends the rest of the day wrapped in his mates arms, the bulyonchik luckily staying in his stomach and easing the hunger of his exhausted body.
~ ฅᨐฅ ~
“Mr Hollander-Rozanov?”
The voice of the doctor rings through the waiting room, garnering the mated pairs attention. Shane is quick to stand, tugging Ilya up with him from their interlinked fingers. They enter the doctors room, the door shutting swiftly behind them for their own privacy as they take their seats across from the light wooden desk.
“Good morning, how are we feeling today?” Dr Kim greets them kindly, her smile coming across genuine even though she must see hundreds of patients a day. Shane likes her, she’s always put him at ease and cut straight to the point with any medical incidents he’s had in the past. There’s a reason he would take the time to contact a doctor in Ottawa when he was living in Montreal as a Voyager. She’s been his doctor since he was a preteen and he’s happy she’s able to be the one to help with his pregnancy.
“Today isn’t too bad,” Shane answers honestly.
“Ahh, yes, you’ve only thrown up once, not three times like yesterday,” Ilya adds with a grumble. It’s safe to say the alpha doesn’t like seeing his omega so uncomfortable. Dr Kim smiles softly in understanding.
“I can get you some medication to help with the nausea, but sadly it’s all a part of the process. Your body is going through a lot of changes right now.” Shane just nods while Ilya adds a soft ‘thank you’ in reply. “Now, would you like to take a look at what’s going on in there?” She nods at Shane’s slightly bloated stomach, her face breaking out into a grin as both men nod excitedly.
Shane hops up onto the table as instructed and lies back, pulling up his - Ilya’s - t-shirt to expose his abdomen. Dr Kim wheels over a portable ultrasound machine as Ilya grips Shane’s hand, standing next to him by the table. The alpha seems to be more anxious than Shane, his tail twitching apprehensively as his wolf ears swivel in nervous movements. Shane squeezes his hand in comfort, hoping to offset some of the nerves.
He startles slightly as the cool gel touches his bare skin, his tail flicking out before he can control it, earning a soft chuckle from the doctor. She is gentle but firm as she presses the wand of the machine to his stomach. The first thing they observe isn't an image at all, it’s actually a sound. The very strong and obvious sound of a heartbeat.
Shane's breath catches, eyes growing wide as he takes in the sound of their child's heart for the first time. His eyes snap to Ilya’s own, finding his mate’s cheeks already stained with tears - pure overwhelm overflowing the alpha. They both have their attention dragged to the monitor as a picture quickly appears. It’s grainy and difficult to make out, but doctor Kim seems to know exactly what she’s looking at.
“You see here,” she points at a small splotch of white on the screen, “- that’s your baby.”
Tears stream down both of their faces as Shane sniffles, looking at the small splodge on the screen. So small yet so important. A piece of both him and Ilya growing inside of him, turning into a person who will one day be held in their arms.
“They’re about the size of a strawberry right now, we won't be able to tell the sex or species through ultrasound yet, but we can do blood testing if that’s something you would want,” she offers. Shane shakes his head.
“We want to wait, it’s not important to us right now,” the snow leopard croaks out, unable to look away from the screen.
“Can we get pictures?” Ilya asks, also entranced by the small image of their child.
“Of course, I’ll get them printed for you now,” she removes the wand from Shane’s stomach, sadly causing the monitor to go back to black, before handing him a few tissues to wipe off the gel from his skin. “I’ll be right back.”
As she leaves the room, Shane sits up on the table. He feels lightly dazed from the overwhelming experience as he seeks out the comfort of his mate. Ilya is there in an instant, his arms coming around his body, the alpha's hips slipping between his thighs as he holds him close. Shane quickly finds Ilya’s neck, nuzzling their mating mark with a slow purr, tears still lining his lower lashes as he sniffles into the material of the alphas shirt.
“We’re having a baby,” Ilya croaks out, his own sniffles ringing through the room as Shane hugs him tighter.
“We’re having a baby,” the omega repeats softly, closing his eyes as he thinks about how lucky they are.
~ ฅᨐฅ ~
“Shane, you can’t keep cancelling meetings! What will your sponsors think?!” Yuna Hollander's voice rings through the garden as she and her son sit at the garden table, David and Ilya nearby at the grill.
“Mom, I already told you, I’m not interested in any more sponsorships. I don’t want what free time I have being taken up by brands I don’t care about,” Shane huffs out, his tail twitching angrily behind him. Yuna just huffs at him, her own tail a mirror of his.
“You need to keep up appearances in the media if you want to stay relevant! There are so many younger players these days who are becoming ambassadors for newer and upcoming brands, do you want them to win out on a great collaboration?”
“Yuna, honey,” David calls from the grill, his eyes fixed on where Shane has placed his forehead down on the cool table in front of him, the temperature feeling nice on his throbbing head.
This is not how he wanted this day to go.
“Shane? Moya lyubov? Do you need more tablets?” Ilya offers. The omega has been suffering with severe headaches and nausea all morning. Even the medication Dr Kim had given him wasn’t helping. Ilya walks over to the table, crouching down next to his husband's chair as he gently strokes his thigh.
“Tablets?” Yuna questions, her irritation slowly fading to worry as her own bushy tail calms behind her. Ilya always found it amusing how both snow leopards acted so similar with their ears and tails.
Shane sighs, sitting back upright and locking eyes with Ilya. The silent conversation they share is one that no one else would be able to understand. Ilya carefully asking if Shane is ready and Shane blinking in such a way that gives confirmation. He lets out another sigh before standing up from the table.
“We have something to tell you,” Shane starts, leaving briefly to pop inside the cottage to grab the envelope he specifically left on the table. He returns to find his father now standing next to his mothers chair, a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“What is it son?” The bear hybrid asks with his own concern.
Shane looks to Ilya, the alpha smiling at him softly and nodding as he threads his fingers through Shane's own.
“Mom… Dad…” He takes a deep breath, his eyes growing glassy before he can even finish the sentence. “- I’m pregnant.”
The yard grows silent for only a second before the sound of chair legs scraping the ground invades the calmness. His mother is up and pulling him into her arms in a matter of seconds, her own tears leaving her lashes as David stands in the same place, a look of shock covering his face. Yuna pulls away just enough to look her son in the eyes.
“You’re pregnant,” she chokes out, before looking over at Ilya and taking in the tears of happiness on the wolf hybrid's face. Shane has never seen his mother smile so fondly before, not even the time he apologised for being gay could compare to the pure love on her face as she looks at both of them. “My baby is going to have a baby.”
David seems to come out of his own startlement, walking over to pull Ilya into a hug - the kind that only a father could give his son.
“I’m so happy for you both. We know how hard the past few years have been for you.” Yuna nods in agreement.
“You didn’t mention you were trying again,” she adds in slight confusion.
Ilya and Shane both blush, Shane biting his lip with the awkwardness of this kind of conversation with his parents. Obviously they both know how babies are made…
“We weren’t.” Ilya answers, much to Shane’s relief. “We didn’t even know until Shane was already five weeks along.”
Yuna and David both stare at them in shock. Shane quickly remembers the envelope in his hand and opens it, taking out the sonogram pictures he got especially for his parents. Yuna accepts hers with shaking hands - David isn’t much better, clearing his throat in a very obvious manner.
“I’m twelve weeks along, we were planning on telling you today because we need to talk to coach Wiebe in the next few weeks so that he knows to find a replacement for me next season.” Shane explains, earning a nod from his mother. She looks up at him suddenly, understanding dawning on her face.
“This is why you don’t want any more sponsorships.” It’s not a question, but Shane nods anyway. “Oh honey, I’m so sorry for pushing you.” She engulfs him in another hug, lightly rubbing their cheeks together in a maternal scenting. Both snow leopards letting out a light purr.
“It’s okay Mom, I forgive you,” Shane sniffles, “you couldn’t have known.” They pull back and it’s like a switch has flipped in Yuna Hollander's brain.
“We’ll need to discuss this with your manager, and coach Wiebe - of course. But there is also a lot more to do, and honey you may think you have time but pregnancy goes fast. You’ll need-”
Shane is barely paying attention as his mother goes into - what his father calls - ‘manic mother mode’. He’s too busy locking eyes with his husband, both of them smiling so hard their cheeks are bunched up.
He can’t wait to meet their future cub or pup - that is if they survive Yuna Hollanders managing over the next seven months…