The courthouse loomed over much of the city street, tall and foreboding, sending a shiver of uncertainty racing through me. Today would see an end to the stress of worrying about what Andrew was going to do.
Squeezing Rhett's hand I moved carefully up the stairs, my back twinging in pain. Cameras flashed, reporters trying to shove their way toward us. Ever since Andrew had submitted his article about male pregnancies only to have my claim to the serum overrule it, I'd been bombarded by reporters. They'd thrown a celebrity status at me, everyone wanting to see 'The First Omega.'
Dreece moved to my other side, leaving me sandwiched between them and Rhett for some protection. They were my constant companion and friend, always there for me.
Even Nathan was there with Abram, ready to offer support and present to the court the facts about when I'd become pregnant if necessary. He hadn't forgiven me, but things had become more relaxed over time. Abram seemed to be warming up to me as well on the rare occasion I saw them outside of appointments.
Michael waited for us at the top of the building, having arrived earlier with Lucas. As soon as we made it to the top, his arms wrapped around me, the lingering smell of coffee warming the air.
"Everything is going to work out," Michael said softly, holding me for a few more moments. He pulled away with a smile, tears making his eyes shine. "Lucas is inside, but Andrew and his lawyer haven't arrived yet if you want to get settled."
"Yes, please. I don't want to see him outside of the courtroom." I replied softly. Rhett's arm wrapped around me, guiding me through the doors. Another twinge of pain raced up my back, making me stiffen for a moment.
"You alright Ryan?" Rhett asked softly, his lips brushing against my ear as he spoke. There was no real need to whisper, but the intimacy of the gesture practically made me purr.
"I'm good, just a little back pain," I reassured him softly, turning and lightly kissing his cheek. "I'll be even better once all of this is over with."
"True that." A familiar voice said from up ahead, Lucas striding toward us and wrapping Michael in his arms. Lucas toward over the twink, setting his chin on Michael's head with a grin. "The sooner this is over the better. Maybe we will get lucky and the other party won't show at all."
"Maybe," I smiled back at Lucas nodding. My back spasmed again, drawing a small gasp from my lips.
"Let's get you seated," Rhett said, his grip around my waist tightening as we moved toward our assigned courtroom. It was blissfully empty, the hungry horde of news reporters being held at bay outside. The results of this case would most likely be plastered on every paper and television before the night was out.
Our group had just gotten settled when the door crashed open, Andrew strolling in as if he owned the place. He took his time moving to their own table and seats, his eyes roving openly over my body.
A shudder raced up my spine, echoed by another painful spasm, making me close my eyes. A hand gently grabbed my shoulder, drawing my attention to the row of seats behind me.
"Are you feeling alright?" Nathan asked softly, concern clear in his expression. "You're very close to your due date Ryan. This kind of stress..."
"I'm fine. My back just hurts." I mumbled, hoping to hide just how much I hurt from everyone in the room.
"Alright..." Nathan watched me wearily, not buying my excuse it would seem. "If the pain gets worse or anything changed you need to let me know. You will need a cesarean as quickly as possible once you start going into labor since your body can't naturally deliver this baby."
"I know," I replied between clenched teeth. Nathan had refused to believe that the reformation of the impregnation tube would be able to allow me to give a natural birth. We'd argued this for several weeks before I gave up. However, in my experiments, the rats had all given birth naturally, if a bit strangely.
Nathan started to say something, just as the judge entered, forcing us all to rise. Standing only made the pain worse as it wrapped around the front of my body. Every part of me felt squeezed for a moment before relaxing and allowing me to breath.
My attention drifted during the hearing. This was only a preliminary, meant to determine if Andrew had enough evidence against me to proceed to a formal hearing. At some point the judge asked me a rash of questions that I answered as best I could.
The pain seemed to be getting worse, each round of spasms gradually becoming closer together. Sweat broke out on my forehead while I struggled to keep my breathing even.
"Council, is your client alright?" The judge's voice echoed on the edge of my consciousness as pain spiked through me once more, the world tinged with black. Everyone's eyes turned toward me.
"Ryan?" Lucas's voice was even harder to focus on, but I looked up at him nodding.
"I... I'm okay as long as... as long as we make this quick..." The words came out between pants. "I'm just... I'm kind of in labor I think..."
My wheezy laughter was met with stunned silence for a moment before the judge cleared her throat.
"Yes, well in that case," She said, her eyes crinkling as she smiled down at me. "I shall simply give you my decision now so this young man can relax and have his child. I've determined that there is no need to continue. There is no case here the accuser has no claim over this child and his concerns are not grounded in fact. Therefore the defendant retains custody of their child as should be. Case dismissed."
She stood the rest of the room rising as she did. I started to stand up only to find a hand holding me down.
"You are quite alright young man. I remember how bad labor was when I gave birth to my three boys." She laughed lightly before glancing at my friends behind me. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get going."
Everything became a blur of motion, overlaying the sound of Andrew yelling and cursing at me in the background. The waves of pain strengthened each time the struck. By the time we arrived at the hospital, I felt like my body was being torn in two.
Nathan disappeared returning later dressed in scrubs, his gloved hands cold against my stomach as he felt around for the baby.
"Fuck Ryan! How long have you been having contractions? The baby has already gotten into position as if to be born... to be born the way you theorized it would be." Nathan looked up at me just as a wave of pain struck along with a strong urge to bear down.
"I need to push!" The words ripped out of me even though I barely understood them. Rhett grabbed my hand, grunting as I squeezed his with all my might the pain in my lower abdomen doubling. "Get these fucking pants off of me!"
The flurry of motion around me started back up, someone cutting the irritating slacks off of me just as another contraction hit, the demand to push strengthening as it did. Pain and pressure continued to push as I struggled to listen to what Nathan told me.
He'd moved between my legs, lifting them into a set of stirrups and pulling me down on the table till my ass was on the very edge. The world around me was a blur.
"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!" I screamed as Nathan told me to push as if I would do anything else. Rhett grunted softly his free hand dabbing at the sweat building on my brow.
The pain seemed to double before another sound joined the cacophony crowding my hearing, a high pitched screaming. The urge to push faded, the pain backing off for a moment as I slumped back on my hospital bed gasping for air.
"You did it, Ryan. Our little Danny is here." Rhett leaned down kissing my brow before moving away so a nurse could help me finish and get cleaned up. He would be back after a few moments a small bundle in his arms wearing a blue little hat on his head.
Reaching out for him, a small smile spread across my cheeks. Rhett gently settled onto the bed next to me, moving our son, our Danny into my arms.
"Hello, little one... aren't you just the most perfect thing ever." I mumbled softly kissing his little nose. Rhett gently brushed a finger over our son's hand, Danny latching onto the digit.
"He most definitely is," Rhett replied before slowly pulling away. "Do you want me to go let the others know that he's here?"
"Yes please but... maybe no visitors for a few hours? I..." A yawn broke my sentence bringing a tender smile to Rhett's face. "I think I want to take a nap once little man is sleeping."
"Of course." Rhett kissed up both gently before standing and heading back out into the hall.
Nathan glanced at me with a hint of concern, moving over to fill the space Rhett had left by my bed.
"Is... is something wrong?" I asked, fear sending my heart racing, the exhaustion fading.
"I'm not sure... You're the expert on The Omega Serum, so you need to tell me." He hesitated. "Is it possible that the changed to your genetics that has allowed you to give birth... could you have... that is... could Danny have been born an Omega?"
"I..." My brain stalled, wondering if that was in fact a possibility. Dreece had made me get rid of my rats not long after I moved in so I'd never seen what happened to the babies when they reached maturity. "Why do you ask?"
"There's an anomaly in his blood work that I've only ever seen once before," Nathan replied, reaching out to touch Danny's hand. Danny didn't take his finger though as he had with Rhett, whimpering softly. "With you before you went into your fertile stages. It would seem to imply that Danny could in fact have been born an Omega."
Hey all, this is it. There's one last chapter and then Ryan and Rhett's story will be concluded. I hope you all have enjoyed reading about their journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I'm looking for a new cover from this novel, or some awesome art from the creative people who have read it! I'm hoping to eventually publish on Amazon Kindle and I'd love to share the work of some of the OG fans out there when I do. So if you want to make a cover please, please comment a link so I can see it!
Love, Willow