M-Preg fic (part 3/3)
Sorry, had to post it in three parts instead of 2 :(
During the course of the pregnancy, Piper’s lease ran out so he moved his things into James’ house. He and Wally had spent a few days sorting through the couple’s possessions, baby-proofing everything except the office/workshop, and setting up a nursery. James was excited to see what their place looked like.
However, when they got home from the laboratory, it was to find the view of their home mostly obscured by boxes.
“Should we keep driving and send Wally back to check it out…?” James asked.
“No, I’ll bet you anything it’s my mother trying to buy her way back into our good graces. James, please tell me you didn’t actually eat any of that cake she sent you.”
“I didn’t! For the last frickin’ time! She was probably going for triplets with that thing. Do you think I’m that stupid? Three more Dylans wouldn’t be too bad though.” James turned around in his seat to smile fondly at the napping infant in the car seat. “I can’t believe we made that. How frickin’ cool is that?”
“I know, he’s precious. I still don’t want Mom to impregnate you again.”
James carried Dylan into the nursery, inspecting all the new furnishings as he went, while Piper looked over the boxes. After a few minutes Piper joined James in the nursery. “Yep, it’s Mom’s work. Big, fancy toys for Dylan.”
“How fancy?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m returning them or donating them.”
“Oh come on Pookie, they’re toys! That’s punishing me and Dylan! We can use them without letting her visit, it’s…okay grumper, we can donate them. You hear that Dylan? Your daddy’s being a grumper.”
“I swear to God James, if you’re trying to turn him against me already-”
“Hey, we know who’s going to be the fun dad and who’s going to be responsible. Why bother delaying the distinction?” James put the sleepy baby in the crib and then stood over it looking at him. Piper came up behind him and enveloped him in a hug. “Despite the discomfort of the past nine months, can’t say I’m that upset with the results.”
“I know. It is…it is nice having a baby that’s part of both of us.” Piper kissed James cheek, and contentedly held him for a moment, looking at their son.
Screw the night out, now was as good a time as any, and this was the perfect place.
“James, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure thing Pookie. I’m all ears.”
“Okay…well…” Piper took a deep breath, and tried to remember the romantic little speech he’d prepared. “I need to be serious for a minute. James, being with you…this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know I usually talk about my time as a criminal as a painful and confused part of my life, because it was, but I want you to know that I wouldn’t change a second of it if I could, because if I hadn’t been a Rogue, I wouldn’t have met you. I don’t say it enough, because we’re always joking, but I love you, and I’m so glad you came into my life and forced me to smile again.”
Piper took the ring box he’d been keeping in his pocket out and got down on one knee. “Giovanni, will you marry me?”
James silently took the ring and looked at it. “Oh babe…is this that sapphire I gave you back when I was still in denial?”
“It is. Linda got it set for me. The band’s not too feminine, right?”
“No, it’s…it’s perfect.”
“Alright, so can I have an answer yet?” Piper asked, giving voice to his anxiety. James pulled him close for a tender kiss.
“Hart, I really do want to marry you, but that’s the thing…what you’re talking about, it’s not…it’s not really marriage, is it? We’ve never done anything halfway. We didn’t even do gay-baby halfway, even though that wasn’t entirely our fault.” James closed the ring box, pressed it into Piper’s hand and held his own over it. “Let’s save this for after we’ve kicked DOMA’s ass and do the thing properly, okay? Babe, you’re not-you’re okay, right?”
Piper beamed at him. “That was the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me. Crazy activist, remember? These are happy tears.”
James laughed, obviously in relief. “Cool. Alright, now that that’s been discussed, what’s it gonna take to get you to at least think about talking to your mother?”
Piper frowned thoughtfully.
Osgood met Piper and James in the front hall, showing some surprise. “Hello son. I’d been sure your mother had scared you off for good this time.”
“Just about. Still though, this one insisted I give mending fences a try.” Piper jerked his head towards James, who was holding Dylan and making him wave hello to his grandpa.
“Hello grandpa. Well, Dylan’s saying hello in spirit anyway. Hi Mr. R.”
“Hello James. It’s good to see you both, come on into the sitting room.”
They’d just managed to get into the room when Jerrie came running down the hall and tackle hugged Piper. “Hello big brother!”
“Hi Jer! Had a little sugar today?” Piper laughed.
“Maybe…is that my nephew? Hi Dylan! Can I hold the baby?”
“Sure Jer, but you’ve gotta be careful.” James sat down with Jerrie on the couch and helped her take the baby. “Watch his neck. He can’t hold his head up yet.”
“Okay. Wow, he’s got big eyes. Hi baby. I’m Jerrie, your auntie. I colored you lots of pictures while you were in your daddy’s belly.”
“So where’s Mom?” Piper asked.
“Hopefully keeping herself out of trouble,” Osgood said with a long suffering sigh. “James, I want to extend my deepest sympathy and apologize for what my wife did to you.”
“Eh, we got a healthy little boy out of the deal. I’m mostly over it. Piper’s the one who wants to make a big deal out of it.”
“Well she needs to learn to respect boundaries,” Piper snapped.
“She is sorry,” Osgood said carefully, watching Piper’s expression.
“Hey Jerrie, you wanna give me and your new nephew a tour of this giganticus house?” James asked. Jerrie nodded enthusiastically, and the three of them left to give the father and son some privacy.
Osgood silently paced for a moment while Piper stood with his arms crossed huffily over his chest. Osgood took a look at his son, sighed, and then went to find his wife. He was back with her in a moment, and to Piper’s annoyance she looked anything but apologetic.
“Where’s the baby?” Rachel asked, looking around expectantly. “I see a diaper bag. Where’s my grandson?”
“James and Jerrie took him for a walk. Rachel, we need to talk,” Osgood said heavily. “And you need to apologize to Hartley.”
“Don’t be silly dear, I’ve already done that.”
“No you didn’t Mom. You bought lots of things that we didn’t want or need. That’s not apologizing, and it’s just as manipulative as everything else you’ve done lately,” Piper snapped. “Besides Dad, she really needs to apologize to James.”
“Does the baby look more like him or you?” Rachel asked. Piper looked like he wanted to strangle her.
Osgood pinched the bridge of his nose. “Rachel, do you want to be allowed visits with your grandson?”
“Well of course I-”
“And Hartley, do you want to reconcile with your mother?”
“Yes Dad, I-”
“Then you need to actually talk to each other. Rachel, apologize to the boy, and apologize to James when he gets back,” Osgood said. Rachel nodded stiffly.
“Hartley, I’m sorry I meddled. It wasn’t my place, I suppose. I was just trying to help, and really, I did get results-”
“Rachel!”
“Anyway, I’m sorry I offended you.”
“Better.” Osgood turned to Hartley.
“Fine, you’re forgiven. But if you ever try anything even close to this again, we’re moving out of the state and we won’t even send you pictures of Dylan.”
“Hartley!”
“Now really Rachel, what did you expect?” Osgood asked in exasperation.
Rachel sniffed indignantly. “Well! Now that you’re both done ganging up on me, can I see my grandbaby yet?”
“I’ll go find them.” Piper went straight to his sister’s room, where he found Jerrie introducing James and Dylan to each and every one of her stuffed animals. When they got back to the sitting room, Rachel repeated her very insincere apology to James, who forgave her instantly, and she finally got to hold the grandson she’d worked so hard to create.
“Oh my, but he’s a lovely little thing isn’t he?” Rachel asked breathlessly. “Oh goodness, except that nose. Hartley, the poor thing’s got your nose.”
“Mom!”
A/N: Hoping to write a sequel to this fic on the happy day when DOMA is repealed and marriage equality is attained. Help out here: https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2885