Omega Verse- (Just Like) Starting Over (1/3)
Title-
(Just Like) Starting Over
Verse Summary-Jared had survived a severe medical condition as a pre-teen; forced to take a certain medication well into his teens for the treatment. Now he is healthy... but the fact that the medication had a little known after-effect of turning alphas into omegas goes undetected in Jared's case till he applies for and gets selected for a highly competitive student-exchange programme.
Now he is forced to give up his family and move in with 'his' alpha- a stranger chosen by the government whom he has never met before; but is expected to bear offspring for by the end of the year
This part- As the birth of their children draws near, everything feels like it's changing... and Jared's not sure if it's for the better.
Earlier Parts Here
A/N- Title from a John Lennon song. Confession, I have never heard this song, but the title seems to fit this part of the story perfectly, so I thought... why not? *grin*
And this one's after a LOOOONG hiatus. Hope I've managed to do it justice and that you guys enjoy reading it.
----------------------------------------------------
Jared paced the length of the kitchen (well, as much as he was able to, his given the state of his protruding abdomen) as he waited for Jensen to return after picking up his Dad from the airport. His nerves were on edge and the babies seemed to understand that, seeing as they stayed quiet for once. .. it was only recently he had begun to feel their movement, but once they’d started it was as though the twins had discovered a favourite pastime- little arms and legs kicking up a storm on the inside... Hell, it had gotten so bad for the past week that Jensen had taken to carefully massaging the swell of his stomach every few hours in an effort to soothe them.
The chime of the doorbell roused him from his thoughts about babies and Jared sent up a quick prayer as he waddled over to the door to welcome the two men. Not wanting to get off on the wrong feet, he even went as far as crouching (awkwardly, not to mention painfully) to reverently touch the older man’s feet and then use the same hand to brush his own head to simulate reverently touching his head to the other’s feet. It was a slightly antiquated custom, but it had become one of Jared’s favourite traditions because it could be performed by anybody and for anybody- there were no demarcations of gender or rank or age for this ritual and while he’d always ‘liked’ it (He’d seen it as an effortless way of developing ‘abs of steel’ back when he’d still believed himself to be an alpha. As one of the youngest members in his family, every family gathering meant he would be touching the feet of at least twenty people and he modified the action so that he was virtually doing crunches while at the same time appearing to be a ‘such a well behaved boy’) - the fact that it was something that even alphas were subjected to was like a balm on his soul under the current circumstances.
The older man uncharacteristically blushed at the gesture and pulled Jared into an embrace and it was only then that Jared noticed his scent, blurting: “You’re an omega!”
The man nodded uncertainly, a smile still hovering at the edges of his lips even as his brows furrowed worriedly and glanced at Jensen.
“You didn’t know?” The older omega enquired in surprise.
Jared shook his head before Jensen could reply, glancing between the two uncertainly, “Usually, people call their alpha parent ‘Dad’...”
“Oh, uhm yeah... well, I call my omega father Dad...” Jensen explained with a casual shrug, apparently unperturbed.
“And your... your Alpha-parent?” He couldn’t stop himself from uttering the question.
Jensen’s shoulder’s pulled taut and for a moment Jared feared that he’d over-stepped his bounds; but then the alpha wiped a hand over his mouth and met his eyes unflinchingly, “I-... I used to call him Father.”
“Oh,”
“Is this going to be a problem?” Jensen’s dad asked softly and Jared felt himself relax at the hesitant tone.
He turned back to the older man guiltily- he hadn’t meant to make him feel unwelcome- “Oh! No... Of course not! Please... do come in.”
The older man smiled at him as he stepped inside, “I don’t mean to challenge your place in this house, Son.”
“Jared. ... please, call me Jared?”
“Jared,” the older man agreed amiably.
He smiled, “Would you like me show you your room?”
“Ah, Jensen can do that,” The omega returned, “You should make sure you get plenty of rest in your condition,”
Jared turned beet-red at the words, brutally reminded of just why it wasn’t a simple ‘family reunion’.
“I’m sorry, I seem to have upset you,” the omega murmured, cupping his cheek; the callused thumb rubbing apologetically over his cheeks.
“No... it-it’s fine.” He shook his head, trying to dial back his rising gorge. He’d forgotten that he wasn’t ‘family’ with the way Jensen treated and cared for him... worse, discovering that his alpha’s Dad was actually an omega had made him relax and forget reality-... that it was the life he carried inside him that was ‘valuable’, not-not him. He wiped at his eyes discretely, “Its- its just that I’d forgotten that I was just a hired womb.”
“Jared.” Jensen’s voice was stern, reproach evident in each syllable.
“I’m sorry, Alpha.” Jared spat, abruptly furious at himself and at the unfair world in general- as he turned on his heel and stormed away towards their room.
Jensen sighed and with an apologetic glance at his father, guided the older man to the guest suite.
“Trouble in paradise?” The omega asked with a small smile.
“Paradise? Hell, more likely. ... It’s- it’s not going to be paradise unless Jared has as much choice in choosing me as I did him.”
“You know that can’t happen while he is here with you, don’t you?”
Jensen sighed, “I know... I just-”
“You love him,” His father smiled.
The alpha’s eyes flew open, “What?!”
“You’ve fallen in love with your omega.”
“I-... I...” Jensen looked away, avoiding the question, “I guess I’d better check on him.”
The omega didn’t press the issue but Jensen still felt like the naive little boy he’d once been as he made his escape. The omega in the kitchen didn’t particularly help put his spirits at ease. He found Jared in front of the dresser staring at the alien swell of his abdomen. He had a hand splayed across the taut skin, periodically wincing at the sharp kicks from inside.
“Hey,” He whispered, leaning in to nuzzle at the younger male’s vulnerable throat as his arms came ‘round to embrace his young omega.
Jared blinked as though rousing from deep sleep at his voice and turned in his arms before voluntarily welcoming him into his space. “Hey... and uhm... I- I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For snapping at you in front of your father... I- I didn’t mean to ...undermine your authority?” his voice lilted up at the end with his uncertainty.
“Jared,” Jensen sighed, resting his forehead against the omega’s shoulder, “You really think I care about that?”
“No... but your Dad might.”
“Trust me he doesn’t. He’d be more concerned if you acted all meek and obedient around me.”
“So... he’s - he’s not a traditional omega?”
“He...” Jensen hesitated before finishing with an awkward: “- was. Things have been slowly improving since Father passed away. My- my father was a conservative man- as you might have already guessed...He uh- he believed that omegas are meant to obey alphas- the whole nine, you know? Dad never actually went against him, but he did make sure that I knew to trust my own judgement instead of falling victim to peer-pressure.”
“Oh, wow,”
“Yeah,” Jensen smiled, “Dad’s sort of my inspiration, you know? I wouldn’t be the alpha I am- the man I am, without him.”
A laugh bubbled out of Jared, “I uh... I was talking about our kids actually, although yeah; what your dada accomplished is very impressive too.” Wordlessly he grabbed the alpha’s hand to guide it to just under his ribs where one of his children was practicing their kicks.
Jensen’s lips tilted up automatically as he felt the movement and he pressed back gently; for a long moment he just brushed his fingers to and fro on the spot before glancing up at Jared, “Seems our kids are rather active today; huh? I’m sorry my babies are being so difficult,”
The omega gaped at him but managed to pull up a smile as he leaned back awkwardly against the alpha’s chest, the angle more uncomfortable than usual because they were facing each other this time, “They are always active at this time of the day. I don’t mind... Besides, they’re my kids too, Jen!”
“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be having them now if I hadn’t forced you-”
“I consented, remember? You told me that I would want it the next time you touched me when the TOC forced us together and you did... you made sure that I wanted it- wanted you. Remember? I had to force you to touch me.”
“How are you so forgiving?”
“I’m not,” Jared denied, “I really don’t think I would have survived if I’d been paired with anyone else, Jensen. And I thank God every day that it was you that I was sent to.”
Jensen ducked his head, clearly uncomfortable at the compliment and gently guided him towards the bed, “You need to rest. Want me to see if I can calm ‘em?” the alpha asked, splaying his fingers over the lower curve of Jared’s stomach where the frequency of hits seemed to be the highest, “Hey kiddo, take it easy on your Papa...”
Jared shook his head, pushing the alpha’s hand away, “I like it.”
Jensen’s eyes narrowed playfully, “Really? The constant use of your mesenteries as a trampoline- you actually enjoy that?”
“It’s my last chance to interact with my babies,” Jared confessed with a shrug, “So yeah.”
“Hey,” Jensen turned him around so that he could look at his face, “Nothings gonna happen to you, Jared...I’ll ensure that you get the best care possible and-”
“It’s not that-” Jared interrupted.
“Oh... uh, so you’ve decided against nursing?”
Jared opened his mouth to reply and gasped at a particularly sharp kick.
“Easy,” Jensen whispered.
“Jen,” Jared grasped the alpha’s wrist, stopping him from walking away, and “Don’t make me, please? ... I don’t think I’ll survive if I have to give up my baby after I’ve gotten to know him...or her.”
“You think I’ll keep our child from you?” Jensen asked softly, his voice hurt.
“Well, you’re not exactly going to have a choice, are you?”
“I-I’ll wait for you... maybe you could come home after, you know?”
“After I give up another kid, you mean.”
“We could see if we can find an alpha willing to impregnate you and move on,” Jensen whispered, his eyes sparkling with hope, “That way you’ll get to come back to me even sooner.”
“And the child?”
“We’ll raise it... unless you wanted to give it up for adoption?”
“You’re willing to raise another alpha’s child?” Jared narrowed his eyes.
“The kid will be yours too, Jay”
The omega sighed; relieved that at least these children of his were assured of a safe upbringing even as his fingers curled protectively over his abdomen, “Wish you could father my next child too.”
The alpha’s eyes skittered away, “Me too,”
Jared’s gaze narrowed, “There is a possibility?”
“You already said no, Jay... its okay, I understand.”
“No...I... wait, what?!”
Jensen exhaled noisily before looking up to meet the omega’s gaze, “If you agree to nurse our baby, I could request you for another year... ” he trailed off, not needing to finish.
“They’d let me stay with you?” Jared asked hazel eyes wide with hope.
“But I won’t force you to nurse when you-”
“You’ll do that for me?”
Jensen’s hands spread over the stretched muscle, fingers tangling with his omega; “You really think I see you as just a brood-mare?”
“I-”
“I want us to raise our babies together, Jay... I want you as my mate.”
Jared ignored the declaration for the moment, catching his alpha’s wrist as he sat, stopping the man from withdrawing. “What’ll happen if they’re omega?”
“Who?”
“Our kids,”
“We’ll love them irrespective. And protect them as much as we can... and make sure they know that they’ll have a home to come back to when- when...” He shrugged, unable to voice that particular nightmarish scenario.
“Promise?” Jared asked; this was something that had been bothering him for some time.
Jensen nodded readily, “I promise.”
Jared offered him a tremulous smile, “Thank you.”
The alpha returned his smile before leaving to set the table for lunch. Jared had expected it to be a stilted formal affair but found himself warming to the older omega (‘Call me Dad or Pops’, the man told him with an easy smile). His family surprised them with a visit later that day and Jared was nearly reduced to tears when his mom and Jocelyn and Jensen and Pops all pitched in to prepare dinner and refused to allow him to help. Even Nate seemed to be enthralled by his growing belly and spoke to his ‘nephews’ till he was shooed away by Jared’s father. It was almost like being a real family.
While he initially resented not being allowed to accompany Jensen to his work the way he had been, he realized that coming back home from school was actually easier on his aching back. Pops always had some sort of light snack prepared for when he came back and Jared found himself warming to the older omega quickly. Speaking to Pops also allowed Jared to understand why Jensen was the way he was and he found himself quickly reliant on the older omega. No one in his family was an omega and he found Pops had some advice which his mom or Jocelyn wouldn’t have been able to provide. He felt ridiculously pampered as the older man took care of him, but still trusted only Jensen to apply the cream or help with his morning ‘cleaning’.
The day of birth arrived far too early for Jared and he almost wanted to beg Jensen to let him stay back. He managed to keep his lips sealed, but couldn’t keep from accepting the welcome comfort that the alpha’s arms around him provided. The birthing chambers were on the TOC’s grounds and Jared wished for the millionth time that he could’ve given birth at Doctor Beaver’s clinic... but rules were rules and though the kindly doctor would be there for the birth, it would predominantly be the TOC’s staff that handled it.
They denied Jensen entry after a certain point and Jared just knew that things were going to get unpleasant for him. He wasn’t wrong.
The first indignity was having his clothes cut away- he wanted to scream in frustration and demand that he be allowed to take them off like a normal person, but no. They had to be cut away.
He waited for those awkward TOC-issue robes, but then realized that he wouldn’t be getting any; apparently, the steel-collar that Jensen had attached - well, ‘been forced to attach’ was a more accurate description- to his neck was going to be his only ‘adornment’ till he gave birth. Horrified beyond belief and embarrassed by the forced nudity, Jared followed the ‘helper’ to what had the reassuringly named ‘Preparatory Room’ and felt tears well up as he realized he was to join the row of omegas already trussed up.
Aware that protesting would only worsen the situation, Jared mutely climbed up the few steps when ordered to and put his hands in the wooden pillory in front of him once he’d squatted down as commanded. The position forced his birthing hole open and he found himself wishing his hands had not been locked in the pillory so that he could cover his shame- but then again, that was precisely why the omegas were not allowed to have their hands free. He yelped when his feet were unceremoniously spread wider and his ankles cuffed to force him to maintain the uncomfortable and horribly humiliating position. Periodically TOC’s staff would walk down the rows of omegas, checking for dilation; but otherwise they were left alone. Time seemed to lose all meaning as the ominous ticking of the large wall-clock on one end of the room became the only companion to the bound omegas. The only other sound was of pained whimpers and bitten off moans as the omegas all squatted and waited to be deemed ready for birth. Occasionally another omega would be walked in and trussed up the same as them. Or someone would be deemed ready for birth and be freed of their bindings; the TOC’s staff uncaring about the omega’s cramping belly or the pins and needles from the forced squat making their steps even more awkward than usual as they hobbled slowly out of the room to the next stage of the birthing protocol.
Every inch of him felt over-extended and cramped by the time they finally deemed him dilated enough for birth and released him from the ‘preparatory’ set-up. His legs were attached to the stirrups and spread painfully wide; and although a part of him cringed at the humiliating position, the rest of him was in too much pain to care. Having Dr. Beaver appear suddenly felt like a blessing and Jared relaxed some, knowing he was in good hands. A bit gag was shoved into his mouth and Jared knew then that he would not be given the respite of a pain-reliever... the actual birth passed in a blur of the most horrific pain he had ever experienced and the bustle of attendants from the centre itself. A loud wail filled the room suddenly before being joined moments later by its twin and Jared closed his eyes in relief, jerking them open again as he felt someone yank on his collar. He watched as the grey-garbed beta read through the neatly typed detail on the tag attached to his collar and filled in some forms.
Jensen came in soon-after they moved him to a room, and although the man had seen all of him before, Jared still felt self-conscious of his nudity and longed for a sheet to cover himself in.
“Hey,” The alpha greeted softly, pulling up a chair next to the bed.
“Hi,” He returned softly, “How’re the kids?”
“Both babies are doing great, Sweetheart. We have one alpha and a beta... so I guess that eases some of your worries, yeah? Dad’s with them at the moment. I ... I came because I wanted to talk to you about something...”
Jared nodded, tiredly gesturing at the alpha to continue.
“Okay, so remember how you didn’t want to be assigned to another alpha?”
He nodded again, pulling back instinctively at the thought of being sent to the other alpha.
“What? What’s wrong?” Jensen demanded, not missing his terror.
“Someone... someone came to take a look at me already.” He admitted in a small voice, cringing at the memory of how the man had pinched his nipples and slipped a finger inside him. He’d been expecting Jensen at the time, but to have a stranger come straight into the birthing room before he’d even been cleaned up (with the same beta who’d first dropped him off with Jensen) had been an unpleasant shock.
Jensen frowned.
“It’s okay,” Jared whispered resignedly. “I know I have to go with whoever picks me next... I-I’m just glad you were my first, Jensen. Promise you’ll take care of my babies?”
“Don’t speak like that! I’m not letting them get their grubby hands on you.” The alpha grumbled. Then flushed as he realized how possessive he’d just sounded. He glanced up to meet Jared’s eyes hesitantly, “I mean... Would you like to come back home with me?”
“Is-is that an actual option?” He vaguely remembered Jensen asking him this a few months ago, but he was too exhausted to actually consider anything with much clarity.
Jensen licked his lips, “There... there are conditions, obviously. But yes, it’s- its possible. If you want to, I mean. I haven’t yet given my go-ahead; but if you agree, I can petition to keep you with us for another year.”
“You’d do that for me?” Jared asked; eyes wide. He pictured a whole-year’s reprieve from being treated like a hired-womb without thoughts or feelings of his own and it sounded like heaven to him. Jensen had never made him feel less than a person and the chance to spend more time with the kindly alpha was something he didn’t want to give up on. The fact that he would also get to be with his babies was just the cherry on top. “Yes, I agree. To anything. I want to come back home with you!”
“You haven’t even heard-” Jensen objected.
“I don’t care.” Jared interrupted, “Anything...As long as I get to be with you.”
The alpha nodded his understanding and rose, taking his leave after brushing a quick kiss to the top of Jared’s sweaty head and a muffled explanation about needing to hurry so that he could file his request before Jared got reassigned. Jared watched the door close behind his alpha and stared at the plain white walls of the room wondering whether he would be given a chance to see his babies if he asked. He hoped Jensen was successful in his petition and that he would be going back to the red-bricked house that had become home to him over the last fifteen months. He was startled out of his thoughts by the creak of the door opening and felt his dimples peek out when he saw that it was the TOC’s staff coming in with his children. He opened his arms eagerly and felt his unease return when they were slapped down. He frowned when a third individual (an alpha, also in TOC’s garb) followed the earlier two who had entered the room cradling his babies. The alpha raised the inclination of his bed so that he was partially sitting up and Jared started struggling as a rope was bound to his torso- criss-crossing over the front of his chest and tied firmly behind his back. He reddened with shame when he realized that the tightness of the rope meant that his chest was thrust forward obscenely. He struggled to get away instinctively as the alpha slid in behind him, holding him immobile; only relaxing when the two betas cradling his children stepped forward and adjusted the babies’ position so that they could nurse from Jared.
“No!” Jared struggled carefully, not wanting to accidentally injure his kids, “Please... you’ve got it wrong. I don’t want to nurse them! Please! Speak to my alpha, he’ll explain everythi-!” He trailed off when he realized that there was a fourth person in the room- not counting him or his babies- someone who had stepped in unnoticed.
“Jensen? Alpha?”
“Breast milk is healthier for the children,” The alpha informed him, expression carefully guarded and not quite meeting his eyes, “I want you to nurse them.”
tbc
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(Just Like) Starting Over
Verse Summary-Jared had survived a severe medical condition as a pre-teen; forced to take a certain medication well into his teens for the treatment. Now he is healthy... but the fact that the medication had a little known after-effect of turning alphas into omegas goes undetected in Jared's case till he applies for and gets selected for a highly competitive student-exchange programme.
Now he is forced to give up his family and move in with 'his' alpha- a stranger chosen by the government whom he has never met before; but is expected to bear offspring for by the end of the year
This part- As the birth of their children draws near, everything feels like it's changing... and Jared's not sure if it's for the better.
Earlier Parts Here
A/N- Title from a John Lennon song. Confession, I have never heard this song, but the title seems to fit this part of the story perfectly, so I thought... why not? *grin*
And this one's after a LOOOONG hiatus. Hope I've managed to do it justice and that you guys enjoy reading it.
----------------------------------------------------
Jared paced the length of the kitchen (well, as much as he was able to, his given the state of his protruding abdomen) as he waited for Jensen to return after picking up his Dad from the airport. His nerves were on edge and the babies seemed to understand that, seeing as they stayed quiet for once. .. it was only recently he had begun to feel their movement, but once they’d started it was as though the twins had discovered a favourite pastime- little arms and legs kicking up a storm on the inside... Hell, it had gotten so bad for the past week that Jensen had taken to carefully massaging the swell of his stomach every few hours in an effort to soothe them.
The chime of the doorbell roused him from his thoughts about babies and Jared sent up a quick prayer as he waddled over to the door to welcome the two men. Not wanting to get off on the wrong feet, he even went as far as crouching (awkwardly, not to mention painfully) to reverently touch the older man’s feet and then use the same hand to brush his own head to simulate reverently touching his head to the other’s feet. It was a slightly antiquated custom, but it had become one of Jared’s favourite traditions because it could be performed by anybody and for anybody- there were no demarcations of gender or rank or age for this ritual and while he’d always ‘liked’ it (He’d seen it as an effortless way of developing ‘abs of steel’ back when he’d still believed himself to be an alpha. As one of the youngest members in his family, every family gathering meant he would be touching the feet of at least twenty people and he modified the action so that he was virtually doing crunches while at the same time appearing to be a ‘such a well behaved boy’) - the fact that it was something that even alphas were subjected to was like a balm on his soul under the current circumstances.
The older man uncharacteristically blushed at the gesture and pulled Jared into an embrace and it was only then that Jared noticed his scent, blurting: “You’re an omega!”
The man nodded uncertainly, a smile still hovering at the edges of his lips even as his brows furrowed worriedly and glanced at Jensen.
“You didn’t know?” The older omega enquired in surprise.
Jared shook his head before Jensen could reply, glancing between the two uncertainly, “Usually, people call their alpha parent ‘Dad’...”
“Oh, uhm yeah... well, I call my omega father Dad...” Jensen explained with a casual shrug, apparently unperturbed.
“And your... your Alpha-parent?” He couldn’t stop himself from uttering the question.
Jensen’s shoulder’s pulled taut and for a moment Jared feared that he’d over-stepped his bounds; but then the alpha wiped a hand over his mouth and met his eyes unflinchingly, “I-... I used to call him Father.”
“Oh,”
“Is this going to be a problem?” Jensen’s dad asked softly and Jared felt himself relax at the hesitant tone.
He turned back to the older man guiltily- he hadn’t meant to make him feel unwelcome- “Oh! No... Of course not! Please... do come in.”
The older man smiled at him as he stepped inside, “I don’t mean to challenge your place in this house, Son.”
“Jared. ... please, call me Jared?”
“Jared,” the older man agreed amiably.
He smiled, “Would you like me show you your room?”
“Ah, Jensen can do that,” The omega returned, “You should make sure you get plenty of rest in your condition,”
Jared turned beet-red at the words, brutally reminded of just why it wasn’t a simple ‘family reunion’.
“I’m sorry, I seem to have upset you,” the omega murmured, cupping his cheek; the callused thumb rubbing apologetically over his cheeks.
“No... it-it’s fine.” He shook his head, trying to dial back his rising gorge. He’d forgotten that he wasn’t ‘family’ with the way Jensen treated and cared for him... worse, discovering that his alpha’s Dad was actually an omega had made him relax and forget reality-... that it was the life he carried inside him that was ‘valuable’, not-not him. He wiped at his eyes discretely, “Its- its just that I’d forgotten that I was just a hired womb.”
“Jared.” Jensen’s voice was stern, reproach evident in each syllable.
“I’m sorry, Alpha.” Jared spat, abruptly furious at himself and at the unfair world in general- as he turned on his heel and stormed away towards their room.
Jensen sighed and with an apologetic glance at his father, guided the older man to the guest suite.
“Trouble in paradise?” The omega asked with a small smile.
“Paradise? Hell, more likely. ... It’s- it’s not going to be paradise unless Jared has as much choice in choosing me as I did him.”
“You know that can’t happen while he is here with you, don’t you?”
Jensen sighed, “I know... I just-”
“You love him,” His father smiled.
The alpha’s eyes flew open, “What?!”
“You’ve fallen in love with your omega.”
“I-... I...” Jensen looked away, avoiding the question, “I guess I’d better check on him.”
The omega didn’t press the issue but Jensen still felt like the naive little boy he’d once been as he made his escape. The omega in the kitchen didn’t particularly help put his spirits at ease. He found Jared in front of the dresser staring at the alien swell of his abdomen. He had a hand splayed across the taut skin, periodically wincing at the sharp kicks from inside.
“Hey,” He whispered, leaning in to nuzzle at the younger male’s vulnerable throat as his arms came ‘round to embrace his young omega.
Jared blinked as though rousing from deep sleep at his voice and turned in his arms before voluntarily welcoming him into his space. “Hey... and uhm... I- I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For snapping at you in front of your father... I- I didn’t mean to ...undermine your authority?” his voice lilted up at the end with his uncertainty.
“Jared,” Jensen sighed, resting his forehead against the omega’s shoulder, “You really think I care about that?”
“No... but your Dad might.”
“Trust me he doesn’t. He’d be more concerned if you acted all meek and obedient around me.”
“So... he’s - he’s not a traditional omega?”
“He...” Jensen hesitated before finishing with an awkward: “- was. Things have been slowly improving since Father passed away. My- my father was a conservative man- as you might have already guessed...He uh- he believed that omegas are meant to obey alphas- the whole nine, you know? Dad never actually went against him, but he did make sure that I knew to trust my own judgement instead of falling victim to peer-pressure.”
“Oh, wow,”
“Yeah,” Jensen smiled, “Dad’s sort of my inspiration, you know? I wouldn’t be the alpha I am- the man I am, without him.”
A laugh bubbled out of Jared, “I uh... I was talking about our kids actually, although yeah; what your dada accomplished is very impressive too.” Wordlessly he grabbed the alpha’s hand to guide it to just under his ribs where one of his children was practicing their kicks.
Jensen’s lips tilted up automatically as he felt the movement and he pressed back gently; for a long moment he just brushed his fingers to and fro on the spot before glancing up at Jared, “Seems our kids are rather active today; huh? I’m sorry my babies are being so difficult,”
The omega gaped at him but managed to pull up a smile as he leaned back awkwardly against the alpha’s chest, the angle more uncomfortable than usual because they were facing each other this time, “They are always active at this time of the day. I don’t mind... Besides, they’re my kids too, Jen!”
“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be having them now if I hadn’t forced you-”
“I consented, remember? You told me that I would want it the next time you touched me when the TOC forced us together and you did... you made sure that I wanted it- wanted you. Remember? I had to force you to touch me.”
“How are you so forgiving?”
“I’m not,” Jared denied, “I really don’t think I would have survived if I’d been paired with anyone else, Jensen. And I thank God every day that it was you that I was sent to.”
Jensen ducked his head, clearly uncomfortable at the compliment and gently guided him towards the bed, “You need to rest. Want me to see if I can calm ‘em?” the alpha asked, splaying his fingers over the lower curve of Jared’s stomach where the frequency of hits seemed to be the highest, “Hey kiddo, take it easy on your Papa...”
Jared shook his head, pushing the alpha’s hand away, “I like it.”
Jensen’s eyes narrowed playfully, “Really? The constant use of your mesenteries as a trampoline- you actually enjoy that?”
“It’s my last chance to interact with my babies,” Jared confessed with a shrug, “So yeah.”
“Hey,” Jensen turned him around so that he could look at his face, “Nothings gonna happen to you, Jared...I’ll ensure that you get the best care possible and-”
“It’s not that-” Jared interrupted.
“Oh... uh, so you’ve decided against nursing?”
Jared opened his mouth to reply and gasped at a particularly sharp kick.
“Easy,” Jensen whispered.
“Jen,” Jared grasped the alpha’s wrist, stopping him from walking away, and “Don’t make me, please? ... I don’t think I’ll survive if I have to give up my baby after I’ve gotten to know him...or her.”
“You think I’ll keep our child from you?” Jensen asked softly, his voice hurt.
“Well, you’re not exactly going to have a choice, are you?”
“I-I’ll wait for you... maybe you could come home after, you know?”
“After I give up another kid, you mean.”
“We could see if we can find an alpha willing to impregnate you and move on,” Jensen whispered, his eyes sparkling with hope, “That way you’ll get to come back to me even sooner.”
“And the child?”
“We’ll raise it... unless you wanted to give it up for adoption?”
“You’re willing to raise another alpha’s child?” Jared narrowed his eyes.
“The kid will be yours too, Jay”
The omega sighed; relieved that at least these children of his were assured of a safe upbringing even as his fingers curled protectively over his abdomen, “Wish you could father my next child too.”
The alpha’s eyes skittered away, “Me too,”
Jared’s gaze narrowed, “There is a possibility?”
“You already said no, Jay... its okay, I understand.”
“No...I... wait, what?!”
Jensen exhaled noisily before looking up to meet the omega’s gaze, “If you agree to nurse our baby, I could request you for another year... ” he trailed off, not needing to finish.
“They’d let me stay with you?” Jared asked hazel eyes wide with hope.
“But I won’t force you to nurse when you-”
“You’ll do that for me?”
Jensen’s hands spread over the stretched muscle, fingers tangling with his omega; “You really think I see you as just a brood-mare?”
“I-”
“I want us to raise our babies together, Jay... I want you as my mate.”
Jared ignored the declaration for the moment, catching his alpha’s wrist as he sat, stopping the man from withdrawing. “What’ll happen if they’re omega?”
“Who?”
“Our kids,”
“We’ll love them irrespective. And protect them as much as we can... and make sure they know that they’ll have a home to come back to when- when...” He shrugged, unable to voice that particular nightmarish scenario.
“Promise?” Jared asked; this was something that had been bothering him for some time.
Jensen nodded readily, “I promise.”
Jared offered him a tremulous smile, “Thank you.”
The alpha returned his smile before leaving to set the table for lunch. Jared had expected it to be a stilted formal affair but found himself warming to the older omega (‘Call me Dad or Pops’, the man told him with an easy smile). His family surprised them with a visit later that day and Jared was nearly reduced to tears when his mom and Jocelyn and Jensen and Pops all pitched in to prepare dinner and refused to allow him to help. Even Nate seemed to be enthralled by his growing belly and spoke to his ‘nephews’ till he was shooed away by Jared’s father. It was almost like being a real family.
While he initially resented not being allowed to accompany Jensen to his work the way he had been, he realized that coming back home from school was actually easier on his aching back. Pops always had some sort of light snack prepared for when he came back and Jared found himself warming to the older omega quickly. Speaking to Pops also allowed Jared to understand why Jensen was the way he was and he found himself quickly reliant on the older omega. No one in his family was an omega and he found Pops had some advice which his mom or Jocelyn wouldn’t have been able to provide. He felt ridiculously pampered as the older man took care of him, but still trusted only Jensen to apply the cream or help with his morning ‘cleaning’.
The day of birth arrived far too early for Jared and he almost wanted to beg Jensen to let him stay back. He managed to keep his lips sealed, but couldn’t keep from accepting the welcome comfort that the alpha’s arms around him provided. The birthing chambers were on the TOC’s grounds and Jared wished for the millionth time that he could’ve given birth at Doctor Beaver’s clinic... but rules were rules and though the kindly doctor would be there for the birth, it would predominantly be the TOC’s staff that handled it.
They denied Jensen entry after a certain point and Jared just knew that things were going to get unpleasant for him. He wasn’t wrong.
The first indignity was having his clothes cut away- he wanted to scream in frustration and demand that he be allowed to take them off like a normal person, but no. They had to be cut away.
He waited for those awkward TOC-issue robes, but then realized that he wouldn’t be getting any; apparently, the steel-collar that Jensen had attached - well, ‘been forced to attach’ was a more accurate description- to his neck was going to be his only ‘adornment’ till he gave birth. Horrified beyond belief and embarrassed by the forced nudity, Jared followed the ‘helper’ to what had the reassuringly named ‘Preparatory Room’ and felt tears well up as he realized he was to join the row of omegas already trussed up.
Aware that protesting would only worsen the situation, Jared mutely climbed up the few steps when ordered to and put his hands in the wooden pillory in front of him once he’d squatted down as commanded. The position forced his birthing hole open and he found himself wishing his hands had not been locked in the pillory so that he could cover his shame- but then again, that was precisely why the omegas were not allowed to have their hands free. He yelped when his feet were unceremoniously spread wider and his ankles cuffed to force him to maintain the uncomfortable and horribly humiliating position. Periodically TOC’s staff would walk down the rows of omegas, checking for dilation; but otherwise they were left alone. Time seemed to lose all meaning as the ominous ticking of the large wall-clock on one end of the room became the only companion to the bound omegas. The only other sound was of pained whimpers and bitten off moans as the omegas all squatted and waited to be deemed ready for birth. Occasionally another omega would be walked in and trussed up the same as them. Or someone would be deemed ready for birth and be freed of their bindings; the TOC’s staff uncaring about the omega’s cramping belly or the pins and needles from the forced squat making their steps even more awkward than usual as they hobbled slowly out of the room to the next stage of the birthing protocol.
Every inch of him felt over-extended and cramped by the time they finally deemed him dilated enough for birth and released him from the ‘preparatory’ set-up. His legs were attached to the stirrups and spread painfully wide; and although a part of him cringed at the humiliating position, the rest of him was in too much pain to care. Having Dr. Beaver appear suddenly felt like a blessing and Jared relaxed some, knowing he was in good hands. A bit gag was shoved into his mouth and Jared knew then that he would not be given the respite of a pain-reliever... the actual birth passed in a blur of the most horrific pain he had ever experienced and the bustle of attendants from the centre itself. A loud wail filled the room suddenly before being joined moments later by its twin and Jared closed his eyes in relief, jerking them open again as he felt someone yank on his collar. He watched as the grey-garbed beta read through the neatly typed detail on the tag attached to his collar and filled in some forms.
Jensen came in soon-after they moved him to a room, and although the man had seen all of him before, Jared still felt self-conscious of his nudity and longed for a sheet to cover himself in.
“Hey,” The alpha greeted softly, pulling up a chair next to the bed.
“Hi,” He returned softly, “How’re the kids?”
“Both babies are doing great, Sweetheart. We have one alpha and a beta... so I guess that eases some of your worries, yeah? Dad’s with them at the moment. I ... I came because I wanted to talk to you about something...”
Jared nodded, tiredly gesturing at the alpha to continue.
“Okay, so remember how you didn’t want to be assigned to another alpha?”
He nodded again, pulling back instinctively at the thought of being sent to the other alpha.
“What? What’s wrong?” Jensen demanded, not missing his terror.
“Someone... someone came to take a look at me already.” He admitted in a small voice, cringing at the memory of how the man had pinched his nipples and slipped a finger inside him. He’d been expecting Jensen at the time, but to have a stranger come straight into the birthing room before he’d even been cleaned up (with the same beta who’d first dropped him off with Jensen) had been an unpleasant shock.
Jensen frowned.
“It’s okay,” Jared whispered resignedly. “I know I have to go with whoever picks me next... I-I’m just glad you were my first, Jensen. Promise you’ll take care of my babies?”
“Don’t speak like that! I’m not letting them get their grubby hands on you.” The alpha grumbled. Then flushed as he realized how possessive he’d just sounded. He glanced up to meet Jared’s eyes hesitantly, “I mean... Would you like to come back home with me?”
“Is-is that an actual option?” He vaguely remembered Jensen asking him this a few months ago, but he was too exhausted to actually consider anything with much clarity.
Jensen licked his lips, “There... there are conditions, obviously. But yes, it’s- its possible. If you want to, I mean. I haven’t yet given my go-ahead; but if you agree, I can petition to keep you with us for another year.”
“You’d do that for me?” Jared asked; eyes wide. He pictured a whole-year’s reprieve from being treated like a hired-womb without thoughts or feelings of his own and it sounded like heaven to him. Jensen had never made him feel less than a person and the chance to spend more time with the kindly alpha was something he didn’t want to give up on. The fact that he would also get to be with his babies was just the cherry on top. “Yes, I agree. To anything. I want to come back home with you!”
“You haven’t even heard-” Jensen objected.
“I don’t care.” Jared interrupted, “Anything...As long as I get to be with you.”
The alpha nodded his understanding and rose, taking his leave after brushing a quick kiss to the top of Jared’s sweaty head and a muffled explanation about needing to hurry so that he could file his request before Jared got reassigned. Jared watched the door close behind his alpha and stared at the plain white walls of the room wondering whether he would be given a chance to see his babies if he asked. He hoped Jensen was successful in his petition and that he would be going back to the red-bricked house that had become home to him over the last fifteen months. He was startled out of his thoughts by the creak of the door opening and felt his dimples peek out when he saw that it was the TOC’s staff coming in with his children. He opened his arms eagerly and felt his unease return when they were slapped down. He frowned when a third individual (an alpha, also in TOC’s garb) followed the earlier two who had entered the room cradling his babies. The alpha raised the inclination of his bed so that he was partially sitting up and Jared started struggling as a rope was bound to his torso- criss-crossing over the front of his chest and tied firmly behind his back. He reddened with shame when he realized that the tightness of the rope meant that his chest was thrust forward obscenely. He struggled to get away instinctively as the alpha slid in behind him, holding him immobile; only relaxing when the two betas cradling his children stepped forward and adjusted the babies’ position so that they could nurse from Jared.
“No!” Jared struggled carefully, not wanting to accidentally injure his kids, “Please... you’ve got it wrong. I don’t want to nurse them! Please! Speak to my alpha, he’ll explain everythi-!” He trailed off when he realized that there was a fourth person in the room- not counting him or his babies- someone who had stepped in unnoticed.
“Jensen? Alpha?”
“Breast milk is healthier for the children,” The alpha informed him, expression carefully guarded and not quite meeting his eyes, “I want you to nurse them.”
tbc
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