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When Mori suddenly found himself randomly sick one morning it was the telling sign what was happening to his body.
An in house call from the doctor in the city confirmed it, he was pregnant with his first pup.
It was to be expected, Mori married, mated and shared a heat with his mate, this was the next step in life but something about getting the news that it was in fact happening sent Mori into a small panic. Keeping up a strong front around everyone especially Fukuzawa so none of them worried more.
But when he finally slipped away for some alone time his knees buckled, luckily he had a hand on the wall to keep him from tumbling to the floor.
Taking some deep breaths to steady himself, he can’t afford going into a panic now of all times given how delicate he is.
Before he could get himself calm Mori sensed a presence behind him and the heavy scent of old paperback books alerted him who it was. Mori sucked in a quiet breath, wiping quickly at his eyes to get rid of the budding tears. Getting himself as presentable as possible he turned on his heel to face his father.
“Is there something I can do for you father?” Mori linked his hands in front of him, using the long sleeves of his haori to hide his shaking hands.
Natsume let out a quiet sigh as he closed the distance between them and pulled Mori into a hug. It surprised the omega a bit, Natsume was hardly the most affectionate alpha. When Mori was younger he could hold his hand and get hugs but it couldn’t last longer than a few seconds, the alpha would gently pry himself from the embrace, always leaving Mori yearning for more.
The hug out of nowhere after receiving life changing news was giving Mori mixed emotions.
“It’s ok to crumble a little.” Natsume whispered to the young omega, giving him a squeeze.
Mori felt his eyes sting with tears as he wrapped his arms around his father and buried his face into the older man’s shoulder. Mori didn’t flinch when his grip on his father shifted, the alpha changing into his cat form. Mori held Natsume closer, the purring from the cat soothing him more. Natsume rubbed his head under Mori’s chin to give him more comfort.
Father and son moment was interrupted but by someone Mori could also lean on for support. Fukuzawa calmly approached Mori, making sure the omega knew he was near to not startle him. Mori opened his teary eyes at Fukuzawa who wasted no time pulling him into a hug, mindful of the cat between them.
“It’s going to be ok.” Fukuzawa whispered to Mori and the omega sighed in relief believing him.
Mori found himself a little bored.
The omega barely lifted a finger before but now that he was pregnant almost everything was done for him. There were at least three maids at his beck and call to make him comfortable since he was carrying precious cargo.
The morning sickness was something he could live without. Annoying every morning he spilled his guts, it left him feeling gross and groggy, Fukuzawa was there to dote on him as much as he could before heading to the agency.
With his schedule basically free for the next seven months Mori was losing his mind and it was only two days after discovering he was pregnant.
Another deep sigh that had the maids rushing over to him to see if he needed anything. Mori politely waved them off as he didn’t need a babysitter, just some space. Mori stood up, narrowing his eyes at the maids who had hands hovering if he needed help. Mori was barely showing and this is how everyone is reacting?
It’s going to be a long seven months.
Mori headed to walk around the gardens of the estate, they were large and lush this time of year in late spring.
Perking up when he heard the call of some doves.
Going further into the garden he found a dove on the ground, it was moving but not flying away while other doves flocked around it. Mori suspected maybe one of the feral cats that live around the estate had caught it.
Mori came closer and all the other doves flew away, gently picking up the injured one. Sure enough its wing laid limp on it’s side, most likely broken.
“Poor dear.”
Mori adjusted his grip and took the dove inside, some servants raised a brow watching him carry the bird in his hands but Mori didn’t pay them much mind. Taking the dove into an empty room and asking one of the maids tailing him to grab a first aid kit, an empty box and spare blanket.
When the blanket and box arrived he set the dove inside while waiting on the first aid kit. He did ask for some defective chop sticks as well. Once everything was brought Mori got to work breaking the sticks in half to make a splint then taking gauze to wrap it around the dove’s wing. If the wing didn’t set right and heal then the bird could never fly again. With the dove all bandaged up and wrapped snugly in the blanket Mori took the box and headed to his room.
He left the box with the dove inside before going to the kitchen to grab some food for the bird.
Mori heard the maids whispering about him, why he was going through the trouble of taking care of a bird that should have been given a mercy kill. Mori ignored them as he offered the bird some cooked rice. The dove thankfully ate the food and Mori smiled.
News of his bird had spread through the whole estate since by the time Fukuzawa arrived home he wasn’t surprised seeing Mori with the bird, gently petting the bird’s feathers as it cooed quietly with each pet.
“Who’s your little friend?” Fukuzawa came close, taking a seat next to Mori at his desk.
“Found them in the garden with a broken wing, I didn’t want one of the stray cats getting them so brought them inside. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, you really enjoy the doves don’t you?”
Fukuzawa had caught Mori feeding them on occasion, throwing some seeds out for them even having one eat from his hand.
“Many say they’re plain birds, but they make such soothing calls I can’t help but enjoy them.” A finger brushing down the feathers as the dove was nestling for sleep.
With the dove falling asleep Mori pulled his hand back, he walked over to the bowl of water on an end table. Using some soap to wash his hands after touching the bird.
“How was work?” Mori drying his hand, it was late in the day, Fukuzawa having missed dinner shared with Mori and his father.
“Busy, everyone is congratulating me on the pup.”
Mori snapped back to reality, he honestly had forgotten all about his condition while taking care of the dove.
“I see.”
“Don’t know why though, I’m not the one carrying it or birthing it, all the congrats should go to you.” Fukuzawa mused as he removed the outer layers of his yukata.
“It's to be expected.” Mori was already in his sleep clothes for the night. Walking back over to the desk checking on the dove before heading to bed. “Did you have any food?”
“Some of the officers took me out, that’s why I missed dinner.” Fukuzawa slid on his sleeping yukata and all but slumped into the shared futon. “Everyone was toasting and taking shots of sake, I swear sometimes they think of any excuse to go out and drink.”
Mori blew some lights out of the lanterns except one near the futon keeping the room in some warm light. Kneeling down, Mori reached out to brush some hair out of Fukuzawa’s face, he was still adjusting to showing affection through touch.
“Do you not like drinking?”
“No, I will indulge once in a while but I don’t enjoy it excessively.”
What an endearing trait for an alpha to have.
“Have you ever tried wine? I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Wine was an expensive export at the moment, some farms were trying to recreate the process here in Japan. Mori liked red wine the most. The bold flavors were palatable on his tongue though now he’ll have to refrain from indulging in a drink for a while.
“You think so?” Fukuzawa leaned into Mori’s hand before he moved to lay his head on Mori’s lap, wrapping arms around Mori.
The omega flushed a little, though he could say Fukuzawa was just being more affectionate because Mori had his pup growing inside him.
“It’s a very mellow drink, the culture around it is to savor the drink. So one could indulge in one glass for hours.”
“I’ll have to give it a try.”
“I would share a glass with you but not at the moment.” Mori idly ran fingers through Fukuzawa’s hair.
“We can share a glass together after the baby is born.”
Hearing that brought forth many emotions, the two of them really were going to be having a pup together. A little life the two of them created.
“…what do you want?” Mori kept running a hand through Fukuzawa’s hair, the gesture was soothing for him as well and he picked up on Fukuzawa’s light purring.
“A healthy pup.”
Mori rolled his eyes. “Yes that but do you want a boy or girl?”
“I’ll be happy with whatever we have. Do you want one or the other?”
Mori took a second to think about it. “If anything I adore having a little girl.”
It could be his attachment to Elise as she was his only friend growing up, he had always found himself bonding better with girls. In fact he already had a greater relationship with his half sister than he did with his own father.
“I’ll be sure to give you a girl.”
Mori couldn’t help the blush.
“Perhaps one of each.” Mori mused, thinking domestic thoughts about their future baby that will be coming true in a couple months.
Eventually both settled down for bed, Mori laying down and letting Fukuzawa hold him from behind.
“Goodnight Ōgai.” Fukuzawa whispered into the omega’s neck.
The next few days Mori was diligent in taking care of the dove and the recovery was going great but something things can take an unexpected turn for the worst.
Mori just took some time to work on his embroidery when he returned to his room and found the dove had passed away. Mori reasoned there could have been internal wounds he couldn’t have seen which resulted in this. Still he was heartbroken and tried to keep up a calm front as he took the dove out to the garden to properly bury it.
Fukuzawa didn’t have work today so he found Mori in the garden.
Hearing the sniffle made him alert as he approached cautiously. “Mori?”
Mori looked over his shoulder, tears streaming down his face as he sniffled. “The dove died.”
“Oh…” Fukuzawa came close, kneeling next to Mori, noting the hole he was digging. Fukuzawa gently took the small shovel and began to dig the hole deeper while Mori cried next to him. When the hole was deep enough Mori gently laid the dove in the little grave. Fukuzawa with Mori spread the dirt back over patting it down. Fukuzawa grabbed some flowers and gently placed them on the grave.
Mori didn’t stop crying but it was just tears falling from his eyes. Fukuzawa put an arm around Mori’s shoulders pulling him close, pressing a kiss to his head.
“It’s going to be ok.”
“I know…”
Mori was quiet for the rest of the day, just laying in bed. He had a little bit of an appetite which was good since Fukuzawa didn’t want Mori not eating since he was pregnant.
Fukuzawa laid next to Mori in the nest, watching him as they laid in the nest quietly.
“…you think I’ll make a great mother? Even though I couldn’t keep a dove alive?”
“You’re going to be a wonderful mother because you decided to take care of that dove despite everyone saying you shouldn’t. You can’t anticipate everything but you did a fantastic job.”
Hearing them made Mori finally smile.
“Thank you Fukuzawa, for believing in me.”
“Any time dove.”
Both their eyes widened when the term slipped from Fukuzawa’s lips. He meant to say love but at the same time were they at the point in their relationship? Was Mori? Fukuzawa thought what he said was insensitive after what just happened but the smile on Mori’s face grew.
“…I like that, can you call me that?”
“Of course dove.”