Chapter 16

                                    

                                          
The light seeping through the loosely closed blinds warms his face. But Pete gets really warm when Vegas appears at the door of the ward with their baby in his arms:
"Hey."
Vegas smiles at him, but the omega can't but notices dark spots under his eyes. Didn't sleep well at all... oh, Vegas. The baby is fidgeting in his father's arms, reaching for Pete with his arms and his whole body.
"Well, come closer already," Pete sits up higher, putting a pillow under his back.
Vegas walks over to his bed and hands him the baby. Pete hugs Venice, gently kisses his beloved cheeks:
"You're my little angel. I've missed you so much..."
Vegas sits on the edge of the bed and makes such eyes that you can immediately read: "didn't you miss me?". Pete covers the alpha's palm with his still weak hand:
"How have you been doing without me? Did you make it?"
Vegas winks at him with both eyes and replies:
"I had to. You once told me yourself, "when there is no choice, all that remains is to stay brave".
Pete can't help but smile. The way Vegas likes it. With an inexpressible warmth and delicate dimples on his cheeks. And then a new wave of tenderness and tenderness covers the heart, because Venice wraps his arms around Pete's neck and babbles:
"Dad."
Pete looks at Vegas, who winks at him again:
"We tried our best."
The omega puts his right hand on the husband's cheek and strokes it, expressing with his eyes everything that is inside his heart right now. At this moment, another adult alpha appears in the doorway of the ward.
"Uh... Mark?"
Vegas stands up, looking away, as if he hadn't heard Pete say, "did you tell him that?" He wants to take Venice away, but Pete stops him. Then the two alphas cross eyes, and then Vegas temporarily leaves the room.
"That's what he's brought you to."
"Mark, please," Pete shakes his head anxiously, "don't."
The alpha nods towards the chair next to the hospital bed:
"May I?"
"Of course."
Already on the chair, Mark pats Venice on the top of his head with a sad smile, saying:
"So that's who stole my Pete from me."
The omega laughs, and Mark pats the child on the head:
"You're really nice, baby... and I could have been your father. Yes, but it didn't work out…"
Pete tilts his head to the side, and Venice, unhooking the hands from his neck, crawls closer to the edge of the bed and grabs Mark's thumb on his left hand with both palms. The alpha grins and closes his eyes for a couple of seconds, and then says:
"I've started dating someone. You don't mind, do you?"
"Oh... of course I don't mind. On the contrary! I'm happy for you, Mark. Is he... a good omega?"
"Not as good as you."
"Mark…"
"Come on, Pete. I get everything. You've made your choice. And I'm powerless here. Just take care of yourself, Pete. I know what kind of person you are. You always put others in the first place. Even if they don't really deserve it. But that's the way you are. It's just that you see for yourself what this asceticism has led to. You can't do that, Pete. Promise me you'll think about yourself. I dare not ask for more."
Pete reaches out to his hand and pats it gently and encouragingly several times:
"I'll try my best. But you have to promise me something too."
"What exactly?"
"That you will try to be happy. That you won't push away someone who can really make you happy."
Mark nods, head down. Pete squeezes his hand lightly. The alpha spends a few more minutes in his room, and whispers goodbye:
"I'm sorry about everything, Pete. About all the hurtful words and about not being able to keep you near."
"I've forgiven you for a long time. And you, Mark, don't hold a grudge against me. Although I know it's very difficult."
"How can I really have hard feelings to you? So, I succumbed to emotions... there is no resentment either. Only bright memories of you and regret for my own mistakes."
"Don't blame yourself for anything, Mark. And even though I promised to think about myself, you can always count on me."
"I know, Pete, I know."
When leaving the ward, Mark runs into Vegas. Clearing his throat, he says sternly:
"If you offend him once, I'll get you out of the ground. Got it?"
Vegas curls his lips and replies:
"That won't be necessary."
Mark stares at him, and Vegas holds out his hand. But the first alpha only coldly grunts at this friendly gesture and walks away. Vegas shrugs and returns to Pete, who greets him with the same question:
"So you told him anyway?"
"I didn't."
"And who was it?"
"Your father, probably."
"I see. And my father…"
"I told your father. Yes, I remember my promise... but he had a right to know. And I told him on the day of the operation. He gave his word that he would hold on. And by the way, later today he will also show up here," the alpha comes closer, intending to pick up Venis, "and, alas, it's time for us. They only gave me a pass for an hour."
"Well," Pete lowers the corners of his mouth, "can I have a few more minutes?" he hugs the baby, "I really missed you."
Vegas sits down next to him again and hugs them both:
"I can't wait to take you home. Get well, my beloved husband."
"I'll do my best, Vegas."
Pete cries involuntarily. Just because he's feeling too good right now. The alpha wipes his tears with his thumbs:
"Oh you! The doctor said that you cried during the operation too. The doctors there were generally shocked, for the first time they saw someone crying under anesthesia."
Pete is not surprised. Those tears, when he saw Sunan with the baby, still spilled.
"That's not all that happened to me there, is it?"
"Huh?"
"My heart was stopping, wasn't it?"
Vegas looks down.
"I know. It was like that. And I saw Sunan with Niran, Vegas. As strange and frightening as it may sound, but they are fine there. And I know that you and I," Pete kisses both Vegas and Venice on the forehead in turn, "have two special defenders."
And this time Pete is the one who has to wipe Vegas' tears away.
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One more chapter, my dear friends🌸