could considering the sandpaper texture of his tongue. The baby smelled like him, like home, like all the good things he had in his life since they’d found their mate. We have a son, he sent to Zeus. He could feel him coming and sure enough, within a blink, Zeus appeared.
Gone was the casually groomed god who’d left for the party. Zeus’s hair was all over the place, and his clothes were torn. The tiger lifted his lip and rumbled softly, making sure not to wake the sleeping child.
“The bastards wouldn’t let me leave. Oh, my stars and now I can see why. Paulie, baby, oh my precious tiger. A son?” Zeus stumbled towards the bed and fell to his knees. “Please tell me you’re all right. I’ve been frantic.” His hands hovered over the tiger’s paws as if he didn’t know what to do with them.
Taking pity on his disheveled mate, the tiger gave one last sniff of the baby and then leaned forward and licked over Zeus’s exposed mating mark. Speak softly, the cub is sleeping, he admonished as he leaned away and let Paulie take control.
/~/~/~/~/
It’s a miracle. Our own freaking miracle. Yes, Zeus knew childbirth happened virtually every minute of every day on earth, but bursting into their bedroom, and seeing his beloved glowing tiger with a small fleshy bundle between his front paws was a sight Zeus knew he’d never forget. Even as Paulie’s human form took over, Zeus still hesitated, the sleeping infant was so small, so vulnerable. A product of our love.
“I think we’re supposed to pick him up.” Paulie leaned over and did just that, supporting the baby’s head on one bent arm and holding him carefully partially wrapped in a blanket Zeus didn’t recognize. “I did call for you, repeatedly, as soon as the pains started.”
“I heard you.” Zeus crawled up onto the covers, which would need replacing, curling around his mate and child. “I was talking to Ra and Thor when I heard you call. I told them you needed me, I had to leave, and then Thor punched me in the stomach, the bastard.”
“Why did he punch you?” Paulie was softly stroking their child’s head with a single finger. “I thought you got on with most of the gods.”
“Apparently, or at least according to Orin, the Fates prefer the birth of godly children born to males to be done in private or some such shit. Sei backed him up. The Fates delivered his twins and Claude wasn’t allowed in the room.”
“They said something similar to me, even though I explained I wasn’t a full god, and that you were.” Paulie looked up. “Isn’t he just perfect?”
“Yeah, well I think the Fates make up their rules as they go along.” Zeus looked, really looked at Paulie and the babe. Paulie was pale, his eyes tired, but their son was sleeping peacefully as though being born was a regular occurrence. Zeus knew that wouldn’t last. “I’m not sure I’ve ever held anyone so small before,” he confessed quietly.
“Then now’s a good time to learn. Make sure you support the head.” Paulie held out his arms, and Zeus sat up, awkwardly scooping the tiny bundle up. His hands felt so big, compared to the sleeping child’s head and he worried as he lay his son down his forearm the way he’d seen Paulie do.
“Hello, little one.” Zeus held out his free arm for Paulie to snuggle under, and then focused on the child – their son. Three months wasn’t enough time to prepare, for Zeus to understand what being a father truly meant. And the little one was early. I’d have never gone to that damn party if I’d known he was coming tonight. But here they were, on the eve of a New Year, and Zeus was holding his son in his arms. He’d always been a father of sorts – he’d ruled his dysfunctional family for eons – but this was the first moment Zeus had ever felt the true depths behind the title. I’m a father – this is my son.
Zeus’s heart hiccupped and swelled. “He truly is perfect,” he said, blinking rapidly as his sight blurred. “And you, my precious mate, how are you feeling?”
“Like I did ten rounds with a heavy weight boxer.” Paulie’s voice was hoarse. “But we did good, didn’t we?”
“You did amazing.” Zeus chuckled softly. “I was only there for the fun bit.” He tilted his head, looking at their child from another angle.