The sun is shining and my best friend is pregnant.

William could sense Mike getting excited and grinned back at the guitarist. He laughed a little and put a hand to his stomach, looking down at it as he spoke. "Maybe we should wait until after it's born," he said as he giggled again. He's too damn cute when he's excited!

"Okay, okay." Mike kept grinning. "I'm just so happy!" He kissed William again and laughed. Thank you, Bill.

"Me too," William said as he kissed Mike back and grinned at the other man. William couldn't stop laughing. He was happy for the first time in such a long while. He loved Mike, he truly did. He had had a crush on the guitarist for quite some time, but was too afraid to admit it. Another sudden rush of happiness hit William as he couldn't stop laughing and glancing down at his stomach.

For once it seemed to Mike like nothing could hurt them anymore. Not Ryland, not the war, not anything. Maybe William was right. "I don't want to break the mood and all, but do you have the slightest idea how you'll have to give birth?"

William quit laughing, but still had a smile on his face. "I have no clue. It depends on how my body decides to carry it out. Some male vampires can give birth by pushing, others have to have the baby cut out," he shrugged.

Mike tried not to laugh. "I'm really glad you're the pregnant one. Are they supposed to do it in some hospital, or...? I mean, I can't really picture you giving birth, even less in an hospital with a dozen nurses and doctors around you... I don't think a dude giving birth is a common thing."

"I can't go to a regular hospital. That'd be way too risky. I'd have to call in a vampire doctor and have the baby somewhere private," he said, smirking at the fact he could tell that Mike was trying to picture this all happening.

"Uhm, yeah. Obviously." He scratched his head. "I know we'll get weird looks because we're two guys with a baby, but I can deal with that. But, uhm...being a vampire and all, do you think they'll appreciate me being the non-biological father of your baby?"

"They will help us as long as I'm okay with it, and I am more than just okay with it," William said, a smile still on his face. "We just have to be careful. I don't want Ryland near us at all. I-I'm afraid to see what he'll try to do," William whimpered, his smile slowly fading.

"As the self-proclaimed father of this child," Mike announced proudly, "my job is to make sure nothing happens to you and the baby. And nothing will." He kissed William's forehead. "He can't harm you while you're pregnant. Once you have the baby, well, you'll have to hide - but you'd have to anyways, since there's a war. I've got people fighting for me. I can take care of you."

"A-are you sure?" William asked, his eyes showing a tint of worry. He bit into his lip, softly this time, trying not to hurt himself.

"Yeah." Mike nodded, trying to sound more certain than he really was. "Ryland hasn't harmed you since you found me, has he?"

"Only emotionally," William replied as he moved closer to Mike. "He hasn't touched me or anything, thank god." William was so thankful to have Mike around. The guitarist kept his child's and his own life intact, and even loved him. "It doesn't mean that he won't try though."

"I won't even let him think about it." He held William. "Would you feel safer if I took care of him first?"

"I-I'd rather wait until after the baby's born. I don't want a chance of you getting hurt. I need you here. If you leave, I'm leaving with you." William curled up into Mike's arms, crawling into the guitarist's lap as he carefully layed his head on the other man's shoulder.

How does it become safer once the baby's born? We'll be risking your life as well as mine. "Anything you want." He looked down at William and sighed. "If Ryland wasn't such an insentitive asshole, I'd say it's safer to go back to him."

"What do you mean?" William asked with a confused look on his face. He moved closer to Mike's shoulder so he could rest his head comfortably. Surely he isn't saying...

"Maybe," he said hesitantly, "maybe we could have bargained your safety and the child's if you went back to him. Just sayin'."

"D-do you want me to go to him?" William moved his head so that he was facing Mike again. "I can if you want me to...," he said quietly as he looked down again, afraid to hear the answer.

"No, no." He brought William close to him again and hugged him. "I don't want you to go. I just wanted you to know it was an option if things got out of hand." And I have a feeling they will. "It's not cowardice. I wouldn't hold it against you. I wanted you to know that as much as I love you, I can't decide what you'll do with your life. My priority is your safety."

"But Mike... I..." William couldn't think of the right words to say. He didn't want to go back to Ryland. Mike didn't know what all RYland could do to hurt him and not harm the baby. He simply moved back to his place on Mike's shoulder and lay there shaking a little as he became worried again.

"Hey now, calm down." He gently rubbed William's back. "I never said you'd have to do it." I'm sorry William. I know you don't want me to do this, but I'll have to. I have to take care of Ryland while there's still time.

William curled up closer to Mike as he stopped shaking. He curled up into the guitarist's lap as he yawned, fighting to stay awake. He didn't know why he was so tired all of a sudden, but it had hit him fast. He kept his head on Mike's shoulder as he stared up at the other man. "Thank you, Mike. I love you," he said before yawning again.

"I love you too. Maybe you should catch some more sleep. I bet you need more sleep now that you're pregnant. And more food, too." He moved away from William's embrace. "Take a nap, and I'll go buy something to eat. And coffee. Fuck, I need coffee." This is my chance.

"Okay," William yawned again. "Promise you won't be too terribly long?" he asked as he moved away from Mike on the couch.

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