19. Sebastian

Iwas nervous. I shouldn’t be nervous, but I was. The thing was, I knew my parents. They knew me. I’d obviously known them for over one and a half centuries. But Drew hadn’t. Although I had always seen my parents as amazing, they’d shared their disappointment of me not informing them that I’d found my One. That was obviously something that was going to be a sore spot for them for some time to come.

But now, they were here. I knew they were here on the mountain because I’d been informed when they arrived. I was at home with Drew, waiting. He was being his normal, adorable self and was lying on the couch with his head in my lap. I was absently running my fingers through his hair, trying to calm my nerves.

“You know, we could go to the bedroom and have sex,” Drew said suddenly. My hand froze in his hair, and I looked down at him with wide eyes. He shrugged up at me. “You’re anxious. And sex usually relaxes people, no?”

I couldn’t argue with his logic. He was right. Sex usually did relax people. But we’d not had sex since we’d left Italy. We’d come back, and Drew had been incredibly sick. Since then, my entire focus had been on him and taking care of him.

“Do you not want to?” he asked.

“What? Why would you ask that? Of course I want to. I’m just…they could be here any moment, and, well, you’ve been sick. I think it would be traumatic if we were trying, and all of a sudden, you got sick because of everything.” My desire for Drew hadn’t lessened since we’d returned. If anything, it had grown. I simply wanted to take care of him and honestly hadn’t really thought about anything beyond him getting better.

“So do you want to?” Drew asked.

I did. Now that he’d voiced it, I really did. I was about to whisk Drew upstairs and spend hours getting reacquainted with his body and learning his new body, but there was suddenly a loud knock at the door. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“Seriously? Now? I was finally about to get me some magical D, and they have to show up now?”

I looked at Drew, and my mouth dropped open. He was glaring, and I realized then that I’d been neglecting my One in that way and vowed to remedy that just as soon as we could get rid of my parents. Drew sat up and then stood. He turned and made a show of pressing his dick down, and when it sprang back up, I realized that he wasn’t wearing anything under his sleep pants. I sighed. “Do you want underwear? Pregnancy jeans? Something?”

Drew wrinkled his nose. “Underwear. I’m pregnant, due in a little over a month, and I’m at the point of just wanting to be comfortable. I don’t care if I look like a pauper next to you or your parents at this point.”

I stood and leaned down and kissed Drew. “You could never look like a pauper. I know that you feel like one often, but you’re not.” I stood and held out my hand, a pair of underwear on my finger. “Do you wish for me to help you put them on, or do you want to go to the bathroom and do it while I let them in?”

Drew sighed. “You help. I’ll greet them at the door with you.”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure that was the best thing, but I wasn’t going to tell Drew he shouldn’t go with me. If he wanted to greet my fathers at the door, I’d proudly hold his hand. I used some magic to help him put the underwear on. Drew wiggled a little and then sighed. “Good now?” I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair. He shook his head.

“All right. Let’s do this, I suppose. I don’t care that I’m in my pj’s or if my hair looks like I just woke up from a nap. Both happen to be true, and if your fathers can’t accept that, then I don’t care. I’m growing a baby here, and right now, I’m horny, and their timing is terrible. An hour from now, I’ll probably be exhausted.”

I felt terrible for Drew. He was right though. He had bursts of energy that would last anywhere from thirty minutes to a few hours. We never knew. Dr. King assured us he and the baby were healthy, but every pregnancy was different.

We went to the front door, where there was more knocking. I took a deep breath and opened it, coming face-to-face with my fathers. Father was frowning, while Papa looked hopeful. I nodded and then stepped back to let them in. When I saw Caspian and Lorenzo with them, Caspian looked at me with wide eyes and then subtly shook his head. So Father was still upset. Wonderful.

Suddenly, Drew was there, and he looked so tiny compared to the rest of us. My little spitfire didn’t let that stop him though. “Hold it right there,” he said, walking right up to Father. We all stood there and stared, completely shocked, as Drew pointed a finger at Father. “Apologize,” he said.

Father looked at me, shocked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Apologize. Before you get to come into my house, you will apologize to my mate. I don’t care if you’re this oh-so-powerful warlock. You’ve treated your son like shit, and I’m not going to accept that.”

Caspian started laughing and immediately moved Father back a step with his hands on his shoulders. “You, Drew, are such a perfect match for Sebastian. Don’t ever change.” Caspian leaned down and kissed Drew on the cheek and then pointed to the back of the house. “I do hope that I’m allowed entry?”

“Yep,” Drew said. He still had a glare on his face and was staring down Father.

“Me too?” Lorenzo asked as he peeked around Father.

I happened to see Drew’s face soften. “Lorenzo! Mi casa es su casa.” Drew opened his arms, and when Lorenzo wrapped his around Drew’s shoulders, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the height difference between them. Lorenzo quickly kissed the top of Drew’s head and then went around him to join Caspian, who was in the back of the house.

As soon as Lorenzo left, Drew’s glare was back, and directed up at Father. “I still haven’t heard an apology.” His gaze moved to Papa, who honestly looked like he was in love. It was funny as all get-out.

“Your son, this man. This amazing, wonderful, romantic, caring man didn’t think to message you, and now you’re butt hurt and all…you should have told us, it would only take a moment.” Drew rolled his eyes. “Well, we didn’t have a moment because we claimed each other, then I went into heat, and that was a bitch of a heat and lasted for-ev-er. Then we were working on our bond, and the last thing either of us thought about was oh, we should be sure to tell the parents.”

I was in awe. I could tell that neither Father nor Papa knew what to make of the little spitfire that was chastising Father.

“Then I got sick. And not a little sick,” Drew continued. “The kind where I was either sleeping or throwing up. I was weak and couldn’t keep down water. That kind of sick. And now, I’m finally starting to feel better, and you demand to come here and visit because it’s beyond time.” Drew rolled his eyes again. “Well, I don’t care if it’s beyond time. You don’t dictate my life, mister. I’ve been on my own since forever, and if you want to come into my house, you will apologize to my mate. And it had better be sincere, or you just won’t get access to your grandchild until I’m ready. Because I’m the one growing the little booger, not you, and not you.” Drew pointed to both Father and Papa, and both could only stand there and stare.

I reached for Drew and pulled him to my side. I’d been standing beside him, but the four of us were standing in a square, each a side of it. I noticed that Caspian and Lorenzo were both standing not far away, and they, too, were staring in disbelief.

The ball was now in Father’s court, and I had to wonder what he was going to do. He glanced from Drew up to me and then back at Drew. It was Papa who seemed to finally knock some sense into Father, literally when he hit him on the shoulder, hard. Father looked to Papa and glared.

“Don’t let your stubborn pride keep you from our son and his mate and their child.” Papa then looked at Drew. “You are feeling better now? The sickness is passed, no? There is this wretched tea and other things to do for the sickness. I never had it, which is a blessing.”

“It’s mostly gone. But the tea is good. It’s sweet. But I need the one that knocks me out because otherwise I’ll just puke if I’m upright. So I’ve spent a lot of time sleeping, and Sebastian has been taking care of me.”

Papa’s face melted, and he took a step forward to most likely hug Drew and me, but Drew stopped him with a hand held up. That hand turned into a finger that he turned toward Father, and then the glare was back. “You’ve got about five seconds to say something, and it had better start with the words I’m sorry before I’m calling Master Edison and telling him you’re bothering me.”

Father’s eyes widened, and then he looked at me. I could tell that Father didn’t know what to make of Drew. I’d heard about this side of him, and I’d seen it in his memories. It was very much a fight-or-flight response when those he loved were in danger or wronged.

“I’m sorry,” Father said quietly. There were gasps behind us.

Drew turned around and sent my brothers his glare, and they both held up their hands and then took off back to the back of the house.

“And?” Drew asked as he turned back around and stared at Father.

Father looked at me and nodded. “I do apologize. I did not know.”

I took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out. “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen. Only demanded an apology from me. But I’ve done nothing wrong. My first priority has been Drew and our baby.”

I pulled Drew into my side. I desperately wanted to talk to him in private, but I didn’t know if I would get such an opportunity anytime soon. He was vibrating, but I didn’t know if it was with anger or if he was terrified. I was getting both from him through our bond.

“I do apologize,” Father said again. He looked over at Drew. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Drew.” Father stood there for a moment before he nodded. “I should have been more understanding. I had always expected my children to always be near, and suddenly, Sebastian is halfway around the world, and he’s suddenly mated and having a baby. My pride did take a hit that we weren’t informed. I do hope you can one day forgive me. If not, I will hope that you at least don’t punish Arturo. He has been incredibly excited to meet you and to learn about you and the baby.”

Drew stared up at Father for a moment before he nodded. “Very well. I accept your apology. If Sebastian does as well, you can come in.”

Drew grabbed ahold of my shirt and then looked up at me. My eyes widened when I realized his were unfocused. I had just enough sense to sweep him up into my arms as he started to crumble. I realized he’d actually passed out. I rushed him upstairs with magic and was placing him on the bed when Caspian was suddenly beside me.

“What can I do?”

I shook my head. I pulled out my phone and was calling Dr. King before I could finish shaking my head. There were several sets of feet that were running up the stairs as Dr. King answered his phone.

“Sebastian, I didn’t think we had an appointment soon, so is everything all right?”

“No. Drew just crumbled, and he’s unconscious.”

“I’ll be right there.”

The call disconnected just as Father, Papa, and Lorenzo came rushing into our room. I sat down beside Drew, my heart in my throat. There was suddenly another warlock in the room, and I didn’t have to look up to recognize Dr. King’s aura.

“What happened?” he asked as he rushed to Drew’s side. His hand started glowing green as he ran it down Drew’s body, starting at his head.

“He was…well, he was upset with Father, and then he sort of just crumbled.”

“Did he fall? Hit his head, or did he suffer an impact on the stomach?”

“No. I caught him. He was standing next to me, and he grabbed my shirt and then looked up at me. I noticed his eyes didn’t seem focused. Then he was just limp.”

Dr. King nodded. He sighed. “His blood pressure is incredibly low. He is waking now though, and I’m afraid it’s going to be more bad news for him,” Dr. King said. He looked around the room, glancing at everyone who was standing at the foot of the bed. He turned back to me and raised an eyebrow.

“Those are my fathers and brothers. Father is the warlock that Drew was upset with.” I sighed. I should have just called him. If I had, none of this would have happened. Drew wouldn’t have been upset, and we’d all be happily talking downstairs. Possibly.

Drew moaned, and immediately, I reached for him. I froze, though, and looked to Dr. King for reassurance.

“It’s all right if you hold him.”

That was all I needed to hear, and I moved enough to slide my arms under Drew and pick him up. I turned, sitting on the bed with him in my arms now. I closed my eyes, trying to get my heart out of my throat, but it wasn’t exactly working. I leaned in and kissed his hair and then his forehead before I rested my cheek against it.

“Seb?” Drew moaned out.

“Right here, my heart. Right here,” I whispered. Dr. King was kneeling in front of us, and at some point, it seemed as if my fathers and brothers filed out of the room, leaving the three of us alone.

Drew moaned again, and his hand moved to his head. “My head hurts.”

“Here, drink this,” Dr. King said, holding out a mug. Whatever was in it was red, so it wasn’t tea. I didn’t know what it could be, but Drew brought it to his mouth and took a sip. It must have been pretty good because he brought it back and then drank the rest in one go. I could only hold him while breathing deeply and trying to calm my own nerves.

“Drew?” Dr. King said quietly. Drew turned his head a little to look at the doctor. “Have you felt dizzy or light-headed before today?”

Drew sighed. “Yes. But it’s been like that since the beginning on and off. Sometimes I’m dizzy, sometimes I feel fine. The room spins every so often, but it usually goes away. It kinda snuck up on me today though.”

Dr. King nodded and then stood. There was suddenly a chair behind him, and he sat. “I have what you are most likely going to believe is bad news.”

Drew groaned. “What now? More puking?”

Dr. King chuckled. “Hopefully not, no. But you do have low blood pressure. You are going to have to go onto light bed rest for now.”

“Light bed rest?” Drew asked. He tried to sit up, so I helped him get more upright, but he moaned and then fell back against my shoulder.

“That there. You need more fluids, and I’m about to help with that. But you are going to have to make sure you don’t spend a lot of time upright. Lots of lounging around, napping, drinking plenty of water and juice. I need you to make sure you take the best care of yourself as you can.”

Drew sighed. “I already do most of that. I spend most of the day being lazy. I spend it on the couch, and Eli comes and visits. Or étienne. Sebastian comes home for lunch and then leaves early.”

Dr. King looked to me, and I nodded. “Is this serious?”

“It could become serious if he falls when nobody is around.”

Drew groaned. He looked down his body and growled. “Little booger, I swear that’s going to be your nickname always.” Drew let his head fall back. “Fine. What do I need to do? You said fluids? Do I need to drink some water?”

“You will, yes. But I’m going to administer some for now and watch over you for a bit. Is there something you need before we start?”

Drew looked up at me. “Go be with your family. I’m sure I’ve made an absolutely terrible first impression. It will be my turn to apologize once I can. Please tell them I’m sorry to be such a terrible host.”

I leaned down as I lifted Drew in my arms. I kissed him softly before whispering against his lips. “You are my heart. My entire life. I’d rather be here with you.”

Drew smiled against my lips. “You can come back. But go see your parents. For me?”

I was incredibly torn. I wanted nothing more than to be with Drew, but he was right. I needed to let them know what was going on.

“I’ll be back,” I said as I stood and then gently set Drew back onto the bed. He gave me a tired smile, and I had to wonder if it was actually tiredness or something else. I was incredibly worried, but I knew with Dr. King right here, he’d be fine.

“I will be here with him. An IV of fluids is the quickest way to get his blood pressure back to where it needs to be.”

“Thank you, Dr. King.”

“You’re so welcome. If anything happens, I’ll call out for you.”

“Thank you.”

I kissed Drew once again and then left the bedroom. I left my heart at the doorway, promising myself I’d collect it when I came back to Drew.

I found my parents and brothers all in the kitchen, all looking incredibly worried.

“How is he?” Caspian asked.

I looked to all of them. “He’s fine. He has low blood pressure on top of everything else.” I sighed. “We will most likely only have one child because I don’t know if I could in good conscience ask Drew to go through all of this again. First, the severe pregnancy sickness, and now this. He’s being put on light bed rest, but in reality, he’s already been on it.”

“Is he having contractions as well?” Papa asked.

I shook my head. “No. But he gets dizzy spells. This was the first time he’s passed out, but if I hadn’t been here and he’d fallen…” I trailed off. They could all figure out what could have happened.

“I like your mate a lot,” Father said suddenly. I looked over at him, surprised. “He’s perfect. He’s a little ball of fire, and he stands up for what he believes in.” Father sighed. “He was right. I was wrong, and I am sorry for any pain that I have caused you. You had every right to be spending all of your time with your One.”

I was…wow. Two apologies from Father in the span of an hour at most. “Thank you,” I said. I glanced at all of them. “Drew has asked that I apologize to all of you. He didn’t mean to be a poor host—his words.” I smiled. “He said he would be up for a visit when he was feeling better.”

“Has his pregnancy truly been so difficult?” Papa asked.

I sighed. “Yes. It’s been one thing after another. Puking, dizziness, and now we know that was low blood pressure on and off. Lack of energy, lack of appetite. He lost a lot of weight the first few weeks, and he doesn’t have room to lose any.”

“What can we do to help?” Papa asked.

I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not sure. Hope for the best. I’m going to go call Master Edison. I’ll need to adjust my schedule at work because Drew can’t be left alone now.”

“I know he does not know me, but I can stay,” Papa said. “I can help you watch over and take care of him.”

I wasn’t at all surprised at the offer. “I’ll run it by Drew. Or we can together later. Dr. King is giving him fluids right now, but he should be feeling better soon enough.” One month, I told myself. We had just around one month left, and then it would be safe for Drew to deliver our baby. Would his dizziness be controllable for that amount of time? I truly hoped so.

“Should we go?” Lorenzo asked. I shook my head.

“Only if you wish. I just need to message Master Edison, and then we can talk. Dr. King said he would call out if he needed me for anything. And although I don’t want to be away from Drew for too long, I don’t mind talking for a bit. But you’re welcome to stay and make yourself at home.” I pulled out my phone to send off the message to Master Edison before I forgot because I knew with where my mind was, I would, and Master Edison needed to be updated about Drew’s condition.