26: THIRD TRIMESTER

"What about this eggshell yellow with this green?"

"Looks like vomit."

"Ugh, Grey!"

He smiled, climbing on the bed to kiss her. "It's up to you. I don't care."

"Well, if you don't care can we name one of the boys Carlisle?"

"Absolutely not."

"You know, I think we could visualize these colors better if we went to the room." Before she could say anything, Greyson pulled her off the bed and down the hall, where he laid a fluffy blanket down. She quickly realized that this was the room they had decided to make the nursery. He laid down and she laid on his chest, looking up at the ceiling.

"It is going to make a great nursery. We could put the cribs against that wall with that solid color and then put the changing table by the windows for natural light–"

"You're excited," he whispered, playing with her hair.

"And you're not?"

"I am. This is just the first time I've seen such excitement from you."

"I am excited. I am just so excited to have your babies."

He smiled at her, gently stroking her back. "You're beautiful."

She smiled in return as she looked away. "And maybe we could spell their names above their cribs? I always thought that was just adorable!"

"Have you told your parents yet?"

She looked back at him. She didn't know where that question came from. "They don't know."

"Why haven't you told them?"

"I don't talk to them much–"

"You talk to your mom every day. You text her to make sure she's okay."

"It's never been bought up."

"She doesn't know about me? Us?"

"She knows about you. She just doesn't know the extent of our relationship."

He nodded, pulling her back to lay down. "What about Julianna?"

"Oh, that's pretty. Let's keep that on the list."

"You know, we never actually wrote down these names."

"If we forget about them then they weren't that good to us. Okay, okay, we need to choose one name for now, and then we can worry about the rest."

"Let's start with one of the boys. That way at least one is done. I think the girl's name will be simple enough."

"Kingston?"

"Kingston Weston? Sounds like the name from that bondage book."

"No, that was Christian. Oh! What about Christ–"

"No, we are not naming our child after a sadist." She looked up at him. "You know I read this one book before. It was a werewolf novel. Anyway, of course, the girl was the mate of the Alpha King or something, but they ended up adopting like 15 kids–"

"Let me be clear; we will never have 15 kids."

"Oh, totally agree. She was like 19 too. A little far fetched if you ask me. Anyway, there were a few boy names that I really liked. I really remember Aris. I liked that name. It was short for Aristotle."

"We can keep that on the list. What about Nyx?"

"Like the Greek river?"

"Yeah. I like Greek names–"

"Wait, wait, I thought Nyx was a girl's name? I thought she was the goddess of night?"

"Do you really think people will research our baby's name? I think it's unisex. What about Uranus," he said with a grin.

"Do you want our children to be bullied before their birth?"

"I'd like someone to try to bully my kids. I'd kick their ass. Better yet, I'd have Nolan shift and scare the shit out of them."

She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Wait, what's your middle name?"

"I don't have one. Lycans don't give them. Yours is beautiful."

"How do you," she stopped realizing. "My file, right."

"Why do you ask? Do you want our kids to have middle names?"

"No, it's alright. That's just more names to decide." Marisol sat back up stretching her arms. "My back is starting to hurt."

"Let's get that pillow the doctor was talking about. That should help. For now, why don't I make you a bath and put your favorite song on repeat with your favorite candles and bubbles like you enjoy. I'll even put that book you haven't finished reading in too."

"That sounds great," she said with a smile. "But why didn't you say you'd take one with me?"

"Because Abigail once told me, sometimes a girl just wants to wash her hair in peace."

Marisol leaned down to kiss him. "Not this girl."

"Good," he responded.

"There is just one thing you have to do for me though."

And that was how she ended up in the bath, surrounded by bubbles with the song Pony playing with Greyson slowly taking off his clothes. She laughed as he shook his hips. He smiled, stopping. "This is ridiculous," he laughed. "I'm not a stripper."

"Wrong, sir, you're my stripper now, please do me the honor and take off your clothes."

He continued and as the song finished he came into the bath, rubbing his hands down her stomach. She relaxed in his arms, enjoying his hands felt on her skin. She grinned feeling a sharp flutter.

He smiled, kissing her cheek.

"I think they like when you're close by."

"Really? You think they know?"

She nodded. "I read in a baby book that fetuses can create bonds with certain sounds or smells. Maybe their senses are already heightened because of your genes."

"Maybe," he responded, focused on how her stomach twitched from their movements. "It really doesn't hurt?

"Not usually. I mean sometimes they kick my ribs and that's a pain, but I'd take this over that nausea any day."

He played with her hands as he looked over her large stomach. She had grown substantially within the last few weeks to the point where she now struggled to stand on her own or walk normally, but she was still beautiful, even with her stretch marks and varicose veins. "We never finalized the birth plan, you know."

"Oh right. I completely forgot. We have to have them at the hospitals, which I'm glad. It makes me feel much safer to be there. I'll get an epidural regardless because I'll have a C-section. I'd like you to cut the umbilical cords, and during labor, I wouldn't mind having your parents, Nolan, Abigail, and Brad in the room, but not the entire pack. I don't mind if they visit, though! I just don't want them to see me in pain."

"What about your atmosphere? Want any music? Items that make you feel better?"

"Music would be nice. Some Indie music. I could make a playlist!"

"And do you want it recorded?"

"Uh, well, maybe? Maybe not all of it...we don't need to scar anyone with that. Do you think Abigail would?"

"If you'd ask, I'm sure. She's very excited as is my mother. What about birthing positions?"

"I'd like walking a little or bouncing on an exercise ball. Side-lying would be good too, I hate the hands to knees position, so none of that."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, I'm going to curse a lot, please don't be offended."

"I think laboring through three births justifies crude language. We should pack our hospital bags soon, and I already asked my mother to prepare meals for you for when you're home. Oh, and I think we should watch a birth video."

"No."

"No?"

"Yeah, no. I want to be excited about going into labor, not scared as fuck."

❥

As Grey laid beside her, Marisol twiddled with her fingers. She was pretty sure he was asleep, but she was hungry and a little lazy. Besides, she was carrying little babies; maybe it was alright...

She turned in her spot and gently flicked his cheek. Nothing. He didn't even flinch. She sighed; sometimes, he would wake up if her breathing changed, but not now? Ridiculous. She wanted...what did she want? Chicken nuggets? Pickles? Pringles? Ohh Pringles sounded good. But you know what sounded better? Ice cream...and taco bell.

With a mischievous smirk, she got out of bed and walked downstairs into the kitchen. With her hand on her back, she rummaged through the contents of the freezer, picking out Cookies and Cream ice cream. She wobbled to the bar and somehow got herself up to eat it directly from the carton. She took out her phone and brought up Door Dash, seeing if they were still operating at two in the morning.

"Yes," she exclaimed, realizing they still were. She ordered her favorite three soft tacos supremes with chips and guacamole, except she ordered six soft tacos and two chips with extra guac. After placing her order, she put the ice cream away and wobbled into the living room to get her coat. She didn't want the delivery man to ring the doorbell and wake everyone.

She sat outside for a few minutes until the car came up and the delivery man handed her the order.

"You're pregnant right?"

"Do you think I'm naturally this fat?"

"I figured I'd ask to be polite."

She smiled. "Yes, I'm pregnant."

"That explains such a large order!"

She gave him a bored look. "Little tip, my guy, just give the pregnant woman her food and back away before she kills you about commenting on how much she's eating." She took the bag and went back inside. She took off her coat and hung it back up. She decided that she was getting sleepy and would just eat in bed. As she made her way down the hall, she passed Nolan and Abigail's open door. She was curious and peeked in.

What a mistake.

"Jesus Christ! W-what...is that even a position!?" She asked, covering her eyes from the scene. Nolan must have gotten out of bed, because he was huffing as he wrapped the bedsheet around him. "This whole sight thing? I no longer want it. I will never unsee that. Next time close the door!"

"What are you even doing up?" Abigail asked.

Marisol sheepishly held her taco bell bag up. "I was hungry." She smiled gently pulling the door shut. "Oh, and Abigail, I didn't know you were so flexible. Were you a gymnast?"

"I did cheerleading when I was in high school. Could you tell?"

"Totally."

"Awe thanks, Luna."

"Okay, you two get back to it. I'm gonna go." Before Marisol could shut the door her eyes met the side table and saw a Twinkie. "Are you gonna eat that?"

Nolan chuckled as he grabbed the candy and handed it to her.

"Okay, now I go." She shut the door, then realizing that she had another question. She definitely did not want to open that door again. "Hey, Abigail?"

"Yes?"

Marisol laughed at Abigail's voice, losing patience. "Would you record my delivery?"

"Right now, Marisol, I would hand bathe you just for you to go back to bed."

"...Is that a yes?"

"Yes!"

"Okay. Goodnight! Don't be dumb, eat the cu–"

"Marisol!"

"I'm just saying!"

Marisol walked into her room with a pleasant smile. She sat back down on the bed and began munching on her late-night snack.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She looked over at Grey. "I got hungry."

"So, you ordered taco bell?"

"Yes and I used your card too, sir, is there a problem?"

He held his hands up in defeat as he sat up. He reached for one of her tacos, and she slapped his hands. "There's only enough for the four of us."

Unedited bc I'm lazy so sorry