The Holly and the Tentacles (Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0)

Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

L egacy walked off the transport, feeling a real sense of déjà vu. He was back on station, eager to see Aeryn, and covered with fucking drill dust.

And he was so damn tired.

He needed to go see his supervisor tomorrow. Talk about how he didn’t want off-site assignments anymore. He was glad the company trusted him. He appreciated the bonuses. But he wanted to be with his omega. He wanted to explore getting larger quarters, better shifts, maybe?—

No. No, starting a family while on a station was probably stupid. It wasn’t much of a place for children.

But that was what he craved. What Legacy longed for.

He wanted to be with Aeryn. To be safe and secure. Happy.

He sighed, and almost jumped out of his skin when someone popped up in front of him and yelled, “Boo!”

“Fuck!” He staggered back, his tired muscles almost giving out. “Jameson. Hey.” Okay, at least it was friend, not foe.

“Hey, man.” Jameson stuck out a hand to shake. “Good to see you back. We all missed you.”

“Yeah. I never thought I would be happy to be back on this pile of cheap-ass metal.” He grinned. “But I am.”

Jameson fell into step with him. “I bet. You want to see Aeryn, huh?”

“I do. I aldo want a hot shower. And a decent meal. We were down to hot water bag rations by the end of the week on the last assignment.”

“Ew. Gods. That sounds like hell.”

“It totally was. Have you seen Aeryn?” He looked at the shops as they passed, wondering if he should take Aeryn a present.

They could order food once he got to their quarters.

“I tried, but he was taking a half day from work. His boss said he wasn’t feeling great.”

“Still?” Legacy frowned. “He said he had a stomach bug. I was trying to get him to see the docs.”

“Huh. Well, I hope he’s okay. I didn’t want to bother him if he was sleeping or anything.”

“Well, I appreciate you trying, man. I know he’s lonely.”

Jameson clapped him on the back when they reached the residential area. He would need to take the opposite hall from Legacy. “No prob. Let’s all do dinner in a few days.”

“Sounds good.”

“And let’s play handball.”

“Hell, yes. Tomorrow?” He could use a sweaty workout.

“You got it.” Jameson waved, then headed off, and he felt better, lighter, already. This was why he needed to stop being shuttled off to the middle of nowhere. Well, this station and the mine below was the middle of nowhere. But the assignments he’d had were worse.

He got to his quarters, letting himself in quietly in case Aeryn was asleep. Poor baby, still sick with a tummy bug. Hopefully, he was on the mend.

Aeryn lay on the couch, an open packet of crackers and a lemon-lime soda on the table next to him. He was asleep, his chest rising and falling evenly.

Oh, he’d missed this man.

Legacy slipped into place at Aeryn’s feet, raising them to put them in his lap. He frowned. They were ice cold but also a little swollen. Poor baby. He really wasn’t feeling well, was he?

Aeryn moaned. “Legacy?”

“Hey, baby. I’m home.”

“Oh!” Aeryn sat up, his red hair in wild disarray. Then he threw himself at Legacy. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too, baby.” Legacy kissed him. Hard. Then he immediately felt guilty. “Are you still not well, baby?”

“Hmm?” Aeryn frowned, his confusion plain.

He looked pointedly at the crackers and soda.

“Oh.” Aeryn’s face went pink. Like from his forehead all the way down to his neck. “Um. Maybe you should take a shower, and I’ll order us some supper. Then I’ll tell you all about it.”

“Are you saying I stink?”

“I’m saying you’re crusty. I think it’s awful that they don’t let you clean up before they stick you on a transport.” Aeryn plucked at his jumpsuit.

“They don’t want to waste the water or the sonic energy.” He sighed, leaning his forehead against Aeryn’s. “I hate it.”

“Me too.” Aeryn patted his chest.

“Okay.” He yawned, his jaw popping. “You stay here this time, baby. I know you’re peaked.”

“Yeah.” Aeryn flopped back on the couch, looking at the ceiling.

He hauled his ass up, then bent to kiss Aeryn’s mouth. “Be right back.”

He washed up thoroughly, and then put on some soft clothes before he went to check on Aeryn. He was snoring softly, so Legacy ordered soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. That should sit better than pizza or something.

He waited for the food to come, letting Aeryn snooze away.

The food came, and he got up to grab it. Aeryn sat up to watch him again, eyes looking a little bruised underneath.

“Soup and sammies,” Legacy said.

“Yay.” Aeryn smiled, pushing his hair back off his face.

“Okay, so talk.”

“Mmm.” Aeryn opened a soup container, sniffing. Then he waited. “Look, no puking.”

“Excellent.” Legacy tried to be patient.

“I’m pregnant,” Aeryn blurted.

“You’re what?” His eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline.

“Pregnant.”

Legacy blinked. Hard. A lot. Then he took a deep breath. “You’re on heat blockers.”

“I was, yeah.” Aeryn smiled. “Until I found out I was pregnant, I mean. But I think we kinda just blew that out.”

“I mean, I’ve heard of that happening.” Legacy chewed his lower lip. “Are you—Are you upset?”

“Well, it’s not ideal to have a baby on a mining station.” Aeryn sighed. “And work might get to be tough. But I’m excited about having your baby.”

Legacy whooped and grabbed Aeryn up off the couch, careful not to spill the soup. “I love you, baby. We’re pregnant!”

“I’m so glad you’re not mad.” Aeryn looked so relieved.

“No, baby. But I do think I need to talk to my supervisor. No more off-site jobs. A bigger set of quarters.”

“Yeah.” Aeryn searched his face, those green eyes bright, the gold flecks in them so obvious. “Are you okay with all of that?”

“Shit, baby, if I could find any other work, I would quit this whole station. I’m sick of drilling. And I want to be there for you and the baby. So I need to think of less dangerous stuff.”

“Okay.” Aeryn touched his cheek. “As long as you’re happy.”

“I want you happy too.”

“I am.” Aeryn leaned on him. “You got me soup.”

“What can I say. Anything for my omega.” And Legacy meant it.