Chapter Text
Shaoyou blinks at the doctor when he reads him the report. “Care to repeat that?”
“I said that your progesterone levels are equivalent to those of a pregnant omega’s. We have tested them three times and there isn’t any other viable explanation for them to be so high. We would like permission to perform an ultrasound.” Doctor Wang looks a little stunned at the findings himself. Shaoyou glances around at the two nurses who also seem shocked. In fact the only one who doesn’t seem surprised is Hua Yong.
“You knew this could happen?” Shaoyou looks at him suspiciously.
Hua Yong gives him an innocent smile. “There haven’t been any studies on enigma/alpha relationships, how could I know?”
Shaoyou’s lips tighten, they will discuss this when they are alone. He looks back at Dr. Wang who has gone a little pale at these words. “Enigma?” He stammers out.
Shaoyou groans. They really don’t need this getting out, their little family would be put on display for the public eye. He can already imagine reporters camping out at their house and nonstop calls from researchers begging for just a vial of Hua Yong’s or the baby’s blood. Then it hits him, the baby. He is going to have a baby. He considers his own emotions at this and feels a wave of affection already forming for this new life growing within him. Except for Hua Yong, Shaoyou has never had anyone who cared about him. His own parents had left him to the care of staff, and the omegas he had dated had only wanted what he could provide for them. He suddenly wants this baby very much.
“Doctor,” Hua Yong stares at the physician with a dangerous light in his eyes. “Can we count on you and your staff to keep this quiet? I will have my assistant bring by nondisclosure agreements this afternoon. As long as everyone agrees to sign these I can promise that your hospital will benefit greatly. Beichao Holdings has been considering taking on a partnership with a hospital in Jianghu, and Heci seems like the perfect fit.”
Shaoyou knows that Beichao had been doing no such thing, but the message is clear. If the hospital cooperates and signs the agreements, everyone will profit greatly.
“Our hospital only staffs those with the highest integrity and professionalism. However, the funding that Beichao could provide would help so many. We will gladly sign the agreements.” Dr. Wang says a little nervously. He has obviously realized that Hua Yong is someone not to mess with.
Hua Yong insists on coming with Shaoyou for his ultrasound.
The beta technician, used to dealing with nervous young parents, gives them a comforting smile. “Today we are doing an internal ultrasound because it’s too soon to use a scanner.” She explains. “I’m afraid there won’t be a lot to see yet, only a little blob and we will hear the baby’s heartbeat. Normally we only do this so early to get an accurate date for development but your case is special isn’t it?” She gives them a wink. “So let’s just see what we have here.” She works quickly and professionally. While Shaoyou feels a slight embarrassment at having Hua Yong seeing him examined so intimately there is no pain or discomfort.
She points out the fetal cavity and then a little blob. “That’s your baby,” she tells Shaoyou. Shaoyou squints at the screen, it doesn’t look like much yet.
Hua Yong is also studying the screen, “It looks a little like a peanut.”
This elicits a laugh from the technician, “yes I guess it does. I’m going to try to pick up the heartbeat now. Lay as still as possible.”
She repositions the wand then turns up the volume until they can hear a quick little thumping. “That’s a nice strong heartbeat.”
“Of course,” Hua Yong says as if there was never any doubt.
“The only possible issue I see is the cavity wall looks a little thin to me, I’m going to recommend to Doctor Wang to keep an eye on it. He will probably want frequent ultrasounds and checkups.” She tells them.
Shaoyou grimaces in pain and Hua Yong immediately moves to his side, “Is something wrong, Mr. Sheng?”
It’s been a little over six months since they found out about their little peanut (which has become the baby’s nickname since Hua Yong insists that Hua Sheng will be what they call him).
“The little one is kicking me,” Shaoyou tells Hua Yong slightly grumpily. He swears the fetus grows more active every day. At first Shaoyou had been fascinated by the little fluttering sensations he felt, but now the movements sometimes cause him pain.
Hua Yong moves to his side and releases soothing pheromones. He kneels in front of Shaoyou and puts his hands on the alpha’s abdomen. “Calm down little peanut, you are hurting your daddy.” He whispers. Shaoyou breathes a sigh of relief when the fetus settles down for the enigma.
“I don’t know why he is so restless lately.” Shaoyou grumbles. If it wasn’t for Hua Yong’s soothing pheromones he swears that he would never get any sleep, since that is when the baby is at his most active. Only one more month to go, he tells himself. Hua Yong has been marking him frequently. Although Shaoyou had accepted his permanent mark after finding out about the baby, the doctor had recommended these temporary marks as a way to help strengthen the fetal cavity.
Shaoyou stands and then lets out an “oh” of surprise, resting his hand on his abdomen with wide eyes.
“Did he kick you again?” Hua Yong asks him.
“No, I think my water just broke.” Shaoyou answers. He puts his hand to the wetness on his thighs and is horrified to see his fingers come away red with blood. Hua Yong is on the phone in an instant telling his driver to bring the car around immediately and calling Chang Yu to tell him to have Dr. Wang and his staff waiting when they reach the hospital.
Although Peanut was delivered safely, it was touch and go for Sheng Shaoyou over the next couple of weeks. Since Gao Tu was at home with his and Wenlang’s own two month old Lele and Hua Yong refused to leave Shaoyou’s side, it was the unlikely trio of Shen Wenlang, Chang Yu, and Chen Pin Ming who took turns visiting the baby in the nursery and making arrangements for when it was time to take him home.
It’s not until Sheng Shaoyou is conscious and is declared to be out of danger that Peanut can be brought to his room. The first time he holds the little precious bundle and stares down at him, all of his remaining reservations leave him. He feels such a pure love for the sleeping little baby, something he has never felt before in his life.
“Hua Yong, Hua Yong, Hua Yong,” Peanut calls happily, leaning over the back of the sofa at an alarming angle.
Shaoyou sighs and uses one arm to brace the three year old, while he uses the other to search under the pillows for the child’s missing sock. “Don’t call your father that, it’s disrespectful.” He admonishes.
“Our teacher said we should call things by their proper name,” Peanut declares, but there is a mischievous look in his eyes that shows the child knows he is being naughty.
“Yes, but it isn’t proper for a child to call their parents by their names.” Shaoyou finally finds the sock and pulls Peanut into his lap to put it on him.
“I heard dad call him that way last night, several times.” Peanut giggles.
Shaoyou tries to hide his blush at this, their son is too observant. “That’s different. I can call your father that because we are adults, you need to call him father.”
“Oh, okay,” Peanut agrees reluctantly. “Father, I want to see Lele, will you take me tomorrow?”
“Don’t you see him in school every day?” Hua Yong wonders. “I want to spend my day off with your dad.”
“Hua Yong,” Shaoyou says in an exasperated tone. “The boys want to play together, and Gao Tu has even given his permission for Peanut to stay the night.” His words are weighted and Hua Yong immediately picks up on his meaning.
He pinches Peanut on the cheek and says, “In that case I will be happy to take him myself.”
Shaoyou couldn’t help blushing at the look Hua Yong gave him. He smacks the enigma’s hand and tells him, “Don’t pinch Peanut’s cheek, he’ll drool.”
“Peanut likes it when I do this,” Hua Yong claims. “Don’t you?”
Peanut immediately pushes his hand away and buries his head against Shaoyou’s shoulder. “No, I don’t like it, I’ll drool. Go away father.” He pouts, reminding Shaoyou too much of Hua Yong.
“Hua Sheng,” Shaoyou only calls him this when he is being stern. “Don’t speak to your father like that. Now apologize or I will immediately call Gao Tu and tell him you can’t come tomorrow."
Peanut sheds a few real tears at being scolded and the thought of missing out on staying with his best friend. “I’m sorry.” He says earnestly.
“The little thing is so mean to me.” Hua Yong pouts after Shaoyou tucks Peanut in for the night and comes to bed.
“Don’t you start it more than half the time? Peanut is only 36 months old, how old are you to argue with our child?” Shaoyou scolds him.
“I’m only 300 months old,” Hua Yong says, burying his face against Shaoyou’s shoulder just like Peanut had done earlier. Shaoyou rolls his eyes at this, like father, like son. They were both too cute for their own good and knew exactly how to wrap Shaoyou around their fingers.