Archive of Our Own ^beta

The base had been their permanent home for the last few months. Ghost had kept up with all his duties at first, regularly being shipped out on missions when he was needed. But as time went on, as Soap's belly got bigger and his scent thicker and sweeter, Ghost had become a danger to both himself and others. A Lieutenant needed to be level-headed at all times, and Ghost had been anything but.

During his latest mission—four days of recon in Serbia—he got close to attempting to steal the exfil vehicle early, knowing that his omega was all alone and heavily pregnant, without his alpha there. Price had banned him from leaving base after that, always keeping him within arm's reach of Soap.

Neither of them minded the change, even though it was a big readjustment. They were both used to working, to keeping busy, both physically and mentally. But by now, Soap's due date was only a few weeks away, and he could barely stand up on his own, much less waddle any further than from one room to the next.

Not that that stopped Soap from growling when Price told him he wouldn't be allowed to work again until well after the pup had been born.

"You really think you could still work, Soap? Could you even get through half the obstacle course?"

"'Course I could, Cap."

"And drop and roll out of danger if someone fired on you?"

"I'd figure something out," he shrugged.

Price only sighed, knowing that Soap would never admit that he was no longer able to do all the things he'd done before he got pregnant. Soap was used to working—often hard and around the clock. He wasn't used to being sidelined, especially not to this degree. Price didn't even allow him to come to any meetings anymore, claiming it was bad for his stress-levels, or some shit like that.

Logically, Soap knew that he was right. Emotionally—and hormonally—he resented him for it.

At least Ghost was getting a similar treatment, which did help somewhat. He still kept up with paperwork and training, but the majority of his time was spent by Soap's side. At least they could be bored together. The only difference was that Ghost seemed to enjoy his time off far more than Soap did.

Soap had overheard the recruits whispering about him behind his back. Apparently, Ghost seemed to have gotten a bit softer around them, no longer as hard on them or as gruff as he'd been before.

"You think it's his alpha instincts kicking in?" one recruit had whispered to another. "I've heard rumors that his omega is pregnant."

The other recruit scoffed.

"Lieutenant Riley, a dad? No, I can't imagine that at all. Maybe he's just nicer to us because we've gotten better?"

Soap huffed out an amused breath. As if. He sometimes followed Ghost along as he trained the recruits, and this had to be one of their worst batches yet. It made Soap all the more annoyed to be forced to stick to the sidelines. He'd love nothing more than to show them how it was done.

The gossiping recruits quickly stepped to the side when they noticed Soap coming down the hallway. They were fresh enough that they didn't know him as anything other than the frail, pregnant omega, something that irritated Soap to no end. He should start carrying around a list of all his accomplishments, so that he could remind everyone of who he really was.

People had forgotten about that far too quickly for his liking. Just because he was noticeably pregnant and clouding any room he entered with his thick pheromones, they seemed to believe that that was all he was now. That him getting pregnant had somehow negated all the work he'd done leading up to it.

Soap sped up, not wanting another curious glance or hushed whisper his way.

He could feel Ghost following him, long before he saw or smelled him.

"Johnny, be careful," Ghost warned, falling into step beside him.

"I can walk on my own."

"You can't even see your own feet anymore."

"Don't need to! Remember that cloudy night in Bucharest when all our lights broke down?"

"Very different circumstances, Johnny."

Ghost circled him like a guard dog, even though the only nearby threat was the risk of Soap tripping over his own feet. On second thought, maybe tripping would be a good idea. The pup might just shoot straight out, saving him from what was sure to be a long and tedious labor.

"It's your fault I'm so fucking big in the first place," Soap muttered when Ghost unlocked the door for him, ushering him inside. "Is your whole fucking family as big as you?"

"Unfortunately."

Soap sighed, unsuccessfully stroking his hair away from his face, and quickly growing irritated when it wouldn't stick. It had gotten way too long over the last few months, but Ghost liked it that way, so he didn't have the heart to cut it. Also, it'd be nice for the pup to have something to play with once they were born.

Soap hated feeling this irritated and on edge all the time. He could usually cope with his brain going a hundred miles an hour by going to the gym, or sparring, or taking a run. Anything physical, which he could no longer use as an outlet.

"You want to nest, or you want a bath?" Ghost asked. He had always been able to read Soap well, especially so now that his scent was so much thicker, betraying all his emotions.

"Bath, then orgasm, then nest."

"You've got it."

At least the warm bath—filled with some soothing bath salts that Ghost had gotten for him—did wonders to calm him down. He could no longer pick up on how thick and heavy his own scent was, and his body no longer felt heavy or achy.

The water was barely even lukewarm anymore by the time Soap stepped out of the bath, but at least he felt grounded as he waddled back into the bedroom. He had barely bothered to attempt drying himself off before collapsing into the freshly made nest. Ghost had fixed it up for him, something he seemed to view as yet another of his new daily tasks.

There was a new fox plushie he hadn't seen before neatly placed in one of the corners. If it was for Soap, or the pup once they arrived, he had no idea.

"Feeling better?" Ghost asked, pressing a kiss against Soap's shoulder.

"Much," Soap confirmed, groaning as he stretched out all his tired limbs before getting comfortable on his side. "Still thinking about that orgasm, though."

Ghost smiled, kissing his neck this time.

"Of course, Johnny."

Soon after getting pregnant, Soap had felt guilty about just lying there and making Ghost do all the work. So naturally, he had convinced Ghost to allow him to take charge instead, where he'd quickly realized—and been forced to accept—that his body could no longer handle everything he’d been able to do prior to getting pregnant. It didn't bend in all the right ways anymore, barely allowing him to handle his own weight, much less attempting to please his alpha.

Thankfully, Ghost didn't seem to mind taking on the added responsibility, so Soap no longer felt guilty about it.

Ghost lay down behind him, lazily kissing his neck. One of his hands rested on the swell of Soap's belly—it always seemed to, nowadays. The other dipped lower, wrapping around Soap's cock to give him slow, firm strokes. He was already wet, slick dripping from both his cock and his hole, coating the insides of his thighs, even though Ghost had barely touched him.

The hand on his belly moved up to grab one of his tits, giving it a light squeeze. Soap squirmed under his touch, his body already feeling the tinglings of arousal. It had been months since he'd last had a heat, as they didn't do much good when an omega was already pregnant, but Ghost's expert hands always made him feel like he was in the throes of heat again.

Soap sighed as Ghost's fingers slipped between his thighs, Soap spreading his legs as far apart as his belly would allow him. He was wet enough that Ghost could easily press two fingers inside him, his other hand continuing to massage and squeeze his pec.

Suddenly, the warmth of Ghost at his back was gone. Soap cracked an eye open, turning his head in an attempt to figure out what he was up to.

"Simon?"

Soap let out a dissatisfied little noise as Ghost's fingers were pulled out of him, the bed dipping as he moved around it. For a brief moment, Soap worried he'd had enough, that he was tired of taking care of his heavily pregnant omega.

But Ghost didn't leave their nest, he only moved around him, leaving them face-to-face.

Ghost didn't meet his eyes when Soap tried seeking them out. Instead, he seemed to be much more focused on something a bit further down.

Soap glanced down. Now that he thought about it, his chest did feel sticky, almost as if Ghost had come all over it, or as if he'd rubbed cooling slick all over him. But he hadn't, and the scent clouding him reminded him a lot more of… milk?

"Wha-"

Ghost attached his lips to one of his nipples before Soap could stop him. Soap let out a strangled whimper of the feeling of Ghost sucking as hard as he could, his body quickly giving in and delivering the treat he was hunting for.

Soap had—apparently—started producing milk a few weeks too early, and here Ghost was sucking it out of him like a man starved. And why did Soap like it?

"That's not for you," Soap pushed at him weakly. "Save some for the pup, yeah?"

Ghost pulled back enough to look up at him.

"There's plenty for both of us."

He dove back in for a second taste without another word. He was clearly excited, his hands rhythmically kneading at Soap's chest, as if he were a cat enjoying his milk. Who could have known a big, strong alpha like Ghost would be reduced to this with nothing but his omega's milk? Milk that was clearly not meant for him, but that didn't seem to deter him in the slightest.

"Simon," Soap gasped, his back arching at the intense and unfamiliar sensation. "It-They’re too sensitive."

Ghost pulled off him with a wet pop, lapping up some of the sticky milk with his tongue.

"Sorry. Tastes nice."

"Yeah, I could tell."

Ghost’s eyes were heavier than usual, as if he really had gotten drunk on his omega’s milk. He blinked a few times before he seemed to remember why they were in this position in the first place.

"Can you still lie on your back?"

"For short periods," Soap hummed.

"Good. This won't take long."

He helped Soap turn over onto his back, licking up a few spare droplets of milk from his nipple before sliding down his body.

"Better not."

Soap's head fell back against the nest as Ghost propped a pillow under his hips. It would undoubtedly be a sticky mess after he was done with him, but at least Soap wouldn't be the one doing the laundry.

Soap sighed as Ghost lapped up the slick coating his cock, making sure he was properly cleaned up before carefully moving Soap's thighs onto his shoulders. He kissed his way down Soap's cock, collecting some of the slick that had dripped all the way down his balls before sliding them against his hole. It had been ages since Ghost had fucked him, as he was still convinced that either Soap or the pup would be hurt if he did. But at least he didn't seem to think that his fingers or his tongue could do the same kind of damage.

Soap gripped onto his hair for dear life at the first touch of his tongue. So soft, yet firm, cleaning up the excess slick and replacing it with his own spit. Soap wasn't well-versed enough in the ins-and-outs of alpha anatomy to know what it was in their saliva that made him tingle so, but he did very much enjoy it. The warmth it brought, as if an alpha's saliva and an omega's slick simply were meant to mix.

Ghost's thumb played with the head of his cock, gently massaging it between two fingers. Soap wished he could see him, as he'd always liked seeing Ghost's thick, calloused fingers toy with his small omega cock, but his belly was far too big to allow him to see much of anything right now.

At least he could still feel all of it. Ghost's tongue pushed inside his hole, joined by two fingers that he expertly curled to stroke and prod against that one spot that had Soap seeing stars without fail.

It wasn't a knot, but the pregnancy had heightened Soap's senses and made him far more responsive to gentle touches like this, so it didn't take long until his body was tingling with the need for release.

"Simon-"

Milk trickled down his chest, leaving an even bigger mess behind. He'd definitely need a second bath before he could get comfortable for the night.

"Mmh?" Ghost hummed, tongue still buried deep inside him.

Soap's back arched as it could—which wasn't very much. The combination of Ghost's fingers still playing with his cock, and the ones inside him, stroking against his sweet spot, all while his ridiculously tingly tongue vibrated against his insides with every groan that left him, was too much to take.

Soap's grip on his hair tightened, until it surely had to hurt. But Ghost didn't complain. He was an alpha pleasing his omega, and to him, there was no better pleasure in life than feeling him fall apart beneath his touch.

Soap came with a broken cry, his body twitching in Ghost's grip. He instinctively attempted to close his thighs, squishing Ghost's head between them in the process. Ghost was more than strong enough to break free if he needed to, but he didn't, allowing Soap's trembling thighs to keep him locked in place until he'd come back down from his orgasm.

Soap's body slowly relaxed again, making him feel boneless as his thighs fell back open.

"S-Sorry."

"I wasn't complaining."

Soap cracked an eye open to look at him as Ghost sat up. His cheeks flushed bright red as Ghost licked his fingers clean, as if he could bear the thought of missing out on even a single drop of Soap's slick.

"Fuck," was all Soap managed to get out, his mind too jumbled to manage something more coherent.

"I'm not done with you yet, Johnny."

Soap couldn't help but grin as Ghost moved to straddle his chest, being careful not to put any pressure on his belly. He squeezed his pecs a few times, causing more milk to leak from his nipples, before pushing them together. Soap's face turned even redder, knowing what was coming.

"Hold them together for me, sweetheart?"

Soap did, squishing his pecs together as well as he could. He was certain he'd do anything, as long as Ghost called him 'sweetheart' when asking for it.

Ghost lined himself up, keeping his cock pressed down with one thumb as it slid between Soap's tits. He let out a deep groan at the sensation, his head dropping forward. Even though he'd come mere moments earlier, a spark of pleasure still shot through Soap's spine at the knowledge that he was making his alpha feel good.

"Yeah? That feel nice?"

Ghost answered him with another roll of his hips, his cock gliding back and forth between Soap's sticky pecs. Soap was still relaxed and twitching from his earlier orgasm, and sticky all over. It made him feel used, in the best way possible. Like Ghost could do whatever he wanted to him, Soap so utterly powerless beneath his alpha.

He pressed his tits together tighter, wanting to make Ghost feel good.

"Fucking hell, Johnny. You're leaking all over the place," Ghost groaned.

And he really was. Sticky milk mixed with precum was coating most of his chest, and from the way Ghost was thrusting away, it wouldn't be long until he was turned into even more of a mess.

Ghost looked disheveled, short hair damp with sweat where it stuck to his forehead. Lips parted as he panted for air, brows furrowed as he got closer and closer.

Soap couldn't help but smile up at him, something giddy and uncontrollable. When he'd first found out that he was pregnant, he'd worried that Ghost would no longer find him attractive, that he wouldn't want to touch him as much. As it turned out, he couldn't have been more wrong. Ghost seemed to want him even more, if that was somehow even possible.

"Go on," Soap urged him on. "Make a mess of me, Simon. Show everyone who put that pup in my belly."

Ghost's hips stuttered as he came with a deep growl, something more animal than human. Soap quickly closed his eyes when he felt cum shooting across his face. His tongue instinctively poked out to lap up anything he could reach.

The pressure on his chest eased when Ghost got off him, collapsing next to him in the nest.

Soap basked in the sense of calm that washed over him, all his irritation from the day having disappeared in an instant the second Ghost had gotten his hands on him. It was a good thing Ghost had stayed with him throughout his pregnancy, as Soap might have ended up blowing up a building or two if he hadn't had his alpha by his side to help him wind down.

"I think I might need another bath," Soap told him.

Ghost shifted onto his side, wiping some of the cum from Soap's cheek before kissing his temple.

"I'll draw one for us."

Soap smiled and nuzzled against his touch.

By the time Ghost had finished drawing the bath, he was already soundly asleep.

~~~~~~

Soap wasn't sure why he kept coming out here. Some kind of self-imposed torture, perhaps. As a punishment for allowing himself to get pregnant. Because why else would he sit on the sidelines and watch Ghost attempt to knock some sense into one of the older batches of recruits? Their forms had barely improved since Soap had been the one responsible for them a few months earlier, several of them still struggling to do twenty pushups without their arms giving out halfway.

One of them in particular had an especially terrible form. Soap remembered him well—a young alpha with a cocky attitude that in no way reflected how truly terrible he was at basic strength training. Back then, Soap had given him the benefit of the doubt, but it didn't seem like he had gotten much better.

There was no way he'd be able to continue working with them, but Ghost hadn't seemed to tell him that yet. Soap could feel himself growing annoyed just watching him struggling to keep up with the rest of the recruits.

As soon as they were all back on their feet, Ghost sent them to do three laps around the yard. He paused to make sure everyone had taken off before walking over to where Soap was sulking.

"That Simmons kid really isn't cut out for this," Soap told him.

"He's one hell of a shot. Price seems to think he still has potential." Ghost rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Maybe if this was his second week here. He hasn't improved his form in months."

"I'll talk to him," Ghost agreed. "Unless you want to do the honors?"

Soap snorted, his knee idly bounding up and down.

"Could you imagine the humiliation of getting chewed out by a pregnant omega in front of all your peers? The poor lad might actually kill himself. I'll just leave it to you."

"Noted," Ghost hummed. He looked up, keeping his eyes on the track as the first handful of recruits completed their first lap. He made sure everyone was well out of earshot before speaking again. "Any pain today? Symptoms the same as usual?"

"I'm not due for another three weeks," Soap reminded him.

"Just want to make sure." Gost kicked at the gravel on the ground as he pretended to pay attention to the last batch of recruits finishing their first lap.

"I promise I'll let you know when my water breaks," Soap said with a smile.

"You better."

Most recruits were now on the opposite part of the track. Ghost gave no warning before he turned Soap's way, pulling his mask up before pressing their lips together. Soap kissed him back eagerly, grinning when Ghost pulled his mask back down, far too early for his liking.

"What was that for?"

"It's hard to keep my hands off of you. If I had my way, you'd be pressed against my side always. I don't like it when you're too far away for me to scent."

Soap hummed and rubbed his cheek against Ghost's chest, subtly scenting him. Ghost rumbled, deep and content, somewhere in his throat.

While they weren't exactly hiding their relationship, they were also not open about it, apart from the handful of people who knew. It was easier that way. Safer.

"They're about to finish their second lap. Better get back there and pretend you've been watching," Soap said. Ghost gave him another quick kiss—through the mask, this time —before he was off.

At least Soap still had the privilege of getting to see him work. Ghost never had to yell or shout, barely ever raising his voice at all. He didn't need to, he was still so powerful, so commanding of everyone's attention and respect, even without it. Watching all that power being paraded around, watching other alphas show such obedience towards Soap’s alpha—it was spine-tingling. And slick-inducing, especially during days like this.

He should probably head back. The heat in his body from watching Ghost work was not quite enough to stave off the cold. Maybe Price had some papers for him to look over.

Everyone treated him differently, now that he was pregnant. Most people seemed hesitant to even speak to him, as if they no longer knew how to talk to him or treat him, purely because his belly was so obviously round with a pup. More often than not, they saw him as weaker because of it. As if they all wouldn't have doubled over and started weeping if they too had an additional six kilos strapped to their stomachs, constantly kicking away at their bladders.

At least Price and Gaz treated him with respect. While Soap hated not being able to work, Price made sure to hand him things to do to help him keep busy. Smaller tasks, but Soap still took them seriously. He needed to, to keep his fingers from itching.

"Got anything for me?"

Price looked up.

"Got a handful of receipts from a newly finished op that needs looking over and scanned onto our systems.”

Soap scrunched up his nose in distaste.

"Got something a bit more exciting?" he asked, tracing a finger along the many book spines on Price's shelf.

"How about an undercover mission, then?” Price said. “It involves climbing up the side of a skyscraper with minimal gear."

Soap turned to look at him with a pout.

"What, you're really sending someone out to do that?"

'Someone who isn't me?' he wanted to add.

"Possibly," Price hummed, ignoring Soap's dissatisfied whine. "Go get some rest, Soap."

Soap didn't want to. He was tired of resting, almost as tired as he was of needing the rest.

"Understood, Captain."

He tiptoed his way back to the barracks, seeking out the room he had been sharing with Ghost in the furthermost hallway ever since he'd found out he was pregnant. He paused by the door, dreading the fact that it would be empty for many hours to come, while Ghost kept on working.

Soap pushed the key into the keyhole, only to find that it wasn't locked. He paused, hesitating. He had been the last one to leave that morning. Maybe he had forgotten to lock it? Or maybe the pregnancy really was starting to mess with his brain?

Soap swallowed thickly before carefully pushing the door open. The hairs on the back of his neck immediately stood up. Someone had been in here. Someone who wasn't Ghost.

Their nest was in shambles. Ripped blankets, pillows thrown to the opposite side of the room, several plushies missing. Stolen.

Everything smelled weird, off, causing Soap to hesitate by the door. The scent of furious alpha was overpowering. Irritation, rage, and jealousy all mixing into one. Soap could feel himself growing weaker just being near it.

He quickly closed the door, panting in an attempt to take a proper breath. His hands trembled as he grabbed his phone to dial Ghost.

"Johnny?"

Fuck, Soap was so happy to hear his voice.

"S-Simon. I need help."

"Where are you?" Ghost asked, not missing a beat.

"Nest."

Or whatever was left of it, at least.

It wasn't a big deal. It shouldn't be a big deal. It was far from the first time that something had been moved or lost from his nest. Things like this happened, when you were constantly surrounded by alphas and omegas both.

But this was the nest Ghost had built for him. That he'd built for the two of them, and their pup. It was the one spot he could feel safe, cared for, looked after. And someone had desecrated it, and for what? Unregulated alpha hormones? Jealousy? Hatred?

Soap was distantly aware that Ghost was there with him. That he was talking to him, caressing his hair, trying to figure out what had happened, why he was sitting on the floor outside their room.

Soap couldn't speak, but the half-open door and the mess that lay past it was explanation enough. Ghost left his side just long enough to do a lap around the room, Soap feeling oddly distant as he watched him scent the air, picking up one of the discarded plushies off the ground. The one Ghost had gotten for him just a few days ago, Soap realized.

"You're alright," Ghost reassured him. Soap blinked, startled by the hand in his hair, before his brain recognized it to be safe, leaning into the touch. "I'll fix it, and we'll catch the person responsible."

Soap nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

A blanket was wrapped around his shoulders. Scentless, apart from the familiarity of their laundry detergent, which made him relax a little.

"It was in the closet. He hasn't touched it." Ghost hesitated, seemingly feeling as lost as Soap himself did. "Do you want to go be with Gaz while I sort this out? It might get ugly."

Soap shook his head. He refused to let the culprit get away with this. He wanted to make sure he got what he deserved—he wanted to hurt him.

"No. I'm coming with you."

It took only half an hour and a handful of calls for Ghost to have everything fixed up. Soap had spent the majority of it in the fancy chair in the corner of Price's office, the one his ass was usually not even allowed to be near. He must have looked a complete mess for Price to allow him to snuggle up in it, along with the scentless blanket.

Ghost had the offender scruffed when he dragged him into the office, the young alpha's feet barely touching the ground. David Simmons looked a lot more meek now that he had been caught, as opposed to his usual cocky attitude.

He didn't even look at Soap, much more focused on Price and Ghost, as if they, and they only, would be deciding his fate.

"Sit," Ghost said sharply, pushing Simmons into the uncomfortable chair in front of Price's desk when he didn't immediately do as he was told. Soap glared at the side of his head unblinkingly. He could smell it on him. Not only the slowly dwindling rage, and the shame, but also his nest. That he had been in, that he had destroyed, that he had taken from.

Soap bared his teeth, but didn't make a sound just yet.

"So?" Price prompted, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back in his chair. Simmons was surrounded, with Ghost blocking his only exit. It was talk, or leave in tiny pieces in several body bags. Soap knew which option he'd prefer.

"I lost control, that's all," Simmons said, as if that explained it. When nobody in the room said a word, he fidgeted uncomfortably. "I was…angry. After training this morning, Lieutenant Riley told me that I wasn't up to par, that I'd not be allowed to keep working here any longer."

There was another flash of anger in his scent, sharp and acrid. Just how unstable was this kid?

"Only twenty percent of the recruits that start working with us end up getting permanent employment," Price hummed. "What makes you think you deserve to be among them?"

"I'm the best shot in my group," Simmons said, head held high with pride. "Nothing I've done has been an issue, until this morning." Simmons glanced over at Soap, the first time he'd even acknowledged that he was there. "The omega was there. I believe he convinced Lieutenant Riley that I should be let go. So I lost my temper, a little bit."

The omega. As if Soap hadn't been the one training him only a few months ago. As if he hadn't been on his ass several times, when Simmons couldn't keep up with the others. As if he hadn't already gotten several warnings, that he had chosen to ignore, because his ego was just that big.

"Is that so?" Price asked. Simmons probably completely missed out on the dangerous glint in his eyes as he smiled humorlessly at him. "And why would you think that?"

Simmons chuckled to himself.

"You know how those omegas can get, don't you, Captain? Especially so when they've gotten themselves knocked up. All catty, like to play mind games with alphas since they know they'll get away with it."

A growl left Soap's throat, too low for Simmons to overhear. Ghost had slowly started pacing back and forth by the door, his eyes locked on Simmons the entire time. A predator circling its prey, keeping it in its line of sight at all times.

"And you still feel that your reaction was fair?" Price asked, waiting for Simmons to nod before continuing. "You felt it was justified for you to break into your superiors’ private living space and vandalise it?"

Simmons seemed to hesitate, now that it was slowly becoming more and more clear that Price was not on his side. He glanced over at Ghost, as if to look for support there, but Ghost’s dark gaze locked on him quickly had him looking away again.

"It was just a nest," Simmons argued. "It's not a big deal, omegas get their nests rummaged through all the time. That's just life. It's not like I hurt anyone."

Soap searched out Ghost's eyes from across the room. His pupils were tiny pinpricks, making it clear he was close to doing something rash and stupid. Not that he was the only one with the urge to.

Soap jerked his head to the side, signaling him to come over. Ghost was by his side in a heartbeat.

"Help me up, would you, sweetie?"

That quickly caught Simmons' attention.

For the first time, he really looked at Soap. Something akin to uncertainty in his eyes, turning more fearful once they turned towards Ghost. How ironic, that he thought he was cut out for this line of work, when he hadn't even noticed that his current and his previous commanding officer were mated and about to have a pup together.

"Why?" Ghost asked, bringing Soap’s attention back to him.

"I just want to kick him in the knot. That's all."

Ghost let out an amused sound, his lips no doubt twitching beneath the mask.

"Don't want you hurting yourself."

Logically, Soap knew that he was right. He was in no shape to start a fight, even with a worthless recruit like Simmons. He hated feeling so trapped in his own body, so useless. Under normal circumstances, he'd have thrown Simmons over Price's desk and wrestled him to the ground without a second thought. This was the person who had broken into his safe haven. Who had ruined his nest, who had destroyed his only place of comfort. Soap wanted him hurting.

"He'll be thoroughly punished, Soap," Price reassured him.

"He better be."

But Soap wanted to be the one to do the punishing. He wanted Simmons to remember this moment, to regret it for the rest of his life. Soap needed him to never mess with another omega again.

"Can I go?" Simmons asked, clearly itching to get the hell out of there.

"For now," Price said. "I expect you to be packed up and ready to leave in two hours."

Simmons looked like he wanted to argue, but seemed to think better of it. He only gave a curt nod before standing. His eyes, filled with hate and contempt, fell on Soap as he walked past.

In a split second, Soap made the decision that the risk was worth the reward, and kicked a leg out, successfully causing Simmons to trip over it. He immediately decided it was worth it, if only for the sickening crunch as Simmons broke his stupid nose against the floor.

"Let's go, Simon," Soap said, holding out a hand and waiting until Ghost had helped him onto his feet. They were done here, and Ghost seemed to agree. A not-so-gentle kick against his ribs was all that was needed to get Simmons to turn onto his back, leaving the way to the door open for them.

"Lovely chat," Soap said, hovering by the doorway. "Talk to you later, Price."

Price only raised a hand at him, sighing at the mess left behind in his office.

"Don't let him do anything stupid, Ghost."

"I'll keep an eye on him."

And he did. Soap could barely move a muscle without feeling Ghost's gaze on him. Silently assessing him.

"I'm fine," Soap told him, mostly because he felt like he should. He walked as fast as his baby bump would allow him. He might not have a nest to go back to, but he still wanted to get to somewhere private.

Ghost didn't speak. He only held the door open for him once they were back outside their room. Soap hesitated for a moment. The last time he'd set foot in there, he'd been overwhelmed seeing his ruined nest, and Simmons's stupid alpha scent clouding the room. He didn't want that to happen again.

"The window's been left open, most of his scent should be gone," Ghost said, as if he had read his mind. "I've already sent everything he touched off to laundry, and I've borrowed some fresh stuff from commissary to use until we get everything back. Everything's fine."

Soap allowed himself to be led inside and over to the office chair next to the desk. He scented the air thoroughly. Ghost had been right. He could no longer smell Simmons, but the room also had an eerie lack of both his and Ghost's scents as well.

"Fuckin' freak, that guy," Soap muttered under his breath. He watched Ghost walk up to the painfully empty bed, starting the nest off by laying down several layers of the blankets he’d borrowed from commissary.

"Price'll make sure he never works again," Ghost reassured him. He rummaged through one of the large bags until he'd picked up several pillows. "I'll keep an eye on him."

Soap hummed, watching as Ghost prepared their nest, just the way he knew Soap liked it.

"Still. He deserved to be castrated. Or de-knotted. I'm not picky."

Ghost glanced over at him, something inquisitive in his eyes.

"I'm kidding," Soap quickly clarified. "He's not worth being court martialed over."

"That implies I’d get caught," Ghost hummed.

Soap's lips twitched, his lower abdomen heating up at the implications that Ghost was more than ready to mutilate someone for him. For something so lowly as ruining his omega's nest, and insulting him to his face.

"You've gotten really good at that," Soap said instead, nodding towards the neat nest Ghost was fixing up for them. He smiled at the spike of pride in Ghost's scent. He was a good caretaker—it was one of the reasons Soap had felt like he could settle down and have a pup with him.

"Ready to give it a try?" Ghost asked, offering him a hand. Soap took it, giving it a tight squeeze as Ghost helped him stand and get into the nest.

Soap got himself as comfortable as he could manage. He missed their combined scents, he missed his favorite pillow. The nest felt sterile, reminding him of the ones put in heatrooms, rather than something that was his home.

"It's… different," he said. "I just hate that he ruined it. It feels violating, almost."

Ghost got in right behind him, pressing kisses against the back of his neck.

"Everything should be back tomorrow," he reminded him. "And then we can spend the entire weekend making sure everything is covered in our scents. Deal?"

Soap smiled, turning his head to press a kiss against Ghost's cheek.

"Deal."

~~~~~~

Soap's plan had been to tail Ghost as he worked. Unfortunately, Ghost's plan seemed to similarly be to follow Soap around like a lovesick puppy. He'd been this way for the last few days, as if his brain couldn't focus on anything other than his heavily pregnant omega.

Price hadn't seemed too worried about them, reassuring Soap that it was normal with a knowing smile.

"Don't wander off too far from base," he warned Soap. "It might be time soon."

"I'm not due for another two weeks," Soap argued.

"Ghost's behavior tells a different story," Price said, nodding towards the alpha, who was diligently sniffing the side of Soap's neck.

Soap's cheeks flushed. Up until this point, they'd managed to stay on the down-low, most people not even realizing they were mated. But when Ghost was glued to his side at all hours of the day, his nose spending most of its time buried in either Soap's hair or his neck? It'd be a miracle if the entire building didn't know exactly who had knocked Soap up.

"And here I was thinking about going water skiing," Soap said.

"Go rest," Price said, voice gentler than usual. "That goes for you too, Simon. I don't want to see you working for at least a month. Got it?"

Soap was expecting Ghost to fight back, to reassure Price that he could still do some good around the base.

"Understood," was all Ghost said.

Soap allowed himself to be led out of the office, Ghost practically herding him down the hallway.

"What's going on with you?" he asked as Ghost nuzzled the back of his head. The poor recruit who walked past them nearly tripped over her own feet. "It's almost like you're drunk."

"You smell really good," Ghost rumbled, the deep baritone of his voice causing Soap to tremble. "Not quite like you're in heat, but it’s similar. I wish I could put you in our nest and keep you there forever."

"That's kidnapping," Soap smiled, gently slapping at his shoulder when Ghost nearly steered them both straight into a wall. "Careful. You're starting to remind me of the last time we were in Caracas. When you lost so much blood you got all loopy, and when the helo landed, we had to—"

Soap stopped dead in his tracks.

"Had to what, Johnny?"

"I think my water just broke."

Ghost stared right back, the hallway dead silent.

"You're not due for another two weeks." Ghost repeated Soap's words from earlier, as if that would somehow fix things.

"I think it's a bit too late for that." Soap was full-on panicking now. Was he really ready for this? Being pregnant was one thing, but giving birth was something completely different.

Ghost took his hand, squeezing it tightly in his own. He already had his phone between his ear and his shoulder.

"Everything's gonna be alright, Johnny. I'm calling the nurse, they know you're expected to give birth soon."

"Oh god," was seemingly the only thing Soap could say.

"Can you walk? Or do you want me to carry you? The nurse's station isn't far."

"Our pup's gonna be a Capricorn," Soap sobbed.

His memory after that was flaky at best. He remembered dizziness, and pain, people talking to him and attempting to soothe him, and more pain. Pain he tried his best to transfer onto Ghost by squeezing his hand tightly enough for his bones to creak.

This was all his fault. He did this to him. Stupid alphas, with their strong fucking alpha-genes, and their dumb fucking knots. This had been a terrible idea. He should have listened to Gaz, and found himself a nice beta to settle down with. Then none of this would be happening, then he wouldn't feel like someone was attempting to split him in two with a knife.

This was a terrible idea, this was the worst idea he'd ever had. Was it too late for a C-section? Was anyone doing experiments to figure out a way to make alphas carry the pups instead, like sea horses did? Because if nobody was, they should.

"I don't know about that, Mr. MacTavish, but a C-section is out of the question," one of the nurses told him. "Just one more push and she'll be out."

"S-she?"

It was a girl. He was about to have a girl. Simon had given him a baby girl.

Nothingness had ever felt so blissful before.

His hearing and sensations came back slowly and one by one. Someone crying loudly, someone caressing his forehead, a needle in his spine keeping him pumped up on the good stuff.

"You did it," a familiar voice said somewhere nearby. There was a kiss against the top of his head, a hand stroking his sweat-damp hair away from his forehead. Soap felt sticky all over. Had he been crying? "Are you ready to meet Victoria?"

Soap managed a nod. The rest of the room fell silent as the small pup—their small pup—now bundled up in a blanket, was gently placed into his arms.

The pain was no longer there. All of it, however many hours it had been, was worth it. Because it had given him her.

"She's beautiful," Soap whispered. Her hair was dark brown like his, nearly matching her eyes, which she had gotten from Simon. Soap could feel himself tear up. They had a pup together. A pup.

Soap let the tears fall freely as he looked down at Victoria. She was so small, so precious. He'd do anything to keep her safe and happy.

Ghost wrapped his arms around them both, whispering sweet nothings to Soap. About how well he had done, how proud he was of him. How happy he was that Soap gave them their girl. How happy he was to finally get to meet her.

The hospital bed was far too small to comfortably fit two fully grown men and their pup, but they managed.