Archive of Our Own ^beta

"You wanna get out of here or not?"

Agatha looked over her shoulder, then back up to the alpha scaling the fence ahead of her. Of course she wanted to get out of here, wanted to leave this place as far behind as she could as quickly as possible. She wanted to go...

Well, not home, but to somewhere like that. Like what people said home was supposed to be.

Hopping back down from the fence, Rio took Agatha's hand.

"I'm not gonna leave you here. Hell, if I could crash this fence down and get everyone out, I would. For now, though, it's you and me. Are we doing this?"

Rio Vidal's hand was warm and rough, her scent calming. She made Agatha feel safe. It was such a strange sensation. This was one of the few times in her life that Agatha had felt there was someone in the world who was not out to get her.

"Let's go," she said.

As they scrambled over the fence, Agatha glanced back again at the camp. Maybe they could not bring this fence down on their own, but she hoped, back out in the world, that they might find someone willing to help them at least cut some gaps.

On the third day, it seemed like they might be safe enough to head toward the road and risk hitchhiking. Rio knew it could be a stupid idea, but she was strong for her age and size, and she knew she could protect them both if she had to. Besides, one of the items she had stolen was the camp director's hunting knife. If worse came to worse...

Well, she had defended herself with violence before.

The first ride they hitched was with a tweaky, scrawny guy called Ralph. He drove them six hours, not once questioning where they were from or why they looked a mess, and then he dropped them off at a motel and gave them some cash.

"Whatever's up," he said, "just lay low here a while, okay?"

He gave them his contact information and told them to reach out if they needed help, then just left. Rio went in and paid for four nights, not reacting when the desk clerk looked askance at her dirty appearance.

First thing, as soon as they got to the room, they took turns showering. Truthfully, Rio would have been interested in them maybe showering together, but she did not want to scare Agatha or something. Despite all the macho stuff that had been foisted on her by a predominantly alpha family, Rio never wanted to make an omega uncomfortable, especially not one as beautiful as Agatha Harkness.

The only downside was that Lilia made Agatha and Rio sleep in separate rooms. It had gotten to be solid habit during their escape to share the same space, to wake up curled around each other like sleeping pups, and Agatha knew already she would miss that. At first she thought Lilia separated them purely due to their differing designations, but when she started feeling crampy and unwell on the second day there, she understood more clearly. Her godmother had sensed her going into heat and had wanted, no doubt, to avoid any little problems.

Still, late on the third night of Agatha's heat, Rio showed up at her bedroom door, a packet of condoms in hand.

"Want help?" the alpha offered, blushing.

Agatha had practically dragged her into the room. After they were done, they both admitted that it had been their first time with anyone. Rio had been really sweet, just holding Agatha and rubbing her back.

"I'm glad it was you," Agatha whispered.

"I... I'm glad too," Rio said.

Within a year, the camp was shut down, and the media treated it mostly as a victory. It truly was a victory, but both Rio and Agatha knew there were other camps, other places where "troubled teens" were being sent to break their will for all sorts of reasons. They both knew they wanted to stop it, to prevent others from suffering.

At some point, their media coverage skewed a little from covering them as simply abused survivors to covering them as a couple. They were not, at least not officially, though they had continued to spend a lot of time together, even as they both went off to different post-secondary schools. Eventually, though, they were both busy with school and life, and they drifted apart a little. They stayed in touch, but it became more rare as the years passed, until eventually, one of them happened to get a new phone number and did not inform the other.

They went on with their lives.

"Okay, can we... Yeah, just put that over there, okay? Just between those tables. Great."

Rio strode toward the stage at the back of the ballroom and hopped up onto the apron. There were several technicians around, loading in some of the equipment for the band, arranging and rearranging cables, testing mics. Everything so far was going swimmingly, but Rio still felt anxious.

She always felt anxious at these big events. In the last few years she had gotten more used to them, and had begun to recognize them as an important part of her work, but still, she had never been good with crowds. She was especially bad with crowds of people who were present less because of a real desire to help and more as a matter of see-and-be-seen hobnobbing.

"Boss, calm down."

Looking over, Rio saw Scott approaching. The gamma was smirking slightly, hand to his nose. Rio knew she must reek overwhelmingly of stress.

"I'm fuckin' calm, Summers."

"Are ya, Vidal? Are ya calm?"

"I'm calm."

Laughing, the two old friends hugged it out for a moment. Rio took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

"No, but really," Scott said, "chill a little. It's a fundraiser, not a military operation."

"It's a majorly important fundraiser. Representative Rogers will be here. Judge Murdock. People who really can try to make the changes we wanna see in the world."

"Representative Rogers. Isn't his alpha..."

"Yup. Barnes was actually at the same camp I broke out of, but several years before."

"Oh, then we're definitely gonna get Rogers on board."

"What I'm hoping."

They stood there, overseeing the work, until Scott cleared his throat.

"So, you bringing a date tonight, or stagging it like usual?"

"Stag. I kinda like just being on my own," Rio nodded.

"You sure about that? I mean, plenty of girls would give anything to date you even for one night."

"Eh. Not my thing. Maybe some people are down with trotting out the arm candy, but if I ever start seeing someone, it'll be with full intent of settling down."

"Mm-hmm. Well, for what it's worth, I was double checking stuff and it seems like someone you might be quite interested in is gonna be here tonight."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Ya know Darkholme/Adler?"

"Hell yeah. They were the ones to publish that history of the experiments and sterilizations at some of the alpha-focused TTI places, right? Done a lot of survivor memoirs as well, if I recall."

"That's them. They're sending one of their up-and-coming editors who's championed quite a number of those memoirs in the last couple years."

"Who?"

"Don't know if you've heard of her," Scott said, an edge of sarcasm in his voice.
"Agatha Harkness."

Rio's posture shifted slightly at the name. She found herself glad she was wearing loose, casual cargo pants at the moment, because her posture was far from the only thing to stiffen at the memory of the person she had fled the camp with. The first omega she had ever felt real interest for. The woman who, for the last few years of her teens, she had dreamed of making her mate.

"You okay, boss?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, I... I just haven't heard that name in a while. Agatha. Huh. Well, might be good to see her again."

"I can always talk to Wade and see that she's seated at a table near yours."

"Nah. Nah, I'll... I'm sure we'll find each other while mingling."

Stepping away, Rio jumped down from the edge of the stage.

"I gotta run home for a couple of hours and start to get ready," she called, slinging on her jacket, "so can you take over this stuff?"

"I got it in the bag, boss. No problem."

"Thanks, man."

As she left the ballroom and headed for the eastern service entrance of the hotel, Rio grunted and thought of slipping into a bathroom first to handle the problem between her legs. The thought of Agatha brought up the memory of their escape, all those nights falling asleep close together in the woods or in seedy motel rooms. That, in turn, brought up the memory of being at Agatha's godmother's house and helping Agatha through her heat. Then there were all the times they hooked up in college. They really had chemistry, but Rio had spent years relegating all of that to the young-and-horny file in her brain.

She skipped the bathroom and headed straight outside. A little discomfort would do her good. Teach her some discipline. Sliding behind the wheel of her car, she puffed out a heavy breath and headed home.

By the time she actually reached her apartment, she had brushed the memories away enough to feel a lot less constricted. Flumping down into her favorite battered armchair for a moment, she let her head loll back and tried to think of anything she might have forgotten tonight. Anything that might be missing. She knew, of course, that if she had missed anything, which she almost never did, then the team would have caught it.

Her thoughts drifted, as occasionally they had over the years, to Agatha. Thinking of the omega was not purely a sexual thing. They had been great friends for a few years. They got along thanks to their shared experience and a similar general outlook on life. Thanks to a lifetime of abuse even before her presentation Agatha, at least when they were young, had often felt embarrassed, even ashamed, about her omega status. Rio, in an odd way, had felt shame over being an alpha, primarily due to the judgement it could entail about behavior. A lot of people assumed she had ended up at the camp because she was some sort of juvenile delinquent, rather than because of a shitty stepdad who simply did not like Rio defending her dad and younger siblings from him.

Thinking of Agatha again, Rio remembered one of the last times they had been intimate. Early in their second year of college, Agatha had been down to visit Rio. Her heat hit about a week early, and Rio had been willing, as always, to help her through. At some point, a condom broke, and they both panicked. Rio had managed to pull out quickly, but an abundance of caution led them to go get a morning after pill.

Rio had almost wished at the time that maybe they could just be together and start a family, and had immediately felt guilt over that wish. She had known, given certain societal expectations, that if Agatha got pregnant, there would be pressure on the omega to drop out of college and just be a housewife. That would be the last thing Agatha would have wanted then. Rio would not have wanted that for Agatha either. A big part of the draw she felt to Agatha Harkness was the sense of intensity, the drive to succeed and go further in the world than many might typically expect of an omega. It was a beautiful, sparkling aspect of what made Agatha so very Agatha.

There was a photo hanging on the far wall of the living room, a portrait of Agatha and Rio taken the day after Agatha turned 18 and they were both officially free. Staring at it, Rio sighed. She wished they had never lost touch.

Her phone beeped, an alarm telling her that now was the time to start getting ready. Pushing herself up out of the chair, Rio slumped off toward the bathroom to shower.

"I cannot believe they talked me into going to this thing," Agatha muttered.

"Oh, c'mon, Ag. It's a good cause. One near and dear to your heart."

"Sure, but I'm only being sent because they know the publicity it'll bring. I'll be expected to mingle and mix and..."

Agatha actually felt herself retch.

"Make small talk," she finished.

"Is being sociable so bad?" Wanda asked.

"It is when all people end up wanting to talk about is the torture camp you lived in for a year when you were a teenager."

"Your story is inspiring for a lot of people, Agatha. Even romantic. I mean, you broke out of that place, just you and your alpha..."

"Rio Vidal is not my alpha. We were just two kids who made friends and busted out of there together."

"Mm-hmm. Two kids who made friends and busted out of there and who, if I'm remembering our college days correctly, certainly used to..."

"Oh come on, Wanda. So Rio was a sweet, caring sort who didn't mind fucking me through an occasional heat. So I helped her get through one tough rut. We were basically fuck buddies on that end of things."

"Sure, sure. Say, isn't the group throwing this whole shindig Vidal's?"

"It is. I'm sure that's another reason I'm being sent. They're hoping we'll have some big, soppy reunion that'll get good press."

"Well what if you do?" Wanda cooed.

"Oh, please. Rio Vidal... Well, sure, I won't mind seeing her again but, fuck, I'm sure things would be very different between us now. We're actually adults. Like adult-adults. People change."

"What if you're meant to be, Agatha? What if Rio is your one true..."

"Wanda, if you're gonna rattle on like a lovestruck goof who believes in fairy tales, go and tell it to your kids. People are people, and life is life. If you meet someone and you fall in love that's great, but there's no predestination. No greater plan. It's all just whatever."

Sitting on the end of her bed, Agatha started to pull on her stockings. Wanda shook her head.

"Fine, fine. Ignore romance. I'm gonna go make out with my hot husband, and you can just go and be annoyed all through this gala thing and then come back to your lonely apartment and be alone."

As Wanda left, Agatha shook her head, wondering why she remained friends with her old college roommate. Sure, they still lived near each other, and they had helped each other out of more than a few scrapes over the years, but Wanda was sentimental and silly sometimes. Agatha, meanwhile, was a realist.

Or, as she knew some people called her, a downright bitch.

She chalked most of it up to her childhood. Growing up under the angry, watchful, judgemental gaze of Evanora Harkness could squeeze the idealism and thoughts of romance out of anyone. Agatha figured it was like all the abuse had burned out some part of her brain.

Still, the thought of maybe seeing Rio tonight, maybe having a chance to reconnect, sent a thrill through her. She told herself it was just the desire to see her old friend again, but she knew there was more. Rio was a reasonably public figure, often appearing on the news and talk shows. Agatha had been able to keep up with her over the years and had felt a sense of pride over Rio's devoted activism. Beyond the pride, the part of her that had been attracted to Rio since the moment they met was always pleased to see that the alpha had only grown more gorgeous over the years.

There had been a time when, as a teenager with perhaps a shred of a romantic nature remaining, she had wanted Rio Vidal to be not only her first lover, but her mate. Rio, who was so sweet, so gentle compared to the stereotypical image of an alpha, who always seemed to care about her for her and not simply for reasons of lust or attraction.

But things had changed. She had grown up. They had drifted apart, as people often did. And if sometimes, in the throes of heat, Agatha imagined Rio with her, on top of her, inside of her, well, no one had to know. No one at all had to know that she only half-jokingly called the special toy she kept tucked away in the dresser for such occasions "Rio." No one had to know that most of her fantasies in general, many of her erotic dreams, featured the charming, compassionate, slightly silly alpha.

Shaking her head to clear the sudden sensation of cobwebs in her brain, Agatha stood and went to pull her dress from the closet. It was a simple off-the-shoulder number. Purple, a perhaps slightly daring slit that ran nearly to the top of the left thigh, but nothing that would draw undue attention.

As she struggled the zipper up the back, she wished she had not driven Wanda off quite so quickly.

'Or, if you had a nice, strong, caring alpha around to help you...' she thought, and actually cackled at the idea.

Agatha had worked too hard in this life to get where she was. No way she was going to let herself fall into some helpless way of thinking. Even if a day came when she did meet someone she might consider spending the rest of her life with, it would be on the understanding that she was still entirely her own person and would not bend to the whims of an allegedly superior mate.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She needed to touch up her makeup just a little, and finish her hair, but so far she looked very good. More than presentable. The bosses would be pleased if she did get some press, so long as said press mentioned her place of employment.

Rushing through the last few little details of getting ready, she sighed and pulled on her shoes last. High heels were her avowed enemy, and yet she wore them because it was expected in certain situations. It was the done thing.

"Barefoot and pregnant might not be so bad if I never had to wear these damn things again," she grumbled, grabbing her coat and purse as she headed out.

The joint was, as they say, jumpin'. At least as jumpin' as a gala fundraiser in a swank hotel ballroom packed primarily with a lot of ridiculously well-off people looking to cleanse their own soul-deep guilt by making minimal donations to a good cause while also networking with their wealth-burdened fellows could be.

"Wade, am I a judgmental prick if I can't stand a lot of these people?" Rio asked.

"If I answer right," Wade said, "what are the odds of me seeing your pr..."

"Shut it, Wilson."

"Shutting it, boss."

Rio chuckled and headed over to the bar. Despite his desperation to get her into his pants, she kept Wade around. He had an unerring ability to say what needed to be said, be that through speaking truth to power or shaking her out of her own navel-gazing with an inappropriate comment. He was sort of the court jester, really, and he had a knack for organization in certain scenarios.

There was quite a crowd at the bar and so Rio stood back, hands in pockets, waiting. She distracted herself, rocking up onto the balls of her feet, then back down, studying the faint, almost imperceptible black-to-green color shift of her suit as she moved. The rocking was old, old habit, and the suit had been tailor-made to work with it, to give her something further to play into the habit when she was particularly bored at events like this.

A scent hit her, subtle but familiar, and it froze her in place for a second. Lilac-honeysuckle with a just-perceptible hint of orange zest.

"Still doing rock-a-bye?" someone said.

Turning quickly, Rio could not stop the grin that broke across her face.

"Agatha?"

"Rio. It's been too long."

Agatha looked stunning, and from her bearing, she knew it. Gone was the look of a girl always ready to flinch away from any mirror.

"Almost seven years, right?"

"Just about," Agatha nodded.

"Well it's great to see you. Is it all right if... Could I... Hug you?"

"Of course! C'mere, silly."

Agatha's hug was, just as Rio recalled, warm and intimate. Rio felt herself almost melt into the closeness, letting her face turn toward the side of Agatha's neck.

"Missed you," she sighed.

"Oh, I've missed you too," Agatha said, one hand coming up to cradle the back of Rio's head.

For a moment, Rio forgot where they were. All that mattered was having Agatha in her arms, and being in Agatha's arms, feeling safe and sheltered. Without a thought, Rio pressed a small kiss to the side of Agatha's neck. It was an old intimacy from when they were younger and it got just the reaction Rio remembered: Agatha tensed for an instant, then whimpered and relaxed even more against Rio.

Immediately, the alpha realized she had done the wrong thing, and she pulled out of the hug, holding on to Agatha's upper arms.

"I'm sorry, I... I wasn't... I... Agatha, forgive me."

Somehow, there was forgiveness in the omega's eyes, and a familiar tenderness in her expression.

"It's okay. Just... You were thinking of old times, I'm sure."

"Let me get you a drink. Or... Oh, God, I'm a fucking heel. Are you here with anyone? Do you..."

"I'm unattached. And I'd love a drink. An old fashioned, if they can swing that."

Rio felt herself smiling again.

"Coming right up."

Turning back to the bar, Rio saw that some of the crowd had cleared away. She squeezed past a few people and caught the eye of one of the bartenders.

"Two old fashioneds, please."

As she stood there waiting, someone jostled her, and she whipped around, feeling unaccountably stirred up.

"Sorry," the other alpha said.

Rio knew him from a single meeting almost a decade before, and from his frequent press photos.

"Mr. Barnes. How are you?"

"I'm good. For now I'm good."

"Is Representative Rogers..."

"Steve's at a table over there."

James Barnes waved his arm vaguely across the room. Rio spotted the table he probably meant, crowded around with people no doubt trying to gladhand the legislator.

"Ah. Any chance I could talk to him at some point?"

"Shouldn't be too difficult," Barnes nodded.
"He'll probably be sitting there most of the evening. Really he should be at home, staying off his feet altogether right now, but he insisted on turning up. Your organization... Well, the causes you support are near and dear to our hearts."

Rio nodded and offered a tight smile.

"Well, we appreciate your attendance," she said, "and hopefully we'll be able to work together toward furthering mutual goals."

Turning back to the bar, Rio sighed lightly. She was always on edge, nights like these, and for now she was more anxious than usual. Her error moments before with Agatha was weighing on her.

'But she wasn't angry at me. She said it was okay. Still, it was shitty of me. Have to think. Have to always focus.'

The bartender passed along the drinks and Rio grabbed them carefully, turning and easing back through the deepening crowd near the bar. As she breached the mass, she saw Agatha still in the same spot, waiting for her. Well, waiting for the drink, really.

"One old fashioned for m'lady," Rio said.

"Oh, Rio, you haven't changed."

"Haven't I?"

"Not where it counts," Agatha said, reaching out and briefly running two fingers along the left lapel of Rio's jacket.

Humming a little under her breath, Rio raised her glass.

"Well, here's to not losing touch again, eh?"

"To not losing touch," Agatha repeated.

It was difficult not to stare at Agatha. She was still so much the same, and yet the little passage of time had touched her in wonderful ways. Her face was still soft, but with a new hint of regal definition. Her hair, still rich, dark chestnut, looked like it might be deliciously longer, if it were down, than it had been at their last meeting. Her complexion was still quite pale, though it seemed less waxen and more luminous by now.

"You look lovely," Rio breathed.

"So do you."

Rio blushed, taking a rushed sip of her drink and then nearly coughing. Agatha again reached out, clutching Rio's forearm.

"Easy there. You always were bad with booze."

"Oh, I've gotten better. Bet I could drink your godmother under the table now."

"I doubt that. Lilia's still as reliable as ever when it comes to clearing out a liquor cabinet."

"She's doing well?"

"She is. She's retired out to Carmel-by-the-Sea with a bevy of dashing young lovers."

"Ah. Living the high life, then."

"From what I hear, the very high life."

"Hmm. And what about you, Agatha. You said you're unattached..."

"Oh, yes. Far too busy with work to even think about any of that."

"You work at Darkholme/Adler, yes?"

"Mm-hmm. Editor. You've probably read some books I've pushed through, given the nature of your work."

"I'm almost certain I have."

"I've followed the work you do, by the way. I admire how much you work for so many good causes. All the old stuff, of course, but I've seen things about that new program you're starting lately, about designation tolerance."

Rio nodded and smiled.

"Ah, yeah. Very proud of that one. If we can get a start really teaching the young generations that there's more to people than their designation, maybe we can finally clear out some of the old bullshit, ya know?"

"So I take it you're still not one of those old-line traditionalist alphas?"

"Why would I ever be?" Rio frowned.

"Oh, I don't know. Guess I've heard of one too many good people who... Well, whose goodness was really only public facing."

"That's not me. I have no interest in all that trad-shit. People are people, all with their own views and thoughts and abilities. If we recognize people's full strengths and don't relegate them to outdated roles based on designation, we can make everything better for everyone."

There was a small, soft smile on Agatha's face; the expression made Rio feel pleasantly warm.

"You're quite inspiring when you're fired up about your beliefs," Agatha said.
"If I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd almost expect you to be headed for a career in politics or something."

"Oh, I'm not very good at those sorts of advanced games. I just do what I can."

"Uh, boss?"

Glancing over, Rio saw Wade and Scott headed over.

"What's up, guys?"

"There's a bit of an incident," Scott said.
"Representative Rogers..."

"He all right?"

"Well, we already called an ambulance. Seems like he's in early labor."

"Shit! Did you..."

"We had Jean accompany him and Mr. Barnes out to the lobby. There's a flow of donors sort of... Exiting in their wake, though. Maybe if you'd take the stage for a second? Sort of calm everyone down?"

Grunting, Rio handed her drink to Wade and looked back to Agatha.

"I'm sorry, I gotta..."

"Onward my brave little soldier," Agatha teased, "and give 'em hell."

Feeling a bit lighter, Rio smiled and made her way toward the stage.

Agatha had really hoped finding Rio as quickly as possible and maybe sticking close to her most of the evening would be a viable way to avoid mingling. Of course, when Rio had fallen quickly into their familiar old pattern, kissing her so close to her scent gland, the small part of her mind she tried to keep cordoned off had lit up like a massive bonfire.

'Mate? Mate. Mate!'

For a moment, she had allowed herself to give in, to rest pliant against Rio and to hope that perhaps something might happen. But then Rio had been the one to pull away, to get that panicky glaze of fear in her eyes, and Agatha's attitude had turned to soothing, calming. She had reassured Rio, and she had meant it.

Downing the last of her old fashioned, Agatha made her way to the bar. She thought of ordering another drink, but no. No, she needed to keep a little in control tonight. She needed to stay aware.

The band that had been performing were slowing down in a way that sounded almost like a vinyl record coming to a stop when the turntable was switched off suddenly. Rio had taken to the stage and commandeered the mic.

"Folks. Hey, folks, if I could have... Have your attention. I'm informed there's been a situation with Representative Rogers, but he should be just fine. Just fine. If everyone could just... Could you just remain calm, everyone? Could you..."

The hubbub of the crowd had never really stopped, and it was particularly loud over near where the representative had been sitting.

"There... There's no need for worry, folks," Rio blared over the mic.

Rio had always been a mess around microphones. Around crowds too, which left Agatha more than a little shocked that Rio could manage at an event like this. The protests and demonstrations they had attended back in their glory days had often been too much for her, even though those were arguably even more about fighting for what she believed in.

"If everyone would just... Folks, folks..."

Agatha saw that Rio's gaze was scanning across the room, and finally she knew Rio was looking right at her. Their eyes met, and a tingle went through Agatha from the crown of her head to the pit of her belly.

"Hey, folks," Rio said, "we're here tonight for a cause that I know Representative Rogers cares about very much. I've been almost a decade in this work, trying to find solutions so that young people don't end up in the kind of horror show I was in for a while. I think a lot of people assume any kid who ends up at one of the sorts of places I was sent to did something awful to get put there, but that's often not the case."

Agatha nodded, almost feeling that she could will Rio the strength to go on, to keep talking.

'Go on. Go on and tell 'em. Tell 'em about that hell, like you've been trying to tell 'em every day since we were finally free.'

"Course, I can't speak to every case, every situation, but I can tell you a lot of the kids I was in with were there for pretty ordinary youthful behavior. Some ended up there for even the tiniest of what their parents considered to be rebellions. Not drugs or theft or violence.
"Plenty of the kids I knew were in there because they were sullen, like teenagers get, and their parents couldn't deal. A lot were in for things like having a sexual orientation their family couldn't accept. And some of us... Well, some of us were in there because we tried to protect the people we cared about. The people we loved."

That was it. That was the right tack to take. Some of the people who had been heading for the doors, the ones who did not seem to care to stay once Representative Rogers left, were turning back. They were hooked in by Rio's words. Good.

Fuck it. Tonight might just be more okay than she had anticipated. Glancing aside, Agatha waggled her fingers slightly to get the attention of one of the bartenders.

"Gimme an old fashioned," she said.

One more drink would not topple her self-control. She was stronger than that.

Rio spoke on passionately about the need for new systems to help young people and families. She addressed the pressing needs for better general understanding of mental health, of breaking down all sorts of stigmas. By the time she had finished speaking, the crowd seemed energized. Some wallets were certainly going to be lightened tonight.

Agatha finished her second old fashioned and left the bar behind, wading through the crowd to be a little closer to the stage. She watched Rio step down in something like triumph, rushed around by people who now seemed to actually give a shit about the causes she was trying to support.

Eventually, Rio made her way through the crowd and ended up near Agatha again.

"Did I do pretty good?" she asked.

Agatha reached out grabbed Rio's hand, squeezing fondly.

"Rio, you did more than pretty good. You had 'em eating from the palm of your hand. There need to be more people like you in this world, hon. God, I'm glad you've stayed in this work."

"So am I."

And then Rio was dragged off to mingle further, and Agatha shook her head. She wondered if she could get away with sneaking out early. She was sure some of the press present must have caught sight of her reunion with Rio, and perhaps of them speaking briefly after Rio's speech. That ought to be enough for the time being.

Still, it would be a shame not to linger. Maybe stay unobtrusively around the edges of the crowd and pick up some juicy high society gossip. Wanda would eat that shit up over brunch this weekend. Plus, much as networking was one of the current great annoyances of Agatha's life, it was not a bad idea to maybe make a few connections.

'Though frankly there's only one connection I'm terribly interested in at the moment,' she thought.

Rio did look damn good in that suit, and Agatha had almost forgotten how intoxicating it was to be so near Rio, to breath in her cedar-sandalwood-vetiver scent. God, she could live on that scent.

'Why the fuck am I having heat brain?' she thought.

But she knew it was nothing like that, really. It was simply proximity to Rio. It was once again being near enough to see the person she had first felt that sort of deeper attachment to. The first person who had made her think that love could be real, and that it could mean safety and care and maybe even respect.

This was not omega wanting alpha. This was Agatha wanting Rio.

'Over and done,' Agatha thought.
'Over and done. We're not confused, scared kids anymore. That died between us...'

Well, Agatha knew the day, the moment even, when whatever innocence of first affection there had been between them had melted away.

The real drift from each other had started in college, mostly due to just growing up and growing in different directions. That happened with a lot of people, no matter how deep their friendship and affection.

But the crushing moment had been their little near-accident the second year of college. Early heat for her, and Rio had fucked her through much of the start of it until on day two, a condom shredded and Rio barely pulled out in time.

~~~

Rio pulled out fast, and Agatha felt the wet warmth of the alpha's cum pooling on her abdomen.

"Sorry," Rio rasped again, and a soft, muted fragrance like vanilla laced through her usual scent.

"No, it... The condoms were cheap," Agatha said.

"But I... I don't... I know you don't ever want babies."

Rio looked so soft and sad and Agatha just petted her cheek, trying to calm her a little, to draw her into a moment of eye contact. She could always get Rio to make eye contact. It pleased her to have such a pull on the alpha.

"It's not that I don't ever want your babies, but Rio, it's too soon."

"I know. I just... If... I probably pulled out in time, but if something happened, I'd take care of you. I'd be good to you. I'd protect you and our baby."

"I know you would. But we can't do that now, okay? Okay, honey? C'mere. It'll be safe. We'll get a pill in case."

She pulled Rio down into a hug, feeling the warmth of Rio's spend between them, all over her belly. The low, pulsing threads of her heat were making her mind scream about how it was in the wrong place, how she needed it inside, how she needed Rio's seed to take root. She shoved the thought down as best she could, but then she started to cry.

There was a part of her that wasn't heat, that wasn't omega compulsion, that wanted Rio's baby growing inside of her. That wanted to make a safe home somewhere for herself and Rio and their possible children.

That part of herself sometimes felt at war with the part that wanted a career and success. She knew she could make both things happen, but not yet. Not for a few more years. Career had to come first and be established so she would have the leverage to push for staying in it once there were children in the picture. She knew she would not have to push for that with Rio, but the rest of the world...

Well, the world was not always a kind place for the omega who wanted it all.

~~~

It seemed, now, like a good time to head back once more to the bar. She was not going to get drunk, but she was going to mingle, to maybe see if there was some likely beta or gamma looking to get out of here and maybe go for a quick fling. Hell, she would take a delta at this point, or a fellow omega with strong hands and solid strap game.

Or she could just go home and sob into her pillow and then get out her favorite toy. That might be worth it.

At the bar, she ordered another old fashioned. She just needed to unclear her head a little more. A scent overtook her, pine tar and leather and malt, and she turned toward it, seeing a young alpha quite nearby, watching her.

The young alpha looked a good bit like Rio, but less polished. Hair a nest of dark, wild curls, suit not quite so tailored. There was that same aura of confidence ready to shine through at any moment, not so buried as Rio's often had been and still seemed to be. Daring to be a bit forward, Agatha smiled and winked at the alpha before turning back to grab her third drink of the night.

The scent of the alpha was stronger, closer, and Agatha was ready to turn back toward it, to maybe open up the line of conversation, but then another scent, slightly scorched warm milk and old motor oil, wafted in.

"Ms. Harkness?"

Turning sharply, Agatha saw one of the two men who had approached Rio to take the stage earlier. He was grinning a little too brightly, and there was a pungent , too-sweet sub-scent to him that made Agatha wince back a bit and set her drink down rather quickly, lest she drop the glass.

"The boss'd like to speak with you again," the man said.

"I... Okay."

Agatha heard the young alpha at the bar scoff slightly, but did not turn back. Instead she followed the man across the ballroom to where Rio was standing, surrounded by donors.

"So that's basically where we are and... Ah, Agatha."

Rio sounded very confident suddenly, but Agatha could smell that it was a front. Still, she tried to match the energy as she slipped between the stuffed shirts to go to Rio's side. Immediately, Rio wrapped an arm around her shoulders, the grip a little tight, but not uncomfortable.

"Some of you might know, or at least know of, Agatha Harkness, the person I jumped the fence with at Pleasant Hill."

A few people in the little crowd nodded vaguely toward Agatha, but most of them ignored her, of course. Typical. They could sense that she was an omega, and to this sort that meant that she was thus beneath their notice unless she was available to fuck.

Rio was holding her possessively, the fingers over her outside shoulder splayed and curved in a very distinctive way. Oh. Rio was protecting her. Or perhaps Rio had seen some of her near-interaction with the young alpha at the bar and was jealous? That would be amusing and frankly very hot. It would be so, so good if Rio was jealous, if Rio wanted to take her somewhere and release that jealousy and...

Nope. Nope, nope, nope, she was not going to think with the horny part of her brain. No way.

"If you'll excuse us for a moment," she vaguely heard Rio say, and then the alpha was steering her over toward the side of the stage.

"Are you all right?" Rio whispered, cradling her face between warm hands.

"I'm fine. Your... I dunno, your stinky lackey said you wanted to speak to me."

Rio threw back her head and laughed. Oh, that was a good sound to hear.

"Wade... Wade was just helping me to make sure you're safe."

"From what? I was just at the bar..."

"And being approached by someone who would maybe not be the best for you."

"Oh, come on, some stringy little alpha..."

"My younger sister's not entirely a bad person," Rio said, "but she's not really great at intimacy. Fuck 'em and leave 'em type. She of the great escape."

Little sister. Well, that explained the resemblance.

"I can handle a one-night stand, Rio."

"But you shouldn't have to, my sweet."

Well, it truly was like Old Home Day. Rio had not called her 'my sweet' since before their near miss.

"Rio?"

"Hnn?"

"Would it be all right if I cut out?"

"You okay? Do you feel sick, or..."

"I just..."

Reaching up, Agatha grabbed at Rio's wrists softly.

"I don't know if I can trust myself just now, honey."

Rio's eyes went wide, glassy in a sad way, and there was that hint of vanilla wafting through her scent. Something else was percolating under as well, half-familiar, but Agatha could not quite pick it up.

"I... I can have someone drive you home. Someone to make sure you get there safe, okay?"

Rio kissed her forehead and Agatha moaned softly. She had missed this sweet gentleness from her alpha.

Well, not her alpha, but the closest she had ever gotten.

"We'll get you home safe, my sweet. Promise we'll get you home safe."

"Will you take me? Please, Rio? You take me home."

There was a small heat room near the ballroom, and Rio had gotten Scott to escort Agatha there, just until Rio could make her excuses and take Agatha home. The omega did not seem to be in heat, but a secure room seemed like the safest bet, just in case.

"We got it covered, boss," Scott said, scenting out the bright sparkle of lime and ginger.

"You're sure? I'll be back as soon as I can, but..."

"We got it, boss. Go on. Take your lady home."

"She's not..."

"Sure, boss. Sure she's not. Go."

Rio turned on her heel and made her way out of the ballroom. Her lower back ached. Frankly, she was sort of thinking of just heading straight home herself, once Agatha was dropped off.

The heat room had a guard at the door, and Rio saw him looking askance at her as she approached.

"Just here for my omega," she said, and tried to project light command.

The guard whirled quickly to badge the door open. Striding past him, Rio leaned into the doorway slightly. She saw Agatha sitting in an armchair, one foot tapping nervously on the floor.

"Agatha? Come on, I'll get you home. Come on. You're okay."

Rio stepped back slightly as Agatha rushed to her, but then wrapped the omega in a gentle embrace.

"I'm sorry," Agatha whispered.

"It's okay. You're okay. Everything's okay."

They were there for a long while, just quietly together, but then Rio shifted and led Agatha away.

"This way. The car's waiting for us. You'll be safe soon."

They made their way out and around to where Wade had pulled the car up. Rio helped Agatha into the back and started to pull away to sit in the front passenger's seat, only to feel Agatha clutching at her wrist.

"Don't leave me."

"It might not be safe for me to sit so close to you right now, okay?"

"I won't feel safe without you, Rio. Please, stay."

Nodding, Rio slid into the back seat and pulled the door closed.

"Tell me your address?" she whispered.

Agatha groaned out the information, and Rio relayed it forward to Wade, then sat back and held Agatha's hand.

"Okay, Agatha. Okay. We're gonna make it. We're gonna be safe."

Rio remembered saying similar words a few times in the first days after they fled Pleasant Hill. When they were curled up amid purloined blankets in the woods, or later at the cheap motel they spent a few days in, Rio had often spooned against Agatha's back and whispered things to try and reassure her. It had worked then, and it seemed to work now; Agatha already seemed less shaky.

"Did you drink anything strange?" Rio asked.

She was beginning to wonder if Agatha had been drugged somehow.

"I... Just two old fashioneds. Almost had a third, but I didn't get to it."

"And you're sure you didn't, like, leave either one unattended for a bit or..."

"No. Rio, I've been roofied before, this isn't..."

"What‽ Agatha, what..."

"Last year of college. Some bar on a Thursday night just before finals. Nothing happened; Wanda and Natasha got me out of there."

"Agatha, you... Why didn't you tell me?"

"We'd lost contact by then," Agatha shrugged.
"Besides, like I said, nothing happened. I was out of it for a few hours, but I was safe."

Rio felt the muscles in her shoulders and neck clench. She had not felt this level of aggression since just after her dads's funeral. Feeling her hand tighten around Agatha's, she took a deep breath. No way she wanted to hurt this person she cared about so much.

"Are you sure you don't think..."

"Rio, I think it's just... I don't know. Maybe I'm a little sick. Maybe I need to see my doctor. Maybe."

When they pulled up in front of Agatha's building, Rio guided Agatha out onto the sidewalk, then leaned back down to speak to Wade.

"I'm gonna walk her to her door. I'll message you when I'm headed back down."

"Sure thing, boss."

Inside the building, Rio headed for the elevator, but Agatha stopped her.

"They're out for maintenance. Can ya handle a six floor walk-up?"

"Sure. Can you?"

"I can but try."

They went slow up the stairs, Rio grumbling at each landing because damn, her back ached and now there was a stab in her guts that...

Shit.

Fuck.

"Agatha..."

"Fu-hu-huck," Agatha groaned, leaning back against the wall as they reached the fourth floor.

"Agatha, something..."

"Which of us is tripping the other one? Even... Even if I wasn't on suppressants, I wouldn't be due a heat until next month. When was your last rut?"

"Thr-three years ago," Rio laughed shakily.
"I'm on suppressants too."

Agatha laughed too, slumping forward against Rio.

"I... I think we both might've... Shit, Rio, there might be something... Wrong with the booze back at your... The thing."

Shit. Pushing back, Rio turned and pulled out her phone, quickly dialing Scott's number.

"Yo, boss."

"Scott. Scott, is anyone... Ah! Is anyone acting weird over there?"

"Weird? No, boss. It's all real chill. Boring, in fact."

"No one's acting... Fuck, Agatha, hands!"

The omega was pressed up against Rio's back, reaching around and rubbing her hands right over a very important area of the alpha's trousers.

"Boss, you okay? Is there..."

"Look, you're... You're sure everything seems normal?"

"Totally. Boss..."

"Look, just... Just have Logan tell 'em to close down the bar, okay? No more drinks. If people get buggy, tell 'em there's a limit or the booze ran out or... Shit, or somethin'. Have Ororo pull the bartenders aside and ask 'em if all the bottles they brought tonight came in sealed, if anyone but them or their boss might have had access to unsealed bottles or the glassware or anything."

"You got it, boss."

"And call me back if anything goes wrong, okay? If... Fuckfuckfuck... If anyone starts acting heated or rutty or anything."

"Will do. Boss, should I call the cops? Just in case?"

"Sure, yeah, why not? Gotta go."

Ending the call, Rio clutched her phone a little tighter and texted down to Wade, telling him just go ahead and take the car home. As soon as a 👍 dinged onscreen in reply, she shoved her phone into the inner pocket of her jacket and turned, pushing Agatha against the wall.

"Look, omega," she growled, "you wanna get pregnant, or you wanna waste this load?"

Agatha looked at her, eyes bright.

"The... First option sounds really good right now."

Grunting, Rio leaned in and kissed Agatha hard, then stopped and tried to control herself.

"You okay? I hope I didn't hurt you."

"I'm good," Agatha smiled.

"Two more floors, right?"

"I'm in 602."

"You... You want me to go and... I should try to walk this off."

"You leave and I'll follow after. This... This doesn't feel like my heat, but I'd hate to just wander out into the streets and..."

With a deep breath, Rio scooped Agatha up and went racing up those last two floors, suddenly and deeply grateful for every bit of running she had ever been made to do in her life. At the door to 602, she set Agatha back on her feet and watched the other woman scramble through her purse for her keys.

"Fuck yes!" Agatha shout-whispered as she found what she sought.

They burst into the apartment together and Rio shoved Agatha up against the inside of the door to close it.

"You smell so fuckin' good right now," Rio muttered.

This was definitely not a heat for Agatha. Rio remembered the scent change of the omega's heats very well, and while Agatha smelled delicious at the moment, she did not smell like she was in heat. Were they drugged? Rio felt reasonably clear-headed, if horny, but still, if this had been some kind of dosing...

"You want me to leave?"

"No way," Agatha breathed, pulling Rio into a sloppy kiss.

"Sweetheart..."

"Please, Rio, whatever... Whatever this is, I want it. If you don't..."

"I do. I do."

Sliding her hands around Agatha's hips, Rio grabbed the omega's ass and lifted. The long slit in Agatha's dress made it ridiculously simple for her legs to wrap around Rio, and then they were just sort of dry humping up against the door. Rio leaned in and kissed the side of Agatha's neck, just as she had earlier in the evening, feeling Agatha's arms go tighter around her neck.

"Lock," Agatha gasped.
"Lock the door and take me to bed."

Flailing a hand up, Rio threw on the chain, then twisted the deadbolt before bringing the hand back down to cup Agatha's ass again.

"Bedroom?"

"Through there," Agatha said, waving vaguely toward a doorway with a bead curtain.

Chuckling a little at the casualness of it all, Rio turned and carried Agatha to the bedroom, bumping her gently down onto the bed and stepping back.

"Are you absolutely sure..."

"Fuck me or know rage, Vidal," Agatha said, twisting out of her coat and tossing it to the floor.

Rio shrugged off her jacket, then her suit jacket. Very quickly she found her further attempts to undress interrupted by Agatha's attempts to help.

"Here, let me take care of that," Agatha murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching out to open the fly of Rio's trousers.

"Stand up," Rio said.

Two could play at this game. Turning Agatha to face away from her, she slowly pulled down the zipper at the back of Agatha's dress. The soft prrr of the mechanism seemed to echo a soft, rumbling groan from Agatha's throat. As soon as the clasp of Agatha's bra was visible, Rio easily popped it open, letting the undergarment fall away as the bodice of the dress slid down.

"Turn around."

The moment Agatha turned and Rio saw those pretty, firm breasts again for the first time in years, all bets were off.

"Bed. Now."

Agatha was very compliant, kicking her shoes off, slipping her dress off, and crawling onto the bed in nothing but panties and stockings. Rio practically tore her own remaining clothes off before getting onto the bed. Agatha stared at her, eyes wide, tracking down her torso to her groin.

"You got bigger."

"Finished growing up," Rio shrugged, reaching down to tug at the waistband of Agatha's panties.

As soon as the undergarment was off, Agatha sighed and moved to get up on hands and knees, but Rio stopped her with a hand on a hip.

"Just... Do you mind if we... If we do it so we can look at each other? Please?"

"I just thought you'd... You know, big strong alpha and all."

"I want to be able to look into your eyes, sweetheart."

Agatha relaxed back against her pillows and Rio smiled, then leaned down to kiss her softly.

"Been a while."

"Mm-hmm."

"Do you... I don't suppose you have condoms, or..."

Agatha shook her head, tracing a finger along Rio's jaw.

"Do you?" she asked.

"No."

Rio started to pull away, to move off of the bed, but Agatha gripped her hand.

"It's okay, honey. We won't... This clearly isn't heat or rut, and my suppressants should cover, you know... Making sure no one happens."

"Agatha, we don't have to..."

"I want to feel you, Rio. All of you. I... I've missed you, and I'm tired of missing you."

Slowly, Rio returned, easing herself down on top of Agatha. The moment the tip of her erection pressed against the wet heat between Agatha's legs, Rio hissed and nearly pulled away.

"Fuck, sweetheart..."

"It's okay. It's safe. I'll make sure it's always safe for us. Just go ahead."

Rio lined up and pushed in. Agatha moaned at the intrusion, her legs going around Rio's hips.

"Slow and easy," Rio murmured, burying her face against the side of Agatha's neck.

"Fuck. Rio, you... Oh, you really got so much bigger."

"Wanna stop?"

"N-never."

Once she was fully in, Rio went still a while, letting Agatha get used to her. In the meantime, she snuffled gently around Agatha's scent gland. Everything about the scent was as she remembered, a hint richer with the passage of time.

"Rio?"

"Hnn?"

"Are you fucking me, or napping with your cock in me?"

"Just... Taking my time with you, my sweet. Fuck, you feel so good."

"Mmm. So do you."

It had never been like this before, since they had never intentionally gone bare. Rio had never imagined that something could feel so good and warm and perfect. She was beginning to wish she could stay like this forever, but she felt Agatha wriggling under her, trying to set up some motion, and so she pushed up a bit and started to thrust.

"Shit, you're tight, Agatha."

"Well, it... It's been a while."

Rio found herself wondering how long it had been, and who had been the last person to be inside of Agatha. Who else might have occupied this little corridor of heaven? Had some other alpha...

"Well now you're all riled up," Agatha said, smiling as Rio picked up speed.

"Mine," Rio grunted, and Agatha clung to her more tightly, whimpering.

Things were hard and fast now, and Rio let her mind go just a little blank as she hammered into Agatha.

"I missed... Missed my pretty boy so much," Agatha sobbed.

The sound drew a thread of worry through Rio's mind.

"Hurting?"

"No. No, I'm happy. Oh, you feel nice inside me. Fuck."

Everything was focused down to the warm, wet passage that was grabbing at Rio, trying to pull her deeper, milking her cock so desperately. Groaning, she burrowed her face against Agatha's neck again, letting her tongue flick over the scent gland.

"Fuck, alpha," Agatha groaned.

Rio whined, licking at the spot again, and she felt Agatha's hand stroking her hair.

"Take what you need, honey. Oh, take whatever you want."

Feeling a telltale burn low in her gut, Rio drove in a bit harder, grinding to get as deep as she could, then lightly biting down against Agatha's scent gland. She was careful not to break the skin, but she applied just the right pressure and felt Agatha's cunt clench and tremble, gushing slick all around her cock as her own release hit and she felt herself spill into those hot, rippling depths.

"Alpha, please," Agatha moaned, "oh, fill me up! Yes! Oh..."

"F-fuck," Rio choked out.

They stayed together like that for only a little while before Rio felt herself begin to go a little soft, to shrink up a bit, and pulled out slowly, rolling to the side so as not to rest her weight fully on Agatha.

"Fuck, that... Was good," Agatha panted.

Her hand found Rio's on the sheet and squeezed it fondly. It was a simple, caring gesture, and Rio felt like her heart had snapped in two.

She started to cry.

"Hey," Agatha whispered, "it's okay. We'll be okay, Rio. C'mere. Oh, shh. Okay."

"I'm sorry. I... I'm... I didn't... I... Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, honey. C'mere."

She let Agatha pull her close and hold her. The omega kissed Rio's forehead, her cheeks, along her jaw. She even pressed a few chaste kisses to Rio's lips.

"It's okay. Hush, you're safe with me."

"I hurt you."

"No you didn't, honey."

"What if... If you... What if there's a baby? What if I ruined your life? What..."

"There won't be a baby, Rio. I'll make sure it's all okay. Don't worry, honey."

"I'm sorry..."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I wanted this just as much as you. Call it the perfect climax, if you will, to a long overdue reunion."

"Wh-why aren't you angry?"

"Because I care about you, silly. Because everything else is so long ago now, and I want to just be cozy here with you."

Rio blinked away the last of her tears and cuddled closer to Agatha, wrapping her own arms around the omega. There was a distinct sharp-soft smell of baked apples in the air, and it made Rio feel pleasantly sleepy.

"Just relax," Agatha said, and for the first time in a long time, Rio did.

They had slept for around an hour and a half when Agatha woke suddenly, needing to pee. Carefully, not wishing to disturb Rio, she left the bed, headed for the bathroom. She wanted to wash up as well; the stickiness between her legs from their combined fluids felt awkward.

As she walked, she could feel more of Rio's spend trickling out of her. The sensation was strange, and she could not decide if it more unnerved or aroused her. One the one hand, it was unfamiliar and odd, but on the other hand, it was evidence of the pleasure they had shared.

A portion of her mind was also blaring a sense of shame for letting the spend escape, but logically she knew that more than enough time had passed for things to get to places, and also that it would not matter because in a few hours they would go get emergency contraceptive just to be safe and back up her suppressant implant. She would just ignore the blaring of the other shame alarm in her head—how dare she not want to bear her alpha's child?

This was simple to ignore, because she did want to have Rio's child, but Rio was not her alpha, and might never be in a way that most of society would acknowledge. Perhaps Rio did not want a relationship with her in that way. After all, this was just one night together after not seeing each other in years, and Rio must have better options if she wanted a mate.

And that was how Agatha found herself sitting on the toilet, weepy and lonesome, finally rolling her stockings off at just past midnight. She tried to keep her sobbing quiet as she finished up on the toilet and washed her hands, then grabbed a washcloth and ran it under the warm water.

She had just turned off the tap and wrung out the cloth when she heard the padding of quick footsteps, and then Rio was in the bathroom doorway, a blanket pulled around her like a cloak against the slight chill of the apartment.

"Agatha, what... You're crying. Shit, are you hurt? Did you..."

"I just... I'm fine. Just emotional."

Rio carefully stepped into the room and blinked sleepily, looking at the cloth in Agatha's hand.

"I need to clean myself," Agatha said.

"Oh. Oh, between..."

"Yeah."

"Can... Can I help?"

"I can do it myself."

"I know, but I... I mean, I made the mess."

Rio looked so silly standing there, hair sleep tousled, one hand reaching out from under the blanket for the washcloth. The sight almost, almost cheered Agatha up a bit, and she handed the cloth over.

"Fine. Clean your mess."

Shuffling right up to her, Rio managed to flare the blanket around both of them, then reached down between Agatha's thighs and began to wipe gently. The warmth of the cloth was soothing, Rio's touch was soft, and there was a relaxing undertone of autumn smoke to her scent at the moment. Agatha sighed, leaning forward a bit to rest her head against Rio's shoulder.

"I want to help you with things, my sweet," Rio said.
"You don't have to go it alone, especially now that we've found each other again."

"M-maybe I like being alone," Agatha said.

"I doubt it. Agatha, this doesn't have to be... I don't want to control you. We can be whatever you need or want us to be. Fuck designations and all that. I can just be your friend, or I can be your lover, or whatever you want me to be."

"But you're an alpha. Sooner or later you'll want..."

"Fuck designations," Rio repeated.
"Alphas aren't all one way, anymore than any group is. I'm not the sort who wants to treat anyone like I own them. I know if I mate someone there might be more possessive feelings, but self-control is a thing. I would never, never try to hurt you or make you do things you don't want."

As Rio spoke, she went on wiping Agatha's inner thighs. Now and then her hand shifted up in such a way that the cloth swiped along Agatha's cleft, and the sensation of the slightly rough, damp cotton so close to such sensitive places made Agatha shiver.

"I... I know you won't hurt me, but Rio, I... What about the parts of me that will want to give in to you no matter what? Even if we remain just friends?"

"You can fight them, Agatha. Plenty of omegas make their own decisions and set boundaries in all sorts of relationships with alphas and others."

Laying the washcloth aside on the counter, Rio sighed and hugged Agatha.

"I want you to be happy. Really happy. I know for you, that means having your own life and thoughts and opinions. Having your career."

"There are other things that could make me happy. Being with you makes me happy. I just worry. I know people almost expect an omega to be with an alpha, and then they expect the relationship to be a certain way. If we're together, and we have children, there would be so much pressure for me to give up my career and just be pregnant all the time and..."

"I'll have myself sterilized," Rio shrugged.

"I don't want you to do that!"

"Why?"

"Because, Rio, if we're a couple, I want to have your babies. I want it so much. I just worry if that happens, when it happens, omega brain stuff will kick in and I'll give up on being my own person."

"You're stronger than that, Agatha. You're so brilliant and brave and strong. That's why I... Why I care about you so much. Because you're so amazing. So beautiful and tough and so very you."

"Rio?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what, sweetheart?"

"Afraid because... Because I don't know if I want to go in the morning and get the pill. Since we're both on suppressants that should be enough but everything last night was so... Different. If something's up and there's a chance of a baby..."

"Agatha..."

"You don't have to help if anything happens. You... You don't have to pay for anything or be there or take care of us. I can do it on my own. But if... If there's any chance I might get pregnant..."

"If you get pregnant with our child, Agatha, I'll want to be there. Not even because of alpha drive, but because I care about you, and I would care about our baby."

"I... Please say we don't have to get the pill unless I want to."

"We don't, unless you want to," Rio said simply.
"It's your decision, my love. Always your decision and your choice."

Agatha pulled away and caught Rio's gaze.

"What did you call me?"

Immediately Rio looked down to the floor, blushing intensely.

"I'm sorry. It was a slip of the tongue, I..."

"No, please, Rio. Say it again. Please?"

Rio swallowed hard and looked into Agatha's eyes.

"My love."

"Again."

"My love."

"Do you mean it? Am I your love?"

"I... I do love you, Agatha," Rio nodded.
"I have almost since the day we met."

Agatha knew that in a moment she might start to cry again, and so she buried her face against Rio's shoulder.

"Rio, I... I've never meant much to anyone. So even if you're lying to me, thank you."

"I'm not lying. I swear I'm not. I'm not. I never will."

"You... You really love me?"

"I'm sorry if it's too much or you don't..."

"I love you, Rio. And I... I don't know how we'll do all of this, or how things need to move forward..."

"We'll go as slow as you want, Agatha, and we'll make decisions together. I swear to you, I will never, never try to push you around."

"If we don't get the pill later, and if I get pregnant, would you be happy?"

"Of course. But it's not all up to me. It would have to be something you'd be happy about too. I want what you want."

"And if we have a child, and I want to keep working..."

"Well, obviously you should do that, if it's what you want. I mean, if we have a child I would want to keep working. Why shouldn't we both be able to?"

"Because people will judge us. Mostly me, but you too. They'll call you a weak alpha, or claim that you're not even an alpha after all, or..."

"I don't care if they judge me. Now, if people judge you, well, I may just have to go full alpha and kick the snot out of them, but that..."

"The snot?"

"Well, I mean, I could use another word, but I figure I better practice keeping my language clean. You know, in case we have a kid. Don't wanna swear in front of 'em, ya know."

"Oh, and I suppose I'll have to start watching my language too?"

"What you say in front of our hypothetical children is your business."

"Great. Then I'll be the cool, laid back parent who teaches them all the bad words before they start school."

"And I'll be the one who goes to all the inevitable parent-teacher conferences and swears they'll never use those words on the playground again. Do we have a deal, Harkness?"

Agatha laughed.

"We have a deal, Vidal."

Suddenly, Rio was looking into Agatha's eyes with a look that seemed like pure, sweet affection.

"If we have children, you're going to be the best mother for them. You'll love them and protect them and teach them. They'll never doubt they're loved."

"And you'll be an excellent father," Agatha said, "because I know you'll look at our children as more than just possessions, or extensions of yourself."

Rio smiled, and Agatha felt a wave of warmth wash over her.

"Can I kiss you?" Rio asked.

"Of course."

A vague, watery hint of sunlight jabbed through a little gap in the curtains, pressing at Rio's eyes and making her groan as she woke. Looking away, she sighed, then smiled when she realized Agatha was still sleeping, head pillowed on Rio's chest. The events of last night, a little vague through the filter of sleep, circled in Rio's head, and she felt a sudden and sharp pang of panic.

"Agatha? Agatha, sweetheart, I have to get up for a moment, okay?"

"Are you leaving?" Agatha muttered, half-asleep.

"Not unless you want me to. I do need to check my phone, though."

Agatha shifted over onto the pillows.

"Hurry back to me."

"I will, sweetheart."

Rio crawled down the bed and grabbed her jacket up from the floor, fishing the phone out of the inner pocket and sitting back on her heels as she unlocked it. No missed calls. One text from Jean to say that Representative Rogers and his husband are thinking of naming their newborn son River—probably a joke.

Still concerned over the state she and Agatha were in by the time they got here last night, Rio sighed and called Scott.

"Hey, boss. You never turned back up last night."

"Yeah, uh, I got delayed."

"Sure. Emphasis on the lay..."

"Dude, not... Listen, did everything stay chill last night? Nothing weird?"

"It was all fine, boss. All the booze came to the venue sealed, the glassware was brand new from the factory and unpacked at the venue as well. No reports of illness or heat or rut tripping from attendees. Only thing out of the ordinary was Rogers going into labor."

"Well, good. But also, shit."

"Boss, can I just ask, what the fuck was all the worry about?"

"Ah, man, I... I'll tell ya later, Scott."

The mattress shifted slightly, then slightly more, and Rio felt warmth against her back.

"I gotta go, Scott. Call me if anything comes up."

"You got it, boss. Later."

Tossing her phone back down onto her jacket, Rio turned her head just in time to catch a soft kiss from Agatha on her lips.

"Good morning," Agatha said.

"A very good morning to you," Rio grinned, and kissed Agatha again.

"Do you have to go?"

"Not unless you want me to."

"I don't. Rio, I never realized just how very much I've missed you."

"I've missed you, Agatha. So much."

"Last night, you said you love me..."

"And I meant it. I do love you."

"And if we go on with this, if we're a couple..."

"All I want is for you to be happy, sweetheart. No demands from me, no running your life for you. Just me being your partner who cares for you."

Agatha drew in a strange, ragged breath, chin resting forward on Rio's shoulder.

"I love you," she whispered.

"Wanna go get breakfast somewhere?"

"I'd like that. I've got clothes you can borrow."

"Thanks, my sweet. Can I shower first?"

"Of course, as long as I can join you."

The thought of showering with Agatha made Rio feel simultaneously aroused and shy. The aroused she understood, given things that had transpired last night. The shy seemed silly, but she tried to shrug it off.

As they stepped into the tiny shower together, Rio shook her head a few times. She felt sort of fuzzy and dull and itchy. Maybe since it was Saturday, she would just sort of laze around after breakfast.

"I know there's not a lot of space, darling," Agatha said, "but can you back up? You're... Prodding me, if you know what I mean."

Jerking back, Rio looked down and saw that she had gotten half hard. She flicked the head of her cock hard with a fingernail, and the pain made her shrink back up a bit.

"Sorry 'bout that."

"It's fine," Agatha laughed.

The pain only helped temporarily, and pretty soon Rio was whining, uncomfortable with need.

"Should I help you?" Agatha asked.

"Uh, no, I... You... Is it okay if I jerk off while you... While you go get dressed?"

"Why should you jerk off when I'm right here?"

"Because I don't think it's a good idea for you to help me with this one."

Agatha fully turned around toward her now, looking down at Rio's erection.

"Shit, he looks angry. Is that..."

"I... I swear I don't think I'm in rut, but this... It almost..."

"You can't be in rut if you're that hard and not basically jumping me, but Rio, it looks like your knot..."

"Don't talk about it! Fuck, this is embarrassing."

Agatha grabbed her hand and squeezed it sweetly, softly.

"You finish showering, and I'll be waiting in the bedroom for you."

"Okay, I can take care of this and..."

"No, no. That's my job."

Agatha exited the shower, leaving Rio alone under the rapidly cooling spray that was doing nothing to tame her arousal. She finished washing herself, trying to ignore the angry throbbing, and then hurried to dry off and march into Agatha's bedroom.

"Okay?" Agatha asked, and Rio was not sure how to answer.

The bed had quickly been made a nest, with extra blankets and cushions strewn around, and in the middle of the nest, a sheet pulled just up over her hip, was Agatha. She lay on her side, looking very pretty. Delicious, in fact.

"We don't have to..." Rio said.

"Well now I know you're not in rut. Still, Rio, something's up. C'mere and let me help. Please?"

"I feel like a fuckin' horny teenager or something," Rio muttered, shuffling over to the bed and dropping the towel from around her waist.

Agatha reached out grazed her fingertips along the length of Rio's cock. The sensation made Rio grunt out a little growl-whine.

"C'mon, darling," Agatha said, "and get in here with me. Let me make it better for you. Poor alpha, all wound up."

"Agatha, this... I want to, but..."

"Don't worry, my love. We've made it through these situations before. Remember that rut our first year of college? I helped you then."

"Yeah, but this... This isn't rut, probably, and that time we had condoms."

"So I'll jerk you off or something. Please just get in the bed."

Rio climbed into bed, letting Agatha pull the sheet up over both of them.

"Good alpha. Here, get really close."

Her cock slipped between Agatha's thighs, and the warmth of the soft skin made Rio instinctively thrust a few times. It felt so good. Sighing, she closed her eyes and hugged Agatha tight.

"Fuck, I need you."

"You've got me," Agatha said.
"Go on and get it all out, okay?"

The alpha part of Rio's brain was being horny and pushy.

'Omega would let us breed. Should breed. Omega would like that. Would feel good.'

Rio tried to push the thoughts down. It was enough that they had been so weird and out-of-sorts and had fucked carelessly the night before. No way she was giving in to this weird half-rut or whatever.

"Rio?"

"Hnm?" Rio grunted, humping hard between Agatha's thighs.

"Rio, you can put it inside if you want to."

"Might hurt you."

"If you didn't hurt me last night, you won't hurt me now."

Agatha spread her thighs, and Rio almost groaned from the loss of friction before her cock slid up and she felt how wet Agatha was.

"Shit."

"C'mon, darling. So easy to slip right in and put all that love right where it belongs, hmm? Just pump me full of your seed."

"Agatha..."

"It's okay, my pretty boy. We don't have to, but if you want to..."

Rio was humping more frantically now, feeling the tip of her cock slide along Agatha's folds, not quite able to get the proper angle to slide in.

"Help?" she asked.

Agatha's hand was warm, so gentle, grabbing her and pumping her a few times before helping to direct her inside. Inside. Oh, inside all that warm, slick heat. This was where she belonged. Where she needed to be. She needed to stay sheathed in her omega, feeling the rush of how wanted she was.

"Oh, fuck," Agatha gasped, "Rio..."

"Should... Should I..."

"Deeper. Oh, please get deeper."

Rio nodded, pulling out for a moment to push Agatha onto her back, then getting on top of her and shoving all the way in, all the way to the base.

The little half-swell of her knot might not fully lock them together, but it sure as shit felt good sliding it in. Agatha let out a breathy moan, eyes fluttering closed.

"Rio... Fuck, fuck... Breed me?"

"Want it?"

"I do. I really, really do," Agatha murmured, and her cunt clenched hard around Rio's cock.

"Fuck, sweetheart, you..."

And then Rio groaned, tucked her face against Agatha's neck, and bit down hard on the scent gland, hard enough that she tasted the bright copper spurt of blood. Agatha's cunt spasmed even harder around her, and Rio spilled, shivering as she pumped a fresh load into the love of her life.

Her knot had not fully swelled, and it went down far more quickly than was normal for her ruts, but still, as she pulled out of Agatha a few minutes later, Rio was worried.

"What... What even was that?"

"I don't know," Agatha said, "but I fuckin' liked it."

Grunting, Rio rolled off of Agatha, but pressed a hand gently down between the omega's legs. She felt her spend dribbling out of Agatha's cunt, and without really thinking, her fingers dabbled through the mess and tried to shove it back where it belonged. When she looked at Agatha's face, she saw an expression of wonder.

"You marked me," Agatha breathed.

"Shit, I... Sweetheart, I'm sorry if I hurt you, if you..."

"No. It's wonderful."

Rio was torn between a sense of confused shame over letting those instincts take over and one of pride at having claimed her mate. She had given in to her urges, for good or ill.

"Definitely going to my doctor Monday to get my levels checked," she muttered.
"This has to be implant failure or something. And shit, even if yours is still fine, that... If what just happened was even sorta rut..."

"It'll be okay, Rio. We'll be okay."

"Do you have, like, stuff so I can clean and bandage the bite?"

"Medicine cabinet," Agatha nodded.

Almost falling out of the bed, Rio staggered back to the bathroom, gathered the things that seemed necessary, and then rushed back. Agatha was already sitting up, waiting for her to return.

"Here," Rio said, "let's get you taken care of."

She tried to be very gentle as she wiped and cleaned the small wound, dabbing it with antiseptic and then carefully covering it with gauze. Still, she saw Agatha wince a couple of times, and it broke her heart.

"Sorry, my sweet," Rio said, leaning in to nuzzle Agatha's cheek.

"It's okay. We're good."

They lay back down and snuggled for a while before both of their stomachs started to grumble.

"Takeout?" Rio muttered.

"Sounds good to me."

Her phone rang just as she was heading out to lunch on Monday. When she saw the call was from Rio, a pleasant shiver ran through her.

"Rio. Hey, what..."

"So, I probably knocked you up."

Long pause on that one.

"Agatha? Agatha, did you..."

"I heard you. I just... I mean, we can't be sure of that yet, right? After all, it wasn't a real rut, was it?"

"I saw my doctor first thing this morning, and the initial tests show my levels are low enough to indicate suppressant implant failure. Dr. Banner says that with the type of implant I have, failure can trigger a pseudo-rut. It's not full-on, but when I mentioned my knot did partially swell and everything..."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I... I just figured I should let you know. Also, they gave me some info on implant failure and... And the way you were on Friday and Saturday sounds a lot like pseudo-heat."

"Out of curiosity, what sort of implant do you have?"

"Uh, SWORD. From Danvers-Hayward."

"Shit. Don't suppose you learned anything about failure rates?"

"Apparently the generation of implants I got, like three years ago, has some serious issues with not lasting as long as guaranteed."

"Welp. I've got a Danvers-Hayward SHIELD implant from three years ago that was supposed to last five years."

"Oh. Shit. Shit, shit, shit."

"Thanks for the heads up, I guess."

"I... I was gonna ask... I... Could we have dinner? It wasn't just gonna be about... Ya know. But now I guess we..."

"We have a lot to discuss, I suppose. When did you want to meet?"

"Whatever night you're free."

"I'm free tonight. Where and what time..."

"I... I can come and get you around 6:00? Thought we could eat at my place. If you want to. Unless you'd be more comfortable..."

"Your place sounds great. I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay. If you're sure."

"I'm sure, Rio. I love you."

"I love you. I do."

Agatha ended the call and laid her head down on her desk. Shit. Fuck. Crud, even.

She might be pregnant. Or at least well on her way to pregnant. Shit. Maybe they should have gotten the morning after pill. Actually, there was still time for some pills to work. She could still stop this. Could go out to nearly any pharmacy right now and...

And she had no desire to do that. Even knowing she might have been in a pseudo-heat, she was still glad about what had happened on Friday and Saturday. Rio was gentle, tender, caring. Rio loved her. She loved Rio. Things could work. Would work. They would have dinner, talk everything out, and then take it from there.

Of course she was worried. How much of being this okay with a possible pregnancy was her, and how much was omega drive? Was she simply going to fall into the expected pattern of a subservient, obedient omega now? Was she going to bow and scrape and practically fall all over herself to cater Rio's every whim? She knew a large part of that behavior pattern was influenced by entrenched socio-political practice and plenty of mated omegas were out there following their own bliss. Hell, Representative Rogers had already announced his intent to continue his political career, and he gave birth on Saturday.

But would she be able to pull off keeping her career if this was really happening? Would she be able to deal with the pressure to quit? Would she be strong enough to stand against societies conception of omegas who given birth as useless for any work but parenthood?

Conception. How very droll.

Grabbing her phone again, she scrolled up her doctor's patient portal to schedule an appointment. The earliest was Wednesday at 2:00, but when she ticked the "Suppressant Issue" box under reasons, they offered her an emergency appointment. Today at 3:00. She knew she could get cleared to leave early for it. Almost no large employer was willing to hold something like that up.

So it was that she went without lunch and powered through work until 3:00, then rushed out to see her doctor.

"So, I see you're here about a problem with your suppressants?" the nurse said.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I think my implant might have failed."

"All right, well, let's just get all the little preliminaries out of the way."

Agatha groaned internally through the weight, blood pressure, pulse, temperature portion of the whole mess, and she rushed through the questions about any recent health issues. Once she was alone in the exam room with sat staring at the far wall.

"So, who's here about their implant?"

The sudden entrance of Dr. Sunen into the room startled Agatha, and she jolted slightly in her chair.

"Doc, you have gotta start doin' the little knock-knock-hi routine."

"I'm sorry, Agatha. So, looks like you're concerned about implant failure?"

"Uh, yeah. Had kind of a weird weekend..."

She went through all of it. Feeling almost in heat, almost, at the gala, going home with an alpha and getting intimate multiple times, and then the alpha calling her this morning with news of implant failure.

"Ah," Dr. Sunen said, "yup. Looking at your chart... We've just started to have reports of serious failure rates with these implants. Your description of your feelings and symptoms does indeed sound like implant failure.
"If you like, we can do some rapid tests to check your levels. Of course, we'll do more in-depth testing as well to double-check."

"Yes, I would very much like every possible test."

"Right, right. And as you've mentioned you engaged in unprotected intercourse, have you accessed any emergency contraception?"

"No."

"Would you like some?"

Agatha felt her stomach flip.

"Uh, no. No thank you."

"You're certain?"

"I am."

"All right."

The rest of the visit was basically painless. They had her rapid results ready as she walked out. Implant failure was almost certain.

"Well, fuck," Agatha grunted as she shoved the results and the information packet—no doubt the same one Rio had received—into her bag.

Once she was home, she kicked off her shoes by the door, dropped her coat and bag on the couch, and headed straight for her bedroom. She stripped off and scrambled into her bed naked, feeling strangely confined at the idea of clothes. Pulling one of the spare pillows into her arms, she hugged it against her abdomen and felt tears begin to fall.

"Okay," she said softly, "if anyone's in there, or starting to be, you need to know first thing that I'm... I'm actually looking forward to meeting you. That I do want you here. But we also need a few ground rules, all right?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I am gonna love you. Hell, I... I think I already kind of do. I love the idea of you. And when you get here, I'll love you so much you'll probably get sick of me. But I'm not going to reduce myself to just your mommy. Not that mommies aren't very important people with very important work to do, but I... I'm more than that. I want to be.
"But still, I'm gonna make sure every day that you know I love you. And... And hey, even if I slip up somehow, if we argue or something, your sire... Your sire is pretty awesome. She's gonna love you so much. I know she is."

Rio had texted Agatha a couple of times before heading over to her place. The only response she had gotten was a 👋 after the second message. She thought of calling as well, but she figured they would see each other soon enough.

The journey up those six flights of stairs felt like nothing. Rio was actually really excited to talk about their relationship. Not so much the oops-what-if-baby part—she knew that outcome would be all Agatha's decision—but the rest of it. Where they went from here and everything. Also, Rio wanted to apologize again, as she had approximately 85 times since Saturday, for the bite. Agatha had seemed fine with it at the time, but eventually she might be upset, and reasonably so.

Knocking quietly at the door of apartment 602, Rio tried to be cool, to not clutch the simple bouquet she had brought too tightly. Somehow, despite knowing Agatha since they were teenagers, she felt super nervous on what was essentially their first date.

The door opened, and Rio's jaw dropped.

"Well hi there, stranger," Agatha breathed.

Agatha was not dressed in any sort of flashy, over the top way. Just a knee-length little black dress, slightly off the shoulder. Still, she looked so simply beautiful that Rio wanted to fall down and worship her.

"You... You are... Stunning," Rio finally managed.

"Thank you. I just thought, you know, better at least look presentable for our first date."

Nodding, temporarily at a loss for further words, Rio presented the bouquet, almost bowing as she did so.

"Oh, Rio, these are beautiful."

"It... I... Just lilac and baby's breath."

Agatha smiled, taking the flowers.

"Well, I think these are the loveliest flowers I've ever received. Thank you."

"You... Do you... Still wanna go to my place. We don't have to. We can... We can go wherever you want, or not go anywhere, or I can leave, or..."

Rio was suddenly hit with the beautiful, soft scent of baked apples that had lulled her to sleep on Saturday night.

"Calm down, Rio. Just breathe. I don't want you to leave, at least not unless you take me with you. I'm sort of looking forward to seeing your place."

"Oh. Good. I... I want... I hope you'll like it. It... It's not much, but... But I hope you'll like it."

"Just one thing before we head out. Hold these for me?"

Agatha left the doorway for a moment. Rio heard some light bumping and banging, a tap running, and when Agatha returned, the flowers were gone, traded for a garment bag slung over one shoulder.

"Mind if I bring a change of clothes? Just in case I stay for the night."

"Uh, yeah! Absolutely! That... Can I carry that for you, or..."

"Please do."

Rio took the garment bag.

"So, shall we go?"

Agatha smiled, stepping into the hall and locking the door behind her before taking Rio's hand.

"Lead the way, my mighty alpha."

Rio blushed as they started off toward the stairs. She still felt weird about having bitten Agatha, about the fact she had laid claim to the omega. She was happy about it, but the fact she had done it in a rush, during such a confused mating, made her feel like she had done things improperly. Like she had hurt Agatha so much.

"Honey," Agatha said as they started down the stairs, "whatever's wrong..."

"Nothing wrong."

"You're feeling sad or down about something. I can smell it on you."

"I just... I'm sorry. About biting your gland on Saturday."

"Darling, it's fine. You did it from passion. From desire. And fuck, it was one of the best orgasms of my life."

"You're really not angry?"

"Not in the slightest. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have claim me as their mate."

Rio paused them on the next landing.

"So you... You're good with being my mate? With... With us?"

"Of course. Rio, I love you. You're kind and sweet and beautiful and caring and... And I want to spend life with you. As long as you want me, I want you."

Shivering with delight, Rio kissed Agatha softly.

"I love you so much. I mean it. I... You're... Fuck, Agatha, I just love you."

"Good. Because... Well, I think we both are going to need a lot of love for what lies ahead of us."

"You... Are you..."

"Implant failure. Of course we can't know yet if there's a baby on the way, but... Well, if there is, I want them."

"I... I want them too. A little someone who's part you and part me? They'll be amazing."

"Rio, do you mean it? I... You won't change your mind? What if they're... A little too like me?"

"Huh?"

"What if they're an omega? You won't stop loving them if..."

"No! No, I'd love our child no matter their designation. I... I'm not that kind of alpha, Agatha. Never will be."

Rio hugged Agatha close.

"I'm never gonna hurt you or our children, Agatha. I'm never going to do anything to make you suffer."

"I just needed the reassurance. Thank you."

"Always. Anything you need, I'll try and provide."

They eventually continued downstairs after a few more tender kisses. Outside, Rio ushered Agatha into the car and then awkwardly crawled in after with the garment bag.

"Home, Wade," Rio muttered, then reached over and squeezed Agatha's hand softly.

The whole drive, Rio was happily on edge. They were together. A couple. Mated. Agatha did love her, wanted to be with her. They would love and protect each other, raise a family together, and be happy. Somehow there had to be a catch, right? There was no way Rio's life could go so perfectly, beautifully right.

The elevator at Rio's building was working, so they had a relatively quick ride up to the eighth floor and a quick jaunt down the hall to her door.

"Like I said, my place isn't much..."

"Oh, Rio, it's lovely. It's very you."

Looking around at her odd assortment of furniture and art, Rio hoped that was a compliment, or at least not too major an insult.

"I'll just put this here," Rio murmured, hanging the garment bag on the coat rack.

"Oh my goodness, is that..."

Agatha was pointing to a particular piece hanging just near the kitchen.

"Yup. The dining hall sign."

Rio had grabbed that when they were invited to witness the official demolition of some of the Pleasant Hill buildings a couple of years after the shutdown. That had, incidentally, also been the last time she and Agatha had seen each other before Friday.

"I love what you've done with it," Agatha smirked.

"Oh, the defacement was actually done by someone else. A girl who escaped from a place like Pleasant Hill a couple of years ago."

"Ah. Friend of yours?"

"We helped her fight for emancipation from her parents and funded her last two years of high school, then helped her find an art school scholarship. She wanted to make a piece for me in gratitude, so I let her fuck up the sign."

"Well, I like her style."

Turning, Agatha was examining a few other items hanging on the same wall when she froze.

"Wow. Wait you... You've got a picture of us?"

Rio walked over and nodded.

"Yup. That's from right after your eighteenth birthday party, remember?"

"Yeah, I do. Oh, that was a good day. And a good night, as I recall."

Rio blushed. That had been one of the few night in their original acquaintanceship when they had slept together not simply out of some drive need for one of them. Agatha had said she wanted to ring in her adulthood "with the person who helped me make it the last of the way here."

"It... It was a good time," Rio nodded.

Suddenly, Agatha turned and hugged Rio tight.

"I'm glad I found you again."

"So am I, sweetheart. Hey, you, uh... You want dinner, or..."

"I'm absolutely starving. I didn't have lunch today."

"Oh, shit, I... Was that my fault? I'm sorry, sweetheart, I didn't mean..."

"It's okay, my love, I swear. I'm sure whatever we're having will more than make up for it."

"I, uh, made a salad and I made empanadas."

"Well if I wasn't already in love with you, I would be now! Let me at those empanadas!"

Dinner went well. They discussed the issues that could arise, given how quickly their relationship had sparked. Agatha insisted they should go slow on possibly moving in together.

"At least until we know if I'm pregnant or not."

"Fine with me," Rio agreed.

Rio reassured Agatha that there would be no issues with her staying in her career even if and when they had children. They agreed mutually that communication must be their watchword. All the major needs and decisions would involve touching base and discussing things.

"For example," Agatha said once they had finished eating and gone to sit on Rio's couch, "right now, I'm greatly in need of something, but I'd like to ask you how you feel about it."

"Oh, uh, well, okay. Ask away."

"How would you feel about kissing me right now?"

"I... Would feel very good about that."

"Excellent."

Rio did not precisely expect to suddenly have Agatha straddling her, but no way was she going to complain. When those soft, delicate lips met hers, she groaned and settled her hands on Agatha's waist. The kiss went on and on, or really became a series of long, linked kisses with tiny breaks for breathing. Rio's hands slid around, down to cup Agatha's ass, pulling her in tighter.

"Please, can we go to bed?" Agatha whispered.

"You want that? You sure?"

"I want that. Want you."

"Get up for a sec, okay?"

Agatha let out a displeased sigh as she slid off of Rio's lap and stood. Rio simply smirked at her and, standing as well, moved to pick her up.

"I think I like carrying you to bed," Rio said.

There was a distinctive sort of pleasure to having Agatha's weight in her arms, Agatha's arms around her neck, Agatha's scent right up against her as they made their way to the bedroom.

Once she had lowered Agatha onto the bed, Rio smiled to see how Agatha's dress had ridden up during all that kissing on the couch. She knew precisely what she wanted to do next, crawling onto the bed from the foot.

"Rio, what... Oh, fuck."

Reaching up under the dress, Rio's hand hit wet silk and she grinned, tracing a finger along the clear outline of Agatha's cleft.

"You're ready for a party, aren't you?"

"Yes," Agatha hissed, "I fucking am."

It was no great feat to get hold of the sodden panties and drag them down Agatha's legs, then push the dress up further still and lean in for a close sniff.

"You smell amazing, Agatha."

The omega's slick was like her base scent magnified times 100. Running a finger through Agatha's folds, Rio gathered up a sample and tasted it curiously.

She had never been addicted to anything, but she was fairly certain she would be addicted to this taste for life.

"Rio... Please, Rio..."

"Gimme a sec, sweetheart. Just... Just let me be ready."

Taking another deep whiff, Rio felt her head spin, and she pressed on, running her tongue up Agatha's cleft, plunging briefly at the entrance before going on to circle the beautiful pink clit. She felt one of Agatha's hands grip her hair, tugging almost painfully, and she looked up to see the omega's head thrown back.

"Good?"

"Don't stop," Agatha rasped.
"Oh please, don't fucking stop."

Swirling her tongue around Agatha's clit again, Rio whimpered. It was so good down here, so warm, so wet. She tongued down toward the entrance again, pressing her tongue in and flickering the tip slightly. The soft walls fluttered, and Rio carefully pressed a finger inside. Agatha's hips bucked, and her grip on Rio's hair tightened.

"Yes! Fuck, alpha, fuck me. Oh, fuck me."

Stroking the finger in and out a few times, then adding a second, Rio saw a new gush of fluid from Agatha's cunt. She leaned closer to press a firm kiss to Agatha's clit, then let the bud slip between her lips and suckled at it hard as she drove a third finger into the crushing passage below.

"Please, please, please," Agatha moaned, hips juddering.

A moment later, Rio felt yet another gush of slick around her fingers, against her chin, and Agatha cried out, a high, breathy wail. Her hips were still jerking, thighs trembling, as she fell mostly silent.

"Rio," she breathed at last, and the hand that had been gripping Rio's hair tight went loose and instead was petting softly.

Smiling, Rio pulled away and heard Agatha moan.

"No, please, I... I promise I'll be good! Please, don't stop. I won't..."

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay. Alpha just wants to get your clothes all off, okay? Just to make everything easier."

By the time Rio knelt up on the bed, Agatha was frantically twisting around, trying to get her dress off without getting up. Rio sighed and leaned over her.

"Roll over, sweetheart. Let alpha take care of you."

Agatha rolled onto her front, whimpering and whining even as Rio unzipped her dress and guided her up onto her knees to let it slip down.

"There's my good girl. My beautiful girl. Okay, lie back down."

Once she had Agatha's dress off, draped very nicely over the little chest of drawers in the corner, Rio moved off of the bed and started stripping off her own clothes. She saw Agatha watching her and she smiled.

"Be right back with you, sweetheart."

Agatha looked tearful, and so Rio rushed through undressing and went to lie beside her on the bed.

"Agatha, what's wrong?"

"You're just so beautiful," Agatha said.

"Thank you. You're gorgeous. C'mere."

Rio pulled Agatha close, wanting to hold and caress her for a while. To her delight, Agatha curled against her needily, nuzzling at her neck.

"I love you, Rio."

"I love you too. I love you. Fuck, I love you."

After a while, Agatha seemed back in the earlier spirit of things, one hand sneaking down to play with Rio's cock. It was really not too hard at first, but with Agatha's ministrations, it grew slowly to readiness.

"He gets so big when he's happy to see me," Agatha teased.

"Mmm, well, he wants to be able to be nice and deep inside you. Make you feel good. Fill you up."

Agatha laughed.

"He's definitely been doing his job lately."

"And what about her?" Rio said, sliding a hand between Agatha's legs and slipping three fingers back into her cunt.

"Oh, she's very happy to... To welcome him in. Very happy to have him home where he belongs."

Chuckling, Rio kissed Agatha's forehead.

"Do we want to..."

"I mean, I think we basically have to. You're hard as hell, I'm sopping wet. If we don't, we might regret it."

Pulling away, Rio rolled onto her back.

"Climb aboard, sweetheart. I wanna see how you look from this angle."

Agatha seemed only too prepared, eagerly levering herself up and swinging a leg over Rio before sinking down onto Rio's cock without hesitation.

"Fu... Fuck. Oh, fuck, you fill me up. Fuck, just right."

Rio's mind went hazy for a moment, looking up at the sight of Agatha—her mate!—slowly beginning to ride her cock. It was such a glorious vision, Agatha astride her, split open on her, hips rolling back and forward. Her mate, taking her in and looking so beautiful while doing it.

"Agatha... Agatha, you are perfect."

With a whimper, Agatha leaned forward and slumped, hands resting on Rio's shoulders. She just barely raised her hips, then slammed them back down.

"Shit," Rio hissed, "sweetheart..."

"What, honey? What's my big strong alpha need?"

"Just... Just love being inside you."

Agatha raised her hips again, sinking back down with a groan and grinding for a good while.

"Feel you all the way in me. Oh, fuck, Rio, you're so deep in me."

Her motions began to speed up, little by little, and Rio felt her own restraint crumbling as the burn built up in her gut.

"C'mere," Agatha whispered, sitting up straight again and beckoning Rio upright as well.

"What..."

"Sit up and hold me, my love. Wanna feel your arms around me."

So Rio sat up, sliding her arms around Agatha's waist and nuzzling at whatever bit of Agatha's skin she could reach.

"Good alpha. Oh, my pretty boy... Gonna... Oh, Rio..."

Agatha's motions were getting quicker and smaller, more erratic, and Rio could feel her cunt squeezing harder.

"Gonna cum for me, sweetheart? Gonna cum?"

"Uh-huh. Oh, I'm... I'm gonna..."

Agatha's head lolled back and she let out a strangled wail as her cunt went so tight around Rio's cock that it felt like the whole thing might snap off. Rio grunted, jerked, and tried to hold Agatha down tight on her cock as her load spewed out.

"Fuck!" Rio grunted, dazzled by the sensation of once more filling Agatha's tight, wet, heat.

When the feeling was too overwhelming, Rio's arms slipped from their place and she fell back panting on the pillows, heart racing. She lifted her head slightly, just in time to see Agatha raising up off of her cock and the strangely delicious sight of her spend dribbling down from Agatha's cunt.

"Holy shit," she gasped, and followed with her gaze as Agatha slumped next to her on the bed.

Turning onto her side, Rio smiled and stroked Agatha's hair.

"Okay?"

"I... Look, I won't ask if we can do this every night, but will you promise me we can do it nearly every night?"

"As long as you want it," Rio said, "and as long as I'm able."

It had been three weeks since what Agatha and Rio had dubbed "the Reunioning." In that time, they had been dating tentatively, going out for meals a few times, meeting up just to talk about the lives they had led in their time apart, and having massive amounts of sex. Basically, they were trying to go with whatever flow they felt.

Three weeks, and today was another Saturday. They had gone to dinner the night before, then spent the night at Agatha's apartment, and today would be the day, they had decided, when they would take yet another step. This one was less toward deciding their personal feelings in the relationship and more finding out if the choices they had made were going to have small but important consequences.

Agatha woke to Rio holding her, nuzzling into her hair and whimpering due to a bad dream. This had happened before, many times back in their first time knowing each other and once or twice now. Carefully, Agatha turned over and snuggled even closer to Rio.

"Wake up, Rio. It's okay, my love. Shh, just wake up. It's safe."

Rio came slowly to consciousness in her arms, face sad at first.

"My poor Rio," Agatha said, smoothing a thumb along the alpha's cheek.

"Morning," Rio grumbled.

"Morning. You okay?"

"Sorry. Bad dreams."

"I could tell. You wanna talk about it? Was it your..."

"Dreamed you went away and I couldn't find you and I was so scared."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here to take care of you."

Rio sighed softly, happily at that, and Agatha smiled. She had always dreaded the idea of someday possibly getting into a relationship with an alpha. The stereotype of alphas was growly assholes who held all the cards in their relationships. That was certainly the situation Agatha had observed between her own parents. But Rio was gentle, and kind, and seemed content to let Agatha have her own life. Of course, Rio had always been sweet, but it healed Agatha in certain ways to know that Rio had remained compassionate and caring not only in a public facing way, but privately.

"I love you," Rio said.

"And I love you. Now, can I get up for just a moment?"

"Aw, but..."

"I have to go piss on a stick so we know if we need to start setting up a nursery."

"Oh. Right. I... I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You just relax, okay?"

"But... But what if you need help, or..."

"Darling, I can just about manage peeing on my own."

"Sorry. Sorry."

Rio pulled away, looking like a beaten pup, and Agatha gently stroked her hair.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You're just concerned about me. That's very sweet."

That made Rio smile. Leaning over, Agatha kissed her nose, then rolled over and stepped out of the bed.

"Be right back, my love."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you, Rio."

In the bathroom, Agatha took out one of the tests she had bought and fumbled the box open. The instructions were straightforward enough, but she still worried about screwing it up somehow. A large chunk of life spent with a parent who convinced her she did everything wrong had left her uncertain of even her most basic abilities. Eventually, she got through her nerves and briefly shut down her general sense of being a failure and did what she had to do, then left the test on the edge of the sink and went to set a timer on her phone.

Rio had rolled over in bed, and Agatha thought maybe she had fallen back asleep, but as Agatha got into the bed, Rio scooted close and carefully reached out to stroke her arm.

"Are you okay?" the alpha asked softly.

"I am. Are you?"

"I'm sorry if I... If you... If I messed everything up for you."

"Rio, we both made some choices, okay? And part of what we did, at least those first few times, was a medical issue. Whatever happens, we can make it work. You haven't messed everything up for me. Do you feel like I've messed everything up for you?"

"No. But you... You don't want this, not really. Me, a baby..."

"I want you, Rio. I very, very much want you. If there's a baby, well, that'll just be a bonus."

"If the test comes out positive and you wanna get rid..."

"I don't wanna get rid of the baby, Rio. I'm ready for this. At least as ready as I'll ever be. If they exist, I want them."

"What if, like, there's a problem?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let's just relax and wait."

Agatha cuddled into Rio's arms, and she sensed the alpha calming, the buried vanilla smell of shame dissipating in favor of a heady autumn smoke scent of protective reassurance. Rio kissed her forehead and smiled at her.

"You're so pretty, Agatha. Beautiful. Gorgeous, even."

"Quiet, flatterer."

"But you're so gorgeous. Like, the most gorgeous woman ever. All this beautiful hair, those bright eyes, adorable nose..."

"My nose is an atrocity."

"Is not! It's pretty. I like it."

Rio smiled and kissed the bridge of Agatha's nose.

"Well, you have a very specific idea of nasal beauty, then, and that's your thing. Far be it from me to heal you of your kooky notions."

"You're weird, sweetheart."

"Mmm. Says the weirdo. Nice way to talk to the mother of your future children."

Rio fell silent after that, her embrace of Agatha tightening a hair.

"Gonna be okay, my love," Agatha said.
"You, me, all of it. Gonna be okay."

The timer went off, and they both looked at each other for a long moment.

"Are you ready to find out?" Agatha asked.

"I am if you are," Rio nodded.

They crept out of bed and made their way to the bathroom. Agatha stepped inside first and looked down at the test. The bright pink of the lines on the strip was an assault on her retinas, but...

"I'm pregnant," she said.

"You... You are."

Turning to Rio, Agatha smiled.

"Are you happy?"

"I'm happy. Shit, I mean, I'm so happy that... Shit. We... You're gonna have our baby."

Agatha laughed and threw her arms around Rio's neck.

"Our baby. I'm having our baby."

She felt everything at once. Excited, nervous, overjoyed, worried, happy. As they embraced, she could feel Rio shaking, but she knew it must be a happy shiver, because Rio was scenting out a bright, fresh cut grass smell that she knew meant happiness.

"You're okay, right?" Rio asked.

"I'm great. How about you?"

"I'm... I'm really excited. I just... Shit, can we spend the day together?"

"That was always the plan."

"But I mean, like, I wanna spend today pampering you. Taking care of you. Making you know how much I love you."

"You've been hard at work on that little project for the last few weeks. The lovely dates, the flowers delivered to my work..."

"Am I doing too much?"

"No, my love. I enjoy being showered with attention and affection. I can tell you love me."

"Yeah, well, I... I want to take a day and look after you. Give you everything you want."

"I have everything I want. I have my career, I have a beautiful, sweet lover who does everything she can to please me, and now I'm going to have a child with that same wonderful person."

Rio sighed and kissed Agatha's cheek.

"Then can we go back to bed a while and I'll just cuddle you?"

"Sounds good to me."

"And can I please talk to the kid?"

"Uhm, might be a bit difficult. Unless you were planning to yell into my cu..."

"I was thinking gently whispering at your belly, really."

"Yeah, that makes more sense, I guess. I mean, I don't think they'll be able to hear you yet, but you're welcome to try."

"You absolute weirdo," Rio chuckled.

"Takes one to know one, weirdo."

"...so we've got those three grants covered for next quarter as well, and Representative Rogers has said he'll be throwing his support fully behind those new initiatives."

"Great, great," Rio said, "and that little extra funding for the new program?"

Jean nodded confidently.

"Squared away. Took a little budget juggling, but we got it."

"Excellent. I'll look over those other reports tomorrow morning, but for now, I got a lunch to get to and then..."

"The usual afternoon of meetings," Jean chuckled.

"As ever, as always. Thanks a lot, Jean."

They moved almost at the same time to leave Rio's office, but Rio got to the door first, stepping back and holding it open to allow Jean passage. As Rio stepped out after, she saw Agatha waiting, presumably having just arrived, and the omega was absolutely glaring.

"Sweetheart, are you..."

"Who was that in your office?"

"That was Jean. She's one of our brilliant financial minds, among other things."

"Other things?"

Agatha was scenting off a slight odor of burning plastic.

"Agatha, Jean works here. We were going over some reports and things. She... She's just a co-worker. Besides that, she's in a relationship."

Rio rested a hand on Agatha's shoulder.

"Sweetheart, you're my one and only. You know that. Please, don't be upset, okay?"

"I'm not, I... I'm not. Just... Rio, I've never really had anything like this, like our relationship, and..."

"Hey, just relax. Come on into my office, okay, and we'll just sit a minute before we go to lunch."

Rio led the way, guiding Agatha with a hand at the small of her back, and closed the office door behind them.

"Here, my love. Sit here and let's talk."

They sat on the small couch against the north wall of Rio's office. Taking Agatha's hands in her own, Rio smiled.

"How are you today? How was the appointment?"

"I'm fine. The appointment went well. So far, so good, Dr. Kale says."

"Good. Oh, I wish I could have been there."

Agatha shrugged.

"Not much to see, really. Oh, but they want to do a sonogram in two weeks, just to get an early look at everything. Just to make sure things are in order so far."

She seemed nervous as she brought that up, and Rio leaned in a little.

"A sonogram. That's normal enough, yeah?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Agatha..."

"They have some concerns. Seems there've been problems with conceptions resulting from failure of implants like ours. If the implants were still somewhat functional for a period after, sometimes it can cause... It can cause problems. And given our mutual history, those old-fashioned suppressants we were given at Pleasant Hill..."

"You... You'll be all right, won't you?"

"It's not me they're worried about, Rio. The baby..."

"But we... You had your implant out a week after we learned it failed. That was really quick..."

"They still want to check. And I'll probably have to have extra monitoring throughout, just in case. Like I said, it's not even only because of the implants. They overdosed us like mad on those old suppressants at Pleasant Hill, and you know the problems that can cause later."

"Do... Is there anything we can do?"

"Just keep everything in check. Keep an eye on how things develop."

A few tears fell from Agatha's eyes as she spoke, and all Rio could do was scoot closer to wrap her in a gentle hug.

"Do you... Do you still want this?" Rio asked.

"Of course I want this. I want children with you, Rio, and... And I'm almost terrified this is our best chance. I was reading last night about Representative Rogers, about how his family kept him on such high doses of the old suppressants when he was young, and that's why he's had so many failed pregnancies, and..."

"Sweetheart, he was on those for years. You were on doses not quite so high for one year. You... You'll be okay. We'll be a family."

"You've been so worried that you're ruining my life," Agatha sobbed, "and now I'm worried I... What if I can't give you children? What if what happened back then..."

"Agatha, I'm not with you just to have children. I'm with you because I love you. Because I want you. This... We'll work, all right, and do whatever we must to try and protect our child. And if things don't work out, if... If they might never work out, that's fine. That's all right."

"Can we... Can you just hold me a while?"

Rio wrapped her arms around Agatha and pulled her close, kissing her quick. The news they had was worrying, but if they were just careful, if they did things right, everything would work out.

"Rio?" Agatha whispered, pressing a kiss to the angle of Rio's jaw.

"Hnn?"

"Promise you love me?"

"I love you more than anything, Agatha."

"Please, do something to make me not think about all this. Please? Anything to make me forget."

Rio kissed Agatha gently twice, and then a little more firmly.

"Stay right here."

Standing, Rio went to her desk and started collecting things. Phone, water bottle, all the little important stuff. Half through muscle memory, she sent a text to Logan.

Cancel my meetings.
Family stuff came up.

As soon as she got a positive reply, she shoved everything but the water bottle in her bag and crossed back to Agatha.

"You have the day off, right?"

"Yes, I..."

"C'mon. We'll have lunch at my place. Gonna take care of you."

They rushed a little going to the elevator, and it seemed like the descent to the parking garage took forever. Once they were in Rio's car, she reached over and squeezed Agatha's hand, then lifted it to her lips and kissed it.

"We're gonna have a good afternoon," she smirked.

They made it to Rio's apartment relatively quickly, despite the midday rush, and Rio had Agatha relax in the bedroom while she prepared lunch. Agatha had argued that she should help with lunch, but Rio had pinned her gently to the bed, hands on her wrists, kneeling astride her hips.

"I will pamper you if it's the last thing I do, Agatha."

"Oh? Good luck with that," Agatha had whispered, winking and bumping her hips up into Rio's crotch.

"Agatha, please. Please, let me look after you. That's all I want is a few hours where I just take care of you and our baby. Please."

And then Rio felt awful, because Agatha's eyes filled with tears, but when she pulled away, Agatha just raised a hand to stroke her cheek.

"You can look after us, my love. But look after yourself too."

"I do. Now, you rest. I'll make lunch."

Rio got off the bed and made it as far as the bedroom door before Agatha called out to her.

"If I am to be pampered, I will expect to be hand-fed like the princess I am."

When Rio looked back, Agatha had burrowed under the blankets and was peering over the top at her.

"All right. I'll see what I can do, Your Highness."

"Everything looks all right according to the scan, but as we said at the last appointment, given your history, complications are a factor."

Agatha took a deep breath, felt Rio squeeze her hand, and nodded.

"What sort of complications?"

"Well, given the fact this pregnancy is due to implant failure, we have to be concerned about difficulties caused by the implant itself. Failure of the implant in the way you've described does not mean that it was absolutely no longer doing at least part of its job. Even many of the more modern suppressants can cause early development problems which can lead to miscarriage."

"Dr. Kale," Rio cut in, "we learned of the failure within days of when we would have conceived, and had both of our implants removed within a week of that."

"That's a tick in the positive column, then. There is still room for concern however. And beyond that..."

"Look," Agatha said, "I think we all know the biggest concern is the outdated suppressants I was given in my teens. What are the odds of that being a problem?"

"Well, as your exposure was for only around a year a decade ago, and none of your gynecological exams since then have noted any signs of trouble, I think there could be a little less concern. However, having seen your records, including some of the drugs you were administered and the doses..."

"Alleged doses," Agatha spat."Pleasant Hill was not exactly a place of ideal record keeping."

"Right. Doses like you may have received can lead to issues with reproductive health later. There can be fertility issues, atrophy of various organs, or cervical insufficiency leading to difficulty sustaining a pregnancy."

"All right, so give us percentages. What are the chances of this pregnancy going safely to term? What are the chances I could become pregnant later on?"

"Ms. Harkness, we really can't say. At this point, you're about six weeks pregnant. All your blood work seems fine, the sonogram showed no obvious signs of trouble, and you've reported no unusual symptoms. At this point, all we can do is wait and see."

After the appointment, Agatha had to be at work and make it through the rest of her day. There was so much to be done, so much to be gotten through, and there were concerns she was having about a new project. All of that on top of the pregnancy concerns meant that, by the time she left work that evening, well after 7:00 p.m., Agatha was exhausted.

Luckily for her, Rio picked her up from work and took her home. "Home," in this case, being Rio's apartment, where Agatha had been spending a lot of time since this whole situation escalated. They would have the weekend to decompress and talk about next steps.

"First thing," Rio said as they stumbled into her apartment, "let's order some takeout and just relax a while."

"Dibs on your bed!" Agatha called, already halfway to the bedroom.

Really she went there not from any especial love of the bed—though it was a nice, big bed that they had taken much pleasure in so far—but because she knew Rio would give her a bit of time alone there to settle in, and what Agatha wanted right now was a good, solid cry.

She did not want to lose this, any of it, because of some medical error or because of the shit from her past. Yet another information packet plus some more research in free moments at work had reassured her that the implant failure was likely to have caused any major issues, but the stuff about what happened at Pleasant Hill...

If she lost this pregnancy, it would be like her mother reaching out from the grave to try and destroy her life again. And if the loss was due to some medical issue related to the suppressant overdosing they both went through as teens, she had a sense that Rio might leave her too.

'No alpha wants a mate who can't even give them healthy children,' Agatha kept thinking.

That really got the tears going. Rio was not just the person she was dating. Rio had been one of the first people to make Agatha feel like she mattered. Rio had been her first in multiple ways, and she had known since those early days that she wanted Rio to be her only.

"Sweetheart?"

Agatha turned over quick at the sound of Rio's voice.

"Don't leave me," she whispered.

"Agatha, mi amor, sweet one, I'm not leaving."

Rio crawled into bed and Agatha allowed herself to be pulled into the warmest embrace.

"Not leaving you. Never, unless you want me to. I will not leave the woman I love."

"If the baby goes..."

"They won't. They're gonna be safe and healthy because we're gonna fight for them."

"But if the worst does happen, if I lose this pregnancy and can't ever keep one..."

"Then I'll be right here with you, helping you deal with that. Agatha, whether we have one child, or a few children, or none at all, at base we still have you and me. We still have the experiences we've shared and the love we feel for one another."

And then Rio was just holding her, rocking her, kissing her and caressing her and telling her that things would work out. That things would be okay.

Dinner was not actually ordered until after 9:00. They ate, as they had many times, in bed, and then Rio smiled.

"Wanna take a bath?" she asked.
"I'll scrub your back."

"Hope you'll to more than that," Agatha whispered.

The bath was good, more a lazy soak followed by a rinse off than anything. After, Rio carried Agatha back to bed.

"Look at my woman," Rio smiled.
"My beautiful, soft woman."

"I'm not soft."

"You can be. You're soft with me. You're caring, calming, reassuring. I try to be all those things with you, but..."

"Rio, you are all those things. Right now is... I just..."

"All those things the doctor said are just worst case scenarios. They won't happen to you. To our child."

"But what if..."

"Let's not what if ourselves into horrors, Agatha. Let's dwell on the positives. You're here, I'm here. We're in love, we're safe, you're carrying our child. Agatha, we're going to be so happy together. Our family will be happy."

Rio kissed her again and again: her forehead, her lips, the angle of her jaw, her neck. The kisses were warm and passionate and very, very comforting, and when one of them eventually landed on Agatha's clit, her hips bucked up hard.

"Alpha!" she cried, the word torn from her like the beginning and ending of a prayer.

Her belly went tight for a moment, and there was the familiar swirling, hot twinge of need, of lust. Rio's hand slid up over her mons and came to rest on her belly, holding her steady but also soothing, reminding her to relax. Rio's tongue, meanwhile, was doing maddening things to her clit, circling it, cradling it, teasing it, then trailing down to lap at her entrance.

Breath coming in sharp gasps, Agatha reached to thread her fingers into Rio's hair. She wanted control, tightness, wanted to be able to press harder. The moment she did, she felt Rio moan and slip two finger inside of her.

"Fuck, Rio, I love you so much."

Another moan against her, against those softest places, and Agatha whimpered, felt something in her self unfolding, unfurling. She was so near to where she wanted to be. So close to everything being perfect. So, so close.

"Rio, please... Oh, Alpha, I..."

The pleasure shot through her like a shock, mind blanking, body arching, everything spiraling to a moment of pure unalloyed bliss. She knew she must have made a sound of some kind, but she was not sure if it would have been a moan or a scream, or perhaps some more primal cry. All she knew was that soon Rio was holding her again, one hand still between her legs cupping and tenderly rubbing, and the kisses between them tasted of Agatha herself. She groaned at the knowledge, at the flavor of herself pressed between her lips.

"I adore you," Rio whispered.
"Every bit of you. I always will, Agatha."

"Rio, how do I deserve you? This?"

"You deserve it because you do. Because we are for each other. Because we always have been. We will have happiness, always. We will have each other forever, Agatha."

"Do you promise?"

"I swear. I'll do whatever you want to prove it."

"Just hold me."

"Forever, my love."

Rio gasped at the sensation of slick dripping down onto her cock.

"Shit, Agatha... Fuck, you want me this badly?"

"Need you this badly, my love. Oh, fuck, yes..."

Agatha sank straight down onto Rio's cock, whimpering, and slumped a bit forward as she started to ride it. Rio smoothed gentle hands over her hips, grounding deeper into the connection. If she angled her touch just right, she could brush her thumbs along part of the slight swell of Agatha's belly—that beautiful, beautiful sign of their child's presence.

It had been three, nearly four, months now, and everything was going as it should. The pregnancy was proceeding with an almost textbook typicality, according to the doctors. All the blood work was normal, physical signs normal, a second scan at 11 weeks had shown no signs of trouble with growth or development, and Agatha was well. She had, very briefly, dealt with some slight morning sickness, but it had passed and everything was calm. Even Agatha herself seemed far less afraid now, less worried that some failure, some loss, was inevitable.

Rio's only concern now was how the changes to Agatha's body struck her as so very deeply erotic; how that new little curve of belly somehow made her painfully aroused at the most inopportune times. The knowledge that Agatha was pregnant, was carrying their child, made Rio desperate to touch, to hold, to enter her mate.

"You feel so good," Rio murmured, hands tightening their grip ever so slightly.

"Rio?"

"What, sweetheart?"

"Switch? I need you on top of me."

"Sure?"

"Mm-hmm," Agatha nodded.

Agatha raised up, pulled away, and for a moment Rio wanted to cry out at the loss of all that sweet, wet warmth. Instead, she watched Agatha lie down, then lay beside her, reaching down to finger her lazily.

"Sure you want me on top, my love?"

"Please, Rio. Please."

So on top Rio got, easing her cock back into Agatha slowly, carefully, groaning in pleasure at returning to those silky, molten depths. She stayed fully sheathed a good while, not wanting to move because that would entail some small departure again. At last, however, when Agatha was squirming and begging beneath her, she dragged herself slightly out, then thrust back in hard, breathing ragged. This was bliss upon joy upon wonder. This was heaven.

"Fuck," Agatha gasped on a particularly rough thrust.

"Good, sweetheart? All good?"

"P-perfect. Oh, don't stop. Don't you dare stop."

"I can go all night if you can, one way or another. If I... Run outta steam, there's always the ol' toybox."

"Don't need a toy when I have you. Fuck, fuck, fuck, you are... Oh, that's the good spot! Oh, fuck me!"

"Hard at work on that," Rio rasped.

The bed creaked slightly with their motion, and Agatha clung tight to Rio's neck.

"Rio... Oh, Rio, I... Mmm..."

Agatha was trembling, pressing kisses along Rio's jaw and neck before biting down hard on Rio's scent gland. The bite stung like hell, but it scent a jolt of pleasure through Rio that felt like the combined pleasure of every orgasm she had ever had.

"Fucking FUCK!" she roared, thrusting in and out and in, hard, deep, rough, spilling into Agatha in a way that felt endless.

Shuddering, shivering, twitching, Rio groaned, grunted, and rolled away to Agatha's side, still holding on tight even as her cock softened, slipped free, and shrank up. She was not entirely aware of what was going on again until she felt another sting on her shoulder and found Agatha sitting up beside her, wearing a robe, tenderly caring for the bite wound.

"Suppose now we're even," Agatha whispered.

"Marked," Rio nodded, "and mated to each other. Thank you."

"Did I hurt you badly?"

"No, sweetheart. Shot me so far over the edge I worried for a second I would never come back."

As soon as the wound was bandaged, Rio took Agatha's hands and kissed them, then smiled.

"You look so beautiful right now, my love."

"Please. I'm sweaty and tear-stained and..."

"Crying? Agatha, what..."

"Oh, just... I don't like to see you bleeding. Especially not since it was my fault."

"I'll be all right. You've taken care of me, as I took care of you. It'll heal up a bit."

"Still, I hate to think I'd cause you harm."

"It was a heavenly sort of harm, mi ángel. A beautiful binding. An ineffable injury..."

"It's 3:00 a.m. Let's save the poetry a while, darling."

Setting the first aid things further back on the nightstand and shrugging off her robe, Agatha slid down under the covers and curled up to Rio's side.

"Feel well?" Rio asked.

"I feel a little fucked out."

"Ha. So do I. C'mere. Gotta put my arms around you a bit more."

They snuggled, and Rio ran a hand down to rub Agatha's belly.

"You do well growing my whelp, Omega," she teased.

"Oh, Alpha, I'm so pleased you approve."

Their tones were soft, laughing, loving.

"I can't wait for our little one to get here," Rio said, "so I can start spoiling the both of you."

"You already do spoil the both of us, silly. So long as the baby's in my womb, you can't help but spoil us both."

"Yes, well, one day I'll be able to spoil you each individually. For you, my sweet, beautiful clothes and fine food and whatever you desire. For the pup, toys and games and... And whatever else babies like."

"I'm happy just to have you, my love. I'll bet you could just give the baby warm pajamas and make a few funny faces and they would be content."

"Yeah, well, maybe I want my wife and child to be more than content."

"Wife, hmm? Like the sound of that."

Rio sniffed and sighed.

"We'll have to arrange all of that. A wedding I mean. You think before or after the baby is born."

"I sort of like the idea of them being there. They can celebrate with us."

"Excellent idea. Mmm, Agatha, you always have the most excellent ideas."

First thing on Friday, Agatha got called into a meeting. She had a suspicion it was about the future confluence of her job and her personal life. Sure enough, as soon as she was seated in Irene Adler's office, the older omega sighed and got right to the point.

"So, Agatha, congratulations on your pregnancy."

"Thank you."

"If I may ask, how far along are you?"

"Nearly five months."

"Wonderful! You're basically halfway there. Of course, it's the next few months that will seem the most difficult."

"So I've been told."

"I understand you've already filed the paperwork for your maternity leave and all of that."

"Yes. I took care of it as quickly as I could. Wanted to sort of get it out of the way."

"Excellent thinking. You've always shown yourself to have a mind for planning and organization. It's made you one of our brightest young editors. Of course, with your current situation..."

"My partner says that my organizational mind will no doubt lead me to excell at motherhood," Agatha dared to interrupt, "but of course, I intend to continue applying it fully here at work as well."

Irene sighed.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about today, Agatha. Your future with Darkholme/Adler."

Leaning back in her chair, Irene nodded.

"You've done so much brilliant work for us, Agatha, and brought so many important works through the process. It's not easy work, but you have, in the opinion of many here, made it seem effortless."

"Thank you, Ms. Adler."

"But Agatha, as this is high stress field, a job that can take up so much of a person's time and energy... Well, are you certain you want to remain with us after you become a mother? Wouldn't you rather have more time in the years ahead to devote to your family?"

"Oh, my partner and I have discussed that. We believe, with the right sort of effort, we can both balance work and parenting."

"Of course, as accomplished as you are, Agatha, you no doubt could, but it's so difficult, really..."

"Forgive me for asking, Ms. Adler, but how do you manage it? After all, yourself and Ms. Darkholme have two children now, so..."

"Well, it's really a different matter for us, isn't it? My wife and I run this firm. We have the resources to bring help in on things like childrearing."

"Well, certainly my partner and I are not quite so well-off as others, but we are people of reasonable means. I'm sure when the day comes that we might see a need to hire a nanny or other such help, we'll manage it."

"Agatha," Irene said, "what I am trying to say is that for an omega in your position, it sometimes is simply easier to leave a career behind when children begin to arrive. It's easier and simpler to move to a new sort of very rewarding work. To simply be a spouse and a parent."

"So, are you suggesting I resign or telling me to? Or will you just find some reason to fire me right after I return from leave?"

"Of course, we would never push you, Agatha. However, it's widely known how..."

"How society has certain expectations of omegas that are enforced thoughtlessly above and beyond any kind of necessity? How if I were a little older than 28, a little more established in my field, you would never think of trying to force me into a life as a barefoot and pregnant stay-at-home mother?"

Agatha thought she caught a look of concern flash across Irene's face.

"We would never at all want to make you feel any pressure to..."

"But that's what this meeting is about, isn't it? The private little one-omega-to-another meeting? What, is there some omega employment quota to stay within, or are some individuals simply concerned that others might manage to do what they've done and perhaps do it better?"

"That's not at all..."

"I'm well aware that my employment here, and my rapid advancement, has been largely due to a certain cachet afforded me by what I experienced as a teenager. That's also why I've backed the sorts of books I have. I like my work, and I know I do it well. I intend to continue well in my work no matter the outcome of this or any other pregnancy.
"And I phrase it that way, Ms. Adler, because the same difficult youth that no doubt influenced my hiring here could very well mean this child won't be born healthy, or possibly even alive. I've been through plenty of torture in my life, and for you to try and add to the pile by encouraging me to drop the one thing I'm good at is odious and frankly hypocritical thanks to our shared designation."

Agatha felt a twinge in her gut, followed by a gentle flutter, and hoped it was simply stress. Irene, meanwhile, sat speechless behind her desk for quite a while.

"Well, Agatha, I must commend you for your determination. I'm sorry if we've made you feel pressured; that was never our intent."

'Sure it wasn't' Agatha thought.

"Of course, after your leave, your job will still be here, ready and waiting. If there's anything at all we can do to help..."

"Oh, you've already been too kind as employers. If I could head back to my office now, I have at least three meetings ahead, and I need to get to..."

"Of course, of course. Go ahead."

As she strode out of Irene's office, Agatha felt shaky and frankly a little terrified. They were pushing, but she was ready to push back. If they tried to gin up some reason to fire her, she was sure she could find proof that it was all a front and could probably have a solid case for unlawful termination or something like that. If it came down to a matter of desperation, well, there was that one questionable memoir that had gotten shuffled off on her when Gulliver left last year for that job over at Xavier/Frost/Lehnsherr. There were some weird gaps in the writer's story that were making her suspect fraud. She had been working to tie things up so she could take all the evidence to the higher-ups so they could dump the book like a load of shit, but now...

Well, maybe now she would hang on to it a while, in case she needed to leave a little mess behind if and when they tried to muscle her out.

For the rest of the day she got through things with her usual cool, only occasionally letting annoyance or stress get to her. Toward the end of the day the little twinges and sensations in her belly were genuinely worrying her, but instead of calling her doctor or something, she just looked things up on her phone. When she realized what was likely happening, she nearly burst into tears of relief at her desk.

Movement. She was probably starting to feel the baby move.

Pulling herself together, she powered through the last few hours. There was work to take home, of course, but that was normal. She would handle it. She would stay a little late in the office if she needed to, and then...

And then her phone buzzed with a message from Rio. A message from her beautiful mate, come to take her home. She had been worried that she would feel crowded, trapped even, if Rio suddenly showed a bunch of alpha protective traits as the pregnancy progressed, but so far this was one she did not mind at all.

They had not officially moved in together yet, but most nights they went back to Rio's place together. They would be moving on from there soon, however. A bigger apartment in the same building was available. More space for all their things, plus a room that would make a perfect nursery. They would be all moved in sometime next month. Agatha found herself actually excited for the move. Normally she hated the idea, but now...

Now they were moving into what would be their family home.

As she rode down in the elevator, Agatha could not resist rubbing her hand over her abdomen. The baby was doing well, so far. There would be another scan in a week, this one a pretty standard anatomy scan. They had already agreed they wanted to learn, if possible, the baby's sex. They said it was to narrow down name choices and such, but Agatha knew deep down it was because they were both worried something would go wrong, and so they wanted to know as much of their child as possible in case the worst happened.

Rio was already waiting in the lobby, and Agatha went right to her, hugging her tight.

"Hey, mi amor," Rio whispered, "you seem upset."

"Rough day. Let's just go home."

"Okay. C'mon. I'll get you home."

In the car, Agatha sighed and relaxed in her seat, hand moving once more over the swell of her abdomen. Rio glanced over when they were stopped at an intersection.

"Are you..."

"I started feeling the baby move today."

"You... You did? Shit, that... That's amazing."

"Irene Adler called me into her office for a meeting. They're trying... Well, at this stage they're trying to encourage me out, I'd say."

"You're not gonna let them, right?" Rio says softly.

"I want to fight, but... What if I can't?"

"You're strong, Agatha. So strong. You love your job, want your career. If you need any help, you know I'm right here for you. You know I love you and I'd do anything..."

"I know, my love. I know."

Once they were at Rio's, they cooked dinner together, ate together, and then Rio went and ran a bath. It was really just for Agatha, Rio said, but when Agatha insisted, Rio climbed in behind her.

"I love you so much," Agatha whispered.

"You talkin' to me or the baby?" Rio teased.

"Both."

"You okay, sweetheart?"

"I'm just tired. And scared. And tired, did I mention tired?"

"We'll get some rest this weekend, okay? I mean, I got some stuff to deal with, but I'll be around. And hey, just think, in a week we get to see the bean again. See more about who they might be."

"They'll be more than a bean by now," Agatha said.

"Mm-hmm. Just... They're doin' good. We're doin' good too, right?"

"Are you happy with me?"

"Of course. You happy with me?"

"I've never been happier, Rio. I just sort of feel like some things are closing in."

"We'll handle it. Just lean on me when you need it. You're not alone in any of this, Agatha. You're never gonna be."

When they eventually went to bed, Rio spooned close against Agatha's back, kissing her neck, nuzzling in her hair, and running a gentle hand over her belly.

"We're a family now," Rio murmured sleepily.

"Sure we should be?" Agatha asked.
"Neither of us has the best history with families."

"We're gonna make our family a good one. Safe. Happy. Just you watch."

"These exam rooms are always so cold," Agatha groused.

Rio wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder briskly while scenting reassurance.

"Hopefully everything'll go well and we can be out of here quick. Get you home and get you all warmed up."

"I... Rio, I'm scared."

"It's gonna go fine, sweetheart."

"What if something... What if the baby's not all right?"

"Our baby's gonna be fine, Agatha. Perfect. We'll see them in just a little bit, and we'll see them safe and healthy."

"You can't know that, Rio."

"Everything's been fine so far, my love. Our child will be safe."

Agatha leaned into Rio's embrace, sighing.

"I want them to be safe. I want them to make it. I just..."

"They'll be safe. I swear to you, if there's anything we can do to make sure they're well and stay well..."

There was a knock at the door of the exam room, and the sonographer entered. Rio tightened her embrace of Agatha for a moment, kissing her temple. There were questions—always so many questions—and then Rio stepped away slightly so Agatha could lie back on the exam table, taking her hand and squeezing it once she was properly positioned with her belly exposed.

'Be okay,' Rio thought, as if their unborn child could hear, 'for your mom, be okay. Please, baby, be okay.'

She knew if something were up, if there was an issue, she might be able to handle it. She suspected Agatha could not. More than a few nights lately, Rio had awakened alone in bed, then followed soft sounds of crying to the bathroom. She had stood outside the door, listening to Agatha murmur apologies to their baby when, if there was a problem, especially related to their time at Pleasant Hill, it would in no way be Agatha's fault.

"There we go," the sonographer said, "a nice clear image. And right there, that's the baby."

Rio stared at the screen, at the tiny little human shape visible. There was so clearly the profile of a tiny face, and that made Rio smile. They were seeing their child's face. A little arm moved about sharply just then, and Rio almost wanted to laugh.

"I think they're waving at us," Agatha whispered, and squeezed Rio's hand.

The sonographer talked them through everything. Two little arms, two little legs, everything seemed to be in good order. Every time something was pronounced 'good' or 'just what we like to see,' Rio felt a small release of tension in herself, and swore she could sense Agatha relaxing as well.

"Now, do we want to try and see the sex?" the sonographer asked.

"Do we?" Agatha asked.

Rio leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Up to you, mi vida."

Agatha smiled and nodded to the sonographer.

"We'd like to know."

There was a little more waiting, a bit more of the probe being moved around, and then...

"If you just look right... There, you'll see. Looks like you could be expecting a little boy."

Rio felt her breath catch in her chest for a moment. She felt Agatha's grip on her hand tighten once more and she remembered to breathe. She had to keep doing that for Agatha and their baby. Their son.

Agatha was worried, Rio knew, that the child could be a boy and an omega. She still sometimes mentioned in passing how she would understand if Rio was upset if they had an omega child, especially a boy. It was so silly, and it was all a result of shit Agatha's mother had pushed on her.

When the sonographer left for a moment, Rio leaned in to kiss Agatha's cheek.

"He looks so healthy, our son," Rio said.

"Everything's all right. I can't believe he... That everything seems fine."

"I told you, our kid's gonna be great. Healthy and happy and great."

There was a little more waiting around, a bit of discussion of the results with Dr. Kale.

"All signs point to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby so far, Ms. Harkness. Congratulations. With luck, everything will continue to progress smoothly."

"Doctor, you're sure there was nothing..."

"Everything looks just as we would expect at this stage. Of course, we'll continue monitoring closely, but I'd say chances are good for no major complications."

They were both relatively silent on the drive home, but as soon as they were through the door of Rio's apartment—already half-empty as they moved in together one floor up in the building—Agatha burst out laughing.

"He's okay. Our boy's okay."

"He is," Rio said, and pulled her mate close for a quick kiss.

Smiling, Rio stepped back and fell to her knees, pressing her forehead to Agatha's belly.

"Hola, mijo. Soy tu papá."

She felt Agatha's fingers running gently through her hair, and she looked up, tears in her eyes.

"I love you, Agatha. I love you."

"And I love you," Agatha said.

"We're gotta get to work upstairs, huh? Gotta get the nursery all ready."

"We will. What say we have lunch for now, though? Something good to celebrate?"

Rio stood.

"Anything, mi vida. Anything you want."

"Surprise me? I need to go use the bathroom and... And then I think I need to sit and process for a bit."

"You got it."

While Agatha disappeared off to the bathroom, Rio pulled out her phone. Greek food sounded good today. She tapped in their usual order at a restaurant not far away, then shoved the phone back into her pocket and went to the bedroom. They would probably eat in there, sitting on the bed. That was becoming much more common in the midst of the move.

Relaxing onto the bed, Rio sighed, arms behind her head. The baby was even more real now in a way. Their baby. Their little boy. Shit, they were really going to be parents.

The bathroom door opened and Rio looked over, seeing Agatha there, standing very still, a hand on her belly.

"Sweetheart? Are you..."

"Just... Our son was moving."

"Sure everything's all right?"

Agatha smiled.

"It's all right."

"I ordered us some lunch. You wanna just lie down while we wait?"

"Sounds great."

Agatha eased down onto the bed and Rio turned to spoon against her.

"Warm enough, mi amor?"

"Mmm, now that we're all snuggled up like this. You always make me feel so warm and safe, Rio."

"That's my most important job. Looking after you and making you comfortable."

Agatha chuckled and grabbed Rio's hand, pressing it to a certain part of her abdomen.

"You probably can't feel yet," she said, "but our son is fidgeting around right there."

"Is he? Good boy, keeping active."

"I'm telling you, Wanda, there's just too much off with this guy's story. I know different people have different experiences, but this..."

"Seems patchwork," Wanda nodded.

Agatha frowned.

"Exactly. Just seems like maybe he's picked and chosen, but it's really subtle, you know?"

"Maybe he knows actual survivors."

"Could be. Could be. I... I think it might be the right time to take this to the higher-ups. I've sort of been holding out, but this is getting pretty close. I've found some things, some evidence that the guy is just entirely lying. I think it's time to stop this. I go on maternity leave in two months, and I want this shut down now rather than risk someone who takes over on the tail end just letting it through."

"Show me watcha got," Wanda said, "and I'll back you up."

Agatha pulled up the information she had collected and shared it to Wanda's files.

"It's all in there. There are lots of holes in the guy's story."

"Mm-hmm," Wanda hummed, "I'll go through it tonight."

"Great. We..."

Agatha's phone buzzed, and she glanced at it. Rio was messaging her.

Hey, meeting ran
long. Might run late
to pick you up just
a few minutes. Wait
in your office for me?

Smiling, Agatha texted back.

I'll be waiting, my love

When Agatha looked back up, Wanda was grinning at her.

"Message from the wife?"

"From the fiancée, actually. We're not getting married until..."

"I know, I know. But you two are already so like an old married couple."

"Well, we've known each other a long time. We get each other. Moving in together and having a baby certainly helps with that."

"How's the move going, incidentally?"

"Oh, we're all settled in the new place. Lately we're focusing on the nursery."

Wanda laughed.

"What?" Agatha asked.

"I never thought I'd see you be all mushy and maternal, somehow, but when you talk about anything relating to the baby, you... You seem so happy and gentle."

"You saying I'm a sour asshole otherwise?"

"No. It's just clear that you care so deeply about this new part of your life."

"Well, I ought to. I'm going to be a mother. A mother ought to care, right?"

"Of course, of course. It just... You seem so at peace."

Rolling her eyes, Agatha relaxed back in her chair slightly.

"I'm who I've always been."

"Sure, sure, but you're happier than I've seen you in years," Wanda said, heading out of Agatha's office.

She turned back just outside the doorway.

"Love looks good on you, Agatha."

Shaking her head, Agatha waved Wanda off.

"Shut the door, will you?"

As the door banged shut, the baby set up kicking, and Agatha rubbed her abdomen.

"Calm down, young man. Auntie Wanda is just a hopeless romantic. I love you and your sire, but it's not making me that different."

The baby kicked a few more times, then seemed to settle as Agatha focused on a few work tasks.

She was restless lately. Oh, she slept and rested when necessary, but there was so much happening. There was the questionable memoir, the continuing sense of pressure to give up her work—though she had noticed that Irene Adler was actually acting very supportive since their meeting—and the slight stress of the recently completed move. Rio was having some difficulties as well. There was a problem lately with a couple of grants for the organization falling through, and a politician who opposed the measures Representative Rogers was backing had set out to use a smear campaign against the representative's husband to halt things, dragging the organization into it.

Still, things were going well too. One of the books Agatha handled last year had just won another few awards, and in spite of some of the pressure, there were rumblings of further advancement in her career. Rio's organization had pushed through a successful campaign to shut down what was essentially a conversion school for queer youth.

More personally, the baby was still doing well. Every test result was as expected, every sign was good, and he was so active that sometimes he was the cause for Agatha's restlessness. Not that she blamed him, of course; every little kick and flutter and tumble was to be celebrated. He was healthy and strong, so far as they could tell.

At 6:15, there was a knock at Agatha's office door. Sighing, she stood slowly and went to answer.

"Flowers for Agatha Harkness?" Rio said, holding out a small bouquet.

The baby went absolutely wild, kicking and moving. It was like he sensed his sire and was as happy as Agatha was to be near her.

"Charmer," Agatha smiled, and took the flowers.

Rio stepped into the office and hugged her, then kissed her and stepped back.

"Ready to head home?"

"Mm-hmm. Ready for a peaceful evening, I hope."

"Oh, peace and quiet are my speciality. How's our boy?"

"He's good. At the moment..."

With her free hand, Agatha grabbed Rio's and pulled it to her belly.

"Feel right there?"

Rio looked concerned, and then her eyes went wide.

"That..."

"I think he's excited you're here. He started up as soon as you spoke."

"He... Likes me?"

"He better," Agatha smirked, "because I like you."

"Just... Can I..."

Rio knelt carefully, hand still on Agatha's belly, and smiled, pressing a kiss just beside her hand.

"Hey, little guy. Hey, mijo. I'm right here, and I'm happy to see you."

Sure enough, the baby's movements seemed to increase. Either he was positively mad for Rio or he loved having all attention centered on him. Probably both, Agatha decided.

Rio stood again, still with an awestruck smile on her face.

"Our kid likes me," she sighed.

"Well, like I said, his mom likes you too."

Rio finally moved her hand from Agatha's belly.

"I like his mom an awful lot too."

In the elevator, Rio stayed very close, one arm around Agatha's shoulders and an expression of vigilance on her face. Agatha had noticed this behavior more lately, and the faint coppery scent that came with it. Rio was being protective in the extreme. Of course, she always had been protective, but she seemed to become more so as the pregnancy went on. It was typical of alphas, and the whole thing had always given Agatha a bad vibe. With Rio, however, it never seemed overwhelming. No, with Rio, it seemed loving. She never made Agatha feel weighed down; just safe and loved.

They had dinner out that night, at a quiet Sicilian place a few blocks from home. Rio was quiet in a way that made Agatha worry, but then she realized that Rio was mostly just watching her eat, smiling in a soft way.

"What?" Agatha finally asked.

"Just watching you," Rio said.
"Admiring you. My beautiful mate."

"Dork."

"Hey, maybe I'm a dork, but you're gorgeous, my love."

"Well, not currently. Junior's kind of got me looking like a bloated mess."

"Nah. You're gorgeous. That you're carrying our child only makes you even more beautiful."

Rio reached across the table and took Agatha's hand.

"I mean it, Agatha. You... Sometimes I can't take my eyes off of you because you're so beautiful."

Agatha blushed, feeling tears well in her eyes at the same time. When she looked up at Rio, the alpha seemed shocked.

"Agatha, what... Why are you crying?"

"You... You're just really sweet and I love you a lot and can we just go home now?"

"Is something wrong? Do you..."

"It's just... It's hormones or something. I dunno."

They paid and Rio rushed them home. The moment they were in the apartment, Agatha pushed Rio back against the door and kissed her hard. Suddenly, all that mattered was getting to bed.

"Need you," Agatha whimpered, fighting to unbutton Rio's shirt.

"Fuck, sweetheart, you smell so good. C'mon, let... Bedroom, huh? Let's get to the bedroom."

Somehow they made it, clothes shed along the way, and Agatha crawled onto the bed, kneeling up with her hands on the headboard and glancing over her shoulder at Rio. No words, just the quirk of a brow.

"Fuck, you're hot," Rio said, and quickly lunged onto the bed.

The moment Rio's cock speared into her, Agatha moaned with relief.

"Yes! Rio, fuck! You feel so good."

They started easy, and Agatha felt herself going slack with pleasure at the sensation of Rio's cock slowly sliding over all the perfect spots within her. As the thrusting picked up speed, Rio slid a hand down to sweep the fingers in torturously slow circles over Agatha's clit.

"So wet," Rio grunted.
"Perfect fit for my cock. Good girl, so sweet, so good. Fuck. Fuck, I love you."

"Harder! Rio please, harder!"

Rio was nearly slamming into her, fingers moving more roughly over her clit, and then Rio kissed Agatha's mating mark before biting down lightly. Agatha shivered and stiffened, feeling slick pour down her thighs as a semi-climax washed over her.

"Fuck! Please, more..."

Pulling away, Rio licked at the mark, then trailed kisses up the side of Agatha's neck and nipping at her earlobe.

"That was a good one, huh?" she whispered.

"Please, Rio. Need to cum."

"Oh yeah? Gonna cum all over my cock, my pretty girl?"

"Please!"

Rio pressed firmly on Agatha's clit. It was infuriating being so close, feeling so needy and not seeming able to tip over the edge.

"Please, Rio! Please, please..."

Rio bit down again, hard, so hard that Agatha thought the skin must have broken again. Whether that was the case or not, Agatha at last felt herself tumble into orgasm, hands tightening on the headboard, back arching against Rio's chest, cunt clamping so tight that she thought she would never let Rio's cock out of her body.

"Oh, shit," Rio gasped, and Agatha felt her alpha's cum flood into her.

They stayed frozen there, panting, and Agatha let her head drop back toward Rio's shoulder.

"My love," she sighed, and Rio kissed her.

"Fuck, Agatha... Fuck, you're beautiful, querida."

At last, Agatha loosened her grip and let Rio guide them both carefully down onto the bed. In the process, Rio's softening cock slipped free, and Agatha whimpered.

"Don't leave."

"Not leaving, mi amor. Never leaving you."

Rio clicked through the documents, pleased to see that most everything seemed to be in order. The holes created by those lost grants could just be patched over thanks to a couple of recent hefty donations. Things would work for another year. They would help more kids and do the ol' spreading awareness soft shoe. There was even enough left over to expand plans for the designation tolerance program.

Her phone buzzed, and she reached for it without a thought. It was an alarm; 35 minutes to go meet up with Agatha and then 20 to get from there to the next appointment. There would be another sonogram today, and Rio was pleased about that. Yes, Agatha was having more than were typical due to the concerns about the pregnancy, but by now the idea of complications seemed so distant that both Rio and Agatha looked forward to this as simple another chance to get an early look at their child.

All the way down to the parking structure, Rio was jubilant. From the looks people were giving her, she knew she must be scenting happiness or pride or something. Good. She was in a generally excellent mood, and she wanted the world to know.

She wanted to shout from the rooftops that she was the luckiest person in the world. She had made it through the hell of her childhood, had found the love of her life as a teenager, reconnected with her as an adult, and now they were going to have a child. Life was great, and Rio could not come down from the high.

Agatha met her in the lobby of the building Darkholme/Adler was based in, looking just a little downtrod and scenting nervous. Of course, Rio felt a spike of worry in her heart and pulled her mate into a gentle hug.

"Agatha, are you all right? What's wrong?"

"Oh, I'm trying to save this place's ass before I go on leave, and it seems like no one wants their ass saved."

"What... Is this about that weird book?"

"Yup. I compiled all this evidence, Wanda backed me up... Hell, Irene Adler backed me. But they seem to want to go forward with publishing anyway. I even tried to convince them to market it as a fictional memoir, but..."

"You want me to talk to some people?" Rio growled.

Her alpha had been really riled lately at the thought of even a minor inconvenience for Agatha.

"No, my love, it's fine. Hey, we should head out."

"Right. Okay. But if you do want any help..."

"Let's just get this appointment done. I'll cheer up if I can see our boy again."

Grinning, Rio kissed Agatha's cheek.

"Let's go then."

Traffic was a bitch, but they narrowly made it to the clinic on time. As they sat in the waiting room, Agatha was tapping her foot nervously, and Rio took her hand.

"I gotcha, sweetheart. We'll be done soon and..."

"I think they're trying to fuck me over."

"Huh?"

"Work. I think this is how they force me out. Let someone else take over the last little bit of work on this book, release it, then wait for someone else to out the fraud and dump the whole mess on me."

"I... Do you think they'd do that?"

"Oh, they'd try. It'd probably end my career, ruin what reputation I have..."

"So don't let 'em. Keep fighting. Back everything up and..."

"I plan to. I've got all my files and the information. I was thinking maybe they were being better about the whole 'Oh, now you're gonna be a mother, you should just stay home' thing. That's why I went ahead and told them. But if they try this... Oh, I'll take 'em down kicking and screaming with me."

Agatha's smile was just a touch ruthless, and Rio liked it. Her mate being badass and ready for confrontation was frankly more than a little exciting. Squeezing Agatha's hand, Rio brought it to her lips and kissed it.

"You're gonna kick their asses, Agatha."

"I will if I have to."

A nurse called them back. Rio felt a sudden flurry of nerves, but she shoved the sensation down in favor of focusing on Agatha. She just wanted to protect her omega and their child. Everything needed to be calm and quiet.

In the exam room, Agatha sat up on the table, nervously rubbing her belly.

"Okay?" Rio whispered, kissing her cheek.

"He's fine."

"I meant are you okay?"

"Just the work stuff."

"Sweetheart, it'll be okay. You'll get through to them."

"I hope so."

"Agatha, you are one of the bravest, most intelligent people I know. Shit, you were the one who did all the planning to get us out of Pleasant Hill. I just followed you, like the big dumb cluck alpha I am."

"Oh, you did not."

"I did! You memorized schedules, scoped out routes..."

"Yeah, well, you kept us alive and moving right after. You took care of me in the woods."

Agatha turned and kissed Rio.

"You took care of me," she repeated, "and you still do."

"That's my job. Protect the person I love. Take care of the one who... Who made sure I am who I am."

"What..."

The sonographer barged in, cutting the conversation short. The familiar routine fell into place, Agatha reclining on the table, belly exposed, the probe gliding, the light and dark on the screen resolving into a relatively clear image of the child growing in Agatha's womb.

"Getting bigger," the sonographer said.

For a while, Rio was distracted from any worries or regrets by the movements of little limbs, by the need to try and count little fingers and toes, by the sight of a little face. She could sense that Agatha was fully lost in the trance of their child too; the omega's breathing evened, deepened, and her scent was one of happy calm and relief. They were looking at their child, and the mere sight of him was enough to quell their fears.

They left with good news: the baby was a little small, but not worryingly so, and still seemed generally well. He was developing as hoped; as expected. He was strong, their son.

"Wanna go somewhere and celebrate?" Rio asked once they were back in the car.

"I could eat," Agatha nodded, "if by celebrate you meant eat."

"And what exactly could you eat?"

Leaving the question fairly broad may have been a mistake. Agatha's appetite, of late, changed on a dime. That was how they ended up entering the apartment later that afternoon with takeout containers from 15 different places.

"We'll eat what we can now," Agatha explained, "and there'll still be lots of leftovers for later!"

So they basically grazed through their options, then vegged out on the sofa, looking at the new sonogram images and debating who the baby looked like.

"I mean, he definitely has my nose," Rio said.

"Good. But I bet otherwise he'll look like me."

"Yeah? That a bet-bet, or..."

"Oh, no. No way am I placing bets on my beautiful, perfect son who is going to look just like me."

"What if he looks just like me?"

Agatha sighed.

"Then I'll have learned a valuable lesson about mating someone with god-tier genetic override."

"Weirdo."

"Dork."

"Dink."

"Fuck me."

Rio stared at Agatha. From the look in her eyes, she meant exactly what she said.

"Right now?"

"Why not? I feel like getting in a little bit of a workout."

Agatha levered herself up out of the bed slowly and sighed at a twinge of pain in her back as she made her way to the bathroom.

"I swear, little man," she grumbled, "the sooner you're out here and not in there attempting to crush my bladder, the better."

As if in response, a fresh twinge shot through her belly and back hard enough to make her freeze in her tracks and let out a groan.

"Sweetheart?" Rio murmured from the bed.

"Oh, your son is putting up a fuss. Go back to sleep, my love."

"You okay?"

"Like I said, baby's just being difficult."

Padding into the bathroom, Agatha winced as more pain shot through her.

"Son, I love you, but... Ow! Fuck!"

Everything in her felt tense for a moment, then relaxed. She made it to the toilet and sat, another groan escaping her. From the bedroom, she heard Rio's phone jangle out a semi-familiar tone: one of the many Vidal siblings calling.

"Hola. Lenny, ¿qué...? Cálmate, hermanita. ¿Qué pasa? ¿Qué? ¿Quién es ella? Vale, vale, cálmate, ¿cuándo fuiste con ella? Lenny, debes dejar de llorar por favor."

Agatha suppressed a laugh. She had, other than their near encounter at the gala where she reconnected with Rio, only met Lenny once, but she had heard enough stories to know the younger alpha was a bit of a wild child. A rebel. A problem, as some might say. She was given to gadding about unchecked whenever possible. From what Agatha could glean, it sounded like girl trouble.

Another jolt of pain and a sensation of more urine that she had not expected coming out shook Agatha from her eavesdropping. She had thought she was done peeing, but...

This was flowing with abandon and in greater quantity than she had ever known herself to produce. Also, there was no sense of the usual muscles being involved.

'Did the baby kick something so hard I'm just going to leak forever?' she thought.

Then she was struck with the realization that this was something else. This was something important. Struggling to her feet, fluid still leaking, she shuffled to the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom.

"Rio?"

Her fiancée was still on the phone, but did look toward her and mouth "Okay?" when she spoke.

"Rio, I think my water broke."

The phone dropped from Rio's hand onto the bed.

"It... It's over a month early!"

"I know. Apparently your son decided not to wait!"

Another wave of pain nearly doubled Agatha over, and she heard Rio rush from the bed and hurry to her. Rio grabbed her arm gently and led her to sit on the bed.

"Just try to breathe. I... I'm gonna call for help."

Rio grabbed her phone, and Agatha heard her terminate the call from Lenny without a word, then immediately dial a familiar three digit number.

"Hey, yeah, uh, we need an ambulance. My mate, she... Her water broke, maybe. It's too soon, and..."

As Rio's voice sharped on, Agatha pulled up onto the bed and curled into a fetal position. Ironic, considering the baby seemed determined to rush himself out of a similar position.

"Just hold on, son. We'll be okay. Just... Just hold on a little longer."

The next thing she was aware of was strong arms around her, then lifting her, and Rio was carrying her out of the bedroom, out of the apartment even.

"I gotcha, love," Rio murmured.
"We're gonna go meet the ambulance."

They took the express elevator down, Rio muttering comforting words all the time. Agatha could feel her shaking, but truthfully she was not sure how much was Rio and how much might be her own mixed trembling of fear and pain. She knew everything would be fine; it had to be. Rio was scenting reassurance, but there was a tinge of worry underneath.

"Rio, it hurts so much!"

"We're gonna get you some help soon, mi vida. Gonna get you and the boy safe."

The ambulance roared up almost the moment they were out the door, and Agatha groaned at the shift from Rio's arms to a gurney. Once they had her in the ambulance, everything was noise and action and the lurch of the vehicle.

"R-rio..."

"Your alpha has to ride up front," one of the EMTs said, "so we have the room we need back here to help you."

The pain was not constant, but when it hit, Agatha had to fight not to scream.

"You're doing great," the EMT said.

She wanted Rio there at her side, holding her hand, but for the moment she had to be satisfied with the drift of the alpha's scent from the passenger's seat of the ambulance. She tried to focus on that as a way to clear the worry and the fog of pain from her brain. Still, her mind was a mess of panic and concern. It was early; not wildly early, but still, she should have had a little more than a month to go. She should have had more time to prepare. To really be ready.

'Please don't let this be it. Please don't let this be how we lose him.'

All the fear that had plagued her throughout the pregnancy, the fear that had lessened with each excellent test result and checkup that showed things going well, came rushing back. She became certain something was wrong, that the baby would emerge ill or injured or... No. She could not bear to actually think of the worst case scenario.

At the hospital, they jolted the gurney quite a bit as they brought it from the ambulance. The timing meant that the shock struck at the same moment as a fresh, horribly strong contraction, and Agatha screamed.

"I can't do this!"

"Yes you can," she heard, and turned her head to see Rio hurrying alongside the gurney.

"Too much. It's too much."

"You're gonna make it, love. You're both gonna make it."

Rio sounded so sure, so calm, and Agatha almost found herself relaxing even in the midst of pain. Almost. But there was a reek of fear around Rio, melding and blending with the odors of the hospital. Agatha felt nauseous at the smell. Then she felt Rio's hand in hers, and all she could do was squeeze to try and bear through the discomfort.

"What have we here," someone said, "a pup on the way?"

"What the FUCK else would it be?" Agatha shrieked.

They moved her from the gurney to a proper birthing couch. Rio and a nurse helped her find a good position, and Rio knelt beside her, holding her hand.

"You're doing great, mi vida. Just breathe with me, okay?"

"Fuck. You," Agatha gritted out.

"Well, that is how we got here," Rio smirked.

"If you ever breed me again, I will rip your damn dick off!"

"Understood. Totally understood. Now, can you just try to stay calm?"

"How am I... Ah! Fuck! Fuck, that hurts like a SON OF A BITCH!"

Seeing a mischievous look creep across Rio's face, Agatha gritted her teeth and growled low.

"Don't even think of saying it, Vidal!"

Oh, they were never having any more kids. A few times early on in the pregnancy, Agatha had thought maybe, maybe it could be good to have more children, but now, no way. She decided in this moment that she was very much a one-and-done gal.

"You're going to start pushing now, okay?" someone said.

"Anything! I'll do anything, just get this whelp out of me!"

Then they were coaching her through bearing down and pushing. Each time, she squeezed Rio's hands as tightly as she could. Rio grunted the first few times, but she managed to also keep up a stream of encouraging talk.

"You got this, Agatha. Almost there. You're so amazing, my love. So amazing."

Something in her gave way, and Agatha screamed again on the next push. She felt like she was being torn apart, like she would never be out of pain again.

"Nearly there! Just another push or two..."

She was never going to make it. This was going to go on forever, and she would absolutely go insane and...

And something gave way again on the next push. On the next after that, it felt like everything in her was falling out all at once, and her head slumped forward onto her chest.

A baby began to cry.

Raising her head, Agatha saw her child, their child, and she allowed Rio and the same nurse from before guide her into a half-reclined position so that the infant could be placed on her chest.

"You did it, mi vida," Rio whispered.

In shock, Agatha brought her left hand up to touch the baby's back gently.

"You're here," she said, and then, to her own great shock, she burst into tears.

An hour later, she was settled in an ordinary room, their son in her arms as he nursed for the first time. Rio was standing at the bedside, gazing at them in wonder.

"I can't believe it," Rio murmured, and reached out to touch one of their son's hands.

"I mean, I can hardly believe it and I went through all of that," Agatha said.

"He's so perfect, love. Our son is so perfect."

"Of course he is. He's ours."

"Okay, mijo," Rio said, settling Nicholas properly into his car seat, "what do we say when we see your mama?"

"Happy birvday!" the toddler cheered.

"Excellent. You're just about the smartest dude on the planet."

"You too," Nicky nodded.

Laughing, Rio double checked that her son was safely buckled in, then slipped out of the car and closed the rear door. As she climbed behind the wheel, she rolled her shoulders.

"Okay, my guy. Let's go get Mama, huh?"

"We gedder for lunsh!"

"Yup. Lunchtime."

Rio had always been a cautious driver, but these days, when there was often such precious cargo fastened in the back seat, she was even more careful.

Life had rushed up on them these last few years, but now things were settled and happy. Rio and Agatha had each other and their wonderful son and plenty of amazing friends. Agatha had not only continued in her career, but had been promoted once since Nicky's birth, with another possible promotion on the horizon. Rio and her team were successfully continuing the fight to protect young people from the horrors of places like Pleasant Hill, as well as branching out new programs to improve the world. Most everything was good.

Nicky's birth had, to Rio's way of thinking, been an omen of bright days ahead. Sure he had come along a bit early, but he had been in good health and they had been able to bring him home quickly. Ever since, he had been a generally happy, healthy baby, and life had been generally wonderful. Sure, there were down days and upsetting events, but so often these days Rio woke knowing that things would be all right.

As they pulled into the parking structure near Agatha's office, Rio drew in a deep breath. She was somehow nervous, as if she were about to go and invite Agatha on a first date. Luckily, this time she had the cutest wingman in the world.

"Here we go," Rio said, hauling Nicky out of the car and settling him on her hip, grabbing the flowers she had brought for Agatha in the opposite hand.

"We gonna get Mama?"

"Yup. Gonna tell her..."

"Happy birvday!"

"Exactly, my dude."

They rode up calmly in the elevator—well, Nicky was nervous as always in these situations, but Rio jounced him gently and scented calm.

"Almost to Mama now, Nicky."

"Gonna see Mama," Nicky said, clapping a hand excitedly against Rio's back.

Down at the end of the corridor they stepped out into, Rio headed right to a desk and nodded to the woman behind it.

"Hey, Dar."

"Oh, Ms. Vidal! Hi."

"Oh, please just call me Rio. Don't suppose you'd like to tell my wife she has a last-minute meeting before lunch?"

Darcy Lewis, the shared secretary Agatha had gained when she was promoted, smiled and tapped the button to open the intercom to Agatha's office.

"Ms. Harkness?"

"Yeah, Darcy?"

"You've got a meeting."

"What? I don't remember any meetings scheduled..."

"It's just come up. Should I send them in?"

"Fine."

Smiling, Darcy nodded Rio toward Agatha's office door.

"Thanks, Dar," Rio whispered.

As she walked to the door, Rio briefly turned her face aside and kissed Nicky's hair.

"'Member, mijo, quiet until we go inside."

"Uh-huh," Nicky nodded.

At the door, Rio paused and knocked.

"Come in!" Agatha called through the door.

Slowly, Rio opened the door and sidled in. Agatha was busy with something on her computer and did not even look over until...

"Mama! Happy birvday, Mama!"

Agatha's head whipped around, and she smiled softly at the sight of them.

"Rio! What..."

"Surprise birthday lunch, mi vida," Rio said, offering the flowers with a flourish.

"Birvday lunsh, Mama," Nicky said.

"Oh, I'm so happy to see you both."

Agatha stood and came around the desk, taking the flowers and kissing Rio, then pulling Nicky into her own arms.

"My boy, did you help plan my surprise?"

"Uh-huh," Nicky nodded.

"Well, you're just the sweetest boy ever. And your papi is sweet too."

"Shucks," Rio smirked.

They went out and had a marvelous lunch. The only downside was when it ended. Once Agatha was back at work, Rio headed back to her own office, dropping Nicky in the daycare downstairs before heading into an afternoon of meetings.

That night, back home, Rio and Agatha managed to get Nicky to bed early and settled in for a quiet, romantic dinner.

"This was an excellent birthday," Agatha said.

"Well, you know," Rio shrugged, "I always wanna make everything wonderful for you, Agatha. I wanna make you happy."

"Oh, you do that every day. You and our son... You're the lights of my life."

When the meal was finished, they left the dishes for the next morning—Saturday was always good for catching up on chores—and went off to their bedroom.

"Fuck, Agatha," Rio murmured when her wife disrobed, "you're so gorgeous."

"Mmm, so are you," Agatha sighed, reaching to unfasten Rio's belt.

"We gonna have an excellent night to follow up this excellent day?"

"We will if my big, strong alpha can keep up with me."

Smirking, Rio wrapped her arms around Agatha.

"Oh, I think I can just about manage that."