Page 64 of Sobek’s Joy

“Hello, baby,” Rose said seriously, still pressed against Rudy’s stomach. “I’m your big sister Rose. I’m going to teach you how to climb and hunt and be brave. Jack will teach you about wolves, and Timothy will teach you how to swim. We’re going to be the best siblings ever.”

Rudy’s vision blurred again. Damn, pregnancy hormones were apparently getting an early start. Jack joined Rose, placing his own hand carefully on Rudy’s stomach. “We’ll keep you safe,” he promised the baby. “Nothing bad will happen to you. Not like...” He stopped, jaw clenching. “Not like what happened to our first families. We’ll protect you.”

“We will,” Timothy echoed softly. “Always.”

Sobek’s eyes met Rudy’s across the children’s heads, and through their bond, Rudy felt everything his husband couldn’t say out loud. Gratitude that they were building this family together. Joy at the new life growing. Fierce determination to protect them all. And love. So much love it threatened to overwhelm everything else.

“As our family grows,” Sobek murmured, pulling them all closer - Rudy, Rose, Jack, Timothy, and the tiny life nestled safely inside Rudy’s body. “Our happiness grows.”

Rudy leaned into his husband’s embrace, surrounded by the children they’d already claimed and thinking of the child yet to come. Mere months ago, he’d been alone with three traumatized children, barely holding everything together with hope and lottery winnings.

Now he had a husband, a mate, an ancient god who’d chosen him. He had children who were learning to laugh again, to trust again, to be children instead of survivors. And soon, they’d have one more.

“Yeah,” Rudy whispered back, threading his fingers through Sobek’s. “It really does.”

Rose pulled back from Rudy’s stomach, eyes shining with mischief. “Can we tell Uncle Horus? He’s going to be so jealous.”

“Rose…”

“Please? He’ll probably conjure something ridiculous like a diamond baby cradle. It’ll be hilarious.”

Sobek sighed, but his lips twitched. “We can tell Horus later.”

“And Uncle Ra?”

“And Uncle Ra.”

“And Seth and…”

“Everyone,” Rudy interrupted, laughing. “We’ll tell everyone. But right now, how about we celebrate with ice cream for breakfast?”

Three children cheered, the sound so joyful and unburdened Rudy’s heart ached with it.

Sobek rose, easily lifting Timothy, and extended a hand to Rudy. “Ice cream it is. Though you’re also eating something nutritious.”

“I literally just had toast.”

“Toast isn’t sufficient. You’re growing our child.”

“Here we go,” Rudy muttered, but he was smiling as Sobek pulled him to his feet and herded everyone toward the kitchen.

Later - much later - after ice cream and pancakes and Timothy deciding to swim laps in his pool while Rose taught Jack how to properly pounce on moving targets in the backyard, Rudy found himself back on a new daybed on the patio for a nap he absolutely didn’t need, but Sobek insisted on anyway.

His husband stretched out beside him, one large hand splayed possessively across Rudy’s stomach.

“Thank you,” Sobek said quietly.

“For what? Getting knocked up? I think that was a joint venture.”

“For giving me this. Everything I’ve ever wanted.” Sobek’s thumb traced lazy circles through Rudy’s shirt. “A mate. A family. Children who laugh instead of being fearful. And now... now another child to love.”

Rudy covered Sobek’s hand with his own, feeling the steady thrum of their bond and, if he concentrated, the faintest flutter of new life beneath. “You gave me all of that too. I was so alone before you showed up with Timothy. So scared I was failing them.”

“You weren’t failing anyone.”

“Maybe not. But I was definitely drowning.” Rudy turned his head, meeting Sobek’s golden eyes. “You saved us. All of us.”

“We saved each other.” Sobek leaned in, kissing him softly. “And now we build our future together.”