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“Shhh,” Merlin hears from the other side of the closed bedroom door. Footsteps echo along with tiny giggles, one’s belonging to two small children, as they get closer and closer to the walnut finished wood that is separating them.
“I think they’re still sleeping!” Comes Daisy’s voice, though she doesn’t sound sorry for what’s about to happen next.
Before Merlin can even warn Eggsy, who is sleeping soundly beside him, their two stealth invaders–who aren’t as quiet and invisible as they think they are–wander in with smiles Merlin can see reflecting in the mirror. He hides his face against the safety of Eggsy’s warm neck, and noses fragrant skin until Eggsy is snuffling from the act. Eggsy shifts enough that it gives Merlin easier access to his scent gland, allowing the honeysuckle orange scent wafting into Merlin’s face. It invades his nostrils, swirls in his brain, making him feel lightheaded; it’s distracting.
Which gives Daisy and her partner plenty of time to get a running jump start. Merlin can hear loud squeals before he feels the assault of two small, yet very very bony and painful, bodies collide with theirs. Elbows, feet, hands and legs flail around like an octopus out of water, fingers and toes desperately try to grasp onto anything to give them better leverage during their attack.
“Bloody hell!” Eggsy manages to sleepily squawk as he turns over and catches a small person. “Zaire, mate! Careful with those hands, ya little bugger!” He pulls the two year old close to his chest and wraps him up for a cuddle.
“I fwy!” Zaire eagerly exclaims by tossing his hands up, sprawling his legs and star fishing on Eggsy’s chest as if to ‘fly’. “I fwy, daddy!”
Eggsy’s heart does a little flip each time Zaire calls him daddy. It’s been a year and a half since Eggsy was on mission in Africa, he was residing in Mouanda, a town in Gabon. He was investigating a drug cartel that headed southeast from Kingsman’s original station in Gabon. Eggsy was expecting the usual, drugs, men with guns, people of power and imprisonment of those who turned their back on Amir. What Eggsy wasn’t anticipating was a malnourished infant, a dead omega–Eggsy was able to identify by smell the infant belonged to the fallen woman–and the rest of Amir’s men, armed and ready for Eggsy.
“I know you did, mate!” Eggsy manages to say around Zaire’s body; he’s now covering Eggsy’s face. “Can you move a bit?” He tries to shift the little one off, but he’s as stubborn as his father; at least Merlin would easily say.
“Alright, little monkey,” Merlin lovingly says, grunting as he pulls Zaire from Eggsy. Eggsy gasps a little, but smiles; he’s so lucky.
They are so lucky.
“Big day today, innit mate?” Eggsy reaches across Merlin to tickle Zaire.
Zaire’s giggles and howls of laughter fills the room, enriches their hearts…he makes them feel whole.
“It’s adoption day!” Daisy helpfully fills in while hopping at Eggsy’s hip, causing him to bounce a bit; his stomach churns. “Right, daddy?”
“Oh,” Eggsy gulps, staving off nausea. “Yeah, flower. Here. Stop that a mo, yeah? You’re doing daddy’s head in.” And stomach, he leaves unsaid. Daisy plops down with a final bounce, earning her a sharp glare. She shrinks back a little, her bright sunny sunflower aroma cooling a bit. Eggsy strokes her blonde curls hoping to soothe some of the distress he caused. “I know you’re excited and happy, it’s just early, okay?”
Daisy nods before tucking her face into the safety of his neck. “Sorry, daddy,” she whispers.
Eggsy pecks the top of her head. “It’s okay, yeah? Just need a bit to wake up.” He runs a hand up and down her back, and hums to dispel her turmoil.
She was very emotional for an eight year old, a wee bit more hormonal than Eggsy thought; but really what experience does he have with young girls? He don’t.
Merlin’s long arms swoop beneath Eggsy’s body, all while keeping a hold of Zaire, to bring the four of them together into one big cuddle. He keeps them safe, as ever the dutiful Merlin for Kingsman he is the same at home. He finds warmth and security in fragrant honey brown strands of hair that tickle his nose.
“Aye, adoption day!” Merlin happily adds.
Today will forever mark the day Zaire became legally theirs. He was already Merlin and Eggsy’s, a year and a half ago when Eggsy brought him home, today was just a formality. That way no one or nothing can take their son from them; not that Merlin or Eggsy, or even Harry would allow that to happen. The head of Kingsman was a fast fan of Zaire’s, and Zaire was a surprising fan of Harry’s. When Daisy was brought around everyone, she didn’t take to the older gent as quickly as their little lad; he was fearless.
Despite biology Zaire reminds Merlin of Eggsy each day.
Eggsy sags into Merlin’s side, turning his face up into Merlin’s neck and breathes in his strong stormy scent that is a lovely contrast with everyone else’s. A slow content purr ripples from his chest when Merlin’s fingers knead his claim bite. They stroke and press down, cutting off some of Eggsy’s blood flow as well as grounding him. He might find it euphoric if not for their small audience, which are now snoring softly around them.
“They’re so soft and comfy,” Eggsy mumbles. “We got a bit more time before we gotta get up, eh?” He’s yet to look at the time.
If it weren’t for their court arrival time, Eggsy would say fuck it and sleep all day with his alpha and babies. He can feel Merlin shift towards the clock on his night table.
“We have another hour before we absolutely have to get up,” Merlin informs him.
Eggsy cranes further against his neck, pressing the top of his head to Merlin’s chin. “Good,” he declares around a yawn. “More kips for me,” Eggsy murmurs.
Merlin doesn’t answer, doesn’t have to, as the sounds of his family's safety and security drift around him in the form of snoring.
The quiet gives him time to think and reflect upon the last five, nearly six, years. Merlin’s relationship with Eggsy, their official adoption of Daisy, finding Zaire to today when he will be theirs in every sense of the word. All thanks to V-Day, as it were. Merlin doesn’t particularly think of cults as luck bearing events, but if it wasn’t for the maniac Valentine, there was a good chance Merlin’s reality may be a pipe dream. Thankfully he didn’t have to worry about that, easing some anxiety about a life without these three people.
---
“Papa! Papa, come on!” Daisy tugs at Merlin’s hand, jolting him from sleep. He must have fallen asleep while listening to the rest of them sleep; it was oddly soothing. “Daddy is making pancakes and says YOU have to change Zaire’s bum.” Her nose wrinkles up in evident disgust of an odor Merlin is just catching wind of.
“Oh, lad.” Merlin tries to quell rising bile. He's seen exploding bodies, rotting flesh, the worst imaginable Merlin has seen it, but give him a shitty nappy and he's done. For whatever reason the Great Merlin's stomach was not built for that kind of stench. “Do ye have a present for me?” He jokes, but Zaire finds humor in it.
“I poop, papa!”
Merlin shakes his head, wipes crust and sleep from his eyes, and shifts Zaire off his chest in order to climb out of bed.
“Alright,” he grunts, hefting Zaire up into his arms. “A change, then papa gets the loo before we eat.”
“I’ll help daddy!” Daisy shouts from the hallway, and scurries off.
“Looks like it’s just you and I,” Merlin tells the young pup on his way into Zaire’s room. He makes quick work to get the soiled nappy off his bum, wipes him clean and even blows a few raspberries on Zaire’s tummy; it’s always a good distraction during a change.
He can just make out the salty and oily aroma of bacon frying up on his way from the loo with Zaire in tow. There’s already a sippy cup of juice and cut up fruit waiting for the toddler on top of his highchair table. Merlin has the lad well sorted before grabbing a cup of coffee.
“Already ahead of you, babe.” Eggsy hands him one prepared just the way Merlin likes it. “Have a seat with the kids, I’ve got a spread set up for us.” He nods toward the breakfast bar.
Merlin eye’s cut up strawberries, chocolate sauce, maple syrup and whipped cream that looks suspiciously homemade; he raises a brow. “You were quite domestic this morning, aye?” He muses while slipping onto a chair between Zaire and Daisy.
Eggsy hums a bit in agreement. “It’s a special day, calls for a special breakfast.”
“Pancake bar!” Daisy cheers.
“That’s right! Pancake bar because Zaire is gonna be an Unwin!”
Merlin chuckles at the lot of them. When they first got engaged, Merlin was clear he was to take Eggsy’s last name, and not because he wasn’t proud to be a MacTavish, but that he’s lived fifty years as one and he knew how important it was for Eggsy to stay an Unwin. They negotiated hyphenating the names, but Merlin ultimately was okay giving his name up. So when Daisy was officially adopted, she was an Unwin, and now that Zaire will be an official family member–at least on paper–he will be an Unwin as well.
Merlin boops Zaire’s nose just to hear him giggle. “He is,” he adds fondly.
Eggsy serves everyone a generous helping of pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. Then they load pancakes with toppings before tucking in. Breakfast is always a messy affair, and just because it’s adoption day doesn’t mean it’s any different. Once they are done Eggsy takes the tykes up to wash while Merlin cleans everything up, they swap so Merlin can get ready while Eggsy tidies the rest of the house. He idly wonders why they even bother putting toys away when the kids are going to drag them out when they get home; the thought is fleeting as Eggsy completes the task.
“Alright Unwins!” Merlin calls the family to attention. “Shoes on, coats on and buttoned or zipped, and then march to the car!” He barks like a drill sergeant.
Eggsy thinks about how it’s very much like the orders back when he were a recruit. He lifts on tiptoes for a tender kiss. “Sir yes, sir,” he cheekily responds, and flinches when Merlin nips his neck. “Sir,” Eggsy purrs, eyes waggling.
“Later,” Merlin huskily warns.
Eggsy nods before helping their tiny humans with shoes and coats. Before he knows it, they’re parked outside the Royal Courts of Justice. He still insists Kingsman can handle this part of things, and Merlin might have agreed, but this was an important part of their civilian lives…when they decided to be Eggsy and Hamish, and not Galahad and Merlin.
Today they were just a mated, married couple trying to adopt their second child.
Eggsy’s stomach and chest fill with butterflies when Zaire is given the last name Unwin. His hands shake as he holds Zaire on one hip while signing the adoption papers. His smile is a little wet and wobbly when they take a complementary photograph of their adopted family, and then another with Lord Justice.
“Just one more!” Roxy calls before everyone makes their exit. She stands beside Harry, who’s own smile is wide and wet. “Perfect,” she promises once finished.
The lot of them retire to Savoy for an early dinner, later lunch and enjoy the completion of a family.
“To the Unwins!” Roxy holds a glass of champagne up.
“To the Unwins,” Harry echoes as they go around clinking glasses to one another.
Eggsy sips the tiniest bit before going back to dinner and ensuring Zaire eats most of the chicken and veg on his plate. Merlin gets the task of Daisy, who is actually harder to convince broccoli is good for you and not poisonous. Bribery helps them this time, thanks to Roxy and the promise of chocolate cake.
Which they have at home with tea where Zaire passes out on the sofa, and Daisy cuddles up against Roxy the remainder of the evening.
“Wine?” Merlin asks the room.
“Actually I have to retire for the night,” Harry says with little regret. “Michael and I have a film to watch.”
Eggsy hikes Zaire better on a hip. “Or a leg to get over, eh?” He bumps Roxy’s shoulder.
“Barf,” she gags. “That’s my Uncle, yeah?” Roxy hugs Harry goodbye anyway. “But I have to go, too. Promised Zoe we’d go for a night walk. She wants to see the stars.”
“You sure about that?” Eggsy bumps her shoulder again. This time she punches his shoulder. “Ow, bloody hell mate! While I’ve got the baby?” Zaire wasn’t doing anything more than watching the back of his eyelids and drooling on Eggsy’s button down.
“You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.” Roxy lifts on tiptoes to peck Zaire’s cheek, then Eggsy’s. “Text me.” She tells Eggsy, and leans down to hug and kiss Daisy.
“Then wine for us, my heart,” Merlin whispers while everyone begins departing.
The offer isn’t as enticing as it used to be, and maybe it’s because Eggsy has been harboring a secret all day. He pushes it from his mind for the moment, and together Merlin and Eggsy get the kids to bed. After stories, songs and goodnight kisses, Merlin and Eggsy meet in the hallway with rising scents.
“I’ll get the wine,” Merlin says into a warm kiss. Eggsy doesn’t even have time to stop him as the alpha darts off, and is back just as Eggsy is down to his briefs. Merlin hungrily takes Eggsy’s appearance in, licks his lips and saunters toward their bed with two glasses filled with red wine. “How is it that ye look good enough to eat?” Merlin nearly growls while leaning forward, entrapping Eggsy’s lips in a rough, heated kiss.
They are all thumbs and limbs, rolling around the bed and beneath the covers. Eggsy is beneath him, gazing up with lust and longing that burns between them like a roaring fire. Their escapades momentarily fog his brain, making his earlier dilemma almost non-existent; if it was that easy! It’s not until Merlin takes a gulp of wine and goes to feed it to Eggsy through a kiss, does Eggsy stop him.
“I’m pregnant,” Eggsy pants just seconds before receiving a mouthful of alcohol. Merlin pauses, swallows what’s in his mouth, and stares down at Eggsy. “I’m pregnant,” Eggsy repeats himself. He’s still a little out of breath and high from endorphins. “I’m pregnant,” he says again, voice even and sure. Now he sounds convincing and not like he’s just run a marathon.
Hazel eyes watch him, study him. They search for any uncertainty, and can Eggsy blame him? The three miscarriages and four failed fertility treatments was enough to cause for concern, doubt…disappointment.
“Your…?” Merlin can’t seem to finish the question.
Eggsy nods. “I am.” He’s sat on this news for long enough, and if they weren’t so busy between both kids and Kingsman, Eggsy would question why Merlin hasn’t noticed his changed scent before now. “13 weeks and 2 days. I wanted to wait, to be sure. I did–” His attempts at apologizing for not having told his alpha sooner is interrupted with a rough bruising kiss that takes his breath away. Eggsy lifts into it, deepening the exchange until he’s lightheaded.
“That’s over 3 months,” Merlin breathes. “How did ye keep that a secret?!” He sounds more frustrated with himself than Eggsy for not detecting it sooner. “And why?” He presses.
Eggsy reaches up to cup Merlin’s face between his hands; he smiles at the man who knows everything and missed this. “If something went south like the other times–” He holds Merlin's face firm, forcing their eyes to hold a connection; this is important. “–then you wouldn’t be affected. I’d handle it myself and we’d live like nothing bad happened.” And I wouldn’t fail you, again; Eggsy leaves unsaid.
Merlin’s palms encompass the hands against his cheeks. He bends down until his mouth meets Eggsy’s and softly presses several kisses there, wishing he can take Eggsy’s fear away. Though it was something they both shared, this time Eggsy chose to live in it alone if something were to happen.
“You don’t have to, Eggsy,” Merlin reminds him. “If that was the way of our future, it is for us to handle. Together. Never alone.” His hand drifts from Eggsy’s, down his omega’s chest, and settles along the tiniest swell that is now Eggsy’s lower abdomen. “This is a journey we started together, and one we will venture through together.” Sea green eyes watch him with awe and wonder as they glisten with unshed tears. “I am just as happy as I was when we found out about the others–” Eggsy openly cries now. “–and so bloody excited, even with our wee babes asleep in their beds.”
Eggsy finds Merlin’s hand to clutch it against his stomach. “I didn’t wanna let ya down again,” he warbles.
All intimacy is gone as Merlin’s strong scent fills the air, thickening to encompass them like the arms that pull Eggsy tight against Merlin’s chest.
“You’ve never let me down,” Merlin vows, voice just as steady and sure as the day they said I Do. “I am in awe of ye, my lad. Always with everything you do.” Eggsy’s despair is soothed by Merlin’s words, soft touches and warmth that wraps around them. “You couldn’t let me down,” Merlin repeats.
Eggsy’s infertility has been a constant struggle, one the leaves the younger omega feeling empty and inadequate; unworthy of his alpha’s love and acceptance.
“Really?” Eggsy sheepishly asks. “Even…even wiff all them times?” His estuary thickens with his anguish.
“Even with all the others. Aye, Eggsy. I love you for you. Not your ability to bear pups.” Eggsy gazes up at him with red rimmed, puffy eyes. “Aye,” Merlin whispers the unspoken question in his omega’s eyes. “Always, my lad. No matter the weather we storm, you. It’s always you.”
Eggsy sags against him with a relieved sob. ‘Course most of the tears shed are from hormones, but a decent percent of them are relief. Merlin never made him feel like he wasn't accepted, so his words dispel Eggsy’s worries and anxiety, leaving him empty of emotion until it fills again. This time when Eggsy thinks of his growing baby, he feels hope and excitement for what’s to come.
Even if he knows it’s sleepless nights, no showers and spit up covered clothes.
“So, I’m allowed to be excited, aye?” Merlin tentatively wonders, once Eggsy's sobs were nothing more than little sniffles. Eggsy looks back up at him with a tiny smile. “Because I am very excited,” Merlin whispers.
“Yeah,” Eggsy croaks. He clears his throat and nods. “Yeah. Yeah we’re really excited.”
Merlin chuckles and pecks his nose. “13 weeks and some change, aye?” Eggsy nods. “Did you have a sonogram?” Eggsy nods again, and rolls over to fish his mobile from beneath a pile of clothes on the floor.
Eggsy sat up against the headboard with Merlin, leaning into his alpha’s side and found the pictures. “You know they send them to you through a text now, right?”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Makes it easier to share the pictures, I think.” Eggsy goes on to say and shows Merlin their baby. Eggsy gasps, “Wait! How is Zaire gonna take it?”
Merlin turns thoughtful for a moment, thinking about the hundred times their son has asked for a baby brother or sister, and smiles. “I think he will be just fine.”
“Really?” Eggsy mumbles. “Don’t want him to fe–” He’s silenced with a hand over his mouth.
“Don’t, okay? He is loved. We love them both, and I think he’ll be happy.” Eggsy raises a brow. “He’s only asked for a brother or sister 100 times over the last year.” Eggsy giggles beneath his hand. “So we will be fine. He will be fine, aye?”
Eggsy nods again. “I love you,” he says once free.
Merlin gives him a loud smooch on the lips. “And I you, my lad.”
They spend the rest of the night staring at their little miracle, looking at photos of Daisy and Zaire, and brainstorming ways to reveal to the kids they were going to have a little brother or sister.