Growing Together

Chapter 22

It had been such an eventful day, more so for Kao than himself, but still he had been so unprepared for it all. When he had thought about his future, he had never thought about past the moment he was living in. He had always thought he'd deal with life a day at a time, but now he seemed to be thinking more and more on the future. He thought about Kao and their baby. He wanted to give them a normal family, but he knew if he asked Kao about 'IT' it wouldn't be a good outcome. Kao was scared to trust him fully right now.

Yet, he had asked him stay with him. Pete had shifted a little closer to Kao's sleeping form, and carefully let his hand wonder over the curve of his belly. He was so fascinated by it—by how different he was compared to Sandee, and especially by the little flutters of movements against his palm.

He wasn't sure why he had gotten the sudden urge to talk to it, but he had found his words just slipping before he could catch himself. "You got stuck with the worst father..." He said in a low whisper, "Ka-..your mom, he's disappointed in me, but he still wants me here.... I'm kind of scared kid." His smile couldn't help but sadden when admitting to it.

He hadn't even noticed that Kao's eyes had fluttered open and was listening into his conversation. He couldn't help but ask the one question he had feared asking him. "Do you regret it?" He asked turning his head to look at him, though he couldn't really see him in the darkness. "...Sleeping with me?"

The question had startled him. He almost felt embarrassed being caught talking to his belly, but that look on his face had this lump forming in his throat. "No, I don't...I'm just scared Kao," he said honestly to him, this time. "I've messed up with you... what if I can't be a good father to In? What if I mess up with him too?" Pete said letting his hands pull away from Kao's midsection, unsure if afraid they weren't welcome there. What he had said to Kao about wanting this, was true, but he still had fears. He had a bad temper and he knew he could be extremely possessive with Kao—things Kao had said he hated about him before.

Kao couldn't help but reach his hands to stop Pete's hands from leaving his belly. He had gently pulled them back onto it, silently instruction them to keep rubbing his bump. "I think you will be a good dad, Pete. You really love the baby and I think that is more than enough," Kao said remembering how Pete had behaved at the clinic. He wasn't sure how nor when he had gotten the baby's sonogram but had noticed the picture that had already been in his wallet. He just hadn't said anything because he thought maybe Mork had given it to him. "I'm scared too, but we will learn together to take care of In." Kao said with a soft smile.

Intradit, 'In' for short, had been the name Pete's father had chosen for their son. Pete's dad had insisted he wanted to name his first grandchild this because he wanted the baby to have a strong name that matched with Kao and Pete's. Even Kao's mother had seem to like the name, and Kao had no objection to it—he hadn't even been able to pick a name just yet. He thought In was perfect.

It was comforting to hear that from him. Kao hadn't lost all his faith in him. "Kao, I really want to kiss you," He said not sure whether he would be allowed to do it or not.

Kao hadn't really thought Pete would ask, he had always been so aggressive about doing whatever he wanted to him. So for him to ask, had Kao letting out a small laugh as he held his arms out to him. "You can do it," He said giving Pete his permission.

Pete hadn't wasted a minute after hearing that, but he wasn't careless like before. Instead, he had carefully moved over him to reach his lips. He could feel his body shudder at Kao's fingertips sliding across the back of his neck. And when their lips met the kiss was soft, slow, gently melting into more. He could feel the warmth of Kao's breath against his cheek as their lips molded into one another; building the heat between them the more they pressed into it.

That kiss told them just how much they liked this, how much this feeling was missed, but even so all it took was one wondering hand to have Kao pulling away begging Pete to stop. "No, Pete, we can't!" Kao had said frantically trying to wiggle away from him.

"I'm sorry, Kao, I'm so sorry," Pete had said quickly as he pulled away from him. He had almost gotten carried away and messed up again. Of course, Kao wouldn't want to do it. He was so stupid for letting just one heated kiss make him forget about keeping himself in check.

"It's not that...Pete, my mom and sister..." Kao said quickly not wanting Pete to misunderstand but he also didn't want to do it when his mom and sister were just next door to them. The tint on his cheeks had only darkened just thinking about being heard.

That realization had Pete laughing, though it wasn't particularly funny as it was unfortunate. "I get it, but I'm still sorry, I should have been more careful..." He said before he was getting off the bed, "I better go call Mork, I promised I'd keep him updated on you."

"Okay," Kao had simply said letting himself get comfortable as he watched Pete leave to the terrace.