Love's So Contagious

Take Care of You

Mew patiently waited until they arrived home to speak up. Using his own key, he unlocked the door and took a moment to appreciate the privilege of having his own key before allowing himself to remember his anger. It was a small reminder that Gulf wanted him to feel at home and have the freedom to come and go as he pleased.

However, Mew realized that perhaps he shouldn't approach this situation with hostility. After all, they loved each other and there was no need for hurtful expressions. Mew, being an alpha and a cop, knew better than to resort to Neanderthal behavior. As he made his way towards the kitchen, he spoke up, "So, twins."

Gulf stared at the table, seemingly lost in thought. "Twins," he repeated, as if the concept was completely new to him. "Twins can be quite a handful. They climb walls, swing from chandeliers, and..."

Mew couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you serious right now? You can face a full-blown meningitis epidemic, on a scale never seen before in this country, but twins make you run?"

"They will cry, meow. And have a bad smell." He sighed and said, "Double the diapers, double the crying, double the feeding, and don't even get me started on what they'll need once they start school. Oh dear, the schools in the city are chaotic. Maybe the kids will be fine as they grow older, but who knows..."

"Babe?" Mew discovered the mac and cheese that his mother had sent over. She and Gulf still hadn't met, and she still didn't approve of the order in which they were doing things. She still wanted to contribute. Mew found it endearing. Would Gulf feel the same way?

Mew heated up the mac and cheese and searched for some frozen broccoli. "Babe, you're getting overwhelmed. It's a lot to handle, but like I mentioned before, you have the ability to handle situations that most people wouldn't even imagine. And you're not alone. You have me and my family. You also have friends. You're not stranded on a deserted island."

"Except you're upset with me because I won't quit my job." Gulf's words were spoken softly, and he refused to look up from the table.

"I suppose we're going ahead with this then." Mew started preparing some water to cook the broccoli. "Listen, I'm concerned, alright? Look at yourself. You're barely functioning at the moment. Part of it is because you're pregnant and it's exhausting you. Another part is because you've been pushing yourself too hard and that's not healthy either. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"Do you think I'm incapable? Unable to make my own choices?" Gulf raised an eyebrow.

"No, that's not what I mean. I'm worried about you. I'm worried about our baby—or babies now that I think about it—but I'm more worried about you than anyone else. I didn't fall in love with babies, or even the fact that you can have babies. I fell in love with you and I want you to be well."

Gulf let out a small laugh. "You know," he said, after a moment, "I've become quite accustomed to doing things on my own. I've had friends and partners, but due to being cut off and focusing on school instead of starting a family—I wasn't in a position where I would be someone else's priority. And I accepted that. It's a little difficult to adjust to."

Mew leaned against the counter. He didn't want to ruin dinner, as he was pretty sure Gulf hadn't eaten in a while, but he wanted to make it clear that he was listening. "Is it a good kind of difficult to adjust to or not?"

"Oh, it's the good kind." Gulf lowered his head and chuckled. "Definitely the good kind. It's just a bit strange."

"I hope you understand that I truly care about your well-being." Mew felt at ease. The mac and cheese had finished cooking, and the broccoli had turned a vibrant green color indicating it was done as well. He served up portions for both of them and carried them over to the dining table.