Love me in the Shadows of Our Memories (🇬🇧)

Bonus chapter

With gentle movements, Magnus stroked his rounded baby bump while removing his makeup with his other hand. He hummed a soothing children's song, a small smile gracing his lips. It was a song he had sung to the twins when they were very young, one he had heard from his own mother as a child.

His smile deepened, a warm nostalgia washing over him. This connection to his memories was one of the few beautiful moments from his own childhood.

Magnus hung the washcloth on a hook next to the sink and reached for the small bottle of baby belly oil that Maryse had specially made for him. Then he headed into the bedroom.

"Alexander, will you rub the oil on my belly?" Magnus asked, as he did every evening.

Alec, already sitting on the bed, looked up from his book with a loving smile. "Of course."

Magnus handed him the bottle and lifted his sweater. With practised movements, his alpha spread the oil over his stretched skin, and Magnus let out a contented sigh.

Throughout the entire pregnancy, Alec had taken such good care of him. He had been there during the struggles with morning sickness in the early months, had accompanied him to every check-up, and had comforted him during sudden bouts of sadness, no matter how trivial the cause. With patience, he endured Magnus' changing moods, allowing himself to be snapped at without holding it against him later.

"Thank you," Magnus whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. Alec looked up at him.

"I'm happy to do it," Alec replied, giving Magnus's belly one last gentle stroke.

Magnus shook his head. "I didn't mean just that. I mean, yes, I'm grateful for that too. But..." Magnus sniffled. "I mean everything else. What you've done for me these past few months."

Alec beamed with affection and pressed a kiss to Magnus's belly, making him smile. "It was the least I could do for you... for both of you."

Magnus ran a hand through Alec's hair as Alec loosely wrapped his arms around his hips, resting his cheek against his belly. It was one of those small, intimate moments that Magnus cherished so much, a warm feeling spreading in his chest. God, he loved Alec so much that it sometimes almost hurt.

"I love you too, babe," Alec said, an audible grin in his voice.

Magnus blinked. Had he spoken his thoughts out loud? Alec pressed another kiss to his baby bump and was rewarded with a gentle jab against his cheek. Magnus giggled.

"Hey, stop it," he scolded playfully, poking his belly gently with a finger. "That's your dad. Be nice to him."

"I love you too, you little kickboxer," Alec whispered lovingly against his belly, and Magnus struggled not to burst into tears.

Alec looked up at him, concern in his eyes. "Everything okay?"

Magnus pressed two fingers against his slightly trembling lips and nodded. "Hormones," he explained, and a gentle, understanding expression appeared on Alec's face.

"Want me to massage you?" he asked.

"Oh yes, that would be heavenly," Magnus rejoiced. "I just need to go to the bathroom real quick."

Alec released the embrace, and Magnus waddled back into the bathroom. He had barely entered the small room when an uneasy feeling rippled through his body. Magnus paused for a moment. What was that?

In the next moment, he felt moisture running down his leg. Startled, he looked down, but his rounded belly blocked his view. Had he just peed his pants? Magnus furrowed his brow. He took off his pants and saw a few dark spots on the thin fabric. Almost hesitantly, he smelled them. It smelled... sweet.