[风情 | FengQing]: You Are Giving Me Christmas In Mid-Summer [TGCF ABO Universe]

★Part 24: (Hor)mones Versus (Phero)mones

They were sitting now, awkwardly, silently. The background music, which Mu Qing had loaded onto the computer was buzzing in the background, and they only got to hear Hua Cheng's loud laughter from time to time – the playlist was meant to go on for hours, well after midnight and didn't need tending, but the Omega knew that he still had to work that day.

Feng Xin's father was sulking. Of course, he did not believe his ex-wife's words that Mu Qing would be too weak to conceive. But he didn't doubt his son's words even for a moment. He also didn't doubt the love between the Alpha and the Omega.

- So... - he now started thoughtfully.

All eyes were on him, and he vaguely felt like he was in a classroom again.

- I suppose everyone's in the know? About your... issues? A-Qing?

The Omega blushed deeply, and nodded shyly.

- I think it's just stress! – Xie Lian puffed. – If your Alpha is really taking good care of you...

Mu Qing looked at him sharply and nodded furiously now, still flushed.

- But of course he is! – Feng Xin's dad huffed, slightly triggered. – He is not too smart... - he sniggered slightly. - ...but his heart is made of gold! I know it!

The poor Omega didn't quite know how to react, trapped between a strong Alpha, and an Omega who was family, his senior, and a lot more experienced and wiser than himself. He just cowered, curling into himself, and putting extra effort not  to let his pheromones rage, as his pre-heat state dictated, because this time around, Feng Xin was sure to arrive, in amok, and wipe the place clean of absolutely everyone.

- He is great... I love him so much. – he now murmured quietly. – I think I am the problem. Something is wrong. Inside.

Some air of sadness fell all over the table, like a heavy rock of despair, and both the Alpha and the Omega frowned now.

Yet, the older male mumbled:

- There may be a lot of reasons. Stress is one, yes. – he nodded towards Xie Lian in respect, and watched him fold his arms on his chest. – The pup gets mad when I say so, but nature truly knows best. There will easily be a new life, easily created, when all the prerequisites are at hand. Also, A-Qing...

Their eyes finally met, and he sighed as he saw the hope glimmering deep inside Mu Qing's sad eyes.

- Honey, I think it's not just your fault.

- Just? – Xie Lian now raised an eye-brow.

- Hmmm. My son... He... - the Omega stuttered, now shifting his gaze over Xie Lian's shoulder and fixing it on Feng Xin, who was still hunching over the counter, day-drinking like a damn delinquent!

But the Omega postponed that scolding for another day. Because Mu Qing was staring at him with huge eyes without blinking, breath hitched.

- See... - he sighed again. – I know my pup. He is really not showing it, but he is quite anxious too. I won't be teaching basic Biology to you here... - he fixed his glasses better on his nose, an old habit. - ...yet, I am sure you both know that once you go into extreme stress, or distress rather, your body's chemistry changes. The bad hormones affect not just your moods. They affect everything. And all of this – it gets even stronger, multiplied during heat windows, and rut windows. So... in a way... Trying to make a baby during your heat, if your bodies' chemicals are not balanced... actually...

- ...makes it worse. – Mu Qing whispered, finishing his thought.

He was a little stunned. He had never thought he would ever need to remember his Biology classes, from his school days, in his adult life. But as he turned his head back and bit his lips, Mu Qing actually realized why he had acted the way he had last night. It wasn't fully his fault. His primal instincts had kicked in, and he had tried to get pregnant outside of his heat, as an alternative solution to a problem that was occupying his mind 24/7.

Xie Lian took a deep breath and heaved a deep sigh. He was so grateful that he and his husband had no such problems in their lives! It sounded... unnecessarily complicated, actually!

- If I get you correctly... - he now cocked his head to the side and subconsciously focused on trying to find some features in the Omega's face that his own bouncer might have inherited. He couldn't. It seemed Feng Xin had only replicated his Alpha mother.

- Hmmm... If I get you correctly, both parties have to be in perfect hormonal balance in order to have a pup? – he blinked.

The Omega nodded.

- Too often that's the case, yes.

- Even fated pairs? – Xie Lian was actually curious.

Mu Qing was following the conversation, mouth – slightly a-gape, feeling like a kid who was listening in while the adults were discussing important stuff. He felt... so weak and helpless – he was almost whimpering, worried, scared.

Feng Xin's father was watching them both carefully. Even without changes in the scent, he caught the unmistakable change in body language.

He mumbled now:

- Maybe it's a conversation we all should be present for. I don't want to repeat myself, and I really need to be going soon. So...

Mu Qing was about to agree, but he now jumped in his seat, as the Omega surprised him by hollering out:

- A-XIN!!!