For Him (Tracob)

Jacob's pov

*Three weeks later*

Troye comes home from his yoga class around 4pm, in sweats and a hoodie. He doesn't see me sitting at the kitchen island when he sets his bag on the hall table and starts digging through it. I slip off my stool quietly and go over to him, grabbing him from behind. Troye tenses up the second I touch him, and then relaxes immediately.

"Holy fuck," he breathes. "I didn't think you were home yet. You scared me, Jacob."

I chuckle into his hair. "Sorry, babe. How did you know it was me? You didn't turn and look."

Troye taps my hand that rests on the table in front of him. "You're wearing your wedding ring, who else would be wearing that."

"The man who broke into our house, knocked me out, and stole my jewelry." I whisper into his ear and he shivers, turning around like he's double checking that it's me.

"Quit it."

"Okay okay I'm done," I tell him, pecking him on the lips. "How was the appointment?"

He looks up at me. "Charlie's having contractions."

"What?" I demand. "Are you serious? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"I would have but you were too busy trying to give me heart failure! She swears they're just the early ones and we have a couple days to a week left."

"God, okay, but, wow that means...this is like, starting. Actually starting. What day are we at?"

"35 weeks and 2 days," Troye answers promptly. "We knew it would be any day now."

"Should we...should we call our doctor do you think?"

"I already did in the Uber on the way home. She told me the same thing Charlie did. She's just getting ready for labor, and it'll be awhile."

"Okay, so, we just stay alert." I rest my chin on his head. "Are you okay? Are you nervous?"

Troye exhales against my collarbone. "I'm not letting myself really get freaked out until we're in there and Charlie is actively pushing."

I pull back, cupping his face and pressing a kiss onto his forehead. "You're allowed to be nervous before that you know."

"I'm fine right now. I am, Jakes. I'm just glad we got such a good surrogate. We really did."

"Yeah, she's the best. And you were all worried about getting a good one."

"Because I didn't know we would get her. Man, I love that lady. I even go to our weird, hetero yoga class with the obnoxiously perky instructor and her obnoxiously perky boobs for her."

I have to laugh at this. "Are you checking out the instructor there?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, just the other guys. They're more my type."

"Do I have to make Charlie put a leash on you?"

"Pssh, like she could hold me, eight months pregnant and waddling like she is."

"Well...you are pretty tiny." I point out, and he smacks me.

"I'm strong."

I make a face and he pulls at me. "I'm strong."

"Okay okay! You're strong. Strong willed, at least."

"Always."

*****

I wake up at 6am because Troye's on the phone. It's unusual, because Troye is never up early. I sit up and mouth at him. Is it Charlie?

He shakes his head and motions for me to lay back down, but I don't. I stay up and wait a couple minutes for him to finish the call.

"Who was it?" I ask, the second he sets his phone down.

He chews his lip. "Emma."

"At 6am? Doesn't she know you're never up before 8?"

"They want me on a talk show in Seattle tomorrow. It's a big show and it would be a huge promotional piece for the album before I take a break from stuff after the twins get here."

"Tomorrow? That would mean flying out to Seattle, I assume?"

Troye nods. "I shouldn't do it, should I? Not this close not when Charlie was having contractions yesterday?"

I consider it for a second. "No, you should go." I say after a minute. "Seattle's not far you can be back in an hour or two if you have to. And chances are, she won't go into labor for a few more days."

"You think? I don't want to miss anything, and I don't want to stress you out or anything. Hell, I don't want to stress me out."

I open my arms for him and he climbs onto my lap. "You won't stress me out. You go, it'll be fine. I'll call you if anything changes with Charlie, okay?"

"Anything? You promise?"

"Swear on my life."

******

*42 hours later*

"So the interview was fine, it took ages to film but I'm back at the hotel now. Jake, are you sure you don't want me to catch a red-eye home tonight?"

"Troye, it's almost midnight. You get your flight home tomorrow morning, it'll all be fine."

"Okay, are you really sure? I'm not even tired, baby I can be home in 2 hours."

"Yes, I'm positive. Go to sleep, Tok, I can hear you yawning. I'll call you in the morning."

"Okay, fine. I'll sleep. Goodnight, Jay, I love you."

"I love you Troye. Sleep well."

"Mmkay. You too. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow it is." I end the call and sit down on the bed that feels too big without Troye. Nash hops up beside me, and it's days like this that I'm extra glad to have a dog. I rub his soft head. "You miss dad too, huh?" I ask, and thankfully he doesn't reply verbally.

I'm just falling asleep, when my phone rings, starting me awake. I grab it off the beside table and answer it quickly.

"Charlie? What's up?"

"Hey, Jacob. Um, so I'm having contractions and they're getting a little more intense and I know it's after midnight, but I was just wondering if I could come over so you can be there to drive me to the hospital if I'm ready. Is Troye back from Seattle yet?"

I rub my forehead. "Shit, no, he's not. He gets home tomorrow morning. Yeah, I'll come pick you up, okay, just, um, relax I guess. You know how this works better than I do. I'll be there really soon, I just need to make a call."

"Okay okay, let me know when you're on your way."

"You got it." I hang up and dial a number quickly. Hari answers after 3 rings.

"Jacob, what the hell it's almost 1am." Her voice is tired and disgruntled.

"Hari, hi I'm sorry but can you please do me a favor?"

She sighs heavily. "Yeah sure, for you anything, Jacob Bixenman, you know that."

"Okay, great. I need you to pick up Troye from the airport in a couple hours."