DIFFERENT

29 -- 39 Weeks

Dearest Loved Ones , 

So, All is well in the magical Kingdom once more.  Our Princes are all loved up again, and awaiting the arrival of their own Prince ....... Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy ...... Or is it ? .....

"LAAUURRE-E-E-E-NT !!! "

Larry's plaintive, insistent whine could be heard reverberating around every room in their apartment, making it difficult, if you were not listening carefully, to figure out where the noise was coming from.  But Laurent had no choice but to listen, carefully or otherwise.  Larry was in their bathroom, examining his reflection in the large mirror.   Laurent was at his desk, critiquing a video his guys had sent him from the Royal Ballet.  Although he had officially left the corps for the time being, they were still "his guys", and if they needed his help, then he would gladly give it.  

This morning was proving extremely difficult for him to work, to have his usual patience, to keep his sanity intact.  He stopped what he was doing for the umpteenth time in the last hour, removing his glasses swiftly, almost throwing them across his desk, closing his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose.  He didn't feel the need to shout, but Larry would not be coming to him, so he did the best he could to make himself heard, and to sound somewhat empathetic, though that was getting harder and harder these days.  

"Yes, mon amour ?  Do you need me ?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"No, it's OK "  Laurent could hear the pout in his voice   ---   Dear God !  Give me strength !  ---  he begged   ---   one more week, I can do it   ---  did he really have a choice ?  Laurent's forehead rested on his forearms, now crossed on his desk.  He put his video on pause, sighed deeply, and walked towards their bathroom.  The sight that greeted him melted his heart, despite how irritated he was.  Larry was stood sideways to the mirror, a towel hung low under his, now enormous, 39 week bump, examining it thoughtfully.  39 weeks, 9 months exactly.  Laurent could see Michael moving around under Larry's skin, as if he, himself, was struggling to get out.  He'd had enough now too, apparently.  At Larry's check up a few days ago, the doc had told them it was all systems go, Michael's head was in the right position to be born, and it would be any day now.  Ready to make his entrance into the world.  Their world.  

Laurent looked softly at him then, as a tear made it's way slowly down Larry's cheek, as they often did nowadays, emotion, frustration and love not even having to fight their way from his eyes, tears always falling readily.  He was studying his bump in the mirror, his large hands stroking the now painfully tight skin that covered and protected their child.  Realising Laurent was leaning on the door frame watching him, with so much love in his eyes and the sweetest smile on his face, Larry turned to look at him, returning his smile, but still crying.  His emotions were all over the show, not quite knowing what to feel, how to feel it, or how to stop them from showing at all.

"I'm fa-aa-aa-tt !"  He wailed, throwing his head back as he squeezed his eyes shut, as if he were discovering this awful reality for the first time.  He steadied himself against the sink counter top as he wobbled slightly.  Laurent walked quickly towards him, to hold him as best he could.  

"Larry, baby ! C'mere "  He cooed and soothed, grinning, chuckling to himself, but not laughing.  No, no laughing was permitted, God knows what an audible laugh would do to this man's fragile ego and sensitivities at the moment.  Laurent stood behind Larry as he pouted, hitching his breath, staring at them both in the mirror.

"I want it ou-w-w-w-t ! "  he wailed, "I'm done !  I love him to bits, I do, but I'm DONE, Laurent !  This isn't funny anymore !"  Another tear slid down Larry's cheek.  Laurent disagreed, but he wasn't in Larry's place, and he understood, he really did.  Well, he did his best to try to, at least.  Unfortunately, Larry caught his smirk, scowled at him and marched away, huffing and puffing, leaving Laurent still stood in place, slightly hunched over, his arms still outstretched, hugging the now vacant spot where Larry had been.  He straightened himself up, sighing.  Again.  A lot of sighing going on these days, he thought.