AU: Bundle of Joy (Damien)

[Josef Muller]

This couldn’t be happening.

Actually, change that to a ‘shouldn’t’ and the premise would be more accurate. This shouldn’t be happening. Why? Well, he could think of several reasons. The first one was that he was a guy. He was really sure about that thing. And Damien was a guy too, but that didn’t seem to be a reason so much as the cause of the problem. But these kinds of things didn’t happen to guys. It was, like, a rule or something.

All in all, Josef had to reflect that had he KNOWN something like this could happen, specifically to him, he would’ve paid a lot more attention in those sex talks they gave every year…

The school nurse seemed a little less surprised.

“It seems to be happening to a lot of young men,” she sighed. “And older ones too. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll schedule an appointment with a doctor for you. And as you’re nineteen, I advise you to tell your parents.”

“Tell them what?” Josef’s voice squeaked, and he cleared his throat. When he’d come in for nausea, he hadn’t been expecting this. He was still having issues processing. “That I’m pregnant? And I’m gay? One of those facts by itself would kill my mom! Besides, men don’t get pregnant!”

The nurse gave him a look. “Whether or not they do, you ARE pregnant, Josef. You’ll have to accept that. But--you haven’t told your parents?”

He shook his head. Well, in truth, he’d tried. He’d never wanted to keep it a secret, and had never seen the reason why. For him, liking men was as natural as breathing and he’d never seen the problem in it. But his mom always avoided the topic. In any case, she wasn’t the one he was worried about. His mind kept circling back to Damien.

“What am I going to do?” he asked, mostly to himself.

“Start by being honest,” the woman advised. “And try not to punch anyone, will you? I’ve looked after too many of your victims.”

Josef flashed her an apologetic smile, then hopped down and walked out, looking thoughtful. He knew his first stop, unfortunately. Even though he wouldn’t like it much. He approached and knocked on Damien’s door.

“Damien? Are you there? Can I come in?”

He had no idea how he was going to start this conversation.

[Damien Tremblay]

Dating Josef had done wonders for Damien's confidence. He actually found talking to people easier now. Perhaps it was just Josef's personality rubbing off on him, but whatever it was, it was nice. He was more able to look people in the eye when they spoke to him, and he had actually started participating in things like class discussions. He was becoming less and less of a wallflower, much to his surprise.

Yeah, he definately credited Josef with that.

The newly turned eighteen year old was currently going back and forth between worrying about his boyfriend and trying to study. Josef had been sick recently, and Damien felt bad for him. If he wasn't feeling any better by the evening, he was planning on stopping by the older boy's dorm with soup or something. Maybe a movie, to take his mind off of feeling gross.

But first, history. He was supposed to be writing a paper on the French Revolution, bu it had become much more fun to turn his arm invisible and read his textbook through it for as long as he could. It was tiring, and his fingers were starting to tingle, but it was good practice. (Plus, his newest roomate was easily freaked out by missing appendages. Not that Damien tried to scare him, no. Not on purpose.)

The knocking promptly distracted him from his studies. Josef's voice even more so. Like a puppy, Damien scrambled off of his bed and made a beeline for the door. He opened it with near-unbridled enthusiasm, smiling at his boyfriend. "Hi, Josef!" He stepped back, allowing him access to the dorm. "Yeah, come in. I was just studying." He dipped his head to the side, trying to analyze the older boy. Something didn't seem... quite right. "Are you okay? You're not still sick, are you?" Concern crossed his face, and he held out his hand. "Here, come sit down."

[Josef Muller]

Josef kept forgetting that his boyfriend, unlike him, was actually a good student. He noticed the books on the table and blinked, then looked back at Damien. Maybe he could put this off, then! That would be really nice. Then again, the nurse had said he was two months along. Maybe that was a bad idea. He should tell him that in seven months, they should be expecting a bundle of joy.

Actually, remembering Helene as a baby, Josef wasn’t sure this was accurate at all. A bundle of messy, crying joy then. Yeah. He was so thrilled about this.

“You sure you want to talk to me now?” he asked, peering in. “I don’t want to interrupt your, uh, studying. I feel like I do enough of that.” He flashed him a weird smile that was a combination of guilty and proud (yes, Josef did like corrupting people, and corrupting Damien in particular was so much fun), and hesitated before taking Damien’s hand. He didn’t like being fussed over. Josef not feeling well turned into a bear and hibernated in his room until he was decently sure that he could be presented in public again. He’d told this to Damien as a sort of warning, but the other boy hadn’t listened. Josef was resigned to being fussed over, and was beginning to even like it. Sort of. He settled down on the bed, fidgeted, then shifted so he was sitting cross-legged. This seemed more comfortable to him, and he sighed before looking up at Damien. “Okay. Uh.” How to go through this? ‘Guess how you knocked up your boyfriend?’ ‘Ever heard of morning sickness?’ ‘Guess what, I’m preggers?’ Yup. This was going to be fabulous. Eventually, Josef decided to be quick and blunt. Just like ripping off a Band-Aid.

He hated ripping off Band-Aids.

“Okay. Yes, I’m sick,” he said. “And, uh, I’m going to be sick for a while. Seven months. Damien, I’m…” He spread his hands out. “I’m pregnant.” And he stared at him, looking a mixture of defiant—as if daring him to laugh—and worried. And that in itself was strange, because Josef was never worried.

[Damien Tremblay]

Yes, Damien was a better student than Josef, despite his boyfriend's frequent attempts to corrupt him. Considering the younger teen had panicked the very first time Josef had convinced him to cut class... well, it shouldn't have come as a shock to him that Damien had actually been studying during his spare time. Not worrying about impending doom, or anything like that. Just mild concern for Josef being sick, and reading about the boring French Revolution.

Really, he was grateful for the distraction. Even if it meant he might get sick too, it was worth the risk to see Josef out of his room.

"Of course I do! Come on," he invited. He wouldn't pass up the chance to hang out with Josef. "It's fine, really. It's just a gross term paper. It's not due tomorrow or anything." Therefore, it was fine to procrastinate. "And I like it when you distract me," he assured. Even when said distractions consisted more of make out sessions than anything else. He did grin at the expression on Josef's face. "Stop looking so proud of yourself." Yes, Josef had corrupted him. A little. He'd needed it, really. At least Josef took his hand. That was a start. Despite the warning that Josef had issued about his temperament when sick, Damien had braved it before and he was fine with doing so again. He waited for Josef to settle on the bed, trying not to blush at the all too recent memories of the last few times they'd been in this same spot. Josef still looked off, and make out sessions were probably not in the cards. While he waited, Damien pushed his books aside and tucked his hair behind his ear.

The silence made him nervous. What if Josef was really sick? That caused a surge of panic that he tried very hard to keep under wraps. He had to wait until Josef actually said something before freaking out.

Of course, his stomach twisted when his boyfriend actually confirmed his fears. He was ready to launch himself at the older boy and hug him hard, but his continuation gave him pause. For a moment, he wondered if Josef was joking, but the concern in his eyes made him think twice. Josef never worried. Damien bit his lip, frowning slightly. "I... what? How's that even, um... possible?" Josef was a guy, and none of their... 'activities' could possibly result in pregnancy. "Are you sure? I just... are you okay?" He swallowed nervously, eyed slightly wider. He had no idea what to do.

[Josef Muller]

It really didn’t surprise him that Damien was studying, and in truth, he felt pretty awful about the whole thing that had happened with him skipping class. He’d never asked him to do that again—just had strongly suggested it. “Thanks.” He smiled at him, although being nervous about the whole thing meant that he didn’t quite meet Damien’s eyes for probably the first time since they’d started dating. “Uh. Term Paper? Ouch.” He thought he had one due soon. That was—not a good thing. Not a good thing at all. Maybe being pregnant would allow him to get out of this.

Pregnant. He was pregnant. He couldn’t help the smile that appeared on his face as he noticed how hesitant Damien was to sit on the bed. Like he was trying to blush. And even though this situation had happened BECAUSE of what they’d done, he couldn’t help feeling pretty happy that he could still make his boyfriend embarrassed.

“Yeah, see, that’s the part I’ve been wondering about.” Josef stared at him, but as Damien didn’t seem inclined to run out of the door, some of the tension eased out of his shoulders. “Because I’m a guy and you’re a guy, and it really doesn’t make any sense, but…the nurse confirmed it. I’m two months along.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked down, twiddling his thumbs…which he hadn’t done since he was about five. Realizing this, he scowled at his fingers, then looked back up at Damien. “Yeah, I’m sure. But what—‘course I’m fine!” He brightened and smiled falsely. “Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, being pregnant at nineteen is something that happens to a lot of people. Including guys! Who would think that wasn’t—” he stopped himself and looked down. “Yeah, that’s a lie. Damien, I’m scared out of my mind.”

[Damien Tremblay]

Damien had spent so long abiding by rules that skipping class had seemed like an offense he should have been arrested for. Despite Josef's reassurances, he had still fretted, and all the kissing in the world couldn't have distracted him from the simple fact he had been breaking the rules. He hadn't skipped again, but he was easier to distract from schoolwork. Procrastination, as it turned out, was a beautiful thing. "Yeah. French Revolution." Damien rolled his eyes and muttered a curse in French to express his distaste for the assignment. Fortunately for Josef, Damien didn't notice the nervous look in his boyfriend's eyes.

Sadly, that didn't last long. As soon as the confession had been made, he was much more attentive. And worried. And he found he couldn't sit still as the news sunk in. Josef was... pregnant. Which meant that it was his fault. "Two months." Two months. Holy... oh God. How? He didn't understand. Hell, at the time he hadn't even really known what he had been doing! It had to be someone's power gone haywire. Whatever it was, well...

He was so not panicking. He wasn't even the pregnant one. He had no reason to panic. ... Okay, that was a big lie. He cared about Josef, and this was his fault. He was allowed to panic.

At first he thought Josef was just being snarky (his sister had been a giant snark bag when she had been pregnant), but when Josef actually stopped and admitted he was scared, Damien swallowed hard. "Josef... I'm sorry. Don't be scared." He inched closer, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend in what he hoped was a comforting way. "This is all my fault. I'm so, so sorry." To avoid looking at him, he tucked his face againt Josef's chest. "I'll do anything you need me to. I'll get a job, or... help tell your parents, or... just anything you need. I promise."

[Josef Muller]

Josef nodded. “That was a weird time frame. All the head cutting off and stuff. I still don’t get why they did that.” He shrugged and made a face. “Truth, justice and freedom, I guess. Isn’t that considered the usual explanation? Whatever.” And just like that, the problems of pre-revolutionary France were dismissed. Josef had always been good at that kind of stuff. Damien didn’t seem to be reacting that well. In spite of Damien THINKING he wasn’t panicking, it was pretty obvious to Josef that he was. He made a face and sank down even further. “C’mon, Damien, don’t freak out, please? It’s really not that big of a deal.” Even if the other man seemed to think it was. Well. Maybe he could hold it together enough for both of them. Apparently not. He accepted the hug but noticed that Damien wasn’t looking at him. He sighed.

“Great. Damien, I promise I’m not mad, okay? Do you believe me?” He ruffled his hair. “Besides, what would you do to get a job anyways? You were going to college and stuff.”

In truth, Josef’s plan had been a bit…different. But he didn’t have the nerve to say it yet. “Um. The nurse says I’ll be under watch the whole time. I think I should be okay. It’s not your fault, remember? Takes two to tango, and I wasn’t really unwilling. Will you relax?” He smiled at him. “It’ll be okay.”

[Damien Tremblay]

"Yeah, beheading was like... a sport." And considering where Damien had been raised, beheading did not sit well with him. Nor did a great deal of the world's bloodier history. "Truth, justice, and freedom doesn't make a great paper." He made a face, glad to not have to think about it anymore.

Of course, given the options for conversation, perhaps he wanted to go back to pre-revolutionary France.

"I'm not freaking out," he protested, trying harder to keep the worry off of his face. Josef might not think it was a big deal, but how often did your boyfriend come to you and tell you that he's pregnant? "I'm not." He was well aware that he was protesting a little too much, which was probably telling, but he didn't care. He wanted to try to look like he was calm. He needed to be calm.

Yeah, he wasn't calm.

"I believe you," he said quietly, pulling away to peer up at his boyfriend. He knew Josef was well capable of being mad, but he'd never seen that anger directed at him. Still, he managed a slightly indignant look. "I could get one in town somewhere that doesn't need school. Who needs college, right?" He tried to look a little more easygoing. Yes, of the two of them he was the planner. He was more cautious. But in this case? He'd be willing to put off school to deal with this.

Because whether Josef agreed or not, he still considered it his fault.

Alternatives to figuring out a way to make this work hadn't crossed the younger boy's mind. He'd do just about anything to make this easier on Josef, if there was anything he could do. "I know it does." He didn't quite manage not to blush at that one. "I want it to be okay. I want you to be okay." He hugged him a little tighter. "Did the nurse say if anyone else is pregnant, or are you just... special?"

[Josef Muller]

Josef nodded. “Sounds nasty.” And this was from a boy who cheered throughout all the action scenes in a movie. He could never seem to help himself in that. But actually chopping off people’s heads seemed like it could be extremely dangerous and nasty and the real blood wasn’t going to be corn starch either. Which was kind of a ‘duh’ moment but no one had ever called Josef intelligent.

No one. Ever.

“You’re freaking out too!” Josef groaned and put his head in his hands, cradling it there and groaning to himself. “And it’s normal to freak out. I mean, guys don’t get pregnant. And even if we weren’t two dudes then teen pregnancy is a totally normal thing to freak out and—and—“ He stopped himself, groaned again and let his head drop between his legs. He was really trying to hold it together, but it didn’t seem to be working that way. He was freaking out. He’d always wanted to be a father but not like this and not this young and what if he died during this procedure? It was terrifying.

But he did take Damien’s hug and tightened it slightly, resting his forehead against the other boy’s shoulder and exhaling. “Nope. Apparently a lot of people have the—problem. It’s like a disease. A bunch of gay men have it. Students too.” He brightened. “At least we won’t be alone, right? We can all be crazy together.”

[Damien Tremblay]

"It is. It's gross." Sadly, Damien did not share in Josef's affection for gory movies. His usual mode of action was to dive under a blanket or bury his face in Josef's shoulder, making him promise to tell him when the scene was over. He really wouldn't have fared well in the middle ages, where beheading was sort of like a Saturday night movie.

"I'm trying not to!" Trying, not succeeding. He was frantically worried about Josef. There was nothing to go on in terms of helpful information for male pregnancy, he was sure of that. For someone that liked facts, that wasn't good. Damien was nervous, and flat out scared for his boyfriend. That was why he was willing to do anything to help. Even if that involved postponing University for a while. His parents weren't likely to care much. Hell, Melissa hadn't even wanted to go, and they hadn't said anything.

They might even be excited over the idea of another grandchild.

He nuzzled into the hug, wishing he could ease Josef's fears. At least he wasn't alone in this, if the nurse was telling the truth. "Yeah..." Damien had to admit, the idea of any baby of theirs being a 'disease' stung a little. "I could ask my sister what kinds of things to expect, if you want?" Then they might have some kind of straw to grasp at. "And I wasn't kidding. I'd drop university for this. For you." He could be responsible. Sort of. He'd clearly done such a good job of that so far.

[Josef Muller]

Sadly, Josef would’ve fared well in the Middle Ages. It wasn’t like he really loved blood and gore. He liked action movies because of the fakery of it, for the most part. He enjoyed the unrealistic action sequences and the fake blood. But he would’ve done well with the Middle Ages because, as long as the person bleeding wasn’t him, he typically managed okay with gore.

“Well try harder!” Josef snapped, then winced and cradled his head in his hands. “I’m sorry, Damien. I mean. I don’t think our baby is a disease. And it’s okay to freak out. It’s just—I’m freaking out too.” He inhaled, then exhaled and leaned back, doing his best to relax. Not relax. He wasn’t sure relaxation was possible. But not freaking out. He leaned against Damien, for once leaning on his boyfriend instead of letting Damien lean on him. “I’m not ready to be a dad,” he admitted quietly. “But—talking to your sister would be good. And I don’t want you to drop school.” He inhaled. “I mean, short-term gain for a long-term problem, right? If we’re going to stay together—and I’d like to stay together—then I want you to have a good future. And, I mean, I can always teach martial arts and make enough money to keep us up. Especially if you get financial aid or—or something. Or I could go live with my parents…” He trailed off. “Nope. That’s a bad idea. How about your parents?”

[Damien Tremblay]

Damien instantly flinched away when Josef snapped, dropping his embrace in the process. Sure, he'd seen Josef ticked off before, but never at him. He closed his eyes and swallowed, ready to apologize for being scared when Josef beat him to it. His eyes snapped open and he just looked at Josef for a moment. He was so used to his boyfriend being the strong one. Seeing him looking so... defeated was almost more concerning than the pregnancy itself. "I know it's scary," he admitted. "For both of us. But I promise I'm not leaving. I want to be there for you. And for the baby, too."

Like Josef, he'd always wanted to be a father too. Just... this soon was unexpected, to say the least. "You'll be a great dad, though. You like kids, right? And you're really protective." Those were all positives in his mind for fatherhood. "I can call Melissa for you. Uh. When everything's not so new and scary." Or maybe sooner was better. Hell, he didn't know. He didn't even know how his sister would take the news. Well, he'd find out soon enough.

The idea of leaving Josef to deal with a newborn while he went to class was unfair, in his mind. But he did have a point. "Yeah, but studying law takes forever... it's still not fair, though" He sighed. "I want to stay with you, too." Though he hadn't actually said it yet, he was pretty sure he was in love with Josef. He was just too shy to put it into words, mostly for fear of rejection. Not that he really thought Josef would do that, but he still worried. As for parents... "Mine would let us stay there. They like you. And they'll freak over another grandkid. They spoil Roscoe to death." He made a face. "Plus my dad's meta too. He knows weird stuff happens with powers sometimes. Like... this." Damien offered a weak smile to Josef. "Things'll be okay." If only he believed that himself.

[Josef Muller]

Josef knew Damien wasn’t really meant to handle full-on mood swings. He loved Damien—and that was a scary big word, love, one that he had said before but was scared to say now because he thought he might actually mean it—but he often worried about freaking the other boy out. Sometimes he seemed so shy and timid. The last thing Josef ever wanted was to scare Damien, and right now, he looked like he had. And hurt him. And Josef wasn’t very good at apologizing. “Thanks,” he mumbled, then groaned and leaned against Damien’s shoulder. “Protective? Is that a good quality? If I turn into one of those dads who sets a curfew and everything, shoot me now. I want my kids to have a life.”

Oh, Josef. If only you knew what you would really be like as a dad.

“Our kids,” he corrected, then swallowed. “And, uh, you’d be a good father too. Is that weird? That the kid’ll have two dads? I guess not, I just—I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it before. But yeah. Let’s talk to your parents and your sister—later. Once we’ve figured out what to tell them. And we’re—less scared. It’ll be okay. But you do have to go to school. I mean, um, important future and all that. Besides, once you’re graduated it’ll help the—the—the baby.” God, he’d gotten it out. But what if he had twins or something? That was terrifying. Still, he swallowed it back and leaned back. At least Damien seemed to think that his parents would be all right. Without thinking, he reached over and took his hand, squeezing it gently. “You really think so? I mean—you think we can do this.”

[Damien Tremblay]

Damien hadn’t even been able to handle his sister’s mood swings, and that had been from afar. Phone calls from her had become a source of terror when she’d been pregnant. But from Josef? He always felt safe with him, even when they were doing things like skipping class. To be snapped at actually hurt. He didn’t blame Josef for it, but it didn’t make it sting much less. He’d just have to try to stay brave and remember that his boyfriend didn’t mean to snap at him. Slightly relaxed now it was over, he gently put his arms around Josef’s neck as he leaned in again. “It is. All good parents are protective, sort of.” The idea of Josef doing things like setting curfews made him smile. “What if they act like you?” Maybe teasing would help. “You probably need a curfew when you’re out causing trouble.” Regardless of curfews or not, they could do this. Maybe.

When he corrected himself, Damien blushed slightly. Their kids. As much as this was happening to Josef, it was Damien’s too. “Uh. I don’t know. Same sex couples are allowed to adopt too, so it’s more common?” Maybe he’d try looking up statistics on it later. “We’ll maybe write out what we want to say? So I don’t screw it up.” Not that this was easy to screw up. Not in the slightest. “What if I did part time school, part time work? It’d take longer, but then I could still help you. And make money.” He wasn’t giving up that easily on the school front, even if his parents were willing to help out. Without thinking, he squeezed Josef’s hand back and nodded. “Yeah. We can. Um. Because...” Oh hell, why was he going to do this? Damien’s heart was pounding in his chest, but he rose up slightly on his knees and gave Josef a small kiss.

This was followed by a few quiet murmur in French, and his forehead resting against Josef’s shoulder. He’d said it in his head so many times, and now he was more or less wussing out. He tried again, his voice even softer. “Because I love you.”

[Josef Muller]

Even though Damien was trying desperately not to show it, Josef could tell he was hurt by it. But he seemed to be doing better, and Josef eased into him, enjoying the contact. He sometimes forgot that Damien was actually taller than him, but he remembered it now. It felt better to be sheltered for once. “I guess so,” he admitted. “I’m just not used to the thought of being responsible for somebody. I mean, I can barely take care of myself.” It was a complete lie. Josef was actually fairly self-sufficient, but at this moment, pregnant, a teenager, and not much that he was sure he could do to provide for any potential children they had. Oh dear. “I hope they’re not like me,” he added. “They should be like you. Like…a good kid. If they’re like me I’m going to be bald by the time I’m thirty.”

And thus began Josef’s dosing in cold, hard responsibility.

He blinked at the idea, startled by it, then smiled. “I guess I never thought about working it out like that. Do you really write out what you’re going to say? That’s—that’s smart. I never think about what I’m going to say. It always just comes tumbling out. But I can’t picture you screwing up anything.” He smiled at him, feeling a little more relaxed—like this could work out.

“We’ll—figure it out, okay? No pressure.” He squeezed his hand. “We can both work, maybe. But I want you to do well. So less work.” He was almost enjoying this—planning things for the future. He’d never done that before. Never had anything to plan for. He leaned into the kiss and then wrapped his arms around Damien as his head leaned against his shoulders, and he blinked at the words in French. But as Damien spoke again, louder, and said the words that Josef had been keeping to himself. And God did that feel good. Although his heart started hammering in his chest because he was terrified of what this meant. He closed his eyes, then mumbled back, “I love you too.” He pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Does that make us nuts?”