Ready or not...

by goghost

Summary:

That little nagging voice tells him to look.

Look.

Jayce holds back from sighing in front of the little girl that's been waiting oh so patiently the entire time he's been quietly spiraling and turns back into the bathroom. He hesitates as he steps closer and closer until he can finally pick up the small piece of plastic to properly read. His entire body goes stiff as he freezes.

-or-

Jayce takes a pregnancy test and spirals.

Notes:

Posting my first work on here for the monthly prompt 'hiding' and 'interrupted' in the SFW mpreg server I'm part of, checkout bumpbrigade on Tumblr for more info !!

Rio is a little monster my friend and I came together to make for a rp ! I adore her so obviously she had to make an appearance

Check out her works the user is pinkpilot !!!

This was super fun to write, enjoy!

There's light thumps coming from behind him as little hands hit a well-made bed rhythmically while he paces divots into the floorboards. He's not sure how long he's been at it now. All he knows is that each time he gathers the courage to step back into the bathroom to finally look, he chickens out at the last second with a shake of his head and quickly looks away from where a little test sits on the bathroom sink. He shuffles out and back into the bedroom with a sigh, his teeth chewing on the inside of his cheek so much it's slowly starting to ache, and he swears he faintly tastes copper. His hair pointing every which way after carding fingers through it one too many times.

A decent amount of time must have passed by now. At least long enough for a small voice to speak up as little hands still, the thumping coming to a stop.

“Papi, can we play now?”

Jayce knows he shouldn't put it off any longer, and he should just look at the damn thing. He took the test for a reason, after all. Something nagging at him for days now to take a test, just in case after noticing sudden spotting. It could be nothing. It could be wrong, even… but he'd only end up taking a second one, or third, if he thinks so.

He sucks in a breath from where he stands and forces a smile on his lips as he turns to look at where his sweet little girl is lying on the large bed on her stomach. She's pouting, clearly having been waiting for some time now after he had promised her they would play later when she crawled into bed with him in the early hours of the morning. He should know better than to promise his child something by this point. Small children have excellent memory, apparently, and don't forget once you've promised them something.

Rio looks so much like her tati. Jayce's very own ‘mini Viktor’, as he likes to call her. And as if looks weren't enough, she's slowly starting to develop a personality similar to that of his partner despite how much she clings to Jayce. She'll copy things Viktor's said to Jayce specifically, even swears the man lets slip in his mother tongue every now and then when he thinks neither of the two are paying him any mind. The very first time he heard it, his jaw fell open, eyebrows furrowing as he looked at his lover in shock. Viktor tried to hide his laughter behind a hand. 

Oh yes, they didn't need a test to know Rio is, in fact, Viktor's. Jayce's genes apparently didn't put up much of a fight, surprisingly enough, and that's perfectly okay with him. 

The forced smile melts into something a little more genuine. 

“Of course, mija.”

The four year old sits up excitedly from where she lies. The pout is quickly replaced with a smile so big it shows where she's missing a front tooth. She sits back on her little legs and holds out her arms expectantly for Jayce to lift her up and off the bed.

He should look at the test now and get it over with. And for a moment, he nearly decides to instead take the opportunity to distract himself and play with his daughter just as he promised her as he takes a couple of steps closer towards where she waits.

That little nagging voice tells him to look.

Look.

Jayce holds back from sighing in front of the little girl that's been waiting oh so patiently the entire time he's been quietly spiraling and turns back into the bathroom. He hesitates as he steps closer and closer until he can finally pick up the small piece of plastic to properly read. His entire body goes stiff as he freezes.

Shit.

“Papiii…”

He quickly steps back out, test in fist, and shoves it under some clothes in a drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. For now, anyway. He makes a mental note to retrieve it before his partner comes home and to hide it properly elsewhere. For one, he needs to figure out how to bring it up at all. How would Viktor react? Would he be happy? Upset? They hadn't even been trying. It might not even be right! He could take another one when Viktor is out running errands again.

Yes. Yes, he'll do that. He hates having to do anything behind his partner's back, but…

Jayce isn't even sure how he feels. 

Excited, maybe? No, he can't be. Not when his anxiety is slowly eating at him. Though he would be if Viktor is, of course. There's no denying that despite the slow rising fear and uncertainty of the situation, he does feel at least a little happy. A little brother, or sister, for Rio. A new little someone to welcome into their home. He can't help the small smile that pulls at his lips.

A hand drifts down and over his seemingly still flat stomach as if confirming there is no bump.

Up, down, up, down.

Fingers slip under the fabric of his shirt as if the thin layer is somehow making that much of a difference. His palm stills against his midriff.

Up, down, up, down.

No, nothing. Not yet.

How is he going to tell Viktor? He's not sure why he's so worried in the first place. Technically, Rio wasn't exactly planned, either. And despite how rocky things had been, they still managed to figure it out. Viktor had still been there by his side despite everything. He truly couldn't ask for a better partner.

It'll be fine. They'll be fine.

He hopes.

In an attempt to quiet his racing thoughts, he swoops Rio up suddenly and tosses her in the air playfully, earning a loud squeal that's followed by a giggle. It causes her to cling onto him as he hugs her to his chest, his forearm supporting her as little arms wrap around his neck. Now, he is properly giving her the attention she wants.

“Alright, alright… What are we playing today, little lady, hm?”

Rio's eyebrows knit together in deep thought, lips pursing, too. It doesn't take her very long to figure out what she wants to do. Little hands hold Jayce's face as she grins widely, squishing his cheeks together so that his lips pucker. He makes kissy noises in turn at his daughter, causing her to giggle all over again.

“Hide and seek!”

“Okay, but no hiding in the garden this time. Tati got upset the last time you accidentally stepped on some of his plants.”

Rio pouts and mumbles with a huff, “Just dumb vegetables...”

Jayce maneuvers his way through their home towards the backdoor. “I know you don't like eating them, baby, but they'll help you grow big and strong.”

“No.”

“No?” Jayce asks, fighting a smile and failing. Ah, her favorite word.

She shakes her head. “No.”

The door swings shut behind them as they step outside. The late morning sun greeting them warmly. 

“Oh? So you don't want to be big and strong like your papi?” Jayce puffs out his chest and flexes his free arm, grunting with mock effort as he poses exaggeratedly. As best as he can, anyway, with a child in one arm.

“No,” Rio says even as she giggles, and Jayce sighs as he stops with his poses.

He'll get her next time.

“Papi.” She pats his cheek. “Down please.”

Well, at least she has manners.

Jayce lets her down just like she asked, and he can tell she's already wondering where she's going to hide because she's doing that thing where she scans the entire backyard while a little fist holds onto the fabric of his sweats. He looks at where she's stuck staring. She's staring at the garden.

“Rio…” He places a hand atop of her head gently to get her attention. “What did we say?”

“...No hiding in the garden.”

“Ah-huh… because?”

“Tati gets upset.”

He strokes her head lovingly and nods when she looks up at him. “And we don't want to upset him, right?”

“No.”

Their child is effortlessly funny.

“Good. Am I seeking?”

“Yeah! And then we switch.”

“And then we switch,” Jayce echoes, reaching up to tie his long hair back to keep out of his face while they play. He hates the feeling of it sticking to his skin when he's sweaty. He takes two extra hair ties out of his pocket for Rio, too. “C'mere, sweetheart.”

Rio knows the drill now. She steps in front of him and stands still as Jayce ties locks of hair into two little pigtails. Even her hair is starting to look more like Viktor's as it continues to grow. She hardly resembles Jayce despite him being the one to carry her for a whole nine months. Did his genes even try?

“Aaand… all done.”

She immediately runs away as Jayce covers his eyes to start counting.

“And no peeking! Turn around!”

His own daughter… accusing him of cheating. 

Jayce obeys and turns.

“Ten… nine… eight…” He starts counting down just loud enough for her to hear him do so, and he can hear little footsteps running around. “Seven… six… five… Rio Talis, stay out of the garden!”

Silence. 

Jayce doesn't have to look to know, but when it stretches for a little longer, he nearly peers up before she calls back.

“Papiii… you're cheating!”

He has to stifle a laugh. “Nope! Four… three… two… one! Ready or not, here I come!” He calls out, removing his hands from where they cover his face and starts to look around the yard.

Rio isn't behind the tree or in the nearby shrubbery. Jayce's eyes fall on the boxes he said he'd throw out, thinking they're big enough to fit a four year old, and surprisingly, no Rio.

A giggle comes from behind the hanging laundry that's been put out to dry. Jayce grins to himself and pretends to look around some more as he slowly inches closer. 

“Hmm… Where could she be hiding?” He says aloud, hands on his hips as he stands in front of a drying sheet. He suddenly pulls back the wet fabric, making Rio shriek before bursting into giggles as she's snatched up. “There you are!”

 

———☆———

 

It's so easy for Jayce to lose track of the time when he's playing with Rio, keeping her entertained long enough until it's about time for lunch. And it's just about that time, he thinks. His stomach growls to tell him as much. Rio, however, has yet to mention she's hungry. Sometimes, she'll be so absorbed by their game, or whatever it is she's up to, that she doesn't say anything at all. So he has to end up telling her it's time to eat. After a quick bath, of course. 

He's a little sweaty, as expected, and so is Rio. This doesn't seem to bother her much at all, though. Only really pausing here and there to ask for some water. It's the only sort of break he gets between games as he has a quick drink himself. She has so much energy that it's hard for him to keep up sometimes.

Again, his mind drifts to the little thing growing in his belly. They'd keep each other entertained for hours on end, he's sure. At least longer than Jayce ever could. Though occasionally, Rio seems to mind less and less as time goes on. She just wants to stick by Jayce's side, or at the very least, be near him. He loves having his little girl just in arm's reach, but it's partially due to her separation anxiety, he knows. He's also painfully aware that it was his own that likely rubbed off onto her.

When she was still a baby, he couldn't stand having to leave her alone for extended periods of time. His mind would run a hundred miles a second whenever he did, inevitably leaving him restless. Even if it was only to leave her to sleep in her crib at night. Just in the other room, only a few feet away. Viktor had to constantly assure him that Rio was okay. She is okay, and so is Jayce. But for him to be okay to care for her during the day, he had to get some proper rest and sleep. 

She'd end up wailing not long after they put her down, and the sound always broke Jayce's heart. It still does now whenever she cries. And he's always unable to ignore his instincts that yell at him to check on her. He's almost immediately at her side, soothing her as best as he can. So, for the longest time, he would sleep with her. Whether it was in her crib after he crawled into it half asleep or in their bed, she would fall fast asleep on his chest, safe and warm, and most importantly, with him. Only waking up fussing when she got hungry. 

It got better as she got older. For both of them. At least, he likes to think so. She still sleeps in their bed every now and then, of course, despite having her own room filled with just about everything a kid could want. She's a bit spoiled. They can't help it. And yet she still prefers to crawl into bed with them where she can cuddle up to Jayce. Be it in the middle of the night or early in the morning. Jayce loves nothing more than waking up to his daughter and partner in bed with him. 

“Three… two… one! Ready or not—”

A pair of hands suddenly settle on Jayce's hips from behind.

“Here I come,” a soothing voice says into his ear, causing him to jump ever so slightly, having been caught off guard.

“Hello to you, too.” Jayce smiles as he turns his head just enough for lips to meet his own in a gentle kiss. “I didn't hear you come home.”

Viktor's arms wrap around his middle to draw him in a little closer, sweat and all. “What? Did I scare you?” 

Jayce leans into his partner with a playful roll of his eyes, smiling all the same. His arms settle atop of his partner's from where he's being held. “Of course not.”

“Of course. Have you two eaten yet?”

“Not yet. Was going to finish up here, then give your daughter a bath.”

“And yourself?” Viktor asks, brow raised. 

“Suddenly you don’t like when I'm sweaty?” He huffs in amusement with a shake of his head. “Obviously, I'm going to have a bath, too, Vik.” 

“Shall I get started on lunch while you and Rio wash up?”

“Well, how kind of you to offer. I think I'll take you up on that.”

“And just so you know, I have never once said anything about liking when you're sweaty. Don't put words in my mouth, Jayce Talis.” Despite this, he still presses a kiss to Jayce's shoulder and has yet to make any sort of move to let him go. Jayce doesn't point it out, even if he wants to.

“Fine, fine.”

They share another kiss, but don't pull away but don't pull away just yet as Viktor presses another kiss to Jayce's cheek. Viktor is the one to initiate physical contact first so much more often now as opposed to their earlier years. The motion never fails to make his heart swell, and it's always accompanied by a warmth so deep in his bones that he'll never get tired of. 

Except he's acutely aware of where those arms rest.

There's a few tugs to his sweats to get his attention, and after the third one or so, he brings a hand down to hold them in place, afraid they'll be pulled down completely.

Rio is pouting up at both of her parents.

“Tati, we were playing!” She huffs, now pulling on one of Viktor's arms as if trying to pry him off Jayce.

“Hmm… maybe I want papi all to myself now that I'm home.” Viktor presses kisses to Jayce's cheek, neck, shoulder, anywhere he can reach as if to emphasize his point and hugs his partner closer.

It causes Jayce to laugh as he grins widely from the onslaught of affection, but their daughter isn't as amused.

“No! Tati, you're ruining our game!” Rio starts to whine, tugging on Jayce's sweats all over again. His hand hasn't moved from where it holds them up, thankfully. “Papi, make him stop!”

Viktor is smiling now, too. Jayce can tell, can feel the way his lips curl against his cheek when he's kissing him again. 

“What's wrong, baby girl? Feeling left out?”

Before Rio can say anything, she's already being lifted up and into Jayce's arms, where both of her parents start attacking her with kisses to her sweaty little face. She squeals loudly, trying to wiggle out of Jayce's grasp and away from them, but it's no use.

“No! No! Stop it!” She tries pushing them away, using her little hands to put over their mouths. She's successful in stopping Viktor. Jayce is the one who starts to kiss the little palm instead as he chuckles. “Papi! I said no!” She tries to act annoyed but ultimately ends up giggling. Rio puts her hand a little more firmly over Jayce's mouth. “No more!” 

Only then does he finally stop, pulling away. “Then you don't mind if I kiss tati…” Jayce turns his head, expecting a kiss from his partner, but the same little hand is stopping Viktor from getting any closer as it covers his lips.

“No.”

It's enough to make Jayce snort, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “Sorry, but according to your daughter, we can't kiss.” 

Viktor quietly laughs and sighs as he pulls away. “Very well… I'll just steal you for myself another time.” His hands gently squeeze Jayce's hips. “I'll go get lunch started for you and our little monster,” he says with a smile, pinching one of Rio's cheeks before stepping back inside, leaving the two alone once more.

“Rio, baby.” Jayce leans in and sniffs his daughter. “I think it’s bath time.”

Rio whines and slumps over Jayce's shoulder. 

“You're not escaping bath time, missy.”

“You stink, too!” She points out as she leans back in his arms to look at him, lower lip sticking out.

“I bet I do. That's why I'm taking a bath.”

“Nooo…” She crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes at Jayce. 

“Yesss…” He playfully mimics her tone. “You don't want to be stinky.”

She sighs a bit dramatically, defeated, and slumps all over again, backward this time. Jayce supports her easily with one hand. “...Can we play some more?”

It's Jayce's turn to sigh. “Honey…” He wouldn't mind usually, but by this point, he's properly tired after they've been playing for hours. A bath and plate of food that isn't even made yet are calling his name.

“Just one more! Tati didn't let you seek!”

He doesn't answer immediately. Technically, she's right. “...okay.” Rio's face immediately lights up and is motioning for him to let her down. “But just one more, and then it's bath time.”

Which brings him to his next problem: talking to Viktor about his latest discovery.

Should he wait? Until when? Dinner? A few days from now? Weeks? No, no. Not that long. Just long enough for him to take another test to make sure it's correct. And then what? How is he supposed to break the news?

‘Hey, Viktor. So I know we weren't trying, but guess who's pregnant?’

‘So, you know how Rio wasn't planned?’

‘Were you trying to put another baby in me? Great! It worked.’

…

All terrible. He's overthinking it. Telling him over dinner sounds like the best option. A nice dinner with just the two of them. He could ask Caitlyn and Vi to babysit. Or his mamá. She did mention wanting to see Rio sometime soon and wouldn't mind watching her for a night or two if Jayce and Viktor wanted a little time to themselves.

‘A little time to themselves’ is exactly how he ended up having to take a test in the first place.

“Papi, cover your eyes!”

Jayce sucks in a breath and quietly exhales, covering his eyes. It's fine. He'll be fine. They'll talk it out.

“Ten… nine… eight… seven—”

“Jayce?” He hears Viktor call from behind him. “What is this?”

“What's what?” He asks, finally uncovering his eyes and turning to face his partner properly.

Shit.

Jayce's stomach immediately sinks. In Viktor's hand is the very test he hid away. At least, he thought he did. He must've shoved it in Viktor's drawer by mistake, thinking it was his own. He had completely forgotten about it.

Shit, shit, shit.

The silence stretches for longer than he intends for it to, the words stuck in his throat. When Jayce doesn't say anything, Viktor opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, Jayce is already beating him to it.

“Something told me to take a test.”

More silence.

“It says positive.”

Jayce is averting his eyes now, anxiety rising as he's unable to get a read on Viktor's otherwise deadpan tone, or even the blank look on his face. Shit. Is he disappointed? Upset? Was one child enough for him?

“Uh, yeah. It does, but I was going to take another before telling you, which I was going to do—”

Viktor steps towards him.

“You know, since they're not always right. So it might be wrong, and I know we weren't really trying—”

“Jayce.”

“Honestly I might take a third one just to triple check. I don't actually have any symptoms yet, I mean, I noticed some spotting that's kinda why I took a test, but I'm probably not far along if I am—”

“Jayce.” Viktor is standing in front of him now. His free hand gently cups Jayce's face to get his attention and pull him out of his spiraling thoughts. “Breathe, lásko,” he says gently.

And Jayce does. He takes a few deep breaths as his eyes fall closed. When he opens them, he gets a proper look at his partner, meeting his gaze. His smiling partner.

His eyebrows lightly furrow together, staring at him in confusion. “You're smiling.”

“I am.”

“You're… not upset?”

Viktor shakes his head. “How could I be?” His thumb brushes over Jayce's cheek in a soothing manner, then he pauses. “Well, maybe only a little shocked you'd keep something like this from me.” His brows slightly raise, looking at his partner expectantly. 

Jayce chews on his lower lip and sighs, then starts over, a little more quietly, sheepishly, “We weren't trying, and it's not like we planned for this—”

“Rio wasn't exactly planned for, either.”

“Yeah, I know,” he mumbles and leans into Viktor's touch. 

Viktor draws Jayce in closer to press a kiss to his forehead, arms wrapping around his neck. “Oh, you wonderful idiot.”

Just like that, Jayce's worries melt away as he envelops his partner in an embrace, nuzzling his face into the man's neck with a little sigh.

“You're pregnant,” Viktor says after a moment of silence.

“I am.”

Viktor leans away and cups Jayce's face to properly look at him. “You're pregnant,” he repeats it like he still can't believe it and presses a kiss to his lips, making Jayce quietly chuckle. 

“I'm pregnant,” Jayce barely manages to say before he's being kissed again. 

Viktor looks at the test again as if to confirm what he saw, his smile widening. “Another baby… how perfect.” He presses his forehead against Jayce's, his free hand drifts down to settle over a still flat belly, and Jayce smiles like an idiot. “How long have you known?”

“Only since this morning.”

“Tati.” A little voice interrupts. When they turn their attention to Rio, she's glaring at Viktor. She's never looked so pissed before, and Jayce has to hold back a laugh as he presses his lips together, turning his head away to compose himself.

“Yes? How may I help you, Miss Rio?” Viktor asks, his hands move to hold Jayce's hips instead. 

“You ruined our game! Again!”

“Ah, I suppose I did, didn't I? I'm sorry.”

“Hey.” Jayce reaches out, gently brushing back wild hair that's stuck to Rio's face with sweat. The little hair ties are barely hanging in there after all her running around. “It's bath time, anyway.”

When Rio starts whining, Viktor is quick to cut in. “Bath time,” he reiterates.

“But we didn't finish!”

“I know, I know. We'll play more tomorrow,” Jayce says.

Rio stares at Jayce with the most serious face she can manage. “Promise?”

Jayce nods once. “I promise. Now go get ready for a bath.”

After hearing the promise, Rio grins widely up at Jayce and nods before bolting inside, leaving her parents alone. 

“You shouldn't have promised her.”

Jayce sighs, arms wrapping around Viktor's shoulders, wanting to keep his partner close, perfectly content with the outcome of their little discovery. “I know.”

Viktor leans in for a kiss, and Jayce smiles into it. “We'll have to talk to her about it eventually, you know.” Jayce sighs again. Viktor presses a kiss to the side of Jayce's face. “And I'll be by your side the entire time. Through all of it.” A gentle reassurance Jayce didn't know he needed. A majority of his first pregnancy was spent alone in the bottom of the ravine. It was rough, physically and mentally. 

They share another kiss. “Thank you,” Jayce says quietly.

“It's the least I can do after getting you pregnant a second time.”

“Oh, how responsible of you.”

“Papiii!”

“Come, your daughter needs a bath. And so do you.” Viktor guides Jayce inside with an arm around his waist. “Everything should be done by the time you've finished up.” 

Jayce feels his partner's hand gently hit his ass before they part ways. He shoots him a look over his shoulder.

“And Jayce?” 

Jayce pauses and pokes his head around the corner so he can get a proper view of Viktor in the kitchen. His hair tied up now as he gathers the ingredients he needs for their meal. 

“Yeah?”

“Next time, let's try talking first, hm?”

His lips pull into a smile and he nods from the doorway. “Yeah. Of course, V.” He continues down the hall, then stops.

Wait.

“Next time?”

 

Notes:

Viktor loves interrupting games...
Also wow ao3 is hard to navigate.
Would you believe if I said there was more but I wanted to post this before the month ENDED.
I'll definitely be writing and posting some more stuff as time goes on hehe