Drakos

I returned to the waiting room with bloodshot eyes. Stephon had cried himself to sleep and Falcon was stroking his dark curls as he stared tenderly at him. He raised his head and frowned at me.

"Did Dr.Reynolds return after I left?" I asked, staring at the door of the room that Asche was in.

Falcon shook his head, "I think he's performing the ultrasound."

I walked over to the glass window once more and peered out at the courtyard. I watched several birds flew about and a couple of employees sat down and chattered. My thoughts were painful to dive into. I couldn't grasp the epiphany that Asche lost our child. Every time I think of it, my heart ached. It's an excruciating pain that throbs so deep, it even hurts down to my soul.

The silence after Falcon's comment stretched on for several minutes. Each passing minute felt like a decade to me. I needed to know if all was certainly alright. I itched to see him and my dragon was clawing in the corners of my mind to get out and go to our wounded mate.

"Brother, why don't you come and sit down. You look exhausted." Falcon patted the chair beside him.

I turned around and was about to snap at him when Dr.Reynolds stepped out of the room and into the waiting area. He approached me with a notepad in his hands, readjusting his glasses on his face.

"We performed the ultrasound and I found some abnormalities." He stated, his expression concerned.

"What abnormalities?" I demanded, my brows drawing together in confusion.

He cleared with throat, "Well...it seems as if he was carrying twins. We found a strong heartbeat yet he bled profusely. What I gathered is there may have been an abnormality of the placenta or umbilical cord. Was he under severe stress?"

I glanced away guilty, clenching my teeth. Stress? He was under loads of it and I ignored the signs. From the first time he started to bleed I should have taken stricter precautions. Most of all, why did I think that he would desire to reconcile with Stephon? He was still angry at me and I'm certain he was angry at himself and Stephon. I pushing my aspirations and hopes onto him. To carry my child, to be with me, to stop his prostitution. When I met him he was always a carefree person. He loved his freedom, he lived life dangerously and still survived its dangers. Yet, I brought calamity his way, tempting him to play with fire.

My dragon made a rumbling sound of sorrow and curled in on himself. He was distraught. We had two beautiful babies on the way and we lost one. But there was still hope.

A weight was lifted off of my shoulders as I took this all in. They were all going to be alright.

"A lot has been going on," Falcon replied in my stead after I took a while to respond.

"I see." Dr. Reynolds mused, nodding his head in understanding. "Regardless, he must be stress free and get enough rest. This is a rare pregnancy and his body may not adapt to the changes. So you must have him in a quiet environment. Also, make sure he eats on time and take his vitamins and supplements. He'll mostly need them. He's awake now, still a little out of it but he's fine. Would you like to see him?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

"I'll should stay out here with Stephon," Falcon suggested. "I think it will be overwhelming for him to see us all at once. I surmise he's still angry at Stephon and you of course but you are the father of his child."

"I guess so." I said with a nod and followed after Dr. Reynolds into a dimly lit room where printed curtains were drawn closed and machines beeped in the silent room.

Several were attached to Asche's body, monitoring his vitals. He laid in a reclining bed, facing away from us. As we stepped in, his head turned to the sounds of our footsteps and he stared absently at us.

My heart clenched and I walked over to him, taking a seat beside the bed. He continued to stare at me but he said nothing, his eyes were expressionless. It unnerved me; it was as if he lost his soul.

Dr. Reynolds discreetly excused himself and exited the room.

"Asche, I'm so sorry that this happened. I should have listened to your pleas and took a more subtle approach, but I refused to." I reached down and took his hand in mine, kissing the top of it. "Please, forgive me."

He turned his head and stared up at the ceiling, saying nothing. I feared he would ignore me but he finally said, "I lost the baby, didn't I?"

I licked my lips and continued to study his face that strangely held no emotion. He showed no anger, sorrow, or anything else. Just blankness. Did his spirit break as well?

I truly hoped not.

"Were you asleep when you were given the ultrasound? I asked, carefully.

He nodded and I closed my eyes in dread. He had no idea he was carrying our twins. My eyes fluttered open and I squeezed his hand gently. "You did, but one survived. You were carrying twins."

There was a flicker of emotion that ran across his face but as soon as it showed, it went away. "Twins?"

"Yes, twins," I confirmed wistfully. "But the one who survived is doing fine." A touch of hope framed my voice.

"Okay." Was all he said and angled his head to stare at the pastel-colored curtains.

Did he not care about our child? Was he giving up on everything? How can he?

I released his hand and cupped his chin, tilting his face towards me. He didn't struggle or fuss with me which made my frown to deepen. Why was he behaving so nonchalantly? I'm here shaking inside, my emotions boiling over, when he's as calm as ever.

"Talk to me. I know you feel awful about the loss of our child. Do not shut me out because that is what you are trying to do right now. Asche, do you know I would follow you to the ends of the earth if you left me? This display of indifference is just a facade to protect yourself. I won't hurt you. I swear that I'll make it right with you. Whatever you ask, whatever you need, I'll be there to make it possible."

He blinked several times and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "I didn't mean to..." He got out hoarsely, "I had no idea that being so emotionally distraught would affect me and my child. I couldn't take it all. Everything unfolded so quickly. I felt so alone, so betrayed that I couldn't see myself forgiving Stephon. You have to understand that this isn't easy for me as well. I don't know what to do and that I scares me." He sobbed out, turning over and covering his face with his hands as he began to weep. It was a harrowing sound and I felt it deep down to my soul.

"Asche, baby..." I went to envelope him in hug but he shrugged away and shook his head vigorously, rejecting my touch.

"I can't," He wailed. "I can't," He hiccuped, "I can't control myself."

My heart ached for him. I leaned over him and stroked his hair tenderly. "That's fine. I'm right here for you to catch you when you fall. We all get emotional sometimes."

"I'm unfit," He sniffed.

I paused. "What are you saying? You will be a wonderful father. Do not doubt yourself."

"I don't think I can do this," He wiped away his tears and I held him by his shoulder and turned him over to face me, gathering him in my arms.

"Who pursues a prostitute for weeks, impregnates him and still decides to be with him nonetheless?" I smiled down at him, "A lovestruck dragonshifter who's willing to be with you against all odds. I trust my judgement with you. You are the one for me and I won't stop loving you even if you don't ever love me in return."

Drakos

Asche was discharged from the hospital the following day.

He stayed in there for a day before Dr. Reynolds decided that he was in good condition to go home. Felicia called earlier that day to check up on me, promising to stop by later on. She had no idea that Asche was in the hospital and I refrained from giving her the details. Felicia's more difficult to deal with than Falcon. Falcon and Stephon went home and he said he would pass through when Stephon calmed down.

I carried Asche in my arms and into the penthouse much to his disgruntlement. He's strongly against me carrying him but I couldn't risk anything else happening to him. If I'm able to, I'll lift him. When we got inside, I gently placed him on the sofa and took the fruit basket that Falcon bought him from his arms and rest it on the center table. During his brief stay at the hospital, I bought him flowers and Falcon got him a fruit basket. He actually thanked Falcon. Falcon preened. The self-centered bastard.

After our talk, he warned up to me just a little. He actually fell asleep in my arms, exhausted. His eyes were swollen and his skin was pale. I mentally noted that I'll bring my chef in to cook up daily meals so that Asche can eat on time. I had no need for a daily chef because I barely spent my days at home. SSo I hired her as an on call chef. I was either at the office, Falcon's, or on my yacht. One of these days I'll take Asche out sailing.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, sitting beside him. He curled his legs beneath him and snuggled with a pillow wrapped in his arms. He shook his head and buried the bottom half of his face into the pillow. Seems as if he wasn't in the mood to talk but we needed to come to an understanding.

"Mind if we chat a bit?"

"Even if I did mind, you still would push me to talk." His mumbled into the pillow.

"Asche..." I sighed. "You know that's not true."

"What's true, then?" He looked at me sadly. "Is this all for real? You? Me? What you are? What I'm carrying? It all feels like a dream or a nightmare. Sometimes I think I'll wake up and this would all be nothing." He sighed, "But that's just wishful thinking. I'm not trying to argue," He quickly clarified upon seeing my deep frown. "I'm only stating how I feel. I have the right to do that, right?"

"Of course you do, baby." My expression softened. "We're starting over. Whatever you want, whatever you need, I'll make it happen. But you mustn't stress or worry yourself. Our child is depending on you to nurture it and if your not in good health, it won't be too. Please, understand." I stroked his chin with my thumb and he nodded slowly in agreement.

"Okay," He hugged the pillow tighter.

I watched him carefully for a few seconds, in that moment he stole a glance at me and quickly looked away with a blush. It should be now that I tell him everything that he needs to know. I'd rather get it out before he gets further into his pregnancy.

"Baby," I turned, directly facing him. "Remember our discussion in the bedroom a few days earlier?"

He eyed me warily, "I try not to."

I licked my lips, "Well...you see...there's a reason why we're here and not where we came from. Our home planet was raided and destroyed. I know this is still sitting fresh in your mind and it may disturb you and I can understand that, but if you can look past our mishaps and realise I mean you no harm and this means so much me, we can get through this. I'm the last of my kind, Asche. Actually, Felicia and Falcon are as well. I tried so many times to have a child that I feared I was sterile. But I met you, and unexpectedly, you conceived. It gave me much joy, oh you do not understand the agony I suffered." Pain laced my voice.

He tilted his head up and his eyes met my anguished one's with sympathy. "I felt as if I was reliving my horrible past when Dr. Reynolds told me you miscarried. I was rendered to tears. I know you think I only care about our child, but that's not the case. I care about you as well. I want to get to know you. I want to take you on dates. I want to wine and dine you, spoil you and I want to make a mess out of your body in that order. So do not question my feelings for you because they are right here at the forefront, pouring out for you, desperate for your receiprocation. I'm sorry for all the pain I've put you through, if you'd allow me to do it all over again, I will prove to you that I am not a figment of your nightmares."

His lips parted and he blinked rapidly. "I-I don't know what to say. I'm not a heartless man and now that my head is clearing up a little, I can see now that I overreacted. You don't know what I went through. My life was shit before I started selling my body. Nobody cared about me, I was like a slum rat. My parents abandoned me, I was mistreated and abused, It was so much. The guy who I thought loved me, sucked me dry and fucked me until he got tired of me. Do you see where my insecurities originated from? Do you see why I'm fucked up in the head?" He burst into tears and I held him, gently rocking him in my arms.

Tears welled up in my eyes when I thought about all he went through. Oh my beautiful boy has been through a lot. There's no wonder he doesn't trust anyone. I should have reined in my desperate desires and considered his feelings. I closed my eyes and released a shuddering breath as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry. So, so sorry." I kissed his forehead. "Forgive me."

"Stephon was my only friend! You took him away from me, made him turn against me! The betrayal hurts so bad, I feel it painfully in my chest!" He wailed.

"I was so foolish and arrogant," I shook my head at my stupidity. "Not knowing you were a delicate flower that needed to be treated with the utmost care. Asche, I'll atone for my wrongdoings. Please, stop crying. I don't want to see you or our child hurt."

His cried for several minutes until his sobbing subsided to hiccups and I wiped his tearstained face with my shirt sleeve. He closed his eyes as I continued to rock him in my arms. His breathing became even as he continued to hiccup. Soon after, he drifted off into slumber.

I kissed his eyelids, nose and finally his forehead. Nuzzling him.

"Forgive me," I whispered, sinking into downheartedness.