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All people were born carriers. The issue was, a majority of them were dormant. There wasn't a particular reason for why someone was not able to conceive. No correlation to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, orientation. Those things didn't matter. The world needed offspring to continue.
In the current population there seemed to be an uptick in the number of males carrying, fifteen years ago it had been women. Thirty years ago, men.
The tricky part about all of this was, you wouldn't know you were dormant until you were actively trying to conceive and carry. Wombs didn’t fully develop until conception. You could find everyone's on scans and tests, but to actually know if you were one of those who would develop or remain dormant, well, you started trying. And monitoring. You were able of course to practice as much as you wanted, contraception existed in the form of mandatory implants placed at the age of sexual maturity. In both males and females. When someone decided they were ready, their Physician could render the implant void, essentially turn it off. Until then, have all the fun you wanted.
There still needed to be a sperm and an egg. Women unfortunately couldn't get other women pregnant. Only men had sperm while both had eggs.
Happened to be no conclusive evidence on that front either. Whether female-male or male-male pairings were more successful in carrying.
Alex had been carried by his Father in a male-male relationship. Pato by his Mother in a female-male couple.
If you asked the newly married couple which one of them wanted to carry their children, the young, playful, always smiling Mexican was quick to answer. He was going to do it. Would be more than happy to have inside him the beautiful babies that he and Alex would make. Because as Pato frequently said, him and Alex were gorgeous. They were going to have lovely children. So many of them. Just not yet. They had racing careers right now. Their offspring had to wait just a bit longer.
So of course, it didn't happen that way.
**********
"Alex, sweetheart, maybe you need to at least go get checked out. This stomach bug has lasted several weeks now."
"It's not all the time, Pato. Thinking I am just developing an adverse taste to certain foods. Supposedly happens as you get older."
"Basically, every day, though? And you are thirty-two, Alex. I don't think that applies to you."
He wanted to say, older than you to his husband. Knew that Pato was right. There were eight years between them but neither of them was old by any means. Alex was just a grump sometimes. And he knew it. Everyone in IndyCar knew it.
"Seems to be after I work out lately. Probably need to not eat before I go to the gym."
"You barely eat as is before you go."
"But I do eat something, even if it is just a plain bagel or a protein shake."
Most days nothing at all but Pato didn’t need to really know that. Sometimes he was still sleeping when Alex left. Because Pato was not a morning person.
"Promise me darling, if this continues, you will make an appointment. Don't make me drag you to the Clinic."
"Would love to see you try."
"I could just tie you up."
"Really would like to see you try that one, baby."
Alex smirked at Pato. There was a definite hierarchy in their relationship on that front. Alex was by far the more dominant personality, Pato the submissive. Not that Pato couldn't be fully in command, authoritative. You just had to see him at the tracks, watch him during a race. At their home though, those were their default roles.
Not that Alex would object to being tied up on occasion. Spice in the bedroom was fun. They spent a lot of time in theirs at home or on the bus at races. Doing anything and everything on the sexual front. Usually, Pato was very happy to be fucked by or to suck Alex’s cock. And Alex was more than willing to allow all of that to happen. Pato gave excellent blow jobs. Had a very pert, tight ass.
Alex had a phenomenal ass too. Every once in a blue moon, Pato would ask to fuck Alex. While Alex fully relished being the one doing the fucking, he was willing to change it up. Him and James used to trade positions quite often back when they fucked. Before Alex met Pato. Figured out the little brat was the love of his life and married him.
"I'm serious, Alexander. This doesn't stop; you need to go in."
Pulling out the full name. Well, full first name. Alexander Michael Rossi-O'Ward would be using his complete legal name now.
"I promise, my love. But I imagine it is just nothing. Will stop any day. You'll see."
**********
It wasn't simply nothing.
Didn't stop. Got worse. Before when it was maybe once a day, now it was several times.
Alex tried to be sneaky and hide it as much as he could. Figured it was really just a lingering stomach virus and it would hopefully soon, runs its course.
Guess he wasn't hiding it as much as he thought when James and Felix showed up at the house. A very fiery Pato in front of them, glaring down at him as he knelt in front of their master bathroom toilet yet again.
"No more, bud. Get up now or Felix and I will literally drag you out of here. And you won't stop us. I've seen how weak you are getting when we work out. Saw you weigh yourself yesterday, you’ve lost fifteen pounds when you had nothing to lose to start with. You stopped fooling any of us weeks ago. We are done, Alex."
"Fine," Alex grumped at his two best friends and his husband, who were all looking at him rather sternly. Fuck, James and Felix could be scary.
As he tried to rise up, another wave of nausea hit him and he was again heaving in the toilet. Nothing was really coming up, just small trickles, but he couldn't stop.
A hand started rubbing his back, another at the base of his hairline. All three of the other occupants of the room settling around him as his body continued to revolt.
Soft sentiments were being whispered at him until he basically collapsed back into a pair of strong arms and was held against a muscular chest. James.
The three gazes now above him were quite worried, maybe even alarmed. Big change from moments before.
Felix stood and grabbed a washcloth from the rack and wet it down. When he wiped it over Alex's face, there was a small brush of red.
"How long have you been puking blood, sweetheart," Pato asked, hand to his cheek.
Blood? He wasn't throwing up blood. Just food, drinks and that wonderful sour stomach acid.
"Am guessing by his confused expression, this is the first. Likely just irritation of his esophagus or stomach lining from all of the vomiting. But definitely earning him a trip to the Docs."
Alex didn't fight anyone when they got him to his feet. Nor when Pato pulled his shirt off and went to go grab him a clean one. Just closed his eyes to combat the wash of dizziness.
He felt a hand to his stomach and peeked to see James brushing his fingers over Alex's skin. Like old times.
James was standing very close to him and Alex just kind of let his body fall into the familiarity. He loved James, always would. But it was different to the passion, the overwhelming desire and powerful love he had for Pato.
"Bud?"
"Hmmm..."
"When was the last time Pato fucked you?"
"Why?" Alex muttered, burying his face into James' neck. Letting the long-remembered scent profile calm him.
"Just humor me, Alex. I know you are usually fucking him. But how long ago was it the other way?"
"Couple of months maybe."
He felt James' head turn a little and heard the footsteps of Pato and Felix re-enter the bathroom.
"James?" Pato asked. Alex could hear some confusion in his voice.
"When did you last fuck him?"
"Umm... After the second GP here in Indy. We both had a top five finish. He fucked me and then later that night, I wanted him that way. Doesn't happen often. You know that."
"So mid-August. Makes sense."
"James?" This time it was Alex asking and then he was pushed off his best friend and a palm laid over his stomach.
"Pretty sure you're pregnant, bud. Look at your stomach."
"Off season."
"Nope. If you weren't vomiting all the time and hadn’t lost so much overall weight, might believe that."
"Pretty sure James is correct, Alex. You do have a rounded middle."
"Did you just call me fat, Felix?"
"He did not call you fat, sweetheart. And your belly does look a little like Elba's did when she was pregnant."
"I am not pregnant! I have an implant. And I am dormant."
"We are all dormant until we aren't."
"But I just know I am. My Dad said no more Rossi men would carry children. We'd all be dormant."
"Your Dad is an asshat, Alex. There is a reason you and Pato have nothing to do with him. And how would he know? None of us do."
"But I have an implant. I am on birth control. Just like the rest of you. I certainly have not asked to have it voided. Dr. Vaizer verified that during my annual physical this spring."
"They do fail, Alex. You know this. Conor and Josef's son is a prime example of that."
Alex groaned. And then started to panic.
Images of little Liam Newgarden-Daly flashed through his mind. Conor’s implant had failed a few years back and he'd ended up pregnant before the season started with his and Josef's child. The youngster was a fixture around the Paddock, trailing after his Dads now. Or playing with the other kids of various Drivers and Team personnel. Liam got into a lot of trouble with the Dixon-Franchitti kids.
But no. Alex could not be pregnant.
"I'm just sick." He was on the verge of tears. Breathing picking up in speed.
Several sets of bracing arms surrounded his shaking frame.
"Maybe you are, bud. But let's get you bundled up and into the Tahoe so Pato can take you to get checked out."
**********
"How is he, Pato?"
"Curled up in our bed, asleep. I think the meds that Dr. Templeton gave him last week are finally having the correct effect."
"That's good. Handling things better?"
"He's still a little in denial, even after hearing the heartbeat and seeing the ultrasound now three times."
After that initial blood and urine test, followed by a full exam that included a fetal ultrasound, it was confirmed that Alex was indeed around fourteen weeks pregnant back then. They were quickly approaching twenty at present.
"He's probably still going to mope for a while and be moody, especially because he will miss the start of the season."
"Yeah, Zak and Tony are not happy about that but the laws protect Alex thankfully."
"At least he makes it back for the 500 or he would be pissy as fuck."
"Have a feeling we will have plenty of days where he is like that. Especially if the morning sickness doesn't go away soon."
Calling it morning sickness was laughable. Sometimes Alex would wake up in the middle of the night and be curled in front of the toilet throwing up. All Pato wanted was to gather his husband in his arms or be Alex's teddy bear as he desired often but that wasn't in the cards.
Alex rarely wanted to be touched right now. Every inch of him was extremely sensitive, including his hair. Showers were almost too painful so his husband had resorted to taking baths which didn’t excite Alex one bit because getting his long body into a tub was difficult.
They really needed to remodel at some point. But making a nursery out of one of the upstairs bedrooms was the first priority.
At least the holidays were over. The new year a week into the past. Alex normally loved Christmas but his appetite was all over the place so their normal big meal was out of the question. And anytime they opened a gift from one of their friends that was meant for the baby or them as a family, Alex got emotional. Not angry, well unless he started crying because he hated being tearful. So, Christmas Day itself was a challenge.
"Does he still not want to know the gender."
"Keeps wavering. I think it would help. Really cement it for him. Not that the now pretty prominent bump around his middle isn't indicative."
Pato loved seeing the swell of Alex's stomach. Even though Alex tried to hide it often with baggy hoodies or very loose clothes.
"He should start to feel movements soon as well. Maybe that will help too."
**********
"James!" Pato whined. "Can I send Alex over to you for a while. You entertain him."
"He's going to ask to fuck me or want me to suck his cock. That isn't our relationship anymore."
"I need a break, James. You know how much I love Alex and his cock but seriously. He is like a damn rabbit."
"You're telling me that Patricio Rossi-O'Ward cannot keep up with his pregnant husband's sex drive?"
"I never thought I would say this. But no. He wants it non-stop. I mean, better than the crying and the puking."
"Very true."
"You owe me James. You and Felix."
"For what?"
"This could be either of you."
"Pato. The moment he looked at you and you flashed that million-watt smile, batted those big ol' brown puppy dog eyes and sashayed your way over to him, called him Sir and asked him to give you the ride of your life. It was all over then."
"That was a fun week. He barely let me out of his bed. Fucked me so many times."
"And now it is no different. Except he has a baby bump. Still wants you to ride him."
"Still likes me calling him Sir."
"Where is Alex right now anyways?"
"I'm not sure. I am hiding in the Tahoe down the road."
“Go home, Pato,” James said, clicking to disconnect.
**********
"That damn stubborn fucking idiot has been having stomach cramps all afternoon. Did he bother to say anything before the race was over? No. Not a peep. The only reason I know anything is because he got up and doubled over going to the bathroom. And started crying, telling the baby it wasn't time yet."
"Are you telling me Alex is in labor, Sage?"
"He might be. I have him all bundled up in the backseat of the Tahoe where he is all curled into a miserable ball now. Just grabbing their go bags."
"Fuck. We need to get Pato home."
"The sooner the better. Maybe this is all a false alarm. But the echoes of pain across Alex’s face were pretty deep. If this is false labor, he is hurting awful bad."
"Get him to the hospital and keep me updated. I will find Pato and get him to the airfield. It is around a three-hour flight to Indy. Hopefully they can slow down or stop Alex’s labor if it is safe to do so."
"I've got our guy, James. You just get his Husband here."
James disconnected the call to the worried looks of Leigh, Townsend and several of the NBC folks.
"Rossi is in labor?"
"Think so. Sounds like it anyways. He's early."
"Doesn't shock me that Pato’s kid wants to make a spectacular entrance when least expected," Townsend joked.
"Go on, James. If anyone has an issue, they can take it up with me. We are about done anyways."
Grabbing his messenger bag, James was already almost to the door when he tossed back, "Thanks, Diff. Call you later."
James went to pull up Pato’s contact info but remembered that he likely didn’t have his phone yet. Lauren was watching it for him while he was in the car. She'd answer it though if she saw James calling.
As soon as the call connected, James was talking, "Lauren. I don’t care what he still needs to do for McLaren. The only thing he must do is get on the plane back to Indianapolis. Now. I am headed to the hauler."
"Is Alex alright?"
Straight to the point. James liked Lauren.
"Very likely in labor. Sage is on his way to the hospital with him right now."
They exchanged a few more words as James navigated his way to the makeshift Paddock before Lauren disconnected to go round up Pato.
He could see Pato basically running towards him a few moments later, a group of people following in his wake.
"Is he okay? What is happening?"
"Pretty sure you're going to have a baby shortly, darling. Your stubborn husband has essentially been laboring all afternoon and didn’t tell anyone. Sage hasn't called me back yet but he should have Alex there any minute."
"Let me change really quick. Lauren was calling the pilots to let them know. You're coming with me, right?"
"Shit. All my stuff is back at the house they had for NBC. We weren't flying out until tomorrow."
"Call Diff. Have him go get it, he can toss it in the hauler. Or I can get someone from the Team. You are getting on that plane with me, James. I want you there. Alex would want you there too."
As Pato disappeared inside his McLaren hauler, he made a call to Leigh and was reassured that his belongings would make it back to Indy.
Once Pato was ready they were both off to a waiting car and headed to the nearby airfield. James would never tease Pato again about having his own jet.
**********
They'd been in contact with Sage and Dr. Templeton or his staff the whole flight, knowing that the baby was coming sometime today. The Physician had stated he would do everything they could to slow the progression but thirty-two weeks for a male pregnancy was not unusual and that he would deliver the baby if he felt like there was any danger to her or Alex.
Pato and James were so sure that the next call they received would be the hospital telling them Alex was headed in for his c-section. But only updates came.
Sage was doing a bang-up job by Alex’s side. Bearing the brunt of all of the emotions. Because as he said, Alex was the whole gamut. One minute screaming and cussing him out, the next crying and just wanting to be held. The Labor and Delivery nurses had reassured him that Alex's behavior was not unusual.
When James and Pato got to the room, Alex appeared to be sleeping. Sage was resting in a chair beside him, holding his hand but opened his eyes and jumped up the moment he heard the two of them enter the room.
"Oh, thank fuck. I love Alex a lot but a few more hours of this and I might have strangled him."
Pato grabbed onto Sage and hugged him fiercely. James couldn't hear what was being said between them.
His focus was on his best friend. Lying pale in the hospital bed.
"Sage? The last report said he was doing fine."
"He was, then he wasn't. Was a flurry of activity for a bit, thought maybe I was going to be throwing on some scrubs to go into the OR with him, but he and your daughter, Pato, have settled. Am anticipating though now that the other parent is here, it won't be long. Alex is all prepped. As you can likely see."
Monitoring equipment was all in place. Both for Alex and the baby. James could see the readouts on the screens beside the bed. There was an IV line in Alex’s left arm running fluids. Catheter in place for the upcoming surgical procedure.
"Pato?" Came a tired sounding voice from the bed, Alex’s eyes fluttering open.
"Hey sweetheart, I'm here. James too." Pato grabbed his husband's hand and placed a quick kiss to his lips. "We're going to have our baby soon, Alex."
"She's been trying to come all day. I kept telling her no. Stay inside. Wasn't time yet. Plus, we needed to wait for you to get home."
"She is stubborn, just like her Dad. Pato is in trouble with two of you. Hey, bud."
"James. Thank you for getting him back to me."
"Was his jet. I just wrangled him up following the race."
"Happy you're here. Sage too. Owe you both."
"Trust me Alex, I will collect. I know where you keep the good alcohol at your house. Also, your wallet is currently in my pocket. Your credit card could buy me a couple of nice dinners at St. Elmo's, some fancy new electronics. Just to start."
"James?"
"Yes, babe?"
"Take my wallet away from Sage. Please."
They all laughed. Pato reassured Sage that he would take care of him.
Moments later several staff members came in the door, including Dr. Templeton.
"Was informed that Pato had made it safely. The baby is not in immediate danger but she isn't going to wait much longer. So, if you are ready to meet her, we can get Alex’s spinal block done and go deliver your baby."
"You ready, sweetheart?"
Alex nodded, a tiny smile on his tired face.
"If you gentleman want to come with me,” one of the Nurses beckoned. “I can take you to go get changed while Dr. Monroe, the Anesthesiologist and Dr. Templeton tend to Alexander."
"He's the father," James said gesturing to Pato.
"I texted Sage and made sure he cleared it with the staff that we could all be there. Not fair for you two to hang out in that waiting room after everything you’ve done for us."
"You three will be a tight fit up by Alexander's head, but Dr. Templeton said as long as you behave, we can manage it."
"They will behave," Alex groaned, arms reaching around his middle. "Fuck, I don't feel so good."
"That's our cue, gentleman. We will meet them in the OR."
**********
Gabriela Eliza Rossi-O'Ward was born without a whole lot of fuss. One loud cry and then she settled right down when laid on Alex’s chest, Pato grabbing a tiny hand and welcoming their daughter into the world before he did his part of the delivery process.
After she was whisked away to get cleaned, weighed, measured and assessed, she was once again placed back up top of the drapes. As Alex's surgery finished, he grew even more sleepy, which was not a worry. He managed a few kisses to his daughter's head before he basically let himself succumb to the long day.
Pato was absolutely beaming as he held Gabriela in his arms and showed her off to James and Sage. A whole head of thick brown hair and lighter almost greenish colored eyes, which may or may not change as she got older.
The best part. The completely grumpy look on her face. Like she was being bothered. All pure Alex Rossi.
**********
He woke up and moaned. Not in a good way. His whole lower half hurt.
"Hi darling," Pato said, piping up from next to him. "Was wondering when you would wake back up again."
Alex tried to focus on his husband who was smiling down at him.
"Hopefully this time you will be up a little longer. Someone wants to spend some time with you. Am guessing though since you moaned, it won't be long. They said your block would wear off soon and they'd start you on some pain meds."
"Baby?"
"She's just perfect, Alex. Over there hanging out with Uncle James. She wants her Dad though."
Alex could see James approaching the hospital bed, wrapped bundle secure in his arms, "Your Dad is awake, little one. He'd really love to meet you for more than a brief moment."
The bundle was being placed in his arms as Pato sat his bed up a bit. The movements caused him to wince but he bit back any further comments once he got a look at the content face staring back up at him.
"Thank fuck she looks like, Pato."
"Shut it, Karam. And no cursing around my kid."
"I think she looks like Alex. Definitely has my hair though. His will never be that lush."
A quick glare was tossed in his husband's direction.
As Alex looked at Gabriela, he saw what was a combination of him and Pato.
And that was perfection.
"You did good, bud. Wasn't sure we were ever going to get this far."
"Throw you two out of here," Alex said as he brought the bundle up closer to his face and rested his daughter near his neck.
"That shot, right there. Look at his face, James. Never seen him that besotted."
"Throw you out too, Pato."
He tried to shift himself in the bed a bit, the discomfort from his middle really starting to sting. All it earned him was a hissing groan and shaking arms.
His call light lit up next to him.
"Let's get you some meds, babe. Give Pato your daughter and I will help you relax and get comfortable."
Alex, almost reluctantly let his husband take their baby but he knew he needed some pain meds and even though he wasn't ready to sleep again, understood it was the best thing for him.
A short time after getting some meds through his IV line, Alex let himself drift in a hazy fog. Just listening to the voices around him, talking to their daughter. Until he gave into the pull of rest.
**********
"Just be glad we didn't have a boy. Pee shot in your face, Alex!"
"This is bad enough. Good thing she is cute."
"We did make a beautiful baby. Someday you can get me pregnant and we will make another."
"Maybe I will carry again."
"Really?"
"You're in the prime of your career. Zak and Tony would truly kill me if I knocked you up anytime soon. And Dr. Templeton said my womb looked good on the last check. Fully capable of becoming pregnant once more."
"You were miserable for months, sweetheart. Are you sure?"
"It wasn't all bad. Look at what we got out of it, Pato. She's perfection."
"You are perfection, my husband. And I would love to knock you up again someday. Until then though, you can wholeheartedly get back to fucking me with that gorgeous gift of a cock."
"If I thought you could be quiet, I'd gladly do that right now. But we just got her to sleep."
"I do have two gags, Alex."
A raised eyebrow and Alex was grabbing the baby monitor.
"Get in the walk-in."