[lxcttrll]

"We could have a sleepover and catch up. Maybe actually get to know each other," Cassian teased, running a hand through his hair as Hector rubbed his belly. "You can stay here. Losing a parent is pretty rough," he commented. Cassian had lost his own mother before he'd moved onto the farm, and had fallen out of contact with his father.

"Do you want to stay in my bed or in a blow-up mattress? I'm fine with either," he spoke, stretching his legs out. He wasn't worried about his activity impacting the baby, assuming that he would have had the baby by now if it had caused too much strain.

[bhdire8]

"Your bed of course!"the words camr out of his mouth before he could process them properly. Belatedly he realised how that could sound like - he wasnt trying to get onto Cassian's bed in THAT sense... "not that I want to,... hmm,... err, do anything other than sleeping..."

Hevtor couldnt believe he just said that. The usuall quick-witted trader was a mess right now.

"I do mean that..." as a final attempt, he mumbled with his face buried in his hands. Sighing, he resumed his position to rub Cassian's belly. "We really should get to know each other. So.... you lived alone all along? Did you take care of the whole farm by yourself?" Hector frowned imagining the burden it would be on Cassian to keep up with the farmwork. He subconsciously started rubbing his tight back

[lxcttrll]

Cassian couldn't help but laugh at Hector's response, leaning back against the chair. "I can't imagine I'd be the best partner in my current state, anyway," he smiled, letting Hector rub at his back and belly.

"Yes, it's just been me. It's alright, though, I feel like if I put too much strain on myself I wouldn't be five days overdue," Cassian teased. "It isn't so bad, anyway, I have sprinklers to water most of the crops, all I have to do is pick them when they're ready and milk the cows. And gather eggs, but that isn't much, either."

[bhdire8]

Hector was staring at Cassian's big bump like it would fall off of Cassian any moment now. "You picked the crops....?" He shivered just imagining what it would be like. He wouldnt think Cassian could properly squat down now, let alone picking up crops that was a backbreaking task to start with.

"I.will help out with things... wait. Werent you cooking dinner just now? Stay here... i will get you fed." Hector shoot up to his feet, rushing towards the kitchen.

The dinner he prepared was decent. He looked at Cassian closely to wiat for his comment... while he was cooking, he recalled how a sailor had once complained his pregnant wife always asked for foot rubs. Maybe he could try it on Cassian after their meal....

(LOL this will be th3 last one for me, gettin pretty late in my time now. I will catch up with ya later!)

[lxcttrll]

((get your rest man))

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad. Half of them are on bushes or vines that I don't have to bend over to pick," Cassian reassured, laughing softly with a shake of his head, pulling the chairs back to the kitchen table. He sat down as he watched Hector cook, smiling at the little domestic scene in front of him. "I'll admit, though, it's gonna be nice to be able to move around properly after the baby's born."

[bhdire8]

Hector looked at Cassian, not entirely reassure that the picking could have been "not that bad". He dished up what he was preparing pretty quickly. "Learnt this from a country further East to us. Try it." he said splitting a handsome share of the food toCassian.

taking his seat, he comforted himself with what remained. "And since I'm gonna spend the night here, care to share what's your daily routine so i'd know how to adjust? plus.. anything i should be aware of? i sleep naked at night, but if it bothers you, i could put on some clothes... er, if you got spare ones that I could fit in." he said, humming at the taste of the food. he didn't lose his touch afterall... that was pretty much how he remembered it tasted.

[lxcttrll]

Cassian happily tucked into the food, smiling at the spices that teased his tongue. "This is amazing, just so you know," he smiled. "I normally get up about six so I can get to everything before it gets too hot outside. As for sleeping naked, I don't, but if you wanted to have some of my clothes, a lot of things should be able to fit you." Even though Cassian was shorter than Hector, he'd bought bigger clothes to adjust to his gravid frame, so it would probably be easy for Hector to fit into one of his second trimester shirt.

[bhdire8]

Hector looked at cassian with a doubtful look, but once his gaze went to his bump, he kenw then why would Cassian be owning something that was bigger than his size. He nodded and smiled. "I will try following your routine - wearing some pajamas included."he said digging into his own food.

Hector proactively sought to clean the dishes. He had witnessed how the dishwater was getting onto Cassian's belly, it was simply unavoidable with how his belly was in the way. He urged Cassian to go settle in the sitting room or something. At least this time he got the dishes. It would be some time before he quietly sneaked back into the living room and offered some tea. He took up one of Cassian's feet, not entirely surprised to see the swollen ankle, and began to rub it.

"The other sailors sometimes chat around and said this is what their partner liked when pregnant..." he murmured, as if he needed to explain himself.

[lxcttrll]

Cassian couldn't help but roll his eyes when Hector told him to go into the sitting room and settle down, reluctantly doing so and rubbing at the little feet pattering at the top of his belly, watching the nightly news. He easily took the tea, letting out a soft sigh at the release of pressure on his ankle. "Thank you. I used to do it myself, but I can't really bend over anymore," he chuckled.

"I want your opinion on names," Cassian spoke, resting his mug of tea on the top of his belly. "I've thought of something for a girl, that's the only reason I'm leaning towards having a girl. I can't think of anything for a boy's name." He really didn't care what gender the baby was, just wanting his child to be happy and healthy. If it was a boy, Cassian would think of a name, even if it took a few days to find something he liked.

[bhdire8]

Hector moved up to grind his knuckles into Cassian's calf. It had been montbs before that he had claimed Cassian's lovely body, and now the mood couldnt be further away from that passionate night they spent together, bur Hector somehow was still feeling those burtterflies in his stomach. He had that feeling from when he picked up Cassian from the bar, and now it had returned, even with much physical changes on the farmboy.

Hector moved himself closer to Cassian, resting his thigh on his lap to continue with the massage. "Anything you need to bend over would be my job from.now on." He smiled and dropped his gaze to Cassian's leg again. "So whats the girl's name you have decided on?" He contemplated. "If it's a boy.... how about Miguel?"

[lxcttrll]

"Ophelia," Cassian answered with a small smile. "It means 'help.' I liked it because, y'know, it gets pretty lonely out here by myself, and I'm so excited for this baby, and they're helping me feel fulfilled," he explained, quickly wiping at the tears that formed in his eyes. "I like Miguel, actually. I really do."

[bhdire8]

Hector squirmed at how Cassian unconsicously told him how lonely he got. He was already feelinf quite guilty, although he didnt know, he contributef to the little "addition" to this new life which had brought on so much changes on Cassian. He nodded and repeated. "Ophelia... I like that as well. So ophelia or Miguel. Be good in daddy's tummy ok?" He smiled and reached out to again stroke at the big swell.

As the rub went on, Hector pressed closer and closer to Cassian until eventually they were sitting side by side, watching tv. They didnt exchange much words but the silence was comfortable. "I think this place will be great for a child. They will have so much places to explore." He looked up and around, liking the cozy little cottage a lot.

[lxcttrll]

Cassian happily settled in next to Hector, content to sit next to him and have his belly rubbed. "Yeah, it'll be nice. Lots of sunlight, fresh foods, fresh air. We'll have to keep an eye on them, make sure they don't get into any trouble."

Cassian didn't really consider himself an "all-natural" parent, but he was glad that the baby would have access to a healthy diet and a good environment. Living in the old farmhouse with nothing but some livestock had given him a huge appreciation for nature, and wanted to share that with his child, and Hector, if he stayed long enough.

[bhdire8]

It almost felt too natural to lay his arm around Cassian and start rubbing hsi belly. Hector looked at the bump with a gentle gaze, stroking it lovingly. Now that the idea had sunk in, he was more accepting and incredibly, he was starting to find himself loving and caring for the unborn baby. He smiled hearing the use of "we". It didn't look like Cassian would have any problem with him staying...

"And when the baby's old enough, I might bring him or her out to the seashore. It would be entirely different, but another kind of adventure for the little one. For the time being, though, the farm's the little haven for the baby." he smiled. He and Cassian were pressed tight on the sides now, the pregnant man's head on his shoulder, Hector gently rested his head onto Cassian's.

Cassian was totally relaxed. Hector soon found hte pregnant man had dozed off on his shoulder. He waited awhile before he attmepted to move him. The farmboy was slender to begin with, even with the baby weight, the one-time sailor didn't have much trouble lifting him up. "Sleep well, love." he pressed a chaste kiss on Cassian's forehead as they fell asleep together on the bed.

[lxcttrll]

Cassian slept contently, curled up in bed at Hector's side. Early that morning, though, he was woken by a a sudden, sharp tightening in his abdomen. It didn't hurt, honestly, not really, it was just sudden. Cassian knew that he was in labor, though, just instinctually. He wasn't worried, he simply say up in bed and began to time the contractions.

Cassian didn't want to wake Hector, wanting him to get some proper rest if he was going to be present for the birth, and likely the one delivering their baby. Near seven that morning, though, he nudged Hector's shoulder. "Hey, Hector?" he called, voice soft. "It's still pretty early, but I just wanted to let you know I'm having contractions. They're twenty minutes apart, so it's nothing to worry about. I don't think I'll be able to do anything on the farm today, though, but I can go with you and tell you how to do a few things." Cassian's voice was calm, knowing that Hector would likely stress out about the labor, even when Cassian was more excited to meet his child than anything else.

[bhdire8]

Hector was blissfully asleep. He wasn't an early riser to begin with, the constant change in his biological clock was also messing with his sleeping patterns. He wouldn't wake up spontaneously if he was allowed to sleep , and if he needed to stay up, he could for days without a blink. He grumbled feeling the small nudge on his shoulder, his brain was still not functioning enough to process the words he heard - therefore when the message was finally processed, he snapped his eyes wide open.

"What did you just say....?" he asked incredulously. "Y-you're in labor!? god... should we travel in town? w-we still need to do farm work!?!" he squeaked in shock. His mind was going a mile a second, thinking of all the rumors he'd heard about childbirth, and hte screams he vaguely remember when a lady in his nextdoor gave birth. "Are you feeling ok? do we need to boil some hot water first?" he literally leaped out of bed, still in the clothes of yesterday's, pulling on his hair. "What should we do? has your water broke yet?" within seconds he was climbing back onto the bed, holding Cassian's arm to look at him with concern. 

[lxcttrll]

"Well, the farm work isn't very much, you just need to milk the cows and check the coop for any eggs," Cassian explained, sitting upright in bed and holding his belly. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Hector's concern, taking his hand and giving it a small squeeze. "I'm okay, it doesn't even hurt right now. My water hasn't broken yet, we don't need to boil anything right now, it's okay," he soothed.

Cassian honestly thought that he'd be delivering the baby by himself, and he was okay with that. He'd done all he could to research the process, so when the time came, he would be ready. He'd even looked up breathing exercises and stretches to help alleviate pain, not wanting to have to turn to any pain medicine. Cassian wanted this to be natural, and was ready for anything that could happen during delivery, and wasn't worried about the pain.

"Right now, we just have to wait," Cassian replied. "You can go back to sleep if you need to, really. I just wanted to let you know it was happening, even if it's going to be a while."

[bhdire8]

Hector gaped at Cassian. "How could you be this calm! aren't all births supposed to be painful and full of screams? i just figured it should be chaotic. Are you sure we have no one to call?" He said, rather incredulous that Cassian was still thinking about milking the cows and checking for eggs.

He shook his head getting up again, putting his hands on his waist. "nope. no chance I could be going back to sleep. Are you sure you can handle this?" he asked again, really uanble to believe that the small farmboy had planned to do so by himself.

It would take more convincing, and numerous reassurances from Cassian to finally convince Hector that he was alright. Hector would regain some of his calm, but if Cassian ever uttered a pained moan, the panic would almost certainyl return. Under Hector's watchful eye, he helped Cassian completing the morning routine before they headed out to prepare some breakfast.

"you can eat now right?" Hector said watching sceptically at Cassian as he was frying eggs. "you sure you wouldnt'n want to vomit or something?" he said, quickly stirring the eggs to make some perfect scrambles.

[lxcttrll]

"Well, I'm sure it's going to get pretty painful near the end, but it's not bad now. You could call the doctor if you wanted, but I can handle it," Cassian replied, rubbing his belly contently. The morning went along smoothly, Cassian tagging along as Hector milked the cows and checked the coop, easily enduring any contractions that squeezed his middle.

"I can eat. I'm starving, actually," he chuckled, pacing the kitchen slowly, rocking his hips to help the baby on its journey. "I know it seems really weird, but I wanna experience everything. I wanna feel the pain, I wanna go through it all, even if it's awful. The pain isn't supposed to be all bad, anyway, it's supposed to help with the creation of hormones that helps the baby bond with me."

[bhdire8]

(OH LOL i found that i had wrongly directed you... by 'morning routine' i refer to those cleaning up and shaving that sorta things. I do look forward to playing out them milking the cow etc together while Cassian's in labor... lOL would you mind terribly if we retrace that bit....?)

"Seriously?" Hector quirked up one brow in disbelief. "I've never heard that the pain was suppose to help...." his gaze trailed down Cassian's body and ... well, he couldn't deny his gaze lingered on his bottom for awhile. Despite his lean frame, Cassian's hips had noticeably gone wider over the months, on top of the slight bulging from the pregnancy. He gulped at the swaying of his hips... that was strangely alluring.

Hector quickly focused on the eggs again. He dished them quickly and went around the island to help Cassian settle. "if you say so... I guess we could at least let the doctor know. I'll make the call later." he made a strange face. Hopefully the doctor would have no problem accepting there was a man all of a sudden with Cassian now, claiming to be the father of the child.

Hector escorted Cassian back to the living room. He watched Cassian deal with the pain with apparent ease, rather in awe of how in control Cassian was with the situation. He came up from behind and gently cupped his belly, following his swaying while alleviating some of the weight. "Would this make you feel better?"