Alexei's impending return put Ethan in a state of perpetual apprehension. Initially, he religiously followed Olly's instructions, taking only a quarter of each tablet everyday but with Alexei's absence, nothing could be said for its effectiveness. He had to wait for at least another two months for a glandular assessment.
Hence, his apprehension.
He could not find a way to convince himself that everything was going to be alright. Even after scheduling more sessions and speaking with Dr. Beck, he did not get any better. His hands fumbled and the tablet slipped out of his hands.
"Oh sweetheart, are you quite alright?"
Ethan panicked, he had no idea when Mari appeared by his side.
She glanced at the pill that had rolled to her feet and then to the bottle in his hands. She tilted her head to the side, as understanding dawned on her. Omegas pretending to be a different gender was not unheard of, especially with her previous line of work. She hummed and walked away.
He gathered up his things, ready to escape.
"Here..." She slid a cup of lemonade onto his table "You can't take coffee with those." She said with a reassuring smile "It's too harsh." She watched his expression shift from panic to shock and finally gratitude. She stroked the back of his hand for a few seconds before leaving to attend to other customers.
Ethan felt oddly touched and comforted by her actions. Overwhelmed by the desire to explain himself to her, he waited.
Mari had always been highly fond of Ethan, almost to an excessive degree even. Sure, she loved her son, who resembled her husband; the independent Rosalein who had a mind of his own, almost never needed anyone and figured out his first heat all on his own before she or Hank could figure out what had happened. She was proud of him and loved him dearly but sometimes… sometimes, she felt somewhat robbed of her role as a mother. Both Hank and Rosalein deprived her of the opportunity and sometimes, she felt resentful albeit, only a little. Ethan was like the second child she had always wished she could have had. He was beautiful, soft and endearing, every bit the image of a typical omega. When she heard he was a beta, it was hard to believe but she simply went with it. Although, he was hard to approach at first, once he wanted to get closer to you it was hard not to love him. Such an obedient and gentle child had always been a wishful thought of hers, so when she saw him hovering around looking like he wanted to talk, she did not hesitate to put everything aside to make time for him. She quickly led him to the back office after informing Kim and the others that she would be busy for a while.
"I don't know what to do." Ethan spoke first "I don't know what I'm doing."
To say she wasn't curious would be a big fat lie. She was curious. She wanted to know. In fact, she was dying to know but she patiently asked "Are you having a very hard time?"
He nodded, almost bursting into tears "He's going to hate me when he finds out I'm an omega."
Her surprise grew. The thought had not crossed her mind. They were to be married soon but his husband-to-be had no clue? "If you tell me what is going on, we can think of how to solve it together."
He dug his fingers into the seat "I thought it would never heal but it... The doctor said it is and I'm secreting pheromones. Alex can smell them. I'm scared."
She brushed the corner of his reddened eye with a thumb "Did the doctor give you those inhibitors?"
He nodded "B-but I don't know if it's working. What if…what if it doesn't work?" He whispered.
"No, it will. Don't be scared. When is your next examination?"
"Next month."
"Would you like me to accompany you?"
His glistening eyes brightened "Would you?"
"Of course. I'd be more than happy to."
He didn't exactly have a solution to his current predicament, but he felt a little bit better.
"You feel free to talk to me anytime, okay? Especially, if you have questions about your medicines." She smiled brightly "I'm a nurse..." She paused to correct herself "…Well, I was a nurse for quite a while."
He nodded with a heart full of gratitude.
"Come with me to the City Hall."
"No." Jason did not even need to think about how annoying that ride would be.
"You don't want to see me get married?"
Jason scrutinized him for a moment before focusing his attention out the window "I will not subject myself to a car ride of you and Ethan."
Alexei chuckled and he toyed with his phone. Three weeks was far too much time apart. Next time, he would put in more effort into convincing Ethan to go with him. "Are you saying you'll miss out on your big brother's wedding?"
Jason sighed. The wedding was all Alexei wanted to talk about. He heard about it when they were with the professor, he heard about it on the plane and now that they were returning from the airport, that was all he talked about. He was not interested in talking about anything else.
It was insufferable.
"I will take my luggage home and get my own car."
"That's great. You get to be my witness."
Jason gave him a once over "Shouldn't you at least go home and clean up? We are coming straight from the airport. Change your fucking clothes, at least."
Alexei glanced down at his attire "Dawson, what say you?"
Dawson craned his neck from the copilot "I agree with him, completely. You should clean up first."
He drummed his fingers on his legs, playfully "Then to the house we go. Will you and Irene also be witnessing my great moment?"
Dawson smiled "If you grant us the honour, we will be more than happy to do so."
"Please."
Ethan returned from Marielle's right in time with a few minutes to spare.
The cafe was at most, a ten minute walk from his office, so he had no qualms spending most of his one hour lunch break there. Since he and Mari became closer, it had become his established routine to go there every day. It would have been like any other day if people were not outrightly staring at him and whispering. He didn't understand what had the whole office abuzz with excitement, he wasn't especially curious to know.
It wouldn't be the first time.
"Baby..."
Ethan froze, he was a few steps away from his desk when he heard Alexei's voice from his supervisor's office. He shook his head, unwilling to believe the man would actually appear at his workplace.
Alexei chuckled "You're imagining me away? You didn't miss me?"
Ethan turned around, startled "Alex?" Sure enough, the man was there.
He flew at him.
Alexei caught him with open arms "I'm here to steal you away."
It took a full minute for Ethan to remember where this meeting was taking place. He pushed himself out of Alexei's arms "Why are you here?"
"I came back early so we could get married. You said you couldn't wait so I hurried back."
Yes, he was a few days early. Yes, Ethan was happy about that but that wasn't the question he wanted an answer to, and also, he had no memory of such a thing "This is my office." He hissed.
"Yea… I was wondering what you were thinking when you torpedoed at me." He cast a covert glance around the hall, before whispering "I almost fell over trying to catch you."
He started to say something but stopped and pursed his lips.
"Sorry, I got too excited and couldn't hold back."
Ethan looked around the office, somehow they had become the centre of attention. He glanced at his supervisor.
"You can leave for today..." She started nervously "...your hus… fiancé has explained everything. The MD said it's fine to give you a week off, since you have no pending work…" her eyes looked from one to the other "…Congratulations on your marriage."
Before Ethan could imagine the discussion that had taken place in his absence, Alexei walked briskly to his desk to grab his bag, took him by the hand and walked out of the office, nodding curtly at the onlookers with Ethan basically running to keep the pace.
"I missed you so much." They had barely made it into the car when Alexei pulled him into his arms, covering his face with kisses.
Ethan matched his enthusiasm as he returned the kisses "I missed you too."
Alexei stopped and pulled away "You aren't upset? I showed up at your office."
Ethan cupped his face "It's fine. They're bound to find out when I update my files."
Alexei chuckled, taking one of Ethan's hand into his. He brought the inside of his wrist to his lips for a kiss "So you're not going to hide me anymore?"
Ethan shook his head "I wasn't hiding you."
"You weren't? The ban on your office must have been my imagination."
Ethan huffed and rolled his eyes.
He chuckled again.
He pinched and tugged Alexei's cheek resentfully "Where are we going?"
"City Hall. They're waiting for us."
"Why are we..." He finally understood the situation "...NOW?! We're getting married now?! Right now?!"
"You don't want to?"
"I didn't say that."
"Are you hesitant?"
He shook his head "Let's do it now."
In addition to Jason, Irene and Dawson, who served as witnesses to their marriage registration, a lawyer was also in attendance. They were in and out of City Hall in minutes.
Alexei kissed the ring on Ethan's fingers for what must have been the fifteenth time. It gave off the feeling that it was he who couldn't believe they were married. "Do you like the ring?" He asked again.
Ethan straightened Alexei's fingers, holding out his hand next to his new husband's as he appreciated their matching rings "I like it. It's pretty."
It really was pretty… very pretty. Although simple, the platinum band was nothing less than exquisite.
"You can't ever take it off, okay?"
Ethan blinked a few times "I won't."
"I won't either."
The rest of the day went as one would imagine. An insatiable Alexei finally got his perverted hands on Ethan, intent on making up for the last weeks, as well as fully enjoying his wedding night. It was a tough night for Ethan.
A long one too.
But not to worry, Ethan was very thoroughly loved and satisfied.
Alexei: I'm sure you heard about it immediately it happened, so we'll be expecting our gift.
Alexei: it better be expensive and valuable. Empty your vault if you have to, my baby likes those trinkets
Father: Give that child a proper ceremony.
Alexei tossed his phone aside and rolled over before pulling Ethan closer "Does it feel too rushed?"
"Hmm?" He was too exhausted to think.
"Father said you deserve a proper ceremony..." He dropped a kiss on his head "...I think so too."
"We're already married..." He mumbled lazily, snuggling deeper in his embrace "I think not having a ceremony is fine."
"How about a reception? We can invite your coworkers and Edwin."
He became lively "Really? I can invite Edwin?"
"Why not? And anyone else, whoever you want."
"Can I invite Lein and Mari and Hank?" His excitement dimmed somewhat "Will that be weird?"
He frowned "Cause of Jay? Baby, you don't have to care about him. Just invite whoever you want." He gave him another kiss on the head "Okay?"
Ethan laid his chin on the other's chest, staring at him with bright eyes "Okay. Will you invite a lot of people from work?"
Alexei pondered, Ethan's circle wasn't big, it would be better to keep it intimate. He could just have the PR department make an announcement and release some photos later if it ever became necessary "Should I?"
"What about Dad, will he come?"
"Sure, he can get out. I'm sure he wouldn't mind putting on a monitor collar for your sake."
He smiled contentedly.
Alexei wondered, perhaps Ethan simply didn't know he wanted a ceremony to begin with "Are you happy?"
He laid his head on Alexei's chest and inhaled deeply "…yes."
"Did you change something?" Alexei sniffed him again, a small furrow formed on his brows. He had been too focused on his newly upgraded marital status to register the change but when he did, he couldn't ignore it "You changed your toiletries again?"
Ethan stiffened in his arms "No-no, it's the same. You said you liked it."
"Really?" He sniffed again "It feels like something is missing." His frown deepened. He didn't like it. Ethan tried to wiggle away but he pulled him back and held him firmly in place "Why do you suddenly want to run?"
"If you don't let me go, I'll be late for work." They had been parked in front of his office building for minutes with Alexei clinging to him and refusing to let him go. This was only happening because this man insisted on personally sending him to work but now, Ethan deeply regretted letting him have his way.
"I don't wanna..." He grumbled "...let me hold you for a few more minutes."
"You said that fifteen minutes ago." He tried to peel away his hands with little success "Your car is too obvious. People are starting to get curious too."
"One more kiss..." He puckered his lips at Ethan, laughing when he turned away with a humph.
"I won't fall for that anymore. Let me go."
Alexei released him "Fine." He held up his hands in retreat "You've become so cold since we got married. Is this a bait and switch tactic?"
"We got married last week. We've been together since, my lips are swollen and chafed." He countered.
Alexei kissed his forehead "My bad. I'll come get you later, okay?"
Ethan was finally freed. He made way to his office only to hear someone narrating, with the greatest conviction, the ludicrous tale of how he managed to seduce and trick Alexei into marriage starting from the day of the picnic.
It was completely ridiculous.
"Can you stop spreading rumours about my husband?" Normally, he would have ignored them but not anymore. Was Alexei so weak-minded that he would fall victim to such a ridiculous plot? The very idea that someone could seduce Alexei with cheap tricks annoyed him for some reason.
The occupants of the room avoided his gaze, some scurrying out of the breakroom almost as soon as he appeared.
He stared directly at the narrator "It's annoying having to listen to you spin tales and propagate rumours so please stop." He turned around to leave but his annoyance did not ease so he marched down to the Human Resources Office to file a complaint. He should have done this earlier. His previous good mood from Olly's prescription working faded away in an instant.
By the end of the workday, several new rumours had been spun about his backstory and about how he had gotten an attitude thanks to his marriage, but he ignored it all.
He didn't care enough to be bothered, he was planning on resigning soon anyway.
Alexei leaned against the car watching people troop out of the building, ignoring the glances, both stolen and overt, at him. He wished Ethan would just quit. He didn't see the point in him keeping the job. He didn't even understand why Ethan wanted to work especially, since he was more than capable of giving him whatever he wanted and the things his husband wanted weren't a lot.
Ethan almost never wanted anything from him, and it rubbed him the wrong way. He was still struggling to come to terms with the possibility that he needed Ethan more than the other needed him.
He hated it.
He hated that only he seemed to be consumed by the constant need to always have Ethan right next to him. He wanted Ethan to be as desperate for him as he was for him. He glanced at his watch. An involuntary smile formed, he would be out of the building any minute now.
"Alex!"
He looked up to see a beaming Ethan running to him.
"You always come at me like a torpedo, huh?" He commented as he wrapped him into a light hug "Is it because you're happy to see me?"
Ethan ignored him and looked at the car behind "You're driving today?"
Alexei held open the door for him "Yes. Are you disappointed that you can't take advantage of me in the backseat?" he wriggled his brows "Should we skip the drive and just fulfil your expectations?"
Ethan rolled his eyes and got in.
"We're going on a date." He bent over, elbow resting on the hood of the car and flashed a smile at him "Now that you're no longer hiding me, I finally get to take you nice places." He stole a quick kiss before he straightened and shut the door.
Ethan pouted "I wasn't hiding you." He said quietly when Alexei got in the driver's seat.
"Oh? Then what was it?" He reached over to buckle Ethan's seatbelt, taking the opportunity to swipe another kiss "Could it be that you treasured me so much, you didn't want anyone else to see me?" He teased.
Ethan pushed his face away "If you keep this up, I will get off."
Alexei returned to his seat with a grin plastered on his face "Would you really leave me behind so heartlessly?" He asked as he started the car "You're so cold, it's making me shiver."
"Pervert."
He laughed again and eased into traffic. He stole a side glance at Ethan "How was work?"
"It was fine." He answered blandly only to become excited "I designed characters for the mugs during my break." He then went on to chatter about the characters and possible arrangements they could make for the reception.
Alexei glanced at him again, nodding and interjecting occasionally to show he was listening, but his mind was on something else. The moment that complaint was filed, he knew about it. In fact, he knew about a lot of things happening at New Era Designs, especially the rumours. Showing up at the picnic was not just to keep Ethan company. He had used the opportunity to become acquainted with the MD, who pretty much figured out their relationship on his own. His intention was not to interfere, he only meant to keep an eye on things. He did funnel a few jobs their way though, for support.
He was simply supporting his partner.
But back to the rumours, if he actually went as far as to report it then he must have been very upset but why wasn't he saying anything about it? "Baby..." He pulled over and turned to face him "...did something happen at work?"
Ethan shook his head. He glanced out the window "Is this where we're going?" He examined the building ahead.
"No. We have to drive a few more minutes."
Ethan turned to him "Why did you stop here?"
"Did nothing really happen at work today? I mean, a lot of your coworkers... How did people react to our marriage?"
He sighed "They were curious about it, but nothing really happened. You know I don't really talk to anyone, but Geen was excited. We should invite her too. She said her daughter is in town."
"Ethan, you can stop anytime if you're having trouble. I will take care of you."
"I like working." He said quietly "It took a lot of effort for me to get here."
"Then... Then I can set up a place for you and-"
"Please..." Ethan pleaded, crumpling the edge of his sweater with both hands "... please, don't do this, Alex."
He reached out to place a hand over Ethan's "I was just making a suggestion." He intertwined their fingers and brought it to his lips "I won't do things you don't like. Don't get nervous, okay?"
He relaxed, visibly.
The drive resumed "You like flowers, right? The restaurant we're going to has a lot of exotic flowers surrounding the gazebo we'll be dining at. Would you like that?"
His excitement was reignited "Really?".
The date for the reception was finalized. Ethan's guest list roughly summed up to eleven people, including the entirety of Edwin's band. From his office, only Geen, his supervisor and the MD were getting an invite and the latter two were an act of courtesy.
Alexei was torn. He wasn't sure if he should be happy or sad about his husband's sparse social circle. He twirled a pen between his fingers "Rosalein and his family will be making an appearance, find a way to be okay with that."
"Why would I not be okay with that?" Jason asked.
Alexei briefly glanced up at him before returning his gaze to the guest list "That's right, I would rather you didn't show up instead."
Jason shrugged "Then I guess I shouldn't show up."
"Don't be silly,..." He aggressively crossed out a few names from the list Dawson had compiled "...why would my own brother not be at my wedding reception?"
Jason leaned across the table to look at those who would, unfortunately, not be receiving an invite. Sure enough, a large proportion of the Rockwells were crossed out, including the grandparents "Is that really okay?"
"Why would they want to attend the wedding of this useless bastard?"
Jason scoffed "So hostile."
He tossed the pen aside and leaned lazily into his chair "How is it going with the prof's kid?"
"I'll introduce him to Elaine or someone she would like."
Alexei was very amused by the thought "Won't she hate you for that?"
He shrugged again "I think they'll hit it off."
Alexei muffled a laugh "Bastard." He crossed out a few more names. His list was finalized, he opted to exclude any and all business contacts. It would make the curiosity directed towards Ethan increase exponentially but he was certain he could keep his husband out of the public's eye. The goal was 'familial' and 'intimate'.