Page 49 of Tav
Tav
We all eat in relative silence. The Computas tapping away, their plates next to them on the table. Marx has been coming in and out. He even escorted Sergeant Davies into his office. The man didn’t look too pleased when he came out half an hour later.
We’re all tense as hell, waiting for Pixie’s family to arrive. I’m fucking hoping they may be able to help us connect the dots, because we have been floundering for too long, fighting on three different fronts - Hammer, Royal and Officer Martin.
“Babe, it’s getting late. Why don’t you get the Littles ready for bed, yeah? Give them attention and hold them tight. We’ll be mobilizing soon enough,” I murmur to her. She presses her head into the side of my arm so I cup her face with my other hand, grazing her soft cheek with my thumb.
She turns her face to kiss my palm before sitting upright. “Come on Littles, time to get washed up and ready for bed. Uncle Tank had something special delivered for you,” Pixie teases the kids.
Cove jumps up with a fist pump then races to stand next to Tank, “Thank you, Uncle Tank” she yells at the top of her lungsbefore throwing herself into the big man’s arms. Elio offering a soft “Thank you,” from behind his sister.
“Anytime Squirts, see you in the morning,” Tank affectionately pats them both on the head, a smile playing on his lips.
“You ever thought of having kids?” I ask, knowing that Tank would make an amazing husband and father.
He lets out a sigh, “I had hoped when I was younger. Now? I’ll be pushing 40 in a few years and no sign of my lady. But you can bet your ass as soon as I find her I’ll be locking her down and having a passel of little Tanks,” he ends with a grin.
“Let’s hope she’s a big woman then to carry around your giant offspring,” Savage says around a mouthful of Mama Debs’ dessert.
“You should have looked for a bigger woman,” Nat says, frowning at Savage, “I’m stuck not only having to carry around your giant baby, but somehow push your giant baby’s head out of my hoohaa,”
“I’m sorry baby,” Savage says, kissing her on the top of her head. Nat softens, her glare replaced with a soft smile. “I’ll still love your hoohaa no matter what shape it’s in afterwards,” Nat sits bolt upright and before Savage can move, she stabs him in the hand with a fork. “OW!”
“Serves you right you giant asshole! Do you think I want my hoohaa traumatized? Do you think I want to be ripped open from asshole to breakfast for someone that probably looks exactly like a mini version of you to scream in my face and demand my tits in its mouth every hour? Do you?!”
The sound of gagging has everyone’s heads whipping in the opposite direction of Savage and his baby momma. Rider is positively green, and the gagging doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Unfortunately for him, Nat doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. Quite the opposite. She’s on a roll as she describes, in detail, exactly what’s going to happen to her body. Savage is pale and looks like he’s going to cry at any moment. Dex is filming this whole debacle. Some brothers have already hightailed it out of the room and still it doesn’t stop. Gus is sitting frozen with his arm around Ana, who is beaming up at him, knowing that he has all this shit on top of his usual anxieties to worry about now.
“You men are all pussies, you know that?” Pops butts in before putting a forkful of food in his mouth. “Your woman has sacrificed her body to grow your child. She’s going through some big changes. Her body will never be the same, but that’s a good thing. All those marks and changes you see will remind you of what she gave you.”
Both Nat and Ana smile softly at Pops, the men all pulling themselves back from the brink. Well, apart from Rider who’s had to rush to the bathroom.
“Thank you, Pops,” Nat says, standing, moving to Pops’ side and dropping a kiss on his cheek.
“You’re welcome, girl.” Pops then turns to Savage. “I delivered my son, you know. Proudest moment of my life when I held that goopy screaming bundle in my hands. Your woman’s down belows don’t matter in that moment. Or any moment after that for at least six weeks because once that kid comes out? You’ll be too scared shitless that you’re going to fail them to go anywhere near your Ol Lady’s hoohaa.” Pops then shovels another bite into his mouth while chuckling.
“That’s exactly what it’s like,” Flack agrees.
“Well, thank you all for ruining the beautiful act that is childbirth. I’ll be adopting my children fully grown,” Rider says, striding to his seat looking a hell of a lot better.
“You know, I have a way to help with your little problem,” Pops says thoughtfully, looking at Rider.
“I don’t have a problem, old man,” Rider says with a look that could rival Jules’ Resting Bitch Face.
“Sure you do. Every time periods and lady plumbing get mentioned you go all wobbly. Whatcha gonna do when you have an Ol Lady and she’s got the painters in? Spend 3 to 5 days blowing chunks?”
Rider’s frown grows even deeper, but I can tell he’s taken the bait. Hell, all of us here can tell. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, son, you could start dating men. No icky periods for you to deal with,” he carries on when Rider growls at him. “Or, you can undergo exposure therapy,” Pops offers.
“He’s right, exposure therapy is a good way for you to overcome your fear,” Switch booms.
“I’m not scared!”
“Sure you are. So, what do you say? We still got a couple of hours until Blanche’s family arrives. That’s more than enough time for me to work my magic,” Pops says, rubbing his hands together.
“Fuck it, let’s do it,” Rider says.