3 months later
Spring had returned to that city, the yellow tabebuia trees were already blossoming beautifully that weekend forming a natural walkway for the four young men sitting in the cafeteria. They were concentrated writing something on paper, covering the words with their arms so that the other would not spy. Stealing ideas was strictly forbidden in that game.
Lilian was preparing the drinks with Sam behind the counter, shaking her head and remaining a mere spectator of that meeting.
― They look like they're taking a test. ― Sam commented in a whisper, without taking his eyes off the four of them.
― It's almost like that. Oh, get the sprinkles, the cherub loves them.
Sam arched an eyebrow and grinned playfully.
― How do you say?
Blushing slightly, Lilian looked around before kissing the boy on the cheek and pushing him towards the door where he could get the grains. It was one thing to follow other people's romance, but Lilian was now writing her own romantic story. Sam had proposed to her and asked them to try to have something together, which the girl was slow to accept.
In the end, Sam had devised an entire plan of conquest that resulted in a yes. The boy's geniality surprised not only the girl but also his classmates. Now he and Lilian had been dating for a month.
― That's it! ― said Nicolas holding the sheet of paper against his chest, looking at the others. ― Come on you bunch of turtles. I want to finish you off.
Milles arranged himself in his chair using the back table to write on the paper. When he was done he let out an energetic laugh, flipping the paper over to stop Nicholas from reading it.
― You're going to lose handsomely to the big uncle here.
― I'll rub your face on the hot asphalt, it'll be delicious.
― I'm sorry, but the chosen one will be mine. ― Gabriel smiled, finishing writing, covering his pen. ― Since I'm the father.
― Is everyone finished? ― Smiled Theodore drumming his fingers on the table. With everyone nodding, the boy leaned back in his chair anxiously ― Who wants to start?
― Mine's last, it's too fucked up and I need to show that yours is inferior.
― Ok, I'll start, since I'm a father. ― said Gabriel turning the leaf containing a name written in big letters. ― Leonardo.
― Nice even.
― Puff, mine is better. ― said Nicolas without containing the victorious smile on his face.
― Wow, if the name you chose is not that good...
― Relax and trust me.
― Go Milles, what did you think?
Milles let out another energetic laugh and turned the paper over showing the name he had chosen.
― Bernardo! I can even see this kid being just like his uncle here. Star of the volleyball team, the most handsome and studly...
― Argh, he's cursing my godson. Lend me this. ― Nicolas snatched the leaf out of Milles' hands, making an aeroplane out of it, and threw it to the back of the cafeteria. ― There you go. Go Theo, go Theo.
― Hey! Come on! That's a very pretty name.
― I'm the pretty one, son. Get real. ― Nicolas grimaced as Milles got up from his chair to get his paper, or rather, paper aeroplane.
― I heard that Milles thinks you are handsome. ― Gabriel sipped his latte, looking away when Milles turned his head in his direction. ― I didn't say anything.
Theodore laughed amused at the blush that appeared on Nicolas' thin cheeks. Lilian approached the table placing the cup of coffee sweetened with chocolate and nuts that the omega loved in front of him. Shaking her head in disapproval, she formed a pout on her lips at Theodore.
― What you get for letting others choose your child's name. You should make that decision yourselves.
Gabriel had looked at Lilian wide-eyed, it being his turn to deny it with his head. Despite the despair in his eyes, he controlled his voice to sound as natural as possible so as not to attract his boyfriend's attention.
― You have no idea how dangerous it is to do that.
Confused, the girl crossed her arms. Gabriel had pulled at his cup trying to disguise it, but it was Nicolas who had ended up saying it as naturally as breathing.
― Theodore can't be trusted for this mission.
― Hey ― complained the omega. ― You're the ones who never like my suggestions.
― Show me your paper. You can show me. ― Nicolas grunted, pointing to the sheet of paper hugged by his friend ― Wanna bet how much he put Troy Bolton on the sheet?
― I bet he put Zac Efron on it.
Theodore looked disbelievingly at his best friend and his own boyfriend. He even turned to Lilian seeking her help in this completely unfair mess, but the girl only arched her eyebrow seemingly not doubting his ability to do something like that.
Embarrassed, he turned over the sheet of paper containing Zachary's name. Gabriel arched his eyebrow at Nicolas and smiled victoriously.
― Did you know.
― Since when are you a traitor? I thought you were a High School Musical fanatic.
― I am! I love the second movie, even.
― It has to do with the name of the actor who plays Troy. ― explained Gabriel with all his air of wisdom.
Nicolas leaned back in his chair, stunned, while Lilian moved away from the table laughing and understanding why they wouldn't let Theodore choose the child's name.
― You guys are mean. What if my son decides to travel abroad? He will have an international name.
― International my ass. He'll go off singing happily to nowhere and making sweet asses out of being embarrassed to sing.
― Watch your mouth Nico.
― And can you by any chance sing? ― pinned Gabriel to his captain.
― Quiet, Biel. Certain things should never reach human ears. Only pinscher can understand what he sings and still shiver in horror.
Receiving a slap on the back of his head, Miles showed his middle finger to the short, moody man. Before those two could start arguing, Theodore had given the table a few knocks.
― All right, Nico's missing. What name did you think of?
Straightening in his chair, Nicolas grinned weakly as he turned the paper over and pointed to the name written all over it. He still drew a bird next to the name, making a big impact on the pregnant omega.
― Kauã! A strong and short name of indigenous origin that means hawk or falcon.
― He stayed up all night researching. ― It denounced Milles.
― But of course! Did you know that for the Tupi people, the falcon was an animal respected for warning when someone was going to die?
― Do you hear that? ― interceded Milles with his raised forefinger silencing Nicolas. The three paid attention to any sound, but without hearing anything in particular. Receiving curious looks, Milles turned to Nicolas ― It's the silence that means no one cares.
The blond alpha had received his second slap on the back of the head.
Theodore soon stood up showing his huge belly. Heavy and pointy, giving signs that soon the big day would arrive. It had been a month since they had found out the sex of the baby, a boy, but no name seemed to please Theodore and Gabriel. There was no lack of suggestions!
About to give birth, the parents came to the conclusion that it would be better for the child himself to choose. It would be more of a game to define the names they could choose when the baby was born. But... If it came to an immediate answer, it would be even better.
― Very well, the time has come to know the chosen one. Since no one liked it, I will withdraw my options. ― Taking Gabriel's hand and placing it on his belly, Theodore looked at it seriously. ― Daddy chose Leonardo, do you like it?
The three of them stayed in silence, staring at the belly, anxious for any movement. They waited a little while, but nothing. Milles and Nicolas smiled victoriously when Gabriel pulled his hand away with a pout on his lips.
― But it's such a beautiful name.
― Relax my son, who knows next time.
― Come on Milles. ― called Theodore, holding the blond alpha's hand over his belly. ― Baby, your uncle chose Bernardo. Do you like it?
Again the tension. Gabriel and Nicolas hoped that the blond alpha would not win. For Theodoe it was simply funny to follow the expectation of those three, but he needed to keep it serious or they would be mad at him.
Once again the baby remained quiet even after a while. Milles sighed sadly, slumping down in his chair.
― That's it! ― Nicolas celebrated.
― What if he liked Zachary?
― No, Theo. ― Said Gabriel.
― But why?
― The child has good sense and you don't. Now get out, it's my turn. ― Nicolas let his hand rest on Theodore's stomach, bringing his face close to it while Theodore took a sip of his sweetened coffee. ― Look, if you move the godfather will give you the most expensive easter eggs until you turn eighteen.
― Ooooh that's a bribe. It's not worth it! ― complained Milles throwing his arms up in indignation.
― Come on Nicolas, it's not worth it.
― He's going to be a little ant just like Theo, I have to use this to my advantage. ― Laughed the omega straightening in front of his best friend.
― All right, let's decide then. Baby, your Uncle Nico chose Kauã as your name. Do you like it?
The three boys practically stared at that belly of curiosity. They swallowed hard, afraid that the name they'd chosen was Kauã. Not because it was ugly, but because it came from Nicolas. Even though all that was a simple joke.
But the surprise came when the baby moved inside the belly, and it was possible to see the movement from afar. Gabriel and Milles widened their eyes in disbelief while Nicolas jumped from one side to the other celebrating his victory.
― Suck it you suckers! ― shouted the omega smiling. ― I'm a name factory.
― That's no good, he bribed the baby with chocolate.
― I agree. Where have you seen him accept Nicolas' name and not mine? Bernardo is the name of success.
― Cry baby! Oh, I'm going to spoil this kid just for choosing me.
Theodore sat back in his chair, pulling out his glass of sweet drink. He wouldn't tell anyone that when he ingested chocolate the baby moved. He had liked the name suggested by Nicolas, he could visualize the child being called that way. Maybe he had stolen it for his best friend's victory, but he wouldn't tell that to anyone.
Disturbing Nicolas' victory party, Milles had taken out a yellow envelope from his backpack and handed it to Gabriel.
― Here Biel, it arrived at the house this week. It's from Jake.
Gabriel closed his face at the same moment, but he took the envelope anyway.
― What is it?
― You'll be sixteen soon, won't you? He called me to say he can help you get emancipated as soon as your birthday. Then you won't have to depend on your father and can manage.
Since the winter holidays Gabriel had not spoken to his father again. His mother seemed to be overburdened with being the bridge between father and son. Gabriel basically moved in with Theodore, and with his part-time job helped with the expenses since at any moment his son would come into the world.
It was kind of sad that their relationship had collapsed like that. But Theodore said that in time things would settle down. Even if it took years. But they would. He needed patience and prudence not to force the relationship or shatter what was left of it.
That day, while waiting for Theodore's check up, Jake had brought up the subject of emancipation since Gabriel was working. But the alpha hadn't run after more information and had even forgotten about it when classes returned. It was a decision he needed to discuss with Theodore and his mother later.
― Oh, I heard your sister's on an exchange. ― Theodore said suddenly, halfway through his drink.
― Do the night staff know what happens in the morning? ― Milles questioned, arching his eyebrow.
― I still have my contacts.
The three of them looked at the counter where Lilian was talking to Sam, trapped in her own little world. There was no doubt that she was the contact. Gabriel didn't usually talk about Milles' sister, since he was busy with training most of the day. Nicolas didn't usually talk either, the subject was never of interest to him. That would only leave the girl.
Leaning over the table to eat the cake he had ordered, the alpha shook his head.
― It was right after back-to-school. Thunder imagines she feels pressured to stay in the same place as me and still get some stares from the guys who didn't like what she said that time. I don't know.
― I hope she becomes a better person.
― By staying away from my parents, maybe it will become so. I just feel bad for Thunder who couldn't propose to her.
― What a jerk! Is that why he's been playing so poorly lately?
― And when are you going to propose to Miles? ― Nudged Gabriel, trying to calm the tense atmosphere.
Nicolas had raised his middle finger to the brunette alpha, but Milles had left his hand on the omega's thigh, gaining his attention.
― That day he had declared himself. To your alpha, aren't you shorty?
― Fuck you all. Just because the name I chose won, you're picking on me.
― I demand revenge! I don't think it's fair that my son doesn't like the name I chose for him.
― Then you will have to accept my choices. ― said Theodore innocently.
And that's how they gave up on a rematch.
Stroking his belly, Theodore smiled eagerly. At any moment, Kauã would come into the world.