Letting go of self-restraint 2 - All that is missing is a little one

Chapter 56

Lan Zhan was getting ready for bed, he had already helped Wei Ying to get comfortable and his husband was now waiting for him to join him between the covers. The Second Jade folded neatly both their outer robes and made his way to the bed. The younger boy spent most of the day peacefully sleeping and he was not really tired right now, not so much his soulmate.

The older boy was getting restless and worried, Wen Qing told them today that the baby could come anytime now. Although he was just as excited as Wei Ying, he was still slightly on edge, child-birth was in general difficult for males and much could go wrong, endangering both the parent and the child. He trusted the Dafan Wen doctor but that did not mean everything would go smoothly.

He made sure to not let his worries show, the Yunmeng Jiang sect disciple needed his support right now, not to be stressed even more than he already was. Although Wei Ying was an expert at concealing what he did not want others to know, his worries and pain only two examples out of many, Lan Zhan was sure that his husband was even more nervous than himself. He crawled under the covers and hugged the younger boy from behind, resting his hands gently on his stomach.

The pregnant Omega put his hands over them and squeezed them lightly. Last few evenings, he always initiated a discussion over the baby's name, they both had some favourites but they still did not decide on only one. There was not much to decide on the Second Jade's side, he would have agreed with any name as far as the baby would be healthy, but Wei Ying wanted to pick the perfect one for their child.

As always, Lan Zhan coaxed his soulmate to sleep by caresses and kisses and only closed his eyes when Wei Ying's breathing evened out. He rested his forehead on the Yunmeng Jiang disciple's nape and breathed in the sweet scent of lotus flowers. It helped him calm his nerves and he was soon able to fall asleep as well.

He woke up, disoriented, in the middle of the night. He did not know what time it was but judging by the impenetrable darkness outside of the window, it must have been pretty late already. He was wondering what could have woken him up until he heard a quiet whimper as his husband shifted in his arms and put his hands on his belly.

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan whispered, his voice full of worry as he sat up to be able to look properly at the younger boy.

His soulmate's eyes and mouth were wide open, he was panting heavily one second and gasping for air the other. The Gusu Lan sect disciple felt panic slowly rising and clouding his mind. "Wei Ying?" he tried again.

This time, the Yunmeng Jiang disciple's eyes focused on him. The younger boy's face bloomed into a smile as he informed him breathily: "Lan Zhan, I think it is time."

The older boy did not waste another second, he kissed his husband on the forehead encouragingly and darted out of the bed. He lit a few candles to see better and was already running to the door. "Stay put, I will go fetch Miss Wen." He was not sure if his husband heard him, but he had no time now, he had to get him help as soon as possible.

The night was chilly but the Second Jade did not feel the cold despite running bare food and only in his inner robe. He stopped in front of the Dafan Wen doctor's door long enough to knock. For an eternity, there was no response from the inside, but he felt like he could not wait anymore, Wei Ying needed him back at his side.

All politeness and rules forgotten, he opened the door and stormed inside the room only to find Wen Qing sitting at the table with everything already prepared. He was out of breath and was struggling to say anything. The Dafan Wen doctor however understood immediately, she threw her utensils into a medical bag and was already out of her quarters and running towards the Jingshi. Lan Zhan turned on his heel and followed her.

Wen Qing burst into the Jingshi and closed the door in the Gusu Lan sect disciple's face. He wanted to come inside but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to fight the intruder only to see it was his own brother.

***

Lan Xichen enjoyed immensely his conversations with Nie Huisang, although the Qinghe Nie disciple was several years younger than him, he felt that they were both comfortable around each other and he rejoiced over it. Sometimes, the Gusu Lan sect leader was so lost in the subject that their daily meetings would stretch long after the curfew.

Today was one of these days. He could not help himself and proposed to accompany Nie Huisang to his guest quarters, a proposition that the younger boy eagerly accepted. Cloud Recess was silent, illuminated by the enormous full moon, no one in sight, as they slowly walked towards the Qinghe Nie disciple's rooms.

Suddenly, they were startled by a sound of running feet, something neither of them would expect here and now. Lan Xichen looked around to try and pinpoint its source. He did not search long when he saw white robes flutter around a corner as an unknown person run across the courtyard. Wondering why any Gusu Lan sect disciple would be running around in the dead of the night, they follow after them in a silent agreement.

Lan Xichen was surprised when the person stopped in front of Wen Qing's room and disappeared inside only to emerge not even a minute later with her and running off. By now, the Gusu Lan sect leader had a good idea of who was running and disturbing the night, it must have been his brother and seeing his and the Dafan Wen doctor's haste, it had to do something with Wei Wuxian.

For the first time ever, he had broken the rule and run after Lan Wangji. He did not have to look back to know that Nie Huisang was following closely behind.

They arrived just in time to see Wen Qing entering the Jingshi and closing the door in his brother's face. The Second Jade stood there frozen for a few seconds and then he made a movement to enter as well. Lan Xichen reached out his hand and stopped him.

He had a pretty good idea why Wen Qing would not allow him to assist during the child-birth, it could get messy, but he also understood Lan Wangji's urge to go in and check whether his husband was alright. The sounds coming from the Jingshi did not seem to calm the Second Jade at all, they did not leave to imagination what exactly was happening inside. So he made sure to hold on his hand tightly and spoke in a quiet, reassuring way:

"Wangji, I know you want to go in, but it would not be wise at the moment. Miss Wen is an outstanding doctor; she knows what she is doing. Let her do her work, if she should need our or anyone else's help, she will surely call on us. Wuxian and the baby will be alright."

He did not know how much of what he was saying his brother heard, however, he felt immensely relieved when Lan Wangji stopped fighting him. Finally, the younger sibling turned towards him, clutched his robes in his fists and nodded. He let himself be manoeuvred to sit down on the stairs and leaned into Lan Xichen's shoulder. The First Jade, although unused to such behaviour from his brother, started gently patting his back in silent comfort; he knew that he would have been rejected if he had suggested to move away from the Jingshi at that moment.

He lifted his head when Nie Huisang put a blanket around both sibling's shoulders. He gave the younger boy a grateful smile, the Qinghe Nie disciple was always so thoughtful. Nie Huisang, covered in another blanket, sat down beside him and put his own hand on Lan Xichen's in support. All three of them waited as time slowly passed.