It's The Way That You Say It - Happy Birthday LukaDreaming
One of the best things about being an omega was supposed to be how very in tune with your kids you were. Becker wasn't finding that to be the case.
It was the puppy talk that was causing him the biggest problem. It was impossible to understand, and the more he tried to work it out, the more difficult it became. Becker had supposed that it would come quite naturally to him, and that he'd be able to understand his pups just as easily as other omegas appeared to be able to understand theirs.
He couldn't.
When Alex didn't want to have a bath he would dig his claws into the bathmat and give a little growl. Becker got around that by picking him up, bathmat and all, and putting him in the water. But it was the growling and the digging in of the claws that told him Alex didn't like it. It wasn't because he could translate the growls.
When Marcus didn't want to go to bed and gave lots of little yips then ran away as soon as Becker's back was turned, Becker could tell because the little scamp was nowhere to be found, rather than being able to understand the meaning behind the yips. He eventually turned up (fast asleep, of course, it was well past his bedtime) hiding behind the sofa under a cushion, his little puppy snores giving him away.
And when little Kay tripped over the front step and bashed her nose... well, he could tell from all the barking and crying that was going on from the three of them that something had happened. And the rather obvious nosebleed.
But then Ryan walked past whilst Becker was cleaning Kay up and told Marcus off for leaving a soggy half-chewed pig's ear on the step and causing the accident. When Alex gave a little bark that did seem to be complete agreement, Becker thought he was probably missing something. The alpha wasn't supposed to have a better understanding of the pups than the omega.
It was all very disheartening. He knew he was a poor excuse for an omega and wouldn't be surprised if Ryan ended up kicking him out one day and getting someone more domesticated to raise the pups for him.
Kay looked up at him with her big blue eyes, and gave his hand a little lick. She was still so very small compared to her brothers, a legacy of her difficult birth and struggle to survive. It meant they were always far more concerned when anything happened to her than they were if the two boisterous boy pups suffered the inevitable childhood cuts and grazes. He knew the sight of her in distress had kicked off his omega hormones and he was probably over-reacting, but he almost felt tearful. Damned omega instincts.
Becker picked Kay up to give her a cuddle, not wanting her to see the way the thought of possibly losing everything he had was affecting him. He couldn't lose his beloved family. The tiny pup in his arms was clinging to him with her small paws, and he cuddled her closer. Soon they'd all be off to nursery, and he would be back at work and spending less time with them. He wasn't looking forward to that day quite as much as he thought he would.
It hadn't occurred to him that there was a problem until Darwin and David had turned up with their pups the previous day. Little three month old Josh and Sam had suddenly appeared huge next to his own trio, though Ryan had confidently asserted that Alex was going to be bigger than any of them in no time.
David was the perfect omega. He sat at home obediently looking after the family and making sure Darwin never wanted for anything. His pups were well-behaved and healthy and probably never left pig's ears lying around. Lyle would, he had no doubt, have found a way to provide them with his favourite childhood treat, but Becker thought that somehow David would have found a way to ensure there was never any mess. He'd been to their house. It was pristine. Ryan was probably very disappointed. Becker had tried tidying up earlier, in fact that had been what he was doing when Kay slipped over, but the flat looked no different.
Kay was cuddling happily now though, making small yips and squeaks, and trying to lick his fingers again. Her tiny little pink tongue flicked out, so he let her. Everything had to be tasted and touched at that age. He wondered what David would make of it, whether he'd completely understand everything she said.
Probably. Bloody perfect omega.
Marcus slunk into the kitchen looking the picture of guilt, and stopped at Becker's feet, looking up mournfully, his tail wagging just a little bit, his eyes as huge as saucers, gazing pleadingly.
Kay barked at him, then wriggled around until Becker put her down. She leapt out of his arms, ran over to her brother, grabbed his tail in her teeth and gave it a little pull. Marcus yelped in surprise then was chasing her out of the kitchen, barking madly.
No, they didn't have the best behaved pups, but at least they were entertaining. He wouldn't swap any of them. Of course, that didn't mean that Ryan wouldn't swap him...
---
Becker was still worrying about his inability to acquire David's level of puppy comprehension after the kids had gone to bed. They'd all trotted down to say goodnight to Ryan, and then curled up together under their respective paw-print blankets in what was rapidly becoming a far-too-small basket. Becker kept trying to get them to sleep in the nice new individual baskets they'd got but as usual he fought a losing battle. It was, he supposed, one more example of how poor he was at parenting.
"What's the matter?" Ryan asked as Becker slumped down on the sofa beside him. "The kids're all okay?"
Becker really didn't want to acknowledge what a failure he was. Ryan was going to be disgusted with him. Still, he had to face it sometime. Ryan had probably already noticed.
"They're fine. But I don't understand them," he admitted. "Omegas are supposed to be totally in tune with them. Even you understand what they're saying, and you're an alpha!"
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand what they're saying."
"Yes you do! Earlier, when Kay was hurt, you understood that Alex was cross with Marcus. Then the pair of you told him off for leaving that disgusting thing on the step. Alex told you he'd done that, then he was agreeing with you when you reprimanded Marcus!"
Ryan's lips twitched upwards as if he were trying not to laugh, which Becker thought was a bit unkind.
"Becker, you idiot. They're three weeks old, they can't talk."
"But..."
"I was working under the car when Kay slipped. You were out there before I could get out and do anything to help. I saw her slip on Marcus's damned pig's ear. You're the one who reached her first, as soon as she started crying you were out there for her."
"But other omegas understand their pups. David knows exactly what his pups want, all the time."
"David's pups are a few months older, their voices have settled in. Ours will soon. You said yourself that Alex sounded as if he was agreeing with me today."
"But..."
"No buts. You're great with the kids, they love you. So do I. Have you been worrying about this all day?"
"David's really good at all the omega skills. I can't keep the flat that tidy. And his kids are so well-behaved compared to ours."
"Our kids are great. They're just starting out, they'll be fine, stop worrying."
There was a thump from the bedroom, then another one. Ryan rolled his eyes. "That's telling us they've got up and are playing some noisy game in there."
"Or they think they're playing a quiet game but haven't worked out that we can hear them moving about," Becker pointed out.
"See! You understand them. Let's go and tuck the little scamps back in. And when they're finally asleep, maybe we can find a better use for your hormones than worrying because you're not a Stepford Omega."
Feeling slightly better about it all, Becker followed him to the pups bedroom, smiling a little at the panicked yips and scurrying feet he could hear when Ryan opened the door and flicked the light on.
All three pups were in their basket, eyes closed, breathing heavily and tangled up in the wrong blankets. Kay had her paw in Alex's face, and Marcus was hiding under Kay's pink paw print blanket.
Becker smiled at the sight, seeing Marcus poke his nose out to see if the coast was clear then duck back under the blanket again quickly.
"It must have been elephants we heard in here then, Ryan," Becker said loudly. "Our kids are obviously fast asleep. They know there's no pig's ears tomorrow for naughty pups..."
There was a low whine from the direction of the pink blanket. Alex kicked it and the noise stopped.
Becker flicked the light off and closed the door. Ryan was right, he understood the kids perfectly.