reigning hearts

It was a surprise to hear Nora suggest sex so quickly, and Matt laughed lightly nodding.

“Sex works too,” he replied, “I think it would be an option, we just have to be creative with positions.”

Matthew wasn’t bothered that Nora was so pregnant. He still loved her and found her attractive, not to mention that her boobs were a lot bigger than they’d used to be. He wasn’t complaining.

“I wouldn’t complain about sex,” he muttered, concentrating on Nora’s foot still before leaning forwards and pressing a kiss on the end of her toe. “We could do spicy food though if you prefer.”

“I don’t think so,” Matt shook his head. “No surrogate, I quite like the part before the baby comes along.” He grinned. “I’m all about the natural making of a baby.”

His fingers pressed into the ball of her foot, massaging each sore spot. Matt couldn’t imagine what Nora was going through right now and the summer heat certainly didn’t help at all. At least they had AC, though, which was constantly on.

“Seriously though maybe we should look at getting you induced, or try one of those things that kick start labour? Eating spicy food, going for a long walk…”

Matt turned to face Nora, the stupid grin on his face not disappearing as he saw her swollen stomach and Shilo move inside it. She was right, she was huge, bigger than he’d expected her to be.

“I think she’s gonna be a big baby,” he said, waking over to the couch and lifting Nora’s feet up so he could sit down, lying her legs back across him. Without a moments hesitation Matt began to rub one of her feet. It was clear that Nora was uncomfortable constantly and the heat didn’t add to that.

“Do you think we should talk about getting you induced early?”

Matt wanted to pummel his fists into the man’s face and get him to stop laughing. It wasn’t funny - _none _of this was funny. But Nora was right… This couldn’t happen here. People would talk, they’d see blood on his clothes and his fists. So he nodded, stepping back more when Nora tugged him hard. 

“Are you okay?” He asked, turning to face his wife, his hand going to her stomach. “Are you both okay?” The last thing that needed to happen now was for something to happen to their baby. Matt would have lost his mind in that case. 

“I’ll book a doctor’s appointment for you tomorrow to get checked out, okay? I don’t want to risk anything.” Matthew hadn’t even noticed the loss of Nora’s bag until he took both of her hands and didn’t feel the strap in one of them. He froze. “Where’s your bag?”

As much as she wished she could decline the offer of visiting the doctor, Nora knew she shouldn't. Matthew was right, they were better off say then sorry and neither would drop the paranoia until they knew for sure. "She's still kicking." Nora assures him, swift his hand so he can feel the swift kicks of their daughter. That was something, at least she was remaining active.

Another man had joined Nora and her new friend just as Matthew had walked around the corner, and he saw her get pushed down, breaking into a sprint immediately. 

“Hey!” He shouted, “What the fuck are you doing?” It didn’t matter if people saw him, Matthew was defending his wife and she’d just been pushed down by some clown who obviously didn’t belong here. Once he’d helped Nora back to her feet quickly, he tore his mask off and shoved the guy who’d pushed Nora up against the wall, the other man walking off with something in his hand. That didn’t matter now. 

“I’ll ask you again, what the fuck are you doing, pushing a pregnant woman over?” Matt got right in the other man’s face, and the man just laughed. 

“Oh you’re so screwed man,” he replied. “We know who you are.” 

Matt didn’t falter even though he wanted to at that comment. We know who you are. Did that mean that they knew he was Sixes? How would they find out? He tore the man’s mask off but didn’t recognise his face. Instead he simply let go of the man, looking like he was going to walk away before he turned back and his fist connected with the man’s nose. 

“Don’t you ever touch my wife again, or I will kill you. Do you understand?” 

Taking a step back, Nora stayed behind Matthew as the two spoke harshly. It seemed whoever the man was, didn't give a damn that he'd been caught. If anything, he was excited over the fact. Whoever this was, they weren't safe.