*unedited

Juniper bounced in her seat, her cheek pressed to the car window as their home came into view.

"I miss my baby."

"I'm sure he misses you too," Raphael gripped her thigh tightly.

"When are we going to the Bordoa's again?" she asked tiredly.

"Next week," he grunted.

"Is that where you sign the alliance agreement? Are you sure about this baby? I don't want you to feel pressured because Bordoa made you feel like a bad mate or something."

"Bordoa was being honest. I'm glad he was, I needed to hear it. In the long run, when we have our boy and people find out- which they will- we'll have more targets on our back. I don't trust the Legion yet but for now I trust the Bordoa's enough."

Juniper lifted his hand, threading their fingers together while kissing the back of his hand.

Brushing her hands up his biceps as he parked, he turned towards her.

"You'll be such a good dad," she rasped with emotion dripping from her voice.

Groaning quietly, Raphael leaned forward to kiss her hard.

Holding his face, she brushed her thumb over his cheeks before pulling away slowly.

"I think I'm in heat," she mumbled.

His eyes widened at her sudden admission.

"Shouldn't you be more horny?" he asked under his breath as they leaned into another slow kiss.

She hummed, tasting him slowly. "I'm okay now. Think it started at the party, we fucked last night so now I'm sated for now... just clingy."

"That's a bummer," Raphael smirked crudely while grazing his teeth other her bottom lip.

Her eyes lit with amusement, "I could be persuaded," she leaned back while giggling.

A wolfish grin tugs at his mouth, leaning forward to pounce on her there and then.

She had her hand on the handle, tumbling out of the car while shrieking.

Raphael growled playfully, watching her run to the house and barging in where Bear was barking.

Squealing, Juniper wrapped her arms around her dog.

"I missed you," she squeezed him tightly while practically on the floor on his level.

Raphael came in behind her but she paid him no mind, kissing Bear's head.

"Makin' me feel real loved, sweetheart."

Juniper rest her cheek on Bear's head that rested on her chest, peaking up at him with her stormy gray eyes.

"Stop being dramatic," her lips pouted.

"Not until you give me more attention."

"Is that a needy bitch I hear?" Phoenix called from Raphael's office.

Juniper's mouth fell open and she barked out a laugh as Raph scowled.

"Fuck you, outta my house," the berserker threw his hand over his shoulder.

"No can do boss, you have to catch me up."

Frowning, he nodded once before looking down at his mate.

She smiled gently while kneeling besides him, he sighed quietly.

Bending at the waist, he kissed the top of her head. Juniper turned her face to peck his retreating lips once before swatting him away.

Raphael patted the back of her head lightly in retaliation, striding over to Phoenix who waited for him by the office door.

"Phina and Warren are on their way over, Juni," the silver haired man offered the blue haired woman.

Juniper gasped dramatically while staring at Bear, "Auntie and Uncle Warren are coming."

The two berserkers cracked the door behind them as Raphael sat heavily behind his chair, Phoenix across from him.

"You both mated," his friend observed while rubbing his chin. A smirk on his face.

"We did," the demon king grunted while grabbing a different file.

"Is that the only accomplishment you came back with or is there some other news you'd like to fill me in on?" Phoenix probed. Raphael knew he was aware of the meeting with the Bordoa's. Apparently his uncle was constantly reaching out for gossip and vice versa.

"I need you to come with me and Juniper to the mainlainds, up north."

Phoenix grunted in interest, "What exactly are we doing in the north buddy?" His tone was smug, since for decades he'd wanted to reach out to the Legion.

Sighing loudly, Raphael continued. "We'll be meeting the Bordoa's," he voice was quiet and words mumbled.

"Sorry?" Phoenix leaned his ear towards his boss.

"'Sorry?" Raphael mocked while throwing up his hand, "Fuck you. You're coming- the Lycan King basically called me an idiot for not seeking outside help after Juniper."

"Well... obviously you had doubts if you agreed."

Raphael frowned, thinking about the anxiety at the thought of losing Juniper or their son in the future.

Slowly, he rest his head in his hands.

"I can't even... bear the thought of anything happening to her. It makes me break into a fucking sweat Phoenix."

His friend nodded understandingly, his face falling into a serious one.

Raphael continued as every worst possibly scenario that he refused to rant to Juniper about for the sake of keeping her calm came  to mind.

"I mean... I'm going to have a fucking son. It's not an if it's a when. I've been alone for decades and did shit on my own, I didn't have anyone relying on me necessarily. Yeah, the islanders but it's just different. They depend on me as a leader not a mate or a fucking father. I don't know how to be a dad! So I need to figure that out and keep the dozens of assholes wanting to kill my family away alone? I mean what was I thinking?" he palmed his forehead.

"If Juniper didn't make me go we'd be unprepared. I don't like the Bordoa's but that doesn't mean they're morons."

Phoenix frowned, seeing Raphael with so much self doubt was foreign to say the least. "You made the right decision in the end."

"I know but what if my arrogance had cost me Juniper?" Raphael spat. "I refused to use anything but my own resources to handle the coven and it took far too long. I could've lost her."

"That's not gonna happen man," Phoenix shook his head vehemently to prove his point and squash his friends doubts. "No one can take care of her better than you. Same way Phina is safest with me. That's just how it goes, second guessing is only going to get someone hurt."

Raphael sighed lowly, "I just feel like a fucking moron that it took the lycan king knocking sense into me."

A quiet knock brought them both of their conversation. Juniper leaned against the now open doorframe, her stormy eyes focused solely on her mate.

The fact that two of the most powerful berserkers didn't sense her reminded them just how sneaky Juniper could choose to be.

"Hi baby," Raphael rasped while rubbing his temples.

"Nix can you give us a second? Seraphina got here like twenty minutes ago," she gave him a kind smile while sauntering over to her mate. The silver haired berserker didn't need to be told again, nodding at his friend and leaving to see his lover.

Juniper hiked her calf length sundress, eyeing Raphael intensely while kneeling on either side of him. He sighed audibly in pleasure while gripping her sides to steady her on top of him.

"How long were you listening?" Raphael's dark eyes admired her floral patterned dress.

"Long enough, I came cause I got clingy. My chest started to hurt and I missed you," Juniper's heat was in full swing but surprisingly she was rather docile. More so than usual and he wondered if that was what heat did to her, having odd effects on everyone.

Her face rest in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent deeply as the heavy weight on her chest eased.

He too reached up his palm to rest on her sternum. He eased her pain with gentle rubs, kissing her temple and crown of her head.

"Why don't you tell me when you feel this way, Raphael?" her words were calm but her tone was a little upset. He could feel it, her worry and offense taken from his confiding in someone else.

He grunted in her ear and didn't answer first. "I always bother you with how anxious I get over the baby. I want you to be able to do the same, baby."

Pulling away only a little, she rest her forehead against his own. Their eyes clashed intimately.

"I know," he husked quietly. "I don't want to stress you out, sweetheart," he kissed the corner of her mouth softly. "I only ever want to take care of you."

"I only ever want to take care of you, doofus. I never wanted you thinking that you couldn't take care of us after meeting the Bordoa's. That was never my intention, I'm sorry if that's what happened." Her lips pulled into a hard frown.

"Don't apologize, please never apologize for knocking sense into me."

Juniper huffed a little, "It was never about knocking sense into you, Raph. I literally just wanted you to talk to people that didn't work for you."

The berserker smirked a tad, "Now where's the fun in that gorgeous?"

She gripped his cheeks and smushed them together frustratedly. "I'm serious you idiot! Never again do I want to hear you doubting yourself as a mate and future father."

He pursed his lips, obviously asked for a kiss.

"Got it? Nod," she forced his head up and down to imitate a nod.

"Kiss," he demanded through his pinched cheeks.

Juniper finally cracked her serious smile and pecked his lips. Licking her plump ones to savor his taste after pulling away, she smirked down at him.

Raphael sighed dreamily.

"You're so god damn sexy."

"I've been thinking about baby names," her brows wiggled.

Raphael groaned exaggeratedly, "Say it again. You're gonna make me come in my pants." He smirked as she squealed a bit at his dirty words.

Dramatically, she bent down to whisper in his ear.

"Baby names."

Once again he groaned in the same fashion, "Fuck."

"Cribs."

"Oh yeah baby," he smirked.

"Diapers."

"There we go. Just came all in my pants," he shrugged with an amused look on his face. Juniper actually double checked to make sure he was joking to which he snorted loudly.

"I hate you," she giggled while squeezing his shoulders. He leaned back expectantly, "So? You gonna keep me waiting? Lay the names on me."

"I'm not telling you the one I like the most yet. But I was thinking whether I wanted to do something that started with J or R. But I went through a couple I liked and thought they sounded stupid. But I'm coming up with some ideas, I want a theme."

"Hm," he rumbled quietly with a happy look in his eyes. "A theme suggests more than one, my love."

Her shoulders shrugged cheekily. Sighing happily, he kissed her hard.

Another knock came to his office door, both pulled away to see not only Phoenix but Seraphina and Warren peeking in. Raphael motioned them in.

"What are you two doing next week?" the king of demons asked Warren and Seraphina.

Both their eyes widened.

They looked at each other, then Seraphina looked at Phoenix who nodded encouragingly.

Raphael continued, "It's up to you. But I think Juniper would feel more comfortable with you traveling with us to the mainlands. Warren you've been one of my most reliable guards.... Seraphina you make Phoenix bearable so you're necessary as well." He was blunt.

"I'm excited to go," Seraphina squeaked. Warren also nodded jerkily, shocked.

"I'd be honored."

Nodding once, "Good. We leave this weekends."

~