these last few days have been so CRAPPY and to top it all off, i found out today that my only remaining grandparents are getting a divorce and my grandma is moving away so

idk i could really just use a lot of fluffy barley fics rn so i will probably be writing a lot of barley. also if u have barley x reader imagines recommendations or write some of your own pls dont be afraid to let me know thank u

/ / /

two months later

"Barley," you called, scooping out the decaf coffee from the tin. "Honey, we are gonna be late!"

"Coming," he said. He ran out of the hall and slid down the kitchen floor in his socks. He held out his arms. "What do you think?"

You turned away from the coffeemaker and smiled at Barley's blue hoodie. He yanked on the neckline.

"Huh?" He chuckled. "Cute, right?"

"Super cute," you said. You held out your hand and he took it. "Are you sure you won't be disappointed if we have a girl?"

He intertwined his fingers with yours. "No way in the galaxy would I be disappointed at all. Just because I think we're gonna have a boy doesn't mean that I don't want a daughter. All that matters to me is that we are gonna have a baby here with us soon."

You nodded and he moved his hands to your belly. He leaned in and kissed you softly on the lips.

"I love you too, baby," he said. His nose brushed against yours as he moved back. "You ready to go? Mom sent me a text. She and Ian are there all set up."

You sucked in a deep breath. "We are really about to find out if we are having a baby girl or a baby boy."

"Yes we are." He held up his hand. "You ready, Mom?"

"As ready as you are, Dad," you said. You gave him a high-five. "Let's do this."

An hour later, you and Barley stood behind a table with a white iced cake in front of you. Laurel took photos of you in your pink sundress while Barley stood grinning with his arm around your waist. Everyone gathered around gushed about how cute it was.

"Okay," she said, "so we have twenty people for boy and fifteen for girl. Are we ready to find out what Baby Lightfoot is?!"

You looked at Barley and sighed nervously, a huge smile plastered on you as you grabbed the knife. Barley wrapped his hand over yours and put his arms around you. He stood slightly behind you, his chin just over your shoulder.

Together, you and Barley sliced through the cake. The white icing fell over and revealed a light blue cake. You shut your eyes and grinned, turning quickly to look at Barley as your family and friends erupted into applause.

"I-I'm gonna have a son," he whispered. His eyes were glassy as you cupped his cheek. "We are gonna have a little boy."

You laughed and lifted your shoulders, completely in shock and perfectly happy to know that you had a baby boy coming into this world, already so perfectly loved.

/ /

five months later

"The books says that it'll be best if we try formula feeding, too," you said. You were laying on your back with your head in Barley's lap. He played with your hair absentmindedly as he listened to you flip through the book in your hands. "And not to get frustrated if breastfeeding doesn't work right away. It's a learning process, I guess."

"Wouldn't the baby have to learn fast though or it would starve to death, if I'm correct."

You put the book page-down against the round of your belly. "That's what bottles are for, honey."

"Right, right," he said. His eyes met yours and he grinned a lopsided smile. "I knew that."

"You're so cute," you said.

"So are you." He poked the tip of your nose. "Okay, lights out?"

"Yeah," you sighed. You struggled to lift off of Barley, so he helped you and even got off the bed to lower you onto  your pillow and tucked you in.

He kissed you and then crawled into bed, immediately throwing his arm over your chest and pulling you close to him. The scruff of his beard tickled your cheek as he kissed you again.

Then, the same as every other night, he propped his head up on his hand and looked at your belly.

"Goodnight baby Wilden," he said. "Pops loves you so much. And I know your mama loves you too. Let's see... in about six days we will get to see your face. Well, other than your ultrasound pictures, we will get to see you. And hold you. I bet you are just as excited to see us."

"I bet so," you said, moving your fingers through Barley's hair.

"You finally get to see what Mama looks like. Let me tell you, son, she is the prettiest maiden you'll ever see. That is no exaggeration."

"Honey," you said, laughing. "Stop."

"And remember, it is your job as a brave warrior like your pops to always take care of her," he said. "She is always gonna need you. You gotta take care of her."

Your eyebrows furrowed as he kissed the round of your stomach. You struggled to sit up so you could look at him and he automatically helped you.

"Barley Lightfoot," you said, pushing your hair back. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just trying to make sure I give him all the fatherly advice that I can give. Just in case, you know? I want to give him more than just four small memories like I had. And yeah, you'll have to remind him of everything because he doesn't know words yet but it just makes me feel better." He smiled sadly. "Makes me feel more like a dad."

You held back tears as you cupped his face in your hands. "Barley, honey, you aren't sick like your dad was."

"Yet," he whispered, eyes wet.

You covered his mouth. "No. You aren't sick. And you don't need to plan for something that could possibly happen. You are gonna be a dad to our baby boy, you are gonna watch him grow old, and you are gonna make this baby the biggest Quests of Yore geek in the entire world. Okay?"

"Yeah," he said. He blinked. "Okay."

Slowly he smiled. You kissed him.

"Let's go to sleep," you suggested.

He nodded and he wrapped his arms around you. As you laid down, he cuddled you close and nuzzled his face in your neck.

"Babe, I love you so much," he said.

You turned your head to look at him. "I love you, too."

The tip of his nose brushed against yours and you scrunched up your face.

"What would a warrior guy like me do without a perfect warrior princess like you?"

You narrowed your eyes. "Why aren't you ever a prince?"

"Because you're the royalty, baby," he said.

You scoffed. "Cheesy. But cute. So how about you shush up and kiss me?"

"Yes, your majesty!" he said loudly. He kissed you gently, his lips moving slowly against yours. He stroked your face lovingly. "Thou hast stolen my own heart."

"You're so cute." You turned your head and sighed as you settled your head on your pillow. "Goodnight, baby. And baby."

He kissed your shoulder and laughed against your skin. "Goodnight, baby and baby."

You sighed as you let your eyes close.

"In a week, we are gonna have our son sleeping in here," you said. "Our son."

Barley hummed, and then he was snoring.

/ /

Two hours later, you woke with a start. An intense pain made you groan as you struggled to sit up, weighed down by Barley's arm on your chest.

"B-Bar," you gasped. You clutched the bottom of your belly as you felt another cramp. "Babe!"

"What?" he mumbled. He opened his eyes. "Oh --- babe?!" His hand was on your back as you bent forward, groaning loudly. "Honey, what is it?"

"I-I don't know," you whispered. "Oh jeez --- maybe it's contractions."

"Contractions? As in the baby is coming?"

"Maybe!" You cried, "I don't know, how do you tell if they're the fake ones?!"

"I-I don't know!" He scrambled out of bed. "I am taking you to the hospital right now. Let me get your shoes---"

As the pain ebbed away you kicked your feet from your blanket. Barley knelt in front of you and slipped your house slippers on.

Tears slipped down your face. "Bar, honey, if this is what a contraction feels like, I-I don't if I can do this."

He looked at you.

"I'm scared."

"Sweetheart, listen to me." He grabbed your face and looked directly in your eyes. "I believe in you one hundred percent. You can do this."

You nodded, your hands shaking. He got up and put his arm under your knees and his hand on your back. He picked you up and you felt the beginning tightness of another wave of pain as he carried you out of your bedroom.

/ / /

there will be a part 3

also thank u to jarvisdropmyneedle07 for delivering more perfect drawings that remind me so much of shoreline and my favorite guy :-)