Codename: HADES

Cross had been driving the entire time from the base, mostly because Alex had been cradling Skylar in his arms ever since they rescued him. The little baby had his head pressed against his mother’s chest as he slept for the current part of the ride. The little baby had his head pressed into his mother’s chest as he slept and Cross couldn’t help but feel proud of the child they had. It bothered the captain that something might have happened to Hollings after their escape. The man risked his job and his life to help them and they couldn’t return to see if they could help him without being caught by Gentek.
They stopped for the night at a hotel after they spent nights driving with no sleep to remain on the move and not bringing too much attention to themselves. Skylar had to be fed regularly, Alex noticing that their son didn’t absorb bio-mass yet, preferring the bottle filled with formula that had to be purchased an hour into their travels when Skylar threw a fit due to being hungry and having a dirty diaper. Being a military man who stared death in the face often meant nothing as he chickened out on changing their son, leaving Alex to do it every time. Even while driving the virus could multitask with feeding, changing, and keeping Skylar occupied all while driving thanks to his tentacles. It finally got to the point where the two men needed to actually sleep and headed for the closest town that had a hotel to rest in.
Cross was left to feed and care for himself and Skylar while Alex hunted for bio-mass to absorb since his body hadn’t had anything since fighting to save Skylar and he had been needing far more than usual as of late. He was beginning to dread and realize what was most likely happening when he vomited onto the ground. As it was impossible to get a blood test done at the current moment, he was going to have to take matters into his own hands and hope he was wrong. By the time he had gotten back to the hotel, Skylar was asleep in the bassinet they had bought for their travels, Cross was passed out on their bed and not waking up anytime soon. Mercer walked over to Skylar’s bassinet, looking upon his sleep baby. He was so sweet and innocent, making Alex love him even more and vow to never let his child end up in foster care like he had been as a kid or to end up in Gentek’s clutches once more. Pressing a kiss to the boy’s forehead, Alex let Skylar rest peacefully before stripping out of his clothes and climbing into bed beside the older man, nestling up close and kissing the back of his neck and drifting off to sleep as well.
Come morning Alex awoke to the crying of a baby. As he sat up to even take care of his child, he felt the empty void on the bed where his lover had once been, soon hearing a contented gurgle and seeing Cross holding their son with Skylar suckling on a bottle filled with formula. He smiled before waling over and wrapping his arms around the captain’s waist. “You make a wonderful father.” Alex pressed another kiss to the older man’s neck and proceeded to get dressed. Alex volunteered to be the one to buy the various items they’d need before hitting the road once more, most of it being baby stuff for Skylar. Entering the small town grocery store, Alex was under the guise of a woman. His hair was a bit longer than normal, styled in a feminine cut to frame his face which was softer and less angled, his jeans were filled out more with his shapely hips that looked so perfect in the faded blue denim, his crisp white button down shirt had buttons nearly popping off against his ample chest. People were staring in either lust or hatred depending on gender as he passed by them in the aisles. Mercer picked what he had a mental list of, picking up a few home pregnancy tests just to see if he was right or wrong on his assumptions. He had no problems paying for everything, some men watching him buying all these items for a baby seeming a little defeated at the idea of him already being taken. Once everything was bought and paid for, Alex headed straight for the public washrooms in order to deal with that worry niggling in the back of his head. While the virus paced around after urinating on the stick, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Women had to go through so much grief it seemed and he had far more respect for them now since his life seemed to pretty much be turning him into one. After five minutes of waiting, Alex noticed that every one of the tests he had taken read positive, meaning that he was pregnant no matter what different outcome he was hoping for. Sighing in defeat, Alex left the store and headed back to the hotel when he and Cross were staying.
He had to admit, being a father was something he was enjoying, and Skylar gripping onto his fingers and dog tags made him grateful that he survived being in Manhattan and Hollings helping them rescue the boy. The captain gave his son a kiss while Skylar suckled on his latest bottle, large blue eyes looking up at him and Cross couldn’t help but notice how much Skylar looked like his mother in that moment. As the door opened, the older man looked up at Alex as he hauled the plastic bags of items into the hotel room. Alex was still rather feminine since he hadn’t changed back to normal since leaving the store and only looked up at Cross before glaring at the captain. “You’re never touching me again you bastard. Thanks to you I’m pregnant again!