Chapter Text
Will sat at the dinner table fussing with the meal Hannibal had prepared for them. This late in his pregnancy he was often uncomfortable and tired at the end of the day, so his husband didn’t always expect much conversation. Something about tonight felt different though. Hannibal looked up, pausing to finish his mouthful. ‘Are you not hungry my love?’
Will smiled, but not with his eyes. ‘No. Sorry, it is delicious though.’
Unconvinced, Hannibal stood up and walked around to Will’s side of the table. He knelt down and placed a finger on his chin to turn his head to face him.
‘Talk to me Will, what’s going on?’ His eyes inquisitive and kind.
Will’s voice was barely a whisper, ‘It’s nothing…. I um… I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Would someone else like to explain?’ Hannibal suggested, his eyes fixed into Will’s.
Will knew that he was suggesting being little, but he hadn't regressed in so long that he wasn’t sure if it would feel right. Some months into their relationship Hannibal and Will had begun experimenting with ageplay. They used it as a way to help Will cope with the things he saw other people doing, things that he had imagined himself doing. Quickly though, they’d realised that Hannibal loved it too; the desire he had to protect and care for Will was so deep already, why not push it to its extreme? During the first trimester, when Will’s nausea was at its height, he’d regressed almost daily, needing constant care and attention. During the second however, Little Will hadn’t come out to play all that often; though he didn’t feel like he had that pregnancy ‘glow’, compared to the horrors of the first 12 weeks it was a cakewalk. He still regressed occasionally because it was nice to play, nice to be looked after, but as Hannibal told him many times, Little Will could come out as often or as infrequently as he liked. Third trimester seemed to be a downhill spiral though, enough to make Hannibal worry. Aches and pains that in previous months seemed trivial, had only amplified as their baby grew, making Will’s body a very uncomfortable place to inhabit. Though Hannibal had tried suggesting play as a way of relaxing, Will had always brushed him off.
‘We won’t have time for this when she comes, why not get used to it now.’
‘I’m just going to go to sleep now anyway, there’s no point.’
So for about 2 months now Hannibal had not been a daddy and Will had not been a little. It caused a dull ache in Hannibal’s chest to see his love look so sad. His excuses didn’t see to add up, and he wondered if something else was going on. Was he ashamed? Was it something to do with the pregnancy? Whatever it was Will, wasn’t ever in the mood to talk about it.
In the dining room however, Will could feel himself regressing, his mind readily accepting the change out of sheer desperation.
‘Daddy!’ He cried, a spark back in his eye. He flung his little arms out, ready to accept a hug from his papa. Hannibal grinned, his little boy looked so sweet, he couldn't wait to look after him. Will nuzzled his neck before drawing back, slight concern in his eyes.
‘Oh daddy, I have a tummy ache.’ He said drawing his hand up to touch his belly. As it made contact earlier than he expected, he looked down shocked. It was a surprise to his little eyes seeing his belly resting on his lap. Little Will had never looked like this before, and even when they'd played earlier on they didn't really mention the baby. Besides, even if they had, little ones were not known for their ability to retain information.
‘Did I eat too much?’ His eyes flicked back up, mouth hanging slightly open in confusion.
Hannibal knew this was going to be a big task; not only did he have to explain where babies came from, but he would have to break the news to his boy that he was pregnant. He gave a small sympathetic smile, partially in response to the sweetness of his question.
‘Do you remember the book we read about the little boy who got a new brother?’
Will nodded. When he’d first learned that he was pregnant, he’d surprised Hannibal by giving him that book to read as a bedtime story.
‘And do you remember how his mummy’s tummy got really big before the baby was born?’
Will nodded again, looking unsure of what this had to do with anything.
‘Well the baby was in her tummy right? Just like you’ve got a baby inside your tummy now.’
Will giggled, his cheeks going pink with delight, ‘Silly daddy, little boys don’t have babies!’
Hannibal placed his hands on Will’s bump pressing until he found the spot where their daughter’s bottom was currently residing.
‘Ouchies! That makes me feel sicky.’
‘I’m sorry lamb.’ Hannibal placated. He knew that would have been uncomfortable given that she had been kicking him hard under the ribs, plus he suspected that Will might have been suffering from heartburn. However this was the quickest route to convincing Will of what was happening. He took his little one’s hand and pressed it to that spot, watching as realisation dawned on him with the movement of their child.
‘You aren’t always little are you Will? Sometimes you are a big boy, and big boys do have babies. We made this one together.’ His voice was soft and gentle, this being a lot of information to absorb all at once.
Will’s face crumbled, tears welling in his eyes. ‘But I’m too small to have a baby.’ His voice cracking at the end as he broke into sobs.
Hannibal pulled him back into his arms tightly. He rubbed his back soothingly as he shushed his baby. ‘Oh my darling, darling one. You are doing so well, if you were too little you wouldn’t have been able to get so far.’
It had been a while since he’d had to comfort away his bean’s tears, but he still knew exactly what to do. With great heaving sobs like these, Will needed tight pressure, the feeling of safety surrounding him. Hannibal’s large strong hand moved like waves up and down his shaking back, never altering its pace.
Hannibal waited until Will’s cries had turned into whimpers, the other hand stroking his hair all the while, before deciding that he probably needed to go to sleep.
‘Honey?’
‘mmhhhm’ Will sniffled.
‘You've had a very big day, and this was a bit of a scary thing to hear wasn’t it? I think we should put you to bed don’t you?’
It was less of a suggestion, and more of a statement about what was to happen next. Hannibal knew that everything else could wait; Will was overtired and in need of simple comforts like his teddy and dummy.
‘With daddy please.’ He whispered meekly, still hiccuping the occasional cry.
‘You’re such a polite little boy aren’t you. Of course I’ll come to bed with you.’ He stood up and stroked Will’s hair back from his face to reveal his big round eyes, still red rimmed. He took his thumbs and smoothed them over his cheeks to wipe away his tears and then pressed a kiss into each hot, wet side of his face.
Hannibal extended his hand, ‘Come on munchkin, let’s get you out of your big boy clothes and ready for bed.’