Shapeshifter Boyfriend: Corin Part Two (complete)

I’ve started packing up my apartment, slowly, and putting things into boxes between work and everything else. Until then, Juliette and I have set up more dates, like the ones we used to go on when we first met. I’ve brought up the idea of counseling to Juliette a few times, but she tells me she needs to think about it.

Claude comes by to help me with a few things. It’s a dark evening, and there is a storm going on outside. He’s brought over drinks and takeout food, and we end up hanging out on the sofa more than doing any actual work.

“Are you okay?” Claude eventually asks me. 

I pause before taking a bite of a greasy spring roll and chuckle. A half hearted smile spreads on my face as the question hangs in the air. “I’m getting better, but okay hasn’t happened in a while.”

Claude leans forward, shifting between boxes of takeout until he finds what he wants. “Moving back in, I mean. Are you okay with that?” He shovels noodles into his mouth. He was never an elegant eater, which is why he won’t eat pasta around anyone else. 

“Yeah,” I say, oddly chipper. “I am. I’m excited about it. I’m excited about being with my wife again.”

Claude’s cheeks are stuffed with food. He places his hand over his mouth as he chews. “What about Juliette?”

I nod. “She says she’s scared, but she can’t keep being alone in the house anymore.”

“She’s been working late, taking on extra hours, extra clients.” Claude finally gulps down his giant mouthful. “I’ve suspected it for a long time. I know it’s hard for me now to even think about being alone in my house.”

“For you, I get it,” I huff. “Having two partners, I bet you’re used to a full house.”

“It’s nice having someone around, someone you love and who loves you back.” Claude’s smile is brilliant. I can tell how much in love he is with his partners. “I know you miss it. You’ve always been the clingy sort.”

My face instantly morphs into an angry pout. “Hey,” I growl.

Claude chuckles as he grabs another takeout box. “So tell me, what are you most nervous about with all this?”

I take in a deep breath, gazing at the wedding band on my finger. I twist it around like Juliette did, which I’ve been doing ever since I saw her doing it. “She’s pregnant.”

Claude starts gasping and coughing as he chokes on his food. He bangs his fist against his chest, then grabs at napkins and holds them over his mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he roars as soon as he can breathe again.

“We weren’t going to tell anyone,” I say with a shrug. “We were going to work on each other, get ready, and then tell people when they realize it for themselves.”

“But you’re having a kid?” Claude is still coughing. “Like actually? Y’all are pregnant?”

“She’s pregnant,” I huff. “But yes! We’re going to have this kid.”

Claude reaches out and wraps his arms around me. “This is wonderful! I’m so happy for you!” He claps his hands on his shoulders as he beams proudly at me. “And this is what makes you nervous?”

“Yes! How could it not?” I balk. “My wife and I aren’t doing well, I’m not sure how well we can manage. A kid is hard! They’re stressful, they’re--!” I stop and hold my head in my hands. “We had no dad in our lives, Claude. What am I supposed to do?”

“You do what mom did.” Claude squeezes my arm. “Don’t let one person’s failure dictate yours. You’re going to be there for the kid, right?”

I nod silently.

“You’re going to love it, right?”

I nod again.

“Then you’ve gone above and beyond what lots of people do. Best of all, you’re fighting right now. You’re struggling to keep your marriage together, so of course it seems scarier right now.” Claude smiles at me again. “Although, I am wondering what the child of a shapeshifter and a Baku will look like.”

I furrow my brow. “Baku?”

“Yeah, Juliette is a Baku.” He gives me a confused look. “Didn’t you know that?”

I open my mouth and tilt my head to the side. “She just told me she and her family were dream eaters. She never stated exactly what she was.”

“Oh,” Claude whispers. He then grows a pensive look. “So then, she’s never had her glamour off around you? In all the five years you’ve been together, she’s not… Oh.” He stops himself and sits up straight.

“She’s been hiding from me?” I scoff. “She’s been…” I squeeze my fingers around my temples. “No. no, that can’t be right,” I laugh. “She’s always… I mean…” I clasp my hands around my mouth and grow still and silent. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to open this up,” Claude whispers. He looks at me apologetically. “I really thought you knew.”

I close my eyes. “She has always been so concerned with how she looks,” I whisper. “Her nails, her outfits. She’s always been so worried I don’t find her attractive.” I stand up from the sofa and go to my phone on the dresser. “When I was having those issues a while back, she thought I didn’t find her attractive anymore.” I turn on my phone, and the lockscreen is a picture of Juliette from our honeymoon, cuddled up in bed. “I never understood why she was so worried about that. I tried so hard to reassure her, but--” I close my eyes. “It always felt like there was something she was hiding.”

Claude is looking down at his hands. “Baku haven’t exactly had a good reputation, either for their dream-devouring or their appearance.” He sighs heavily. “I never imagined she was hiding like that.”

“I understand why,” I whisper. “But I don’t at the same time.” I turn around, clutching my hand over my heart. “I love her! Does she not realize I love her everything? Not just her appearance or face value?”

Claude furrows his brow. “Sometimes, us shapeshifters get the reputation that we are shallow. Since we can control what people see of us, appearance is all that matters.” He looks back up at me. “Maybe that’s what Juliette was worried about too. You saw her as this beautiful young woman at the party, and you were this charming, handsome man. Maybe her anxieties got the best of her and before she knew what to do, it was too late to get out the truth.”

“But it’s not!” My voice chokes with a sob. “I want to love everything about her, because that will be our child.” Tears begin flowing from my eyes. My throat burns, my nose drips, and my lungs are tight. I rub my eyes and try to catch a breath. “Our baby is everything we love about one another.”

My phone suddenly starts ringing, and Juliette’s number appears. I quickly try to dry my tears and clear my throat before I answer. 

“H-hello?” I still choke up.

“I’m sorry,” Juliette whimpers. “I didn’t know what to do or who to call, I just… It’s just pouring, and I--” She huffs in frustration. “That spot on our ceiling, in the bedroom?” she grunts. “You know?”

I sniffle and rub my eyes again. “Yeah, I do, baby, calm down. What’s wrong?”

Juliette whimpers, and I realize she’s trying to hold back tears. “It’s leaking! Like bad! The ceiling opened up and fell on me!”

“Are you okay?” I almost yell.

“I’m fine, just… I need you!” she belts. “Please! Just come over here!”

“Yeah,” I gasp. “Of course. It’ll be okay. Go downstairs, take care of yourself. I’ll see you soon.”

“Thank you. I’m so sorry.” She sniffles and blows her nose.

“Yeah, just hold on.” I hang up and I grab for my coat. 

Claude stands. “What’s going on?” he asks. “Is everything ok?”

“Our bedroom ceiling collapsed. It hit Juliette and now she’s panicking. I think she might be having a panic attack.” I rush around, trying to gather things I think I might need. “She asked me to come over.”

“You sure?” Claude asks gently. “Do you want me to go over?”

I shake my head. “No. It has to be me. I’m worried she won’t calm down if I don’t go.” I pat his arm. “I’ll be okay. Promise.”

I hurriedly make my way to the house. Juliette is perched on the porch, wrapped up in a blanket as she waits for me. As I come up the walkway, she runs off the stairs to meet me and grab hold of me. She’s barefoot, and her hair is already wet.

“It’s freezing! What are you doing?” I hurry her inside and set her down on the sofa. I give her a look over, making sure she’s okay after the ceiling fell on her. 

“I’m so sorry!” she sobs out loud. She shivers and jerks as she covers her face with her hands. 

“What is there to be sorry for?” I say gently. “The roof fell on you, it’s okay! I’m here, I’ll go see what I can do to take care of it.”

Juliette grabs hold of my hand. “Wait,” she hiccups.

I sigh and kiss her forehead. “It’s okay, baby, really.” I rub my hands up and down her arms. “Just breathe, okay? Deep breaths.”

She nods her head shakily. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop it,” I chuckle. “Seriously, enough.” I give her a gentle smile. “I’ll always be here for you, okay? Promise.”

After a while, she relaxes again and I go upstairs to assess the damage. Sure enough, that ugly spot on the ceiling has opened up, revealing a leak in the roof. I sigh heavily and start cleaning up, moving things out of the way and stacking the debris aside. I won’t be able to do much more until the storm stops, so I get a bucket and tarp from the shed outside place them under the leak.

Once I am done, I am soaked through and freezing. I go downstairs, where Juliette has fallen asleep on the sofa. I place a blanket over her and tuck her in, not wanting to bother her while she sleeps soundly. 

I go to the bathroom, which is extremely tiny. I turn on the shower in hopes of heating myself back up. As I stand under the hot water, washing away the drywall and mud, my thoughts start to settle again. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Once I get out of the shower, I see that Juliette is no longer on the sofa. I’m only wearing my underwear and a towel around my shoulders, as my clothes are soaked and filthy. Looking around, I find her in the kitchen, standing over the kettle as it heats up. I come up behind her and kiss the top of her head.

“You smell good,” she whispers. 

“I’m using the correct soap,” I chuckle. I brush my hand down the nape of her neck and kiss her forehead as she tilts her head back.

“I’m sorry I freaked out,” she huffs.

“You have every right to freak out. Hell, I probably would have if the ceiling performed a Chicken Little on me.” I turn her around and pick her up to set her on the counter. 

“I’m glad you’re here,” she murmurs. “Will you stay the night?”

I press my forehead against hers. “I have no clean clothes, so I hope you’ll let me stay.” I close my eyes as she kisses me. Her small palms stroke down my chest then up my arms.

I can feel the question bubbling up inside me. I desperately want to ask her the truth, but I do not want to pile onto her anymore. Beside us, the kettle trills with a chipper tune to alert us the water is done boiling.

“Tea?” she asks.

“No, I’m fine,” I sigh.

Juliette captures my face between her palms. “What’s wrong?” She lifts my head up. “Are you okay?”

I laugh, having been asked that for the second time that night. I smile at her, gazing into those beautiful golden eyes. “Can we talk?” I ask. “In the morning?”

Juliette scowls. “No,” she huffs. “I won’t be able to sleep after a ‘can we talk?’ You can talk now.”

I huff and lean forward, pressing my forehead against hers. “I’ve shown you what I really look like many times,” I whisper to her. “I’ve shown you what I hide beneath this--” I pull back and run my hand down my chest, “This form.” I look at her. “And you love me, right? No matter how weird or strange that form may be.”

Juliette looks worried. “Of course,” she whispers. “It doesn’t bother me at all.”

“And you know I love you the same way, right?” I whisper. “I love you, beyond appearances, beyond mirrors. I fell in love with Juliette, the girl who made fun of my tweed jacket, who can’t cook worth a damn, who cries when she watches commercials.” I clutch her hands tight in mine. “I love you, no matter what.”

Juliette’s bottom lip is trembling. “But--”

“No buts!” I hiss. I grab her arms and give her a shake. “You’re a blessing! My blessing, and I will love you through anything. If all this hasn’t yet shown you that, then I will make myself blind so you’ll understand.”

“Don’t!” she blurts. Then she slaps her hands over her mouth and begins to sob. “Don’t--” she whimpers pitifully. 

“Show me then,” I whisper. “Please.”

Juliette whimpers, closing her eyes as she hangs her head. Ears sprout through her hair and she shrinks down, becoming even smaller than before. A long tail grows out behind her, covered in faded black and white stripes, and at the tip is a giant golden eye. Her small hands are black and have three fingers. They’re soft and leathery, and I take them and move them away from her face. There is a short trunk on her face where her nose was. Her cheeks are pudgy, and she has small, round eyes. 

I smile down at her and brush my hand along her cheek.

“You’re so cute,” I whisper into her ear, which jiggles as my breath hits it.

Juliette squeaks and shakes her head.

“Yes you are,” I assure her. I lift her head up. “You’re very cute.” I kiss her cheek and trunk. 

“Don’t lie,” she whimpers. “I know how I look!”

“I’m not lying.” I assure her. “Why would I even try to lie right now when I know you’re so afraid?”

Juliette sniffles. “I’m ugly.”

“No.” I hold her tight again and her arms wrap around me. “You’re my Juliette, and you’re always beautiful.”

Juliette sobs against my chest. “You don’t hate me?”

“Why would I hate you?” I sigh.

“Because I lied!” She blurts. “I lied and I hid myself from you and it ate me up inside and--!” She hiccups and holds her face in her hands. “I couldn’t tell you… I was so afraid.”

“I should have told you ages ago how I really felt,” I whisper. “I should have listened to what you were saying to me when you were worried about your looks. I tried but not hard enough.” I wipe her tears. “We hurt each other, a lot, both of us were hiding things. But now, maybe, we can move forward from this for us, for the baby.”

Juliette looks up at me. “I’d like that.”

I tilt my head to try and kiss her, but I can’t find a way to do it. I give up, chuckle and kiss her cheek. “I would like to make love.”

Juliette squeaks again and fidgets nervously on the counter. “Like this?” she asks. “Are you sure? I’m not exactly, well--” She turns to me nervously. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to take my wife to bed, lay her down, and show her my love.” I kiss her cheek and down her neck. “You don’t have to do a thing. Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

Juliette’s soft hands brush up my arms. “Will you do that thing again?”

I lift my head and smirk at her. “Which thing?”

She giggles shyly. “You know?” She rolls her eyes. “The one thing with the other things?” She swirls her fingers in the air.

“You have to be specific,” I tease her. I catch her finger and gently bite it.

Juliette moans softly as I suck her finger. “Shapeshift,” she whispers then bursts out laughing. “Shapeshift your dick.”

I smirk at her. “That’s what got us into trouble in the first place.” I scoop her up off the counter and carry her to the guest room. I toss her down onto the bed as she giggles and laughs. Looking down at her, I realize how much tinier she is now. She shyly poses on the sheets and gazes up at me.

“You still sure?” she whispers.

I smirk and show her the way my underwear is tenting away from my body. “Extremely.” 

I climb into bed and kiss her neck. Slowly, I kiss down her body. I push my head under her shirt and kiss at her chest, moving down again. I lift her hips and take off her shorts and panties. I slip my head between her thighs, kissing and licking her soft mound.

Juliette gasps and squeezes her thighs, “Corin,” she whimpers. “That feels-- ah-!” She sighs as my tongue pushes between her folds. I lap over her clit and softly moan against her so the vibrations tease as much as my tongue. 

Her fingers grab hold of my hair and pull it. “Corin.” Her voice cracks. “That feels really good.”

I look up at her from between her thighs. “It’s supposed to.” I move my hand down her thigh and press a fingertip inside. “It’ll feel even better in a moment.” I dip back down, kissing and licking her clit as my finger eases inside.

“Oh, wow,” Juliette sighs. She lets out a shocked yelp as I start sucking on her clit. She twitches on the bed, twisting her hips then pressing them forward for more. Her voice starts to pitch higher, with each breath, until it comes out a pleasured whimper. Her belly rises and falls as she pants. She starts chanting over and over again. I’m not sure what’s she’s saying, but eventually her voice breaks off and she has to kick me away.

She rolls over on the bed, burying her face into the pillow while her legs kick and twitch. I rise up, lifting up her leg so it’s against my chest. I then scoot her rear closer towards me and I place my cock at her folds.

“You’re hard,” she mewls.

“How could I not be?” I growl. I start pressing inside. “Seeing my wife in such a state, writhing that way--” I bite my lip and groan. “I almost came just from your cries.”

Juliette gazes up at me as I push my length into her. She whimpers, shivering as I shift inside her, changing my cock into writhing tentacles. Her eyes light up and she squeals, hiding her face back into the pillows.

I push my hips deeper, thrusting into her and shaking the bed. It jerks more so than normal. I forgot how shitty the guest bed was. “Is that what you wanted?”

Juliette turns herself, thrusting her ass into the air. She pushes back against me, taking me deep, then pulling forward. I grin as I watch her, seeing her little ass wiggle in pleasure. I take hold of her hips, stilling her so I am buried deep inside her. The tentacles twist and turn, pressing against the sensitive spot inside.

“Don’t stop!” she whines. “Please.”

“Just savoring the moment,” I purr. I bend over her back, kissing her shoulders and the nape of her neck. “It’s been far too long.”

“I missed this,” she pants.

“Me too.” I start moving again, bucking my hips so they smack against her rear. I breathe and moan into her ear, listening to her pleasured sighs becoming muffled by the pillow. I feel her tighten and squeeze around me, and I am not long for this world.

I release, filling her as she screams into the pillow again.

After a while, we lay there enjoying the sounds of the storm outside. They slowly fade away and soon, Juliette is fast asleep beside me. I hold her close, kissing the top of her head and watching her before I sink into sleep too.

Come morning, I wake to find Juliette is nowhere in the house. In a panic, I search every nook and cranny. Why would she leave? Was she still worried? Did she not believe me after everything I said?

I am trying to find my clothes and get dressed when the front door opens. Juliette walks in, carrying bags from the diner down the street. She is back in her glamour, and wearing her pajamas under her raincoat.

“Aw,” she huffs. “I was hoping you’d still be asleep.” She hands the bags over to me. “I wanted to surprise you with breakfast, but I didn’t want to wake you by burning the house down, so--” She smiles shyly at me.

I sigh and relax. “I thought you left me or something.”

“Leave you? And go where?” She playfully punches my arm. Then she gives me a look and sighs. “You were really scared, weren’t you?”

“I panicked. I wasn’t thinking,” I grumble. 

Juliette tugs me down and kisses me. “This is it. Neither of us are going anywhere, you got it?”

I nod. “Yeah, I know.”

She takes me back to the kitchen and starts unpacking the food. We discuss the roof and what needs to be done about it. We also talk about moving me back in and switching everything to the guest bedroom until it all gets fixed. Afterwards, as I clean the dishes, there is a moment of silence between us, and it doesn’t feel awkward.

“I know,” she says softly.

“Know what?” I ask.

“The baby,” she murmurs and places her hand over her belly. “It had a dream last night and I saw it.” She grins up at me. “It’s a girl.”

I nearly drop the plate I’m holding as her smile grows bigger. “A girl?” I gasp. “A girl?”

She nods her head enthusiastically. “Yeah!” She laughs brightly as I fall down before her on my knees. “That’s what she showed me.”

I press kisses all over her belly. “I can’t believe it!” I can’t stop smiling. “I get two of you? Really?”

Juliette’s laugh is the most beautiful sound in the world. After all these tears and all this heartbreak, there is nothing more beautiful than the sound of her laughter. That is, until our daughter laughs for the first time.

Niko is born in late spring, just when it’s starting to get warmer. She comes into the world screaming until her mother takes her into her arms. Niko is always hungry, and it seems like she will never detach herself from Juliette’s breast.

It isn’t until one afternoon, when we are all napping. Exhaustion is just part of the game at this point, and we take every chance to sleep that we can. As I lay there, Niko starts making noise, so rather than wake Juliette, I take Niko and walk her around the kitchen. She complains and struggles as I try to help her to sleep. Eventually, I sit down on the kitchen floor. I have to sneeze, so I quickly turn my head. As I am wiping my nose, I hear her giggle.

I turn, looking down at her as a smile spreads across her face.

“You like that, huh?” I fake a sneeze, and she busts out laughing again.

I grin down brightly at her and kiss her small trunk. “You like sneezes, huh?” I play-sneeze again, and she can’t stop cackling.

I quickly carry her back to the bedroom where Juliette is dozing. I fake-sneeze, and Niko bursts out cackling again.

Juliette’s eyes fly wide open and she sits up like a shot. “What was that?”

I sit down on the bed, showing her how Niko is grinning. “Sneeze for her.”

Juliette is agape. “Sneeze?”

I nod, and Juliette looks to Niko and mock sneezes. As soon as Niko laughs, Juliette’s eyes glow and she scoops her up. “You’re laughing! Oh my god! You’re laughing!”

The vision is radiant. Juliette is bouncing our daughter in the air, and they’re both grinning from ear to ear. I am almost lost this vision, and that thought shakes me to my core. I know now I will do anything to keep this joy, anything to make them happy - it doesn’t matter.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Juliette squeals.

“Yeah, she is,” I whisper.