Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 429 – Names

Cora

Matthew? Roger tries, passing the name down the line to the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait…

But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.”

“All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!”

“Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -”

I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh. “Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.”

“Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.”

“I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.”

“Okay,” he murmurs.

And then Roger passes another name down the bond, and I smile, because…

Because I love it.

And we wait…

the same time as we feel

Happy!

I say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches

stares at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my hands

think we just named

up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we

of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to

the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook.

whatever the landlord brought us every day in baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending messages to the baby when he was awake to

with everything else we did, a usual part of the day as we napped, and went swim and laid out in the sun. The entire time it was just…so natural,

But after the second day, we knew we had to get back – because as much as we like each other, we like our lives

murmurs, pulling me close outside the little bungalow after we’ve

laugh and let him kiss me, let it sweep

nods, giving me another little peck, before looking around. “I really like this place. Maybe the owner will let us buy it,” Roger murmurs, looking fondly

a hand on my stomach. “But, considering that this little guy is coming along? We’re going

his eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess said

break into a

bunch more,” he nods, eager. “And I’m going to enjoy

say, laughing and rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ” You just make the babies, I’ll

head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll barely have to

his cheek as he opens my car door for me. “Or, we can just pass them all off on

Roger asks, loading our tiny luggage into the

sitting down in the car, closing my door behind me as Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four

a deal,” he says, half serious and grinning at me as he buckles his belt and starts the

down at him and stroking my belly fondly. “We’re lucky. We’ve got a