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…

Roger and I gasp at the same time as

Happy!

my god,” I say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to him, pulling me fast into

we just -” he stares at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my hands and

just named the

up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we closed the doors and slept for hours and ignored

to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while I curled further up in bed, deciding that I was never,

me eat all my meals in bed, instead insisting that I come and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook. But the spread of sandwiches and warmed soup and

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 see what

as well. But honestly, it blurred in 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, and so

had to get back – because as

close outside the little bungalow after we’ve packed and locked up. “Next

and let him kiss me, let it sweep through me. “Maybe not next week.

this place. Maybe the owner will let us buy it,” Roger murmurs, looking

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

his eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess said that night on

break into a grin. “You’re thinking

I’m

a little bit. ” You just make the babies, I’ll grow them, and

wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll barely have to lift a

he opens my car door for me. “Or, we can just pass them

loading our tiny luggage into the trunk before crossing

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

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

stroking my belly