Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 481– A New Family

It takes a little over two hours, but finally the last of the doctors leaves, the door clicking shut behind them.

“Finally,” Roger sighs, falling back into the linens of the freshly-changed bed. “Now we just have to get our stupid family to leave and we’ll get some sleep – ”

“Excuse me,” I say, glaring over at him. “If you think you’re tired -”

“Fine fine,” he sighs, turning his head to grin at me. “You’re right. What can I get you, my love? Do you want anything?”

The doctor officially gave me and Jesse a clean bill of health after I delivered the placenta and Jesse had his first feeding and full check-up. It was, of course, a relief to have everything turn out right and relatively easy -especially in comparison to Ella’s experiences – but now that they’re all gone?

Honestly, it all feels very real.

Like now I have to be a mom, and Roger has to be a dadall by ourselves.

“I don’t know,” I say, laughing a little and looking between Roger and our little baby. “Honestly, it’s all kind of weird, isn’t it? All of this fuss and then they just…leave you alone with a baby. To do what you will.”

“I know,” he says, looking at me with wide eyes. “I’m glad you know what to do. I’m totally lost.”

“I don’t know what to do!” I protest, laughing and shaking my head.

“What!?” he breaths, sitting up sharply.

“I’m just a doctor, Roger!” I say, laughing harder now and feeling a little hysterical as well as exhausted. “People come to me pregnant, but then I send the babies home with them! I don’t know what to do with a kid – that’s Ella’s department.”

“Well then,” he says, looking anxiously towards the door. “I take back my previous words. Ella has to stay – for like, ever.”

“Or at least until this kid is six -”

“Can we push to seven?” Roger asks, looking at me with real anxiety that just makes me laugh harder.

There’s a little knock on the door but suddenly Roger and I are laughing too hard to answer it. It cracks open anyway and Ella again peeks her head in.

her head at us and smiling as she comes into the room. “Are you totally freaking

tear of mirth from his eyes. “What are we supposed to like…do with him?” he asks, gesturing to the baby as Sinclair comes in after Ella, shutting the door and grinning at us. Rafe fusses,

the baby, which I gladly

as Ella folds her legs beneath her on the bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little group of six. “The rest…we’re going to need some

and looks around at us sleepily, a little confused. “They sleep a lot their first couple of weeks. And then, after that, they find ways to tell

we should trade,” Roger says, looking dubiously between Rafe and Jesse.

considering the idea but I just laugh and shake my head. “You can’t take my baby, Ella,” I say, crossing my arms. “Even if Roger is inept,

him,” Roger murmurs, sighing and

of a sudden and all of our eyes turn to him as his own gaze fastens on his cousin, his eyes

he honestly

Rafe?” Ella coos, leaning forward so that Rafe can meet Jesse face-to-face

when my sweet nephew really does lean forward to see Jesse, his face very curious. Rafe lets out another little squeak, more demanding this

at his son with a fascinated and pleased expression. “He

laughing a little as she beams at her own baby. ” He’s your

better be,” Roger murmurs.” Because they’re going to be together a lot.

light smack on the chest. “They will. Besides,

on the bed, letting him lean forward and continue

voice a little awed, “next to each

“What?” Sinclair asks.

Ella says, almost beyond herself, as if

it if Ella is. I don’t see Roger’s

out on the blankets, and Ella very gently, very tentatively places Jesse next to him, close enough for

still for a moment as he stares at his cousin. And then he begins to turn,

the moment they touch, when Rafe’s fingers brush against

us parents take a sharp

–

for a spilt second and then all of our eyes dart back to our kids, who are still touching,

babbles a little, saying hello to his new

before she reaches

and I turn my head to see him staring wide-eyed at Ella. “Yeah, I think it’s fair