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.

shaking her head at us and smiling as she comes into the

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

baby, which I gladly hand off to her. ” And, you know. Keep

bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little group of six. “The rest…we’re going to need

so hard,” Sinclair says kindly, smiling down at Rafe who yawns 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 you what they

trade,” Roger says, looking dubiously between

me like she’s considering the idea but I just laugh and shake my head. “You can’t take my baby,

say I didn’t like him,” Roger murmurs, sighing and leaning against me,

him as his own gaze fastens on his cousin, his eyes going wide like

I mean, he

forward so that Rafe can meet Jesse face-to-face for

face very curious. Rafe

looking down at his son with a fascinated and pleased expression. “He really does want to go

is Jesse,” Ella says, laughing a little as she beams at her own baby. ” He’s your new cousin! And I think you’re going to

better be,” Roger murmurs.” Because they’re going to be together a lot. It’s going to be very inconvenient if they don’t like each

scold, giving him a light smack on the chest. “They will. Besides, shut up, I want to watch

Sinclair sits Rafe on the bed, letting him lean forward and continue to reach for the

voice a

“What?” Sinclair asks.

almost beyond herself, as if she’s speaking from instinct. “Let’s

it if Ella is. I don’t see

his back and lays him out on the blankets, and Ella very gently, very tentatively places Jesse next to him,

Rafe stays very, very still for a moment as he stares at his cousin. And then he begins to turn, and almost gently

fingers brush against Jesse’s cheek, and Jesse’s little eyes flutter open

take a sharp intake

feel it – each and every

our eyes dart

new cousin, who just

Ella says, her hands going to her mouth for a split second before she reaches down and

turn my head to see him staring wide-eyed at Ella.