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.

I heard the hysteria of new parents,” she says, shaking her head at us and smiling as she comes into the room. “Are

gesturing to the baby as Sinclair comes in after Ella, shutting the door and grinning at us. Rafe fusses, starting

the baby,

folds her legs beneath her on the bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little group

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

idea but I just laugh and shake my head. “You can’t take my baby, Ella,” I say, crossing

Roger murmurs, sighing and

of our eyes turn to him as his own gaze fastens on his cousin, his eyes going wide like he’s noticing

mean, he honestly

baby, Rafe?” Ella coos, leaning forward so that

surprise and delight when my sweet nephew really does lean forward to see Jesse, his face very curious. Rafe lets

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

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

they’re going to be together a lot. It’s going to be very inconvenient if they

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

of us lean forward as Sinclair sits Rafe on the bed, letting

them down,” Ella says softly, her voice a little

“What?” Sinclair asks.

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

I just shrug, fine with it if Ella is. I don’t see Roger’s response,

Sinclair gently flips Rafe on his back and lays him out on the blankets, and Ella very

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

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

us parents take a sharp

feel it –

of our eyes dart back to our kids, who are still touching, just barely, skin

hello to his new cousin, who just sighs and

hands going to her mouth for a split second before she reaches down

him staring wide-eyed at Ella. “Yeah, I think it’s fair to say we all felt