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

“What are we supposed to like…do with him?” he asks, gesturing to the baby as Sinclair comes

says, coming close and reaching for the baby, which I gladly hand off to her. ” And, you

folds her legs beneath her on the bed and Sinclair pulls

not 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,

Roger says, looking dubiously between Rafe and Jesse. “Yours

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

Roger murmurs, sighing and

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

he

want to see the baby, Rafe?” Ella coos, leaning forward so that Rafe can meet Jesse

does lean forward to see Jesse, his face very curious. Rafe lets out another little squeak, more demanding

a fascinated and pleased expression. “He really

beams at her own baby. ” He’s your new cousin! And I think you’re going to be

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

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

the two of us lean forward as Sinclair sits Rafe on the bed, letting him lean forward and continue

her voice

“What?” Sinclair asks.

says, almost beyond herself, as if she’s

shrug, fine with it if Ella is. I don’t see Roger’s response, but I don’t hear a protest, so I assume it’s

the blankets, and Ella very gently, very tentatively places Jesse

rambunctious Rafe stays very, very still for a moment as he stares at his cousin. And then

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

of us parents take a sharp

feel it – each

each other for a spilt second and then all of our eyes dart

hello to his new cousin,

going to her mouth for a split second before she reaches down and gathers Jesse back up into her arms.

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