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.

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

like…do with him?” he asks, gesturing to the baby as Sinclair comes in after Ella,

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

pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little group of six.

who yawns and looks around at us sleepily, a little confused. “They sleep a lot their

says, looking

suddenly and looks at me like she’s considering the idea but I just laugh and shake my head.

Roger murmurs, sighing and leaning against

out a surprised little screech all of a sudden and all of our eyes turn to him as his own gaze

mean, he honestly probably

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

smile in surprise and delight when my sweet nephew really does lean forward to see Jesse, his face very curious. Rafe lets out another little squeak, more demanding this time, and reaches out his hands towards

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

as she beams at her own baby. ” He’s your new cousin! And I

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

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

the bed, letting him

her voice a little

“What?” Sinclair asks.

says, almost beyond herself, as if

shrug, fine with it if Ella is.

the blankets, and Ella very gently, very tentatively places Jesse next to him,

moment as he stares at his cousin. And then he begins to turn, and

brush against Jesse’s

us parents take a

we all feel it – each and every one

second and then all of our eyes dart back to our kids, who are still touching, just barely,

babbles a little, saying hello to his new cousin, who just

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

and I turn my head to see him staring wide-eyed at Ella. “Yeah,