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.

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

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,

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

Roger sighs as Ella folds her legs beneath her on the bed and Sinclair pulls

sleepily, a little confused. “They sleep a lot their first couple of weeks. And then, after that, they

looking dubiously between Rafe

me like she’s 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

say I didn’t like him,” Roger

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

he honestly probably

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

lean forward to see Jesse, his face very curious. Rafe

my god,” Sinclair murmurs, looking down at his son with a fascinated and pleased

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

they’re going to be together a lot.

light smack on the chest. “They will.

on the

says softly, her voice a little awed,

“What?” Sinclair asks.

Ella says, almost beyond herself, as if she’s

Roger and I just shrug, fine with it if Ella is. I

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

as he stares at his cousin. And then he begins

when Rafe’s fingers brush against Jesse’s cheek, and Jesse’s

us parents take a sharp intake of

we all feel it – each and every

then all of our eyes dart back

to his new cousin,

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

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