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.

of new parents,” she says, shaking her head at us and smiling as she comes

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, starting to blink awake

reaching for the baby, which I gladly hand off

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

around at us sleepily, a little confused. “They sleep a lot their first couple of weeks. And

should trade,” Roger says, looking dubiously between Rafe

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

like him,” Roger

eyes turn to him as his

I mean, he

forward so that Rafe can

face very curious. Rafe lets out another little squeak, more demanding this time, and reaches out his hands

murmurs, looking down at his son with a fascinated

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

better be,” Roger murmurs.” Because they’re going to be together a lot. It’s going to be very inconvenient if

giving him a light smack on the chest. “They

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

her voice a little awed, “next to each

“What?” Sinclair asks.

as if she’s

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

so Sinclair gently flips Rafe on his back and lays him out on the blankets, and Ella very gently, very tentatively places Jesse next to him, close enough for Rafe to

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

against Jesse’s

four of us parents take a sharp intake of

– each and every

other for a spilt second and then all of our eyes dart back to our kids, who are still touching, just barely, skin

hello to his new cousin, who

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

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