Accidental Surrogate

Ella

The morning of the moon ceremony finds me, unsurprisingly, in the kitchen. Eating.

Rafe is with me this time, giggling happily as I dance happily around the room with him, singing about how delicious carrots are as I pour some baby carrots out from their bag onto a plate and begin to munch on them..

–

I’m just getting to the part of the song – which I’m making up as I go along about how they’re good for your vision and help you make friends with rabbits when I hear an odd, familiar sound out in the hall.

I gasp, spinning towards the door as the mechanical hum grows louder, and I’m nearly run over when Henry wheels into the room.

“Henry!” I gasp, tears instantly lining my eyes, stumbling in my hurry to hug him close, almost falling into his lap.

“Steady, girl!” Henry laughs, putting out his hands to catch me and help me find my feet, laughing a little. He beams up at me and I’m laughing too, shaking my head at myself as I lean down to give him a proper hug and then a kiss on both cheeks.

“We missed you so much!” I gush, my heart in my throat as I pull away. “I’m so glad you’re home and in time! A miracle!”

“Certainly took some doing,” he says, raising his eyebrows at me. “I rode in a cargo plane to get here – this little man had better impress.” He shifts his gaze, then, to the baby in my arms.

“Oh!” I say, standing up straight and remembering my manners. “Henry, may I please have the pleasure of introducing you to your grandchild?”

“Nothing would give me more joy,” he replies, his own eyes wet now.

arms for the first time, trying hard no to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment. “This

Henry says, looking up at me, touched, and then down at the baby. “He’s a beauty, Ella. Wonderful.” He shakes his head, staring at my son. Though I’m overwhelmed by the

towards the door, smiling

1. it.

raising one arm towards his son, the baby still held in the other. Sinclair bends down low to give his father a long, warm hug and I bite my lip to see it. Sinclair never admitted it, but he worried about his father, and missed him. He’s

filled with happy noise for the next few minutes as

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laugh after a minute, raising my hands and calling for silence.

room, take

carrying a silver tray heaped with coffee and food. My stomach rumbles as I look down at it all and I roll my eyes

says fondly, looking down at his

room.

on the coffee table and sitting close

if it’s all the same

see the bond forming between them already.

at my mate. “You, too, were a little bowling ball

sorts of details that Sinclair wouldn’t know. “Do you have pictures?” I ask, curious. Henry nods eagerly and promises to show them to me next time I’m over. We spend a pleasant half hour catching up, with Henry telling us all about the harrows of his travel back to us, how much he wanted to get here in

I gasp,

Henry says, looking between us. “It wasn’t a secret, was it?”

says, smiling at me. “I didn’t want you to be disappointed if they couldn’t

filling with tears again at the thought of seeing my friends. “Thank

murmurs “of course” and kisses my hair, but I also see him glance at the door. He’s torn, I know, between wanting to spend time with his dad and the

nudge and a smile. “We’re perfectly

glancing at me first and

waving his hand at his son. Then he smiles and pats the arm chair next to him. “You come sit by