Accidental Surrogate

“He’s amazing,” Roger says, beaming as he raises his head look at me in wonder. “I didn’t – damn it, Cora, I didn’t know I could love someone this much -” “What about me!?” “Someone besides you,” Roger says, rolling his eyes. “You’re my mate, Cora, obviously that’s different.” “Damn well better be,” I murmur, bending over the baby and stroking the skin of his perfect, tiny face with the tip of my finger. Roger leans close, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you,” he says, his voice so quiet I barely hear him. “You’re amazing Cora. I’m so grateful for you, and for him, and everything you did to bring him into this world.” I smile as I raise my eyes to my mate’s and then I kiss him for real, passing all of those sentiments back down the bond. Because this little baby – he really is both of ours, equal parts of both of us, the perfect embodiment of everything we mean to each other.

And quite suddenly, he’s our entire world.

“So, what do you think,” I say a moment later when I break the kiss, looking back down at the baby. “Does the name still fit?” “Yeah, I think the name still fits,” Roger says, his lips turning up in a smile as he looks the baby over. “I think it’s perfect.” “All right,” I say, beaming down at our kid. “Then welcome, to the world, little J-” But then, the door opens, and I see Ella peeking in.

“I gave you a full five minutes,” she squeaks. “But I don’t think I can bear it any longer-” I laugh, reaching out a hand towards her. “Come in!” When the door opens, I see Sinclair and Henry peering curiously behind her, both eager to set their eyes on the baby. Only Rafe isn’t excited, but he has an excuse because he’s curled sleeping in Sinclair’s arms. My smile widens as the my family starts to troop in.

“Let them hold the baby!” “I would,” Roger says, looking over at his family with a big smile. “But I’m afraid to move. I don’t want to drop him.” I laugh, reaching to take the baby from Roger and then turning to place him in Ella’s waiting arms, which are practically vibrating with their eagerness to hold her

his chest. “You didn’t think my baby would be cute!?” Ella laughs, shaking her head and not bothering to look at my mate. “No, not like that, Roger, don’t be ridiculous – I just – I expected him to be dark, like Rafe – like you and Dominic -” she grins, studying her nephew. “But his hair is lighter,” she murmurs, running her fingertips over his soft fuzz of hair, “like Cora’s. It’s beautiful.” I beam as I watch my sister fall in love with her nephew, as I watch Sinclair look over her shoulder at him

another sudden squeak as her hand again goes to her mouth. “Oh my god,” she murmurs, pressing her eyes shut against her sudden tears, ” it’s so perfect – oh, I can’t handle it, Dominic, you have to take him -” Sinclair moves fast now, passing the sleeping Rafe to a laughing Henry and then reaching for Jesse, taking my tiny baby into the crook of his gigantic arm and beaming down at the newest member of the Sinclair tribe as Ella wipes at her tears with

at Jesse and running a broad

his grandson. And Sinclair smiles, waiting patiently as Ella darts over

in his arms once Sinclair passes him over. “Don’t worry, I’ll send you back to your mother soon I know she’s the one you want. I just want to get a good look at you. Do you know who I am? Grandpa?” Henry smiles and lowers his face to kiss the baby’s head. ” I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you, little Jesse,” he murmurs. “We’re all very glad you’re here.” The next few minutes pass in a haze of happiness with everyone marveling at the newest, freshest member of our family, each of us

face as he starts