Accidental Surrogate

“So you’re all right? You’re both all right?” My mate asks, pressing his forehead to mine, still reeling from the strange news of the Dark God’s gift.

“We are,” I say, nodding, sure of it. And then I shift again, passing the baby to him. “See for yourself, new papa,” I sigh, placing the little girl in her father’s arms.

On Sinclair’s face, and through our bond, I see his heart absolutely melt. ” Oh god,” he sighs, shaking his head as he stares down at his little girl. “I’m a gonner, Ella. This one she’s already got me in the palm of her hands, even as I hold her in mine.”

“Don’t worry,” I sigh, curling up next to him, indulging in the sight of my mate the one I love most in the world falling in love with our tiny daughter, as I’ve already done. “I won’t tell her the power she wields.”

“It will be our secret,” he says with a nod and a little smirk on his lips. We’re quiet for a moment, studying her, when suddenly I realize that she doesn’t have a name.

“What do you think?” I ask quietly, resting my head on his shoulder. “Is she an Emma? Or an Eloise?”

My mate’s smile deepens as he looks up at me, and I already know his answer before he says it, because it’s precisely the same as mine.

Those names are great – but they’re not hers.

“Nah,” Sinclair says, grinning at me before turning back to his little girl. ” She’s totally, completely an Ariel.”

“I know,” I sigh, tracing a finger down her cheek. “Welcome to the world, Ariel Sinclair. You are already so, so loved.”

And Ariel stretches her mouth in a wide yawn before snuggling down in her father’s arms, happy and content. Sinclair and I both laugh to see it, and I know that his heart, like mine, is so very full. I pass my joy and love down the bond to both of them, and am totally thrilled when Ariel gives a little tentative pulse of love back as she gets used to her new surroundings.

The next hour or so is busier than I’d like, with the doctors returning to the room so that I can finish the after- business of labor and ensure that our sweet Ariel is healthy and happy. But even as I feed her for the first time, and deliver the placenta, and take a shower, and am completely exhausted through it all, I can’t stop smiling and turning towards Ariel in the room, eager to keep my eyes on her.

My baby – my little girl. I’m so filled with excitement that she’s here, that she’s mine. God – her whole life is out there in front of her, and I just can’t wait to see her live it.

Once the doctors have given us the final okay – at least for now, the nurses, of course, will be on hand all night in case we need help with anything – we settle in together as a family. Roger comes into the room with a tearful Rafe on his hip as Cora finishes bundling Ariel into a swaddle and hands her off to Sinclair. Henry wheels into the room after Roger with a sleeping Jesse in his lap, looking excitedly for his first granddaughter as he closes the door behind him.

“Mama!” Rafe shouts, his voice so terribly sad it breaks my heart.

taking my eldest baby up into my arms. “It’s all

smiling at me and giving me a little hug as Rafe rests his head against my chest. Henry and Cora come

shaking my head. He really is my little Velcro baby pretty much always with me. But, then again, it’s not entirely his fault I’m could be accused of being

know if I mind that. I just… like being

little guy,” I murmur, stroking Rafe’s sweet head and turning to where Sinclair walks over

a little cry and reaches a hand out to Sinclair, wanting him close

Rafe’s hand, leaning over to kiss it. ” But we were busy! Mom was doing all

the baby, and Rafe

gives a little cry of disgust and turns his head away, pressing his eyes shut and gripping my robe tight in his fists, not

him over to our freshly-made bed, the rubbered sheets and soiled linens thankfully already changed. I sigh a little with gratitude, thinking that it’s

he peers at his father, clearly allowing his curiosity about his baby sister win out over his jealousy. Sinclair sinks down on his side of the bed and moves so

lap so that he can see into Sinclair’s arms more completely. Rafe turns his

hear Cora gasp. I grin when I see her pressing her hand to her chest, her eyes squeezed nearly shut with

I laugh and nod eagerly, turning back to

little Rafey?” I murmur, rubbing his back while he

burbles something to Ariel, which makes me smile, but the moment his fingers press against her cheek

feel it too?” I breathe,

our heads back to Rafe, who smiles at his sister for the first time. Ariel squirms a little in her swaddle,

what is it?” Cora

turning to her and grinning, “just like with Rafe and

and looking down into

babies. “What do

the dark, brother,” Sinclair murmurs, peering curiously at Jesse now.

my fresh new baby. “Is it enough to be born and then get a new bond

asks, his voice dry. “She’s going