Cora

Matthew? Roger tries, passing the name down the line to the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait…

But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.”

“All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!”

“Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -”

I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh. “Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.”

“Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.”

“I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.”

“Okay,” he murmurs.

then Roger passes another name down

Because I love it.

And we wait…

Roger and I gasp at the same time as we

Happy!

I say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to him, pulling me

stares at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my

we just named

came up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket

to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something, and

to, eventually, because Roger wouldn’t let me eat all my meals in bed, instead insisting that I come and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook. But the spread of sandwiches and warmed soup and crackers

every day in baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending messages to the baby when he was awake to see what he’d do. And

day as we napped, and went swim and

day, we knew we had to get back – because as much as we like

this again, yes?” Roger murmurs, pulling me close outside the little bungalow after

let him kiss me, let it sweep through me. “Maybe not next week.

nods, giving me another little peck, before looking around. “I really like this place. Maybe the

baby,” I sigh, but then I put a hand on my stomach. “But, considering that this little

considering what the goddess said that

break into a

he nods, eager. “And I’m

” You just make the babies, I’ll grow them, and carry them, and then raise

laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll

I say, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek as he opens my car door for me. “Or, we can just pass them all off on Ella,” I say, giving

luggage into the trunk before crossing

Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four of her own

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