The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

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 into the room. “Are

supposed to like…do with him?” he asks, gesturing to the baby as Sinclair comes

to love him,” Ella says, coming close and reaching for the baby, which I gladly hand

do,” Roger sighs as Ella folds her legs beneath her on the bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little group of

hard,” Sinclair says kindly, smiling down at Rafe who yawns and looks around at us sleepily, a little confused. “They sleep a lot their first couple of weeks. And then,

we should trade,” Roger says, looking dubiously between Rafe and Jesse.

me like she’s considering the idea but I just laugh and shake my head. “You can’t take my baby, Ella,” I say, crossing my arms. “Even if Roger

I didn’t like him,” Roger murmurs, sighing and leaning

out a surprised little screech all of a sudden and all of our eyes turn to him as his own gaze fastens

I mean, he

forward so that Rafe can meet Jesse face-to-face for

my sweet nephew really does lean forward to see Jesse, his face very

looking down at his son with a fascinated and pleased

little as she beams at her own baby. ”

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

scold, giving him a light smack on the chest. “They will. Besides, shut up, I want

Rafe on the bed, letting him lean forward and continue to reach for

her voice

“What?” Sinclair asks.

herself, as if

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

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

rambunctious Rafe stays very, very still for a moment as he stares at his cousin. And then he begins to turn, and almost

fingers brush against Jesse’s cheek, and Jesse’s little eyes flutter

us parents take a sharp

it – each and every one

for a spilt second and then all of our eyes dart back to

to his new cousin, who just

says, her hands going to her mouth for a split second before she