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.

heard the hysteria of new parents,” she says, shaking her head at us and smiling as she comes into the room. “Are

tear of mirth from his eyes. “What are we supposed to like…do with him?” he asks, gesturing to the baby as Sinclair comes in after Ella, shutting the door and grinning at us. Rafe fusses, starting

coming close and reaching for the baby, which I gladly hand off to

the bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside,

not so 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

looking dubiously between Rafe and Jesse.

grins suddenly and looks at me like she’s considering the idea but I just laugh and shake my head. “You can’t take my baby,

like him,” Roger murmurs, sighing

and all of our eyes turn to him as his own gaze fastens on his cousin,

mean, he honestly

you want to see the baby, Rafe?” Ella coos, leaning forward so that Rafe can meet Jesse face-to-face

when my sweet nephew really does lean forward to see Jesse, his face very curious. Rafe lets out another little squeak, more demanding this time, and reaches out his

my god,” Sinclair murmurs, looking down at his son with a fascinated

laughing a little as she beams at her own baby. ” He’s your new

going to be together a lot. It’s going to be very inconvenient if they

scold, giving him a light smack on the chest. “They will.

the two of us lean forward as Sinclair sits Rafe on the bed, letting him

Ella says softly, her voice a little awed, “next to

“What?” Sinclair asks.

as if she’s speaking

with it if Ella is. I don’t see Roger’s response, but I don’t hear a protest,

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

stays very, very still for a moment as he stares at his cousin. And then he begins to

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

four of us parents take

feel it – each and every

spilt second and then all of our eyes dart

a little, saying hello to his new cousin,

mouth for a split second before she reaches down and gathers