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.

at us and smiling as she comes into the room. “Are

says, wiping a 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

says, coming close and reaching for the baby, which I gladly hand off to her. ” And,

her on the bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little

confused. “They sleep a lot their first couple of weeks. And then, after that, they find ways to tell you what they

we should trade,” Roger says, looking dubiously

and shake my head. “You can’t take my baby, Ella,” I say, crossing my arms. “Even if Roger is inept,

I didn’t like him,” Roger

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

mean, he honestly probably

Ella coos, leaning forward so that Rafe can meet Jesse face-to-face

delight 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

son with a fascinated and pleased expression. “He

laughing a little as she beams at her own baby. ” He’s your new cousin! And I think you’re going

murmurs.” Because they’re going to be together a lot. It’s going to be very inconvenient if they don’t

smack on the chest. “They will. Besides, shut up, I want

us lean forward as Sinclair sits Rafe on the bed,

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

“What?” Sinclair asks.

Ella says, almost beyond herself, as if

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

Sinclair gently flips Rafe on his back and lays him out on the blankets, and Ella very

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

fingers brush against Jesse’s cheek, and

parents take a

feel it – each and every one of

other for a spilt second and then all of our eyes dart back to our kids, who are still touching,

a little, saying hello to his new cousin, who

her hands going to her mouth for a split second before she reaches down and gathers Jesse back up into her arms.