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.

head at us and smiling as she comes

“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 to blink

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

I can 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 six.

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 weeks. And then, after that, they find ways to tell

says, looking dubiously

looks at 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 is

him,” Roger murmurs,

turn to him as his

I mean, he honestly probably

Ella coos, leaning forward so that Rafe

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

murmurs, looking down at his son with a fascinated and pleased expression. “He really

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

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

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

the bed, letting

says softly, her voice

“What?” Sinclair asks.

almost beyond herself, as if she’s speaking

just shrug, fine with it if Ella is. I don’t

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

usually rambunctious Rafe stays very, very still for a moment as he stares at his

they touch, when Rafe’s fingers brush against Jesse’s cheek, and Jesse’s

parents take a sharp intake of

– each and every one of

then all of our eyes dart

new cousin, who just sighs and closes his

says, her hands going to her mouth for a split second before she reaches down and gathers Jesse back