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.

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

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

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

beneath her on the bed and Sinclair pulls a chair up to the bedside, completing our little group of six.

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 you what

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

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

didn’t say I didn’t like him,” Roger

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

he

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 hands

looking down at his son with a fascinated and pleased expression. “He really does want to go to

says, laughing a little as she beams at her own baby. ” He’s your new cousin! And

be together a lot. It’s going to be very inconvenient if they don’t like

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

sits Rafe on the bed, letting him

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

“What?” Sinclair asks.

almost beyond herself, as if she’s speaking from instinct.

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

and lays him out on the blankets, and Ella very gently, very tentatively places Jesse

he stares at

fingers brush against Jesse’s cheek, and Jesse’s

us parents take a sharp intake of

it – each and

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

new cousin, who just sighs and closes his

a split second before she