The doctor was a kind older woman. She shook both of our hands before sitting down with mycharts.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you, Virgil, for what you’ve done for us,” she said. “Without you, none of this would bepossible.”
He blushed slightly. He was pale, so the pink on his cheeks stood out like a sore thumb. I tried not to laugh at him. “You’re quite welcome,”hesaid.
“Now, Hector, I’ll go over what to expect,” shecontinued.
She explained the procedure, even though we’d heard it a couple times before. Virgil held my hand firmly throughout the whole thing. If he wasn’t here with me, I’d probably be having a big anxietyattack.
When she was finished, she asked, “Are youready?”
I took in a shakybreath. “Yes.”
She smiled comfortingly. “Then let’sbegin.”
* * *
Iawoke groggy,tired and confused. I groaned at the sudden bright lights above me and lifted my arm toblockit.
“Virgil…?” Imumbled.
“Right here, my love,” he said instantly, taking my hand. I blinked a few times until he came properly into view. He was smiling so brightly that he almost outshone the lights. The expression on his face was the happiest I’deverseen.
Then Irememberedwhy.
I almost shot up in my hospital bed, frantically looking around. “My baby! Where’smybaby?”
Virgil stroked my hair back. “Coming out soon, honey. Give the nurses a moment. They’re making sure the baby ishealthy.”
“Is there something wrong?” I askednervously.
“Not at all,” the doctor said with a smile. “Everything went perfectly. You’ll see your baby in just a second. Beautiful, bytheway.”
My heart raced. I wanted mybabynow!
Then the door opened, revealing a nurse and a tiny bundle. It felt like my heart was going to leap into my throat. I whimpered, wanting to stretch outmyarms.
“Here he is,” the nurse said gently, handing me my baby. “It’saboy.”
“A boy…” I gasped. “Oh, Virgil, lookathim.”
He was small but strong, with dark hair and pale skin likeVirgil.
“He is so beautiful,” my mate murmured. He gently touched the top of his hair. As his dad pet him, our baby opened his eyes. I gasped. They were the brightest blue I’d ever seen. He seemed to look straight at us before closing his eyes again and grumbling in his tinyvoice.
“Bright blue,” Virgil murmured, “just like a blue jay.” He smiled. “A Corvae,indeed.”
“You think he’s a blue jay shifter?” I asked with asoftgasp.
Virgil nodded. “I almostguaranteeit.”
I gazed down lovingly at our baby. “Then I know what I want tonamehim.”
Virgil smiled. He must have been thinking the same thing Iwas. “Yes.”
I kissed my baby’s forehead, loving the sweet, powdery way he smelled. “Welcome to the world, mylittleJay.”
* * *
