“Daddy’s here,” I whispered to his angry little face. “You and your sister are safe. You can stand down now.”
Surprisingly, his cries quieted slightly at my voice. My thumb gently brushed his miniature fist, and to my astonishment, his fingers uncurled and wrapped around it with surprising strength.
“I believe,” Ko said with a knowing smile, “we’re seeing the softest dad alive emerge.”
I couldn’t even muster a denial.
Our son’s grip on my finger tightened, as if sealing a pact between us, and I nodded solemnly back at him.
#
Zane
The world rebooted in jagged pixels. Mouth crusted with vomit, blood smell in my nose, wet tile floor on my cheek.
Worst respawn ever.
I pushed myself up, blinking at the scene before me. Koa was cradling a tiny dark-haired bundle on his shoulder, his expression softer than I’d ever seen it. Casimir, meanwhile, was holding what appeared to be a second baby, red-haired and furious with the world.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Cas deadpanned.
“Did I… Did I miss something important?” I asked cautiously. “Because I coulda sworn we were only expectingonepotato, but there seems to betwoof them now.”
“Your observational skills remain unparalleled.”
“He’s got your temperament,” Ko drawled.
“Andyour hair.” Cas’ nose nuzzled the unmistakable red tufts.
“Surprise,” Ko chuckled. “Apparently our beloved is an overachiever.”
I crawled over to where Seri lay.
“Hey there, champion baby-maker.” I brushed a kiss against her temple. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I just pushed two watermelons through a straw. Go brush your teeth.”
“C’mon, farm girl. You know nothing says ‘supportive husband’ like vomit breath.”
With the ghost of a smirk, I dragged myself up, scrubbed my mouth clean with her toothbrush, and splashed water on my face, feeling marginally more alive. Turning around, I saw Ko now held both little spuds, one on either shoulder, with Seri all but passed out across his torso. Meanwhile, Cas did… medical things… between her legs. I couldn’t really see what he was doing from my angle, and honestly, I was fine with that. I preferred my beloved’s bodily fluids to stay where they belonged. Inside her body.
“Zane, help Ko,” Cas muttered.
“On it. Koala Bear, you want tater duty or Seri detail?”
“Potatoes.”
“They’re ourchildren,notvegetables,” Cas scolded without looking up.
“I’d say they’re more like prunes at the moment,” I offered. “Especially the red one.”
As if to prove my point, our son’s screams rose to an ear-splitting level. The kid had pipes, that was for sure. Glad to leavethatin Alpha Boom’s arms, I eased Seri into mine, cradling her back against my chest as he had. I’d never seen someone so utterly spent, yet somehow radiant.
“Here.” Cas passed me a small glass vial. “Del Vecchio family healing potion. Most effective when taken immediately after birth. Then this won’t need to be sutured.”
Not even asking what thethiswas, I took it, pulled the cork, and helped Seri hold it. To distract her from what I could smell was going to taste like shit, I leaned close to her ear.
“If birth-giving were an Olympic sport, you’d have just swept the medals, sunshine. Ten out of ten for speed. I mean, two babies in under half an hour? That’s got to be some kind of record. And your form was impeccable. The judges would be impressed with your aim, too. Delivered them right into Cas’ hands like a pizza, but better. Just slightly messier than pizza.”
