However, keeping up with their routine was something Genesis was fiercely objecting to. Genesis had fallen asleep, and the second he wanted to lay her down in her bassinet, she’d wake up fussing and crying and hadn't stopped even after he’d fed and changed her twice more.
Shit, I hope I’m not overfeeding her. Did her crying wake up the entire house?
Fox pressed his lips to her forehead, checking to see if his baby girl had developed a fever for the fourth or fifth time in the past couple of hours. And just like the last time, Genesis’s temperature was perfectly normal.
Fox had checked the internet on the best ways to calm a fussy baby and followed a couple of the suggestions, such as swaddling her in blankets, turning on calming sounds, and holding her in his arms. He was happy that the tips worked until he tried putting her down gently in her bassinet after falling asleep. The second Fox took a step towards the bathroom, Genesis would wake up crying her eyes and heart out.
“What’s wrong, baby girl? I wish you could talk already so you can tell me what’s wrong.”
Emma, who was sitting on the window bench, meowed as if responding for Genesis. Since their first meeting, the cat hadn’t left his side—becoming the companion he hadn’t asked for or knew he needed. Fox realized he talked to Emma a lot more than he did to the other adults in the house.
“What do I do, Emma? She won’t stop crying this time.”
Emma meowed, then hopped off the bench. Strutting over to the door sitting in front of it, she looked back at Fox expectantly.
“So, your answer is to leave me? Fine. Since we’re such a bother, you can go.”
Fox walked over to the door, roughly opening it for Emma, and watched as she dashed out of his suite. Feeling dejected, Fox walked over to the rocking chair sitting by the window, gently rocking Genesis back and forth, finally giving in and allowing his tears to fall.
“I can’t do this.”
If the gods and goddesses are real, why would they do this to me? Give me a second chance and a baby all at once? It’s too much to fucking handle.
Fox rubbed Genesis’s back, trying to soothe her, only to realize he wasn’t doing a good job, which only frustrated him a bit more. He was sure some of his anxiety was bleeding in with Genesis’s emotion, which wasn’t helping the situation.
Fox wasn’t sure how long he sat by the window crying or the fact Genesis had quieted down. The only thing he registered was a gentle hand on his shoulder. Fox raised his head to see Aria standing next to him.
“Mommy, help.” Fox cried, saying the first words that came to him.
“Oh, my baby boy.” Aria kneeled beside him, pulling him and Genesis into a gentle hug. “Of course, I’ll help you. I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”
“But…” Fox’s breath hitched as he calmed down a bit. “I wanted to do everything on my own. I should be able to. I shouldn’t be a burden to you or anyone else.”
“You’re not a burden, Fox.”
“But I should be able to take care of Genesis on my own.”
“Everyone needs help once in a while, my sweet Fox.”
“I get that, but I can’t let you guys keep doing everything for me. She’s my responsibility now.”
“And you aren’t mine?” Aria leaned back, staring at Fox intently.
“I didn’t mean it the way you think.” Fox tried to defend his words.
Aria sighed, cupping his cheeks. “Why are you punishing yourself?”
Fox stared at Aria, wondering if she’d figured out he wasn’t her real son. He wanted to apologize, but for what he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t to blame for what happened. Not for waking up in someone else's body or wanting to care for the child he was growing attached to in such a short time.
“I know you don’t remember carrying her or feeling her movements inside of you, but Genesis is your child.”
He’d seen the pictures of a pregnant Crevan Hannigan. He could feel the man’s joy and eagerness to meet his baby. Fox had also read the man’s journal detailing every aspect of his pregnancy from his morning sickness, doctor’s appointments, and the baby’s first movements. Crevan Hannigan didn’t want to know the sex of his baby and had listed names for both a boy and girl, and it surprised Fox when he saw Genesis was listed as one of the names.
After waking up and finding out he’d delivered a baby, Aria had asked him what he wanted to name her.
“I have a baby?”
Aria smiled. “Yes.” She touched his cheek. “We’ve been waiting for you to wake up so you could give the baby a name.”
