“Say hello to your daughter, boys. She’s a beauty,” the doctor said as he placed her on Max’s stomach. He handed me a pair of scissors, showing me where to cut the cord between the two clamps which had been placed there. Cutting through the umbilical cord was tougher than I had expected. It was like trying to cut through rubber, but I did it.
My omega had the biggest smile on his face, looking the happiest I’d ever seen him. Seeing him lay there with our daughter in his arms, looking exhausted, he’d never looked more handsome to me. He was amazing.
I looked at my daughter, her little face all scrunched together as her lips pursed. She was beautiful. Soon, the nurse took her to the isolette to clean her up and do her post-birth checks. Our daughter was given a green light and was soon back in Max’s arms where she belonged. I couldn’t take my eyes off either one.
The day was a little bittersweet as I wished both Grant and Craig had been here to see our daughter born. I knew they’d both love her as much as I did. Forcing away all the grief which still hit me at times, I leaned in to kiss Max’s temple.
“You did good, my omega. She’s beautiful.”
“She is, isn’t she?”
“Does she have a name yet?” the doctor asked, finishing up his work with the placenta.
“She does. Her name is Keegan Marie Knowles.”
“Sounds like a winner to me. The nurse will get you settled with your daughter’s paperwork so you can fill that all out. She’ll get you all settled so you can try feeding Keegan. Don’t be too worried if Keegan doesn’t seem hungry. Not all babies are when first born. Congratulations. I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Max said without taking his eyes from Keegan. I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t look away either.
“You did good, Max. So good. I’m proud of you,” I told my omega.
“I must look like a hot mess right now.”
“You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right now.” I swallowed as emotion choked me up. “I love you, Max. More than I could ever fully express. Thank you for barging into my life.”
“I’d do it all over again, you grumpy alpha. I love you, too.”
I never thought I’d be willing to try living again, but life with Max had pulled me out of my grief. It wasn’t completely gone, but I was able to tuck it away so it didn’t overwhelm me as it had before I met Max. My omega had steamrolled his way into my life, and I was grateful for that each and every day.
Epilogue
Max
It was Christmas. Unlike last year, Pierce’s house was decorated to the extreme. I might have gone a little overboard since it was Keegan’s first Christmas. This year, Pierce got up on the ladder to hang the lights on the roof. He about gave me a heart attack, but he successfully hung the strands so it looked like we had icicles hanging from the eaves, flashing white lights which looked spectacular at night.
On the tree were ornaments Pierce had collected with Grant. He’d admitted to feeling nervous about how I’d feel putting them out. It had been the easiest decision I’d made this year. I wanted Pierce to remember Grant and Craig. I wasn’t going to let him hide the fact he’d had a life before we met. I knew he still loved them both, but I also knew he loved me and Keegan just as much. I wasn’t in competition with Grant. In some ways, I grieved the fact I’d never gotten to meet the man. He’d been a huge part of Pierce’s life. He’d helped shape the man I married. I’d be forever grateful to Grant for loving Pierce.
“The tree’s beautiful, Max.” I turned as Pierce stepped up behind me with Keegan in his arms.
“I thought you were putting her down for her nap?”
“She wanted to stay up a little longer. What can I say? I’m willing to grant her every wish.” Pierce shrugged his shoulders, smiling as he looked down at our daughter who was having a difficult time keeping her eyes open.
“I think it’s more like Daddy didn’t want to put her down for a nap. I think she has you wrapped around her fingers already.”
“Yep, she sure does.” My alpha leaned in to give me a quick kiss before holding Keegan up to look at the tree, pointing out one of the ornament’s Craig had made before his death. It choked me up, listening to Pierce as he told Keegan all about her big brother.
Wiping the tears away, I pulled out the special ornaments I’d had made for our tree this year. “I think the tree is missing something,” I said as I hung two picture ornaments on the tree, right in the middle where they could be seen. Tears welled in my alpha’s eyes as he looked at the ornaments. One displayed a picture of Craig taken his last Christmas. In the other, a picture of Grant taken that same Christmas sat next the first ornament.
“Max… Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me. That you’re okay with me remembering…” Pierce trailed off, too overcome for words.
“I don’t want you to ever forget them. Besides, our daughter needs to know what her special guardian angels look like when you tell her all the stories about them.”
“Thank you, Max. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Luckily, I don’t plan to let you find out,” I said with a smile.
This year was special. It was our daughter’s first of many firsts. Life with Pierce was amazing and it only got better with each day we were together. I was the
