Valiant(68)
“He looks great, guys.” Dr. Harris laughed, grinning widely. “Absolutely healthy. His color is perfect, he’s breathing like a champ, ten fingers and toes, and he’s strong.”
Trisha grinned while Slade absolutely beamed with happiness. He hesitated and then held out his hands. Dr. Harris leaned up and transferred the wiggling baby to Slade. Slade’s large hands cupped the baby gently and he lowered it into Trisha’s waiting arms. They both held the baby together, smiling and staring in wonder at the newborn.
Dr. Harris tore off his gloves, grinned, and high-fived the nurse closest to him. “YES!”
Laughter erupted from all three. Dr. Harris climbed off the mattress and stood. Tammy watched in shock as the doctor bear-hugged both of the nurses who had assisted him. They turned then, watching Trisha and Slade with the baby. All three of them seemed over-the-top happy.
“We have our first healthy New Species baby!” Dr. Harris laughed. “Congratulations, Trisha and Slade. He’s beautiful.”
Slade smiled, grinning at the doctor. “Thank you, Harris.”
The doctor nodded. Trisha suddenly reached up with her free hand, gripped Slade’s hair at the base of his neck, and dragged his face down to hers. She kissed him soundly on the mouth.
“I love you so much, lollypop.”
He laughed as he kissed her again. “I love you too, sweet thing. Our son is a miracle. A gift. Thank you.”
Tammy let their words and actions sink in until it hit her as if she’d been slapped. She gaped at Trisha and Slade, the big New Species man with the sandy-brown, blond-streaked hair. Trisha had just given birth to Slade’s baby.
Tammy’s gaze flew to the baby, realizing he was the first New Species baby. That’s what Dr. Harris said. Trisha had been only five months pregnant. The baby was huge and obviously had been born healthy. Her gaze locked on the tiny features of the baby that she could see from her position in the corner. She realized his little scrunched-up face wasn’t totally human. His nose looked too flat, too wide, and she’d never seen a baby with cheekbones that prominent before. Babies had pudgy, rounded cheeks but this baby different.
Trisha didn’t have a boyfriend somewhere else. Slade was her boyfriend. He always remained with her. Always. They kissed again, laughing. That’s how Trisha knew it was possible for human women to get pregnant by New Species. Tammy pieced it together quickly. Trisha knew because Slade had gotten her pregnant. Not only that, but a baby fathered by a New Species could be born at five months into a pregnancy.
Tammy leaned against the wall, needed the support to stay on her feet, and watched the couple bond as a family. The love between Trisha and Slade, their joy at having a healthy son, made her ache a little. They were incredibly happy and it showed. She bit her lip as her full focus fixed on the baby. She’d always loved holding them when her friends had them and had always wanted to one day become a mother.
I could have that with Valiant if I got pregnant by him. That could be us one day. The thought shocked her.
* * * * *
Valiant couldn’t help but grin when he walked into his bedroom. Tammy sat on the bed with pillows stacked behind her back, watching television, but her gaze met his as he closed the door softly. He’d just returned home to find his new living quarters a mass of activity.
He dropped his bag of clothes on the floor by the door he’d closed. Trisha had given birth to Slade’s child, it had gone well, and security was about to remove them from the suite to relocate the new family to the medical center. He’d seen the baby and it had brought pure joy to his heart.
“He’s perfect. Did you see him?”
She nodded.
She seemed pale to him and he frowned, some of his happiness fleeing. “They said you know the truth. Are you angry with me for not telling you that Slade was the father of Trisha’s child? I wasn’t allowed to share that information. I’m sorry. It wasn’t my secret to tell.”
“It’s not that.”
He paused, needed a shower after running around in the woods, but he wanted to know what was wrong. He approached the bed and stood at the end of it. “You are angry with me for not telling you that Slade was the father.”
“I’m not. Really. I’ve been sitting here doing a lot of thinking. I get why I wasn’t told. I still wouldn’t know who the father of her baby is if she hadn’t gone into labor in our living room, right?”
“I won’t lie to you. No. Probably not.”
“I saw him.”
“Slade? He never leaves Trisha side or if he has to, he doesn’t go far.”
“The baby.” She licked her lips. “He looks just like his father. I mean, it’s hard to tell when they are newborns but he’s got the features.”