Alive and Kicking Luca #2
Finn, smiling softly, cradles the squirming, fresh-grass-scented baby for a moment before placing her gently on Nix’s chest. He holds out the surgical scissors, offering them to Rowan, who shakes his head. Without a word, Rowan nods toward Jay, silently passing the honor to their Pack Alpha.
Jay reaches for them, but his vision is too blurred by tears to see properly.
With a soft smile, Gideon guides Jay’s hand as they cut the cord together. Their usually unshakable leader is a mess of emotion, his lips pressing a reverent kiss to Nix’s raised knee.
Luca finally leans in for his first close look at his daughter, and the sight almost knocks him sideways.
She’s beautiful, impossibly so, her tiny face free of marks or blood.
She’s crying furiously, her scrunched-up features radiating pure indignation at being thrust into the cold, hard world—Luca can relate.
But the moment Nix presses his lips to her forehead, she softens, her cries fading as she sucks her fingers into her mouth.
“Rowan?” Nix asks, his voice soft but edged with concern.
Rowan’s frown deepens, his aura flickering as if the Wolf is fighting to take over.
But he holds steady, the tension in his frame easing when the Wolf finally relents.
A smile breaks across his face, and he reaches out, running a big fingertip gently over his daughter’s cheek.
“She’s beautiful, Nixie. Looks just like you. ”
Her fiery red-gold hair would say otherwise, but Nix’s lips curve into a tired grin. “Yeah? But she sounds just like you.” His grin falters, turning into a grimace. “Oh…uh…guys? I think…”
“Now?” Finn asks, already stepping in to take Marigold. He cradles the tiny baby for a moment before offering her to her birth father.
Rowan wastes no time pulling off his shirt, tears spilling freely as he takes Marigold into his arms. He holds her close, her tiny body pressed against his chest as if this were his hundredth baby rather than just his second.
His voice trembles, thick with emotion, as he whispers, “Hello, Marigold. I’m your Dad. ”
Not long after, Finn gently lays Rose Frances Pearce on Nix’s chest, tucking the white blanket adorned with tiny pink roses over both of them.
She’s smaller than Marigold, her scent delicate and floral, like orchids.
Her hair is pitch-black and wavy, her elegant nose offset with perfect rosebud lips.
Beautiful and messy, she’s already fast asleep, her tiny face serene despite the whirlwind of activity around her.
She’d let out a brief protest when Finn cleared her nose, but nowhere near the level of indignation her sister had shown moments earlier. This time, it’s Grayson who steps forward to carefully cut her umbilical cord, his hand confident.
Grayson hesitates for just a moment, his glowing fingers brushing lightly over Rosie’s cheek. The faint pink shimmer of his magic flares, wrapping her in warmth as if it recognizes her already.
Luca wonders if anyone else sees the tiniest golden glow in response.
“She’s so tiny,” Grayson whispers, awe threading through his voice. Then, with a soft smile, he leans in and presses a kiss to her forehead. “She’s beautiful, Angel. Thank you.”
Once Finn has moved on to dealing with the aftermath of their thirty-eight weeks in utero, Leo grins and holds up two small cards. They’re handwritten, neatly prepared by Finn weeks ago, and tucked into the birth kit for just this moment.
“12:05 AM on July first,” Leo announces, showing the times he’d carefully recorded for both babies. “They’re eight minutes apart—on different days!”
Two sisters, two birthdays, and a family forever changed.
Luca takes the little gray card with the tiny mouse in the corner: Marigold is just 6.1 pounds but long, at 22 inches. Her sister’s card, decorated with a shimmery pink butterfly, shows she’s even smaller, at 5 pounds and 20 inches.
“You were incredible, Nix,” Finn says, his tone full of quiet admiration.
Luca figures if anyone would know, it’s him—this isn’t his first baby rodeo.
Finn nods slightly, and Luca realizes they’re having one of those silent, mental conversations again.
“No, you’re beautiful—ha, even with all that—don’t even think about it…
six weeks, Nix Rhodes. I told you this already,” Finn says suddenly, clearly shutting down whatever ridiculous idea Nix had just floated.
He squints his eyes until he looks constipated, a sure sign he’s trying to send something back along their bond.
Nix gasps softly, his voice quivering as he murmurs, “Love you, too.”
“Baby, maybe we can get you and the babies into bed?” Jay suggests, his eyes full of longing and concern. He looks like he’s barely holding himself back from sweeping Nix up then and there.
Luca silently agrees with the idea; he feels the last three hours in every muscle of his body.
“Luca might need a break, too,” Gideon adds.
“Luc! Oh, sh—eet. I’m so sorry.” Nix fumbles, looking between the babies and Luca before calling out, “Gray? Rowan? Can you?” He hands the babies off, and Jay doesn’t waste a second, scooping Nix into his arms.
“Oh no…the bed is wrecked,” Nix admits with a wince, and Luca knows exactly what he means. Plastic mattress covers only go so far, and the sheets are a lost cause.
“What about a shower? You and Luc could get clean while I fix the bed,” Jay offers.
“Yeah, okay,” Nix agrees. “But then, can we go to the nest? I want Mari and Rosie in our bed.”
With the plan settled, Luca barely has a moment to register Gideon’s arms sliding around him before he’s lifted. The familiar scent of sweet summer rain fills his nose as he presses his face into Gideon’s neck.
“I’m proud of you, Honey,” Gideon says, his voice warm.
“My baby did all the baby-work,” Luca mumbles, his words soft against Gideon’s skin. “He was amazing.”
“You were there for him. I know how afraid you were, and you didn’t let that stop you.”
A small smile tugs at Luca’s lips, and without thinking, he sucks gently at the skin beneath his mouth. “Mmmm.”
The sound of running water pulls his attention, and he opens his eyes to see Jay setting Nix carefully on the bench inside the shower.
“Oh, Sugar. You didn’t,” Luca manages between chuckles
“Luca? What’s so funny?” Nix asks, blinking at him in confusion.
Luca points to the back of Jay’s shirt, grinning so wide it almost hurts.
Jay freezes, frowning before his eyes flutter shut in defeat. “I should’ve known you were up to something, Love,” he mutters, clearly dreading the answer.
And there it is, bold and shameless across the back of his t-shirt: Call Me Big Daddy.