Chapter 22 #2
“Thank the gods,” he said, resting his forehead on her shoulder. Then his head popped up. “Him? It’s a boy?” he asked.
“It’s a little boy,” Tempest said, pulling the baby away from her chest so Brandt could look down at him. “And he’s perfect.”
“Yes, he is,” Brandt said, his voice cracking. Now that he knew she was going to be alright, he could appreciate the miracle that was their son. “He’s got your eyes,” Brandt said.
“He does. And he’s got a head full of your dark hair. And look,” she said, loosening the blanket swaddling him so Brandt could better see him, “he’s got a silver streak in the back. That’s my grandfather’s blood making an appearance, and it makes me really happy.”
Brandt laughed. “Me, too. He’ll be a warrior.”
“He will! And look at him. He’s already got a hint of a little tiny jawline. Like a little bitty grownup already. I think he’s going to have your jawline.”
Tempest completely unwrapped him, and laid him across her lap. “Ten fingers, ten toes. All his parts and pieces are in the right places,” she said as he gripped onto her pinkie finger. “He’s so strong.”
“Can I try?” Brandt asked.
“Of course,” Tempest said, gently pulling her finger free of their son’s grip.
Brandt held his pinkie finger against the baby’s hand and he immediately grabbed hold. Brandt laughed. “He’s got a grip!” Brandt said.
“You want to hold him?” Tempest asked.
“Should I?” Brandt asked.
“I hope so. He’s your son,” Tempest said.
“No, I meant, yes I want to, but should I? Doesn’t he need you to hold him?” Brandt asked.
“You can hold him,” Tempest said.
Brandt nodded, his eyes sparkling as he tried his best to rewrap him, then picked him up with more caution than he’d ever used for anything.
He settled him in the crook of one arm and finished tucking the baby blanket in around him.
“He’s perfect, Tempest,” Brandt said, blinking away the tears. “I can’t believe we did this!”
Tempest laughed softly. “Me, either. But we did. And now, we have to name him.”
“Maybe we should have found out if he was a boy or a girl before and we could have had a few names picked out.”
“Well, look at him. Close your eyes, what name comes to mind?” Tempest asked.
“Have you done that?” Brandt asked.
“I have.”
“And?”
“And I want you to tell me what you feel when you do the same.”
Brandt looked closely at his son, gently stroking his face with a fingertip. The baby opened his eyes and looked right at him. “You look like an Eli to me,” Brandt said.
Tempest smiled. “Elijah. Elijah Brandt Marchande’,” Tempest said.
“I like it. It feels right,” Brandt said.
Tempest had closed her eyes, but she smiled. “Mmhmm.”
“Baby, are you sure you’re alright? Should you see a doctor?” Brandt asked.
“I’m fine. Just really want to sleep. I’m sure Momma did something to make me want to sleep so my body can recover.”
“Did she heal you?” Brandt asked.
“Yes. But it’s still traumatic. Just a little rest, I’ll be fine.”
“Can I take him out and introduce him?”
She opened her eyes and looked at Brandt. “He’s your son, too. You don’t have to ask.”
“I know nothing about babies. I didn’t know if I can do that or not. He’s so little.”
“You can.”
“I’ll be right back to check on you again,” Brandt said.
“Take your time, I want to sleep,” Tempest said, her eyes drifting closed again.
Brandt held Elijah close in one arm as he tugged the comforter up to tuck Tempest in. “I love you so much. You are my world. Thank you for our son,” he whispered.
Tempest smiled, though she didn’t open her eyes.
Brandt gently rubbed the back of his hand against her cheek, then quietly left the room.
He proudly stepped into the living room, holding Elijah in his arms.
“Oh, my gosh!” Janie exclaimed.
“Everybody, meet Elijah Brandt Marchande’.”
They all started moving in for their chance to see the baby.
“You know what?” Avaleigh said, “Why don’t you sit and everyone else can sit beside you or look over your shoulder.”
“That’s a great idea,” Bane said.
Brandt nodded, while smiling down at his son, who’d somehow managed to pull a hand free and start sucking his thumb. Brandt chuckled as he took a seat on the end of the sofa, and adjusted his hold on Elijah so everyone could see him. “He’s already hungry.”
Janie started to sit beside Brandt, then stopped and looked at Lily. “Sit beside Brandt so you can get a good look.”
“You are so nice,” Lily said. “But you sit beside him. I insist.”
Janie started to object, but Lily shook her head. “You forget. I delivered him. I had a few moments to say hello.”
Janie nodded, smiling gratefully. She sat beside Brandt and Bane sat beside her.
She oohed and ahhd over Elijah while everyone got their chance to see him and as they all surrounded him to hold his little hand and ask how Tempest was.
Once everyone had had a chance, Brandt looked at his mother with a grin.
“What?” she asked.
“Want to hold him?” he asked.
Her eyes flew wide, and she clasped her hands together at her throat. “Really?”
“Of course,” Brandt said. With an exaggeratedly slow motion, Brandt turned his body toward his mother and placed Elijah in her arms.
Janie did her best not to cry, but of course, there were tears. “He’s so beautiful,” she murmured, watching the little boy suck on his thumb.
“Hello, Elijah. I’m…” she looked at Brandt. “Who am I?”
“Nana,” Brandt said.
“I’m your Nana,” Janie said. “I can’t stop crying.”
“Mom?” Lily said.
Carolena, who was crying herself, looked over at Lily. “Would you like to hold him, next?”
“Oh, I don’t have to,” Carolena said.
“Of course, you do!” Janie said. “In fact, come sit right here and you can hold him now.”
“Are you sure?” Carolena asked.
“Very,” Janie said, easily standing with Elijah in her arms.
Janie placed Elijah in Bane’s arms, and while he looked down at the baby, Carolena took Janie’s place.
“I didn’t know it would be like this,” Bane said, his voice scratchy.
“I had no clue,” Brandt exclaimed.
“I can’t tell if it hurts, or if it’s just so much love,” Bane said.
“Right?” Brandt said.
“It’s both. Unfortunately, you don’t get one without the other,” Carolena said.
“No truer words,” Bane said. He smiled at Carolena, then carefully handed Elijah over.
“Our first great grandchild,” Carolena said, smiling up at Carnage.
“Oh, let me show you,” Brandt said. He moved the blanket away from Elijah’s head and gently turned him in Carolena’s arms. “Look,” he said to Carnage.
Carnage leaned in closer to better see, then his mouth opened in surprise and he laughed. “Like Boon!”
“Tempest said that’s your bloodline.”
Carnage nodded and pressed his lips together to keep his emotions under control. It meant the world to him that the baby had something to indicate that he carried Carnage’s blood.
“’Arnge hold ‘Liij?” Carnage asked hesitantly. He knew most people were afraid of him.
“Yes,” Brandt said. He stood up and gave Carnage his seat.
Carolena carefully handed the baby to Carnage, who cradled the child so naturally.
Carnage started a rumble in his chest, that he kept going while he hummed an ancient tune that only Carolena, Lily, Tempest, and Boon had ever heard before.
It took about a minute for Elijah to open his eyes and blink a few times, focusing directly on the source of the sound.
Carnage grinned at Elijah.
Elijah popped the thumb out of his mouth and reached toward Carnage.
Carnage pressed a kiss to his tiny palm.
Elijah flashed a grin, or he had gas, but Carnage would never admit that, and closed his eyes again.
“His eyes are like your’s Carrik,” Lily said. “That bright green with flecks of gold.”
Carrik smiled. “I’m so proud of him. Just like when we first had Tempest.” His smile fell. “Do you think…”
Lily raised her brows. “I hadn’t even considered it,” she said with a laugh.
“Considered what?” Brandt asked.
“Tempest used to have a habit of just transporting herself to wherever she wanted to be. It’s one of the reasons we moved back home to Whispers. We couldn’t have her materializing out of thin air in the middle of the ice cream shops,” Lily said.
“Hey, if she hadn’t tried it at least one more time after you moved home, I wouldn’t have met her. And she may never have met Brandt,” Maverik said.
“That is very, very true. I’m thankful for that one time. The rest… I had a lot of explaining to do over the years,” Lily said.
“May I take him?” Carrik asked.
“Noo!” Carnage said. Then he started laughing. “’Es!” He patted the sofa arm and Carrik rested there for a second before Carnage handed him over.
Carrik looked down at his daughter’s baby.
“I never in a million years dreamed of the happiness your mother would find. I didn’t want her to leave.
I tried to keep her from leaving. But I was so very wrong.
Look at the love and richness she’s filled her life with.
And you are the center of it,” he said to the baby.
“I told you,” Lily said.
“Yes, you did,” Carrik said.
Elijah gave a little baby sigh and fussed a little, until Carrik rested him against his chest, gently patting his back. Then Elijah settled in right away.
“No greater feeling in the world than a little one trusting you implicitly.”
“Or a testament to love,” Lily said. “And speaking of babies, I’m going to check on Tempest again.”
“I’ll go,” Brandt said.
“No, you stay with your son and your family,” Lily said. “I just want to make sure she’s still sleeping.”
Brandt nodded, and watched as Carrik cradled Elijah.
“Did you hear that?” Avaleigh asked.
Daniel cut his eyes in her direction, but didn’t actually look at her.
“He didn’t want Tempest to leave, even tried to stop her, and now he’s glad he was wrong. He’s grateful she’s happy and her life is so full.”
“I heard,” Daniel said.
“Then don’t make things so hard for Angelle if she likes this young man.”
“He’s a Gargoyle, Avaleigh. He can’t live here. He might be seen, so she’d have to go live in his community,” Daniel whispered.