Epilogue 1 #2
“A formidable heir already,” Elio jokes. “Look at all that hair, too. He’s going to have a man bun like Armani in a couple of weeks.”
“He absolutely will not,” Apollo replies, positively appalled by the idea.
“I think a baby man bun would be cute!” Jade chimes happily.
She has soft tears on her face as she looks at baby Vaughn and rubs her swollen belly.
“He’s absolutely precious. He’s going to be best friends with Viktor, I can tell already.
This menace of mine is kicking up a storm right now. It’s like he knows.”
Jade and Dmitri decided to do things differently for their second pregnancy, they found out the sex and picked a name early. She’s been calling her unborn son Viktor for months, and he has the cutest middle name. Sage, after her twin brother who she never got to meet.
“Hopefully for your sake, Viktor has a smaller head,” I quip, grinning at my friend. We’ve become closer since sharing our pregnancies together, and I’m glad for it. Jade is probably the sweetest member of the family, and it’s nice to have her in your corner.
“I don’t know, I think Vaughn’s big head is adorable,” Ana adds, cooing down at my son. “His eyes are so round and pretty too. How does he have better eyelashes than me already? He’s like an hour old.”
I chuckle, swiping a small tear out of the corner of my eye. Vaughn definitely got his father’s hair. Thick, dark, and all over. Even his tiny eyebrows are quite full and defined.
Turning to Yordan, I ask, “Do you want to hold him next?”
“Yes,” he breathes out, looking overwhelmed. “But you have to show me how, I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Yordan, you’ve held babies before,” Jade reminds him with a giggle. “You hold the twins all the time.”
“I never knew the twins when they were this tiny,” he points out nervously. “They don’t seem as breakable.”
“You’d be surprised how sturdy they feel in your arms, even when they’re this small,” Dante tells him, walking over to Yordan. “Sit, I’ll show you.”
My brother drops into the closest chair to my bed, arms empty and expecting.
Dante is unnaturally gentle as he hands over my son, moving slowly with care.
Once Yordan has him secured, Dante shows him how to properly support the baby’s head.
Yordan listens like his life depends on it, and cradles Vaughn like a priceless package.
“He’s so tiny.”
“Tell that to my vagina,” I gripe, lips twitching as his face turns up in disgust.
“I do not need to hear about that.”
“Poor Yordan,” Ana drawls sarcastically. “He’s never heard the word vagina before. What is Javier teaching him in those tutoring sessions? Did he skip anatomy and biology?”
Everyone laughs at her teasing and Yordan scowls.
“I’m familiar with both human anatomy and biology, I would rather not hear about my sister’s though, thank you.”
I reach over, patting his hand. “We’re just playing with you, milichko.”
He lightens up and peers back down at his baby brother. “He’s so tiny. Why the name Vaughn? Where’d that come from?”
“Rayna liked it,” Apollo responds for me.
I flush and nod shortly. “Most of the Italian names he suggested weren’t as appealing. I think Dante stole all of the best ones already.”
“Guilty,” my father-in-law replies with a chuckle.
“I like Luca, though. Or maybe Gio, when we have another.”
“When?” Ana laughs. “I could have sworn I heard you yelling that this would never happen again. Have you changed your mind?”
“Look at Vaughn’s little face, of course she did,” Jade coos. “His name is perfect, it suits him. Ugh, I’m so happy for you both.”
Apollo accepts the hug she wraps him up in, and a pinched cry from Vaughn cuts into the moment.
Knowing it’s time for him to eat, everyone opts to give us privacy before even being asked.
They’ll go home to sleep, and come back in the morning, at least Yordan and Dante will.
They make sure to let us know they’ll come sooner if we need them, though.
My first attempt to breastfeed Vaughn was during the golden hour with nurses assisting.
It went well, but there was definitely a small learning curve.
The hospital has formula upon request, but so far, I haven’t needed to supplement.
And as Vaughn quickly latches again, I think we’re still going strong.
It pinches and feels odd, but the happy little noises he makes smacking his lips make it feel not so daunting.
Once he’s drunk his fill, Apollo takes him to do the burping so I can absolutely smash my food. It came just in time, and as soon as the takeout bag entered the room, I was salivating for it.
Every bit of it was savored with feral bites.
“Still feeling all right, love?” Apollo asks, softly rocking our son as he walks around the room to soothe him.
“Just tired,” I answer with a soft sigh. “That cheeseburger hit me like a turkey dinner. I feel like my eyes are barely staying open.”
“Get some sleep, baby. I’ve got him. We aren’t going anywhere, I promise.”
“You sure?” I ask hesitantly.
There isn’t a hint of uncertainty in his reply. “I’m sure.”
“You’ll ask for help if you get tired, won’t you?”
“Elio and Dad are on speed dial,” he confirms, not at all upset with my pestering. “I won’t let anything happen to Vaughn.”
And even though I’m riddled with maternal worries, I believe him. I’m able to drift off to sleep, the soft beeping of machines becoming almost like a soothing lullaby as everything goes calm and quiet.
The last thing I hear is my husband muttering quietly to our son, promising to love and protect him forever.
Life has never been better.