Page 16 of Arthur

I was going to let it go for now because there were more important things to concern ourselves with at the moment. But Patrick needed to realize that he would never disturb me. Besides that, I didn’t sleep even a wink last night. I had lain awake, holding him when he wished, rubbing his back on and off to help ease the discomfort.

“Master Edison, do you wish to deliver the baby?” William asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’ll assist. You’re the coven doctor, and you’ve delivered many babies over the centuries,” Father said. William smiled and nodded. Father moved to stand next to me while William readjusted Patrick’s hose down below his stomach. He placed an older blanket on his lower body, covering my One, and the anxiety could be felt in the room. It would only be moments before we heard our son take his first breaths. Warlock deliveries were quick as there was no pushing required. We were not born omega or alpha and thus had no omega line. All of our deliveries required magic, and it made for not only quick deliveries but also shorter recoveries.

“Okay then. By the fates, I pray all goes as deemed,” William said before his hands glowed a brighter green.

“Oh. I feel as if I’m floating in water,” Patrick said.

“That is so you feel absolutely no pain from the delivery,” William said. I watched, holding Patrick’s hand in one of mine while I absently rubbed the other through his hair.

William made the incision and then parted the opening with magic. I watched, completely transfixed, while he carefully reached in and tugged. When his hand emerged with a round object in it, I realized it was our son’s head. I held my breath, waiting. It would be any moment now that our son would take his first breath, and I hadn’t realized just how wonderful thismoment would be. As soon as William had the baby completely out, we heard the most beautiful sound—the loud wail of our son letting everyone know he had arrived.

“William. Our little William,” Patrick said as he looked down at the baby that was crying in William’s hands.

“William?” he said, looking at me immediately. “I’m…” Our son’s namesake cleared his throat. “I’m deeply honored. He looks quite healthy, and his lungs most certainly are in perfect order,” William said before he handed our son to Father, who after a few moments passed him to me.

“He’s perfect,” I said as I held our son for the first time and got my first look at him. He was absolutely beautiful, and already, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between our son and Patrick.

“You look perfect holding a babe,” Patrick said. Immediately, I looked down at my One and knelt so he, too, could see our son.

“He’s beautiful,” I told him.

“He might want dressed, no?” Patrick suggested.

“He might. It is a bit chilly in here. I should have started a fire for you earlier,” I said and nodded toward the wall, a fire coming to life in the hearth against the far wall. I then had our little William wrapped up with a cloth on his bottom and then a sleeping gown on him before carefully holding him out next to Patrick. He still couldn’t quite sit up, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t bring our son down to him so he, too, could get a good look at the baby.

“You fret so,” Patrick said. “I’m fine. But the little one might have been cold, yes?” Patrick asked. He reached out and tried to touch the baby, but the angle simply wasn’t the best for such movements just yet.

“Yes, most likely. He was wet, but no longer.” I moved little William over to where I was holding him in front of Patrick and my One could get a very good look at the baby he’d carried. Hewas also able to reach him, and when Patrick touched his cheek, William stopped crying altogether.

“He’s adorable,” Patrick said.

“Did you have doubts?” I asked. “He’s your son. How could he be anything but?” Patrick was by far the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. There wasn’t a day that went by in the past several months that I didn’t thank fate that he was my forever gift.

“I never knew I could love someone as much as I do you, but I was wrong.” Patrick looked up at me with tears in his eyes. “We have a son,” he whispered.

“I feel the same, my love. I cherish every moment we have together, but you have given me an amazing gift. I love you all the more for it, but I love him too. How could I not? He’s part of you.”

“He’s perfect,” Patrick said and ran a finger down our son’s cheek.

“Just like you,” I told him.

A throat clearing pulled our attention away from one another. I couldn’t help but smile at William, who looked embarrassed.

“I apologize for the interruption. I simply wanted to let you both know that Patrick’s incision is closed, and he can sit up now if he’d like.” William’s eyes moved to Patrick. “You will slowly regain the feeling of your lower body over the next hour or so. You should remain in bed until then. After that, make sure you have Arthur help you for the next several hours if you feel you need to get out of bed and walk around.”

“Of course,” Patrick said. “Thank you, William.” Patrick smiled. “Would you like to hold the baby?”

William looked like he wanted to say yes, but in the end, he shook his head. “Perhaps another time. For now, I will leave you to bond with your son. Congratulations on the healthy baby.”

William turned and left. Once we heard the outer door close, Patrick looked at me with worry in his eyes.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, my love. William gets emotional around babies. It’s understandable after what happened to his wife.” Years ago, I couldn’t understand William’s love and devotion to his wife. Now, looking down at Patrick as he held our son, I did. I was fortunate that I had my love and our child. William had lost both his wife and their child. I knew he still blamed himself on some level. He’d been the one tending to her and hadn’t been able to save her after days of labor.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I don’t know nearly as much about him as you do. I wasn’t here for long before, and my parents kept me fairly isolated.”

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