Page 25 of Hunting for Acceptance

I step over to Martin, taking his hand in my own. With Dorian not wanting us to touch him, we have nothing to do but wait and watch as he does all the work.

“Since he’s doing all this work,” I whisper to Martin, “you and I should take the brute of everything once the baby is here. I don’t want our mate to change a single diaper if we can help it.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Baby wakes up at night, we’ll get them. They’re crabby? We’ll walk with them outside so Dorian can rest. They’re hungry, we get the bottle.”

I squeeze Martin’s hand, loving this side of him. Watching him step into fatherhood has somehow made me fall even more in love with him.

“Alright, go ahead and push,” Star murmurs. “I’m here to guide you but I can tell you’ve got this all on your own. Follow your body’s signals.”

Dorian gives a nod, his brows furrowing as he bears down. Martin and I hold our breath. Waiting.

It doesn’t take long after that. Dorian gives one last groan, pushing through the pain before the whole room goes still. He dips his hands into the water, pulling out the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.

They have his scales and blue hair.

“Oh my gods,” Martin and I gasp in unison, staring with wide eyes at our baby.

Star leans against the lip of the tub, taking our baby in with a soft smile. She looks over at us. “She’s beautiful. Congratulations dads.”

Martin and I quickly fall to our knees at the side of the tub. “Can I touch you, baby?”

Dorian nods, his eyes taking in our baby still. Martin puts his hand on the back of Dorian’s neck, his thumb rubbing against his sweaty skin as I run my hand over our baby’s wet back.

“She’s so perfect, Dorian. You did such a good job bringing her into the world. I’m so proud of you.”

Dorian swallows, his glistening eyes turning towards me. He gives me a shaky smile, all the adrenaline starting to fade. I can see him starting to flag. My sweet, sweet siren. “Thank you,” he whispers, “both of you. That must have been hard to watch.”

“It wasn’t,” Martin says right away, soothing Dorian’s worry away. “It was inspiring to watch. You were brilliant.”

Star hands me a towel and I turn towards Dorian. Without needing to say a word, he passes me our baby. I wrap her up in the towel, holding her against my chest. She’s so small and fragile that it scares me a little bit. I can feel my heart rearranging, making room for her right next to her daddies and the rest of the crew.

Martin carefully helps Dorian out of the bath, drying him off before lifting him up into his big, strong arms and carrying him into the bedroom. He tucks Dorian into bed and my chest clenches, watching just how gentle Martin is with him.

I lay our daughter onto the bed, carefully slipping her into a diaper before handing her over to Martin so he can hold her for the first time. She looks even smaller in his hands.

I sit beside Dorian in the bed and he leans his head against my shoulder. “I love you both so much,” he whispers, kissing my shoulder.

“We love you too, baby.”

“Do you boys have a name for this little one?” Star asks, coming into the bedroom after having cleaned out the tub for us. I’m so glad she’s here to make everything that much smoother. She hands Martin a bottle and I watch as he gives our daughter her first meal.

Dorian clears his throat. “Lana. It means calm waters which I think is fitting. Things were chaotic before she was here. And her middle name will be Dee, after my sister.”

“That’s beautiful, dear,” Star says, reaching over and taking Dorian’s hand. “She’s so proud of you, Dorian.”

“I like to think so,” he says softly, “now that she’s at peace.”

“Sheisat peace, watching over you and your family.”

“Thank you,” he whispers back.

I kiss the side of Dorian’s head, holding him tight. Martin comes and sits on the other side of Dorian, holding Lana in his big hands. We all look at her, taking her in with her pretty scales, light blue hair, and giant eyes. She’s such a little reflection of Dorian.

“I texted everyone to let them know. I told them we needed the night to ourselves and we’d be back at the campgrounds tomorrow with her.”

Dorian nods along, letting out a giant yawn. I pet his hair. “Why don’t you get some sleep, sweetheart? You worked your ass off today.”

“Okay,” he says without any fit, scooting down into the bed and immediately passing out. I chuckle, turning towards Martin.

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