Page 294 of As The Shifter World Turns

Slumber didn’t come as easily to me. I spent the time rehashing everything the doctor said. Worst case scenario, we couldn’t have biological children, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t be parents. The foster system was full of children waiting for their forever home. There was also surrogacy.

“What are you thinking?” Daire looked up at me.

“I thought you were asleep.” I kissed the top of his head.

“I was. But your heart is beating so quickly.” He snuggled into me.

“I was thinking about the what ifs.” I inhaled his scent. “What if the news from the tests is bad?”

“We can get a dozen cats,” he teased.

“We could… or I was thinking, what if we look into getting licensed to be foster parents? There are so many children looking for a parent. Or maybe we could look at surrogates. And maybe instead of cats… dogs?”

“You wouldn’t leave me if we couldn’t?” And that explained the tears.

“Of course not, my love. If we have a baby, I’ll be so happy. But if that isn’t the path we are meant to be on, I’ll be on it with you and that’s all that matters.”

“I love you, Nate.”

“Not as much as I love you. And Daire. It will be okay. I promise you. It might not be as we originally planned, but it will all be okay.”

It had to be.

Martin

“You know what was the worst part?” Neil asked after the kids were long in bed.

I hadn’t left his side after arriving home. Neil seemed to want me there as much as I wanted to be. I felt horrible that we had scared him.

I never left my phone anywhere, but I had needed the flashlight when Toby dropped something under the seat. The people behind me were miffed that I got up enough to fish it from my pocket so I thought it would be a good idea to stash it in the cup holder.

It was not a good idea. It was the exact opposite.

“Are you hungry?” Neil asked. “I could whip us up something or maybe order some pizza? I was originally thinking of getting takeout and texted you about picking it up.”

“There’s left over Thai in the fridge. Want me to fetch it?” I offered.

“Or maybe you could get the food and move back intoourbed?” He grabbed my hand. “Please. Today, when I thought something happened to youall, it… it made me realize, I don’t want you just sharing the apartment. I want you here.” He put a hand over his heart. “Really home as in… we’re together as mates and as a family.”

I was almost afraid I’d fallen asleep and this was all a dream.

“I waited for this for so long.” I leaned in and kissed him sweetly. “I want to say yes.”

“But?”

“But I don’t want you to feel pressured. Let’s give it a few days to make sure that you still feel the same, once the adrenalin fades. I don’t think I could have everything I ever wanted only to lose it all again.”

“Let’s eat.”

We ended up forgetting the Thai and eating scrambled eggs and toast before climbing into bed together and holding each other close all night long.

Our thought of taking it slowly didn’t plan out the way I intended. We became inseparable and I loved it. And the kids? Charlie didn’t notice any difference but Toby did. And he was happy.

The next weekend the kids stayed over at Archer’s to give us alone time. We weren’t going to turn it down. It meant we had a real date night, just the two of us.

I put on my best jeans, the ones Neil said he liked, and a shirt and tie. I was going to woo my mate the way he deserved to be wooed. He’d been through so much because of me and while he forgave me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever fully forgive myself for all the heartache I caused.

“Where are we going again?” Neil looked me up and down, “Do I need a tie too?”

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