Page 105 of As The Shifter World Turns

I just wished he didn’t look like he could fall asleep standing up.

“Nap when the baby naps.” I reached out for our sweet Elune. “I’ll put her down.”

It was a lie. We both knew it. She had not slept anywhere but someone’s arms since she came into this world.

“And then I’ll get up when she cries and be back to where I am now only with a sad baby.”

“Nope. Watch this.” I went to the hook by the door. Patch misunderstood and thought I was getting his leash and came barreling over to me. I grabbed the baby carrier and attempted to ignore Patch. He was having none of that.

“I’ll go for a walk with Elune and you sleep.” I fastened the carrier around my waist and held my hands out for her. He thought about it for a few seconds, then gave her to me.

“If I fall asleep I might not wake up for a week,” he confessed.

“Good. Get all the sleep you need.” I couldn’t help but rub noses with my sweetie pie before getting her settled in the carrier. Unlike some babies, Elune didn't care if it was Archer or me holding her as long as one of us was. Andreally, she was cool with her “uncles”, and the other residents of Sunshine Manor, holding her too.

“But what if she’s hungry?” He looked up at me, his poor eyes sagging.

“Then she will have to make do with her alpha dad warming up some of that breast milk you’ve been pumping for ‘just in case’. I’ve got this. You need sleep and besides, Patch here wants to show off his sister.” He was so ready to go for a walk. “Sleep my love.”

“Maybe I’ll take a shower, too.” He pushed himself to stand. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

“Perfect. And when you wake up, we’ll either have pancakes because it’s the morning or I’ll make enough veggie fried rice so we can eat and freeze the rest.”

He walked over and kissed Elune, who was already starting to doze, on the head and then kissed my cheek. “You’re the best mate I’ve ever had,” he winked.

“Eh. You’re up there near the top too,” I sassed back. “Go take care of you. You need it.”

I grabbed the leash, clipped it on Patch and then once we made it downstairs, opened the stroller. It was mostly for decoration and to carry the diaper bag, but I always brought it with me when we went out. Maybe one day she would want to stay in it and look at the big world around her. Today was most likely not that day,

I somehow managed to get everything and everyone out onto the porch without waking Elune or dropping the bag or even tripping over Patch for that matter. Go me!

“Where are you going?” I nearly jumped at Neil’s words. Where did he come from?

“I was going to the park, I think. That’s what parents do right?” I plopped the diaper bag in the stroller, being sure there was a bottle in there just in case. “Not sure why just walking isn’t the cool thing. It’s not like babies play when they’re there.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” he shrugged, looking extra fidgety. “I need to get a sandwich from the deli. Their delivery person got a flat. Want to walk with me?”

Poor Neil. On some days he came across as being over the need to be in his place and nowhere else. And then other days? He looked so frail and terrified.

“I could eat.” It was true, too. I needed to get groceries. After Archer rested, grocery shopping was top on the list. But the way he was, I didn’t want to add to his exhaustion and even though he’d be fine with me leaving to get food, I felt bad.

Being a new dad had a lot of emotions tagging along with it. That was for sure.

“I wouldn’t be sad getting a bologna sandwich.” Neil made a face. “What?” I told him. “That was my childhood. Let me have my joy.”

“You mean eat animal by products mushed together when your mate can’t get grossed out by it.”

And there was that.

“I’m guessing you’re not ordering the same?” I asked

“No, I am,” he chuckled. “But my Martin doesn’t care, seeing as he’s a meat eater too.”

“Speaking of Martin.”

“Can we just grab our food?” He didn’t sound like he meant it. But I let it go. If he wanted to talk about Martin, he’d have plenty of time as we got our sandwich and continued on our walk.

“Absolutely. I’m hoping to stay out for a while. Archer needs sleep.” Lots and lots of sleep.

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