Page 72 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

The corner of the Creationist’s lip curled up into a smirk. “I like you.”

Elliot blushed. “Yes, well, Alexander tells me I’m very likeable.”

He winked at Alexander. “He’s spot-on.” After handing the papers to Mrs. Peppercorn, the Creationist walked to the operating table and motioned for Elliot to climb up. Elliot approached, nervous, but optimistic. Once again, Alexander lifted Elliot onto the table into a seated position, but the Creationist motioned for him to lie down.

On his back, Elliot looked up to find Alexander at his side. There was the sound of fabric rustling, but Elliot couldn’t look away from the man standing over him. Elliot was so lonely for so very long. He never imagined he could have a life filled with love, respect, and purpose, but Alexander was providing all the above.

“I love you, Alexander,” he whispered, meaning it more than he’d ever meant anything.

Tears formed in Alexander’s eyes, and he knelt down, kissing Elliot gently. “I love you, too, Elliot.” He brushed his finger back and forth against Elliot’s cheek, and when Elliot leaned up to give Alexander another kiss, he stopped, making it only a few inches. The endless pressure that sat on Elliot’s bladder had lifted, and he no longer felt a relentless need to urinate. He looked toward the Creationist, wanting to see what was going on, but a small blue curtain had been hung without him realizing, separating his top bits from his bottom bits. He couldn’t see anything past his chest.

“What’s happening?” Elliot asked, frightened to hear the answer. Alexander stood, staring past the curtain, every trace of color draining from his face. “Oh, God. Is something wrong? Is she okay? Alexander?” Alexander blinked a few times, unable to take his eyes off whatever was happening out of Elliot’s sight. “Alexander! Snap out of it, please.”

He turned to look at Elliot, his mouth open, but nothing came out.

“Give me a minute,” the Creationist said, his tone calm and assuring. “Everything is okay. We’re almost done.” There was the sensation of tugging and shoving going on inside him, and Elliot couldn’t remember ever feeling more uncomfortable. It was like someone had taken an eggbeater and gone to town on his internal organs. Then, there was the sound of drilling, though Elliot didn’t know what on Earth the Creationist could be drilling. Through it all, there was no pain, just a nagging feeling of discomfort that refused to go away. “Okay, Daddy. We’ve got a special delivery.

Alexander took a deep breath and moved behind the curtain. When he emerged, he was cradling a tiny child wrapped in a fuzzy, pink blanket. His face was a mixture of awe and an overwhelming sense of love as he moved toward Elliot.

The Creationist flicked a switch on the side of the operating table, and it slowly folded forward until Elliot was in a seated position. Gently, Alexander lowered their child, and Elliot’s eyes widened as he caught his first glimpse of their daughter.

It was like looking at a work of art, and Elliot couldn’t believe something so small—someone so precious—could have come from him. That she would depend on him. Though his heart was heavy with worry over his ability to be the father she deserved, he couldn’t get past how striking she was.

Honey Davenport was an exquisite blend of human and automaton. Her eyes—wide and wild—opened, displaying a dazzling light pattern of pink-pink-pink. As Alexander and Elliot gazed at their new child, Honey Davenport wrapped a tiny finger around Elliot’s thumb.

“You have my finger,” he pointed out. “I’m going to have to insist you give it back at some point.” Elliot peeked around the room before leaning in and rubbing their noses together. Bringing his voice a whisper only she could hear, he added, “I’m only joking. Hold on to it as long as you want.” He kissed her forehead, right between the eyes, breathing in her baby scent. “I plan on holding onto you for as long as you’ll let me, so you just hold on, too.”

Elliot’s heart swelled with so many emotions—love, devotion, terror, and an overwhelming sense of pride. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he reached out to touch her, his fingers trembling. It was the single most profound moment of his not-so-long life.

“She’s . . .” He struggled to find words that could truly convey the depth of his feelings, but all Elliot could come up with was, “She’s beautiful.”

Alexander leaned over, pressing his forehead to Elliot’s, both men staring down at the little life between them. “She’s perfect.”

“I made her from scratch,” he whispered, touching the little one’s nose. “I made a person, Alexander. A whole entire person.”

“Technically,” the Creationist interrupted. “I made her.” He reached down and touched Honey’s cheek, but Elliot’s growl scared him off.

Elliot looked up, glaring at the man. “You may have planted the seed, but you did not make her grow. I did.” He’d never felt such an overwhelming sense of connection with anyone, and as silly and unnecessary as the war of words would be, Elliot refused to let the Creationist take credit for anything he’d gone through to keep her safe. “You didn’t have to take someone’s life to protect her. Or have to watch your mother plummet into the depths of the sea to earn your child’s freedom—twice. You’ve played no part in what it’s taken to get us here, so you can watch your mouth.”

“I don’t understand what’s gotten into him,” the Creationist said to Mrs. Peppercorn. “It could be his hormones.”

“I beg your pardon?” Elliot growled.

Alexander’s eyes bulged, and he quickly stood to usher the Creationist away before Elliot could launch up from the operating table and attack. As Alexander walked the man to the other side room, Mrs. Peppercorn hobbled over, taking a seat on the Creationist’s newly vacant stool. She reached out her withered hand, touching the baby’s cheek.

“I’m so proud of you, Elliot,” she said, her voice soft with a bit of a sing-song tone. “You did so well, sugar.” As she ran her fingers through Elliot’s hair, she pulled the side of his face against her chest in a hug. Her perfume was a bit much, but he didn’t point it out. “You can stay here, you know. You and Alexander. If you want to be around your brothers, I’d be happy to make a permanent space for you in my home for Bountiful Beaus.”

Elliot shook his head, unable to look away from the little bundle in his arms. “Our home is on Sugarplum Island. As much as I appreciate the offer . . .” He looked up, tears fresh in his eyes. “I believe I’ve found my happily ever after.”

Mrs. Peppercorn nodded, dabbing a stray tear from her eye as well. “You sure did.”

Elliot watched as Alexander and the Creationist spoke, taking in the sight of the man he loved. Funny how that worked out. From the moment Jared Price entered Elliot’s life, he knew his life would be difficult. He knew he would have to harden his mechanical heart to endure what life had in store for him. But at that moment, in an underground laboratory, basking in Mr. Alexander Davenport’s love, his hardened heart skipped a beat. As if Alexander could feel it, too, he turned, smiling at Elliot. Whatever the Creationist was saying went unheard as he turned and made his way back to Elliot. There was still quite a bit of room on the operating table, and Alexander slid next to them with ease.

“I’m going to do a bit of maintenance behind the curtain,” the Creationist announced, settling in between Elliot’s legs and grabbing the drill from a small silver tray next to them. Elliot’s eyes bulged and he quickly looked away, focusing on Honey. He tickled her chin, thankful to feel nothing when the drill began making loud whirring noises. As if Alexander could sense his fear, he placed a hand on Elliot’s shoulder, softly stroking.

“I can’t wait for your mother to meet her. Do you think she’ll like her?”

“We’ll be lucky if Mom lets us keep her every other weekend,” Alexander joked, snorting a laugh. The sound startled Honey, and as she shifted in his arms, nervous orange light flickered in Elliot’s eyes. The baby’s eyes blinked open, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to cry. She didn’t, though. She stared at the light flickering in Elliot’s eyes like she was reading his every thought. As if trying to soothe him, she lifted his thumb to her mouth and kissed it. They shared a look Elliot could only describe as profound, and then she slobbered all over his hand.

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