Sebastian looked up to see Rex and Talon weeping. Ma held a sobbing Rian and Damian.
Minutes went by and Doc never stopped working on the tiny body. Sebastian buried his face in Liam’s neck and died inside.
“Please, Fate. Not on Christmas.” He heard Rebecca whisper. From a distance he could feel Kate sharing in his frantic terror. Ashby and Nic, kneeling on either side of Rebecca, reached in to lay a hand on either one of his shoulders. His pain radiated through the entire Inner Court.
“Please,” he begged between sobs.
“Please,” was the whispered echo along their shared bond, and for a single moment the world held its breath.
“There he is!” Doc yelled, and seconds later wails filled the diner. Pulling his face from Liam’s chest, he looked down at Doc who also had tears on his cheeks.
“I think someone really wants to meet you,” he said, passing up the baby, wrapped in one of Ma’s clean dishtowels. His little man’s mouth was open and he was screaming for all he was worth.
“Thank you, oh, thank you,” he chanted.
Liam and Kent leaned in from either side to each lay a hand on their baby. Sebastian looked behind him to see Nic and Ashby holding Rebecca. Aleks was patting Liam on the back, laughing his relief. When he looked around the diner, there wasn’t a dry eye as his friends shared his absolute joy.
Doc collapsed against Felix, who wept as he held his mate. Sebastian could hear his best friend thanking his mate for savingtheir nephew. He looked down and smiled at his son, who was now beet-red and squalling.
“He is the most perfect thing I have ever seen,” he whispered.
Rebecca, Ashby and Nic leaned in to get a better look.
“Oh, Sebastian, he is gorgeous. He…” Rebecca trailed off and tilted her head to one side. “He looks like Kent and Liam. How did you do that?” she asked.
Sebastian shrugged. He didn’t care who his son looked like, as long as he was healthy and alive.
Liam looked down, blinking past his tears.
“You know, you’re right. He has Kent’s dark, black hair, but that is definitely a Lewenhart nose,” Liam said, sounding amazed.
“He’s adorable!” Rian sobbed, still completely emotionally wrecked.
“Rian, what are you doing here? I thought that the photographer for the Council newsletter was at the pride house this morning?” Sebastian asked, cuddling his son who had quieted and was now sucking on his own fist.
Rian looked up. He and Damian shared a smile.
“They can take pictures without me. This was more important. I wouldn’t have missed this for anything, you are my family. Of course I had to be here to welcome my nephew!” Rian blew his nose on the napkin Ma handed him.
“Nothing is more important than family,” Damian agreed, holding on to Rian.
“Come on little papa. Let’s get you and junior to the clinic. I want to observe you for a little while,” Doc said, pulling Felix to his feet. Liam got up and Kent passed their mate and son to him.
“Sebastian! Did you decide on a name?” Rebecca asked from Aleks’s arms.
Sebastian looked at Liam and then Kent. They both nodded.
“We chose Lucian Alexander Lewenhart. Lucian means light. I think it’s fitting, especially now.” Sebastian smiled down at his son. Aleks’s mouth worked like a fish.
“Don’t get all worked up over it. I like the name and we’re spelling it with an ‘x.’ He has my initials,” Liam teased.
“Now we really have to name our baby Aloisius!” Rebecca clapped her hands together.
Aleks looked down at his mate, panicked.
“No, Becca we don’t. Right, Liam?” Aleks begged.
“He should share something in common with his brother,” Liam joked, and Aleks buried his face in Rebecca’s shoulder.
