“Mhmm,” Casper hums, nodding his head. He spreads his legs wider, pushing me until I’m kneeling before him. “Need you to catch them. Don’t overthink. Just catch.”
I don’t have time to marvel at the fact that Casper is so composed while literally pushing a baby out of his body. Everything happens so quickly and all I can do is brace myself for impact. One moment I’m thinking about what to make for breakfast and the next I’m in the shower catching my baby!
Thankfully, some buried instinct takes over. I hold out my hands and catch the baby that’s sliding free from Casper’s body. He groans, I squawk, and from outside the shower, Star chuckles.
“Well done, boys!”
I slip onto my ass, completely uncaring. All I can do is stare down at the baby in my hands, wonder overwhelming me. The physical manifestation of my love for Casper. Our little baby. I look them over, making sure they have ten fingers and ten toes, unable to stop smiling.
“We have a little boy,” I breathe out, looking up at Casper who’s leaning against the shower wall, looking down at me with such soft eyes. He looks incredible for someone who’s literally just given birth. “Gods, baby, you did so amazing. I’m in awe of you.”
“As you should be,” he says with a nod, making me chuckle.
“Hand the babe over and you can help your mate out of the shower,” Star says, pulling the shower curtain back enough for me to hand our baby over. She swaddles him in a towel, getting him dry for me.
I stand up, wrapping Casper up in my arms. I hug him tight, wanting him to feel how much I love him, how proud of him I am. What an amazing man my mate is and somehow, he’s my mate.
I turn the shower off before pulling the shower curtain to the side. Grabbing a towel, I carefully dry my mate off. Once he’s dry, I help him step out of the tub and get him into a comfy pair of clothes.
“Dry yourself,” he says with a chuckle. “I don’t want you dripping all over the house.”
I shuck my wet boxers off and away, drying myself much more hasty than I did for Casper. Once I’m dry enough, I throw my clothes back on.
“Oh! No boxers! How scandalous, Zeke.”
“Jesus,” I breathe out, shaking my head. “You’ve just given birth, cool off, Casper.”
Casper sticks out his bottom lip at me. “Spoilsport.”
I put my arm around his shoulders, letting him lean on me as we shuffle our way to our bedroom. Star is already there. Our son has been put into a diaper and Star has a bottle in her hands, waiting for us.
“Thank you,” I say, unable to convey the level of thankfulness I’m feeling. She somehow knew exactly when we’d need her and knew exactly what each of us needed. It’s almost magical with how perfect her arrival was.
Star gives me a soft smile. “You’re very welcome, dearie . Now why don’t you help your mate into bed so he can hold his son for the first time.”
“Mm, yes. Do as she’s told you, Zeke. Chop chop.”
I snort, but do as I’m asked, helping Casper into bed. Once he’s comfortable, I pull the comforter over him. “You’re bossy. It’s like you just had a baby or something.”
“Something like that. I expect to be treated like a prince for a while. That was hard work, babe.”
“How about forever?”
“I suppose I could get used to that,” he says with a soft smile, taking my hand in his own. He tugs me forward, kissing the back of my hand before shoving me away. “Okay, gimme gimme!”
“I’ve been replaced,” I say, pretending to be wounded but there’s clearly a smile on my face. Star steps over, handing our baby over to Casper along with the bottle.
Casper takes in our baby’s face, his eyes growing moist with unshed tears. I can understand because I’m feeling like I’ve got something in my eye as well. Our baby is beautiful. Pink and perfect with dark hair atop his head.
“Is he a banshee?” Casper asks, looking up at me.
I nod my head, already able to feel the connection I have with him. When a banshee is born, they’re connected with their banshee parent. Until he hits puberty, his glamor is fixed with mine to keep him safe from discovery. Once he’s older, he’ll learn to get into his phantom form and he’ll need to start hunting for himself, but for now, I can keep him safe.
I let my glamor fall away so that Casper can look at our son’s true face. I always thought the red veins looked haunting, the white and black eyes something from nightmares. But now that I see those reflected on my son’s face, I can see just how wrong I was. The things that make him a banshee don’t make him any less perfect, any less beautiful.
Words cannot describe how much I love this little man already. I promise myself to work on accepting myself so that when he’s older, he’ll have an example of self-acceptance. I’ll show him that we’re not monsters, just people gifted a little bit differently than others.
“He’s beautiful,” Casper whispers, his voice breaking. “Just like his daddy.”
I lean onto the bed so I can kiss the side of Casper’s head. “I love you so much,” I tell him.
“I love you too.”
“Did you two come up with a name for this little one?”
I nod my head, giving Star a grin. “His name is Ash.”
“That’s lovely. Very fitting,” she tells me. “There are a few people outside. Would you like some alone time, or would you like them here to meet Ash as well?”
I look over at my mate, raising my brow. “If it’s okay with you,” he says slowly, “I’d like Ray here.”
“Of course,” I tell him, cupping his cheek. “She’s your spark. You deserve her support here just as much as mine.”
“Thank you,” he breathes out. Casper brings the bottle to Ash’s mouth, grinning as our baby takes to it immediately, suckling at his bottle.
I turn towards Star and give her a nod. “Let the troublemakers in.”
Star steps outside of our room and before I even have a moment to share with my mate alone, Ray is running into the room, her eyes wide and frantic. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her this worried before.
