15. Epilogue

Epilogue

Percy

“You’re doing great,” Willy encouraged as I bounced on the large exercise ball placed in the middle of my bedroom.

Surrounding it was an entire array of other medically necessary items for when I finally gave birth to this child. I wasn’t sure what they were all for, but that was probably for the best. The more I knew, the more I would worry. My pregnancy induced anxiety had intensified during my last month as it was. In hindsight, when the doctor suggested having the baby here, I probably should’ve given him a polite decline.

Nick had left for work early that morning, just like every other day. He’d offered to take off and start his paternity leave early, but I insisted he work up until the baby was born. He liked things done a certain way in his shop, and if he left it in the hands of the elves before the distraction of our sweet baby, it was going to drive him bonkers.

My plan had been to get up with him, grab a quick bite, then climb back in bed for a nap after he left and then head to the workshop. The plan failed. Instead, I stayed in bed, too tired to move.

I’d worked throughout the past few weeks, but not quite as many hours as he did. I wanted to keep up my normal schedule until baby time, but between my body taking twice as much energy to go from one place to another than it had even a month ago and my mate being overprotective, that wasn’t going to happen. It worked out for the best. Sleeping in and taking naps had become my new favorite thing—especially when I could starfish out on the bed.

Not that I needed all the space; the bed was enormous. But Nick was a cuddler, and sometimes, when I was overheated thanks to all this snowman belly I was lugging around—you know, a whole-ass baby—I didn’t want to be touched. I felt bad feeling that way, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

I didn’t dare tell my mate that, though. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I loved his touch. Just right now, things touching me felt icky and that even included my silk paternity pajamas. Pregnancy was weird.

When I had finally gotten up, my labor pains had started. They were far enough apart that I didn’t feel the need to raise the alarm, and it took a while for me to actually believe they were real. I’d been fooled before with some Braxton Hicks.

Willy had stopped by to chat and caught me in the middle of a painful contraction. He insisted on staying to help as I eased through every one after I made him promise not to bother Nick. I was going to call him as soon as I knew that it was baby time. Until then, it was wait and see. Labor wasn’t a quick thing, no sense making him worry longer than he needed to, and make no mistake about it, Nick was going to worry. He didn’t like to see me get a paper cut, and this was so much worse than that, even before I was in full-on labor.

“They’re really close together now,” he said. “I think we should call Nick.”

I was about to tell him I agreed when the door burst open.

“No need to call Nick,” came his voice. “I sensed it.”

“We were going to call,” I said, shooting him a glare as intense as the one he gave me. “Promise.”

“How are you feeling, mate? Should we call Dr. J?” He didn’t say he believed me, but then again, I wasn’t sure I would’ve in his shoes either.

“I’ve been texting him,” Willy interjected. “He plans to be here in the next ten minutes or so.”

I missed that. But then again, I’d been a tiny bit distracted.

“Thank you, Willy. Someone will be getting an extra-special treat in their stocking this year. Others might be getting a lump of coal,” Nick muttered as he turned to face me.

Fair.

“I’m fine. All of this is normal. My labor is progressing nicely. There was no reason to alert the whole workshop.”

Nick grasped my hand and sandwiched it between his own. Surprisingly, his touch wasn’t irritating in that moment. Instead, it calmed me, helping to ease some of the discomfort. Santa’s magic? Or just being close to my mate? I didn’t want to ask. That would require a confession I wasn’t ready to give.

“I wanted to be here for everything.” The hurt in his eyes sent guilt through me. He was right. I should’ve given him the choice.

“Even the part where it was real painful earlier and I almost threw up?”

Nick’s face turned down into a frown.

“You’re right. I’m sorry, and I promise you, I’m fine, alpha mine. Willy pulled out a mint— it was his fault.”

Willy laughed. “It’s true, sir. He did almost throw up at the scent of peppermint.”

“That’s interesting. Is that why you’ve been avoiding the bakeries and such?”

I nodded. “Brushing my teeth has been a nightmare these past few weeks.” There weren’t many things that had irritated me throughout the pregnancy, but for some reason, mint was one of them—peppermint in particular. And now that we were in the full swing of the holiday season—it started August first for us around here—peppermint was everywhere.

“Oh, mate, you should have said something. I could’ve banned peppermint from the whole town.”

As if that would’ve gone over well.

“That’s unnecessary, Nick. I’m just fine.”

“Well, I’m here now.”

“I’m glad.” I leaned into his side and soaked in his scent.

My labor seemed to progress even faster, now that my mate was here, like my baby was so eager to get out and meet their alpha father. I wouldn’t blame them. He was a pretty amazing one.

Nick helped me to the bed, which we was covered in several layers of sheets. Later, he would use his Santa magic to clean up the whole ordeal, which would be nice. It wasn’t often we used his Santa magic for such personal reasons, but whoever was in charge of that sort of thing could forgive us in this situation. If they even cared.

Dr. J arrived with his nurse in tow. The two of them stayed at my lower end while Nick was on one side and Willy on the other.

“I can go if you need me to.” Willy was a sweetie to offer.

“You’re fine.” I hadn’t planned to have him for the birth, but now that he was here, I wasn’t ready for him to leave. “This is working out well. You don’t mind, do you, Nick?”

“Whatever you need, dear.”

At that moment, I could probably have asked him for the world, and he would have delivered it to me. Although, he probably would any day of the year. He lived to spoil me, and I didn’t mind because I enjoyed spoiling him right back.

“Okay, Percy,” Dr. J said, “we’re going to go ahead and have you give one big push, okay?”

I hadn’t realized we were so close. But before I could think of how to form my question, the need to push overcame me. I pushed and pushed until he told me to let up and then pushed again when he instructed me to. It didn’t take long for the baby to arrive, even though it felt like hours. The final push ended with the beautiful sound of our sweet baby boy.

Dr. J cleaned him up slightly and then held him out to Nick, who cradled him with one hand and cut the cord with the other.

“He’s gorgeous.” Nick beamed down at our baby.

“He?” I needed to be sure I heard him correctly.

“Yes, Percy. We have a baby boy with the most perfect pointed elf ears I’ve ever seen.”

He placed my son in my arms, and sure enough, his little ears, though still a bit stuck to his head from the journey through the canal, were perfectly pointed.

“Definitely a member of the Nice List, for sure,” I sing-songed to him.

“I’m sure he’ll make his way onto the Naughty List a few times.” My mate half shrugged. “It’s what children do.”

I touched my cheek to the top of my baby’s head, inhaling his perfect new-baby scent. “I’m so happy you’re here. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Nick climbed onto the bed with me and pulled the two of us into his arms.

“Our perfect family.” He kissed my head and then our son’s. “I’m so happy you’re both here. What should we name him?”

We’d gone back and forth on names, none ever feeling right until this moment.

“Willy, would you be okay if we stole your name?”

His face lit up with a smile. “Really?”

“Really. You have been the friend my mate needed from day one, and we’d love to honor that friendship.”

Tears were shed, and hugs were given, before Dr. J, his nurse, and Willy left the three of us together to enjoy our first night as a family.

“I love you, Nick. Thank you for dropping that toy on my lap.” That wasn’t a story we were going to tell our son anytime soon, but I would always treasure it.

“That was all fate, with a little help from magic, and you’re welcome.” He brushed the hair from my brow. “It was pretty much the best thing I ever did. It led me to you.”

“Exactly where you were meant to be.”