17. Leigh

SEVENTEEN

LEIGH

L eigh watched Claude saunter down the hall and walk into the hospital room with the elderly vampire. She drifted with the intention of meeting up with Tristan and Barbara, but felt compelled to look in on the vampire clan and the fresh, bouncing baby.

She peered through the glass of the door, laying her fingers longingly against it. She got there just in time to see Aria hand Claude the child and something tugged at her heartstrings.

It was like an orchestra was tuning up for the big crescendo. The music in her heart guided her forward, pushing the door open to a sea of vampires turning their heads to welcome in a doughy-eyed wolf.

Claude's gaze was soft and glassy as he handed the baby back to her mother. When Leigh came into the room, he glanced up. The dark eyes bloomed with something magical. Something affectionate and tender.

"Leigh," Aria said, smiling broadly. "Come! Do you want to hold little Mai?"

Leigh felt her cheeks flush. She didn't know Trevan and Aria at all, mostly based on reputation. Though she knew that Trevan was part wolf, it still felt strange standing in a room of mostly vampires. And one of them was offering their baby to her.

"Oh, I don't have to, it's okay," Leigh said, grinning politely. "Mai is a beautiful name. And she is beautiful, of course."

Aria balked, then waved her over with a lot of enthusiasm for a woman who'd just given birth.

"That's nonsense, come on over here."

Leigh knew that Aria wasn't going to take no for an answer. Her wolf whispered to her faintly that Claude was indeed her mate, she had no doubt, and what that meant was that she was part of the family. She had no clue as to whether or not Claude had shared any of his possible feelings with Aria, but there was something in her eyes, a twinkle of sorts, that said she too sensed something special.

So Leigh moved forward through the collection of vampires, all watching her with a kind and curious eye. Aria gently handed the baby over into Leigh's waiting arms.

When Mai settled into the crook of her arm, a strange glow grew at the center of Leigh's chest. It was like her heart was increasing in size.

"Wow," she whispered.

Leigh felt like she was on the edge of tears as she rocked baby Mai back and forth. The little girl was asleep, swathed in a light pink blanket with a tightness that resembled that of the womb. Leigh kissed her forehead, breathing in that natural baby scent that put her defenses on high alert.

Nothing had ever given her that maternal instinct.

"She is really something, isn't she?" Claude said, his eyes brighter than Leigh had ever seen them.

"She really is," Leigh murmured back.

All of the vampires marveled at the birth of the new family member, a half-vampire, half-wolf result of a half-vampire half-wolf reproduction. It felt right, to Leigh. It felt like providence.

"All right, I think it's time for mom and baby to get some rest."

A nurse had walked in and began to usher everyone but Trevan out of the room. Leigh's arms felt oddly empty when Trevan carried Mai back to her mother.

Claude walked out with Leigh, side by side, and they traversed the hallways to meet up with Tristan and Barbara in the cafeteria. She was surprised by how relaxed the vampire was, affectionate too, placing his hand on her lower back before sitting at a table with the patriarch and matriarch of the Wolfe family.

"How was it?" Tristan asked, cradling a plastic coffee cup in his hand.

"Oh, lord," Leigh said, bringing her palm flat to her chest and crooning. "She is so adorable. A little bundle. So perfect and tiny."

"It must have been quite a sight," Barbara chimed in, finishing off the remnants of a cheese bagel. "It's not very often that we get to see a half-vampire, half-wolf from the get-go. It's about time though. Things are changing."

The matriarch gave Leigh a grave look, and she interpreted it twofold. Barbara knew all about Leigh's guilty feelings about being mated with a vampire. She also was a big supporter of blending the two supernatural communities, and seemed to be placing some of the responsibility on the shoulders of Leigh and Claude's potential relationship.

It really was a lot to carry for one event-planning wolf.

"For the better, I think," Tristan muttered.

They started to chat about Mai living up to the standard of her magnificent mother, when Mason Wolfe came bolting down the corridor. Leigh stood quickly, ready to jump into action.

"She's here!" Mason exclaimed, slightly out of breath. "Little Babs has arrived!"

Tristan clapped with delirious excitement, and they all stood, racing down the hallways as one big, happy family.

Leigh's inclusion in the fun felt normal, so she followed along as they trailed the corridor and arrived at Mason and Emma's hospital room. Every now and then, she and Claude exchanged secret glances, something relayed between them wordlessly.

It was like they didn't have the argument back at Embraced at all. And Leigh was fine with forgetting all about it.

Baby Babs's full name was Babette, in honor of their matriarch, Barbara. She was the first to hold the little bundle of wonder, tears rolling down her cheeks and pooling on the baby's blanket. Leigh and Claude took turns holding her, gazing into those sweet, swimmingly blue eyes.

"She is a treasure," Leigh whispered.

Claude spoke to Emma like they'd known each other for years. As they did, Leigh held Babs, who was far more wiggly than little baby Mai.

Emma's energy toward the vampire was warm and inviting. But Leigh also felt an eagerness to understand their closeness. She would have to let her in on the information when they had privacy again, back at the Sassy Wolfe.

"Aria and Trevan just had their baby too," Claude said, standing by the hospital bed. "What timing it is that both women would have their children on the same day?"

"Holy crap, that is wonderful!" Emma said, sitting up in the bed and pointing at her husband. "Mason, we have to find out what room they're in. The kids can meet!"

Mason chuckled, then brushed some hair out of Emma's face. It was an intimate gesture between two people who knew each other better than they knew themselves.

Leigh wanted to feel that way, desperately. And she wanted to feel that way with Claude.

"It's probably better that you and Babs get some rest first. It's been a long day, for Aria too," Mason said, planting a kiss on his wife's forehead.

Emma's eyelids fluttered, and she and Leigh shared a look. Babs was beginning to fuss, and as much as Leigh was able to calm her down, she knew that nothing would do the trick the way a mother's touch would.

"Okay, I think she wants her mommy," Leigh said, giggling.

Leigh handed the baby back to Emma, who began to sing to her with a sweet lullaby. Bab's small eyes were open only slightly, and her arms and legs jostled around under the blanket. But the second Emma began to sing, her little body went limp, and she pressed her cheek against her mother's chest.

It was one of the most beautiful sights Leigh had ever laid her eyes on.

"That's how you do it," Emma whispered with a wink.

Tristan and Barbara took photos and fussed over Babs for a little while longer. Soon enough, another nurse came into the room and rushed the four of them out so mom and baby could get the rest they so sorely deserved.

But before they could depart, Mason tugged at Claude's elbow. The vampire paused, and Mason's voice was low for the sake of his newborn and exhausted mate.

"Hey, how about the two of you stay in town for a bit? We've got a guest house on the property you can stay in, if you want. Emma will likely only have to stay for one night here. I would love to spend more time with you both."

Mason flashed a charming smile, his eyes lingering longer on Leigh's than Claude's. She gazed up at the vampire, who was already nodding with approval.

"That sounds lovely. I'd be interested in that," he said softly.

"Splendid!" Mason replied.

When they walked out into the hallway, Claude slipped his hand into Leigh's. His touch was like an electric shock.

"I hope that was okay to do," he muttered once they'd made it out of the room. "I don't want to make decisions for you, but I've been wanting to see you. If you'll see me, of course."

A smile tickled Leigh's lips. She lifted his hand to her mouth and planted a delicate kiss.

"You made the right decision. I want to see you too."