"He's upstairs in the spare room," her gram said from the recliner. She put her book down and stood, walking over to them. "Adora had some of the warriors move most of Benji's things down to your house on the Unit Level. I told them to keep a bag of clothes and the Pack 'N' Play here for him to sleep in." She hugged Ellie close. "He's perfect." With a sniffle, she stepped back. "I know I asked for a great-grandson, but that was quick," she teased.
Grant puffed out his chest. "I aim to please."
Marjoram gently shoved her toward the stairs. "Go see your son."
Ellie and Grant, hand-in-hand, took off up the stairs. They opened the door to Benji's room and peeked in. Quietly, they tiptoed in and looked down at their sleeping son. There was something calming about watching the rise and fall of his chest as he slept.
Ellie kissed her fingers and gently placed them on his heart. "I swear to be the best momma in the whole world."
Grant kissed his fingers and laid them beside hers. "You will want for nothing and always have a place to call home."
They turned and eased out of the makeshift nursery. Once in their bedroom, Ellie felt the entire day catch up to her. Still dressed, she crawled onto the bed. She yawned and turned on her side.
Grant began to strip her. "I'm sorry, my love, but I don't have it in me tonight."
He pulled back the blankets before covering her naked body. "Sex is never expected but always welcome." Dozing in and out, she heard him undress and turn out the light. He reached over her to put something on the nightstand. When she opened one eye to see what it was, she smiled. He had made sure to grab the baby monitor.
His arm snaked around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. The long length of warm muscle was a wall of pure comfort. She sighed happily, and he kissed the back of her neck.
"Go to sleep, love."
She wasn't able to stay awake any longer. Feeling like her entire world was finally complete, she surrendered to sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The early morning was magical. They got up and looked at each other then ran to the nursery. Marjoram saw them in the hallway and laughed at their antics. "Enjoy it while you can, before you know it, sleep will be a thing of the past."
Ellie opened the door and smiled. Benji was awake and sitting up in his bed. When he saw them, he squealed and reached out. Grant picked him up, and they cuddled him between them.
"Good morning, son," Grant whispered, kissing the top of his head. He passed him to Ellie, and she tucked him close to her chest. Benji cooed and played happily with her hair.
It took them twice as long to get ready because neither of them wanted to put him down. Grant left while she was feeding Benji his bottle. A selfish part of Ellie just wanted to stay home and bond with her son, but she knew the other children were waiting on her.
She met up with Grant in front of the hospital; he was carrying a familiar canvas bag. He had remembered the stuffed animals. He gave her a goofy grin and kissed first her then Benji.
"You just saw us not twenty minutes ago," she teased.
"Feels like forever."
"And who is this gorgeous young man?" a voice asked.
Ellie turned to see Rheia and Anne walking up. "This is our new son, Benji." Ellie tickled Benji's cheek until he gave the two women his famous one tooth grin. They inhaled at his adorable smile and gushed over him. "I thought you two were on the night shift?"
Rheia nodded. "Your gram volunteered to do nights as long as we'd be on call. She said that I, especially being pregnant, needed my rest."
The three women followed Grant as he passed out the small knit animals.
"I want the chicken!" one of the Hamilton boys called out.
Grant frowned. "It's not a chicken; it's a hippogriff."
"Chicken!" the boy giggled. Grant handed it over and moved on.
"Can I have the octopus please?" a little girl asked.
"It's not an octopus; it's Cthulhu."
"What's a cthulhu?" the small girl asked, tilting her head.