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“I know,” said Ellie, “but it’s so exciting. We’ve been waiting for them!”
“Hey! Everyone! Come quick! Moose and Erica’s baby is coming!” yelled Conor.
Em and Sebastian forgotten, they took off toward the clinic and waited with dozens of others as tiny little Erica gave birth to the man-child belonging to Moose. It seemed to be taking hours longer than it should have, but they were assured that everything was normal.
U-Jin paced the floors, waiting for news on his sister. They’d just found one another, so he hoped that this massive child didn’t take her from him.
“This is where everyone is,” grinned Sebastian. “What’s going on?”
“Moose and Erica are in labor,” said Conor. “I mean, Erica is in labor, but you know what we mean. How are you guys?”
The entire room gave a knowing smirk, and Sebastian just laughed, hugging Emelia to his side.
“We’re perfect, and we will be getting married once Em has completed her last case with the bureau.” There was applause, then blank stares from Moose standing in the doorway.
“What are you cheering? You don’t even know anything yet.”
“Just tell us everything is okay,” begged U-Jin. He smiled at his brother-in-law and nodded.
“A boy. Eleven pounds one ounce, twenty-two inches long.”
“Ouch,” said every female in the room.
Moose could only laugh, shaking his head. Erica was a very tiny Asian woman, and he knew she would struggle to give birth to a baby of his. In the end, the team decided to do a c-section to help the poor woman.
“She was so brave, so perfect. He’s perfect. Sergeant Jordan Sculler.” He stared at his friends, the Jordan brothers. They’d brought him here. They’d selected him from their team to come home with them. He would forever be grateful to them.
“Brother, that’s awesome,” laughed Patrick and Christopher. Christopher turned to Sebastian.
“What about you two?”
“Just the usual Belle Fleur magic,” smiled Emelia. “As Sebastian said, I’ll finish this last case with the bureau, come home to work here, and we’ll get married. Maybe a beautiful outdoor fall wedding.” Her parents, along with Hex and Gwen, hugged them both. Rachel and Chief were particularly happy that a third daughter would soon be married.
A few moments later, Doc carried the tiny, large bundle out for everyone to see. His head full of thick black hair and scrunched-up chubby cheeks earned oohs and ahhs from everyone. Christopher and Patrick were the second to be able to hold him, next to U-Jin.
Taking his nephew in his arms, he stared down at the perfect face, kissing his forehead.
“You will only know happiness and freedom. I will guarantee it.” His wife smiled at him, kissing his cheek. They’d been trying to have their own family with little success thus far. The beauty was in the trying.
“When can we go home?” asked Moose.
“Not for a few days, brother. We watch our c-section patients for a few days. She’ll be fine here. We’ll make up the bed for you, and you can stay with her.”
“I need to get everything ready,” frowned Moose.
“We will take care of that,” said U-Jin. “Do not worry. My sister and nephew will return to the perfect home. My niece will stay with us until you come home.” Moose slapped him on the back, forcing him to take a step forward. U-Jin could only laugh.
“Thanks, brother.”
“Alright, everyone back to the grove,” smiled Claudette. “We’ll have a pre-celebration and wait on the rest of these babies.”
Over the meal, Emelia and her sisters talked about wedding plans and where to have the ceremony. She’d always wanted to have it in the gardens with her family and friends. No seats, just a short, quick ceremony with scents of Belle Fleur around her.
Then she wanted a huge meal in the grove with everyone. She wanted simple. Basic. She even confessed to everyone that she’d bought a simple, white wool dress three years ago while in Chicago.
“You did?” smirked Sebastian. She blushed, nodding.
“I always knew, Sebastian. It’s been in the back of my closet since then. It’s nothing fancy, a tea-length dress. But I knew that it would be warm enough to wear outside and yet be simple.”