Chapter 456

Ella’s ears perk and her head snaps up, her eyes immediately moving towards the door of her cozy little office because…

That’s a child crying somewhere down the hall.

She tilts her head to the side, assessing, realizing that…

That she doesn’t know this one. She knows the sounds of all her nieces and nephews crying. This one is young – older than an infant but not yet a proper kid – and the only child she knows of that age is Seraphina. But Sera – that’s not her…

Ella stands quickly, heading for her door, her ears collecting more information as she goes. That the child isn’t in pain, but is instead scared – freaked out, really. And that with every moment, the child is coming closer. Ella whips open the door, her eyes already wide and going wider when she sees the group of boys standing just outside.

Her boys – Rafe and Jesse, and Jackson at their center, and Mark and Ben flanking on either side –

And held in Jackson’s arms, a tiny little girl, her head tilted back as she screams to the ceiling.

“Help,” Jackson says, looking between the girl and Ella in panic. “Please – please I need your help –“

Ella gasps and waves all of the boys into her office, glancing down the hall with a snarled warning at anyone who might be coming close. But there’s no one there, so she slams the door shut and spins back towards the room, her eyes moving immediately for the crying child.

“What…” Ella whispers, taking a few steps closer before pausing in her shock in her confusion. “What – who…”

But then she stills as she looks between Jackson and the little girl, the connection between them immediately obvious. Because even if the little girl’s face is red with emotion and covered in tears…

That dark hair, and her coloring, and that strong turn to her jaw? And her scent, piney and crisp?

God, but it’s obvious. Immediately it’s obvious who her father is - unquestionable.

“Well,” Ella breathes, putting her hands on her hips, unable to help the little smile that comes to her mouth. “This is…this is a surprise, isn’t it?”

All of the young men just stare at her, completely freaked out.

“Oh, come on,” Ella says, flashing a hand out at Rafe and Jesse. “You’re both big brothers who a whole hoard of children, and you’re going to let that little girl cry like that?”

Both Jesse and Rafe spin their heads to stare at Marigold, shame taking its rightful place on their features.

“All right, let’s get this sorted,” Ella says, joy flashing through her alongside her worry and her surprise and quite a bit of panic.

But Ella tucks all of that panic away, her motherly instincts kicking in as she moves quickly towards Jackson, reaching for the little girl. Because even if his life just got complicated as hell, a child is always a blessing, isn’t it?

“Oh, my goodness, young lady,” Ella says, laughing a bit and smiling at the girl. “You are making a racket!”

Marigold pauses for a second, surprised, turning towards Ella’s calm and sweet voice. But when she sees Ella’s hands reaching for her she shrieks, scrabbling, her hands grabbing at Jackson’s shirt as she tucks her face close against him. Ella’s heart absolutely swells as she moves her eyes to Jackson’s face, sees his heart break in a moment to see the little girl scared and clinging to him – either because her instincts are telling her to trust him because of their genetic connection, or because he’s just been the only one carrying her and she doesn’t want or trust anyone new.

“All right,” Ella says, gesturing towards the floor. “Down, please. Everyone sit down. We’re all far too tense.”

Jackson hesitates for a second but when the rest of the boys obey and sit on the floor in a semicircle around him and Ella, he bends too, taking Marigold along with him.

“Ella, she won’t stop crying,” Jackson says, his voice shaking.

“Well, I don’t blame her, it seems like she’s had a tough night,” Ella says, moving close to Jacks to stroke a warm and loving hand over the girl’s head and then her back. “What’s her name?”

“Marigold,” Jackson whispers, sounding like his heart breaks as he says it.

“Marigold,” Ella repeats, beaming at Jackson, doing her very best to keep all sadness out of her face. Because she intuits it all – remembers his stories of his time in the Community. Remembers Hank’s theories about how very much that horrible place would have valued Jackson’s physical prowess and his magic, would have wanted to see them passed on to more children.

Jackson just looks back at Ella, his face grim, a little terrified.

Ella shifts her hand, stroking her palm down Jackson’s cheek, loving him a great deal. “It’s all going to be okay, Jackson,” she whispers.

Jackson’s face crumples at these words, his eyes pressing shut, his mouth trembling like he can’t believe that that’s true – like it’s not possible that anything will be all right again.

“One step at a time,” Ella says, calm and patient, taking control of the situation and looking around at all of the boys, who are all so clearly freaked out. “First of which is…Marigold?” she pitches her voice higher here, authority coming into it.

Marigold, surprised to hear her name on this strange woman’s lips, quiets slightly and turns towards her, her eyes wide.

“You’re very scared, Marigold,” Ella murmurs, shifting her hand again to stroke over the little girl’s hair. “And probably tired and confused. I understand. But you’re hurting my ears. Do you think you could be a little quieter?”

To Jackson’s surprise the little girl calms, still crying, hiccupping softly in his arms as she leans her head against his chest and just stares at the queen.

“See, that’s already better,” Ella coos, continuing to stroke the little girl’s hair. “I bet you were getting tired of shouting, too.”

Marigold just continues to stare, quieting further, still frightened but not screaming her head off anymore in shock and terror.

Jackson looks with surprise between the little girl and the queen like he can’t believe how easily she accomplished that – like it may very well have been magic.

“I know you like your daddy, Marigold,” Ella says quietly, smiling at the little girl and leaning close like it’s a secret. “But his arms are getting tired. Do you think you’d like to come to me?” she opens her arms up for a hug and gives the girl the most beautiful, friendly smile.

Marigold hesitates for a second, looking up into Jackson’s face, and then returns her gaze to Ella. After a moment, quite subtly she nods.

“Oh, what a nice little girl,” Ella says with a little laugh, reaching for her. “I think we’re going to be really good friends.”

To Jackson’s shock, Marigold loosens her grip on him and goes right into Ella’s arms, curling up in her lap and resting her head on Ella’s breast as the queen gives her a big hug and a squeeze.

“We’re going to take such good care of you, Marigold,” Ella says, beaming down at the little girl like she already loves her a great deal. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. We’re going to keep you warm and cozy, all right?”

Marigold nods once, hesitant, and then starts to look around the room, starting with all the big Alphas surrounding her like she’s memorizing their faces.

“Mom, are you like…a kid wizard, or something…?” Rafe murmurs, looking between Ella and Marigold, baffled at the incredible change she made in the little girl’s in less than a minute.

“No, I just like babies a lot,” Ella says, sighing with happiness and continuing to rock the little girl. She beams at her son. “You were a crybaby too, where do you think I learned all these methods?”

Ella grins at Rafe, who rolls his eyes.

“Now,” Ella says, looking around the room, “we have a great deal to do, and I need you all to help me. You’ll all help me, right?”

She smirks a little, realizing that she’s speaking to all of these big men like they’re toddlers, but considering the shock and fear on their faces…well, it feels apt, doesn’t it? Eagerly, all of the young men nod, except for Jackson, who just stares at his little girl.

“All right,” Ella says on a happy sigh. “Jesse, I need you to go to your house and get a couple of bags of Seraphina’s things. Clothes, pajamas, toys, blankets – anything that seems nice. And don’t forget underwear, okay? Socks and shoes too – soft, comfortable things. Maybe Ben can go with you to help?”

Ben and Jesse nod eagerly, getting to their feet and heading for the door.

Jackson watches them go, his body and his mind emptying of emotion, completely baffled about what is happening and what is going to happen next.

All he knows now is that Ella is in charge.

And that he trusts her, completely, to help him sort this out.

This…this new life that fate has thrust into his hands.

He turns his head to stare at Marigold in Ella’s lap, trying to force himself to adjust to the sight of her, the reality of this little girl.

His daughter.

Which means that he’s…a father.

And that nothing is ever, ever going to be the same ever again.