Page 28 of Naughty Elf: Alfie
“Good job, omega.” The doctor beams down at me before leaving the room to let the nurses do what needs to be done now.
“You are amazing,” Alfie says as he smooths sweaty hair from my face. “My perfect Pisces.”
The nurses take each baby one by one to do whatever it is they do. I can’t stop looking at my babies. One has Alfie’s honey eyes and dark blond hair. The other two have my lighter blond and brown eyes. They’re perfect.
“Have you come up with names?” A nurse asks as she places the last baby to be taken back in my arms. The other two are already happily nursing.
“I don’t have enough nipples.” Tears come to my eyes. “How?—”
“Oh, sweetie,” the nurse says. “It’s okay. You don’t need three nipples. The babies will all wait their turns.” She squeezes my arm.
“I like Gloria for one,” Alfie says.
“That’s lovey,” the nurse says and I agree.
“Gloria.” I nod. “Which one?”
“This one,” he rubs the head of the little girl on my left.
“What about Nicholas for the boy?”
“That’s a fine name too,” the nurse says.
“Love it.”
“And Clara?” I say. “Like from The Nutcracker.”
“Very pretty,” the nurse says.
“I love it,” Alfie says. “Gloria, Nicholas, and Clara.” He smiles and takes Clara, who isn’t nursing. I already miss her tiny weight on my chest. “Our little Christmas babies.”
“Knock knock.” Someone mimes a knock at the door and comes in without waiting. They’re in red pants with yellow suspenders holding them up. The band shirt seems out of place.
“Santa!” Alfie says, then cringes at his loudness.
“This is Santa?” I whisper.
“My Santa, yes. #22. Santa meet Pisces. Pisces meet Santa.”
Santa chuckles. “Just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Great. The best. Fantastic!” Alfie hands Clara back to me and gives Santa a hug. I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other, but I don’t need to.
Santa snorts. “You five be good.”
I wave and he just… disappears right in front of me.
“If that’s not the strangest shit I’ve seen in labor and delivery, I don’t know what is,” the nurse mutters. I’d already forgotten she was here.
“He does that,” Alfie says, scooping Clara back up. “Merry Christmas, my perfect mate,” he says as he drops a kiss to my lips.
Merry Christmas in deed. I have a booming business, a mate that loves me, and the start of my own big family. What else could I want?
Epilogue
ALFIE
One yearlater Christmastimeagain
