Page 49 of Sweet Dreams

I ducked inside, immediately finding Lulu who was sitting at a chair alongside my grandmother in our small kitchen. I moved to her, sliding my hands over her shoulders as I glared at my family. Other than Antheia, Rifa, my eldest brother’s mate, was there, a broad strap of fabric across each shoulder, from which a tiny red head poked.

“My niece is here and you dared to lock me outside,” I moved around, ignoring Rifa’s eye roll as my hands hovered over the swaddled and wrapped youngling.

“I just got her to sleep, which I should’ve known would immediately produce another Aunt or Uncle to hold her,” Rifa shrugged out of the wrap, letting the youngling squirm a little against her chest before I was able to slide my hands under her armpits and pull her from her mother.

“This,” I curled the tiny body up against my chest, holding the youngling with one hand as I reached for the blanket Rifa had waiting, “Is Jamai. The newest and most charming member of our family.”

Lulu’s eyes were the size of boulders for a minute straight, taking me in, watching me hold the infant before her arms suddenly snapped wide. “I want to hold her so badly, but I don't know anything about babies.”

Silence fell and I gnawed at the inside of my mouth as my human mate watched my sister and Rifa with those shocked, confused eyes. Rifa finally spoke up with a shrug. “I don't know anything about them either, but from what I can tell, she’s a good one. You’re welcome to hold her any time.”

Grandmother chortled, “But only after me. She’s always screaming when I’m around.”

“Gee, I wonder why,” Antheia murmured, still leaning against the counter just behind the table.

Grandmother huffed, but didn’t correct her as I cradled the baby up to my face, so I could brush my cheek over her downy head.

“Albtraum is going to be unglued if you keep scent marking her like that,” Rifa said, taking a small sip of the cup in front of her.

I rumbled an answer, still pressing my face against the small incubus. “She sees you all every day, I just want to be sure knows who I am.” I lowered my voice, “I’ll be your favorite Uncle.”

Rifa laughed, “She’s only a few months old, Z, she’s only interested in warmth and food at this point.”

I felt a very distinctive rumble in the little girl's belly, “And clean pants,” I said quietly. “Maybe you can…”

Antheia and Rifa stood at the same moment, “No, don’t look at me. You wanted to hold her, you get to care for her.” Rifa laughed, moving towards the door. Before she slipped out, she looked to Lulu. “It’s nice to have you here, Lulu. I hope you know how to change a diaper.”

Antheia disappeared after her, leaving Grandmother, who suddenly had something important to do in the back of the home.

It left only me and Lulu now, plus Jamai, who was very much in need of a new change of pants. “I’m going to go get her changed,” I said, suddenly feeling strange as Lulu stared at me. My niece whimpered against my throat, making my head drop reflexively to keep her close.

“It’ll only take a moment.”

I carried Jamai to my room. Each sibling had been issued a standard set of diapers and Jamai care items for when she was around. To my surprise and pleasure, Lulu followed me, her hands twisting at her sides. “Can I help?”

I laid Jamai down, ignoring her disgruntled squawk. “I’d love that.”

Humming a senseless tune, I laid out everything we needed and began to remove the soiled cloth diaper from her little body. Lulu stood at my side, her warmth seeping into my body as she watched, occasionally helping, occasionally just running her finger over Jamai's chubby little fist.

"I've never seen you like this," Lulu said softly, leaning in to help tuck in the last of Jamai's swaddle.

"Like what?"

Lulu shrugged, "I'm not sure, you just...you seem so comfortable. You're completely yourself. You are funny and sarcastic and you hold babies and...."

I laughed at that, scooping the infant up and holding her out to Lulu. "Maybe it's just that this is the first stretch since we've met that we haven't been in an immediate crisis?"

Lulu's gaze dropped to the infant. "So, you're always like this?"

"This is who I am."

She nodded, slowly and carefully taking the baby. Then with an awkward little movement, settled the baby in the crook of her elbow. "I like it." Jamai's dark eyes blinked slowly up at Lulu. Moving slowly, Lulu offered Jamai a finger to hold. "I don't really like babies. You know, on principle. But, I like this one."

My chest grew tight, but the feeling immediately settled. Just before I opened my mouth, Lulu spoke again. "I would like ours, too."

"You would?"

Lulu's eyes crinkled as Jamai drooled on her arm. "I would."