James: Chapter Twenty Eight


“She looks exactly like you,” James mused, leaning his head against Maze’s.

“She’s perfect,” Maze’s voice was full of reverence as he brushed his fingers against the baby’s.

“So are you,” James agreed. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Exhausted,” Maze said quietly. “But I’m not in any way harmed if that’s what you mean.”

“That was unexpected,” James frowned as he thought about what had happened. “You said it was just like human birth but with the shimmering thing instead. Human’s don’t turn into snarling heat waves.”

“I didn’t want to scare you,” Maze laughed quietly.

“You didn’t succeed,” he didn’t join the laughter, he hadn’t found the moment funny at all. But he was too tired to argue and Maze was probably even more exhausted. “But you did give me an idea for a name.”

“Oh?” he could tell Maze was beginning to drift off.

“There was a wave of heat and then she arrived,” James watched the tiny green-skinned baby play with her other father’s fingertips for a moment.

“The name?” Maze prompted him, sounding as though he was annoyed that James was keeping him awake and waiting.

“Ember.”

Maze was silent for a moment, apparently considering the name as he played with the baby’s fingers before he shifted his head into a more comfortable position and sighed, a small happy sound that tugged at James’ heart and made him smile.

“I like it,” he finally mumbled sleepily and rested his hand over the baby’s stomach. “Ember Small.”

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