Chapter 28 By the time they arrived at her apartment Naomi was a bundle of nerves. Alex was too little to realise what a father really was and that he didn't have one so she never worried about him feeling like he missed having one but she had never addressed the subject either. Alex had only asked about his Daddy once and she told him that he loved him very much but was busy looking after lots of people who needed him, far away, which was neither true not untrue. Lottie was sat on the sofa with a glass of wine in her hand warily eyeing Theon as he walked in behind Naomi. "Lottie, this is Alpha Theon of the Halfmoon pack. Theon, this is Lottie, she is a seer and Alex's Guardian. And my saviour" Naomi said introducing the pair and walking over the give Lottie a hug. "How is Alex?" "Adorable as always." Lottie replied "if I didn't know the goddess would skin me alive for it I would kidnap him in a heartbeat". Lottie stood from the sofa giving Theon a long appraising look and a strained smile. "Naomi, a word" she said as she pulled the other woman into the kitchen area. Looking over her shoulder to make sure he wasn't close enough to hear Lottie looked at Naomi really seriously "Wow he is hot!" said the older woman breaking into a grin. "Shit Lottie" said Naomi swatting her arm. "I thought you were going to tell me something serious about him like you'd had a vision while I was out or something. Bloody hell" Lottie smiled mischievously "No you are fine but I wanted him to worry a little bit. Brought him home to meet Alex or a bootie call?" "Okay" said Naomi schooling her face into mock scorn "you are way too old for using that term. I'm going to be traumatised that you said it. And no, you pervert, he is here to meet his son" Right on cue a sleepy and slightly melancholy voice called out Mommy, from the back bedroom. Naomi looked at Theon who was stood frozen with an expression she found hard to describe. He looked surprised and excited but also a little afraid. He slowly turned to lok at Naomi and practically whispered at her asking "Is that our son?" Naomi nodded. "Let me go get him and let him know someone is here. He is like you, he has no problems around new people but he will be a bit confused waking up." Theon watched Naomi retreat down the hallway to get their son. That word felt like it held a unimaginable amount of hope and promise but also filled him with fear. In the space of an 1/2 +15 Bonus hour, he had this other little life that he was responsible for. After hearing what had happened to Naomi and Alex's health problems Theon felt the enormity of what it meant to be his father. He just prayed to the Goddess that Naomi was going to give him the chance to fix his family. Hearing Naomi's soft footsteps returning he looked up to see her holding a miniature version of himself in soft yellow feetie pyjamas, Alex's head was resting on Naomi's shoulder, and he was whispering something to her and she was smiling softly at the boy in her arms. Theon's breath caught in his throat, and he felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest. "Alex" Said Naomi stopping in front of Theon. "I want you to meet someone very special, this is Theon and he is your Daddy" The child didn't react for a moment but as he started to process it his evey went wide and he looked at his mother in surprise "I have a daddy?" he asked. The question was so simple but the words almost broke Theon's heart. "Yes baby." Said Naomi in a soft voice "Remember I said he was away looking after lots of people, well now he's back and he wanted to see you. Say hello" She turned Alex to face Theon and handed his son to him. Theon took him like it was the most delicate package he had ever been handed. He was utterly lost for words. Alex reached up and pulled one of Theon's curls and giggled. "You have the mop too!" he said "What?" asked Theon not sure if he heard him right "That's what mummy calls my hair. The Mop. She says c'mon Alex lets fix the mop!" Alex explained and giggled like he had shared a really funny secret. Theon literally had never felt anything like the sensation he had at that moment of holding his son, laughing, sharing something with him, seeing him happy. He felt overwhelmed with his love for him but also his love for Naomi that she had created and raised this amazing child all by herself. He wanted to cry, partly for how happy he was and partly for grief over what they had missed and what they should have had. 2/2