Chapter 210: That’s how babies work, Carter.

If anyone thought that the arrival of Lilith Hale was going to be a quiet, private affair—

They clearly didn’t know this family.

Because the moment the green light was given, the hospital was stormed.

Damon had barely settled into the idea of being a father when his entire chaotic, unhinged circle of people barged in like they were invading enemy territory.

The hospital room was supposed to be a calm, quiet place for Seraphina and Lilith.

Instead—

It became a battlefield.

The door slammed open, and James Carter was the first to appear.

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

Damon, sitting beside Seraphina, sighed deeply.

"Lower your damn voice, James."

James ignored him entirely, marching toward the bed.

Zayn, Liam, Orion, and Dominic were right behind him, all looking equally ridiculous.

Zayn, grinning, peered over James' shoulder.

"She’s tiny," he muttered.

Liam, eyes wide, nodded. "Like, seriously tiny. How is something that small supposed to grow into a human?"

Orion, amused, smirked. "That’s how babies work, Carter."

Liam blinked. "Oh."

Seraphina, holding Lilith close, rolled her eyes.

"Are you all done?"

Dominic, standing slightly apart from the group, was the only one who didn’t immediately start talking.

Instead, he just looked at Lilith.

Silent.

Thoughtful.

Damon, noticing, raised a brow.

"You okay?"

Dominic blinked.

Then, slowly, his lips twitched.

"She looks like you," he muttered.

Damon snorted. "Poor kid."

Seraphina smirked. "No kidding."

James, grinning, nudged Zayn.

"How long before she starts making death threats like her mother?"

Zayn smirked. "Three years, max."

Seraphina glared. "I will kill you both."

Zayn and James grinned wider.

"See?" James said. "Already setting an example."

Damon sighed. "Can you idiots be normal for five minutes?"

Liam laughed. "Not a chance."

Naturally, with this group, the discussion of godparents quickly became a disaster.

"Obviously, I’m the godfather," James declared.

Zayn snorted. "Like hell you are."

James scowled. "Why not?"

"Because," Zayn said, "if something ever happened to Damon and Sera, Lilith would end up being raised by a lunatic."

James crossed his arms. "Exactly."

Damon groaned. "We are not discussing worst-case scenarios right now."

Seraphina glared at all of them. "Also, none of you are her godfather."

Collective silence.

James frowned. "Excuse me?"

Seraphina smirked. "Alex is her godmother. And Orion is her godfather."

James choked. "YOU PICKED ORION OVER ME?!"

Orion, smirking, took a slow sip of his coffee.

"She made the smart choice," he muttered.

James looked personally offended.

Zayn, grinning, clapped him on the back.

"Damn, Carter. Rejected by a baby."

James scowled. "Shut up."

Seraphina sighed. "You’re all giving me a headache."

Damon shook his head. "Welcome to parenthood, baby."

Seraphina groaned.

The room was already loud, already chaotic, when Alexandra finally cleared her throat.

"Actually," she said, sounding suspiciously calm.

"I have an announcement too."

Instant silence.

All eyes snapped to her.

Liam, who had been casually sipping his drink, suddenly froze.

He blinked.

Frowned.

"Wait," he muttered. "What kind of announcement?"

Alexandra smirked.

"The kind that means," she said smoothly, "you should probably sit down."

Liam stared.

Then stared harder.

Then—

"Oh, shit."

Zayn grinned. "You finally catching on, Carter?"

James, already smirking, leaned back. "This is about to be fun."

Liam turned to Alex, blinking rapidly.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Are you saying—"

Alexandra, too amused by his slow realization, simply nodded.

"Yeah," she said. "You’re gonna be a dad, Liam."

Liam, completely frozen, processed this information.

Once.

Twice.

And then—

"HOLY SHIT."

Zayn burst out laughing.

Damon smirked. "Well, there it is."

James wiped a fake tear. "I live for these moments."

Liam, meanwhile, was losing his goddamn mind.

"Are you serious?!" he shouted. "LIKE, ACTUALLY SERIOUS?!"

Alexandra laughed. "Very serious."

Liam stared at her.

Then stared at her stomach, as if expecting to suddenly see proof.

Then stared at the ceiling.

Then—

He collapsed into the nearest chair, gripping his head.

James, grinning, clapped him on the back.

"Congrats, buddy," he said. "You’re about to be sleep-deprived for the rest of your life."

Liam groaned.

"Okay, okay, okay," Liam muttered, running his hands through his hair.

"I just—wow. I need a second."

Zayn snickered. "Damn, Carter. I thought you handled stress better than this."

Liam shot him a glare. "THIS IS DIFFERENT."

Orion, watching quietly, finally smirked.

"Well," he mused. "This is going to be interesting."

Seraphina, still holding Lilith, smirked at Alex.

"How long have you known?"

Alexandra shrugged. "A few weeks."

Liam’s head snapped toward her. "A FEW WEEKS?!"

Alex laughed. "You weren’t exactly paying attention."

James, grinning, shook his head.

"Man, I wish I had recorded that reaction."

Liam glared. "I will throw you out a window."

James shrugged. "Worth it."

Eventually, once the initial chaos settled, Liam sat beside Alexandra, still slightly dazed.

"You really sure about this?" he muttered.

Alex, smiling softly, took his hand.

"Yeah," she whispered.

Liam, for the first time since hearing the news, finally exhaled.

Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.

"Okay," he murmured. "I can do this."

Zayn chuckled. "Too late to back out now, buddy."

Liam rolled his eyes.

And just like that—

Their family got even bigger.

And they wouldn’t have it any other way.