Lexx woke up.
The cry was sudden and insistent: not the desperate wail of a baby in distress, but the demanding cry of a baby who wanted attention and wanted it now. Julian was at the bassinet before he'd consciously decided to move.
"Okay, okay, I'm here. What's wrong? Are you hungry? Wet?" He checked the diaper with the efficiency of someone who had, as Nate had pointed out, mastered the art through years of unwilling practice. "Clean. So you're just complaining."
"He wants to be held," Lily said without turning around. "He likes being held, especially by Mommy Aria. But she's not here, so you have to do it."
Julian picked up the baby. Lexx continued to cry, his tiny face scrunched up, his fists waving in the air. Julian rocked him, bounced him, made soothing sounds that had absolutely no effect.
"Why isn't it working? This always worked with Leo."
"Leo was a different baby," Nate said. "Lexx is clearly more discerning."
"Thank you for that helpful observation."
"Any time."
