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December 23 - December 28, 2024
“There is absolutely nothing you could do or say or anything that could happen that’d make me embarrassed to be your husband.”
I’m the raging blizzard and the fucking wildfire. There is nothing that will stand in my way of what I want and what I will achieve.
Our children will be raised differently, and that’s alright. I sense our strength together, our support for each other’s choices. Today, I’ve fallen in deeper love with these people. No matter which direction we fucking move, we’ll all still be there.
Rose captivates me to the point where she has all of my attention. My eyes, my mind, my heart.
“All my dreams are realities, darling. And your dreams are my dreams.” He presses the warmest, most loving kiss to my forehead.
“Happy Birthday, Daddy!” Jane is the first to say, tossing another handful of confetti from this little pink pail. I skirt around Connor to see his reaction. He’s smiling at all the children. He’s smiling. Rose is too. And then they lock eyes, and I swear the world slows for a second or two. The nerd stars are a powerful force while in orbit. I touch my cheeks, my dopey grin hurting my face.
I imagine fans putting a life-size Connor Cobalt in their bedroom, right next to a Damon Salvatore or a Harry Styles. I don’t think Connor would mind either.
“You’d still be a part of this family.” I gesture in a circle. “I wouldn’t kick you out because of it.” Long before he became Willow’s boyfriend, we all knew him as Garrison Abbey: the rebellious, teenage neighbor.
I can sit here and I can think, I won’t do that because he told me not to. Because I know it’s wrong. I wonder how many people meet the person they once were and feel like they’re staring at a stranger. I’m happy my son will never meet that man. I’m happy Lily has the husband she deserves. And I’m happy for me. Because I finally love who I am.
Loren Hale: father of a cute-as-hell little boy, discipliner (but not in a shitty, Jonathan Hale way), and husband to an adorable, pinchable blanket-lump.
“Maximoff Hale. You want to cook or watch superheroes defeat evil?” I can’t believe this is even a question. “Superheroes,” he says in a daze. Yeah, that’s definitely my kid.
I want a boy so we can have another child.
“He’s refusing to come out. Therefore, he’s a Cobalt boy,” I explain my rationale.
crumble at the sight of our baby. No matter how many, each one is new. Each one is different and unique, and I revel in this raw moment that strips me bare.
“What are you thinking?” I whisper. “How breathtaking dreams are when you meet them.”
Connor & Rose Cobalt welcome the birth of their baby boy * * * ELIOT ALICE COBALT June 1st, 2019
“She moves a lot and keeps me up at night sometimes.” She. Luna Hale. I’m a little scared to have a girl, but only because of other people. I don’t want them to hassle her the way they hassled Daisy. Future sex addict, they said about my little sister. Just because of me.
“Luna,” he says her name much more gently than he says most. “Are you going to be into camping? Or are you going to be scared of bears like Mommy?” I slug his shoulder. “It’s a good fear,” I defend. “The best fear there ever was.” Then he kisses the outside of my lips, teasing.
“I’m going to protect her,” he says strongly and certainly. I must still look concerned because he repeats it. “I’m going to protect her, Lil. And you know what, she might not even need me.” He cups my cheeks. “If she has even a fraction of your strength, she’ll be okay.” He kisses my lips, cementing this truth.
Lily & Loren Hale welcome the birth of their baby girl * * * LUNA HALE November 30th, 2019
“Being away is difficult, but the hardest part is the physical act of leaving.”
“Your daughter will have the same support system, Daisy. She has people her own age in the same boat all around her.” Moffy. Jane. Beckett. Charlie. Eliot. Luna.
“The greatest medicine on Earth isn’t a pill. It’s compassion. The ability to make someone feel less alone. Someone very close has been this for you.”
I can’t help but laugh, and Ryke sighs like he’s tried really hard to sway her away from fucks but it’s an impossible task. I actually love that it was her first word—because she’s so a part of Ryke. When he told me that I missed that first-word milestone, I wasn’t upset. I was happy to hear that she started speaking, and hey, I was able to hear her second word. Coconut.
It’s so easy to hate Loren Hale. And it can be just as easy to love him.
Loren might not have been a Calloway sister, but he’s been more of a brother to me than any other man in my life.
Once upon a time, as the way most tales are told, I found this abandoned kitten. Sadie has been with me through years and years worth of time, but here, right here, the tale ends.
Sadie was fifteen and weak enough that she was ready to go—and she chose Jane’s closet because, like people, animals seek comfort at the sight of their end. She sought comfort near Jane.
“You can be sad because she’s gone,” I whisper, “but you can also be happy because she existed.”
Connor & Rose Cobalt welcome the birth of their baby boy * * * TOM CARRAWAY COBALT April 21st, 2020
Lo turned to me that day and said, “You and me—we raise superheroes.”
Independence has nothing to do with whether or not someone chooses to be single or to be married, to have children or to not have children. Independence by definition is about self-governing. About choosing for yourself. About making your own decisions.
As soon as he stops by my side, his bright face smothers every dark emotion inside of me. He has the biggest overpowering smile, three of his top teeth missing, and his eyes shine with some sort of pride. Of me. Jesus. My son is proud of me.
He’s the only one I ever needed to impress.
Ben *named for Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi who mentors Luke Skywalker *he reminds me of Connor *I could’ve made him Obi-Wan, Queen Rose, so put away your talons *this means a lot, so…thanks
I choose Pirrip, as in Philip Pirrip, from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I choose Pirrip as Ben’s middle name because I saw Rose reading that very novel when we were sixteen. She won’t remember because she never saw me. I passed her in the conference room lobby during Model UN. She sat straight as a board on the edge of the hotel’s lobby fountain, the book opened on her lap.
I had never looked back in that way before, but for the very first time, I did. I looked back, and I only looked back at her.
Connor & Rose Cobalt welcome the birth of their baby boy * * * BEN PIRRIP COBALT March 29th, 2022
“It’s only two days, Moffy.” And then he cries, “I hate you!” My eyes burn. I hate you rings in my ears. “You can hate me for two days, Maximoff, but I’ll love you for a thousand more.”
I’d rather share the quiet with Daisy than sit in silence alone.
“I know people always remind Lo of this, and for Connor, it’s just known, but Ryke…” Daisy smiles into another heartfelt laugh. “You’re an amazing dad.” I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hit me like a thousand tons. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be like Jonathan Hale, and I broke the mold faster than my brother could. I had no good father figure, nothing to emulate, but I knew what I never wanted to fucking be. What I’d never do to my daughter. I’d be there every day, not just on Mondays. I’d love her more than I loved money. More than I loved my reputation. More than I loved myself. I’d
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“Lo and I love the name Xander.” After we learned we were having a boy, we began brainstorming names from our favorite comic book characters. Months passed with too many options and more indecision. It wasn’t as easy as Maximoff and Luna. So we gave our long list of potential baby names to Ryke and told him to pick one. He handed back the list, and he circled a name but crossed off a portion of the letters. Alexander Summers
By the time the world catches up with me, I’m in the hospital, the clock strikes an hour past midnight. And a Christmas miracle cries softly in my arms.
Lily & Loren Hale welcome the birth of their baby boy * * * XANDER HALE December 25th, 2022
“You’re named after one of the greatest guys I’ve ever fucking known. He was a rock climber. That’s his Jeep.” Awe brightens her green eyes.
“Every day that I grow older is a fucking blessing,” I say lowly, my voice hushed in this Jeep. Next to the sun of my life. “But every day that I grow older with you is priceless.” I watch her chest rise high. “I’ve been so fucking lucky.” Lucky to be with Daisy. Lucky to be alive. Lucky to hold my daughter. Lucky that we have two chances to have another baby when we could’ve easily had none.
Knowing Garrison Abbey, I’d never in a million years label him as lazy. He’s smart as hell and spends more time coding than I do reading comics. And I read a fucking ton of comic books.
“We have the perfect name if it’s a boy or girl.” “What?” “Keller for a boy,” he breathes. “Kinney for a girl.” I smile wider into my tears. Julian Keller and Laura Kinney from X-Men comics. Hellion and X-23. His two favorite characters in all of Marvel.
I have a theory that, together, sisters can do extraordinary, miraculous things. People will underestimate us, undervalue us, maybe even forget us, but together, together—we succeed.
I love my sisters more than life itself, and what Rose did for me digs to the very core of love. It exists entirely and soulfully within Winona.
