"We've made it to the end, darling" Bertie said with a huff as he slipped into bed next to Edith and leaned back against the headboard
"Why do we always seem to forget how busy everything gets when we invite the whole family up?" Edith wondered as she set her book on the side table and slid further into the bed
"I haven't the slightest idea, but it was worth it today. I think we gave Marigold a wonderful birthday party, and Mother seemed to take care of all the toys and most of the dresses she'll need for the rest of the year. So that's one thing we don't have to worry about."
Edith smiled as she rested her hand on his arm
"I would never had expected your mother and Marigold to be as thick as thieves, but there they are. We'll have to make a visit to Downton with Marigold so Granny Cora doesn't feel like she's been forgotten, I think she might have been a tad jealous the way Marigold was stuck on Grandma's lap for most of the afternoon."
"Oh Cora doesn't have a jealous bone in her body, she's far too nice and sweet. I am afraid I might have come out on top in the Mother-in-law exchange" Bertie quipped as he brought Edith's hand up to place a kiss on her knuckles
"Maybe, but I've found Mother's bark is worse than her bite. Her and Granny are very similar and she's terribly loyal which is never bad. Best of all she treats Marigold better than I could have hoped which puts her in my good books, I've become quite fond of her actually."
"I'm glad, she's crazy about you, you know?"
"Bertie, don't exagerate." Edith said with a strong air of skepticism
"I'm serious, her greatest joy is having reason to brag to her friends and because her daughter-in-law is Queen of the county not to mention one of the most interesting and well regarded women in the whole country, you've made her decade. Plus I'm sure she sees how incredibly happy you've made me, and you came with the little girl she's always wanted."
"In that case as long as she is happy so am I. I think she had fun today with all the children, and did you see how well Marigold took to little Violet? It was very sweet."
With the mention of the most recent member of the Crawley family Bertie turned on his side to face Edith directly
"I did, it's good practice. Marigold will have her own little sister to play with very soon, won't she?" Bertie asked as he began to lightly rub Edith's rounded belly
"I can't believe you're so convinced it will be a girl, I've known it's a boy since the doctor confirmed it and they say mothers are usually right. I would think you'd be hoping for an heir so Mother can breathe her sigh of relief"
Bertie chuckled at Edith's completely accurate assessment of what his mother has been spending her time thinking and usually speaking of for the past year
"You're so very clever but I'm shocked you haven't found me out yet." Bertie teased as he extended his arm fully to hold Edith
Edith suspiciously eyed Bertie as a playful expression came across his face
"Does my dear sweet husband have a mysterious side that I'm only now discovering?" Edith teased right back to Bertie's amusement
"I thought it was obvious, I was thinking we'll never hear the end of it from Mother until a little boy comes along so if we had a string of girls we could use that as an excuse to have as many children as needed." Bertie plainly answered as he reached up to give Edith a kiss
He continued "And since we, if I may speak for you, enjoy the process so much I only thought it might be in our shared interest if this little one-" Bertie placed his hand on Edith's belly again and began to reverently move his hand is slow circles
"-turns out to be a girl, who hopefully takes after her Mama and big sister in every way." Bertie quietly finished as Edith watched him carefully moving his hand over where their baby was resting
"There is a flaw in your logic..." Edith replied as she moved her own hand to rest on her belly and intertwined her fingers with her husband's
Bertie looked to Edith to wait for what she had to say with a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth
"It doesn't matter to me if the blessed heir to Hexam is in there, I still want to fill this house with more girls and boys, and not just because I do enjoy the process as much as you-" Edith said the last part under her breath as she used her free hand to tickle Bertie at that spot behind his ear that always seemed so effective
"-but mainly because you are so wonderful with Marigold that I can't wait to see you with him when he gets here, and I have a feeling it's going to be something I'd like to see repeated."
Bertie smiled, both at Edith saying again that she was interested in having more children and that she said, as she often did, how much she enjoys seeing him with her daughter.
Bertie sat up straight against the headboard and put his arm around Edith's shoulder and encouraged her to rest her head against his chest
"Darling you know that I think of Marigold as my own, there can't be much of a difference."
"I know you do, and I can't tell you how much I love you for it, but holding a new born is special, when you know that you are going to be so responsible for them. They are just so small and innocent and you feel such a need to protect them. Even though you and Marigold adore each other you can't recreate that with her...but it is different though, everything is so very different this time."
While she was talking Edith began to turn further into Bertie, unconsciously seeking his support and comfort
Although Bertie was overjoyed at the prospect of a new baby a part of him was worried for Edith. The night they became re-engaged Edith told him the complete story, from leaving Marigold with strangers after bonding with her, bringing her to be closer to Downton but still being far away and finally receiving news that Michael was dead and deciding that she couldn't live with out her daughter no matter the risks.
He hoped that the birth wouldn't bring back any lingering bad memories, he tried his hardest to make sure Edith knew she was safe and secure with him and their marriage every day since the wedding but he knew that bad memories can be hard to get rid of.
"It's completely different Edith, and I don't want you worrying about a thing... With this baby Mother and I do enough of that for everyone. I know how difficult things were for you when Marigold was born, and I don't want you to forget that you have me for whatever you need or want."
Edith looked up into Bertie's honest expression, the same one she always saw when he wanted to reassure her, and knew that he meant every word he said. She had a feeling that if she merely hinted that having Brancaster's massive library reorganized would make her pregnancy slightly more bearable Bertie would somehow find a way to have it done by lunch time with out a question.
"I know I do, but it's very strange, my first pregnancy was all dread and gloom and sadness, so I'm still trying to get used to this one being something so happy for everyone. I never thought happiness would be something I would have to get used to..."
Bertie held her closer and placed a kiss on her forehead
"It is, and I promise you Edith Pelham, if I have anything to say about it you'll get plenty used to it."
A/N; I saw the finale and was pretty happy with it considering it was basically the Edith show. This was popping around my head, I might add one or two chapters to it but I can't make any promises! I've been thinking about a multi chapter Bertie/Edith modern AU, so if there is any interest in that I'll give it a shot.
I don't think we ever found out Mrs. Pelham's first name, but I don't think it's a huge problem because she seems like the type of woman that would prefer to be called 'Mother' so I just went with that.
Thanks, let me know what you think!