Disclaimer: For this and all future chapters, I own no one from the Patriot.

It was an unusually stormy June evening on the outskirts of Liverpool, England. The wind whipped through the trees and lightning flashed against the windowpanes of the sprawling Tavington home. Within the vast rooms and halls of the house, its master paced anxiously in the entryway, not even bothering to light a candle in the dark. Thunder rumbled and bright flashes lit up the entrance, but he hardly noticed. All Garrick Tavington could do was continue to pace and wait while trying to block out the whimpers and screams that came from the master bedchamber above. His wife, Katherine, was in labor, about to give birth to their first child, and though he supposed he should have been excited at the prospect, fear and anxiety had a much tighter hold on him.

Garrick was twenty-three years of age, and he and Katherine's marriage had been family-arranged when he was twelve; she was four years his junior, and the two had wed when he was nineteen. Their first year of marriage had been an awkward one, seeing as neither of them knew much of the other save for what they had experienced when the members of the British aristocracy gathered together for socializing. However, he had grown to feel affection for her despite this and she returned it in kind. Still, things didn't always work out in such favourable ways.

Shortly after they had married, it was expected by both families that Garrick and Katherine produce an heir. Of course, this was much more easily said than done, for even though Katherine did, in fact, become pregnant within six months of their marriage, she suffered a miscarriage just before her first trimester had ended. Greatly disheartened by the loss, both put off any effort to try again for over a year after, though their obligation to their families was not ignored and at the age of seventeen, Katherine became pregnant for the second time. This stirred up excitement in both families, and even Garrick was able to feel a sense of eagerness. His young bride, however, couldn't help but feel a twinge of trepidation at times, though for the most part remained optimistic, especially after the first trimester and into the beginning of her second. Though events would once again take a devastating turn when she miscarried yet again, four months into the pregnancy.

Exhausted and discouraged beyond belief, Katherine grew so despondent that Garrick's father had taken him aside on his own and told him in quite an irritated tone that if an heir weren't produced within the next year, it would almost be better to have an affair with a woman who would give him one. At least then the bloodline would survive, even if it were through a bastard. Garrick's only response was a wordless nod in agreement, though he had decided to make that an absolute last resort, believing that there was still a chance with his own wife. But Katherine remained distant for quite some time and all he could do to avoid the ultimatum was assuage her fears of what a third pregnancy might result in. It wasn't easy and there were times when Garrick had even thought about reconsidering his father's words. Yet just when pressure from his family was reaching its full strength, Katherine yielded to him for a final time and became with child once again. The news brought only the mildest of reactions as everyone was now waiting to see if she would be able to bring the baby to full term. Garrick's father, already heavily in doubt, had privately remarked that Katherine had become a curse, that she would miscarry once more and the Tavington name would be doomed. However, as the months slowly crept by, there was no miscarriage and as her due date drew to only being weeks away, nearly everyone experienced the familiar anticipation, as they were more than sure that there would not be another incident like the two before. Now all that was left to do was hope that the child was a boy, an heir who could carry the prestigious name of his forefathers…

Another shrill cry tore Garrick Tavington from his thoughts and he shut his eyes tightly as if the action of doing so would block the anxiety and nervousness out.

"I need to get away…"

Of course, he couldn't go too far. Though he did manage to leave the screams behind, heading out of the entryway and striding through a series of halls until he reached the wine cellar, knowing that Katherine would be taken care of by the midwife.

Lighting a candle as he stepped into the cellar, Garrick walked amongst the many bottles of wine and spotted one of his liking, wasting no time in taking it out to pour a glass. The crimson liquid had a bittersweet taste to it and with each glass he drank, Garrick's anxiety dulled while he continued to wait for any news, leaving the cellar and going to the estate library to watch the hours slowly ebb away on a large, old, dusty clock that counted down the minutes with soft ticks and an eerie chime.

Setting his glass down next to a candelabrum that he had lit from the single candle he had had with him in the cellar, Garrick clenched his fists and jaws, a glazed expression clouding his intense, white-blue eyes. Worry was once more beginning to get the best of him, causing his thoughts and emotions to race.

What if the child was a girl? Yes, she would be better than no child at all, but she couldn't carry the name… What if something terrible happened and the child was stillborn? What if something happened to Katherine as well?

Unconsciously, Garrick had begun to shake. Reaching once more for his wineglass, he found it empty and cursed softly, moving to get the bottle of wine he had left in the cellar to refill it when one of the servants appeared at the library entrance, her cheeks a very rosy hue of red.

"Master Tavington," She said breathlessly, "The other servants and I have been looking all over for you."

"Well," Garrick's voice was colder than intended. "What is the news?"

"Come and see your wife and son."

Garrick's eyes widened before he found himself sighing in relief, getting up to move towards the entrance of the library.

"And he is healthy?" He asked eagerly, picking up the candelabra but completely disregarding the wineglass.

"The midwife says they are both perfectly healthy. And apparently, the little one already seems to resemble his father in appearance."

Garrick gave her a rare smile, his steely eyes shining with pride while the light of the candle flames danced across them.

Dismissing the servant, Garrick wasted no time in heading up to the master bedchamber. The room was lit with only enough candles to cast a soft, warm glow throughout it while Katherine lay in the large, ornately carved bed, propped up on pillows, her dark brown hair soaked with sweat and sticking to her neck and face, which seemed to have turned several shades paler than its normal hue. In her arms, wrapped tightly in linens was his son, red and crying loudly, with a shock of dark hair.

Looking up to see her husband standing in the room, Katherine managed a tired smile and motioned for him to come closer.

"Here is your son," She handed the bundle to Garrick as he sat down beside her.

"My heir… my son..." Garrick murmured, looking down at the crying baby in his arms. The midwife had been correct. His resemblance to his father was obvious and though his eyes were still grey, Garrick knew they would most likely turn to blue seeing as both he and Katherine had blue eyes, though his were much lighter than hers.

"Garrick," His wife's soft voice pulled his attention away from his son, "what shall we name him?"

Both of them had come up with names to choose from, but Katherine had allowed the final decision to fall on her husband's shoulders.

Garrick looked down at his son once more; the newborn had ceased his loud cries but still whimpered in his arms.

"William," He responded in a quiet, yet definitive tone. "His name shall be William."