It had been a week since the birth of the twins and finally they were cleared to have visitors although Mason still needed some help with his breathing.
Cora had visited the small family every day and marveled at how much they had grown already. But the rest of the family had not met the twins. So it was with excitement that Robert stood outside Edith's bedroom door. Cora had gone in just a moment ago to make sure the small family was ready for visitors.
After what in reality was a few seconds but to Robert was a lifetime Cora opened the door with a smile and beckoned him inside.
Robert stepped into the room cautiously and smiled fondly at the sight in front of him.
On the bed lay Edith with Evelyn on a chair beside her. In Edith's arms was a little babe dressed in a pink nightgown with wisps of red curls on her little head. Robert walked closer and smiled at his youngest granddaughter.
Edith smiled at her father and held up her little girl.
"Papa. Meet Marigold Cora Napier. Your granddaughter." She said as she offered the babe to her father.
Robert gingerly took little Marigold and help her in his arms gently. He smiled fondly at the sleeping babe in his arms. She was perfect. Just like Sybbie, George, and his daughters had all been. He still wasn't all that happy about the situation his daughter had found herself in but as he held his tiny granddaughter in his arms he didn't really care all that much anymore.
Robert looked down and simply stared at the little flower snug in his arms drinking in each little feature.
He heard a cry and looked up to see Evelyn pick up his grandson and change his nappy. He could remember attempting to change Mary's nappy when she had been a baby. He had quickly learned that nappies were not his thing.
He watched as his grandson was changed then taken to his mother who cooed at him.
Edith smiled at her father and had Evelyn but Marigold in her crib before handing Mason to her father.
"Papa. Meet Mason Robert Napier." she said as she handed him the tiny little baby.
Robert grinned as he took the baby boy from his daughter. He still couldn't believe his daughter had named her son after him. And as he looked down at his youngest grandson he fell in love with the sweet little baby. He realized how brave his daughter had been. To keep her twins even through everything that had transpired in the past year was so incredibly brave. As he looked down at his little namesake he no longer found himself upset over the situation. And instead was so glad that the little twins had been born.
He looked down at his daughter and smiled. "I'm so proud of you Edith." he said honestly.
(this is AU and is in the Breakfast Woes universe. Downton Abbey belongs to Julieen Fellows)