So I said I would write it and here it is, a DuMardle baby story. Let's see how this goes...
I hope that you enjoy the first, stupidly short, chapter and review, it means the world to me to know what you think and reviews also inspire me to write quicker. If you have any thing you want to see in this story, feel free to PM me or review and I will try and fit it in.
This story is something I want you to enjoy, it's not just a way for me to channel my love for DuMardle and also occupy my boredom levels.
"Oh god," Josie breathed out, her hand immediately moving to rest against her abdomen as she breathed out in pain. She had never felt a pain like that. An unbelievably strong stabbing pain in her abdomen. Moving her free hand to rest against the counter of accessories as she attempted to keep her balance, Josie breathed out as she glanced across to see Grace currently serving an older woman. She could barely think, the pain was taking over her body. She needed to get away from accessories; she needed to get out of the sight of customers. She looked unprofessional, supporting herself with the counter as she continued to breathe heavily, desperately attempting to deal with the pain that was coursing through her body. Moving away from the department slowly, Josie continued to breathe deeply as she moved both hands to rest against her stomach. She needed to get away from the public she was supposed to serve; she needed to hide until the pain stopped. Groaning loudly, Josie began to feel her body collapsing in agony while she was unable to do anything to stop herself from falling.
"Miss Mardle," Victor said quietly, his hands immediately taking hold of her arms to support her as she glanced up at him. She hadn't even noticed that he was nearby but now she was glad that he was. He had caught her before she had hit the ground and now he was providing the support she desperately needed. "I think you need to sit down for a moment," he suggested as she nodded slowly, moaning in pain again as he led her towards the staff area. "Would you like me to get Agnes for you?" he asked, leading her into the staff area as she nodded again, unable to speak as she took a seat and breathed out. "Will you be alright if I go and get Agnes?" he asked as Josie nodded slowly, trying desperately to smile at him as he moved towards the door. He was being too kind to her. His engagement to Agnes had ended a month ago and although it had been a mutual parting, Josie was aware that there was tension between the two of them and yet here he was, agreeing to find Agnes for her. Breathing out again, Josie slowly ran her hands across her abdomen as she glanced down at her stomach. She couldn't think what was wrong with her. Hearing the door open again, Josie immediately heard footsteps running towards her before Agnes had knelt down in front of her.
"Tell me what's wrong," Agnes immediately stated, noticing the pain that was covering Josie's face as the older woman continued to breathe heavily. "Josie, you need to see a doctor, you are in pain," Agnes continued as Josie nodded slowly, aware that there were now tears running down her cheeks from the pain that was taking over her body. Turning her head, Agnes glanced across to see Victor still standing in the doorway. "Can you get a doctor please?" Agnes asked as he nodded, disappearing again from sight after he had shut the door. "What's wrong?" Agnes questioned, her hand taking hold of Josie's as the older woman shook her head.
"I don't know," Josie admitted honestly. "I feel like I am being ridiculous, I should be working. I have left Grace to manage accessories alone, I need to get back to work. This should stop," she whispered as the younger woman shook her head at her.
"If you are in pain, then you are not being ridiculous and don't worry about Grace, she will manage perfectly well without you," Agnes reassured as Josie shut her eyes, squeezing the younger woman's hand as the pain increased again. "Victor has gone to get you a doctor, you will be fine Josie," the brunette explained as Josie groaned, aware that she was making a scene. She needed to stop this. She needed to just carry on through the pain. She had never missed a day of work because of illness. She had worked through fevers, sickness and headaches and even the recent bouts nausea that she affected her. Josie had never missed a moment of work because of an illness; she was not going to start now.
"I should have gone to the doctor, I shouldn't have one come here. People will talk," Josie said quietly, suddenly panicking that she was bringing more attention to what had just happened.
"You can barely stand, please stop worrying about the shop and start worrying about yourself," Agnes comforted as Josie shook her head.
"People will talk, Kitty will talk, I need to go back to work," Josie responded, clearly upset about the realistic idea of people discussing her private business.
"Ignore them," Agnes suggested as Josie smiled weakly. "All that matters Josie is that you feel better and recover," she explained, squeezing Josie's hand again in a desperate attempt to reassure her. "We have all had things happen at the store Josie that have embarrassed us but we move on from it, it becomes unimportant so quickly," Agnes explained as she smiled while Josie glanced down at her before nodding slowly. She knew Agnes was right but she could barely think about anything else but the pain that was radiating through her body. Hearing a gentle knock at the door, Josie quickly looked up while Agnes approached the door to allow the doctor into the room. "I will be outside if you need me Josie," Agnes stated, the older woman nodded as her friend left the room quickly.
XOXOXOXOXO
"You have been very lucky Miss Mardle," the Doctor stated as she stared up at him, confusion covering her face as she bit into her lip. Lucky? How had she been lucky? The pain had stopped now but she couldn't understand how anyone could view that as lucky. Was there something else wrong with her? Something that she was fortunate the Doctor had found. "You are both fine," he declared, her confusion growing as she glanced up at him.
"Both? What are you talking about?" Josie questioned as the Doctor stared at her, taking in her confusion before smiling at her. "What do you mean both?"
"You and your child," the Doctor said simply, his comment making Josie immediately glance down at her stomach. A child. What did he mean by that? "Miss Mardle, you are pregnant," he explained, the brunette glancing up at him in shock while her hand moved her abdomen. Pregnant? How could she be pregnant? "You need to be start being more careful Miss Mardle though," he stated as she continued to rest her hand on her abdomen, thinking about the life that was apparently growing inside of her.
"A baby," Josie whispered as he nodded, moving to sit down as she stared at him. "How can I be more careful?" she asked as the Doctor glanced back at the door that he had entered through earlier.
"You are clearly not eating enough and you are working too hard. You are an older woman, you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of your child," he stated simply as she nodded slowly. "Abdominal pains are not uncommon but you need to take better care of yourself in order to reduce the risks to your child and that includes not over exerting yourself."
"You are certain?" Josie asked quietly as he stared at her in confusion.
"Certain about what?" the Doctor immediately replied as he stood up and pulled his coat on, clearly preparing himself to leave.
"That I am pregnant," Josie whispered as he laughed gently. "I mean it is unlikely. I'm forty years old, I'm too old…"
"I am one hundred percent certain that you are pregnant," he declared before he approached the door. "Good afternoon Miss Mardle," he smiled as she nodded slowly, watching as he moved out of the room before she buried her face into her hands, desperately trying to process everything. A baby! She was going to have a baby. There was a tiny human being growing inside of her, the child of Florian and her. She was going to have Florian's child. Hearing the door creak open slightly, Josie quickly looked up to see Agnes standing in the doorway, concern decorating her face as Josie forced a smile onto her own.
"I'm fine," Josie said simply, not wanting to explain everything to the younger woman, as Agnes moved towards her before sitting down beside her. "I have over exerted myself, that is all. The doctor says I need to rest and eat regularly," Josie explained, no longer lying as Agnes smiled weakly and nodded. "I am going to ask Mr Grove for the rest of the day off I think," Josie stated as she stood up, her left hand still resting against her abdomen. Her hand hadn't moved since she had found out the truth, since she had found that that she was going to have Florian's child. "Agnes," Josie said quietly as she turned to face the younger woman before she left the room.
"Yes Josie," Agnes replied.
"Please don't tell Florian about today. He will worry unnecessarily and there is no reason to worry," Josie muttered, realising that she wasn't quite ready yet for Florian to know the truth. She needed to process what was happening first. She needed to think about the baby she was going to have. Forty years old and now her body decided to get pregnant with her lovers child. She had been with Roger for twelve years and nothing like this had ever happened but now, now she was pregnant with Florian's baby and they had not even been together a year.
"Florian won't learn anything about today from me Josie," Agnes promised as Josie smiled at her before walking out of the staff room in search of Roger. She needed to process, to think and to adjust to the idea that there was a human being currently growing inside of her body and she was soon going to be a mother, a concept she had given up on years ago.
I know it's short and not particularly good but I thought I'd provide the first chapter of Josie finding out and then it can develop further if you enjoy this and do want more.
Please review, it does mean the world to me and with this story I would like to know whether this story is something that you want to continue.