Cora flopped unceremoniously upon a chair, once she and Robert reached their bedroom after dinner with the family.

Sighing, she remarked, "Robert, is it just me, or did it seem very quiet this evening?"

Robert came up to her chair and took her hand between both of his, caressing the back of it lightly. "Cora, never mind that. I believe they were stunned. I'm sure we'll hear plenty from everyone in the next few days as they get used to the news." He looked at her with a smile. "And as we get used to the news."

She smiled back up at him wearily. "Yes, it's been quite a day, hasn't it?" Cora paused before asking, "Is Bates waiting for you next door?"

"No, darling. I told him not to come up until I rang for him. I wanted to make sure you were settled first." He brought her hand to his lips to kiss it, keeping his eyes on hers.

"You take such good care of me, Robert."

Robert knelt down in front of her chair, seeing the fatigue etched upon her face. He touched her cheek. "You mentioned on the way home that you might want a bath tonight. Since you didn't get a proper one this morning. Do you want me to ring for Anna? Or will you let me help you tonight?"

Cora could read clearly in his expression that he wanted her to choose the latter option. Smiling, she said, "I'd like you to help me, if it's not too much trouble."

"Of course it's not. Anything for the exquisite creature sitting before me who is carrying my child." He grinned as his words made her blush. "Let me go turn on the water, and I'll be back." Kissing her cheek as he stood, he disappeared into the washroom.

The long day of travel and news and the family dinner had certainly worn upon Cora. While she was still ecstatic over the baby, she was also exhausted. She stood and went over to her dressing table. She began taking off her jewelry. Robert came up behind her and carefully plucked the decorative combs from her hair. She could hear the water filling the bath behind him.

"I put some of that lavender oil in that you like, and the towels are all ready. Once you've gotten in the bath, I'll go next door and ring for Bates, and then I'll help you get dressed for bed when you're done." He kissed the tender spot just behind her ear after whispering these words into it, making her skin tingle.

As Cora wrapped her hair in its scarf, Robert knelt down and removed her shoes, then slowly ran his hands up the backs of her calves and then over the sides of her thighs in search of the tops of her stockings. He kept his eyes on hers, holding them in his gaze in such a way that made every touch of his fingers a sacramental act.

Finding the tops of the stockings at her mid-thigh, his hands lingered there for just a moment, appearing to tease her before rolling the silken material down very deliberately, their eyes still locked. Only when he'd discarded both stockings on the floor did he look down, and, taking her right leg in his hands, he lifted it to press his lips lightly to the purple and yellow bruise on her shin – where she'd kicked out in her sleep two nights ago and hit his knee.

Releasing her leg, he stood again, kissing her forehead. "I'll go check the bath."

Watching him go, Cora smiled and got up, unbuttoning her dress and letting it slide down her body to the floor. She heard the tap being turned off and Robert's voice calling through the doorway, "It's ready, sweetheart." Cora quickly divested herself of slip and underthings and walked into the washroom.

Robert's face took on a tender expression as he watched her enter the room and climb carefully into the bath. "It's just right, darling," she said approvingly. "Go on now and get ready while I relax for a while."

"Alright, Cora." He caressed her cheek before leaving for his dressing room, grinning as her sweet voice reached his ears. She might be tired, but she was happy. She hummed and sang only when she was happy.

Cora took her time over her bath, thoroughly enjoying the steamy, scented water and examining her abdomen, running her hands over it gently. Feeling relaxed and happy, smelling of lavender, she grasped the side of the bath in order to get out… and froze.

The memories washed over her suddenly, unbidden. She stared, unseeing, at the floor, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. She relived it all: slipping, falling, hitting the floor. The blood. The screams. The loss. The emptiness.

The knowledge that she'd been careless and lost their child. A son.

Her body felt paralyzed, yet her hands gripped the side of the bath so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She felt barely able to breathe. She opened her mouth to call out, but no sound came. She tried again, tried to cry out for Robert, and could only manage a high pitched squeak. Cora kept trying – kept trying because the memories continued to assault her, because she couldn't move, because she needed her husband to rescue her.

Robert closed the dressing room door behind him, tying his dressing gown as he started toward the washroom. He stopped short when he heard a series of strangled noises coming from that room. "Cora?" he ventured, hesitating.

Within a few seconds the noises formed – not clearly, but unmistakably to him – his name. Rushing now, Robert went into the washroom, half afraid of what he would find there. What he did find was his wife clinging to the side of the bath, huddled there, trembling so hard the water rippled. Her eyes were fixed upon the floor, and she was white as a sheet, her mouth opening and closing as she attempted to fashion words.

"Cora? Are you hurt?" He sat on the floor in front of her, endeavoring to get her to focus her eyes upon him. "Please, sweetheart, tell me what's wrong."

Finally Cora's eyes rested upon his. She still couldn't seem to speak, so Robert asked her again, "Darling, are you hurt?"

She shook her head slightly, her face full of fear.

"Can you get out of the bath? The water's getting cold. I don't want you to get sick, Cora." When he touched her face, she flinched, taking him aback.

She managed to utter one word: "No."

"Dear heart, you have to get out of the bath now." He kept his hand on her face, watching tears gather on her lashes.

"No." It was incredible to him how she made that one tiny word speak volumes – of fear and sadness and obstinance. "I can't," she added, beginning to shake her head more emphatically.

"Cora, you can't stay here all night."

Closing her eyes, she continued to shake her head. Robert sighed, wondering what could be going on with her. He stood, taking his dressing gown off and laying it across a chair. Pulling up a sleeve, he reached into the bath and removed the plug. Cora hadn't moved. Once the water got down to nearly nothing, Robert put his arms under his wife and lifted her out of the bath.

Immediately, her arms slid around his neck, clutching him firmly to her, as if she were hanging on to him for dear life. She burrowed her head against him, whispering what sounded to him like, "Don't let me go… don't let me fall… don't drop me…." He could feel her trembling, her breathing ragged, as if she'd forgotten exactly how.

Holding her tightly against him, he used one arm to awkwardly pick up a towel, trying to wrap it around her, feeling her tense up even more. He whispered against her hair, truly concerned now, "Shhhh, darling, I've got you. I won't let you go." He got the towel around her as best he could and carried her over to the bed, continuing to murmur comfortingly to her.

However, as Robert released his hold on her to place her on the bed, Cora clung to him. "Don't leave me. Please. Don't go," was her imploring whisper.

"But your night dress…." The words died on his lips as he felt her pull him even closer. Instead, he climbed up beside her and kept one arm wrapped securely around her while he covered them both with the bedclothes. Now that she had unfolded herself and her chest was against his, he could feel exactly how much her heart was racing. "Cora, sweetheart, tell me what's got you so afraid."

"I can't… it can't happen again. I can't lose…" She trailed off as she nuzzled her face into his neck even more, trying to use him as a shield against the pain and fear, against the images flashing in her mind. "Not again."

And all at once he understood. Stroking her dark tresses and hugging her closer, he felt his voice stick in his throat, unable to find a way around the rising lump. So he simply kept making soft hushing sounds, cradling her against him until she finally calmed down and fell asleep in his arms. Robert continued to rock her gently, letting his tears drop upon her hair.


When morning came, Robert woke with Cora still clinging to him in her sleep. Remembering what had transpired the night before, he wondered whether he should leave her there. He placed a kiss on her brow, feeling that if he left, it would be like abandoning her, and he couldn't do it. So he lay there and listened to her breathe, thinking.

It wasn't long before she stirred, then, a moment later, tightened her arms around him. "Robert, I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Sweetheart," he said, surprised, "why on earth would you be sorry?"

Cora took a deep breath. "For acting that way. It's just that, when I went to get out of the bath, I… I couldn't move. I could barely breathe."

"I know." Robert sighed. "It's nothing to apologize for, darling. I can't even imagine what you must have felt."

They lay there that way, simply holding one another for a while, both endeavoring to exorcise old demons from their thoughts – neither of them succeeding as well as they would hope.

"Robert," Cora said softly, "you should go downstairs. Tom will wonder where you are."

"I won't leave you unless you're ready." He moved his head so he could look at her.

She gave him a small smile. "I'll be fine, darling. I promise. I'll ring for Anna, and she'll help me this morning." Her stomach made a low growl, and she chuckled. "Plus, I will need breakfast soon."

Taking her chuckle as a sign that she really was alright, Robert held her face in his hands and kissed each of her cheeks. "If you need anything, send someone out to find me. It doesn't matter what it is."

Nodding, she looked at him tenderly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Pressing a brief kiss to her lips, he got out of bed and went to his dressing room. He paused at the door, glancing back at her. "Cora –"

She was sitting up and wrapping the towel more modestly around her. She grinned at him and made motion with her hands. "Shoo, now. I'll be just fine."

Smiling at her, he vanished behind the door.

As soon as he did, her smile vanished too. She heaved a deep sigh, knowing that just thinking of the bath now made her hands shake and her heart beat harder. Nevertheless, she got out of bed and pulled the bell cord, going to her armoire for a night dress to put on before Anna would appear with breakfast.


After an almost completely silent luncheon with Edith, Cora decided she didn't care about the others right now and would spend the rest of the afternoon with Sybbie. They would have a nap in Grandmama's bed and take their tea at the small play table in the nursery. Somehow she drew both comfort and strength from the little girl's presence, her complete obliviousness to the adult storms brewing all around her. Cora wanted to be more like that as she adjusted to the fact that she carried another child.

Sybbie crowed happily when her grandmother told her they were to have their afternoon rest in her bedroom. Once they'd had a few hours of sleep, Sybbie woke her in ringing tones, bouncing upon the middle of the bed excitedly. "'M-mama! Tea part'!"

Cora smiled at her, sitting up and gathering her granddaughter into her arms, feeling everything else fall away. "Sybbie, darling, let's get ready first. We want to look our best for your guests."

Her head bobbing up and down, Sybbie reached her arms around her grandmother's neck so she could be picked up and taken to the dressing table. They sat there together, Sybbie upon Cora's lap, as Cora opened her jewelry box.

"Now, what would you like to wear to our tea party?" As she asked the question, she picked up her hairbrush and ran it across Sybbie's hair. It didn't take long, as Sybbie's hair was still very short, but she knew the little girl liked being treated as her grandmother would by a lady's maid.

Cora smoothed her own hair as Sybbie chose a yellow diamond pendant necklace and earrings for her grandmama. Putting them on herself, she watched as Sybbie twitched out a massive headpiece. "M'-mama, 'N-cess Sybbie?"

Chuckling, Cora wrapped her arms around her granddaughter. "Baby, that's much too big for you yet. It will hurt your head." She dropped a kiss on her hair and then pulled out a delicate gold and yellow diamond diadem. "What about this, Sybbie? It matches Grandmama's jewelry."

Sybbie released the larger headpiece and clapped her hands together as she shrieked in delight. Cora laughed and told her she needed to be still so Grandmama could put it on her. Securing it to her little bit of hair with bobby pins, as it was far too large for her head, Cora grinned at her. "See? Princess Sybbie." The girl clasped her hands together and bounced lightly upon Cora's lap when she saw her reflection. "Are we ready, little love? Your guests are waiting."

Nodding slightly, Sybbie said, "Down, 'M-mama." Cora helped her slide off her lap and grasped her hand as they walked out of the room and down the hall to her nursery. Upon entering the room, Cora whispered her gratitude to the nanny, who had made sure Sybbie's favorite dolls were seated around the table and two chairs left empty for the pair of them, then dismissed her with instructions to ring for their tea.

"The tea trolley should be here any moment, Princess Sybbie. Shall we sit?" Cora watched as Sybbie sat down and pointed to the chair next to hers.

"'M-mama, sit!" Her face was ecstatic. She and her grandmother hadn't had a tea party alone in many weeks. "'M-papa?" she asked.

"Grandpapa is downstairs taking tea with Papa and Aunt Edith." Cora smiled at the maid who brought in the tea trolley and set everything up on the table for them.

Cora watched Sybbie lovingly as she stood up and distributed biscuits and tea cakes all around, putting an extra tea cake on the plate of her favorite doll. "Mama have more." Then she put extra biscuits and cakes on Cora's plate. "'M-mama have more."

Sybbie let her grandmother pour milk into all the cups, turning fascinated eyes upon her grandmother as she put tea and a little milk into her own and then piled the empty half of her plate with sandwiches.

"'M-mama, Sybbie tea?" Her eyes inquired curiously.

Her grandmama looked at her, then smiled. "Alright, baby, but only a little. It's hot." She trickled a little tea into her cup, then nearly laughed as Sybbie emulated her, stirring her tea with a spoon.

They drank and ate, Cora talking with Sybbie and having pretend conversations with the dolls. For about an hour they sat there together, grandmother chuckling at her granddaughter's funny behavior, forgetting about everything else for a while – just as she hoped she would.

Cora looked up when the door opened, admitting Tom. Sybbie was too engrossed in telling her "guests" a story about Grandpapa and a dragon (from what Cora could tell) to notice their tea had been disturbed. As she continued with the story, Tom approached the table with a grin on his face.

"I believe she has you hooked," he observed.

"Oh no, Tom. I asked her to entertain me for the afternoon actually." She fidgeted, the tiny chair starting to become uncomfortable for her.

Tom extended a hand to help her up, smiling warmly. Cora took it, stretching out her cramped limbs. They retired to the other side of the room, both keeping their eyes on the little girl.

"How are you feeling?" Tom asked. He was startled to see his mother-in-law's eyes brighten with unshed tears. "Did I say something wrong?"

Cora smiled widely at him, slowly shaking her head. "No, Tom. It's just that you're the first person besides Robert to even ask me that."

"I'm not going to lie to you, Cora. It's a lot to take in," he said, hoping she didn't mind if he spoke plainly – thinking that perhaps she wished someone would. "Think of it: Sybbie will call your child, one over two years younger than her, 'aunt' or 'uncle.' And if the baby is a boy –"

Surprising him again, Cora placed her hand in his, still smiling. "I know. It changes everything." Looking down at her hand in his, she said softly, "All of that aside, we're happy. Robert and I. We never thought we would have another chance to have a baby. And, you're right, it's a lot to take in. Having a baby at my age? There are risks and potential complications. There is a lot for us to think about and adjust to. Yet – my own daughter hasn't asked me how I am, how I'm feeling. But you did." Cora pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her eyes.

Pressing her hand very faintly, Tom brought her to the pair of chairs not far from where they stood, and they sat together. "So… how are you feeling?"

"Well, your daughter has fed me a good tea, so at least I'm less hungry." She chuckled a bit before continuing. "I'm tired, Tom. And a little frightened." She felt she could be honest with him. He'd always confided in her – when he'd begun to have the nightmares about Sybil's death, she was the one he'd sought out. She was the one he turned to when he had a problem or if there had been a misunderstanding with Robert – as there often was, she was sorry to say. "But I'm happy. We're happy. Despite everything else."

Tom smiled at her again. "Then I'm happy for you both." He paused before adding in a low voice. "And I know Sybil would be too."

Tears leapt into her eyes once more. "Thank you, Tom. For saying that. It – it means more than you can know."

At that moment, Sybbie appeared to realize that someone had joined them. "PAPA!" she squawked, running over and throwing herself against his legs.

"Sybbie, my sweet, did you give your guests a good tea?" Releasing Cora's hand with one last squeeze, Tom lifted his daughter onto his lap.

Nodding, Sybbie nestled herself against her papa's shirtfront, sighing in contentment.

"Well, I should leave you two for a while. I'll see you at dinner, Tom." She gave him a warm smile as she leaned over to kiss her granddaughter on the cheek, then stood to leave.

Tom cuddled his daughter close. "See you at dinner."


Robert and Cora went upstairs after another quiet meal with Tom and Edith.

"Robert?" Cora asked as she sat at her dressing table once more. "Did you hear from Mary or Rosamund today?"

Shutting the door firmly behind them, Robert shook his head sadly. "No, darling. Nothing."

Cora's heart sank. She sighed heavily. "It hurts me, Robert. To hear nothing."

Robert sat on a chair facing her while she began her nightly ritual. "Cora, Mary is probably simply shocked, like everyone else. Rosamund – well, she might have thought of a sarcastic response, but as she knows you'll read her reaction as well as I would, she's abstaining until she can think of something nicer to say." He rolled his eyes slightly.

Nodding sadly, Cora lifted her eyes to him. "I – I should have a bath tonight."

He looked at her askance – both at her abrupt change of subject and at her statement. "I don't know if that's a good idea, Cora. Last night –"

Cora stood. She was already trembling from head to toe, but her expression was defiant. "Robert, I don't want the mother of our child to be a coward."

Standing also, Robert took her hands in his. "I don't ever want to hear you call the mother of my children, my wife, a coward. She is the bravest woman I have ever known." He kissed each of her hands, then stroked them gently with this thumbs.

"Robert?" she asked, in a much smaller voice, betraying her fear.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Will you help me?" Her eyes met his. "I don't think I can do this alone."

Robert wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. "You shan't then, my love. I'll be right there, as long as you need me." Leaning back he looked at her as she nodded. "Let me get changed. I'll be right back, alright, darling?" She nodded again, and he withdrew to the other room, ringing for Bates immediately.

Cora stood there, waiting, not able to move. When he returned, she was rooted to the same spot, still shaking.

"Are you certain, Cora?"

She nodded again, insistently. He led her by the hand into the washroom and turned on the tap, having her sit on a chair while he moved around, getting everything ready for her bath. He even put extra towels down on the floor, hoping to guard against her fears of slipping. He helped her finish undressing, kissing her tenderly as they went along, noting how she still shook with nerves and apprehension.

Once the bath was full, he turned off the tap and spun around to take her hands, smiling at her softly, endeavoring to put her as much at ease as possible.

Cora allowed him to help her into the bath. Of course, getting in was not the most difficult part. Still, she clutched one of his hands, refusing to let it go. He managed as best as he could with one hand, lathering soap onto a sponge and running it over her, asking her to tell him about her tea with Sybbie, trying to put her mind elsewhere. His hand lingered over her abdomen under the water, his heart surging with love for the two of them. He didn't want to leave it there too long, however, for fear that it would remind her of before.

After the water began to turn tepid and Robert thought perhaps she had calmed enough, he suggested she get out of the bath. Immediately, he felt her begin to shake again.

"Darling, I'm right here. I'll make sure nothing happens to you," he whispered, fixing his eyes on hers.

"Robert, I can't."

At least she wasn't gripping the edge of the bathtub or squeaking his name as she'd done before.

"Cora, you can do anything. You can. And I'll be here the whole time. I'll help you."

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, Cora clutched Robert's hand with one of hers and his arm with the other. Not opening her eyes, she slowly, tentatively, stood.

Speaking in a low voice, Robert gently praised her. "Yes, my love, that's half of it. You're doing wonderfully. Now, let me help you over the edge…."

She squeezed her eyes more firmly shut. "No, no, I can't. I can't move, Robert. I can't stop thinking about it," she said in a loud whisper, shaking her head and gripping him hard.

Robert closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Cora, you can. I'm not going to let you go, not for one second."

Another deep breath and she'd put one leg out of the bath, her foot on the dry towel.

"One more time, dear heart, one more." He cheered her on, whispering around the lump in his throat at how difficult this was for her, at what she must be going through again in her mind.

She lifted her other leg out, collapsing against him, keeping a near stranglehold around his neck.

Robert held her, wrapping a clean towel around her and rubbing her back. "See? That wasn't so bad was it?" Her trembling and heartbeat against his chest told him that it was, in fact, bad. "Should we walk into the other room?"

"The floor… it might be slippery, Robert," she protested against his throat.

"I know, darling. Here –" He put one arm under her knees, leaving the other around her back, and lifted her up. He carried her to the bed again and sat beside her, her arms still about his neck. "Cora? Are you alright?"

She loosened her hold around his neck and drew back a little to look at him. The fear was still in her eyes, but her trembling had lessened, and he thought her heartbeat had returned to closer to normal. "No. Not really." Cora removed one of her arms from his neck and touched his face tenderly. "But I will be. I have you."


A/N: For this story, although it is a Cobert fic, each chapter will be ruled (largely) by one character and represented by a color in the spectrum. By the end, I hope the character will be obvious in each chapter, and I will include a brief quote regarding the symbolism of the color, which will serve as my reasoning for using that color in that particular chapter and/or for that particular ruling character and the events included.

Yellow (Cora): "joy, happiness, hope" – but also "cowardice, dishonesty, betrayal, jealousy, deceit, hazard" (Many of those last ones expressing my feelings about O'Brien….)