It had been a few months since Franchesca announced that she was pregnant. Federico was a great doctor and listened as Franchesca talked about her aching back and cravings. She wasn't as moody as what she was expecting, which surprised her. Federico had taken monthly measurements of her belly when she and Domenico went. It would often surprise her how big she's gotten since her last checkup.
The one thing Franchesca couldn't tolerate was her leave from the Brotherhood. She was often bored, and Domenico took on extra missions to make sure they had the money they needed to get the house they looked at at the beginning of Franchesca's pregnancy. It had two bedrooms, one of which they were going to convert to a nursery. The person who owned the house before them even helped out by lowering his asking price to 20000 florins.
15000 florins more than what the two had.
Domenico took on extra missions to help pay off the house, which often left Franchesca home alone.
Just her and their unborn child.
Franchesca felt like her freedom was stripped. She loved scaling buidings, performing Leaps of Faith, and traveling. She was strictly told not to scale buildings, as she wasn't supposed to lift anything heavy (this comment Franchesca was offended by), or put herself in danger.
That knocked out everything Franchesca loved doing.
However, it all changed when, a few months towards her due date, Franchesca was put on strict bed rest. "To make sure nothing happens to you or the baby." was what Federico told her.
Franchesca often complained about how if her new home, which they had finally managed to pay off, caught on fire, she wouldn't be able to do anything, Federico would laugh and comment that Domenico would not let anything happen to her. Domenico even commented that if it meant he lost his life, he would make sure Franchesca delivered the baby without a problem.
That scared Franchesca the most. She didn't want to raise a baby without her husband.
Despite all of that, the two would often find moments to cuddle in their bed. Domenico would listen to Franchesca's concerns about him not being there when the baby arrived, and he would reassure her that he would make sure he was there. They discussed names and decided on two:
Isabella Brianna for a girl, after her mother, and Damion Gabriel for a boy, because Domenico liked the name.
Franchesca had gotten used to feeling the baby kick. It made her feel good, knowing that their baby was alive. She had surprised Domenico by placing his hand on her stomach when the baby kicked.
The look on Domenico's face the first time he felt the baby kick was breathtaking. It was a look of awe, joy, and wonder.
It was moments like that that reminded Franchesca why she fell in love with him in the first place.
However, soon, that all changed.
It was the middle of the night. Something had jostled Franchesca awake, and she was confused, at least until she felt a pain go through her back. Immediately, she knew what was wrong.
"Domi...Domi...get up..." Franchesca whispered, nudging Domenico.
"Fran...?" Domenico turned to face her, "What's wrong?"
"Go get Federico. Now."
"It's early in the morning, love, he's not going to be up."
"Domenico, go get the doctor. Now." Franchesca growled as another pain shot through her back.
"Go get...oh God."
In an instant, Domenico was up, throwing on a pair of his boots, and hauling it to the bedroom door. "I'm going, I'm going!"
"Please, hurry back." Franchesca begged.
Domenico ran over to her and placed a kiss on her lips. "I promise." He mumbled before taking off.
Time seemed to fly by for Franchesca. The pain kept coming, and Domenico did return with Federico, but he had Evelyn with him as well. "Normally, it's the women who deliver children." Evelyn had commented.
A couple hours, screams, kisses, and words of encouragement later, Evelyn held up a crying baby boy. "Congratulations! It's a boy!" She announced before wrapping him in a blanket and handing him to Franchesca.
Tears of joy streamed down Franchesca's face as she took that baby, her baby, in her arms. All she could do was stare.
"Did you guys have a name for him?" Federico asked, "For the records?"
"Si. Damion Gabriel de Mancini." Domenico had replied, since Franchesca was still staring at him.
"Did you both come up with that?" Evelyn asked.
"Sort of. Damion because I like the name, and Gabriel after one of Franchesca's ancestors."
Evelyn walked up to Franchesca and said softly, "Fran, I need to take him so I can get him cleaned up."
"Now?" Franchesca asked, looking up as Domenico started brushing her hair out of her face.
"Si." Evelyn replied, smiling, "I promise I will give him back."
Franchesca sighed and held up Damion. Evelyn took him and rushed off with him, Franchesca staring after her in disbelief.
"Amore mio, hai fatto bene. Si dovrebbe ottenere un periodo di riposo (My love, you did well. You should get some rest)." Domenico mumbled, intertwining his fingers in Franchesca's.
"Non fino a che non arriva a vedere nostro figlio sta bene (Not until I get to see that our son is fine)." Franchesca whispered, trying to sit up to see Damion.
"Fran, please, you're tired." Domenico replied, gently pushing Franchesca back against the pillows.
"My main concern is our son. Please Domi, you have to understand."
"I do understand, Fran, but you're tired. You need to get some sleep."
"What part of 'not until I see our son' do you not understand?"
"Fran, he's fine. He's right here." Evelyn spoke out, walking back into their bedroom.
"Let me see him!"
"Fran, your husband's right. You're tired."
"I don't care. I'd rather fall asleep with him in my arms than not see him!"
Evelyn sighed. She looked at Domenico, who chuckled and commented, "That's my Fran. Stubborn as a bull."
"Fine, but I'll take him from you when you fall asleep. I don't want you crushing him."
Franchesca opened her mouth to protest, then closed it and sighed. "Alright. It's a deal."
As Evelyn walked over to them and handed Franchesca back Damion, Domenico let go of Franchesca's hand and helped her sit up. They both looked at the sleeping baby in his mother's arms.
"He's so...precious." Franchesca whispered, gently touching the baby's face.
Damion's eyes fluttered open. He looked up at Franchesca and Domenico and smiled.
"None of us have gray eyes." Franchesca commented.
"Babies have gray eyes until they get a little older." Evelyn replied, smiling.
"Fran, please, you need some sleep."
"I'm fine, Domi. Really."
"Then let me hold him. I am his father, after all."
Franchesca looked at Domenico and smiled. "Of course." She replied.
As Domenico took Damion from Franchesca, Evelyn looked at her and said, "Can you at least get some sleep? I can bring his crib in here so that way you can be sure he's fine."
"That might work." Franchesca replied, "Will I be able to get up and walk?"
"If you think you can. You're probably going to be too weak to walk for the next few days, but if you feel up to it..."
"I'll try in the morning." Franchesca mumbled, "I'll have to get up eventually."
Domenico put Damion in the crib that Federico had brought in and crouched next to Franchesca. A simple kiss was placed on her forehead. "Get some sleep. Damion's sleeping, so you should get some sleep as well."
"I guess." Franchesca mumbled, stifling a yawn.
"We'll go on out of here so you can get back to bed." Evelyn mumbled, backing up towards the door.
"Thank you, guys." Franchesca mumbled.
"Any time." Federico replied, "I'll be back in the morning to check up on you."
The door was shut. Franchesca pulled the blanket up to her chin. "Domi, can I ask you something?"
"What is it, amore mio?" Domencio asked, crawling into the bed next to her.
Franchesca put her head on Domenico's shoulder. "Do you have to go back to Nicolo in the morning?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Not really."
"Then I won't. I informed Nicolo I would be out until you decided you were well enough to take care of yourself. Even if it means you don't want me to go, I won't."
"Thanks love." Franchesca mumbled before falling asleep on Domenico's shoulder.