"And then, the new kitchen maid broke the bowl on Nancy's foot, which she said was an accident, but we all think not," finished Brown, glancing at Cora in the mirror. Cora grinned at her, and she managed to catch the quirk of a smile as Brown turned around to hang her dress in the wardrobe.

"And what did Nancy do?" asked Cora as she applied lotion to her arms.

"Exactly what you'd expect Nancy to do. She spluttered a bit about what a fool the kitchen maid was, and seemed about to curse, but the new butler, Mr. Carson, came in and put a stop to it."

"Quite right. Carson seems a very efficient man," said Cora.

"He is. Very efficient, and very capable for one so young. I would have thought he'd still be a valet, but no, he does a good job at being a butler."

"And do you respect him?" asked Cora.

"Respect him? But of course, m'lady. I expect that even Lord Grantham respects Mr. Carson. Now, if that's all, I shall take these garments down to be laundered," said Brown, gathering an arm-full of petticoats.

Cora smiled to herself. She knew that Brown hated gossip, but as she approached full term, it was harder and harder for her to get around the house, much less out the front door. Brown had grudgingly taken it upon herself to be her mistress's eyes and ears, and each time she came to dress Cora, she divulged everything that had happened around the house throughout the day. Cora preferred it to Rosamund's gossip sessions, when she recalled everything happening to people that Cora had only met once and had no interest in.

"Thank you, Brown," said Cora, easing herself off of her dressing table stool. There was a twinge in her back, and another in her stomach, but she forced a smile onto her face. "And could you perhaps alert Carson? The midwife may need to be called tonight."

Brown was at Cora's side immediately, helping her into bed, tucking the covers around her.

"M'lady, are you saying-"

"Brown, my water has not even broken yet. I've just got some aches. But I would just like him to be aware that she may need to be called."

"Right away, m'lady. Is there anything I can do-"

Cora patted Brown's hand reassuringly.

"I'm fine, Brown," she said. "I am just going to try to get some rest, so that in the event that it is tonight, I have the strength to bear it. And you may want to get some rest, too."

"Of course," said Brown, briefly brushing a curl back from Cora's forehead. "I'll tell Mr. Carson. And if anything should happen, of course I'll be right here."

"Thank you, Brown," replied Cora. "I do appreciate it."

Robert crawled into bed next to Cora a few moments later, and as soon as the candle was blown out, he nestled close to her back. His lips found hers, and his hand reached for her breast, and-

"Oh, Cora. Oh dear did you have a-"

"I believe that my water just broke, actually, darling."

"Your wa-"

"The beginning of the birth."

"The beginning of-"

"You might have Carson go for the midwife. Or find Brown, if you can. She shouldn't be in bed yet."

"You're-you're…" Robert took a breath and found Cora's face in the darkness. She could just make out the whites of his eyes as he held her hands tightly.

"Are you in pain?"

"A bit of discomfort is all."

"And you'll be all right if I leave?"

"I daresay I'll be a lot worse off if you don't."

"You're right, of course."

"And you'll be in bed with me when the baby is born, at this rate."

"Holy Mother-"

"Robert, please."

He was out of bed with a leap, and without even a candle, he threw on his dressing gown and ran for the corridor.

Cora had a moment of peace to breathe it all in: her coming birth, her coming child, this moment of quiet when the baby in her belly was all hers, and still safe and alive and well.

"You can do this, Baby," she whispered, rubbing her belly firmly. "You and I can both do this, and when we've done it, your Father will be so proud."

Then Brown burst in, followed by Nancy, and shortly thereafter, the midwife. Lady Grantham came in some time later, but rather than showing any feminine sensibility, she planted herself firmly in view of the happenings and proceeded to boss everybody, including the midwife, around.

"It's my grandchild, isn't it?" she demanded. "I have a right to make sure it's all done correctly. We wouldn't want imbeciles damaging the child before it has a chance to damage itself."

Hours and hours later, torturous hours of held back screams, worried looks, sweating, and blood, there was a push and a smack and a cry, and Cora fell back onto her pillows, exhausted. She only managed to revive herself when the midwife placed a clean, swaddled baby in her arms.

"It's a girl," said Lady Grantham, her eyebrow raised, her eyes staring fixedly at the tiny child. Surprisingly, her voice held not a note of disapproval. "I shall go tell Robert."

In the next moments, Cora's heart was torn. She felt instant adoration for the baby in her arms, for the red, wrinkled, beautiful daughter that was completely hers. She had finally done it. She had finally carried a baby to term, had successfully delivered, and the baby was with her, alive, breathing, well. It was true that it was not a son, it was not an heir, but she was young, and Robert was young, and they could always have a son. Surely Robert would love this daughter. Wouldn't he?

When Robert did finally enter, he had eyes only for Cora. He kissed her cheek, and then, disregarding the servants that still hovered, he kissed her forehead and lips, as well. Only then did he turn his attention to the baby.

"Mother says it's a girl," he murmured, his fingers straying to the child. He quickly snatched back his hand when he realized what he was doing.

"You may hold her," said Cora in reply.

"I, I don't think-" he began, but Cora caught his hand with her spare one and drew him closer.

"Please hold her," she asked.

Robert sat gingerly on the side of the bed, and slowly, laboriously, Cora situated their daughter into his arms.

And it was as if their whole world held its breath.

Robert stared at his daughter, and his daughter slept quietly in his arms, and Cora watched both of them, and she knew. She knew that they would be all right. Robert's eyes glistened, and he did not form words, but her heart swelled so large that she understood his thoughts without the need for words to be uttered.

"What shall we call her?" she asked him finally.

"Mary," replied Robert instantly. "And she shall be the lady of the house. And I dare say she'll end up being bossier than any son, at any rate, and Mama will spoil her until there's no telling her no for anything."

"And you'll love every minute of it," said Cora, reaching out and brushing her finger over her daughter's smooth forehead.

"I already do," answered Robert softly. He looked up and caught Cora's eye, and Cora looked back at him, and she felt her heart, which she had once thought split itself somewhere across the Atlantic, settle gently into place, as she sat with her family in this vast house that was finally her home.

End.