Chapter 10

"Keep breathing Mrs. Darcy."

Lizzy gasped and tried again to draw a breath, despite the pain which squeezed every drop of air away.

"Now push Mrs. Darcy!" firmly, but urgently.

Lizzy obeyed blindly. A long-drawn scream escaped her lips. As the blackness swooped down on her, she heard Jane's voice from far away. It shook uncontrollably, but it sounded exuberant.

"You did it Lizzy! Oh, Lizzy I am so proud of you."

The wave of nothingness closed over her head and she knew no more.

At the sound of Elizabeth's last piercing cry, Darcy stood up vehemently from his chair. "I can't stand this," he said fiercely. "What if she needs me?"

"Darcy, sit down," Bingley said wearily. "Good grief man, I want you to promise that, if I am as bad as you when my time comes to be a father, you will give me a good hard shake!"

Darcy sat unwillingly. Georgiana clasped and unclasped her hands. Surely it could not be long now. Another twenty minutes passed in heartfelt silence. The three occupants of the room were each straining to catch another sound, anything to tell them what had transpired in the room above.

Darcy saw Jane coming down the stairs first. Bingley saw her a moment later and both men were out of their seats in an instant. Charles stepped forward eagerly to support his wife to a chair. Darcy stood still, unable to move or speak a word. His lips parted but no sound came out.

Jane eased herself wearily into the seat Bingley had led her to. She looked up at Darcy and smiled. "What are you waiting for?" she asked with a playful sparkle in her eye. "Go and meet your son."

Georgiana clapped her hands together and squealed with joy.

Darcy gave a faint gasp of relief and, with one grateful look at Jane, ran from the room.

Lizzy lay with her baby in her arms. As she looked down at his little, sleeping face, all the pain of the last six hours became as nothing. He was angelic, beautiful, perfect and above all, hers. She touched his small hands and marveled at the tiny fingernails.

"My son," she murmured to him. "My little one, my precious."

She heard Fitzwilliam's footsteps pounding up the stairs. They came across the hall and stopped outside the door to her room.

Darcy paused, suddenly almost frightened. Timidly, he turned the knob and peered around the door. Lizzy, her face paler than he had ever seen it, was reclining on several pillows and cradling a small bundle in her arms. She smiled invitingly at him and he drew nearer slowly. She laughed at his nervous expression. The sound was faint and weak, but it was nonetheless Elizabeth's own dear laugh. He was standing beside her now, the little bundle in her arms moved and a tiny arm showed itself. Fitzwilliam leaned closer. The downy black hair, the little face…

Darcy stood beside the bed for a long time, gazing at his son. Elizabeth slipped her free hand into his and he clasped it almost unconsciously. After a few blissfully silent minutes Lizzy pulled her hand away and patted the bed beside her.

"Come and sit," she said simply.

He removed his shoes and carefully climbed up beside her. He sat with his back to the headboard and Lizzy leaned against him. Gently, Fitzwilliam touched his son's wee foot. The skin was as soft as a rose petal and he withdrew his hand, somehow afraid to defile it with his rough fingers. Lizzy leaned over and placed the baby in his arms. He gasped, and the spell was momentarily broken.

"But I don't know how to hold him Lizzy."

"What are you talking about? You are holding him right now," she said in a slightly exasperated tone which her loving smile contradicted.

He looked down at the sleeping baby. "Just like this?"

"Just like that." She nestled down onto his shoulder and closed her eyes in exhaustion.

"I don't know how you did it Lizzy," he said in admiration. She smiled a little but did not open her eyes.

Fitzwilliam sat quietly, with his son in his arms and his wife sleeping beside him. After several minutes the baby began to wail and Lizzy took him to feed him. Darcy stretched out on the bed, feeling for the first time the fatigue of the day.

When Mrs. Moore came in half an hour later to inform Mrs. Darcy that the doctor had finally arrived, father, mother, and son were all asleep, with little Darcy's hand tightly wrapped around his father's finger.

Yay! This short and sweet chapter was so much fun to write. :) For those who hoped they would have twins, they may come in the future, (no promises now) but for some reason a firstborn son just felt right to me.

Thank you all for your continued support of my story. I love reading each and every one of your reviews. Stay tuned for the christening.