Guest: I hate to disappoint, so i may have un-ended my story and written an update, so will get more of these two. I will being writing additional short stories as well as this one. Some will involve Sophie and Gideon, and some will feature some of the other couples in the series, so let me know if there is a relationship you would like to see.
Let me know in the reviews if there is anything people would like to see in this story. Hope you enjoy this section: Sophie and Gideon become parents to a beautiful little girl.
Onto the story. I hope you enjoy. I own nothing but the plot!
***Gideon P.O.V***
I'll remember the day Sophie told me she was expecting our first child for the rest of my life. If I'm honest, I wasn't expecting it to be so soon into our marriage, but I'm not complaining in the slightest. We had been getting ready for bed when it happened. I'd looped my arms round he neck, kissed her neck and whispered that I loved her. She'd lightly place her hands on my waist and responded with "well I hope you have some love to share Gideon" which caught my attention. I looked her in the eye, my concern clearly on my face "whatever do you mean?" I asked. My brain seemed to stop wanting to stop functioning. She smiled then, so whatever she had to tell me couldn't have been bad. "I am with child Gideon" she said as a matter of fact. I couldn't believe what she had said "pardon" I stuttered. Sophie smiled, and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. "I'm pregnant. We're going to be parents" she said, spelling it out for me. Thankfully my brain seemed to catch up and acknowledge what she had told me.
A grin spread across my face. "Well in that case, I assure you I have plenty enough love, for you and our child" I confirmed, finally getting round to answering her original question, and it seemed to please her. "Do you know how far along you are?" I found myself asking. Sophie shook her head. "I think you can work that one out for yourself" she said. I stood thinking, then it had occurred to me. A few weeks before, we'd visited the institute to see how Charlotte, Henry and Charles were getting on. Where Sophie spent most of the time talking to the parents, I'd been sitting on the floor entertaining their son. I hadn't stopped talking about how amazing it would be to have that: a child which was a combination of you and the person you loved most in the world. Sophie had agreed, and that night we had made love. I nodded "A couple of weeks, from when we visited Henry and Charlotte" I said. Sophie nodded "right first time" she confirmed.
The following months had certainly been an experience of emotions. I'd done whatever I could to help Sophie. I'd held her hair back and patted her back when she was suffering from morning sickness, I'd done all the strenuous tasked that Sophie had done, I'd helped her changed, and done everything I could to relax her and keep her calm. One day, she'd grabbed my hand, and had placed it on her ever expanding stomach. I was confused at first, then felt it: a kick. I had looked up at Sophie, with my eyes wide in absolute amazement. In that moment, the fact I was going to be a father suddenly felt very real. When our baby kicked again, I just place my forehead on the bump, tears streaming down my eyes. Sophie cradled me head in her hands, as we just stayed like that for a few more moments.
***Sophie P.O.V***
Gideon had been looking after me since I told him I was pregnant. He wasn't doing it because I was carrying an heir to the family name, but because he wanted to protect me and the child because of his love for us. We'd moved back to the Institute in preparation for delivery. When we'd broken the news to everyone, we found ourselves in the center of a massive group hug. It was nice to know people were happy for us. Charlotte and Tessa promised to help me when the time came, which put both Gideon and my minds to rest, and Will and Gabriel promised to keep Gideon out of the way. I found myself thinking that in some ways, they had the harder job, as Gideon wouldn't let me go anywhere without him, "in case something happened". It was sweet, if not a little annoying at times.
The time came late one night. We were asleep when I felt a pain in my stomach. I knew what it was: a contraction. Gideon was still fast asleep when the second one happened. They seemed to be coming too quickly, so I shook him awake. He seemed to wave me back to sleep, but I said, with some urgency evident in my voice "Gideon, wake up, it's time" then gasped in pain. This prompted him to sit bolt upright, fully awake. He walked me to the infirmary, having to pause every so often because I was having a contraction. I thought labor was supposed to take hours, but this was going far too fast. Once we had arrived, Gideon kissed me, wished me luck, and then went running off to get help. Once he left, I realized just how frightened I was. He had kept me calm, for so long, and now he was gone, I felt the panic set in.
I didn't have to wait long before Charlotte and Tessa to come bursting in. When they did, I was bent over, gripping the side of the bed in pain. They managed to calm me down and get me on the bed. Tessa had done a check, and told me I was nearly fully dilated. I asked where Gideon was, and was told he was pacing the corridor outside. I hated the fact he had to hear everything going on without being able to do anything. A few minutes later, after checking me again, Tessa informed me I was fully I was fully dilated and could start pushing. That's when the screaming started. I had been told labor was painful, I just wasn't expecting it to be this painful.
***Gideon P.O.V***
When Sophie went into labour, I was terrified. I had spent so much time dedicated to looking after her, it hurt that I couldn't be with her at the last step. Will and Gabriel tried to get me away from the infirmary, so I didn't have to hear what was going on, but having shouted "my wife is in there having my child, I am not going anywhere" at them, I resorted to pacing the corridor. Will and Gabriel tried to calm me down, but once the screaming started, indicated that Sophie was in the process of delivering our child, it was too little too late. I slid down one of the walls, so I was sitting on the floor. I put my head in my hands and whispered "Sophie mi amor lo siento mucho por hacer esto para usted" (Sophie my love I am so sorry for doing this to you). I felt like I had let her down. I had promised I would never hurt her, and yet I had done just that. She was in so much pain, and it was all my fault.
I have no idea how much time had passed, when I was suddenly aware that the screaming had stopped, and had been replaced by crying. Not just any crying, but a baby's cry. I looked up to see both Will and Gabriel staring at me, when the door opened and Charlotte stuck her head. Looking at me, she said "mother and child are alive and well, would you like to say hello?" and without saying anything, I leapt to my feet and went into the infirmary and went straight to Sophie's side. There was a sense of peace around her and the child. She glanced up and looked at me "We have a daughter" she whispered. I took a proper at her and whispered "ella es Hermosa" (she's beautiful) and she was, she really was. She'd inherited my eyes, and Sophie's hair. "Estoy tan orgulloso de ti" (I am so proud of you) I added. Sophie rested her head on my shoulder and we just stared at our daughter. "We made this" she said softly. What she said next surprised me "I was thinking we could call her Barbra, after you mother" she said. I found I had a lump in my throat, and thought to myself "what did I do to deserve this wonderful woman in my life?" Sophie looked at me, and I realized that I hadn't actually answered the question. "Yes, I think that's a wonderful way to honor her" I said. We were then interrupted by Charlotte, announcing Sophie still needed to deliver the afterbirth, and suggested I introduce Barbra to her Uncle and Will. Slowly taking the bundle of blankets that contained my daughter, I left.
Coming out into the corridor, I noticed that Will and Gabriel had been joined by Cecily and Henry. I walked over to Gabriel, looked him in the eyes and asked simply "Would you like to meet your niece Uncle Gabriel?" His face was one I hoped to remember for the rest of my life. I don't think he realized he was going to be an Uncle until I had spoken the words to him just then. He held his arms out, and took her, staring at her face. Glancing up at me, he said "she has your eyes" then went back to staring. It was Cecily who spoke next "have you chosen a name yet?" she asked. I nodded, which caused her to raise an eyebrow "Sophie has suggest we call her Barbra (I looked at Gabriel at this point, saying the name of our mother had caught his attention. I said the next bit more to him rather than to the other three) in honor of our mother. I have agreed" a single tear slide down his check. As I took Barbra back from him Henry seemed to say what they were all thinking. "That's a beautiful idea. Your mother would be proud" I hoped she would be.
Charlotte came out, saying that we could go back in and see Sophie. I went in first and sat on the bed next to her. I passed Barbra back to Sophie, so she could have a cuddle. The other's sat on surrounding beds and chairs and we just talked. Considering how little sleep we had, none of us were tired. It was one of life's precious moments that one wanted to remember. I had my wife and child on one side, and my brother on the other. Despite not being related by blood or marriage, I considered Will, Tessa, Cecily, Charlotte and Henry just as much a part of my family as Gabriel, Sophie and Barbra.