Chapter Eleven

Molly screamed while I grabbed her then ducked under the table and the painted crashed down onto the table, hit the floor and slid down the stairs.

"Molly, are you and Master James alright?" Simon shouted as he ran up the stairs and knelt down, looking under the table. Molly was shaking while I held her and my heart must have been beating loudly in her ear. The screaming grew louder while we crawled out from under the table and Simon looked down at the shattered frame at the bottom of the stairs. Anne ran down the stairs as she ran to me and looked from the wall to the shattered frame then back.

"What happened?!" she asked.

"Deedrie tried to kill us. That's what happened," I said.

"Hmph," she said when the screaming started again and we looked at the staircase to the left.

"Right, let's go," I said as I walked to the stairs and walked up the stairs. Molly and Anne followed close behind me as I wondered where Daniel had gone and my heart thumped hard and fast in my chest. Simon had joined us as we walked up down the hallway and the screaming grew louder. The frames on the walls shook as something slammed against the wall and I growled. "Deedrie?!"

The screaming stopped when the air turned ice cold and a mist moved across the floor. Molly held onto my shoulders as I watched the mist growing thicker and something groaned in the mist. We watched while something moved around us and sniffed the air. No one moved when ice cold fingers touched my nose and I slowly blinked.

"Suhr?" Molly whispered from behind me as I hushed her and misty brown eyes looked at me. The ghastly pale face peeked out from the dark hair while the ghostly figure of Dedrie stood in front of me and the pale hand rubbed against the mist. She was the same height as I was and she moved back and forth, moaning.

"James, be careful," Anne whispered and I nodded.

"Och, Lass, it's alright. We're nae going tae hurt you," I said in a soft, gentle voice, the same voice I use to calm Pride or Clover, and the moaning grew softer. Deedrie looked sold enough as I held my hand out and she looked at it. She slowly moved her hand toward mine when her hand moved through my hand and her eyes went wide. We covered our ears when Deedrie moved her head back and screamed. The air cut through us when she slammed her hands on the wall and the frames moved side to side then fell to the floor. "Stop that right now!"

"Master James, please, don't antagonize her," Simon said as I walked closer to Deedrie and she placed her forehead against the wall.

"Deedrie?" I asked when she looked at me and the dark hair fell into her eyes. "You dinnae ken that you're dead, do you?"

The misty brown eyes blinked at me when she looked passed me and a stunned look appeared on her face. Turning around, I saw Daniel behind me and smiled. Daniel stood next to me when Deedrie reached out her hand and he wrapped his fingers around her fingers. Deedrie moaned as he moved her closer then held her and rocked her. We covered our eyes as a bright light appeared around them and a soft sobbing sound echoed around us. After the light faded, we stood in the hallway as the air in the hallway felt different and Anne walked to me, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"What just happened?" she asked.

"Daniel took her to her rest," I said softly when I walked away and went back to my room. Closing the door to the reading room, I walked to the portrait as I looked up at Daniel and blinked. It was odd to miss a ghost, but I was starting to like having Daniel around. The air grew colder when I turned around and saw Daniel standing behind me. "You decided tae stay, eh?"

Daniel nodded as he walked to me and looked at the portrait. I could see the sadness in his eyes when he looked down at his feet then at me and blinked. Pointing to me then around the room, he nodded and I titled my head to one side.

"I can use this room?" I asked and he smiled. He then pointed to the other room while I looked back at it then at him and he nodded. "And it's alright for me tae sleep in there? Och, I wish you would tell that sister of yours that it's alright. She would have me sleep in the stable if she had her way."

Daniel frowned while he thought for a few seconds then looked at the portrait and pointed to Anne.

"Aye, she doesnae want me here."

He used his finger to write WHY and I shrugged.

"It's nae like I'm trying tae replace you. I could never do that and I dinnae want tae," I said as he nodded then pointed to me then pointed to the portrait and shrugged. "Have I tried telling her that?"

He nodded as I thought about it and folded my arms over my chest, nodding my head.

"Mebbe it has tae do with what I said," I said and he tilted his head to one side. "I called her a Sassenach when I first woke up. I was kidding, but she's still mad about it."

Daniel pushed up the tip of his nose then pointed to his head and I laughed.

"I agree. She is pigheaded."

"Who's pigheaded?" a voice asked as the door opened while we looked at the doorway and Anne looked at us. I never knew that ghosts could laugh, but Daniel started to silently laugh just as I did and she looked from him to me. "What's so funny?"

After we calmed down, I winked at Daniel and Anne walked to us. Daniel wiped his eyes with his hand as I shook my head and Anne crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, are you going to tell me what you two are laughing at?" she asked and Daniel vanished. Shrugging, I walked out of the room as I heard a soft growling coming from the reading room and softly laughed, leaving the bedroom.

(Daniel is still here. Sometimes I hear him moving around the reading room and Hannah has seen him as well. Anne has told her about Daniel and Hannah has asked how Daniel died. I'll get to that story later on in this journal. I do wonder why Daniel is still here though. I think it might have to do with Anne. The Doctor told me that twins are considered one person split in half and they share one soul. So, if that is true, then Daniel is waiting for Anne to die and join him. That is a scary thought, but I don't care and….Hmmm, Daniel is also noisy. He and Anne taught me how to use sign language and he just asked who Amelia is.)

Amy noticed that the handwriting changed and smiled.

Dearest Amelia,

James is letting me write a short note to say hello. I have learned to pick up a quill and can write short notes if I concentrate hard enough. It's amazing that I am writing to someone in the future. Hope all is well with you.

Your humble servant,

Daniel Edward Michael Watertin

Post scriptum…Please ignore any rubbish James writes about the mischief we get into. Most of the things we did were his idea.

(No they weren't!)

Post scriptum 2…Yes, they were!

A small agreement went down the page until she saw WILL YOU BOTH STOP IT?! – ANNE on the bottom of the page and Amy smiled, turning the page.

(I'm going to skip a year due to nothing much happening except at Christmas when Katherine told the family that she was expecting a baby in July. Anne and I are still at odds with each other, I can't believe she held a grudge over me calling her a Sassenach, and the family and the staff have noticed the difference since Daniel helped Deedrie's soul pass over.)

24 July 1749

Pride is now three years old and I had only been riding him for two weeks. Commander Watertin had gotten Pride a mate and she was a lovely chestnut called Summer Dew. She was very shy at first until Pride rolled some apples toward her with his nose and won her heart.

"Aw…" Amy said and sipped on a bottle of water that the TARDIS placed next to her, along with a plate of sandwiches.

26 July 1749

Now I hope you get to know the joy of having a child someday….

Amy rolled onto her back as she looked up at the clouds rolling across the sky when she thought about the Dream Lord and her being pregnant in that dream world. Her hands gently stroked her stomach when she sighed then rolled back onto her stomach and started reading again.

….but I never thought I would have the honor to bring a child into this world. What I am talking about is the day Katherine had her son.

It was raining since the night before while I heard the sound of the rain tacking on the glass and was reading a book that Lady Pamela bought me a few days ago. The floor creaked when I looked up and saw Daniel standing near the window, looking out at the rain. I watched him slowly fade away as I sighed and realized that he only left when someone was coming. Looking toward the doorway, I heard someone coming and placed the bookmark where I was reading and stood up. Walking to the doorway, I looked out to see Katherine standing near the mantel and she looked like she was in pain. Sweat rolled down her face and neck as she held onto her stomach and moaned.

"Lady Katherine?" I asked as I half ran to her and gently placed my arm around her. Commander Watertin and Lady Pamela were away on holiday and Katherine's husband, Michael, was in the stables, taking care of his horse.

"Oh this hurts!" she moaned while I led her to the bed and helped her lay down.

"What are you doing out of bed?" I asked while propping pillows behind her head and she sighed, looking at the ceiling.

"I was tired of being in bed and went for a little walk. I was half way down the hallway when my water broke," she said then grunted and I sat on the bed, taking her hand. She had been cramping during the last two weeks of her pregnancy and the doctor had told her to stay in bed.

(Aye, try and tell Anne or her sisters to stay in bed while they're pregnant is like trying to tell the sun to stop rising in the morning!)

"OH!" Katherine yelped when Molly came into the room and stood next to the bed.

"I'll go fetch Mrs. Connolly and Mister Michael!" she said then left the room and I smiled at Katherine. Mrs. Connolly wasn't just a great cook, but was also a midwife and had delivered not only Susan, but Daniel and Anne.

"I don't think I can wait!" Katherine groaned as I moved closer and brushed the hair from her eyes.

"It's alright," I whispered and she growled at me.

"Stop talking to me like I am a horse!" she growled and I smiled.

"Sorry."

"Oh this hurts!" she moaned as I held onto her hand and she gently smiled at me. "I am sorry."

"Och, dinnae fash," I said when she squeezed my hand so hard and the pain caused little white flashes in front of my eyes. Both of us screamed as she sat up on the bed and let go of my hand.

"James, please help me! There is something wrong!"

"What do you want me tae do?"

"You've delivered calves and foals, go see if you can see the head!" she bellowed and my eyes went wide. It was true that I have done that, but this was completely different.

"Uh…"

"Do it!" she screamed as I got off the bed and went to wash my hands. I brought the towel with me as I dried my hands then sat on the bed. She was wearing her night shift as I placed the towel on the bed and knelt near her feet. Nodding, she placed her head on the pillow as I sighed and gently lifted up the bottom of her night shift. Spreading her legs, she balled her hands into fists and I looked down, seeing something sticking out of her.

"Blessed Mother and her son," I whispered then gently poked at what it was and it wiggled. Katherine moaned as I took a deep breath and slid my fingers under the baby's head and used to fingers to open the opening a bit more. "Right, I need you tae take a deep breath and push."

Katherine grunted as she pushed down and the baby's head slid out and I gently moved the baby until the shoulders appeared.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Connolly demanded as she stormed toward the bed and stood near the bed.

"He's de-delivering my baby!" Katherine shouted and placed her head back. Mrs. Connolly cleaned out the baby's nose and mouth while I held onto the baby and smiled at Katherine.

"Right, give us a push," I said as Katherine grunted and Mrs. Connolly pushed on Katherine's stomach, helping the baby travel down the birth canal. The baby's arms came free while I adjusted my hold on the baby and looked at the umbilical cord sliding out, looking like a large snake. Katherine groaned as I looked up at her and she was breathing hard and fast.

"I don't want to do this anymore!" she shouted while Mrs. Connolly hushed her and wiped the sweat off her face with a cloth.

"I just need one more push," I said and Katherine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Screaming, she pushed as a soft pop filled the air and the baby slid out. Mrs. Connolly told me to move as I crawled up the bed and sat next to Katherine. Both of us smiled when we heard the baby crying and the sounds of someone running down the hallway.

"Katherine!" Michael shouted when he ran into the room and watched while Mrs. Connolly wrapped the baby in a white blanket she had brought with her and placed the baby in Katherine's arms.

"Congratulations, Sir, you have a son," Mrs. Connolly said as she moved her head to tell me to get off the bed and I stood up, kissing the top of Katherine's head.

"Whoa," Amy said then turned the page.

After the bed had been changed, including a new mattress, I sat on the bed while reading when someone knocked on the door and I looked up to see Michael standing in the doorway. He held something in his arms while smiling and I nodded. He walked to the bed when I placed the book on the bed and he placed the baby, wrapped in a white blanket, into my arms, sitting down on the bed.

"How is he?" I asked as I peeked under the blanket and saw ten little fingers bent into tiny fists and the baby frowned.

"He's fine," Michael said as I tickled a finger under the baby's chin and the baby smiled, wiggling in my arms. "I do want to thank you for being there when she went into labor."

"You're welcome," I said while looking at the baby and saw that he had a full head of hair. It gently floated around the baby's head and the baby opened his eyes, looking at me. "Hello."

"By the way, Katherine and I were talking and we would be honored if you would be his godfather," he said and my eyes went wide.

"Aye, I would love tae," I said and Michael smiled. "What is his name?"

"It's Michael James Gregory Paul Wicker," Michael said and, again, my eyes went wide.

"James?"

"Yes, it was Katherine's idea," he said and I gently smiled, feeling my heart swelling inside my chest.

"Aw…." Amy said when Rory walked up to her and tapped her foot, making her look up at him.

"We landed," Rory said as she nodded, placed the bookmark in the journal, got up and they left the room while the ducks floated slowly over the surface of the pond.