Willie held her husband's head in her lap, gently stroking his wrinkled cheek in an effort to comfort him. Truth be told, she was doing it more to comfort herself. He was dying. The time had come. Her eyes endured the familiar and harsh sting of bitter tears. His centuries to live had dwindled to mere minutes. It would not be much longer.
For months Willie had watched Gannon's steady decline in health as he trudged toward an inevitable death. The signs were subtle at first. He grew tired easily during physical labor forcing him to take frequent breaks. Occasionally, during those breaks he would fall asleep taking a much needed nap to regain his vitality. Rest periods and naps were something he had never partaken in before in his life. Along with the tiredness came aches and soreness; the typical discomforts a normal human sustained in the aging process. The evidence of his waning life became obvious when he could no longer see to his patrol duties to protect the gypsies. His body could not withstand the hours of walking. His inflamed joints and brittle bones would not allow him to wield a weapon with enough strength to protect himself much less the whole group from danger. Sensing the weakness of his body and knowing the strength of his pride not to admit that weakness, Willie would give her husband a sleeping tonic and take over his patrol duties for him. The secret was kept safely between her and her sons since they were one's who patrolled with her. Besides, being the Alpha female and Gannon's mate, it naturally fell to her to uphold his command and protect the pack.
However, at this time, everyone was aware their leader was dying. Gannon had been bedridden for nearly a month. He could not leave yet. There was an extraordinary event coming to pass that he could not miss. His first grandchild would soon be born. The joyous anticipation of the birth of the baby was the only thing that tempered the sadness of the family. The family was able to rationalize the emotional pain of Gannon's impending death by convincing themselves that it was right and good that as one life was ending another was beginning.
Willie had experienced other times in her life when overwhelming sadness and blissful happiness had coexisted. Never before had it been so crushing, threatening to destroy her sanity and physical well-being. She had no idea how she would go on living without her husband. Selfishly, she wanted to die with him. Death was not an option for two reasons: her immortality would not allow her and more importantly the love for her children would keep her tied firmly to this world as long as they were in it. She would gladly live on for her children and the new life they were being given - her grandchild who was about to be born. It had devastated her when Vlad betrayed her, cheated on her and abandoned her. Even that emotional disaster paled in comparison to this pain. After all, Gannon was the one who was there for her and saved her from that catastrophic trauma. Her children would be her saviors now. Thankfully her husband had given her so many beautiful reasons to live.
"Willie," Gannon said, clutching her hand that had been tracing the furrows across his forehead.
"What is it? Are you in pain? Do you need water? Tell me how I can help you," she gushed anxiously, looking down at him in an attempt to surmise what he might need. His skin had taken on the grayish pallor of death. Death was so close she could almost feel it standing next to her as if it were a corporeal being. Considering she was something supernatural herself, perhaps she really could feel it. She was actually dead after all. Yet her husband had been able to make her forget that, breathing life into her on a daily basis.
"Sweetheart, calm down," he murmured, his voice soft and weak.
He sounds tired. So tired, she thought to herself, running her fingers through his snowy white hair.
"I think you should go to Addie. The baby will be born soon. Don't you want to be there?" he asked, then chuckled lightly. He reached up to touch her cheek, opening his eyes to look at her. "Of course you want to be there. But you won't leave me. Will you?"
Their daughter was in the throes of labor at this very moment. Their grandchild would make his or her debut into this terrible and wonderful world at any minute. The gypsies had a belief about transference of souls. They believed that people who died gave up their souls so that a baby could live. Furthermore, they believed that if it was a family member of the child who died, that person's soul would enter the baby allowing themselves to live on with those they love.
Willie selfishly prayed that particular type of transference of souls would take place tonight. Forcing a smile to her lips since her husband was lovingly gazing at her, she smiled despite the tears filling her eyes and the grief flooding her heart. The color of his gorgeous wolf eyes had never dulled. They had become lighter, almost colorless, a silvery white like mercury. She lay her hand over his that cupped her cheek pressing it firmly to her skin. I'll miss you so much, she thought to herself, swallowing the tears and the lump that had formed in her throat.
"Addie's fine. She has Felix and her sisters. The midwife is there as well. She's the same one who delivered Addie. Our daughter is in good hands," she assured him, leaning down to plant an affectionate kiss in the middle of his forehead.
"But she needs her mother," he protested. Honestly, he did not want her to leave him. He wanted his last moments on earth to be with her. But he knew she should be with their daughter. He desperately wished he could be with their daughter.
"MOM!" Addie screamed from the tent that was located only a few yards from their wagon.
"Mom!" Zev exclaimed at the same time he flung open the door to the wagon. "It's time! Come on!"
"Gannon," Willie whimpered, agonizing as her heart was torn to bits by wanting to be in two places at once.
"Willie, go. I'll wait for you to come back. I promise," he swore, allowing his hand to fall from her cheek.
Willie carefully picked up his head, moving it from her lap to the pillow laying next to her knee. She pressed a kiss to his lips before standing up to leave. "You better wait for me. Don't you dare go anywhere yet."
"He's coming with us," Connor announced, taking his mother's hand to assist her with getting down the steps to the ground. He and Rafe entered the wagon to pick up their father. They wanted their father to see his first grandchild.
"MOM! I NEED YOU!" Addie caterwauled.
Willie rushed into the tent, dropping onto her knees beside her daughter who was at the last stage of giving birth. Bevin held Addie's head mopping her sister's sweaty brow and red cheeks with a cloth dipped in cool water. Feya held Addie's hand offering encouraging words and prompting her to push when the midwife said she could see the baby's head. Willie glanced around for her son-in-law finding him sitting in the corner looking pale and on the verge of fainting. A lot of the men could not handle it very well seeing their wives in such a horrible state. They found it difficult to cope with the helplessness of being able to do nothing to relieve their most cherished love one's misery.
Willie had been one of the lucky few whose husband stayed right beside her through the pain. But then again, he always had been there when she needed him the most, in her worst most pain filled times. He had been the one who held her when she was on the verge of dying after being run through. He was there in the forest to save her life a second time when the villagers attempted to burn her to death. He had cured her broken heart and filled her life with more love and joy than she could have ever imagined.
"Mama, Mama," Addie sobbed sounding just like the little girl who would call for her when she fell down and scraped her knee.
"I know baby. It will be over soon. This is the worst part. Your child will soon be here," she assured her, peeling away the sweaty hair stuck to Addie's cheeks.
"Why in the hell did you do this six times?" her daughter questioned her through gritted teeth.
"I'm glad she did!" Zev, the sixth child, exclaimed. He was standing at the opening of the tent, holding back the flap for his brothers to bring their father inside.
"Daddy!" Addie gasped happily, momentarily forgetting her pain. The respite did not last long as another strong contraction gripped her. Her body was seized with the urge to push. The baby was ready to meet the family.
"All right, Adelaide! Just a few big pushes and your baby will be here," the midwife informed her.
"Come on, girl! You can do it!" Gannon encouraged his daughter, managing to sit up beside his wife. He was forced to lean against Willie to hold himself up, but he doubted she minded. She had told him months ago that it was about time he leaned on her. He had always been her support and rock, the one she could count on - for once she wanted to be that for him. Now she truly was supporting him.
"Almost there! That's it!" the midwife exclaimed.
Bevin helped her sister with raising her head while Feya pulled on her arms to aid her with pushing forward. Addie grunted with the exertion. The grunt steadily grew into a growl that rose into a howl.
"He's here!" the midwife yelled, raising the baby from between his mother's legs.
"A boy! Gannon, it's a boy!" Willie cried, putting her arm around her husband who unexpectedly became a lot heavier.
"My grandson," he whispered, staring at the child in wonder.
"He's not crying. Why isn't he crying?" Addie asked, burgeoning panic evident in her voice.
The midwife started to clean the child with a cloth, vigorously rubbing his little body to stimulate circulation. Using two fingers, she pressed on his chest over his heart with light pressure before continuing to massage him in an effort to rouse him. Tension and low level hysteria settled into the tent like an unwelcome guest. Silence filled the air like a deafening scream.
"I have to leave, Willie. I must go so this child can live," Gannon whispered lowly so only she could hear him.
Willie put her arms around his shoulders, holding him tightly against her. His breathing was labored and shallow. She pressed her forehead against his, willing herself to say her next words. The tears that overflowed her eyelids made her voice thick displaying her emotions. "I love you, Gannon. Thank you for loving me and giving me six precious gifts. And we just received another. Good-bye, my darling."
"It's never good-bye. I'll always be with you. I have loved you in this world. I will continue to love you in the next. I will love you...always," he mumbled, his voice fading into one last long breath.
Willie gasped as his life force, what she believed to be his soul, exited his body and passed into her. Her body was filled with warmth. An inexplicable peace enveloped her as if she had been wrapped in a blanket, cozy and comforting. Although he was dead in her arms, she could feel him embracing her as if his arms were actually around her body. The warm sensation subsided, gradually exiting her body. She was left with a lingering tingle as if her whole body had been electrified. The peace remained. He had been one with her for just a moment. But there was someone else who needed him more.
"Gannon," she whispered.
A high pitched wail broke the silence like a sledgehammer shattering glass. As soon as the baby started to cry, announcing to them that he was here and alive, everyone inside the tent released an audible sigh.
"Mom? Mama," Addie called, reaching out for her mother's hand. "I want you to hold the baby first."
Connor and Rafe carefully removed their father's body from their mother's embrace. They did not bother trying to hide their tears. They were all shedding tears of completely diverse emotions; the elation of the arrival of a new life and the mourning of a life newly ended. Neither emotion surpassed the other but the joy made the grief more manageable.
Willie took the precious newborn wrapped in the quilt his mother had made for him during the months of awaiting his birth. Addie had used squares of cloth cut from her own baby blanket, her mother's favorite dress, her wedding dress, and other sentimental items. Willie counted ten tiny fingers and ten itsy bitsy toes. He already had a head full of fuzzy reddish brown hair. His eyes were closed so she would have to see their color later. But he was gorgeous. Round and pink and absolutely perfect. She kissed his silky smooth chubby cheeks and cuddled the warm little bundle to her chest. All she could do was cry silently as she stared at the baby in her arms. She wanted to see this child live and grow.
"Mama," Addie murmured, touching her mother's arm.
"He's beautiful, darling. The most beautiful baby I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of beautiful babies," she laughed lightly, glancing around at her children who surrounded her. She extended her hand to her daughter, wiping away the tears that ran down her cheeks. "Don't cry. He got to see his first grandson before leaving us."
"I want- " Addie's words were stolen by a hiccuping sob. "I want to name him Gannon. Do you mind, Mom?"
"Of course not, sweetheart. Your father would be honored. He would love that. And so would I," Willie assured her, kissing the baby's forehead. "Welcome to the world, Gannon. I love you so much."
~...~
Alucard dropped to his knees feeling as if a heavy weight had landed on him. His fingers clawed at his chest wanting to rid himself of whatever was keeping him from breathing. Sadness, heart rending grief, held him in its powerful grip preventing him from drawing in his next breath. He dropped forward to his hands as he began to sob. Had he ever cried in his life? He had no idea. Tears, hot and salty, ran down his cheeks and seared his skin. What was this awful feeling?
Moments before he had been pacing his room, feeling anxious and unsettled. Then out of nowhere it was like something attacked him, trying to force the life out of him. Anguish and sorrow so overpowering had driven him to his knees. As he struggled to breathe, the fear began to grow inside of him that he might die. The most disturbing part was that not only did he feel like he would die, but the face he wanted to die. He had not felt this way in a very long time.
"What the hell is happening to me?" he wheezed, lowering his head to the floor. The torment that wracked his body prevented him from feeling the carpet burns he was was incurring on his forehead as he writhed in pain. His long fingernails scratched at his constricted chest until he ripped apart his skin and soaked his flawless white shirt with his crimson blood.
The muted sounds of a woman sobbing reached him as if they were being carried across a long distance, across time itself, to reach him. Her wailing grew louder until he thought the sound would deafen him. Alucard could feel her grief which was made even more profound by hearing her cry. A picture of a woman began to form in his mind and immediately he knew it was Willie. He was accustomed to seeing her like a fuzzy afterimage, a specter in his mind that he could not quite place. But now he knew her. He recalled every contour of her face, her cherry blossom pink lips, her eyes of gold and green, and her skin as white as a peace lily. She was standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The strong winds whipped her reddish brown curls around her face wildly, obscuring her beauty from him. Even when crying, lost in mourning, she was gorgeous to him despite her red puffy face and swollen, bloodshot eyes. Then she threw back her head while simultaneously dropping onto all fours. The sorrowful howl she released filled his head making it feel as if his brain would explode. Although it would not help shut out the noise, Alucard covered his ears and opened his mouth to howl along with her. He was sharing her pain, experiencing her grief. It hurt. It hurt a lot more than he had ever expected it would. He was sure she was going to kill him by inflicting her own sadness upon him. Not once did he consider what it must be like to be her, what she must be enduring firsthand if her anguish was affecting him this badly.
Alucard struggled to stand to his feet under the crushing weight of sharing her emotional burden. He had to go to her. She needed him. He wanted to stop her pain.