Chapter 21: Special Delivery

"Aaaggghhh!" Claire cried out in pain as she breathed hard. She was in her bed, struggling through her second day of labor pains. They were getting worse.

Jenny sat on a stool beside her bed, wiping Claire's perspiring brow with a damp cloth. "Aye, I ken it hurts something awful, Claire," she said sympathetically. "Take my hand and squeeze if ye need to...that's right."

After a few moments more, Claire's pains started to subside. "Lay back and rest, mo chridhe. It willna be long before yer babe is here. Dinna be worrit, lass. I'll be right here wi' ye."

Claire caught her breath and said weakly, "Jamie…"

Jenny replied, "Dinna fash, Claire. Have faith that yer man will be here."

Jenny didn't really know if Jamie would get there in time. The bairn was ready to be born. Claire was close already and she would have to start pushing before too long. Jenny said a silent prayer, willing Jamie to arrive home today.

Jamie and Murtaugh had docked early that morning and were now riding their borrowed horses as hard as they could to get to Lallybroch.

"Yer runnin' yer horse ragged, lad. What's the matter wi' ye?" Murtagh said.

"Murtaugh, I dinna ken how, but I feel that something is wrong with Claire. I have to get to her. How much further do ye think?"

Murtaugh looked at their surroundings and gauged the position of the sun. "I'd say we're less than 5 miles from home. We should be back around suppertime."

Jamie rode even faster, intent on his goal. Claire was all that mattered now. Her and the babe.

Back at Lallybroch, Claire was dozing between contractions, which were getting closer together. Claire knew that the time was imminent. She would be having this baby with or without Jamie. Where was he?

Jenny came to the room with a tray of food. "Will ye have a bit of supper, lass? Ye need to keep up yer strength for what is coming. Believe me, Claire, I ken very well."

"I'm...not...hungry," Claire muttered.

Jenny looked at her, a bit frustrated. Claire could see the look of concern in her eyes, though. She was only trying to help.

Resigned, she said, "Alright, I'll eat."

"Aye, ye will!" Jenny deposited the tray on the bed next to Claire. She spooned broth into Claire's mouth in between nibbles of bread. After a time, Claire began to feel stronger.

"Thank you, Jenny," Claire said, as she placed her hand on Jenny's arm in affection.

Jenny smiled, then, saying, "Och, yer quite welcome. Ye shall rest now. I'll be back in a bit."

Jenny went downstairs to check on dinner. Mrs. Crook assured her that it would be ready within the hour. She knew that the midwife would look over Claire for a while, so Jenny took the opportunity to sit by the fire for a time and rest her sore feet and quiet her mind. She closed her eyes for a moment, then her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hoofbeats. She sat bolt upright at the sound, and was joined almost immediately by Ian, who had heard it too.

"Do ye think…?" Jenny said to Ian, hopeful.

"Only one way to find out," he said as he headed out the door.

They hurried out to the front stoop and saw the two men riding through the gate.

"Jamie!" Jenny said, running toward them with arms outstretched.

Jamie stopped his horse and leapt off in one graceful movement, embracing his sister warmly. Ian caught up to them, patting both men on the back and smiling widely.

"Yer just in time, Jamie. I bet yer anxious to see Claire," Ian said.

"Is she...alright?" Jamie said, apprehensively.

Jenny smiled up at him. "Aye, she is grand. And yer about to be a Da, so ye better get up there!"

Jamie's face lit up with excitement. "It's true? She's…?"

"Weel get up there and find out, ye dolt!" She smiled warmly, watching him bound up the front steps.

"Ahem," a gruff voice said behind them. They turned to see Murtaugh standing there, his hand resting on the shoulder of a small boy with dark, curly hair.

Jenny and Ian stepped closer to the pair. "Ah, and ye must be Fergus," Jenny said, "Welcome, lad!" She looked to Murtaugh for explanation.

He cleared his throat and said, "Weel, he's Jamie's, ye see. I think we'd best let Jamie explain.

"Jamie," Jenny began, "is goin' to be rather busy for a time, Murtaugh. Claire is in the last stages of childbirth. I expect she will deliver tonight."

"Och, aye? Weel, Jamie said somethin' was amiss, but I didna think…"

"Aye, weel, explanations can come later if need be," Ian said.

Ian bent down as far as he was able and stuck out his hand to Fergus. "Fergus...that's a braw name. Ye must be a special lad. Is that yer given name or did Jamie give it to ye?"

"Oui , Monsieur Fraser me l'a donné . Mon vrai nom est Claudelle."

[translation: Yes, Mister Fraser gave it to me. My real name is Claudelle.]

Ian spoke French very well, having lived in France for two years when he and Jamie served in the army. "Il est un plaisir de vous rencontrer Fergus . Nous espérons que vous l'aimerez ici Lallybroch." [translation: It is a pleasure to meet you Fergus. We hope you will like it here at Lallybroch.]

The boy grinned at Ian, acknowledging Ian's gesture of respect.

Ian continued, in English, "If ye are to live here now, we will have to work on yer English.

"Oui...yes, sir," Fergus replied, proud of the bit of English he had already picked up.

"Come along, then, and we'll get ye some supper." He guided the boy towards the house as Jenny and Murtaugh followed.

In Claire's room, things were moving quickly. Claire was just coming down from another contraction, crying out in pain.

Jamie had just reached the landing just outside their door when he heard Claire's cry. A rush of panic washed over him. He quickly opened the door and hastened in to find Claire gasping on the bed, holding her distended belly. After a few agonizing moments, she relaxed a little, lying back on the pillows for a short rest. As she leaned back, she saw him standing there.

"Jamie!" she tried to cry out, but her voice was strained.

He heard her feeble voice and rushed to her side, worry apparent on his face. "Oh Claire! My love, my heart. It pains me to see ye so. What can I do for ye, love? Just tell me, I'll do anything!" His face was full of worry.

Claire smiled up at him, reaching out for his hand. "Just be with me, my love."

"Aye, I can do that." Jamie pulled up a stool and sat beside the bed. He grasped her hand just in time for another contraction. Her grip tightened as she moved through the pain.

She looked to the midwife and said, through clenched teeth, "Get Jenny...it's time." The woman didn't argue and strode purposefully out of the room.

Jamie rested his hand on her forehead. "Mo chridhe, mo nighean donn, I am so happy to be with ye. I was so worried that I would miss the birth of our child. I'm glad I…" he began, but couldn't continue as the emotion of the moment overwhelmed him. His eyes were wet with unshed tears.

"I know, my love. I was worried too, but now you are here with me and everything is as it should be." She reached up to touch his cheek. "Jamie," she said with tenderness.

"Yes, Sassenach."

"We're going to have a baby tonight," she said, smiling broadly.

His answering smile was brilliant. "Aye, Sassenach, we are." He leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.

Jenny and the midwife returned. The midwife looked at Jamie critically, clearly wanting him to leave while they prepared for the delivery.

Seeing the woman's expression, Claire said, "He stays with me!" The woman could see that Claire was determined, so she grudgingly acquiesced.

As soon as everything was prepared, Claire began to push. It didn't take long. All it took was two strong pushes, and the baby arrived, giving off a soft cry in protest, not wanting to leave the warm comfort of the womb.

The midwife wrapped the baby in a blanket and said,"Mrs. Fraser, ye have a wee lassie!" Claire cried, overcome with joy in that moment. She reached for the baby and held her close, feeling the tiny hand wrap around her finger.

Jamie's eyes flowed with tears as he saw his bairn for the first time. She was beautiful. She had a head full of auburn hair and blue slanted eyes, just like his. Her nose and chin looked like Claire's. She was perfect.

Claire cradled the babe in her arms for a while and then decided to try to nurse her. It was slow going, but the baby finally figured it out. Jamie was in awe of the whole process. He couldn't imagine anything more beautiful than seeing his wife and his daughter like this...so sweet, so tender, and both, most definitely, his.

Claire looked up at Jamie, smiling brightly, and said, "Would you like to hold your daughter?"

Jamie's eyes sparkled, "Aye, Sassenach. I would, verra much." Claire handed the baby to Jamie. He cradled her in his arms and looked down at her with unutterable tenderness. "She's so tiny!"

"Yes, she is." Claire smiled at the beautiful scene. The person she loved more than life was holding the child that they had made together - made from love.

Claire's expression suddenly changed. Seeing it, Jamie's brow furrowed in deep concern. "Sassenach?" Jenny saw his look and ran to the bed to check on Claire.

Claire cried out in pain. "What's happening? Something is wrong," she said, clutching her stomach in pain.

Jamie looked truly alarmed. He looked at Jenny, then the midwife. "What's wrong with her? Is something amiss? Tell me!"

He heard a soft cry coming from the bundle in his arms. He must have squeezed a bit too tight in his worry for Claire. "Dinna fash, sweet lass. I'm yer Da and I willna let anything harm ye."

The midwife had leaned over Claire, palpating her stomach to check for any unusual signs. After a moment she said, eyes wide, "Mrs. Fraser, it seems yer not quite done."

Jamie, Claire, and Jenny looked at the woman with startled expressions. "What?!" they all exclaimed in unison.

The midwife took up position at the foot of the bed. "Push!" After only a minute, they heard another soft cry. The midwife called out, "Jenny, give me a towel or something!"

At her words, both Jamie and Jennie looked at each other, startled yet again. Within a few seconds, the midwife rose with another bundle in her arms. "Mrs. Fraser, it appears that ye have another daughter." She placed the baby in her mother's arms.

Claire's eyes were wide with shock, her mouth gaping open. She had had no idea. She knew she had been big, and the baby had been extremely active, but it didn't occur to her that she might be carrying more than one! The midwife handed her the new baby, and she looked down with astonishment. My God! Two babies! Two girls!

Jamie looked as if he might faint. Jenny rushed to take the bairn from him as his knees began to buckle. He collapsed into a nearby chair, his breath coming fast.

"Put yer head between yer knees, Jamie!" Jenny said, as she cradled the squirming bundle in her arms. Jamie did as she suggested.

As Claire recovered from the shock, she noticed her newest daughter rooting at the front of her shift. This one was very hungry. She held the baby to her breast, patting the little back as she tried to nurse.

After a few minutes, Jamie sat up, feeling a bit better. He looked towards the bed at his wife, cradling his newest daughter. He had two bairns! He sat on the side of the bed, next to her, looking in awe at the new child. She looked very much like her sister, but this one had darker hair, like her mother. A wonderful miracle.

He looked up at Claire in awe. This beautiful creature had given him so much. She gave him love, support, happiness, and now, she had given him a family. He smiled broadly, overwhelmed by emotion. Tears fell freely as Claire handed him their newest daughter. He sat beside her on the bed as Jenny handed Claire their first daughter. They held the tiny bundles, smiling at each other all the while. They were a family now. Jamie readjusted the babe in his arms so that he could wrap one arm around Claire. He held her tight, kissing the top of her head..

"Ye are so brave, my love. Ye are a wonder and a miracle." He looked down at the babe in his arms, then at the other, smiling wide. "And ye have given me the most wonderful gift, Sassenach."

She looked at him, smiling, and said, "Times two!"