Nothing But Love
A/N: Helas, we come to the end of the story. I hope everyone has enjoyed it, both reviewers and lurkers alike. :-) Some of these characters may appear yet again-- time will tell. Merci beaucoup to HD Kingsbury, Shirl, MadLizzy and Speedy for all their help.
Epilogue
Chanson House, late July, 1888
"I now pronounce you man and wife. M. Templeton, you may kiss your bride."
At those words, Jack turned to Sara Jane with a distinct gleam in his eye, and lifted the gossamer veil. She barely had time to murmur, "Remember who's watchin'," before he lowered his head and kissed her soundly.
They broke apart with a chuckle when they heard Nicky mutter, "Eeeewww," followed immediately by "Oww! What did you hit me for, Jolie?"
Soft laughter from the others in the room covered her reply. Stephen, Anna, Marie and Thèrése rolled their eyes at each other; Victor, Francois and Richard merely shook their heads. Since Christmas, Stephen had made several trips back to visit with the Chalfonts and they had traveled to Chanson House, since Christine could not make the journey to Sainte Anne du Jardin.
During an examination in May, Madame Piccout, the midwife, had reported feeling what could only be two tiny heads within Christine's womb. Erik's and Christine's dreams about twins had indeed been true. For the last several weeks, Christine had been under strict orders to remain in bed except for necessary trips to the bathing room.
Ensconced now on the loveseat, her back supported by several pillows, Christine watched as Sara Jane and Jack accepted hugs and handshakes. She and Sara Jane had become fast friends, and Jack and Erik had become business partners. Erik had designed a house for them, and they had purchased property for it halfway between Sainte Anne and Paris.
Suddenly, Christine stiffened and bit her lip. A pain in her lower back had been nagging her since she awoke that morning; now it increased in intensity and crept its way around her belly. She gasped softly, but Erik heard her and immediately came and knelt down in front of her.
"Is it time, love?" he asked softly, and picked up one of her hands. She clutched it tightly, pulling in a long breath that she released in pants.
He stood and carefully gathered her into his arms. Silence fell over the room as Erik made his way to the door. Over his shoulder he directed, "Stephen, go to Mme. Piccout's house and tell her the babies are on their way." Taking the stairs slowly, Erik carried Christine to their room.
Sara Jane unpinned her veil and handed it to one of the girls. "Run and get me a spare apron from the kitchen, hon," she said to Anna. Motioning for Jack to follow her, she went out into the hall. "You take the young'uns and keep them occupied," she told him. "And don't come back all muddy! We've still got ourselves a honeymoon to take."
Jack tried to look offended but failed miserably. "Last time wasn't my fault," he protested, grinning when Sara Jane gave him a knowing look.
"Tante Sara Jane, we can help," said Anna when she returned with the apron. She looked at Marie and Thèrése, both of whom nodded.
"Good! I imagine we're gonna need all the help we can get," replied Sara Jane. "But let me go up and check on your mama and see how she's doin'. I'll come back down as soon as I can."
The sight that greeted her when she entered the bedroom took Sara Jane by surprise. Erik and Christine stood at the foot of the bed; Christine was bent over clutching his forearm with both hands, panting loudly.
"Thank God, you're here!" they both exclaimed. "This is happening— much faster—than before," Christine added. "I think the—babies—are coming—now! I can't keep—from pushing."
"Towels to protect the bed are through there." Erik jerked his chin toward the bathing room. Sara Jane gathered up as many as she could carry and spread them under Christine quickly when Erik lifted her. "Help me get her dress off," he said, only to have Christine moan loudly.
"I think we just ran out of time," muttered Sara Jane. She dashed to the door and called for the girls. When they appeared, she snapped out orders. "Thèrése, I need a knife or a pair of scissors that have been boiled. Anna, bring the clothes your mama has made for the babies and a couple of extra blankets. Marie, you come with me and do whatever we tell you to do."
When they returned to the bed, Erik had removed his shoes and waistcoat and had gotten into bed behind Christine. Her dress was soaked but luckily, it buttoned down the front. Marie immediately unfastened it and Erik helped his wife get her arms free, then raised her up enough for Marie to slide it out of the way. The single petticoat quickly followed and Marie ran to the linen closet for a clean sheet.
Thèrése returned, carrying two pairs of scissors on a towel. "Madame Violet said we would need this string, also," she said, several lengths of damp string on the towel as well.
"All right then, here we go," muttered Sara Jane as she gently raised Christine's knees. Swallowing hard, she glanced up at her friends. "I can see the top of somebody's head," she told them, awe in her voice.
"Good! Then—let's see—what—the rest—looks—like!" With the next contraction Christine gave a huge push and felt the tiny body slide from her.
"It's a girl!" cried Sara Jane over the angry wails of the baby. Marie stepped up to her with a clean towel and gingerly held the squirming little scrap of humanity while Sara Jane tied and cut the cord.
"Oh," sighed Marie. "She's beautiful." The other girls crowded around her for a quick look.
Erik bent his head and kissed his wife's tousled curls. "Bravissima, mon coeur," he whispered.
"Ohhhh," she moaned, "not finished yet." She bore down again, twice more, and heard the cries of the other baby.
"This one's a boy!" Sara Jane grinned up at them. "Looks like his papa."
Erik's breath caught in his chest at that, easing only when Anna and Marie brought the babies to them. He and Christine spent several minutes checking fingers and toes, assuring themselves that their newest children were perfect.
Sara Jane and Thèrése bustled around cleaning up, then they slipped away to tell the others that everyone was fine. Stephen arrived with Madame Piccout and she pronounced everyone to be in good health.
Later that afternoon, after a restful nap, the entire family, plus Sara Jane and Jack, gathered in Erik and Christine's room. Nicky was typically uninterested, muttering, "All they do is sleep." After a moment, he frowned. "But what are their names?"
"Your sister," said Erik solemnly, "is named Sara-Jeannette." Hearing Sara Jane's soft gasp, he walked over to her and took both her hands in his. He kissed the back of each hand, adding, "We can never thank you enough for all the things you did for Stephen."
"And your brother," Christine told them, "is named Jean-Thomas." Now it was Jack's turn to be flustered. "We will never be able to repay you for finding Stephen," she whispered.
Jack had to clear his throat twice before he could speak. "We are . . . honored, and humbled. You have made us a part of your family."
Sniffling, Sara Jane wiped her eyes and added, "It's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me."
Just then Sara-Jeannette let out an angry wail, and Jack grunted, "She sounds just like you, too."
His new wife swatted him on the arm as everyone else chuckled. "Just you wait, John Thomas Templeton," she told him, her eyes narrowed. "Just you wait."
Amazingly, baby Jean-Thomas slept on, oblivious to the ruckus his sister was making. Erik picked up his new daughter and carried her to the bed. As he leaned down to put the baby in Christine's arms, he murmured, "They sound like an old married couple already, don't they?"
She smiled up at him, and he fell in love with her all over again.