Chapter Twenty Five
The fire crackled in the fireplace as Amy sat on the couch and a tray with a tea pot and a dish of biscuits appeared next to the couch. Opening the journal, Amy setting down on the couch then opened the journal and nibbled on one of the biscuits.
15 October 1755
It was in the wee hours of the morning the day my next son was born and the glass of the windows were covered in frost. Anne screamed from behind the door while I paced back and forth and held James in my arms. His head rested on my shoulder while I gently rubbed his back and he was softly breathing in my ear.
"Daddy, why is Mommy yelling?" Angus asked while Anne screamed and I looked down at him.
"It's because getting the baby out of her tummy hurts," I said as he pouted and blinked.
"The baby is hurting Mommy?"
"No, just pushing the baby out does," I said and he nodded. I jumped when the baby cried and James placed his thumb in his mouth and sighed.
"Is that the baby?" Angus asked and I nodded. I watched as he went to wake Alexander, who was sleeping on the chair, and Alexander pouted from being woken up. They walked closer, Angus was half dragging Alexander, when we walked to the door and I opened the door. Mrs. Connolly smiled while we walked to the bed and Anne was nursing the baby at her breast. Anne's hair hung limp across her shoulders while sweat trickled down her neck and she looked tired.
"Mommy!" Angus said then carefully climbed onto the bed and sat next to her, looking at the baby.
"I want see!" Alexander said while Mrs. Connolly placed him on the bed next to Angus and Alexander looked at the baby. He reached over when he patted the baby on the top of the head and smiled.
"James, wake up, the baby's here," I said as I patted his back and he sighed, opening his eyes. He blinked then looked at Anne and she smiled at him.
"Baby?" he asked with a sleepy tone to his voice and she nodded.
"Is the baby a boy or a girl?" Angus asked.
"You have another brathair," Anne said while my eyes went wide and I blinked several times then smiled.
"What's his name?" I asked while my heart thumped hard in my chest and she looked down at our son.
"Well, I was talking with Mrs. Connolly and she suggested a very nice name," she said and I looked at Mrs. Connolly, who was standing next to the bed.
"Aye, I always liked the name "Hamish", but my husband would never let me name any of our bairn that name," she said while I thought for a few moments then smiled and shrugged, giving a questioning look to Anne.
"And I was thinking of using David as a middle name," Anne said.
"Hamish David McCrimmon," I said then smiled and rubbed James' back. "I like it."
"Can we call him "Hammy"?" Angus asked as Anne softly laughed and shook her head.
"No, his name is Hamish," she said while Hamish suckled on her breast and James poked me in the shoulder.
"Nummies!" he said then pointed to Anne and pouted.
"You'll get nummies when he's done," Anne said while Hamish stopped suckling, sighed and closed his eyes. I watched as he drifted off to sleep and Mrs. Connolly picked him up. I handed James to Anne then took Hamish when I patted Hamish's back and he made a soft burp. Holding Hamish to my chest, I watched Mrs. Connolly leave the room when I sat on the edge of the bed and Anne sweetly smiled at me.
"I can't believe we have four sons," she said as I nodded and kissed the top of Hamish's head.
"Aye, neither can I," I said while James released Anne's breast, closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Angus and Alexander were also asleep as Anne smiled and I gently placed Hamish on Anne's lap. She looked at our sons then sighed and half closed her eyes.
"Um, would you be angry if I asked us to stop having sex for a while?" she finally asked and I blinked a few times.
"Well, you have spent the last few years swollen with child. Aye, I think it would be a good idea tae restrain from sex for a while," I said with a smile and she softly laughed.
"Are you sure that you can keep your hands off of me?"
"No, I cannae do that," I said with a grin and she rolled her eyes.
"Then we just have to refrain from touching certain areas of our bodies."
"You mean like that wee spot at the small of your back?"
"Yes, but are you sure you're alright with us not having sex?" she asked while I looked at our sons and smiled.
"Sassenach, we have four bairn under the age of five. Do you really think we're going tae have the time or the energy?"
"No, I don't think so," she said then closed her eyes and I picked Hamish up, got up and placed him in the cot. Walking back to the bed, I gently moved Angus closer to Anne then carefully got onto the bed, placed my head against her head, closed my eyes and we both drifted off to sleep.
23 November 1755
It was a chilly afternoon the day that Andrew and Rebecca got married and we had brought the boys to Castle Mullie. Great Uncle Robert was ill, but was able to attend the wedding and was surprised to see my sons. Rebecca looked beautiful in her gown, not as beautiful as Anne, and Andrew was sweating even though the kirk was cold. The wedding feast lasted until the wee hours of the morning until it was time for them to retire for the night and I sat in front of the door to their bedchamber with the rest of my male kin, trying very hard not to freeze to death.
"Do you want a nip of this?" my Uncle Thomas asked while handing me a flask and I could smell the whiskey inside it.
"Aye," I said then wiped the top of the flask off with my plaid and took a sip. The whiskey burned on the way down as I smiled and Andrew yelled Rebecca's name over and over. The cheering echoed in the cold darkness while I smiled and sipped on more whiskey.
"Why are they cheering, Daddy?" Angus whispered as I turned to him and could just see him in the dim light. He was barefoot and wearing a nightshirt while I placed the flask down and placed him on my lap.
"What are you doing awake?" I asked while he placed his head against my chest and I kissed the top of his head.
"I had a bad dream," he said while wrapping my plaid around him and looked up at me.
"How did you ken where I was?"
"I woke Mommy up and she told me where you were," Angus said as I nodded and rubbed his back.
"Do you want tae go put him back tae bed?" Uncle Thomas asked as I nodded then stood up and carried Angus down the hallway. Both of us jumped when Rebecca yelled and Angus looked up at me.
"What was that?" he asked and I smiled.
"That was Cousin Rebecca," I said, wrapping my plaid around him.
"She had a bad dream, too?"
"Aye," I said as we went down the stairs and the soft sound of cheering echoed behind us.
25 November 1755
A loud pounding sound woke me when I felt something resting on my chest and opened my eyes, looking at the ceiling. Anne snuggled closer while her fingers moved down my chest and I placed my hand on top of her hand. The pounding grew louder as I sighed and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.
"Jamie, are you awake, Lad?" my Uncle Thomas called from behind the door.
"Aye," I said when he opened the door and walked into the room. Walking to the bed, he looked down at us then frowned and scratched the back of his neck.
"Sorry tae wake you, but there's someone here tae see you," he said when Anne sighed and slowly woke up. She opened her eyes then softly kissed my chest when she noticed that we weren't alone and looked up at my uncle. "Good morning, Lass."
"What's wrong?" she asked, looking up at me.
"Sorry tae wake you, Lass, but someone's here tae see Jamie."
"Who is it?"
"I'm nae sure which one it is, but he says that he's your brother-in-law," he said and she sat up, covering her body with the sheepskin blanket.
"Send him up," I said as he nodded then left the room and I sat up, pulling Anne close.
"What do you think he wants?" Anne asked and I wrapped my arms around her.
"I have no idea," I said and a few minutes later the door opened and Michael walked into the room. He looked cold and tired as he removed the hat he was wearing and held it in his hands.
"Michael, what's wrong?" Anne asked as he walked to the bed and I moved my feet up to allow him to sit down.
"I am sorry to have to come and tell you this, but you must return to Heatherfield right away," he said and I noticed the concern in his eyes.
"Why?"
"It's your father, Anne, he's had an attack," he said as Anne's eyes went wide and I held her tightly in my arms.
"Is he alright?"
"I'm not sure. Your mother just told me to come and get you and bring all of you back home," he said as she nodded and placed her head on my chest.
"We will leave at once," I said as Michael nodded and I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach.
"Uh-oh, this doesn't look good," Amy said and the TARDIS grumbled in agreement.
We arrived at Heatherfield a few days later and Anne ran inside the house. The boys and I followed shortly afterward as Molly took the boys up to the nursery and I ran up the stairs to catch up with Anne. Anne hadn't said a word the whole way home, but did cry herself to sleep at the inns we stayed at while traveling to Heatherfield, which tore at my heart and sent a dull ache to my soul. I never thought that I would be so worried about Commander Watertin, I do hate myself for not letting him in my heart like I did the Doctor, but I didn't want anything serious to be wrong with him.
"Anne!" I shouted when she stopped in front of the door to her parents' room and I walked to her, wrapping my arms around her. The door opened while Lady Pamela walked out and closed the door behind her. She looked so tired and like she had been crying and I held out an arm to embrace her while holding onto Anne. Kissing her cheek, I placed Lady Pamela's head on my shoulder as she sighed and I stroked her hair. "How is he?"
"He is holding his own," she sighed and Anne looked at her.
"What happened?" she asked and Lady Pamela took her hand, squeezing her fingers.
"Did you ever tell James about Malcolm?" she asked while I looked at Anne and Anne sighed.
"No, I haven't," Anne said as I let go of the women and Anne took my hands, looking me straight in the eyes. "Do you remember that I told Malcolm that he was never going to be married?"
"Aye, I remember you saying that," I said with a nod of my head.
"That is because my brother is….Malcolm…he…" Anne said, but couldn't get the words out and I gently stroked her cheek, smiling sadly at her.
"I bet he was gay," Amy said and the TARDIS grumbled in agreement.
"My son enjoyed sharing his bed with men," Lady Pamela said softly and I blinked.
"Yep, he was gay," Amy said then turned the page.
"And the Commander didnae ken that?" I asked.
"No, he didn't."
"What does Malcolm's condition have to do with Father's attack?" Anne asked.
"Your father was called to Inverness to deal with Malcolm and Niles getting into trouble with the law." Lady Pamela said and I frowned, giving her a confused look.
"What did they do?" I asked.
"A gentlemen's club was raided after numerous complaints and Malcolm and Niles were there. It turned out that the club was where men with Malcolm's…condition went to meet and enjoy each other's company. They were arrested with the others and I told him calm down before dealing with them."
"Wait, Niles and Malcolm were both at this club? Are you saying that they were caught…?" Anne asked and Lady Pamela nodded. "Were they…together when they were caught?"
"Yes, which made it worse," Lady Pamela said with a sigh and wrung her hands.
"What did the Commander say when he found out?" I asked.
"He didn't say anything at first. He took them into the den and that's when he started shouting. I went to go in and stop him when he stopped shouting and Malcolm called out. I ran into the room, only to find my husband on the floor and Malcolm shaking him. Paul was barely breathing when Malcolm picked him up and told Niles to go fetch the doctor. Paul hung on until the doctor arrived, but the doctor didn't allow anyone else in the room. The doctor came out hours later and told me that Paul was alive, but was very weak."
"Where is Malcolm?" Anne asked.
"I don't know," Lady Pamela said as I headed down the hallway and Anne called to me, making me stop.
"Where are you going?" she asked as she walked to me and took my hand.
"I'm going to find Malcolm. Failing that, I am going to find Niles," I said and she saw the anger in my eyes.
"Don't do anything foolish," she said and I nodded, squeezing her fingers then walked down the hallway.
(I never did find either Malcolm or Niles. Rumor has it that they caught a ship to the Indies and opened a pub somewhere. Commander Watertin's health improved, but he disowned Malcolm and left the running of Heatherfield and his other businesses to me, Michael and Luis.)
"Whoa," Amy whispered then turned the page and brushed the hair out of her eyes.
24 December 1755
Commander Watertin continued to grow stronger as the days passed and was well enough to come down and watch us decorate the house for Christmas. I do admit that my family never went to such a fuss about the holiday, but the looks on my sons' faces was priceless. I had a time keeping them out of Mrs. Connolly's kitchen after she had made cookies, but she would just smile and give them a cookie each.
What did bother me was the way Anne would look at her father, who did look ill even if he said he was fine, and would not fall asleep for hours.
"Awake?" I asked as her head rested on my chest and her fingers were gently tapping on my left shoulder.
"Hm, oh, did I wake you?" she asked and I just gave her a soft smile.
"Aye, what's the matter?" I asked as she sighed and her breath across my woolen nightshirt caused tiny tingles against my nipple. We had been good about not having sex, but that felt so good and I shook a bit.
"I was just thinking about Father. He looks so ill," she said then sighed and I kissed the top of her head.
"Doctor Mannings said he was getting stronger."
"Yes, but it is so sad to see him like that," she said then looked up at me. "It reminds me of when you were ill."
"You mean when I first came here?" I asked. I still had no memories of what happened on the fifth anniversary of Culloden as she sighed and tapped her fingers on my shoulder again. Taking her hand in mine, I held her hand against my stomach and she smiled, snuggling closer.
"No, it was four years ago."
"Oh, you mean when I had tae take that sour medicine?" I asked, making a face and she smiled then nodded her head.
"You were so ill and Doctor Mannings said it was amazing that you were alive," she said and I kissed her knuckles. "I would lie here, listening to you, and prayed that you wouldn't die. I don't think I could survive without you."
"But I'm here," I said softly and she let go of my hand, stroking my side.
"Yes, you are," she said then tickled my side and I wiggled on the bed. "I will tell you this. I'm very good when it comes to your body. I can tell when you're awake or asleep or happy or sad or angry or ill."
"You can, can you?" I asked, arching my eyebrows up and she nodded her head.
"When you're asleep, your body is relaxed, your heart's beating slow and steady and your breathing is deep and soft. The only downside is you snore."
"I do nae!" I said with a hurt look on my face.
"Yes, you do," she said and kissed my chest. "When you're awake, your body is still relaxed, but your heart beats a little faster and you look like you're barely breathing."
"Like now?"
"Yes," she said and I wrapped my arm around her waist.
"What aboot when I'm happy, sad or angry?"
"Hm, well, when you're happy, your skin is soft, but tingles under my fingers. Your heart beats soft and steady. You get the sweetest look on your face and you laugh when you talk. Now, when you're sad, your skin grows tight, your body shakes a bit and you start breathing quickly. That's also when you pout and your lower lip sticks out," she said and gently crawled on top of me. I could just see her in the dim light of the fireplace as she slid her hands under my shoulders and I placed my arms around her back. "It takes a bit for the tears to form, but I have seen them."
"Well, I was told that a Highlander doesnae cry."
"Did you cry when you got whipped?"
"Aye," I admitted and nodded my head.
"Now, when you get angry, your entire body turns rock hard, you flex your fingers in and out and you start breathing deeply through your nose. Sometimes your hands shake and, if I place my hand on your chest, your heart is pounding. And your skin is very warm, almost hot."
"That is because of the blood rage."
"I see."
"And when I'm ill?" I asked, softly stroking her hair behind her ears.
"It depends. When you have a case of the sniffles, your skin gets warm and you cough and blow your nose a lot. When the sniffles turn into chills and fever, your skin is hot, there is a gurgling sound to your breathing and your heart beats harder. You also turn into a little baby."
"I do nae!"
"Please, you're worse than the boys when you get that ill," she teased and I kissed the tip of her nose. "The day you arrived, well, I told you what you were like then."
"Aye, you did."
"The worst you've been ill was four years ago," she sighed and I knew she hated talking about it.
"Let's nae talk aboot that," I said as she nodded her head when the mantel clock chimed the half hour and she placed her head down on my chest. "What is my body telling you now?"
"That you want to go back to sleep," she said as she lifted her head and I could just see her smile.
"Then I guess we should because this house is going tae be noisy with the sounds of little ones up at dawn shouting for us tae get up so they can go down and see what Father Christmas has left them."
"What is the best thing Father Christmas ever gave you?" she asked as she locked eyes with me and I softly smiled.
"She's lying on top of me." I said softly and she placed her head down as I wrapped my arms around her and tears soaked my nightshirt.
Sighing, Amy wondered if she would ever know Rory that well when the air in the room turned ice cold and she closed the journal, placing it on the couch. The Doctor walked into the room as he smiled at her and scratched the left side of his head.
"Pond, do you remember where I left my sonic screwdriver? Normally it's in my pocket, but, now, it's gone," he said with a look on his face like a child that lost his favorite toy and she smiled, shaking her head.
"Well let's go find it before you start crying," Amy said as she got off the couch and left the room while the fire crackled softly in the fireplace.
"I wasn't going to cry if I can't find it," he said as they walked around the corner and she smiled, gently nudging him.