Chapter 25: Faith

Claire POV

Jamie wasn't lying the night I told him I was pregnant that 'he couldn't be prouder' in fact he hadn't wasted any time the next morning to tell the rest of Lallybroch the wonderful news. In fact by the end of the day I'm sure all of our tenants knew about the baby from all the congratulations I got, while I was making my house calls, almost as soon as I got there.

It was when I was about seven months along that I received another letter from Chris giving us the happy news that he was now a father and Laoghaire had given birth to a healthy baby girl now named Marsali Claire Laoghaire Balfe he was also planning coming here to Lallybroch for a visit once baby Marsali was old enough to travel. For by then mine and Jamie's baby would be due to arrive around that time too so it would be wonderful for us all me together as a family. Speaking of my baby, now I was over eight months I had eyes on me constantly for throughout my pregnancy as I got bigger Jamie had gotten increasingly protective which I admit I found it sweet at first now I just found it irritating. For when Jamie wasn't around Jenny was under strict instructions to keep watch over me when I was in the house or it was Murtagh shadowing me when I was out for a walk and gathering a few herbs I might need. Which was hardly necessary since Jamie had actually forbade me from making house calls now so I never went very far from the house.

It was mid-afternoon and I was in my surgery with Fergus and Harry looking after me as they had a day off from their studies which was a welcome change for all three of us. Harry was interested in all the herbs I was putting together and was eager to lend a hand but when looked over at poor Fergus he seemed a little bored just watching us work on my medicines so I told him "You know Fergus if you want go do something else it's alright, me and Harry will be fine on our own for a while."

Fergus seemed a little affronted at this suggestion and replied almost immediately sounding rather stern, or as stern as a small nine-year-old boy could manage, "No Milady, Milord entrusted both me and Harry with your safety so here I will stay."

I struggled to stifle my smile so not to wound his deep pride in being given this responsibility, so I ducked my head down to hide my face and gave Fergus a quick nod in return. Luckily distraction came in the form of the small occupant in my belly giving me a swift kick making me smile again and quickly put my hand on top of my belly in an attempt to get the baby to settle down. Harry looked up at me then and suddenly asked "Ma, are you alright?"

I put my arm around him touched by his concern and answered "Yes, honey I'm fine it's just your new brother or sister's kicking me."

Harry's face then quickly turned from concern to excitement and just as quickly put his hand where mine was eager to feel the new baby moving I looked over to see Fergus inching towards us so I called him over and put his hand in the same place as Harry's and the baby obliged them by starting to kick again making them laugh and smile.

It was then I became aware of another presence in the room and looked up to see Jamie watching us looking almost ridiculously happy so I made sure to speak first sounding a little accusing "What are you looking at?"

Jamie laughed at that and answered me sounding just as happy as he looked "My family."

He then came over to me and kissed me making the boys laugh at us then said to all of us "Well come on all of ye we'd better get back to the house or we'll be late for dinner and Jenny will have all our asses skelped."

We all laughed and after we cleared everything away we started making our way back to the house it was then that I started to feel a small back ache that seemed to keep coming and going I quickly started getting a strong suspicion of what that meant but I didn't want to make Jamie or the boys panic. The boys of course ran ahead as soon as they saw the house fully come into view and because I couldn't move that fast anymore it just left me and Jamie to enjoy the rest of the walk together. We were almost home when I suddenly stopped and felt a slight popping sensation and a gush of water fall down my legs I looked over at Jamie who stopped when I did and was now in slight shock before stuttering out "Was..um...was that?"

"Ah-huh, I'm having a baby." I answered nodding.

I didn't have time to think about anything else before Jamie picked me up into his arms and practically ran into the house and nearly ran us into poor Ian who was waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs while I could hear the boys in the living room. Jamie then settled me more firmly into his arms and Ian asked "What is going on?"

Jamie who had started to make his way upstairs to answered quickly with "Claire's having the baby, please go tell Jenny."

Jenny made it upstairs just after Jamie managed to get me into a clean nightgown and in bed and settled himself next to me by the bed. Jenny then told us she'd sent Fergus to fetch the midwife and that they'd be here soon and Ian and Mrs Crook already agreed to look after the children while we dealt with this one. When the midwife finally arrived Jenny turned to her brother and told him "You can go now Jamie we'll take good care of yer wife, I promise."

Jamie then nodded reluctantly and started to get up I looked up at him to see how scared he was and told him "Jenny's right and I promise you now that I'll be fine."

Jamie then gave me a brief smile in return and kissed the top of my head and then seemed to breathe in my scent before fully standing up and slowly making his way out the room but took a long look back at me before going through the door to join Ian downstairs.

Jamie POV

Hours and hours had passed Mrs Crook had gone upstairs almost as soon as I came into the living room seeing as Maggie and young Jamie had been put to bed early and Ian and I could look after Fergus and Harry while Mrs Crook would be able to help look after my wife. The last few months had me worried sick about Claire thinking about everything that could go wrong with this pregnancy and the birth. After all I had lost my own mother that way I couldn't stand losing Claire the same way too, knowing that it was my fault and I certainly didn't want Harry suffer the same loss that I had. It was then we heard Claire give out loud scream, louder than the other ones and Harry asked sounding about as scared as I felt "Is Ma going to be alright?"

I sat down in one of the armchairs and called over to me to hold him on my lap and told him trying to reassure both of us "I'm sure yer Ma will be fine."

"How do you know?" Harry asked

"I have Faith." I answered with all the certainty I could muster.

I then looked over to Fergus who looked just as worried as Harry was I gave him half a smile and beckoned him over to us to sit on one of the arms of the chair we were sitting on. It felt comforting to have both of them around me while we waited for news from upstairs. Ian had offered to get me a whisky which I gladly accepted hoping it would calm my nerves he even suggested a chess game later in an attempt to distract me I suppose but I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate and told him so adding in "Although I suppose that's yer plan since it will be yer only chance to win a game against me."

Which made all of us laugh, it was then that Jenny came into the room Fergus hopped off his place on the chair arm and I gave Harry a small pat on the leg then lifted him off my lap and stood up and went towards Jenny and asked "Well?"

"Jamie, ye have a daughter." Jenny announced sounding quite overcome with emotion.

I felt the first welcome wave of relief before a small swell of worry seeped back into me and I quickly asked "And Claire?"

"She's just fine, tired but very well," Jenny reassured me "Ye can go up now and see her if ye like."

I already started heading out of the room before Jenny had even finished her sentence I quickly made it upstairs and slowly came into the bedroom to see Claire on the bed smiling while holding a small bundle in her arms wrapped in a warm blanket. She looked up after hearing the door open and her smile seemed to grow larger when she saw it was me and called me over to her in a low voice "Come my love, there's someone here who would love to meet you."

I quickly made my way over to them and sat next to her on the bed, I could now see the tiredness shown on Claire's face but to me at this moment I don't think she'd ever looked lovelier, she then gently pulled down the blanket slightly around the baby's head so I could really see her. I felt so happy that I thought I might burst at seeing my newborn daughter's face.

"She's so beautiful, just like her mother." I almost breathed out.

"I know," she agreed sounding as tired as she looked but happy and then asked "What do you think we should call her?"

I thought for a moment before an idea came to me "Faith, Faith Claire Fraser."