"Are you feeling any better?" Michael greeted as he returned to the sitting room where Edith was trying to distract herself by writing to her grandmother in America.
"Not worse than this morning, but still the same as the past few weeks, like I've swallowed a pumpkin"
"We're in the home stretch now darling, and you look as radiant as ever I might say"
Michael tried to comfort her as he sat and stretched out his legs, Edith was in the final days of her pregnancy and was finding it hard to move around gracefully among other things including swollen feet and trouble keeping food down and the summer heat was bothering her more than normal.
Michael encouraged her to stay inside and rest, often fetching a cool glass of water for her or a damp washcloth for her head, but Edith was becoming a bit stir crazy from being away from the office and her normal routine so much that it slightly added to her discomfort.
Edith shot him a warning glance and said as she returned to her letter
"You're just being sweet, I certainly don't feel like it..."
"We'll just have to disagree then, who are you writing?"
"Grandmama, and I'm telling her Mama is being a busybody and I'll be sending her over on the next ship after the baby is born"
Michael laughed to himself as he flipped the pages of a magazine he was reading
"Oh she's just excited, it seems Rosamund has been keeping her out of your hair the past few days"
Cora was indeed, very excited about the prospect of another grandchild. When Edith and Michael happily made the announcement to the family over Christmas lunch, Cora couldn't contain herself and leaped up to hug Edith. Meanwhile Robert gave a tight smile and shook hands with Michael before he gave a heartfelt congratulations to Edith with a kiss on the cheek. Tom seemed the most outwardly happy and gave Michael a strong clap on the shoulder and a warm hug to Edith, while Mary commented on how nice it would be for Sybbie and George to have a little cousin in London and once she was out of ear shot of everyone else sincerely told Edith how glad she was to finally see her happy.
Cora had also insisted on staying in London starting two weeks before Edith was due, and would constantly be visiting with Edith and fussing over every detail in what was to be the baby's nursery and peppering her with all kinds of baby related questions. Not having experienced her mother's full attention for most of her life Edith felt a bit overwhelmed and claustrophobic
"I know she means well, and I'm trying to understand that she wasn't there for George's birth and with Sybil..." Edith trailed off and Michael looked up to watch her sitting at the desk for any indication that he should go and give her more reassurance that everything would go well for the birth of their child
"...but I suppose I'm not used to her taking such an interest, that's all"
"Maybe that's why she's so eager, she's finally realized she's given most of her attentions to your sisters and now she wants to make up for it"
Edith placed her letter in the envelope and heaved herself out of her chair and wobbled over to Michael
"You might be right, I just wish she wouldn't be so,...enthusiastic" Catching Michael looking at her with a wicked grin Edith cocked her head to the side and asked
"Please tell me what you find so funny?"
"I just think you look terribly cute like that, waddling around and all"
Edith gave him a grumpy look and settled on the opposite side of the couch and let Michael lift her legs onto his lap
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, I, on the other hand cannot wait to get the little one out of me"
"Yes, I am rather excited to meet the little man myself" Michael commented with a satisfied grin
"I can't get over how certain you are it's a boy" Edith said as she adjusted a pillow against her back
"I keep telling you it's logic..." Michael explained as he began to rub Edith's swollen ankles
"...my parents had me before Julia, and my father was the first of three, and my grandfather was one of two boys. It's the Gregson genes my darling"
"And what about me? I'm one of three girls and Aunt Rosamund was born before Papa.." Edith countered with her own strain of logic
"Well, you see that won't matter because..."
"Yes, please tell me Doctor Gregson" Edith teased as Michael struggled to come up with an answer
Michael gave her a confident look and declared
"We'll just see who's right once little Charles makes his appearance"
"And you have your heart set on that name as well?"
"If you're agreeable, I think it has a nice ring to it...Charles Gregson" Michael said out loud to himself
"...Editor in training" Edith added as she reached for her own book that she was working her way through
"Now now, let's have the lad make his own choices"
"Michael, I know you'd love nothing more than for a son of ours to follow you into the publishing business" Edith told him
"It would be nice to pass something along to our children, but whatever they do I want them to be successful and happy above all, and it's tough to do that when you don't enjoy it"
Edith looked up from her page and stared across the couch at Michael until he turned towards her
"Need something?"
"No, I was just thinking that whether this baby is a boy or a girl, it's so very lucky to have you as it's father"
Warmed by Edith's sentiment Michael reached for hand and gave it a kiss
"Thank you, darling. That's very lovely...it will be a boy though, for the record."
"Mr. Gregson,"
"Yes, Gwen"
Michael said as he was going over the finishing touches on the latest issue when he looked up to see his secretary in what seemed to be an excited but nervous state
"Mrs. Gregson just called and..."
"Yes?" Michael slowly said
"First she said for you to keep calm-"
"It's happening?!" Michael shouted after his office chair slammed into the wall behind him as he jumped up and began putting on his jacket
"Mr. Gregson! Mrs. Gregson told m-"
Gwen was standing in front of his door blocking his exit
"Not now Gwen I have to go, everything is ready to be sent to the printers except the column on politics but-"
"Mrs. Gregson explicitly told me I'm not to let you out of this room until you are in a reasonable state, she said she doesn't need you running out into the street and getting hit by a bus"
Gwen firmly told him as Michael gently tried to move her to one side
"Alright, alright..." Michael took several deep breathes as a way to concede to Gwen's demands
"...I'm calm now. Please move aside so I can get to the hospital"
"Which hospital will you be going to?" Gwen asked refusing to move an inch
"Bakers...err Barnet. Barnet Hospital, maternity ward." Michael answered, a bit relieved that his wife knew him so well that she enlisted their employee to make sure he wasn't getting ahead of himself
"And how will you be getting there?"
"I'm going to leave the office, walk downstairs, go outside, find a taxi, and tell him to take me to Barnet Hospital" Michael answered with his impatience beginning to show
"Very well, I called for a taxi ten minutes ago so it should be down there."
"Excellent Gwen! I think we're done here, I'll tell Edith you followed orders to the letter, thank you" Michael said as he picked up Gwen by the shoulders and placed her to one side and began to walk out the door.
Turning back to Gwen he said with his body half out the door
"Could you-"
"I'll call your sister and place another call to Downton Abbey, and I'll let Nigel know as soon as he is back"
Michael rushed into the hospital out of breath and before he could approach the nurse's station saw Aunt Rosamund waiting in a chair looking excited but a bit impatient
"Lady Rosamund! What's going on? Where is she?"
"Michael, I think you can drop the title. My niece is giving birth to your child right now after all"
"So it's happening right now? Can I go in?" Michael asked as they moved out of the way of a passing doctor
"I don't think so, these things take time. We only arrived here about an hour ago. Cora and I were taking tea with Edith and the poor dear broke her waters on that lovely rug of yours at home, so your maid is going to have a busy afternoon" Rosamund said as she tried to move Michael into a chair to help settle him down
"Was she in any pain?"
With a raised eyebrow Rosamund responded
"She is delivering a child Michael, and from what I understand it's not a pleasant experience but I'm sure the doctors are doing their best, ah there's Cora now"
Rosamund motioned to Cora calmly walking down the hallway and Michael rose and took a few quick steps to meet her
"Cora, how is she doing?"
"Hello Michael..." Cora replied with a kiss to his cheek "...the baby is not out yet and won't be for a while, but I'm glad you're here Edith keeps asking about you. She is doing marvelous and doctors say everything is normal. So just stay here and be patient"
Resigned to the fact that he wasn't able to do much Michael nodded and gave a weak smile to Cora but gently grabbed her arm as she turned to walk away
"Tell her I'm here, just down the hallway and that I love her...very much. And Cora..." Michael paused to make sure she was listening
"...if anything should...not go as planned please come get me. I'd rather be in there than not"
Cora gave him a brave face and patted his hand
"Of course, but everything will be fine. Now just try to relax"
Michael spent the next 4 hours receiving occasional updates from Cora and being stared at by an amused Rosamund as he paced back and forth, he toyed with the idea of going outside for fresh air and probably a cigarette to hopefully calm his nerves but he didn't want Cora or the doctors to have to go looking for him. So he stayed in the waiting room nervously adjusting his sleeves and it seemed to Rosamund fiddling with anything that would move.
Finally after what seemed like days to him, a beaming Cora appeared in the doorway and Michael gave her an expectant look as he rushed over to her
"Everyone is fine, Edith was wonderful. They've just cleaned the baby up and both of them are waiting to see you"
Michael couldn't think of anything to say so instead just gave Cora a firm kiss on the cheek and rushed past her, and had to stop himself from running down the hallway. Once he reached Edith's room he took a deep breath and lightly knocked on the door and poked his head through
He heard a soft "come in" and entered to find Edith resting on the bed and looking lovingly into a small bundle she held in her arms
"Hello darling, how are you feeling?" Michael whispered, already careful not to upset the new baby
"I'm very well and I'd like you to come here and meet your...daughter" Edith said bathed in the tranquility of new motherhood
"A girl? We have a girl?" Michael asked with a wide smile as he quickly walked over to Edith's bedside and knelt down to have a closer look at his new baby
Holding his arm beneath Edith's and leaning his head against her shoulder he looked down into the tiny pink face surrounded by white blankets and was greeted by two large deep brown eyes
"She's gorgeous Edie" Michael whispered
"You're not too disappointed she's not a boy?" Edith tentatively asked
"Disappointed? I have this wonderful baby girl and a beautiful wife that are both healthy and happy. There is no cause for me to be disappointed about anything"
"You're sure?"
Michael looked up to Edith as he gently rubbed her arm
"I thought I was excited at the prospect of a son, but seeing you hold our daughter and meeting her, it's so much better than anything I could of imagined. So yes, I'm completely sure"
Michael then leaned in for a slow and tender kiss, after which Edith said
"I think it's time this little girl is held by her Papa"
"Papa? It seems a bit formal for me. I think I'd prefer just 'Dad', if that's alright with you?"
Still holding the baby in her arms Edith replied
"'Mama and Papa' do seem a bit old fashioned. So if you're 'Dad' that makes me-"
"Mum?" Michael offered
"Good, I like it. Granny will think it's terribly common so we'll have to keep it from her..."
Edith shyly looked over to Michael and straightened up in the bed
"...are you ready? I think she's terribly curious about you"
Michael got on his feet and slung his jacket over the back of a nearby chair
"Don't look so nervous I have held a baby before" Michael said as he leaned over and held out his arms
"I'm not nervous, this is just my first time handing her over is all"
As Edith passed the baby into Michael's arms he smiled at her, amused at her motherly instinct already showing, he turned his full attention back to his daughter as she quietly whimpered at her change in position
"Sssh sssh. It's alright little darling, it's just Daddy, Mummy is right here" Michael softly cooed to the newborn as Edith quietly smiled with happiness as she watched Michael rock the baby around the room
"You know, she kind of looks like a adorable little bug, with her tiny nose and big eyes." Michael commented as he swayed back and forth and smiled at the baby letting out a large yawn
"A bug, Michael?"
"Well, yes but a very very cute one. Maybe that's what I'll call her. Bug. Yes I think I like that" Michael said mostly to himself as he leaned down to place a kiss on the baby's fine strawberry blonde hair
"Speaking of, we need to give the little girl a name. I know we didn't talk much about girl's names, since someone was so convinced she was a boy but do you have any suggestions?" Edith asked as she took a sip of water
"Hmm, I don't know, aren't girls usually named after flowers? But I don't think that really suits this one...how about Helen?"
"No, there are loads of Helens already, in fact Marks in sport just named his baby Helen, remember?"
"That's right" Michael answered as he was enraptured with the grip the baby had on his index finger
"I think the female version of 'Charles' is 'Carol' and you were so set on that name" Edith offered bringing Michael's attention back to the discussion
"Yes, but 'Carol' doesn't seem quite right, but I remember I went to primary school with a Charlotte, she was very nice. What do you think of that name?"
Edith thought for a moment then said to herself "...Charlotte Gregson. Michael, I think that sounds wonderful"
"Alright, let's see what she thinks. Do you like the name 'Charlotte' little bug? Is that what we should call you?" Michael asked the infant in shameless baby talk with Edith giggling at his funny face and thinking to herself "Julia was right, it hasn't even been twenty minutes with the girl and he's already a goner"
Michael beamed over at Edith "She smiled at me, she likes it! And what about her middle name?"
"I was thinking after my sister..."
"Yes, of course, Charlotte Sybil. That's very good."
"Not quite, Sybbie has her mother's name and I think she should be the only one in the family to have it. I wanted to use Mary's name"
Michael looked over to Edith a bit surprised at the news
"Are you sure, I think it's lovely but-"
"But Mary and I haven't gotten along in the past? That's true, but our relationship is much better now and I want my daughter to be a sort of an olive branch between us, the start of a new beginning"
Michael began to walk closer to Edith
"I think that's very big of you, you seem to keep finding new ways to make me proud to be your husband"
Edith gazed up at Michael and let her hand fiddle with the edge of his trousers
"Do I? That's nice to know, but I'd rather you show me how happy you are to be married to me" Edith coquettishly said underneath her breath
"Forgive me, my dear" Michael said as he leaned down to playfully kiss Edith while taking extra care with the baby
"Now, I think you should get some rest, Charlotte Mary looks like she is about to doze off and I bet she'll wake up hungry" Michael whispered as he took a seat in the chair next to Edith's bed
Edith gladly took his suggestion and was arranging her pillows as she said "Look at you already taking care of your little family, how sweet."
Michael gave Edith a soft smile as he moved Charlotte onto his shoulder
"I'm only here to make your life as pleasant as possible my darling so don't be afraid to ask for a thing" Michael told her with a smirk
"In that case I'd like a large piece of chocolate cake and in a few weeks a very stiff cocktail"
"Consider it done, it will be waiting for you when you wake up, along with your little family"
Edith turned her head so she was looking at Michael cradling the baby and a serene smile appeared on her face
"Promise?"
"Absolutely, now rest. You had a long day and this one will want Mummy's full attention in a bit...and Edith?"
"Yes dear?" Edith softly said as her eyes were getting heavier and she was settling into sleep
"I love you so very much, I can't thank you enough for her and for...everything really" Michael said as he was looking intently at Edith and lightly resting his cheek against Charlotte's head
Edith's eyes focused on Michael holding their child and as she smiled in response a rush of emotions came over her, from gratefulness and awe to a small sense of fear that it would all go away. That the happiness she had found over the past months with Michael and now with their baby as well as her career was just another cruel tease that would turn to ash in her mouth.
Then Edith heard the soft sound of Michael humming to the baby and rubbing her back trying to ease her into sleep and she was reminded of all they had been through and decided that whenever life gave them another challenge it wouldn't stop her from loving and enjoying her little family as much as she could and certainly wouldn't stop her from feeling as perfectly at peace as she was the moment she fell asleep
A/N; And that's all she wrote! It took me a while to finish this chapter, I think because I didn't want it to end.
I started writing this because I ship Edith/Michael and I got tired of seeing Edith stories with him cast as a rapist/potential murder/conman/human garbage. I appreciated all the support everyone has shown and for sticking with it, I know I was a bit stingy with updates at times, and I hope you had as much fun reading this as I had writing it
I doubt things will work out as happily in canon as they did here but I'm hoping against hope that Edith will find some happiness by the time the series has ended, but that's not up to us :)