Chapter Sixty-Two: The infant kiss


Seven months later,


Kate howls as Noni throws her shoe at Arthur's head. Arthur ducks, grabs Noni's shoe and throws it back at her. "If either of you," Thomas trumpets. "hits Kate, you will be sorry!"

"Take it easy poppa bear." Kate says with a smile. "You're being overprotective."

"You, are due soon." He states. "So, let's avoid all unnecessary drama."

Noni nods. "Fair point. Besides, Thomas is getting very grumpy. Hurry up and have the baby."

"That's what I've been trying to do, thank you very much!" Kate snorts and sighs. "Pass me my tea please."

Thomas chuckles and reaches for her tea. "Can't even reach the table now, luv."

"Ha, ha, ha." Kate says dryly. "Your fault, again." Kate reaches for her tea and smiles. "So, Noni when are you having another Shelby?"

"Well, we're discussing that and we're thinking let's wait a few years." She smiles. "We like where we are now. Besides, you two are bringing in more than enough Shelby into the world."

Kate suddenly freezes on the couch. Thomas instantly senses her reaction and turns towards her. "Kate? What is it?"

She bit her lip and exhaled. "Uhh, Arthur, can you call Doctor Blake please?" At those words, all the men jump up. Thomas is quickly beside her, helping her up from the couch. "My water just broke."

"God," she smiled at the tremble in Thomas's voice. "should you walk up the stairs?"

"Yes. Just support my back and help me up the stairs." Thomas grips her waist as she turns towards ruby and Charlie. "Go find your aunt and grandfather, tell them what's happening."

"Ok! Shall I tell Jodie to mind Richard?" Charlie asks as he jumps up from the floor.

"Yes please!"

"And remember, I want a sister!" ruby chimes as she runs out of the door after Charlie.

Kate laughs before inhaling. "What? Pain?"

"Not, really just a labor pain and one of them kicked me at the same moment."

"Anxious, to get out then." He chuckled uneasily as Noni came up on the other side of Kate. "I've got her."

"Noni," Kate inquires. "Thomas is in his protective mode, but, if you don't mind, could you hurry upstairs and prep my bed?"

Noni nods. "I'll also get your nightdress ready. Do you want something to drink?"

Kate shakes her head. "No thank you." Kate looks up at Thomas, noting how his hands are shaking. "It's alright Thomas, it all feels very normal."


Again, Thomas found himself pacing up and down the hall, rapidly smoking his cigarettes as the labor progressed. Kate would cry out, but it wasn't the blood curling screams in comparison to her bearing Richard. All was well, until he heard Kate arguing with Polly.

"I want him in here!" Kate suddenly screamed. "Thomas!"

"Kate?" he dropped the cigarette and moved towards the door. Arthur let out a sound as he burned his fingers, grabbing the cigarette. "I'm right here!"

"I need you in here!" Kate let out another loud cry, causing Thomas to practically rip the door off the hinge as he hurried in the room. He barely noticed anything or anyone in the room as hurried to her side and got into the bed beside her. Her hair is wet with sweat and her face is red.

"I got you. I've got you." she smiled in exhaustion as he gripped her hand tightly. "I got you."

"Hold onto me." She exhaled and her breathing slowed.

"I got you." he soothed gently. "I got you."

"That's good." the doctor smiled as he caught Thomas's eye. "It should be an easy delivery now, keep her calm. Should have had you in here the last time."

"It's not right for a man to be in the nursing room." Polly states as she runs a damp cloth over Kate's face.

"He's….my rock." Kate gasped. "Need him here. Ohh!"

"Ok Kate," Doctor Blake says calmly. "I need you to push now."

Kate grips Thomas's hands so tightly that he almost shouts in pain. He's fairly certain that Kate managed to dislocate his pinky finger she's crushing it that hard. Kate lets out a shout as she bears down. "Hold up." the doctor orders sharply. "Don't move Kate. Polly, I need the scissors."

"Is the baby alright?!" she turned to Thomas. "Tell me."

Without even thinking, Thomas gets off the bed and peers around to see what the problem was. However, the moment he saw their baby coming out of her, his face went white as a sheet. "Oh God." This was probably the most helpless she'd ever seen Thomas Shelby look before.

"DON'T YOU DARE FAINT ON ME THOMAS MICHAEL SHELBY!" she screams at him, jarring him out of his daze. Polly shoves Thomas back towards the bed.

"Its fine." the doctor assured them as Thomas gets back into the bed with Kate. "The chord was choking the baby's throat for a moment, but it's alright now."

"Stay back there Thomas." Polly orders. "You're not even supposed to be in here."

"Alright Kate, you need to push hard." Doctor Blake orders. "Now."

Kate grabs his hand and shouted as she pushed with all her might. Kate let out a gasp before falling back against Thomas. "God, one down."

"And, it's a girl!" Polly declares as she wraps their daughter in a blanket.

Kate lets out a laugh as she starts crying as Polly approaches them with their squalling and slippery newborn baby girl. Thomas lets out a laugh as Polly sets her daughter in her arms. "God," Thomas clears his throat. "she's beautiful Kate."

"So beautiful," Kate sniffles as she plays with a finger. "she's got your eyes again. There won't be a man alive who'll be able to not cower under her scowl when she's older."

"Well, if she looks anything like you, they won't stand a chance."

"Hmm," Kate murmurs as he kisses her. She inhales and moans as a labor pain hits her. "take her Thomas."

Polly frowns. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Thomas hands her their daughter back. "I've got you."

"They're having twins." Doctor Blake declares. "Doesn't anyone in this family tell anyone anything?"

"Twins!?" Polly shrieks. "There hasn't been a twin born to the Shelby family for years!" Kate lets out another cry as she feels another labor pain hit her. "Why didn't you two say anything?"

"Surprise?" Thomas says as Kate lets out another shout. "I've got you. You can do this."

And she did.

The final delivery went easy and there were no complications. Fifteen minutes later, Kate was holding Violet Elizabeth Shelby and Jonathan Daniel Shelby in her arms. Thomas inhale as he got into the bed with her. Everyone crowded around the bed in excitement as Thomas reaches for Violet, carefully cradling her in his arms. Kate looked up at him and smiled. "See?" she said softly. "I told you I wasn't going to leave you. You buffoon."

He let out a breath. "Don't ask me to do that again."

"I rather liked having you in here." She chuckles. "Your only course is not to get me pregnant again, Thomas Michael Shelby."

"Oh, believe me, I don't intend to." He shuddered. "That was f**king disgusting."

"You fought in the war Thomas Michael Shelby." She laughed. "I'm sure you saw far more gory things than child birth. Besides, you put these two into me; you should see them come out." Thomas let out a curse and he dropped his head back to the bed headrest, his eyes shut tightly, as everyone laughs. "I think we can try again in a few years, so until then, we'll just have to be very careful." She runs her hand over his head. "Though, you looking at me almost seem to be enough to impregnate me."

He opens his eyes up and turns towards her so that he can kiss her wrist. "Fine, we'll have one more in two years. And it better be only one more."

"I promise." As he leaned forward to kiss her lips, Kate had a suspicion that maybe she was lying to him, again.


Angelo029: Twins run in my family and I always try to weave a bit of me into my stories.

Shariebery: Yes, 'Among Angels' will be a Peaky Blinder story. I am still working on it.

Idcam: The next chapter will be the last one. I can then fully concentrate on 'Among Angels'.