Chapter 33: Another New Addition

For the next several weeks, things continued normally in the castle. By the beginning of May, Sadie was growing used to the idea that she'd be a big sister by the end of the year. She was already excited about meeting her cousin, and that excitement doubled at finding out she'd have a baby sibling as well.

Shelby and Sebastian were glad they'd been able to get Sadie her own room at her first birthday and that it wasn't something else they had to prepare her for. Most nights, the two of them were able to have free time to get her ready for bed. As they had since Sadie first started sleeping in her own room, the two stayed with her until she fell asleep.

"Can you believe we'll have another baby in a few months?" Shelby questioned one night when she and Sebastian got back to their own room.

"Not really," Sebastian replied. "It's exciting," he continued. "But I guess I'm nervous about having another little one to take care of."

"I think we'll be just fine," Shelby assured him as they went to get ready for bed. Before long, the two were laying in bed with only a couple candles on to light the room while they read to relax before going to sleep.

The next morning, as had become a habit when they woke up before Joan or Lucinda came to get them, Shelby and Sebastian retrieved their robes to go to Sadie's room. Now that she was almost two years old, she'd been able to switch from a crib to a small bed. Like most 21st century toddler beds, it had small rails at the top by the head of the bed to keep Sadie from rolling out of bed during the middle of the night. The end was open so Sadie could get herself out of bed to play if she woke before anyone came to check on her. Though it had only been a few weeks since that change to a bed, Sadie seemed to be doing well with it.

When Shelby and Sebastian arrived to Sadie's room, they found her sitting on the floor playing with some toys. "Out of bed on own," Sadie quickly informed her parents.

"We see that," Sebastian laughed, going to sit on the floor beside Sadie.

"Did you sleep well?" Shelby asked a moment later when she joined them.

"Yeah," Sadie nodded. "I like getting up."

"Not in the middle of the night, I hope," Sebastian replied.

"No, no. When it's light."

"So you like your bed?" Shelby asked.

"Yeah. When meet baby?" Sadie asked, going over to Shelby and placing a hand on her stomach.

"Not for a while yet," Shelby replied, running her hand through Sadie's hair.

"Why?"

"The baby's not ready to be here with us yet," Shelby explained. "Just like Rosalinda and Angus's baby isn't ready to be with us yet."

"Oh."

"I know waiting is hard," Sebastian turned to Sadie. "But how about we get you dressed before breakfast?"

"Okay," the little girl jumped up and raced over to where her clothes were to pick something out.

Sebastian stood and offered a hand to Shelby before the two joined Sadie to help her get dressed. Like so many other things Sadie did well, getting dressed and helping rather than hindering her parents was one of those things. Shelby and Sebastian briefly returned to their room to get dressed then returned to Sadie's room again to wait for breakfast to be ready.

Over the next couple weeks, Sadie continued to adjust flawlessly to having her own bed in her room, which was something her parents were incredibly thankful for, and they hoped would make the adjustment easier when the baby was born. However, before she would get to meet her little sibling, Sadie would first get to meet her little cousin.

XXX

On the weekend of May 16, a Saturday, Rosalinda joined Shelby to help take care of Sadie while Sebastian and Angus were doing some training with the other knights. In the morning and following breakfast, Shelby and Sadie met Rosalinda in the Great Room. Shelby and Rosalinda spent an hour talking as Sadie played before a silence fell between them.

"Were you nervous before Sadie was born?" Rosalinda questioned.

"What?" Shelby asked. She didn't normally have Rosalinda ask her questions, or really anyone ask her much about anything. The two were sisters by marriage, but that was really the only relationship the two had.

"The closer I get to the day my baby is supposed to be born, the more nervous and worried I begin to feel," Rosalinda explained. "Did you feel nervous before Sadie was born?" she repeated her question.

"Of course," Shelby replied. "I know that a lot of women die in childbirth and it still scares me, but I want this. The castle has some of the best doctors there are. I love Sebastian, and that's why we decided to have another baby together. I know your marriage to Angus was more than simply an arranged marriage."

"That is true. I do love Angus, but that does not change anything. I still feel scared."

"And it's okay to be worried or scared," Shelby replied. Though the two had been sitting on different couches in the room, she moved to sit beside Rosalinda, and placed her hand on Rosalinda's shoulder.

"Thank you. That does give me a little comfort and help me feel better."

"I'm glad."

"You never show that you feel nervous or scared," Rosalinda noted.

Shelby hummed in thought. "I think that might have something to do with how I want to portray myself as a Queen," Shelby concluded.

"You do a great job of it," Rosalinda commented. She sighed as she took a deep breath. "My mother will be here for a couple weeks around the time the baby is supposed to be born, but I want you to be with me as well."

"Are you sure?" Shelby questioned. "We may be sisters, but it's only through marriage. We don't really have any other type of relationship."

"That is true," Rosalinda began. "We don't talk all that much, but it would be comforting to have someone my age with me through it all."

"Okay," Shelby agreed, offering a smile to Rosalinda.

"Thank you."

"We just need to make sure the midwives and your mom know that I will be there and should be there as well."

"Absolutely," Rosalinda nodded her agreement. The two continued to share casual conversation for the remainder of the morning. When Angus and Sebastian joined them later that evening for dinner, the two informed their husbands of the conversation and decision they'd made that day so the arrangements for it could be made.

XXX

A week following the conversation Rosalinda and Shelby shared, Elinor arrived. With the uncertainty surrounding due dates in the 1500s, all the doctors and midwives had been able to determine was that the baby would be born either late in May or early June. To ensure she was at the castle when the baby was born, Elinor arrived ahead of the predicted time frame.

For the time Elinor was visiting the castle, both Davy and Forest would again be staying to continue their training to be knights. When the carriage was set to arrive, Shelby, Sebastian, Angus, Rosalinda, and William were all awaiting its arrival.

Davy, as always, was excited to see Shelby and greeted her with a hug. After everyone had the chance to exchange their greetings, William and Angus took Forest and Davy to get settled in in the knight's quarters. Shelby, Sebastian, and Rosalinda, along with a couple servants, accompanied Elinor to her room for the next couple weeks.

"What would you like to do this afternoon, Mother?" Rosalinda asked.

"I was hoping to spend some time with you this afternoon if you weren't busy. You and Shelby. My unpacking can wait until everything has been brought to my room."

"I have no arguments with that," Sebastian spoke. "If you ladies wouldn't mind, I could join William and Angus to help train Forest and Davy."

"That's a wonderful idea," Elinor spoke.

As Shelby also agreed, the plan was set in motion. They arrived at Elinor's room a few minutes later, and after everything was placed where she wanted it in the room, Sebastian walked with them to pick Sadie and a few of her toys up from Lucinda and Joan before continuing their walk with them the rest of the way to the Great Room.

"Can you say hi to Grandma Elinor?" Shelby asked Sadie as she picked her daughter up.

"Hi Gramma," Sadie said, giving a small wave.

"Do you want to come here so your mom doesn't have to carry you?" Elinor asked, extending her arms in Sadie's direction.

"Okay," Sadie agreed.

While Elinor carried Sadie, Shelby and Sebastian carried a few of her toys to keep her occupied with that afternoon. At nearly two, Sadie was full of energy and loved to run and play. However, for a while after the four arrived at the Great Room, Sadie was content to sit with Elinor as the elder recalled her trip to the castle that morning with her youngest sons.

"Was there any reason you wanted to talk to the two of us specifically?" Rosalinda asked when the conversation about the journey had come to an end.

"Well, I first know that I haven't been around much for you in your childhood. Now, with you living at the castle, I haven't been around for your pregnancy either. But I want to be with you more than I have. For both of you and your future children as well as Sadie."

Rosalinda nodded. "That would be nice. I was looking forward to having Shelby around, but it would be nice to have you around a little more as well."

"Yeah, I mean Joan and Lucinda are around as well, but as awesome as they are, they're not family," Shelby agreed.

"Good," Elinor replied.

The remainder of the afternoon with Elinor went well. Sadie was happy to get to spend time with her grandma since she didn't see her often. Sadie also enjoyed playing with Rosalinda, who seemed to be more at ease after spending time with Sadie and talking with Shelby and Elinor.

XXX

The following week, with Elinor, Forest, and Davy staying at the castle, all of Sebastian's family living there had breakfast together. It wasn't typical for knights to join the King and Queen, but an exception could easily be made. With so much of the family having breakfast together, it was similar to the other times Sebastian's family visited, just without Edward and the youngest girls of the family.

In the time since she first arrived to the 16th century and met Sebastian's family, Shelby could see the ways their attitudes had changed, and it was especially obvious while eating meals with them. Rosalinda especially seemed more sure of herself, but that was also the case for all of Sebastian's siblings as they were more comfortable and sure of themselves and defending their decisions. Elinor was no longer pressuring her children and often listened to what they had to say. There were times she would slip into her old ways, but her progress was still evident. In addition, Elinor was no longer pressuring Shelby and Sebastian about the future heir to the throne. Shelby knew it wasn't just because she was pregnant again as the shift began before that. Spending time with Sebastian's family at meals and throughout the day had become enjoyable rather than something Shelby dreaded and loathed. Each night, she could feel content about the day when she went to bed.

XXX

On May 31st, a Sunday morning, Shelby and Sebastian were awoken by a knock on the door well before dawn and when anyone would have normally come to wake them up. Sebastian was the first to register what the noise was and get out of bed while quickly throwing his robe on to answer the door. "Joan?" he questioned when he found the woman standing outside the door. "What are you doing here so early?" he questioned groggily.

"It's Rosalinda. She's gone into labor," Joan quickly explained.

Suddenly, both Shelby and Sebastian were more alert. As the torches all throughout the castle were lit, Joan gave Sebastian the candle she had so he could light the torches in his and Shelby's room.

"Do you need me to stay?" Joan asked when Sebastian returned the candle to her.

"No," Shelby replied. "But could you check on Sadie to make sure she's still asleep since we're all up?"

"As you wish," Joan replied, giving a small courtesy as she left the room.

"I wasn't expecting the baby to be born this early," Sebastian spoke as he began changing out of his night clothes.

"Neither was I," Shelby agreed. "This is only one of the first days they expected the baby to be born. I thought this might be a little too early." Though both could feel the tiredness in their bodies as they got ready to leave their room, Shelby and Sebastian also felt wide awake and ready to do whatever needed to be done on their part for Rosalinda and Angus. They dressed quickly and headed to meet Angus outside the knight quarters.

"Shelby, Sebastian, good. Shall we go?" Angus asked, seeming to breathe a sigh of relief when he spotted them. The two nodded in reply and Angus began leading the way to the room Rosalinda had been taken to. "I need to go make sure Elinor can find her way here," he said.

"Let me," Sebastian offered. "You wait here while I go get my mother."

As Sebastian headed down the hall, Shelby gave a few light knocks on the door. "I promise I'll do my best to make sure she's comfortable and relaxed," Shelby briefly turned to Angus before entering the room.

As the two midwives, Martha and Isabel, had been called to stay at the castle for the weeks leading up to when the baby was supposed to be born, both women were already busy in the room. They were both preparing towels while Lucinda sat next to Rosalinda trying to comfort her, so Shelby joined her next to the bed.

"How do you feel?" Shelby asked as she sat down next to Rosalinda a minute later.

"Okay for now," Rosalinda replied. "The contractions are still fairly far apart from each other," she explained. "What was it like when Sadie was born?" she asked after a minute of consideration.

"Well, if I'm being honest, there's not a whole lot I remember from that day. But what I do remember was the amazing feeling that came with holding Sadie for the first time."

"I can't wait to hold my baby," Rosalinda spoke, lying back against the bed.

"I know you'll be a great mom," Shelby spoke. Rosalinda smiled up at Shelby, and the two fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Elinor arrived. She took Lucinda's place, and excused the older woman after checking with both Shelby and Rosalinda to make sure it was okay with them. "You should get some rest," Shelby spoke to Lucinda as the woman prepared to leave the room. She knew the coming day would be busy and that she and Sebastian likely wouldn't have that much time to be with Sadie while they were with Rosalinda and Angus.

Once Elinor joined them, the real waiting game began. Isabel and Martha were constantly attending to Rosalinda and making sure she was comfortable, while Shelby and Elinor spent most of their time simply talking with her. The midwives also worked to make sure they kept track of how far apart the contractions were to try and predict when the baby would arrive.

By mid-afternoon, Rosalinda was beginning to feel restless. "Is it time yet?" she asked Martha as another contraction hit.

Martha hummed as she looked to a paper with some notes written on it. "Yes, I think it is," she said. "With the next contraction, I want you to push."

"Okay," Rosalinda nodded.

As the next contraction hit, Rosalinda began to push. "I can see the head," Martha spoke. Soon, the cries of a newborn filled the room. "It's a boy," Martha reported as she and Isabel began cleaning him.

"Congratulations," Elinor said as she took Rosalinda's hand.

"Thank you," Rosalinda replied as she leaned back in bed and began to relax.

A few moments of silence between the adults later, Isabel brought the little boy over to Rosalinda so she could hold him.

"He's so beautiful," she gushed.

"Shall I get Angus?" Shelby asked.

"That is very thoughtful of you. Yes please," Rosalinda replied.

Shelby nodded and made her way to the door. "How is she? Is the baby okay?" Angus asked as soon as Shelby opened the door.

"They are both fine," Shelby answered. "Would you like to come in?" she asked, opening the door a little farther.

Angus smiled in response. "Yes. Thank you," he said, moving past Shelby. Sebastian entered the room as well, and the two watched as Angus reached Rosalinda and bent down to place a kiss on her forehead before occupying the seat Shelby left behind.

"I think we should give them some space," Elinor suggested, approaching Shelby and Sebastian.

"Let's go eat," Sebastian said. Since the trio all agreed it was time to get something to eat, they were soon heading towards the dining room.

A late lunch had already been prepared by the kitchen staff, so they were able to eat almost immediately after they sat down. Much of the time was spent talking about Angus and Rosalinda's infant son and how strong and healthy he looked. "He seems strong," Elinor commented. "Sadie was so healthy when she was born, and I hope the same is true for all of my grandchildren."

"We hope so too," Sebastian agreed.

When they had finished their meal, the three again headed to see Rosalinda, Angus, and their son. The baby—who would be named in the following days—was sleeping peacefully. Rosalinda had eaten a little, as was evident by an empty plate, and was talking quietly with Angus.

After visiting for a little while, Elinor, Shelby, Sebastian, and Angus decided to leave so Rosalinda could get the rest she deserved. William, who had spent the morning attending to other duties, met them outside the door as they were leaving.

"How is she?" William asked.

"Fine," Angus replied. "She's resting now and the baby is asleep."

"Boy or girl?" William questioned.

"Boy," Angus smiled.

"Congratulations," William said, placing a hand on Angus' shoulder. "Well, if Rosalinda is resting, would you like me to take you back to your room. Mother?" William asked, offering his arm to his mom.

"Thank you," Elinor replied, taking William's arm.

William gave a small nod before heading in the opposite direction from Angus, Sebastian, and Shelby. There were a few minutes of silence on their walk before Angus spoke. "I hope he survived."

"Your son?" Sebastian questioned.

"Yes. I'm worried. What if he doesn't make it?"

"We have the best doctors here at the castle," Shelby spoke. "He'll get the best possible care here."

Angus smiled. "Thank you, Shelby. That helps me feel better."

"He will have the best chance of living and being healthy here at the castle," Sebastian added.

A few minutes later, when they arrived at Sadie's room, Angus continued on to take care of some other things while Shelby and Sebastian stayed to spend some time with Sadie now that Angus and Rosalinda's baby had been born. Sadie was excited to get to spend time with her parents, and didn't notice that they were tired because she was too happy about seeing them.

For Angus, while he continued his duties, he tried to keep his mind of his worries for his son. Thankfully for him, though Sebastian was his best friend, he'd grown close to William who helped him occupy his time until night again fell on the castle.

A/N: When I originally wrote this, about now was when I was going to have Sadie getting her own room, so the beginning of the chapter had to be edited a little more than I was expecting.

Also, because sometimes I can be a little bit evil, part of me was half tempted to have Rosalinda die in childbirth, but I decided against it because I couldn't do that to myself. It also works out well for some things that are included in future chapters.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to let me know what you thought. Until next time.

Reviews:

sweetsimplegirl: I'm glad you enjoyed the family moments from the last chapter, and hope you enjoyed the brief ones in this chapter. And I had to have Sebastian call them out to help show his growth. :)

Ansy: I love writing Sadie, and honestly, every time I'm working on this or editing it, I have a brief moment of freaking out because she's so adorable. We don't really get to see her acting as a big sister/cousin yet, but it will come and add to how adorable she is.