Epilogue

December, 1876.

Hawkswood Manor, Charleston, South Carolina.

Fitzwilliam paced back and forth in front of the doorway.

He could hear her cries of pain inside and the nurse speaking.

"It's alright, Elizabeth, just breathe through your nose!"

Then he had to close his eyes hard when he heard her scream and he shook his head, continuing to pace. Her father followed him with his eyes, as he was smoking a cigar, and he was perfectly calm when he watched his son in law, now twenty-five-years-old, and walk up and down the hallway. His wife was inside with her and she had been thankful when labor had been announced after her water broke.

"And I was called from work to hurry right over for the delivery of my child!" Fitzwilliam exclaimed when he had burst through the front doors, nearly hitting his brother in law, Fredrick, who happened to be carrying a bowl of hot water for the nurse to use upstairs. The water thankfully didn't spill all over when his brother in law, whom he loved so much as a brother, had exclaimed.

"Well, at least we're not women! Having to endure water breaking and then labor and childbirth!"

But Fitzwilliam wasn't feeling the way Fredrick was. He was the uncle… not the father! His heart was beating rapidly and Chris wasn't not permitted in the bedroom to be with his wife and he felt inclined to be with her but then as he paced, he suddenly paused when he thought.

"You know… even if I'm not there with her physically… I'm here outside and that should bring her comfort knowing that I'm here and I came running when she called me."

His father in law's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Well, son? How does it feel to be a father to be soon?"

"Baby's not even out yet," he heard an answering voice reply to him. Fitzwilliam glanced at the closed bedroom door and memories of Elizabeth's pregnancy surfaced. Not long after the spring festivity, which had happened many months ago, Elizabeth had started to show symptoms of pregnancy and when the doctor had examined her, he confirmed it and with all their prayers and hopes, the entire family prayed fervently that this child would make it and during that period, Fitzwilliam watched as Elizabeth's Faith took a journey of its own and when all the prayers had been offered to St. Joseph as well as Our Blessed Mother, Elizabeth's pregnancy not only was successful, but she was in better healthy spirits with this pregnancy and when month six had arrived, Chris remembered how she had reached out one night and he felt the kicking of his unborn baby for the first time! His heart had pounded so hard that he had to take in some breaths himself! When he met her eyes, Chris only swallowed when he whispered to her.

"Elizabeth?! That's my baby?!"

And her smile had soared to high and beamed so bright, he knew that he wanted to be a father all over again after this one was born! He even remembered, one night, how when the baby was having a little "kicking fight," as Elizabeth had addressed it, he had wished to help her out but when she opposed, Chris had stood up, walked a ways from the chair she was sitting in, and turning around, blew a raspberry at his unborn child, only making Elizabeth scowl at him but she smiled sweetly at the father to be when he'd done that. She understood and that blowing a raspberry was something which was a happy memory for him. Now, as he heard her cry out in pain, his heart wondered if he had done the right thing by making love to her but he remembered what he said to himself and this brought comfort to his soul but he couldn't push away that agonizing scream that entered his ears. He only swallowed and prayed for a safe delivery for his unborn child. He became so engulfed with his own thoughts that it was Elizabeth's father who held a hand up in a gesture of.

"Listen! I don't hear anything!"

His heart continued to beat for a couple of minutes before the door opened and the expression of the nurse appeared and she bounced her eyes back and forth from Chris and Elizabeth's father.

He took a step forward and his heart was pounding, while his prayers were storming Heaven, before he asked, softly,

"Is she?"

The nurse smiled brightly as she exclaimed.

"It's a boy!"

Fitzwilliam's joy matched that of God the Father when the prodigal son returned home.

His throat went dry when his wife handed him the freshly born face of their baby, who weighed seven pounds, and with a strong, firm jaw as himself. As he felt her hand him to him, he swallowed but couldn't breathe when he watched as his son's soft little head moved back and forth and his eyes were closed.

"A minute ago, he was crying but he's quiet now," Elizabeth's voice spoke and he could hear that she tired. He glanced down at the birthing mother and his heart was touched when he saw how tired she'd was. He wasn't able to extend his hand to touch her cheek, so instead, Chris leaned forward and nudged her softly and all he could mouth was.

"Thank you."

And when she saw him do this, she nodded in return but gestured with her hand towards a statue which replaced that of the Nutcracker doll and when Chris followed her gesture, he only smiled more when he who she was pointing at. It was a statue of the Holy Family, with St. Joseph holding Our Blessed Lord, along with Our Lady, her hands folded in a reverent manner as she gazed at the couple and their newly born baby. When Chris met St. Joseph's eyes, he knew how he felt when Our Lord had been born and his father to father heart was touched.

With his son in his arms, along with his wife beside him, Chris knew the name of his son.

"His name is Joseph Fitzwilliam."

"After your father and his papa," Elizabeth replied before she turned her head to the side and fell asleep. When he heard her whisper this, Chris glanced over and with his newborn son in his arms, he smiled softly and responded.

"Yes, my love, exactly."

When he leaned forward, he gave her a soft kiss on her cheek before he finished.

"I love you."

His son squealed loudly when he did this. He glanced down at him.

He blinked when he made eye contact.

"Yes, I love you, too," and planted a kiss on top of little Joseph's forehead. Once he did this, his son let out another squeal before he settled into his father's arms and fell asleep.

The only thought which entered Fitzwilliam's mind was.

"That was fast!"

The End.

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