The soft green grass fluttered in the wind like waves. The soft darkness of the old tree's shadow protected me from the bright sun. My hands wrapped around my swollen belly protectively as a song was drawn out of my throat. Soft lullabies taken by the wind to float over the grass. My eyes glazed as they drifted over the meadow. A disruption in the waves of green drew my eyes.

I felt my eyebrows furrow as I slowly rose and walked to the disruption. The vague feeling of deja vu rose from the back of my mind. I already knew who was lying in the grass.

"Edmond, what are you doing?" I asked the man who smiled at me from below. His fiery hair contrasting with the deep green grass that surrounded him.

He smiled up at me, "Looking at something beautiful."

Heat swept across my cheeks, turning my eyes towards the whispering grass besides him bashfully. I felt like I could hear the distant laughing of children just like that time many years ago. My illusion was interrupted by a hand grabbing my arm and pulling me down.

I tensed at the force used but allowed him to pull me gently down to his side. Edmond's hands wove around my waist. His lips softly kissed the tip of my nose. The boy, now my husband, ever so gentle. Careful not to hurt me like my father had. Only helping my wounds heal rather than drenching them in salt water.

His hands drifted down to my swollen stomach. The small child forming kicked slightly at its father's touch. He smiled gently at me. I returned the smile gently but genuinely.

Kindness bestowed would be returned. I had no reason to fake my happiness now that he has shown me how to truly live life. Edmund is my joy and our child is our pride.

"The Swann's are coming on the morrow," he smiled, brushing his fingers across my face. "They are bringing along their little daughter, Elizabeth."

"I know. Rachel sent me a letter earlier to inform me. She seemed ecstatic to visit us despite the distance," I held his hand against my cheek.

"You two have become fast friends. Have you suddenly become more social?"

A laugh echoed past my lips, "Heaven's forbid. It is simply Rachel's enthusiasm that has broken my shell."

His laugh echoed my own as he stood up and scooped me into his arms. "Is that so? It was not me who turned you into this lovely woman?"

My eyes narrowed slightly, "I was always a lovely woman, you just helped polish what was already there."

Edmund watched me for a tense moment before relaxing and walking up the hill to our home, "You are correct, my treasure."

My eyes remained narrowed but I allowed him to carry me to our home.

"She is as beautiful and adorable as ever," I smiled when I squeezed the small four year old's hand.

Rachel returned the smile, "Thank you, but your child will be infinitely more adorable. Just look at how big you've gotten!"

The air picked up and I placed my hand on my hat to ensure it did not fly off. Little Elizabeth giggled as she ran forward through the grass. Her golden hair floated through the wind with each jump making it look like she would suddenly grow wings and fly into the heavens. Rachel panicked for a moment as her daughter leapt ahead. My hand landed on her shoulder to calm her. Rachel shook her head as I led her into the shade of the old tree and settled down in the grass. Little Elizabeth was smart enough to remain in our sight as she sprinted through the fields.

"I believe I've only gotten this big," I spoke with a small, insincere smile slowly creeping up on my face. "Because it is a boy."

Rachel glanced at me, worry slightly pulling on her brow. "Mercy, you cannot hold such expectations. It will only hurt you."

"I know… I just hope our families will stop bothering us if we do have a son," I sighed. The number of frustrated letters from Father flashed in my mind. They had been carefully tucked away from Edmund's eyes, but I still felt their weight.

"What does Edmund want?" She said trying to distract me

"He has not said."

Rachel smiled gently at me, "Then it does not matter. If it is a boy you will be happy. If it is a girl my Eliza will have a playmate."

I rolled my eyes at her antics, "Of course, but even if it were a boy would she not still have a playmate?"

Her smile turned into a smirk, "No, she will have a partner if it were a boy."

"You do not mean that you plan for our children to marry, do you?"

"Of course that is what I mean! Being raised by you and Edmund the child will be beautiful with a sparkling personality."

"But what if Elizabeth finds her own love?"

Rachel quieted at this, her face turning somber. Her head turned to look at Elizabeth who was now collecting dandelions from the field. It would be hard for both daughter and mother once Elizabeth came of age. Rachel was a caring person who had grown to love her husband and her husband grew to love her back. Her daughter might not be that lucky.

"I would let her be with him and I'm sure Weatherby would say the same," Rachel continued to stare at her daughter who was now approaching us. I knew she doubted her words, but did not push.

Her lips drew up into a smile when Little Elizabeth presented her collection of dandelions to her. "Momma, I got some flowers for you!" the tiny child cheered with a bright grin.

"They're beautiful," Rachel took the flowers in her hands.

Their smiles were infectious and I felt my own lips tug upwards, "I can make a flower crown for you if you gather more flowers."

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled in delight, "Really, Auntie?"

I nodded, my hand resting on my swollen belly and a soft lullaby coming from my lips. Little Elizabeth grabbed her mother's hand, pulling her towards the field ahead. I watched as Rachel stood to follow after Elizabeth. Their golden hair flowed in the wind like a light scarf. Elizabeth giggled happily as her mother grabbed a dandelion and placed it in her hair.

I wondered if that is what true happiness looks like… and why my own seemed to pale slightly in comparison.

"Push, miss! Just another push!" the maid yelled over my cries of pain.

I felt the pressure in my belly mounting as I forced my shuddering body to push again. Edmund was at my side with his hand clutching mine. Sweat dripped down my brow and he brushed it aside with his hand. Another push and I heard a cry in unison with my own but infinitely smaller. The pain subsided slightly, but still echoed in my sore limbs.

The maids squealed in delight, "The baby is here, Miss!"

I released a long sigh all the tension in my body releasing. I felt my body shudder before my vision went black. There was a blissful moment of only nothingness around me. I awoke again to my husband frantically calling to the maids, the midwife was at my side working away and firing orders at the servants.

"Edmund…?"

My husband immediately turned to me to grasp my hands. Relief smoothed out the lines of stress on his forehead. He kissed my forehead, "You did it, my treasure."

A maid approached with a small bundle of cloth and I quickly reached out for it. The bundle was placed in my arms. A small face on a small body. Pale skin with little sprouts of red hair sticking out from it's tiny head. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I held its small head to my heart.

"It's a little boy," spoke a maid from a corner of the room.

Edmund's face relaxed further at the news as he settled in besides me. I could not care much more when my attention was focused on our little boy. His little eyes hidden away by scrunched eyebrows. His first little intakes of breath stealing away my own air.

"Joseph," I choked out in between tears, "Our little Joseph."

"Our little Joseph," Edmund repeated softly, tracing the babe's face with his finger.

"That is going to be your new friend," Rachel said to Elizabeth who simply stared at the baby. She sneered in disgust when said baby decided to take one of his feet into his mouth. I felt laughter bubbling in my chest at her reaction to my sweet, little Joseph. Her mother shared my amusement, but still scolded Elizabeth gently.

Little Joseph squirmed a little in my grasp but I kept a firm hold of him. Rachel cooed gently at the child again. She turned towards me sharply, "I think I want another child."

I started at that, "Really?"

"My Eliza can only stay so adorable for so long," she smiled cheekily at her daughter. Elizabeth's face dropped at the news, then turned into a pout.

"She only jests, Elizabeth," I said. "Besides, if she does not want you any longer I could always snatch you up!"

"Will you Auntie?" her eyes sparkled.

"Of course"

Rachel quickly grabbed Elizabeth into a rough hug, "You cannot have her!"

Elizabeth giggled at her mother's embrace and I sighed dramatically. My eyes returned caringly to the little boy who still was attempting to eat his little toes. "I guess I will have to keep only you, my sweet Joseph."

He only gargled in response. I smiled nonetheless. My little boy's music was the sweetest in my ears.

Me and Edmund sat side by side just as Rachel and Weatherby sat side by side. Our children were playing in a different room with the maids. Their tiny ears should not listen to the conversations of adults. Not when they were still too young to know that those older manipulated those younger. I did not want to see the innocence stolen from their eyes yet. I did not want Joseph to grow up as quickly as I was forced to.

Edmund placed a hand on my own hand, giving it a small squeeze.

He probably saw the storm brewing in my too pale eyes. He knew I did not want to talk about marriage for our four year old. Joseph is still my baby. I had been fine before he was born knowing the inevitability of it all but now that he was physically here, I could not stand it. Just thinking that I was planning to remove him from my life so early hurt.

"Weatherby," Edmund spoke. "You are a good friend of ours and we would love to have you as a part of our own family."

Weatherby smiled kindly. He was the oldest and wisest of us all. He would know what is right. Wouldn't he?

"Of course. I have considered your proposal for our children, I only wish you had brought it up sooner so we could celebrate for longer," his words belied the tense air. Or at least that is what I felt. "My wife would like to have a say in this situation though."

Rachel's demeanor was poised rather than energetic as it usually was when talking with me. "We would be delighted to take your offer of a proposal," she began with smoothly flowing words. "I do have a single condition. Elizabeth will have the final say when she is older and able to make her own decisions."

My husband nodded without addressing me, "We will accept this condition."

I nodded mutely after him.

I walked silently to my son's room. A small candle in my hand. The house seemed even more silent after the conversations with the Swanns. Rachel, Weatherby, and Elizabeth had left a few hours earlier. I had shared a few brief words with Rachel who comforted me. She knew my struggle, she had it herself. Her words did not help me as much as they should have though.

Joseph stood in his room chattering away to the maids as they prepared him for bed. When his hazel eyes met mine he shouted, "Mama!" before sprinting at me. His little head bobbed up and down as he bounced towards me.

I kneeled down to his height and ruffled his hair, "It looks like you had fun with Elizabeth today."

"Yes, Mama. We played pretend and she was a pirate and there was treasure!"

A laugh escaped my lips at his innocent antics, "Is that true?"

"Elizabeth said pirates were amazing! They go on boats and battle with swords!"

"Yes, dear, but remember that pirates are dangerous. Now, let's get you in bed, you've lessons in the morning."

Joseph nodded obediently, his face scrunching up as he yawned. Tiny hands to wipe sleep from his dark hazel eyes. I took his hand and guided him to his large bed. He climbed in with some effort before settling deeply in the covers. My hand gently brushed one of his red curls out of his face, the same red curls as his father's. I bent down to lightly kiss his forehead then began softly singing a lullaby my mother had sung to me when I was that little. The foreign words that were far too old for anyone to know gently left my lips and guided my little boy to sleep.

Contentment filled my heart as I saw his eyelids flutter closed into a peaceful slumber. Tears prick at my eyes as I thought of how soon he'd grow and leave me. He'd have a family of his own soon.

My lips twitched downward as a sob tried to pull itself from my chest, but I composed myself once I saw him stir slightly. A bittersweet smile forced itself onto my face.

I leaned forward and kissed his forehead, "I promise to make you happy, my dear. Happier than I will ever be."

Author's Note

Nothing much to say other than I'll upload on Wednesdays or whenever I have a chapter ready (I am currently writing up chapter 8 so I have some time before I start to slow down). Hopefully you enjoy it :)

Coconutplums: Thank you for the compliment! I hope I manage to keep that writing style throughout (It's a bit hard), but I feel like I'll end up adapting the writing to how my character is doing. I think I really got the whimsy down because I was listening to one of AURORA's songs on repeat ("Little boy in the Grass" is the title).

See you next chapter! :)