A/N: sorry for the delay but OH HAPPY DAY, SANDITON IS COMING BACK! I don't trust they'll get theo back but we'll see how it goes. Anyway, motivated me to post my final chapter.
Tom arrives a few days later with Sidney in a wagon. His entire waist is wrapped in gauze. 'He was thrown off a horse and bruised some ribs. He'll be fine', Tom says. The children run in to see their father. 'DADDY! DADDY!'. 'my darlings', he says as he kisses them all. 'Careful, children. Daddy is bruised', Charlotte warns. She balances Laurence on her lap. 'let me see my baby boy', he reaches over. 'Careful, Sidney'', she says, placing the infant next to him.
Its nighttime and Laurence has been fed and put to sleep. 'do you need anything before I lie down?', Charlotte asks. 'you', Sidney says. She rolls her eyes and lays down next to him. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her head. 'How did I get so lucky?', he asks. 'I ask myself that every day', she teases. 'ooh that hurts!", he says. 'well if you remember, you weren't the nicest when we met'. 'no', he sighs. 'no I was not, but you stood by me, like you're doing now'. "Well against my better judgement, I kind of like you', she jokes. 'I kind of like you too', he says and kisses her. The kiss turns passionate and Charlotte turns away. 'no sir, no thank you'. 'what?', Sidney laughed. 'Can't I show my wife some affection?'. 'I'm still breastfeeding the last sign of affection you showed me, and there's four more where that came from. That is enough'. Sidney laughs. 'would it really be so bad?', he asked. 'what", Charlotte ask. 'another baby?'. 'Yes! Sidney you're not here all day with them!', Charlotte laughs. 'that's fair', he says. Charlotte lays back down and Sidney slips his hand under her nightgown. 'Sidney!', she exclaims. 'what?", he asks. 'aren't you supposed to be an invalid right now?'. 'not for everything', he says cheekily. She sighs as she lets his hand travel up her nightgown. His hand slips in her underwear and she feels flushed. He reaches up her stomach all the way to her breasts, where he massages them. She is trying hard not to break her resolve but it's not really working. With his hands on her, she lets out a gasp. She gives up, lifting her nightgown over herself and laying sideways as Sidney is. She enters him and lets out a moan as they thrust sideways. She doesn't want to hurt him so she doesn't get too close, but he wraps his arms around her, making no gap between them. 'Sidney, you'll hurt yourself', she whispers. 'I'm ok', he says. He kisses her neck and shoulders, then thrusts into her. She buries her face into his neck. He pumps into her. She lets him take charge so as not to hurt him, and she feels his hands on her breasts. His mouth on them, sucking. She moans. He teases her nipple and she grabs on deeper into the bed. She pushes into him harder and he grunts.
'Mommy!', Theodore comes in, followed by Sydney holding Laurence, Georgiana holding Rebecca and Sidney follows behind. 'shh! Children'. They approach the bed as Charlotte holds a baby. 'this is your sister, Eleanor'. 'another sister', Theo sighs. Sidney laughs. 'I'm sorry buddy'. 'How are you, darling?', he asks Charlotte. 'I'm really done this time', she says firmly. He laughs. 'ok sweetheart. I think six is a fair number'. Mary and Tom follow in. 'Marvelous, Charlotte', Mary coos. 'Thank you, Mary', Charlotte smiles. 'I can't believe you beat us. We only have four', Tom laughs. 'oh trust me, this was not the plan', Charlotte sighs. 'can I hold her, Mama?', Sydney asks. 'yes you can', Charlotte says. She carefully hands the baby to her oldest daughter, Sidney right next to her to hold Eleanor's head.
'She's so beautiful, Charlotte', Georgina says. 'as beautiful as your goddaughter?', Charlotte asks. 'Heavens no!', Georgina laughs. 'six children. What are you going to do?', Georgina asks. 'lose my mind', Charlotte laughs. 'Actually, Georgina, we wondered If you'd want to move in and be a governess to the children. If its beneath you, we understand of course, but you're so educated and the children so love you'. 'I would love to', Georgina says. 'Yeah?', Charlotte asks. Georgina nods. 'Thank you. Our hands are so full'. 'Well yeah, but who can tell you two to keep your hands off each other?', Georgina teases. Charlotte rolls her eyes.
Epilogue
Sydney is now 16 and debuting. Sidney became a gentleman and with the good fortune of the family was able to put together a debutante ball. Her sibling all join her, Georgiana, Theodore, Rebecca, Laurence and Eleanor all dressed to the nines. Her first dance is with her father, then with her oldest brother, Theodore. Her mother stands in the corner, Holding her youngest sister, Caroline, barely a toddler. She was quite the surprise to mother and father, though the surprise to everyone else was the 10 year age gap in between Eleanor and Caroline. They expected more in between. Her mother watches as John, a boy from a good family, approaches Sydney to dance. Sidney clenches up. 'I can't believe I agreed to this' he mutters. Charlotte laughs and kisses him. 'it's tradition, darling. We can't keep her forever'.