Children

Sidney woke up contented. The feel of Charlotte's soft/warm body clinging to him like a limpet doing wonders to his manhood. He had been starved for so long and he couldn't believe his luck. He enjoyed watching her sleep and hummed as she played with his hair. He leaned down placing gentle kisses on her face and smiled when her eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning my love" Sidney looking deeply into her eyes displaying the love and passion he felt for her.

"Good morning my love" Charlotte mirroring Sidney's morning address but moved her hands so they cradled his face. He leaned down and tenderly kissed her while placing a hand on her stomach. He truly hoped they could have another child where he would be able to watch grow and finally be born.

"Tell me about your pregnancy with Sidney" he tried to keep his voice calm, but it shook slightly betraying his emotions. He had missed that experienced and wanted to know everything. She knew it was going to be difficult and held him close before starting to speak.

"I didn't have to wait long and found my course did not arrive as scheduled. You were married and I was alone in the world." With tears in his eyes Sidney held her close and kissed her forehead. If he had known, he would have left Eliza at the alter and taken Charlotte to Scotland.

"It was difficult… grief, heart break and morning sickness!" Charlotte closing her eyes as she remembered it effecting her most times of the day. She explained she couldn't keep her food down and lost a significant amount of weight. Sidney looking at her in horror when he discovered it had lasted for the majority of her pregnancy.

"Charlotte!" was all Sidney could say

"My mother believed I was having twins, but she was proven wrong when Sidney was born" laughed Charlotte remembering her mother's disgust at her wrong prediction.

"How big was Sidney?"

"Hmm… you are broad shouldered and tall, so our child was large... by the end of pregnancy I struggled with my balance and looked like a whale!" Charlotte demonstrating her size with her arms.

"After 40 hours of labour I finally had my 10-pound baby boy in my arms and the pain was forgotten" Charlotte remembering the feeling and couldn't believe he was getting married and would have his own children soon.

"My warrior!" reverently spoke Sidney. Charlotte opened the locket she was wearing and pointed to a lock of Sidney M's baby hair. Harriet's and Elizabeth's were also there but Sidney's focus was on his son's hair.

"Who named our son?" Sidney had assumed Charlotte

"Hector gave Sidney his name. He told me that the child had two fathers and would have both their names. Hector understood your position and honoured you by putting your name first" Charlotte thinking back to that day and love she had for Hector. Charlotte going onto describe Sidney M as a calm baby who was gentle and slept soundly

"Harriet was a difficult baby, and I was relieved Sidney was easy. There is only 9 months between the two of them and they are extremely close. Harriet constantly reminds Sidney M she is the oldest and is allowed to boss him around," laughed Charlotte. Harriet only doing it to Sidney M yesterday.

Charlotte continued to speak about Sidney M's terrible twos and the development of a brooding personality. Sidney M always appearing older than his age as he was being groomed to be the future Laird.

"Did he ever go off the rails… show any rogue traits?" asked Sidney

"No… too serious and careful… Hector always instilled in him he was to set a good example for their people. Also, being a product of uncontrollable passion may have also influenced him. I imagine you are going to have to have a talk to him about the wedding night" Charlotte spoke and laughed at Sidney's facial expression.

It was now Charlotte turn to ask about Anne….

Sidney had told Eliza he loved another and she had suspected Charlotte after the Babbington wedding. They had been married for a couple of years and Eliza was placing pressure on him to have a child. Sidney had gotten around the matter by travelling regularly and used his business as an excuse for their separate living arrangements.

"I tried to make her happy, but I couldn't… you have taken my heart and I had nothing to give her" shared Sidney while he had moved Charlotte gently on top of him.

He never wanted to have children with Eliza and had been appalled when she had taken advantage of him when he was drunk.

"She pretended to be you" sighed Sidney while moving his hand along Charlotte's back.

Sidney after that event locked his bedroom door as Eliza had entered his home uninvited. Sidney had fired the butler who had been passing on information to Eliza about Sidney's drinking habits. When Eliza announced her pregnancy, she left him alone and only informed his about the progress of the pregnancy via letter.

"When I held Anne in my arms, I fell in love with my child. I promised her that I would care for her, but you know I failed while her mother lived" signed Sidney. Charlotte reminding him he did his best and Eliza clearly made life difficult. Sidney looking at Charlotte and wondered if she would want another child with him.

"Sidney, you are loyal, compassionate. Anne adores you and you have been a father to your nieces and nephews. If we are blessed with another child, I know you will be the best father you can be" Charlotte kissing him to reassure him.

Sidney spent time watching her intently before speaking….

"I am very motivated to extend our family…I promise you I will never leave your side" He gave her his best rogue smile before focusing on the mission at hand. The couple appearing in the late afternoon and Susan observed Charlotte glowed with happiness.