Transition Plan Chapter 27: First Homecoming Part 14 - Family Presents

After a long discussion with the village Constable the next morning, Christmas Eve, a manhunt began in earnest for Cedric. The Constable assured the young couple the surviving criminal was jailed. Tarzan offered a large reward for Cedric's capture, at Edward's advice. Tarzan insisted the doctor should not have any complicity in the kidnapping, but the Constable was pretty sure that the town would spurn the man who almost got the new Count and Countess killed.

The Constable departed, satisfied with the Count and Countess' statements. Tarzan and Jane just sat quietly in the study, still distressed by the events of the night before. Edward, after conferring with Elisabeth, came to the young pair and advised them earnestly, "My Lord and Lady, under these circumstances, we believe you should cancel the party for this year. There is too much risk."

Tarzan and Jane looked at each other, and were of one mind, "We will not be intimidated by Cedric. This is a family tradition. We will go forward. We must tell the world that Clan Greystoke is once again alive and well."

"As you wish, M'Lord," acknowledged Edward.

"Now that is my Jonathan," whispered Jane to Tarzan as their servants left, kissing his cheek. They were brave words. Each of them was worried about more threats against them, as d'Arnot had warned, but believed they would be safe in their own home.

…

The rest of Christmas Eve was a deliberately quiet day for Jane and Tarzan. They mostly just stayed in the library and read, then spent time listening to Elisabeth's beautiful piano playing of Christmas carols, under their servants' watchful eyes. Jane spent most of her time resting in Tarzan's lap, with his arms around her protectively and soothingly. They were too fearful of another attack to try to attend the local church for an evening candlelight Christmas Eve service, but in response to Edward's request, the local Anglican Rector stopped by after lunch to bless them in their marriage, give them their own personal Christmas message, and say a prayer for their safety.

Dinner was quiet, with some traditional family dishes always served at Christmas that they were very pleased to try. The fear of the abduction and attempted murders put a pall over the Castle. They missed d'Arnot's company, and this was the first time Jane had ever celebrated Christmas without her father. It made her sad, knowing he was alone in London. Tarzan gave her a special hug to comfort her. D'Arnot's merchant marine Guards were everywhere, and refused to leave, but the couple insisted on some normalcy, and they let most of the non-resident staff return home to their families for Christmas. After dinner, they were left alone on a couch in front of the fire and the big Christmas tree in the library. Tarzan sipped on some tasty warm wassail. She was only drinking hot cider. They insisted Edward and Elisabeth go to bed, despite their servants' desires to stay up and keep watch and care for their needs.

They were alone. They needed it. Jane seized the moment while nestled across his lap with her arm around his shoulder.

"I am sorry Christmas was almost ruined, Jonathan," saying while snuggling into his strong arms, "This is supposed to be a joyous time."

"We are together and alive, Jane, dear. That is joyous. I don't yet know much about the traditions of your Christmas. All I know is that the Great Spirit of this world came to earth to live among us and save the world. He did save us this week," Tarzan reflected.

They read the traditional passage about the birth of Jesus in Luke in the Bible. Jane explained also that Wise Men brought presents to Jesus, "We celebrate that tradition of gift giving on Christmas Eve among family members."

Tarzan sighed, "I have no presents for you, Jane."

Jane could not be happier, as she exclaimed and gestured around the room and at her husband, knowing what needed to be said next, "Are you serious, dearest? Look at this place. Look at you. What a gift I have found in you, Jonathan, in that one day in the jungle just a little over a year ago. I do have a special present for you, though."

Tarzan shook his head in gentle skepticism, "What could you possibly ever give me that you haven't already, Jane?"

That was exactly the right question. She smiled demurely, took his massive hand, partly unbuttoned her blouse and skirt, and pressed his palm flat under all her foundations against her bare stomach.

She was very warm. Tarzan's heart raced in anticipation. "It couldn't be," he thought.

"Your present is right here inside of me, Jonathan. It's our baby," she spoke demurely, smiling with happy tears into his emerald eyes.

Tarzan was open-mouthed in joy and his eyes got big as saucers. They embraced in happiness and cried happily together for a long time. When the young couple finally recomposed themselves, he carefully placed her beside him, stood on the couch proudly, pounded his chest, and before she could stop him, Tarzan let loose a full-throated jungle yell.

The sound shattered a mirror and cracked a window pane, a couple of glass ornaments on the tree popped, the chandelier above them rattled, a vase full of poinsettias exploded, and several large portraits crashed to the floor. The echoes rebounded in the Castle for what seemed minutes.

Jane uncovered her ears, and laughed with total delight, "Well… I knew you'd be excited, but not that excited!"

Tarzan had no apologies in his animated response, actually leaping about the room in his gorilla stance and crouch, completely beside himself in joy, "Besides you, this is the best thing that ever happened to me, Jane. I… I just couldn't help myself."

Jane just laughed watching his boundless excitement. Outside they could hear the answering cries of wolves, foxes, owls, nightingales, cattle and sheep, and their horses Kerchak and Faith.

They both chuckled and Jane kidded, "Oh my… It seems everyone in the 'neighborhood' knows about us now, dearest Jonathan."

"Let's celebrate!" he said enthusiastically.

He lifted her up above his head then lowered her to eye level for a tender kiss. It was effortless. She squealed and hugged his neck tightly as they twirled. He set her back down gently, but once her feet hit the floor, in one big push, Jane tackled Tarzan willingly into the couch with her on top. She smothered him in kisses and cupped his face in her hands. Finally, they came up for air.

"This is so wonderful, Jane dear. We did it, didn't we?" he exclaimed.

"Yes Jonathan, we did," she beamed and kissed him again. She couldn't touch him enough in her happiness.

They couldn't talk to each other rapidly enough about their future.

"I can't wait to be a father."

"You will be a great father."

"Not half as good a mother as you will be!"

They expressed their joy through their deep kissing, but something caught her eye, and she gulped. She looked out across the big room. She sat up primly, failed at rebuttoning her blouse, tried fruitlessly to put her hair back into place, cleared her throat, pointing toward the library doorway, and stammered in classic 'nervous Jane' mannerisms, 'Um… ahh. Hehe. Jonathan…'

Tarzan got the hint and sat up immediately. His hair was a complete mess, his cravat was sideways, and his jacket and shirt half removed. His lips and cheeks were covered in her lipstick that she applied especially for tonight.

There assembled before them was the live-in staff, mostly in their nightclothes, and a couple of d'Arnot's guards. They were all quaking with fright. Everyone was goggled-eyed in shock, hearing the unearthly yell, fearing for their lives, but saw it was only the two of them being affectionate on the couch. Edward and the guards wielded shotguns and rifles, Thomas had a buggy whip and a set of spurs, and the groundskeeper had run in brandishing a pitchfork and an ax. Elisabeth hefted a huge meat cleaver that took two hands to hold. Somewhere in the distance in the Castle another painting, dislodged by his shout, crashed to the floor, and everyone flinched. Elisabeth yelped. Ironically, it was the portrait of John and Agnes Clayton.

Jane whispered to Tarzan with a giggle and a side-glance, "Same look, same position, different species," recalling the nearly identical circumstances of his gorilla family's reaction to their first kiss on the beach.

Tarzan completely lost it in a guffaw.

Elisabeth was only moderately amused at Tarzan's laughing and fretted, "Goodness gracious, M'Lord and Lady. We thought you were attacked in the house by a pack of wolves."

Trying to show some decorum, Jane held her blouse closed, and blurted out, giving them all a very guilty grin, "Hehe. Well… We're so sorry. Next time, I will ask Jonathan to use his indoor voice."

"That was Lord Clayton?" asked Edward.

Tarzan tried to keep a very calm explanation, "Every animal in the jungle has their own call. That one is mine."

There was much chatter between the servants about how little they all knew of Tarzan and Jane's early days in the jungle and what had made the couple they way they were.

Edward asked, "What caused you to do that?"

The pair looked at each other joyously but was reticent, "Some… umm… truly wonderful news."

Elisabeth saw the glance and figured it out immediately, and so she could hardly wait, clasping her hands in anticipation, "Tell us now, Lady Jane!"

Jane took Tarzan and in hand in hand, and they stood next to each other very closely. She got a very proper expression, cleared her throat, spread her hand across her décolletage, and announced proudly, "We're going to have baby!"

Everyone instantly cheered. The staff dropped their erstwhile weapons, hugged the young couple, and shared congratulations, but everyone knew they needed their alone time. It was obvious than Jane had just told Tarzan, prompting his celebration yell.

Elisabeth was the last one to leave, and prepared to close the door to the library, acting more like a proud mother than a servant, which she often had been to Jane, and felt strongly about Jonathan the same way. The winked and kidded them, "We won't interrupt you this time…as long as there are no more jungle screeches, my dear children. Congratulations again and Merry Christmas. Oh, and here's another blanket…"

They blushed, enjoying the term of endearment as Elisabeth's children more than her masters, and snickered over Elisabeth's knowing glance at them. They knew their reputation for very intense, open affection was taking some getting used to, not to mention being in some compromising positions the mornings after. Her long-term servant and confidante Elisabeth took it all in stride, however.

Alone again, Tarzan praised Jane and held her proudly by her shoulders, "Look at you. So beautiful! Mother of our child! That's why you've been sick. So the doctor the other day…?"

She beamed at his compliments, "Yes, Jonathan. It's all just morning sickness, as my body changes for the baby. I don't think I will have my mother's frailties. I feel very strong, dear. The doctor thinks so too. All he gave me are vitamins and some herbs to take, and wants me to have a certain diet if I can."

Tarzan grinned in relief but kidded her, "Just the same Jane, I must follow my jungle instincts to protect the new Mother-to-Be. You get a ride to our bedroom."

He hoisted her into his arms, and started for the stairs. She yelped as he picked her up and giggled all the way up stairs in the way he loved to hear her as she quipped, "My goodness sakes, you big, strong ape man. Am I to be afforded this kind of service all the time now?"

"Every chance I can," he smirked.

"Oh, my, Tarzan, you really know how to spoil a Countess. In reward, you get a second present. You get to unwrap me tonight."

"We can um… uh… ?" he stammered.

It was sweet to Jane that no matter how intimate they were, his charming innocence still showed through.

"Yes. Can you think of a better way to celebrate our news?" Jane mused.

"Even when you're pregnant?"

Gorillas, at least in his family's troop, refrained from relations when the female was pregnant.

"Some say it's even better then."

He smiled and kissed her, "Now that, my dear wife,would take quite some doing."

She blushed with his praise. They paused for a moment as, all over the Castle, they heard the chiming and ringing of dozens of clocks as midnight came.

"Merry Christmas, Jonathan. I love you," she whispered and kissed him softly.

"Merry Christmas, Jane. I love you too."

They reached the top of the stair, but took a short detour before entering their master bedroom. She knew where he was going and held him tightly, holding her breath. He carried her to his old nursery right next door to the master bedroom, something neither one had been brave enough to do until now. Jane held a hallway candle into the long-empty room. It was still beautiful inside with the tiny canopied crib, rocker, dresser stocked with unworn clothes, and play area with dozens of toys that never had been touched. Both looked at each other with moist eyes. She answered his unspoken desire.

"Yes, Jonathan, our child will sleep and play here, even though you couldn't. We will live in both worlds."

As Tarzan carried her in his arms, she lit the candlestick on what would now be the baby's dresser. Jane said gently, "This is for the child of Bethlehem born to save us 1900 years ago and our child to come in the new year."

Still carrying her, Tarzan unlocked the long-secured door that joined the master bedroom to the nursery, and walked through to their bedroom. That door would never be locked again.

Tarzan gently laid her on their bed, and doused their candle. They were highlighted only by the flickering of the nursery candle just beyond the doorway. The tenderness of their lovemaking could barely be heard on their silent night of true happiness, sharing the most precious and simple gift of all – their love and devotion for each other, that had now manifested itself into their first child.

It was all they had at the beginning, and it was all they needed now.