I appreciate all the love for the story. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Mary twisted her hands nervously within her lap. Once they arrived at the hospital, everything had been a blur. The baby and Anna had both been taken in different directions. Not much was said to Mary as they rushed to help both lives. So Mary had just anxiously sat. She tried to recall all she could about the small babe she had held in case she didn't make it. She wanted to let Anna and John know all about her. Her dark hair and dark pink lips. The way the baby's hand curled around her finger once she held her close.

"Anna?" John said, breaking through the door. Mary stood. She blinked back the tears before shaking her head.

"We haven't heard anything yet. She and baby have both been taken back."

"I should have been there," John stated, tightening his jaw.

Mary took a step forward and placed her hand on his upper arm. "It all happened so fast. I don't think you could have made it up in time had you been there."

Looking over Mary, John realized she had stains of blood over her clothing and streaks among her arms. His stomach churned.

"You should go home and clean up," John told her. He tried not to think much about the blood. His wife and child's blood. Tears prickled behind his eyes and he blinked hard to contain them. Now was not the time for tears. He had to remain strong for Anna.

Mary glanced down. She hadn't even noticed the red marks all over her.

"I'd rather stay here and wait to see how they are both doing. Why don't we take a seat together?"

John didn't feel much like sitting, but he did as her Lady requested.

"It's….it's a girl," Mary told John. John glanced up from his feet. A small smile spread across his lips.

"A girl," he repeated. "Anna thought it might be."

"And she has a head full of dark hair and the pinkest of lips," Mary said, trying to tell him every detail she could.

"Dark hair?" John chucked. "I can't imagine." His smile faded as he realized he may never get to have her.

"I should have been there," he repeated. Mary opened her mouth to speak, but the door opened and Dr. Clarkson stepped out. Both Mary and John's eyes met his immediately and they jumped up out of their chairs. Dr. Clarkson was hard to read. He didn't look like he had good news, but he didn't appear completely distraught either.

"Dr. Clarkson?" Mary asked for them both.

"We were able to stop the bleeding in Mrs. Bates," he informed the both of them. "I believe she will pull through this, but she is very weak."

"She will be alright?" Mary questioned.

"I do believe so, yes." Both Mary and John let out cries of relief. "She is going to be ill for a while, though. She needs rest. You both can go in and see her, but you must be quiet. She is sleeping."

"And the baby?" John asked of his daughter. Dr. Clarkson's face went dark. John noticed the way the doctor took a moment to compose himself before speaking.

"It's too early to tell. She is very small and very weak. The next few days will be touch and go. I do not want to give you false hope." John stepped back and covered his mouth with his hand. The sobs he was trying to hold in could no longer be controlled.

John's mind went to the little girl both he and Anna had wanted to badly. A sibling for their son, Jack. Anna. His main thoughts went to Anna. While he would be absolutely devastated, he would survive it. He wasn't sure she would.

Once John was able to compose himself, he and Mary went to Anna's side. She didn't look like his wife. The woman in the bed was so pale; she was almost as white as the sheets where she laid. Her hair framed her frail face. John took a seat next to his wife and held her hand.

"I will leave you two alone now," Mary quietly informed him. "I just needed to see her for myself." John nodded; he understood. At the moment, he couldn't express his gratefulness to Mary for being so quick and saving his wife. He hoped she knew.

When Mary had left the room, John felt more tears springing to his eyes. He wanted to remain stoic for Anna. If she awoke, he didn't want her to see him like that. She would need him to be strong; to hold all of their pain on his shoulders. And he would. He would do anything for her.

-X-X-X-X-X-

"Mrs. Hughes," Mary's quiet voice called from her doorway. She pushed open the door to find Mrs. Hughes sitting at her desk with tears in her eyes.

"Lady Mary," Mrs. Hughes stated, standing. Her eyes widened at the state of Mary's clothing.

"I have just arrived back from the hospital. Dr. Clarkson believes Anna will pull through," Mary informed her.

"Oh thank the heavens," she said as she wiped her eyes. "And the baby?"

Mary's lips trembled and a sob escaped. She hadn't known just how affected by the whole ordeal she had been until this moment. Mrs. Hughes brought her arms around Mary and held her tightly.

"Alright, love, just let it out." For the first time in all the years they had known each other, Lady Mary and Mrs. Hughes held one another in a hug.

Slowly, Mary pulled away and wiped her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hughes. It's just, you care for Anna as much as I do." Mrs. Hughes nodded. "They aren't sure the baby will make it. I held her, the baby. She was so small." Once again, a sob escaped Mary's lips.

"Oh dear," Mrs. Hughes sighed in fear.

"You will take Jack tonight?" Mary questioned, thinking of Anna's son. Mrs. Hughes nodded. She loved that boy so very much. Anna had named Mrs. Hughes his godmother. The two had a relationship much like a grandparent and grandchild.

"Good. I think that'll be best for him, to be with you than here in the nursery."

"I agree. Thank you, Lady Mary, for coming to let me know. I really do appreciate it."

-X-X-X-X-X-

The ache behind Anna's eyes made her moan in pain. She felt a hand gently wipe a rag over her forehead. Slowly she opened her eyes. The brightness in the room made her wince.

"Anna? My darling," the voice soothed her soul.

"John?" She croaked.

"I'm here, Anna. I'm here. Shh, don't rush yourself. You are very weak," John told her. Anna's eyes slowly focused. Her eyes met John's to find only concern.

"What happened?" Everything was a blur. The last thing she remembered was being in Lady Mary's room helping her get ready for her day.

The baby.

"The baby, John. Where's the baby?" Anna attempted to sit up. Her eyes became frantic as she tried to get out of the bed. John gently grabbed her hands to still her effort and then began pushing her back down onto the bed.

"You need to lay down," John instructed. "You are very weak."

Anna did what she was told, but her eyes remained anxious.

"Where's our baby, John?" John bit his lower lip and grabbed her hand.

"Our daughter is very weak, my darling."

"Daughter?"

"Yes, we have a girl," John told her, his lips curling up slightly. "Mary said she has dark hair."

"I want to see her," Anna stated strongly. "I need to see her."

"We can't. Not right now."

"But I need to see her. John," Anna cried. "Why can't I see my daughter?" John's lips twitched in sadness. He sighed.

"Dr. Clarkson said…" John paused. He wasn't sure how to say this. How does one tell a mother she may lose her child?

"What did he say? Where is she?" Anna was growing weaker. The small excitement of waking up and everything was making her feel worse and worse.

"You need to rest, Anna. You won't get better if you don't."

Anna's lips trembled and her eyes fell to her hands. "Our baby isn't going to make it; is she?" When she glanced up and saw the devastation in her husband's eyes, Anna let out a cry.

"She could," John stated strongly. "All hope isn't lost." Anna wasn't listening. Tears were now streaming down her face. When John tried to hold her in his arms, she pushed him away.

John felt defeated. There were always talks of Christmas miracles, but just this once, John prayed for one in the summer.

To be continued...