AN : Hello everyone ! Here is a new "story" of mine. I hope you're going to like it. As always let me know what you think and if you have ideas about this story, I'm listening. I'll see what I can do with them :)
So, what if Cathry lived in our age ? Henry would be a military man and Catherine's family would own one of the most prosperous banks in the world (Catherine would be CEO). They'd have four children : Francis, Elisabeth, Claude and Charles. What if over a misunderstanding Cathry had gone wrong during years ? Will they be able to save what's left of them ? What if some event made them put their estrangement and pride aside ? We shall see…
Disclaimer : I own nothing.
Chapter 1 :
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Henry, general of the French army, was in the plane that took him back to France and his family after months of mission. Before returning as one of the most graded officers of the mission he had had a meeting in Paris before his superiors during which they made an interesting proposition to Henry… but one he didn't know if he would accept.
They had given him some days to think about it, but now, it was over, and he was in the plane that took him back home, still dressed in his military parade suit.
He must admit that he was a bit stressed. Just before he left Catherine and he had reconciled but then they had another very heated argument.
With the general still in his thoughts the plane landed. When he got out of the military plane, his eyes searched the crowd for his wife. He knew from experience that no matter what happened before he left she would always be there, waiting for him on the tarmac.
But apparently this was the exception to the rule as she was not there. Taking this as another of her whims he went through the airport alone and took a taxi to bring him home.
Their house was situated not near but not far from the airport so he would have a 30 minutes car ride.
If he was honest with himself he was not really angry, he was more disappointed. They may have been at odds just before he left in mission but he had wanted to see her… He had missed her… When he was away during these nine, he hadn't been able to call her as there was no internet available for any other things that military supplies and they had to communicate by radio between the military sections and the base. No one could call home in the war zone they were in. The only thing they could do was to write letters but Catherine hadn't answered any of his letters. For that he was disappointed too…
He was on the backseat of the taxi when he received an unknown call. Odd, he thought. Who would call him now as nobody knew he had returned yet ? He decided to answer none the less.
"Yes ?" He said.
A female voice responded at the other end of the phone. She seemed stressed… "Are you M. Henry Valois ?"
Who was she to know his name ? He thought. "Yes, it's me. Who are you ?"
"I am a nurse from Ambroise Paré Clinic…" A nurse ? Henry was more confused as the conversation went on. Why would a nurse call him ?
"… I am calling you because of your wife." Continued the nurse.
"My wife ? What's wrong with her ? Why is she in your clinic ?" He asked a little worriedly.
"Well, sir it's to be expected in a situation such as this. But she is having complications that's why I decided to call you, her husband if I'm not mistaken. She doesn't know I called you."
Complication ? A situation such as this ? "I am her husband, yes. What are you talking about ? What situation ?"
"Well, sir, you're wife is having difficulties to deliver your baby."
"WHAT ?!" Said Henry. A baby ! Catherine is pregnant ? That's why she wasn't here, waiting for him ! She is struggling to give birth…
After telling the driver to go to Ambroise Paré Clinic, he answered the nurse with a determinate tone : "I'm coming".
The few minutes it took to arrive to the clinic seemed like endless days for the worried husband and soon to be father. "What will I say to her ? Am I ready to be a father again ?..."The questions went on and on in his head but what bothered him the most was "Why hasn't she told me ?" and "I hope she'll be alright". Because he didn't know what he'd do if she wasn't.
Soon he arrived at the parking lot of the hospital where he had just been told that his wife was trying to give birth to their child. He couldn't believe what was happening… one second he was back from mission and now, he was going to the hospital because he had just learned that his wife was pregnant and currently giving birth.
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The day before
Catherine was at their house. The nine months pregnant woman was preparing the clothes she would wear to see her husband tomorrow. She knew he would come back from mission that day and was going to drive to the airport to greet him.
No matter in which state was their relationship she always had come to welcome him back home and she was certainly not going to change that. None the less… she had been disappointed by him, through their years of estrangement he had always written to her but this time, she received no letters. Even when she swallowed her pride and wrote to him to tell him she was pregnant, he didn't answer. She thought it was his "vengeance" for their last argument.
She was selecting a dress when she felt a sharp pain in her belly. It was her fifth pregnancy and she recognized the signs of labour easily enough.
She called for an ambulance and waited until they arrived.
It seems she would not be at the landing this time…
When the paramedics arrived, they immediately drove her to the hospital and now she was struggling since more than 24 hours to give birth to their daughter. Without her knowing a nurse decided to call her husband. Fortunately he had returned today…
In the hospital's bed, Catherine was exhausted and thinking of her husband… oh how she would love for him to be here and hold her hand. The pain was excruciating and to make matters worse she couldn't have an epidural because she was too far advanced in the birthing process. She didn't know how she would go on, but she knew she couldn't endure the pain for much longer.
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When Henry arrived he paid the driver and jumped out of the car before it had fully stopped.
He ran to the hospital's doors still in his military parade costume and when the automatic doors finally opened after what seemed like an eternity for him he hurried towards the reception desk. "Good afternoon, I've just been called and told that my wife is giving birth here."
The lady behind the counter kept her calm, she was accustomed to running and worried fathers, though this one was specially dressed. "Good afternoon, what is her name ?"
"Catherine De Medici Valois" He answered rapidly.
"Yes, yes, she's here." Answered the woman after one minute of two.
Exasperated with her lack of rapidity, Henry asked : "What is the number of her room ?"
"Humm… let me see…" And after a few more moments she finally said the blessed number "Second floor number 204"
"Thank you." Henry said and went back running through the halls. He pressed the elevator button but found his too long to come. Instead he took the stairs and climbed the steps four by four. He finally arrived to the second floor. He was now on the long corridor and searched for the right number on one of the doors. 204,204,204…the number run through his head like a mantra.
When he finally found the right door, he took a deep breath before taking the door's handle in his hand. But before he could open the door, a scream pierced through him. His wife's scream. His blood ran cold but still, he opened the door.
Here was his beautiful wife, drowned in sweat and looking like she hadn't slept in days.
"Catherine." He said softly.
When she realized he was here, she burst into tears no longer able to hold them back.
One of the few positive sides gained from being part of the army was the ability to react, adapt and act rapidly. While other men would surely be glued to the spot when seeing a thing such as this, he was, in the blink of an eyes, at Catherine's side taking her hand and reassuring her. "I'm here now, I'm here, it will be alright … Catherine look at me… you can do it, you've already done it. Stop crying now please, darling." He could never stand to see her crying…
"I can't, I can't… The pain… I can't" She said frantically.
Placing both his hand on her cheeks he looked deeply in her eyes and said : " Yes, you can Catherine, trust yourself. I know you can. If anyone can do this it's you. Come on darling, I'm here now and I won't leave you. Hold my hand and push. Bring our baby into the world Caterina. » He whispered his last sentence in her ear, touching her cheek with his own before lovingly kissing away the tears that had fallen from her eyes.
His words, actions and the mere fact that he was there, holding her hand, gave Catherine all the strength she needed to continue and push.
When the next contraction came, she screamed, pressed and clung to his hand with all her might. Her husband was reassuring and encouraging her at the same time.
« Come on, come on Catherine. That's it. Push. It going to be alright. »
The nurse who called Henry earlier, was now between his wife's legs to help her to give birth.
When the contraction was over, Catherine fell back on the bed. Saying she was exhausted was an understatement. The pain was nearly unbearable and she had been in labour for so long...
« I see the head ! » Said the nurse. The couple looked at her, especially Henry, waiting for instructions on what to do.
« One more push and your baby should be here. » Continued the nurse. Upon hearing this, Henry immediately turned his eyes back to his struggling and more than tired wife and said : « Catherine, Catherine look at me » he said. His wife's eyes took some time to find his own when she heard her name coming from his lips. She was like in a bubble, a bubble of pain.
« Catherine, you heard her. One more push, darling, one more. » He told her.
« I can't... Henry... I can't » She answered, struggling to make a proper sentence.
« Yes you can Catherine ! Please try once more darling, your children need you, this baby needs you and I need you. »
Her eyes found his when she heard his last words. She was surprised, he needed her ? No... who would need her.
« Do you love me ? » She asked with a trembling voice, feeling the pull of unconsciousness in her mind.
Suddenly, Henry saw her... trying to give birth to their daughter. Tears in her tired eyes and sweat covering all her body. But at the time he didn't see his wife or the mother of his children. He saw Caterina, the woman he loved more than anything. Seeing her like that made him realise what he had ignored during all those years and what he now risked to lose forever... No ! It can't be ! he said to himself... I can't lose her. Not now, not ever. In that moment he also understood that he wanted her back. He wanted what they had when they were young back. He wanted his Italian bride back. He wanted his Catherine back...
It may seem that he was lost in his thoughts for several minutes but it all happened in the blink of an eye.
« More than should be possible Catherine. » Came his answer, whispered.
« Me too. » She said before closing her eyes, allowing his words to get through her.
A smile appeared on his face even if he was very much taken aback by this declaration but when he saw her close her eyes he knew it was his last chance to get through her and try to give her the strength to push again.
Just when she was about to lose consciousness, he took her face between his hands and spoke with sincerity, tenderness and... Could it be love entering his voice ?
« Catherine, Catherine come back ! Come back to me ! I know you're tired, more than tired. But, please, please. Push once more. Think of our daughter, bring her here and make me the happiest man on earth. »
She looked into his eyes that were pleading and begging her, to push once more. She gathered her remaining forces just in time to feel a contraction coming.
When she pushed, she clenched her jaw and closed her eyes, she no longer had the force to scream.
Henry was still encouraging and reassuring her. « That's it Catherine, that's it. You're doing such a great job and I am so proud of you darling. »
Just when she was about to stop pushing, she felt it, her baby's shoulders coming out of her.
A second later, the nurse held a red and crying baby girl and Henry gathered his crying wife in his arms not without shedding a tear of joy and relief too.
« Do you want to cut the cord ? » Asked the nurse, looking towards Henry.
« Yes, of course. » He took the surgical scissors and cut. Soon after, their daughter was placed in her mother's arms and at her breast.
The couple was now smiling at their baby. Touching his daughter's white and soft cheek, Henry said « She's perfect. » and he kissed his wife's cheek.
Soon after nursing their new born, Catherine fell asleep from exhaustion. Henry was left sitting beside his sleeping wife with his perfect girl in his arms.
AN : This new idea of Cathry story just popped into my head so… I hope you find it interesting.
I already have an idea for the next chapter so stay tunned :)
As always please review and let me know what you think and if you have ideas for this story, feel free to share them !
Take care
Laura D.