Hello my dear readers, it has been some time. I'm sorry for my absence. I had several placements for my nursing degree these past months, not to mention assignments and tests. I also got married last month so that took up some time as well :P Anyway, no more excuses. I present you with the epilogue. Gallia had a request for the epilogue in their review and when I was writing it I thought 'why not?' so I hope you enjoy that :)
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Margaret looked out of the window at the bustling yard beyond with a content smile. Mrs Thornton stood at the other window, although her eyes shifted frequently to observe her new daughter. Such a strange course of events had led them to that point and yet it still surprised her how well Margaret had adjusted to her new life at Marlborough mills. Mrs Thornton knew her to be friendly with the workers and quick to have an opinion, but even she had been surprised by Margaret's interest in every part of the mill's operation and John's readiness to teach her.
'I am due to visit the Higgins' within the half hour,' Margaret called to her as if feeling the eyes upon her. 'Please do not worry John, I will not be out for long'.
Mrs Thornton sighed. 'If you are to still insist on going about on foot, then at least take a servant with you. I don't want to hear that you've been set upon by ill-doers'.
Margaret smiled gratefully at the older woman. 'I will be careful, I promise. I am not so delicate as to not make the walk alone'.
Mrs Thornton sighed and nodded. She had learnt over the months of Margaret being with them that she would not be persuaded once she had made up her mind. The only person who had a chance of doing so was hard at work and she did not wish to disturb him now that things were busy once more.
When Margaret made the walk to the Higgins' residence, she was a little disturbed to find herself a little less capable than she had originally claimed. She paused by the corner of a shop to breathe for a moment when a man she recognised came running up behind her.
'Are you alright, ma'am?' he asked fearfully.
Margaret smiled at him. 'Yes, I am quite well. I see that Mrs Thornton did paid me no mind'.
'She doesn't anything bad to happen to you, ma'am. Please don't be angry with her for wanting to help you'.
Margaret nodded. 'I know, she only wants to show her support. Thank you for coming, Martin'.
The rest of the walk was a bit easier for Margaret as she knew she had someone with her. She was terribly tired by the time they made it to the familiar house and Martin insisted that they take a cab back to the mills when she returned.
Mary answered the door with a cheerful smile and her cheeks coloured a little as Martin tipped his hat to her. Margaret merely smirked at the exchange as she was led inside and up to the familiar sitting room where she had spent so many evenings with her parents and then with the Higgins' before she married.
'How are the children?' Margaret asked as Mary poured them some tea.
'Hard work,' Mary nodded, but smiled. 'We are so grateful to you for the boy's schooling. He comes home happier every day'.
'I'm so glad to know it,' Margaret replied fondly. 'He has such great potential that neither John nor I could bear the thought of him not going'.
'And you? How are you feeling?' asked Mary.
'Well, I suppose as good as to be expected,' Margaret chuckled, very conscious of her enormous stomach. 'The doctor tells me that I ought not to travel much, but I cannot be confined to the house entirely or a fear I shall lose my sanity'.
'How long do you have left now?'
'Not very long,' Margaret replied a little shakily. 'Perhaps two weeks'. She felt suddenly breathless and sat up a little on the lounge to make herself more comfortable.
'Ma'am, is everything okay?' Martin asked anxiously and she shifted again.
'Yes, I thank you,' Margaret tried to answer normally but her voice came out a little strained.
'Are you certain?'
Margaret looked up at him with luminous eyes and shook her head. 'I don't know. That is, I'm not too sure…'
Martin was to his feet at once. 'Mary, please stay with Mrs Thornton while I arrange transport'.
He hurried from the room as Mary rushed over to sit in front of Margaret. Neither of them spoke for a little while as Margaret struggled to get comfortable once more. It was only when Mary heard an audible sniff that she looked up to see tears trickling down Margaret's cheeks.
'Is it really so painful?' she asked.
'Not at the moment,' Margaret breathed. 'I am just afraid'.
'I don't know enough about it, but I do know you. You will make it through'.
Margaret smiled gratefully then. 'Thank you, Mary. I hope that I am half as good with my children as you are with the Boucher's'.
It only took Martin minutes to return and even less time to usher Margaret out of the house and out into the cab. Margaret apologised to Mary for her hasty departure, but Mary only laughed, reminding her that her health was more important.
As she sat quietly in the cab, the gentle rocking soothing her, she carefully placed her hand on one side of her stomach and then the next. From the moment the doctor had told her there were two heartbeats, she had been dreading the birth. She had heard so many stories of dangerous births where one child did not survive, or worse both. Not to mention the tales of mothers losing their lives in childbirth.
'We're home ma'am,' Martin announced as the cab slowed and the sounds of production swelled around them.
Margaret allowed herself to be escorted back inside where Mrs Thornton was already waiting for them. He explained that she was unwell, and Mrs Thornton had to stop herself from chiding the girl on her stubbornness for going in the first place.
The next few hours passed painfully slowly. The pain came and went but was becoming much more frequent. Margaret had thought to call for John but knew that he was much too busy to be distracted. So, she sat alone for the most part, trying to distract herself from the pains as they came. Mrs Thornton checked on her every half hour or so and had called for a midwife to come at the soonest convenience.
As the sky outside began to darken, Margaret became aware of her nightdress slowly soaking through and discolouring. She was about to call for a servant to help her when there was a knock at the door. She looked up to see her husband, looking concerned and a little angered.
'You didn't tell me,' he murmured quietly as he hurried over to her side. 'You've been suffering for hours'.
Margaret smiled softly. 'I don't believe it's supposed to be pleasant'.
He placed a soft kiss to her forehead and then knelt beside the bed, placing both of his hands on her lightly covered stomach. Margaret reached forward her hand to run through his hair and he looked up at her with a loving smile.
'This isn't supposed to happen yet'.
Margaret nodded. 'I know. John, if I can't do this'—
'No,' he rose to sit beside her on the bed. 'You mustn't say that. You and I have been through too much for that to happen'.
'But if'—
'It won't,' he cut her off harshly before his face softened. 'You are everything to me, Margaret. You cannot leave me'.
Margaret did not know what to say, so instead she showed him how she felt by pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss. They sat for several minutes afterwards with their foreheads together, just taking in one another. The midwife arrived soon after and John sat in the chair beside the bed, refusing to move.
He sat and waited until it was time for her to push, then he knelt on the floor again and took her hand. The midwife informed him that he might not want to stay, but he insisted. He had not exaggerated her worth to him, nor how much he loved her, and he would show it to her in any way her could.
After an excruciatingly long time the first child was safely delivered. John kept his hand firmly in hers as the babe cried loudly in the midwife's arms. Thankfully, the second was much faster and when both children were presented to them, they both had to blink back tears of joy. Margaret was exhausted but smiled on lovingly as they were introduced to the two healthy baby boys.
John rose to his feet and walked over to the bowl of water and dipped in a fresh cloth, wringing it out carefully before bringing it back over to Margaret. As he dabbed her forehead, they watched as the two children were swaddled and brought over to the bed.
Mrs Thornton arrived a little while later and John gestured for her to join them. Her stern features softened as she took in the perfect little faces of her grandsons and he cautiously picked one of them up at cradle.
'You did very well,' she gave Margaret a sincere smile and then looked to John 'Have you chosen names for them?'
John turned his head to Margaret with a small smile. 'Margaret and I had already spoken about this previously'.
'Yes,' Margaret nodded sleepily. 'We would like to name them after our fathers'.
Mrs Thornton did not say a word but nodded in understanding. After some time sitting together, she left the new family to themselves. John followed soon after, explaining that Margaret needed rest.
As he lay down to rest for the remainder of the night, he could not help the joy that filled him. His life had and would always have its ups and downs, but he could not deny that he was a most fortunate man. His thoughts shifted to their small wedding and how glorious she had looked that day, then to the day she told him that she believed herself to be with child. The joy he felt that day could not hold a candle to the singing in his heart at meeting his sons, and most importantly she had made it through what some had feared she wouldn't. 'Yes,' Mr Thornton mused with satisfaction, 'I am a most fortunate man'.
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Thank you all so much for sticking with me for this story. I love writing so its really nice when people enjoy what I love to do. I don't know if I'll be writing another North and South inspired fic for a while, but I do have a couple of ideas for the future. One idea was a vampire twist. I know it has potential to be a bit cringe, but there wouldn't be any sparkly vampires, don't worry. I think I've rambled enough now. I hope you enjoyed my story and I hope you stick around for more in the future :) Love you all.
