FROM REGRET TO JOY-8
Hello all. Sorry for the dealy, but real life sometimes requires sacrafices. Thank you for all your reviews, private messages and all the people, who are following the story. I'm happy, that I'm still able to write something that you find interesting. In this chapter, we will welcome baby Carson into the world and I would like to apologize in advance, about my clumsiness in labor description. I hope that in spite of that you will like it a bit.
The birth of baby Carson
Two months later
Elsie stretched herself on the bed, trying to find the position in which she could feel comfortable, but it was really difficult in the ninth month pf pregnancy. She looked at the clock, standing on the night stand and sighed deeply. It was late and Charles has still not arrived back from the Abbey.
He was probably super busy with this big party, that the Crawleys were having tonight, but Elsie was restless. She didn't like to be home alone now, as she constantly feared about getting into labor, being alone. She stopped working one month ago and it was mostly because of other people's wishes, not her own. She felt fine and she liked to be needed, but Charles, Mrs Patmore and others, literally forced her to stop working.
Charles was so wonderfully caring towards her and Elsie loved him more each day. She observed how he struggled to manouver between the duties of his job and being ideal husband and future father. He kept his promise, which he made when he found out about the pregnancy and he was with her on every step of the way.
He made sure, that she ate properly, slept properly, he went with her on every doctor's appointment, he was loving and caring all the time. They prepared everything for the baby, just not to be surprised. All the most necessary things, were in their cottage. There was nothing more to be done, but to wait for the baby to arrive.
Elsie was feeling rahter anxious about it, as the ninth month of pregnancy, was not a state that she could recommend to anyone. She has never felt so uncomfortable in her life and she only bear it with dignity, because of the reward which they were suppose to receive. She was often dreaming about holding the baby in her arms.
Charles was as anxious as Elsie and he kept on praying, that everything would go well with the labor. He insisted, that he wanted to be present during the child birth and even though Elsie was initially against that idea, thinking with embarrassment, that she doesn't want Charles to see her in such state, she gradually became convinced, as she was terrified, for the very thought of being alone there. Charles holding her hand seemed like a big comfort. They told the doctor about it and even though Dr Clarkson was surprised with that idea, he was not against it. They just established, that he shouldn't look directly at the process, but limit his presence to holding Elsie's hand.
Elsie was almost drifting off to sleep, when she heard Charles closing up the entrance door. She smiled, looking forward to see her husband, as she hasn't seen him all day.
He quietly entered the room, not wanting to wake her, but he noticed, that she was not sleeping yet and he was happy about it. He missed her tremendously.
"Elsie honey, you are not sleeping yet, I wasn't sure if I will not wake you up."
"I couldn't really fall asleep without you...You must be exhausted...Come on, lie down..."
"I am. It was a long day."
Charles swiftly got his night clothes, went to the bathroom and took care of his evening toilet, as swiftly as it was possible. He felt relief, changing into his night clothes and went back to the bedroom. He inserted himself under duvet, next to Elsie and they shared a soft kiss. He stroked her belly gently, which was their everyday ritual.
"It's so good to be home at last...How are you my love?"
"I'm fine, just exhausted..I wish that the baby would be here already.."
"It won't be long Elsie...I'm not happy about you being home alone all day, every day. It's not safe. I spoke to Dr Clarkson about it and he thinks, that one of his nurses should be here with you, in case the labor starts. You know, Mrs Wilkerson."
"I think it's a good idea Charles. It will be strange to be here with her all the time, but you have to work. You can't watch me.."
"I would love to be here with you Elsie...But I can't expect that from the family. His Lordship was kind enough, letting me take few days off after the baby will be born.."
"He did? That's so kind of him...I never knew that..."
"I didn't have time to tell you yet...There is so much to do everyday and we barely see each other...I miss having you around..."
"I miss that too...You know what Charlie? I think that we are very well organized. In spite of our work, we managed to prepare everything for the baby arrival. Most parents don't think about that until the baby is born and then they loose their heads."
"I agree my lovely...We are fully prepared, stuff wise. But I think that you are forgetting one important thing..."
"What is that?"
"We still don't have a baby name picked"
"Oh Charlie, how can we pick a baby name, when we still don't know whether we are having a boy or a girl?"
"Well, we tentatively decided that for boy it's George"
"We did, but we have more problems with the girl names..."
"Yes, I still think that Victoria would be nice..."
"Charlie, we've been there before...Queen Victoria is dead. Do you really think, that you can maintain the Victorian era by naming our girl?"
"It wouldn't hurt to try...Maybe Elizabeth or Sophia?"
"No Charles...They sound like a names for old women...I don't like any if them...How about Olivia or Isla?"
"They sound too Scottish..."
"Our daughter, if we will have one, will be half Scottish and you have to accept that! Scotland is a very beautiful country...I would like you to see it one day..."
"I'm sure it is Elsie, but I believe, that I already have the most beautiful part of Scotland in my arms now..."
"Flatterer! Is that your way of forcing the name for our girl, that I don't like?"
"Maybe...Who knows? Elsie...Can't wait to meet our baby, but can we talk about the names other time? I need to sleep, I'm exhausted..."
"Get some sleep sweetheart...We will decide the name when we see her, once she will be born, we will know how she should be named..."
"I'm all for that...Good night Elsie and goodnight baby..."
Charles nestled into Elsie and fell asleep almost immediately, stroking her belly.
Few days later
A noon has just passed, when Elsie was sure, that her labor has started, earlier, in the morning she had some symptoms indicating that this was it, but she wasn't quite sure, especially that she has never been through that before.
She decided to tell Mrs Wilkinson about how she felt and Mrs Wilkinson told Elsie to go upstairs and lie down and she was to fetch the doctor and Charles, as soon as possible.
Elsie obeyed and she stayed alone, full of fear and excitement at the same time. When Mrs Wilkinson left, leaving her all alone in the cottage, Elsie kept on touching her pregnant belly reassuringly and made sure, that the baby knew how much she was eager to meet him/her.
"It's all right my love...We have a difficult task, but soon I will meet you...I've been waiting for you with daddy impatiently, for nine months. We can't wait to meet you."
Minutes have passed and Elsie was more and more restless, as the pains were progressing and she was still all alone...It seemed, like everyone has disappeared in the black hole and she and the baby were left here all alone. Finally, when she was about to panic, she heard the noises downstairs, indicating, that the doctor has arrived with Mrs Wilkinson and Charles.
All three of them entered the room and Elsie sighed with relief. But there wasn't much time for rest. The doctor and the nurse have taken care of her and Charles sat beside her, pale as the ghost, with water nearby and holding her hand...Elsie looked at him with helpless eyes, terrified with the process..
The pains were really strong now and she felt, like she was being ripped off from the inside...She wasn't going to scream from pain, although the doctor advised her, that she can do whatever she feels will be helpful.
Elsie watched pale, but brave Charles, squeezing her hand and wiping her brow, whispering quiet words of encouragement, until the pain has been so strong, that she didn't care about anything. All the room has disappeared from her eyes. She didn't see the doctor, who was guarding her each move, she didn't see the nurse, who was assisting the doctor, she didn't see Charles and wasn't aware, that he was about to faint, when he saw the torture of which his beloved wife had to go through, to give birth.
In the first moment, when she was trying to squeeze the baby's head, she just said one sentence to Charles:
"I can't do it anymore Charles, I can't...It's too much...Oh God please help me.."
"You are doing an amazing job Elsie...Everything is fine, I'm here with you...It won't be long..."
Elsie managed to hear the doctor's voice yet, who urged her to keep on pushing and after a moment, that seemed like a never ending hell, she finally heard the baby's scream...She was breathing heavily, not being able even to open her eyes, after this enormous effort, but she did, as soon as she heard the doctor's voice...
"Mrs Carson congratulations, you did it. It's a baby girl..."
Elsie opened her eyes and she felt like crying...A girl, a dream daughter, that they both wanted to have so much...Little miracle, that appreared unexpectedly into this world...She looked at Charles and she saw, that he was crying openly, not being embarrassed by the presence of the doctor and the nurse.
"Elsie, we have a girl...Our little baby girl...You are amazing...I have no idea how you did that..."
"I'm not sure..I thought that I won't make it...Dotor can I hold her?"
"Here you go Mrs Carson."
"Is she all right? Is everything ok doctor?"
"Yes Mr Carson. The girl is perfectly healthy..."
Dr Clarkson handed the baby to Elsie and just like Charles few moments ago, she couldn't stop crying... It was unbelievable, that in her age, she was able to experienced that miracle, that she so much wanted..
The doctor and the nurse left the room, leaving the happy parents together, with their little precious.
"Oh Elsie, she is perfect...So beautiful, but so tiny..."
"She will grow Charlie, sooner than you think.."
"Thank you Elsie, for this wonderful gift...I couldn't dream about anything more beautiful, than our baby girl.."
"We still need a name Charlie, she can't be called baby girl..."
"I know that, I'm sorry Elsie, I'm just not able to think straight now...How something so tiny, can bring so much joy?"
Suddenly Elsie looked at Charles, as if she discovered electricity...
"Charlie, you are so right! She brought us joy, unimaginable joy and I think, that is how we are going to call her. Joy. Isn't it a perfect name?"
"Yes Elsie! Joy is a prefect name...I couldn't think of anything better..."
"Our little Joy Carson...Welcome to the world my love..."
Elsie kissed Joy's little head and Charles followed her example...They sat mesmerized, not being able to look away from the new love of their life...Little Joy was looking at them too, not knowing yet, that they were two people who loved her the most in this world...
Oh dear...Writing about the labor is not my thing and as always, I know, that I've been very unrealistic here, because in those times, Charles would never, ever been present during the labor, plus it was too sweet description of it, but I just don't like to get into unpleasant details, so let's just be happy about the arrival of Joy Carson! Now you know how the title for the story was invented ;-) I hope you liked this chapter and I'm always looking forward to your reviews...Have a good week!