Always By Your Side
Chapter One
August 8, 1911
"Ahh" Mary squeezed Anna's hand hard as she felt another contraction surge through her body. After she got through it, she spoke. "Why didn't anyone tell me labor hurt this much before I got pregnant? I don't think I would've gotten pregnant had I known."
"I think you've just answered your own question, m'lady." Anna responded as she patted a damp cloth onto her mistress's sweaty brow. She knew Lord and Lady Grantham were desperate to have another heir lined up, not to mention excited that said heir would be their grandchild. "Don't worry, it won't be much longer. You've done brilliantly up till now." Anna reassured her. The maid hadn't left Mary's side since her labor had begun six hours ago.
"Thank you for staying with me, Anna." Mary said just before squeezing her hand again and crying out as another contraction struck. Doctor Clarkson examined her then and informed her it would be time to start pushing soon. "I'm scared." Mary admitted. "Anna, promise you'll be right there?" she pleaded weakly, looking to her maid for strength.
"Of course, m'lady. I wouldn't leave you unless you ordered it of me," she assured her mistress. With each push Anna's hand was obliterated by Mary's squeezing it, but Anna didn't mind. She told Mary how well she was doing and assured her she was being so strong. Her heart fluttered with pride as she saw Mary's eyes widen with relief and joy as her child released its first cries. Mary didn't release Anna's hand until her baby was placed onto her chest and she instinctively cuddled with the child. "Congratulations, m'lady." Anna whispered to her. "You did so well."
"Thank you Anna." Mary said as she looked up to Doctor Clarkson.
"Congratulations, you have a healthy baby girl. As soon as the afterbirth is complete, I'll let your husband in to meet her." the doctor said.
Mary cooed down at her daughter. "Hello little one" she whispered, stroking her daughter's arm and listening to her gurgle. She was in love with the little girl on her chest, and she knew now that the pain had been worth it. "Hopefully your father lets us call you the name I've chosen."
The afterbirth was finished, and Anna gently slipped a clean gown over Mary, gathered up the soiled top sheets, and placed a clean duvet over top of her. "I'll be back this evening to change the fitted sheet and bring you some more blankets, m'lady. Mr. Patrick is coming in now."
"Thank you Anna." Mary smiled up at her maid. "For everything."
"You're welcome, m'lady. And congratulations again." she responded as she left.
"Hello darling," Patrick entered and spoke with a soft smile, "How are you and the little one?"
"It's been a long day, and we're tired. But we are happy. Very happy." she answered.
"Good." he said as he walked over to sit at his wife's side. "And what do you want to call her?" he asked as he got his first look at their little girl, who had her mother's dark hair and brown eyes. "She looks like you. Maybe we ought to call her Mary."
"No, I don't think so." Mary said. "I'm quite partial to the name Ellie."
"That doesn't sound very regal the way a name of the upper class should. What about Victoria? Or Charlotte?" he suggested.
"Why don't you like Ellie?" she asked. "I think it's cute and suits our sweet little girl."
"Well what about Charlotte Eliana?" he suggested. "That way she would still have a regal name and you could still call her Ellie for short."
"Okay. I suppose that's a good compromise. But what does Eliana mean?" she wondered.
"It means 'my prayers have been answered' in Hebrew. And Charlotte means 'little woman' in German." he said. "And my prayers for a child were answered, although I would have preferred for that child to be one who's allowed to inherit."
"I'm sorry." Mary said solemnly.
"It's okay dearest. She's perfect." he assured her. "But I do want to try again in a few months for another perfect child."
"Okay" she said and began to nurse her daughter, putting her focus on the baby in her arms and ignoring her partner's earlier words. She bent her neck down and took hold of her daughter's tiny hand and kissed it. "I love you, Eliana. You are exactly what I prayed for. My girl, my Ellie." she whispered almost inaudibly as her husband looked out the window for a time before going to announce the baby's name to the rest of the family.
A/N: My goal was to make Patrick not outright mean but just sort-of oblivious. They married each other out of duty, so he feels a sense of duty to have a son. He loves his daughter but is oblivious to how hard it would be for Mary to have another child so quickly. Also, Mary is much softer here than in S1 of the show. In a world where Mary does as she's asked and marries Patrick, I believe she would only do so if her personality was a bit different.