(William's POV)
It was half past ten in the evening. Mary lay in bed in naught but a light blue muslin nightdress, struggling with the bed covers.
"Leave them Mary." I said softly as I got dressed in my nightclothes.
Mary moaned softly, but ceased her struggling. I went over to the four-poster and sat down beside her.
"They're too warm, William."
I gathered Mary in my arms, wrapping her trembling, normally tiny frame in a blanket, and held her to me.
"I know darling, I know." I said, kissing her forehead.
"Please William…" She said barely above a whisper as she began to tear weakly at her nightdress.
I reached into the blanket and unbuttoned Mary's nightdress, sliding it off her shoulders and down her arms. Mary looked up at me with dim eyes, her expression vulnerable, but I could still see hope and a fight in her cloudy eyes.
"William…"
Mary took my hand and pulled it into the blanket to rest on the left side of her swollen belly, where I felt a kick against my palm. She moved my hand over to the right side of her belly and watched as I felt around until there was another kick against my palm.
Mary gave me a wan smile and said softly, "They're still alive, and strong."
I gave her a small smile and replied, "Yes, they are. But then again, what choice do they have? For it is not within their blood to quit."
Mary sighed.
"I know they are fighters. But.. I don't know… Just tell me I can beat this."
"Mary, I know you will beat this. You're an incredibly strong woman, the strongest one I know, and I love you for it. God Mary, you've lost you're father and brother to war; you yourself have been shot, you've miscarried, and you were raped. Yet you still managed to come out of all these things strong. There's no doubt in my mind that you will beat this. You're too strong not to, and I love you too much to let you give up." I finished, sounding more confident than I really felt; still, I knew I couldn't let her lose her confidence.
"I know I can't and won't stop fighting this. I've two children to take care of, along with two more on the way. I just needed to hear it from you."
"Well you've heard it." I whispered in Mary's ear. "And I'm not going to let you forget it."
Mary gave me a small smile.
"I love you."
"And I love you, Mary Katherine; I'm here for you, and I'm going to help you through this, no matter what it takes."
