I want to thank Vigilanti For helping with the last two chapters of this story.
Thank you for all that have reviewed and followed this story I hope you enjoy the ending of gifts of love
Chapter 26 miracle of life
About a year later
A raven haired beauty laid in a bed covered in sweat. Her screams could be heard through out the mansion. Sweat poured from her forehead as Claudette tried to calm her. Jacqueline had asked Claudette to be her midwife the moment she learn the truth about the night she was born. Claudette had helped Jacqueline into the world and would do the same for her child.
The moment was bitter sweet in her mind she knew her mother was gone from this world and would never know the joys from her grandchild. But at the same time she felt the joys of bringing a new life into the world. Though she did feel pain her mind did not feel the pain as her body did. She had tears streaming down her face not from pain but from happiness the happiness of giving her husband a child and becoming a mother.
Jacqueline screamed as another contraction hit. Pain ran down her back like a knife wound. Claudette looked her in the eyes and gave her a comforting smile. "You are doing wonderful Jacqueline it will not be long till your child will be in your arms."
Jacqueline looked up at the midwife with determination in her eyes. She let out a scream of pain as she felt another contraction.
Mean while down stairs in the den of the mansion
D'Artagnan was pacing the floor every scream broke his heart. His father sat nearby trying to offer words of support but knew his son was past hearing him. .
"I should be in there with her!" young D'Artagnan exclaimed panicked, "I need to help her! She is in pain and I should be there to help her!"
The legend remembered the night his son was born his wife's screams ripped his own heart to shreds he vowed to never cause her pain again. The feeling faded of course, when he held his darling boy for the first time. But deep in his mind he remembered the horrible feeling of helplessness. Years later those feelings resurfaced when his wife grew ill with the wasting disease. He knew this was battle was one there could be no wining. In time he shunned even returning home from campaigns and volunteered for duties that took him farther from home.
The legend loved his wife and felt terrified he could not protect her from harm. He felt weak and did not believe his son should witness the tears he spilled for his beloved Constance. She was his life his love his world and he could not even ease her pain. He loved his family and wanted to be near them but he did not want to show his son he was weak. The legend admired his father and desperately wanted to be a man as he was. The only way he thought he would become strong enough would be to be a stronger fighter and believed then he would be a stronger man.
The day he got word Constance died he felt as if part of his heart died as well. He had felt he had failed her. Athos, Porthos, Aramis were the only men who knew how much he loved her, They rushed to help their friend in any way he asked. Aramis had offered to pray with his friend but he just refused saying what right did God have to take his wife away.
Young D'Artagnan listened at the door to his father's grieving words his father had always told him to listen to the words of God but did not seem to listen to them himself. The young boy rose and crept to his room and silently cried himself to sleep. He felt as if the world had left him without a family.
The legend had prayed many years after that for the strength to return to France and face his son but to ask for forgiveness but the strength to face his fears was always unspeakably difficult him. How could he expect son to have the strength to forgive him when he could never forgive himself?
Duval walked up to D'Artagnan Jr. and placed an arm around his shoulder "She is the strongest woman I know she will be fine."
D'Artagnan nodded reluctantly and Ramon gave his a comforting smile "Si mi amigo, She has been though more them most of us and she has a very strong will to survive."
Jacques (Siroc) nodded, "and you know here she has never given up she is a fighter. May anyone who crosses your child have mercy from God because they are going to be one tough fighter. With parents like you and Jacqueline and god fathers like Ramon and I to teach them anything else they need to know, there will be no stopping them." The blond knew he had to change the subject to keep D'Artagnan from rushing up the stairs.
D'Artagnan looked at his friend and gave him a smirk "My son or daughter will be one of the best duelists in France!" His voice was filled with the pride he had in his heart.
The screams of Jacqueline were suddenly replaced by the infants wail. The panicked look suddenly returned to D'Artagnan's face. His face turned pale and his eyes got as wide as saucers. His voice crackled as he spoke. "What happened is she ok?" He looked at the other men in hopes of answers.
Claudette walked into the room and brushed a wisp of gray hair that had fallen in to her face. She looked at the anxious father with a smirk as she took off her apron. D'Artagnan stuttered as he spoke. "What happened?"
The midwife shook her head and chuckled she had heard those words from man men over the years. She decided to lighten the mood a bit. "Count D'Artagnan, your wife just had a baby."
D'Artagnan the younger gave the midwife a look of frustration "I know that! Is she ok! How is the baby? Do I have a son or a daughter?"
The midwife shook her head and let out another chuckle. "Your wife and son are fine, you may go in and see them but do not stay long. Your wife needs rest."
The new father got a look of pride on his face. "I have a son!" he announced briefly before rushing out of the room he rushed up the steps to see his wife and son. He peered into the room his eyes shining as he saw Jacqueline gave off a radiant glow. She was gently brushing the raven curls on the top of her new son's head, as he was making his presence known to all around them.
Jacqueline looked up at her husband tears of happiness in her eyes she spoke in a quiet voice as the new baby snuggled into his mothers arms. . "We need to give our son a name. Do you want to be named after you? Charles D'Artagnan the third."
D'Artagnan shook his head. "I know what it is like to have to live up to that name. Our son should have a name that is his own. He is not me and I am not my father. I do not want him try live up to the responsibility of that name."
Jacqueline nodded in understanding. She knew others expected him to be like his father and knew the pain it caused him. She'd made the same mistake the first time she met him. Challenging him to a duel, knowing his pride would not let him refuse. He had told her he wanted to be different then his father he wanted to be with his family. His duty may be to the king but he vowed to always put his family first. He told the young king that the day he left the musketeers. Louis had agreed whole heartedly with D'Artagnan's decision
D'Artagnan told the king if he needed his blade all he need do is ask and it would be in his service. The King was grateful for all the times D'Artagnan and Jacqueline had saved his life he gave them many gifts when he heard of the coming child. The king told them the moment Jacqueline was feeling well enough he wanted to hold a celebration in honor of the new baby.
D'Artagnan picked up his new son from Jacqueline's loving arms and cradled him into his own. The tiny infant's green eyes gazed into his father's eyes and made D'Artagnan's heart melt. D'Artagnan looked over at his wife and gave her a loving smile He spoke in a soft and gentle voice. "I think we should name him Felipe Mickel D'Artagnan."
The new mother whispered his name in a loving voice. "Felipe Mickel D'Artagnan" As she watched the baby sound a sleep in his father's arms. Her eyes grew heavy from her long day but willed them to stay open so not to miss a moment of this gentle moment between father and son.
D'Artagnan noticed his wife's look of exhaustion and chuckled to himself. He walked over to Jacqueline and kissed her forehead gently. "I guess our story is over this is our happy ending."
Jacqueline looked up at her husband with a twinkle in her eye. "No, my dear husband our story has just begun. We have a whole new adventure just ahead of us this was never the ending just a beginning of things yet to come.
D'Artagnan placed the sleeping infant into his basinet and gently kissed his forehead. The tiny infant squirmed only a moment before returning to a gentle slumber. D'Artagnan walked over to the bed and sat upon the edge and tucked the covers around his exhausted wife. She started to protest but he caressed her hair gently and she was soon fast asleep.
The new father crept out of the room letting his new family rest.
Once out side he noticed his father regarding him with tear filled eyes, but there was pride there as well. "You are going to be a wonderful father, I am sorry I have not been there for you more in your life."
D'Artagnan looked at his father "We are to different men I no longer blame you for what happened in the past. I now know that being a father does not give less fear but more. You fear for the ones you love and fear what would happen if you could not protect them. I now understand what it means to be a father. I see that though you may have been a legend in the eyes of many and not be able to fail. You are a man and men make mistakes… Please just promise me you will be in my son's life."
The legend looked upon his son with gratitude "I did not think you would understand my reasons for staying away." The legend tearfully embraced his son. For once his heart did not ache, the weight of guilt accumulated during the years he had absented himself from his son's life lifted so suddenly it sent him reeling.
D'Artagnan spoke in a quiet voice "I now know that love though it may make you feel strong it can also make you feel weak at the same time." His father nodded as the two men stood in the door way watching the new generation sleep in a gentle slumber
The end?