Chapter 30

Dropping to her knees beside Edith's bed with a sigh, Polly leans forwards, pressing her lips to Edith's forehead as her niece lets out a shuddering breath, reaching out to cling to her Aunt.

"If it's going to happen, it'll be in the next couple of days." Polly says gently as she leans back on her heels, rubbing her hand over the back of Edith's head. "Try and drink this tea, and get some rest. Ok?"

"It's not going to, ya know, sort it, right?" Edith asks quietly as she takes the tea cup from Polly who shakes her head.

"No, love. This is just tea. We'll let your body decide by itself what it wants to do."

"And if it decides to, ya know-" Edith chokes out a sob, Bonnie immediately dropping to his knees beside her, pulling her head to his chest. "There's nothing we can do?" She tearfully asks, glancing over at her Aunt who shakes her head again.

"I'm afraid not, sweetheart." She says gently, giving Edith's hand a squeeze as she sobs into Bonnie's chest, her whole body shaking. "Try and get some sleep." Polly continues, rising to her feet as Bonnie gives her a tearful, yet grateful smile, the older woman giving Bonnie's shoulder a squeeze as she leaves the room.

"Will you lie with me?" Edith whispers, shifting over as Bonnie nods, sliding into bed beside her. Edith immediately tucks her arms around his body again, her head resting on Bonnie's chest, content to lay in silence, listening to his heartbeat.

"You ok?" Bonnie asks groggily as Edith slips back into bed beside him in the early hours of the morning. "Anything?" Edith shakes her head, sliding herself across the bed and into his waiting arms. "That's a good sign, if there's no more, right?" Edith shrugs against his chest, burying her head in his neck, inhaling his scent. Bonnie sighs, pressing his lips to the crown of her head as he runs his hand along her back. "I love you, Edith."

"I love you, Bon." She whispers back, tightening her hold on him. "Please don't let me go."

"I'm not going anywhere." He promises, tilting her head up to press their lips together. "Promise."

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"Good morning." Ada greets Polly as she enters the dining room the following morning, take a seat opposite her niece.

"Morning." Polly repeats, giving Ada a soft smile as she fills the tea cup in front of her. "Mary's going to take Edith up some breakfast. She got some sleep last night so that's good."

"And she's ok?" Ada confirms, anxiety written across her face as she leans towards Polly who nods.

"I think they're both going to be ok. There was no more bleeding in the night. We'll keep an eye on her, but I'm hopeful that the baby is ok. A midwife is coming around to check on her later." Polly replies, giving Ada a reassuring smile as the older sister lets out a sigh of relief, dropping her head into her hands. "Your brother definitely didn't help." Polly mutters under her breath, lifting the newspaper beside her as Ada lets out a frustrated groan.

"I'm going to speak to him today. She needs us, Pol. Especially him."

"I agree." Polly states, raising her eyebrows as Ada rises from the table. "Good luck."

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Taking a deep breath as she hesitates outside Tommy's office, Ada raises her hand to knock against the door, pushing it open slowly at his affirmative call.

"Tommy?" She questions as she shuts the door behind herself, noting how Tommy hadn't even raised his head from his paperwork. "Tom." At his lack of response, Ada mutters a string of curse words under her breath, stepping closer to Tommy's desk as she sharpens her tone. "Thomas."

"What?" He grunts, finally lifting his head to look up at Ada who cocks her head to the side, throwing him a withering look.

"We need to talk."

"Hmm?" Tommy hums in response, raising his eyebrows.

"About Edith." She states, dropping into the chair opposite Tommy's desk.

"What trouble has she gotten herself into now?" He asks, exasperation evident in his tone.

"Tommy, for christ sake. Please. Will you listen to me?" Ada pleads, leaning forwards towards Tommy who drops his pen on to the table, leaning back in his chair as he raises his hands in surrender.

"I am."

"You upset her." Ada starts, frowning as Tommy cuts her off.

"I'm so-"

"No you're not. That's the thing, Thomas. You're not sorry. You're not thinking about her. You're not thinking about Edith. And Bonnie. And their baby." She emphasises, jabbing her finger against the desk as Tommy raises his eyebrows once more.

"I am-"

"You're not!" Ada exclaims, slamming her hand down on the desk. "What you're asking of her, it's too much! She's 18!"

"Yet she's not too young to have a baby." He protests stoically, intertwining his fingers over his stomach.

"Oh come on, Tom."

"No, Ada. You come on-"

"You're not being fair! Listen to her! She's heartbroken, and grieving. She needs her big brother to be supporting her. She needs you, Tommy!" Ada shouts, cutting Tommy off again as she rises to her feet, placing her palms on the table as she leans forward into his personal space. "She nearly lost her baby last night. Did you know that? Because of everything that's been going on. Because of what you said. Because she's stressed! And overwhelmed! And you're not fucking helping."

"Ada..."

"Shut up. I'm speaking." Ada snaps, jabbing her finger against Tommy chest as he rises to match her height. "Think, Tommy. Use your fucking head, but listen to your heart. She's our baby. And she needs us." Without a backwards glance, Ada stalks out of the room, slamming the door behind her as Tommy stares after her, speechless.

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"Knock knock." Finn calls playfully, rapping his knuckles against the door as he sticks his head into Edith's room. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." She replies with a small smile, patting the space on the bed beside her.

"Where's Bonnie?" Finn asks as he carefully lowers himself on to the bed beside his sister, immediately lifting his arm for her to curl up against him, her head resting on his chest, right above his heart.

"He's getting us some lunch. I'm on strict orders from Ada and Pol to stay in bed. Bon's waiting on me hand and foot." She jokes, letting her body relax against her brothers. Finn lets out a laugh as Edith smiles up at him, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Did Tommy speak to you too?"

"Yeah." He replies with a nod, body tensing as he senses Edith doing the same.

"What do you think?" She asks, peering up at him, eyes wide as she anticipates his response.

"I- Edith..." Finn croaks out, trailing off with a sigh as he looks away, focusing on the painting on the wall rather than his sister.

"You're going to do it." She whispers, more of a statement than a question, eyes still locked on Finn as he clenches his jaw.

"You're not?" He mutters in response, his eyes still fixed ahead.

"I haven't decided yet." Edith mumbles, dropping her head back onto Finn's chest, taking her lip between her teeth.

"Hmm..." He responds, nodding slowly. "Are you ok?" Finn reluctantly whispers, somewhat afraid of the answer, his chest loosening slightly as Edith nods.

"Mhmm."

"You sure?" He clarifies, peering down at Edith as she fiddles with her rings.

"Yes." She states softly, smiling up at him as he swallows hard.

"Ada told me...about the baby. About what happened."

"I figured she would. Pol says everything's fine now." Edith replies, Finn watching as she gives him a watery smile, trying to figure out if she was trying to reassure him, or herself.

"Definitely?" Finn questions, closing his eyes slowly as Edith shrugs.

"Hopefully." She says, resting a hand on her stomach gently. "The midwife seemed happy when I saw her yesterday. She heard the baby's heartbeat." Edith smiles as she rubs slow circles against her stomach, remembering the relief that had crossed Bonnie's face as she had let out a grateful sob at the midwife's statement. "I have to take it easy though."

"You need anything, you shout me." Finn tells her, gently curling his fingers under her chin to tilt her head up to look at him.

"Finn." Edith draws out, tilting her head to the side as she gives him a soft, grateful smile.

"Edith. Do you hear me? You need anything, anything at all, you shout me. Ok?" He repeats more firmly, taking her chin between his fingers now to force her to keep her eyes trained on his. "Yes?"

"Ok." Edith sighs, reaching up to cup Finn's cheek as she reads the panic in his expression and tone of voice. "Jeez, between you and Bonnie I'm going to be spoilt rotten." She jokes in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Edith." Finn all but growls, narrowing his eyes at her joke.

"What?" She chokes out with a laugh, shaking her head at his serious facial expression.

"Promise me." He states, Edith softening as she notes the tears now welling in his eyes.

"Ok, yes. I promise." She whispers softly, reaching her arm around Finn's chest to hug her body close to his, smiling against his shirt as he presses a kiss to the top of her head.

"Good." He mumbles against her hairline. "I've got you, Edith. You're safe."