Much to relief of everyone at Moonacre Manor, George William Merryweather was delivered safe and healthy into the world on a bright sunny day in spring, two years after the breaking on the Moonacre curse.
Having been told continually by the Silverydew doctor of the higher risk of danger to his wife due to her age, Sir Benjamin had wanted to call on every possible treatment and remedy known to man throughout her pregnancy. Loveday, on the other hand, had not appreciated being told that because she was over the age of thirty she would be unable to deliver a child without specialist help. She had told Sir Benjamin to pull himself together and stop fussing, that childbirth was a natural thing which she had witnessed more times than she could count, and in each instance the mother-to-be had given birth to litter, not just one baby.
To no-one's surprise, Sir Benjamin had not been reassured by this. Not wanting to entreat Loveday's temper though (something the doctor had told him he absolutely on no account should do), he had submitted to her wishes and let her maintain that she was the superior authority on the matter.
When Loveday's labour pains had begun, however, she had gritted her teeth just long enough to restrict access to the birthing room to all but her midwife and Maria, before giving full flow to her screams, curses and recriminations for having to suffer such an ordeal. Downstairs, Sir Benjamin had covered the length to London and back in endless pacing and Mrs Digweed had severely depleted his stocks of brandy. Ten hours later, after constant, calm and steady encouragement from Maria that she could do it and assurance from the midwife that everything was fine, that the birth was progressing very normally despite Loveday's insistence that something had to be wrong for it to hurt so much and be taking so long, the Merryweather heir had been born.
Sir Benjamin was the proudest man alive, Loveday the most tired and Maria the most beloved, both her uncle and aunt seeming to hold her entirely responsible for the safe delivery of both mother and child. Dazzled by his own happiness, Sir Benjamin kissed all three repeatedly in turn, tears shining in his eyes until Maria had eventually managed to sneak away, past the snoring Mrs Digweed passed out by the fire, and down to the kitchens where Marmaduke offered her more stargazer pie, ice cream and a hot chocolate than she could ever hope to finish.
Word of course was dispatched to Castle Black at the moment of the happy event. Loveday was too exhausted to argue with the Doctor that she wasn't to receive visitors, and for once quite happily complied with his instructions for several days of strict bedrest. After the prescribed week, there would have been no keeping Coeur De Noir away though, and Maria was unsurprised to be informed of his arrival not a second short of a sennight later.
"I think you better take George down directly," Loveday told her, looking amused by this news, "I'm surprised he's managed to wait this long to meet his first grandson, and I'd much rather dress without him pounding on the door,"
"He'd have to get through me first," Maria declared, her determined expression making Loveday laugh.
"Oh, I don't doubt it, and that's why I would entrust George only to his Aunt Maria," She replied, smiling down at her son who was swaddled in her arms.
"You're my aunt," Maria pointed out, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to them. "George is my cousin,"
"If Robin is his uncle, that makes you his aunt," Loveday said dismissively.
Maria immediately narrowed her eyes. "And what, exactly, do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, of course," Loveday replied, looking across at her niece; while her voice was casual, it was at complete odds with the mischievous look in her eyes, "Only that you're certainly of equal kinship to Robin, regardless of the formal title. What did you think I meant?"
"What I think, is given your own history in the romance department, you should not be trying to meddle or matchmake others," Maria informed her.
"I'm happily married with a baby," Loveday protested, "This is testament to my history in the romance department being rather successful,"
"And would you be happily married with a baby if you hadn't been tricked into meeting my Uncle?" Maria asked, raising her eyebrows, "Or would you, perhaps, still be living alone, in a cave, your heart as stubborn as it was broken?"
"I wasn't alone in my cave," Loveday denied, "And I was very successful in finding all my animals mates,"
Maria made an incredulous noise. "And that is precisely why I'll be instructing George to come to me for romantic advise when he's older," She declared, with an indignant shake of her head, "Not his mother.Shecan stick to her woodland creatures,"
"You see, you are an aunt," Loveday exclaimed, looking triumphant, "Since being an aunt means you can't help but meddle in the lives of others. And since Robinisa woodland creature, by your decree, he falls precisely within my jurisdiction,"
This Maria supposed, wasn't entirely without argument. "While that may be true," She begrudgingly admitted, "I am not,"
Loveday shot her a shrewd look. "You will be if you spend much more time in the woods with him…"
Her voice was as dry as a desert and it was this as much as the remark itself which caused Maria to splutter in protest. "That's not- we- I don't-"
But, unable to articulate anything more coherent, Maria could only scowl in defeat, as Loveday laughed. "Your aunt Maria rather walked into that one, didn't she George?" She cooed to the babe.
Luckily for Maria, she was saved from further pursual of the point by a knock at the door, and Loveday's maid, Lily, entered, one of Loveday's dresses hung over her arm.
"Sir Benjamin, the Coeur De Noir and Master Robin are in the study m'lady," She said, bobbing a curtsy.
At the title 'Master Robin', Maria repressed a snort for it did not suit him in any shape or form in her opinion. While it would be strange to see the Coeur De Noir in the Manor, rare as such an occasion was, it would be less so with Robin, for he turned up at every opportunity he could for Maramaduke's cooking. When his friends had found out he was getting extra helpings of food at Moonacre, they too had started rocking up alongside him, until Marmaduke had banished the lot of them, swearing that his sophisticated cuisine was not for the likes of young men who had bottomless pits for stomachs, and would under no circumstances waste his famous kedgeree on boys who would be just as satisfied with half a cow on a spit.
Maria herself had felt rather the same way when Robin had later let slip that his visits to see her on Tuesday afternoons, when Marmaduke left her free reign kitchen to attempt his recipes herself while he went foraging, had been less of the result of Robin enjoying the fruits of her baking and more that it was "free food". Especially when the resulting mess from her throwing an entire bag of flour over him had caused Marmaduke to banish her from the kitchens as well.
"Maria?" Loveday asked, jolting her niece out of her thoughts and bringing her back to the present, reminding Maria she was supposed to be taking George to meet these very De Noirs who he was related to. "I'll be down soon," Loveday promised, pressing a kiss to George's tiny head as she prepared to pass him to Maria, "Just as soon as I'm presentable…"
Nodding, Maria gently took the sleeping baby. Lily opened the door for her, on the other side of which was Digweed, waiting to escort her. Humming as was his habit, he accompanied her along the corridors and opened the door to the study, which had been made warm and snug for the meeting. He had no chance to announce them however, as once inside, Maria was immediately met by Sir Benjamin.
"Maria," He greeted warmly, striding over to her, "Is he well?" He asked, anxiously peering down at his son, "And Loveday?"
"Yes uncle," Maria replied with a smile, "He's very well and still sleeping. Loveday says she will come down herself soon,"
Nodding, Sir Benjamin led her into the room. It was hard not to notice how he practically vibrated with his pride and happiness, the emotions making him look years younger. The Coeur De Noir too, standing waiting by the fire, looked more content than Maria had ever seen, hope for the future at the birth of his grandson rather than the hate of the past smoothing the lines of his face.
"Ah, here he is," He said as they approached, stepping aside to make more room and revealing Robin on his other side.
"Yes, Loveday and I's first child. George Merryweather," Sir Benjamin answered, beaming proudly at both his niece and son.
"Your brother's name?" The Coeur De Noir asked curiously, glancing briefly up at Sir Benjamin before his gaze returned to greedily drink in the sight of his grandson.
"Yes," Sir Benjamin nodded, "Loveday insisted. Without him, we wouldn't have Maria, and without Maria…" He trailed off, his eyes clouding slightly at the thought of what might have been.
"Very fitting," Coeur De Noir agreed with a nod, clapping his hand to Sir Benjamin's shoulder "And, I'm sure we can expect great things of him. Great things indeed…"
As his father and grandfather lapsed into eager discussions of his future, baby George slept on contentedly in Maria arms, unaffected and unaware of the extraordinary miracles that had been worked for him to come into the world. Having been somewhat unintentionally ambushed by both men and the sole object of their attention holding George, Maria herself was slightly relieved as they stepped back towards her uncle's desk, Sir Benjamin inviting his father-in-law to take a celebratory drink with him. She turned to Robin with a bemused expression on her face.
"I don't think I've ever seen the Coeur De Noir so…" Maria searched for the right word, watching as the two men poured each other brandies from the bottle Sir Benjamin keep hidden in the study away from Mrs Digweed, "…contented,"
"You and me both," Robin muttered, glancing shiftily at his father as he proclaimed a toast to George William Merryweather and raised his glass with Sir Benjamin, "It's unnatural,"
"It's not unnatural," Maria scolded, "George is his first grandchild! It's completely normal for him to be made a bit… softer than usual,"
"No, it bloody well isn't," Robin commented darkly.
Maria immediately shot him a disapproving look. "You're not to swear anywhere near George," She ordered with a glare, "He's going to be a gentleman, not an ill-mannered brute like you and over my dead body will you be teaching him any of you bad habits!"
Robin rolled his eyes. "God, I knew you were going to be like this. He's not even a month old yet! And if I'm such an ill-mannered brute, why do you spend so much time around me?"
"Because it's my moral duty to try and civilise you," Maria answered loftily, "Just as it's my duty to help raise George be a respectful gentleman,"
Robin snorted. "Well, if you're going to be his uptight aunt, he'll definitely need me to be his fun, relaxed and reasonable Uncle,"
"Why does everyone keep calling me his aunt?" Maria asked, crinkling her eyes and shaking her head, "I'm his cousin. And I'm not uptight or unreasonable! I'm just sensible,"
"Oh yes, that famous Merryweather sense," Robin said wryly, "Thankfully for George, the De Noir survival instinct should cancel that right out,"
Readjusting George slightly in her arms, Maria frowned at her friend. "While I take complete issue with what your insinuating, it is true that he's half Merryweather and half De Noir, so I think he's going to need both of us to help master the less desirable family instincts…"
"Oh?" Robin arched an eyebrow curiously, "And what exactly would they be?"
"Well, the De Noirs have a flair for the dramatic, and tend to take things a step to far to say the least," Maria pointed out.
"I suppose that's fair," Robin begrudgingly admitted, "And the Merryweathers…?"
Maria paused, considering. "I suppose we're hot-headed and impulsive…"
Robin snorted. "To say the least,"
Maria cast him an unimpressed look at his imitation of her. "Well, that's my point. We can help George avoid all the mistakes we made, and the four hundred years' worth that preceded it. He can be the best of us all,"
When Robin didn't reply to this, Maria glanced across at him and found him peering down curiously at the swaddled bundle she was rocking gently in her arms. It occurred to her then that while she'd had a week to familiarise herself with the newest addition of their family, Robin had not.
"Do you want to hold him?" She offered.
Robin's gaze flickered from his nephew back to her. "Not really,"
"Robin!" Maria cried, outraged and injured on George's behalf.
"I only meant I don't want hurt him or drop him!" Robin replied defensively.
"Do you routinely drop things?" Maria demanded.
"No, but I don't routinely hold babies," Robin frowned, "In fact I never have,"
"Well don't you want to this once?" Maria suggested, "He's your nephew; your heir,"
Robin looked surprise by this and glanced down at George again. "I suppose he is," He mused, "I never thought of that…"
"I promise you won't drop him," Maria assured, "He'll fit naturally into the crook of your arm. You can take your jacket off and sit down if that helps,"
Robin seemed to debate this with himself for several moments. He evidently decided to trust her though, as following her advice, he begun to shrug off his jacket. It was a complete role reversal, with him usually the confident one, instructing her on something or another as they ranged about the forest and across the valley. But Maria didn't comment on it, not wanting to belittle or embarrass him. Instead, she smiled encouragingly as he sat down in a nearby chair and when he was ready, gently passed George to him, tucking in the end of the baby's blanket as he was settled into his uncle's arms.
When both were comfortable, Maria stepped back, allowing herself to take in the sweetness of the scene. Robin really did look huge with George in his arms, the new-born babe emphasising the size of his muscular forearms, making her appreciate how delicate George must feel to him.
"You don't have to look so worried Robin," She teased, unable to stop herself from smiling at the sight of the ever-confident bird boy frowning with such concentration, for once on the back foot of a situation and acting so cautiously.
"But he's so tiny," Robin said wonderingly as he looked intently down at his nephew.
"Well, he was only born a few days ago," Maria reminded him.
"I know, but I didn't realise he'd be this small. Loveday was always going in about how big I was as a new-born…"
"Perhaps you were just exceptionally big rather than George being exceptionally small," Maria commented, feeling amused, "You're always saying how much bigger and better you are than everyone else, so I suppose it's not surprising that that was true even as a babe..."
"Well I'm clearly not better at this," Robin said, looking up in alarm as George started moving.
"He's fine, just shift him onto your- never mind…" Taking pity on Robin and the panicked expression on his face, Maria gently retrieved the fussing George from him. Shifting the baby upwards, so he could curl into her chest and tuck his head into her neck and shoulder, George quickly settled, snuffling slightly as Maria started swaying on the spot, rocking him back to sleep.
"Really George, you've got your rough-tough uncle so scared," she cooed, unable to stop herself from laughing at the obvious look of relief on Robin's face as he stood back up next to her. He was saved from replying by his father, who had turned at the sound of Maria's laughter to observe the pair.
"Ah, you look very natural there with a babe Miss Merryweather," He remarked, eying her with a slightly shrewd expression, "All good practise for your own one day, I'm sure,"
Surprised both by the unexpected compliment from him and his suggestion, Maria blushed.
"Well that doesn't need to be considered for several years yet," Sir Benjamin spoke up, having looked around sharply too at the suggestion.
"Several years? She can't be far off sixteen, or are you planning on locking her away in tower until she's thirty?" The Coeur turned back to his son-in-law and raised his eyebrows, "Clearly it's a good job you've had a son and not a daughter Merryweather, if you're not prepared to give her up…"
Sir Benjamin scowled. "She's too young for any of that yet. So perhaps you should concern yourself with your son and his prospects rather than my niece's,"
"And who's to say those are not of mutual- ah, Loveday," The Coeur broke off from whatever he was going to say, diverted as his daughter arrived into the room. "Congratulations my daughter," He said, relief evident on his face at seeing with his own eyes his daughter's good health.
"Thank you, father," She smiled. Sir Benjamin quickly pulled out a seat for her to rest in and handed her into it as Maria, somewhat relieved by her entrance and the distraction it had provided from the awkward topic they had been pushing into, delivered George into his waiting mother's arms.
"Motherhood clearly becomes you," Coeur De Noir announced, taking in the sight of his daughter and her son when they were settled, "You look radiant,"
"If I do, its only thanks to Maria being so diligent in her care of us both," Loveday replied, smiling warmly at her niece, "I don't know what I'd have done without her,"
"I was just commenting to Sir Benjamin how natural she seemed with him…" The Coeur De Noir said, gesturing to them.
"Yes, she is isn't she?" Loveday replied, her smile widening as she looked at Maria, Robin standing uncomfortably, but resolutely at her shoulder, "George absolutely loves her already. She seems to have a sixth sense for exactly what he wants,"
"Does she indeed?"
"Well, I'm sure it won't be so easy when he's a little older," Maria said offhandedly, trying to divert the direction the conversation was going in and wishing she were anywhere but under the conspiratorial scrutiny of the Coeur De Noir and his daughter. Really, Loveday wasfarmore like her father than her brother was…
"You may not be around when he's older," The Coeur De Noir remarked, foiling this attempt and bringing the subject exactly back to where he wanted it.
"Perhaps not," Loveday added, "So we'll just have to make sure she's still nearby, won't we?"
It was too much for Maria, and too much for Sir Benjamin too, if his expression was anything to go by.
"You know, I think it's a little cold in here, perhaps I should get George another blanket," Maria announced, before he could say anything regrettable and equally to provide herself the means to flee the room.
"I'll help find one," Robin hurriedly added, striding to the door. Yanking it open, he held it open for Maria as she hastily retreated towards it. Once they were safely on the other side of it though, she turned, aggravated, towards him.
"Why did you do that?" She demanded.
"Do what? Help you get out of there?" Robin shot back.
"Yes! I didn't need any help and you've just added fuel to the fire! Following me is hardly going to help stop them from marrying us off and naming our ten children, is it?" Maria scoffed.
Robin rolled his eyes. "Don't exaggerate. They're all just caught up with baby fever, apart from your uncle that is. It will wear off soon enough,"
"Wear off?" Maria, paused to give him an incredulous look. Master of the forest he may be, but just how had he survived life at Castle Black under his father for so long with so little awareness for people she didn't know. How could he be so oblivious? Perhaps both him and his sister ought to stick to their woodland creatures as hunter and healer respectively…
"Robin, my uncle might lock me up in my tower," Maria told him, feeling a exasperated sort of pity for him, "But just how long do you think it will be before your father decides it time for you start giving him grandchildren?"
Giving him a last significant look, she turned and carried on up the corridor. Judging by the expression of growing dismay on his face, he had perhaps realised that she was exactly right.
This was going nowhere for a while, but then the dialogue with Loveday and Maria sprung up and became the missing link. I never really plan on bringing in other characters other than a means to an end (with the possible exception of Robin's friends because they can just so much fun), so it's quite satisfying when they fall in naturally and build a bit of depth into things. The ending felt a bit rushed again, but this is just because it's the newest bit and hasn't been re-read and edited a hundred time like the rest of it has! I've have now realised is at the root of most of my ending issues XD Ah well!
I hope you liked it! I so rarely have the head space and time properly read, write and create these days so it's slow going getting anything finished. Plus this took a while to build as I started with only a very vague idea of 'plot'...if 'plot' is what you can call it! Which was mainly the Coeur eyeing Maria with George and thinking 'hmmm'. The bit about Robin coming over for Maria's baking and then outraging her with a pregnant and hormonal Loveday featuring was initially an idea I had for a preceding chapter to this, but it was too weak and I never had any notes or dialogue or down for it- which is a sure sign for me that it wasn't going anywhere! So even if it is a bit random here, I'm glad it found a way in somehow.
The tone of this might take a bit of a different turn now as the next two chapters are the ones I wrote way back in like 2019. I will need to dig them out and edit them, but they are definitely going to be shorter than these. Certainly less detailed and 'chapter-ish' in some ways than these first three. But that was always the idea- there's no overarching story, direction or ending in mind for this and each chapter is supposed to read as a oneshot, so if I run out of ideas (and I've nothing drafted following the next two chapters, only a couple of vague ideas!) it won't be so bad being 'unfinished', as I also have no idea what will actually finish it! Maria ages by about a year in each of these chapters though, so I can promise some more juicy stuff between her and Robin will be incoming in the next two- which is why they got written first over two years ago!
