The moment the last Dragoon was out of the tent, Tavington dashed to Vivienne's side, tears pouring down his cheeks as he put his arm beneath her back, lifting her up so he could kiss her lips one more time before giving her up. As he raised her head to his chest, he imagined he heard a small murmur. He froze, willing his ears to have heard true. He stared at Vivienne's peaceful visage, and as he did, he swore he saw her face begin to contort with pain. When her mouth opened to utter a groan, he knew he was not imagining things.

"Vivienne! You. . you. . . " He could not even speak for joy. He put his arm beneath her knees to lift her off the ground, about to proclaim to the world she was alive when her eyes popped open, and the devastating pain he saw in them made him freeze.

"William," she rasped "William!" Her voice rose in intensity as she began to quiver and squirm. Tavington gently set her back down, keeping one arm around her back to support her. She began to scream, her voice filled with anguish and unbearable pain. She braced her bruised arms on the ground on either side of her body, supporting herself.

"Vivienne! Tell me what's wrong!" Tavington insisted helplessly, but it was as if she hadn't heard him. She continued to scream and her legs bent up at the knees, her feet now flat on the ground.

Her screaming stopped and her chest began to heave, sweat bursting from her pores.

Could she be . . . going into labor? But it is too early! Much, much too early!

Tavington began to panic nearly as much as she. He yelled for Bordon and when the Captain entered the tent, Tavington looked at him with a tormented stare.

"Captain, you have children - what can be done to ease her pain?" Bordon concentrated very hard, thinking, and at last managed to remember.

"We need towels and water," he blurted at once.

"Well get them, you fool!" Tavington yelled, turning his attention back to Vivienne, who was still gasping, her breath heaving.

Vivienne grabbed for his hand and he let her squeeze it as her moans started again. Suddenly, something red and slippery slid out of her. Vivienne collapsed back onto her elbows, her breath easing as tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"It's over, William. Let me see - " Vivienne stopped abruptly when she saw the look on Tavington's face as he gazed at the tiny baby.

Horror slowly settled over her features as she processed what had happened.

"William," Her voice was high and shaky "William let me see the baby. I need to see - "

He finally looked back at her, his own face contorted with misery.

"It was a boy, Vivienne," he said hoarsely, his heart wrenching with pain for the second time that day.

"No . . . " Vivienne began to hyperventilate as the truth descended on her. She curled her legs under her dress, wet with her blood and body fluids. As dreadful, breath-stealing sobs exploded from her, Tavington crouched down, pulling her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her shuddering form. He let his own tears fall into her sweaty hair and they cried together - a husband and wife lamenting the death of their child, murdered before he opened his eyes.

Bordon pushed aside the tent flap, back with the towels and a bucket of water only to drop both at the sight that met his eyes. When the Captain saw the too-tiny red form surrounded by pools of fluid and the Colonel and Vivienne sitting feet away, both covered in blood, he slowly backed up, letting the tent flap drop as he let the couple mourn the loss of their child.

Susan was only six years old, but the experience she had just gone through was meant for someone far older. Susan didn't understand all that was going on, but she did understand she never wanted to see her father again.

"Susan," Bordon crouched down beside the little girl to meet her eyes. "We're going to take you home now."

"I'm not going home," she replied stubbornly. Before he could grab her, Susan dashed away into the forest and climbed up the first tree she saw. Even in her dress, she scrambled up to a comfortable branch before Bordon could catch up with her.

She watched him wander all around the forest, calling her name. She remained silent and still as a statue. Soon the Captain gave up and returned to the gathering of Dragoons as they waited for the Colonel. Susan stayed exactly where she was.

When Tavington and Vivienne finally appeared, the Dragoons stared at the pair with questions plain on their faces, but they knew better than to ask about what had occurred. The Colonel and his wife had emerged from around the outside of the tent, their clothes smudged with dirt.

Tavington's coat was draped around Vivienne's shoulders, her fingers clutching it together at her neck. Tavington's arm encircled Vivienne's waist as he supported her, glaring at his plainly gaping men.

All the soldiers were waiting for Vivienne to burst into tears and crumple to the ground, but she held her chin high, her face blank. She turned to Tavington.

"I can walk now." Her voice was tight as her face, but Tavington knew she needed to defend her honor. He gently released her and watched as she threw her shoulders back and stepped confidently closer to the horses. Vivienne turned her head back to face Tavington.

"We should leave." He nodded and began barking out commands to the rest of the men, allowing Vivienne to relax as the attention was drawn away from her at last.

Susan watched the whole scene from her perch in the tree, and when Vivienne appeared, Susan was surprised. She had always learned war was for the men - the women stayed home to take care of the children. But here was a woman, a beautiful woman, who looked just as miserable and confused as Susan felt, and there was something very appealing in that revelation.

The girl quickly climbed down the tree and ran to the campground, through the soldiers and wrapped her thin arms around Vivienne's legs.

At first, Vivienne was only surprised, but when her mind registered the fact that a small, thin girl was crying softly into her skirts, she could hold up the facade no longer. Vivienne's knees wobbled and she collapsed onto them, taking the little girl in her arms and weeping into her soft yellow hair.

Tavington stood by his horse, watching the scene along with the rest of his baffled men and sighed softly. He had been struck as much of an emotional blow as Vivienne, but had become an expert at disguising his feelings. He knew the next year or so would be particularly hard for both of them, but for once, he wasn't afraid of going through it. He and Vivienne would support each other.

When Tavington broke out of his thoughts, Vivienne was standing up, holding Susan on her hip. The Colonel strode up to them.

"Susan, would you like to come home with us?" He asked, trying to seem gentle and not intimidating. Susan nodded and he gave her a small smile.

"Very well then. We must be off."

With Susan on Vivienne's lap and Vivienne in Tavington's arms atop his horse, they set off with the rest of the calvary, leaving behind the setting that would haunt all three of their minds for years.