Five Months Later…

Ella woke that morning to small pains in her lower abdomen. She thought nothing of it; it was probably just her belly rounding even more. She was eight and a half months pregnant, and the children had to help more and more around the house. If she dropped something, one of them would have to pick it up for her, and she tired quickly. But she was more active than other pregnant women she had known, and she was determined to stay that way.

The day went on as normal. James helped her get dressed, and they made breakfast. The children were up early, and were going to go into town together. They liked to window shop, and they could walk hand in hand down the small walkways. Neither Ella nor James had the heart to deny them such a small pleasure, as long as they stayed in the public view.

About mid-day, she stopped, holding a hand to her belly with a groan. James stopped his baking, looking up at her from across the kitchen.

"Is everything alright Ella?" She nodded, going back to her work.

"Yes, I just felt something a little uncomfortable for a second."

It was late that night, and everyone was gathered around the fire. Matthew was on the floor with Holly playing with him. James and Jack were discussing his business, and when Jack would start to work with him when he turned six-and ten. His birthday was in just a few weeks, and everyone was very excited.

Ella let out a gasp then, and everyone turned to her. A grimace was on her face, a hand to her abdomen. "It…it hurts, badly." James rushed to her side, helping her to stand. A gush of water wet her dress, and Jack turned away blushing while James started giving orders.

"Jack, run into town and fetch the midwife. Holly, go turn down the sheets in our room and get some hot water."

He helped his wife into the bedroom, and she lay down with a huff. He turned to look out the window, but before he could move, she grabbed his hand.

"James, I'm scared." He leaned down and kissed her brow.

"You're going to be wonderful honey, don't be scared. Before you know it, you'll be holding a beautiful baby in your arms. Just breathe, deeply, in and out, in and out."

She nodded. Her pains went on into the night, getting worse and worse. The children were sent to Arianna's, and the midwife showed up shortly. James wasn't allowed in the room with his wife, but he paced outside, hearing her cries and feeling powerless to sooth his wife.

The birthing lasted from dusk until dawn. When the first rays of sunlight shone, marking a new day as the sun burned through the mist and scattered the land in golden, morning sun, the midwife's assistant came out to a very tired James, who was sitting on the couch.

"You can come in now."

He jumped up and ran into the room. His wife laid in the bed, damp with sweat, fresh sheets that the midwife newly changed. She was in her nightgown, suckling a child. He came up to the pair and gently sat down on her bed. She smiled up at him and tenderly pulled the child away, showing the babe's face to her husband.

"She's beautiful, isn't she? What do you think we should name her?"

He looked at his daughters face and thought a moment. "How about Clara, or Sophie, or Genevieve?"

The young mother smiled, looking into the face of her beautiful baby. "How about Hope? Hope Laurel, it's pretty, don't you think?"

He was concentrating so much on his new daughter that he only nodded, barely hearing her words. She had blonde curls that covered a wisp of her head, and deep brown eyes when she opened them. The most beautiful baby girl he had ever seen, and he had helped make her. She was small, and when he took her in his arms, she was warm through her blanket and light as down. She smiled up at him with the sweetest grin, and he kissed her nose before handing her back to her mother. The midwife spoke.

"Although she was early, she's healthy. If you have any problems later or something, you know where I am. You, Miss Ella, needs to stay in bed for a few day, and no baby-making for six weeks, you here?"

They nodded, and she left with her assistant, promising to stop by Arianna's and let the children know about their new sister. Soon, they had run through the door and were clambering around to get a glimpse of the bundle in Cinderella's arms.

"I knew it would be a sister, I was right! And she's so cute and looks just like both of you." Holly spoke with a proud smile on her face.

They grinned and let Jack see the new baby. He took her in his arms and just stared at her, a smile on his face.

"She's a beauty Mother, Father. Congratulations." James took the baby from his son, handing her back to her mother. Holly piped up with a question then.

"Where do babies come from?"

They all stared at her awkwardly. Jack and James stared at Ella, pointedly asking her with their eyes if she would oh so kindly explain without them in the room. She sighed.

"Darling, Jack, could you both leave? I think it'd be better to explain without either of you here."

They scampered out of the room, both standing in the kitchen, knowing what Cinderella was explaining behind the door. The Baker took a breath.

"Perhaps this would be a good time to have your first lesson." His son nodded vehemently, and they both began to bake. Before they knew it, Holly had rushed from the room and into the kitchen, a look of horror on her face,

"That's where babies come from? That's what you and Mother were doing to have Hope, and what you and Charisse did to have Matthew? Ah!"

She promptly ran from the house in terror. Jack took off his apron and ran out the door after her.

"Holly, sweet, please come back!"

James shook his head and went back to baking when he heard Ella calling for him. He went in the room to see what the matter was.

"Could you take Matthew into the other room? I really am tired, I'd like to sleep."

He picked up his son and carried him into the other room, setting him on the counter and giving him so dough to play with. Looking outside, he saw Holly and Jack sitting together near a tree. Holly didn't have one of her cloaks that was odd. He put his son on his hip and went up into the loft, where the wolf cloak was, but not the red one. He found it in a bottom drawer in Jacks room. He would have to talk with them about this, it wasn't appropriate, her keeping clothing down here.