The Carsons settled into a routine, finishing the baby's room and rearranging other things in their home. Mrs. Carson didn't require many changes.
"The best thing about my new home is you being in it," Elsie insisted soon after moving in. "I'm not about to start changing everything in here." Her eyes twinkled. "Well, maybe we could find a different place for the deer's head in the living room."
Five weeks after their wedding, Becky called Charles at Downton. She had taken her sister to the hospital. Six days after her due date, Elsie was finally in labor.
The drive to Pikeville seemed to take an eternity.
"I'm glad I came down when I did," Becky told him when she met him in the hospital lobby. "She was with me when I went into labor with Brandon, and I wanted to be there for her."
"I'm so glad you were," Charles said as they hurried to Elsie's room. He was a little surprised to find his wife standing up, pacing the room.
She held onto him for a long hug. "I'm better, now you're here," she said into his chest. He felt her smile when he kissed her. "Not that your presence makes the pain go away. But knowing you're here gives me strength."
"Beryl and Daisy sent something with me that should help build your strength," He grinned when he opened the box they had sent with him. There was a full meal, plus a couple of extra snacks for later. The sisters exchanged a knowing grin at the familiar sight of apple tart.
Elsie said the hospital food wasn't that bad. "Don't tell Beryl I said that," she warned. They promised. After she ate, she wanted to "move a bit", as she said.
He kept one arm securely around her, and held her hand with the other. They walked down the hallway past the nurses' station.
"Becky told me labor would be like this," Elsie squeezed his arm. "Like a roller coaster." Charles kissed her temple.
"You're doing wonderfully." He rubbed her back. She rolled her eyes, and the familiar motion made him smile.
"Thank you, but it isn't that bad…yet." They continued walking. She winced at one point, and crushed his fingers, but didn't say a word. She only breathed out, a long breath through her lips.
Charles's eyebrows fused together. "We should go back to your room." She shook her head.
"No. I want to keep moving. For now."
They finished walking around the square of rooms, and started again. They passed Becky, who was chatting with a nurse.
"Doing all right, Elsie?" the young woman wearing scrubs asked.
"Just grand, Ethel, thank you." Elsie suppressed another wince. Charles gave the two women a tight smile. Ethel called after them.
"Are you all right, Mr. Carson?"
"Just fine," he replied, ignoring Elsie coughing to cover a laugh. "Redheads," he muttered, "there must be a genetic tendency toward sarcasm."
Elsie burst out laughing. "Has it occurred to you, Charlie, that our child might have red hair?"
"God give me strength if that's the case," he groaned, looking toward the ceiling. Elsie put her arm around him, shaking with laughter.
"John told me your Grandmother Pierce had red hair. So it is a possibility."
The pair continued walking until Elsie doubled over with the intensity of the contractions. After they returned to the room, she urged her husband to wait in the waiting room. He rubbed her back as she sank onto the bed.
"Are you sure you want me to wait outside? I can stay with you," he asked again. They had planned this earlier – he being there for the early hours, then Becky taking over. But at that moment, he didn't know if he wanted to leave her.
"Yes," she said, her breath short. "Please, Charlie, I don't want you to see me in pain." Her eyes pleaded with him. "Becky's been through this four times. I will see you after, I love you-"
He kissed her, whispering his love for her, for their child. Becky promised to come out and give him updates as often as she could.
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The hours crawled by. He tried to read, but couldn't concentrate. The TV droned in the corner. Becky emerged a few times to update him on Elsie's labor, which progressed steadily, if slowly. His heart jumped painfully every time his sister-in-law appeared. It was a great relief when John arrived at seven in the evening, bringing a suspicious brown-paper bag with him.
"Whiskey?" Charles whispered, incredulous. "Why would I want that?"
"To calm your nerves," John surreptitiously looked over his shoulder before forcing a shot glass into Charles's hand. He poured it expertly. "You're tight as a drum. You need to relax! Now drink that, so I can put it away."
Charles rolled his eyes, but obeyed. He hated to admit it, but he felt himself relax slightly after taking two shots. John put the bag carefully under his chair. They spent the next several hours talking about anything. Everything. Debating over wine versus whiskey. Fishing. John and Anna's store. Growing up in the mountains.
The waiting room was quiet. It was past eleven at night, and John had gone to call Anna. Charles was staring off into space when he suddenly heard his name.
"Charles?"
The familiar lilt and thin figure of Dr. Clarkson. He shot to his feet. The doctor smiled.
"It's over, and both mother and child are fine." Charles sagged in relief, almost feeling dizzy. She's fine. They're both fine.
Behind him, the door flew open, and Becky raced into the room. "Charlie!" She gave him an enormous hug to match her smile, and he couldn't help laughing. She was, literally, bouncing up and down. She pushed him toward the door. "I have to call Adam, go back and see them-"
He didn't need to be told twice.
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Standing in the doorway of the room, he knew he would remember what he saw for the rest of his life. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he was thirty, running into a breathtaking woman before Adam's wedding.
Her auburn locks rested on her bare shoulders, the sheet pulled up. Her face was red, but only added to the glow that she seemed to wear.
She didn't look up right away. Completely enthralled by the infant in her arms, she only tore her gaze away when he said her name.
"Elsie?"
Her dark blue eyes glimmered. "He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
He.
His entire chest constricted. Tears ran down his face. Stumbling to the bed, he sat down, sliding an arm around her.
"A – son?" he whispered, taking in the tiny boy. "Is he really ours?" A headful of thick black hair. Elsie's nose and cheekbones. Charles thought he saw his own mother Darlene in the shape of his son's eyebrows. The boy's ears were a spitting image of Elsie's.
The baby's chin was undoubtedly his. As were the shape of his hands.
Someone this precious could not have come from me.
She laughed through her own tears, trying not to disturb their son, who stirred in her arms. "Yes, love. We get to take him home with us, or so I've been told."
"I love you," he breathed. "God, you are so beautiful." They kissed deeply as he stroked her face. She lingered on his lips before she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I love you," she whispered. "I love you so much, Charlie. He-" her breath caught. "-he came out of our love."
"That he did," Charles's voice cracked. He tried to wipe away tears, but gave up. He tucked several stray hairs behind her ear, marveling at its similarity with the baby. "Are you all right? Dr. Clarkson said you were fine."
"Tired," she sighed, fiddling with the sheet. "Sore. But when he came – it didn't matter anymore." She cleared her throat, her voice slightly hoarse. "Would you like to hold him?"
He had been dying to ever since he came into the room. He held out his hands, gently cradling the baby's head. It almost disappeared in his right hand. "I think he looks like the name we picked, don't you?"
"I do," she smiled, wiping a tear away at the sight of her husband and son. These are the moments we live for.
"Hello, Alexander John Carson," he rumbled, kissing the smooth skin on his forehead, touching his nose. He startled slightly when young Alex stretched, blinking his eyes.
"Oh!" Elsie cried softly, scooting forward. "I haven't seen him open his eyes yet!"
Alex blinked slowly, one eye opening, then the other. He suddenly turned his head when Elsie hummed under her breath.
"He knows you," Charles laughed quietly. "He knows his mam." He tried to moved his arms slightly, nervous about the angle that Alex had moved into. The last thing I want to do is lose my grip on him.
"He does indeed," Elsie lifted a tiny hand and kissed it. "He know his Da, too. He's heard your voice before. But never from this close." She grinned and bit her lip, seeing the look on Charles's face. "You won't break him. He's half Carson, half Hughes." She leaned over, kissing Alex's cheek. "Not even the mountain could break him."
"No," Charles agreed. He gazed at their son, who was yawning. "We love you, lad. Soon, we'll take you home and you can see it for yourself."