Hey everybody! I closed the poll today at 12:00 p.m. EST on Sat. I hope you will like this chapter. There are two more chapters after this so... I'm going to be sad but I'm not going to think about it. Anyway...I made this chapter long and longer for you so you could be happy!
Here we go!
*Two months later*
My baby could come anytime soon and I am so excited and nervous at same time.
I couldn't do the chores this month because I got bigger and I couldn't stand on my feet anymore because they were hurting.
So what I have been doing to entertain myself is reading a good book and making more clothes for my baby.
One day, I was in my rocking chair, reading my book when Chingachgook came in.
"Emily. I have a surprise for you."
Chingachgook seems so excited about the surprise.
"Well, what is it?" I asked excitedly.
"I won't show it to you unless you close your eyes and I'll bring in the surprise."
I giggle and nodded my head. I closed my eyes and covered my eyes with my hands.
I could hear Chingachgook going outside then coming back. He must have been carrying something heavy because I could hear him grunting and breathing heavily.
"Alright... you can open your eyes now."
I uncovered my eyes and opened them. I gasped softly and leaned down to touch the crib.
The crib is made of light oak and the texture is so smooth. There's a quilt inside and the quilt are made of colorful patterns.
"It's beautiful. Did you build this?"
He nods his head. "Yes, I built it. Also, the quilt inside of the crib was my son's. My late wife made it when she was with him. It's part of the tribe's tradition. The father-in-law gives the crib and the quilt to the son's wife."
"Thank you. It's very beautiful and I love them."
I stood up from my rocking chair and gave him a hug.
"You're welcome. Now, I am going to move it next to your bed."
Chingachgook takes the crib and moved it to next to my bed. I nod to him and he nods back before leaving my room.
I went back to reading my book and started to rock myself in my chair.
*Early Morning*
I woke up early this morning because the baby kicked me and I couldn't go back to sleep. So I got up from my bed and I put on my robe over my white cotton nightgown.
I looked at Abigale and she is sleeping peacefully. I sneak out so she wouldn't hear me.
Once I got to outside, I could see the sea and the sun slowly rising up. I started to walk to the beach. When I got there, instead of going to my log as usual, I stood there, with the water going over my feet.
I watched the sun rising slowly. I could smell the sea air and the wind blowing though my hair.
I put my hands around my belly and stood there silently.
*Nathaniel's POV*
I decided to surprise my fiancée by coming home. When I arrived, it was very early in the morning and I was sure that Emily was sleeping. So I decided to go to the beach and watch the sun come up.
When I arrived at the beach, someone was standing there, staring at the sun. I could tell that it was a woman with child.
I observed her longer, realizing that it was not only a stranger but my fiancée.
The wind was blowing though her dark hair, and she is covered in beautiful sunlight. She is so breathtaking and beautiful.
She moved her hands to her belly and looked down as if she was talking to the baby.
All of the suddenly, she looked to her right and saw me.
"Emily...." I whispered, hoping that the wind could carry her name to her from me.
I stared at her blue eyes.
*Emily's POV*
I moved my hands to my belly and looked down. Suddenly, I felt someone was staring at me so I looked to my right.
I caught his eyes and turned around to look at him.
"Nathaniel..." I whispered. I was blinking my eyes because I thought I was dreaming him.
To my joy, I wasn't and I begin to walk quickly to him.
"Nathaniel!" I called out joyfully. Nathaniel begins to run.
I couldn't run because of the baby so I was trying to walk very quickly.
"Nathaniel!" I called out again.
"Emily!" He called out.
He reached to me with open arms and I went to his arms. He picked me up off the ground, hugging me.
"Oh Nathaniel. I missed you so much." I whispered.
He puts me down softly and leaned down to my lips, kissing me softly.
"I missed you too." Nathaniel whispered as he kisses me more.
We stopped kissing and he looked into my eyes deeply.
"I thought you were a stranger when I saw you but I realized it wasn't. You're beautiful." Nathaniel whispers, caressing my cheek.
I smiled. Nathaniel puts his hands on my belly and I put my hands on top of his hands.
"Why didn't you tell me that you're with child?" Nathaniel asked.
"Because I found out two months later after the church burned down. I didn't want you to worry about me and the baby."
"Emily... don't worry about me. I'll be fine. How far along are you?"
"Nine months. The baby could come anytime soon."
Nathaniel smiles and bent down to his knees.
"Hello, baby. I'm your daddy." Nathaniel whispered and kisses my belly.
I smiled and he looked up to me.
"I love you." I whispered, caressing his cheek.
He stood up and put his arm around my back, pulling me into his chest.
"I love you too." He whispered before leaning down to my lips and kissed me with passion.
*Tonight*
Everybody threw a party for Nathaniel to welcome him back. Though out the supper, Nathaniel had his hand on my belly the entire time.
When the party was over, I decided to go to bed because I was so tired and my back was aching more than usual.
I changed into my nightgown and climbed into my bed. I propped my head up so I could read my book easily by the candle.
Abigale decided to sleep with her friends tonight so me and Nathaniel could have some private time.
Nathaniel joined me when I finished the book. Nathaniel took off his shirt, leaving his pants on and went into bed with me.
Nathaniel took my extra pillow from me. I felt the baby kicked and I sighed heavily.
Nathaniel turned to me on his side, his arm holding his head up.
He puts his other hand on my belly.
"You're alright?" He asked.
I nodded. "Yes. The baby just kicked me now. My back is aching more than usual and I am just ready for the baby to come out now."
Nathaniel smiles. "You just need to relax now." He kisses me good night and blew out the candle.
Nathaniel went to sleep right away and I stared at the ceiling until I could feel my eyes drooping and went to sleep eventually.
I woke up in the middle of night with the urge to go to bathroom. I looked at Nathaniel and he's snoring softly.
I quietly moved out of my bed and looked under the bed to get the pot. I put the pot down and put it underneath me. I picked up my hem of the nightgown and squat down to pee.
I felt a huge rush coming out of me and I looked down. There was huge puddle of water in the pot and also on the sand.
My water just broke. I panicked for few minutes then I started to calm down.
"Okay... I am going to wake Nathaniel up... but I don't want to wake Nathaniel up because he looks so peaceful." I thought, smiling at his peaceful face.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and put my hand on his shoulder and shook him.
"Nathaniel, you need to wake up. Nathaniel?"
Nathaniel was mumbling and still asleep.
"Nathaniel, my water just broke."
Well, that woke Nathaniel up because he heard me saying my water broke and his eyes popped open.
"Did I just hear you saying that your water just broke?" Nathaniel says, sitting up and putting his hands on my belly.
"Yes, I did. It woke you up finally." I chuckled.
"Well, are you alright? Are you in pain now?" Nathaniel asked with concern in his face.
"I'm fine... nervous though. I haven't got any pains now. Can you get Abigale and Aunt Charlotte, please?"
Nathaniel got out of the bed quickly and put on his shirt back on.
"Oh Nathaniel, do not spread a fire... just calm down and wake them up. Just don't make any noises because you will scare the children if you do. Understand?"
Nathaniel nodded and left me alone.
I stood up and took out a match to light the candle.
I felt light cramps or contractions seize my belly and I sat down on the bed, breathing in and out quietly. The cramps went away.
I heard Aunt Charlotte and Abigale talking quietly as they came into my room.
Aunt Charlotte went to me and caresses my cheek.
"Are you alright?" Aunt Charlotte asked.
I nodded. "I had light contraction just a minute ago. Can you send someone to get Anne? I need her with me when the baby comes."
She nodded and left me alone with Abigale. I felt a huge contraction and it took my breath away.
"Oh my god...ooh..." I groaned. Abigale went to my side immediately and she helped me to breathe though the contraction, holding my hands.
When it was over, I had light sweat on my face. Abigale got up and got wet towel and put it on my forehead to cool me down.
"You're doing great, Emily." Abigale said.
I nodded, and then started to shake my head.
"I can't do it, Abigale."
Abigale looked at me concernedly. "Emily, you can do it. You want to know why? Because I know you can."
"Alright..." I nodded. Another contraction hits me so hard that I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Hours have passed and my contractions grew closer and closer. Nathaniel is waiting outside with the men.
Anne was coaching me though my contractions when Abigale checked me and announced that it was time for me to push.
Anne and Aunt Charlotte helped me into my sitting position and I groaned again from the contraction.
Anne held on my hand and Aunt Charlotte held on with my other hand.
"Push." Abigale says, sitting down in front of me.
I pushed couple of times. I screamed, bearing down.
"Breathe." Aunt Charlotte said.
"I'm breathing, I'm breathing, okay?! Get it out of me now! Oh god!" I yelled as another contraction hits.
Aunt Charlotte chuckled at me. "I can see the head. It's crowning." Abigale says, rubbing my leg.
I pushed again and I could feel the burning as the baby's head coming out. "Ahh! It's burning!" I sobbed.
Abigale nodded. "Keep pushing through it."
I kept pushing and I could feel the baby slipping out of me.
"I got the shoulders... okay, the baby's coming!" Abigale laughs, catching the baby.
The wail broke the silence.
"It's a boy!" Abigale says, holding the baby up so I could see him.
"Oh... thank god." I say, closing my eyes from exhaustion.
Abigale cuts the cord and hands him to Aunt Charlotte so she could clean him up.
"You did wonderful, Emily." Anne smiles at me and caresses on my damp hair.
Abigale cleaned me up and I settled down in my fresh sheets on bed.
Aunt Charlotte wrapped him in a blanket after giving him a bath. He was still crying.
She hands me my son into my arms and I look at him.
"Hello, Benjamin." I said. Benjamin stopped crying and looked at me with green eyes.
His father's eyes. I smile and kiss him on his forehead.
I was trying to think of his middle name and it came to my mind. "Welcome to the world, Benjamin Nathaniel Poe." I whisper while the baby cooed at me.
"I'm going to bring in Nathaniel, alright?" Aunt Charlotte said.
I nodded, looking at my new son.
Nathaniel came into the room. I looked up and smile at him.
"We have a son, Nathaniel." I giggle at his excited face.
"We have a son?" Nathaniel says, rushing to me and sat down on the bed next to me.
Nathaniel looks at him.
"He looks like you, Emily." He says, kissing on the side of my head.
"But he got your eyes and your hair." I whispered and looked at Nathaniel.
"What do you want to name him, Emily?" Nathaniel asked. Nathaniel puts his finger into the baby's hand and the baby grabbed his finger.
"I've already thought of his name. Benjamin Nathaniel Poe. What do you think of it?"
Nathaniel nodded. "It's a good name. Your father will be very happy. In fact, your father arrived few hours ago. He was worried about you but he finally calmed down when he heard the baby cry."
"Who else is here?" I asked.
"Gabriel got here about an hour ago because he found out that Anne is with you so he came."
"It looks like everyone is here. Tell them to come in and see the baby. We will announce the name once everybody gets into the room. Alright?"
Nathaniel nods and leaves the room to get everybody.
"Get ready to meet your whole family" I said to Benjamin.
Soon Father, Aunt Charlotte, Anne, Gabriel, Chingachgook, Margaret, Nathan, William, Samuel and Susan came into room and gathered around me and Nathaniel.
They were all smiling at us and the baby.
"Hello. Nathaniel and I wanted you to meet our son, Benjamin Nathaniel Poe."
There were murmuring of approval and Father smiled with tears in his eyes.
"Father, would you like to hold Benjamin?" I said.
Father nodded and walked to me. I handed him the baby and he was looking at me and the baby at same time.
"Your mother would be very happy today if she was alive. Congratulations, Emily and Nathaniel." He said.
We thanked him. The children wanted to see Benjamin.
"Father, why don't you take Benjamin outside and let the children hold him at one time? I need my rest." I chuckled.
Father nodded and everybody cleared out, leaving me and Nathaniel.
He smiled at me and kissed me goodnight...only it was afternoon. But it didn't matter to me since I was in labor for hours.
I put my head down on my pillow and closed my eyes. I drifted into my sleep and dreamed about my Benjamin. My darling baby boy.
Emily had a baby boy!!! Yay!!! Her father was so honored by Emily naming the baby after him so... I just thought it was sweet!
Thank you for all the votes for the names! I love ya'll!!!!!! Anyway, I am going to work on the next two chapters but please be patience with me because I just started college this week so.... have a great weekend.
