Right here goes, I think it's about time Jean had this baby, don't you?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucien had noticed Jean was unsettled. She had gone slightly over her due date, but as he knew, dates weren't an exact science so he wasn't unduly concerned. She seemed to be arranging things, organising the house. The bassinet had been delivered and was ready and waiting for its new occupant. She was uncomfortable at night, unable to sleep properly. Not long now he rightly surmised, but...

'No Lucien! I am not going into hospital!'

'Jean, as your doctor...'

'No!'

He took her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye,

'Sweetheart, I only want what's best for you.' He drew her close, he couldn't understand why she seemed to be afraid of a hospital birth. Unless she told him he would not be able to do anything about it.

Her shoulders dropped and she sighed.

'I'm sorry, darling. I had Christopher in hospital and it was awful. So many strangers around me, the one person I needed, my husband, banished from the room. I was so young and so very frightened, I don't want that again.'

She buried her head on his chest, frustrated tears rolled down her cheeks.

'When I had Jack I made sure there was no time to get to the hospital, but I did rather misjudge how eager he was to enter this world. I had him on the kitchen floor.'

Lucien looked horrified.

'Lucien, I want to have our baby here, at home, with you. I'm not afraid, not this time. Honestly, it'll be fine.' she looked into his eyes and gave him a small smile. 'Please trust me.'

Lucien kissed her forehead,

'Jean, I've delivered babies before of course, but when it's your own it's different. I've only been a parent once before and that was a long time ago; and yes, I too was banished from the room to pace up and down the corridor. I'm not sure which is worse, watching your wife in unimaginable pain or being outside, not allowed to do anything.'

'Everything will be fine.' She reached up as best she could and kissed him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For the next two days, Jean fidgeted, couldn't sit still or sleep properly.

'Jean...'

'I'm fine.' But she leant against him and gave him wan smile. She knew she was in the early stages of labour, niggling back pain and an occasional tightening over her belly.

Three a.m. She'd tossed and turned trying not to wake her husband, but in the end she gave up. She'd see if a cup of tea would help.

Standing in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil she massaged her back and stroked her bump.

'Not long now sweetie,' she whispered.

Just as she reached for a cup a strong contraction gripped her. The cup crashed to the floor.

At the sound of breaking china Lucien leapt out of bed and fled to the kitchen. Jean was gripping the back of a chair looking at the floor. Apart from a look of pain and shock on her face she also looked supremely embarrassed as Charlie followed the Doctor in. Going round the table to her Lucien saw why; her waters had broken.

'Ok sweetheart,' he said gently, 'don't worry.'

'Please get me back to the bedroom, Lucien,' she gasped, 'it won't be long.'

With his arm around her he helped her out of the kitchen, pausing for a contraction.

'Charlie, phone the midwife, numbers by the phone in my study, then bring my bag into our room, please.' Lucien tried to sound matter of fact.

'No problem, Doc.' Charlie had younger brothers, all of whom had been born at home. He cast his mind back to what had been done then, hoped he could remember everything and went to the study to make the phone call.

'Midwife needed at Dr Blake's house,' he requested, 'quickly.' He confirmed the address and put the phone down. Grabbing Lucien's bag he headed to their room, knocking but not waiting for an answer, he handed the bag in to the doc.

'Thanks, Charlie.'

In the bedroom Jean had gripped the end of the bed as another contraction came.

'Towels on the bed Lucien.' She instructed. How on earth she could still be so darn practical in the throes of such pain Lucien couldn't work out, but he wasn't going to argue, that was literally a waste of time they didn't have.

He helped her onto the bed.

'I need to examine you, Jean, to see how near you are.'

Jean just grunted, this part of childbirth was so undignified.

'Ah, right, I can see the baby's head.' He informed her, 'shouldn't be too long now. On the next contraction I want you to push.' He tried to sound more like her doctor than her husband but it wasn't easy. She was in a lot of pain that he could do nothing about.

In the kitchen, Charlie was mopping the floor when there was a knock on the door. Still holding the mop, he let the midwife in. She gave him an odd look, but Charlie ignored that and showed her where the patient was.

The midwife went straight into the room and stopped short.

'Alright, darling, one more push.' Dr Blake was instructing his wife. Ordinarily the midwife did not approve of fathers in delivery rooms, whoever they were but on this occasion things seemed to be going well.

She coughed.

'Ah, here you are. Good, would you mind,' and he indicated he would like her to take over.

Donning a pair of gloves the midwife went to assist, but just as she got there Lucien took of his gloves and went to the top of the bed. He took Jean's hands in his and looked her straight in the eyes.

'Once more, darling,' he smiled, 'you can do it, it's almost over.'

Jean held his hands so tight he gasped at her strength. With one final push their baby shot out into the midwife's hands.

Jean exhaled and lay back down on the bed. Lucien stroked her head, brushing her hair off her damp forehead.

'You have a daughter, Mrs Blake, congratulations.' The midwife smiled, 'Doctor, care to cut the cord?'

Lucien kissed Jean and did the honours. His daughter had a fine set of lungs he noted as the midwife wrapped her up and passed her to Jean.

'Hello, little one,' she whispered, 'welcome to the family.'

She looked up at Lucien and mouthed 'Thank you.'

He bent over her and kissed her, properly.

'Ahem..., everything is fine here, Doctor.' The midwife was faintly embarrassed at this display of love, but at the same time she felt it was appropriate. She knew a little of the story of Dr Blake and his housekeeper, who in Ballarat didn't, and she felt they deserved this happiness. 'Do we have a name for her?' She asked.

Lucien looked at Jean, he hadn't actually thought about it, and raised his eyebrows.

'Genevieve Matilda, if that's alright. Jenny for short.' Jean said looking to her husband for approval.

'Lovely.' He smiled.

'Matilda's for Mattie,' Jean clarified.

'Of course.'

'Well then, Doctor, may I suggest you run a bath for your wife, I'm sure you'd like that, Mrs Blake.' The midwife said.

'That would be lovely,' agreed Jean.

Lucien didn't really want to leave but if Jean wanted a bath, then Jean would have a bath, and he went to do as he was told.

'While you're in the bath, would you like me to change the bed for you?'

'Thank you, that's very kind of you. Ask Charlie for some clean linen.' Jean replied. 'He's the one who let in.'

'Ah, the young man with the mop.'

Jean coloured, Charlie must have cleaned the kitchen floor.

'Are you alright, Mrs Blake?'

'Er...yes. My waters broke in the kitchen, he must have been cleaning up for me.'

'Well, Mrs Blake, if I may say, you are a very lucky woman; not many young men would even think to do that.' She smiled, although she wasn't sure who Charlie was in relation to the Blakes.

'He's our lodger, and honouree uncle to our son, Bobby.' Jean explained. 'I expect he'll be sorting him out for me. What time is it?' She'd no idea if it was time for Bobby to get up, and if it was he would want to come in to his mama.

'Five o'clock, just gone.' The midwife checked her watch.

'Good, he won't be awake just yet. He's a heavy sleeper.'

The midwife went to get the linen and she and Lucien changed the bed. When Jean came out of the bathroom, the bed was clean and inviting, Jenny was properly dressed and Lucien was sitting on the bed cradling his daughter with a suitably soppy look on his face.

'Jean,' he got off the bed and pulled the clothes back for her to get in.

She climbed into bed, and reached for her baby.

'Tea, please darling, I'm thirsty.' melting ice smile deployed.

'Of course.'

'And if Bobby's up he can come in to meet his sister.'

'I think he's still asleep, but, yes, he should meet her as soon as possible.'

Lucien left the room, glancing back to see his wife gazing at this wonderful thing they had created.

When he came back he had tea and Bobby. Bobby climbed onto the bed and looked at this little thing in mama's arms. Jean had Jenny to her breast and with her free arm she drew her son to her.

'This is Jenny, Bobby, she's your sister.'

'Jenny.' Bobby gave her a gentle kiss before giving Jean his usual sloppy good morning kiss, and settling down for a cuddle. He didn't know where Jenny had come from but mama liked her so it was ok.

A knock on the door. Charlie put his head round,

'May I come in?' he grinned.

'Of course Charlie, please do.' Jean called, pulling the sheet a little higher for modesty's sake.

'I've cleaned up, and the midwife's gone.'

'Oh Charlie, thank you. I'm sorry about that.' Jean was still embarrassed about that.

'No problem, it happened to my mum too.' He smiled, 'Congratulations.' He went to the top of the bed and kissed her cheek, which made her blush.

'Thank you.' Jean looked down to where her daughter lay asleep in her arms. She offered the baby to Lucien and told him to put her in the bassinet.

'Get some rest, Jean, you've missed a lot of sleep lately,' he settled the baby and then went to make sure Jean was comfortable. Picking Bobby up he said,

'Come on young man, breakfast. Mama needs a nap now.' Looking over at Jean she was already asleep, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the curl of her lashes bouncing off her cheeks; god she was beautiful!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well, there you have it. I'm sorry I've also used Genevieve as the baby's name but I'm fairly sure that it's the only name possible for a daughter of Jean and Lucien. This isn't the end, I have an idea for a Christmas finale; and may add in a few smaller stories. For Lucien and Jean this is just the beginning. Thank you to all who have read and reviewed this story, I've enjoyed writing it.