She had just dropped off when she heard him in the doorway. "Why are you here?" His voice caught on the last word as thunder shook the house. Drowsily she adjusted the blanket and turned in the chair, searching for more comfortable position. "I'm afraid you'll have the bed to yourself tonight, dear. This babe is giving me no rest." She was starting to nod back off when he spoke again, louder this time "Why did you come?!" the anger and pain in his voice now naked, bringing her fully awake. Opening her eyes she saw him, standing in the door way, his face an unrecognizable mask, a small portrait dangling from one hand. "So this is the assassin," she thought, surprised, watching his face see her recognition and harden into something she had never before seen.
"Ahh. I wondered when I would end up on the wall in the basement. Your friends have impeccable timing". She pushed herself up a little straighter in the chair and met her husband's eyes calmly and patiently as she dared. "This is not the time for this." He snorted. "Time for what exactly?" She shook her head. "Please. Connor, I'm tired. Can we speak of it in the morning?"
He strode across the room to the rocking chair, towering over her and leaned in. The pain was gone from his voice replaced entirely with steely fury. "I'll ask you one more time. Who sent you?" Carolyn dropped her eyes briefly to the portrait in his hand. Even without being fully visible the flash of blue and red was all she needed. She simply hadn't had that many portraits made and only one within years of coming to Davenport. "I think you know that" she breathed.
"I want to hear you say it" Connor gave the chair a hard push, snaking a hand under her chin and forcing her head up to meet his eyes.
"I chose to come, Connor. It was my choice. But your father is the one who offered it to me." She glanced sadly at the painting, her sitting in a blue gown with Haytham Kenway standing proudly behind her before he threw it across the room with a shout. Touching his arm gently she continued "He was worried about you."
"So it is true. You're a Templar", he drew back from the chair and straightened, even the rage in his face sliding behind an icy mask.
Carolyn moved the blanket aside and began to lever herself to her feet. "Well as much as any woman can be. For a group that professes the equality of all men no matter their background or standing they do see rather keen that they actually be men. They rather match the Patriots in that regard at least. " Ungracefully she gained her feet, temporarily proud that she had managed on her own and had not had to request Connor stop to help her up. Somehow it seemed an inopportune time to ask. Her fingers brushed his sleeve before he wheeled on her, dagger drawn and pressed her hard against the wall. The edge of the blade bit her neck as a thin trickle of blood began to flow.
Connor gripped the blade tighter and saw her eyes go wide now with surprise and fear. Both her hands clutched at his wrist but he kept the edge pressed to her throat, unmoving. Trapped against the wall she tried to maneuver away from him but his left arm kept her pinned. "Connor!" she gasped "The baby!" He glanced down aware for the first time since the rage took him of the mass of flesh between them. Still holding his arm she met his eyes angrily "Whatever sins you think me guilty of surely your child is innocent." His gaze back was unflinching and cold, empty of the man she knew and absolutely merciless. "My child? Or another Templar lie?" Her eyes widened in pain but her tone was detached and oddly curious. "If it wasn't would you kill us both now? A child has no control over its parents. You of all people should know that." His grip tightened on her shoulder until she cried out. Her eyes darkened and she dropped them from his gaze. "I have known no other man, Connor. You need not doubt the child is yours. Just…" she swallowed. "Just allow it to come into this world. Just wait for it to be born and you can ask me whatever you like before you kill me. I'll answer. I promise. " A sudden laugh tore from her throat and he released her in confusion. "Though I think perhaps you won't have to wait very long"
Without his arm pinning her to the wall Carolyn began so sink down, her laughter taking on a hysterical edge and she held her stomach and sank into a growing pool of liquid soaking through the front of her gown. With a groan she reached the floor and sat gasping softly. "The midwife. Get Diana. Please." He gazed down on her, the mask firmly in place. "I'll bring the midwife. Do not try to run." Pulling his hood up, he strode for the door. Carolyn began to laugh again still on the floor in the corner of the room as the storm raged on. "And where would I go?"
He returned with Diana in tow and frowned to see Carolyn kneeling on the stairs. "Where are you trying to go?" She gestured to the kettle sitting on the step beside her. "I was getting some hot water for washing but I'm having a hard time getting back up." Diana smiled at her. "We can do this down stairs." Carolyn shook her head sharply and clutched the railing. "No. I'm having this baby in our bed." Diana smiled at Connor at reached down to pick up the kettle. "Best to humor her. Can you get her up there?" "I'll be fine. I can make it." Carolyn pulled herself to her feet but before she could try to move Connor picked her up easily and carried her to their room. He deposited her on the bed and turned for the door. "I'll be down stairs. Let me know when the baby is here."
Leaving Diana and Carolyn upstairs alone Connor paced the ground floor anxiously. Rhythmically he slid the dagger free from its catch, passed it from one hand to the other and back again and back home. Everywhere he turned he was reminded of her, her touch stamped into the house. The den with the account books in her neat hand, her paintings in the dining room, her sewing basket in the living room. His mind shied away from the kitchen entirely. Trying not to feel like a fool he pushed the sewing into a dark corner with his foot and pulled a chair up to the fire.
The fire sputtered and popped as the rain tried to find its way into the house and the shadows jumped. So many recent failed missions had him drawn tight and he seemed hyper aware of everything. The storm howled but to his ears it could not drown out the noises from the room above; every thump of the bed, every gasping sob. Everything but the tiny cry announcing the arrival of the baby. He could not quite make out the words but he heard Diana's soothing tone as she spoke. Sometime in the night Carolyn had lost her brave front and begun to scream and cry as the pain took her. He thought back on Hunter's birth and how quick it had been for comparison and so was not surprised when Diana appeared by the chair and asked him quietly to fetch the doctor.
He headed back out into the storm relieved at the excuse to get out of the building. Not far past the tavern he became aware he was being followed. He slowed down and let the man approach before he turned, drawing his dagger.
"Conner, it's me." Haytham's voice came from the darkness. "I know it's you. You were not to come back." Connor held his dagger ready. "It's nothing to do with the war, Conner. I'm trying to find someone. I need your help."
"You're looking for your little spy. Well, I found her first." Haytham tightened his jaw, stricken. "She is alive? You haven't…"He sheathed the dagger. "She lives for now." Haytham breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I'll just take her off your hands then. We'll be off in the morning, no trouble to you." Connor's voice was hard and angry. "No." "Let her go, Connor. She's done nothing to you." "You have no idea what she has done to me!" Haytham looked at him in surprise. "Don't be ridiculous. Carolyn's the least violent person I've ever known. If she's hurt you it's only your pride."
He turned on his father angrily. "We have an agreement, she and I. She lives tonight. Tomorrow she tells me everything and dies." Haytham's eyes went wide with disbelief. "Why on earth would she agree to that?!"Connor dropped his gaze. "For the baby." Haytham's voice grew ice cold. "What baby?"
"Mine or so she claims."
The anger in his voice cut the air. "What have you done?"
"I do not have the time to fight you now. I need to get the doctor." He turned and continued walking. "She has been at it for hours and it is still not here."
"Elizabeth." Haytham drew a sharp breath. It took Connor a moment to remember the name in the book and realize that he must have known Carolyn's mother. His mind went automatically to the tiny branch with the one date and the still blank line between their own names. "Go. Get the doctor. I'll be at the house. " Connor turned. "You will stay outside and out of sight. If I choose to spare her life tomorrow you are free to take her and go. But I get to question her first. "
Haytham breathed a sigh of relief. "Does she know?" Connor eyed him. "About you being alive? No, the subject did not come up." Haytham snorted. "Didn't come up! Now there's ingratitude! Unless.." his eyes narrowed. 'you didn't know. About her I mean, did you?"
Connor tightened a fist, wanting nothing more than to plant it in his father's jaw. "Not before tonight."
It was almost sunrise when he returned again with Dr. White and Haytham was nowhere to be seen. Both women's faces lit with relief when he entered, trailed by Connor carrying his surgical bag. Carolyn lay up on the bed, stripped down to her linen shift, clearly exhausted and dripping with sweat. Connor set the bag on the table as directed while the doctor examined his wife.
"If it's a daughter swear to me you'll make sure she marries a man with narrow shoulders!" she panted and laid back. "Aye, or if a son a woman with wide hips" he laughed and patted her knee. She turned her head and looked at Connor who had so far managed to avoid being present these past few hours. "Don't worry. You're a strong woman and the baby is healthy. It will be soon" he commented as he began to lay out the tools of his profession. Carolyn watched with half lidded eyes as Connor turned to head for the door.
"Can I talk to my husband briefly first? Alone?" Diane looked between them. "Why don't we go downstairs and fetch some fresh water. This has gone all cold." Connor froze at the doorway before Diana and Dr. White pushed past him; closing the door and leaving him alone with his wife. She pushed herself up from the bed as best she could with a groan. "You came back. I was half afraid you had decided to let your child finish the job for you. I had to explain to Diana what to do if the doctor didn't make it here on time." He glanced at the large kitchen knife sitting on the table next to the swaddling but it was well out of her reach and she made no move for it. He moved to the foot of the bed. "What do you want?"
Carolyn held her hand out to Connor, her gaze matching his until he shifted it down her body. Her stomach was smaller than it had been of late, the sweat soaked shift clinging to the curve. He could see the child moving within through the damp cloth. He moved to the side of the bed and gave her his hand warily.
Carolyn grasped his hand firmly and pressed it to her stomach. Without the water the feeling movement of the baby inside was direct and quick beneath his hand.
"This is your child, Connor. I swear it." Her eyes were fierce and angry. "Now there is something that I would have you swear to me." She stopped briefly as a wave of pain rolled over her and she clenched her teeth but did not scream. Gasping she continued. "When you see the child and know it to be yours you will acknowledge it. You will not harm it or deny it. I would see your eyes when you swear this. No matter how much you hate me, you will spare the child and see it is cared for." His focus returned to the frantic movement under his hand but her nails dug into the skin of his arm. "Swear to me that you will not harm your child I'm about to bring into this world."
He pushed back his hood and met her eyes. "I swear I will not harm the child" he breathed and she nodded releasing his hand with a gasp of pain and fell back to the bed. "Now you may bring back the doctor. I'm ready. "
Connor started to leave when Dr. White re-entered the room but the man motioned him back to the bed. "I'm afraid she was not wrong about the shoulders. Labor is not progressing as it should". Connor's gaze fell to the tools laid out by the bed and eyed the sharp scalpel. "Nothing like that I think yet" the doctor assured him "First we try moving the baby. Go help her sit up some." Connor started to object but knew he would not understand. Instead he sat on the edge of the bed and drew Carolyn upright against his chest. Crossing his arms beneath her chest he looked across the length of her body to wear the doctor knelt. Carolyn grabbed the doctor's hand and leaned over to him as much as Connor's grip would allow. "Do not hesitate. Use the knife. Do whatever you must to save the child. You know what you must do." Another contraction broke over her and she sobbed in pain. "You are not your mother. You'll both be fine. Just stay like that. We're almost there." Pressing one hand hard against her stomach he pushed, adjusting the baby inside while Carolyn strained against Connor's arms. Holding his breath Connor waited but the next contraction brought an exclamation of triumph from the doctor and the first sign of dark hair from the emerging baby. True to his word the rest of the delivery went quickly and soon Dr. White was handing off a healthy boy to Diana. Connor sat on the edge of the bed and watched as his son was cleaned and dressed for the first time and Diana brought the baby back around.
It wasn't until she handed the baby to the doctor and approached him that he looked down at the limp woman still in his arms. "She'll be fine" Diana assured him "But if you could hold her for a moment I'll be changing the sheets." He gathered Carolyn to his chest and stood while Diana removed the blood soaked blankets and laid out the new bedding before laying her back down. He was surprised to note that he could tell the difference between her weight in his arms now and when he carried her up the stairs. She stirred briefly with the movement, her eyes trying to focus. "The baby?" Diana smiled down on her and wiped her face with a wet cloth. "Perfectly fine. A healthy son." "A son…" A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth before her eyes rolled back and unconsciousness took her. Diana checked her but did not seem alarmed. "I'll get her changed and back into bed. She'll just need some rest." Diana looked up at Connor with a smile. "Now I think perhaps you should have a seat in that chair. The doctor has someone you should meet."
Connor was ushered to the chair across the room and once he was firmly seated Dr. White and Diana showed him the basics of how to hold a baby just as the sun began to rise outside the window.