AN: Hello! Yes, it is time again for another chapter! This chapter, and possibly the one that follows will be rather large, so bear with me!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Downton Abbey.
One month has passed, it is Christmas Eve, and Mary is nine months pregnant, and Edith is around three and a half months.
The family sat together in the sitting room, everyone playing charades and having a wonderful time. "Hamlet!" Sybil cried out, at Edith's performance, and Edith nodded "That's exactly right!" "Mary, it's your turn, if you feel up to it." Cora said. Mary shook her head "No, I think its best I don't. We don't want the child to make an appearance and disrupt the Christmas traditions." Everyone laughed. "Then Robert, it's your turn darling." Edith took a seat on the sofa between Mary and Gregory. "Oh!" She gasped quietly when she sat down. Both of them looked at her, though it went unnoticed by everyone else in the room.
"What is it my sweet?" Gregory asked with concern. "I-I felt it! Mary, it's just how you said it is- like bubbles… Like Magic!" Edith was grinning, and Mary took her hand. "What are you talking about?" Gregory asked, very confused. "I've felt the baby move for the first time!" Edith explained quietly. Gregory smiled widely at his wife "A Christmas Miracle." He joked, and the sisters laughed.
"A motor car!" Matthew guessed, gaining a nod and a laugh from everyone in the room. "Sybil, it's your turn now dear." Cora announced. Mary sat up slightly, and leaned over to Matthew "Very good Guess my Darling." She congratulated him, and kissed him when she felt it- "Oh!" She gasped, and her face wrinkled in pain. "Ow, Mary, you nearly broke my hand, are you alright?" Edith asked her sister, who hadn't even realized she'd still been holding her hand. Mary waited for a moment, and then nodded. "Yes, I think the baby just kicked my rib, I'm quiet alright." She explained and took Matthew's hand. "Are you sure Mary, you looked quite in pain." Matthew insisted nervously.
"I'm quite sure darling- oh!" Mary gasped again as the pain hit her again. "I'm not quite so sure darling." Matthew said as he felt Mary's hand clench his tightly. "The Stork!" Edith called out, and Sybil giggled "Yes! Oh, Mary are you alright?" Sybil asked, as she was standing in front and could see Mary's expression. "I- Yes, I'm fine." Mary insisted, though the pain was still there. "I do believe that you're not." Sybil insisted and went to Mary, taking her free hand. "No, it's fine, it's just a little pain, and it leaves as quickly as it comes- it isn't bad really, and its Christmas Eve, and we will enjoy it!" Mary insisted. "Dear, I hate to say this, but it sounds as if you're going into labor." Isobel said gently. "No, I'm honestly…Oh!" Mary bit her lip as the pain hit her worse than before. "Call Doctor Clarkson!" Sybil called out as she helped Mary stand. Robert nodded and headed quickly to his desk.
"Ring for Anna, I know she is supposed to have the night off, but she's needed!" Sybil insisted as they were slowly making their way out of the room. "Wait, wait! Where's Matthew? I need him!" Mary insisted. "Darling, it's just not done." Cora insisted. "But!" "Mary, its best that you agree for now, I'll try to bring him in once you're settled." Sybil whispered in her ear. Mary nodded "Edith, Stay with me, please!" Mary called out, and in an instant Edith had taken one of her hands "Of course Mary, I'll stay with you." She promised.
Anna met them at the door of Mary's room, and was quite surprised to See Mary, Sybil, Edith and Isobel coming towards her, hurriedly. She quickly noticed Mary's pained expression and understood. She opened the door, and held it for them. "I'll get one of her night gowns, Anna, start getting her out of her dress, Isobel; you know how to set the bed." Sybil ordered, and the three of them began working, as Edith just stood by Mary, Taking her hands when she could, and whispering comforting words.
Mary felt as if she was being torn apart. Everything ached. She'd heard a rumor that some women were in labor for days, she'd only just begun, and the pain was still infrequent, yet she didn't think she could bear this for more than an hour. The silk of her night gown was very comforting, as was the feeling of pins being gently taken from her hair. "Ow!" She cried out for the first time since they'd entered the room. Edith stroked her hand "It's going to be alright Mary. Just picture the child you will be holding in a matter of hours, it will all be worth it!" Edith whispered, and tried not to dwell on the fact that this would be her in only six months.
There was a knock on the door, which Sybil answered, and then disappeared into the hall. "What do you suppose that's about?" Mary asked calmly. "I don't know. Let's get you settled on the bed dear." Isobel said, as she and Edith helped her up. They'd just finished helping her when Sybil entered the room, with a nervous expression. "Doctor Clarkson is snowed in. He can't get out of his house." Sybil explained. Mary felt her heart beat speed up. "What?!" She cried. "There's no possibility that he could make it?" Edith asked as sat beside Mary. "No, I'm afraid not." Sybil sighed. The conversation was interrupted by a quiet scream of pain let out by Mary.
"What are we supposed to do then?" Isobel asked angrily. "We have two options. Isobel, if you feel you know enough to help her through the birth, you could." Sybil said hopefully. "I know some, yes, but I'm afraid I don't know quite enough to really be able to take care of everything. What's the other option?" Isobel asked. "We do have a brother in law, who is a doctor." Sybil said quietly. "Of course! Why did we not think of that- oh, but of course if Mary isn't comfortable with it, I'd understand?" Isobel hesitated for a moment. Edith looked at her older sister "He really is a very good Doctor, Mary." She encouraged. Mary thought of it for a moment, when another wave of pain washed over her. "Oh- I don't care! Anything that will help this be over!" She said through gritted teeth. Sybil looked at her "Are you sure?" Mary waited until the pain had passed, and thought of it again "Yes, I'm sure." She sighed. Sybil nodded. "I'll go get him- Anna, would you get some cool water and some cloth to cool Mary down?" Anna nodded and briefly left the room at the same time as Sybil, who went to fetch Gregory- Doctor Lowe.
Anna quickly returned, and began mopping away the perspiration that was already appearing on her neck. "It's alright my Lady; everything is going to be alright." Anna comforted, though she had no idea really. Mary let out a breath through her teeth, and dug her nails into the surface of the bed. "I do hope so- Perhaps I am glad I won't- have to do this again!" She growled.
"Hello Everyone." Gregory said as he entered the room, all business. "Hello Gre- Doctor, I think things are progressing rather well." Isobel told him. "Have you checked her progress?" He asked Isobel. "No- but I can." Isobel said. Doctor Lowe nodded "Yes, I think it'd be best if you did."
"Mary do you mind?" Isobel asked. Mary shook her head, she didn't mind anything now, and she just needed the pain to end. "My goodness! She's well over halfway there!" Isobel announced. Mary groaned as she dropped her head back in the pillow "Only half way?! I can't do this!" Mary cried. "You can Mary, you're so strong! The strongest woman I know, if every other woman in the world can do it, you should be able to!" Sybil insisted as she tied Mary's hair up in a knot.
Mary let out a piercing scream as the pain was even worse. "Where… Is Matthew!" Mary got out between agonized breaths. "He's with Robert, and Cora." Sybil told her. "I…Need…him!" She screamed angrily. "Go get him." Gregory said. It was impossible for him to watch the woman he loved as his sister in so much pain. "We cannot, my mother won't let him, and she'll say 'it's simply not done'!" Sybil complained. "Tradition be…Damned!" Mary cried. "I'll go get him." Isobel said, and got up quickly.
"It's time!" Mary cried after a moment. "It can't be happening so quickly!" Edith protested in concern. "Oh it can and it is! Oh Jesus! Please, the baby is coming right now!" Mary insisted. "Well, I've yet to have a woman be wrong about this instinct. Alright, Mary, push when you feel ready." Gregory ordered. Mary let out an agonized scream, "I need Matthew!" She whispered. "He'll be here in only a few minutes, you can do this!" Sybil took Mary's other hand.
Mary nodded, and clenched her teeth, and screamed. "There's the head! Keep going!" Gregory told her. "You're doing so well!" Anna said, and gently wiped Mary's brow. Mary let out one last scream, as the loud cries of a new born child filled the room. "Thank God!" Mary sobbed, and seconds later a child was placed in her arms. "It's a girl." Gregory told her.
"Mary, are you alright…" Matthew asked as they entered the room, and he saw his wife holding a precious little child. "It's a girl." Mary told him happily. He was grinning widely as he wheeled himself towards her, and looked at his daughter. "She's beautiful. You were right darling." Matthew told her. "Of course I was right- Oh my Goodness!" Mary suddenly screamed. "What's the matter Mary?" Sybil asked in confusion.
"It- it hurts!" Mary screamed as she passed the baby she was holding to Edith. "What is she talking about?" Matthew asked. "It would appear as if she's gone back into labor." Gregory said simply. "What?!" Mary screamed. "It's twins." He shrugged and went to sterilize his hands quickly. "No! No it's not!" Mary sobbed. Matthew took her hand and kissed it softly. "I'm here darling; I'll take care of you." He murmured. Mary nodded, and tried not to scream, but she couldn't fight it. The sound of it made Matthew want to die. He'd been to battle; he'd seen men die all around him, violent, bloody deaths, yet this, his wife having to bear so much pain hurt more.
"I can't do this again- Ah! It isn't fair!" She cried out in agony. "It will be alright soon my darling." Matthew promised her. "You are lucky I love you so- Matthew Crawley- or this would not- Be worth it in-the least!" She got out between labored breaths. "I know." He smiled at her, and continued to kiss her hand. "The second child usually comes quickly after the first." Gregory said as he again sat near the foot of the bed. Mary nodded; already she felt the child was coming.
"How could no one tell there where twins?" Isobel asked in confusion as she was cleaning off the child who was her granddaughter. "Sometimes it is very hard to tell. A second heart beat is often mistaken for an echo." Gregory explained. "I'll kill Doctor Clarkson for not noticing, I will!" Mary spat. "Mary," "Don't you Mary me now, Matthew, I'm delivering your second child- This is no time for-Scolding!" Mary growled, effectively shutting Matthew up.
Mere moments Later, Mary Cried out "It's time. Now! Get it out!" "Alright Mary, the same as last time, when you're ready." Doctor Lowe said. She gripped Matthew's hand, and he kissed hers very softly. "I love you darling." He whispered. Mary smiled at him, serenely for a fraction of a second, when it was replaced by a piercing scream.
"I can see the head!" Gregory announced. "Good work Mary, it is almost over now!" Anna promised, and wiped the cool cloth across her forehead. Mary let out a piercing scram one last time, and fell back against the pillows, and an infant's cry filled the room. "A boy." Gregory announced. Matthew's eyes filled with tears. "See darling, we were both right… My God- Mary!" Matthew cried as he realized Mary lay lifeless against her pillows. "Mary!" Edith Cried and she ran towards her sister. "Open a window!" Sybil ordered Anna, who quickly obeyed.
Sybil felt for Mary's pulse, and found it very strong. "She's just fainted. She'll be alright." Sybil announced. "She just needs some air and- oh my Goodness, Matthew!" Sybil stopped half way through her thought. "What?" He asked warily. "Do you not realize, Matthew, you're standing!"
AN: Long chapter, but there it was, a boy and a girl! Yay! And Matthew is standing! Little bit of a cliff hanger. Also, don't get too used to the frequent updates, I'm only doing this because I won't be able to update regularly for a while after my break is over. I plan on posting a few more chapters, so you may want to ration them. Reviews are highly appreciated!