AN: Here we are another chapter! Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews! You're the best!
Mary had never thought she would be a mother- not in the way she was now. She never thought that she would wake in the middle of the night because her daughter was teething, that she would rock her babies to sleep in her arms, and in Crawley House no less. She had never dreamed that at seven and a half months pregnant she would put on a lace nightgown and make passionate love to her husband, and then lay naked in his arms for hours afterwards. Goodness, she had never dreamed that she'd marry someone she loved so much that she would physically ache when he was away from her for more than ten minutes at a time. And she never would have dreamed that she would love being pregnant. But she did, oh she did. She loved every pain, every mark it made on her body- because it was absolute proof that the child that she and Matthew had created in a moment of wonderful, breathless passion, and love.
"She's kicking a lot tonight, isn't she? I can feel it against my chest." Matthew said as he stroked her hair from her eyes.
"Yes, He is. He moves around a lot more at night time. And early in the morning. I never get any rest. I'll be glad when this is over, and I can hold little Reginald in my arms." Mary sighed, and twisted a bit, trying to find a comfortable way to rest.
"Esther you mean, Mary." He insisted.
"Esther? What kind of name would that be for the son of an earl? He'll be teased relentlessly!" Mary gasped, and then they both laughed. "Mmp. Right in the spine that time. Oh, you must calm down darling!" Mary hissed at her belly, though she rubbed tender circles on it.
"Is it bad darling? Shall I rub your back for you?" Matthew asked eagerly.
"Oh, it isn't so bad." Mary said, biting her lip and looking down.
"What is it?" Matthew asked, propping himself up on his elbow.
"Matthew...It's just...I don't want to complain when...Well..." Mary said, licking her lips and feeling her cheeks color in shame.
"Oh. That. Mary, you shouldn't feel badly for complaining about a back ache. You're pregnant. That injury is in the past now darling." Matthew insisted, sat up, and helped her to do the same so that he could massage her back.
"I know it's silly darling, but I can't help but feel badly." Mary sighed, partially with guilt, and the other part with relief at her husbands warm hands.
"I can use my legs again now. It's a painful memory, but we've made so many good ones, it hardly matters. And I'd like to do anything I can now to keep you comfortable. After all, you're carrying our daughter." Matthew insisted.
"I'd argue with you darling, but that feels just wonderful." Mary sighed contentedly.
"I'm going to take that as an agreement then." Matthew said jubilantly.
"Mmmm." Was all Mary could muster by way of response. And then his lips were on her neck, and his hands were tracing slow patterns from her shoulders to her hips. "Matthew..." She sighed, and twisted, as well as a seven and a half months pregnant woman can twist, and kissed him on the mouth.
No, she never, in her entire life, had thought that married life could be so good.
...
"Mary, you're glowing, you really are. You must stop insisting otherwise!" Sybil laughed, and reached for her sisters hand. They had taken to having tea together, just the three of them, for one hour once a week, no babies, no husbands, just sisters. Occasionally Anna sat with them, but not when she had too much work to attend to.
"I'll insist otherwise so long as it is true!" Mary scoffed, and took a bite of her chocolate scone. Mrs. Patmore always made sure to have some around for her during their tea, which they still have at Downton, though the three of them no longer truly live there.
"Pregnancy really suits you sister dearest." Edith smiled at her.
"Well, I've spent the greater part of the last year, and the year before being pregnant, I suppose that everyone must just be used to it." Mary laughed. "I'm so excited for him to get out of there. He must be so cramped. Not that it will be much better at Crawley house, it's getting rather crowded there. For now three cribs will fit in the nursery, but if another sibling should follow- oh, and when the twins are ready for real beds..."
"You haven't even gotten baby number three out yet, and you're already planning number four?" Sybil laughed.
"Not planning specifically. It just seems to me that I've been married for less than two years and I have three children- or nearly so, and It seems likely that another baby will follow this one." Mary shrugged.
"I am in no way eager to go through pregnancy again." Edith groaned, the memory of the pain still fresh in her mind.
"Now Edith, are you saying you don't want to give Belle a sibling?" Mary asked, her eyebrow arched in that classic way.
"Oh, No, I do- Gregory and I discuss it often. But if we wait two or three years between babies, what's the harm?" Edith asked.
"So have you been using...Protection?" Sybil stammered, suddenly going red.
"Looks who shy all of the sudden?" Mary laughed. Edith joined her, and Sybil gave a light chuckle, but looked at her feet. How unfair it all seemed to her;That Edith should have one baby and be taking precautions to prevent a second, Mary with her rounded belly, and then there was her. She knew it was silly to be worried now, after all she had only been married for eight months- but her sisters had both gotten pregnant on their honeymoons, and then Mary had conceived again within four months of delivering her twins. And there she was, with her empty womb. She couldn't figure out what exactly wasn't working, why she wasn't pregnant yet- it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. There was rarely a night that she didn't spend wrapped in her husbands arms after making love to him, talking about the future. But then every month she was disappointed when her monthly began.
"But he's so sweet, he rubs my back, and gets up at ungodly hours of the night to raid the kitchen for me. He's the most wonderful husband in the entire world." Mary sighed dreamily.
"I'd disagree with you, but I know that arguing this point is moot." Edith laughed.
"I suppose the three of us will never agree- since all three of us married for love." Sybil said, re-entering the conversation with as much vigor as she could muster.
"Who would ever have thought it, three Crawley sisters, daughters of an Earl, married to a chauffeur, a Doctor, and a Country Solicitor!" Edith said.
"Oh, I hate to be a bother, but I'm afraid I've got to use the powder room. Again." Mary said apologetically.
"You're not a bother Mary, You're pregnant, and I've come to help you." Sybil laughed, and helped to pull her sister up.
"I enjoyed being with child much more when I was still able to sit and stand at my own will." Mary sighed, and when she was finally on her feet, she felt the familiar pain in her back.
"Though, If my nurses training tells me anything at all, from the position of your belly, I'd say that you're son is almost ready to greet the world." Sybil comforted.
"That's what Isobel has been saying. Even Granny and Mama agree. Now if only he would!" Mary laughed. Edith laughed fondly as she remembered how it had felt to be there. The anticipation, the joyful waiting...The uncomfortable nights, which turned into uncomfortable days. But then she'd held her little angel in her arms, and watched her grow- just a bit so far, but everyday it seemed that she grew just a bit more. And she began to wonder if she really did want to wait two years until she had another one.
AN: So, not a very long chapter, but one none the less. The baby will be here within the next chapter or two! Stay tuned! Review and stuff while you wait!