Chapter 57

Below, Vincent, Catherine, Devin, and Rebecca had been spending time together in the evenings when their daytime duties were finished. Rebecca and Vincent reported no changes in that area while Devin told the others that the book he was working on was about halfway done. Catherine was happy to be on the maternity leave even if she was concerned about her friends Above.

In a moment alone with Catherine, Rebecca admitted that although she and Devin had been doing nothing to prevent pregnancy that they still were not expecting. Catherine reminded her that they had only been married a few months and they shouldn't be concerned yet. Rebecca sighed and told her she knew that, but she wanted to start a family as soon as possible.

Vincent's birthday came and went quietly that year at both his and Catherine's request. She was so slightly built and both Father and Peter had declared the child to be a normal and healthy size, this was making her very uncomfortable in her last month. So she and Vincent had celebrated in Father's study with just Father, Mary, Devin, and Rebecca.

It was clear that everyone considered the child to be Vincent's. There had been many comments at lunch that day that Catherine should have the baby before midnight as a birthday gift to Vincent. But the day ended without the baby making an appearance.

Catherine was getting very little sleep because of the baby. The child wasn't keeping her up because he or she was restless, but because Catherine was so large that she couldn't sleep on her stomach and whenever she lay on her back, the baby would press against her diaphragm, making it hard for her to breathe.

Vincent wanted to tell Father about this after the first night, but Catherine insisted that she didn't want to bother him about it. However, after the third sleepless night Mary commented on Catherine's wan look at breakfast and the truth finally came out.

"Oh my dear! Why didn't you say something sooner?!" Mary exclaimed.

As Vincent threw Catherine an 'I told you so' look Mary went on to say, "There is an easy fix for that."

Catherine sighed at Vincent's grin and asked, "What could it be?! I've tried everything!"

"You can either prop yourself up in bed with pillows, or sleep sitting up in a chair," Mary offered.

Sighing at just how easy the solution had been, Catherine couldn't believe she hadn't thought of that herself.

After saying so, Mary told her, "But my dear, you've never been pregnant before, how would you know to try that? I am sure that you will remember it the next time you are pregnant."

Even though he had been married to Catherine for months, and his sexual experience had far surpassed what he had even expected to know, Vincent still flushed at the idea of Catherine carrying a child of his. She had expressed on several occasions that she wanted to have his child, but Vincent was worried about that on so many levels. He wasn't sure that he could father a child, but then reasoned that somehow he had come into being, so it might be possible. Then there was the question of if it would be right to bring a child that could look like him into the world. Catherine had reminded him on many occasions of what a wonderfully rich and loved life he had here Below and that even Devin had finally seen the tunnels as a good place to call home.

Mary smiled at the two of them when Catherine promised to give her suggestion a try that night. She patted Catherine's hand and said, "Maybe you won't have many more nights to worry about how to sleep, instead wonder if you will ever sleep again."

At both Catherine and Vincent's puzzled looks Mary grinned and told them, "With a newborn in your chamber you will be up and down all night with feedings, and diaper changes. Most new parents go around looking like zombies for the first few months."

Catherine rolled her eyes and told Mary, "That doesn't help at all you know!"

Vincent reminded her that he had never needed much sleep so he could care for the baby while Catherine slept.

"That may be, my dear boy, but how will you handle the breast feeding?" Mary asked as she and Catherine both tried to choke back giggles at the flummoxed look on Vincent's face.

To be continued…..