Chapter 24
Lament
A/N Hi everybody! (Very) long time no see! I apologies for my lack of uploads recently my life has just been overwhelmingly busy. But I am happy to say this is my first chapter uploaded as a two week old high school graduate! Whoo-Hoo! So anyway I tried to make it up to you guys once again with a longer chapter that's filled with different POV's and a huge 8 month time gap so I hope you enjoy!
The spring months were slowly fading to summer as Aoife and Liam started to begin their new life. With the help of Medda, Aoife's kind boss, and the Lodging Houses of both Manhattan and Brooklyn, their apartment started to flourish with furniture and household objects. Liam would still get up in the mornings to sell the morning edition of the pape and come back for lunch with Aoife before she went to the bakery and he went to the docks. Queens had laid low ever since the "mysterious disappearance" of Blade. Matches had gone out of state (some say to Connecticut) wanting no more involvement with the newsies. A new leader had risen in Queens and had kept their distance from Spot and the other boroughs. Things were finally starting to get better.
~*~Aoife's POV~*~
It was two weeks after the wedding and things were getting busier and busier. Liam and mine apartment was starting to look like a home when we got wedding presents from some of our friends. Medda had given us a sofa from the theater that she said was used as a prop once, and the Manhattan lodging house gave us a few coffee tables. Liam and I returned to the warehouse and retrieved all of his things from his room including his bed and desk. On the last day there, Ryder had bravely asked Liam for Nuala's hand and, he obliged giving them his blessing, but not after threatening Ryder with the old "you hurt her I kill you." ploy. They planned to elope and have the whole affair be very intimate with only Lia and myself as witnesses. At their small ceremony a week past, Liam made the decision to make Ryder the new leader of Brooklyn pf course under his own authority. Nuala couldn't have been happier.
After a night of shopping at the market I was beginning to feel the effects of pregnancy. My sickness in the morning had subsided and I could see my stomach just beginning to grow a small bump as my dress size increased a bit. Liam and I got home and used our new apartment key (which Liam wore around his neck with his other key) to get in. Liam helped me to our room and sat me down on the bed. The last remaining beams of sun was setting behind the tall building of Brooklyn and the sky turned into a pale orange blue swirl painting. Liam turned to me his eyes holding a soft gleam in them. Never have I felt so complete with him in my life and a baby on the way. Liam sat next to me and wrapped his arms around me before rubbing my shoulders.
"I'll get ya some dinner, ya stay here and rest." He told me gently running the backs of his fingers down my cheeks. Suddenly a feeling of loss struck me so strongly, he got up and I grabbed his hand and held on. Something came over me, a clinging sensation that I could not shake off.
"Please don't go. Fán liom?"
"I'll be right back, ya need to eat. That baby needs ya to eat."
Unable to come up with a reasonable argument, I nodded and loosened my grip on him. With a smile that was meant to comfort me, he stood and glanced back at me once he had reached the door. I nodded at him, unable to speak for fear I would beg him once more, not to leave me.
I waited literally on the edge of my seat on the bed for him to return, all sorts of frightening and probably impossible visions slipping into my head. He was going down one house over to a small convenient general store owned by the landlord's brother, but to e it felt like he was going to battle. It was this irritated thought within my head that forced me to get a grip on myself.
He returned within 10 minutes with no problems of course, carrying with him two small loaves of rye bread, cheese, and a glass jar of milk balanced under his arm.
"Mr. McGongle said ya should drink all of this. It will keep ya strong for the baby." He told me, as he carefully set the jar and a paper bag down on the beside table. Not noticing how hungry I really was, I dug into the bread and cheese, taking turns between the two.
"Ya feelin' better now?" he asked me.
I looked up at him and gave him a slight smile and a tight nod. With a sigh I placed the empty milk jar on the nightstand, and looked to the window.
"We should get some rest." I said.
He gave me a smile of agreement, as he wrapped his arm around my waist, and pulled me into a lying position beside him.
We lay together, the night enveloping us. My back was nestled into his broad chest, and suddenly I wanted to feel his hands on me again. I needed to feel his embrace. I wanted to feel alive, to forget the frightening feelings of loneliness and abandonment I felt earlier, and be alive with the man I loved. Slowly I turned to him, unsure of what to do, still so new at the art of passion. My eyes rose to his, where I found him watching me, with traces of amusement on his face. Still he did nothing. I knew that he knew, what I wanted, and was waiting patiently for me to make the first move.
Still unsure I slipped my hand into his hair right above his ear and drew his face close to mine. The amusement was still there, but the icy clear blue was slowly darkening It gave me the courage to pull his head down to me, and place that first kiss on his lips. His lips gently brushed mine sending flairs of electricity through me. It took only a matter of minutes before it was unusually me that was deepening the kiss instead of him. It was my lips that were fastened to his. It was my tongue that traced his lips until they opened for me. He had taught me to kiss well, but beyond that, Liam had always taken the lead.
As my blood began flowing through my veins, I laid my hand on his chest, slipping through the open v at the top of his shirt and ran my hand over the bare flesh. My cheeks were flaming and I had to remind myself that I wasn't doing anything wrong. He was my husband now, and a wife had the right to touch her husband. Still it went against what little I had been taught; about what happened between a man and a wife, and brief memories of when we had first made love and I went to the priest flooded my mind.
I had to force myself to open my eyes and look at Liam, his lips curved into a seductive smile, a smile that was somehow encouraging. I leaned closer and gently placed my lips at the spot where his jaw and his neck joined near his ear. My hands tremblingly unbuttoned the first button on his shirt. I felt the muscles in my neck and shoulders relax as he hummed softly in the back of his throat. It was a noise I recognized, a noise that told me what I was doing was all right.
When he could take it no longer, he took control, his hands finding the buttons of my blouse with a tremble of his own. His lips tracing my neck and making me hum, as his hands slipped the blouse from my shoulders, and moved quickly to my skirt. I felt cool air brush over my bare shoulders and legs as he pulled my petticoats nearly ripping them. They eventually slid to the floor and he pulled me closer into him.
He was slow and gentle, telling me he loved me with every touch. Looking up at his shadowed face above me, I knew he had been touched as I had. Too strong to cry at the mere act of lovemaking, he buried his face the crook of my shoulder and neck with a groan.
"I love you Aoife Conlon." He whispered, filling me with the thrill of hearing my new name for the first time from his lips. He leaned into me whispering phrases between each kiss he placed on my neck:
"A chuisle."
Kiss.
"A chroí."
Kiss.
"Mo shíorghrá."
Kiss.
"You are mine, now and forever, promise."
"I promise." I whispered back, my voice choking a little on my tears. It was so sweet, so tender a moment. I remember what it was to be so young in Ireland, and so full of life and love. Softly he drew the blanket over us, and held me close, as we fell asleep still wrapped in each other's arms.
We had slept in the next morning seeing as it dawned as quickly as the night had for us. Gently Liam's hand caressed my hip, his touch telling me to wake up, as he yawned sleepily and rubbed his eyes. It seemed that after the night we had shared, we no longer had need for words. Everything could be conveyed with a look or a touch. He smiled down at me as he rolled over, and reached for his pants. My hand on his arm stayed him. As he looked back at me, his smile broadened.
"Ar chodail tú go maith?" he asked.
Groggily I answered with a tired "mm-humm" as a yes. "See on-shin guh foe-ull?" I asked tightening my grasp around his arm pulling him closer to me.
"You've kept me awake all night; ya don't mean to make me late for work now do ya?"
"You wouldn't mind." I replied with a flirtatious smile. For the first time I responded to his teasing with a kind of my own. I raised my hand to his face and gently caressed his cheek pulling his face closer to mine until our lips were met in a passionate embrace.
"No…. I wouldn't…., but how'm ….I going to explain it… to my boss?" he asked between kisses, his hand reaching for my hip pulling me closer to him; telling me he had no interest in leaving me for work.
"I'm not certain, but I bet you'll think of something." I told him, my hands slipping up his chest to frame his cheeks with my hands, and pull him down for another kiss. His hands tickling as much they teased. My heart was light, as my husband finally rose, his face smiling as he pulled his pants over his hips.
"Take care of yourself today." He told me leaning down for one more kiss. I giggled and wouldn't release him until he relented and kissed me. We were both breathless before he was done.
I watched him leave that afternoon, his eyes twinkling with a laughter I had never seen in a long time. He walked with a lightness, he had never had. His face glowing with a love, I knew I was lucky to be given. I lay there after he had gone, my body glowing with the love that it had been filled with over the night I sat up, stretching my arms over my head with glee. With a happy sigh, I glanced back at the rumpled covers of the bed, my hand subconsciously moving over my stomach. I dressed with visions of the happy family we would make, smiling wider at the under clothing, I had to pick up from various places all over the room.
~*~Normal POV~*~
The scorching hot summer melted into a bitterly cold winter. As the seasons changed so did the size of Aoife's belly. What was a small baby grew into the "biggest belly" Ryder had ever seen. Warm June had turned to cold January and Aoife's due date (which was January 4) was nearing closer. Month Liam and Aoife would go to their doctor's to make sure Aoife and the baby was doing well. Aoife would continue to work at the bakery and Liam worked newsie by morning and dock by night, despite the cold he pushed on, wanting to earn as much as he could for his new family. Before everyone knew it, the New Year had come and it was 1902, but it wasn't just New Year's Eve. Brooklyn and Manhattan had gathered at the warehouse for a gathering to celebrate. Aoife and Liam were both glad to see some of their old friends who they haven't seen in a while including Jack Kelly who was engaged to Jacob's sister Sarah, Racetrack, Kid Blink, Mush and Skittery and many others. Liam had kept in touch with his newsies and Ryder and his sister even though he did not live at the warehouse anymore, but he was still happy to be with everyone again on one room.
"How'er ya doin pal?" Hawk asked Liam as he handed him a drink.
"I ain't complainin." Liam answered. "I have an okay job, Aoife's workin and we's have a baby commin. I'se couldn't' t be betta."
"Good ta hear Spot." Jack said joining the conversation.
"Jackey-Boy!" Liam exclaimed spitting into his free hand and holding it out to Jack who did the same. They shook and patted each other on the back. "Heard you'se is engaged? Congrats."
"Thanks Spot. Good ta hear from you'se. How's Aoife doin'?"
"Good, da baby's due any day now and I'm jus' waitin'. Nervously. Speak of the devil she's comin ere."
Sure enough the boys looked over and was Aoife pushing through the crowd to get to her husband.
She kisses Liam when she reaches him, and says her greetings to all of the boys there. "Hey" Her voice sounding tired and strained.
Liam becomes instantly worried, "What's wrong, Sweets? An bhfuil pian ort?"
"Nothing, your child is just kicking a lot, dats all." Aoife grabs his hand and squeezes it as another contraction passes. "A lot. Ba mhaith liom an dochtuir."
Liam leads her over to a crate stool and helps her sit down. "Alright, you stay heah and I'm gonna go talk to da boys, ok?"
She nods and Liam races back over to Jack and the other boys, "Sumt'in is wroing with Kit. She says da baby is kicking a lot. She seems like she's in some pain, I'se is gonna take her home."
Liam and Aoife quickly say goodbye's and head out Ryder and Nuala close behind them. They reached their apartment just in time to allow Aoife to cry out in pain. She squeezes Spot's hand in pain as another contraction passes. Oh it hurts so badly. She breathes deeply and feels the sweat forming on her brow. But then the unbelievable happned. The coulple looked down and saw a puddle of a wet substance on the floor. Aoife's eyes goe wide and her breaths increase. Liam bends down to support her in his grasp and gets closer to her face having a pretty good idea of what was happening.
"I'se think you'se is gonna have our baby now." But he was not expecting the reaction he got.
Aoife furred her brow and got in Liam's face. "Really? I had no idea!" She winced as a small contraction passed through her tired body. "I'm sorry darling, it just hurts."
"Its okay hun, you'se is doing great." He turned to Ryder and Nuala who were holding hands not knowing what to so in a situation like this.
"I'se need one of ya to get the doctor." Liam said.
"We don't know where it is!" Nuala screeched in a bit of a panic.
"Fine den I'll go, but you'se two'se betta stay here and watch her." He turned back to Aoife a mixed look of joy and worry and rush in his grey-blue orbs. "Aoif, baby, I'se gotta go and get the doctor. But I'se will run as fast as ever and I'se will be back and we'll have this baby."
The two shared a passionate kiss and Liam rushed out the door after Aoife told him she would be fine.
Eeping true to his word, Liam ran with all his might to the doctors. But on his was he passed the warehouse where Jack, Sarah, Race, Hawk and Archer were outside.
"Back so soon Spot!" Archer calls out to him.
"No time! Aoife in labor! Go help at the apartment NOW!" Liam yelled without stopping.
The four boys and girl looked at each other, each wondering if they had heard their friend right. As if it was planned the five of them all took off running towards the apartment in hopes that they were not too late.
~*~ Aoife POV~*~
The worst thing about me going in labor was the fact that Spot wasn't home, and I was with Nuala in the apartment. I knew he had to get the doctor, but I wanted him to be here with me. I didn't know whether to scream or cry, seeing as how the pain in my body grew every twenty minutes.
"C'mon Aoif, we'll make it, Beidh an dochtuir anseo gan mhoill." Nuala said, leading me to the bed Ryder waiting outside. Out of nowhere there is knock on the door. I was disappointed and confused as Jack his fiancé (who I had met a few times prior), Racetrack Archer and Hawk walked through the door, but not Liam.
"What are you's doin here?" I heard Ryder ask.
"Spot sent us here to help." One of he answered. I did not know who it was seeing as I was screaming most of the time. It surprised me when Sarah sprang into action and started giving out orders.
"Okay Hawk I need you to find towels, Archer put some water on the stove, Race get some glasses of water. Jack I need you to set up a space for the doctor, and when he gets here NONE of you re to be in here, understood?"
An array of answers came to her as the boys started rushing around the apartment trying to find all the items Sarah called for.
The pain was increasing and was getting to be too much. Lying down on the bed I could feel Nuala pressing a cold damp cloth on my face and Sarah holding my hands. A call for help from one of the boys caused Sarah to leave, but not before she ordered Ryder to take over her position. He gently took my hands and gasped when I squeezed them with all of my might to try to subdue the pain.
"Ahh!" he yelled as I heard a couple of his knuckles crack. "He-hey Aoife, I'se is loosin circulation in my hand."
"Get over it! You don't know what pain is!" I yelled at him. If only he knew what I was going though, he would be eating his own words.
"Ummm- okay I just-wow-umm it's gunna be okay but you know remember ta breathe an-"
"Ryder shut up!" I yelled. With the hand that was clutching the sheets, I reached forward and grabbed his collar and pulled him close to my own face. "I need Liam, please tell me he's coming!"
"He's here." A new voice said from the doorway. I turned my head and to my relief saw Lia standing there, Dr. Carry behind him. They both rushed to me and I let my grasp on Ryder go to embrace Liam.
"Watch out Spot, she's got a grip." Ryder said nursing his "injured" hand.
"Aoife, are you-" Dr. Carry stopped in mid-sentence when he saw my condition. He quickly rushed into the room and ordered Liam and Ryder out, but Sarah and Nuala to stay, thank God.
I was in labor for three excruciating hours.
~*~Normal POV~*~
Liam paced in the waiting room, a nervous look plastered to his face. He took deep breaths and wiped at the sweat on his forehead with the back of his arm.
"Youse goin in labor too, Spotty-boy?" Ryder-who was still nursing his hand-asked with a slight laugh. Spot sent him a death glare as the boys returned into the apartment from telling the others at the warehouse where they had gone.
"Is da baby here yet?" Archer nearly screamed, jumping up and down in excitement.
"No," Spot said impatiently.
"I hope Aoife is okay," Hawk told them as they heard once again another cry of pain from the bedroom.
Spot sighed in frustration and sat down in a chair, becoming very fidgety.
Without warning, the door opened to the bedroom and Sarah came out into the living room, a broad smile on her face.
"Mr. Conlon, you can come now," she said all giddily. Spot jumped to his feet and followed her inside.
~*~(taking a turn) Spot/Liam POV~*~
As soon as Sarah told me I could go in the room, I practically launched myself out of the chair I was sitting in and ran to the bedroom stopping in my tracks when he saw the baby in her arms. I stood in the doorway watching my sister wipe what seemed to be endless beads of sweat off of my wife's tired looking face. In what seemed like no time, she had a baby wrapped tightly in her arms, not saying a word, eyes closed tightly.
I smiled proudly down at them; tears coming to my eyes. I gulped and walked closer, sitting beside her on the bed.
"You have a son Liam." She said to me.
A son. I have a son. I thought to myself over and over. It was every man's dream to have a son, a small representation of themselves a "junior" if you would. And now Aoife and I had one. Slowly I reached out and gently touched my finger to the baby's cheek. It stirred in Aoife's arms then reached out a small hand to grasp around my finger.
"He knows his daidí." She said to me.
I looked down at my baby boy marveling at this miracle that Aoife and I created. And then, he opened his eyes, those beautiful sea blue eyes.
"He's got my eyes." I said. "And a strong grip."
"You can thank Aoife for that one." Ryder said from the doorway.
"So, what're youse gonna name him?" Nuala asked, walking into the room.
. "If youse don't mind, Aoife, I wanna name im." She smiled and nodded as I took him from his mother's arms and cradled him in my own. He didn't even stir.
"So, what's it going to be?" She asked. I grinned and wiped the tears away from my eyes.
"Caoiminin (pronounced Kevin in English!) Dillon Conlon.
"Well he is a handsome little man, and I'm sure he will be gentle". Aoife said referring to his name meaning.
"Wait." A voice in the door said. I turned to see Ryder standing feet away from me. "What did you say his middle name was?"
"Dillon" I answered.
Tears came into his eyes as he realized we named or child after him.
~*~ (back to) Aoifes POV~*~
For the next week Liam and I had sleepless nights, waking up to Caoiminin crying his eyes out was an every evening occurance.
I was back to being my normal size, thank God, and could now get around easier without having an annoying stomach knocking things off tables anymore.
"Tá sé do sheal." He said to me.
"Imigh sa diabhal!" I answered back.
I stumbled out of bed in the middle of the night as Caoiminin cried for attention. Spot groggily pulled his pillow over his head and groaned. I sighed and lifted the fragile child out of his crib and held him close, bouncing slightly.
I lazily left the room and walked into the living room preparing to feed him. Once there, I sat down on the couch with his fragile body in my arms and fed him. I closed my eyes briefly, and opened them to find Liam walking out of the bedroom.
He plopped down beside me and rubbed his tired eyes.
"I'm gonna die," he groaned. I glanced at him and then continued to stare down at Caoiminin.
"Go back to sleep," I told him. "I can handle this. Besides, you have work tomorrow." Spot shook his head,
"Not until Caoiminin is back to bed." I smiled to myself, and after we tended to the baby's needs, we went back to bed.
I wasn't quite too sure if I was doing this parenting thing right, but Caoiminin seemed satisfied with the attention we gave him. Nuala was at the apartment almost every day to see her nephew, along with his uncles Ryder, Hawk, and Archer.
Liam and I had grown into a routine. I had to take time off the bakery but Liam was still working part newsie part dock worker, sometimes he would work early to make a little extra money.
On this particular evening, I stood over the stove, trying to get dinner done before Liam came home. He was leaving from work early today, so dinner was early too.
Caoiminin lay in the crib that I had moved from the bedroom temporarily so I could keep an eye on him while I cooked. I hummed, to entertain the two of us. About every five seconds I'd glance behind me just to see if he was alright, then I'd continue to cook. It was a habit, and Liam seemed to gain the same habit too if he was ever watching the baby.
The door opened and Liam walked in. He sent me a smile as he made his way to the crib and gently picked up his som, and walked over to me, giving me a kiss.
Hhe's so beautiful," He said. "Is he goin ta school when he gets older?"
"Of course," I said, glancing at Liam, who nodded in agreement.
"You going to teach him how to use a slingshot?" I asked.
"Yep," Liam said proudly. "And he'll be great at it.
"Yeah, I bet he's da next leader of Brooklyn," I said.
"Can ya imagine?"
And thus brought us the prediction that our son was going to be leader of Brooklyn just like his father.
A/N Well guy's, only one more chapter to go (Epilogue) before the story is over, but I plan to have some prequels coming out as well as some more small stories connected to this one once it's finished. A sequel might happen, but I may need some insight and ideas/inspiration from my beloved readers. Oh and there was a lot of Irish in this chapter so here is a small dictionary of all the phrases used: Fán liom- stay with me. My pulse, my heart A chuisle, a chroí my eternal love mo shíorghrá, Maidin Mhaith- good morning Ar chodail tú go maith?-did you sleep well? See on-shin guh. foe-ull-sit here for a moment "Tá sé do sheal. Its your turn, Imigh sa diabhal!go to the devil. An bhfuil pian ort?-Are you in any pain? Ba mhaith liom an dochtuir I need a doctor, Beidh an dochtuir anseo gan mhoill. The doctor will be here soon. Kind of a lot…sorry bout that. So yeah I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you have stayed with me throughout this journey thank you so much! You have no idea what it means to me! Now that summer is here I have a lot of time to write, and if you haven't already, check out the prologue to my new story "Beauty and the Brooklynite" it would mean a lot. Please review, follow and favorite. Until next time!