Disclaimer: I don't own The Infernal Devices nor do I make any money off of this piece of literature.
Of Our Own
x-x-x
Walking towards the dining room, Cecily silently slipped through the door.
"Good evening." Cecily said quietly. She had spent most of the day in the training room and had just realizes that she hadn't eaten a bite all day.
"Evening," William said back, the fragile, broken boy who she had seen just the other day was gone now, not a trace of him was left.
This was the Will that everyone knew, the witty, sarcastic Shadowhunter. Not the broken boy reserved for herself, Tessa and Jem alone.
There was a ringing at the door and Sophie stood to answer. Brushing the occurrence aside, everyone resumed their previous conversations.
Sophie then returned with someone that Cecily certainly didn't expect: Magnus Bane, and Jem.
She assumed she should be referring to him as "Brother Zachariah" now, but no one really called him that; especially not Will.
"Jem?" Wills voice echoed off the thin walls of the room.
"We have been summoned by Mr. Branwell, something about a baby."
Cecily's ears became alert, her eyes widening. Turning her head, she met Sophie's hazel eyes. Realization had drawn on them at the same time.
They both ran up the stairs towards Charlotte and Henry's corridor, the rest of the residents of the institute on their heels.
When they reached the door of the Branwell's room, Magnus stepped ahead and opened the wooden door.
Lying in the relatively large bed, pail, sweating, with her face twisted in pain, was Charlotte; Henry sitting by the side of the bed with worry written clearly on his face. Their hands interlocked.
Magus and Jem stepped into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Cecily, Gabriel, Sophie, Gideon, Will, Tessa, Cyril and Bridget sat outside the door, anxious for any news only time could bring.
x-x-x
Hours later, at nearly 3 in the morning, The Warlock and the Silent Brother emerged from The Branwell's room, Magnus looking exhausted, and Jem, well Jem didn't really look anymore.
"How is Mrs. Branwell?" Sophie asked, her eyes, which were hooded with sleep just moments before, no wide and sparkling with anticipation.
"And the baby, are they both alright?" Tessa interjected.
Magnus only nodded and gestured for the crowd to enter the room he previously emerged from.
William was the first into the room, followed by Cecily and the rest of group awaiting the arrival of the baby.
Charlotte lay in the bed, covered in thin white sheets and a shining layer of sweat. In her fragile, pale arms lay a cooing child, bundled tightly in light gray blankets. Henry sat on the bed next to his wife, one arm around her, the other gently running one finger over the baby's smooth pink cheek.
With one last loving smile sent to his son, then wife, Henry stood, slowly took his son into his strong arms covered in his white sleep shirt.
"Everyone," Henry stated, barley above a whisper, as to not disturb the baby in his arms, "I would like to introduce you to Charles Bufford Fairchild."
"Bufford?" Will echoed. "Why of all names Bufford?"
"It's a family name!" Henry defended.
"See, love, I told you no one liked that name, not even you!" Charlotte spoke softly.
The small, now sleeping baby in Henry's arms was beautiful.
He had a small tuff of bright red hair, and had inherited his father's green eyes. His skin was pale and dotted with pinkish-brown freckles. His nose was small and slightly hooked his eyes big and round, like his mother. It was safe to say Charles looked a lot like his father.
"He's beautiful," Sophie spoke softly.
"Yeah," Henry's voice was just above a whisper. "Do you want to hold him?" he directed the question to Sophie.
"Please," she responded. Sophie stepped forward and carefully took Charles into her arms. Her eyes softened and her face relaxed at the sight of the small child resting in her arms. Gideon stood behind her, his arms wrapped around his wife and the baby (in a rather cliché way, Cecily thought.)
The next half hour was spent passing Charles around, and asking plenty of questions to Charlotte and Henry. By the time 3:30am rolled around, everyone had had a chance to hold Charles, and was back in their corridor. Well, everyone except Cecily and Gabriel; who had kindly allowed everyone else hold Charles first, as they had all know Charlotte and Henry much longer than either of the two.
Henry handed Charles to Cecily who cooed at the small child, she had always been good with children. Gabriel peered over her shoulder at the small boy. He really was beautiful.
"Fairchild," Gabriel said quietly. Cecily still heard though, as he was speaking into her shoulder.
"What?" she asked; taking her eyes off the child in her arms momentarily to look up at Gabriel.
"His name, 'Charles Bufford Fairchild,' not Branwell." He observed. Henry hummed in realization and something that Cecily almost thought was pride.
"Charlotte and I have decided that his sir name would be 'Fairchild' as his mother is now the first female Cousul, and we wanted the name to be remembered."
"I'm glad someone caught that." Charlotte interjected from the bed in her half-asleep state. Cecily smiled at the married pair, and handed Charles back Gabriel, who smiled at the small child sleeping in his arms.
Gabriel was the one to speak, "I suppose Cecily and I should try and sleep, with the very little amount of time left in the night. Besides, you probably need your rest." Henry smiled at the pair in gratitude as Gabriel handed Charles to Henry, and the couple slipped out of the room without another word.
x-x-x
Sophie sighed happily as she and Gideon headed back to their bedroom. Charles was absolutely precious, with a striking resemblance to Henry.
"I want one," Sophie looked up at her husband to see his surprise at her words. Sophie smiled and grabbed his arm at the elbow.
"A baby, I want a baby; a child of our own." She clarified.
"A baby…" he echoed, looking blankly beck at her.
"It doesn't have to be right now, or even very soon," she rushed, sensing his panic. "I just- I don't know, Charlotte and Henry looked so happy and in love, and I want that, too." Gideon smiled down at her.
"I want a baby too, a child of our own," he copied.
They had reached their corridor and Sophie pushed the door open, holding it for just a second longer, allowing her husband to enter, before sliding in, the door closing with a quiet thud.
x-x-x
Please let me know if the different character story arc was something you enjoyed. I might add more peoples arc's later on in the fic if you enjoy it. I know this story is a Cecbriel fic, and I intend to keep it that way, but I would also like to add other characters stories, too. Let me know in a review or a PM (I don't bite) if you want more character arcs and of which characters. It DOES NOT have to be limited to romantics pairings either.
Love Always,
if-x-you-x-knew