Ch 32- God Has Heard

July 31st, 1919 – 9 AM

Carson really wished he would not have stayed, but what choice did he have when she was suffering so and he'd promised to remain by her side not just for a few minutes, but this time, for the whole thing. Four hours had passed since Elsie woke up in pain and since then, not much had transpired. She was in bed, handling the pain well and Dr. Clarkson had just arrived.

"I think the two of you should rest." Dr. Clarkson recommended. "It's going to be a very long night."

"That sounds like a good idea." Carson agreed.

He was nervous and in a way, unsettled by the fact that his wife was not.

"You're in labor, but it's very slow. I have other births to attend to and appointments, but I'll be back to check on you and Mrs. Crawley will stay with you."

"I'll go downstairs for a while, and read until you need me, if you don't mind." Isobel told them.

"How long do you think it will be?" Elsie asked.

"Hours unless something happens very quickly. For now, you should stay in bed, and rest: you're going to need it."

"Walking, I feel like walking." Elsie winced. She felt like standing hurt less than lying down.

Dr. Clarkson paused, looking out the window. "Well, walking might speed things up a bit. If you feel comfortable with it, then I don't see why not." He shrugged and Carson was aghast.

"But…it's safe?" Carson asked.

"Very much so, yes. It might actually help. If you feel like doing it, I recommend it. I'll be back in an hour or so."

"I'll see Dr. Clarkson down." Isobel smiled.

"We're not… we're not going on a walk." Carson said as Elsie moved to get out of bed. "The very idea that…"

"Yes we are." Elsie replied, standing slowly. She took a deep breath; her back hurt so much now but she still felt well enough to walk around. "It's our anniversary, not everyone spends their wedding anniversary…oooh…having a baby and I think we should take some time for ourselves before the youngest Carson introduces herself."

…

"You're so beautiful like this." He paused, taking a moment just to look at her. It was bittersweet for him, he knew he'd never see her this way again and wanted to etch it permanently in his memory.

"Hmm?"

"You're beautiful all the time, but I can't tell you how exceptionally beautiful you are to me when you're carrying my baby." He quietly admitted.

"Oh Charlie." She blushed.

"It's true. I'd always dreamed of it, and its here and its time to say good bye to it and I can't believe that."

They'd walked quite a ways away from their cottage and into Downton's rose garden. She had yet to realize that he'd led her to this specific spot on purpose. He laid his hands on her stomach, as she placed hers at her sides and they felt their child move together. He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed sweetly.

"That's what love is Elsie the feel of how much I love you, this right here. I hope you won't ever forget it as I never could."

"I never could either Charlie."

She closed her eyes as he leaned down, kissing her passionately on the lips, their hands still on her middle. The warm summer breeze picked up, gently combing through her hair. Her eyes glimmering, as they pulled apart.

"My Charlie do you know where we are?" She beamed, a tear rolling down her cheek, thinking he didn't realize. He shook his head. "This is right where, you proposed to me!"

"And if I'd ever known, Mrs. Carson all the blessings we'd have! Or how much I really I can't live without you." He reminded her of what he'd said that night, right in that spot: 'Marry me now, tonight, because I can't live without you!'

She smiled, biting her lip, trying to keep from crying. "Oh my Charlie. I can't live without you either."

…..

Ten Hours Later

Carson never in his life thought he'd be here with his wife, holding her in his arms, steadying her as she bore their child. Nothing about it seemed in the least bit proper or right and instinctually he knew he shouldn't be there. He hated watching her suffer, and cry out and worse bleed. Somehow, he'd had no idea how much she would bleed. It rattled him to the core. There was so much blood already and no baby yet. He'd conveyed his concern to Clarkson and Isobel who'd both assured him that it wasn't even that much blood, but still, the idea of seeing her this way scared him…. and he could tell it terrified Daisy.

By now all the usual cast of characters was in attendance: Clarkson, Mrs. Crawley, himself, Beryl and Daisy. He found it both ridiculous and an invasion of privacy that so many people were there, in their bedroom with them at what seemed like such an intimate moment.

"Owww oh!" She cried, whimpering against his chest.

Many hours had passed since labor had begun and she was growing tired and weak. Elsie rested her face against his chest and cried as she leaned forward, groaning and doubling over against her still rotund baby bump. Carson tried to remain calm and ran his fingers gently through her sweat soaked hair. He'd only been there for mere minutes of her labor with the twins and now that he'd been there for hours with this one he realized he had had no idea (prior to this) what mothers went through.

"Can't we do anything more for her?" He asked as she let out another cry.

"When its over I can give her something, much more now though and I'm afraid it might put her under. I need her awake to give birth. The good news is that the baby's head is properly engaged, the bad is that well the baby's a bit…big."

"Big?" Carson asked.

"Bigger than I anticipated…the diabetes tends to do that to babies."

"Ahhhhhhh!" Elsie screamed. Everyone jumped and by the end of the contraction she was sobbing.

"Oh Elsie sweetheart." He whispered. He continued rubbing her back as both he and Beryl held her up.

"I'm done I'm really, really owww!"

"Please isn't there anything else you can do?" Carson pled.

"She was worse with the twins." Isobel voiced. "When Charlie was being born she didn't even understand what was happening I don't think."

"Nor do I." Beryl added, pressing a new wet compress against Elsie's forehead. She moaned and rested her head in her friend's hand.

Elsie was in excruciating pain now and felt that this was far worse than when she'd had the twins.

"Mrs. Carson I know you're in a lot of pain." Clarkson began and Elsie winced. "But the good news is now's the time to push."

Carson found he'd been truly dreading this part of the process. He didn't want to watch his wife suffer nor was he really ready to meet his youngest child.

Elsie screamed pushing into the pain as instructed; noting something about it didn't feel the same as before: there was so much more pressure. This time though, she had her Charlie, whispering in her ear, holding her hand, holding her leg back. On her other side; Beryl held her hand and leg, Daisy was nervously assisting Dr. Clarkson and Mrs. Crawley.

Carson wanted to watch as she pushed but was shy for a moment, how was he supposed to look at her there when everyone else was? As the proper man he was the idea mortified him. He supposed the doctor was par for the course, although he felt the uneasiest about this because he was a man and she his wife. Then there was Beryl who was not thinking twice about watching the baby's head emerge, in fact she was talking to it, cheering it on. He wasn't sure he wanted the first thing his child heard in life to be Beryl yelling at it. Then there was Daisy. She hated childbirth and yet she was the one who had the full view of everything from her place standing behind Clarkson, holding blankets. There was no hiding that she was mortified. Carson was also not sure she wanted his baby to be taken by Daisy when it came out… she was far too nervous.

"Ghhhhaaaaaaaaahhhh! No, no I need to stop, I need to stop find another way to do this!"

"Mrs. Carson, Mrs. Carson breathe deep there is no way out of this but through and it's your third time it'll be alright. You've done this before!" Isobel promised.

"Gnnaaaaaahhh ohoooh! Oooooh!" Elsie burst out crying.

"Elspeth my love." Carson whispered as Beryl rubbed her leg. "I know it's hard but you're part of the way there I see our baby's head and she's got her mummy's beautiful hair."

"Ghhhhh." She groaned, doubling over again.

"Mrs. Carson, he's a much bigger baby than his brother and sister. Take deep breaths, go slowly, let me know if you need to stop and we'll take a rest. Just don't panic."

Elsie started sobbing when she was asked to push again. "No, no, no. Please it hurts too much." She begged, laying her head back on her husband. "Ooooh!'

"It's alright. Love it's all right. I'm right here." Carson whispered.

"And we've got a head!" Beryl urged excitedly.

No one noticed Daisy's eyes widen; she remained transfixed in horror. Carson couldn't help but look. To him it was such a strange sight but a beautiful one; he couldn't believe that was his child.

"I know it hurts but hardest part, shoulders."

"Why'd you have to tell me it was the hardest part?!" She cried.

"Come on, I'll hold you." Carson whispered, wrapping his arms around her and taking both of her hands. "I know I can't take away the pain but let me try Elsie, just take all your pain out on me. You don't have to be scared you can just look at me." Carson promised, looking down into his wife's frightened, tear-stained eyes. She stared back at him as she cried, wincing with pain.

"Mrs. Carson she's been sitting too long you need to push again and much harder this time." Clarkson warned.

Elsie screamed again, the pressure far too much for her, but she was more determined now. A hard birth was what had caused Becky her lifelong ailment, and she wouldn't let the same thing happen to her baby because she was too tired. No one noticed Daisy turn away beginning to shake. By this point, Carson had disregarded his shyness and was watching it all, awed and horrified at once. Elsie leaned into him and Beryl reached over, wiping the hair out of her face. Even being in her husband's arms and having her best friend at her side didn't really ease her fears or her pain, but it did theirs.

"That's the shoulders Mrs. Carson."

"Oh my God!" She sobbed.

"It's over, hardest part is over." Isobel assured.

Carson could tell, just by the child's head that it was in fact much bigger than its siblings at birth. He looked back down at Elsie as she cried, wishing he'd insisted on going to the hospital earlier. He adored his Elsie beyond anything else and was quickly growing afraid for her wellbeing. He placed a kiss atop her head as she pushed, wishing he'd never put her there in the first place.

"Oh my sweetheart." He whispered as Beryl kept talking to the baby.

'Quit calling my daughter a boy! And if he is one, then quit screaming at him!'

He wanted to tell her…. he had insisted it was a girl many other times over the last few months, and all those times Elsie had jumped in, agreeing she thought she was carrying a boy. It wasn't that he wouldn't love his new son, of course he would, but he so desperately wanted a girl and he hated that Beryl kept saying he wouldn't get one. Even more, he wished she'd let the child come into the world in peace regardless of who he was.

"Just one more Mrs. Carson." Isobel reassured.

"This is it Elsie." Carson whispered. "You can do it, this is it."

"Ahhhgggghhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa!" Elsie screamed.

Carson held his breath, as his wife clutched his hands, watching intently as their baby was finally born. Elsie stopped, catching her breath and collapsing into him.

"Congratulations." Clarkson announced. "You have a little boy."

"Job well done my brave girl." He whispered, kissing her tenderly, taking the full weight of her in his arms.

Carson could feel his heart totally sink at the news he had another son. He'd wanted a daughter so badly his heart ached at the sight of his new child. He focused on it for a split second before realizing the room was silent, save his wife's tears.

"Charlie the baby…" She reminded.

He'd already known but had decided to focus on her: there were no tears; there was no sound at all. The room was deafly quiet. He held her tight and watched as the doctor attended to his lifeless baby, his heart pounding in his chest, wracked with sudden complete panic. Elsie sobbed but was too exhausted to lift her head to try to see what was going on. The baby had been fine only moments before she could feel it. She couldn't stand for anything to happen to her child, as it had with her own baby sister or the second set of twins she'd lost not even a year before.

"My baby, Charlie my baby…" She mumbled, beginning to panic.

"Sweetheart it's alright, it's alright." Carson whispered, he tried to hide it but she heard his voice breaking too.

"What on earth is the matter?!" Beryl panicked, starting to cry too. "What's wrong with my godson?"

Clarkson didn't answer and continued to work on the baby, Isobel didn't reply either. Just a few seconds later, the baby started to cry.

"There it is I knew he could do it." Isobel smiled.

Elsie sighed with relief through her tears and her husband leaned down to kiss her again, tears of joy in his own eyes as Clarkson held up the crying baby.

"Oh!" She sighed when she saw him first. Carson paused, knowing that look in her eye: instant love.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carson." Clarkson announced. "I'd like you to meet your son." The baby was sobbing now and placed gently on Elsie's chest.

Elsie sobbed as she scooped him up in her arms, holding him tight.

"Oh my darling boy, thank heaven for you!" She sobbed.

…

Carson remembered his breath leaving his body the first time his littlest boy was placed in his arms. By this time the child was wrapped in a baby blue blanket, a tiny cap adorned his little head. Carson cupped the baby's head in his hand tenderly, and looked down in pure awe, barely believing that it had happened again, or that he could've been hurt that Elsie had given him another beautiful son. It'd only been a few minutes since the birth but Dr. Clarkson had already left, needing to attend to another birth in town. Mrs. Crawley was caring for Elsie who was sore and exhausted but otherwise just fine. The wonderful woman she was, she was staying with them for a few nights so Elsie could stay off her feet and begin to heal.

The baby yawned, stretching a little bit in his father's hands. Carson watched his new little boy in awe, he was a big baby and it was obvious he hadn't had much room to move around during the last few weeks he'd spent inside his mother, something reflected by how scrunched up his face, hands and arms were. He stuck his tongue out and started sucking on his hand.

"He's hungry." Elsie observed sleepily, her Scottish brogue seeming especially thick to Carson.

"He's absolutely beautiful, my Mrs. Hughes." He told her, running his fingers through her hair, he paused, looking back at her adoringly, a hint of worry in his gaze.

"It's Mrs. Carson." She giggled, as he kissed her, noting there were tears rolling down his cheeks. She smiled, reaching over to graze her baby's cheek.

"Look at him Mrs. Hughes, our son is perfect." He paused, his eyes welling with tears. "He's got your hair." Carson would confess to you he was surprised just how strong her genes had turned out to be when put to the test. "He's got mummy's hair and his Daddy's eyes. Lucky for him, Mummy's nose!"

"And his Daddy's smile and his cheeks." She added. "He looks the part of my Mr. Carson for sure."

Sam already seemed much more of a Carson than a Hughes and for this, Charles Carson found himself especially overwhelmed. It wasn't that the twins looked nothing like him as much as it was that they had Elsie Hughes written all over them and with this child, well it was just more readily obvious he was Carson's little boy, much in the same way it was obvious that Lady Mary belonged to Cora.

"The twins will have fun with him." He remarked, studying the newborn's face. "There are bits of Charlie and Charlotte all over in him." He laughed.

Carson found it fun to sit there and hunt for pieces of his older children in the baby's face, which really, were just fine mixes of bits of him and Elsie.

"There are bits of all four of us: he completes us."

"Yes he does." Carson agreed. He leaned down and kissed his wife again, leaning his forehead against hers once he finished. "Are you alright?" He asked. "You are my treasure and I love you and I was worried to death the whole of that time."

She sensed worry in his tone. She still did not seem right to him in any sense of the word and in a way she wasn't.

"Look at the size of the lad how do you think I feel?"

"He is a rather large baby, Mrs. Hughes…"

"I told you: he's my Mr. Carson sized baby." She giggled. "He's going to be just his daddy's size one day and so I'm so sore Charlie, but I'll be alright because I have my beautiful boys." She reflected and he kissed her again.

"I'm so sorry my love I can't imagine going through that. Anything you need for me to do for you please, just let me know I…"

"Thank you my love." She smiled deeply. "Charlie I know you wanted another lass more than anything but…"

"Mrs. Carson I couldn't be happier with all the lass' in the world than I am with my Samuel. He's exceptional." He beamed, kissing the newborn's hand. "I have sons, Elsie. Lovely exceptional boys who make my heart swell with pride. Wonderful little boys."

Carson didn't say it, but something in his heart and mind changed when he'd watched Sam take his first breath. There was something exceptional about that moment, something that awed him beyond the ability to define it. He'd never felt such pride or humility as he did in that split moment of watching his son come to life and he felt fundamentally transformed by it. Now, his name would be carried on, twice over. Now he had two lads to play cricket with, to teach everything he knew to, to turn into good men.

"Elsie I never dreamed so much of sons and they feel wonderful." He bit his lip as he cried, looking down at the baby.

"Samuel." She said simply, his attention focused on the baby now.

"Hum?" He looked back at her, not understanding.

"Mr. Carson that's a wonderful name." She smiled, tears in her eyes. "Do you know what it means?"

"No, I just thought we'd talked about it before he was born; and rather liked it." He replied, not knowing she'd looked it up. He'd actually thought it was settled before he was born.

"It means God has heard."

Carson smiled suddenly. "And heard he has, my love."

"Samuel Charles Carson, you're an answer to your mummy and daddy's longing and prayers, for so many, many years."

"Oh yes you are my baby boy." Carson whispered, kissing his son as he and Elsie both began to cry. In an answer to your question, he's perfect, tremendously perfect my Mrs. Hughes." Carson smiled, nuzzling Elsie softly. She closed her eyes and sighed as he turned back to the baby. He laughed, rubbing his finger softly along the child's cheek. "Another perfect baby son."

"He's a beautiful wee boy." Elsie was still crying. "You certainly did a wonderful job Mr. Carson."

"No Mrs. Hughes, I think this was all you." He teased leaning over to kiss her.

"It was a little you." She whispered. "After all he looks like a little you, hello Sam." She soothed. "It's Mummy. Oh Charlie, Charlie let me hold him!"

Carson had spent the last nine months hoping for a second daughter. He'd honestly been somewhat disappointed when Dr. Clarkson had announced that it was a baby boy, but then when he hadn't cried, Carson had felt his whole soul seem to drop out of his body. He felt like he was freely falling and the sheer terror that overtook him in the moments between his son's birth and his eventual tears was the most frightening thing that he'd ever experienced in his many years of life, (years enough to be a grandfather and not a father, in fact). In those moments, pure love pierced his heart and he thought he'd do anything if it meant his son might live and he'd get to be a father to him.

"I love you my precious boy." She whispered, crying on the newborn boy. "Mummy loves you so, so very much."

Carson smiled, tears in his eyes, pride swelling within him as he watched his wife cradle their newborn baby son.

"Happy anniversary Mrs. Carson." He whispered. "I promised you it would be a life worth living."

"Happy anniversary my Charlie." She replied as he leaned down to kiss her. "I've never doubted that for a second."

….

Six Hours Later

"Waaaaa-aaaahhhh!"

"Shu, shu come here little chap, come here little chap lets have a chat shall we?" Carson soothed, picking up his tiny newborn son.

It didn't matter that Samuel was so much larger than his brother and sister had been at birth, he still seemed tiny to Carson. The boy's head and backside fit perfectly in the palm of his father's two hands.

"Shuuu my little lad it can't be that bad." He rocked the boy, rubbing his tiny back. "It can't be that bad. Come on, lets go wake mummy, yes lets wake mummy. Shhhhuu."

Carson climbed back into bed, gently waking his exhausted wife.

"Mmmmm." She mumbled. "Mmmm."

"Sweetheart, sweetheart I'm sorry to wake you up my love. I know you're exhausted, but he's very hungry I think."

"Charlie I'm so tired." She said, not opening her eyes. "Could you please, help me, just unbutton my nightgown a little and hold him while he…"

"Here, how about you hold Samuel and I hold you. Alright?" He whispered, holding her up before positioning their baby son in her arms. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder.

Carson watched, holding her close as the baby started to suckle. He breathed quietly as he ate and Carson smiled holding his wife and son close. Sam was a big baby and made his mother seem almost small, even being so tiny he overwhelmed her somehow.

"He's so big." He laughed.

"He's his father." She mumbled. "I know you wanted another lass but, how do you feel about your son?" She asked a second time, settling her head on his shoulder again and sighing.

"Pride, Mrs. Hughes. I think he's just everything this little family didn't know it needed. He's perfect." They were happy, but didn't know they weren't complete before Sam. "How is my little lad's mummy?" He inquired, kissing the top of her head as she leaned against him.

"Sore, tired, but in love." She smiled.

"Did you hear that little lad, you've captured your first heart." He whispered, tickling the baby's cheek. "Your first two hearts. Mrs. Carson, he's so beautiful." He whispered, tears in his eyes as he watched the baby eat. "I may've wanted another girl … could I help it?" He laughed. "My daughter is my little princess and my sons... somehow they ensure me life Elsie."

That was the way he'd always looked at Charlie and Charlotte. She was his princess, he his way to live on, they his pride: but somehow he hadn't thought of it that way with regard to the new baby until he was born. Entering into this pregnancy with Elsie, he'd felt far too old to become a father again and now, somehow the new child made him feel young, virile: powerful even, because he could still bring new life into the world.

"My mini Mr. Carson's." She giggled. That was how she thought of her boys.

Elsie was relieved and sighed at the mention of her twins. In just a few days time, they'd be home and her painful longing for them both would be over. Then she'd finally have just what she'd been craving since she was a young, newly married woman: all her children there together with them.

Elsie smiled deeply, kissing her new son's head. "He's a perfect boy. Thank you so much for sticking by me."

"What do you mean? Of course I'd stick by you."

"For this long journey in having a family. I love our babes so much, and I couldn't imagine life without them. I love you so much Charlie."

"I love you more than anything Mrs. Carson."

…

August 1st, 1919

"Good morning baby lad from under my heart." Elsie whispered, cradling her new son in her arms.

Elsie smiled, tears coming to her eyes as Isobel handed her, her newborn son for the first time that day. The night before, Charlie had told her their children all touched his heart in different ways and upon reflection she thought he was right. Sam was the baby boy who'd been an ever-present presence under her heart from the first moment he made himself known; one she wouldn't ever forget.

He'd been a long awaited child born on his parent's anniversary, not just of the day they married, but the day they'd decided to run away together and start a life outside the confines of convention. On that same day, Elsie and Charlie had decided they wanted to have five children together, not knowing of Elsie's inability to become pregnant and the long road the desire to have even just one baby would take them on.

Sam was a precious gift on this day, a reminder of how far they'd come, of miracles and the fact that God had heard.

"Where's Mr. Carson?" She asked Isobel as she began to nurse the baby.

"He had some things to tend to in town, he said he'd be back soon."

…..

The staff stood when Carson came to the table, despite the fact that he was late and they were in the middle of breakfast. He wasn't even sure why he'd come, other than to make sure everything was in order and deliver his happy news before stopping off in the village to get a gift and a surprise for his wife before going home.

Carson cleared his throat. "As some of you may know, Mrs. Carson delivered a little boy last night…"

"He's over half a stone!" Beryl chimed proudly, irritating Carson with her interruption.

Thomas wanted to laugh, his supervisor's annoyance visible on his face. He'd come home a few days ahead of the family; leaving a frazzled Mr. Molesley in charge in London.

"She's tired, but quite well…"

"He's a tough little lad he is!" Beryl was tearing up at the thought of Samuel.

"Sounds like he takes after you, Mr. Carson." Thomas said, folding his arms and looking up at Carson.

"Well…" Carson considered. "He is my boy…"

"When is Mrs. Carson coming back to work?" Daisy questioned.

"Not until the fall."

"Too bad we can't all get a rest for popping out a noisy little kid." Thomas muttered under his breath.

Carson looked back, anger in his eyes when he heard Thomas' comment.

Thomas laughed nervously. "I met congratulations Mr. Carson, of course."

"Hmmm." He said, quickly leaving the room.

…

Carson's heart raced as he waited on the train station's platform. He wondered if it was too soon, but couldn't even say how eager he was. He looked up, startled when the train came to a stop and quickly people began to disembark, an orderly swarm overwhelming what had been a mostly vacant space. He looked around quickly, thinking he'd come for the wrong train when he heard a voice call out:

"Daddy!" He looked up to see Charlotte coming off the train her hand in Lady Grantham's.

"Charlotte!" He called, edging through the crowd to get closer to them.

Charlotte took off running for her dad Charlie at her heals. Carson dropped to his knees, amid all the people and held out his waiting arms for the twins who bee-lined into them.

"Ooooh! My little…"

Cora smiled, watching her butler loose all propriety as he took his children into his arms. He kissed both their cheeks multiple times, cuddling them close and whispering in their ears as he hugged them. The children held onto his face and arms, refusing to let him go too.

"Daddy we missed you!" Charlie cried.

"My son I missed you so much too." Carson almost cried, holding the twins in his arms and kissing their face.

"Daddy did our baby come yet?" Charlotte asked.

"Oh yes my love, the baby is here."

"Yay!" The twins cheered.

"What do we get?" Charlie asked.

"That, my son, is a surprise your mother and I have to tell you, but first, let's surprise mummy shall we?"

…

"I have a surprise for you Elsie." He said, poking his head in their bedroom door.

She was awake holding Sam and seemed in good spirits. The twins were just outside the door with Isobel who was trying to keep them very quiet.

"Oh?" She smiled; looking up from the baby bundled in her arms. "You're so

sweet my Charlie."

"Can you close your eyes my love?"

Elsie closed her eyes and placed her face back in the baby's kissing his cheeks. Carson opened the door quietly, the twins came in quickly, both so excited to see their mother and her baby that they were almost bouncing.

"Shu, shuu." Carson whispered, his heart warming at the sight of his twin's smiles.

Elsie smiled feeling someone get on the bed with her.

"Mrs. Carson, you can open your eyes." He asked.

"Mummy!" They squealed excitedly.

"Hahhha!" She squealed, shocked to see her twins there. "My Charlie and Charlotte! Ooooh! Mummy's missed you so much!" Elsie started to cry.

She reached out and hugged the twins as best as she could, given that her arms were full and she was still so very sore. The twins both kissed her cheeks several times before turning to the baby. Both stopped and marveled over the newborn they'd yet to be introduced to, both dying of curiosity.

"My Charlie, my Charlotte." She began. "I'd like you to meet your baby brother, Samuel."

"Mummy he's neat! I wanna hold him." Charlotte said, calmly running her tiny hand over her new baby brother's soft bit of auburn hair.

The new baby's hair matched Charlotte's and Charlie's perfectly and the twins found this irresistible. Charlotte wanted to hold the baby and help care for him but Elsie wouldn't let her. Charlie paused for a moment, a little conflicted. At first, he understood his fear of being replaced was finally getting realized, and then, it hit him that he had a brother and was suddenly over the top excited by the news.

"Mummy, thank you so much!" Charlie cried.

"You're welcome my wee lad." She giggled hugging him close.

"Wow." She heard him whisper, peering down into his brother's tiny face. Elsie kissed the side of Charlie's head.

"Mummy he's pweetty and your tummy not so round anymore." Charlotte remarked as her father sat behind her. Elsie giggled.

"Mummy I'm going to help you and nanny with Sam." Charlotte added.

"Me too!" Charlie chimed.

"Are ya now? Sam might stay with Mummy for a while even when she's working again."

"Awe. But why?'"

"Because, mummy needs to feed him, and nanny's already got the two of you and Benjamin. She needs Sam to get a bit bigger before she has him."

Elsie didn't feel she could burden nanny with a fourth child especially a newborn. Given that she was more adapt at motherhood now she figured she'd carry her youngest around on her shoulder as she worked, and forego giving him to the nanny until he could lift his head. She wanted to keep him close anyhow and wished she could've done the same with the twins.

"Hi Sam!" Charlie said, peering down at his baby brother.

"Hi baby!" Charlotte squealed.

Sam lay there still and wide-awake in his mother's arms, trying his best to gather his new surroundings. He was too tiny to understand much of anything beyond his mother and wondered who Charlie and Charlotte were. He blinked a few times, doing his best with limited eyesight to look up at his family as they stared down at him. Carson and Elsie already understood that their son was very personable and eager to engage with the world even though he was just a newborn. It said everything they had been wondering about why he was so active, even present before his birth.

"I'm excited to be brothers with you!" Charlie said quietly, taking the baby's hand. Sam yawned, squeezing his big brother's finger.

"I'm excited to be sister and brother with you." Charlotte whispered, rubbing his head gently as she leaned down to kiss him.

Elsie looked up, biting her lip as her gaze caught her husband's, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I love you." He whispered and her heart leapt. "You've made my dreams come true."

She couldn't say how grateful she was, her three children in her arms, her own dream fulfilled all over again.

"I love you more than I can say Mr. Carson." She whispered amid the chattering of her three small children.

He tilted her head, and leaned over kissing her deeply, reminding her once again that God had heard.