Author's note: This story is a fluffy safe space! Happy babies, happy families, happy couples. God knows we all need some more love and happiness right now, wherever we can get it. -PP
21
"She's so tiny," Victor said, cradling his newest daughter. He sat on the edge of the narrow bed in his infrequently used room. Victoria, now clean and in a fresh nightgown, was in the bed itself. The mattress was too firm for her. At least it was clean, unlike the large bed in her room. The housekeeper had brought in fresh pillows and an extra blanket so that Victoria was bolstered comfortably.
"She's nearly three weeks early," Victoria reminded him. Suddenly fretful, she sat up and leaned over, closer to the baby. "You're certain she's breathing?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely?"
Victor leaned over and put his ear close to the baby's nose. "Absolutely certain," he said. When the baby mewled and fidgeted, he chuckled a little. "Sorry to have bothered you," he apologized, sitting up again and holding the baby close. The baby sighed and smacked her lips.
Satisfied, Victoria rested back against her pillows. She was tired, but not exhausted. What a surprise this arrival had been! Victoria had been uncomfortable all last night, but hadn't thought much of it. After all, she'd assumed she had until June. The other girls had been right on time. Though perhaps being a little small and a little early wouldn't do her any harm. She was breathing. She had eaten. Those were good signs. Victoria watched her, cradled in her father's arms. And Victor. He was clearly besotted. Victoria smiled to see it, even as she felt a pang of sadness that he'd not looked quite the same way at the other girls until they were a bit older, and could stare adoringly back.
Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he had, quite by accident, been present for her birth. Everything had happened so quickly. Broken waters had woken both of them just before daybreak. By the time the doctor arrived the baby was well on her way. Victor had only left her bedside to alert the housekeeper to send for the doctor, and had refused to leave. He hadn't panicked, hadn't fainted, hadn't babbled nonsense at her, nothing of the sort. From what she could remember through the haze of pain and the focus on birthing, he'd just held her hand and braced her up.
Victoria found herself wishing he'd been there for Liddie and Catherine, as well. On the other hand, they'd taken hours instead of twenty minutes, so perhaps it wouldn't have been quite the same. She leaned back into her pillows with a sigh. Sunlight was starting to filter through the small curtained window on the opposite wall. Listening close, she could hear small high voices chattering in the nursery. Oh, she hoped the girls wouldn't be worried to find her missing this morning...
"She looks just like you," Victor said, interrupting her thoughts. He touched the baby's face with a fingertip. "Her nose is just the same. Her mouth, too." And then he grinned at her, such a wide happy grin. That one of his that she loved so much it warmed her heart every time she saw it. Victoria saw the resemblance as well, and wondered if it would be as uncanny in years to come as the resemblance between Victor and Lydia.
"You're not sorry?" Victoria asked. When he looked at her questioningly, she elaborated, "Another girl. I'd thought you might have been hoping for a son this time."
Victor was shaking his head even before she finished speaking. "Oh goodness, no," he assured her. "I'm used to girls now. I wouldn't know what to do with a son. Another daughter is fine by me."
With that, he gave the bundled baby another nuzzle before handing her gently back to Victoria. Oh, this baby truly was so tiny. Barely five pounds. She'd felt so much bigger from the inside! Upon cradling her Victoria exclaimed, "Goodness, she's so light! Do you remember how heavy Catherine was?"
"And how long Lydia was?" Victor replied. "And she was heavy, too, once she started eating more...Oh! Speaking of."
He pointed to the baby. Victoria looked down to see that tiny little face all scrunched up, the little mouth working furiously. "They do make it obvious, don't they?" Victoria remarked with a laugh in her voice. She undid her nightgown and settled the baby against her to nurse. Unlike her sisters, this baby had caught on to nursing immediately. The two of them just watched her for a while.
"You're remarkable," he said softly.
"She is, isn't she?" Victoria smiled, her eyes still on the baby.
Victor grinned. "I was talking to you," he said.
"Oh," she said, feeling her cheeks get warm, "Victor. I'm sorry you had to see all of that. Earlier." Now that the haze had worn off, Victoria realized how...animalistic she must have appeared. Particularly in the crisis. And she had been squeezing his hand quite hard, now that she thought of it.
"I'm not," he told her seriously. Pleasure and pride warmed her at those words, at the way he was gazing at her. He leaned over and pressed his lips to her temple, her forehead, lingering there for a while.
He pulled away but let his hand linger on her arm, the one that wasn't supporting the baby. "What are we going to call her? Charlotte or Margaret?"
Victoria blinked. In all the excitement she'd nearly forgotten that they hadn't named the baby yet. Charlotte. Margaret. They were the two names Victor and Victoria had settled on, in the event of another girl. But looking at this tiny person, with her very familiar face, neither seemed quite right.
"She seems more...plain than that, don't you think?" Victoria asked. "Not insultingly plain. Only not so..." She trailed off, unable to think of a word that would suit her meaning.
"I don't think those are fancy names," Victor said. If he sounded just a little defensive, it was because he'd chosen both, she knew. "But all right. Jane?"
"Something like that, yes," she said. She stroked the baby's cheek with her finger, noticed how like a little starfish the baby's splayed hand was. "What about Anne?"
"With an 'e' on the end or without?" Victor asked. He traced a gentle finger along the baby's mop of dark hair, which was drying into wisps. "With an 'e' looks nicer, I think."
"I agree," said Victoria. Then, conciliatory, she offered, "Charlotte could be her middle name."
Victor nodded. "Yes, all right. So you're named, then, little thing. Welcome to the family," he told the baby cheerfully. He gave Victoria another kiss before standing up. He stretched hugely.
"I'd better go tell the girls they have a sister," he said, rummaging about in his dresser. "If you're ready for them."
"Oh yes," Victoria replied. Then she looked at her husband, still in his pajamas, his hair still rumpled, a set of clothes thrown over one arm. "And...thank you."
"Thank you," he told her sincerely. Then with a parting affectionate glance, he left Victoria and Anne to themselves in the narrow bed in the little room.