Hello everyone!

This is a little bit of a shorter chapter, but this is just to tie you over until I have time over the weekend to write more .

Thank you all, so much, for the overwhelming support I have received over the last week or so. I am completely overwhelmed with all the exceptionally kind reviews and comments. I truly do not think of myself as a writer, only as someone who has a passion for it and likes to do it, so your encouragement helps me to continue so much.

I would absolutely love it if you wrote me a comment or review telling me what you would like to see, or what you hope for for our little Rochester family. I am in love with them already!

Hope everyone is well!

xoxox

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The following days were equal bliss and hardship in the Rochester home.

The Rochester's were immediately meet with the contrasting paradox of parenting, that you love something with all your whole heart that makes your life extremely difficult.

The first new nights included ten minute intervals of sleep in between Henry sleeping and then crying hysterically. Jane and Edward took turns at first getting up, but after three times of this cycle, Edward insisted that Jane rested while he dealt with the baby. She could not turn down this generous offer with her as tired as she was, but the price of sleep was dealing with an over-tired and cranky husband the next day. Edward grumbled his way though their entire breakfast, shoving food into his mouth silently, his heavy eyes not lifting from his plate. When he was finished, he mumbled something about a walk and left through the front door without another word. Henry had settled and fallen asleep in the time they were eating breakfast, but before the door had closed shut behind Edward, his crying began again and Jane rose from the table with toast in her hand to go attend to him.

When Edward returned an hour later, Jane was on the verge of tears standing in the middle of the nursery, bouncing Henry lightly against her chest. Nothing she had done had stopped his crying. Nothing she had tried had seemed to soothe him at all. Her frustration had reached an all time high when the nursery door opened and Edward stepped inside. He must have seen his wife's face, for he advanced towards her with his arms out.

"Give him to me, I'll take care of him"

"No, you need to sleep. You look terrible and I know you did not come back to bed last night"

"Yes, but you look as if you are about to explode, so I think it's best I take over" he said, somewhat unkindly.

"I can manage, thank you. Just go to bed"

Before he could argue, Jane stuck her hand out towards the door.

"Go now, please".

. . .

When he next woke some hours later, Jane was still in the nursery with Henry. He was not crying now, but he was whining and fussy and he had clearly drained every bit of energy Jane had. When she looked up at the sound of the opening door, Edward could see Jane's eyes were heavy, red, and slightly puffy. The bags under her eyes showed more than ever and she looked exhausted. She smiled a little sadly at him, her brave front moving Edward as she looked back at Henry, pushing the rocking chair in a steady rhythm.

Edward suddenly felt very guilty for going to sleep at all. He walked towards her and knelt before her, looking at her far more kindly than he had earlier.

"Hard morning?"

"Hard morning"

"I am sorry. I should have stayed awake with you. I was just so tired, I had not slept-"

"Shh" Jane said, rubbing her forehead and closing her eyes. "Don't apologise for anything. I should not have stayed in bed last night, we should have taken turns. This is supposed to be a partnership, based in fairness"

"I do not see what is fair about you delivering our child, doing all the work, and then having to stay up the night when you are exhausted and need rest".

"I just want to help" Jane said, Henry's little hand closing around her finger, "I want this to be fair".

"Me too. So, let me help for a little while" Edward said, moving towards her and taking Henry from her arms. "Go on now and sleep, you look exhausted. I've had my turn."

"I am drained, but I am not tired. I'd rather just stay with you"

Edward's heart softened at her honest words.

"Of course, whatever you want"

Jane moved over to the couch and lay across it, looking into Edward's face. He was now in the rocking hair with Henry who was finally quiet, if not fully settled. Jane closed her eyes, listening to the comforting sounds of the rocking chair squeaking every so often as Edward moved back and forth. She did not know how long she lay there before she fell asleep, but when she did fall asleep, she slept soundly for quite some time.

When her eyes next opened, she found she was covered in warm blankets and was alone in the quiet room.

. . . . .

That night, Jane sat at her vanity, braiding her hair. She and Edward had brought Henry's bassinet into the bedroom, because they wanted him to be close if he cried, and did not want to send the other person from the room to check on him every time it happened. This was easier for now, until he settled. Jane splashed her face with water, but had decided that she was too tired to rise and move to the bed. She supposed it wouldn't be so uncomfortable to sleep here, on this stool...

Edward was sitting up in bed, staring forward blankly, his mind surely consumed with a million different thoughts. His hand covered his mouth as he thought of how heavy his eyelids were, and how much his body craved the sleep he knew he would not receive. Jane glanced at him in the mirror, lost in thought and smiled to herself. He looked truly tired, and like he lacked the motivation needed to do anything. She sighed, stood with great determination, and moved towards the bed. Edward smiled at her as she made her way over to him and crawled into the blankets beside him. He put his arm around her immediately and kissed the top of her head lazily. She looked into the same distant and indistinct spot Edward had been looking at.

"Edward?"

"Mmm?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, with you beside me"

She pulled away from him and looked into his face accusingly.

"Do not tell me such if it is not true. I feel too guilty already for you to flatter me with falsehoods"

Edward smiled softly, laughing.

"It is not funny! I do not need to be flattered".

"I tell you no lies. The feel of you next to me puts me at ease, even when you are defensive for no reason".

She went to argue, but in understanding the truth of his words she simply cuddled closer to him, feeling slightly disgruntled, and drew her knees up to her chest.

"How are you, darling?" he asked lowly, kissing her temple.

"I feel completely overwhelmed"

"I do too"

He sighed, squeezing her arms reassuringly as he spoke again.

"Jane, I did not think it would be so much work, and so difficult. And then I did not account for how guilty I would feel for being so frustrated with something I love more than I can say"

"No" she said, rubbing his arm soothingly, "No you must not feel guilty. Being frustrated does not mean you love Henry any less, it just means you are adjusting, as we both are".

"I am just not sure how much of this I can stand- that we can stand as a married couple. Today I barked at you, accused you of not being able to take care of our son when in truth I know you are far more temperate with him already. I cannot live like that with you"

"Well darling, no one will ever accuse you of being too temperate-"

He shot her an unimpressed look.

"But" she continued seriously, "Today I sent you from the room because I did not want you to know how stressed I was, or how tired I felt. I did not want to fail your vision of being a mother that right now I feel like I will never live up to"

Rochester's heart plummeted, sinking into his stomach.

"Oh darling, I never meant to put any pressure on you-"

"No, I know" she said quickly, "I know. It is only your optimism, and for that I am grateful. I am just...well, trying to understand how different this feels from how I imagined it to be".

Edward nodded, looking down at her. He felt a sudden rush of appreciation for her honesty, for her resounding vulnerability. She was already spectacular, and already the love she had for their son poured from every atom of her being. The way she held Henry in spite of every challenge staggered him as an onlooking husband.

"You know" Jane said, pulling him back to the present. "Today, I woke to find you standing in the middle of the room, holding Henry in your arms, looking a way I had never seen you look before".

"My tiredness has made me that repulsive then?"

Jane shot him a crooked smile.

"I am being serious. I do not know what to call it, but the sight of you made me fall in love with every part of you all over again. Henry is exceptionally lucky to have you as a father. I know right now we are still learning, and we are frustrated with each other, but so long as we continue to try and sort this out, I am content"

He put his hand over Jane's knee and rubbed it affectionately.

"Me too. I will have much to do to keep up with you, Jane, as a mother. I know that already"

"Then I think we shall make a splendid pair" Jane teased, kissing his cheek. She slipped down into the bed and covered herself in the blankets.

Edward rounded on her, looking suddenly cross,

"Oh surely you can do better than that Jane? It has been a very long day, I think I at least deserve a real kiss from you"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I am already in bed. Perhaps tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow morning" he began indignantly, "Tomorrow morning indeed. Turn over and kiss me"

Jane pulled the blankets down and moved Edward closer to her by wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I love you, very much" she said, softly. Her hand traced his cheek lightly and he kissed her hand as it braised his lips.

"I love you" he said, lowly.

Their mouths were connected in an intimate embrace as he moved upon her. Jane felt a warm hand close around her waist, and felt the other move to the back of her neck. She could smell his unique sent, felt his tangle of thick curls, his solid stomach and arms. She smiled to herself as the kiss dissolved.

"Out of everything in the world, what can I give you?" Rochester asked, smoothing the hair from her forehead with his thumb.

"Nothing more than your arms around me as I sleep" she said simply, "I could want nothing more"

She cuddled into his chest, his arms holding her close to him as she sighed contentedly.

"Jane good God, you are always so cold"

"Shh"

"I am concerned!"

"Shh"

A brief pause.

"I cannot sleep"

Jane groaned.

"I bet you can, if you try just a little bit"

A brief pause.

"You know what would help me?"

"I do...and you will not be getting it"

"Why ever not? It is such a simply solution"

"No. Go to sleep"

There was a period of silence that stretched between them and Edward waited, grinning, knowing that guilt would eventually set in and cause Jane's front of sternness to crumble. As he predicted, Jane sighed angrily and lifted her head to kiss him quickly once more.