She found herself once again sitting in the familiarity of her old home chatting with her sisters. Talking about nothings, of course, cracking silly jokes and enjoying a good occasional laugh. Prudence was laughing so hard at the recent joke she could not stop. It was something about their husbands. Silly, but sort of fun. Penelope was definitely smiling, she seemed genuinely happy lately. Life was coming to its senses. Colin started going to bed with her. But lately with her bug bump everything felt slightly uncomfortable.

But just as she was about to enter her world of thoughts, she heard Prudence inhale loudly and cry out in pain, as everyone went silent.

"What happened?" Penelope asked worried.

"I think…" But just as Prudence was about to answer, her face cringed in pain once again.

"What's wrong?" Philippa asked.

But just as Prudence looked up at her, Portia, who was also sitting in the room, cut it.

"You're about to give birth." Portia announced excitedly.

"Is that how it's supposed to feel like?" Prudence asked, wincing in pain again.

"It's a miracle, do not think less of it." Portia said, as all of the girls looked up at her concerned.

The next couple of hours seemed in a haste for Penelope, as she watched her sister cry out in pain every few minutes. Their mama said they should wait in the living room, and give Prudence some space. But sitting in that living room felt really disturbing, as all they could hear was crying and really loud screams. If they didn't know better, they would think somebody was trying to kill Prudence there.

Is that what it actually feels like? – Penelope thought, sitting there all scared to even more.

"It sounds like she's dying." Philippa said holding her belly with both of her hands.

"Maybe we should go check on her." Penelope said worriedly, looking at the stairs. "Maybe something is wrong."

"I for sure will not go there!" Philippa announced fearfully.

"Okay, then I will go." Penelope said, standing up.

All the way to Prudence room, she heard loud screams, as they got even more loud with each of her step. She was really terrified by the time she reached her room. For a few minutes she just stood there frozen, scared to move, scared to open that door. Scared to see what was truly happening on the other side.

As she reached for the door handle, the door suddenly flew open, as her mom exited.

"Oh, good. You're here. Bring some more wet towels." Portia said, looking around for any of the staff. "Where are those maids, when they are needed." And with that she closed the door.

Wet towels. I can do that. – Penelope thought, as she quickly went and got some towels wet. This time entering the room felt rushed. They were indeed expecting her. Waiting for her really.

What she did not except was the view she was met with. Just as she entered, she was met with something that made her froze. Her sister crying out in pain. Her face red. And something really big right between her legs. It looked huge. It should definitely not look like THAT! – Penelope thought, as she felt her mama run to her and grab the towels, saying something on the way.

She could not hear her. All she could indeed hear were the screams and crying. And all she could see how the head of the baby was coming out of her sister's…

"Penelope. If you won't help, leave the room then! Give your sister some privacy!" Portia said, sitting near her sister.

And only then she saw, how her mother was encouraging her sister to push harder and her husband by the other side holding her hand petrified. Everything felt blurred now. Her turning around. Closing the door behind her. Walking. Running really.

As Penelope ran down the stairs, she heard Philippa ask her. "Is she alright?"

But Pen could not say a word. All she could think about was what the heck she just witnessed. Was it really how it's going to be? Would she be in the exact kind of pain? Does it really hurt so much?

She ran home. She ran to her husband. And just as she entered their room, she saw him quietly sitting on the bed reading. He looked up at her with a smile first. Happy she was home finally. But as soon as he saw her scared face, he went concerned.

"What happened?" He asked, putting the book aside.

"I… I…" She just stood there. In the middle of the room. Frozen. Hands on her round belly. Trying to saying something, but nothing comes out. Just as she forgot all of the words.

"What's wrong?" He sat up on the bed, as his voice went even more concerned. As for the looks of it, she was unharmed, but she did not look fine at all.

"I…" She tried again, but… But tears started running down her pale face, as she just stood there gasping for air.

"Is something wrong? What happened? Tell me!" Now he got up from the bed, running to her side. Hands on her arms, as of holding her. She still was looking at the bed. Her glare was as frozen as she was. "Are you okay?" He asked more calmly trying to stand in her sight, trying to understand what the heck was going on.

"Yes. But…" She looked up at him. Finally, she at least acknowledged him standing near her.

"But? Pen talk to me!" He cut her off, she was making him too worried while talking too slowly. And suddenly, she took a deep breath and blurred out.

"Take this out." She looked at him almost begging. "Undo it." She threw a quick look at her belly and almost screamed. "I cannot do it!"

"What?" He was definitely lost. What was she talking about?

"I can't. There has to be some other way! There has to be!" She started passing in the room. Side to side. "There has to be some other way!" She was murmuring under her breath.

"To what? What are you talking about?" He tried to catch up with her, but he had no idea what happened, what made her so stressed and so… so…

"Do you know… Do you…?" She stopped suddenly and looked up at him.

"What? I don't understand." He almost threw his arms in the air in all of this frustration. But he had to be at least the one that was calm. And he had to calm her down somehow. So, he said lightly. "Please, calm down."

"I won't. I can't. I just can't." She went quickly in the direction of their bed, as she remembered she still was fully dressed. As she reached for the back of her own dress, she couldn't reach any of the buttons, so she made a loud frustrated sound. He ran to her side and swiftly turned her back to face him as he said.

"Take a breath. Take a breath with me." Her hands in his. His face on eye level with her now. "In and…" He breathed in, waiting for her to do the same. And she did. "Out." He said and let out a deep breath. And she did the same. "Okay, again. Breath in… And out." His hand caressing her hand in the process and it all actually helped somehow. "And now tell me what happened. What are you talking about?" He still was looking right into her scared eyes with a matching vibe in his.

"Prudence gave birth." She blurred out quickly, as she turned around in his arms and said. "Take this off!" He started helping her with her dress as he asked.

"Okay… And?" She was flabbergasted by this question. How could he be so calm?

"And? AND? Have you seen it? Do you know how it comes out?" She screamed as he finished working on her corset and it flew to the floor, leaving her completely bare. She quickly reached for her robe, as she felt his hands help her put it on.

"Yes, I heard." She turned around quickly. He looked so calm. Why? How? And then she saw it a smile. Silent laugh even.

"Why are you laughing?" She asked still emotional. "It's no joke. I won't do it." She stated as she got into bed.

"What do you mean you won't do it? It's not like you have a choice." He was truly shocked by her confession, as she sat on the bed near her.

"I don't care I won't do it. I won't. Find another way. ANY. OTHER. WAY. COLIN." She was really screaming by now. How could he be so calm? That reaction was only making her more frustrated. Butt he simply took her hand in his, saying.

"There is no other way." They both went still. There has to be. Right? – She thought.

"What?" Now she spoke so silently, he almost didn't hear her.

"It will be okay. I will be near." He squeezed her hand saying it, as he made himself more comfortable laying near her on her side of the bed.

"No. NO. I can't. It's huge!" She continued her tantrum, pointing at the baby in her stomach. "It already hurts to breathe and move and walk and…" She was on the edge of tears almost… or almost was more like she was… "No, I… No…" She was crying. Tears running down her cheeks hard.

"Calm down, it will be okay…" He put his arm around her, hugging her close. She was scared of giving birth. Now he got it. But he truly didn't know what to do.

"No, Colin, no, it won't." Her head fell on his shoulder, as he felt her tears on his bare skin, which only made him hug her closer to him.

"Apparently it hurts like hell!" She said loudly, trying to make a point. Trying to make him understand.

"I will be near holding your hand all that time, Pen, please don't worry, I am sure it's not that bad." He was rubbing his hands on her back, trying to calm her down. But it seemed nothing might work.

"Oh, if you're so sure, you do it then!" She said suddenly and looked up at him. They both just stared at each other for a second or few.

"I don't think this is possible, Pen." He tried to smile lightly at her.

"This is first and last child!" She put her arms around herself protectively, saying it. But his smile just grew wider. "I am not kidding!" Her voice almost sounded warning.

"Pen, please calm down, you should not be so stressed." He said, as he hugged her once again, rubbing her back in a comforting manner.

"Well, they should warn us before!" She tried to get out of his hug, push him away. It felt like he doesn't understand. It felt like no one understood her. As soon as he let go, he moved far away from him on their bed.

"Please…" He asked, reaching to her with both hands. "Come here."

"Colin, I can't. I just can't… It's too much…" Her hands flew to her face, covering her puffy face, after all that crying.

"It will be alright. We'll get through it, once we're there. Okay?" He said lightly, as she felt his hand on her thigh.

"I don't think I can." Her voice almost completely silent, but he heard her. He heard her.

"Together we will." As she heard those words, she looked up at him. And suddenly all of his earlier words registered.

Together.

He will be near.

Holding her hand.

He will be there.

With her.

Taking a few deep breaths, she moved back closer to him. Letting him cares her arms, her back, her belly, until she fell asleep in his arms. His sweet nothings in her ear. Her deep breaths in his.