Thank you for tuning in! In this chapter Josie is born and proves quite a challenge for Alcina. She is also dealing with Fredric away due to a brewing war.

September 20th, 1938:

Alcina had been in labor for hours. The doctor and two midwives by her side while Phoebe remained with Helena.

"Fredric…" she groaned, a tear trickling down her face. Of course she knew Fredric could not hear her. He had been deported to the front lines in preparation for a brewing war.

'It is coming,' he had told her. 'I cannot sit by and allow my family; my country to suffer.'

It had been a hard conversation to have. Alcina and Fredric finding each other yelling by the end of it, but in the end Alcina had lost the fight. Fredric had gone just as he had said he would.

Alcina cried out as more pain hit her. Barely registering what the doctor was saying to the two midwives, but his face looked grave. Was she going to die? Would she finally join her mother in heaven?

In and out of consciousness Alcina's mind was swimming. She had felt a sharp pain, but it quickly disappeared and once again she had fallen asleep.

When she awoke again, she found herself in a clean nightgown with an I.V. attached to her arm.

"My lady."

Alcina squinted her eyes to see it was Phoebe, who had been seated in the room by the window.

"P-Phoebe?" she said hoarsely. "Wh-what happened? Did I have my child?"

"Yes, my lady, she is a healthy little babe."

"Thank God," Alcina said, tears spilling down her cheeks, listening as Phoebe had explained to her what had happened.

"She was stuck, and as a last resort, the doctor had to perform a C-section. You lost a substantial amount of blood, which is why you have the I.V."

"I see," Alcina swallowed. "How is Helena?"

"Missing her mother," Phoebe said. "I will bring her in if you wish."

"Please," Alcina said. "And I wish to see Josie."

"'Josie'?" Phoebe said, swiftly realizing she was referring to the baby. "I can do that, too."

Phoebe left the room and returned a few minutes later with a baby in her arms and Helena clinging to her apron.

"Be very quiet when you enter," Phoebe said to Helena.

Alcina looked over to her with a smile and motioned with her fingers for her to come over. How big she was. It was hard for Alcina to believe she was three years old and just about to turn four.

"Hello, Mother," she whispered.

"Come closer," Alcina said, reaching out an arm and hugging her.

She kissed her mother's cheek, wrapping her little arms around her neck.

"When will you be better?"

"Soon," Alcina said. "The pain is not so bad now."

"Will Father come home soon to see us?"

"I hope so," she answered. "What do you think of your little sister so far?"

"Loud. She keeps crying."

"I know, my darling, I am sorry," she placed a kiss on Helena's cheek, turning her attention fully on her youngest. She had a little fuzz of red hair sprouting on the top of her head and her eyes… Fredric's eyes.

"What is her name?" Helena asked, watching Phoebe take a seat on the bed to allow Alcina to place a kiss to her forehead. "Johanna Fredrica Stanislav, but we will call her Josie for short." She looked to Helena. "What do you think?"

Helena shrugged.

"She is your baby, you can name her what you like."

Alcina started to laugh at her unexpected words. It sounded like something her father would say.

Phoebe just shook her head in disapproval.

It was then did Josie open her eyes, her chin quivering and then came a piercing wail. The sound making Alcina cringe; Helena immediately covering her ears, clearly she had had a lot of practice with this already.

"Josie," Alcina hummed. "There, there, my pretty girl. Do not cry. I am here."

Normally these words would work on Helena when she had been a baby, but not with Josie. Day in and day out the child would cry. Cry so much it would prevent her from suckling from Alcina.

"Was I this bad?" Helena said, remaining right by her mother's side. Spending her days quietly playing in the room, making Alcina forget she was still in the bedroom with her.

"No, my love, you were very good to your father and I," Alcina said, still limited to what she could do for her youngest with the I.V. still in her arm.

"Do you need help?"

"No, sweetheart, you keep playing," Alcina said, smiling at her. She was so much like her father with her sense of selflessness. All she wanted to do was help others. No doubt she would become a nurse, which Alcina would not deny her daughter whatever dream she wanted to pursue.

After a few more weeks, Alcina was finally permitted to rise out of bed, but confined to a wheelchair due to the stitches. It was far too painful for her to walk, but she was now able to hold Josie. The child calming down enough to suckle from her breast, but unlike Helena, Josie was an uncomfortable babe to feed. She would pull and yank. Alcina never before having felt such soreness and tenderness.

"She is crying agin." Helena covered her ears.

"I know," Alcina said, unable to correct Helena due to Josie's fit. Gently she patted Josie on the back in an effort to soothe her. "As I have said to you before, you were very good to your father and I."

Helena smiled at her.

"Darling, could you go and fetch Phoebe for me?"

"Mm-hm," she said, skipping out of the room and returning with Phoebe five minutes later.

"Thank you, my darling, I need you now to step out of the room for a moment. I need to speak with Phoebe privately."

Once more Helena skipped out of the room and closed the door.

"My lady," Phoebe asked with concern.

"Phoebe, I need you to call the doctor. I am at a loss as to what to do for her. I am growing fearful with Josie's crying. She is not eating enough and I worry she is too thin."

"I will call the doctor now," Phoebe said, bowing to her before she left the room.

The doctor would arrive only to claim Josie was a healthy baby, though she did seem a bit thin, he prescribed her a formula to help. Yet despite her weight gain, Alcina found herself losing this fight. She was exhausted and in pain. Josie would not be appeased no matter what she did.

It was not until Fredric returned two months later did something within Josie change.

Alcina no longer in need of the wheelchair, stood in the Main Hall awaiting his arrival. Helena standing right next to her mother with her head high, smiled brightly when her father entered.

"Helena!"

"Papa!" she squealed, running up to him.

He caught her in his arms, lifting her up and placing a kiss to her cheek.

"Holding down the fort?"

"Yes," Helena bobbed her head up and down, her curly black hair falling in her face as she did so.

"Good," he said, turning his attention over to Alcina who held Josie in her arms. "Alcina." He placed a kiss to her lips and then on Josie's head. "She is beautiful. Alcina." Tears surfaced in his eyes. "I am sorry I could not be here."

"It is all right," Alcina said. "I gave her the name Johanna Fredrica Stanislav. We are calling her Josie for short."

"'Fredrica'," he grinned boyishly.

Alcina rolled her eyes at him.

It was then did Josie start to open her eyes. Instantly Helena covered her ears, but no wailing erupted from her. Instead she started to giggle, smiling at her father.

Alcina frowned in confusion.

"Hello, sweetheart," he said, taking her from Alcina's arms.

Alcina was dumbfounded. As soon as Josie was set into her father's arms did she stop crying.

"She is an angel," Fredric said.

Both Alcina and Helena shot one another a knowing look.

As the day wore on, Josie continued to remain silent whenever Fredric held her. For Alcina she felt both annoyance and sadness. Starting to wonder if the child was going to grow up and despise her. Perhaps it had been the lack of attention received after birth. Josie had to be suckled by a maid who had given birth a few months ago, and she was tended to by her in the house. Maybe Josie did not see her as her mother. Then again she saw Fredric and recognized him instantly as her father…

"You are scowling again," Fredric said to her that night.

"What?" she said, not having noticed his arrival.

"Josie will come around, I promise."

"I am beginning to think she will not. I fear she takes after your mother…" Alcina covered her mouth, realizing what she had said. "Sorry."

Fredric placed a kiss to her cheek.

"It is all right."

"I am just frustrated. I have tried and tried, but I am gaining no progress with her."

"We will work on that until I depart again."

Those words stung her, her attention drifting back over to him. She knew nothing would change his mind to stay. To remain with her and not risk his life out there, but he was too full of pride. Too stubborn.

"Do not look so sad," he said, placing a kiss to her cheek again. "I am sorry this has all been so hard on you."

"I am so afraid for you," she said. "I am afraid I will receive a letter that you will not come home to me."

Fredric scooted closer to her, wrapping his strong arm around her thin frame.

"You need not be afraid for me," he said. "Despite being your idiot, I can handle myself fairly well."

"Fredric…"

"Forgive me," he said. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said, covering her mouth as she yawned. "It seems like I have not slept in years."

"I understand that," he said, releasing his hold on her and getting himself comfortable.

Alcina smiled at the feel of him. How long she had yearned to feel him beside her again. Even to hear his snoring. It did not take him long to fall asleep nor for Alcina.

{…}

The week went on and with it Alcina and Fredric worked together with Josie, though she was a stubborn customer. During their meals Josie would stop crying only if she was on her father's lap. She would attempt to eat whatever he was digging into.

Alcina watched with a faint smile, turning her sights on Helena who was seated beside her. The girl was clearly unhappy to see Josie receiving all the attention. Her blue eyes would land from Josie and then to her father with clear anger. Clearly the change of having a little sister and sharing her parents was difficult.

'Helena…'

Once they had finished lunch, Alcina went upstairs to play with Helena for an hour. Wanting to be sure she was getting one on one time with her while Fredric remained with Josie.

How happy Helena was to have her mother to herself. The two playing with her dolls, having a pretend tea party and Alcina permitting her to play dress up with some makeup and dresses.

"Mama?" Helena yawned, sitting now in Alcina's lap.

"What is it, my love?" she asked, carefully using a wet cloth to wipe away the remaining makeup from Helena's face.

"Do you and Daddy still love me as much as Josie?"

"We love you both equally," Alcina said. "I know it seems we are spending more time with Josie, but she is little, darling. Just as you needed the extra attention, Josie needs it now and eventually she will be able to do more things independently like you. Does that make sense?"

"I guess so…" Helena said.

Alcina puckered her lips slightly, casually setting down the cloth and then attacking her daughter with tickles.

Helena squealed out with laughter, wiggling frantically as she attempted to get away from her mother to no avail.

"Mama!"

Alcina started to laugh, slowly coming to a halt to allow her daughter to stand up and launch herself at her. Her thin arms wrapped tightly around her neck and kissing her cheek.

"I love you, Mother."

"I love you, too," Alcina whispered.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Fredric had been standing by the door listening in on them. Josie had fallen asleep and he had placed her down in the crib. His heart aching to know he would be leaving soon, but his cause was well worth it. He would protect his family. He would protect his country…

"Lord Fredric?"

"Phoebe," he smiled at the older woman. "What can I do for you?"

"Your mother is on the phone for you," she explained.

"Thank you," he said, walking towards the study with little enthusiasm. 'Hopefully she does not invite us over for dinner. Alcina will murder me,' he thought to himself, rubbing at the back of his neck as he entered into the room and closed the door.

Thirty minutes later and Fredric walked out with his head hanging.

'I will tell her after she has had a few glasses of wine in her…' he schemed, tiptoeing passed Helena's room and back downstairs.

It would be later in the evening would Fredric and Alcina be sitting in the living area, Fredric ensuring he grabbed the best vintage to tell Alcina of the news.

"Thank you," Alcina said, seated on the couch by the roaring fire in the hearth.

"I overheard you and Helena playing. It is good to hear her laughing."

"She is having some trouble adjusting to Josie's arrival," Alcina said, taking a sip of wine. "I can only imagine how she must feel to share. Being an only child, I never had to deal with sharing."

"I am sure Roderick felt the way Helena does when I had been born," Fredric said, deciding this was a good place to slowly slide in his conversation earlier with his mother.

"I think as long as I continue to give her one on one time, Helena will adjust and settle."

"I agree," he said, sitting beside her with one arm rested over her shoulders, taking a long drink of his wine. "In the end my brother and I were inseparable."

Alcina drank from her own glass to hide her reaction. Just the very mention of his side of the family made her shudder. She finished her glass off quickly, which Fredric was quick to refill it.

She eyed him over suspiciously. Knowing from experience he was hoping to play tonight, or he had something to tell her.

'Though from the way he is consuming the wine, I will wager he has something to tell me…' she thought. 'Please tell me he does not have to depart earlier than planned.' Now she was fearful to confront him. Dreading the worst case scenario, for what could possibly be worse than to hear that?

'She must know…' Fredric thought. 'Anytime she falls this silent means she is just waiting to unleash her wrath on me.' He took another sip of his wine, shooting a glance at his wife to observe her staring at the flames.

"What Fredric?" Alcina said, turning her gaze onto him.

"What, what?" he chuckled nervously.

"Do not play coy," she said.

"I am not playing coy," he said.

She scowled at him.

"Do not treat me like a child, I know you are hiding something from me."

"I—" she was not wrong. "I mean there is something I have to tell you."

She was still scowling at him, though despite the anger on her countenance, Fredric noted the obvious distress in her eyes. Did she think the news pertained to him leaving earlier than scheduled?

"My mother called earlier to inquire when I would pay her a visit. I told her I would see her tomorrow afternoon with you, Helena and Josie…" he said, reflexively shrinking away from her to prepare to be hit.

"So… so you are not leaving us then?" Alcina said.

"Not for another week," he said, slowly sitting back upright stunned to hear her start to laugh. "Alcina?" Both relief and the alcohol were having an effect on her as she placed a firm kiss to his lips. His mother forgotten in that moment as he set his glass down and kissed her back.

His wandering fingers sending fireworks through her body. Alcina quivered in want of him.

"You want to do it in here?" he whispered against her cheek.

"Yes," she said, gasping as he kissed up her neck.

"What if someone walks in?" he said.

"Everyone should be in bed now," Alcina growled. "But if you are so worried then go over and lock the doors."

Fredric did just that and removed his clothes at the same time. After he double checked, Fredric walked back over to the couch with a grin on his face.

Alcina motioning him over with her pointer finger… aggressively flipped him over so she could straddle him.

He groaned in pleasure, resting his hands on her hips as she settled into him and began to rock vigorously against him. His eyes never once leaving her beautiful face. The color of her cheeks a pretty red as the passion pumped through her.

"Fredric," she moaned, biting her bottom lip as he started to pump himself into her. "That's it…"

He continued to moan out, knowing he was going to release shortly. The woman always had the ability to make him squeal so easily.

Alcina giggled at him, watching as the beast within him was about to come out to play. His hips launching higher and higher into the air upon each thrust, penetrating further and further into her core. She cried out in pleasure, causing her to whip her head straight up to the ceiling.

She would not be defeated, though. Lowering herself down in order to place a firm kiss to his lips, she wrapped her arms around his muscular neck to allow him to work himself deeper into her.

'Fredric,' she sucked in a breath, raking her nails across his shoulder blades.

Smack!

Alcina tittered at the feel of him smack her bottom and firmly hold her cheeks in his hands.

He was headed towards the finish line. She could feel it…

"Fredric," she shuddered, leaning up and kissing him hard on the lips once more and then she felt him release. His final guttural groan like that of a great beast, making her body quiver uncontrollably, and then he dropped from underneath her, spent. "My love…"

"How was that?" he said a bit out of breath.

"Catch your breath, and I will tell you after we do it again…"