A Twist In Time

Letters and Lullabies

"Sorry I'm late," I called coming into the kitchen and dropping my basket on the table and Katie ran to me, throwing her arms around my legs.

"How's Merry?" Polly asked, settling Edward down as he started to fuss in her arms. He stumbled his way to me, unsteady on his feet as he tried to push Katie away.

"She's getting quite sick, which is unusual in the fifth month of pregnancy." I picked up Edward as he reached up for me squealing. "The lady at the market told me to give her ginger tea, but she couldn't even hold it down."

"Is she eating?"

"She's been picking at her meals. I think she's afraid she'll be sick. I've told her to eat throughout the day, even if it's a little. I was told that could help," I said, walking over to the kettle and filling it as Edward clung to the rune necklace Pops gave me.

"I've got a tea that might do her some good." Polly frowned as she thoughts, stopping on her way to the betting den. "I'll pop round this evening and give it to her. Perhaps getting her to go out on your walks would help. Being shit up ain't no good for her."

"I'll get her to come when I take the children down to the park tomorrow."

"Make sure she doesn't get too cold though," Polly warned, giving me a look before entering the betting den, closing the door behind her.

Polly wasn't the sort of woman you would expect to care about a pregnant woman that left her husband, but she seemed fond of Merry. The five weeks we'd been here must have worn her down to us. It might have also helped that Merry was clueless about anything to do with pregnancy and clung to Polly's words of advice.

"We got a letter from my daddy!" Mary exclaimed, thrusting said letter in my face, causing Edward to grumble in annoyance.

"That's great! Shall we write back to him?" I looked over to Finn, who was sitting at the table, a letter in his hands. "Do you want to write back, Finn? Who sent you your letter?"

"Tommy," he mumbled, his frown deepening as he glared at his letter. "I can't read it."

"Oh, well, in that case, I can help you read it and then we'll write back to Tommy and then I can teach you how to read and write," I told him, grabbing some paper and crayons for the younger children. "Why don't you draw a picture for daddy, he'd love it." I set the crayons on the table and turned to Finn, giving him a soft smile. "Let me settle Edward and then we can start on your letter."

Finn gave a small shrug and turned his attention to the window, a look of sadness on his face.

Cradling Edward in my arms, I walked into the shared room John's kids had and rocked him in my arms as I arranged his crib. Grabbing his teddy, I tucked it between him and my chest and covered him in his blanket before settling in the rocking chair by the window, closing the curtain.

"Time for you to sleep now, Little Bear," I whispered, pressing a kiss to his head as I started humming to him, rocking him close to my chest. He gurgled in my arms, trying to fight me, so I adjusted my arms and ran my hand through his hair. "Once there was a way, to get back homeward. Once there was a way, to get back home. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby." I stroked my fingers over the bridge of his nose, smiling softly as he turned his face into my chest, snuggling his teddy. "Golden slumbers fill your eyes, smiles awake you when you rise. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby. And I will sing a lullaby." His eyes drifted as I sang to him softly, his fingers clenching around my thumb as I brought his hand up to my lips. "Once there was a way, to get back homeward. Once there was a way, to get back home. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby." I slowly rose, rocking him gently as I settled him into his crib, tucking the blankets over him. He moaned, his fingers gripping tighter to me as I caressed his face, singing softly again. "Golden slumbers fill your eyes, smiles awake you when you rise. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby." I hummed the last line a few more times until his grip loosened and I moved away, watching him for a few seconds before leaving the room, keeping the door slightly ajar.