Mistaken Consequences

Chapter 29: Family: Part III

With Vera's latest round of tears dried, Hamish helped her back into bed. She was exhausted, something she'd finally admitted out loud but he'd been able to see for hours. Once he had her settled on her side, her body supported by half a dozen pillows in various places, he pulled his chair back to the side of her bed so he could take her hand.

Determined not to cause her any more unneeded stress, Hamish tried to focus on just keeping Vera calm and relaxed. He held onto one of her hands, using the other to lightly trace over her arms and shoulder or brush back the strands of hair that had come free from the knot she'd tied it in.

He'd tell her stories and, when she had the breath for it, she'd ask questions. He told her about his family. His dad, the big shot lawyer who wanted his sons to follow in his footsteps. His mom, so unbelievably brilliant herself but always trapped in his father's shadow, forcing herself to be content as the rich lawyer's wife hosting and organizing social events for the rest of the wealthy upper class. The sixteen-year-old brother that he barely knew, having been sent off to an elite boarding prep school before his brother was old enough to attend kindergarten.

Vera seemed to enjoy the distraction and knowing that her own family had all passed on, he understood. He was providing Lily with a family, something Vera couldn't, or rather didn't realize she already had. Hamish still didn't fully understand how Vera had come to be so broken, but she didn't seem to recognize the family that was there, waiting to support her if she'd let them.

Vera didn't see the half a dozen Knights and disciples waiting for her down the hall, and Hamish knew there'd be more of them if word got out that she was here.

There was Kepler, who kept showing up, as hard as Vera pushed against her. He'd seen the bag on Kepler's shoulder when she'd arrived. She'd come prepared to stay, prepared to help however she could.

And there was Philip, who'd come out of retirement to help Vera with Temple duties until she could select a replacement. Hamish could smell sickness on the man, cancer maybe, and he suspected Vera didn't yet know. It wasn't his place to tell her, but it was clear the old Magus loved Vera like a daughter and would do anything to help her.

Hamish was in the middle of telling her a story about the time his brother had locked him out of the house as a child, thinking he was a robber – it wasn't as funny as he remembered, once he started telling it – when Vera abruptly began changing positions.

Hamish stopped his story mid-word and stood up so he could better support her until she was up on her knees, leaning down to hug the pillow she was muffling her groans into. Hamish sat down on the bed beside her and rubbed her back.

He kept talking, reciting one of the philosophy lectures he could give in his sleep. What he said didn't seem to matter so much as his steady, continual voice beside her while she worked through the most intense contractions.

Vera sank back onto her heels when it was over and gave him a tired, miserable look, before shifting an inch so she could lean against him. Hamish wrapped an arm around her and continued rubbing her back.

"Will you sit with me?" she murmured, her breaths coming slow and measured against the nape of his neck.

"I'm with you," he answered, before realizing that probably wasn't what she meant. "...or you mean... yeah. I've got you."

He had to wait for her to finish leaning on him through the next contraction, but then he moved up to the head of the bed, reaching behind himself to pile the pillows up with one hand. His other hand stayed grasped in hers.

Once he was settled, Vera crawled the couple steps towards him. His hands settled lightly against her, easing her around so she could sit again and then helping her scoot backward until she could lean against his chest. Her eyes fell shut before her head lolled to the side, her breath warm against his neck.