Kanthony Imagines

edmund's arrival

"Oh, my god."

Anthony heard his voice, and it didn't sound like him. The words echoed in the room as he stared down at his wife, who was currently lying on the bed with her hand still clutching his. 

Cries filled the air. 

"A boy," announced the doctor, as the new arrival was wrapped in warm cloth. "Congratulations, Lord Bridgerton." 

Anthony nodded his head, but he didn't really feel it. He felt out-of-body, as though this was a surreal dream. He was a father. It was incredible. A son. He would be, to this tiny person, what his own father had been to him. An inspiration. A role model. It terrified him, but at the same time, he couldn't wait. 

He brushed his thumb over the back of Kate's knuckles. "You did so well," he said, soothingly. Her eyes had fluttered closed from exhaustion, but she still offered him a weak smile. 

"May I hold him?" Kate asked. The nurse handed her the small bundle, and within thirty seconds the crying had ceased, and their son was sound asleep. Kate's face immediately lit up with adoration. It made Anthony's heart melt. "Why, hello," Kate whispered, "welcome to the world, little Edmund."

Anthony's entire world was set out before him; Kate, the woman he loved with every fibre of his being, with their son in her arms. He knelt beside the bed and touched the back of Edmund's head tenderly.
Kate smiled at the sight, and said quietly, "Hold him, Anthony."

He glanced up at her, and only then did the two of them truly understand that they had both made this human being. He was theirs, and this was the beginning of their own small family. During that gaze, both of their hearts swelled in size. 

Anthony carefully took his son from Kate's arms, cradling his head in the crook of his arm. He wondered if Edmund was aware of how much he was loved, despite only being present in the world for about five minutes. 

"Edmund, you have no idea how busy you will be in the coming weeks," he murmured, gently rocking his arms. "Visits from a Duke and a Duchess, and your grandmother is waiting impatiently outside this very room-"

At that second, Violet Bridgerton burst in. "I heard from the doctor that it is a boy."

Anthony smiled; even when somebody else said it, he couldn't believe it. "Indeed."

Violet came towards the bed, her eyes welling with tears at the sight of Anthony holding his newborn son. It reminded her of her late husband, and how he had connected with Anthony right away. He was the first person Anthony had smiled at as a baby.

Kate propped herself up against the pillows, her cheeks regaining colour. She was exhausted, but didn't want to miss a second of this; of the first few moments with Edmund. She wanted the image of Anthony holding their newborn son to remain in her mind forever.

"Everyone is waiting outside," Violet said. "I did not want to overwhelm Kate by allowing them all in with me."

"That's very kind of you," Kate smiled, "but I do want to see everyone. I'm sure they would all like to meet the little one."

"Then we shall announce the name," Anthony said quietly, sending Kate a wry smile. 

Violet prised open the door and gestured to the crowd who were on the other side of it, and then the entire family began piling in, with the exceptions of Hyacinth and Gregory (who had been told they would meet the baby later). Anthony's expression switched from serene to alarmed, and instantly he glanced over at Kate to make sure she was alright. She nodded briefly, giving him a reassuring smile. She found it endearing how much he cared about her, how often he would check to make sure she was alright.