Little House on the Prairie Prequel Story. "Mary."

Chapter One

Laura narrates: "It was the Summer of 1864. Ma and Pa were married and happily living in our little house in the big woods. Pa worked hard to build a life for him and Ma, and it was a constant struggle for them. But their love kept them strong. Then one day, their lives were about to change again when Ma announced their family was about to get a whole lot bigger." 

A young Caroline Ingalls is busy preparing supper when a young Charles Ingalls walks through the door. "Hi, darling." He says. Caroline responds with. "You're home early. I've barely started supper." He comes up behind her and gives her a kiss and then replies. "I know. I can't stay long, I just came by to tell you I'm gonna be a little late for supper again." A look of disappointment comes across Caroline's face as she says.  "Charles, that's the third time this week." Charles then explains to her. "I know and I'm sorry, darling. It's just this job is taking a lot longer than we thought. It's only for a couple more days, and it's gonna earn us a great deal of money." She sighs and says.  "Well. Alright." He smiles and gives her another kiss. She can't help but smile back as Charles then asks her. "So, how was your day?" She gives a knowing smile as she replies. "It was fine. I went to see the doctor today." "Oh, about those dizzy spells you've been having?" He asks. She nods. "Mm-hm."

He then asks her as he washes his hands and face in a bowl of water. "What did the doctor say it was?" "Well, he said it was nothing to worry about and that I was in perfect health." She tells him. Charles dries his hands on a towel as he responds. "See, what'd I tell ya?" He then looks over at Caroline slicing apples and asks. "Whatcha making?" "Apple fritters." She says. "I know how much you love them." "Mmm-hm." He then remarks. "And nobody makes them better than you do." She smiles and he grabs an apple slice and eats it when he notices a little yellow blanket hanging over the chair. "What's this?" He asks as he picks up the blanket. "Oh, it's a blanket I knitted, I finished it just yesterday." She replies. "Do you like it?" "Well, it's beautiful, but I think it's a little small, don't you?" He says with a bit of a chuckle. She gives a contemplative look as she responds. "Well.." Charles then remarks. "It looks more like something a baby would use." He chuckles. She smiles as she says. "Yes. Our child could really use it, especially during those cold winter months." Charles seems to have his mind elsewhere as he says. "Mm-hm." He then grabs another apple slice and tells her. "Well, I better be heading back. I'll see you tonight." He gives her a kiss. "Love you." He says and then heads out the door. 

A few seconds later, he quickly comes back in again and says in exasperation. "Our what!?" Caroline turns around and says with a smile. "Well, we certainly don't want the baby to freeze now do we?" Charles stands there in bewilderment and then it hits him and he then says as he takes a step closer to her.  "Are you telling me…what I think you're telling me?" She nods her head. A big smile spreads across his face as he then hurries over to her and embraces her. He then asks with his voice trembling. "N..n..now, you're not fooling me now?" She gives a soft giggle as she shakes her head. "No." "Are you sure?" He asks. She nods. He then asks again. "You're really sure?" She nods again. He lets out a joyful. "Woo!!!" He then lifts her up off the ground and spins her around. Caroline laughs as she says. "Charles!" "Oh." He puts her back down again. "I probably shouldn't do that. I'm sorry." He smooths out the side of her hair. "I..I just can't believe it." He then says with excitement. "We've gotta tell our folks, come on." He grabs her arm and starts to pull her towards the door, but she stops and says. "Charles, Ma and Pa are the ones who brought me to the doctor. They already know." "Yeah, but we gotta tell mine." He says. She then asks. "Well, what about the job?" "What job?" He says and she giggles. He then suddenly remembers and says. "Oh, right, later then. How about tonight? We'll get the whole family together. We've gotta celebrate. What do you say?" "Alright." She says.  "Good." He's nearly in tears now as he puts his hand up to the side of her face and tells her. "Caroline Ingalls, I love you." She smiles and responds back with. "I love you. Now, go on, you don't want to keep them waiting." "You're right." He says and gives her another kiss. He then tells her with a big smile on his face. "We're gonna be a family." He then turns and heads out the door as Caroline smiles. 

Charles is unable to concentrate on the job he's working as he can't stop thinking about the news Caroline told him earlier. He manages to get through the rest of the day and then later on that night, he has supper with Caroline along with his parent's, Lansford and Laura and Caroline's parents, Frederick and Charlotte. They are all gathered around the dinner table as Charlotte looks at Charles and asks him. "Well, Charles, how does it feel knowing you're going to be a father?" "I can't even begin to tell you. I couldn't be happier." He replies. Lansford speaks up and says. "I can bear witness to that. You should have seen him come a runnin over to me and mama, scared us half to death. He looked like a mad man." They all chuckle. Charles then apologizes. "I'm sorry, Pa." Laura then says to Charles. "Oh, nevermind all that. We couldn't be happier for you, dear." Charles smiles as he says. "Thanks, Ma." Laura then asks. "So, are there any guesses as to what it might be?"

Frederick speaks up and says. "I'll betcha it's gonna be a boy." Charlotte shakes her head and says. "Oh, Frederick." He looks at her and says. "What? I already have the perfect name...Freddie." She gives him an annoyed smirk. Lansford then speaks up and says. "Well, I think the son should carry on the family name, don't you?" "He will be." Frederick says. Lansford responds with. "I meant the name Ingalls." Frederick then says. "And what's wrong with Holbrook?" Charles and Caroline exchange glances at one another and try not to laugh as Lansford replies. "Nothing. It's just the boy would be an Ingalls, not a Holbrook." Frederick then asks. "Well, why can't he be both?" Laura then speaks up and says. "Would you two old fools stop? That child could also be a girl you know." Frederick then tells her. "Well, they can name her after one of you then, how's that?" Charlotte then says. "Why don't we let them decide on what the name should be? After all, the baby won't even be here for another six months." Frederick looks at her as he responds. "You're right, dear." Laura then remarks. "Besides, I'm sure there'll be plenty more babies for you to be named after in the future." They chuckle as Caroline gives an uneasy smile. 

After supper, Charles and Caroline's parents head into the living room and converse with one another while Caroline is out on the porch looking up at the night sky. Charles makes his way outside to find her as he comes up behind her and says. "I thought I'd find you out here." She turns around. "Oh." Charles then says to her. "With all the excitement going on, it took me about a minute to realize you were gone." She looks down as she says. "I'm sorry." He smiles as he responds. "It's fine." He walks up next to her and then asks her. "Whatcha doing out here?" 

"I just needed some fresh air." She tells him. He gives a look of concern and then asks. "You feeling alright? You were kinda quiet at dinner." She continues to look down as she replies. "I'm fine." "Hey." He says as he leans back against the railing and tilts his head toward her. "If it's about what they said in there, your Ma's right, you know. It is our decision on what our child's name will be." "I know. It's not that." She says. "Then, what is it then?" He asks. "Well." She hesitates. Charles turns her around and lifts her head up to face him and says. "Come on, what is it?" She then tells him. "It's more about what your Ma said about us having more children. I know that having children was something we had talked about, even before we were married, but now that it's finally happening, I'm.." "You're scared." He says. She nods. "Yes."

He smiles as he then says to her. "Caroline, that is a perfectly normal feeling to have." "It just seems like everything's happening so fast." She tells him. "I haven't even had time to take a breath." "I know, it's a big change for us." He says. "And it's not gonna be easy, but I know we can do it." She gives a small smile and he then says to her. "Hey, you know something? I've been telling you how happy this baby has made me, but I haven't once thought to ask you how you're feeling." She responds with. "Oh, Charles, I'm as happy as you are." He puts his arms around her waist as he responds. "That's good, because there's no one else in the world I'd want to share this life with." She smiles and he kisses her. He then takes her hands and tells her as he nods his head towards the door. "And don't pay any attention to them in there. You know how parents are." She then remarks. "It makes you wonder if we'll be just like them someday." "I really hope not." He says and they both give a soft chuckle. He then says to her. "Why don't we head back inside now, huh?" "Alright." She says and he puts his arm around her and they head back inside the house.