Field of Poppies

1919-1924: Epilogue

(Wow three years really pass by in a blur. Thanks to everyone who kept asking about this fic. I never forgot about it I just was never sure what to do with it. I'm glad to finally put it to rest. Enjoy.)

TW death

The Shelbys celebrated the last year of the decade and one of the most profitable years they had yet. But the celebration was short-lived when the bitter, gray freeze settled in. It would only get colder and darker when Martha went into labor early one morning.

Polly knew from the start something was wrong. But she tried not to raise the alarm too early on. The last thing they needed was for Martha to be worried while in labor.

But Amelia could tell. Polly continued to give worried looks and was strangely quiet despite the situation.

Four hours into the labor, Polly pulled John aside in the hallway. The young man listened quietly as his aunt advised calling a doctor.

Meanwhile, Amelia was sitting by Martha's side, holding her hand. "I know Polly's not telling me something."

"She's just trying to move things along as smoothly as possible," Amelia reassured her sister-in-law.

"No." Martha shook her head. She was growing weaker by the second. Her face was ghostly pale. "Something's wrong."

"No, you'll be okay." Amelia squeezed her hand.

Martha shuddered out a breath and stared up at the ceiling. Tears pricked at her eyes. "I never told anyone this..." she whispered.

Amelia moved closer to hear her. "Never told anyone what?"

"The Appleby Fair...years ago." She swallowed and closed her eyes. "One of the girls read my fortune. They said if my third child was a daughter, I wouldn't survive the birth."

A cold chill ran down Amelia's spine. "Y-you don't really believe that do you?"

Martha wheezed out a laugh. "It seems like it's coming true."

"No, stop saying that." Amelia's heart lurched in her chest.

"Mel," John said as he came in through the door. "The doctor's here."

Amelia went to give them space, but Martha's hand clamped down on her with the last dregs of energy she had left. She pulled Amelia close and whispered, "Tell John to love again."

"Marty..." Amelia began to cry. Tommy came up behind her and gently guided her out of the room. "No, Tom, she can't..."

He didn't say anything. He just wrapped his arms around her and held her close in the hallway.

It was the quietest labor Amelia had ever heard. Martha hardly made any noise. It was John who screamed.

Amelia went to follow him as he rushed outside of the flat. But Polly stopped her. She held a tiny bundle in her arms.

"Is she..."

There was a faint whining from the blankets.

Polly gently placed the baby in Amelia's arms. "She bled out." Her eyes welled with tears, but the woman tried to stay strong. "I have to speak to the doctor. Please keep her warm, we'll feed her soon."

Amelia felt numb as she cradled her niece to her chest. She moved to the window and saw John crumpled on the ground. Tommy and Arthur were crouched next to him. They were both speaking but she couldn't hear them over John's wails.