Broken Soldier ~ Assassin's Creed 4

Chapter Thirty

I had been home for a month now, and still no word from Edward. I was worried he had forgotten about me or something like that, and began thinking the worst. Perhaps he had been killed in battle, or his ship had sunk. Whatever the reason was, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt in my chest. I had clearly said something for him to not write me. I felt awful.

I had also been feeling sick constantly since the day I got home. I figured I must have eaten something strange, and let it pass. A doctor visited me, however, and told me that that was simply the case. Nothing to worry about, and I knew for certain that I couldn't have been pregnant, which was something Daniel took great pride in scolding me for. Once the doctor had indeed confirmed that I was not expecting a child, Daniel stopped yelling at me constantly. I was given a few herbal teas which would help with my nausea and told that it would go away in a couple of months.

However, Martin and I had been discussing having a child. Neither of us were ready just yet, but we knew it was something we both wanted. I had always wanted to have a large family, just like my mother, with about three or four children. From a very young age, I had planned out the names of my children and where I would want them to live. I would quite like to live back in London, just as I did as a very young child, purely because it would remind me of my father.

Delia is expecting her child in the next couple of days, and so a doctor had to stay very close by at all times. A male doctor was now staying in a guest room at the house, on hand in case Delia went into labour. She complained of stomach pains quite often, explaining that they felt like when she would accidentally prick herself with a need during her sewing lessons, but a hundred times worse. The doctor guessed it was almost time, and insisted on her staying in bed.

Just this morning, we received a very panicked yell from upstairs. Delia was screaming for us, and we all sprinted to her. Julien had also begun staying with us to help Delia through the birth. My mother, my two other sisters, Julien and I were the first ones to reach her bedroom. She was bent over her bed, clutching her stomach and writhing with pain. She let out another yell and her knees gave way. She fell to the carpet. The doctor rushed in and helped her back to the bed. He ordered us to fetch towels, warm water, blankets and baby clothes. It was time.

"Mrs Blanchard, you will need to start pushing when I tell you, alright? Do not try to push before I say. Now, do you think you could lift up you hips so I can put this towel underneath?" Julien helped her to move her hips and the towel was placed down. "Very good. I will just check where the baby is." The doctor pulled out a strange cone from his bag and pressed the large side to Delia's stomach. He then pushed his ear onto the smaller section. Delia screeched again. "The baby is well on its way. How long have you been in pain for?"

"She was awake at around three o'clock this morning." Julien stated. He then turned to his wife. "Did it start then?" She nodded.

"It was dull then. Just uncomfortable." She panted.

"I will leave you to it. I doubt you want to be crowded." I patted her hand supportively. She nodded.

"Thank you, Elisa." I left the room quickly and jogged down the stairs. Martin was at the bottom of them, a horrified look on his face. I reached him and he dropped the sack of apples in his hands and embraced me.

"I thought you were in pain. I felt awful for not being there. I was worried that someone was attacking you. An intruder." He whispered, then let me go. "What is happening?"

"Delia is in labour. The doctor is with her and I thought it best not to overwhelm her at this point in time." He hummed in agreement. "It is so exciting. I am going to be an aunt."

"And I an uncle." He grinned. We both laughed, and shared a celebratory hug. "You know, that could be us up there soon. Waiting to meet our child. A life we created."

"Not too soon, Martin. I would not want for mother to have two young babies in the house at one time. Could you imagine the noise they would create together?" He chuckled.

"Yes, probably not the best idea."

"I am still very willing to have children, mind you. In fact, I cannot wait. But the time is not right. Perhaps we should at least wait until we are married. We would need to speak with Daniel about it first. You know how he is with these things, and the telling off I got with that sickness scare."

"I too was a victim." His face turned a deep crimson. "I shouldn't want to get on his bad side any time soon..."

"Oh, I just remembered something!"

"What?"

"I still have that soft bear we bought the other week. Come, we can quickly leave it in the room." The screams were still ringing out through the house, and they were louder now. I figured that Delia must have started pushing to be in that much pain.

Martin and I entered Delia's room once the only thing to be heard was the gentle crying of a baby. We stepped inside, and watched as the doctor cleaned the baby with the warm water and a few left over towels. He dressed the child and then folded a blanket over its body. He laid the baby down on Delia's chest, where she laughed, tears streaming down her face.

"It's a girl. Congratulations." The doctor smiled. Delia brushed the child's hand with one finger, and the hand wrapped tightly around her little finger immediately. The crying had ceased, and all that could be heard was the gentle cooing and squeaking sounds a baby usually makes. I stepped forward to see my niece, welling up at how beautiful she was. Her hair was an orange colour, and her face was dotted with small freckles. She opened her eyes and the blue orbs sparkled in the light of the candles.

"You are beautiful." Delia whispered. "Your father and I have been waiting so long to meet you, Evelyn." I smiled. A gorgeous name. I set the bear down beside the child.

"My first grandchild." My mother spoke in a high pitched voice. She was beginning to cry as well. Martin looped his arm around my shoulders.

"A tiny miracle, Delia." Martin whispered gently. Julien then picked up his child. The baby stirred slightly, making a noise which resembled a creaking door, before settling into the shape of her father's loving arms.

"She has your eyes." Delia mumbled.

"But she is the spitting image of her mother. A perfect beauty. She will grow up into a loving home with caring aunts and uncles and grandparents and parents. No one will let anything hurt you, sweetheart." A tear dropped from his eye.

"Have you decided on her full name?" Caroline asked.

"Evelyn Meredith Blanchard." Delia smiled. I squealed, and hugged her tightly.

"Her name is so lovely." I sniffed, holding back more tears.

"Come, we need to let them rest. Delia and Evelyn especially." My mother slowly ushered us out of the room. I kissed Martin's cheek once we had left.

"That will be us one day." I muttered.

"I await that day with great anticipation, my dear."

I hoped to have a baby boy first, so that he might grow up to look after and protect his younger sisters. Two girls and one boy. That was my ideal family. Delia had only wanted one child since she was old enough to understand. She also wanted a girl, so she got what she asked for. She was completely content, and I could only hope that Martin and I would have that same feeling in a couple of years.