Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I promise it's true, milady," the werepanther smiled. "You may begin having a bit of morning sickness soon, so make sure you have your husband take good care of you. You're a bit on the older side for a mother, but we see no problems and of course we'll check in with you weekly."

 

[heartofcourage]

Beth was in shock as they promised that she was and she would soon be feeling the effects. All she could do was nod and thank them for their help. When they were gone, she made her way back to the keep and the moment that she was in the great hall, she burst into tears.

Julia, sitting next to the hearth with Brogan and Ciaran as the twins napped, saw her sister in law crying and glanced between the two of them. Soon, she was at Beth's side, wrapping her in a tight hug as she continued to sob.

"What's wrong, Beth?" She asked softly, watching as the woman shook her head and struggled to gather herself.

"Nothing. I just need Maxwell." Beth said, sniffling as she looked at her new family members.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran rose, letting his father take the girls. "I'll go get him," he said quickly, believing it was probably an emergency. He hurried out to get his horse.

Maxwell and Kate and the boys were eating lunch when Ciaran came riding out. "Uncle, Aunt Beth needs you!"

Max rose quickly. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, but she came into the hall and burst into tears saying she needed you."

Maxwell needed no more information, quickly climbing into his saddle. "I'll see you back at the keep," he said to his young family members before racing off.

 

[heartofcourage]

Beth was still crying as Julia got her to her room. There was little that she could do to calm her until Maxwell arrived, so she got her settled in the window seat that had been built for her to overlook the courtyard. A blanket was tucked around her legs and Julia had the keep cook prepare a mug of tea.

"Are you sure that you're alright?" Julia asked as she stood next to Beth, her heart aching with how distressed the woman was.

"Yes." Beth said with a nod of her head. "There's just something I have to talk to Maxwell about."

 

[KieranSoares]

It wasn't long before Maxwell burst in, hurrying to his wife and taking her hand and kneeling at her side. "What's wrong?" He asked breathlessly, looking terrified as he'd known she had seen the healers. He was imagining the worst.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia quietly left the room to give the both of them some privacy. Beth was a sobbing mess the moment that Maxwell took her hand. She soon had her arms wrapped around his neck, pressing her face against his neck and shoulder.

"I'm having a baby." She managed to whisper, trembling as the force of those words washed over her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Beth could feel Maxwell's body tense and his breath stop for a few seconds in her arms. Once he could move again, he drew back just enough to meet her gaze and she could see nothing but disbelief and shock in his own. He couldn't even speak, but she could see when that information truly registered and he realized it was really true, because tears began to fill his eyes and fell unhindered. He didn't care if he was crying in front of Beth for only the second time ever- the first having been after a doctor had told them they would probably never have children because Max's near-infertility.

Max finally choked out a few words after a long silence. "I'm... going to be a father...?" he whispered, not daring to speak them any louder should God decide to go back on the decision.

 

[heartofcourage]

Beth had seen Maxwell cry one time in their entire marriage. To see him cry now told her just how much he cared about the entire situation. She slowly nodded as he asked if he was going to be a father. It had been so long for the both of them and so much grief in the process to get to where they were right then.

"They said it's early, but it's happening. I'm old for a mother, but with care I should be fine." Beth murmured. "Maxwell, we did it."

 

[KieranSoares]

Max's arms wrapped Beth up in an adoring embrace, drawing her in so he could kiss her like she had just saved his life. In a way, she had. He rose from the kneel to sit beside her, holding her close against his side while his mine raced through all their struggle and what the future might hold. Finally he muttered, "I... I have no idea what to do or what to say." Even if tears stained his face, he was smiling and he was at a giddy loss for what to do.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We don't have to do anything." She murmured softly with a smile on her face as the tears continued to fall. "I'll want you home more, of course, but we can do whatever we please. Oh, Max...you have no idea what this means to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think it's safe to say you have no idea what it means to me either," he chuckled softly, kissing her once more as a smile came to his face. "I want to ride around the entire town and just... tell everyone. But I want to tell Julia most of all."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Can I give the baby a Scottish name?" Beth asked softly, looking at her husband with uncertainty. "Something strong and meaningful."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course you can, love," Max assured her. Early on in their marriage, they'd agreed that their children would know their Scottish heritage well, as Max wasn't proud of his own.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Really?" Beth asked with bright eyes as Maxwell told her that she could give the baby a Scottish name. "Thank you, love."

Beth kissed Maxwell then, letting him know just how much she cared about him and loved him with that kiss. She was so excited, scared, and hopeful. That baby would be the answer to so many things and bring together the family that both she and Maxwell had wanted so badly.

 

[KieranSoares]

When their lips parted, Max couldn't help the giddy grin on his face. "I have to tell Julia." She was really the only family he had left at the moment, as he wasn't close with her huge Scottish family. He also knew she'd felt so terrible for him despite his coldness, that he'd never had children. Not only did he want to share his family with her now, he wanted to let her know that he was going to be truly and completely happy.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Go on." Beth said as she placed another soft kiss against his lips and let Maxwell go on his way.

She would write a letter to her family later to share the news with them. They would be stunned, but happy for the both of them. She was just happy that Maxwell had someone that he could share their happy news with.

 

[KieranSoares]

Max was slow to leave her side, but once he did, he went straight to Julia. "Sister," he said softly. He was smiling like she'd never seen before, or at least not since they were small children and he wasn't caught up in his father's hard, grey world.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was rocking Heather to sleep, glancing towards Maxwell as he found her in a sunny spot of the keep. The little girl's dark head was heavy on her shoulder, telling her that she had long ago lost the battle. Julia kissed Heather's brow before she gave her attention towards Max.

"Things with Beth are alright?" She asked him, wondering what could have caused the woman to break down so hard.

 

[KieranSoares]

Max came to kneel by Julia, taking her free hand. So not to disturb Heather, he spoke softly. "She's just fine. She went to the tribal healers today... Julia, I'm going to be a father."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled as Maxwell told her that he was going to be a father. She reached out and touched his cheek, leaning in to kiss his forehead.

"Max...that is fantastic news. I know that you've waited a long time for the chance to be a father." Julia said softly as he held her hand and beamed like the sun.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's still early, but... I'm going to take care of Beth as best I can. This is as much her dream as mine." He kissed Julia's cheek, feeling the need to return to his wife. "We'll tell the others at dinner."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Go be with her, Max." Julia said as she saw the pull that her brother had to be back at his wife's side. "Enjoy these little moments together. She'll be sad sometimes, but all the love that you have to give to her will help get her through those hard times."

 

[KieranSoares]

Max kissed Julia's cheek before he hurried away back to Beth. The night from there was peaceful as could be, Max happy to be at Beth's side and the Ghis family all resting easily within friendly walls after having thought for so long that they wouldn't be welcome in Chester.

 

[heartofcourage]

The next morning, Julia woke lighthearted, but a little sad. She would be taking her family to her mother's grave that day and she knew the occasion was solemn, but she wanted her children and her husband to know about the woman that had cared for Julia when she was a child. It would be the first time she had been there since she had passed away and she was sure that it would be tough on her, but with Brogan by her side, she was prepared for whatever came her way.

 

[KieranSoares]

The children didn't have to be told to dress fairly nicely, and Rho and Sam spent an hour before breakfast gathering flowers for their mother to take to their grandmother's grave, much to her surprise.

Max emerged feeling lighter than usual, but also solemn with Beth at his side. He'd loved his mother after his father put her aside, because she had bloomed into a much brighter woman once she had gotten over the feelings of abandonment and betrayal, and turned into a more lively, more joyful person altogether once she was able to live life for herself.