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"Veronica, how is Emma feeling?"
"I'm sorry Sir Danvers, she's not good at all. Her fever's not gone down since she came home this evening."
"How about the bleeding? Has it lightened?"
"Yes, but not as much as we'd all like to see. She hasn't been complaining about the cramps as she was earlier, though. Sir?" she asked in a small voice.
"What?"
"There isn't much more that I alone can do, Sir Danvers. I've been applying the cool compresses, and making sure her bed clothes are tended to, but...if she worsens, she could need medication. I can't do anything about that."
"I know. I'll be sending for my physician...thank you..." he said, sounding as though he was hardly paying attention.
"Maybe you should go sit with her. It may do her some good to see your face."
"I will. Is Edward asleep?"
"No, Margaret was just tending to him a minute ago. He's been up for the past three hours. We can't seem to get him to sleep. I assume it's because he wants his mother, but she's in no condition to be handling a child right now. Maybe in the morning if she's feeling up to it." He was already in Emma's bedroom before he caught the tail end of Veronica's statement. Emma was sound asleep as her son lay in his crib next to her bed. After placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, he went to his grandson, and lifted him as gently as he could in to his arms.
"You're the lucky one, sweetheart..." he whispered to the small infant, who actually smiled the very moment he settled into his grandfather's arms. Danvers rocked him back and forth, never taking his eyes off of Edward's. He tracked his soft cheek gently with the pointer finger of his free hand, and the baby grabbed hold of it so quickly, and with such strength, "Just like your father, I see..." he said, "....I do suppose that's not bad in all cases, is it? Just do me one small favor. Listen to your grandfather, will you? Stay away from all things related to the medical field and any other sciences. Be like your daddy's friend, Mr. Utterson, okay? A nice, wealthy lawyer. Save yourself and your mother the aggravation..."
"Do you think he understands you?"
"Oh, Emma love, I was just...bonding with my little friend here."
"I can see that," she replied with a smile. He placed the baby back in his crib, and then went to Emma's side. "How do I look? Be honest."
"Very pale...and very tired..."
"That sounds about right."
"What am I going to do with you, my darling? When I mentioned going to see Henry, I meant once you were feeling better, not three days after--"
"Daddy, I'll be fine."
"I hope so, Emma, I hope so. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."
"This is God's way of telling me to stay in bed...and that's just what I intend to do..." she said groggily.
"I should think so. In all seriousness Emma...the last thing you need is anymore stress or aggravation. Your health and the health of this child is most important right now."
"And Henry? How is Henry?"
"Sweetheart, let's not discuss him right now, alright? It only gets you all the more worked up."
"Stop being so overprotective of me. I'm a grown woman, not a child."
"Sometimes I forget..."
"Henry...how is he, father? I must know if I can have hope of any getting rest."
"Why all this sudden interest?"
"When I went to see him today...after not seeing him for so long and after seeing the mental and physical state that he was in, I felt like such a horrible person for hurting him even more."
"I know, Emma."
"There's a part of me that feels it may be best to break away from him...but I love him too much, and now we have a son to raise. God knows Edward needs him just as much as I do. I only pray he recovers..."
"Speaking of a recovery, I have wonderful news, as odd as that may sound at the present time. It seems as though Henry's father has recovered." her eyes widened, "Minutes after I had left them, he awoke from his sleep, and apparently is doing very well."
"Then the drug does work. The governors will have to let him come home once he's well again."
"That's what we're hoping for."
"And I can finally meet him for the first time. I can hug him tight and thank him for bringing my Henry into this world."
"I'm sure he'll like that. My little girl....I'm so happy you haven't given up hope."
"I had, but never again. We'll start anew once this mess is taken care of. Henry will come back to us, we'll be married, and...lord have mercy..." she said, sounding surprised.
"Are you alright, love?"
"I just felt a terrible pain in my stomach."
"Cramps? From your...um..problem?"
"I think it's a hunger pain, actually. I haven't eaten anything but a small bowl of soup in the past two and half days."
"Oh, well, I'll have Veronica bring something up. What would you like? Nothing too heavy, right? Perhaps some tea? Toast? Tea, that sounds good."
"...and the toast, please."
"This is a good sign. You have your appetite back."
"It's not a big one, mind you. Just something light to settle my stomach." At that very second, little Edward began to cry. Emma stretched as far as she could to see him. "I hate the sound of that."
"Like I said, Emma, babies cry. If you want to have a family, you'll have to get used to it." He said, rising from his spot beside her and moving quickly to pick the baby up.
"It's not that I can't tolerate it...he just sounds so sad. I'm tired of always being surrounded by sadness, that's all."
"I know, my love, but he's only crying because he wants to be in his mother's arms." She stared at the little bundle and tears filled her eyes. "Darling, have you even held him yet?" she didn't answer, "Emma?"
"Once. Right after he was born, but it was only for a moment. Then Veronica took him away, and told me it wasn't safe to handle him because I was so weak. He's been lying next to me since...and I couldn't even touch him..."
"Well, you're lying in bed right now, so I think it's pretty safe, don't you?" he said with a smile. He walked over and placed Edward in Emma's trembling arms, then sat down on the bed once more. "You both look beautiful together. I think we have a match." She was still very weak, but the moment she held Edward in her arms, Emma felt as though she had all the strength in the world. She giggled a bit, still with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I believe we do."