Chapter Text
8 months later,
Kate cried out as Thomas came inside her again. she grabbed ahold of the desk, being careful not to fall forward and hit her very pregnant belly on the edge. Fortunately, her husband had already foreseen this and had his hand there to protect her and their baby. Thomas exhaled and kissed her neck. “You ok sweetheart?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He carefully extracted himself from her and turned her to face him. she moaned as he kissed her on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. Oh, how she loved being with him. Thomas always thought of her comfort and tried different angles to ensure that not only was she comfortable, but the baby was safe.
“You are so beautiful, Kate.”
She sticks out her lower lip. “I look huge and you know it.”
Thomas shakes his head. “No. You look so f**king beautiful. I’m proud to call you my wife.”
Tears prickled in her eyes. “Damn you and the nice things you say to me at times.”
He ignored her tears, used to her hormones being a complete mess. Per Thomas’s promise, when the two of them returned from their honeymoon, Kate was indeed pregnant. That had been the final piece of the puzzle to mending fences with his family. Life had settled down since then. Thomas had become more of a father to Charlie and he’d started taking care of their unborn child by making sure that the nursery was fully stocked with every comfort that a newborn needed or required. He looked after her as well, looked over her and cared for her, making sure that she had everything that she needed. Kate joked that he guarded her like he she had gold inside her instead of a baby. He’d stated that it was pretty much the same thing.
After a few gentle kisses, he asked. “Did you sleep well last night?”
Kate shook her head. “No.”
He exhaled as he placed his hand on her belly. “You’re still in your nightdress. Why don’t you crawl back into bed and close your eyes for an hour?”
She hesitated. “I should see Rosemary and Charlie---
He shakes his head. “I’ll let them know that you’re tired. They understand.” She yawned and he placed her hand on the small of her back. “Come on, back to bed sweetheart.”
She shakes her head in protest as she does as he says. “You’re so bossy.”
He snorts. “I’ll work from my desk, in case you need me.”
Thomas had brought up another desk to his room. When Kate was seven months pregnant, she flat out refused to descend the stairs, not wanting to risk a fall on the stairs and have a miscarriage. Rosemary and Charlie had been very understanding. Their lives had changed as well. While both were excited about a baby coming, things had changed. Rosemary was now going to school, something she’d hated at first, but she’d adjusted to it. Thomas, vetted every single person in the school and every student. Kate hadn’t chided him about his overprotectiveness, knowing that it came from a place of love.
Tommy and Rosemary got on well, almost too well. Rosemary had take on the role of younger sister too well and she enjoyed pranking and teasing Tommy. Charlie, was such a happy boy. Tommy said he wouldn’t send him to school for another five years, so Charlie was being tutored privately here. Charlie hated it, well most boys his age hated any kind of schooling but Thomas was very adamant about all the children getting a good education.
“There you go.” Thomas said as he drew the covers back for her. “Can you get in the bed?”
“Yes, but,” she exhales as she asks him. “did I tell you that I love you, today?”
He tilts his head. “Yes, when we woke up.”
She smiled. “So I did. Well, I love you still Mr. Shelby.”
“Same, Mrs. Shelby.”
Thomas leaned forward to kiss her…at the exact moment her water broke. “Oh!!” Kate pulled away and stared up at him. He glanced down at the floor, his countenance growing still as he realized what happened. “My water broke.”
He exhaled. “About damn time!”
If her dear husband had been counting, he'd know that she was a few weeks early, but, the doctor had assured her that it was perfectly normal when one was carrying twins.
However, nearly 12 hours later, Thomas was starting to have his doubts that Kate would actually give birth to his son. At least, Polly said it was a son. Not that it’d f**king matter to him! He just wanted his wife and baby to be safe! In spite of their anticipation to having a baby, he was now regretting his decision in knocking up his goddess of a wife so fast. If there were any complications, he didn’t think that he could bear it.
He didn’t think he’d ever see the day that he’d started wishing that John Carter were back because despite his dislike of the man, he was a good doctor. The doctor they had now was good, but he wasn’t Carter. By a strange twist of fate, somehow, Lizzie had begun corresponding with Doctor Carter. Kate had given her some tea and Lizzie had asked for John’s address. Lizzie had written to him, requesting some more for herself and inquiring as to the cost for an assortment of teas. John had simply sent a crate of multiple tea to her. That prompted additional responses. Time passed and next thing Thomas knew, Lizzie had quit her job and was visiting John in India. Kate said that John’s correspondence was slowing, so his focus was on something else or rather, someone else. The last month her suspicions were confirmed. Lizzie had written to tell Thomas that she wasn’t returning. She was going to marry John Carter, to Kate’s delight. Thomas, however, was out of a secretary, which had him beyond pissed.
The door opened and Polly exhaled. “You can come in now Tommy, she’s decent.” He dropped his cigarette and pushed eagerly past Polly to get into the room with his wife. “You animal.”
He shook his head as he went towards his bed seeing his wife holding not one, but two babies. Kate looked at him, her expression weary yet she was glowing. She smiled softly at him as she said. “Hello, Mr. Shelby.”
“Twins!” He stared at her. “How could you have twins?”
she shoots him a look. “Excuse me, Mr. Shelby! Need I remind you of all the things you did to me on our honeymoon, especially with the ropes!”
“No,” Polly said firmly. “And none of us need to know either!”
He shook his head, fondly playing back the moment where he’d tied his beautiful wife open and then tied her hands above her head. It had been their fourth day of being married to each other so she was used to him by now. He’d taken her and he’d taken her hard.Oh, the sounds she'd made and the way she'd begged him. Kate, for being such a soft woman, loved it somewhat rough in the bed. Still, regardless of her enthusiasm, he was always careful not to hurt her. She was truly the light of his life.
He dragged a chair over to the side of the bed while Frances carried out the stained sheets and Kate’s sweaty nightgown. “Are you alright?” She nodded. “You look so beautiful right now.”
She blushes. “Tommy---
“I know, you don’t believe me, but, you are.” He exhaled as he ran his hand her hair. “So beautiful.”
Kate let out a sigh and leaned her cheek into his hand. After a few moments, she asked. “Are you not going to kiss me?”
He nods. “Yeah.” He stood up and kissed her deeply, being careful not to disturb the babies. The movement did and they started crying. Kate let out a weary sigh and he reached for one. “Let me.”
“Mind the head.” She said softly, before shaking her head. “What am I saying? You’re already a father.”
“I wasn’t present for Charlie’s birth and wasn’t allowed to see him or Grace for nearly three months.” he exhaled deeply as he looked down at the baby. “F**k, they’re tiny.”
“We both win.” Kate said. “A boy and a girl. You’re got your daughter, Magnolia Jade Shelby.”
He nods, looking down at his beautiful baby girl, who was fidgeting impatiently. “She’s beautiful Kate.”
Kate let out a soothing sound as she tried to comfort Kaven Cedric Shelby. She sighs and looks at him in loving despair. “He’s going to be just like you. I can tell.”
“My apologies.”
As he leaned forward to kiss her again, Polly cleared her throat. “Can the rest of the family come in?”
Kate has a gentle hold on his collar, stopping him from going anywhere. “As soon as my husband kisses me.”
Polly lets out a snort and says something as she moves towards the door. Thomas needed no encouragement to kiss her. Kate let out a soft moan as he kissed her deeply, yet gently, giving her the warmth and love that she needed right now. She sank back into the pillows, letting out a contented sigh. Polly opened the door and let the entire mob of the Shelby family just descend upon them. Rosemary and Charlie got in the room first and were naturally, ecstatic and surprised that Kate had had twins. As was everyone else, but it was a welcome surprise to be sure.
Magnolia and Kaven were both beautiful children and he couldn’t believe just how drastically his life had changed just by merely walking into a brothel. He glanced at Kate and caught her smiling softly at him as if she could read his thoughts. He leaned forward and kissed her neck, causing her to moan. “I love you.” He said softly enough for only her to hear.
“I love you too.”
“Christ, you’ve made him soft.” Polly stated, causing everyone to chuckle lightly.
“Not soft,” Kate said without breaking eye contact. “he’s still as stubborn and dangerous as he was the day I met him. He’s just happy now, which he deserves.”
He doesn’t nod to confirm Kate’s words, but he can tell that she knows he agrees with her. Happy. It had been a foreign word to him and nearly foreign feeling as well. But now, he had a family, a loving wife. Life was slowing down a bit, so yes, he was happy and he was happy to be so. For the first time since as long as he could remember, he was finally happy to be alive.
Author's note: I'll be taking a short break for a bit. (Knowing me, I'll back within 2 days instead of the week I plan to take off.) But don't worry, I'll still be working on the stories so they'll be mostly done when it's time for me to start posting them.