(Untitled)

[bennet_beauty]

It had been such a long time, so many trying hours, but now she had finally done well. The night was thick around the hut when Lydia's first cries arrived and Jane had been unable to stop herself from weeping with the joy of it and when the Doctors were done with their work and cleaning, she was given her daughter in a swath of white blanket to

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[sortofaman]

It was in the early morning hours, and the Doctor was quite bleary-eyed from a bare hour or two of sleep on the Redmans' sofa, but he was the Papa and the godfather (Don Dottore?) and he refused to go home until things were well and truly sorted. And now they were.

He squinted at the watch he'd found in the bin--4 AM--and singlemindedly staggered in to see if the mother and daughter needed anything.

[bennet_beauty]

Jane looked up from Lydia (for barely a second, no more than a blink) and that was when she saw the Doctor in the doorway. Her attention was immediately captured by Lydia once more and her smile was pure and full of joy. "Say hello to your granddaughter and goddaughter," she whispered, turning her eyes up to the Doctor, brimming with delight.

[dr_robchase]

He'd been in and out and hadn't slept. He hadn't really seen the need to sleep, given that he'd been used to long, long nights. Jane's labour was starting to get really long, but he checked in every once in a while. This time though, he noticed the Doctor wasn't on the couch anymore and he took a step inside, but froze when he saw the Doctor and Jane in the bedroom.

...and a baby.

[sortofaman]

The Doctor came in and waved slightly down at Lydia in the flickering light. Lydia didn't look to be noticing much of anything, really. More like snoozing away. But that was all right. "Hullo, Lydia," he said quietly. "We're quite glad you're here."

[bennetsister]

"Oh, Jane, she is absolutely beautiful," said Elizabeth, finding that she could not take her eyes off the brand-new, tiny person in her sister's arms. "She is absolutely everything one could want in a child, and more."

[bennet_beauty]

Jane's smile was, to put it most simply, radiant. She could not stop and looking up at her sister only reminded her of the joy within her arms. "Oh! Lizzy, she is so tiny!" Jane remarked, voice hushed. "And yet, I cannot believe how big she is already. My daughter," she said, voice riddled with tears and pride.

[bennetsister]

"I cannot believe that you are a mother and I am an aunt," said Elizabeth, in a voice that was full of awe. "Somehow it does not quite seem possible, and yet here she is. I cannot think that you will be anything less than a wonderful mother, Jane; for the way that you hold her and look at her speaks so much of your love for her already."

[bennet_beauty]

"It seems," Jane spoke, her words hushed, "that it was simply yesterday that you and I were so little and our Lydia was not yet born and we would play and have such fun." And now, she was a Mama with her own daughter, whom she doted on endlessly already.

[mama_bennet]

Mrs. Bennet stood in the doorway, admiring her daughter and her brand new granddaughter. "Miss Lydia Redman, how very well it sounds!" she said, brimming with all the joy attendant on the occasion. "She is a great beauty, and with such a lovely air about her. A new generation of Bennet girls has begun. Ooh, what a happy day is today!" She could not have stopped smiling for all the world. "I must send Kitty to tall Lady Lucas! Oh dear, sometimes I forget where we are. La! It is all the excitement."

[bennet_beauty]

Jane's smile softened at her Mama's excitement, so elated it was that she did forget their surroundings. Jane could very much understand, however, for she as well was tired from the night and prone to mistake. But she merely cradled Lydia closer, brushing her hair from her face. "I am as excited as I may be, though I am so very exhausted," she exhaled.

[mama_bennet]

"You will have such happiness now that she is come, and I know Mr. Redman will be such a comfort to you, and Lizzy as well." Her own willingness to do any thing for her grandchild need not be mentioned, for she knew that Jane understood, as a mother now. "It will be such fun, showing her all the things growing here abouts, seeing her make friends. And I am sure you will have your strength back in to time atall!"

[bennet_beauty]

Jane watched her Mama with warm eyes as she offered something of a hopeful smile. "Would you like to hold her, Mama?" she inquired, shifting her babe in her arms so that the blanket adequately covered her.

[cryptogam]

All had gone well during the birth; no suturing was required, there had been no hemorrhage nor any other troubles, and Jane and little Lydia appeared to be the picture of health. Stephen was nearly dropping from weariness, but he was obliged to stay for another hour or two to make sure mother and babe were stable.

He had no particular love for babies, but the sight of Jane's evident joy warmed his heart. "Congratulations, honey," he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You have worked very hard indeed, and now you hold the fruit of your labors."

[bennet_beauty]

Jane's joy was evident from both the shine of her eyes and the upward curve on her lips as she regarded Stephen. "And yours," she spoke, voice hoarse from the many hours awake and of crying pain. "For you were a constant help to us."

[cryptogam]

"I did no more than my duty as a physician," Stephen replied modestly. He sat by the bed, loosening his sweaty neckcloth. "Will you put her to the breast, now, acushla? For she has labored hard as well, and needs her sustenance."

[bennet_beauty]

Jane had been well-taught by physicians and many a book in the matter as she did as such, as she was instructed, though she did so where Stephen would not be placed in an awkward position of viewing and she only winced the once at the uncomfortable sensations present.

[real_buzzkill]

Wilson hadn't intended to stop by the Redman's hut that day, but he'd heard that Jane had delivered, and couldn't help remembering being there when she learned she was having a daughter.

He put together a few things from the kitchen and arrived with a basket of food, because the new family shouldn't be distracted from its celebration by having to run back and forth to the kitchen. They ought to be able to enjoy this time together.

He wasn't going to stay long. "Pardon me, I just came by to bring some food over from the compound, and to congratulate you on the birth of your daughter." Wilson leaned his head in, but did not enter the room. "Best wishes to all of you. I'll leave the basket out here."

More than anything, he did not want to intrude.

[bennet_beauty]

Jane's eyes lifted towards the doorway with such joy (and yet, such exhaustion) and she brightened. "Oh! Doctor Wilson, how good to see you." She did not wish to be truly improper, now that control had resumed. "If you do not mind it, I do invite you in, of course."

[real_buzzkill]

"Oh, thank you," he said mildly, feeling a little out of place. Seeing the mother abd baby filled him with peace. "She looks healthy, as she should." He believed Jane had done everything right during her pregnancy and taken no risks. "What is her name?"

[bennet_beauty]

"Lydia," Jane said, with every ounce of love and adoration in her voice that her daughter was due. "Lydia Redman and I shall cherish her with all my heart," she promised.