: : Summary : : After Hamunpatra Rick and Evie have plans to get married and have a wonderful life together. What happens when they get back to Cairo and find the Legion waiting at their door step? Read and find out... I have to give credit to Alex who roleplayed this with me and so she gets credit for helping my creative juices
The first few weeks after finding out that Rick had been killed, was almost a death sentence to Evelyn. Despite knowing she had to be strong for her baby, she, at first, could not cope, and it took Nanna and Jonathan reminding her on a constant basis that she had to think of the child she and Rick had made, to pull her out of the pits of despair. Once she came to the realization that she had to pull herself together for the health of her baby, and her own health, Evelyn began to work as hard as ever to make good with the Bembridge Scholars. She cleaned out the room she had been using as her office at the museum, and with Jonathan�s help brought in things, like a comfortable couch to sit on, shelves for books she would need, her type writer, and then things for the baby, like a bassinet, and a rocking chair. Once she got into her work at the museum things fell into place for her. Two months before the baby was due, The Bembridge Scholars sent her what she had worked so hard to get, a letter of acceptance into their society.
~*~
One night as she arrived home from work, Jonathan greeted her at the door and took of her coat, which had her puzzled.
�What are you up to?� she asked. He smiled at her.
�I have a surprise for you,� he said, as he led her into the Parlor. When she walked in, she found her childhood friend, Emily waiting for her there, as well as four other close friends, Becca, Mandy, Diane, and Wendy. Evie was surprised, and accepted their hugs, not noticing Jonathan leave. He and Nanna had decided a little shower in honor of the baby might help to get her ready for that part of her life, and most of the women in the house had children of their own. Now they sat talking, catching up.
�Four children?� Evelyn asked as she ate a little sandwich that Nanna had made as part of the snacks she had made for the occasion. Emily smiled and nodded.
�Zack and I always wanted a house full, and It�s a lot of work, but I really do enjoy being a mother,� she said. It stung when Emily had mentioned Zack, and Evelyn managed not to let them see that. She knew that she was going to have times when she would see a man, and wife with their child, and feel the emptiness of not having that with her own life, but also knew it was something she would have to get used to.
�Now we did have a purpose for this visit,� Diane said as she stood up. Nanna and Jonathan came in at that time with beautiful decorated packages, which again surprised Evelyn. Since she had yet to go shopping for her baby, the five women in her house had helped out with that, and gotten her the things she would need. Emily had gotten her seven receiving blankets, and seven gowns, things she would need with a new baby. Diane and Mandy had gotten her a harness for carrying the baby and a warm sweater and hat for her baby since the birth date was in February. The other gifts were stuffed toys of various sorts, and a little music box. Their visit had done Evelyn a world of good, and once they had gone Nanna took the blankets and clothing to be washed the next day. Now the two of them sat talking, and Nanna told her a few things they would need to do.
�It wouldn�t hurt to have the nappy service start in mid January, there are times when a baby comes sooner than it should, and you should be prepared,� Nanna said. As they talked Jonathan walked in dressed up in a tuxedo.
�Don�t you look handsome,� Evelyn said smiling at him.
�I look like an ape,� came his aggravated reply, which got a laugh from both Nanna and Evelyn.
�You look very handsome,� Evelyn said as she managed to get up off the couch. Now that she was nearly do, simple things like getting up from a seated position had become difficult for her. Once she had gotten to her feet, she went over to her brother and straightened his bow tie for him.
�Evie are you sure you won�t come with me?� he asked. Evelyn shook her head. Jonathan was going to a Christmas party held by old family friends, and the parties were not something she was ready to face without Rick. Once he was gone, Evelyn bid Nanna goodnight and went upstairs to her room. Since moving back to London, she had found comfort in sleeping in her parents old room, and had changed things around a bit. The room included all of their old furniture but also a few extras. At the end of the bed was a swinging cradle, fully ready for a baby to rest in, and not far from that was the Victorian Rocking Chair, ready for use when her baby needed to be cuddled close to her. As if the baby inside her tummy sensed she was thinking of it, it moved, and Evelyn looked down not hiding the tears which spilled over her cheeks. After getting ready for bed, Evelyn sat down in the rocking chair, placing her hands on her stomach, then began to tell her child about Rick.
�I�m not sure how your father would have reacted to you, but I think he would have been a good daddy,� Evie said as she rocked. The movement of her child had stopped, and Evelyn sighed.
�Rick, I�m so afraid to do this without you. I hope where ever you are now, you are happy,� Evelyn said, then cried softly for his loss.
~*~
Christmas day arrived, and it was the smell of wonderful food which woke Evelyn followed by her brothers jolly voice before he walked in. Jonathan was not going to let her spend Christmas in the blues, and when she saw him dressed up as Father Christmas, Evelyn couldn�t help but laugh. Jonathan helped her out of bed, and helped her put her robe on, then led her downstairs to the Christmas tree which was surrounded by tons of presents, all for the baby.
�Jonathan what did you do?� Evelyn asked as she took a seat on the Sofa closest to the tree. As he was about to answer, Nanna walked in with Breakfast, and defense.
�Jonathan had help. I guess both of us got a bit carried away with Christmas this year,� Nanna said as she set the tray of food on the coffee table Evelyn was sitting in front of. The tray was laden with fresh sliced Oranges, Toast, Eggs, Bacon, and Honey to go on the toast.
�You eat, and we will bring you the gifts,� Jonathan said. Touched by how hard they had both worked, Evelyn almost cried, then sucked that in, deciding she had shed enough tears. It was time to move on, and think of her child, and be happy for the new life that would be with her in a few months. While she ate, Jonathan brought over a rather large present with a red velvet cloth over it. After setting aside her plate, Evelyn untied the bow and when the fabric fell away she found a beautiful wooden hobby horse complete with a mane and tail made of real horse hair.
�Oh Jonathan its wonderful,� Evelyn said smiling as he pulled it around for her.
�Well I thought we could instill the love of horses into this little one early,� Jonathan said. Both he and Evelyn had been riding for as long as they could remember, taking lessons on the proper way to ride English stile.
�Just promise me that your not going to go out and buy a real horse next Christmas,� Evelyn said as Nanna brought her another gift. Nanna�s gift was a handmaid quilt, soft and made with all sorts of fabric from old dresses Evelyn had worn as a child, but could be used for either a boy or a girl. Most of the morning was spent opening presents for the baby, and a few for everyone else. Once that part of the morning ended, everyone went upstairs to get dressed and ready for Mass. It was rare that they went, Christmas and Easter being the only times they attended a church sevise, and that had gone back to when their parents had been alive, and they had gone then. Once they were ready, the family left for the small church in the town not to far from the Manor.