Broken Soldier ~ Assassin's Creed 4

Chapter Thirty Six

Martin and I had returned home earlier in the morning around a week after Clemence had checked the ship schedules. I was nervous about telling my mother about my pregnancy, but there was nothing we could do to stop me from having the child. I chewed on my nails the entire journey in the carriage. Martin grabbed my hand to stop me from biting far enough to make myself bleed. He held it tightly to stop me from putting my fingers in my mouth again.

The front door opened with a loud creak and my mother bundled me inside.

"You will catch your death, child. Quickly, quickly." Her hand was on my lower back while she pushed me through to the main study. Daniel, Caroline, Delia and Helena were already inside, sat at the large desk. Their heads turned when they saw Martin and I. "They are home!"

"Welcome back. Holden collected your letters while you were away and they are on the vanity table in your room. There are a few from Edward, two from women named Phoebe and Freda. Martin, you have one from your father." Daniel smiled at us. Martin gulped beside me.

"Merde..." He shot his head up. "My apologies for my language, sir." He bowed slightly. Daniel waved off the apology.

"No matter. I am guessing you and your father aren't on the best of terms." Martin stiffened. "Oh. I'm sorry. It is not my place to ask. Darn, where are my manners? Did you both have a good trip?" I sat myself down with a nod.

"Paris is lovely this time of year. Martin's family are very kind people. And also very helpful." Martin laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Helpful how?" Daniel leaned across the table slightly. I looked up at Martin and he nodded.

"You should be the one to tell them."

"Tell us what?" Caroline asked. A look of confusion brushed across her face. I took a deep breath.

"I am pregnant. Or, that is what the doctor believes. And I believe that I am as well." Caroline giggled and hopped about on her seat. Daniel folded his arms across his chest and mother swept over to his side. She elbowed him slightly when he didn't say anything.

"You are happy about this?" He asked. I nodded.

"I think this is wonderful, albeit a little bit earlier than we would have wanted." No one said anything. "Mother?" Her eyes were glassy with tears and a smile spread across her lips. "What is it?"

"Congratulations." Her hands clasped over her mouth before she dashed over and squeezed me in a hug tightly. "Now, Daniel may not be fully supportive of having a child before marriage, but we can schedule the wedding for a few months sooner. Say, in around three or four months?"

"Four months sounds fine." I pushed my mother back gently to give me room to breathe. "Are you completely sure about this?"

"Yes. There isn't particularly anything we can do to stop the baby from being born."

"The timing is not perfect, but I will also give all of my support." Daniel smiled. "Congratulations to the both of you." He stood, patted my shoulder, and left the room. I turned towards the door with a frown. Mother cleared her throat.

"He never takes well to any kind of good or bad news. It was the same when I told him I was pregnant with the three girls. I don't think he particularly knows what to say in these situations. Worry not. He is proud, Elisa." She gave a wide smile. "Now, I hope you are hungry for soup. Or, perhaps the little one is." She grinned at the idea of having another grandchild. "Have you thought of any names yet?"

"I think Martin liked Victoria for a girl. I quite like Jacob or Charles for a boy."

"Victoria Labrousse... It works." My sisters left awkwardly, knowing that they could no longer join in with the conversation. "Do you have any ideas as to whether you will move to your own family home before or after the baby is born?"

"I should like to move before, but that all depends on whether we can find a suitable home near Martin's family in time." Mother nodded.

"Should you need any extra money, I will ensure that Daniel and I can set some aside for you both. I just want you to be happy." I gave her a little smile.

"I know you do. I also want you to be happy, so I do not want to leave right away. Hopefully in a few months, but I'm not sure."

"My family will provide the support and care that we need with the child. Plus, they have a bed for the baby, toys, blankets, everything. With any hope, we may not need to buy our own things for the child." Martin's hand tightened slightly on my shoulder. He had a huge grin on his lips and his cheeks were a light, rosy colour. "I love Elisa, and I will do anything in my power to keep her with me and safe." He placed his free hand to his chest. "I will never hurt her, Mrs Dawson. I promise. I understand that you are apprehensive, I would be too, but I am completely trust worthy." Mother gave a long, deep sigh.

"And that is why I chose you to marry my daughter." She turned slightly. "Alright. But I would like to help in finding your family home." She nodded to herself gently, then exited. I faced Martin. He leaned down to kiss me softly.

"Soon, my love, we will have our own little family." His hand went to my stomach. "You, me, and little Victoria or Jacob or Charles. And, perhaps some day in the future, this little one will have a sibling."

"Or two."

"Or three." He smirked.

"So you want four children, then?"

"Maybe five."

"And you think that I can go through the pain of childbirth five times?" He rubbed his chin with the back of his hand.

"I am worried about what might happen to me if I let you go through it so many times. You will more than likely kill me when you heal up." He grabbed my shoulders and placed his face just centimetres from mine. "One is just enough. And I love you. So, so much."

"Where is all of this coming from all of a sudden?" He shook his head.

"No reason."

"Well, I love you too. For no reason." He chuckled at me, brushing the side of my cheek with his fingertips.

"Let's go shopping. We can find a few extra things for the baby. Possibly a stuffed bear."

"I would like that."