A Baby 'C'erprise!

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Kate was 37, and had not planned on more children. She loved the ones she had! She welcomed them with her whole heart and had cried when they arrived. However, at this point in her life she had not planned to spend her days with an infant, but growing (independent) children! Which was why she was more then surprised when she found herself with child--again--after so many years.

So surprised that she waited to be 'very' sure before telling anyone. When she could no longer deny it, Kate had to really think about this surprise. While she would always love her children, this one wasn't the sudden joy she felt the first three times. Yet, slowly the joy did come. She knew it would be hard, and she knew with her age there were risks involved (especially with delivering the baby), but she still knew this baby was made of the love that her and Anthony shared. Many times.

Kate waited until the house was quite that evening to approach Anthony and begin the conversation. Currently their children were 15 (Edmund), 13 (Miles), and 8 (Charlotte). "Did you really buy Charlotte another doll today?" Kate teased as she walked in the room, knowing that Anthony's only daughter had him wrapped around her small fingers. Goodness, if this baby was a girl then Anthony would be facing two daughters coming out eventually. "Did she really need one?"

Currently, Anthony was sitting in his study, enjoying a glass of some dark liquid while reading some papers. His feet were propped up on the table before him. Kate's hear swelled with seeing him so relaxed. Anthony had been so sure of death for so long that seeing him age well still warmed her heart. She could even hear the boys running in the garden faintly out the window behind him.

Pulling the papers from his hands she sat them on the table before taking their place in his lap.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony had never expected his life to be so . . . perfect. So full of joy. So, incredibly happy. Releasing the fear of what he believed to be certain death, and allowing himself to love and embrace this love with Kate . . . had brought him the happiest days he could have ever hoped for, or even imagined. They were blessed with three beautiful children: two sons and a daughter. And everything just felt, perfect. Never having believed he would surpass the age of 38, here he was, nearly a decade later and never taking a single day for granted. He strove to be like his father -- though he never would be as great as him -- and intended to be directly involved in the raising of their children.

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Taking them on hikes as his father did with him. Teaching them to horse back ride -- among other things -- as his father did. Tutoring them. Spending time with them. Edmund's legacy was his children and now, grandchildren and Anthony would continue to honor him in his memories. And then of course there was Kate. A more perfect wife and mother, he never could have hoped for. She had captured his heart and every day, he felt it swell with all that she had given him: with the happiness she had given him. So yes. He was beyond grateful for every day spent with his family.

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Though even with that in mind, there was still work which needed to be done. He had gone shopping with his daughter, making her late for her lessons when they got home but . . . what could the tutor truly say? Anthony was hardly apologetic for he cherished every moment spent with her. And now, with their sons playing outside, Anthony decided it was a good time to catch up on some paperwork, which led him to his study. Even working hardly had intense stresses for he felt far too content and at ease in his life. His feet were propped upon the table and he had poured a glass of brandy as he read over the papers in hand. Kate's footsteps and entrance immediately distracted him, his lips curling into a smile as she questioned his having bought Charlotte a new doll. One of the many she had.

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She took the papers from his hands and he moved in sync with her, lowering his feet so that she could comfortably sit on his lap as he wrapped an arm around her, and set his beverage on the table so that he could free his other. "Need? Perhaps not," he said in agreement. After all, no one ever needed a doll. But, he was far from apologetic for it. "But she wanted it." And that was enough for Anthony to have bought it for her without a second thought. "How can I possibly deny the wishes of anyone I love?" His words holding truth, yet there was a playfulness to them as well, for Kate was included in that category too.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Over the many years of marriage they had become comfortable with each other, and rarely fought like they once did--and if they were it was normally made up with a very good night afterwards as they had a passionate night. Kate like how she could walk up to him and just interrupt him, curling in to his lap any time she wished. "You simply say, my dreariest daughter, you have far too many dolls. You could not possibly play with them all."

She knew better though, Anthony would never not spoil his only daughter. His idea of fatherhood was so unlike any she'd known--even her own. He liked spending time with his children and often did teach them to live lift to the fullest. She knew that he had learned to be a father from his short time with his father, and she wished that Edmund (the first) could see his son now. "You're father would be so proud of you, Anthony." She said quietly, speaking her mind out loud. Her fingers reaching up to touch a strand of his hair and push it back into place.

Kate often tried to make sure they shared memories of his father (and in turn her father too) with the children. They might never know what it is to have a grandfather, but they would know them my stories. She hoped that it was easier and easier for Anthony to speak of his father casually--and while he would always be missed--Anthony could think of his father without thinking of how the dear man ended. "Though, I don't know how your mother raised nine. I can't imagine."

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony looked at her as if she was speaking a foreign language when she explained how he could say no to his daughter. As if that was within his capability which . . . it most certainly was not. "You may as well be speaking a foreign language to me," he told her, vocalizing his thoughts though there was a clear tease in his words. "It made her so happy," he added on, knowing that seeing her smile made everything worth it.

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He wish for his family to know only happiness, and to never want for anything. When Kate told him that his father would be proud, he gave a small, soft smile. He knew he was no where near the man his father was but to hear Kate say it . . . he could not help but feel his heart swell with pride. For, it was often the opposite he heard. That his father would be ashamed, that Anthony was a disappointment. Whether it come from his mother, a friend, or another family member. It was those words that he tended to internalize. So hearing Kate speak of how he may in fact, have made him proud . . . it gave Anthony hope that his actions had not amounted him to be a total failure.

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She spoke of his mother having raised eight children and Anthony let out a small sound of amusement. "It was certainly no easy task," he stated. "But we were fortunate to have one another growing up." Where they had looked out for each other, taken care of one another. And while his father's presence was also missed, they still grew up in a household full of love, joy, and laughter. "I am happy, that out children have that." Each other, and two loving parents.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

He said nothing toward her comment, but she hope he knew that it was true. She could not imagine a man that Anthony has described to be anything but proud of the man that his son was today. Even if he never believed it, she would make sure he hear it often.

He was talking about how his family was, and how their children had that. "We are both fortunate indeed. I could not imagine a better family to share my four children with then your mother and siblings. They can be over whelming at times but when it counts they are always there."

Kate leaned in to kiss his lips softly, waiting to see if he understood what she had just told him or if she would need to subtly say it again. The child that she carried now would be number four. Which was why she was hinting at it now.

🌷🏑🐝💕
^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony smiled at her response, knowing full well that his family could be . . . a lot for someone who was unused to it. And ironically, those who married into their family -- at least some of them -- were indeed unused to big families. Simon. Sophie. Kate. So Anthony understood how overwhelming it could be and yet for him, he would not have it any other way as that . . . was what he had grown up with. What he was accustomed to. He smiled with amusement when she referred to their family of four children.

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"Ah yes," he agreed. "And even though one of them was adopted into the family, I do love him all the same." Anthony was playing along, assuming she was referring to Newton as one of the four children because . . . well, he was indeed like another child. With his energy, and care he required. Though now he was quite old in age now, he was part of their family. Anthony leaned forward to give Kate another kiss upon her lips, enjoying their current positions, and topic of conversation for Anthony was fully aware as to just how blessed he was with his beautiful family.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Anthony thought she meant Newton. Their very old, and dearest pet. Newton was her baby until she began having babies. Then he was her 'baby'. There was a difference in the words! Kate always said so.

"While I do love Newton, and could him among my children. I wasn't counting Newton," She teased him, letting her fingers run through his hair once, in a lovingly manner before resting them on his chest. Touching Anthony came so easy to her, and she loved that they could do this with ease. Though to be fair--that might be how she was having baby number 4.

The sounds of the two boys could still be heard though the window. She loved her sons, and if this was a son she would cry with joy! Yet if it was a girl, she would have two of each. That sounded nice to her. "I was referring to my children." All. Four. Of them.

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^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony looked at Kate curiously when she said that she was not referring to Newton. He wasn't completely daft, so it did not take him too long to realize that she was either trying to ask him something -- that she wanted another child -- or . . . there was no need to ask. While they hadn't exactly planned out how many children they were to have, three had been a good amount and with the passage of time, Anthony had eventually thought that their blessings were only come thrice.

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But apparently, he was wrong. Or was he? "Four," he both stated and repeated. "Kate . . . are you . . . " With child? "Do you want another child?" There were two questions here that vocalized his earlier thoughts, of whether she was saying that at this point in their lives she wished for another, or that it was already growing within her. He just needed her to say it plainly, so that he could process either one.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Anthony repeated the number and asked her if she was (and did not finish) and then if she wanted another child. Part of her wanted to lead in with asking him if he wanted another child. To see how he felt before she told him, but she knew that would not be fair of her. While she knew Anthony would love any child they had together, she also knew that he were honest and told her he wasn't sure that it would lead to unneeded guilt. Something she did not wish for him.

"Which question are you asking me?" She asked, with a tease in her tone. After a soft laugh at his surprise, she took pity on him and did not make him wait for long. "Should you think we tried hard enough, that it should not be a surprise." Despite her tease, she knew it was a surprise. A large one! So she would give him time to think and react as he needed.

Reaching for his hand she kissed his palm before bringing it to her belly, which was still flat but not as soft as it once was. As she was in a simple day dress there was no corset or stays to hinder him from feeling. "Four children." Half way to eight, but Kate had no intention of trying to do more.

🌷🏑🐝💕
^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

I will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony looked at her with quiet contemplation as she answered the question directly, though not first without teasing a little, saying that they certainly had tried hard enough and it shouldn't come as a surprise. That much was true. The lack of children in the past several years had not been due to lack of trying. He had merely thought at a certain point that . . . there would be no more children. And while it made him no less thrilled for the news now, it was certainly a surprise. He watched as she took his hand, tenderly kissing it before moving it to her stomach to rest there.

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"Four children." His eyes remained on her stomach that would once again grow with child, before slowly moving his gaze to meet her eyes. Silence lingered though he knew there was emotion in his expression. "Four children," he repeated, the joy there in his voice only recognized by those who truly knew him. For truth was, upon such news that drew deep emotion . . . his reactions were sometimes stronger in silence than through words.

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Each time he had held their child for the first time, it had always drawn the same reaction in the Viscount: tears of pure joy. He leaned forward, touching her lips with his own in a gentle kiss, but one that let some of emotions enter. His mind was still processing this news, the excitement of another child slowly growing within him. Eventually easing out of it, his lips curved back into a soft smile, resting his forehead against hers. "My mother was your age when she carried Hyacinth." The similarity bringing his mind to ease that he need not worry about being too advanced in age.