Work Text:
It had only been 6 weeks since Benedict’s world had nearly been ripped apart, that his wife had gone into labour early that Sophie had declared she was determined she was going to Aubrey Hall for Christmas, as had been their family tradition for the last 7 years.
“But we weren’t going to go this year!” Benedict had tried to argue after Sophie had informed him of this after the Doctor had seen her and once again had said that she was recovering very well, remarkably well and that she was now allowed back up on her feet.
“Yes because everyone was coming here since I was supposed to due next week, but everyone, including Fran, who has some sort of surprise for everyone, are now going to Aubrey Hall, and there is no way that i’m letting the boys miss out of a christmas with all their cousins, Eloise and Phillip are going with the twins, so they’d be the only ones left out” Sophie had replied stubbornly.
It had been the ongoing argument for three weeks and Benedict had only acquiesced after he’d made her seen 5 different doctors over the next few weeks and even up to the morning of their departure, he had made her seen different medical examiners and when each and every single one had proclaimed that provided they took it carefully, allowed for extra time to travel, she was fine to travel.
They took an extra day to travel with their new born daughter but by the time Sophie and her family had arrived at Aubrey Hall, she was at her wits end. Charlie and Alex had not stopped talking, Will who’d barely left her side for the last few weeks had kicked her several times in his sleep before then squirming on her lap because he was excited to see Lottie.
Violet had been the only person in the carriage not to give Sophie a headache, other than when she wanted feeding she’d slept on her father and had wanted to be with him more than her mother.
But Benedict had driven her up the wall on their journey, he’d tried to get two more doctors to check her out in each of the inn’s that they had stopped at and she was beyond angry at him.
She wouldn’t put herself in harm's way if she hadn’t felt up to it, she felt fine, she knew her body, yes some of it was sore still and William kicking her didn’t help but she felt fine, she knew a few weeks with their family would be the medicine they all needed.
When they’d pulled up outside of Aubrey Hall it had been carnage with small children everywhere, William trying to swan dive out of the carriage to see Lottie who was screeching excitedly for him and then the older boys all just chattering excitedly over the top of one another.
It had not been the calm entrance she’d been hoping for and her patience was wearing thing and Anthony’s coddling whilst she was being hugged by her niece and nephew’s had done nothing to calm her down.
She’d snapped at everyone, taken Violet from Kate and proceeded straight into the house, walking in there like she was the Viscountess rather than Kate, her head held high determined that she was not showing any sign of the exhaustion she felt as she heard the excited chattering of the children behind her as she made her way to the nursery to feed Violet.
It had taken Kate reminding her how close she’d come to dying, not once but twice giving birth to Violet and how terrified Benedict had been and that he was just being concerned out of love rather than annoyance that Sophie had decided to forgive him, on the condition that he backed off with the mollycoddling, and included Anthony in it because she knew that Benedict would just get Anthony involved and as the head of the family and the closest thing Sophie had to an older brother he would have taken up the mantle as well as Benedict would have.
It had been agreed in Anthony’s study that as long as she didn’t over exert herself and say if she was feeling unwell, that they would both keep their coddling to a minimum.
Sophie had been subject to a fair bit of coddling from the rest of the Bridgerton’s as they arrived in turn, the news of Sophie’s traumatic birth had clearly made it’s way through the family, not that Sophie was surprised, and even Hyacinth had been making sure Sophie was wrapped up, given the seat closest to the fire and Gregory and Colin had made sure Sophie was at least offered the last piece of Shortbread or whatever treat they were having at that time.
It was only when Francesca arrived that the attention seemed to be diverted away from Sophie, and lord was she pleased for it.
When Francesca had stepped out of the carriage with a sly smirk on her family as she looked around and said “I’ve got a surprise for you all…” before moving out of the way “let me introduce you to my husband…”
And Michael Stirling stepped out of the carriage, it had turned into bedlam, Colin had let out a cheer of joy, having hoped that his sending Michael up to Scotland after his sister would result in this, confusion from Anthony and Benedict who’d had no inclination as to an attachment between them, to him then proceeding to charm their mother, then their sister’s then their wives who giggled like school girls… it had been a major shock to the system.
The only thing that made it worse was baby Violet seemed to be rather taken with the Merry Rake as she’d been introduced to the last of her aunts and her last uncle. She’d screamed whenever she’d been passed around the Bridgerton’s, fussed and not been happy til she was back in either her mother or preferably her father’s arms but the moment she had been handed to Michael, he’d put a thumb on her cheek and with a soothing shhhh, she’d settled, almost instantly, grabbing onto the thumb and refusing to let go for nearly two hours.
Benedict had been most put out.
Sophie had chuckled “now you see how I feel” she’d whispered to him when they’d sat down for their luncheon and Violet had refused to let go of her uncle’s finger.
After all the initial drama’s and shocks, it settled into routine and by Christmas eve, Sophie was feeling more refreshed than she could have hoped for.
William had stopped clinging to her skirts and was running around with the rest of his cousins and could happily go all day without seeing his Mama. Alex was surprisingly behaving himself, or at least behaving himself to his standards, there had been a few pranks with Oliver and Neddy being the joint perpetrators, and Amanda, Amelia and Belinda being on the receiving end of it but it had been quite harmless.
The morning snowball fight had seen the boys thoroughly trounced by their female cousins and sister and it had taken sweets from their grandmama to calm them down and stop it turning into a full out war.
By the time Sophie was dressing for bed that evening, she felt at complete peace with the world.
Benedict had managed to get some painting in thanks to the free time he found he was able to have with Violet being more than happy to be attached to her Uncle and whilst he was fuming with it, he was pleased to have the time to paint.
“I honestly don’t get it, why she’s so obsessed with him” Benedict had said after Michael had been the one to take Violet to the nursery that evening.
“He’s different and new is all, and he isn’t a Bridgerton” Sophie said from behind her changing screen
“So is Simon and she’s not obsessed with him” Benedict argued
“No but Simon’s been around the Bridgerton’s a lot more, he’s practically a Bridgerton save for the surname, and lets be honest, if he could change it he would… but I don’t know, perhaps he just smells comforting. She will still always be your little Princess darling, it’s not like Mike and Fran are going to steal her and run off to Scotland with her” Sophie argued
“I know but i’m her papa!”
“And you’ll always be her Papa, nothing is going to change that. It is still you that comforts her, it’s you that is going to teach her to paint and all the other wonderful things you’ve taught our boys… but are you going to spend the entire of this evening complaining about Michael, or can I give you an early Christmas Present?” Sophie asked, peering at him from behind the changing screen.
“Well… I guess it would be rather rude of me to continue to waste our child-free time…” he said, putting down the piece of paper he’d been sketching on.
Sophie giggled “well, part of the reason I refused to let you in the room with the doctor before we came up here was because I wanted him to see how I'd healed, you… know… erm… down there… it’s been 12 weeks and i’d been hoping that i’d be… well healed… and well he said I was nearly there and to give it a few more weeks so…” she said stammering a little, she felt a bit self-conscious but she knew Benedict didn’t care about how she looked, he loved her no matter what and she’d missed her husband.
She’d seen the way his eyes lingered on her, she knew he had been waiting and like with the boys he’d never push her into anything, never make her do anything that she wasn’t ready for but tonight she was ready.
She could see Benedict sitting up straighter in bed, his eyes going darker in the light of their candles and she saw the hope on his face, the way his breathing hitched as he held his breath waiting for the words to come out of her mouth.
She stepped out from around the screen, the silver of her new night robe shimmering, clinging to her body and curves in a way that made Benedict squirm in the bed giving her more confidence.
“I’m ready…” she said shyly, almost feeling like it was their first time all over again.
“Are… are you sure?” he stammered, not wanting to push her, not wanting to rush it.
“Positive” she said as she walked towards the bottom of the bed and Benedict couldn’t help but be lured in, he was powerless to resist his wife at the best of times but after coming so close to losing her, he’d wondered if he’d ever get to enjoy her again, to be with her like this, so to have her there in front of him, like the apple offered to Eve… temptation in silver… his favourite colour on her. He was weak to resist.
Sophie smiled as she reached out a hand and took Benedict’s hand in hers and slid to her waist and she leaned in, “Merry Christmas my love” she whispered, letting her lips trail seductively over his
“Merry Christmas to me indeed…” he whispered, pulling her into him and capturing her lips with his, revelling in their time together once more.