Archive of Our Own ^beta

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There was much commotion about the house with anxious anticipation. Marian Brook now Russell had finally gone into labor after being much overdue. After their marriage Marian and Larry had moved down 61st street into their own townhome.
George leaned back in a chair in the sitting room and pretended to be reading the mornings newspaper. After hearing that Marian had begun her labors Bertha insisted on going and she naturally drug George over there with her. George was truly excited to be becoming a grandfather however he knew his place for the next several hours was to be nowhere near the congregation of women, there was already enough people for poor Marian to contend with, Miss Scott, Bertha, her Aunt Ada, the midwife and Larry who wouldn’t dare leave his wife in her moment of great need, societal rules be damned. So there he was sitting across from Mrs.Van Rijn who said no more than 3 words to him in the last 3 hrs he had been sitting there.

George was very proud of his son’s decision to stay, for witnessing the birthing bed was not for the faint of heart. George could attest to that himself, he had made sure he was present to welcome both of his children into the world. Larry, who was finally conceived after months of trying and worrying they would not be able to have a child, took quite a while to make his debut. George had been there comforting to the best of his abilities his wife, and in that moment Bertha could not have cared less what the proper course of action was for the occasion, her husband was not leaving her sight. He held her through ever stage and leaned her back against his chest as she pushed Larry out, screaming and groaning, but he had never been more proud of her, and seeing his wife bring their son into the world only made him love her more. Once he was born and fed and cleaned, Larry was placed into his arms, he was a mini me, as Bertha rested, he gently bounced the baby who seemed to recognize his voice. Throughout her pregnancy at night he had laid his head on Bertha’s chest and would mumble sweet nothings toward her stomach and a little foot would make itself known. Now that little foot was a grown man who was about to hold his own babe soon.

Gladys’ birth on the other hand was an entirely different affair. Again after months which turned into years of trying for another child George again had attended to his wife when she had began her labors. However things progressed slowly and were complicated, Gladys was breech so many efforts were made to turn the baby, all being incredibly painful for Bertha who had taken to screaming into her husbands chest as her labors progressed. It was terrifying to see his usually composed wife wither away in pain, even her yelps during Larry’s birth were nothing like this. Eventually after 37 hours Gladys was born and placed onto her mother’s chest, but there was much blood lost and many other complications that Georges brain could not even comprehend in that moment, but the main takeaway was that she could no longer have children.

While Gladys was a happy baby and brightened their world not being able to have any more children was a tough topic to process for Bertha to hear but George figured that is why she protected their children so fiercely.

George’s thoughts were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of an infants shrill cry from upstairs. Both him and Mrs.Van Rijn looking up towards the stairs. After what seemed like an eternity everyone but Larry and Marion ventured downstairs to give the new parents time to get acquainted with their child. Bertha came over to George wrapping her arms around him. “It’s a girl.” She told him, George found himself smiling ear to ear at the news. “How is Marian?” Ada piped up in response, “both mother and baby are healthy, everyone just needs some rest.” George nodded. Mrs. Van Rijn finally stood up from her spot that she had been sitting for hours, “we must get you all something to eat you must be famished.” Everyone headed towards the dining room, today was a happy day. George Russell was officially a grandfather.

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Larry was desperately trying not to show it but he was a nervous wreck. Ever since Marion had told him they were expecting a few weeks after their honeymoon he’d anxiously awaited this day. She had awaken him earlier that morning telling him her labors had begun. He wanted to immediately send his footman for the midwife but Marian had insisted on waiting for her to progress more.

So Larry watched as she paced and breathed, and he supported her so she could stand some which she had said felt better. After a few hours the waves of pain were getting closer and closer together so Larry sent the footman to get the midwife and to alert Marian’s and his family. When he got back to the room Marian was leaning over on the bed letting out a deep guttural groan. “You are doing so well my darling” Larry tried to comfort, Marian nodded and turned to face her husband placing to the best of her ability her arms around his neck. “I’m ready for her to be here.” Larry laughed, “you are certain that this baby is a girl.” Marian cracked a slight grin for the first time in hours, “call it mother’s intuition.” The two of them stood there for a couple minutes in peace before the pain continued and soon enough the room was filled with Peggy, Aunt Ada, the midwife and his mother.

The women tried to tell him that it was alright for him to leave, and that it was common place for fathers but Larry looked at Marian and she gave him a look beckoning him to stay with her. Besides social standards be damned his wife needed him and he had promised to be by her side no matter what.

Marian throughout her labor continued to be her mellow self, she never screamed, just taking to closing her eyes, deep breathing and the occasional low groan. However all that changed when she began to push. It broke his heart to see his wife in so much pain, he knew childbirth was not for the faint of heart but it was much worst that he could have foreseen.

“Alright Marian you’re almost there.” The midwife said from the end of the bed. Marian was on her all fours, her aunt Ada had been gently dabbing her forehead with a cold cloth, Peggy had been giving Marian some calm words of encouragement and to her credit his mother had tried to fade into the background after Larry had given her a look begging not to run the room like she did her house. “Larry” Marian croaked out. “I’m here my love” Marian grimaced, “I can’t do this.” She looked him in the eye, which were brimmed in tears, “Marian you are almost there you are going to get this baby out with the strength I know you have.” Marian nodded and placed arms around her husband’s neck, her head pressing into his chest.

Soon after a few more pushes the most beautiful sound Larry heard filled the room. “It’s a girl!” Peggy exclaimed, Marian let out a laugh as Larry and Ada helped her lay down on the bed. Once Marian delivered the afterbirth and the baby was cleaned she was placed in Marian’s arms. Everyone quietly filed out to let the new family to become acquainted.

Larry sat down on the bed next to Marian and his daughter. “I told you she was a girl.” Marian was radiant her smile beamed from ear to ear as she brushed her baby’s cheek as she fed her. “She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen, takes after her mother.” He was beaming as well, “she looks a lot like you.” She said, and she was right, the baby had lots of dark black hair.

After a while they decided to let some visitors meets the baby. First were Marian’s aunts and Peggy, who dotting on the new baby. Then came the Russell’s. His mother let them know that Gladys would be back in a few days to meet the new member of the family. After his mother held her, Larry gently placed his daughter into his father’s arms. “Well hello young lady, it is very nice to meet you.” George smiled down at his granddaughter, Larry noticed the tears in his father’s eyes. “Does this sweet girl have a name?” Asked his mother, “Amelia” Marian answered. “Amelia Grace Russell.” The two fathers stood there each incredibly proud of their child.

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Larry woke to a soft cry, his daughters, glancing over he saw the Marian was still asleep. Getting up quietly to let his wife rest he picked up his sweet girl and slipped out of the room. They were currently visiting his parent’s house in Newport for a few weeks. Amelia was a pretty content baby, at 3 months she was the apple of her parent’s eye.

Larry had wrapped himself in his robe and grabbed a blanket for Amelia and made his way down to the sitting room, there he paced the room gently bouncing the baby in the hopes she would drift off to sleep. However, ever the rebel already she remained awake. Not fussing, just staring, taking in the ornate world around her.

Finally, Larry settled in a chair, “oh you’re an early bird aren’t you.” He said with a sleepy smile. “She does seem to be” a voice came from behind him. Larry turned his head and saw his father walking into the room. “Sorry if we woke you.” George shook is head and sat in the chair across from Larry, “I was completing some more planning on a project.” Larry nodded, “this young lady just needed to see what’s going on in the morning.” He laughed with a delirious smile, George chuckled, “you were the same way, you would wake up, and not be fussy, just looking around at the world, taking it all in, your mother called it our early morning meeting.”

Larry smiled down at his daughter, to think there was something that connected them personality wise warmed his heart. “I can take her if you wish to get some more rest, I know you both must need it.” George said finally breaking the silence that had been induced for a few minutes. Larry looked up, “are you sure?”, George stood up walking towards his son. “I did raise two children, she will be in good hands.” Larry nodded and placed Amelia into his father’s arms, and sleeping returned to his rooms.

George settled back down into his chair settling the baby gently against his chest, not caring how much drool or spit up was thrown on him. Amelia’s eyes were starting to flutter closed, but she was fighting it. “Your mother and father love you very much, but you need to let them rest.” George said and leaned down to kiss his granddaughter’s head. “I love you very much.” Finally the baby drifted off to sleep, and they both stayed there, content and at peace.