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Daphne and Simon were having a family picnic in Clyvedon castle a week after a rainstorm had hit and Simon and Auggie helped the towns people rebuild some places that flooded. Simon, Auggie, David, and Edward were playing in the lake. Belinda and Caroline were making flower crowns in the field. Daphne didn’t mind this as a family day. Simon laughed as Edward splashed him. “Mama we made you a flower crown out of daisies.” Caroline said running over.
”Oh thank you baby girl.” Daphne smiled, she did notice once the girls started growing that they looked a lot like they did when their other versions came back in 1813 and helped Simon get over his fear of being a horrible father. Simon came over and hugged his two daughters who squealed while getting their dresses wet.
“Papa! Now Carol and I may catch an illness.” Belinda said.
”You two will be fine.” Simon laughed kissing their foreheads as he sat next to Daphne and kissed her.
“Did you leave Auggie with David and Edward?” Daphne asked.
”What is the worst that can happen.” Simon said.
”Auggie was telling us about his and Oli’s time at Eton.” Belinda said sitting down.
”Hopefully no chaos.” Simon said.
”Our kid and Eloise’s kid what makes you think no chaos happened?” Daphne said.
”We did not get a disciplinary letter.” Simon said.
”Because Oliver and I do not get caught.” Auggie said walking over with David and Edward who ran to hug Daphne. Simon did realize while he raised a future Duke, two ladies, and two young men that they somehow just attracted chaos, like every Bridgerton cousin, he had to smile his father is probably rolling in his grave at how the Hastings line is turning out.
“Can we eat?” David asked after Daphne gave her two little sons kisses.
“You’re gonna end up with Eli and Tommy’s appetite.” Caroline said.
”Remember Christmas and Eli ate all those biscuits and he got sick.” Belinda laughed with Caroline joining in.
”If my memory is correct you two and Agatha cheered him on.” Auggie reminded his little sisters. Daphne opened the basket for what the cook prepared and she felt her stomach lurching at the scent she closed it and gave it to Simon.
”Dear, are you alright?” Simon asked.
“Yes, I just oddly lost my appetite when I opened the basket.” Daphne said and Simon opened the basket saw some meat pies, bread, and biscuits, everything normal they usually have on family picnics.
”Odd the last time you lost your appetite to the scent of food was Caroline.” Simon mumbled and then realized and looked at Daphne with a smile.
“No I am not expecting another one.” Daphne said. Auggie, Belinda, and Caroline shared a disgusted look knowing how babies come to be. David and Edward just shared a confused look.
”Mama’s having another baby?” Edward asked.
“Oh dear Jesus.” Auggie mumbled in his hands. “At this rate once I get married and have children they have aunts and uncles their age.” Auggie said.
”August Edmund Basset.” Daphne scolded.
“What we thought you were done with David.” Belinda said.
”I thought they were done with me.” Caroline mumbled.
”I may not even be expecting. Daphne said, they ate and headed back to the castle. One of the older maids gave the kids a disapproving look, Simon and Daphne noticed that while most of the staff was young a few that were around when Simon was young found how Daphne and Simon raised their kids, which was just be proper with company present, odd.
“Master August and Miss. Belinda and Caroline you must clean up.” A maid said seeing the three.
“Is there an important dinner tonight?” Auggie asked.
”Well no but imagine if someone showed up unannounced?” The maid quickly said.
“Then they most likely need to speak with our Papa and Mama.” Caroline said and walked away. Belinda followed and Auggie also followed his younger sisters. Later the kids sat in Auggie’s bedchamber in a circle with a candle lit in the middle.
”I can’t believe Mama might be having another child.” Caroline said.
”Maybe she is trying to have as many as grandmama had.” Belinda said.
”I hope not, I would rather not go through the stress Uncle Anthony went through.” August said.
”Relax from the stories we were told and those odd dreams we get I doubt you’d be having your future kids come back in time and make you believe in love.” Caroline said. Daphne and Simon were in their bedchamber.
”Where are our children?” Simon asked her wrapping his arms around Daphne.
”Auggie’s bedchamber discussing the possibility of another sibling.” Daphne said.
”I mean what’s wrong with one more baby?” Simon asked.
”Simon while I love having kids you know I do always have the little worry that something may go wrong.” Daphne said.
“I do but look we have five healthy kids why not make it 6.” Simon said kissing her nose.
“Little too late if it already took, I written to the doctor to come tomorrow to check and see.” Daphne said.
”If it is a girl we can give her the middle name Agatha.” Simon said.
”Yes because using our family as middle names has worked so well with August Edmund, Belinda Sarah, Caroline Violet, David Anthony, and Edward Colin.” Daphne listed their kids middle names.
”I still remember telling your family Edward’s middle name. Benedict acted like we personally insulted him.” Simon said.
”Well what do you expect we skipped his name for middle names.” Daphne said. The next day at breakfast they were eating quietly.
”When is the doctor coming?” David finally asked and Simon and Daphne looked at him.
”David, sweetheart why do you think a doctor world be coming?” Simon asked.
”Lindy said doc- doctors come when m- mama’s are going to have babies.” David said with his slight stutter he had.
”Belinda.” Daphne said.
”What, all I said was a doctor not how the baby is made.” Belinda said. David and Edward looked up wanting to learn that.
”You two will learn that when you are 13.” Simon said and his two young sons nodded going back to eating. The doctor arrived and August, Belinda, and Caroline tried to listen in by putting their ears to the door.
“Do you think we are getting to old for this?” Auggie asked the two.
”No.” Belinda said.
”You do not have to listen in Auggie.” Caroline said.
”No you two will not know about this before me.” He said. Simon and Daphne were in the room with a doctor.
”Our three older kids are listening in.” Simon said to her.
”I mean we’re gonna have to tell them either way.” Daphne said. The doctor did the procedure.
”Congratulations your graces, you are expecting.” The doctor said and they smiled. The doctor opened the door and Auggie, Belinda, and Caroline fell in like dominos.
”Sorry.” The three said and got up and ran off. After the couple bid the doctor farewell they walked into the drawing room where Caroline and Belinda were sitting at the piano and Auggie was reading a Latin book.
“So Mama do you think it is a boy or a girl?” Belinda said.
”Mama is expecting?” David asked looking up from playing dominos with Edward.
“Yes I am, I am shocked your older siblings did not convince you two to help listen in.” Daphne said.
”We are not that crazy.” Auggie said.
Oh of course how can we be so thoughtless.” Simon said, they nodded, after they wrote to the family and Auggie went back to Eton they got to Mayfair and Belinda and Caroline unpacked.
”Mama can we go see Uncle Colin and Auntie Pen?” They asked, Daphne knew it was more they wanted to see Agatha.
”Sure take David so he can see Thomas and do not forget him there.” Daphne said they nodded and got their shoes on with David and left. They knocked on the Featherington house door and Rae answered.
”Oh Miss. Belinda, Miss. Caroline, and Mr. David. Come in, Agatha and Thomas are in the drawing room.” Rae said and then they saw Thomas run by and Agatha soaking wet chasing him.
”You stop running you coward!” She yelled and Felicity ran trying to grab Agatha before she strangled their younger brother.
“Oh hello Belinda, Caroline, and David.” Felicity said. Her reddish brown curls in a braid. Belinda, Caroline, and David knew their cousins well enough that the Featherington-Bridgerton group was probably the most likely to start a fight during a ball, which Belinda learned about Felicity’s first season in society was anything to go by.
”Girls might informing me why Thomas is hiding under my desk?” Colin asked walking in.
”Thomas poured a bucket of water on me.” Agatha said.
“Hi uncle Colin.” Belinda, Caroline, and David said.
”Oh hi kids, Agatha go dry off, and I will make sure Tommy apologizes.” Colin said and Agatha stormed off and Felicity looked at her cousins.
”Come in.” Felicity said. Daphne was having tea with her mother and Kate.
”Kate you left my brother alone with his four kids?” Daphne asked.
”He will be fine, he loves the kids.” Kate said sipping the tea.
“It was nice to know with Mary he did not already have the first name and what they looked like at the ready.” Kate said.
“Oh yeah when you were expecting Charlotte it was hilarious he kept bouncing up and down about his baby girl.” Daphne said with a small laugh.
“I mean you met Charlotte when she was in the past, I think Anthony was more excited about a minuture me running around.” Kate said and the two women nodded. Nine months later Daphne was in labor and cursing Simon’s name.
”Your Grace I do not believe you should be in here.” The doctor said to Simon.
”He’s been here for each other kids birth he will be here for this one!” Daphne yelled at the doctor.
”I am staying with my wife.” Simon said more scared of Daphne than a doctor. After three hours of labor Daphne was exhausted holding a baby girl.
”Freya Agatha Basset.” Daphne breathed out.
“Perfect.” Simon said smiling at his little girl. The kids sat outside with their Nana Danbury and Caroline and Belinda looked at her.
”We are never having kids.” They said to her.
“Okay you two have brothers did give your parents grandchildren.” She said hugging the two girls. She was allowed in and she walked in and saw the little baby.
”The name?” She asked Simon.
”Meet Freya Agatha Basset.” Simon said holding Freya.
”Another Bridgerton baby with my name.” She smiled sitting down and holding Freya.
”Only Aggie shares your name.” Simon said.
“Still with how many of the Bridgerton babies have Violet as a middle name.” She said to Simon. Simon nodded as she handed Freya back. “By the way you two eldest girls said they are never having children.” She said leaving Simon standing there holding the new baby shocked.