"What!!?!" Jim pulled Mary from his body, holding her out at arm's length to see her eyes, to see her face. "Mary you can't be serious, it's what we wanted"

"I know James but the timing is so very awful. All my studies would come to naught. And what about all the things we wanted to do and get prepared for our new life. One income will make it all that much harder. ....and Jim, they have waited so very long and I fell so easily luv..."

"I know it's not perfect timing and it will be rough for a bit but Mary...Mary, it's our baby luv" Jim didn't know what to think, his head felt like it was full of cotton. Mary can't be serious can she... His hands stroked down her arms, eventually tangling with her warm fingers, her tummy still flat. "Luv, I know their perils and I do sympathise to their plight but Mary... our first born is a miracle too. Darling talk to me, tell me why you are thinking this way. Com' on, tell me everything"

The sheets were somehow tidied and the crocheted blanket draped back in place. Mary laid her head on her pillow somewhere close to the centre, patting the spot at her side and held her other hand out patiently to James, beckoning him to her.

So beautiful, such a serene creature she was... never a terse word spoken, not a fluff of foul language uttered, no arguments with him made.

Jim doubted he was as good and true as her, yet she picked him.. picked a bloke with a good few years on the clock and a shoddy job in the cotton exchange. He was neither a prince nor pauper but he did struggle... to keep her dressed like the lady she is, to make sure there was hearty meals on the table, milk in the fridge always. He wanted, no needed, her to have all she deserved.

"Please James...please open your mind to this... we are just beginning... this child, of course I love already, but this baby has, unfortunately, come so early in our dreams, all our plans ...only the other day we were thinking about where we would be in our marriage next year...settled and comfortable in a nice area... we need my part of the income to get there-"

James rolled onto his side as she gazed up at the ceiling, her lip caught in her teeth, fingers splayed protectively over her tummy. "I can get us all we need pet"

"Jim we had plans"

"Jim now is it... well those plans can wait. I'm the husband, the man of the 'ouse. I will provide" His voice rose, this was as close to an argument they had ever been.

"I didn't say you couldn't..."

"No you didn't, you just decided to send my first born to the other side of the world"

"We'll get pregnant again ..."

"That's not the point Mary! Sending the child away.. it's unnecessary. I can keep you both well and fine"

"I know you could" Mary now lay facing James "Of course you could... But what of my dreams of being a midwife. I need a full year of work to keep my papers.. that certificate you were so proud I received, would be nothing but a firelighter"

They watcheded each other silently... Moments, minutes passing them by... Mary ran her fingers over the tension in his face. The frown lines, the tight set of his beautiful jaw. She stopped her tender ministration's by placing her hand on his cheek cupping it so softly, his stubble like fine sandpaper under her touch.

Mary smiled, gazing lovingly into his adoring yet confused beautiful eyes. "This is their only hope James... darling...it kills me to hear how sad Lorraine is... she is so much my sister now and it's so... so sad. She is so wonderful and loving and without a child to share herself with...it's devastating to me, I daren't think what it feels like to her"

"I'm getting on Mary what if I can't give you another baby ... what then. Tell me... because I don't understand. I-"

"You're not old and it's not the man my luv it's the woman that stops producing." Mary kissed his lips and nose "You could be ninety and still get some pretty little thing pregnant-"

" I don't want someone else! And I certainly don't want a tiny tot when I'm ninety!... Can you imagine chasing a little one about with a walking stick!" Jim laughed and it was music to Mary's ears he was surely softening, she smiled watching his eyes light up at his jest.

"Please James" Mary kissed his sweet lips once more. Those lips that said I Do and made her the happiest girl in the world. Winding fingers in his short hair she grinned lovingly and he went to jelly... no one could resist this woman and he was lost in her love so deeply. "James we will have another, please, please me. Let us gift the greatest gift of all"

"My darling you know best... I trust you but..." James frowned at the very thought of his firstborn thousands of miles away yet when he saw the conviction in his Marys eyes.... "But please let's keep in touch with this child... be a guardian from afar... write letters. Let he or..." His breath caught in his chest. Could it be a son, his first born son he was giving to his brother in law to raise. Mary's fingers curled on his hip then a warm palm encircled his waist, her hair tickling his chin as her pretty face lay on his chest, his heart beat constricting in his throat "..let he or she know they can always come back if they need us"

"Did you just agree..?!?" Mary leaned back kissing his chin quickly- once twice three times, her body tingling, coming alive with the thought of completing this wonderful miracle for her sibling. Jim nodded slowly, unsurely at first, then as Mary quivered with happiness and impending excitement, he nodded with no more fear in his heart because she was here, she was his and she always knew best.