Dedicated to @mayang04  Thank you for being my most interactive reader. 🤗
**************************

Thirteen months later ...

Eskine paced up and down outside the bedroom door. He raked his hand through his hair a hundred times, waiting in anticipation. His heart was beating wildly out of control, his lungs felt constricted.

'Sit down!' Udny chuckled. 'You are going to make holes in the floor!'

Eskine narrowed his eyes at his father in law. 'How can you be so calm? I need to be with my wife! I need to know she is doing okay,' he almost sobbed.

'She is strong,' Udny grinned. 'You are weak! You will be no help to her in there.'

'I know what you are trying to do Udny Blane!' Eskine pointed an accusing finger at his father in law. 'Do not for a second ___'

And just then, Eskine heard the most wonderful, melodious sound and burst into the room and went running to his wife.

'Chief DeMartino! You should not be in here!' the midwife protested, as she quickly covered Grisell up.

'Darling! Are you okay?' There were tears unashamedly streaming down Eskine's face. He kissed her lips and cupped her face.

Grisell smiled euphorically. She looked tired. Her face was all clammy, with dark shadows under her eyes, but she gazed into her husband's eyes with adoration, as she held their baby against her chest.

'We have a baby girl,' Grisell whispered to him.

'Darling, I am delighted,' he hugged his wife as carefully as he could and gently took his baby into his arms.

'Chief DeMartino!' The midwife exclaimed with indignation. 'You are not allowed in here!'

Eskine smiled down into his baby's face. She was making adorable sucking noises. Her stormy grey eyes opened and she stared at her papa. He looked up at the midwife, still smiling.

'I am the Chief! There is nowhere I am not allowed. Have you completed the clean-up on my wife?' he enquired, courteously.'

'Not yet,' she squirmed with embarrassment.

He smiled broadly at his wife. 'May I take baby outside to meet grandpa?'

'I need to feed her darling.'

Eskine looked at his beautiful baby girl. Her eyes were closed. She looked calm and relaxed. 'I shall bring her back in a minute,' he kissed his wife's lips. 'Go ahead,' he instructed the midwife. 'Complete your task. I shall leave you to it.' Eskine cradled his baby in his arms and went outside to introduce her to her eager grandpa, waiting outside.

'Chief Dalmahoy, your husband should not have been in here. It is no place for a man!'

Grisell laughed proudly. She was beaming. Her eyes shone like the night sky full of stars. 'It is okay,' Rhuda.' Grisell chuckled softly. 'There are some instances, when my husband just does not listen.'

'I do not believe a word of that,' the midwife darted a disbelieving look at Grisell as she was cleaning her up with warm water and soap. 'You have that man wrapped around your little finger. Everybody knows he cannot say no to you.'

Grisell sighed delightedly. I know he is an amazing husband. I love him so. Thank you so much for delivering my baby Rhuda.'

The midwife smiled with pride. 'I expected you to use one of your own midwifes. Thank you for trusting me. You were so brave and an excellent patient. I wanted to medicate your husband, even though he was not the patient!'

Grisell laughed. She was making a concerted effort to unite both clans, and she had to acknowledge, they were making brilliant progress. For their wedding, she had requested the head chefs of both clans to sit down and work together on the menu. She had expressly informed them, she was not too fussy what they prepared, but that both clans prepare the favourites that all their peoples could enjoy. She encouraged them to spare no expenses.

Post the execution of one Sorcha Lees; the wedding was to be a celebration and symbol of unity between both tribes. The wedding, the combined planning by both tribes and the week, long festivities had been a roaring success. Grisell had enjoyed a memorable wedding on the beach, in front of all their peoples, in a flowing white gown, which her husband had insisted on procuring from the sub continent and off course it had fitted her hourglass shape, perfectly.

It had brought tears to her eyes when her father had bravely stood to hand the bride over to the groom. It was not just tears of joy for her wedding or her marriage to the handsome, adorable Chief of DeMartino, but the physical effort her parent had made just for her. Grisell had thrown her arms around her father and whispered her love for him, into his ears. She was not to know that Udny had sought Eskine's assistance. Every day for a whole week, Udny had secretly practiced with Eskine to stand and take the necessary few steps, to hand his daughter to her prospective husband.

'May I enter?' Eskine returned with his baby howling blue murder. He smiled sheepishly at the midwife.

'You may,' she answered unsmilingly. 'Chief Dalmahoy is ready to receive guests.'

Eskine rushed to place his baby on his wife's chest again. He gushed and chatted to his wife as she nursed their baby.

'She is beautiful darling, gorgeous, like you. She has your passionate eyes and you glowing, blonde hair. Our baby shall become a mighty, commanding Chief, when we step down.'

Grisell laughed as she changed positions to continue nursing baby. 'I do believe you are going to be a doting father, are you not?'

'We commence active combat training sessions in six months,' he announced in a serious tone.

Grisell smiled shaking her head. 'This was a wonderful experience darling. I am so happy all went well.'

'Nothing is impossible for the inimitable Chief of the Dalmahoy. She is a mighty conqueror,' he pressed his lips to hers.

Grisell cupped his face. 'Your midwife tells me, I have you wrapped around my little finger!'

Eskine scowled. 'What nonsense woman! When you are done with nursing baby, do hurry and prepare me supper!'

Grisell threw her head back and laughed. She laughed so hard, her position shifted, baby began to cry, because she was not getting her much needed feed.

'This one is feisty like her mama, I see,' Eskine carefully positioned Grisell's nipple towards baby's mouth.

'I hope you will not be so forward, when we have company,' she scolded her husband.

'You are my beloved wife. This is my baby. I will not allow anybody to dictate to me what I can and cannot do!'

'Mmm,' Grisell raised an eyebrow at her husband.

'Is that a word? And grandpa is eager to see you darling.'

'I think she is done,' she handed baby to Eskine. 'Place her to your shoulder and gently pat her back.' Grisell adjusted her dress and lifted the covers over her body.

'Okay baby. Papa has got you. You can sleep again.'

'You can let father in,' Grisell spoke softly.

'Congratulations,' Udny beamed as his wheel chair was positioned close to Grisell's bed. 'She is charming and beautiful, just like you,' he complimented with teary eyes.

'Thank you father. All went exceptionally well. I am so very happy.' Grisell beamed joyously.

'You look it my dear,' he smiled. 'This weak boy was crying like a baby outside when you were in labour!'

'I was not!' Eskine denied, his cheeks flaming red.

Grisell watched the nerve twitch at his throat. Her husband had been amazing throughout her pregnancy, fussing over her, serving her every need. At night he would massage her swollen feet with lavender oils, lovingly scolding her for being on her feet for too long during the day. When her back ached, he was at the ready to massage and serve her tirelessly.

She smiled now, not wanting to take sides. She didn't want to embarrass her husband by teasing him, nor did she want to call her parent to order, for poking fun at her husband. She watched her parent's delight as Eskine carefully placed the sleeping baby in Udny's arms.

'She is asleep now that her tummy is full,' Eskine spoke softly.

'I cannot wait for her to start walking,' Udny grinned. 'She and I are going to spend a lot of time down at the beach.

'With twenty guards,' Eskine stated, just in case somebody has any intent to kidnap my baby.'

'I do not believe anybody with be that unwise to take you on,' Udny grinned.

'Could that be a compliment? I do not believe you have much kind words to say about me!'

Grisell laughed, enjoying the banter between her husband and parent. They looked up when there was a knock on the door. In walked the maid with a tray of food for the new mamma.

'Thank you Tesag,' Grisell smiled.

'Baby is very beautiful, just like you, Chief,' Teasag announced shyly.

Grisell laughed softly. 'Thank you.'

'Can you bring an additional plate for Chief Eskine, he has not taken supper,' Udny requested to Teasag.

Grisell looked up at her husband. 'Darling it is almost midnight! Why did you not have supper?'

'I was not hungry,' he mumbled gruffly.

'Have mine. I will have the tray, when Teasag returns.'

He shook his head. 'You need to eat. You only had breakfast.'

She had been in labour from just before lunch and had refused meals. Teasag rushed out quickly to bring a second tray for Eskine. There was another knock on the door and Eskine opened it to find McCrae standing there looking uncomfortable.

'What is the matter?' Eskine questioned calmly.

'Nothing Chief. Everybody wants word on Chief Dalmahoy. Is she ___ is she okay?'

Eskine smiled. 'Yes. My wife has given birth to a baby girl. You can tell everybody she is well and so is baby.'

'Thank you Chief. Congratulations to you and Chief Dalmahoy. Good night,' he tipped his hat.

Eskine made himself comfortable next to his wife. She fed him a slice of roast chicken.

'So have you decided on a name for our baby?' Eskine questioned.

'I was thinking Sabine, and you?' Grisell smiled at her husband, then looked at her father.

'Winslow,' Eskine grinned, but I guess you will not call our daughter that.'

'No. My granddaughter shall not be called Winslow,' Udny rejected.

Eskine and Grisell laughed together at Udny's absolute rejection. Udny smiled lovingly at his daughter and son in law. He felt so much love for them and the greatest joy for the little baby he cradled in his arms. He would not mention it to his daughter, but baby Sabine looked the spitting image of her maternal grandma.

Udny felt blessed for fairly good health and longevity., He lived long enough to witness his three grandsons; Winslow, Dax and Cole, whom his precious daughter gave birth to, grow to be teenagers, before he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

But it would be Grisell's eldest, her daughter Sabine that would take over from her parents and become chief of the combined DeMartino/Dalmahoy tribe. Sabine would have to wait her turn though, for twenty years later, her loving, doting parents were still strong, in good health and showing no signs of ill health or incapacity to hand over the reins to her as yet. Sabine was only too eager to wait, to enjoy her freedom, and youth, before she would take over the mantle of Chief of the combined DeMartino/Dalmahoy tribes.

                      -The End-