Mini-Write (Restart) Day 1
I got an anonymous prompt to write something about Cora’s pregnancy with Theodore, set in my AU Cobert headcanon. I hope you enjoy!
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“Cora, why are you so nervous?”
Robert held the hand of his fidgety wife as they sat waiting for her appointment.
She turned to him. “This pregnancy is already different from my previous two.”
“Do you think there’s something wrong?” he asked, eyes widening.
Smiling in reassurance, Cora shook her head. “No, nothing like that. I’m just scared that it’ll be….” She lowered her eyes as her words trailed off.
“That it’ll be … what?”
Cora nearly laughed when she met Robert’s eye again, his face all bewilderment. “I’m afraid we’ll have another set of twins.”
At this, Robert did laugh. “And if we do?”
But Cora sighed, and answered, “Don’t laugh. Mary and Edith seem to have a pact to destroy us.”
Continuing to chuckle, he squeezed her hand. “How on earth could they work together in a pact? They disagree and quarrel about nearly everything.”
“That’s their pact! To wear us down with their shenanigans!” When her husband kept laughing, she pulled her hand away. “Stop that, Robert Crawley.”
He wiped the back of his hand across his eyes as he settled back into the chair once more. His face more serious now, he inquired, “Sweetheart, you said this pregnancy felt different from the other two.” Pausing while she nodded, he then took her hand in his. “Then isn’t that telling?”
Cora shrugged. “Maybe.” Tilting her head to one side, she peered at him. “How is it that you’re the more logical of the two of us right now?”
“I could take that as in insult, you know,” Robert said. “But I won’t. Besides, you’re carrying our child, it’s bound to addle your brain a little – as you’ve told me innumerable times.”
“Yes, I know, I –“
“Lady Downton?” a nurse asked from the waiting room door.
Standing, Cora let Robert grab her handbag for her. They followed the nurse down the hall and into an exam room where she settled them in, taking Cora’s vitals before leaving them.
“I’m so glad there’s a new doctor so close to home now. It was a trial to travel so far for modern medicine.” Cora chuckled.
Robert looked around. “Yes, Dr. Clarkson has definitely improved Downton Hospital.” He sighed. “Pity Mama doesn’t seem to agree.”
Eyes rolling, Cora said, “She’ll come around eventually.”
“Have you met my mother?”
“Touché.” She got in one eyebrow waggle before the doctor knocked and entered the room.
After a few questions, Dr. Clarkson got Cora ready for the sonogram. Robert held one of her hands, then saw that her eyes were tightly shut.
“Everything looks normal here,” the doctor said.
With a squeeze to her hand, Robert whispered, “Cora, you can open your eyes now. Can’t you hear that?”
Cora let out her breath in a long exhale. “One heartbeat.” Smiling, she opened her eyes and looked at the screen.
Dr. Clarkson turned to the pair of them. “It’s sixteen weeks, so I could tell you with close to certainty the sex of the baby. If you wanted to know.”
The two shared a look, then Robert answered, “Yes, we’d like to know.”
“From these sonogram images, it looks like you’re having a boy.” The doctor beamed at them.
Cora and Robert clasped their other hands together now as well, grinning at each other.
“A boy,” Robert breathed. “Cora, a son!”
Blinking hard against tears of joy, Cora replied, “Yes, darling. A son – one son!”
Both laughed, full of gratitude, happiness … and relief.