I moaned as Bambi pressed the cool cloth to my forehead. For two weeks I have been in agony, vomiting constantly and have recently added a fever to the mix. Derek is terrified that I am dying. In truth, I feel like I am dying. I can hardly keep anything down, and lying to Derek will do nothing because it will do nothing.

"Shh, Im, this will end soon. I promise." She whispered, stroking my hair. "Lillian, water, please." Lillian handed Bambi a glass of water and held it to my lips.

"Imogen, I promise you will get better." Lillian whispered, sitting on Derek's side of the bed. "I do not want to lose you, Imogen. I know this sounds selfish, but you are my friend." I smiled weakly at my family.

"I'm not going' anywhere." I mumbled. "Where's me Derek?" I asked, turning my head towards the door.

"He's getting hold of our doctor and your mum." Bambi murmured. I nodded and closed my eyes. The door opened and shut as softly as it could. I knew who it was so I did not open my eyes.

"How is she?" He murmured.

"Not well, Derek. Her fever is rising, she cannot eat. She continues to vomit whatever we give her." Bambi murmured. "I'm scared, Derek."

"I am too." He murmured. Bambi stood and Derek took her spot on the bed. His hand cupped my cheek and stroked it gently. "My love, wake up."

"I am awake." I mumbled, opening my eyes slightly. "Do not fret over me."

"I cannot help it." He admitted. "Imogen, I am going to lift you now." Derek slid his arms under me and gently lifted me into his arms.

"Are we going outside?" I mumbled, laying my head against his shoulder. He kissed my sweaty forehead gently. "Yes," He said against my forehead. "The children will be joining us. They miss you."

"I miss them too." I whispered as I clung to his neck. "I'll get better. I promise."

"I know you will. You are going to have the best doctor in the county." Derek said as we went down the stairs and out the back door. "We will find out what is wrong and then we will cure you. I cannot stand to see you suffer."

"I'm not suffering." I mumbled as the warm April sun hit my face. I smiled weakly as Derek set me down on a cotton blanket. "Sit with me." Derek obliged and sat behind me, propping my body up against him. "Look at them play. I can't wait till we get our own babies."

"Maybe this is what is causing you to be sick?" Derek suggested, placing his hand over my stomach. It was a possibility. The last time Derek and I were intimate was two weeks ago. But we've been intimate ever since Anna and Colin's engagement.

"If it is, will you be happy?" I asked quietly. I know we wanted to wait, but now that Ida has had her baby and Enya it heavily pregnant, the idea of a little bundle of my own was enticing.

"Happy? My love, I'll be ecstatic. I'm sure your mother will want to spoil the baby, and we will have many hand-me-downs from the twins. And if we are not pregnant, when you are better, we'll try for one." I smiled and looked up at him and he kissed my nose. "Is fresh air helping you?" I nodded my head as a wave of nausea rolled over me once more. I pressed my hand to my mouth and got onto the grass before spilling the contents of my empty stomach. Derek held my hair back as I stayed on all fours.

"I can't do this." I cried softly. "Derek, please, help me." He slowly helped me sit down and then wiped the vomit from my lips.

"The doctor should be here by this afternoon. Can you hold on until then?" Derek asked, stroking my hair. I nodded and moved so my head was resting in his lap. "Rest, Imogen."

The doctor came around at quarter of four. I was in bed once again, with Derek and Lillian tending to me. They were forcing chicken broth into me, but I knew it would not stay down. Worry was etched into Derek's features as I watched the doctor come towards us. Derek pressed his lips to my forehead before standing and excusing himself. Lillian stayed as the doctor did his examination. My nerves mixed with my nausea made me want to vomit over and over again. I wanted a diagnosis.

"Milady, just a few questions," The doctor said. "When was the last time you and your husband were intimate?'

"Two weeks ago." I said, resting my hands on my stomach.

"Have you been wearing corsets regularly?"

"No. I've felt no need tae." I said.

"Mrs. Goddard, I do believe you are with child." The Doctor said. "Congratulations." The Doctor packed his things and made a swift exit, and Derek slipped in. Lillian squeezed my hand and left the two of us alone so I could break the news to him.

"What did he say? Will it kill you?" Derek said, cupping my cheeks. I grabbed one of his hands and pressed it to my stomach.

"We're having' a babby." I said softly. His face lit up like a boy getting candy before breakfast.

"A baby," He exclaimed, leaning down and kissing my stomach. I giggled as he peppered kisses on my stomach. Things were going to change for us.

*

*

*

A few months passed, and my sickness faded away, but I gained a small stomach instead. Derek had the servants begin converting the former Duke's room into our nursery. Mum and some of my younger siblings have come to stay with us until the baby is born. Derek is just excited about the baby, almost as much as I am. But I am also terrified. My mum lost her firstborn, and I felt like it will happen to me as well.

"Imogen," Annabeth said, taking my hand. "It's time." She said. It's her wedding day. It was an intimate ceremony, just family. I walked out of the house and down the aisle. Annabeth had asked me to be her matron of honor. I accepted, and I was glad. I helped her plan her wedding, and she accepted my help graciously. Derek was going to give her away in place of Aaron. She admitted to me at the beginning of the wedding planning that she may not be able to go through with it. She always imagined her father giving her away. I reached the end of the aisle and turned around to watch my husband and sister-in-law come down the aisle. She was gorgeous and I could tell that Colin was anxious to call her his bride.

After Derek handed Annabeth to Derek, he came over to me and we took a seat. He took my hand as we watched his sister become Lady Annabeth Crawley. Annabeth and Colin were perfect for each other and inseparable since saying I do. Was my wedding this magical? I hope it was. No, I know it was.

The reception was beautiful. The Bride and Groom danced the night away, the two almost never parting. The only time they parted was to dance with Derek and I. Annabeth and Derek were two peas in a pod as they danced to one of the simpler song. Colin danced with me, attempting to avoid my stomach as much as possible.

"You're glowing, Im." He said, eyeing my stomach. I rolled my eyes and pulled my brother-in-law closer.

"It's a babby, not the plague." I said. "He's been kicking' a lot."

"Just let me know when my niece or nephew comes out. I want to hold him after Derek." He said, kissing my forehead. I smiled as the song ended and Derek came and stole me away. I giggled as Derek kissed me.

"It was pure torture watching Colin hold you." Derek murmured, kissing the side of my neck. I giggled as I held the back of his head. "You look positively radiant, my love. How are you feeling?"

"Derek, I've not experienced nausea since the beginning of June. I'm just fine. I thought I felt the babby kick during' the ceremony." I said, resting my other hand on my stomach. Derek's eyes went wide as he placed his hands over mine.

"Where," He asked, rubbing his thumbs over my stomach. "Has he kicked since?"

"Yes, he has." I said, moving his hands to the peak of my bulge. "He shall kick soon. He's a little troublemaker, yore babby is." Derek grinned mischievously.

"Colin and I had our fair share of canings while away at school. Most of them were his fault, but I took the beating." Derek said, thinking back to his school days. "We still play a prank once in a while. But I assure you, he will not be as devilish as we were."

"I hope he looks like his Da." I said, brushing my fingers through his golden locks. "I wouldn't mind having' a little Derek." Derek shook his head as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

"I would much rather the baby look like the two of us. I love your deep, brown eyes. I think they would suit a baby well." I smiled and cupped my belly. I know Derek loves me, and our baby, even if he has not said so yet. I know he will. He would not be this happy if he did not.