Epilogue

EPILOGUE

SIX MONTHS LATER

F itz paced back and forth in front of Eliza's bedroom door. "It's been too long, hasn't it?" he asked Georgina, who was seated across from him, one hand on her chin.

He was well aware that she had been tasked with keeping an eye on him while his mother, Eliza's mother, Dot, Sloane, and Henrietta were in with Eliza and the physician, although Georgina hadn't hidden her disdain for the job.

"Childbirth takes some time, Fitz," Georgina said, rolling her eyes at him. "You have to be patient."

"I am not a patient man."

"I hadn't noticed."

He shot a look her way at her sarcastic tone.

"I'm concerned for her."

"I know," she said, softening. "I can understand how you would be ill at ease due to the sounds coming from that room."

"Georgie!"

"It's the truth," she said with a shrug.

At the next cry from within, he stood, stomping over to the door.

"That's it. I'm going in."

"I don't think men are supposed to go in there," she called after him, but he was not to be deterred.

He stopped in shock at the sight before him, hating the look on Eliza's face. He rushed over to her, practically knocking Henrietta out of the way to take her hand.

"Eliza," he said, holding her hands against his chest. "I'm here."

She squeezed his hand so tightly that he nearly cried out in pain himself, and Henrietta sent him a smug "I-told-you-so" look as she backed away, cradling her own.

"The baby's coming," Dot said from her position at the end of the bed, and Fitz watched, eyes wide, as his son slipped into the world in a feat of great strength from Eliza.

Moments later, the baby cried out, and Fitz's jaw opened in shock that a human – one he had helped create – was in front of him.

As Dot cleaned the baby with a piece of linen, Fitz leaned down and placed kisses all over Eliza's face, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes when she opened her arms and accepted the baby.

Fitz sat down next to her, his arms drawing around her.

He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve this – the most amazing woman in the world as his wife, a healthy baby in her arms, family surrounding him, and growing support for his proposition – but he would accept it with all of the gratefulness in the world.

"I love you, Eliza," he whispered in her ear before kissing her once more.

"And I love you, Fitz," she said, tilting her tear-stained face toward him. "I always will."

"It's our happily ever after," he said.

"It is," she said, with a watery smile. "And the best part about it is that we are just getting started."