July 30th, 1894 - Honeyduke Residence

It seemed like all of the weddings of the last year were coming around to babies rather quickly. Senna had started it off back in May, then Zinnia and Dahlia within weeks of one another. Daff had a sneaking suspicion it would be frequent after this. Her free hand went to her own abdomen as she sauntered up to the back door of Dahlia's house with a basket of things from her mother and the intent to help her sister out however it was that she needed help. In half a year's time, this would be her and Daff wanted to know what to expect. She had been hovering around Zinnia's as much as she could between work and other things, but could see just how in love her sister was with baby Emery and everything seemed to have settled in the Gallagher house, at least for now.

The kitchen could use some tidying and Daff made a note to do that before she left for the day. She set the basket of goodies on the counter and moved further into the house. She found Dahlia and Marigold in the sitting room and Daff smiled fondly at her sister. "Hi," she greeted softly as she approached, leaning in to kiss her sister on the cheek before looking down at her newest niece. It made her chuckle to think that that's all she had so far was nieces. Which one of them would ever give their father his boy? "How's everybody doing?" Daff took a seat in the closest armchair. "What can I do for you?" Daff was here to do whatever it was Dahlia needed her to do after all and so appraised her younger sister carefully, wondering how she was doing now, a week in.

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Dahlia Honeyduke

babystamp 12 weeks

  

In week and a half since Marigold's birth Dahlia had learned two very important things. The first was that being a mother was everything she had ever imagined and then some. The second was that being a mother was also exhausting. Her breasts ached from nursing, her unmentionable locations ached when she walked, the baby cried all the time or slept. And really Dahlia was entirely unsure how she would have managed had she not allowed Quin convince her to hire a nanny, a maid, and a housekeeper. She'd thought the maid enough, the rest entirely superfluous, now she was glad they had decided on it.

Thank the goddess that Daffy arrived when she did, not when Mari was fussing, or nursing, or even sleeping. No, her sister had perfect timing indeed. "We're doing well." Dahlia admitted with a smile. Because when Mari smiled at her from her swaddling, nestled in her arms, everything seemed as golden and beautiful as the first moment Dahlia had beheld her daughter.

"Oh nothing Daffy!" She scolded, but they both knew that while Dahlia wished there would be nothing there likely would be. "I can have Mrs. --- bring in some tea if you'd like some?" The thought of walking to the kitchen made her entire body ache.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

"She saw me on the way in, I believe she already started some." Daff was glad her sister had some help around the house. It must have made everything easier, she knew it already was for her with their small household staff. It was Zin she worried about sometimes, which was why she tried to get over there as often as she could. Mr. Gallagher seemed quite atop the housekeeping however, which was a lovely surprise.

"You look positively radiant." Motherhood looked good on her sisters, Daff had decided. It was lovely to see, but it also made her wonder what her own experience would be like in just a few month's time. They had always wanted that for themselves and Daff had too, but had never been quite as certain as they always had been. "How are you really?" She asked again, knowing it couldn't all be sunshine and daisies.

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"Oh, she's goddess sent." Dahlia sighed, the saying one of their mother's. Truly she wouldn't know which way was up and down if not for their housekeeper - well and Mama who frequently visited and bossed around everyone from Quin to the staff.

While Dahlia knew her older sisters all looked beautiful after having children she did not think it applied to herself. Her hair was slipping from her simple bun in a haze of crazy wisps, she had circles under her eyes, and she was absolutely convinced she looked haggard. "Oh, hush. I do not." She waved away the compliment.

Daff, however, knew better than to accept platitudes and Dahlia sighed. "Truthfully? I'm exhausted. I hurt. My breasts hurt. Mar cries so much. And I have no idea what I'd do without Mama or our staff." Dahlia listed off, her voice tearful. "And I just want to cuddle my husband without hurting.... or without him thinking I've turned into a cow." A desperate laugh escaped on this last word. And like that all the facades Dahlia had put in place tumbled out. Of course she hadn't meant to say any of that because she didn't want Daff worried about what her own future held when the baby got here, but there it was now - all of Dahlia's worries laid bare to her sister.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Daff gave her sister a knowing smile and waited for the rest to come tumbling out. She disagreed with Dahlia about her looking beautiful, but she imagined her sister probably did not feel it at the moment. "I bet, it's such a huge change." Daff nodded along. "Good help is crucial and I highly doubt Quincey thinks you look like a cow." Daff had seen the way her brother-in-law looked at Dahlia and still did, like she hung the moon and she highly doubted Quin was paying any attention to the baby weight. "It'll get better. Do you need anything now? I can take Mari for a little bit if you want to nap or take a bath or something?" Daff had so many nieces at this point that she had no fears about her own adventure into motherhood.

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Dahlia scoffed, there was no way Quin could ignore that his slender wife now waddled about the house with every impression of one of the cows in the Plunketts' fields. But then again maybe Daff was a more objective critic. Just because she felt like something didn't necessarily mean she looked it too.

"A bath sounds wonderful." She sighed, her eyes closing in the mere thought of such a luxury. "I'm not sure Mari will let me though." She glanced down at the bundle in her arms who looked deceptively like a calm little angel.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

"Has she eaten recently? If she has I can handle anything else." Senna's oldest had been a true nightmare infant and Daff had helped out as best she could, Marigold could not be any worse. All of them had enough experience in caring for babies that it shouldn't be a surprise. "If you want, and she's close why don't you try while I draw you a bath?" Daff had enough nieces at this point to know what postpartum care could entail and she just wanted to help in whatever way would work best for Dahlia at the moment.

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"She has." Dahlia replied but she couldn't mask the skepticism in her tone. "Well if you're sure, I suppose." Dahlia really didn't want to scare Daf with Mari's temperament but they both had enough nieces that she supposed Daf was likely one of the most qualified people to watch Mari.

"Thank you Daf." She murmured quietly.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Daff made grabby hands for her niece. "Of course, what else would sisters be for?" Babies were exhausting. She was sure it was a little lonely here at home with Quincey off at work all day, even with good help. It was hard not to wonder if this would be the same for her, but with a network of sisters as big as hers, it was hard to imagine she would ever be all that lonely. Plus Elias would just be in the workshop, and so never that far while she was home.

"We'll be just fine, won't we, Mari?" She looked down at the sweet little face as she bundled Marigold into her arms. "Go, enjoy a rest." Daff urged her sister with a reassuring smile.

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