WELCOMING THE BABY

by Donna and Ev

The Christening of Katherine Dixon and Connor MacLeod’s little girl took place right after the Sunday morning worship service. There were so many people wanting to attend it that at the last minute, the ceremony was moved out into the gardens where there was room for everyone. In the center of the garden, Father Alec stood waiting as Katherine and Connor made their way through the crowd. They were followed by the chosen *godparents* of the child and the twelve CLim *uncles*, all scrubbed up and dressed in suits for the occasion.

Rayden, dressed in a white suit and looking very elegant, and Ev, in a long, flowing silk dress embroidered with tropical flowers, made their way through the crowd following Connor and Kat. Jathelle and Theron, both in somewhat more formal attire than their usual, stayed back with the rest of the crowd, each holding one of the twins.

As the two couples reached where the priest was standing, the *uncles* formed a half circle behind them. Katherine was wearing a long ivory and peach lace dress and Connor was wearing a smart Armani style suit. The tiny girl in her arms was dressed in a hand made christening gown that had been made by Chancellor Sharon and wrapped in a soft hand woven blanket that had been made by Lilly. The priest smiled as he surveyed the scene in front of him and then waited for everyone to get in place so he could begin the ceremony.

Ev and Rayden stood together hand in hand smiling at each other and at Connor and Katherine. It was such a happy occasion, the atmosphere was beginning to make Ev a little giggly. As the crowd quietened, Father Alec began the ceremony with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of the child. Then looking at Katherine and Connor, he asked them if on behalf of the child and of themselves they turned to God, repenting of any sin in their lives.

When they agreed, they were then asked if they believed in God the Father who made the world, in God the Son who redeemed mankind and in God the Holy Spirit who gives live to the people of God. Both Connor and Kat nodded and said "I believe and trust in Him."

Then looking at Ev and Rayden with a smile, he said. "You have been chosen to act as godparents for this child. Will you be there for her, to help, support and encourage her as she grows into the person she is meant to be?"

Ev and Rayden smiled at each other briefly, then at the beautiful baby and answered together, "We will."

Then Father Alec turned back to Katherine and Connor and took the tiny infant into his arms and poured the water over her head. "Katriona Elspeth Dixon-MacLeod, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." He then made the sign of the cross on her damp forehead, and declared the child had been received into the church. Then he prayed over her and gave her a blessing before handing her back to Katherine. As the baby wiggled a little and complained about having been awakened, Father Alec looked over the crowd and he invited them to join with him in welcoming the newest inhabitant of VIsland at the brunch that had been prepared for the occasion.

Ev and Rayden came over to kiss the sweet baby and give Kat and Connor each a joyous hug. "You two will be the best parents this little sweetheart could possibly have." Ev looked down again at the little red-haired baby, now asleep again.

Katherine was glowing with happiness as she held her precious bundle of joy in her arms. Connor thanked Ev and Rayden for being there for them and then the two couples made there way to where the tables and chairs had been set up. Jathelle and Theron joined them at the tables. They had developed more of an appreciation for real food after the hurricane, when they had been so tired and needed all the support they could get. It seemed that they were learning a lot about babies and were delighted to hold them until Ev and Rayden were finished.

Theron loved holding his little grandson with hair as thick and black as his own. He enjoyed that the baby seemed to have a bit of a temper and a mind of his own. It amused him endlessly to watch him. Chancellor Sharon and Lilly both had their babies with them as well. The five little ones were being admired by the people milling around. All the CLims were there, even the ones who were not named as being the possible father of the child. After awhile, a short round woman with a jolly smile on her face made her way through the crowd to welcome the baby. She had in tow a long legged boy with a head of dark unruly red hair who looked extremely uncomfortable dressed up.

Rayden recognized the boy immediately. He elbowed Ev. "That's the boy I told you about, the one who was so good with the horses."

Ev looked at the boy with interest. "Unusual hair color." His hair was a rich dark auburn color almost perfectly in between red and brown. "Seems like a nice kid. Why don't you go and say hi to him?"

The woman came up to where Katherine was sitting with the baby and curtsied. "Lady Katherine, me name is Maggie." The happy look on her face as she beheld her granddaughter for the first time was enough to make anyone smile. Katherine returned the smile and stood up, handing the baby to Maggie to hold.

Ev cradled Jae in her arms, getting a little misty over the touching scene of Maggie seeing her granddaughter for the first time. She couldn't help reflecting that Maggie seemed like a very nice lady to have such a horrible child. She looked down at her own beautiful daughter and kissed her. "I love you." She whispered. Jae's only reply was a little baby sigh in her sleep.

As Maggie cuddled the little Katriona to her ample bosom, the teenage boy fidgeted beside her, then snuck a quick look over Maggie's shoulder. Connor grinned at him and ruffled his hair, making it even more messed up. "Kat, this is Dougal. He's the one that takes care of Jameel for me every time I bring him here."

Dougal blushed and ducked his head, then motioned at Maggie. "This here is me maw. Guess that kinda makes me an uncle or something to her, doesn't it?" He wasn't sure that since the baby had been adopted, he and Maggie would still be recognized as relatives.

Rayden couldn't help saying something as he stood, watching with Rayven in his arms. "Of course it does. I wonder if there is a record number of uncles recorded somewhere." He smiled at the boy. "Nice to see you again on a happier occasion. How are the horses, since the storm?"

"They be doin' right grand, sor," the boy said. He was definitely not at ease in the crowd around him.

Rayven started fussing in Rayden's arms until he was moved up to look over his shoulder. He wanted a better view, apparently. Then when Rayden patted him on the back, the baby let loose with a burp loud enough to start everyone laughing. "You don't need to be nervous around us, Dougal. We're just people. He reminds me of that all the time." He smiled at his son, who seemed to be proud of himself at the moment.

About that time, the little object of all the fuss and bother was starting to raise one of her own as she woke up and started to root around hungrily. Katherine laughed and took her back from Maggie and then walked over with Connor to a small tent set off to the side for the nursing mothers to have a little privacy. As she walked away, Maggie brushed a tear off her round cheek. "She be even more beautiful then me Jenny was," she said softly to herself.

Rayden smiled after Maggie and projected comfort to her, trying to be as subtle about it as he could. She somehow sensed something and turned to look at him and give him a slow, slightly sad smile, in acknowledgment. Then Rayden was distracted as his son started squirming and making his little "I'm hungry and I want something NOW!" noise. Ev heard from where she was sitting and, since Jae was starting to fuss a bit, too, she went to join Kat so she could nurse her sweeties. Good thing they tended to get hungry at the same time, or she wouldn't be able to do anything else lately, she reflected.

There were several comfortable chairs set up inside the little tent. Katherine had just gotten herself situated with Connor’s help and had offered the baby what she wanted. She winced when the little one latched on vigorously to her milk swollen breast and started to nurse.

Ev and Rayden came in and he helped her get comfy in another chair. Rayven was so eager, making little lip smacking noises until he found a position he liked, he made Ev giggle a little. Jae, on the other hand wasn't as hungry and would taste a bit and look around every couple of minutes or so. "Still a little sore?" She asked Katherine. "It doesn't last long." She smiled down at the twins. "Its just so fascinating to watch them grow and develop. They're so different. "

Rayden couldn't bring himself to leave. He loved to watch when she fed the babies. It made him feel so warm inside.

"My milk came in this morning," Katherine said with a grin. "Guess my body doesn't know how many babies to feed at the moment." She pressed her arm against her other breast as her milk let down to stop that side from leaking. The resulting gush of milk on the side being suckled almost choked the nursing baby and she let go and complained loudly until the connection was restored.

"You should have seen me!" Ev giggled. "There was so much hormone overload with having twins, I swear I had breasts the size of bowling balls. And they felt that hard. Once things adjusted, I felt MUCH better." Rayden smirked at her. "Of course, he helped a bit." She blew a kiss in her mate's direction.

Katherine blushed and then admitted Connor had not been able to resist helping out in that area himself when she had woken up with her breasts hard and painfully full of milk and the baby had been still sound asleep.

Ev grinned and winked at Connor. "I think we have good men. So considerate and helpful......" She couldn't help giggling a little.

Rayden got up and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. "I do what I can." He took a peacefully sleeping Jae from her and left their still-nursing son in her arms. "I swear, he could almost eat all day. I don't know where he puts it."

Connor just laughed. He was down on one knee beside the chair, watching the little one nurse in obvious fascination. The two couples continued to talk amiably, totally comfortable in each others company until all three babies had finished nursing. They then returned to the ongoing party that was going on in honor of welcoming Katriona Elspeth to the island.