THE UNCLE'S VISIT

Doc Adams elbowed his way through the crowd of mostly CLims that had gathered outside the door of Katherine’s rooms in the castle. As he reached up to knock on the door, John Clayton laid his hand on his arm. "Doc, would you please ask Katherine if it would be possible for us to see the baby?" he asked, a hopeful expression on his face.

"I’ll tell her you are out here," Ben said. "All depends on how the little one is doing. I’m bringing a different formula for her. She has not taken too well to the other ones we have tried so far." Lord Greystoke nodded and stepped back as Ben knocked once and then let himself into the room.

"Kat?" he said, seeing the sitting room was empty.

"In here, Ben," came Connor’s voice. Ben crossed the room and entered into Kat’s bedroom.

"Kat, I brought another formula to try. This one might .... what the hell!" he yelled as he stopped in his tracks at the sight of Katherine with her shirt open and nursing the baby. Connor chuckled wickedly at the absolutely shocked expression on his face.

"When I told Jathelle about the difficulty we were having with the formulas, she did a little tinkering with me so I could nurse the baby myself. I think this will be much better for her, don’t you?"

Ben just nodded, still in a state of shock. Then the curious doctor in him took over and he knelt before her, moving the shirt away from the unoccupied side. His hand gently touched her obviously milk-swollen breast and squeezed the nipple just slightly. "Hmmm," he said as he observed the nearly clear liquid that was produced.

"Colostrum. That is very good. She needs that extra boost."

Katherine smiled gently at him and giggled slightly as she said, "And it looks like I’ll actually have some decent cleavage for the first time in my life." Connor chuckled again. It was unlikely any of her *friends* would complain about the increased size difference.

"How many times has she nursed?" he asked.

"This is the second time," Katherine answered. "The first was about two hours ago. She didn’t spit any of it up, either."

Shaking his head in wonder, Ben remembered the crowd waiting outside the door. "Looks like all the *uncles* are camped at your door wanting a chance to look over the little one," he said with a wry smile as he watched Katherine switch the baby girl to the other side.

"I know," Katherine said with a soft smile. "I can *hear* them. You can send John and Dani in. I want to talk to them about this. They are both used to seeing me in various states of undress so they won’t be embarrassed. The others can wait until after I finish nursing her."

Nodding, Ben got up and went to the hall door. There was instant silence when he opened it. "Katherine wants you and you in there now," he said with a stern voice as he pointed his long finger at John Clayton and Dani. The young CLim blanched but followed the much bolder Lord Greystoke in.

Looking over the crowd, Ben continued. "You can all see the baby a few at a time when she is done talking to those two. Just be very quiet. She will most likely be asleep." There were muffled sounds of assent and nods of the head as the assembled crowd agreed to the conditions.

John and Dani’s reaction to Kat nursing the baby mirrored that of Ben Adam’s. John recovered very quickly, but Dani stood opened mouthed in amazement. As accustomed as he was to what all Rayden and his family could do, John didn’t have to even ask how that little miracle had come to pass.

Easing himself down of the bed beside Katherine, he tenderly reached out and touched the head of the tiny infant at her breast. "She’s beautiful," he said in an awed whisper as she stirred briefly and then drifted off to sleep. Katherine gently broke the suction and then placed the slumbering babe in John’s arms. She then proceeded to button up her blouse again while watching the reactions of the two CLims closely. While she was doing that, Dani inched forward to take a closer look himself, totally speechless as he gazed upon what could possibly be his very own daughter. When he finally found his voice, he turned to Katherine and held out a package for her.

"John and I picked out a few things we thought you could use," he said, with that wistful pleading look he did so well. Katherine smiled at the young man who was obviously wanted to please her and opened the package. Insides the package was several soft blankets, some cloth diapers, and a couple of tiny dresses.

"Thank you, guys," Katherine said happily. Then her expression changed and she scolded them briefly before saying, "Just don’t ever let this happen again, ok?" Both of them nodded and then Katherine gave each one a deep kiss before telling them to get and to have Ben send in the next lot.

At that moment, Carol seemed to appear from nowhere in the hall scanning the group of CLims and looking for her two guys. Her expression was a bit annoyed. Monroe happened to see her first and he poked Mullard and looked toward Carol. The two of them exchanged a worried glance, then both looked toward Carol as she intimidated her way through the crowd.

"So what are you two up to now?" She looked closely at their faces. They weren't going to get away with any half truths. "What's with this whole crowd?"

Monroe took a deep breath before he started talking. With that expression on her face, he had to be careful what he said. "We were hoping to see the baby. John and Dani just went in." Carol's expression softened a little. "Do you think they would mind if I saw her too?"

The door opened and John and Dani came out of Katherine's rooms, bright happy smiles on their faces. Ben was right behind them, his arms folded as he leaned against the door. He scanned the gathered crowd that was waiting anxiously; trying to decide who to send in next. He then spotted Carol and he greeted her. Bowing slightly at the waist in a courtly manner, he said, "Greetings Miss Carol, would you and your *boys* like to come in now to see the baby?"

Carol smiled at him. "Ben! Yes we would. We promise we'll be quiet." She took her guys each by the arm and led them to the door, whispering to them both, "You better not be putting me through anything like this ever again. I'm gonna make sure you remember, too." Monroe gave her a nervous glance, but Mullard hung back a little rolling his eyes where she couldn't see, then grinning as they entered the room.

Katherine had moved to her little receiving room and was sitting in the middle of couch holding the little one. Connor was standing behind her, a soft look on his face as he gazed at the sleeping infant in his woman's arms. When Kat saw Carol entering she smiled brightly and greeted her.

"Oh, Kat! I know how much you've wanted a baby. I'm so happy for you!" Carol walked up and bent down to give her a gentle hug.

"Can I see?"

"Of course," Katherine said, motioning to the spot next to her. When Carol sat down, she gently placed the slumbering baby into her friend's arms. Mullard and Monroe just about bumped heads as they leaned in to get a look themselves.

Carol looked down at the tiny baby. She had only held one this small maybe once before in her life and had never really felt very maternal, but this was the most beautiful baby...... Such a sweet angelic face surrounded by silky strawberry blonde hair. "Oh! She's so beautiful!" She breathed.

Monroe and Mullard marveled at this beautiful new person, each wondering silently if she could be his daughter. Mullard carefully reached out to touch one tiny perfect hand and the baby grasped his finger in her sleep. The raptured look on the CLims face made Katherine smile softly as she spoke to them. "We can work something out when it is one of their turns to come help with the baby. I wouldn't want to separate you three."

Carol watched the expressions of her guys as they looked at the baby. She sighed. How could she be angry with them? "We'll think of something." The baby made a little sighing sound in her sleep and

Carol could feel her eyes getting damp. She suppressed an embarrassed giggle. "Does she need an aunt along with all these uncles?"

Katherine laughed sweetly. "Most assurably yes!! I have a feeling with a CLim for a father and a high spirited girl like Jenny as her mother, she is going to be a handful!" Connor just chuckled and shook his head in amusement.

Carol smiled down at the angelic little face. "I can't imagine that, but if you ever need any help, just ask. Does she have a name yet?"

"I like the name Elspeth. Connor wants me to call her Katriona. I'm trying to get him to compromise and go with Kaitlyn but he's being stubborn," she said with a grin. Connor just rolled his eyes.

"Those are both beautiful names. Maybe you can use one for the first name and the other for the middle name?" There was a sound from the crowd in the hall. "I think you have some more admirers out there." She said softly to the sweet sleeping baby. "Maybe we should let some of the others have their turn." She carefully handed the baby back to Kat. "She's beautiful."

"Thank you very much for coming," Katherine said as she took the baby back. "I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome. I just had to see, you know. I had to see what she would look like. I couldn't help wondering......" She sighed.

Monroe blinked. "Oh! I almost forgot! We brought a gift for the baby. We both picked it out." He smiled uncertainly at Kat as he held out a small gaily wrapped package.

Katherine smiled graciously at them. "Thank you very much! Would you mind opening it? My hands are kinda full right now," she said with a happy look on her face.

Mullard smiled and stepped forward. "I will." He carefully unwrapped the package and revealed several very cute little baby toys and a couple of little baby outfits with embroidered lambs and ducks on them. He looked down at the beautiful little baby. "I hope she'll like them." He spoke quietly, not wanting to wake her.

"They are lovely," Katherine said. "And she will love them. Thank you for being so thoughtful." Then her three visitors all gave the baby one last loving look, and bid Katherine a good day.