She snuggled into her soon-to-be husband and said nothing about the nightmare she had experienced. There was no need since he knew she had nightmares about the things she had experienced before she met him. It didn't matter that this time, Harold was condemning her for her choices too. She wrapped her arms around the only two people left in this world who would be her family.

Frederic drew Karen closer and nuzzled his face into her hair. Clover clambered over his father's body and squeezed himself in between the pair and Frederic smiled softly. This was the family as it should be, minus the babies. In a few years, they could all cuddle like this, and his smile widened. He kissed the top of Karen's head, at peace for the moment.

The comfort brought with that family moment was nice, she thought as she hugged both Fred and Clover. But it was short lived, for the twins both started to whimper, first Niamh, then Harold. She reluctantly pulled away from the embrace out of mother's instinct and rolled off the bed, moving to check on the babies and tend to them.

Frederic heard the babies crying as well and drew his arm back from around Karen so she could get up, but not without stealing a kiss on his fiance's cheek. Clover yawned and Frederic sat up, lifting his son onto his lap. "Gooood morning," he greeted the little boy as Clover snuggled up against his Pa's chest. Fred looked up and saw Karen tending to the babies. "Can I help in any way?" he offered.

She picked up Niahm, who was squirming, and said, "How about ye change a nappy while I feed Niamh?" She gently bounced the little girl who's nappy she just changed and she sat down to feed her. They started out hungry already and that was the norm for the twins. She threw a blanket over herself so as not to shock Clover with how she fed Niamh, knowing that the child would likely ask questions if she did that.

Frederic nodded and got up despite Clover's protests. His son snuggled down into the covers, warm and cozy, and Frederic crossed the room to Karen and the babies. He kissed her forehead and picked up Harold, rocking the babe in his arms and cooing at him gently. He laid Harold down on the table and changed his nappy, taking care to keep him giggling and in good spirits.

In no time, the babies were taken care of, breakfast was eaten, and they were soon dressed for the day. Karen wore her Sunday best that she'd packed away, a pretty blue dress that complemented her fair skin. Her nerves were shot, she was feeling the anxiety in the pit of her stomach as they were getting ready to leave for the ceremony. Were they doing the right thing? She'd like to think so.

Frederic wore his nicest suit and a bow tie that Clover had decorated for him in school last year with little spots of color. It seemed appropriate, at least to him, as they were becoming a family and he wanted to make sure his son felt important on this very significant day. Karen's dress was very pretty, and so was she, as always, but he had a feeling she was in a tizzy all morning. He asked Clover to go play with (aka coo and make funny faces at) Harold and Niamh and drew Karen aside, lowering his voice. He gently took her hands in his and squeezed them reassuringly. "Everything will go smoothly," he said softly, "but if you want..." He swallowed nervously. "There's still time to go back to Whitby instead."

She looked into his eyes with a frown. "I would rather not," she said honestly. "Tis just a case of cold feet, tis all." Or was it? She looked down then and wondered if he had a good point or not. She was afraid if she said yes to him that she would lose him, and that was not something she wanted. She loved him, but they were moving so fast that it took her breath away. She shook her head then and pulled on her bonnet. "I'll be alright," she said then, hoping to God that things would go smoothly and not be a disaster.