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mischievouslittlecreature · 4 months ago

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I'm so emotional here coming to the end of this AU! I've loved every new installment of it so much!

I really liked seeing them have to swap places here for a little while, with Alfie being the calmer one and Rose the one who's emotions are running rampant.

Their joy over it being confirmed and getting ready for the baby was so palpable! I'm overjoyed for them! Especially since they had to wait so long for it!

Perhaps the only time Rose may have been grateful for Tommy's presence 🤭. That's such a terrifying thing to experience, especially without Alfie there to help her. Good thing that Tommy is a good person to have in a crisis and he was able to get her to the hospital in time!

Having a baby prematurely and a c-section is so scary! My heart aches for them. You did such a good job capturing the stress and fear that parents in that position must feel. I was a preemie/c-section baby myself and the stories I've heard from my parents over what those first few weeks of my life were like sounded so similar to what you have depicted here! Bravo to you for showcasing something like this in such a realistic way!

The first time he could actually hold him in his arms it felt like holding humanity's most valuable treasure.

Please, he loves his baby so much! 😭 I'm melting into a puddle of affectionate goo over here 🫠.

Ahahahahaha, Allie really is always right! Her speech to Jo about being the best sister ever nearly brought me to tears! I could read nothing but those two going on little adventures together and giving their parents headaches, and I would be happy for the rest of my life 🥰.

This family has become so dear to me! I can't believed I've finished the modern AU! I'm so glad that there's still the other AUs that I have left to read, because I really can't get enough of them! 🖤

Daughter (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc) ~ Final + Epilogue.

Alfie Solomons x Rose Coldwell (ofc) Masterlist

Summary: Alfie and Rose are about to face the most difficult time of their lives. But they are not alone, because little Allie is there to be with them. Now and 18 years into the future, too.

Warnings: Some parts could be angst. But mostly fluff. || Inaccurate medical terms, maybe (I'm not a doctor) Mentions of difficult pregnancy and birth.

Words: 3.K || Part 1. Series Masterlist (the first part was posted on my other blog @raincoffeeandfandoms)

The next morning dawned cloudy. Rose was still in bed and had decided not to go to work that day, she just didn't feel like going out to face the world. Her husband was in the kitchen preparing breakfast and Cyril was lying on his side next to her.

The dog was looking at her and even though Rose's mood was not the best, she couldn't help but smile. The animal knew how to make her feel better. Cyril settled even closer to her and sniffed her. Then he rested his head on her belly.

He had never growled at Alfie before, but he did when Alfie approached Rose to give her a cup of coffee and a kiss on the forehead. Alfie had the innate reaction of pulling his hand away.

"What's wrong with you, boy?" Alfie looked at his dog confused by his behaviour. "What's that protective attitude of yours? I'm not going to hurt her!"

"He must think you're going to kick him out of bed and lie in his side," she replied, smiling.

"His side?"

"I don't make the rules, Al."

"You're lucky that I love you, Cyril."

The dog wagged his tail but didn't lift his head from Rose. "You'll be all right, sweetheart?"

The night before had been too unexpected and too much of a roller coaster of emotions for him. Alfie had tried not to think about everything she had said to him as he held her to his chest but it wasn't easy. On the one hand there was the science that said his wife was pregnant but on the other, two tests had said otherwise. It was true that pregnancy tests sometimes failed, but it was also true that it was not uncommon for a blood test to have someone else's name on it. Late though it was, Rose had fallen asleep but Alfie had not. He couldn't sleep, so he spent the whole night being invaded by thoughts he hadn't had before. Perhaps because of being tired, he hadn't noticed that Cyril's protective attitude might mean something.

"I'll be fine. I'll just stay in and read and enjoy your breakfast. Go, Al, maybe a day off is what I need."

"Call me. Love, call me anything you need."

"I'm going to be fine. Don't worry about me." Rose didn't know how wrong she was.

Breakfast had been good and, as always, Alfie's baking did not fail to lift her spirits. After settling under the covers again, she picked up the book she was reading and continued it. Or tried to. Her mind was not really with her but with the doctor she was tye previous day.

"Medicine is a developing science… it doesn't explain everything." The woman's voice was in her head and on the desk she shared with Alfie was the card of the obstetrician surnamed Jackson.

She stroked Cyril's head before closing the book and deciding to sleep. Turning off the brain in such cases was the best thing to do.

But she didn't last long in bed. A little over an hour later, she got up and rushed to the bathroom and Alfie's tasty breakfast ended up going down the toilet.

She slowly stood up and walked over to the sink where she wet her face and then looked at herself in the mirror for several minutes. Drops of water fell down her face.

"Fuck…" she said to her reflection. "Fuck."

That was the first of her symptoms, not counting the repeated cravings. And over the next four days, others began to appear, such as unpleasant smells that only she could sense and mood swings that became more evident. Finally, that same fourth day, it was Alfie who called Dr. Jackson to make an appointment for his wife.

If there was a baby inside her, there was only one way to find out and that was with an ultrasound.

The warmth of spring was beginning to be felt, but Rose was cold. Not physically, but it was an icy sensation that ran down her spine and if it wasn't for the fact that she hadn't been able to eat breakfast, she would probably have ended up throwing up in the waiting room as well. Usually she was the one trying to stay calm, but this time Alfie was the one in charge of that. He took her hand in his and forced her to take a deep breath. It was going to be all right, he said.

Dr. Jackson was a black woman with a friendly smile. Perhaps she could see the panic in Rose's eyes because the first thing she did was give her a glass of water and ask her to sit down. She told her the same thing that Dr. Garrett, the first one to see Rose, had told her: sometimes miracles happen. But if Rose still had any doubts, Dr. Jackson would be happy to answer them.

With Alfie beside her again and as she lay on the stretcher, Rose reached for his hand. She was thankful it wasn't an electrocardiogram because at that moment her heart was about to burst out of her chest. Her mind was in another dimension.

The cold gel on her abdomen brought her back to reality.

"Let's see," Jackson said and a smile spread across his face. "Well, there it is. That there, that's your baby."

There on the screen was what Rose had so far refused to believe was possible. At last it had been true. In the end, it had happened. Alfie would swear he had never cried when he saw that little dot on the screen that was his son. But it was a lie because he had cried.

It was April 2024 and Rose and Alfie were looking at their baby for the first time. Eight weeks pregnant, the doctor said, and only now could she see that it was true. It must have been in that week in mid-February that Rose and Alfie decided to travel to a Scottish island. They hadn't been able to enjoy the scenery because a storm had forced them to stay inside the hotel but they had found other ways to spend their time and now that had been exposed. It was incredible, if they thought about it, that this had not happened in the nearly seven months they had spent locked in the Inn, with little and nothing to do in those days except having sex.

Dr. Jackson was also honest with them. As much as the pregnancy was unexpected, almost impossible to happen, it was also risky. It didn't mean that in the months ahead Rose should spend her entire days in bed, but that she should be more careful than any normal pregnant person should be. But also, she said, with more frequent check-ups everything should be fine. For now the baby was completely healthy.

In the weeks that followed, Alfie was more protective of her than usual. She should do nothing if he could do it, and even went so far as to propose hiring a maid, which she refused. There was no need because she was fully aware of what she could and could not do. Besides, Alfie had reduced the hours he spent inside the Inn working so the time they spent apart was almost nil. The two of them had started to prepare the new room that would be for the baby. Cot, nappies, toys, clothes, everything they thought would be needed and maybe more. Including a T-shirt for Cyril announcing that he would be the big brother of the family.

Without much fuss, more quietly than Alfie and Rose would have expected, two more months passed. Only now was her bulging belly beginning to show. In her husband's eyes, she had never looked more beautiful than she did now.

Dorothy and Allie had just entered the Inn a June afternoon. The mother was starting her shift and the girl, as usual, fresh from kindergarten, was planning to spend those hours with Alfie. Only this time Rose was there.

A big smile came across the girl's face when she saw her, considering she hadn't seen her for several weeks.

"Mom Rose!" The little girl ran up to kiss her on the cheek and then put a hand on her belly. "You're huge!"

"Thanks, Allie? I'll take that as a compliment. I have something to show you, come." Rose patted the armchair where she was sitting and Allie settled in next to her. From inside a notebook, she pulled out her most recent ultrasound done earlier that morning. Neither she nor Alfie could any longer conceal the joy they both had.

From behind the counter, Alfie listened to the exchange of words between his wife and the girl.

"Is this the baby?" she asked.

"Yes, but there's more to it than that, Allie. Now we can say that you will be his big sister."

"His? But I… the dream was a girl."

"I know, maybe it was… I don't know, like an angel? Or something?"

"No! It was a girl! I saw her, I talked to her. She was your daughter! She had long hair and she was beautiful!"

"But the one inside me is a boy, Allie. Joshua David Solomons."

"A boy! Is his name going to be Joshua?"

"Yes, it's an important Jewish name and both Alfie and I like it. So does David. Maybe not the little sister you were hoping for, but a brother."

"Maybe I was wrong…"

"Allie," said Rose, kissing her on the forehead. "I don't know anyone who has been more right about anything than you. Even when we all didn't believe it was possible you were the first and only one who was right about the baby. Even if it's not a girl."

Allie smiled hugely. At least that was true. The girl looked at the ultrasound again and although it was fuzzy she could make out the shape of the baby.

"Joshua…" she repeated the name and then looked at Rose. "I think I'll call him Jo. I think he might like it."

"Jo, then! I'm sure he does, sweetheart."

If Joshua Solomons could have given any sign of being happy to hear his name in the little girl's voice, he surely would have done so.

Seven months pregnant now and Rose's belly was really noticeable compared to her height, but it was tender to see. And also was what no one else could see: all the Alfie leaned gently against his wife, feeling his son inside her. If, years ago, Alfie had been asked if he was considering such a life he probably would have said no. And Rose would have said the same, because it was the last thing she would have expected.

It was mid-September when the worst began.

Alfie had had to go to the bank and had told Rose that Tommy would be by to pick up some papers. So that's why he was there. And fortunately he was there.

"…so, tomorrow I'm going to look for Alfie, to… Rose?"

Tommy threw the papers on the floor and walked over to her who had just leaned on the table and winced in pain.

"No, no! It's too early! No!"

"Rose, what's wrong!" Tommy had a hand behind her back and a worried look on his face.

"The baby… it's two months away! Not yet!" she replied, but the pain in her abdomen made her scream.

"To the hospital, now."

Tommy called out to Alfie from the car as he drove, flashing his lights to let him pass. In the seat next to him, his friend's wife was breathing heavily and her eyes were teary. For Tommy, the hospital had never been so far away. But he had never felt such relief in his life as when he saw the building in the distance.

A nurse and doctor put Rose in a wheelchair and wheeled her in. Tommy would not see her again until two days later. Alfie arrived ten minutes after them and also came in after his wife. Doctors had no choice but to perform a caesarean section if they wanted to save the baby's life. At just seven months gestation, Joshua Solomons had decided it was time to come into the world.

It was by far the smallest thing either of them had ever seen. Weighing barely a kilo, it could easily fit into one of his father's hands. But he was clearly in no condition to go home. Even when Rose recovered and was discharged, the baby remained in the hospital and would do so for the next ninety days.

Alfie hired a new employee to cover his work hours and devoted full time to caring for his son and wife. Not only was Joshua small, he was also fragile. Day and night, he and Rose took turns watching him. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was normal for the whole family to return home after a few days, but that hadn't happened for them.

"When can I see him?" asked Allie one afternoon when she happened to meet Alfie at the Inn.

"You can't now, sweetheart. But in a little while, perhaps, you'll be able to meet him."

"How is she? And how are you?" This time it was Dorothy who spoke.

"I'm so tired. I hardly sleep and Rosie… Rosie doesn't want to leave the hospital. Last week, the baby went into intensive care and I thought I was going to lose Rose and my son at the same time. It's harder than I can say."

"Hey, Alfie…" Dorothy put a hand on his arm "the child has your blood and hers. He's a fighter. And this is only temporary. Before either of you know it, all three of you will be able to be in the house."

"Do you think so? I wish, because it's very difficult to see someone so small connected to numerous wires and tubes. Rose can't breastfeed him yet because the baby would drown, so he's only feed through a tube and it's killing Rosie. My poor Rosie."

Dorothy, smiled at him "she's lucky to have you. Don't worry, Alfie, I told you…it's going to pass."

The first improvements began to show after almost 50 days. Joshua had gained weight considerably, considering how small he was, and he had opened his eyes as well. Once again Allie had been right: his eyes were just like Rose's, but his face was just like his father's. It was impossible to deny that he was his son.

The first time he could actually hold him in his arms it felt like holding humanity's most valuable treasure. In those days, too, Rose slept normally again, and that was something that reassured Alfie. To feel her in his arms again, at peace, was one of the many things Alfie had prayed for.

Weeks later, when they arrived at the hospital they found that Joshua no longer had feeding tubes. That was the first time Rose was able to breastfeed him and both of them (plus other parents who were in the same situation as them) ended up smiling and crying at the same time. But not Joshua, the baby seemed more than happy to finally feel his mother closer. That day was also the first time Alfie sent a picture of the baby to everyone he knew. All the previous ones were on his phone, but that one in particular had to be shared.

If they had been Christians, it would have been a Christmas miracle. But they weren't, so it could be considered a Hanukkah miracle.

It was December, London was illuminated by thousands of lights, when at last Joshua was allowed to go home to his parents. He would meet Cyril, something their poor dog had long been waiting for, and he would also meet little Allie. For if anyone deserved to see the baby, it was she.

It was still daylight when the three Solomons left the hospital. Alfie was driving while in the back seat his wife was with their son, making sure nothing would happen. But the little boy, oblivious to everything, simply slept.

Allie met Joshua three days later. The girl and her mother had gone to their house at the invitation of Alfie and Rose. The girl could barely contain her joy when she saw the baby.

"It's really tiny."

"Yes, he is," Alfie replied. "But he's growing fast."

"I'm going to be the best sister in the world."

There was no argument about that. Allie had decided that Alfie and Rose were her parents at heart so, logically, Joshua was her brother. And from that moment on and in the years that followed Allie would keep her word.

Epilogue. 18 years later.

"Well, Jo… here I am. Sorry, work kept me busy all day."

"Don't worry."

Allie, now 22 years old, looked at her brother with intrigue. He wasn't her blood brother, but the two of them had grown up together as if they were, and on more than one occasion Allie had stood up to anyone who tried to bother him. Because no matter what Joshua was her brother. And now that he was legally an adult, that hadn't changed, even if he was taller than she was.

"Well, tell me."

Locked in his room, Allie followed the boy's eyes as he began to walk in circles.

"Mom and Dad already know," Joshua said, "but there's something I need to tell you."

Allie's eyes widened "oh my god… you got a girl pregnant!"

"What the fuck, Allie, no!"

"Sure? Joshua!" The girl stood up and grabbed him by the shoulders. He sat her back down on the bed.

"Will you shut up? Listen to me!"

From the kitchen, where Alfie was looking at his phone and Rose was finishing some emails, they could both hear Allie's high-pitched, happy cry.

"She knows now, Rosie. Allie's going to make our lives impossible now."

"In the end, as always, she was right. But how were we to know?"

"I knew it! I knew it! Over time I convinced myself that what I saw in my dreams was a figment of the imagination of the little girl I was, but no! Deep down I knew it! Oh my God!"

Allie was standing on the bed and only realised where she was when the excitement of the first few seconds passed.

"Tell me something!" her sibling demanded.

Allie jumped off the bed onto the floor and with the biggest smile she could muster, spread her arms wide. The words she had just heard rang in her head: 'I am not a boy. I don't identify as a boy, I identify as a woman. I don't want the pronouns he or him but she or her. And the name… I am simply Jo. Jo Solomons.'

Allie wrapped her arms around her sister and felt tears burn in her eyes, "You're the sister I dreamed of. I literally dreamed you, Jo. You showed up in my life before mum and dad even knew you existed. I love you, Jo and I'm going to be the best sister you'll ever imagine and… fuck, I'm crying. Jo Solomons, you're beautiful and perfect and I'm going to take care of you until the last day of my life because that's what big sisters do. Because if anyone says anything to you, I swear I'm going to haunt them for the rest of their life."

"I'm bigger than you now!"

"I don't care. You'll always be my little sister. Mum and Dad, what did they say?"

"I don't think they could have reacted any better. Dad was silent for a few minutes, in shock, I think, but finally they both went "okay, you have our support. We love you" And literally the dinner that followed was like nothing happened. And dad greeted me this morning with 'good morning, my girl.'"

"Papa Alfie is the best. But, now I need to go and talk to them. I need to tell them that I, Allie Brown Solomons at heart, even when it took me 18 years to prove this, I always knew they were going to have a daughter."

#rose coldwell #rose coldwell x alfie solomons #flor 🖤#lily reads

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