THE PARTY’S OVER

by Donna and Ev

(Rated PG13)

The kitchen staff at the castle was busy as usual. Suppertime was almost upon them and there were a lot of hungry mouths around New Camelot to feed. The head cook bustled around giving orders and making sure everything would be ready on time. She spotted one of the girls, a pretty red headed thing, hiding in the corner and not doing what she was supposed to be doing.

Jenny was totally miserable. She had been hiding in baggy clothes for months, but now there was nothing she could do to hide what was happening. Her belly hadn't really gotten very big, but now she was having awful cramps and she was afraid she knew what was going on.

She looked up at the head cook. "I think I've got the flu. I need to go home tonight."

Her boss was a hard task master, but not totally without heart. "You don't look at all well, child. Go ahead and go back to your quarters then. I'll have someone look in on you later."

Jenny struggled to her feet and suddenly another cramp hit her and she felt as though she had sprung a leak. It was disgusting, but she felt too horrible to even be embarrassed. She had to sit back down in the corner. She couldn't even speak.

The cook reached out to steady her, and when she did, her hand brushed her round hard stomach and found the evidence she had been hiding for so long. "And just what is this! Are you with child?" she said in surprise and with a little anger in her voice as well.

Jenny saw there was no use denying it any more. She didn't like having to admit it. "So what if I am? What's it to you?"

"You silly little goose!" the cook said irritability. She didn't have time for this right now. The supper had to be finished. She rang for the head serving woman to come and fetch the erring girl and then snagged a wandering man from just outside the kitchen and ordered him to find someone that could notify the doctor that his services would be needed.

Jenny didn't want to get up. It hurt! When the head woman came over, all she could say was, "Leave me alone!" She finally managed to get up and got out of the kitchen, but after that, she couldn't walk anymore. She slid down the wall and sat there, angry with herself and the world that she was in this stupid mess.

It took three strong men to carry her to the serving quarters, with her moaning and complaining the whole way. The head lady met them there and said a few choice words under her breath as she helped get the girl settled in bed.

"The Doctor and midwife are on their way. So just be quiet and rest until they get here," she ordered.

Jenny glared at the woman, she never could remember her name.

"I don't want the doctor! I just want everybody to leave me alone!" Then a harder contraction hit and she started to cry. "It hurts!"

"Stupid little twit," the head lady mumbled under her breath. She had heard about this one. She had gotten drunk while serving at a party for some of the men here in the castle at the beginning of the year and had been demoted to kitchen duty because of it.

"What did you say?" Jenny wiped at the tears streaming down her face and smudged her too-dark mascara to the point that she looked like a red-headed raccoon. "What are you staring at?"

"Just be quiet, child," she said, trying to be gentle. Just then Doc Adams and Kat walked into the room. Rayden had transported them there so there would be no time lost getting to the castle.

Jenny looked at the Doc. She had seen him around the castle before. "Can you make this stop hurting? I can't stand it!" Another contraction started and she whined pitifully. "Well, now that you're here, help me!"

Ben cast a look of pure disgust at Katherine who just shrugged. She knew he hated whiney patients worst of all. "I'll need to check you," he told her. But when he moved to her side, Jenny kicked him away.

"Just give me something for the pain. That's all I want." She glared at the Doc. Then she turned her glare on Katherine. "Who are you?" Yet another contraction hit and she curled up in a fetal position, whining until it was over. "Make it stop!"

Katherine took her hands and broadcasted calm to her and the girl settled down a little bit. "I'm the midwife, dearie. One of us needs to check to see just how far along you are and to see how that precious little one of yours is doing."

"Precious? To who? I don't even want to see it! You can leave it out with the trash for all I care. Just make it stop hurting!" She shut her eyes tight and moaned out loud with the next contraction.

The shocked look on Katherine's face was plain to see. Ben was tight lipped with anger himself. "If she doesn't want our services, lets go back home," he said with a growl as he pulled Katherine up and steered her towards the door.

Jenny started to panic. "Wait! Stop! I'm sorry! Please just help me!" She broke down in tears, lying in a miserable heap on the bed. "Please..... Help me!"

Katherine was right back at her side, stroking her hair and comforting her. "It will be ok, it really will." Then she turned to Doc Adams and said, "Don't you think she needs some of that powerful placebo medicine you have?" Her clear blue eyes sparkled with merriment.

Jenny looked up hopefully. "Medicine? Will it make the pain stop?" If it was powerful, maybe it would even put her out and she would wake up and it would be all over. "Is it strong? Can I have it now?"

Doc smiled gently at her. "It's very strong. I'll give it to you after you let one of us check you."

Jenny looked up at him. "Ok. Do whatever you've gotta do." She laid back and followed instructions meekly while he looked at her.

"Are you almost done? Its gonna start again."

"Be quiet then, and let me do it," he said. He then gave her a thorough exam during which the only time she stopped complaining was when she was in the throes of another contraction. At last he was done. "You are close to being fully dilated. Do you want us to call in the father of this child?" he asked.

She laughed harshly. "That would be a good trick. If you know who it is, that's more than I know. There were a lotta guys at that party. I don't even know how many of them I was with. I was pretty drunk. Even if I knew, unless he wanted the kid, what would be the point?

The head lady who had been standing off to the side looked surprised. "That would be the party they held for your Lord Connor’s birthday, milady," she said. Ben mumbled something sarcastically to the effect that at least they knew who couldn't be the father then.

"Yeah. That was the party. All the guys looked the same, sorta. All CLims. Even that white-haired guy was there." Another contraction started and she yelled this time. "When do I get that medicine?"

Doc Adam prepared her an inject of a vitamin mixture. "This will get you started, the rest will be given continuously by IV."

The girl looked suspiciously at the clear plastic tubes but did not resist the insertion of the needle to start the IV. Katherine hung up the bags of fluids and started the drip. "You should be feeling much better by now," she said with a smile.

"How long till this is over? Can't you speed this up? I don't like this." She looked at the tube in her arm. Somehow, she was starting to feel a little better. She looked at the Doc and the midwife. It finally occurred to her that what she said about the baby before might have made them mad. "I'm sorry about what I said before. About the kid, I mean. I was real upset. But I'd be a lousy mother. You know anybody who would want it?"

"I'm sure we will find someone," Katherine said quietly. She worked on keeping the girl as comfortable as she could, helping her to do the right breathing throughout the labor. As the hours went by, the girl became a little more cooperative. then at last she was fully dilated and ready to push out the baby.

Jenny was getting tired. Really tired! This was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. "Is this ever gonna be over?" She whined yet again. Finally, a contraction came where she felt like she had to push. That scared her! Her body started sorta rounding up into a hard ball and she screamed.

"Stop that!" Doc Adam yelled as he sat her upright as he held one knee up and Katherine the other, spreading her legs wide. His patience was wore thin. "Do what I tell you to do! Now push!" Jenny sobbed and tried to push, but the contraction stopped. She cried and tried to catch her breath and then another one started. She pushed better this time, but she yelled all the way through it. After a couple more pushes, she could start to feel it moving out. That was exciting. Maybe this would be over soon.

Doc had the head lady come take his place holding her up, and he moved into position. "Good girl, one more good one like that and it will be soon over!"

Jenny glared at him. "About time." She grumbled as she was catching her breath. Another contraction started and this time she gave it all she had. She could finally feel it sliding out. She closed her eyes. She didn't even want to look at it. "Take it out of here! I don't want to see it!"

Katherine bundled up the tiny little girl and held her close to her chest, singing a little welcome song to her. She couldn't have weighed over six pounds, if even that much, but she seemed healthy despite the lack of prenatal care. Doc Adams finished up with the girl, who had drifted off into sleep.

"The Chancellor is not going to be happy about this at all," the head lady said, shaking her head in dismay.

The Party's Over, Part 2

Written by Sharon, with much help from Donna and Ev

Posted September 8, 1999

Chancellor stood on her balcony, watching the fog roll across the meadow and the trees. After the incident when Rayden's children were born two months earlier, it took quite an effort on Sharon's part to convince him to 'play with the weather'. Finally her insistence had won out, and now she was enjoying what to her, was a beautiful fall day. If nothing else, it was definitely a nice break from the heat.

A light rain had begun, so Chancellor had gone back inside her chambers and was getting ready to answer her mail, when there was a knock on her door.

"Enter," she called, almost upset at the intrusion.

She heard the door open and close and soft boot falls on the hardwood floor of the short hall. "M'Lady, I am sorry for bothering you but something has come up that requires your immediate attention."

Sharon smiled at the sound of his voice, but was also troubled. Ever since the night of the storm when they had awakened in her room, Reese had seemed distant. Always keeping to himself, doing only what his duties required of him, then immediately disappearing again.

"Alright then, please come in and tell me about it." She requested with a smile. Standing, she motioned for him to come across the room.

"You better sit back down for this one Lady." Reese warned with a grave expression. He knew she was not going to be happy with the news he had to share.

The great hall was filling fast. A message had been sent to Ev and Rayden, and all afternoon there had been a steady stream of islanders entering the gates and the main building. Even with so many people there, the castle was ominously quiet as all voices were kept to a hushed whisper.

Then, dead silence fell on the room as the Chancellor entered and seated herself at the single table. Reese stood quietly at her side, awaiting her command. "Bring her before me, and the child as well."

Sharon stated firmly and Reese hurried off thru a side door. When Reese returned, he had in tow a young girl. She was a slight thing, with flame red hair and freckles that fairly danced across her nose. She followed Reese quietly enough, but the Chancellor could see the fire dancing in her eyes.

As they came to a stop in front of her, Chancellor watched her until the young girl began to fidget. Then she asked simply, "What is your name young lady?"

"I'm Jenny." She looked around the room, defiance written all over her face.

"Jenny. Lovely name." Sharon paused, wondering how the young girl would answer her next few questions. "I understand you have delivered us a new island resident. Had you not considered the amount of care and time a young one can demand, or was this all a game to you?"

"I never wanted the kid. If I wasn't drunk, it never would've happened. It wasn't a game to me, it was a party." She shrugged. "Things happen."

Anger rose across the Chancellor's face like a red dawn and it was all she could do to keep from leaping from her seat. "And, I have been made to understand, that you do not want the child either?" Sharon strained thru gritted teeth to keep her voice from raising.

Jenny looked up at the Chancellor, anger and defiance at war on her features. She looked back at the people sitting and watching and pointed at Connor. "It was his party, let him have the kid."

Sharon's gaze moved sharply to Connor. His eyes met hers, but then he looked down.

Turning back to the defiant young girl before her, "If that is your wish, the child shall come into the custody of the court. Now, what do you suggest I do with you young lady? To be this irresponsible, and mindless of the consequences of your actions, I've half a mind to send you back to your real world." The last sentence was nearly spit at the young girl.

"Do what you want. It doesn't matter to me." Jenny held her head up, still in defiance. "I'll get along all right wherever I am."

"So, you would just as soon be sent back where crime is rampant in the back streets? Where you may be treated as a slave? Raped, maybe even killed? Perhaps then, it should be made so. We certainly don't need anyone here , who cannot appreciate what they have." Chancellor waited then, watching the girls' face for the real story. She really didn't want to send her back, for she felt it would only be a death sentence, and this crime did not fit that kind of punishment.

Jenny really hadn't considered any of that, but she didn't have any other ideas, either. She set her jaw and remained silent, trying to keep from fidgeting. Feeling relief without showing it, Sharon read in the girl's eyes that she really didn't want to go back to the real Camelot.

"Alright then, if you choose to stay here there will be some rules that must be followed to the letter. First of all, you will pay a visit to Doc, he will prescribe some birth control seeing as how you don't seem to have any control of your own. Second, you will not be allowed in the castle main when there is a celebration of any kind going on. You will remain in the kitchen, under Agnes' watchful eye. She will tell me if you are not doing as you are told. Do you think you can live here, by those rules?"

Jenny considered for a moment then with a heavy sigh, she finally said, "Yes." She wasn't happy about it, but she supposed she could live with it. And there were always ways around any rule. She kept her chin up defiantly, her eyes still full of fire.

"Very well. Just remember. I am Chancellor and I have eyes everywhere. You will be watched."

"Agnes, please come forward and take your new charge. I will speak with you more on the morrow."

As Agnes came and took the young girl by the arm and led her from the room, Sharon leaned toward Reese and whispered to him. In response, he whispered back and pointed toward the back wall of the room.

After a pause to regain her control and her emotions, Sharon called gently in the direction Reese had indicated. "Katherine, would you please bring the child before me?"

As Katherine made her way to the front of the room, she held the baby close to her as if protecting it from a hidden force that might snatch the baby from her arms. Chancellor could hear her talking softly to the small child as she came to a stop in front of her. Extending her arms in request to see the child, Sharon saw the look in Katherine's eyes. A look she knew oh so well herself. Reluctantly, Katherine gently laid the baby in Sharon's waiting arms.

When Chancellor looked down, she saw an almost angelic face looking back at her, framed by a wild head of strawberry blonde hair.

Sharon looked back into Katherine's' eyes and asked her softly, "Do you have any suggestions as to what we should do with this child?" Then, already knowing the answer to come, "Who can we find that would be willing to love and raise this child as their own?"

Katherine looked up at Sharon, a spark of hope in her eyes. "I would be more than willing to do that!" She looked down at the baby with such tenderness, it was obvious to all she had already given her whole heart to the child.

Chancellor Sharon smiled and sighed. She knew that Katherine could not have children of her own, so had been content to teach and midwife. "I think, you would make a wonderful mother Katherine." Sharon whispered, and with a soft touch on her arm and a wink of understanding, Sharon gently placed the small bundle back into Katherine's arms. Then she announced to all gathered, "I hereby place this new islander, in the adoptive care of Miss Katherine. From now and for always, she shall be Kat's daughter."

Tears of joy ran down Katherine's face and she cradled the tiny infant up to her breast. She glanced across the room and made eye contact with Connor, who nodded his head and smiled in return, obviously as happy about this turn of events as she was.

With that taken care of, it was time to bring the male parties of this incident to task. With a nod from the Chancellor, Reese moved into the crowd. Soon there was chaos as people moved around, allowing all the Clims to come before the Chancellor. They spread nearly across the entire room as they lined up side by side. None of them wanted to make eye contact with Sharon, when she did manage to meet Gus's, he quickly looked away.

Rayden stepped forward at a nod from Sharon and she spoke. "Rayden, I understand you attended this 'event'?"

"Yes. I was there." He looked at the line of uncomfortable Clims standing before the Chancellor. "This is everyone who was at the party." It wasn't often that he had any expression besides a smile, but this was a serious situation.

Sharon let her gaze move down the line of men, each one unable to meet her eyes or stand still for that matter. Finally, she spoke. "Is there any one here, willing to admit to the possibility of fathering this child?"

The men shift uneasily, some of them exchanging quick glances, but most just keeping their eyes on the floor, as though waiting for it to open up and hide them.

Rayden frowned slightly, waiting for at least one of them to say something. Finally, it was plain none of them was about to admit to anything. He sighed and looked up at Sharon. "Chancellor, I might be able to help you with that, if you wish."

"Oh, by all means Lord Rayden, please do. It appears all the others have lost their ability to speak!" Sharon was not at all happy with the group of men standing before her, Gus still would not look at her.

Rayden stepped forward, in front of the line of Clims. His mouth was trying to turn up at the corners, but he concentrated and got it under control. He went down the line in the order that they were standing.

"Monroe and Mullard." There was an astonished muffled exclamation from Carol in the back as she glared at her two men.

"Hudson." Ev looked over at him startled. That wasn't at ALL like him! Hudson looked very apologetic. "They got me drunk and there was this girl....... and it was so long since......." He blushed and looked down at the floor.

"Lou." This one just sighed and shrugged.

"Sal." He hung his head and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"Fred." He looked embarrassed and uncomfortable, but had nothing to say.

"Jeremy." He blinked and looked as though he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

"Jeremie." He simply hung his head.

"Paul." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I won't make any excuses."

"Dani." He got a sort of "deer in the headlights" look and sent an apologetic look towards Katherine.

"John Clayton." He looked up at the Chancellor and spoke clearly, "I'm sorry. I'll do whatever I can to try and make up for my actions."

"John Brennick." He looked around at all the others named and sighed. "I'll do whatever you ask to make amends. I'm truly sorry."

Rayden looked up at the Chancellor again. "That's all of them." He returned to his place.

Sharon sighed and shook her head. She sent one more look at Gus, thankful his name hadn't been called. This time he looked at her meekly and gave her a tiny smile.

Sharon waited for the 12 accused to step forward but none did. She glanced at Rayden, and suddenly all of them bounced forward like they had been zapped in the butt.

Sharon really was feeling a little repulsed by all this and it showed when she spoke. "I have never in my entire life seen such a flagrant display of testosterone. What should I do with the lot of you? Hmmm? Make eunuchs of you all? And right here in the castle no less. All twelve of you had this girl? The same night? Have none of you any control?" Her voice had started to rise in pitch and volume before she stopped to take a breath and regain her own self control. "Does anyone here have a suggestion as to what to do about this?"

A few of the guys winced as she mentioned the word "eunuch." The rest either stared miserably at the floor, or looked up at the Chancellor in shock. Most of them had been so drunk they barely remembered even attending the party.

Connor cleared his throat, catching the attention of Sharon. "May I suggest something, Chancellor?"

Sharon looked at Connor, glad someone was finally going to speak up, even if he wasn't one of the guilty. "Yes Connor, what would you suggest."

"It would be hard to ever tell who the exact father was, especially since we are all basically the same. Perhaps you can make them all equally responsible. Maybe the little girl's uncles or something."

"Yes!" Sharon's eyes lit up as Connor spoke. She had a wonderful idea.

"Katherine, please let me speak to you." Sharon whispered to Katherine in a wonderfully conspiratorial way. They both giggled from time to time, and glanced up at the row of miserable and worried Clims.

When they finished, Kat stepped back with a smile on her face and the Chancellor addressed the men. "Ok guys, here is what I've come up with, and Katherine agrees wholeheartedly. Since there are 12 of you, and 12 months in a year, each one of you will spend a month out of the year living at Lornadoon and helping with the care-taking and raising of the child. Do any of you have any objections to this?" Sharon asked the question, but looked at them in such a way that they could do nothing but agree.

Connor shook his head and grinned at the look in Katherine's eyes. "I don't have any problem with it, Chancellor," he said with a chuckle.

They all looked up, relieved, almost identical expressions on their faces. Rayden was having all he could do to suppress a chuckle. Hudson smiled, already looking forward to helping take care of the child. So did Brennick and Jeremy. Dani just was happy that he wasn't going to jail again. John Clayton smiled at Katherine and the Chancellor. "A very good decision. I think I speak for us all to say that we will all do our best to help take care of the baby." He looked down the row and saw nods.

"Alright then, it is settled. I will leave it to the 12 of you, to decide who will be the first to go." Sharon started to rise from her chair, then spoke again. "I hope, that I will never have to preside over this sort of thing again. Now, all of you, get out of here!" The last was said with a smile as she waved her arm toward the hall door.

As the last of the crowd left the room, Sharon turned to Reese. Taking his hand they walked together thru another door. "I think we need to talk Lord deBracy."

End this story….