Title: The Hazards of Love
Chapter Number: 1/Prologue
Chapter Title: New Life
Author: Snarkysweetness
Characters/Pairings: Main: Severus Snape/Marlene McKinnon. This chapter: Yvainne (Lily) Snape.
Rating: Mature.
Warnings: Language, sexuality (some chapters), violence, some graphic imagery.
When: 1981-1984.
Summary: Our choices shape the future. One small decision can change everything. What would happen if Severus had chosen bravery?
Disclaimer: AU story set during the MWPP Era in which Severus saves Marlene McKinnon's life and it follows the events thereafter. The first story in the 'Hazards of Love' trilogy.
Author's Notes: Reviews are love and many thanks to my beta, tangograce.

"You can do this," he whispered, running a hand over her forehead, before placing a small kiss on the clammy flesh that was now free of loose hairs.

He looked terrified. She couldn't blame him; she was surprised that he was holding his own through all of this. He was trying, for her, and she loved him for it. But the love wasn't enough to get her through this.

She took in a small breath and shook her head, tears falling from her eyes. "I can't," she repeated again, barely above a whisper. Never before in her life had she felt physical pain like this. She'd fought in battles, been hit with spells that were so painful she'd wanted to die from it, felt loss and grief so deeply that it had made her physically ill, but nothing compared to this.

He took her chin in his hand and made her look at him. "Marlene, you can bloody well do anything you put your mind to. You're the most annoyingly stubborn woman that I know. Now, are you going to tell me that you're going to let yourself give up now?"

Marlene glared at him.

"Fuck off. I'm not giving up."

"Really? Because that sounded a lot like giving up to me."

Cheeky little bastard. Marlene sat up and grabbed his hand, giving it a tight squeeze out of spite. "Shut the fuck up and let's do this, then. As if you'd be able to pull this off," she muttered, annoyed with him. This was entirely his fault. He'd done this to her. She hadn't done it to herself.

Marlene glanced at the midwife, wanting to push this thing out of her already. She'd been at this for six hours, as stubborn as she was, she really didn't think she could handle much more of this, it felt as if she was being ripped in half, and she knew it would only get worse.

Severus kissed her forehead again. "I wouldn't, you win. You're stronger than me. Happy?"

She rolled her eyes as another contraction hit. She slapped him until he gave her his other hand to squeeze and screamed obscenities, all aimed at him.

"Fainted! Can you believe that! All at the sight of a little blood!"

Severus blushed a bit. She'd had to slap him awake to go floo the midwife. She wasn't going to let him forget that.

"Are you done beating him? It's time for you to push."

"About damn time. I want this thing out of me."

"That thing is our child-all right then." The glare she was sending his way clearly said 'shut the fuck up, Severus'. He moved behind her, helping her stay upright, rubbing her back with one hand and holding her hand with the other. She'd be grateful for this later, but for now, he was the bastard who got her pregnant, and he would stay that way until this was over with.

"Bloody bastard can't even perform a simple charm properly!" She screamed as she began pushing.

She was right. This was worse. Words could not describe the pain that she was feeling. Her entire body felt like it was being ripped apart, she supposed, but the pain was greater. Her face was covered in tears and sweat, she could taste the mixture of the two as they reached her lips.

When it was finally done, she collapsed against Severus, her entire body feeling broken and worn out. She wanted nothing but sleep or death, whichever came first.

Crying. Never before had a sound sounded so sweet to her ears.

She had to stay awake, she needed to not worry about herself right now.

"She's beautiful," the midwife announced.

Marlene forced herself to sit up. "She?"

"Here you go, I'll go gather some towels to clean her up."

Marlene cautiously took the small bundle in her arms. She'd never handled a child before; she didn't know what to do. "She's so tiny," she whispered, moving a finger over her daughter's bloody fist. Her daughter. It sounded so odd.

"How did someone so little cause all of that pain, huh?" She asked, leaning down and kissing her forehead, sniffling.

She glanced up at Severus, who looked mortified and a little sick.

"That's-we-huh," he managed to get out before fainting again.

Marlene laughed, she couldn't help it. She'd married a big, overgrown, scared child, and after everything they'd gone through, this was what terrified him?

She couldn't do anything but laugh.