Hermione already loves her daughter more than anything in the world, but she just knows that she'll be worrying about her for the rest of her life.

At that moment Veronica was nestled in her arms and was oblivious to the goings on outside of the hospital room, sleeping soundly without a care in the world. She was perfect. So, so perfect. Hermione finally understands the fuss over kids that had always befuddled her when she was younger, with it never quite clicking for her as to why her aunts were always crying when they had their babies, or why they never seemed to want to let them go.

It's finally clicked.

She's part elated and part terrified as she stares down at her daughter, her mind running on overdrive as she wonders just what the future has in store for them. What would she be like? What would their relationship be like? Would she be artistic? Quirky? Outgoing? Who was this tiny, fragile creature going to grow up to be?

On the one hand, she's so excited. There's so much to do, so much for her to see and learn in this world that her and Hiram live in, she was going to want for nothing, and have the best of everything. She would never know a life of bills, mortgages, or a life of endlessly yearning for something that was just out of reach. She would have the best and most prestigious education that money could buy, a beautiful home, and a loving family.

But the fear was also there. It had latched on and sunk its claws into her the moment she had found out that she was pregnant, and was refusing to let go any time soon. What if she failed her? This beautiful, perfect person, who had never known pain, or loss, or sadness.

She couldn't help but spare a glance at her husband who was stood outside the door firing questions at the doctor once again, before looking back at Veronica. The world could be cruel. It was unfair and rigid in its structure, refusing to be bent into a different shape by anyone else to suit their needs. Hiram knew that, and he had adapted in the new climate that they had moved to, moulding himself into the person he needed to be in order to succeed. She loved him and she always would, but there was no denying that the ambitious boy she had fallen in love with all those years ago had changed in the years since they had left Riverdale behind.

Hermione resisted the urge to pull Veronica closer to her at the thought. No. She thought determinedly, love and warmth bursting to life in her chest as soon as her baby opened her eyes to stare at Hermione with her sleepy but unwavering gaze. The world outside that hospital room was full of malice and bite, and was just waiting to tear her little one to pieces just like her parents before her. No one, not her father, not his terrible world, the unkind, the cruel, or even herself would ever be allowed to hurt Veronica.

She would stand watch over her. She would shield her from the world outside, and everything it would inevitably throw at her. The sadness, the pain, the uncertainty… She would take it for herself if she had to, if it meant she could stay as happy and as oblivious to the world waiting for her outside those walls as she was at that moment in time. Maybe she was being naïve. She couldn't shield her from everything for the rest of her life of course, but if she could keep her whole, her smile intact and the worst of the dangers at bay, then maybe, just maybe, she would be okay.

Yes. She thought. I get it now.