(Birth of Rose Weasley, Dec 2006)
Hermione lay sleeping in bed, her stomach reaching out in front of her, leaving a huge gap between her and her husband. Labour couldn't be too far away, judging by the twinges that she had been getting on and off for a day or so. Just gentle nudges, suggesting that her baby would soon be here. Ron snored next to her, one hand resting on Hermione's belly as she dreamed.
The two of them were at the beach together. Hermione remembered the beach from her past; it was where they had been on one of their first dates, back after the war. Ron dived under the sea and grabbed her feet. She laughed and jumped over him, swimming away. He swam after her, laughing too. As they made their way to the beach he tickled her waist and poked her tummy. Pushing the red-head away from her she ran up the beach away from him. Again he chased her, tackling her to the ground on the blanket that was there. Leaning down he kissed her lips and nose as she giggled at his playful pokes at her stomach. But as she squirmed away from his touch, it occurred to her that his hands weren't on her stomach; they were either side of her shoulders. Her eyes widened as she saw the wall of water tearing towards them from the beach.
''Ron!'' she yelled out in panic.
The brunette's eyes shot open at the sharp pain in her stomach as she felt a warm wetness run from between her legs. This was it, her baby was coming.
''Ron!'' she poked the red head, who just groaned and moved away. Hermione sat up and grabbed his shoulder, ''Ronald Weasley wake up!''
Hermione was surprised to feel the panic set in, she had been worried about giving birth but felt that she had a read enough on the subject and would be ok. At this point, she had planned to get up and get her bag whilst Ron got dressed and then they were to floo to St Mungo's. At the moment, there was no waking Ron.
''RON!'' she yelled at him. He blearily opened his eyes and grunted.
''Everything ok love?'' he asked, sleepily.
''No Ron, it's bloody well not!'' she said in panic, ''My waters have broken and you're not awake and I don't remember what I have to do and, and... And I'm scared.''
Ron heard the fear break through her voice and felt instantly guilty for not getting up straight away. He had no idea what his role was expected to be either but he wasn't going to let her know that. He sat up and wrapped his arms around Hermione.
''It's ok sweetie, it's ok,'' he murmured to her, rubbing her back, ''They'll explain what you have to do when you get there and it'll all be ok, don't stress.''
Hermione took a deep breath and pulled back from him, ''Ok, you're right, it'll be fine,'' she winced as she felt another sharp pain and groaned.
Ron pulled on the first clothes he came to as Hermione got out of bed and picked up her bag. He took her by the hand and led her downstairs to the fire.
''Hello Mrs Weasley,'' the receptionist smiled at her when they arrived, ''Shall I take you to your room? You have private room 3 today where you'll be able to stay during your whole stay.''
Ron smiled at his dishevelled wife and squeezed her hand. The room was painted yellow and had a bed in the centre with a chair either side. On one side of the room was a door, which Ron presumed to lead off to a bathroom. The bedside cabinet had a few magazines and books lying on it and various pieces of medical equipment looked ominously on from a shelf on one side. But for Ron and Hermione, the most notable part of the room was to one side, a currently empty cot. In a short time it would contain a baby. Ron's stomach twisted with nerves.
Hermione gasped as another contraction took over her.
''Come on, 'Mione,'' Ron spoke softly to her, ''Let's get you in the bed.''
Hermione moved over to the single bed, wary of the different contraptions surrounding her. She remembered Ginny explaining how scary it had been for her. Yes, they had all faced dark magic and evil people in the past but this was different. This was going into a different unknown, bringing a new someone into the world.
''I'm going to send Harry and Ginny a patronus a minute, to let them know,'' he said to her, stepping outside the room as he did so.
''Ron?'' Hermione called. His head popped back around the door again as she whispered, ''I love you.''
A few hours later and a maternity healer was inspecting Hermione.
''Ok Hermione,'' she said efficiently as she stood up and pulled her gloves off, ''I think another few hours and you'll have a little baby to hold.''
Ron squeezed her hand and smiled at her. Hermione just nodded, speechless. She shifted as she felt another contraction coming over her and groaned loudly. The maternity healer smiled at the two of them, ''Not long now, I promise.''
When she had left the room, Hermione looked at Ron, ''I'm scared,'' she whispered, groaning as another contraction took hold. They were coming thick and fast now and had moved from being painful to being excruciating.
''I know babe, but you're doing so well. And just think, we'll have our little one in a bit to hold,'' Ron's eyes watered at the thought of holding a baby, his baby.
At that moment, Ginny's head appeared around the door.
''Is everything ok?'' she asked. Hermione nodded and beckoned her sister-in-law into the room.
''I didn't realise you were here Gin,'' Hermione said.
''Yeah we just got here; Harry and Mum are here too. Dads at home with James for the minute - won't be long before he wants us to have James back,'' Ginny chuckled at the thought of her Dad struggling to control her two year old son.
''Can we intrude?'' Harry appeared.
''No mate, get out,'' Ron jested, ''Course you can; wouldn't be right not to have you here at the birth of our child.''
''Are you ok Hermione?'' Molly fussed, ''Can I get you anything?''
But Hermione at that moment was rendered speechless by another contraction.
''I'm fine,'' Ron said, ''Geez, no-one asks about the father - this is very stressful for me too!''
''Ronald Billius Weasley! If I hear you say that again, I will show you what stress is,'' his mother glowered at him, clearly not in the mood for joking around.
''I'm ok thanks, it's just a case of waiting now,'' Hermione replied.
''Do you know how long?'' Ginny asked.
''A few hours they reckon, but no guarantees,'' she replied, moaning at the latest contraction.
''Well we'll leave you to it for a bit,'' Molly said, moving to the door, ''Anyone want a coffee?''
''Yes please,'' Ginny replied, glancing at her mother as Harry left as well.
''How are you anyway Gin? How's the bump? I forgot to ask before,'' Hermione asked; Ginny was six months pregnant.
''I'm ok thanks, and yeah bumps good,'' Ginny replied, smiling and letting her hand rest on her tummy. Harry stood by the door waiting for his wife, a wide smile breaking across his face; he was excited about having another child - being a dad really suited him.
''Come on Gin, your mother has left me here to ensure that you leave them for a bit. I don't feel like being on the wrong side of her today,'' he winked at Ron and Hermione as Ginny huffed and made for the door.
''Honestly, she's such a fuss ass sometimes.''
''Right Hermione, when I say so, you need to push as hard as you can, ok?'' the healer said.
Hermione nodded back and squeezed Ron's hand. The last few hours had been agony, despite the numerous potions she had been given for the pain. It was most annoying that they didn't have such a thing as an epidural in the wizarding world, Hermione felt as the pain relieving potions had done little to help her. She still felt a bit guilty that she had yelled at Ron as much as she had; a little while ago she a cursed him in four different languages and threatened to hex his bollocks off to prevent any other children. She hoped that he wasn't too upset by this little outburst but then he had also witnessed her yell at both Harry and Ginny, whom she had possibly never yelled at before. Now only her and Ron with a few healers remained in the room.
''Right, push now Hermione, as hard as you can!'' the healer encouraged her. Hermione gritted her teeth and pushed. After a few minutes the healer looked up at her.
''You're going to have to push a damn bit harder than that dear, come on you can do it,'' she encouraged. Hermione shook her head.
''I can't do this. I just can't.''
''Hermione,'' Ron grabbed her shoulders, shaking them slightly, ''You have to do this. You can't give up now, not when you're so close. You've fought dark wizards single handed and you're the cleverest person I know - I owe you my life. You can do this.''
The healer looked taken aback, ''Ok Hermione, let's have a go at this again.''
Hermione, threw herself into pushing as hard as she could, she had to do this for Ron if nothing else. She roared and grabbed Ron's hand.
''That's it!'' the healer encouraged. Glancing at Ron she noticed his face had drained from colour, who faintly smiled at her.
''Right, again Hermione a few more like that and we'll be done.''
Hermione put everything into pushing again but a few more repeats of the process and she was exhausted. Sweat ran down her face and her breathing was heavy.
''One more, I promise,'' the healer encouraged. Hermione shook her head, the exhaustion showing across her body.
''Come on 'Mione,'' Ron spoke up. Looking into her husband's eyes, she remembered all the times that he had given her strength to carry on; from her 1st year, he had inspired her to continue. Mustering her remaining strength from deep down, she pushed harder than she ever thought possible, roaring again as she did so.
''Yes Hermione, that's it!''
The room was suddenly filled with a new screaming. The healer held up a wriggling, pink and slightly bloody baby and handed it to Hermione.
''Congratulations on a baby girl, you two,'' she smiled at them, before turning to clean herself up. Hermione drew the baby close to her chest. Ron moved closer, hugging his wife and smiling proudly at his daughter.
''Well done darling,'' he murmured. Hermione looked up at him and their eyes met. He reached in a kissed her, tasting the sweat on her lips. He didn't think he had ever been so proud in his life, not even defeating the worlds dark forces compared to this; he finally understood what Harry had been going on about.
A/N -Really pleased with how this turned out; I had my music on shuffle and Shania Twain, From This Moment On started playing as I wrote the last bit, which just summed it up - Ron and Hermione looking at their daughter for the first time and knowing they will love her always. I was intending on continuing the chapter for a little bit but then I felt that it would only be right to finish it here. Hope you enjoyed, please read and review :)