A/N: I wrote this many, many moons ago. It is my very, very, very first fanfic ever! I'm just going through and consolidating things I've written and I found this. I kind of stopped after two chapters, but the two are pretty stand alone. I might continue with this after I'm finished with "After the Music" … but who knows. It's a total departure from anything I have ever written, and I don't know if I'm really pleased with it. I also know a lot of people don't enjoy the idea of MPREG, but if there was ever a fandom that could possibly employ it, it would be Harry Potter. For any of you who read other things I write, don't maim me because of this … deal? Anyway … enjoy!
Ron cringed as another screech filled the otherwise calm hallway of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Sure he had been through this a few times with his wife, but for some unexplainable reason, this time seemed to be making his insides flop around like an excited flobberworm.
Maybe it was because he could more accurately visualize the pain of childbirth since it was happening to his best friend.
"He'll be fine," Hermione whispered to her husband as she grasped his sweaty palm in her own. "He's been through much worse, you know."
Ron couldn't help but agree with such sound logic, that is, until another screech pierced his ears. "I don't know, love," Ron said as he looked dubiously over at his wife. "I've never heard him sound like that before."
Hermione smiled and leaned her head on her overly-concerned husband's shoulder. Just then, a small gurgle came from the basinet that sat next to Hermione on the not-so-comfortable hospital bench.
"See, even Alexander knows something is wrong with him," Ron said exasperatedly.
Hermione just shook her head and leaned over to pull the squirming bundle out of his bed. She held the baby tightly against her chest as she resumed her former position leaning up against her husband.
"He's just excited because he knows he's about to get a new friend," she said to Ron as she cooed to Alexander.
"And how exactly would he know that, Mione?" Ron asked, not quite catching on to his wife's attempts to calm their newborn son. Hermione just sighed, something she had become very accustomed to since meeting Ron, and kissed him on the cheek.
It had been six years since they had graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, six years since Voldemort had finally been eradicated from the face of the planet, and six years since Harry had gotten together with the last person imaginable: Draco Malfoy.
Hermione had been surprised, but not because it was actually Draco whom Harry had finally given his heart to, it was just that it had happened so quickly, and had happened without her knowing. I mean, honestly, the nerve of some people. Ron, on the other hand, had been completely floored by the entire situation.
She loved her husband dearly, but Ron was by no means the smartest person at Hogwarts. Ron claimed that he never even knew Harry was gay after the two of them had walked in on Harry and Draco in a rather private moment. The only problem with that was that Harry had dated Seamus during sixth year. Ron was either very dense or extremely selective in what he chose to remember.
"Oh, Ron," she sighed.
At the same time another blood-curdling filled the halls, a boisterous Molly Weasley, accompanied by her husband and two rambunctious four-year-olds, came bounding into the hospital hallway.
"Well," Molly began, grimacing slightly, "that doesn't sound like it was too pleasant."
"That's about the understatement of the century, Mom," Ron deadpanned.
There was a loud crash down the hallway and all eyes of the small group turned to watch as Arthur tried — unsuccessfully — to keep the two newest Weasley terrors, Kaden and Trisha, from knocking over any more of the medi-witches information charts.
"Kaden Ronald and Trisha Rose Weasley," Hermione began with her best, and probably patented, mom face. "You two put those down and behave for your grandfather."
The two children looked repentant for all of 10 seconds before they looked up, grinned at each other and ran for their father.
"Daddy, daddy," the two children intoned as they jumped on Ron's lap. "Is Uncle Harry's baby here yet?"
"I hope it's a girl," Trisha said conspiratorially.
"Nuh uh," said Kaden in a manner all too much like Hermione's know-it-all voice from her school days. "It's gonna be a boy."
"Oh yeah? How do you know, Mr. Smarty-pants?" Trisha asked haughtily.
"Because … Uncle Harry is a boy and so is Uncle Draco," Kaden said smugly.
"That doesn't mean anything … doesn't it, mommy?" Trisha asked her mom, who would obviously know the answer.
"No, it doesn't," Hermione told her daughter, who stuck her tongue out at her brother. Hermione just shook her head, wishing that Harry and Draco had figured out the sex of the baby so she wouldn't have to keep moderating this same fight between her two eldest children. "He could have a boy or a girl … or both."
The twins' eyes got as big as saucers at that idea. "Whoa …" they both trailed off. Both thinking about all of the trouble they could get into with their newest friend.
"Do you think Uncle Harry will let me hold him?" Kaden asked his mother.
"Well …" Hermione began before she was cut off by her daughter.
"Of course he won't let you hold him, because he is going to be a she," Trisha said with conviction.
Seeing that this conversation was headed straight for nowhere, Hermione looked at her smiling mother-in-law, silently asking for help.
Molly, noticing the distress call of a mother, nodded and reached for the bundle that Hermione was still cradling to her chest. "Come to Grandma, Alexander."
With her newborn son taken care of, Hermione reached for her oldest son, who was currently engaged in a slap-fight with his sister and pulled him into her lap.
"Now, you two," Hermione began, "Uncle Harry's new baby is going to be just like Alexander. It's going to sleep a lot and want to be with its daddies all the time. And if Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco do let you hold or play with it, you'll have to be extremely gentle."
At seeing the twins nod in comprehension, she thought she would add, just for safe measure, "Not like how you were gentle with your training brooms. The baby still has to work when you give it back to Uncle Harry."
Both children blushed and looked into the clasped hands in their laps. Kaden spoke up first. "We promise to be careful."
"Yeah," Trisha agreed, nodding her head rapidly. "We promise."
Just then another scream filled the hallway, causing the occupants all to flinch.
Draco cringed as his hand was practically crushed by Harry's grip. With his unharmed hand, he reached to his ear, making sure it still worked. If he wasn't deaf by the end of the day he would know, with certainty, that someone up there was looking out for his well-being. He was drawn out of his thoughts, however, by his husband's ranting in between contractions.
"I swear to God, Draco, after this is done I am going to call another medi-wizard and we are getting your tubes tied." At seeing Draco's affronted expression Harry added, "It's either that or we are never having sex again."
"Don't you think this is a bad time for you to be making such decisions?" Draco asked, looking around the room trying to find anyone to support him. Finding that the only one in the room was the medi-witch who was helping to deliver the baby —who would probably not have much sympathy for Draco and his plight — he just set his wide eyes back on his beautiful husband.
Harry would have laughed at the expression on Draco's face had he not been trying to pass something the size of a bowling ball out of an opening that was … well, not that big.
Another contraction hit Harry in the middle of his reverie, taking him somewhat by surprise, he squeezed Draco's hand again and ground out between clenched teeth, "Godithurtssomuch!"
Tears were streaming down his face, and Draco bent over to wipe a cool cloth across his distressed husband's forehead. Watching Harry look up at him with wide, trusting jade eyes, Draco was overcome with warmth for his love.
"I love you so much, Harry." Draco said as he softly placed a kiss on Harry's forehead. "I can't believe we're about to have a baby."
"Oh, I can," Harry answered. "And what's with all this 'we' stuff? I don't see you on a bed with your legs spread wide and your ass lifted in the air."
Seeing Draco staring at his husband like a fish with its mouth open, the medi-witch decided it was best to let the couple know, "Your baby has crowned; I think you're only going to need one or two more pushes."
"Did you hear that, Harry?" Draco asked excitedly.
"No, I didn't hear, and I don't care," Harry began, then grabbing the front of his husband's shirt, bringing him down to eye level he finished, "Just. Get. The baby. Out."
Not one to ever deny his Harry anything, he looked at the medi-witch with an expression that simply said, "Help!" Then looking back at Harry, he said, "Come on, love. Just a few more and we'll finally get to see our baby."
Seeming to brace himself, Harry let out another scream as he gave another force-filled push.
"That's it, just one more," said the medi-witch excitedly.
Draco placed another kiss on Harry's forehead and whispered, "You can do it, love. I know you can."
And with that, Harry gave his last push.
The room was filled with silence, except for Harry's labored breathing. Draco watched as the medi-witch moved somewhat out of sight, obstructed by the bed coverings that were concealing his husband's private areas from the open air.
Then another cry filled the room, but this one seemed smaller, and it wasn't coming from Harry.
The medi-witch then stood up, holding a squirming baby in her hands. "Congratulations, Mr. Malfoy; it's a boy!"
Draco's face lit up with pure happiness. "Did you hear that, Harry. A Boy! We have a boy!"
He looked down at Harry, who had tears in his eyes. He was immediately sobered and looked around for anything that might have been amiss. "Is there something wrong, love? Do you hurt anywhere? Harry, tell me what's wrong!"
Harry softly grabbed a hold of Draco's hand. "Nothing is wrong, sweetie. I'm just so happy."
"Me too, love." Draco said softly, gazing into the pure and trusting eyes of his husband.
Harry's gaze was torn from Draco as the medi-witch came back over to the bed where Harry was lying.
"Here is your son, Mr. Malfoy," she said as she handed the quiet bundle to his waiting father.
Harry cradled his most precious bundle to his chest and looked into the baby's piercing green eyes. Draco leaned down to get his first real look of his son. "I can't believe you're finally here, little one," he said as sat down on the opposite side of Harry.
"It looks like he got your eyes, love," Draco said as he looked into eyes that were startlingly similar to those of the man he had fallen in love with so many years ago.
"Yes, but it seems he got your hair, sweets," Harry continued as he smoothed back a shock of silver-blond hair from his newborn.
"He is absolutely perfect," Draco said with a sigh, right before planting a kiss on Harry's cheek.
"He is, isn't he?"
"Have you decided on a name yet, love?" Draco asked.
"Well, I've thought about it for a while," Harry began. "I really wanted to name him Sirius if it was going to be a boy, but now, looking at him, it just doesn't seem right. And, I've been thinking of something else. I found a way to honor the only father I've ever known, but still let my son have his own place in the world."
Draco looked thoughtful at this, but let Harry continue without interrupting. "I want to name him Rigel."
Draco's eyes filled with tears at this. Harry had to be the most thoughtful, caring person he had ever known. "That sounds wonderful, love, but I also want him to know his roots. I think his middle name should be Harrison, after the most wonderful person I know."
Harry's eyes also filled with tears as he looked down at the bundle that contained his joy, his world. He leaned down to kiss his baby boy on the forehead.
"I love you, Rigel Harrison Malfoy," Harry whispered.
The newborn looked at his father with wide green eyes just before yawning and snuggling into the warmth of his father.
Harry looked up at Draco and smiled, "I love you, too, Draco Malfoy."
"And I love you, Harry Malfoy," Draco whispered. "Thank you for this wonderful gift."
Harry sighed and leaned into the warmth of his husband. Everything in his world was perfect.