Thanks for the reviews and adds!

I will try to add a chapter every day or two, I promise. I am moving into school at the moment, as well, so I have some other stuff to attend to.

Sorry for the BLAH theme of this chapter, but it opens the rest of the story up….

Ginny gave her brother a hug and tousled his shaggy, red hair. She noticed some pastry crumbs on his collar and gave them a brush.

"Honestly Ron, sometimes I think you are worse than James!"

If Ron had been paying attention, he may have come up with something to say in return, but he was too busy swinging James through the air and tickling him. Molly Weasley had already escaped to the kitchen to continue cooking the meal.

"Happy Christmas Eve, Dad!"

Ginny hurried into the family room and gave her father a large hug. He returned the gesture, still holding onto the flashlight.

"Ah, Ginny dear. Welcome home! Tonight is going to be such a wonderful time. The whole family together again." His smiled faded a small bit. "Well, actually, we received an owl from Charlie this morning with regrets that he would not be here. Apparently one of the dragons is very, very sick and he must stay and tend to her. Such a shame." He went back to playing with the flashlight, a memorized glaze falling over his eyes.

Ginny felt disappointed that Charlie could not be here, she wanted him to be home around the birth of the baby, and hoped he would reschedule his visit.

She took notice of Hermione sitting in the rocking chair, a tired look upon her face. Something had been bothering her lately, and Ginny had an idea of what it might be. She did not feel bold enough to ask such personal questions but with the happiness of the Holidays in the air, tonight could be the night.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

James was giggling, his shaggy hair spread across his face. Ron had him pinned to the floor in a tickle war, of which Ron was winning, of course. James wiggled and squirmed about, squealing with laughter.

Ron let James get up and leaned back onto his knees. Playing with kids was hard work sometimes. He watched as James struggled to his feet and took off to find the toys his grandmother left in a basket for him.

Ron smiled at the thought of having a son of his own someday. A small boy with reddened hair and freckles, giggling as he was swung through the air by his father. A smiling Hermione watching from the back porch.

It was a wonderful thought. A thought saved for the future, when they were prepared to have children of their own. For now, Ron was not ready and banking on having his nephew to play with. And soon enough, there would be another child in the home.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hermione found great joy in watching Ron play with James. She closed her eyes and pictured Ron in a tickle war with a child of their own. A small boy with red hair and freckles, giggling and squealing at his father.

Her hand came to her abdomen, an innate action at this point.

"That's your daddy." She whispered softly, to make sure the words were passed only to her unborn child.

She looked up and noticed Ginny staring at her. She quickly removed her hand from her small bump and placed it back in her lap. Ginny looked at her a lot these days, a look of understanding. Being a mother herself, Hermione would not be surprised if Ginny knew her secret.

She gave Ginny and small wave, beckoning her to come and sit by the fire. It had been a couple weeks since they had last gotten together and Hermione longed for the company of her best friend.

Ginny took a seat in a small loveseat near Hermione, her hands resting on her baby bump, an action she did not have to hide. An action she did with great joy.

"It has been too long Ginny. How are you doing? I see the baby is coming along!" Hermione stared at the large bulge in Ginny's shirt, knowing that soon enough her own stomach would look like that.

Ginny took Hermione's hand in her own. "I am doing wonderful, just preparing for the baby. Harry has been traveling often for work with the Ministry but he has promised me that once he returned home for dinner tonight, he would not leave again until Summer."

Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand. "That is great news! I am excited to see Harry, it has been since Thanksgiving, and I am sure he has wonderful stories."

The two friends sat in silence for a moment, hands still joined, taking a moment to enjoy each other's presence.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Harry had appariated to Ron's old bedroom in hopes of wrapping some gifts before heading down stairs. Unfortunately, he had forgotten the charm Hermione taught him for wrapping gifts. He scratched his temple.

"Guess I will have to do it by hand…" He looked down at the bed, a pile of gifts on one end and wrapping material on the other end.

"Actually, maybe Ginny would be better at this." Harry usually did not give up on things, especially not before trying, but this occasion seemed appropriate. He made his way down the few flights of stairs to the first floor, and popped his head into the family room.

Hermione and Ginny sat by the fireplace, smiling and laughing together. Arthur Weasley sat playing with a flashlight and Ron was kneeling nearby, shaking his head at his father's over exaggerated amusement.

"BOO!"

Harry turned around to see young James jump out from behind a bookcase, his best scary face (which looked more like a sneeze) in play.

"AH! A monster!" He threw himself back against the stairs and shielded his face, pretending to be afraid of a giggling James.

James squealed with delight and crawled onto his fathers lap. "DA!" He pulled on Harry's sweater and bounced up and down.

Harry smiled and pulled his son into a hug. He buried his nose into James' shaggy hair. He loved the smell of his son, a touch of Ginny and a touch of lilac shampoo. He cradled the small toddler against his chest and decided to sit on the stairs for a couple minutes longer.

These were the moments he cherished in life.