Author's Note: Written for…
Ultimate OTP Competition. Prompt: one half of the pairing is voicing doubts about something.
-third installment-
"I can't do this."
"You just need to relax."
"Relaxing is not going to make this go away, Severus!" Hermione scowled at her husband from her position in the rocking chair. He was across the room, hanging a mobile of owls and broomsticks – a gift from Harry and Ginny, of course.
The nursery looked well-put together, she had to admit. Sage green walls and dark wood furniture. The dresser and shelves were stocked; the decorations set up, everything was perfect. Except for the fact that she was about to have a baby and day now.
Satisfied that the mobile was not going to come crashing down on their newborn, Severus turned to her with a grin. The grin seemed to have been plastered on his face for the past nine months, ever since she'd interrupted his class to drag him into a storeroom and tell him that they were expecting a baby.
He knelt down in front of the chair, placing his hands on top of hers and her swollen belly.
"Everything is going to be fine," he told her with such confidence that she almost believed him.
"I'm not cut out to be a mother," she whimpered. "I'm not good with kids. I used to babysit during summers – I was horrible. People stopped asking me."
"I've never been the greatest with children either, you know."
"But you're a teacher."
"Yes, and you might remember my insensitivity when dealing with children."
She smiled for a moment, before the crushing insecurities returned and she gripped his hands tightly. "But you want this. You want kids and you'll be a great father, even if you mess up, because you'll love them."
"And you don't think the same goes for you?"
"Children are unpredictable. I don't do well with unpredictable."
"You don't have to be perfect at everything, you know."
And she did. Hermione had gotten plenty of practice in admitting she was wrong or generally horrible at something ever since they'd begun their relationship. She no longer feared failure, except when it meant someone else would suffer.
"A baby doesn't exactly come with trial runs though. If I'm a horrible mother-"
"You won't be, that much I'm sure of. It'll just take a little practice for both of us. We'll figure it out."
She conceded, knowing Severus would only continue trying to cheer her up.
