The next morning, Hermione woke up to find her bed empty, her husband gone, and her stomach queasy. She quickly went to bathroom and spilled herself into the toilet, sobbing at the same time. After a good, hot shower, and a long cry, she returned to her bedroom in her robe. She immediately opened the journal to the 'read' section.

My Dearest 'Mione,

I could not bare to wake you this morning, because I could not bare to see you cry. I guess I'm a weak husband, but you could fill an ocean with the tears you cried last night. I thought it best to leave while you were still at peace. I love you, and I love our baby. Write soon.

Love,

Ronald

A month had passed since Ron had left again, and Hermione was now 4 months pregnant. The pregnancy journal had made not seeing Ron as often much more tolerable, and whether or not she wanted to admit it, having a Weasley at her home when she got back from work was comforting. It made her feel so much better to have someone from Ron's family witness her pregnancy, support her. Surprisingly enough, the Weasley men were quite adept at fixing meals. Dinner was always ready for her when she got home, the house stayed orderly, and the laundry was always fresh. She just hadn't expected Ron's twin brothers to be such good organizers, but they said they had to be because of the business. The Weasley's were a good family, and she was quite happy to have joined it.

It was Friday night, and she had just finished dinner with Ginny, and the two were settling down on the couch with a cup of tea, when it occurred to Hermione.

"I'm not sick."

"What?" Ginny asked.

"I just ate, and I'm not nauseated, and come to think of it, I didn't throw up this morning either." Hermione smiled and crossed her fingers that she was finished with the morning sickness.

"My niece has decided to let you live the good life for a while. That's good." Ginny said, placing her hand on Hermione's belly.

"Please don't say that Gin…you know it'll be a boy. Much as I'd love to have a daughter someday, genetics are against me."

"Well, you and Ron just may have to be persistent, like mum was. I was the first girl in 7 generations, then again, mum was the only one to persist past 4 tries in like 5 generations." Ginny laughed.

"You think you're so special, being the girl, don't you?" Hermione teased. "But honestly Gin…I think I won't be that persistent. And anyways, if anyone in the family is going to have a girl…it's going to be you."

"And not for a very long time! Sorry 'Mione, much as I'm thrilled that I'm going to be an aunt, this motivates me to be extra careful with Harry when we get married. I couldn't do what you're doing. And, I'm not exactly sure how it is that you aren't freaking out all the time."

"I do my fair share Ginny, but this pregnancy journal that your brother gave me has been a Godsend. I freak out with him. By the way, he told me to tell you that he and Harry should be back for Christmas, but it's just going to be few days. Harry says he loves you, he misses you, and he can't wait to share with you some mysteries of wand lore."

Ginny blushed a little and looked away from Hermione, but it was too late. Hermione had caught sight of the redness creeping into her friends face, and now that she had turned away, she noticed that Ginny's ears were going red as well. "Ginny Weasley, what are you hiding? You're blushing."

Ginny giggled before turning, flush faced, to Hermione. "Studying wand lore is our code for…well…you know?"

"NO…you're kidding me? You randy bunch of teenagers. And how cliché!"

"Well, no one else has caught on to it, otherwise Ron wouldn't have written it, would he?"

"Ronald would have died if he'd known that he passed along a sex message to his sister, from his best mate. Not to mention, I'm sure he would have beat Harry up. You know Ronald believes that you and Harry are waiting?"

"And let him keep thinking that!"

The two sisters talked for a while longer before Hermione turned in for the evening, taking a seat at her writing desk and pulling the pregnancy journal towards her.

Dear Ronald,

Mark today in your calendar as a landmark day. Two reasons for this.

The first reason is that it's the first day since I found out I was pregnant

that I haven't had morning sickness. The second reason that this is a red-

letter day is because as I was getting dressed today, I grabbed my favorite

pair of jeans, and put them on. But when I tried to button them up, I

couldn't get them buttoned. In fact…I couldn't even suck in and button

them up, let alone get them zipped. In any case, I took the jeans off, and

went to the mirror. I looked in the mirror, and Ron…you wouldn't believe

it, but there it was…a small bump. I have a baby bump! It's small, but

it's our baby Ron! I wish you were here to see it. Just a little pooch, and

I suddenly feel very pregnant. I feel like there is now physical proof that a

baby is growing inside me. I didn't show Ginny yet, because I wanted to

make sure you knew first. Let me hear from you soon. I love you very

much Ron, and so does baby! I'll be waiting for Christmas…and by then

you won't be able to get your arms around me.

Love you,

Your 'Mione

Hermione lay down her quill, and got into bed. She rested her hands on her baby bump and closed her eyes. She wandered what Ron was doing at this moment, and would he read the journal before he went to sleep. She allowed herself to drift into sleep, dreaming of Christmas.