An accident has brought the need to make the choice. What will it be, and who will help him make it?
Choosing
Harry came in every day with updates on the case. Working with the European and Middle-East Aurors, they were trying to go deeper into the other end of the trafficking line. No one knew quite where it all started or ended, but for now, they knew what to look for on the UK end. But Ron couldn't get up the enthusiasm he felt he should have.
Erik sent a card with thanks, as he was given credit for catching a smuggling scam.
Ron soon grew bored with staring at the ceiling, doing therapies and reading the mystery novels that Hermione had got him hooked on. There was still too much time to think. And what he was thinking on was too serious to ignore anymore. Two weeks after the accident, he was awakened by Ginny.
"Ron, wake up! It's Hermione. It's time!"
He sprang up, "Wha'?"
"She's downstairs, I've come to get you. I got you a chair. Come on!" Ginny swung a wheelchair around and went to grasp his arm to help him up.
"I'm sitting here with my bare arse flapping about, at least hand me a robe," he demanded, as he swung his splinted legs about. He grabbed it out of her hands and wrapped his bare backside like a towel then dropped into the chair. Before he could get settled, he was yelling for Ginny to go faster to the lift.
Rosie was on her way! Daddy's coming!
"You could have taken a bit longer, Ronald. Maybe even put on the robe right way." Hermione laughed. "This is going to take hours." She reached out her hand. "But I'm glad you're here."
"I know, but I didn't want to miss a minute of it." He reached over with his left hand, grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry I can't reach your beautiful face."
"I love you too." Hermione touched his face and ended up squeezing his cheek as a contraction rolled over her belly. "Ugh. Sorry, love. That one caught me off-guard." She touched the scratch she had made. "Ginny, how long was that one?"
"Four minutes. This might take less time than you thought. Guys, any bets?" Ginny looked up from her watch to her brother and husband. Judging from the glares off Hermione, the men decided not to join in on the game. "I think by five this morning. I'm going to update the family." She turned to Ron, "Oh, you get to time her now." She tossed the stopwatch at him. "Okay kids, no hanky-panky. Send out some sparks if you need anything."
"No hanky-panky? Well, that just ruined my evening," Hermione teased, then arched her back as another pain overtook her.
"Babe?" Ron worried. What can he do? They had their plans, but he can't massage her now, he can't walk her around the room, how can he be of any use to her now? He just barely learned how to stand upright. "Love? What can I do?" He felt lost. He couldn't even use his wand. It was busted up in the raid and he couldn't buy another until he could walk. The third since he started this job.
"Just be here. That's all I need." She held up her wand and a red spark flew out the door.
Ginny poked her head in. "Yeah?"
"Can you angle him better? He can't even reach me." Ginny fiddled with placing him closer to Hermione's side.
Less than two hours later, and no one checking on them, Ron noticed something. "I thought this stage was supposed to last hours, you're going fast. That last one was less than two minutes."
"Yeah, it's starting to feel different, too. Can you get the midwife?" She panted as she looked over at Ron, who couldn't walk, let alone move his chair easily on his own. "Oh, yeah." She sent out another spark.
This time, Molly came in with a smile. "Yes, dear. What can we do for you?"
"Can you get the…oooof, owowowow…" She bent over her belly. "Midwife." She breathed out. "I think…I think…"
In the hall, she could hear her mother-in-law yell, "Healer! It's time!" Before she could catch her breath, she felt like another was waiting for the next to arrive.
"Molly!" Hermione screamed. "Help!"
Molly ran to her side. "Tell me what's going on," she said calmly.
"I've want to pushhhhh."
"Okay, breathe, just like they taught you. No one was in the hall, I'm sure someone will be here soon." Molly moved her wand over Hermione's belly. "Here comes another one. Relax and ride it through. Don't push just yet. That's right. Breathe." She sent out some more sparks through the door.
Ginny ran in. "There's an emergency down the other end, no one is coming. They wouldn't believe me when I said you're ready now."
"I can't wait. This baby's coming now!" Hermione curled into herself and breathed hard. Ron sat, stunned at her power. When she was released, she looked wildly over at Molly. "I need you. I can't stop this." Knowing that Molly was a lay-midwife made this her best choice.
Molly found the box of gloves and prepared her hands. "I'm going to get you a bit more comfortable, okay?"
Hermione nodded and caught her breath as she coiled up again. Molly waited and as soon as the contraction eased, lifted the sheet up.
"Well, look here, it seems we're going to have another ginger. Hermione, dear, a push or two and she'll be here. Yes, take a deep breath, hold it, there you go, push, harder, okay, relax. Ron, do you want to see this?"
With his big nod, his mother wheeled him around, so he could see the crowning glory of his daughter's head. The next contraction caused the little girl to slide into her grandmother's arms. With a flip and rub on the back, the baby breathed in and let out a screech that could have shattered glass. Molly gently laid the baby on Hermione's chest. "Congratulations, she's a Weasley!"
Ron reached over and grabbed his mother's wand out of her pocket. He ignored her perplexed look, as he clumsily held it over the cord. "Separatus Gravitas." The cord sealed and separated. The baby girl calmed down as Molly covered her with a small warmed blanket. Shaking, Ron handed his mother back her wand. "Thanks, Mum," he whispered. "Can you…?"
She pushed him closer, so he could touch his daughter.
A Healer rushed through the door. "So, you think you might be close to the end?" He didn't even look at her until he heard the baby start crying again. "Oh, got a bit impatient there, did you?" he said good-naturedly as he lifted the blanket and checked the baby. "I have to apologize. A mother down the hall was hemorrhaging. We saved her and the baby, but it was close." He smiled. "Looks like we've got a healthy girl here. How's mama doing?" He lifted the sheet. With his wand he said a charm while Molly assisted in pressing gently on the belly. With ease, the afterbirth slid out into the waiting pan. "Good job, Grandma. When I saw you in here, I knew she'd be okay."
"How did you know each other?" Hermione said, glancing over her daughter.
"He was my instructor when I became a midwife." Molly smiled down at little Rosie. She tried to wipe a tear from her cheek, but the bloody gloves reminded her that she had work still to do. "Now, let's get you both cleaned up, then I can play Grandma again."
The Healer checked Hermione's vitals and did an in depth look at the baby, "She just perfect." He pronounced as he left the room.
An hour later, Molly opened the door and allowed the family to troop in. Ron sat in his chair, clutching tightly to the bundle in his arms. Hermione would have wanted to laugh, if her belly wasn't so sore.
"How much did she weigh?" George asked, trying to see over the heads of everyone else.
"Oh, for goodness' sake, Ron, let them hold her. You can have her right back. George, she was eight pounds, three ounces. Twenty-one and a half inches long."
Arthur lifted Rosie out of Ron's protesting arms. "Come to Grampa, darling. Here you go. Aren't you a precious?" He snuggled her close with practiced ease.
Hermione watched George writing on a scrap of parchment. "What exact time was she born?" he asked.
"Twelve forty-three. Wait, are you doing a betting pool on my daughter?" Hermione tried to pull herself up to glare at her brother-in-law.
"Of course. Harry won the time, the bugger. He said one AM. Ginny, you got closest with eight pounds, while Percy here won with twenty-one inches. Oh, and don't forget, Grampa, you got the day. So that makes it, fifteen Knuts each."
"Come on Dad, my turn." Bill reached and took the baby from the grandfather's arms. Soon, there was a friendly battle over who got a turn to hold the baby. It was always the same battle. And always the same order. Oldest to youngest. Only this time, Grandma Molly didn't need to join in. She got the greatest turn, the very first turn. She turned behind her and looked over the printed certificate on the counter. Under the line of attendant, she had signed her own name. With a wave of her wand, it was sealed.
Molly noticed Hermione stir in her bed. "Well, it's been an hour and little Rosie Jean here is needing to rest. Everyone out. You'll see her again, I'm sure." She pushed and cajoled the family out, then turned. "Sleep well." she said to her son and his new family.
"I love you, Mum," she heard Ron say as the door closed.
O0o0o0o0
It was four in the morning. Hermione was sleeping, and Ron had his daughter draped gently against his bare chest. The only illumination was the lights of London shining through the gauzy curtain. Not even the hospital sounds disturbed their peace.
"You know what, sweetheart? I don't think there's ever been a more wonderful woman than your mama," he whispered.
Her head, all covered with short, wild, red hair, arched up until she faced her daddy. Huge dark blue eyes stared into his.
"One of these days, I need to tell you how amazing she is. You should've seen her. Not even one swear word out of her. I guess I need to quit swearing myself, huh? Don't want to scorch your perfect ears just yet. Grandma Molly would be happy about that. She's been trying for over twenty years." He rocked and stared out the window, deep in thought.
"Rosie? I've come to a decision. You see, I'm in a dangerous job right now. I've been hurt more times than I can count. What if I get hurt too much to come home to you?" He used his hand to wipe his eyes. "It's been a long time coming. Your Mama has even been talking about this. Well, a few days ago, Uncle George offered me a partnership, again. Just like he's done every time I've spent time here. I think…I think it's time to accept. What do you think?"
The new baby wiggled her bum and cooed.
He heard a stir from the bed. "I agree with her. If this is what you want, I would love for you to accept," Hermione whispered, in the dark.
"I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean to wake you." He braced his daughter on his lap and wheeled the chair closer to his wife.
"It's okay. It's almost time to feed her." She reached down and took the baby back into her arms. "What makes this time different?"
"Her. Rosie. What if I don't come home one of these times? What if I piss off the wrong person?" he asked. "What if I don't duck in time?"
There was a long pause as his wife settled the baby. He saw a single tear fall down her cheek. "I always tried to ignore that question. I'd never allow you to leave if I thought about it. It had to be your decision." Hermione snuggled the baby closer to her breast.
"I don't know how Harry does it. He has Jamie, and now baby Al. How can he go to work, knowing he might not…?" Ron's voice caught roughly.
"He has Ginny. That's the difference." Hermione sighed. "She grounds him, gives him the strength to go on. Just like you ground me, Ron." She kissed the little red curls. "I wouldn't be able to do what I do without you. Your support is my magic. I noticed something this past year, you keep saying over and over again that you were tired. Your nightmares are coming back. You're sleeping less. What do you want?"
He raised his eyes to the ceiling, wondering if his answer was printed on the tiles. "I'm good at what I do. I'm part of a great team. We're still shorthanded. But, babe? I'm beginning to hate it. I hate the uncertainty. I hate the violence. I hate what I face daily. I hate ending up here several times a year." He smiled at his family. "Most of all, I hate the crazy hours away from you."
"Well then, if you hate it, what the hell are you doing there?" she asked, her logical reasoning straight to the point.
"Your folks will have a hissy fit. Me giving up this high-status job to work in a shop," Ron chuckled. "Leaving you to be the main breadwinner of the family."
"Who cares? It has nothing to do with them." She patted the baby's back. A big burp sounded in the silent room. "See, that's what she thinks of your high-status job."
"You hear this, Rosie? You just convinced Daddy to quit his job. What do you think about that?" Ron rubbed the little back.
Her only response was to fill her nappy.
A/N Thanks for sticking to the end. Please leave a review. Pretty Please? I really want to know what you think on this. Again, Thanks Beedle. Your advice and critique has been spot on!