Well here is the next chapter! Yay! Thanks for all of the reviews and story and author favorites! Really made my day! Well here we go, it's baby time!
Chapter 9: The baby
"She's losing a lot of blood!" someone yelled rushing a stretcher carrying Hermione down the hall as Draco ran to the information desk.
"I'm looking for Hermione Granger! What's wrong with her? Is the baby alright? Is Hermione alright?" Draco fired question after question at the receptionist.
"Sir what is your name?"
"Draco Malfoy."
"And what is your relation to Miss Granger?" The receptionist asked in a nasally voice.
"I'm her….I'm the baby's father." Draco answered.
"Ok, sir. I'm going to need you to wait in one of those chairs and a healer will be right out to update you on hers and the baby's conditions."
"But I need-"
"Sir! Please sit down. I promise you a healer will be with you as soon as they can."
Draco sighed defeated and slowly walked over to an empty seat in the waiting area she had directed him to. Shortly after he had taken his seat Harry and the Weasleys walked swiftly into the room and searched for him. Having caught sight of his strikingly blonde hair they rushed over to him asking all kinds of questions regarding the health of Hermione and their baby.
"I don't know they wouldn't tell me anything yet. I saw them rushing her down the hallway on a stretcher. I don't….I don't know how she's doing."
Minutes stretched into hours as the group of friends and family waited for news on Hermione's condition. Many of them had stretched out on a couple of chairs, making makeshift beds to try and get as comfortable as they could given their resting place and the fact that many of them were still in the clothes they had worn to the wedding.
Draco's position changed from him leaning forward resting his face in his hands and sitting back with his head back against the wall. So many thoughts were going through his head. The pain he had felt earlier when Hermione told him she wouldn't marry him was a dull ache compared to the stinging pain he felt when he thought that he might lose her and perhaps even their unborn child. It was all he could do to prevent the tears from running down his face. He couldn't break down now. He had to be strong, for Hermione, their baby, and for the rest of the people anxiously waiting with him. He had a feeling that if he broke down crying there would be nothing to stop the others from breaking as well.
Finally a healer wearing turquoise scrubs and scrub cap walked out into the waiting room and took in all of the people sitting out there waiting for news.
"Mr. Malfoy?" The healer asked.
Draco was up so fast he got a head rush, but that didn't stop him from taking the several steps needed to be standing directly in front of the healer, desperation written all over his face. Harry, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley followed quickly behind him.
"Mr. Malfoy, Hermione has lost a lot of blood, but we were able to stabilize her." The healer stated slowly.
"What happened to her?" Draco asked.
"Miss Granger had placenta previa. It's a condition where the placenta for the baby covers part of the opening into the womb. This condition can cause the mother to bleed quite heavily. In Hermione's case she lost a lot of blood and when the blood comes in contact with the uterine wall the uterus starts contracting. In this case we thought it was better for both Hermione and the baby to go ahead and get the baby out."
"What? Hermione had the baby?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Yes, you have a beautiful baby girl Mr. Malfoy." The healer said with a smile. "We had to use a modified technique similar to the muggles cesarean section to remove the baby. But the baby is healthy and both mother and baby are doing wonderful. Miss Granger should be waking up shortly. If you follow me I can take you to see her."
Draco sighed in relief and let a smile grace his face. They were going to be fine, his family was going to be perfectly fine. He nodded and followed the healer, just barely able to hear Mrs. Weasley inform him he would give him and Hermione some time alone before they all came to visit the new family.
Draco carefully knocked on the door and then opened it. He walked in quietly and sat in the seat next to Hermione's bed. She looked to be sleeping still so he just took her hand and held it in his. Shortly after he grabbed her hand he felt her squeeze his hand and then her eyes slowly opened. She looked around at her surroundings slowly before landing on Draco's face.
"What happened?" Hermione asked in a whisper.
"What do you remember?"
Hermione thought for a minute. "I remember Harry and Ginny's wedding and then I went home and there was blood…..Oh! Is the baby ok?" Hermione said checking her stomach as if in search of their child.
"Yes, the baby is just fine. You had placenta previa and they had to remove the baby but she was almost term anyway so she is doing wonderful."
"She?" Hermione asked her eyes sparkling. "Can I see her? Have you seen her?"
"No, they just brought be back to see you they said they'd be in with her in a moment." Draco informed her reaching his hand up to brush a stray strand of hair out of her face.
As if on cue, there was a knock on the door and a nurse walked in holding a small bundle in a pink blanket.
"I thought you might be awake. Would you like to meet your baby?" The nurse asked with a smile and put the bundle in Hermione's awaiting arms.
Hermione and Draco looked down at their small little bundle. She was gorgeous. She had small tuffs of golden blonde hair, a perfect mix of Draco's blonde with Hermione's brown. She had chubby cheeks and a small nose that Hermione couldn't help but touch the tip with her finger. Her little hand came up and tried to grasp at her mother, and when her eyes opened they found she had the same beautiful color as her father.
"Oh, she's so beautiful." Hermione gushed as silent tears started rolling down her face. "I can't believe she's really here."
"I know. She's already our little bundle of surprise." Draco said as he ran his hand through the little bit of hair gracing the top of his baby's head. "What should we name her?"
"What about Mary?" Hermione suggested.
"She doesn't look like a Mary to me."
"Amber?"
"No, I knew an Amber once…let's just say I don't want my memory of that name associated with my daughter." Draco said with a shudder. "Ghastly woman she was."
Hermione laughed. "How about Abigail?"
"Abigail." Draco tried out. "I like it." He said looking down at her and smiled as she yawned.
"What about her middle name?"
"Well, my great grandmother's name was Evelyn. I always thought that was a pretty name." Draco suggested.
"Abigail Evelyn Malfoy." Hermione said. "I think it's perfect."
"You're going to give her my name?" Draco asked astonished.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well I though after last night you might not want to give her my name." He said softly.
"Draco I meant what I said last night. I love you, with all of my heart, but I am only 20 years old. I am not ready to get married yet. I think you and I should spend more time getting to know each other before we get married." Hermione said caressing his face with her free hand.
Draco smiled and leaned in to give her a kiss. She responded immediately and regretted it when he pulled away. He then leaned in and kissed Abigail on her forehead, before accepting her into his arms when Hermione passed her to him.
"Your mummy still loves me; did you hear that little one?" Draco whispered but Hermione still heard and gave a chuckle. "I am going to be the best daddy ever. Let's set down some ground rules okay? No dating until you're 30, and no matter what they say no boy will ever be good enough for you."
"Draco, she's only a few hours old." Hermione chuckled.
Hermione smiled as she watched Draco walk around the room swaying to and fro with Abigail in his arms. She couldn't believe how beautiful the sight was and she couldn't wait until she would be able to take her family back home; that's when a thought hit her.
"Hey Draco, you know what this means right?" Hermione asked.
"What?"
"We get to go house shopping." Hermione said with a smile as Draco looked down at his daughter.
"Yeah I suppose we do." He said with a chuckle just before there was a knock at the door and the Weasley family came in to visit.
Well I hope this chapter wasn't too boring! It has a cute little baby in it so it can't be too bad right? Lol Anyway I would like to thank everyone who suggested names for the baby and especially Sexy-Jess and Tfobmv18 for the names I actually used. Next chapter will be the last but hopefully you will all like the ending!
