Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Yay! Fred and Hermione are together now! Took long enough!
Now it's time for Ethan to meet his family! Everyone ready to see how Molly deals with her grandson?
Sit back and enoy!
Love always,
Avoline
Fred smiled at the sleeping infant in his arms. Ethan was a month old now, and was getting stronger each day. The PediHealer said that Hermione might have been about a month further along than the Healer thought, and that Ethan was doing amazing. He was drinking a whole six ounces of milk on his own, and had begun to recognize Hermione's voice.
But what warmed Fred's heart the most was the look of trust on Ethan's tiny face when he came home.
Fred loved those moments, when he would extract his son from her arms and see that face smiling up at him. It had become the only thing he could ever talk about, driving George mad with anticipation.
"Come on, Fred, when can I see him," George whined after Fred described Ethan's chubby little cheeks to him for the fifteenth time. Fred smiled sympathetically.
"If you could see him now, I'd let you," he answered. "But I've got to wait the whole month to make sure he doesn't get sick on us." A frustrated sound passed George's lips. "George, he's a month early. He's not as strong as most babies. The least little thing could kill him." Fred watched as his twin nodded understandingly.
"I know," he murmured. "The last thing you and 'Mione need is to loose little Ethan." Their eyes met, and Fred could see the tears fighting to be held back.
"I'd say it's the last thing the three of us need," he stated softly.
"Fred," Hermione called from the bedroom. "Is everything alright?" He gently got up and walked into the bedroom, careful not to wake the sleeping newborn.
"Everything's fine, love," he whispered. "Ethan's sound asleep." She smiled as he sat on the edge of her bed. He still couldn't bring himself to ask her to join him in the larger bed for fear of making things move too fast. He knew he should, but he just couldn't bring himself to do so.
She'll let me know when she's ready.
"Your family should be here any minute," she reminded him. He nodded.
"It'll only be Mum, George, and Bill today," he informed. "Percy's loaded down with work, same for Dad, Charlie has a new nest of Ukrainian Iron Bellies to look after, and Ginny and Fleur are both sick as dogs." She laughed quietly.
"That'll be fine," she answered. "I'm sure George is eager to meet him." Fred laughed just as the floo went off. "Speaking of..." He kissed her cheek before standing.
"Take your time, love," he instructed as he pulled the door closed and stepped into the living room. He looked up to meet his twin's gaze. "Hey, George."
"Hey, Fred," he replied. "Mum will be here in a little bit." He shifted his gaze to Ethan. "Is that him?" Fred's smile grew.
"Yep, this is him," he responded. "This is little Ethan James Weasley." George gently pried the infant from the older man's arms and cradled him close to his body.
"Hello, little one," he whispered. "Oh, you are so precious. Your Grandmother Molly won't know what to do with you." Fred chuckled.
"Nor is Aunt Ginny, or Aunt Fleur, or his straight-laced Uncle Percy," he added softly. George smiled the biggest smile Fred had ever seen.
"Percy will melt like butter for this little guy," he stated. "And just wait until Dad sees him." The two laughed, only for Fred's mood to sober up quickly.
"Why is it our family is so excited about him, but poor Hermione hasn't been able to get a hold of her parents for months," he pointed out. George shook his head sadly.
"Are they still angry about her pregnancy," he inquired. His twin nodded. "Did they not realize how much she needed them, and still needs them?"
"If they do, they show no signs of letting go of their anger," Fred sneered. Ethan stirred slightly, reminding the two men that he was there. "She wants so badly for them to meet him, but they won't answer her letters or even come by. Each letter she's sent has been returned unopened, and it's getting to the point that she can barely smile anymore. George, I wish I could do something about it."
"Maybe you can," George soothed. "Find out where they live, plead with them to speak to her. Maybe they'll listen to you better than they will her." Fred shook his head.
"I'll just be another stranger trying to reason with them," he muttered.
"You'll be the father of their grandchild begging them to be part of his life."
"But that's just it..."
"What..."
"I'm not..."
"But he'll still..."
"I know..."
The two stood, silent, until the floo roared to life as Molly Weasley and Bill Weasley entered the home.
