A/N: I know, I know! I stole the title of my chapter from a song by the Secret Machines, but it fits so perfect! There will also be a little snip of the song's lyrics in this chap as well. Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: Lightning Blue Eyes

Hermione felt almost like a celebrity the way she was treated at St. Mungo's. People were running around her, making sure she was comfortable, asking if she needed anything. Draco held her hand tightly as she lay in the delivery room, watching her intently as if she would fade away if he turned around and let go of her.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked after a few minutes of being alone.

"I've felt better…" Hermione scrunched up her face in pain as another contraction pierced through her body.

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea to try and do this without any help, love…" Draco said quietly, looking anxious.

"Draco, I don't know how many times I have to tell you-" Hermione let out a small scream of pain, "but I need to do this natural! It's the safest thing to do for the baby…" The Healer came walking in slowly, not looking up from his clipboard.

"Alright, let's have a look at how far you're along, Miss- Granger?" the Healer looked up suddenly. "As in Hermione Granger? Oh Merlin- and Draco Malfoy?" The Healer had a look of excitement on his face. "You two are all over the Daily Prophet these days! Who would have guessed I would be the one delivering your much anticipated baby?" He let a howl of mirth escape his lips before settling back down into reality. Draco glared suspiciously at him.

"Is this going to be a problem? Because if it is, I have no qualms towards finding another more professional Healer to carry things out…" Draco stood up slowly, crossing his arms across his chest. He towered a good five inches above the Healer. Before any response could be made, Hermione let out another moan. The Healer quickly moved over to her.

"Do you want a numbing spell, Miss?" he asked quickly. "You're only at three inches dilated, so you have a way to go before we can even start pushing…"

"No-" Hermione breathed, her face contorted with pain. "No- I'm fine…" She screamed again, causing Draco to flinch and hold his hands over his ears.

"You can still have an all natural birth with a numbing spell. It only causes you to go numb while the contractions are going on and while the baby moves down to the birthing position. You can rest during that time so you have more energy during delivery." The Healer explained patiently. Hermione looked interested.

"Fine, fine, that sounds good-" she let out another cry of anguish.

(…)

Draco had gone to send owls to friends about Hermione being in the Hospital while Hermione took a much needed nap. He came back up to the room a half hour later, carrying a bouquet of bright red roses. Hermione woke up and almost started crying at his gesture of kindness. They began talking about names and guessing what the baby would be. Draco had been with Hermione in the delivery room for a few hours, waiting for her to be ready to start pushing when an unexpected surprise came in through the doors. Hermione and Draco looked up to greet the visitor, but found themselves speechless when they saw whom it was.

"M-Mum?" Hermione whispered, her eyes tearing up. Mrs. Granger rushed across the room to her daughter and embraced her.

"Oh, my little girl!" she choked. "I can't let you go through this alone…" Mrs. Granger pulled away and looked nervously over at Draco.

"She's not alone." Draco commented, standing up and reaching out his hand towards her. "Would you like to start over again?" Mrs. Granger glanced at his hand for a second before she decided a hug was more appropriate. Draco looked shocked as Hermione's mother gave him a tight hug.

"I'm very sorry about everything that happened, Draco. If I could take it all back I would…" she started crying again. Draco patted her should awkwardly.

"It's alright, I can't say I blame your reaction much. If I had been in your position, I may well have committed a murder…" Draco laughed nervously. Mrs. Granger gave him a watery smile.

"Where is Dad?" Hermione asked, her voice tight. Mrs. Granger looked at the ground.

"Darling, I'm afraid he's not going to come. He still feels very strongly about everything- you must understand- he's hurting very much…"

"He's hurting?" Hermione looked incredulously at her mother. Just then, everyone turned at the sound of a knock at the door. Draco made his way over to the door and opened it, revealing Narcissa Malfoy. She looked very uptight, clutching her handbag so hard her knuckles were turning white.

"Hello Draco," she spoke coolly, her expression unchanging. "I presume this is the girl?" Narcissa pointed a careless finger at Hermione.

"Mother, what are you doing here? I never sent you an owl…" Draco started.

"I have other ways of finding out information. The birth of the next Malfoy heir is an occasion I am not likely to miss. " Narcissa stepped inside the room and walked briskly over to Hermione to observe her. Hermione held out a timid hand.

"Nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Malfoy…" Hermione spoke quietly. Narcissa did not even glance at her hand before she made a disapproving noise.

"Really, Draco, I wish you had deliberated everything more thoroughly before deciding this was your best option-" Narcissa spat.

"You can leave now, Mother…" Draco clutched her arm gently, but firmly, and led her to the door.

"I'll just wait outside, then…" she spoke airily as a bouncy red-head flew past her into the delivery room.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried, beaming. "I can't believe it's actually time! Am I going to be the god-mother?" Ginny asked, practically dripping with excitement.

"Ginny, we don't even know if it's a boy or girl! Picking out god-parents is pretty low on the totem pole right now…" Hermione laughed. Ginny looked around the room.

"But- where are Harry and Ron?" she asked, her brow furrowed. Ginny read the expression on Hermione's face perfectly. "They don't know?" Ginny cried. Hermione shook her head.

"They got so busy with Auror training, and Draco and I became wrapped up in our own life, I just never thought there was a good time to tell them!" Hermione sounded exasperated. Ginny continued to frown and put her hands on her hips.

"Well I'm going to have to go find them, now! Seriously, Hermione- they're your best friends and they don't even know you're pregnant! Why didn't you tell them that night we all went to Pocket's?"

"I didn't know how they were going to react- and besides. It was their night to celebrate. " Hermione said defiantly.

"I hope you have a girl that acts just like you…" Ginny grinned at her before turning to run back out of the room. "Don't start without us! I'll be right back!"

But Hermione was ready to start- or according to her Healer she was. He had come in a few minutes after Ginny had left to inform Hermione she had dilated to the full ten centimeters and was ready to start pushing.

(…)

Harry, Ron, and Ginny burst in just in time to see the baby being born. Hermione was screaming so loudly she could be heard all the way down the hall and around the corner. The sun was starting to rise, casting a warm glow on the tired group of people. Draco was letting Hermione crush his hand as she screamed and pushed, and did not even appear to be in any discomfort at all. He smiled down at her determined face and encouraged her warmly. With one final push, Hermione felt the release of the baby and heard it cry shrilly. The Healer practically screamed in excitement.

"It's a girl! You had a baby girl!" he cried, holding the baby up for Hermione to see. Hermione was sweaty and tired and aching, but could not help but smile genuinely at her new child. The Healer cut her umbilical cord, wrapped her in a blanket and handed her carefully to Draco. The light from the sunrise burst in through the window, lighting up the spot where Draco stood with the baby. She stopped crying and opened her surreal blue eyes to meet Draco's gaze.

In your dreams you've seen it all

Through a window so far off

Remember watching while your

Lightning blue eyes reflected sunrise

Through the dawn I'd seen it, too

I caught a glimpse I thought was you

And I was overwhelmed

Lightning blue eyes against the daylight

Hermione watched Draco hold their baby girl and noticed a singular tear trace it's way down Draco's cheek as he stared in wonder at his child. It would be the first and last time she would ever see him cry. As he continued to hold his baby Hermione knew deep down that his only weakness was going to be that little girl. The whole room was quiet as Draco walked closer to Hermione and crouched down so she could see their daughter. Hermione kissed the tear off his cheek and soaked in her baby's face. She looked like Hermione except for her blonde hair and incredibly bright blue eyes.

"What should we name her?" Draco asked softly. Hermione noticed the bouquet of roses Draco had brought her propped up in the crystal vase, and she suddenly knew.

"Scarlet…" Hermione breathed. "Scarlet Rose…" She looked at Draco. He was watching the baby again.

"Scarlet…" he repeated as he observed the small infant. He smiled before he looked back up into Hermione's eyes. "It's perfect."

(…)

Hermione spent the next day in the hospital, falling more and more in love with Scarlet and Draco. The families and friends had responded well to the little girl, even Narcissa could not hold back her tears as she watched Draco carry the infant out of the room to show off.

When Draco and Hermione were ready to leave the hospital, they were practically attacked by reporters and crowds of people trying to get comments from Draco Malfoy- the best Keeper Puddlemere United has ever known- and Hermione Granger- the Muggle-born witch who stole Draco's heart. People were frantically trying to photograph Scarlet, but Hermione had hidden her beneath a light blanket and was rushing to the waiting car.

Being at home again with Scarlet was a strange adjustment for Hermione and Draco, but not nearly as strange as waking up five times a night to a screaming infant. The couple soon adjusted and the months seemed to fly by as they watched their beautiful daughter grow.

(…)

Two Years Later

The month was January, and close to Scarlet's second birthday. In the two years since her birth, Hermione and Draco had become closer to each other and their daughter than they even knew possible. Draco had continued to play professional Quidditch, and was promoted to Team Captain. Hermione had wanted more than anything to stay with Scarlet, so she decided to take on a few young children from single parents every day and teach them while their parents worked. Scarlet loved having all the friends around and had blossomed to a very social butterfly. She was fair skinned like her father, with white-blonde locks usually kept up in pigtails. Her face resembled Hermione's very closely; pink lips, smooth jaw line, except for her eyes. Her brilliantly blue eyes were another feature she had gained from Draco. Every time Hermione or Draco took Scarlet out, they were complimented on how beautiful the child was going to be when she grew older. Hermione and Draco would smile and remind people that Scarlet was still only a toddler, and they were enjoying the time they were able to spend with her.

Scarlet's second birthday was going to be the event of the century, Hermione had quoted. All of Scarlet's little friends were invited, as well as Hermione and Draco's adult friends. Little did anyone know, a visitor was planning to come that wasn't invited. Meria hadn't forgotten about how Draco had denied her and left her to raise Tyler without help. She had been biding her time over the past couple of years, waiting for an opportunity to slide back into Draco's life. His daughter's birthday was the perfect event- so many people were going to be there, she would hardly be noticed until it was too late.

A/N: Yay! Another chapter down! I hope you all liked it- it was fun to write! As far as the poll goes- here are the results:

Girl: 1

Boy: 4

Twins: 5

Triplets: 3

Names: Chad, Ian, Damian, Corlath, Joren, Tristan, Domitan, Gabriel, Alyssa, Jade, Senay, Lorelei, Alianne, Sable, Keladry, Jordanne.

WOW! Thanks for all the feedback and guesses! I hope everyone likes what I chose… I noticed in the books, J.K. Rowling uses a lot of flower names (Fleur, Pansy, Lily, Petunia, Poppy, etc.) Weird, huh? Well, I will be posting again soon! Sorry for not much Ginny/Blaise action, but there will be some major action in the next chap- I already have it planned out! Please review!

-shesmyfavorite