A/N: Hi! I hate that this one is so short, but when it feels like a good place to end it, I can't rationalize adding to it just for the sake of adding to it. Anyway, Merry Christmas eve, and I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow for our conclusion!

Christmas morning, Hermione jumped out of bed, not bothering to try and avoid waking Severus. She could hear Flora babbling to herself in her room, but Hermione paid it no mind. Making a beeline for the bathroom, she hunched over the toilet and was violently sick.

She'd been waking up this way every morning for nearly two months, and as excited as she was that she and Severus were expecting again, Hermione didn't know how much more of this she could take. This pregnancy wasn't going nearly as nicely as her first had. Not only did she have more severe morning sickness, but she was exhausted all the time and Severus had pointed out her mood swings over the past couple of weeks.

Hermione felt her hair- which had been pulled back at some point- being released and a cold cloth being pressed against her forehead. Of course she'd woken Severus, and of course he had come to sit with her like he had every morning since she'd first been sick.

She leaned back so that her back was pressed against him where she felt him crouched behind her. His hands rubbed softly up and down her arms, offering silent comfort until she was able to get up and brush her teeth.

"Sorry for waking you up again," she murmured when she'd finished.

"Hermione, you don't have anything to apologize for," he said, gently placing his hand on her abdomen.

She smiled and stood up on her toes so she could kiss his cheek. "I've got to go get Flora; she's been up and talking to herself for who knows how long."

"I'll get her," Severus offered. "You can make yourself comfortable and I'll us some tea."

"Thank you, love," she sighed.

Hermione went into the sitting room and curled up on the couch. When she saw Severus come out with Flora, she opened her arms and their daughter ran to her.

"Happy birthday, my darling," Hermione said as she hugged Flora lightly, "and Merry Christmas!"

Tired as she was, Hermione couldn't say no to her little girl's dark curls and infectious giggle. In the end, both she and Flora were laughing and Hermione was able to forget for a moment how awful she was feeling.

When she heard Severus come back, she turned her head, and was pleased to find he was smiling, too. She beckoned him over and kissed him, and when Flora wiggled between them, she and Severus embraced their daughter.

If this was to be the best part of Hermione's day, she would be perfectly okay with that.

Later that evening, after Flora had opened her gifts and tired of chasing Claude around their rooms, Severus and Hermione sat on the couch with their little girl curled up between them. Severus had a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard open on his lap, and he was reading aloud to both Hermione and Flora- both of whom were quickly falling asleep.

Hermione didn't hear him stop reading, nor did she hear him take Flora to bed. She did, however, wake up just enough to know what was going on when she felt his strong arms lift her up so he was holding her bridal-style against his chest. She felt him carry her to their room, undress her, and tuck her in before crawling in beside her. Hermione smiled when she felt his long fingers brushing lightly through her hair.

She loved this man and the family they were building together with all her heart. If anything ever happened to any of them- Severus, Flora, Claude, the little one growing inside her- she knew it would hurt more than she could ever imagine. Being tortured by Bellatrix would pale in comparison to losing any part of her family.

Moving closer to Severus, she forced herself to wake up completely. She turned her head, moving until her face met her husband's.

"I love you," she whispered, kissing him softly.

His lips were slow and gentle against hers.

"I love you as well, Hermione. Now, go back to sleep; I'm sure you have another early morning ahead of you."

She groaned. "Thanks for reminding me. Goodnight, Severus."

His only response was to place his hand on her abdomen and kiss her on the top of the head, and they fell asleep almost immediately.