Everything was relatively calm throughout the rest of the year, until the week before the younger Weasley's and Potters were to have Easter Holiday's. Grace was woken up bright and early by a Great Horned owl that was pecking furiously at her window. It was Roxanne's owl Popler. Grace rolled out of bed and retrieved the letter the bird flew off. Grace opened it and began to read there were only two sentences on the parchment.
GET TO ST. MUNGO'S NOW. I'M IN LABOR!!!!
That was all the motive Grace needed to get dressed and rush to the fireplace.
Grace stepped into the lobby of St. Mungo's to see the place swarming with redheads. Grandma Weasley was the first to see her.
"Oh thank heavens you've arrived. She won't let anyone in the room unless it's you. She gave one of the healers a concussion because the poor fellow tried to restrain her."
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley." Grace hurried off to the maternity ward and easily found Roxanne's room. It was the one that random items were being thrown out of. She walked towards the room, but was stopped by one of the Experienced Healers.
"Healer Davey, is that Roxanne Weasley's room?" Grace asked.
"Are you Grace?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Then go right ahead, she's all yours."
"Won't someone be with me?"
"With a Weasley woman? No bloody way." Davey walked straight towards the stairs leaving Grace alone in the hallway. Grace quickly walked into the room.
"I SAID I WANT GRACE DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!" Roxanne yelled clearly not realizing Grace was the one that entered
"You do not mix well with hormones Roxie." the girl in question spun around from where she stood and burst into tears.
"It hurts. Make it stop Gracie."
"You need to lay down now. It's going to be alright. I'm fairly confident that I know what I'm doing."
"WHAT? I thought you were a healer?"
"I haven't finished training yet. You know that. There only letting me in here because you attacked everyone else."
"But you know what you're doing?"
"Uh…Yes."
"OOOOOHHHH."
"Okay let's do this."
"MUUUUUUMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!!"
After four hours of intense labor Roxanne was now holding her healthy baby girl.
"What are you going to name her?" Grace asked. Roxanne smiled at her friend before answering.
"Katherine…Grace…Barker, Weasley. I need to talk to Benny about the last name, but we both decided…because you are so amazing that the baby would have your middle name."
"But what if it was a boy?"
"Franklin Grace."
"Seriously?"
"No that's stupid."
"The family probably wants to meet the newest member shall I bring them in?"
"Bloody Hell No! I look like a train wreck you have to take the baby out there I need to fix myself up before anyone sees me."
"You are so shallow Roxie."
"Oh shut up and go parade my baby." Grace sat on the bed next to Roxanne, and the new mother placed her child in Grace's waiting arms. The newborn looked lazily up at her and blinked slowly. Grace smiled down at the baby and held it close adjusting the little pink hat on her head so that it would cover her ears. Grace stood slowly so she wouldn't startle little Katherine and made her way to the door still smiling. With her hand on the door handle Grace was stopped. "You'll be a great Godmother Grace." Grace turned to look back at Roxie, who was looking in a mirror she had conjured, and smiled.
"You'll be a great mother."
Grace walked into the waiting room where everyone…waited. Everyone stood at once and walked over trying to get a look at the child.
"Ah, ah, ah, the father first." Grace said. Most of the Weasley men scowled as Benny slowly walked over to Grace. He bit his lip and looked at the ground. "You do know how to hold a baby? Don't you Benny?" Grace asked.
"Yeah."
"Well then take you're baby girl." Gently and a bit hesitantly Grace placed Katherine in her father's arms. Angelina was at Benny's side like Velcro cooing at her first grandchild,
"She's so little." Benny said quietly, his head was bowed over his child.
"Benny are you alright?" Grace asked stepping forward. He looked up at her, tears running down his cheeks, but he was smiling.
"I just can't believe it. How? My baby. My little girl." he bit his lip and looked down at Katherine, who stared right back at him. He reached his hand up to stroke her cheek with his index finger and kissed her forehead. He began to rock her back and forth, smiling and crying.
Grace felt arms around her waist, and she leaned back into James' chest.
"Why are you crying?" he whispered in her ear. Grace wiped her face on her sleeve and turned to face him.
"James do you want children?" She asked. James looked up at Benny who was clutching Katherine to his chest and one by one the family looked at her. Her large brown eyes shown brightly, and curiously at her relatives. He watched as Angelina walked down the hall to find her daughter's room. He watched his mother and father embrace and look at Katherine. Everyone seemed to be joining their significant other embracing one another probably all thinking about babies. "James?"
"I don't know Grace. Like I said, I'm not ready." He was still looking around.
"But have you thought about having kids?"
"Yes, once. When you tried to get me to sleep with you."
"And?"
"I don't know Grace. My whole life I've dealt with little kids, I've never really liked them. Though having a kid with you wouldn't be too bad, however, I think I would only enjoy the process it takes to get one." Grace unclasped his hands that were still around her waist and walked away from him. She took off down the hallway and into the Healer's lounge. She sat in a chair thankful that she was the only one in there. She leaned on a table and buried her face in her arms. After a moment she heard the door open.
"Grace." a hand was placed on her shoulder. "Grace are you okay?" she lifted her head to see Teddy with his signature turquoise hair.
"Yeah I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I am. Really."
"No you're not. Gracie, what's wrong?" he sat across the table from her and held onto her hands.
"I'm just…I'm confused."
"How so?"
"You know that I love James right?"
"Yes."
"I don't know what's going on anymore. He doesn't want commitment. I do. He doesn't want kids. I do. He's still a child at times. I'm mature. He doesn't want to move out of his parents house, but yet he wants to be independent. We fight so much more frequently now we want different things. I'm afraid to think that we may not be compatible anymore."
"Sure James is a little immature, but he can change. He's done it before. Just look at how far he's come since the two of you started dating."
"But that's all we'll ever be. He doesn't want to get married. He just wants things to stay as they are…well he wants intercourse in there as well, but I'm not…oh I don't know." she whispered intercourse, as always
"Grace how long have you gone on thinking this way without telling anyone?"
"Since I got a letter from my mother."
"Grace! That was around Christmas."
"No it's only been a week."
"What do you mean? she's contacted you again."
"Yes I got an owl last Thursday."
"What did it say?"
"Enough."
"Grace maybe you should talk to James about this."
"And what go back with him to his parents house again? I'd rather not."
"Gracie…what are you thinking?"
"Do you think James and I need a break?"
"No, I think you need to talk."
"But every time we talk I get upset, because he won't even consider the thought of marriage or children."
"I thought he had thought of it."
"No he thinks of one good thing about it…aka…sex…with me…and then he thinks of everything that's bad about it, and apparently the bad overrides the good in our relationship."
"I still think you should talk to him."
"I-" the door opened and Healer Bridges came inside.
"Ares the Potter-Weasley family is looking for you." she said snottily. "Hello Teddy." she smiled at him before backing out. Grace rolled her eyes and stood up. Teddy followed her out the door and back into the waiting room. Only Victoire, Harry and Ginny were left there.
"Is everyone in Roxie's room?" Grace asked
"No, only Benny, Angelina, George, Mum and dad are. The rest left. Grace could I have a word with you?" Ginny said. Grace nodded and followed her over to the other side of the large white room. They both sat down facing one another.
"What do you need to talk to me about?"
"I must ask, is there something…are you and James alright?"
"I don't know. That's what Teddy and I were talking about. We just don't seem to have that much in common relationship wise."
"What do you mean?" She asked leaning forward.
"He doesn't want to get married, nor does he want any children. The only thing he wants is…well a more physical relationship. What do I do? You've known him longer than me. What can I do? What's going to happen? Do you think we need a break? Teddy says we should just talk, but James never does, well not for very long he's just so…oh I don't know, he has a one track mind and it's all going to the intercourse station."
"I don't want to say this but maybe you do need a break, not a break up, but just time away so you can think about what you want, and he can think about something other than 'intercourse.'"
"But- what about…?"
"Grace do what you think is right. If you think you need a break, take a break, but this time, remember we're your family, you don't need to ignore us…again."
It had been two weeks since little Katherine was brought to this world. Two weeks since Grace and James decided to take a break, but only two days since the Daily Prophet was adorned with a picture of James wrapped up in Regina Daily after the last match of the season. Two days of mail lay unopened on the counter of Grace's apartment, all members of the Potter-Weasley-Lupin family were trying to reach her, except one. Grace only answered one letter in those last two days. One from her mother, they must be desperate to be involved with a blood traitor.
And that was what Grace Ares was doing at that moment. She was walking up the long walk way to her parents' estate. Breathing slowly she raised her hand and knocked. The door opened seemingly of its own accord, but when a squeaky voice said to follow him Grace saw her families house elf Axes. She followed the small awkward creature up the stairs and into her father's office. When they entered the room, five people were already there, her parents standing tall and proud with their high aristocratic cheek bones. Looking more like siblings than husband and wife. Next to them stood Mr. and Mrs. Zambini both dark skin and haughty looking. Next there stood Marcus Zambini, no doubt he was attractive, but he had a certain hunger in his eyes. Grace took her seat in the middle of the room, her stomach started churning and her hands began to sweat, she shouldn't have come.
"So, let us get this over with. Girl sign the contract and we'll leave you two together." Grace's father said. Grace took the quill from Axes and looked at the innocent looking paper on her father's desk. She did not stand from her chair. "What is it now?!"
"Will I-What is going to happen? Will I be considered part of the family, or will I be turned away once you get what you want?" Grace asked. Grace's father raised his eyebrows and smirked.
"Why of course, my dear, we would do nothing less." she shouldn't believe him, she didn't want to believe him, but she still stood and walked to the contract. She however stopped half way there, when a loud persistent knocking sounded from the front door. Axes disapparated with a crack and Grace stood still watching the door. It opened seconds later revealing two angry looking wizards. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley stood at the door with a cowering house elf hiding behind their legs and a Ministry of Magic issued document in their hands.
"Grace put the quill down now."
"She doesn't answer to you Potter. She's my child and she will sign that contract."
"Grace have you even read that contract? Do you know what it says?" Harry asked. Grace shook her head. "Come on let's go home."
"Once she signs that paper this will be her home again and she will no longer be plagued by you blood traitors. Sign the damn paper Grace."
"Put it down." by that time her brother, sister, and her sister's husband Antony had arrived and were listening in the doorway.
"Sign it!"
"Don't!"
"SIGN!"
"Grace if you sign that paper you'll never be able to see any of us ever again. Not Teddy or Katherine, Benny or Freddy, you'll be here with only the company of the family that shunned you your entire life. Do you want that?" Grace bit her lip and looked at the ground. She stepped towards the desk and stood looking at the contract. After a few moments she put the quill down and walked to her mother and father and looked them straight in the eye.
"I'm sorry, but I can't I want you to accept me but I just can't." with her head held high now she walked to Harry and Ron and each of them grabbed one of her arms and led her out of the room passed her siblings. Down the hall and to the stairs.
"Potter, release my daughter." Harry turned back around and faced Grace's fuming father.
"Why don't you try and make me Ares?"
"You have no right."
"I have more right than you." Harry said Ron moved beside him and they pushed Grace behind them.
"I am her father. And she will stay here."
"Over my dead body." Harry stated
"So be it." Her father pulled out his wand. Harry and Ron followed suit.
"Please stop, I'll go back and sign just stop it. Please." Grace made her way around the arguing fathers and stood in between them.
"Grace go home." Harry said.
"She is home Potter, as long as she behaves."
"Why the sudden interest in her now Ares? Why not have you're other children pop out little heirs?" Harry asked.
"None of your business Potter. So if you don't mind leaving I'd rather not have to murder you…today at least."
"That a threat?"
"No, a promise."
"Father, maybe you should-"
"Quiet Andreas, you have no say in the matter."
"But-"
"SILENCE!" Andreas backed down at his father's raised voice.
"You really should be kinder to your children, they'll end up resenting you in the future." Ron said pulling Grace back.
"You would know Weasel. How many children did your mother pop out again?" Harry held Ron back and pulled out the Ministry of Magic document again.
"I can have you arrested for threatening authority. Make one false move and you'll be in Azkaban for the next five years."
"My, my. Mr. Potter, abusing your power…how very Slytherin."
"Mr. Ares, I believe we are done here." with out another word Harry grabbed Grace's arm and led her out of the house before side-apparating. To the Potter house. Once there Harry marched her up to the door and pushed her inside. He sat her down at the kitchen table and began to pace.
"What the hell were you thinking? Do we mean nothing to you? Why would you go there? It's a good thing Marcy came when she did or…"
"Marcy?"
"Yes Grace, no one knew where you were. Marcy found the letter from your mother and brought it to me. You better be thanking her. I don't want to be in that situation again, but I will not let you through your life away. God how could you be so stupid?"
"I-I I'm sorry."
"Grace, why did you feel like you had to go to your parents?"
"I, I just wanted to…be…to be wanted."
"Love we will always want you."
"No, I'm just the ex-girlfriend."
"You didn't have to be."
"Yes I did. I needed time to think, I just wanted a two weeks. He couldn't even wait for that. Has he even been home? Did he stay with her, or did she stay with him here?" Harry turned around.
"I think you know."
"So they're here. Lovely."
"Grace, please understand, James is just frustrated."
"So he just screwed the first person he thought would tick me off the most?"
"No he-"
"Saw it as an opportunity, he knew I wouldn't do it with him so during our break he saw himself as a free man and has been having the time of his life."
"Grace you don't give him enough credit. He feels awful."
"But he's still seeing her?"
"That doesn't matter."
"THE HELL IT DOES!"
"Grace please calm down." Ginny said walking into the kitchen. She sat down opposite of Grace. "I think now is the time to talk to James, he sent that Daily girl home. I'm sorry to say the three of us were listening, but you need to talk this out." she reached for Grace's hand and gave it a squeeze before standing and leading Harry and Ron out of the kitchen. A few moments later James walked in, his hands were deep in his pockets and he wouldn't look at her as he sat down. No one spoke for a few minutes. James would randomly glace up at the door way or the clock before looking down at the table.
"Well…"
"That's a deep subject."
"Hehe yeah tis. Mm mum, I-I mean I wanted to talk to you."
"Sure you did."
"Grace this isn't easy I'm not good at apologizing. And I know this one is all my fault. I know you just wanted to think but Grace, I don't want to be without you. I need you, I know you don't believe me, but I honestly and truly need you."
"Is that so? Then why has Regina Daily been staying here?"
"I need someone, Grace. It's a horrible excuse. But I need contact. I hate staying at my parents but what else am I to do, all the essential are here except for my own 'significant other.' I'm going to get my own place soon."
"Why so your parents won't have to hear Regina when she comes over?"
"Grace, I know I messed up but I'm trying here."
"No you're not you're rambling about non-relevant issues."
"They are too relevant."
"So make your point James, if you don't I will go back and sign that contract."
"What's the matter with you? You'd give up your body and soul just to get your parents attention."
"Shut up James."
"Why should I? you don't need them, they are worthless, and yet you continue to crawl back to them offering up everything you have in hope they would except you. They aren't your family anymore Grace we are."
"No you're not." she cried.
"We can be." James stood up and walked around the table. He grabbed Grace under the arms and pulled her up so she was standing. "Grace nothing has changed. Regina Daily is now and will forever be a slut. And I love you with every ounce of my being, forever and ever. I don't want you to be mad at me. And for the most part this break did some good. These past two days I've been thinking. You're right I need to grow up. So I'll take my first step now. Grace Ares, will you marry me?"
Author's Note: I'm so sorry it took so long, school is murder, it's like a prison, and the homework is monstrous. Please forgive me for my Epic delay.