A/N: As promised, here's my update on Monday night, even earlier then I thought I'd have it for you. And even better I added more to it then I had planned too. You can blame my sunburn which forced me to stay inside instead of being out fishing and what not like I usually do during the days at my camp. Stupid sun!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything familiar from the Harry Potter series.
Chapter 21: Baby
Natty's POV
"Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!" Ginny kept repeating. This was is it. We were on our way to the Hospital. She was having her baby.
We had been hanging around the house with the girls when it happened. As it would figure of course, the guys had all been out. They all got together to go play cards at Keith's. Boys will be boys. We were just sitting around talking when out of no where her face contorted and she was hollering out demands. "Get my bag!" "Find me my phone!" "Somebody go start their bloody car!" And those were only the milder ones.
Right now Brandi and me are in the back seat of Kallie's car, on either side of a freaking out Ginny. Cameron's turned in the passenger's seat trying to be encouraging, but not succeeding while Kallie weaves manically in and out of traffic.
"Tim's not answering! Natty try Eddie's phone!" Brandi hollers hitting redial.
"Oh shove it girls! I'll try Neville's phone until the bloody thing explodes if I have to!" Ginny says viciously, whipping out her cell phone and dialing Neville's number.
"Don't worry Ginny. I'm sure his phone won't explode; no matter how many times you call and he doesn't answer," Cameron tries to reassure her, only getting a slight growl in return.
"Not helping Cam!" I holler before whipping out my phone to call Eddie.
"We're here!" Kallie hollers jumping out of the car. "I've got a girl in labor here! We need some help!" she screams as loud as she can. Instantly a man runs up with a wheelchair and Brandi and I are helping Ginny in to it.
"Why aren't any of them answering?" Ginny asks angrily. "Two days before I'm due and not one bloke can be bothered to pick up his phone!"
"We'll get a hold of them Gin. I'll hunt them down myself if I have to," Brandi assures her.
"We shouldn't have to hunt them down! Neville should be here!"
"He'll be here Ginny. He'd never let you go through this alone. Remember this is Neville we're talking about," I reason with her. Honestly, the instant we get a hold of Neville he can just apparate here. It's actually quite lucky that he's the wizard in the group. If I were pregnant it would take Eddie all kinds of time to get here. Neville can just pop here in a matter of seconds.
Nev's POV
"…then she was like "I can't believe you'd trick me like that!" It was great." Keith grins, mimicking a shrieky female voice.
"How do you get yourself into these situations?" I ask with a shake of my head.
"The ladies just flock to me," he says arrogantly.
"I'm sure," Chris rolls his eyes.
"Just because you've got no skills with the female population doesn't mean you have to be jealous Chris," Keith says in a superior tone.
"I can assure you I'm far from jealous and far from skill-less."
"I'll believe that when I see it," Keith scoffs. "When was the last time you were even with a girl?"
"Guys! We're here to play cards, not bicker," Eddie cuts in.
"Thank you!" Tim says gratefully. "The last thing I want to hear is them discussing their "accomplishments". Or Keith anyway. I know Chris isn't one to boast about girls."
"Can we just get back to the game?" I ask. "I've got a very pregnant girlfriend back home and I'm quite sure she'd not like me out finishing this same game all night."
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah," Keith says. "When's she due again anyway?"
"Two days."
"Honestly man, two days and you'll be a dad."
"Two days," I repeat with a grin.
"Do you think he'll come on that day?" Chris asks.
"Who?"
"The baby of course. Sometimes they come early or late," Chris explains. "I know my youngest niece came a week early. Totally unexpected," he pauses before laughing lightly. "Neil, that's my oldest sister's husband, had been about an hour out of town and got stuck in traffic on the way back. She was a wreck. Kept going on about how he'd miss his daughter's birth and the things she'd do to him if he did. Luckily he made it on time."
"I never even thought of that," I say in shock. Oh Merlin! What if she's already had the baby today and I've missed it? What if I've missed my son's birth? I quickly reach for my pocket to make sure my phones on ring and find nothing inside. "Where's my cell phone?" I ask in a slight panic.
"Calm down mate," Eddie says. "We left them in the kitchen when we were getting snacks." I jump from my chair and race to the kitchen, the others following me with amused looks. They obviously knew why I was freaking out. Sure enough all five cell phones were on the counter, three of which were vibrating in circles fiercely.
"Oh Merlin!" I say rushing forward, Eddie and Tim behind me to answer their phones. "Hello?" I answer.
"Where have you been?" come's Ginny's screaming voice. "Never mind that! Get to the Hospital now!" she demands before hanging up the phone.
I look over to the others and see Eddie and Tim staring at me wide eyed. They must have gotten similar phone calls.
"Go Neville! We'll meet you there," Eddie says snapping me out of my shocked state and shoving me from the room. I quickly exit Keith's house and run to the side before turning and disapparating to an alley near the Hospital.
"Can I help you sir?" asks the nurse behind the nearest desk.
"My girlfriend, she's having a baby, our baby," I rush out.
"Fifth floor and someone up there can give you a room number," she says quickly but politely.
"Thank you," I call running towards the elevator. I jump out when the doors to the fifth floor open and beeline for the receptionist desk. "Where's Ginny Weasley?"
"Follow that hall, last door on the left," she says politely pointing down the right hallway.
"Thank you," I call again as I take off. Out side of the room I find Cameron. "What's going on?"
"Oh Neville! Thank goodness you're here! We were so worried. Go in, go in." I quickly oblige.
"Oh love! You made it."
"Of course I made it. I'd never miss this."
"Alright girls out. Let's leave them be," Natty says ushering Kallie and Brandi towards the door. "Good luck Neville," she whispers as she walks past me.
"I'm so sorry I hadn't answered sooner baby girl. I didn't have my phone on me," I say kissing her forehead.
"You're here now and that'll have to do."
"Have you seen the doctor? What's going on?"
"Yes I saw the doctor. And I'm having a baby Neville."
"Ha. Ha. I know you're having a baby. What'd the doctor say though?"
"My contractions are coming surprisingly close together and at this rate we'll have our son in less then two hours."
"Surprisingly close? Is that a problem?"
"They might think so, but it's the magic in me love. Births for a witch are much faster than for a Muggle."
Gin's POV
"My mother is a crazy woman to have done that seven times," I say after the baby's delivered and being cleaned up. That had to be one of the most exhausting and painful events of my life. And oddly, I can't wait to do it again.
"You did wonderful though baby girl," Neville says kissing my forehead. "We have a son now. Can you believe it?"
"I don't think I can," I respond. Just then the nurse came back in with the baby, wrapped in a light blue blanket.
"You want to hold him first mom?" I nod and she places him gently in my arms.
"My little boy," I whisper and smile down at him. With watery eyes and a wide grin I look up to Neville and gesture him closer. I keep my eyes trained on his face to see his reaction. Once his eyes lay on our baby's face he smiled a sappy smile and, just like I had, whispered "He's my little boy."
"Our little boy Neville. He's our little boy." And that he certainly was. He had Neville's light brown hair and mostly all of my facial features. We admired him for a few minutes before there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Neville says softly.
"Up for visitors?" Natty asks peeking in the door.
"Sure Nat, you can all come on in," I smile. I know they've been waiting probably impatiently in the waiting room this whole time.
"Oh he's so handsome you guys," Natty says walking closer, the others following close behind.
"Thanks, he looks just like me," I joke in a conceited manner.
"Well it's good to know child birth hasn't changed our Ginny," Brandi laughs.
"What's his name?" Chris asks. I think being the only one with babies in the family made him a real softy for babies.
"Vincent," Neville smiles. "Vincent Michael Longbottom."
"That sounds lovely," Eddie comments.
"How are you feeling now Ginny?"
"Light," I answer automatically, receiving laughs.
"Well that would make sense. You did just lose quite a bit of weight," Keith laughs.
"Are you saying I was fat?" I ask sharply.
"No!" he says quickly.
"You better not have been." Keith really is too much for me to handle sometimes. He speaks with out thinking through his words and often says the wrong things.
"What was it like Gin?" Kallie asks curiously.
"It was bloody painful," I complain before smiling. "And I can't wait to do it again after seeing Vincent."
"Well you look exhausted Ginny so we'll let you get your rest for now," Natty says ushering the others from the room.
"You know Nev," I say once they're gone, "We've worked really hard since we left to have a perfect life. And don't get me wrong, I've loved it so far, but now, with Vincent, it feels…perfect. Like we're finally achieving what we've been working for. And six months from now we'll be married and things really will be perfect."
"I know baby girl. This is the life I've always dreamed of us having. I've got brilliant friends, a beautiful child, a job I like, though I do miss my Herbology sometimes, and the best part, you. Things are coming along nicely."
Fred's POV
Gran, Fred, George and Hermione,
We're writing to tell you we've welcomed Vincent Michael Longbottom in to the world two days earlier than he was expected. He's a gorgeous baby. He's got my hair and Ginny's face. His birth was the single best day of my life. I'm overjoyed to have a son.
I know you'll each be dying to see him, but really, six months isn't too long. Of course, we'll have pictures to send along within the next few letters. Since we haven't replied to your last letter yet we'd like to thank you for the latest clothes you've sent along for him. His dresser is almost full with stuff already.
Thank you and we can't wait until you can come see him in six months, or for the wedding of course.
Neville and Ginny
After reading the letter I quickly look at the calender to check the date. February 28th. He was due to come this day, so two days before would make his birthday February 26th.
"It's absolutely not fair that we have to wait six bloody months," George grumbled on my left.
"Well really, it's only five and a half," Hermione said in a way I'm sure was meant to be reassuring.
"I don't know about you lot, but I'm going to be going to visit sooner," Gran said determinedly.
"How though Gran? If we want to be there for the wedding we can't very well go back now," George asked hopefully.
"Well you've got business over there. Go to the ministry, get a portkey that can take us there and back in the same day and take us with you. We can spend the day there and come back home. No one even needs to know we were all gone."
"Ya know," I say with a grin, "that just might be the most brilliant idea I've heard Gran!"
"Yeah! Now we can go see little Vincent."
"Well get to the Ministry then you fools," Gran says shooing us from our own flat. With out further encouragement we disappeared with a pop.
We quickly make our way to an empty lift and ride to the sixth floor where we know from numerous other visits that we'll find the Department of Magical Transportation. We rush out of the doors and excitedly stop in front of the area labeled Portkey Office.
"Wha' can I do for ya Weasley's this time 'round?" asks the familiar gruff voice of Mr. Collins, a man we've dealt with many times for portkeys.
"We need a portkey," George answers rather stupidly.
"Ya don't say," he says with humor in his voice.
"What my twit of a twin meant to say was we'd like a portkey to America that can have us back here tonight as well," I explain smoothly.
"Back to 'merica? How'd business go las' time?"
"It went well, but that's what we've got to go back for. We've just received an owl and apparently there've been a few problems with our products. So one back to Daytona would be brilliant."
"Well I best let yas be on yer way then. Said ya wanted one ta bring ya back today aye?"
"Yes sir."
"Don't give me tha' sir crap."
"Sorry Mr. Collins. It's drilled in our brains," I say with a sheepish grin. Every single time we come here he's asking for us to call him Mr. Collins instead of sir. And every single time I can't remember for the life of me.
He disappeared behind his desk and came back a few moments later with a battered and torn old book. "Well 'ere ya go lads. Don't lose it now ya hear?"
"Would we do something as silly as lose it?" I ask in a mock-offended tone.
"Wouldn't be the firs' time," he laughs. We laugh along with him. We had gotten a portkey once to visit Charlie in Romania and ended up stranded there because we couldn't find our portkey to come home. Ah, good times.
"Well rest assured, we don't have a brother to crash with if we get stuck this time so we'll be extra careful," I respond seriously.
"Aye, ya better," he says handing over the book and waving us on our way. We quickly retrace our steps back to the lift and to the apparation area and are in our flat in record time.
"We've got one," George grins.
"For today," I say with a matching grin.
"What are we standing around for then? Let's go," Hermione says more excitedly then I've seen her in a long time. With out the need of further encouragement we all gather around the book and, whispering the needed activation spell, are off to Daytona, Florida to see my first nephew.
We appear in a designated area in the American wizarding community and I quickly pocket the book for safe keeping. Sharing a look with the others we simultaneously turn and reappear in Ginny's fenced in yard. We quickly and quietly back our way to the front door and are banging away.
"I'm coming! You can stop with the knocking!" comes a call from inside, seemingly from Natty. I foolishly take my hand from the door and place it in my pocket, much to the other's amusement. "Fred!" she hollers opening the door and pulling me into a hug. "What are you all doing here already?" she asks making sure to hug everyone. "You're not supposed to show up for six bloody months!"
"We couldn't wait that long! I want to see my nephew," I answer excitedly, peering in the door around her head as if the baby would simply be sitting there.
"You'll have to go to the Hospital then."
"Why what's wrong? Did something happen?" George asks frantically.
"No silly," Hermione answers. "Ginny's probably just getting her rest still and the baby won't come home until she does."
"Well let's get going then," Gran says ushering us inside the house. "Is Eddie home dear?"
"Oh yeah hold on. EDDIE!" she hollers.
"What's up doll?" he asks exiting the bedroom in sweat pants and no shirt. I take in Natty's appearance for the first time and notice she's only in an over-sized t-shirt.
"Interrupting something are we?" I ask with a raised eyebrow. They both blush and we all burst out laughing.
"Oh shove it Fred! We've got the house to ourselves for a few more days before we're housing a baby. Excuse us for making good use of it," Natty retorts.
"Natalie!" Eddie says with clear embarrassment.
"Oh we're all grown ups here Eddie. Anyway, they came to see Vincent. Would you like to go to the Hospital with us?" He nods and they retreat to their room, returning once fully clothed.
"Alright Eddie you can come with me, Natty I'm sure Hermione would be happy to take you."
"Can't we just drive?" Eddie groans.
"Nope, too slow," I answer. "Now hold on tight." I disapparate for the third time this morning and release a heavily breathing Eddie. I conjure him a glass of water while we wait for the others. Once all are present, we're off to find Ginny, Neville and Vincent.
"Can we come in?" Natty asks knocking on a door which I presume must be Ginny's.
"Sure thing," I hear Neville say.
"I've got some surprise visitors for you," Natty says with a grin in her voice.
"Oh? Who?" Ginny asks curiously.
Instead of answering she just sticks her hand out in the hall and gestures us inside. With no more needed encouragement we rush into the room, eyes searching out a baby and locating him in Neville's arms.
"What are you guys doing here already?" Ginny asks.
"Just got your letter today. Couldn't wait," Hermione says looking at the little bundle in Neville's arms.
"So Vincent Longbottom eh?" I ask peering down at him.
"Would you like to hold him?" Neville asks. I nod and am soon holding my first nephew. Never have I been so happy to have choosen Hermione's side of the mini war taking place in our family. If I had had to miss this I would have never forgiven myself. Vincent blinks his eyes sleepily and snuggles closer to the warmth of my chest.
"He's lovely," I say with emotion in my voice. It's rare for me to get emotional and I'm thankful no one comments on it.
"Don't forget to pass him along," Gran says after several minutes. Grudgingly I approach her and place her great grandson in her arms.
"How've you been feeling Ginny?" I ask going to kiss her cheek now that I'm baby-less.
"Brilliant Fred. Tired, but brilliant," she smiles.
"How about you Neville?" I ask. "You handling all this okay?"
"I'm handling it wonderfully. I've never been so happy in my life," he answers sincerely. I again thank myself for making the decision to believe in them. This is utterly worth being against the whole family.