It had been close to a year since their wedding. Feli and Ludwig were now living in Venice, since it was the city where Feli had decided to finish her art studies, and she was now working there as an illustrator. Ludwig was still in Auror training, and though he still worked in England, he had accepted to move to Italy. Things had been going very well for them. Ludwig's father had never come to see her, but her own family had been surprisingly understanding of her marriage (maybe because she was still living in Italy). The war was nearly over, but Feli still worked as a partisan, though now she didn't have much to do, since anyone could see that the Fascist party had no real power over Italy anymore.

However, Feli had just found out something that could make or break her marriage. Namely, that she was pregnant. She had gone to the doctor thinking that she had the flu, but instead she had discovered that she was going to be a mother by September.

She walked home slowly. Oh God. That wasn't a good time to be having a kid. The war had not ended yet, and she had just been hired. And Ludwig was still in training.

Feli gave a shaky sigh and buried her hands in her coat's pockets.

Ludwig.

What would he say? They had never talked about having children. She had no idea what he thought of babies and the like. Surely he would not take it nicely. He was the kind of guy that didn't like unplanned things, things that could disrupt his schedule (like the true German he was, if she might add). And this baby was very much unplanned and very much a disruption to anyone's schedule.

She finally reached her house, and as soon as she got in, she crashed on the couch.

Oh, dear God. She's have to tell grandpa and Lovi too sooner or later. What would they say? Feli had no idea. Though maybe grandpa would be happy, since she was the only source of future grand-children, seeing that Lovi had gone off to Spain to live with Antonio (Feli was very thankful about Floo Powder, because she could keep seeing Lovi and grandpa anytime she wished, even if grandpa was in Tuscany and Lovino in Seville).

But still, Ludwig. Feli felt a twinge of fear about telling him. He would surely be disappointed. He would tell her that he was still a Trainee, that they were not yet making enough money, and that she must leave her job, or how was she going to take care of a child that would need her for everything?

She felt tears prickling her eyes, and she closed them. Oh dear God. How was she going to tell Ludwig?

And besides... would her child be a wizard, or a witch? Would he or she ever think bad of Feli for being a Muggle?

Strangely, that thought alone was enough to bring out the tears that she had been holding back. If her own child was ever going to be ashamed of her, she wouldn't know what to do.

Feli hugged one of the cushions of the sofa close to her chest. Damn. What was going to happen? She really had no idea. She didn't know how to break the news to Ludwig. Just how would he react?

Ludwig came home to find Feli asleep on the couch. He frowned and kneeled beside her. She looked like she had been crying...

He suddenly felt uneasy. Why would she cry? What could have happened to make his cheerful Feli so upset? He wondered for a moment if he should wake her up, but in the end, he decided against it. But since he didn't want her to get a stiff neck by sleeping on the couch, he gently picked her up in his arms and brought her to their bed. At least there she would be more comfortable. He would ask about her tears later.

Feli woke up, and immediately noticed that she had slept for at least two hours, judging by the alarm clock on the bedside table. She shot upright. Oh man, if it really was six, then Ludwig had come home! And he had moved her to the bed! She hastily got up and looked at herself in the mirror. She cursed when she saw the tear streaks on her face. Shit, Ludwig must have noticed that! Oh God, how was she going to justify it? There was nothing tear-worthy in her life at the moment! For a second, Feli considered not coming out of the bedroom. But then she realized that sooner or later, she'd have to talk to him.

Ludwig was making dinner when he felt Feli sneak up behind him and hug him from behind, wrapping her arms around his stomach. He smiled, but didn't turn around. He figured Feli might want some space.

"Hey, Feli. Glad to see you're up."

Feli mumbled "Yeah, ve..." in his back.

"So? What's the matter?"

Feli paused for a moment. She tightened her grip around his middle and said "Ve, do you... you know... love me?"

Ludwig stopped dead. What was Feli going on about? He turned around in her hug without breaking it to get a good look at Feli's eyes. But he couldn't, since she had buried her face in his chest.

"Feli? Of course I do. You should know. Why do you ask?"

Her voice came muffled. "No, ve, I mean, do you really love me? Come what may, will you stay with me?"

Ludwig raveled his arms around her waist. "I thought it was obvious."

Feli grabbed a fistful of his shirt. "Even if I... ve, if I..."

Ludwig started to worry. What was she so worried about? What had she done?

"Feli, is there something you have to tell me?"

He felt her grip tighten around him. "... yes, ve. There's something... something I discovered..."

Ludwig didn't really know what to think. "Something what?"

Feli swallowed thickly. "I... don't be angry, okay, ve?"

Ludwig was really at a loss. "Angry? Why? What did you do?"

Feli didn't seem to let it go. "Ve, just promise me you won't be angry. Please."

Ludwig swallowed in turn. Oh Merlin. What was going on? "Uhm, I won't get angry. I promise. Now, what is it? Is it really bad?"

Feli let out a sob. "I... I'm sorry, ve, I didn't mean it..."

Ludwig was starting to get really confused. "Look, just tell me. I won't get angry, really. Whatever it is, we can work it out, I'm sure."

Feli hugged him even tighter. "I... ve, I'm having a baby."

The world seemed to stop for Ludwig. He looked at Feli, who was still huddled up in his chest, as if he saw her for the very first time. "You what? !"

Feli seemed to cringe under his words. "I... ve, that's it. I... I'm sorry, ve, but I didn't do it on purpose, I swear, I..."

Ludwig's eyes were as wide as saucers. "You... you... are you sure! ?"

Feli cringed again. "... yes, ve. I went to the doctor. He says I'm... ve, two months along..."

Ludwig suddenly felt all warm and fuzzy inside. Feli was pregnant! They were going to have a baby! He was going to be a father! "... but... Feli, this is wonderful!"

Feli sounded on the verge of tears when she said "... ve?"

Ludwig kept hugging her, but he put one hand under her chin, so that he was looking at her in the eyes.

Feli had rarely seen such a dazed, love-struck smile on his face. "This... this is so cool! A baby, Feli!

A little one! It's going to be so awesome, you'll see, oh my God, I have to start making the nursery, and think of a name, and adjust my weekly schedule, and..."

But he couldn't go on. Feli interrupted him with a giddy, relieved laugh. "Really, ve? You're happy? I thought you'd wouldn't, ve! I thought you didn't like unplanned things..."

Ludwig's dazed smile didn't falter. "I know, but this is special! And besides, it will take seven months for the baby to be born, right? It means seven months to prepare for it! I have all the time to make sure that we're prepared by the time it's born! Oh God! Feli, I had no idea... I..."

But Feli was just too happy, and decided to show it by placing a passionate, fiery kiss on Ludwig's smiling lips.

3/15/1944

Dear father,

I hope you will read this letter, because it's very important. I have big news for you.

I know that you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore, since you don't answer my letters, and you didn't even come to my wedding. But that was a year ago, and I really hope that you had some time to think the matter over, and maybe you have started to think that having married Feli is not an act of high treason.

But now, things changed. Feli is pregnant. The baby is going to be born in late August, or early September. I don't know how you'll take this, but you have to know that I'm very happy about it, and Feli is too. Gilbert and Elizaveta have come to see us already, and they both do like Feli. And her whole family have already come over to visit too, and they don't care about me being a wizard. They don't really like me, but they think that Feli's happiness is more important than my blood status. If they could get over it, then I don't see why you shouldn't. I would be very happy if you decided to show up and visit us. Maybe you won't now, but I hope that you'll come when the baby is born. I'd really like for my child to get to know his grandfather. You and Feli's grandpa are the only ones it has. It'll also have two uncles and an aunt (Elizaveta made that very clear), and they're all very happy about it. You should be too.

Your son,

Ludwig.

I just can't resist giving these two a baby! Sigh... anyway, it ain't over yet, this is yet another connecting chapter! Sorry for the long wait, but don't worry, I'll keep updating until it's over. So. If you liked, drop a review!