"Alright, Mother. Do you want to tell me what all of that was about at the dress shop?" Gwen asked as soon as the two parted from the remainder of the bridal party, "Are you just trying to embarrass me so that I'll put it off or something?"
"No, of course not. I don't know what would make you think such a thing."
Gwen rolled her eyes as the two apparated back to her apartment. Declan had not yet gotten back from tux shopping so this was her opportunity, "Mother, I'm young, not stupid. Will you tell me what's going on?"
"I know you're pregnant, Gwen." Hermione admitted, "I wish you would have just told me and your father instead of cooking up this scheme to get this wedding done and over with. You have to know that we would've understood-"
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," Gwen snapped, crossing her arms over her chest, "That's what you think this is?" she chuckled angrily, "Mum, I'm not pregnant."
"What is it, then?" Hermione continued to question, "I know it's something. You know you can tell me things, Gwen. It doesn't matter how bad or embarrassing they are. You can tell me anything."
Gwen shook her head then, tears beginning to appear at the corners of her eyes, "It's between me and Declan, Mum. Please."
"Gwen, it wasn't even a year ago that you damn near broke up with him because he wanted to get married and you didn't and now overnight...I'm sure you get how strange this seems from our point of view. What is happening that is making you cry over this boy?"
"He's not just some boy, Mum. He's going to be my husband. That's what matters now. You'll understand soon enough. You will. I promise." she murmured, wiping away her tears as she did.
"For God's sake, Gwen. Nothing can be so bad that you can't just tell me. If he's not dying and you're not-"
Gwen's eyes shot up to her mother and then quickly back down to her feet. It took Hermione only one moment to put two and two together, "Oh, Gwen-"
"Mum, just...please. Don't." she murmured, her voice cracking, defeated.
Hermione had to take a seat then. She couldn't believe what she was having to rap her head around, "Does his family-"
"No, they don't know. Nobody knows. Mum, we just lost Gran. We both knew that you and Dad were still mourning and we didn't want to worry you with it until it was necessary. We just wanted to have one good thing...the wedding...before things went South again." she sighed, "Please don't tell anyone."
"Seamus deserves to know, Gwen. I can't just keep this to myself."
"Mother, I am begging you. Please don't tell anyone. Let us have this one thing. Let us be married and happy for a few weeks. Then we'll tell everyone." Gwen insisted, "Please. This is what we both want."
"Gwen, I don't think."
"He's got cancer, Mum." she snapped, "I've been going with him to his chemotherapy in London. They say he could be fine for years. There's no need to scare everyone, especially so soon after-"
"Quit saying that, Gwen. There's no reason why you two should have to go through this alone. Cancer is hard on a person. He's going to need you more than he ever has before...every single day. Is that something you're ready for."
"One time I talked to Dad about what love was like." she murmured, wiping away a stray tear, "It was right after I started getting the feeling that Declan was going to propose. And he said that love was the feeling you get...the knowing...that you have to be with that person. The knowing that you would do anything for them...anything to be by their side."
"Your father said that?" Hermione asked, seeminly stunned, "And that's...how you feel about Declan?"
"That's how I feel about Declan." she nodded, "I'm going to be with him through this. And if he wants us to get married before he gets too sick...or if he wants to keep his this a secret...then that's what I'm going to do."
It was only then that her flood of tears came, "Here, here." Hermione sighed, pulling her daughter into a tight hug on the couch, "I'm proud of you, Gwennie." she murmured, pressing a kiss to her daughter's temple, "It's alright."
There was a crack out in the hallway then, signaling that the boys had arrived back from their own shopping trip. Gwen frantically wiped at her tears once again as Hermione shook her head and pulled out her wand, "I've got this." she said, giving her wand a quick wave which caused a sappy movie to materialize on the screen in front of them.
"How the hell did you all get back here before we did?" Declan chuckled.
"What the hell are you two watching?" Fred questioned, turning towards the TV to take in the kissing in the rain sequence that had both Gwen and Hermione in tears, "And...why?"
"Shhh...it's getting good." Hermione insisted.
Fred shook his head then, rolling his eyes, "Back to mine for a drink, lads?" he asked, turning towards he other men.
"Good for me." Declan nodded, clearly wanting to take the opportunity to impress his future father-in-law, "I'll be back by dinner, Gwen."
"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here." she grumbled, waving a dismissive hand in his direction. After hearing another pop signaling that the boys had gone, Gwen slumped back into the couch, letting out a heavy sigh, "Thank you for the save." she muttered.
"That's what I'm here for, Baby."
