Hey all! I know you're all desperately excited to read this, but if you'd be so kind, I'd like you all to take the time to read this A/N. I received a really nasty flame last chapter about how Harry and Ginny are OOC, and I would just like to make it EXTREMELY clear that I am FULLY aware that they are OOC(out of character, for novices like me who didn't know what that meant for the longest time). I'd like to remind everyone that this is fan FICTION and therefore they are not at all like the real characters in the book. This storyline never even happened in the book, for Merlin's sake! OK, so please remember when reviewing that this never happened and that I am not J.K. Rowling, I am a teenage writer. Please, no flames. If you don't like this, then don't read it, for Pete's sake! But don't leave me a flame, it only makes me feel bad and I will block you. There's enough hate in this world without you being mean to me as well. Thank you to all who did leave a wonderful review, I got 20 again! Thank you so much!

Disclaimer: As stated above, not Rowling, don't own anything.

Chapter 34: Home Again

Two Weeks Later

The two weeks Harry and I have agreed upon to wait until returning to my family actually really do fly by, much to my surprise. Lily and Connor have really adjusted to the idea of 'Daddy' and both have fallen head over heels for him. Connor actually let Harry hold him for an entire half hour two days ago!

I love watching Harry interact with the twins. He's such a natural with children. He handles them wonderfully, and they both love him. I regret my decision to hide them from him more every day, but he's not angry and so I try to forget about it and live in the moment with him and our twins.

On the morning of Friday, April 13th, 2000, the day I'm taking my twins back to my family, I wake up much the same way I did on Lily and Connor's first birthday, abruptly and with no idea what time it is or why I'm awake. I roll over and yawn, stretching, before grabbing the alarm clock. Good Godric, it's 6:30! I leap up and dress quickly, knowing Connor and Lily will be crying before long.

My prediction comes true in 15 minutes. I hear a soft whine, and then a full-out wail from the twins' room, and I turn on my heel and dash in. I've just made it to the door when Harry stumbles out from the guest room and Luna opens her door, too. God bless them.

"I've got them," I call softly, and Luna nods and shuts her door, but Harry follows me.

"I'll help, love, they're half mine," he says when I turn and look at him, raising an eyebrow. I give him a huge smile as I open the door.

"Thanks, sweetie." He barely has time for a smile when Lily and Connor see us.

"Momma, Momma, Momma!" Connor shrieks, bouncing up and down in his crib.

"Dada! Dada!" Lily calls. She's sitting rather than standing, but her little hands are reaching out for him. I glance at Harry and we both laugh.

"So, how about you attend to Lily?" he jokes. I swat him on the arm as I head to my son.

"That was only partially funny," I reprimand him. He waggles his eyebrows at me as he pulls Lily out of her crib.

"Oh...she's wet," he remarks, nose crinkling.

"So change her," I call over my shoulder, only half paying attention to him.

"Well...you see..." I turn around to see Harry standing at the changing table and looking very uncomfortable.

"What, Harry?"

"She...she's a girl..." I force myself not to laugh, but it's a close thing.

"I noticed. And?"

"Well..she's got...you know..." he blushes and looks down. I can't help it this time. I laugh so hard, tears run down my cheeks and I'm doubled over. Connor squirms himself free and runs around the room, screaming with pretend mirth. "What?" Harry demands, annoyed, as Luna walks in.

"What the devil is going on here?" she asks, rubbing her eyes. "I was trying to sleep...oof! Connor!" My son has launched himself into her legs, hugging her tightly.

"Wuna," he announces, giving her his cheeky grin. She scoops him up.

"Luna, can you take him downstairs? He should go back to sleep on the couch if you sit with him." I shoot her a look, and she catches on right away.

"Oh, of course. Come on, handsome, we've gotta go," she coos at my son before leaving, shutting the door behind her. I turn back to Harry.

"What?" he demands again, his cheeks reddening. "She does!"

"Harry..." I can't control myself and I start laughing again, only stopping when Lily fusses, wanting her diaper changed. "She's your daughter, love, it's fine. Besides, you've done much worse. The fact that she's here proves that," I point out. He turns an even darker shade of red, but manages to change Lily's diaper, with a little(oh, fine, a lot of) assistance from me. He looks pleased when he's done.

"I did it!"

"You did it," I agree, kissing him on the cheek. "Was it really that bad?"

"Well, no," he admits. "But it was awkward!"

"Harry, you get used to it. I've been changing Connor's diapers for over a year now, you know," I tease, and he bumps his shoulder with mine.

"Oh, shush. You have an unfair advantage," he retorts playfully, but I freeze. He's right. I do.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper. He stops about halfway down the stairs and turns.

"Ginny, love, I didn't mean it that way and you know it," he says in a much softer tone. "I've told you time and time and time again that all that matters to me is that we're back together again, as a family. Shh," he adds, seeing the tears escape my eyes, "don't cry, Lily's here." I give him a watery smile and pull myself back together after receiving a long, loving hug from him.

"Thanks, Harry."

"No problem, love. Any time," he whispers, giving me a soft, lingering kiss.

"Ew!" Lily yells suddenly, making both of us jump. I stare at her in wonder.

"What?" She doesn't answer.

"Did she say...ew?" Harry inquires, bewildered.

"I think she did," I respond slowly, staring at her in amazement. As I watch her, she yawns widely, and I snap back into what Harry calls 'Mommy Mode'.

"We need to get her downstairs, Harry. Come on." I take his hand and lead him into the living room, where Connor reaches out sleepily to us. Luna moves to an armchair, and Harry and I fall back asleep, Lily curled on my stomach and Connor on his.

When we reawaken to start the day, it's 8:15 and the twins are ready for breakfast the moment they get up. So Harry attempts to keep them happy while I make a quick breakfast of toast and fruit. We eat hurriedly, then rush upstairs to get changed. As we can't Apparate nor use the Floo Network because of Lily and Connor(I flat-out refused to take the Knight Bus after hearing about Bill, Fleur, and Victoire's experience), Harry rented and bewitched a Muggle car(No, it does not fly). It's travels about 3 times as fast as a normal car, so we should be able to make it to Ottery St. Catchpole in about 2 ½ hours. I was immensely grateful for that. If we'd used the normal Muggle transportation, it would have taken us nearly 11 hours. 11 hours, in a bus, with two young kids. Not happening.

When we finally head out, it's about 9:30. Yes, we had already packed, but it takes a lot to get a toddler ready to leave. And then Harry had to expand the car's trunk to fit all of our luggage. We decided Luna was coming with us, so that just added to the number of bags we were taking. So Harry used a quick Undetectable Extension Charm(something he claims he learned from Hermione) and everything fit easily after that, and we were able to leave soon after.

I twist around now to look at Connor and Lily. They're sitting in their little carseats, giggling and cooing, having the time of their lives looking out the window. Harry's driving, and Luna squeezed into the back with the twins(Expanding Charm, courtesy of yours truly). I turn back around to look at Harry. He's driving expertly through the town. I don't know how to drive, and I didn't think Harry did, either, but apparently he had to pass the test to pass Auror training.

"How do you do that?" I ask him once we're out in the open country roads.

"Do what?" he asks, looking startled.

"Drive! I have no idea how!"

"Oh, well, you learn to. Just like you learn to levitate something, or be a mom." He winks at me. "You get used to it."

"Oh. Well, if all goes well and we wind up living near the Burrow, you're going to have to teach me how to drive," I declare. He looks at me, shocked.

"Why?"

"Well, I figure it may be a good skill to have. Especially with kids...I mean, we can't walk everywhere."

"Good point," he mutters. "I will, if you want me to," he promises after a moment of thought.

"I do want you to. But not with Connor or Lily around. That could be dangerous," I shudder. He nods his head fervently in agreement.

"So we can get your mum to look after them and spend a day with just each other?" he asks, with a hint of mischief.

"I suppose so," I tease back.

"Good. I'll be looking forward to that." He winks at me, which causes me to flush. I know we won't get up to anything we shouldn't out there, but a snogging session or two may occur...

The hours pass much too quickly for my liking, and before I know it, we're pulling up a long, country lane that I know leads to the Burrow. Aside from Lily and Connor's cooing, the car is deadly quiet. I'm clutching the seat so hard I'm losing feeling in my hands, and Harry's face is white. Luna is looking from Harry to I, but she's not speaking either.

The sound of the car pulling up the driveway brings the family outside onto the front lawn. The whole family. They must have been gathered here for some reason, because they're all here. Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Charlie, Fiona, Percy, George, Angelina, Skylar, Ron, Hermione, Mum, and Dad. All watching. Oh, god. Everything starts to spin. I practice breathing deeply. I will not faint. I will not faint. I will not faint. I will not...who's that? Standing next to Percy? Did he get a...no, no it can't be. No one in their right mind would date Percy(Penelope Clearwater does not count). But there she is, small and petite, her blond hair shining in the sun. I can see her gray eyes from here.

"Ginny." Harry's voice is low, but I hear him. I don't turn to look at him, just nod to show I'm listening. "Breathe." I inhale, then exhale. "OK. Do you want to get out first, or should I?"

"I should. But...I've sort of...lost my ability to move," I confess.

"Me, too."

"I thought it would only be Mum and Dad," I whisper, starting to panic now. "Why are they all here?"

"Ginny! Calm down. How about you and Harry get out of the car, greet the family, and then come back for the twins? I'll wait in here. Go. No arguing." Luna has a plan figured out so fast that I don't hesitate. I tell myself to get a grip and open the door of the car. Harry does the same. My family is still standing in a line, watching us. I wave.

"Hey, everybody," I call. For a moment, there's an extremely loud silence. I've never heard silence quite this loud. Then-

"GINNY! Oh, my baby girl!" And Mum runs up to meet us, grabbing me in a bone-crushing hug. Hermione is right behind her. As Mum lets go and blubbers over me, Hermione shoots me a look that I understand to mean, What the hell happened? I shake my head imperceptibly as Mum hugs me again and shoot her a look saying, Help me out here. I'll explain later. She nods just as everybody else arrives.

"Ginny!" Bill yells, grabbing me in a hug so fierce I gasp for breath. Fleur kisses each of my cheeks, and 11 month old Victoire smiles at me. Charlie and Fiona hug and kiss me at about the same time, and then George runs up and plants a huge kiss on me.

"Hey, little sis!" he announces. "Good to see ya again!" I'm laughing, and I don't even know why. Angelina whacks him on the arm.

"George! Don't be so in her face! Good to see you, Ginny," she adds to me, smiling. Skylar reaches her arms out.

"Apple!" she shrieks. I burst out laughing.

"What?"

"Apple," George replies. "It's her new thing to say. And she doesn't really know your name, so I guess you are now 'Apple' instead of Ginny."

"Ha, ha," I retort before Ron hugs me.

"Hey, Gin! What's up?" I stiffen and glance at Harry, who's also being hugged. He heard Ron, too. Should I take this opening? He shrugs, but I know if I don't tell them now, then I'll never be able to.

"More than you know," I answer, loud enough for everyone to hear me. And I get just the response I wanted. They all turn and face me.

"Whadda ya mean, Ginny?" Charlie asks in confusion. I take a deep breath and feel Harry move to stand beside me. I'm not alone. We're in this together. They aren't just my children anymore. They're Harry and I's children. Our children.

"Well..." I stammer, not sure how to say this. "I...I think it might be better if I showed you what I mean." This is it. No turning back. I meet Harry's eyes and ask him a silent question. Lily or Connor first? He looks back at me, and the message is clear. Both.

"What is going on, Ginny?" Bill asks in frustration. I simply open the door of the car and lean in to unbuckle Connor. I stand up, still holding him, and turn around, handing him to Harry. I see the shock on their faces but I lean right back into the car and resurface with Lily.

"This," I announce in a proud but slightly shaky voice, "Is my son, Connor James, and this is my daughter, Lily Rose." Everyone looks at me, and I feel compelled to state their surname as well. "Connor James and Lily Rose...Potter," I finish.

Hee hee. Sorry for the major cliffy, but I was having big issues writing the reactions and I wanted to give you something. So I hope you enjoy and I'll work hard to get the reactions perfect! Please leave a review! A nice one!