Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing, and a shout out to sweetsnake for the blanket idea - brilliant! I don't know why this chapter was mysteriously deleted from the order (not THAT order... lol) so I'm trying to upload again. Hopefully, this chapter will stay.

Sarah leaned back onto her pillows as Severus pulled the blankets up to her. She was shivering a little, and he wanted to make sure that she kept herself quite warm. He lay beside her on top of the blankets and placed his arm over her. She smiled and turned her head to face him.

"Hello, Daddy."

He smiled.

"Hello, Mummy."

"I can't believe we're parents, Severus."

He kissed her forehead.

"Believe it, my dear."

His voice got very quiet as he spoke to her.

"I can't believe what you just went through, Sarah."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"I'd do it all again, you know, in a heartbeat."

He kissed her, his only way of being able to express his emotion. After a moment, their floo lit up and in walked Poppy, Minerva and Albus.

"I hope you both don't mind, but I had a couple of visitors while I was examining your little one."

Sarah attempted to sit up in bed, and Severus helped her by placing all their pillows behind her.

"I wish I looked a little more presentable, Headmaster."

He spoke to her with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Sarah, please. In moments like this if you don't call me Albus, I'll be quite uncomfortable."

She smiled.

"As you wish, Albus. Minerva, it's so good to see you."

She came right over to Sarah and gave her a hug.

"Congratulations to you both. I hope you don't mind but I brought a camera to take a few pictures. You both will be busy over the next few days getting used to this little one's schedules and I wanted to make sure that you had a few pictures to keep."

"One request, Minerva. Could someone use a glamour on me before you take those because I don't want to look anywhere near as exhausted as I feel."

The ladies smiled at her and Minerva, being the Transfiguration Professor, held out her wand and placed a glamour charm on Sarah. She looked beautiful, not at all as though she had just given birth, but very naturally lovely.

"So who gets the pleasure of the first cuddle?"

"Daddy should I think."

Poppy walked around the bed and placed the newborn infant in Severus' arms.

"Here you go, Daddy. Mind her head."

He nodded his head and focused all his attention on his daughter. She was so tiny, smaller than he had ever thought she would be.

"She weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces, and she was 22 inches long from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She's a big girl."

Sarah rested her head on Severus' shoulder and placed her hand gently on her daughter's stomach.

"Her father's quite tall, so that doesn't surprise me at all."

Minerva started snapping pictures of them as they talked and smiled. Albus stood at the end of the bed watching the family in front of him. He thought of a very important question.

"Have you decided on a name?"

Sarah nodded her head.

"I had come up with a couple of names while I was pregnant. If the baby was a boy his name would have been Severus."

"I don't know about that, Sarah."

"What? It's a wonderful name, and I would love to have a little Severus Snape Jr. running around the house, that would be brilliant. There's still lots of time for that though."

Severus just shook his head and continued looking down at his child.

"I have a name picked out, but we haven't confirmed anything yet."

Albus commented first.

"So, what are your choices for this little one?"

Sarah looked up at Severus with a tentative expression on her face. She whispered softly to him.

"I'd like to name her Eileen."

Severus looked at her immediately, with a tear starting to form in his eyes.

"Sarah."

She nodded her head.

"Your mother would have been so proud, Severus. I can't think of a better way to honor your mother than this."

"Eileen Bronwyn."

"Why Mummy's name?"

"Honor both our mothers."

Sarah smiled.

"That's wonderful."

"So, her name will be Eileen Bronwyn Elizabeth Snape."

Sarah looked up at him curiously.

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes. It's your middle name and if we're honoring mothers…"

She leaned in and kissed him gently, Minerva snapping a picture of this tender moment when their daughter was named.

"Beautiful."

Sarah looked over at Albus.

"So, in answer to your question, her name is officially Eileen Bronwyn Elizabeth Snape."

Albus smiled and the sparkle was in his eyes.

"Excellent! Our students will want to know the details when they notice that their Potions Master is absent from classes for a couple of weeks."

"Headmaster?"

"Yes, you are for all intents and purposes living here at Hogwarts. However, I want you to take a couple of weeks and bond with your ladies, Severus."

He nodded his head as he knew the Headmaster was absolutely right – there was no where else that he would want to be over the next few weeks.

"Thank you."

"Well, we'll let you three settle in for the night. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let us know, yes?"

Sarah and Severus nodded their heads as Poppy, Minerva and Albus headed to the floo and went to their separate quarters. Sarah closed her eyes, rested her head on her husband's shoulder, and sighed.

"Your thoughts?"

"I just can't believe that she's finally here, Severus."

"I know. She's beautiful."

"I know. She looks like her father."

He smiled.

"More like you, actually, but she is both of us."

"We should put her to bed, Severus. Help me walk over with you?"

"Of course."

He got out of bed and she took his arm with one hand to steady her. They slowly walked to the nursery, which had previously been a small closet and Minerva had transfigured into a room for their needs. She looked on as he carefully put the tiny baby down, and they watched her sleeping soundly in her bassinette. She leaned against the railing and gently pulled the dark green blanket over the sleeping form, resting her hand on her chest. She whispered so softly, Severus almost didn't hear her.

"She really is beautiful, isn't she?"

He nodded his head.

"I told you, just like her mother."

After watching her sleep soundly for a few moments, he placed a kiss on the tip of his finger, and rested it on his daughter's cheek.

"Let's get you to sleep, Mummy. I dare say you'll be up in a few hours to feed her."

She nodded as Severus backed away and walked her to bed, tucking her in to ensure she got her much needed rest.

"Our lives are so very different now, Severus."

"I know, but it's so much better."

She smiled, rested her head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.

One week had passed. Severus had not felt comfortable leaving the side of either of his ladies, and had kept to their quarters for the majority of that time. Sarah didn't want to be seen by anyone really, she still felt that she was not 'presentable' enough to be visiting. The Headmaster had assigned duties to one of his favorite House Elves, and had him take care of every need that the Snape's had – from washing up their clothes to preparing their meals, to making sure that the rooms were at the perfect temperature for a sleeping baby.

Bronwyn had, of course, paid a visit to them at Hogwarts. Although she couldn't stay overnight because there was no room to accomodate her, she did obtain permission from Albus to floo in whenever it was convenient for everyone, and she did so at least three times during the week. Sarah was so glad to see her mother, and Severus learned a great deal from his mother-in-law. He learned how to properly change nappies, how to burp his daughter (and on his first try she let out a burp that made him proud), and most importantly, how to help Sarah. Bronwyn told him once, when she was resting on the sofa, that she would feel quite overwhelmed by everything, but that it was very normal for a new mother to get this way. Severus made certain to pay extra attention to her. He would rub her shoulders while she fed Eileen, rub her feet for her when she was reading on the couch, and at random moments throughout the day he would kiss her full on the lips and remind her of how much she was loved. She knew he was doing this to keep her happy, and she loved him for it.

Narcissa Malfoy had come alone for a quick visit over the week as Lucious wasn't able to get away from work. She had brought one of the gifts that she was planning to save for her baby shower, but she just couldn't wait. It was a lovely dark green blanket with silver lining. On the green side of it on each corner there was a two inch pink snake (with silver for the eyes) and in the middle was a very large pink snake which had squirmed into the shape of an S. She had stated that though she was certain that Eileen would uphold the family traditions and be sorted into Slytherin when her time to attend Hogwarts came about, she wanted to keep the house colors in the blanket – but remind everyone that there was a little girl being held in it. The big S? Well, that was just obvious. S for Snape, and of course, S for Slytherin. Sarah was truly humbled by the gift, and gave Narcissa her thanks.

It was almost lunch time and Severus was watching the baby so Sarah could have a shower. Eileen had just had her lunch, so she was content to hang out with her Daddy. He had conjured a little stool in the bathroom for Sarah – just in case she felt she might be a little dizzy, and she would be able to have her shower and sit without fear of being injured. Sarah stepped out, dried off and wrapped herself in the fluffy green robe she had received for a Christmas present. It was truly one of her favorite things to put on, it was so cozy and warm and to her, it felt as though Severus was giving her a hug every time she put it on. She stepped out of the room and smiled at what she saw. Severus was sitting in the rocking chair holding his daughter in his arms. His right pinkie finger was being held in a death grip by her, and he was smiling at her and she at him. He wasn't saying anything, he was just looking at her with amazement. Sarah came up behind him and slowly slid her arms around him.

"Do I have any reason to be jealous?"

He nodded his head.

"I think you may have to share me. I'm completely taken with her."

Sarah smiled.

"As you should be."

She kissed him on the cheek and started to get dressed – into normal robes. Severus noticed this, and looked up at her.

"Sarah, what's going on?"

"I thought it might be nice if we had lunch in the Great Hall today."

"But what are we going to do with Eileen?"

Sarah shook her head as if that was the silliest question in the world.

"Well, I don't plan on leaving her here. She'll come with us."

"Oh. Ok."

Within a few minutes she had changed into her dark green robes, charmed her hair so the front part was up and her natural auburn waves flowed in the back. She came into the room and Severus immediately stood up and walked to her.

"You look stunning."

She blushed a little.

"Thanks. Could you ever wear any color besides black, Severus?"

"What's wrong with black?"

"Nothing, I just mean…"

"You're all the color in my life that I need, Mrs. Snape. Let's go."

He gave her a quick kiss as she held out her arms to take Eileen. He turned away from her, and she let out a laugh.

"Alright. Let me get her bag."

She put the bag with Eileen's things in it and they walked slowly up to the Great Hall. Apparently, lunch had already been served as there was no-one in the halls. This was a good thing for Severus as he wanted to make sure that their first trip through the halls of the school was a successful one. He was still afraid that he would drop her despite Sarah's words of assurance that he would do no such thing. They reached the doors of the Great Hall and they magically opened in front of them. As soon as they walked in, the room was silent. Albus stood up and spoke to everyone as Sarah, Severus and Eileen made their way to the Head Table where they normally sat during meals.

"Well, I see that our latest has decided to make an appearance. I know that many of you have been wondering where your Potions Master has been over the last week. Well, you needn't worry, he'll be returning to classes soon. May I make the introduction?"

She smiled and nodded her head as she put her hand on Severus' back as he carried their daughter up the center row to the Head Table.

"Certainly, Headmaster."

"Everyone, I would like to introduce Miss Eileen Bronwyn Elizabeth Snape to Hogwarts. Please join me in congratulating Professor and Madam Snape on the birth of their daughter."

He started to applaud, followed by the rest of the staff, and then the students. The noise got quite loud and Eileen was starting to stir. Sarah put her finger to her lips to try and get everyone to be a little more quiet, and they did – but expressed their congratulations just the same. Albus walked to them and greeted them.

"May I have the pleasure?"

Severus handed his daughter to him with a concerned eye.

"Don't worry, Severus. I've done this more times than I could count."

He turned his attention to the bundle that was in his arms.

"Hello little one. I'm Albus. You have just about as many names as I do, don't you? Your mother and father will have a mouthful when you get in trouble, but I'm sure you won't do that too often, will you?"

Just as he said those words, a little hand reached up and grabbed his beard… and pulled.

"Ouch!"

It didn't really hurt and Sarah could tell as his eyes were sparkling.

"I'm so sorry Headmaster. Let me take her from you."

"Nonsense. I suppose I should have tied this back. Remind me to do so the next time I get the pleasure of a cuddle."

They smiled as Albus handed her back to Severus and resumed his meal.

"You'll all get to hold her sooner or later, don't worry."

Severus sat down and started to eat his lunch, Sarah looking over at him every once in a while to make sure he was alright. After she had eaten her lunch, she took Eileen from Severus who hadn't eaten much – he was too focused on her to eat. He smiled at Sarah.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

He ate his lunch quickly, and after everyone's meal was finished, they headed back downstairs to their quarters. Severus closed their floo and took Eileen from Sarah.

"Let me put her down for her nap, and you should follow suit."

Sarah didn't argue. Despite their trip only being to the Great Hall for lunch, she was tired. She wasn't quite used to the schedule that she found herself facing, that being to feed their daughter every four hours or so, and she could really use the rest. She laid down on their bed, her head resting on their pillows. By the time Severus had come back from placing Eileen in her bassinette, she was asleep. He smiled at the sight as he charmed their blanket to him from the Living Room. He lay down beside her, pulling the blanket over her to keep her warm. He pressed is lips against her forehead and instinctively, she curled up to him. He put his hand on her back, and rubbed gentle circles against her to soothe her even further.

"I love you," he whispered.

She sighed contentedly as his eyes shut, relaxed that she was in his arms, and both of his ladies were resting. He closed his eyes and after a few deep breaths, he joined them.