Their days were extraordinarily busy after the wedding. Hermione was running the department and mending many errors. Fred was working full time at the shop himself, with Ron occasionally assisting on the weekends. George had planned an entire month of a honeymoon. The last hurrah before Angelina got too uncomfortable from the baby.

The witch was nearly dizzy with the amount of work on her plate. It was becoming regular for her to spend two workdays shortened so she could review reports at home all evening. Fred didn't mind how dizzying her life was because his became even more so without his twin.

Long evenings he would spend in the workshop to meet demand on orders for the summer. He liked to be occupied while she was adjusting. It was a decent blend of finding how life would work in the new normal. Hermione would put her work down in the evening long enough to cook and call Fred up to eat.

They would spend the precious few hours she had to spare dining and enjoying Fred's company. He would pop down to the shop for a few more hours to finish up special orders, and Hermione would complete her tasks for the night.

It was Friday, and George was due back this evening, which Fred was relieved. He would get to see Hermione a bit more. They were snuggling together after a heated tryst, and Fred traced her curves. She was glancing up at him with a lazy smile.

"Do you know what I adore about you?" Hermione murmured.

Fred swirled fingertips along her hip. "That I'm handsome?"

"Well, it helps," she giggled. "Try again."

"I'm mental like you?" He snorted as his fingers trailed up her torso.

"I suppose, but still not it," Hermione said.

"I give up."

"You don't brag about it, but you work so hard for the things you want, Fred. You don't ask for anything but time and effort from those you love. You are the ultimate amazing wizard and aren't even smug about it."

Fred chuckled and cupped her chest. "Oh, yes. I work very hard. Merlin, G., these are just masterful," he sighed.

Hermione rolled on her back and beamed. "Am I as pretty as you imagined?"

"Way sexier. I could lick every inch of you," Fred voiced as his fingers traveled over each rising curve.

She groaned and stretched. "You abuse them, and I make you buy me better knickers, Freddy. They can't keep taking it and not have soft support. Last night you made them tender," Hermione murmured.

"I would never harm such exquisite, tasteful things," Fred puffed and bent to her chest.

Hermione grimaced and shuddered as his beard tickled her. "How come you always pick right after to lavish them with reward?" She questioned as he nibbled and licked on her breasts.

"Because they're perfect. If you turned around, I'd be pawing at your arse, but these work too," He teased against her skin.

She sighed and moaned before pushing him off. "Alright, loverboy, I have to go to the restroom."

"Loverboy? That pet name won't stick," he growled as she climbed from the mattress.

Hermione laughed and walked out of the room, wriggling her behind at him before heading into the bathroom. "We need to be careful, Freddy," Hermione sighed from the bathroom.

Fred scowled and sat up to look across the hall at her. "What do you mean?"

Hermione climbed into view after the toilet flushed. "Because our rough shags are leaving me sore," she laughed and rubbed her abdomen in the mirror.

Fred relaxed on the bed and watched her as she washed her hands and checked her appearance. He smirked as her smile grew smug as she analyzed her features. Fingers stretching down her neck, Hermione exhaled and skipped back into the room.

"You realize I'm going to have to keep using your blemish cream if you keep biting my neck," She snickered as she flopped next to him.

Fred snarled and bent like a vampire to gnaw and suck on her neck. "My dear, I don't give a damn," he teased when pulling away with a pop.

Hermione grimaced and wiped his spit from her skin. "Freddy, you're absolutely appalling despite the decent literary reference," she taunted.

"Am I," he paused and wagged his eyebrows. "A pain in the neck?"

She groaned and climbed on his back, rubbing his skin. "Fred, how much do you love me?" She asked with a toothy grin.

"Oh, to that door," He feigned annoyance.

Hermione ducked down and rolled her eyes. "Funny, Gred."

Fred grunted and managed to roll under her, lying face up. "To be perfectly honest, I love you more than I could love anything ever," he sighed as his fingers ran up her thighs.

She bent down, and her hair formed a curtain around them. "You're my happy thought, Fred."

He grinned and ran his nose over hers. "You've always been mine, G."

The fireplace went off, and Hermione groaned as she tumbled off of him and reached for her wand. She flicked it and shut the door.

"Yoohoo! Friends from abroad!" George announced.

Fred huffed as he reached for his pants on the ground. "I thought you would wait to see us tomorrow!" Fred called out.

"Never, I wanted to see how your love nest is turning out," George declared.

Hermione threw on Fred's sweater before pulling up his boxers around her waist. "I suppose we best see what your twin wants," she sighed.

Fred reached for his shirt and nodded before leaving the room. "You're a bugger," he snickered and walked out of Hermione's sight.

She paused and smelt the sweater with a frown. Hermione breathed deeply and closed her eyes. It was so comforting, even after as long as she wore it, the psychological effect of smelling him on it. Fred.

"G.," Fred called from the sitting room.

Hermione dropped the sweater and paced out to see George grinning. "Look at you! I missed you, Hermione," George chuckled.

She hugged him and winced. "Merlin, George. You smell like a rotten banana."

He snorted and smelt his tropical shirt. "Well, maybe it's the sunscreen? When on a tropical honeymoon, do as the muggles do."

"You look like you got some sun anyway," Fred snickered.

"Where is your wife? I miss her," Hermione sighed.

The bathroom door opened, and Angelina stepped out. "Right here, Hermione."

Hermione skipped over and hugged her. "Oh, I'm so happy to see you!"

Angelina laughed and held her out. "Merlin, Hermione, you must be getting shagged like all the time. Your skin looks fantastic."

"That would be my fault," Fred snickered.

George arched an eyebrow and pointed. "Those too, I assume."

Hermione smacked her hand to her neck and huffed. "Yes."

Hermione bent down and rubbed Angelina's slightly swollen belly. "Little Weasley child. Don't worry, your mother and I will protect you from your father and uncle at times."

"Yes, we'll have to," Angelina giggled.

Hermione straightened and yawned with a nod. "How was the trip? Did you want to sit?" Hermione asked.

Angelina nodded and wandered over to the sofa with Hermione. Fred walked over to the cabinet and pulled out three glasses. "Sorry, Ang. I don't think you can have this," he snickered.

Hermione waved him off. "I don't want one, Freddy. My stomach has been off all day," she said.

"G., we gotta figure out what's causing you stress," Fred tutted.

"My job does," Hermione sighed.

George collapsed next to Hermione and grinned. "How's work, Miss Department Head?

"Oh, you know, bills, reports, business as usual," Hermione sighed.

"She's working so hard I have had to scoop her up in the study and take her to bed," Fred snickered and sat down, offering the cup to his brother.

Hermione puffed and waved. "Enough about me. How was the honeymoon?"

Angelina laughed and sighed. "It made up for years of waiting for him to come around and marry me."

"We enjoyed the Bahamas. It was a lovely break from the rabble," George declared.

"How have you been feeling, Hermione?" George asked as he nudged her.

Hermione frowned and glanced over at him. "I've been great. Why the sudden concern with my health?"

"You just look tired is all," Angelina sighed. "It must be plenty to juggle. Work, a very fruitful love life, a new department. Aren't you going to take some time to yourself this weekend?"

"Well, we have to go to my parents tomorrow. Georgie, are you sure you'll be fine alone for a few hours?" Hermione asked.

"I have Ron coming in, so you both take as much time as you need," George said before sipping his drink. "You both deserve it after so long," he added while wrapping his arm around her.

Hermione squirmed and climbed to her feet. "Give me a moment. I need to run to the loo."

Fred frowned and scratched his chin as she retreated. "She's been acting odd all week."

"Odd?" George asked.

"Yeah, like yesterday. She told me to toss my clothes in the bin because they wreaked of Dung bombs, but I hadn't made any that day," Fred snorted and shrugged. "Just odd."

Angelina tilted her head and arched an eyebrow. "Is she sick in the loo?"

Fred stood up and paced toward the door. True to what she had said, Hermione's wretched heaving was heard through the barrier. His breath caught in his throat as he knocked. "G., are you alright?"

The sound of flushing announced alongside her groaning. "I'm alright, just under the weather, Gred."

"Let me check you, love. You might have a bug," Fred murmured.

"Brother, give her a moment. Come back in here," George called.

"Hermione, please? You've been sick on and off all week. You didn't eat anything bad, did you?" Fred asked.

"No," Hermione huffed.

Fred groaned and patted the door. "Is this just witch stuff? I'd be relieved if you just told me."

There was silence and then jostling in the restroom. Drawers were being slid open.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Hermione hissed from the other side. "Bloody fuck!"

"G.," Fred growled.

Hermione ran the water in the sink. "I'll be out in a minute, Frederick!" She snapped.

Fred edged from the door and was scowling as he walked out into the sitting room. "Something's wrong," he huffed.

George smiled and patted the sofa. "Come sit."

"How are you so relaxed!" Fred grumbled.

Angelina moved over, and they squeezed Fred between them. "It's not a problem," Angelina beamed.

Fred glanced between them and then glared at his brother. "What did you do?"

"Oh, I didn't do anything, brother," George laughed. "That was all you."

Angelina patted his lap. "Mhm."

"I believe a quote comes to mind. Love, what's the quote?" George asked.

Angelina glanced over and tapped her chin. "I believe it was, 'Shag me harder, Fred Weasley.' No, I don't think it was that."

George shook his head. "No, not that one."

"Or, 'That's so amazing!'" Angelina added.

Fred scowled and groaned. "What are you both bloody double-teaming me about?"

"No, Ang. The other one," George snickered.

She rubbed her abdomen and hummed. "Possibly, 'I want to make our dreams come true, Freddy,'" Angelina suggested.

"Oh, I know!" George said with a wide smile. "It was, 'I want to have your baby, Fred Weasley!' Yes, that was the one," he snickered.

Fred's eyes grew, and he gasped, standing. "What?"

Hermione came out of the bathroom with a scrunched expression. "Freddy, we have a situation," she murmured.

She was chewing on her lip when he padded over. Before he could talk, she held up a plastic object. "What's that?" He questioned.

"That, my brother, is for not telling me about my wife's pregnancy," George teased.

Hermione glared over at him. "You just best keep quiet, or I'll shove this somewhere you won't like."

"Wait," Fred frowned and took it in his hand. "Addition sign is what?"

"As in plus one. Plus more, or to be more specific, plus a new person," George snickered.

Fred blink and looked from the object to Hermione, who was grimacing. "How? I mean, I, it, what?"

"I can explain it when you've digested the fact that you're going to be a father a few months after me," George declared.

"George! I mean it! I'm about to hyperventilate, and you're not helping!" Hermione shouted.

"Wait, hold a tick," Fred breathed as he held up his hand. "You're pregnant? With my baby?"

Hermione whimpered and scrubbed her face. "Yes!"

"I'm sorry, G., but I'm struck dumb," Fred gasped.

Angelina stood from the sofa and waved to it. "You both sit. I need to run to the loo."

Hermione bent over and groaned. "Oh, Merlin. What am I going to tell my father?"

Fred jumped to alarm and assisted her to the sofa and sat down next to her. "G., just breathe."

"Okay, so I was in the other room during the night before my wedding. I was just about to attempt some sleep when I heard the fireplace go off. Drunkenly, I couldn't form what I was hearing. I crawled from my bed and headed to the bathroom to take a piss when I heard the conversation," George paused and scratched his chin.

"What?" Hermione's voice quivered.

"It was a debate between you two. Obviously drunken, but still coherent. Fred was telling you that he loved you and never to change. You must have been so moved because I heard a clatter and then you shouted, 'I want to make our dreams come true, Freddy. I love you. Let's have a baby!' You must have incoherently argued through kisses because she growled. 'I want to have your baby, Fred Weasley.' Everything else was pretty clear shagging at that point," George finished with a smile.

"Wait, hold on," Hermione huffed. "I was the one to insist on it?"

George grinned and nodded. "You were. He argued with you."

Angelina walked back out and breathed. "Did you tell them it was her idea yet?"

Hermione was gnawing at her lip. "I don't understand."

"I do," Angelina said as she sat down in the chair. "We were up talking about the future. You were sloshed, but pretty passionate as I spoke about my excitement for the baby. Remember our last conversation that night before I helped you to go see Fred so you could sleep?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, I don't."

"You told me how much it hurt when you weren't with him. How you wanted to share all this joy about the family and the babies because we had so much hardship during the war. It was rather sweet. I walked you to the couch, and you told me you had to see him. You had to know where he was before you slept. So, I helped you to the floo, let you hobble through, and called it a night."

Fred, who was silently absorbing the whole thing, held up a finger. "So, in essence, both of you participated in this?"

George smirked and nodded. "I suppose we both did."

Fred glanced over at Hermione, who seemed withdrawn. "You guys mind giving us space?" Fred asked.

Angelina stood up, and George dropped his smile. "We'll see you both tomorrow."

"Good night," Angelina murmured.

They left through the fireplace in swift accord. Fred waited a moment and took her hand. "Hermione."

She finally let go of her guarded posture and let the tears surface. "Freddy, I'm so bloody scared!"

He made calming sounds as he set the test down and cupped her face. "It's okay. It's alright, G. We don't have to have this baby."

Her face skewed, and she gasped. "What? How could you say that?" She cried as tears streamed down her face. "You want to be a father. I know you do!"

Fred raised his eyebrows as he breathed. "Hermione, I was only suggesting it because I know it isn't the right time for you. You matter more than my dreams. We'll get there eventually."

She stood away from him and glowered. "I wouldn't have said I wanted to have your baby in a drunken haze if I didn't want to, Freddy," she whimpered as she caressed her abdomen.

"But, Hermione," he stood up. "I don't want you to be afraid of this. This is supposed to be special."

"Fred, I'm going to be scared. This changes our lives forever! It doesn't mean I don't want it," she scoffed and cleared her face.

Fred took a step toward her and held up his hands in submission when she jerked from him. "G., let's talk about this a second. Rational, logical people."

Hermione took a breath and nodded. "Okay, so I'll need to go shopping tomorrow. We'll get the ingredients. I'll need to get some prenatal potions prepped for the week," she said with a nod. "I might tell my mother, but not my father. He might have two different types of reactions, and my mother will warm him up to something favorable first."

"Stop, just stop," Fred puffed. "Your job, your career. Everything you're working toward. You said three years, and I respect that."

She wiped her face with the sweater sleeve and paced the room in thought. "I can speed the process of organizing the department. I'll have to tell Kingsley so he can give me leave time and let me work from home. If I have to come in, I can have your mother watch the baby."

Fred inhaled and exhaled through her dizzying coordination. "Hermione, are you telling me you want this baby?"

Hermione frowned at him and tilted her head. "Fred, I told you. We're having this baby."

"We are?" He asked.

"You told me you wanted to come before my career occasionally. This is that occasion where you come first. Our family comes first. Don't you understand?"

Fred raced to her and enveloped her in his arms. "We're gonna have a baby?" He gasped.

"We're going to have a baby, Freddy," Hermione laughed. They kissed, and Hermione groaned against his lips. "We're going to have a baby," she repeated when they parted.

"We're gonna have a baby!" He cried and peppered her face with kisses. "We're going to have a family, G.!"

She giggled and stroked his beard. "Can we go clean up and go to bed?"

He lifted her from her feet and swung around. "Whatever, however, whenever, love! I don't care, however long it takes. I'm at your service forever."

Hermione belted out in laughter and sighed. "Good, because lugging that baby up the stairs is going to be a hassle."

Fred set her down and scooped her up, cradling her. "I will carry you everywhere, G. Let's go shower," he laughed.

They fumbled to the bathroom, and Hermione got to experience for the first time in her life something vital to their relationship. She got to experience an unfiltered, uninhibited version of Fred Weasley. He was so gratuitous and loving while cleaning her. It was his language. He loved Hermione completely and undoubtedly for loving him.