A/N: We celebrate several birthdays.

Chapter 32

Hermione opened her eyes, not quite sure why she had awakened in the middle of the night. She wasn't unsure long, as a bolt of pain seized her.

"Ow," she said as she grasped her abdomen, feeling the tightness in it. She reached over to her bed stand and grabbed her wand. Flicking it, she set a timer in the air as she waited for the next contraction. It didn't take long.

"Four minutes…"

She waited for another one.

"Three minutes…"

And one last one, just to be sure before waking Severus.

"Three minutes… Oww!"

Severus' eyes cracked open. It took a second, but then he propped himself on his elbow and looked at his wife.

"Maia?"

"It's time… Oh, ahh." She bent into herself in pain.

Severus shot out of bed and threw a T-shirt and some jeans on. He rushed back to Hermione. "Do you want me to get you something else to wear?"

She shook her head. Her lips were thinned, and she was biting her lip.

"Just help me stand."

Severus extended his arm and pulled her to a sitting position. She turned and was about to get up when she doubled over in pain again. Severus sat next to her on the bed, his arms going around her, concern on his face. Hermione kept her head bent for a minute before straightening up.

"I'm okay," she assured Severus.

He rose and helped her to get to her feet. They made their way downstairs, but before they could leave the house, Hermione had another contraction. When she was able to move again, they headed to the fireplace. Before Hermione could have another contraction, they had Floo'd to St. Mungo's. The Medi-witches whisked her away with Severus following closely. As they settled her into a bed, she had another contraction. One of the Medi-witches left to get the Healer.

Hermione glanced at Severus between panting. She'd never seen him look so lost. He looked like he wanted to help, but didn't know what to do. Hermione smiled at him.

"He's finally coming, Severus," she said soothingly.

Severus breathed a sigh of relief as he nodded at her. Finally, a smile broke across his face, and his nerves seemed to dissipate. He approached the bed, as most of the Medi-witches had cleared the bed area. He grasped her hand and squeezed it.

"I didn't get a chance to let Mum know before we rushed out," he said to her. "I'll be right back. I'm going to find somewhere out of the way to send my Patronus."

Hermione nodded. "Don't be long."

He nodded back curtly and quickly left the room. Another contraction came, and Hermione doubled over while grasping her stomach.

"Aooow."

"Breathe through it," the Medi-witch said.

She nodded and began to breathe quickly. Before she knew it, Severus was back in the room. He came up to the bed and took her hand.

"What do you need?"

She grimaced and made a face as another contraction went through her.

"Just be here with me."

He kissed her hand. "I am here, and will never leave your side."

Her eyes met his, and she smiled weakly. "He can come at any time now. I'm more than ready."

oooOOOooo

Despite being ready, little Liam would not make his appearance for another six hours. Hermione gave one final exhausting push and heard a small wail. She breathed a sigh of relief as she lifted her head, trying to see the baby.

Before she knew it, he'd been cleaned up and was being placed in her arms. She gasped as she gazed upon her son. Black hair stuck up all over his head, his eyes were brown like her own.

She looked at Severus.

"He's got your nose!" she cried.

"Heaven forbid," Severus muttered as he gazed in amazement at his son.

Hermione tilted him forward to give Severus a better look. "Isn't he beautiful, Severus?"

"Mmmhmm," Severus said, still in awe.

"Do you want to hold him?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know if I dare, he's so tiny."

"Severus Snape, hold your son!" Hermione said as she giggled.

Severus' arms reached out, and he gingerly took the boy. He looked to Hermione to ensure he was holding the baby right, then looked down at him in wonder.

"Welcome to the world, little one," he said as his voice broke. "You are truly perfect."

He examined the babe's little toes and fingers before looking at his face.

"He does have my nose," he murmured. "But he's so dignified with it."

Hermione chuckled. "Dignified! He's cute."

Severus gave her a caustic look. "Cute?" he asked with a derisive tone. "No child of mine will ever be 'cute.'"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Severus. He looks just like you, handsome, and distinguished, and… cute."

"Maia," he said as he narrowed his eyes at her playfully.

"Come here," she said as she patted the side of the bed.

She moved over a little so he could fit on the bed. He slid next to her, still holding the baby. She looked down at Liam lovingly, smoothing his hair.

"He's perfect," she said.

Severus turned to Hermione. "Thank you," he said.

"You had a hand in this too, you know," Hermione said with a smirk.

"But you carried him, and you were sick and uncomfortable. Thank you for bringing our child into this world."

She kissed him then. She felt complete with him beside her, loving her, their little one resting between them.

oooOOOooo

Hermione held three-month-old Liam close to her as he nursed. It was very early morning, and no one else was up in the house. The baby had finally settled into a routine and didn't get up in the middle of the night, but the four-thirty a.m. feeding had become a habit. Hermione was just happy she could get most of a night's sleep, and, with luck, would be able to get some sleep when Liam drifted off after feeding. She looked down at the baby and sighed.

"Is everything okay, Maia?"

Hermione looked up to see a disheveled Severus looking at her with concern. "Why don't you go back to bed. I'll give him a bottle," he offered.

Hermione smiled but shook her head. "No, it's all right. You go back to bed."

Severus came up to her and squatted next to the rocking chair. "Why did you sigh before. What's bothering you? You've been mulling for several days now, and it seems that not even Liam can keep you happy for long."

Hermione looked down at the babe and smiled at him. "He is a joy, Severus. It really has nothing to do with him." She looked up at her husband. "Or with you."

Severus reached out and grasped her arm. "Then what is it?"

"Today is the day."

He smirked. "Happy Birthday, my love."

She gave him a small smile. Severus gave her a curious look.

"What is it?" he asked with concern.

"Today is the day I was born."

"I know, that's why I said Happy Birthday."

"No, Severus, this is the literal day I was born. At 10:23 a.m. there will be another Hermione Granger on this planet."

"This is the year you were born," Severus said in mild amazement. "I had forgotten… It's been so long, and you've just always been with me. I had forgotten that there would be another you eventually." He squeezed her arm. "How can I help?"

She looked at him gratefully. "I don't even know. I just feel overwhelmed." She got a faraway look. "What if…"

"What if what, Maia?"

She looked at him with a touch of fear in her eyes. "What if I somehow took her magic? What if… what if because I came back she'll never be a witch?"

Severus cupped her cheek. "I don't think that's possible. If you were born with magic once, you would have to be born with it again."

"But do you know that for sure?"

He shrugged. "No, I don't."

Hermione reached out and took his hand with her free one. "Do you think…?"

"Maia, please just tell me what you're thinking."

"Can we go to the hospital later today? Just to look? Maybe do some spells… see if I'm still magical."

"You do realize we could just ask Minerva if your name is on the books?" he said with a small grin.

She looked down. "I know… I know…"

"You just want to see her."

Her eyes met his. "I do, Severus. Please?"

He leaned in and kissed her softly. "You know I can deny you nothing."

Hermione's eyes misted. "Thank you, love." She kissed him again.

The baby decided to stir at that moment. Severus pulled back reluctantly and looked down at his son, who was making a bit of a fuss. He took him from Hermione and cradled him close.

"What's all the fuss, Liam? Your tummy is full. Did we accidentally squash you?"

The boy quieted at his father's soothing voice. Severus bounced him lightly as Hermione looked on. She chuckled at how Severus, who was always so proper, could dissolve into babbling at his son.

"He can't get enough of your voice, Severus, just like me."

Severus arched an eyebrow at her. "Well, that may be. He seems to be calming. Once he's back out shall we have a lie-in for your birthday?"

Hermione nodded. It didn't take long for the babe to fall asleep with Severus holding him. They rose, put the babe back in his cradle, and retired back to their bedroom.

Much later, Severus and Hermione Apparated nearby to the hospital where Hermione had been born. They were dressed in Muggle attire, so as not to call attention to themselves. Walking around the corner, they entered the hospital. Hermione knew that in her future time, they wouldn't be able to waltz in and go to the delivery ward and behold the babies, but this was a more innocent time, and they rode the elevator to the correct floor and were soon looking into a room with twenty babies in it.

"Where are you?" Severus whispered.

Hermione studied the children. "There," she said. "Third from the back on the far left."

Severus arched an eyebrow. "I see our son in you, Maia."

She grinned. "He does look a little like me, doesn't he? Here I thought he was pure you."

Severus reached out and grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze. "He is the perfect combination of the two of us."

They stared at the baby for a few minutes before Hermione squeezed Severus' hand back. "You should do the spell before someone notices us."

Severus cast a quick Notice-Me-Not and then lifted his wand, waving in an infinity pattern and silently casting the magic determiner. The baby glowed gold, and Hermione gasped. She found she couldn't hold back the tears of relief as she flung her arms around Severus. She sobbed into his shoulder as his arms came around her.

"She's magical, Maia. Your trip back didn't harm her in any way."

Hermione couldn't say anything. She just grasped tightly onto Severus as he hugged her and rubbed her back. They stayed like that for quite a while as Hermione composed herself. Thankfully, the Notice-Me-Not spell kept the nurses who passed by from giving them a second glance.

Finally, Hermione felt that she'd pulled herself together. She leaned back and looked at Severus.

"I'm sorry. I'm just so relieved."

"No need. Are you ready to go?"

Hermione nodded, and they turned and left the floor. Before they knew it, they were back in their home. As they made their way to the nursery, they found Eileen and Liam, who'd both fallen asleep in the rocking chair. Eileen was fast asleep with the baby snuggled on her chest. Hermione smiled and crept up to Eileen, caressing Liam's head as she smiled down at him. She quietly retreated, grasping a mesmerized Severus' hand and pulling him out of the room.

They headed downstairs and entered the lounge, sitting together on the sofa.

"Miffy," Severus called out.

The elf appeared momentarily. Severus bowed his head to him. "Tea, please, Miffy."

"Right away, sir," the house-elf said with a slight bow. It took him no time at all to have a small spread of sandwiches and tea for the two of them. Severus thanked the Elf, who disappeared after bowing. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gift wrapped in purple paper with golden party horns tooting away on it.

"Open it quickly or I may be forced to shut it up," he said with a scowl.

Hermione giggled at him. She tore the paper off and crumpled it up to effectively quiet it. Looking up from the long box, she gave Severus a curious look.

"Well, don't look at me, just open it."

Hermione shook her head at him as she smiled. She lifted the lid of the box. Inside lay a necklace. She lifted it up, seeing a locket at the end of it. It matched her wedding ring in that it was made of white gold with fine vines encircling it.

"Open it," Severus directed.

She glanced up at him and smiled again. Opening the locket, she beheld the two loves of her life. A picture of Severus was on the right. He looked very serious, then gave her the smirk she so loved. She turned her attention to the picture on the right. Severus had captured a perfect shot of Liam pulling a smile. He'd just started to grin a little the week before.

Hermione pulled the locket to her chest and looked at Severus. "It's perfect," she said. "Would you put it on me?"

He reached out and moved her hand to take the locket. She turned so he could easily place the necklace around her neck and secure it. He kissed the base of her neck as he finished fastening the jewelry. She moved back around to face him as she looked at the necklace around her neck. Her eyes met his.

"Thank you, Severus. I love it." She leaned in, and her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him close. Her kiss was loving. Her heart filled with love for Severus as she kissed him passionately. Severus groaned at her lips on his.

"Maia… you're driving me insane," he said as he continued to ravish her mouth.

Hermione continued to lavish him with kisses, groaning herself. Her hand came up to his cheek, and she caressed him as she basked in his intensity.

"Let's go upstairs," she said breathlessly.

He smirked and rose, extending his hand to her. Pulling her up off the sofa, he gathered her in his arms.

"Happy Birthday, my beautiful wife."

"Thank you, my love."

A/N: Thanks to Amortentia in my Veins and to you for your interest in this story. Just an epilogue left! Oh, how time has flown.