Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 1508
Warning - Mentions canon character death/violence.
Rock-A-Bye-Baby
"Pregnant?" Arthur repeated for the third time, eyes wide as he stared at Molly's stomach.
"Pregnant," she confirmed—and the slight tremble in her voice made him finally focus, his eyes shifting up to meet hers.
She looked worried—no, she looked terrified, which was understandable given the circumstances— and he immediately wanted to soothe her.
"We'll make it work, Molls," he murmured, drawing her close with a gentle hand and wrapping his arms around her as she lay her head on his shoulder. "I know we're young, but we can do this."
"You think?"
"I know," he assured her, even as doubt settled uncomfortably against his sternum. He had a feeling it was going to be a constant companion for the next few months, but if it eased Molly, then he'd learn to deal with it.
"Just… don't let go of me, kay?" Molly asked quietly, the words pressing into Arthur's skin.
"Never."
…
"Oh, Arthur, he's so beautiful," Molly murmured, looking down at the little boy in her arms. "He looks like you."
Arthur smiled, leaning over the bed to be closer to his wife and newborn son. "I think he's a perfect mix of both of us."
"Look at that hair," she said, and he reached out to run a careful finger through the red strands.
"Welcome to the world, William Weasley."
(they didn't realise then that one day, he'd bear the marks of a werewolf)
…
She was rocking Bill in her arms when she told him that she was pregnant again. There were bags under her eyes, and she'd lost weight in her face, but Molly had never looked happier.
Arthur leant against the door and watched her for a moment before he returned her smile.
"That's great, sweetheart."
He didn't tell her that money was already tight, because she knew that. They both did.
Just like they both knew that they'd make it work.
…
"He looks just like his big brother," Arthur said, bouncing Bill on his knee as he looked at Charlie in the small crib.
Bill smiled up at him, grabbing at his nose with small, chubby hands. Arthur chuckled and turned him around.
"Look, Bill. That's your little brother, Charlie."
"Char," Bill agreed cheerfully.
"Sir," came a voice from the door. Arthur turned around to see the mediwitch that had been in with Molly when he'd left. "Your wife is awake, and she's asking for you and your sons."
Arthur grinned. Sons.
Wow.
(they didn't realise then that he'd move away almost as soon as he finished Hogwarts, and that they'd rarely see his smiling face)
…
"Are you going to be okay at home with three kids, Molls?" Arthur asked. They'd just bathed Bill and Charlie and put them to bed, and Molly seemed exhausted.
She nodded, leaning into him. "I'm only tired because I'm pregnant," she assured him softly. "Once the baby is here, I'll be fine. Promise."
Arthur smiled against her hair. "If we have any more, I'll have to work on an expansion for the house. We're running out of room."
She chuckled. "Hopefully, there will be a break between this one and any more that come along. I'm not sure how much morning sickness I can cope with."
Arthur wrinkled his nose, because she was right—this pregnancy did seem to be harder than the previous two.
"Worth it, though," he said softly, and she nodded.
"It is."
…
"Oh, look at that little scowl," Molly chuckled, leaning over the cot their youngest child, Percy, was lying in. "Only two days old and already angry with the world. We'll have to fix that, won't we, little man?"
"Maybe he's hungry," Arthur suggested. "You remember how hungry Charlie was when he was born?"
"Oh, I think he's just waiting for a nappy change," Molly said, giving Arthur a teasing smile. "Come on, Daddy, you're a dab hand at it now."
Arthur groaned, but he pressed a kiss to Molly's temple before he leant over the crib with expert hands to unfasten the baby-gro.
He really was a dab hand at nappies nowadays.
(they didn't realise then that one day, he'd stomp out of the house and renounce their family for almost three years)
…
"Twins?"
The Mediwitch nodded with a small smile. "Twins. And it looks like twin boys."
Molly closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at Arthur. "Looks like you'll need to work on that extension, sweetheart."
"Five boys," Arthur murmured, shaking his head. "We must be mad."
Laughing, Molly could only agree. "We truly must."
…
Arthur watched worriedly, as Molly silently cried. The birth hadn't been easy, he knew, but she'd never reacted like this to giving birth before.
"It's natural," the Mediwitch told him softly. "Give her a few days and she'll be okay."
"You think so?"
"I really do," she assured him. "Go on in and give her a hug. She looks like she needs one."
Arthur didn't need telling twice. When she saw him, she reached for him immediately and Arthur was quick to wrap his arms around her, holding her tight to his chest.
He rocked her gently until the tears slowed, and she pulled away.
"Where are my boys?" she asked softly.
"Bill, Charlie and Percy are at home with your brothers," he assured her. "And our newest additions will be brought back up soon."
She nodded and then reached out to cup his cheek. "I'm okay."
He nodded, and they stayed that way until the twins were brought in to them, one placed in each of their arms.
"Fred and George," Molly said, her lips tilting up slightly. "Oh, you two are going to be trouble, aren't you?"
(they didn't realise then that in just twenty years, they'd be laying flowers at one of their son's graves)
…
"I think this one is going to have to be our last, sweetheart," Arthur said, rubbing Molly's feet. "The pregnancies have been getting harder and harder on you. I don't like to see you in pain."
Molly nodded her head tiredly. "I know. I just… I so wanted a girl, Arthur. I love the boys—they're my everything, you know that—but… I just wanted a girl. Someone I could pass on everything I know to."
"I know, sweetheart. I know."
…
"He's a chunk," Arthur said, rocking Ronald in his arms. "Heavier than the others when they were born."
She nodded. "I know. I gave birth to him."
He was startled into a chuckle and she grinned at him from the bed, her tired eyes sparkling.
"It's surreal that he's our last," Arthur said softly. "Six boys. Merlin, can you believe it, Molls?"
She nodded, her eyes drifting shut. The birth had tired her out, and Arthur shushed Ronald gently when he stirred.
"Come on, bud," he whispered. "Let's go down to the nursery so your mummy can get some sleep."
(they didn't realise then that at just seventeen, this boy was going to be part of a year-long camping trip to rid the world of a Dark Lord)
…
"Molly—"
"I know, Arthur. It's not perfect but… this is our child. Doesn't it deserve the same chance as the others?"
"Of course, I just… I'm worried."
"I'll be okay," she murmured, offering assurances that he didn't believe.
Sighing, Arthur nodded, knowing that he'd support her because it was what he did.
"Any signs of trouble, and you tell me immediately," he said. "And for Merlin's sake, take it easy. Bill and Charlie are old enough that you can delegate a little, okay?"
"I will."
…
"A girl, Arthur," Molly murmured, holding their baby daughter in her arms like she was the most precious treasure in the universe. "Out little Ginny."
"She's going to be adored and terrorised by her brothers in equal measure," Arthur said, stroking Molly's hair from her face. "I feel sorry for any future boyfriends."
Molly chuckled. "Oh Merlin, with our brood. If any boy ever survives to dessert, he'll deserve a medal."
Arthur grinned. Despite his misgivings about having a seventh child, he was infinitely glad that Molly was as strong as she was.
Their family felt complete.
(they didn't realise that at just eleven years old, she'd be used to open the Chamber of Secrets and almost drained of life on a cold, dirty floor)
…
Arthur accepted the crying baby into his arms and shushed her gently. It had been a long time since he'd held a baby, but the natural feeling of it had never gone away.
"What did you decide to call her?" he asked, smiling at his oldest son, now a father himself.
"Victoire," Bill replied. "It seemed fitting."
Arthur swallowed hard as the memories hit and he pushed them away. There would be time enough for the pain later.
For now, he wanted to enjoy his first granddaughter.
"She's beautiful," Molly said, coming to stand beside him, her head on his shoulder. It was so reminiscent of the first time they held Bill together, that Arthur smiled.
"She is."
Written for:
Record Collection: 15. "Don't let go."
Showtime: 8. Adored
Lizzy's Loft: 6. Finding out you're going to be a parent (bonus)
Liza Loves: 14. Smiling
Angel's Archive: 11. Errol: Family
Film Festival: 4. Sir
Forecast: 31. Door
Build A Comic Book: Origin: A Pregnancy
Geek Pride: Divergent: Prompt 2: Making a choice
365: 175. Arthur Weasley
Fantastic Beasts: 1. Abaia: Molly Weasley