Thank you so much for the reviews on the last one. I hope you're all safe and well.

18 November 2008: 8:00am

Draco grumbled to himself as he walked the cold London street. Wisps of his breath billowed from his parted lips. He didn't like the idea of being sent off to find chocolate croissants on a Sunday morning when he should be at home hovering over his wife who could go into labor any moment.

Hermione was already past her due date by three days and he was a nervous mess. Given the way friends and family came and went through their house, he sarcastically remarked that perhaps they should put in a revolving door like he'd seen in the muggle baby shop last month. That remark had earned him a stinging hex.

"Bloody croissants," he muttered, shaking the stupid paper bag in his hands. "Bossy, demanding witch."

Luckily, foot traffic was light given the day of the week. There were few muggles to get in his way after he'd disapparated closer to the townhouse. If only Diagon Alley had a suitable coffee shop he could just floo.

He arched a curious brow when he arrived. Rose was watching from the window. He could tell by the way the drapes swished when she disappeared.

He hurried inside and shook off the cold before removing his coat. Rose peeked around the corner, eyes darting over her shoulder.

"What's wrong, Rose?"

She bit her lip, blue eyes wide. "Mum's pacing in the family room. She says she's fine but her voice sounded odd. She threatened to take my broom if I said anything though."

Draco inhaled a calming breath and held the paper bag out to his daughter. Three croissants, as always. He lifted a finger to his lips.

"Your secret is safe with me."

He found Hermione exactly where Rose said she was.

"You look agitated," he said.

She stopped suddenly and turned to face him. His mouth itched to curl into a smile at the sight of her. Hands braced on her lower back, she hadn't changed out of the maternity pajama bottoms that she'd loathed purchasing or the camisole that threatened to expose her stomach. Nine months pregnant and she was miserable. She told him as much every day for the last month.

Hermione scowled at him. "I swear I'm larger than an overgrown blast-ended skrewt."

He snorted and wished that he hadn't when she narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You're not. You've gained only healthy weight, your doctor said so, and I think you look beautiful."

She groaned as she snatched the paper bag from his hands once he was close enough and turned to lower herself into her favorite armchair—the only one she could faithfully get up from on her own now.

"You did this to me so you have to say that."

Draco perched himself on the coffee table in front of her and reached for her bare feet to settle in his lap. He smiled to himself when she moaned as he pressed his fingers into her arches.

She frowned at her feet. "Merlin, would you look at them? They're like bloody sausages instead of toes."

He rolled his eyes. "They're really not and I had no idea you'd be this dramatic."

She glared at him even as she chewed the chocolate croissant he went out in the misty cold to procure for her. He could kiss his croissant goodbye, he was sure of it.

"Well, you try housing another living being inside you for nine months and then we'll talk about who's dramatic."

He shook his head. He'd also seen pictures of her pregnant with Rose. In his opinion, she wasn't any bigger now than back then. She'd been extremely careful with her diet minus a few cheats here and there and was mostly just swollen right now. It was all perfectly normal. At least that's what the baby books said. The ones he'd been devouring when she wasn't looking. Both muggle and magical.

In a way, he almost wished she'd go into labor, for both their sakes. On the other hand, he hated the idea of her in pain and he knew labor would certainly not be a walk in the park.

"How long were you in labor with Rose?"

She sighed and closed her eyes as he dug his thumbs into the tender balls of her feet. "Sixteen hours. I didn't think she was ever coming out."

"Was she early or late like this?"

Hermione propped her head on a fisted hand as she watched him, clearly somewhat mollified now with breakfast in her stomach and his attention. "She was absurdly right on time."

"Is it safe now?"

Draco looked over his shoulder and couldn't help a grin when he found Rose peeking around the doorway.

Hermione narrowed her eyes as they flickered between him and their daughter. She stopped on Rose.

"Traitor." She waved her over. "Come here."

Rose tiptoed into the room and stopped in front of Hermione.

"Goodness, and you've got chocolate on you," Hermione muttered as she reached out to brush it away from the corner of her mouth.

"I only thought you were acting odd," Rose said, biting down on her lip.

"I'm fine. Just utterly miserable."

"Is she kicking again?" Rose asked.

Draco laughed and vanished the empty paper bag. No croissant for him. "You're quite certain you're getting a sister, aren't you?"

She shrugged. "I can dream, can't I?"

Hermione leaned over to brush a hand over her hair. "Your dad did your hair before I got up, didn't he? And a brother wouldn't be bad either."

"I'm getting better with hair," Draco muttered to himself.

Rose pursed her lips as if considering the options. "No, I suppose not," Rose finally decided. "But only if he's not gross."

"I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but all babies are a little gross," Hermione said, smiling.

She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, but Aunt Ginny said that boys sometimes wee on you when you change them if you're not careful."

Hermione lifted her hands in surrender. "Fair point. The defense rests."

Rose squinted and tilted her head. "Was I gross?"

Hermione smiled and Draco recognized it as the same smile she seemed to get lately whenever she thought about Rose as a baby. There'd been a lot of those conversations. Her sharing memories and pictures. Things he'd not been present for but now felt like he knew every detail of.

"Well, let's see. On your first week home from the hospital, you blew out your nappy. Poop everywhere. I was thankful for magic to clean you up." She smiled larger when Rose frowned. "And you had quite the habit of spitting up on my work blouses."

"Ew," she muttered, shaking her head.

Draco shook his head. Children were work but they were also entertaining.

"I hate to change the subject, but are you still insisting on going to work tomorrow? You know Kingsley told you it would be fine to take the week."

Hermione crossed her arms, her mouth pulling into a familiar stubborn pucker. "I'm going, Draco. It will be fine."

19 November, 2008: 8:30am

"I don't know why you insisted on coming."

Hermione glanced at Harry as they stepped into a Ministry lift together. "Because I'm perfectly fine and there's no use sitting at home waiting."

His eyes fell to her stomach. "Hermione."

She cut him a sharp glare. "Harry."

He sighed and lifted his free hand, the other clutching a stack of parchment. "Fine. Just make sure to have your department send for me so I can escort you to the hospital if you go into labor. Malfoy made me promise on both of our wands. He doesn't want you going alone if it happens while you're at work and he can't get to you fast enough."

She huffed and shifted her weight on her feet as the lift zigged backwards. "You men act as if I've never given birth before."

"This is his first time seeing you have a baby. I'd cut the bloke a little slack, and that should say something coming from me. It's terrifying watching your wife have a baby."

The lift stopped and opened at her department. She turned after she stepped out. "If you say one word about the fact that I'm now waddling when I walk, I'll tie your department up in nonsensical cases for a week."

"That's low, Hermione! Even for you!"

She didn't bother to respond. Theo had made the mistake of making note of her new gait over the weekend and Draco had laughed so hard when she hexed Theo, he nearly choked on a taffy.

"Morning, Hermione," the department secretary greeted her as she passed. "Can I get you anything?"

She waved her off. "I'm fine. Thanks, Alice."

She was all too aware of the way the witch's eyes followed her as she shuffled into her office. She'd stopped wearing heels three weeks ago, finally opting for the slip on flats Draco bought for her skirts—because she wasn't about to deal with putting on trousers. The fact that her own husband was adept enough to buy decent shoes would have been astounding if he were anyone else. She'd allowed him to choose half of her maternity clothes because she'd been so irritated the day they'd gone shopping that she couldn't focus.

She eased herself into her desk chair, mindful of the fact that she had a meeting in thirty minutes and would need to get up again.

"Morning, Granger."

She clutched a hand over her heart. "Bloody hell, Blaise!"

He stepped all the way into her office and grinned. "Apologies. You're jumpier than usual."

"Did Draco send you to check on me as well?"

She could tell by the sheepish shrug of his shoulders that was the case. Did that man have no faith in her ability to take care of herself?

"And before you say anything, he's just concerned." He shifted on his feet as his gaze roved over her. "Surely, you realize that idiot would throw himself under the Knight Bus for you. You can't exactly expect to be carrying his child and not have him turn into an overbearing nutter."

Hermione bit her lip, an attempt not to outwardly flinch. It was a contraction. The last one was thirty minutes ago though. She'd already left home. Still too far apart to be of concern.

"I wish I'd had the baby on time. Perhaps then I wouldn't have to deal with him plying me with every trick he can read about."

Blaise's mouth pulled into a smirk. "What was last night? The spicy food? Or spicy in bed?"

Her mouth dropped at his invasive question. She reached for the nearest solid object and chucked it at him. "Zabini!"

He fumbled to catch the paper weight and chuckled. "Sorry. I couldn't help it. He had a whole list of things that are supposed to induce labor. Theo suggested Indian food."

She sighed and accepted her paper weight when he levitated it back to her. "We've tried everything, trust me."

He grinned again. "Sounds entertaining." He glanced at his watch. "Well, now that I've completed my check-in, I suppose I should let you get on with it then. See you in a bit."

She nodded and watched as he left. She let out a breath. She wasn't quite sure how long she'd be able to hide the contractions without alarming everyone. They were still too far apart for her to be terribly worried.

11:30am

Higgenbotham had a terrible reputation for being one of the most boring presenters. Half of the room was nearly asleep as he droned on about figures and numbers, half of which Hermione wondered if he'd actually checked beforehand because they weren't making sense. Interdepartmental meetings were the bane of her existence.

That and Blaise Zabini's watchful eyes any time she so much as moved a muscle. Reach for her tea? He arched a brow. Shift her feet under the table, his mouth twitched. Merlin forbid she shift in her seat because her bum was going to sleep.

The fingers of her right hand drummed along the tabletop as her eyes strayed to the clock on the wall. Half eleven. How long had this meeting been going on? The seconds ticked by slowly, taunting her. A sudden seige of pain ripped through her and she gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white. This was the worst one yet.

"Hermione," Blaise whispered.

Blast these stupid meetings!

His eyes widened when she finally looked at him. "You're in labor, aren't you?"

She released a puff of air and nodded. "Technically speaking, yes."

His chair pushed back with a dramatic screech, interrupting their colleague's droning. She allowed him to pull her out of her chair carefully. The contractions were getting closer and clearly harder to hide.

"I'm fine," she hissed as everyone's eyes pierced her with concern. "Just in labor."

The room erupted in chaotic murmurs and movement. Hermione would have yelled if she'd had the ability.

"Someone send a memo to Potter to meet us in the atrium," Blaise ordered as they made their way to the door.

"What about her husband?" Someone shouted.

Hermione shook her head. "Harry…Harry will call him."

Draco was only half listening as his assistant rattled off the monthly earnings and his next meetings. He had half a mind to tell him to cancel them or reschedule. However, he knew Hermione would have his head if she found out he was putting everything on hold too soon. She was stubborn like that. It was in conflict with her normal urge to plan everything down to the minute detail and he didn't particularly care for this personality quirk.

"Mr. Malfoy?"

"Hmm?" He lifted his eyes from the parchment he'd been doodling on. Where had his mind gone?

"Er…sir."

His assistant pointed to the patronus standing across from his desk. The translucent stag bent its head and Draco shot to his feet, parchment fluttering around him.

"Hermione's in labor," he breathed. "Martin, reschedule everything. I'll be on leave until further notice." He gripped his wand tightly. "And call Mrs. Granger. Tell her to meet us at the hospital."

He gave his assistant no time to respond and disapparated on the spot.

12:00pm

Draco had little practice with muggle hospitals, only the appointments that he accompanied Hermione to in order to check the baby's progress. Frazzled as he was, he stood in the reception area, lost and confused, mind fuzzy beyond comprehension.

"Oi! There you are."

He hoped he'd never be this thankful to hear Harry Potter's stupid voice ever again.

Harry waved him towards a set of double doors. "They've already got her in a room."

Draco nodded and followed him down the long corridor. It smelled of muggle antiseptic and something else he couldn't quite define. The pale walls should have been cheery but all it did was make him feel like they were closing in on him.

Everything would change today. He would be a father of two, not just one. He also had a wife that knew exactly what she was doing and no matter how much he read, he still didn't feel prepared.

He grabbed Harry's sleeve before they could step inside the room. "Potter—"

The words caught in his throat. Harry tilted his head and after a short moment nodded.

"I don't say this lightly, Malfoy," he heaved a sigh, "but if there's anyone equipped for being a father, it's you. You've taken good care of my niece. You're ready."

Draco sucked in a breath and followed him inside the hospital room. He wasn't sure what to expect really. He'd never been present for anyone giving birth. The most exposure had been in a few muggle films and he'd been warned that was all terribly fake.

Hermione was sitting up in bed at least, already changed into a hospital gown and her curls pulled back in some messy bun at the back of her head. Her cheeks were pink with exertion and she sighed when her eyes found him there.

"Oh good, you're here," Ginny said from her bedside. "Now you can hold her hand through the next contraction. I think I need skelegro to sort mine out as it is."

Harry chuckled. "Forget how strong she was?"

Ginny shook her hand out as she rounded the bed. "Merlin, yes. She's worse than I was."

Harry flashed Hermione a smile. "I rang your mum. She's grabbing Rose from school and will be here soon." He clapped Draco on the back. "We'll give you a moment."

Draco nodded and before he was truly prepared to face this reality, the door clicked shut softly and he was alone with his wife.

She held her hand out to him and like a magnet, he moved. "I swear I'm not as bad as they say I am."

He shucked his blazer as he walked and dropped it over the empty chair as he sank into it and took her hand. "I'm sure you're not—unless you're busy insisting on going to work when you really shouldn't have. Have you been in labor all morning?"

Her sheepish smile said it all.

He shook his head. "Stubborn witch."

She sighed and closed her eyes. "My contractions slowed after I was admitted. We may be here a while."

Draco reached to pull at his tie with his free hand. "I won't leave your side."

2:00pm

And he meant it. Draco was glued to her. If she so much as shifted in her hospital bed, he was nearly on his feet.

She sighed. "You know…I'd have thought you more relaxed about this."

His expression turned incredulous, as if she'd just told him she planned to rob Gringott's…again. "Why on earth would I be relaxed about this? You're having a baby. I realize you've done this before but I haven't."

She tilted her head. "You know that I know about the baby books you've been reading, don't you?"

He blanched. "I've no idea what you're on about."

"Draco, please. Don't insult my intelligence. I'm having a baby, not a brain transplant."

His eyes widened in alarm. "Is that even possible?"

She snorted. "No, it's not. But why did you feel the need to hide those from me?"

He lifted his shoulders in a tight shrug. He still had his tie loose around his collar and his waistcoat was buttoned. She really wished he'd relax.

"I don't know. I didn't want you to have to teach me everything about caring for a baby. I can't imagine that would have been enjoyable while trying to recover from giving birth. I'm just—trying to do my part, Hermione."

She sighed and allowed her eyes to close for a moment. "And you're doing just fine but I never expected you to know everything."

"We're here."

She opened her eyes quickly. Her mother stood grinning in the doorway, Rose close by her side. Hermione held her hand out to her.

"Come here, sweetheart."

Rose tipped her head back to check with her grandmother and Hermione could only guess what was said in the car. Her mum was always trying to look out for her and maybe it was because Hermione had been a single parent for so long but she was extra sensitive to Rose's emotions.

"Go on," Mrs. Granger nodded.

Rose hurried into the room and leaned up on her toes so she could be gathered in an awkward hug. Hermione pressed a kiss to her temple as she drew back.

"How was school?"

She shrugged. "Not as exciting as this. Gran said you started labor this morning. How come no one came to get me sooner?"

Draco chuckled from the other side of the bed. "Trust me. The baby's in no rush. We'll be here a while longer still."

"Your dad's right. There was no sense in you missing school when the baby's still so far off. Do you have homework?"

Rose's eyes widened. "How can I think about homework now?"

Mrs. Granger laughed. "I told her teachers she likely wouldn't be in tomorrow. I had a feeling. I think one day off will be just fine."

Hermione nodded. "Alright then. Aunt Ginny will be back here soon. She's going to take you home to change out of your school clothes, feed Nyx, and take you for an early dinner with her and James."

"But what if I miss it?"

"You won't," Draco assured her.

Hermione cupped her cheek. She could still remember the first time she laid eyes on her. All pink skin, blue eyes, and screaming her lungs out. She'd quieted as soon as she held her close though. They had a special bond and likely always would.

"Please don't argue, Rose. It'll stress me out more if I'm worrying about whether you've eaten or not. I feel very confident you won't miss a thing." She placed a hand on her stomach. "This one is taking it's sweet time just like you did."

Rose gave a dramatic sigh. "Alright." She lifted a finger and pointed it at them. "But if I miss it, I get to say I told you so!"

She laughed. "Fair enough."

6:00pm

Hermione melted into the bed as her contraction waned. She rolled her head against the pillow in time to watch Draco shake his hand out.

He caught her stare and flushed red. "You're stronger than you look."

She huffed but didn't comment. She was tired and sweaty and there was still no end in sight. A knock on the door drew her attention and Ginny poked her head inside.

"Is this a good time? Everyone in the waiting room said you're still a while away."

"Unfortunately." She rested a hand on her stomach. "This one's being rather stubborn."

Draco snorted. "Gets it honesty," he muttered.

"I heard that," she snapped.

He'd long pulled his tie from his collar and lost his waistcoat along with his blazer. His shirttails were partially untucked and he'd ran his hands through his hair so many times that it was threatening to finally rebel as well. He was obviously slipping.

Draco stood and ran his palms over his trousers. "I'm going to find coffee. Guard your hands, Red."

Ginny chuckled as they passed one another and she claimed his chair, dropping a bag at her feet. "How's he doing?"

Hermione shrugged. "He's fine. Overbearing whenever a contraction comes but fine. I'm glad to have him here though. How's Rose? Did she eat?"

She nodded. "Oh, yeah, of course. I took her for pizza."

She smiled. "You can't ever go wrong with pizza with her."

Ginny nodded and tipped her head curiously. "What is it? You look nervous or something."

Hermione pulled in a long breath. "It's the same things I've been nervous about all along. I'm nervous about parenting two instead of one. I've been trying not to dwell on it too much because Draco's listened to me enough."

"Hermione, you'll be fine. Rose is so terribly excited. She nearly talked my ears off about the baby all through dinner."

"That's sort of a relief. I worry she'll feel neglected."

Ginny's mouth pulled in a smirk. "I'll be the first to admit she's been spoiled with your attention but it's not like I blame you. She was your everything for a very long time and she's a great kid."

Draco slipped through the door again, coffee in hand. Ginny stood from the chair. "I brought you a change of clothes Malfoy. And don't worry—I didn't go rifling through your wardrobe."

He snorted as she passed him the bag. "How magnanimous of you, Red."

Ginny flashed Hermione a smile on her way to the door.

Draco shut the door behind her before he set his coffee down so he could look through the bag. "Bugger. I should have asked for the jumper."

Hermione drew a deep breath as she watched him and let it back out slowly. The baby surely wasn't decided about what it wanted to do in there.

"Which one?"

He looked up from unbuttoning his shirt. "The one you gave me for my birthday last year."

She closed her eyes and a sudden laugh bubbled up her throat, spilling over until she had to swipe at her eyes where tears began to collect.

Draco's mouth pulled in a funny smile as he shrugged out of his shirt. He gestured at the IV in her hand. "What in Merlin's name have they got you drugged on?"

She shook her head. "I just—has it really only been that long?"

His smile tilted into a full smirk as he slid a dark grey jumper on, covering his toned and scarred torso from her sight. Not that she cared that much at the moment. She could ogle him sometime when she wasn't about to force another human being out of her body.

"What can I say? I'm rather charming."

She rubbed a hand over her stomach. "Well, I certainly wouldn't be in this shape if you weren't."

Draco stepped out of his trousers and fished out a pair of black jeans she'd bought him recently. He sneered at the bag. "Trainers? She could have at least brought me a pair of my boots. It's the only thing separating me from dressing like bloody Potter."

Hermione laughed. "You dress far more posh than Harry could ever dream. Wear the trainers. You'll be more comfortable in them."

He rolled his eyes but brought the grey trainers with him as he dropped into the chair at her bedside. "At least they're not ostentatiously colorful. I think I saw Longbottom wearing an orange pair last month." His brows knit together at the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

She heaved another deep breath, trying her best to readjust in the bed. No matter what she did, there was really no getting comfortable.

"I'm just ready for this baby to come out. I've had enough."

Draco pressed his lips together. "I know, love. Hopefully soon."

Many thanks for reading. :)