Severus leaned his head back against the pillow, closed his eyes and sighed. He just managed to get rid of Potter and Weasley, after they insisted on 'chatting' for two hours. He grilled them about Hermione, which only made him more anxious to see her.
He needed to see her. Make sure she was okay, apologize. Hell, if he had the energy he'd crawl on his hands and knees, pleading her to give him another chance. Just as he was about to throw the blanket off his legs, there was a soft but firm knock on his door.
Nancy poked her head in.
"Are you up for another visitor?" she asks.
He growls.
"Actually Nancy, I'm a bit tired. Whomever it is can wait," he replies.
"Even for me?" comes Hermione's voice from behind Nancy.
His head whips over to look at the door.
"Hermione?" he questions.
Nancy opens the door wider, steps out and pushes a wheelchair into the room. Stopping right next to the left side of Severus's bed.
She's sitting there, in a white fluffy bathrobe and her hands clasped in her lap. Her beautiful brown eyes looking up at him.
"Beautiful."
He doesn't even realize the word escaped his lips.
"I will be back in an hour," Nancy says as she backs out the door and shuts it.
"I'm sorry," they both say in unison.
She laughs.
He looks at her confused.
"What in the name of Merlin do you have to be sorry about?" he asks.
She shrugs.
"I blew everything out of proportion, Severus, and not to mention I was really immature about it afterward."
He's shaking his head before she can even finish her sentence.
"No, I was being reckless and stupid. I had no right to take it out on you," he says.
She sniffed as her eyes filled with tears.
"Severus," she slowly stands up, placing both hands on his bed.
He quickly scoots over, kicking the blanket away to his feet to accommodate her.
Sliding next to him she snuggles against his chest as he wraps an arm around her.
"I almost lost you," she says as the tears slowly slip from her eyes.
"No, Hermione. I almost lost you, both of you," he says as he lays his right hand on her flat stomach.
She lays both of her hands on top of the one on her stomach.
"You're not mad?" she asks.
He snorts.
"For getting pregnant? If I remember right, it does take two people to make a baby."
She chuckles at first then stops, turning to look up at him.
"But...if you don't want this…" she stammers.
Placing a finger on her lips.
"I'm not going anywhere, Hermione. That is...if you'll have me. After what a pompous arse I've been."
"We're going to fight, Severus. There's no avoiding it...but," she looks up at him innocently.
"But?" he asks.
"There's always make-up sex," she gives him a wicked smile.
He smirks at her and pretends to think over it before nodding his head.
"Yes, there is that," he says as he leans down and covers her lips with his.
Darren is slowly closing the door to Severus's room when Nancy walks up.
"Leave it open, I have to escort Hermione back downstair."
"I don't think she's going anywhere, Nancy." Darren says.
Nancy lets out an un-ladylike grunt.
"I told them I'd be back in a hour, whether she wants to leave or not, is not up to her." Nancy says as she pushes past Darren and turns the knob.
"Hermione…" Nancy pauses as she takes in the sight before her.
Severus and Hermione are snuggled against one another, both of Severus's arms are around Hermione, his chin resting on top of her head. Nancy smiles and quietly backs out, shutting the door.
Darren stands there with his arms crossed over his chest, a smug smile on his face.
"Told ya," he says.
"Don't you have work to do?" Nancy snaps at him before she chuckles and walks past him.
Hermione's growling stomach woke up. Blinking a few times she had to think about where she was. When it came back to her she smiled and snuggled against Severus's chest harder.
He grunted in his sleep but squeezed her tighter.
"Good evening," he said.
She could feel the vibrations of his voice against the side of her face. Before she could reply her stomach made itself known again.
"I suppose it is dinner time," he mumbles.
A small knock on the door and Healer Campbell and Darren came in.
"Ah, you're awake," Campbell says, a smile on his face.
Yawning, Hermione simply nodded her head.
"Healer Snape, you are being discharged tomorrow morning, as well as a strict order from myself and Alan you take a one week vacation," Campbell says.
Severus snorts.
"Is that really necessary?" he questions.
Campbell sighs.
"Better to recuperate then struggle though work, especially in our line of work."
Campbell crosses his arms over his chest.
"Now. Rogers, please escort Miss Granger back to OB before she misses dinner," he says as he looks at her.
She opens her mouth to retort but Severus places a hand overtop hers.
"Yes, do get something to eat and I want you to get much needed sleep," he said.
She grumbles.
"Fine."
She pulls the blanket off her legs and swings her legs over the side of the bed. Darren is there to give her his arm to hold onto as he helps her into the wheelchair.
"I'll see you in the morning," Severus says as she's pushed out the door.
Campbell looks over at Severus as the door shuts.
"You need to keep an eye on her, Severus."
Severus nods his head.
"I may have been out for a few days, but I know when she's on a mission she doesn't stop."
The door opens as a tray comes floating in and sets itself on the table next to Severus.
"I'll leave you to your dinner, and congratulations," Campbell says as he slips out the door.
"Shouldn't you be on your way home by now?" Hermione asks as she's wheeled into a lift.
"Healer Hawkins left me in charge of returning you to your room," Darren says as he pushes the button for the fourth floor.
Hermione smiles as the lift moves and leans her head back.
"So," Darren breaks the silence.
"Everything's good now?" he asks.
"I think we're going to be okay," she says, a look of pure bliss on her face.
The lifts stops and opens up to the OB floor. As luck would be on her side, her room is directly in front of them.
Healer Hawkins is walking towards them as Darren wheels Hermione out of the lift.
"Ah! I was just about to retrieve you myself, Miss Granger," she says.
"I did rest while I was away," Hermione says with an innocent smile on her face.
Healer Hawkins raises an eyebrow before stepping back so Darren can take Hermione to her room.
As Hermione is being helped into the bed, Hawkins looks down at her chart.
"I want to double check your blood pressure before I decide if you're free to be discharged tomorrow," she says.
"I feel great…" Hermione starts to say until her stomach lets out an angry noise now.
"...just hungry," she replies, as her face burns with embarrassment.
"Lucky for you, your dinner is here," Darren says as a floating tray comes in.
Healer Hawkins waves her wand over Hermione, lingering longer on her stomach then Hermione liked but she smiles and nods her head.
Putting away her wand, "perfect. However, I would like you to eat more, and definitely more water." She says as she scribbles on her chart.
Hermione nods as she lifts the cover off her tray and breathes deeply. Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and yuck peas.
"So, I can go home tomorrow morning?"
She pops a piece of chicken in her mouth and pushes her peas to the far end of her plate.
Hawkins doesn't miss this and crosses her arms over her chest.
"If you eat everything on your plate, you can go home tomorrow."
Darren snickers, and Hermione glares at him momentarily before looking down at her plate.
"Deal," she mumbles but eats of forkful of peas quickly.
As she stops at the door Hawkins turns around.
"I also recommend you take a few days off."
She leaves the room before Hermione can reply.
Darren pulls up a chair next to her bed and rubs his chin as if he's thinking.
"Hmm, perhaps take seven days?" he questions but they both know it's not a question.
Swallowing her mouthful of potatoes she shakes her head.
"That's too long, I have so much work to do. School work and I need to be here," she says.
"For what, Hermione? Snape is healed. You gotta stop running yourself ragged," he replies.
"Darren…"
"Just hear me out. It's not just you now. You have a miniature Snape," he shutters as he says this.
She laughs at his.
He shrugs.
"Or a miniature Hermione...whatever it is, I'll pray it doesn't have his nose," he grins.
She laughs, wipes her mouth on a napkin and replaces the lid on the tray. It automatically hovers and is out the door.
Darren stands up, places a hand overtop her foot and gives it a small squeeze.
"Get caught up on your school work. Snape's going to be there, maybe you both could get started on a nursery...but most importantly...relax, enjoy the peace a quiet, because sweetie…" he walks over to her.
"You're going to be begging for it," he smiles as she laughs.
Kissing her on her forehead, he pauses a fraction of a second before heading for the door.
"Good night, Hermione," he says quietly before shutting the door behind him.
"Ready to go?" Severus asks from the doorway.
Hermione looks up. Severus is leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, a small smirk on his face as he notices Potter and Weasley's green faces.
She slides off the bed and wraps her arms around him.
Giving him a peck on the lips she smiles up at his displeased look at her public display of affection.
"You guys want to come over for dinner?" she asks as she turns around to Harry and Ron.
Ron looks like he wants to get sick. Harry is already shaking his head in the negative.
"Rain check, Ginny is still miffed that I've been gone so long," Harry says.
"Yeah, thanks anyway," Ron doesn't even offer an excuse.
Hermione hugs them both.
"Thank you for keeping me company until Severus got here, and I promise I'll keep you updated," she says.
"Good to see you again, Severus," Harry says.
"Harry, Ron," Severus says as he nods to both of them.
A mediwitch comes in the room.
"Alright, Miss Granger, you are free to go. Please take it easy the next few days," she says with a smile.
"Oh, I'll make sure she does," Severus says in his deep baritone.
Hermione blushes but says nothing.
Harry and Ron glance at each other before they say their goodbyes and make a hasty exit.
Severus smirks as he wraps an arm around her shoulder.
"Let's get you home and off your feet," he says and they leave the room.
Hermione leans against him and sighs in contentment.