October 1979

Freya hurried to keep up with Aurors Alastor Moody, Frank Longbottom, and Sirius Black as the men ran in the direction of the Dark Mark that hung in the air above a small wizarding community in Northern Scotland. As the group of aurors arrived on the scene, the Order was already there, dueling against the Death Eaters. One particular Death Eater caught Freya's eye, and she gasped in horror as she realized that it was Regulus locked in a deadly duel with her brother. The other aurors had already scattered, engaging Death Eaters in duels of their own, so no one noticed when Freya ran through the battle dodging stray spells toward her husband and brother. Freya nearly screamed with rage when James's Stunning Spell hit Regulus square in the chest, and Regulus collapsed, unconscious. As Freya reached Regulus, she aimed her wand at James and cried, "Crucio!"

The Unforgivable Curse caught James in the stomach, his eyes wide in shock that his little sister would ever cast a dark spell at all, especially at him. He fell to his knees with a grunt, and his body curled in on itself in an attempt to escape the pain as he continued to groan. When Freya finally released James from the curse, James gasped, "Freya, why?"

Freya hissed, "You hurt Regulus. You could've gotten him thrown in Azkaban for life. I warned you what I'd do if you ever touched him. That was me taking it easy on you." Turning to her husband where he lay on the ground, she muttered, "Rennervate."

Regulus's eyes shot open, and he sat up slowly, holding his head as if it ached. He asked her, his voice muffled through his mask, "Freya? What happened?"

"James stunned you," Freya answered bitterly. "You guys are far outnumbered. Go home; get out of here before you get arrested."

Regulus nodded. He stood up, turned on his heel, and disapparated. Freya turned around and spotted a female Death Eater about to curse James in the back as he fought a man whom Freya suspected to be Zane Travers. Freya threw a Killing Curse easily at the woman, and the jet of green light caught the woman in the head, and she fell dead to the ground. As the Death Eaters began to disapparate, a curse caught Freya across the back of her left shoulder blade, slicing the flesh as if she had been struck by a sword. Freya shrieked in pain, and as she dropped to her knees, Sirius caught her and kept her from falling. "We have to get you to St. Mungo's," he muttered.

"No," Freya protested. "I know this spell; they won't be able to fix it. I need to go home. Regulus can fix it." Sirius frowned, but nodded and let her go. Freya managed to stay on her feet long enough to apparate back to 12 Grimmauld Place. She collapsed in the hallway next to the troll leg umbrella stand, and she called out as loudly as she could, "Regulus!"

Regulus ran into the hall from the dining room, Barty Crouch, Jr. on his heels. Catching sight of Freya clasping her shoulder, biting her lip to keep herself from crying, and blood pouring profusely from her injury all over her dragon hide jacket and the floor, he rushed to her and began to wave his wand over her shoulder slowly and heal the injury. Regulus snapped at Barty, "I thought you said you used Sectumsempra on an auror, not my bloody wife."

Barty exclaimed, "I'm so sorry! I couldn't see who she was, and I saw her take out Roxana Flint. If I'd known who she was, I'd have never cursed her.

"Oh, just shut up, Barty," Freya growled, hissing as Regulus put slight pressure on her wound.

Regulus finished healing Freya's shoulder, and he pulled her jacket off and pushed her dark grey shirt off her shoulder, trying to get a better look at the injury to ensure he had healed everything properly. Barty flushed as Freya's Ravenclaw blue bra was half exposed and looked away, staring at the ceiling with an embarrassed grin on his face. Freya smirked at Barty's reaction, then shook her head. Regulus's fingers traced the fresh scar down her shoulder blade, satisfying himself that she was all right. He asked softly, "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

Freya shook her head. "No, that's it."

"It was stupid to apparate here with a wound like that, darling. You could've splinched," Regulus admonished gently.

Freya smiled slightly at Regulus, not a trace of regret on her face. "I know," she answered. "But it was better than using the Floo and getting all kinds of Floo powder and soot in the wound. A broomstick would've taken too long."

Regulus couldn't help the grin on his face, and he shook his head slightly as he conceded, "You're right, as usual."

Regulus placed Freya's shirt back on her properly, and Barty stopped staring at the ceiling. Barty said sheepishly, "Sorry about that."

Freya shrugged. "It's fine. It's just a scar now."

Regulus helped Freya to her feet. He brushed a thumb over her cheek in a sweet gesture as he asked, "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

Freya shook her head. "No, I'm ok, but there's something else I've been needing to talk to you about. You've been off with the other Death Eaters for a few days now though, so I haven't had a chance to talk to you lately."

Regulus quirked a curious eyebrow at her, then nodded. "Barty, come get me if you get word from the others, yeah?" Barty nodded, and Regulus and Freya ran upstairs to their bedroom. Regulus kissed her lips lovingly, then asked, "Everything ok?"

Freya nodded as Regulus held her face between his hands, her own hands resting on his chest. "Yes, I'm ok. But there's something important I have to tell you." Regulus watched her face curiously but said nothing, so Freya continued. "Regulus, I think I might be pregnant."

Regulus's eyes grew wide in surprise. "P-pregnant?" he stuttered.

Freya's face fell slightly; she thought he seemed disappointed and upset. "Yes?" she answered nervously. "I've missed my last period by almost three weeks now, and I've felt all funny the last month or so." Freya paused, but Regulus simply kept staring at her, still holding her face close to his. Freya fidgeted nervously for a few moments, then asked anxiously, "Are you angry that I might be pregnant?"

Regulus shook his head hard. "No! Absolutely not. I'm sorry, I just…" he shook his head, a wide grin spreading on his face. "I'm just so surprised," he admitted. "I mean, we've never even talked about having kids. I guess I just never even thought about the possibility of us having kids. I mean, we're eighteen…"

"You still sound disappointed," Freya mumbled.

Regulus kissed the top of her head excitedly. "I'm far from disappointed," Regulus reassured her. "I'm surprised and worried and terrified about bringing a child into our crazy lives, but I'm thrilled."

"Really?" Freya asked.

Regulus planted a passionate kiss on her mouth, filling her mind with a fiery haze. Freya tangled her fingers in his dark wavy hair, and pulled him closer to her. He pulled back slightly, and Freya whined softly at the loss, making him smirk. Regulus answered firmly, "Yes, Vixen. I'm absolutely sure. I love you so much, and I love that you're pregnant with my baby."

Freya smiled and corrected, "Well, probably pregnant. I'm going to have to go to St. Mungo's to get the pregnancy test done. Would you come with me?"

Regulus's smile grew impossibly bigger. "I would love to. How does right now sound?"

"Perfect," Freya smiled. "Kreacher?" she called.

The house elf appeared in the room next the married couple. "Yes, Mistress Freya?"

Freya shed her dragon hide jacket and shirt and tossed them on the floor for Kreacher to pick up. "Please take those to Madame Malkin's and have them repaired and brought back to me," she requested.

Kreacher bowed low, collecting the clothing items from the floor. "Yes, Mistress Freya. Is there anything else I can do for the young Master and Mistress?"

Regulus smiled. "Freya might be pregnant, Kreacher," he said affectionately, pride beaming on his face.

Kreacher smiled. "Congratulations, Master, Mistress. Should I begin making arrangements for a baby room in the house?"

"Not yet, Kreacher," Regulus said gently. "We want to keep this a secret for now, just the three of us, ok? Don't tell anyone."

"Of course, Master Regulus," Kreacher said, bowing his head in deference. "Would the young Mistress care for anything special to eat or drink at the family dinner tonight?"

Regulus and Freya exchanged a glance, and Regulus instructed, "Freya and I will be having dinner separately from my parents tonight. Freya and I are going to St. Mungo's here in just a few moments." Regulus paused, patting Freya on the bum and ushering her to the wardrobe to put on another shirt. As she pulled Regulus's sixth year Quidditch jumper out and pulled it over her head, Regulus continued, "We will be having our dinner late in the kitchen rather than the dining room. Freya, is there anything special you want to eat tonight?"

Freya bit her lip for a moment as she thought about it, then shook her head. "I can't think of anything. I'm not really having cravings yet that I've noticed," she answered.

Kreacher bobbed his head. "Kreacher will make an extra healthy dinner for the Mistress and the Black baby that will be ready upon your return. Kreacher hopes there is a baby, and that the Black family line in all its greatness will be continued."

Regulus chuckled. "Thank you, Kreacher. Best hurry along to Madame Malkin's if you are going to have my parents' dinner ready in time."

Kreacher nodded, then disapparated with Freya's ripped clothing. Freya smiled at Regulus as he took her hand, and the couple returned down the stairs into the dining room, where Barty was still waiting for Regulus's return. Barty looked up from his wand as they entered the room. "Everything ok?" Barty asked.

Regulus exclaimed, "Everything's brilliant!"

Barty nodded slowly, glancing between the two as though unsure of what to make of them. Freya gently punched Regulus's shoulder in a playful gesture as she looked at him. "I think you can trust Barty to keep this a secret, don't you?" she asked with a sweet smile.

Regulus kissed her forehead, then turned to Barty. "Freya thinks she might be pregnant," he announced happily.

Barty stood up quickly and gave Freya a tight hug. "Congratulations, you two!" Pulling away from Freya, he was once again shamefaced as he said, "Err, sorry again about hitting you with that curse earlier. Would've been bad if I'd hit you any lower."

Freya shrugged. "No worries; everything's turned out just fine. Forget about it," she said reassuringly.

Regulus said, "Listen, we're going to St. Mungo's to find out for sure. I'd suggest you not stick around here unless you want to have to deal with my mother." Barty blanched at the idea of being alone with Walburga Black, making the two Black family members smirk slightly. "If you hear anything about Death Eater matters, let me know? Even if I might not need to know? Just send me an owl, it'll find me."

Barty nodded. "Sure, mate. And hey, good luck. I hope Freya is pregnant. It'll cement your position with the Dark Lord and the future of your house."

Regulus nodded slowly. "Right. See you later, Barty."

"Bye, Regulus," Barty said before he disapparated.

Regulus and Freya apparated to St. Mungo's and checked Freya in to see one of the Healers in the maternity ward. The two sat in the waiting room for about an hour waiting for the Healer to be ready to see them when they heard a loud voice from down the hall. "Where is my sister? Freya Black; I've been searching for her on every floor. Someone said she had been checked in here. Is she hurt? What's wrong with her?"

"Sir, you need to calm down," one of the Healers said firmly.

Freya rolled her eyes, standing up and heading in the direction of the voice. She saw her brother standing at the other end of the corridor with one hand tangled in his wild dark hair, glasses slightly askew and his black trench coat soaked in rainwater. Lily stood behind him, waiting patiently for him to calm down, her own brown blazer wet as well. Freya strolled over to the Potters, Regulus close behind her. "James, calm the bloody hell down and leave that poor woman alone," Freya ordered in a teasing tone.

James heard her voice and spun to face her, and immediately scooped her up in a big hug, lifting her off her feet. "Freya, what are you doing here? Sirius said you were injured in that battle and insisted on going home instead of to St. Mungo's, and then I heard you were here anyway, that one of the Order members saw you here. I was so worried! Are you all right?"

As James set her down on the floor, Freya answered, "Calm down, I'm just fine. I'm all patched up."

Lily watched her sister-in-law suspiciously, then asked, "Why are you here? This is the maternity wing of St. Mungo's." Freya blushed bright red, and Regulus rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Lily gasped, then demanded excitedly, "Freya, are you pregnant?"

Freya turned even more red as she stammered, "I, um, well, m-maybe?"

Regulus whispered, "I thought it was a secret."

Freya whispered back, "We're busted, just hush."

James gaped at his sister as Lily hugged Freya. "Congratulations, Freya," she said cheerily.

"Thanks," Freya mumbled. "But nothing's certain yet. I haven't even been tested yet, so I don't even know if I'm actually pregnant yet."

James suddenly wrapped his arms around his sister, pulling her to him. Freya buried her face in his chest and breathed deeply, and nearly cried when it suddenly hit her how much she missed seeing James and Lily on a daily basis. She bit her lip, and as she took a step back from James, he asked softly, "Whoa, hey, are you ok? You look upset."

Freya nodded. "Yeah, I just miss you, Jamie. I'm fine. Hey, if it's true that I'm pregnant, then it's probably hormones, right?" she said, forcing a small laugh.

Regulus put an arm around Freya and pulled her into his side, kissing the top of her head. "I'll make sure you see them more often from now on, ok?" Regulus promised in a sweet, soft voice.

Freya smiled slightly and nodded. One of the Healers called Freya's name, and Freya said sadly, "Jamie, Lily, it was good to see you."

James asked softly, "Do you want us to wait here till you get out? We don't mind."

Freya bit the inside of her cheek as she thought for a moment, then answered, "No, go home. Get some sleep. After the night you've had, you probably need it. I'll send you an owl as soon as I know."

"Ok," James said softly, squishing his sister in yet another hug.

Regulus ushered Freya over to the Healer, who led the couple into an examination room. The Healer introduced herself as Healer Deisy Lovato asked Freya about her suspicions, and Freya explained the bloating and the cramps and the missed period that made her think she was pregnant. Healer Lovato cast a spell on her, and a pink glow settled around Freya. Healer Lovato chirped, "Congratulations, Mrs. Black; you're definitely pregnant." Regulus whooped and joyfully swept Freya off the examination table and spun her around as she laughed.

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