The doctor put her wand to Hermione's stomach. The rhythmic sound of motion could be heard. "That's your baby's heartbeat." Severus stood as the sound filled the room. It was the most beautiful sound in the universe. He took Hermione's hand and they exchanged a look of pure wonder. The doctor smiled as she listened. "That never gets old. Do you want to know the sex of the child?"

Hermione jumped at the question. "NO! NO! Absolutely not. We want to be surprised."

Dr Sparrow laughed. "Well, that's a shock. Most parents want to know, but it makes no nevermind to me. Do you have any questions?"

Hermione had a million questions, but with Severus in the room she wanted to ask the ones he wouldn't dare ask himself. "Dr Sparrow, I have a question, but I… I don't quite know how to ask it."

"Just ask Hermione. You and I are going to get intimately acquainted in the next five months, and there's nothing I haven't heard before. Let me give you the top five embarrassing questions I'm always asked. One. Can we still have sex? Yes, up until the middle of your eighth month. Two. Is there a position that is better for the baby? No, Any position that is comfortable for you is fine. Three. Will my orgasm hurt the baby? No, of course not. If you can manage to have one, go for it. Four. Can his penis bruise the baby? No. Unless he's hung like a centaur. Five. How soon can we have sex after the baby is born? I recommend 6-8 weeks. Anything else, or did I cover it?" The smirk on her face was irresistible.

Hermione's snort turned into laughter. "Yes I think you covered it doctor." She climbed off the table and took Severus' hand. His cheeks were just losing their pink tinge, annoyed at his private parts being the butt of her joke. "Thank you Dr. Sparrow, we'll be back."

oopOqoo

Their new quarters were on the east side of the castle and got full sun in the morning. They were comfortable and roomy. Hermione had not unpacked everything. There were boxes of books and nonessentials still in the corner. They had decided to leave Hogwarts right after the tournament and there was no sense packing twice.

Hermione woke to the sounds of birds chirping. She reached over to touch Sev, but he wasn't there. Her groan of frustration ended in a sigh. The smell of coffee filled the room and it pulled her out of bed.

He sat on the couch fully dressed with the cup in his hands. Gently cradling it and with the first sip, moaned in pleasure. Hermione was envious of that cup. He looked up at her and smiled. "Good Morning my love. Did you sleep well?"

Hermione hadn't bothered with a robe and her enlarging breasts jiggled enticingly under her pink satin gown as she moved. "Yes, for the most part. Still getting used to not being able to sleep on my stomach." She plopped down on his lap as gently as possible, putting one arm around his neck and taking the cup from his hands, drinking. "Ummm, that is good." She set the cup down and grabbed his face in a bruising passionate kiss. "Ummmm, that's even better." Her hands began to roam around his body.

Severus sat as still as he could, trying not to react. "Hermione, it's Saturday, we have the new teachers coming today. You should get dressed."

Her response said it all. "Bugger the new teachers. Bloom can take care of them, that's his job." She ran her finger down his frock coat loosening all the buttons with a silent spell. "I've tried to be subtle. I've tried to be patient, but this is it. I'm your wife Severus. You haven't touched me in months." She put his hand on her breast as she continued to kiss him senseless.

He pulled back to look in her eyes and moved his hand to her cheek. "I love you Hermione. More than you know." His arms went to capture her waist and pull her off of him.

"Oh no you don't." She was quick to react and pushed him back down. "I know you love me Sev. What I don't know is why you keep pushing me away. You heard what the doctor said. It's not dangerous for me or the baby." Her hands dropped to her lap and she looked away. "Is it… is it me? Are you not attracted to me now? Am I… You don't want me anymore?" She had tried for a rational discussion, but it was quickly deteriorating into tears. When he didn't answer right away, she stood up and walked away, feeling it was true.

He huffed and went after her. "It's times like this I want to turn you over my knee for a good spanking." Severus spun her around and melted at the sight of her tears. He grabbed her upper arms to try and make her believe him. "It's nothing like that! You are the most beautiful, sexy, exciting, incredible woman on the planet. I want you so much I ache from it. Do you think I take all those cold showers for my health?"

"Then why?"

Severus swallowed hard. Explaining his emotions was not something he was used to doing, but she deserved an answer. "I'm no Gryffindor, I don't wear my feelings on my sleeve, and it's difficult for me to speak of it." She looked at him with such pain he had to try. "I… I am... Ashamed. Afraid." He began to subconsciously walk about the room as he spoke, ending up behind the couch as if it would hide him. "I know I'll never be the father our child deserves. I don't know how. I still haven't secured a position I'm comfortable with, that could support us. What if I become like my own father? He was a brutal, boorish, heartless bastard who took out his frustrations on his family because he couldn't provide for them. And I am hesitant to impose on you physically. I know this pregnancy is difficult for you. It's already killing me that I did this, ruined your life deliberately. Every day you say something else hurts. I know the doctor said sex wouldn't hurt you or the baby, I knew that, but it can't be very comfortable for you to have a third person in there. The logistics alone are daunting. You're so exhausted most of the time, you fall asleep when you sit still for more than five minutes. Shall I go on?" By now he was on the defensive side, pacing like a caged animal, so she tried to calm him.

"Severus. Listen to me. Everything you say is true. I am tired, I'm sore, my feet are the size of nargles. But that doesn't mean I don't need you. Want you. We can offer each other comfort and release. You've talked yourself into believing you're not going to be a good father. That's bullocks. You're going to be a phenomenal dad. I know it's true, because you care so much." He bowed his head and grimaced. If she only knew how much he cared.

Pulling him from behind the sofa she put her finger under his chin and lifted. "The rest will come to us, I know it will. We won't be starving in the hedgerows. If nothing else, you can always come back here to teach. And you did not get me pregnant to ruin my life, you did it to save my life! We'll find a way to make it work. Severus, I need you. I need you to make me feel good like no one else can. It might be awkward at first but will you… just try. For me. Please."