Hey all! Sorry this took so long (damn that writers block!) This is dedicated to Freelancer, who basically told me to get my fingers typing or else I'd be in trouble ;D
Hope you all like this, and if anyone has any suggestions on where this could go, or what you want to see (or read) happen, let me know!
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Chapter 18
(This is Summer of 1965, and if you looked at the timeline in chapter 11, you'll know what's in this chapter)
"Do you think this is a good idea, Professor?"
"Albus, Arthur, I am no longer your headmaster, and since you and Molly have been kind enough to keep Minerva and my marriage a secret, I think I can count on you as friends, so please call me Albus."
"Oh, yeah, Albus." Arthur turned bright red. That was the 4th time that day that Albus had told Arthur that, but it didn't really sink it, he had other things on his mind.
"And what do you mean, 'is this a good idea'? Of course it is, why wouldn't it be?"
Albus asked, truly curious as to why Arthur would ask such a question.
"Well, you know, there was that murder a week ago, the Ministry's kind of unsure of everything, and I don't want it to look bad on me that I'm already taking 2 weeks off, and I've only been working in the new position for a little over 2 months. I mean, they're looking for dedicated people they can count on, and now I'll just be leaving everything, not that they can't get along without me, but……."
"Arthur, stop talking." Albus said chuckling, "The ministry will not fire you for taking 2 weeks off to go on your honeymoon. Even if you were just promoted and the murder is still a mystery."
"Well, yeah, but what if the murderer is still out there? I mean, that wasn't just some random murder, it was planned. And I might not be important in the ministry yet, but both Molly and my father's are. What if something happened to them and we weren't here?"
"Arthur? Albus?" The door opened. "Is everything ok?"
"Yes, Marshall, I was just talking with your son."
"Ah, yes, well, I think I should have a few words with him too. You know, about married life and all."
Albus laughed, "Yes, and the number one rule to surviving it is that your wife is always right."
Marshall laughed as well, "Now THAT is true, I don't think I'd have lasted a year without that rule."
"Well I'll leave you two then, and Arthur, everything will be fine. Now stop worrying and get out there, or else Molly might start to think you don't want to marry her." He said with a grin. "I bet she's not thinking about anything but you right now."
Actually, Molly was worrying just as much as Arthur, and for the same reasons.
"But what if something happens while we're away?" Molly asked worried.
"Oh, for God's sake Molly! Nothing will happen to Marshall or Elizabeth, or your father and I. We can all manage quite well without you. Oh, Minerva, please talk some sense into your former student!"
"Why? She's your daughter, Clarice, why don't you talk some sense into her? And if I'm not mistaken, you weren't acting quite sensible before your wedding either." Minerva said calmly, watching her friend and her former student pacing around the room and acting like nervous wrecks.
"Well you didn't help then either!" Clarice said glaring, although the memory of her wedding brought a smile to her face, which completely spoiled the glare.
"Fine." Minerva sighed, "Molly, you're about to get married to the man you love, you shouldn't be worrying about anything except for what's going to happen during the ceremony, the reception, and your wedding night." Minerva finished with a grin.
"Minerva!" "Professor!" Both Clarice and Molly were shocked, but Molly was turning slightly red too.
"Oh come off it, Clarice, you know that that's what you were thinking about on your wedding day, that's what I was thinking about when I got married. And don't blush Molly, really, we maybe older than you, but we're still woman!"
"Oh, yes, well….Ok, I guess the wedding should be starting soon." Molly said nervously. Minerva and Clarice just smiled.
~~~~~
"That was a beautiful wedding, didn't you think so?" Minerva said from the bathroom, where she was taking the pins from her hair.
"uhhuh." Was all she got in response.
"And the flowers were just beautiful, although I wasn't to thrilled with the color choices, I mean, red and gold, who likes that, right?"
"uhhuh."
"And when those flying monkeys came in and started telling jokes and dancing, well, that was just perfect for the occasion, wasn't it?"
"uhhuh."
Minerva started laughing and turned to face the man sitting on her bed and staring at her, "Albus Dumbledore, you aren't listening to a word I'm saying are you?"
"Of course I am!" Minerva looked at him, "Well, I was trying to, but how can you expect me to pay attention to words when you're standing right in front of me, distracting me."
"I don't distract you!" She laughed.
"oh, yes, you do." He said getting up and pulling her into his arms and kissing her.
"ewwww, that's gross!"
They both looked towards the door.
"Michael, what have we told you about knocking before you enter anyone's house or room?"
"Yeah, I know. THEY'RE IN HERE!" He yelled, and a few seconds later Richard showed up with Hanna right behind him.
"Oh, sorry you two, should I have kept them a little longer?" Hanna asked smirking.
"That's alright, Hanna, thank you for watching them tonight." Minerva said, walking over to the boys. "Did you have fun with Auntie Hanna?"
"Yeah, we played Quidditch…."
"What else would she teach them?" Minerva heard Albus mutter and smiled, but Michael just continued, not hearing what his father said.
"And I played the Beater! Richard played Keeper, he's really good too. Auntie Hanna says that we'll definitely make the Gryffindor team when we get to school!"
"I stopped a lot of the quaffles daddy!" Richard said excitedly to his father, just in case he didn't hear.
"That's wonderful!" Albus said, "But you know what? I think it's time for you two dirty little Quidditch players to take a bath!"
"NO!" They both shouted and ran off laughing as Albus chased after them, leaving Minerva and Hanna laughing and watching them.
"So, did you tell him yet?" Hanna asked in a hushed voice.
"Well I was preparing to before Michael came in, but I'll do it before we go to bed tonight." Minerva said grinning, "I can't wait to see his reaction."
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. And please try and be more careful now, remember that HE's still out there." Hanna warned.
"I know, and thank you for your concern." Minerva said, "now I should probably go help Albus with the twins, Lord knows he'll get wetter then they will if I don't go in there soon."
~~~~~
"Minerva?" Albus asked quietly as they were getting into bed.
"Yes?"
"Do you ever regret getting married like we did?"
"WHAT? How could you ever think that I wouldn't marry you or want to be married to you?"
"No, no, I didn't mean that like it sounded, I meant, do you ever regret marrying me in a small informal, sudden, ceremony? I know you wanted your family there, and the nice big reception…"
"Albus, our wedding was beautiful, I loved it, and I wouldn't have changed a thing." She said kissing him.
"Good. Goodnight my love."
"Umm, actually, I needed to talk to you about something." Minerva said before he blew out the candles.
"Can it wait until the morning? We had a long day you know."
"I know, and so I'll say this quick." She took a deep breath, took his hand in hers and said, "I'm pregnant."
Albus looked at her, then at her stomach, "Really?" He asked quietly.
"Uh-huh."
A smile broke out on his face, "Another baby! Oh, I hope this one's a girl, I always wanted a little girl, with your hair and skin."
"And your eyes, but my nose." She said smiling.
"Hey, it didn't look so bad before you broke it!" He said laughing, "I love you so much."
"I love you too, now let's get to sleep, I'm actually quite tired."
She laid down as Albus put out the candles and snuggled against her, his hand instinctively resting over her still flat stomach.
The last thought in Minerva's mind before she fell asleep was "everything is perfect."
End of Part 18
Yeah, I know this took a LONG time to write, but I'll give you a preview of the next chapter, it'll actually span most of Minerva's pregnancy, you know little pieces here and there, and the return of TOM RIDDLE aka LORD VOLDEMORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And PLEASE send feedback, even if it's like "Dammit, Girl, what took you so long to write this crappy chapter?" It doesn't matter, just as long as I know people are still reading and if they would like to read more.
THANKS! Love to all you wonderful readers out there!