A/N: About the Ginny fainting thing, some women have dizzy spells and they faint. I don't really know anyone that fainted during pregnancy though. Anyway, it's the last chapter (sob sob). This story has been great to write and thank you for all the reviews I received. Please review and tell what you think of this chapter. Please tell me if you want an epilogue. Enjoy! _
Family Affairs
Chapter 8
Ginny opened her eyes to a whitewashed ceiling and a heavy sterile smell in the air, disorienting her. She tried to sit up but a hand stopping her from getting up.
"Relax Ginny. Don't try to get up," she heard someone say.
"Draco, is that you? Where am I?" she rasped. She turned and saw him pressing and ice pack to his head. "What happened to you?"
Draco turned a light shade of pink before he answered, "Honey, you're at St. Mungo's. You fainted after the ceremony today. Doctor said you're going to be fine."
"But why did I faint? I don't have dizzy spells," she asked, looking perplexed.
"You're pregnant Ginny. We're going to have a baby!" he exclaimed.
Ginny gaped at him in shock. "We're going to have a baby?" Draco nodded enthusiastically, the melted ice in the ice pack, sloshing madly. "But that still doesn't answer my question, why do you have an ice pack on your head?" She heard him mumble something but she couldn't understand him. "Can you repeat that please? I can't hear you."
"Ipassedoutwhentheytoldmethenews," his words coming out in a rush.
"Can you repeat that slowly please," she said, emphasising on the word slow.
"I passed out when they told me the news. Apparently, I knocked my head rather hard on the floor when I fell."
Ginny looked at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. Draco looked at her slightly miffed, causing her to laugh even more. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you but I really hope that someone took a picture of you on the floor, all passed out. "
"In fact we did, actually," they heard a voice from the door. George was leaning against the doorjamb with a digital camera dangling by its strap on his finger. "Angie had brought this to take pictures of the wedding but it came in handy just now," he said as he walked towards his sister's bed. He gave her a peck on the cheek and showed her the picture of a comatose Draco on the floor. Another one of a still unconscious Draco with his finger up his nose, courtesy of Harry and Ron, followed that picture.
"When I get my hands on you brother….." Draco said squeezing the ice pack so tightly in his hands that it burst, showering his pants with ice-cold water. "Argh!" Draco exclaimed and walked to the bathroom, muttering curses under his breath.
George looked at Draco and back at Ginny. "Why did you marry such a weird person, I'll never understand," he said, shaking his head.
Ginny shook her head and smiled at her brother. She lay back down and snuggled under the covers, waiting for Draco to return from the bathroom. When he came out, his pants were dry again but he still didn't look very happy. George left the couple, promising more incriminating pictures of unconscious Draco, causing Draco to scowl even more.
"Lighten up love. You know how the Twins are. The more you try to resist their tricks and pranks, the more they'll try to get you," Ginny said gently, calming her husband down.
"Ok but they scare me," he said.
"It's alright. They scare Snape too, so you're not alone," Ginny assured him, patting him gently on the hand. "Draco, would you hold me?" she asked meekly.
Draco brushed away the strands of hair away from her face and looked into her eyes. "Scoot over," he said, taking off his shoes. Once she moved aside, Draco climbed onto the hospital bed and gathered her into his arms. He stroked her hair gently as she dozed off with her head on his chest. As he was about to doze off too, he saw Molly enter the room quietly.
"Don't wake her. I just want to see how she's doing. Please take care of her and please don't tell her I came in," Molly pleaded. When she saw Draco nod, she gave him a small smile and kissed her daughter lightly before leaving the room.
I wish Ginny were awake to see that. Then, she would know that her mother's coming around, Draco thought as he drifted off to sleep.
~ * ~
After her discharge from the hospital, Draco had started working from home, to keep Ginny company. They had moved back to Malfoy manor so that Narcissa could keep Ginny company when Draco had to go for business trips. Draco was happy to be at home the whole day with Ginny and his mother but the novelty quickly wore off, especially when Ginny's fluctuating hormones made her emotionally volatile.
It was after a very tiring morning of rushing around to get the different things that Ginny was craving; Draco collapsed into the lounge chair and sighed. I went out to Muggle London ten times, he thought to himself. Ten times! First, it was the Peking duck. Then it was the pizzas, the pastries, the strawberries, the roast chicken, the Thai food, the chapatti, the five different flavours of ice cream, tonnes of chocolate and the crisps. I just hope that she gets over this phase soon or I'm going to go broke.
Ginny had gone up to their bedroom for a nap, much to his relief. He wasn't sure which was worse, the emotional rollercoaster or the cravings. Draco had asked his mother about Ginny's cravings and her emotional fluctuations but she wasn't much help since when she was carrying him, the pregnancy was fairly easy, with minimum discomfort. Draco sat up, rubbed his face and sighed. There's only one person left he could ask all things related to pregnancy. He went up and left a message for Ginny, telling her that he had gone out for a while. He grabbed his wand and his coat before apparating to his destination.
~
Molly was in the kitchen checking up on the apple pies that were baking in the oven when she heard knocking on the front door. After washing her hands, Molly opened the door and found Draco standing on her doorstep.
They stared it each other for a minute before she greeted him "It's you. Would you like to come in?"
"Thank you," he answered and followed her into the kitchen.
She sat him down and the kitchen table and poured him a cup of tea. "So what brings you here?" she asked, seating herself in front of him.
"It's about Ginny," Draco began.
"Is she alright? Did something happen?" Molly asked, her heart dropping to her stomach as visions of Ginny falling and losing the baby floated through her head.
"No, no, don't worry. Nothing happened to her, she's fine. It's just that she has all these mood swings and cravings and I don't know how to handle it. I tried asking my mother but she didn't have any of these things when she was pregnant with me," Draco said.
After hearing Draco's explanation, Molly sighed with relief. She took a sip of her tea and thought about what to say to her son-in-law.
"She's into her fifth month now right?" she asked. When Draco nodded, she continued, "If she's anything like I was when I was pregnant, it's just going to get worse before it gets better."
"It's just going to get worse?" he whined. He laid his head on his hands and groaned. "So what do I do?"
Molly looked the man before her and she could see that he genuinely loved and cared for her daughter. Why couldn't I see that before, she thought. It would have saved so much heartache, tears and Ginny and I would still be in talking terms. Molly sighed into her tea before looking up and proceeded to tell Draco on how to keep an emotional expectant mother happy.
Twenty minutes later, Draco stood up to leave. At the front door, Molly laid a hand on Draco's arm and said, "Draco, I want you to know that I'm not angry at Ginny or you anymore. I want to apologise for being so mean to the both of you before. You are not your father and I know you'll take very good care of Ginny."
"Thank you Molly. That means a lot to me," Draco said sincerely, hugging the older woman.
"Draco, please come by anytime you want and update me on Ginny's progress. I would go over but I don't think she would want to see me after all the things we've said to each other."
"Molly, I don't think –"
"Please, just don't tell her? I don't want her to cut me from her life. The past months have been hard and I don't want to go through that again," Molly interrupted him, her eyes pleading with him.
"Alright, I won't tell her I came here," he sighed, giving in.
"Thank you. Come back soon," she said to him as he walked out. She saw him turn around and wave before apparating. Closing the door, she thought, Ginny had chosen her husband well.
It became a weekly routine for Draco to come to the Burrow every Saturday to update Molly on the happenings of the week. They would sit in the kitchen, drinking tea and talking, mostly about Ginny and the pregnancy. Sometimes, Arthur would join them at the kitchen table. Molly always looked forward to Draco's visits since Draco always brought news and pictures of Ginny. One Saturday afternoon, as Molly was making tea while waiting for Draco's arrival, she heard the fireplace roar to life. She looked to see who had arrived and saw Draco's head sticking out in the fire.
"Draco, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Molly, I can't come today. Ginny's in rampage about something," he said. The sound of shattering glass behind him made Draco wince. "She's here and she's throwing things at my person. I've got to go."
"Ok. Take care and owl me when things are fine," she said but Draco had already cut off the floo connection.
Back at Malfoy Manor, Draco pulled his head out of the fire and found a very pregnant and angry Ginny tapping her foot at him. Her arms were on her hips and she was scowling.
"Who were you talking to?" she demanded.
"Ummm, no one?" he answered.
"Don't you dare lie to me Draco Malfoy! I heard a woman's voice. That's where you go every Saturday isn't it!" she screamed.
"Umm…….ummm….."
"You're having an affair aren't you! It's because I'm fat and ugly now right?" she screamed, her tears splashing down her cheeks.
"WHAT! NO! Where did you get that idea from?"
"You're always disappearing every Saturday. When I ask you about it, you give me vague answers if you answer me at all. What do you expect me to think!" Ginny dropped herself into the sofa and brushed her tears away furiously.
Draco kneeled down in from of her and reached to hold her hand but she slapped them away. She stood up to walk away but he held onto her hand and hugged her tightly.
"Ginny, I'm not having an affair. I love you and only you. You're not ugly or fat, you're gorgeous. Why would I want to find someone else when I'm married to an amazing woman. Just like her mother."
"Just like……my mother?"
"That's where I've been every Saturday, Ginny. I've been going to the Burrow for a few months now."
"You've been going to the Burrow? I don't understand. She let you into the house?"
"She been helping me understand what you go through during the pregnancy, so that I could help you out and make thing easier for you. She's not angry anymore Ginny."
"Then why doesn't she talk to me the last time I saw her?" Ginny said softly.
"Both of you are very proud women and you don't want to admit when you're wrong. She's also afraid that you're still angry with her. She loves you and misses you Ginny."
"I miss her too."
"I know, love."
~ * ~
Over the next few days, Ginny had decided to make up with her mother and invite her entire family, including Harry, to dinner that Saturday. She anxiously waited for the replies from everyone and sighed with relief when everyone, including her parents had agreed to come for dinner. Once she had all the replies, she began planning the menu and decorations with the house elves.
On the day of the dinner, Ginny was making last minute checks on everything when a sudden shot of pain ripped through her abdomen, causing her to fall to her knees. Her back and lower abdomen had been throbbing since the morning but she just dismissed it as nerves. When the pain ebbed away, she managed to crawl a few steps before the pain ripped through her again. She screamed for Draco and prayed that the pain would go away soon.
"Ginny! What happened?" Draco exclaimed when he found his wife curled up on the kitchen floor.
"Baby…..coming," she managed to gasp before another wave of pain flooded through her.
Draco felt his face went pale and rushed over to pick her up into the living room. He placed her onto a pile of cushions before throwing a handful of powder into the fireplace.
Arthur was in the living room reading the Daily Prophet when Draco's screams rang from the fireplace.
"Molly! Molly, I need help," Draco screamed.
"Draco, calm down and tell me what happened?" Arthur said, taking in Draco's pale face and Ginny's pain-filled groan from behind him.
"The baby's two weeks early and I don't think there's time to go to the hospital. Please, somebody help. She's in so much pain," Draco said, almost in tears.
"Calm down, you're no good to her all flustered up. Wait with her, Molly and I will be there shortly," Arthur said.
True to his word, Arthur and Molly arrived at Malfoy Manor within five minutes. Draco was sitting beside Ginny, telling her how beautiful she was and to be patient as her parents were coming over.
"YOU try to be patient when a baby's trying to come out from you!" they heard her scream at him.
"Ginny, that's not the way to talk to you husband," Molly admonished. Draco looked ready to cry when he saw them. "Draco, get the elves to boil lots of water and bring some clean cloths over. Arthur, floo St Mungo's and ask if they have a mid-wife who can make house calls. I don't think I can do this alone," Molly barked orders at them like an Army General. Once they left, Molly turned back to her daughter and asked, "How are you feeling dear?"
"It hurts Mama. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for being such a bad daughter to you. I'm so sorry," Ginny started to cry.
"I'm sorry to baby. I'm sorry for not seeing how much you love each other. I'm so happy that you found someone who loves you as much as you love him," Molly said, tears pooling in her eyes. "Now, take a deep breath and grip my hand when the pain comes."
Draco came back with three elves carrying piles of clean cloths and basins of hot water. He took over Molly's spot and held onto Ginny's hands while whispering encouragements and wiping her sweaty forehead. Every time the contractions hit her, he was convinced that she broke one of his bones from how tightly she held his hand but he would rather break all the bones in his body than see Ginny in pain. He continued to wipe her forehead while silently praying for the labour to end so that she won't be in so much pain.
The labour was relatively quick as four hours later, the new, pink and wrinkled Malfoy heir entered the world screaming at the top of his lungs. He was in such a rush to meet his parents that he didn't wait for the mid-wife to arrive. When both mother and son were cleaned and lying in bed, Molly came up to see her daughter and her new grandson.
"How are you feeling now Ginny?" she asked as she sat down on the bed.
"Very tired but happy," Ginny answered, giving her mother a small smile. "I've missed you Mum."
"I've missed you too Ginny and I'm so sorry for treating you so badly."
"I'm sorry too, for all the things I've said."
"Draco makes you happy?"
"Yes Mum, more than anything."
'That's good. I know he treats you well but I still wished you had married Harry instead."
Molly looked puzzled when Ginny burst out laughing. "He wouldn't marry me even if I wanted too. Mum, Harry's gay. He's been going out with Dean Thomas for almost two years now. He just didn't tell you about it because he didn't know how you would react."
"No wonder he always looked uncomfortable when I mentioned how nice it would be if he would marry you," Molly said thoughtfully. "Well, all that's in the past. I'm glad that you're happy. My baby girl's all grown up with a family of your own. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks Mum."
Draco came in a few minutes later as Molly was leaving. He climbed into to bed beside Ginny, gathered her into his arms, and kissed her lips.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"Everything's perfect," she said and drifted of to sleep.