A/N: It's mine. . . my own. . . my precious. . .
No. Sorry, wrong story. Not mine. Not mine in the least. Really.
"Is there a baby yet?"
"No, Fred. Not yet."
"Oh."
". . . How about now?"
"No, George. It's going to take a while."
"Oh. . . Hmpf."
". . . How about now?"
"No, Fred, you probably won't see your new brother until morning. Now, go back to bed."
"But Dad! What if we miss it? What if he comes while we're asleep?"
"Yeah! That's not very nice, not even being around to say 'welcome to the family'. What if he gets mad at us for being mean?"
Arthur couldn't help but grin at the logic of a couple of three year olds. "It will all be fine, boys. I am sure your new brother will understand completely. Now, go back to bed."
"But. . ."
"Now, George. Bedtime was two hours ago. Off with you."
Sullenly, the twins climbed back up the winding staircase to their bedroom. Arthur could hear them complaining the entire way up, but couldn't quite make out what they were saying. Probably best in the long run that he couldn't.
Arthur himself was a tad jittery. Molly had been in labor for over three hours now, and while that wasn't a long time by any means, he hadn't really heard anything from Healer Jacobs. Add to this, he had been effectively banned from the room after the third time he poked his head in and something crashed into the wall next to him. Much safer for the skull, he was sure, but much more nerve-wracking.
He picked up an issue of Witch Weekly, leafing absently through the pages. He'd thought about going to work on the Ford again, as Molly was rather indisposed, but he couldn't seem to focus his mind on anything at the moment.
The waiting was always the worst part, and Molly had yet to have a quick delivery. The shortest one by far had been Ron, and he'd taken six hours. "So I wonder when we'll see you, my son."
"Who are you talking to, Dad?" Bill's voice came floating down the staircase.
"No one, just thinking aloud. What are you doing up, Bill my boy? You should be heading to bed yourself."
"Oh sure. Two days back from Hogwarts, Mum goes into labor a month early, I am about to have another sibling, and you expect me to sleep?! Are you mad?" he grinned at his father before flopping down on the sofa next to him. "Might as well ask yourself why you're not asleep."
"I know, I know. Just trying to keep things in line while Molly is out of commission. I can just imagine her expression if she finds out you boys stayed up to see the new baby."
"I think I heard them say 'new baby'," Arthur heard one of the twins whisper from the stairwell. "Should we risk it?"
"Sure," an identical voice answered. "It's been a while, hasn't it? I'd say it's close to morning."
Arthur grinned at his oldest son before turning his attention back on the twins. "It is not near morning, it's only been fifteen minutes. Now go back to bed before you wake up your brothers."
"But Daaaaad. . . "
"No. Back to bed!"
"Wait. . . did someone say the baby was here?" Charlie's voice added to the commotion from the stairwell.
"Well, we thought so, but Dad says. . . "
"What's going on? It's not morning, is it?" Percy added with a yawn.
"Boys! Come down here for a moment. And don't wake up Ron!"
Four crimson heads peeped around the corner of the stairway before shuffling in front of their father.
"Now then. The baby has notbeen born yet. It won't be here for another few hours, at least, which is a lot longer than the time you just waited," he looked pointedly at the twins at that comment. "I promise, I'll wake you all up so you can meet your new brother when he gets here, but for the time being, go back to bed. Now."
"Yes, Dad." they mumbled as they shuffled out of the living room. When they were around the corner, Bill turned to his father with a great yawn.
"I should probably get to bed, too. I know you'll need someone to help out around the house since Mum'll be out of commission for a bit. Watching the twins is a full time job in itself!" he threw an arm around his father in a half hug. "Don't fret, Dad, it'll all work out. Mum's been toughened up, living with us for so long, and any brother in this family has to be stubborn. It'll be fine, you'll see."
"Thank you, Bill. Good night." Arthur watched Bill head up the stairs, picking up a hiding George in one arm and a running Fred in the other on his way around the corner. It was an odd feeling, being comforted by his son, but it was all the more appreciated for it's uniqueness.
Arthur was worried, but Bill was right. Everything would be fine, and the new baby would be even hardier than the others for wanting to come out early.
He sat back on the couch amid dreams of his youngest sons future accomplishments. . . Prefect. . . Head Boy. . . Seeker for Gryffindor. . . He could be the greatest Weasley Hogwarts had ever seen.