A/N: First off, to anyone who read "Why is it Always Me?" : Thank you so much! I had a lot of fun writing it and I'm glad I was able to make you guys laugh. Now, back to my more serious fics. Don't worry, there are no riding crops in this story! I hope you guys are enjoying this story, I've already got a sequal planned. ;-)

-April :-)

Chapter 6

Watching the sun rise over the Highlands had always been a favorite pastime for Minerva, ever since she was a little girl. The soft orange and red hues never failed to take her breath away. Nausea woke her about a half hour before dawn causing her to empty the contents of her stomach into the waste bin next to her desk. She wouldn't have made it to the bathroom. Now on top of all this madness, I'm getting ill, she thought. Her tartan bag, a gift from her beloved grandmother, waited patiently on the bed.

Knowing that she had to leave before the rest of the household woke up, Minerva put on her traveling cloak and grabbed the bag. She was going by Floo to the Leaky Cauldron and from there she would apparate to Hogsmeade. The fireplace in her room was not connected, so she decided to use the one in her father's study. She arrived without fuss and took a few minutes to leave him a note. It said that she would be gone a couple of days and not to worry.

"The Leaky Cauldron!"

After a rather bumpy ride, Minerva stepped out of the hearth and ran straight for the loo. Once the world stopped spinning and her stomach settled, Minerva decided that some fresh air was just what she needed. She strolled along Diagon Alley, watching the shopkeepers get their businesses ready for the day. As she passed Madame Malkin's, two women were talking excitedly to one another and pointing to a set of robes on display in the window. They were white with frilly lace adorning the sleeves. A sign read, "New Wedding Robes Available." The two witches, obviously mother and daughter, chattered on about how lovely the younger one would look in them. Minerva wondered if she would have to endure such nonsense. Highly doubtful, she thought. It was tradition for the mother of the bride to make the wedding robes and she didn't think that would change just for her. Trina's had been breathtaking, but she was also their mother's favorite. Feeling that she'd delayed the inevitable long enough, Minerva apparated with a loud pop, startling the two witches in the process.

Albus concentrated on the words of the Anti-apparation spell, holding his wand out in front of him. He resembled a conductor leading a symphony. He was still exhausted from the previous night's round of wards and charms. The incantation complete, Albus headed back to the castle. He wasn't quite prepared for the sight that greeted him when he reached his office.

"Minerva!"

She stood at his window, bathed in the morning light and still wearing her green traveling cloak. Her face seemed more gaunt than before and the dark circles under her eyes told him that she had had just as many sleepless nights as he. Albus still thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore," she said softly. I see we're back to formalities, he thought. He shut the door behind him and crossed the room to stand next to her.

Minerva suddenly felt quite warm and avoided looking him in the face for fear that she would lose her resolve. Being so close to him brought back all the feelings of that night. The way his hands caressed her; the way his hot breath tickled her neck as she drowned in a sea of endless pleasure.

Albus noticed her distress and moved away, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. "You left without saying goodbye." No sense in dancing around the issue.

He had tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but she could hear the heartache in his voice. She continued to stare out of the window, contemplating what she should say to that. "I was a coward. I couldn't face you in the morning." Minerva sighed and her shoulders slouched down like she carried the weight of the world. "I'm so sorry to have caused you pain." She choked on the last word and started to cry, silently, careful not to show him her face.

Albus looked at the woman before him and wondered what had happened to turn her from a confident, headstrong leader to this. It pained him to see her this way. Not really caring at the moment whether he made her uncomfortable, Albus got out of the chair and walked towards her. Minerva jumped slightly as he placed both hands on her shoulders. The contact caused a violent shake and she sobbed even harder. Stop it, her mind screamed. She wasn't even sure why she had started in the first place. Perhaps it was being so close to him and knowing that she was promised to another. A promise you didn't make. Perhaps it was because seeing his light blue eyes again made her realize with painful clarity that he was the only man who would ever make her feel complete.

He turned her to face him, gently, and she buried her face in his chest. Albus wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. His heart beat faster when he felt her slender arms hug him back, seeking his comfort. He reached up to stroke her hair. "Shhh, my love, I'm here," he whispered.

All her plans flew right out the window. She inhaled his scent and snuggled closer. The flow of tears stopped, but she still shuddered now and then. In his arms, Minerva felt that nothing in the world could harm her and she didn't want to let go of that feeling. She had come to Hogwarts today to apologize and hopefully walk away with their friendship still in tact. No, her mind protested, I am not free to choose this path. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip on him, but he refused to break contact.

"Please, let me go," she asked.

"I already did that once and look where it got us."

"Albus, please," she begged, trying once again to move away. He let go, but remained within her territory.

"Minerva, don't do this." His voice was filled with loneliness and she could feel the tears threatening again. "I cannot be silent any longer--"

She cut him off. "There's nothing that needs to be said."

"Yes, there is! Don't shut me out, my dear. You need to know how much I love you, how much I need you. I am a man who has been alone too long in a hot desert, forever seeking that which would sustain him. You are my oasis, but like a mirage you always disappear and I am left to wander again until I am fortunate to catch a glimpse of your beauty once more. Every time you walked back into my life, Minerva, I would drink in the sight of you, hoping to quench my thirst. I love you, but if you can look me in the eyes and tell me that you do not feel the same, I will never bring it up again."

A thousand butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach as the meaning of his words hit home. If she stayed with him, her grandfather would renounce her and exile her from the family. Was true love more important than her family? She looked into his eyes, which were bright and shining with unshed tears. Could she tell him that she didn't love him? Not in a million years. She was never a great liar and she learned from her school days that you could hide nothing from this man. He was giving her a choice; something her family didn't feel was necessary. The only choice in life that she made solely on her own was her decision to become an auror. Her conscience was divided, both sides arguing over her decision. For once in your life, Minerva, think of your own happiness!

"Albus, my life is so complicated right now," she said, searching for the words.

He interrupted her, his voice full of desperation. "Do you love me?"

"Yes!" she shouted. "Merlin, help me, I do. I love you more than anything." She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss him with a passion that had been building for weeks. He recovered quickly and encircled her waist, returning the kiss with equal intensity. His heart soared, the melancholy of the last few weeks washing away in a tide of hope. They broke apart and gazed at each other, breathing heavily. Albus smiled a grin so wide that his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. Minerva returned it with one of her own, but it was replaced suddenly by a look of panic.

Her eyes fluttered closed and she lost her balance, grabbing onto his arms to steady herself. "Albus, I need to--" She never finished her sentence as she pushed away from him and promptly threw up on the rug in front of the window. She took his offered handkerchief and wiped her mouth, cursing the bad timing of it all. "I'm sorry, Albus. I know this isn't the way the moment was supposed to go."

"Don't worry, my love," he said, cleaning up the floor with a swish of his wand. "What is the matter?"

"I'm not sure. It's probably just the flu or something."

"Come, I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing," he held out his arm for her to take. She started to protest, but another wave of dizziness came over her. "Don't argue, Minerva."

"Good day, Albus!" greeted the medi-witch. "Oh, and Miss McGonagall! How nice to see you again."

"Brenna, Miss McGonagall isn't feeling well. Perhaps, you could take a look at her?" asked Albus. Minerva's stubbornness was about to voice itself, but was silenced as she grabbed a bucket near one of the beds.

"Oh, dear," observed Madame O'Connor. "Lie down, this instant!" She pulled the curtains around, blocking Albus' view. "You can wait in my office, if you like, Albus." At that moment, Professor Kettleburn walked in and approached him.

"There you are, Albus. Can I get your assistance outside? Something has the hippogriffs in a right state." Albus glanced briefly at the curtained hospital bed, torn between wanting to stay with Minerva and helping the young man out. "It shouldn't take too long. I just need another person to help me guide them back into the stables," Kettleburn added as if sensing Albus' inner turmoil. The older wizard nodded and followed him out of the infirmary.

Fifteen minutes later, all of the hippogriffs were secure in their stable. As it turned out, a fox had gotten into their enclosure, spooking the poor beasts. It ran off into the Forbidden Forest so fast that they only managed to glimpse its bushy red tail. Albus returned to the hospital wing as fast as he could, hoping that Brenna was still examining Minerva and that they hadn't noticed his absence. When he got there, the curtain was still drawn, but he could hear the medi-witch's voice. He silently crept closer, hoping to hear what was ailing Minerva.

"Well, Miss McGonagall, I suggest you take this potion every morning before you eat. It will help with your nausea and morning sickness until it subsides at about 13 or 14 weeks. Here are some vitamin supplements as well that you need to take daily so that the baby grows to be healthy."

Albus stopped in mid-stride. Baby? He sat dumbfounded on the nearest bed. Minerva's pregnant? He wasn't even sure if he heard things correctly. The curtain was moved aside and the medi-witch gave a startled shriek.

"Oh! I didn't know you were there, Professor!" She noted the somewhat bewildered look on his face; there was similar one on the young lady's. Madame O'Connor had asked when Minerva was going to tell the father, but seeing the way they were staring at each other, Minerva didn't need to tell him. She had a suspicion that he already knew. "Miss McGonagall will be fine, but are you quite alright?" Albus shook himself from his trance and nodded.

"Oh, I'm fine, thank you, Brenna."

"I'll be in my office if you need me." She walked towards the back of wing, leaving the two alone.

Minerva sat down beside him on the bed, her mind still trying to come to grips with the fact that there was another life growing inside her. This only complicates things further, she thought sadly. She looked at the man sitting next to her. He was staring off into space, his eyes wide open. "Albus?" she said tentatively. "I take it you overheard all of that?"

"Not all of it," he answered, "but enough to know what's going on. You're going to have a baby." It was strange hearing himself say those words. "We're going to have a baby."

Minerva sighed, placing her head in her hands. "I should have cast a contraceptive charm! Why didn't I think of such a precaution?"

He gingerly touched her arm and she looked up at him. "My dear, we participated in a very powerful fertility ritual. I believe that even if you had cast the charm, the magic we created would have overpowered it just like our glamours."

She smiled weakly. "I suppose you're right."

"Come, my love, let us discuss this more in private."

Once in Albus' quarters he summoned some tea and cucumber sandwiches, which Minerva attacked veraciously. She had eaten the entire plateful before Albus could even finish one. "Sorry," she said sheepishly.

He smiled broadly. "That's quite alright. You're eating for two now!"

"Albus," Minerva began in a serious tone, "what are we going to do?"

"Simple! We'll get married, have a beautiful baby, and live happily ever after." He grabbed another sandwich.

"This isn't a fairy tale! It isn't that easy, I'm afraid." Minerva got up and began to pace. Concerned, Albus put down his sandwich, his forehead furrowed with worry.

"Why can't it be that easy? What are you not telling me?"

"My grandfather has promised my hand in marriage without my consent! The wedding is being arranged as we speak." She started to pace faster and her infamous temper was beginning to surface. "How dare he use me as collateral! That insufferable, old bastard doesn't have a compassionate bone in his body. I'm so sick of my life being lived for me. Doesn't anyone ever ask me what I want?"

Albus moved from his seat and touched her shoulders to still her movements. His hand delicately caressed her cheek. "What do you want, my love?"

She was so lost in his sapphire eyes that she almost forgot to breathe. After a few seconds, she smiled wistfully. "I want to marry you, have a beautiful baby, and live happily ever after."

He leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her lips, but it soon intensified into much more. They had greatly craved the other's touch and now were able to give in to their desires. Minerva ran her fingers through his long auburn hair, relishing in its soft texture. His tongue ran along her bottom lip, asking for admittance and she parted her lips to grant it. A heat started low on her body and was steadily rising with each passing minute. Albus moved from her mouth down to her chin and from there, down to her neck. She titled her head, giving him more access, and moaned audibly when he suckled the lobe of her ear.

He looked at her with eyes darkened with desire and before she knew what was happening, he lifted her off the ground and headed for his bedroom. She retaliated by nibbling on his neck, right behind his ear. He growled, quickening his steps. After laying her down on the bed, he began to frantically remove his clothing.

"Albus, you should probably remove your boots before you take off your trousers," commented Minerva, giggling.

"Or I could just do this." He snapped his fingers and all of his clothes disappeared. It took Minerva a few seconds to realize that her robes were gone as well and any reprimand she may have had for him was effectively cut off by a fiery kiss. He covered her body with his and looked at her with concern on his face. "Are you sure it's safe for us to do this? I mean, with the baby and all?" He knew it was probably too late to ask such a question, but he was blinded by passion earlier.

"Don't worry." Those two words was all the encouragement he needed. Their lovemaking was somewhat frantic, but they both knew that there would be time later for tenderness. He collapsed next to her on the bed, both a little sweaty, but fully sated.

"I love you, Albus."

"And I love you, my sweet Minerva," he replied, kissing her on the forehead. After adjourning to the shower, Albus tucked Minerva into his bed. She had started to fall asleep while they were washing, but she insisted that it was only noon and she never took naps. Of course, she was out as soon as her head hit the pillow. Albus brushed a stray hair out of her face. His hand wandered lower to her stomach and he touched it, softly, so as not to disturb her. It worried him how much sway her grandfather had over their family. That was his child growing in her belly and he vowed then and there that he would do whatever it took to protect them both.

Thanks for reading! Please review! ;-)