Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and the kids.
Summary: Ron celebrates a milestone birthday with the help of his family.
Daughters
Ron and Katie Weasley were the most popular teachers at Hogwarts. Though Katie was older, Ron had been made Head of Gryffindor House during his third year of teaching, after McGonagall had retired. After all, Ron had been a Gryffindor prefect, Head Boy and Quidditch captain. He was the most decorated Weasley in Gryffindor history, surpassing his three eldest brothers. Katie, however, was perfectly happy being the school's unofficial "Quidditch Mistress."
Ron and Katie were the best of friends. After they'd started teaching the same year, they developed a close camaraderie, being the two youngest teachers on staff. This helped when it came time for them to get married.
They had an awkward first month of marriage. Neither was incredibly experienced when it came to relationships, so the physical aspect of their marriage was humorous to say the least.
Bill would tell Ron many years later that "Once he and Katie figured things out, they couldn't stop, and since they apparently weren't good at Charms, contraception was never used."
In the first six years of their marriage, Katie gave birth to four daughters. First was Rebecca; next came Lily, two years later, and another year after that Mary arrived. Finally, Allison was born a year later to complete the quartet.
Rebecca was a miniature version of Katie; she was a rough and tumble tomboy who loved to fly and play Quidditch. Lily was the anti-Rebecca. She was a prim and proper young lady who hated getting dirty. Ron wasn't sure what to do with her, so he took to spoiling her rotten and calling her "Princess." Mary was a good mixture of the two, though she took after Ron in his awkwardness. Allison had been born almost two months early, and she was often frail and sickly. Her parents and sisters coddled her and turned her into the typical "baby" sibling.
No matter how much Ron loved his girls, he longed for a son. Like every Weasley man, he wanted a boy to carry on the family name. All his other brothers had at least one boy, and he felt left out.
He kept pestering Katie to try again for a boy, and she wasn't opposed to another child. She's always joked they'd have enough kids to have their own Quidditch team. Unfortunately, Lily and Allison hated Quidditch. Ron said they would have to be the "reserves."
It was Ron's fortieth birthday, and Katie had planned a huge surprise party for him in Hogsmeade. All his family was coming, with all their children. Needless to say, the Three Broomsticks was closed, except for the Weasley party. His four daughters had received permission from Headmaster Snape to leave Hogwarts grounds early in the afternoon to help their mother set up.
Ron merely thought he was having dinner with his immediate family that evening, so he was stunned when he walked in the pub to a chorus of "Surprise!" from the entire Weasley clan.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, gripping his heart in mock pain. "Katie, don't do this to an old man!"
"Old, my arse," Katie replied, kissing his lips. "If you're old, I'm ancient. Remember I've got two years on you."
He returned her kiss and began hugging and shaking hands with everyone there. He didn't think he could ever get over being shocked at his mother's white hair and his father's nearly bald head. But they were still loving and cheery, and it always warmed Ron's heart to be hugged by his mother.
Remus, who was almost also completely grey-haired, shook his brother-in-law's hand enthusiastically.
"Good to see you, Ron," he said, smiling. "Ginny and I were just saying you and the family should come over during Easter holidays. We don't get to see you as much as we'd like."
"Thanks, Remus," Ron replied. "I've been meaning to owl you. I was sorry to hear about the baby. How're you both doing?"
Remus' expression clouded slightly. He and Ginny's fourth child had been born two months ago, but he had not survived longer than two days. Healers suspected severe heart defects that couldn't be repaired.
"We're doing as well as can be," he said quietly. "Ginny is the strongest woman I know."
"That she is, Remus," Ron said fondly. "That she is." He grasped the older man's shoulder. "If there's anything you need, please let me know."
"We will," Remus said. "And thanks for your help with Sirius and John through all this. You've been a real help."
Ron was about to respond when his sister hugged him from behind. "There's the birthday boy!" she squealed.
"I'm hardly a boy, Gin," he said, turning to properly hug his sister. "How're you?"
"Better every day, Ron," she replied, smiling genuinely. "Remus is my rock, you know." She took her husband's hand and squeezed it affectionately.
Ron watched them enviously. They had a deep, passionate love; one that was evident to anyone watching them. It wasn't that Ron and Katie didn't love each other. They did, immensely. But it was a love that had grown over time and friendship. He wouldn't trade Katie or the girls for anything in the world.
Ron roamed throughout the pub, randomly talking to people. Fred involved him in a deep discussion about the latest product in the Wheezes' Canadian stores. Having grown bored, Ron excused himself after several minutes and went to find Katie. Instead, he bumped into Hermione.
"Hi, handsome," she said, kissing his cheek.
He winked at her, and said, "Better not let my wife hear you say that."
"Or my husband," she said with a laugh.
"You've still got him fooled, telling him he's the best-looking Weasley, do you?" Ron asked.
"Of course," she said. They sat down at a table, and Hermione reached over to take his hand. "Look at us, Ron," she said wistfully. "We practically have grown children. We're married . . . and not to each other!"
Ron laughed loudly. "I know! You know when I married Katie, I lost a bet with Harry. Right after we all finished Hogwarts, he and I made a bet. I said that I'd eventually marry you, and he said you'd never do it."
"He was right, you know," Hermione said. "I never would have married you. I loved you, of course, but not like that. And now, I can't imagine being with anyone other than George. He's my whole life, he and the kids."
"Hermione, I loved you from the first time we met on the train, and you told me I had dirt on my nose. But somewhere along the way, I didn't love you like that anymore. You're my sister now, and I'm glad. You make my brother happy, and that's all I care about. Besides, Katie would kick my arse if I didn't love her."
"I'm glad you're happy, Ron," she said tenderly. "You have a beautiful family, and everyone here loves you. I hope this has been a good birthday for you."
Ron squeezed her hand. "The best."
"I would like to propose a toast," Bill said, once he had everyone's attention. He raised his glass, and everyone followed suit. "To my youngest brother, Ron. He may not be as good-looking as me, as risky as Charlie, as smart as Percy, as troublesome as the twins, or as loving as Ginny. But he's the best brother any of us could have asked for, and he's the best man, not only in this room, but in any room. Happy Birthday, Ron!"
After blowing out his candles, Ron rose to give his birthday speech.
"First of all, thanks for coming," he began. "It's hard to believe I'm forty! But, at least my lovely wife beat me to it." He paused to pull Katie close to him and kiss her. "It seems like just yesterday, Harry and Hermione and I were dealing with three-headed dogs and basilisks." He smiled in turn to Harry and Luna and Hermione and George. "But time flies when you're having fun, eh?
I want to thank Katie and the girls for putting this party together. I will admit, I was a bit surprised, but happy just the same.
It's really hard to believe that Rebecca will be finishing school in two years. Now that makes me feel old. I'm so proud of all four of my daughters. You girls and your mum are the reason I get up every morning, and I love you all."
He kissed all his daughters in turn before returning to wrap Katie in his arms.
"I have something to tell you later," she whispered in his ear.
"Why wait?" he smirked, hurrying them off to the loo.
"So what is it?" he asked as he started to kiss the spot she liked, just below her ear. She purred at his ministrations.
"I'm not sure how you'll feel about it," she murmured, sliding her hands up under his shirt to feel his still-taut muscles.
Suddenly, Ron pulled away and gawked at her. "Bloody hell, Katie," he sputtered, "if you tell me you're pregnant again, I'll divorce you this instant."
She turned white as a sheet, and her lower lip quivered. "Well, you'd better call a barrister then," she said in a shaky voice.
"Are you really?" Ron asked, disbelievingly. She nodded, and he pulled her close to him tenderly. "Katie, I was just joking. Really, I was. I never thought that's what it was."
"You're not upset?" she asked tearfully.
"No, love," he said, rubbing circles on her back, "how could I be?" He pulled back slightly to smile down at her. "We haven't finished with our Quidditch team yet."
She laughed and swatted his bum. "You're horrible," she teased.
"Yes, but you love me," he retorted.
"More than anything." Katie stretched up to kiss him gently, but the kiss soon became passionate . . .
A half hour later, while they were readjusting their clothing, Ron said, thoughtfully, "I know what I want to name her."
"Who?" Katie asked, reaching up to wipe lipstick off his neck.
"The new baby."
"Who says it will be a girl?" Katie asked. "Maybe this one's a boy."
"Katie," Ron patronized. "I've let it go; so should you. We have girls. All girls. No boys. Anyway, I want to name this one after my sister. What do you think?"
Katie's face spread into a wide smiled. "I think that's perfect."
"Ginevra Katherine Weasley," Ron said, testing the name. "It's perfect."
They kissed once more before heading out of the loo, back to the party, to answer to all of Ron's brothers for their extended absence.