Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
A/N: Thanks goes to all reviewers, especially WolfScar, Silver Trinity, deal-with-it, andbrokentoy19 who have continuously followed this fic and been patient with me in completing it. Most importantly, thanks to Julie for beta'ing almost all of this fic. You are my ambassador of R/G fics!
Chapter Twenty
Sleep had not come easy for Ginny, being almost nine months pregnant. When she woke in the morning, she sat up in her bed and stretched. Her back was aching and her ankles were already swollen. She groaned. She still had two weeks before her due date, and she wasn't sure she could make it.
On top of all things pregnancy related, she missed Remus immensely. She wanted to crawl in bed for him to rub her back; and fall asleep with his hand on her belly; and wake up next to him in the morning. She missed him. But more than that, she didn't want to fight with him anymore.
She showered quickly and made her way down to the hospital wing. It wasn't empty. Remus was there, waiting for her.
"Did you need something?" she asked coolly.
"Ginny, I don't want to argue with you anymore," he replied. He looked tired, and his eyes were red.
"I don't either, so why don't you just go?" she retorted.
"I just want to be with you; can't you see that?" he asked. "I love you, Ginny."
She sighed. "Remus, I love you, too, very much," she said in a calmer voice, "but I'm just not ready to settle down." She paused. "And I don't want to fight with you anymore about it."
"I don't either. That's why I have a suggestion," he said anxiously. She looked at him quizzically. "Just remember, that it's just a suggestion, and if you don't want to do it, that's fine. We'll figure something else out."
"Remus, what is it?" she said while grimacing in pain.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm fine, just a cramp. Go on, what's your suggestion?"
"Well, there's a small clinic opening in Hogsmeade. So my suggestion is, why don't you post for a job there? That way, you'll be on your own, and you'll still be close enough to Hogwarts. We can still see each other, and I'll be able to help you with the baby as much as possible." He looked at her hesitantly.
He hoped she would be happy with the idea, but instead she looked angry and hurt. "Ginny?"
"Remus, go back to your rooms…" She stopped speaking and winced again.
"Look, I understand you're still angry with me, but please, can we talk it out?"
"No! Remus, go get the portkey! I'm in labor!" she yelped, as another contraction surged through her body.
"Now?" he cried. "But you can't have the baby here. In the hospital wing?"
"Well, I'm bloody going to if you don't hurry, you idiot!" she shouted through the pain. "Now go get the damn portkey!"
Remus ran through the castle to his own chambers and grabbed the portkey. He ran back to the hospital wing, almost knocking down a group of students in the process.
Ginny was seated precariously on one of the beds, breathing hard. "Are you ready?" he asked nervously.
"Yes, hurry…Now!" she cried.
Remus tapped the portkey with his wand, and he and Ginny touched it. Moments later, they were at St. Mungo's delivery unit. Remus and Ginny were greeted immediately by a mediwitch.
She led them into a room and helped Ginny change into a gown and onto the bed. Remus, of course, paced nervously. Ginny looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you going to do that the whole time?" she asked.
He stopped and walked over to her. He took her hand. "No, love, I'll be right here," he said caressing her cheek. He leaned to kiss her, but the door opened.
"Hello, I'm Oliver Wood; I'll be delivering your baby," he said, not bothering to look up as he walked in.
"WHAT?" Ginny cried. Oliver stopped suddenly and looked at the parents-to-be before him.
"Surely you're joking!" he cried in frustration. He sighed loudly. "Unfortunately, I'm the only one available."
"What?" Remus asked. "Where's Healer Blanton?"
"He's out of town, and the other Healer is tied up with an emergency. So it appears we're stuck with each other. Besides, this should be a routine delivery, nothing I can't handle."
Ginny groaned, and Remus wondered if it was another contraction or their Healer. He didn't bother to ask.
Oliver came over to Ginny. "Gin, I'm sorry. You seriously have no idea how sorry I am, but I'm going to have to check your progress." She nodded meekly and he began the exam. Remus just held Ginny's hand.
"You've still got a few hours, but everything seems to be fine," Oliver said a few minutes later. He paused. "Has anyone Floo'ed your family?" he asked Ginny.
She shook her head sadly. Remus smoothed her hair before speaking to Oliver. "They're still not exactly thrilled with our situation, you see." The other man nodded knowingly.
"I'll check back in a bit. Call if you need anything, and the mediwitch will be back in shortly." Without another word, Oliver left.
Three hours later, it was time for Ginny to deliver. Oliver and one mediwitch were at her feet, while Remus and another mediwitch were at her head. Remus held Ginny's hand and whispered soothing things to her, while the mediwich attempted to keep her cool and comfortable.
After pushing for half an hour, the baby hadn't made much progress and Ginny was tiring. She began to cry.
"Remus, I can't do it anymore. I can't. I'm so tired," she cried.
"Ginny, you are the strongest person I know. You're almost there. You can do this. I love you," he said lovingly.
"It just hurts so much. It's so hard."
"I know, love. I'm sorry," he said, kissing her forehead.
"You should be sorry, you bastard!" Ginny yelled at him. "This is all your fault. You did this to me!" Remus looked at her, stunned. But Oliver spoke up.
"They all say that, Professor. She doesn't really mean it," he explained. This calmed Remus slightly.
He turned back to Ginny who was sobbing now. "Come on, love, just a bit more, and our baby will be here. Don't you want to see him?" he asked.
"Yes, but I don't know if I can do this," she said through tears. Remus could tell she was getting very weak, and he was worried about her. She didn't seem to be handling the labor very well.
Oliver, too, was concerned about Ginny. The delivery shouldn't have been this difficult or have taken this long. She was almost there, but if she didn't get this baby delivered soon, it would be disastrous. He looked up at his former girlfriend and forced a smile.
"Come on Ginny, you're almost done. I promise," he said, trying to sound cheerful.
"I can't. I'm so tired. I can't do it anymore." She grabbed onto Remus. "Please, I can't." Remus gripped her shoulders and helped her sit up completely. He looked into her eyes.
"You can do this," he said sternly. She shook her head at him, but he maintained eye contact. "You have to push, just a little more."
"Aaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!" she yelled in pain.
"Come on, Ginny!"
"I hate you!"
"But I love you. Now come on!"
"This is all your fault! How can you love me when you'd do such a thing?"
"I do love you, Ginny, more than anything."
"I hate you, Remus Lupin! And I always will!"
"Ginny, I know you don't mean that right now. I know you love me, but you've got to try. Come on!"
Before she could retort back with anything, it was all over.
And darkness took her under.
Oliver handed the newborn to the mediwitch. He tended to Ginny. Remus left Ginny's side momentarily to see his child.
The mediwitch was cleaning the baby, but allowed Remus to run his finger over a tiny hand. At his touch, the newborn let out a loud cry. Remus beamed with pride and quickly returned to Ginny's side.
"Oliver, how is she?" he asked worriedly.
Oliver smiled up at his former professor. "She's going to be fine, just passed out from exhaustion. She should wake in a few hours. Congratulations," he said softly.
Remus smiled at Oliver. "Thank you. You were brilliant." Oliver grinned and went to check on the baby. He and the mediwitch took the child out of the room for a full exam. Remus sat next to the bed and took Ginny's hand in both of his. He gently caressed the back of her hand.
He looked up at her. She was red-faced, sweaty and her hair was disheveled, but she was still beautiful to him. "I love you, Ginny Weasley," he whispered. "I love you and our child more than anything." Remus allowed silent tears to streak his cheeks. He cried for his own release from the previous tense hours. He cried for Ginny, having gone through so much pain to bring their child into the world. And he cried for the other woman he'd once loved and the child they never had.
Just as she had once done for him, he continued to sit there, holding Ginny's hand until she awoke.
Remus dozed off, but awoke some time later to the mediwitch gently shaking his shoulder. "Would you like to hold her?" she asked him. He nodded groggily and accepted his daughter from her.
"Healer Wood said to tell you there's no indication yet of lycanthropy, but of course, we won't know for sure until the full moon," she said quietly. "But he doesn't think it will be a problem."
Remus nodded, and the baby stirred slightly as her father settled her in his arms. She opened her eyes for a moment and looked up at Remus. He felt a lump rise in his throat and fought back tears.
"Hello, baby girl," he said softly, so as not to wake Ginny. "I'm your Da. I know you don't know me yet, but I hope you remember my voice. I read to you while you were in Mummy's tummy. I'm so glad you're here. We've been waiting to see you for a long time." He shifted in his chair and angled the baby towards Ginny.
"See that red-headed woman? That's your Mum. Isn't she beautiful? You'll be just as lovely," he said. "Your Mum is the most wonderful woman in the world. I love her so much, and we both love you more than you can imagine." He sighed and looked at Ginny.
"You know, I've really made a mess of things with your Mum," he said sadly. "I pushed her too much, and now I've lost her. I just wanted the two of you to be with me all the time. I want to marry your Mum. She's the greatest. But I messed that up. I'd do anything to get her back." He looked down at his daughter again and smiled. "But you don't need to worry about that, love. Your Mum and I love you so much, and we'll do anything to make you happy."
Remus and his daughter slept for a few hours in the chair next to Ginny's bed. Only when a herd of people entered the room did he wake.
Remus blinked in confusion at the bevy of red heads in the room and quickly looked at Ginny to make sure she wasn't disturbed. Instead, she was staring back at him with tears in her eyes.
He smiled weakly at her, handed the baby to her and stood, watching mother and daughter bond.
The Weasleys watched the exchange with interest, and finally Molly spoke.
"Oh, Ginny," she cooed. "She's so beautiful."
"Thanks, Mum," Ginny replied, smiling at her daughter. "But why are you all here?"
Bill stepped forward and presented a bouquet of pink roses to Ginny. "Oliver Floo'ed to tell us you'd had the baby. And I couldn't resist not coming to see my goddaughter. Everyone else wanted to come, too." He kissed Ginny's cheek and ran his finger over the baby's soft hair.
All of Ginny's brothers stepped forward to hug her and admire the newest Weasley. Remus sadly stood in the doorway, fighting back tears. He stepped out into the hallway and was startled when Molly followed him.
"Remus," she said softly, "I want to apologize for everything I said."
Remus put his hand up to stop her. "Molly, it's fine. I know how protective you are of Ginny. I didn't really understand it until just now when I was holding my own daughter."
Molly smiled at him and took his hand. "If you want to marry her, I won't stand in your way."
Remus bent to kiss her cheek. "Thanks, Molly."
She smiled once more at him before going back to fuss over her granddaughter.
Several minutes later, Bill found Remus. "She wants to speak with you," he said. "Alone."
Remus nodded mutely and returned to Ginny's room. As everyone was leaving, Fred closed the door behind him.
"Come and sit with me, Remus," Ginny said. "There are things to be said."
Remus slowly crossed the room and gingerly sat on the foot of her bed. He gazed at the sleeping baby in her arms, and his heart clinched.
Ginny reached and put her hand on top of Remus'. "Remus, I'm so sorry," she said as tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry for hurting you."
"It's okay, Ginny," he said. "I shouldn't have pushed you."
"You didn't," she insisted, caressing his knuckles. "I pushed you away because I was afraid. I was stupid and immature and wrong. I can't be without you. I can't raise our daughter without you. I want us to be a family. I need you, Remus. I love you." Her bottom lip quivered, and the tears in her eyes fell down her cheeks.
"Oh, Ginny," Remus said, as his own tears fell. "I love you, too. I've been so miserable without you. We don't have to get married until you want to, if you ever want to. Just please don't leave me again."
"Never," she said as he leaned forward to wrap his arms around her.
The couple held each other and cried for several moments before Bill popped his head into the room. "Can I come in?" he asked.
"Of course," Ginny said, wiping her face. "Come and hold your goddaughter."
As Bill took the baby in his arms, the rest of the Weasley clan came into the room. Blaise had arrived, and his arm was protectively around Ron's shoulders. Molly kept stealing glances at them and shaking her head, while Fred and George kept snickering behind their hands. Remus and Ginny exchanged a look that said, "Apparently, they've told everyone now."
"Does she have a name yet?" Arthur asked, snapping pictures with his camera.
Remus stared blankly at Ginny for a moment before she smiled at him. "Yes, she does," she said. "Everyone, meet Amelia Jane."
"Amelia Jane," Ron said, trying it out. "I like it. Amelia Jane Weasley."
"No," Ginny said. "Amelia Jane Lupin."
At that, Remus leaned over and kissed Ginny very softly on the lips. After a few moments, though, Arthur coughed, interrupting them.
Remus blushed, but Arthur winked at his daughter.
"Welcome to the family, Amelia…and Remus," he said, smiling broadly. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "You, too, Blaise."
Blaise beamed at Arthur then Ron, as Molly burst into tears.
"What is it, Mum?" Ron asked worriedly.
"Both my babies are in love!" she wailed.
Everyone laughed, as Oliver came into the room.
"I'm going to have to ask everyone to leave so mum and baby can rest," he said authoritatively. "You can stay, of course, Professor," he said to Remus.
As the Weasleys left, Molly was talking to Ron and Blaise about a commitment ceremony and china patterns, and Bill was whispering to Percy about the cute mediwitch he'd seen.
Ginny laughed at her family as they left before she turned to gaze at Remus holding Amelia, her new family.
She leaned back onto the pillows and sighed.
"I'll just take her to the nursery so you can rest," Remus said quietly.
"No," Ginny insisted. "Stay with me. Please?"
Remus smiled to himself as he returned to Ginny's side. He brushed some hair from her face with his free hand. He bent down to kiss her once again and answered her.
"Forever."
The End