Banana, Charles!

Pregnancy

36 Weeks

It was Wednesday night and Fred was deep asleep, snoring lightly next to his wife. His wife, on the other hand, was wide awake watching the muggle television on a low volume while she tried to ignore her back pain and the contractions she had been having once every ten minutes. She needed to stay nice and calm so that Fred couldn't feel the panic and anxiety running through their bond.

Healer Melanie had told her the week before that she was now safe to deliver at any time and Hermione knew that labor could take a long time, so there was no need to panic when her contractions started forty-five minutes ago.

She felt antsy and soon found it too hard to stay still, so she quietly climbed out of bed to shower quickly before she made her way into the main part of the flat, walking the length of it back and forth while she listened to the wireless.

She was suddenly thankful that her husband was a deep sleeper. There was no need for him to be up while she progressed slowly; to be honest, he would probably just annoy her with questions and concerns at this point. She wanted him to be as rested as he could be, because she knew she wouldn't take kindly to him nodding off during her labor.

She used the quiet time to her advantage and tried to mentally prepare herself for everything that was about to happen. She knew that all the books she had read could only prepare her so much; she knew that this experience wasn't something that could be planned, no matter how much she wanted it to be.

Her bag was already packed, but she decided to go the laundry room and pack an overnight bag for him so that he had a fresh set of clothes for the day after. Seeing that it was now 3:30am, she then busied herself with making some hardboiled eggs and toast with strawberry jam for his breakfast and put it in takeaway containers just in case. As she finished, she felt a weird feeling between her legs like she was slowly leaking and hurried into the guest bath to check.

XxXxXx

"Fred!" She said quietly, shaking his shoulder.

"Hmm?" He grunted, rolling onto his stomach and burying his face into his pillow. Hermione cringed, knowing his stubble always tore their silk pillows up so quickly. Realizing that this was not the time to worry about such things, she poked him in the back.

"My water broke."

Fred shot up in bed onto his knees, startling her and making her giggle. "What? Why are you just standing there?! We've gotta go!"

Hermione felt his wave of panic and smiled at him. "Relax! We've got some time! My contractions are still seven minutes apart. Take a shower; I've already had mine. I've also packed your bag and made you breakfast."

Fred climbed out of bed, his eyes still wild looking. "How long have you been up? Why didn't you wake me?"

"I've been up for awhile. There was no need to wake you. Now go get showered and you can eat before we leave. We'll floo the others after they wake."

XxXxXx

By 6:00am, they were settled into their room; at 8:00am Fred floo called the whole family to tell them the news.

Everyone started to trickle in at around 10:00am and Hermione seemed to be dilating at the slowest rate possible. George had come in at noon with apologies, stating he had to wait for coverage at the shop. He said Angelina would be coming later, she would be dropping the girls off at her parents in a few hours.

"Tell her to take her time. It's going to be awhile." Hermione told George from her spot in the bed.

"Not moving along like you expected?" George asked.

"Or at all!" Hermione complained. "I'm actually going backwards! I was a three when I came in five hours ago and I'm at a two now! How is that even possible?"

Fred sat on the bed next to her and rubbed her back. "We'll walk in a little bit, love. That'll help. While Georgie's here I'm going to use the loo." Fred disappeared into the en suite.

Healer Melanie knocked on the doorframe and stuck her head in. "Hey, Hermione! I had a few minutes between patients and wanted to check on you. Hello, Fred… Fred? Did you change clothes?"

"Yea, I decided to get out of those terribly unfashionable clothes and wear something worth meeting my baby for the first time…" George said.

"George!" Hermione exclaimed, smacking his arm. "Healer Melanie, this isn't Fred…this is his twin brother George. Fred's using the loo." As if on cue, the sound of the toilet flushing and the faucet turning on could be heard.

"Oh! Nice to meet you, George! I can see you're just as cheeky as your twin." Healer Melanie held out her hand and he shook it.

"And twice as handsome…" George added as Fred opened the door.

Hermione started to have a contraction and she tried to lay back and close her eyes so she could breathe through it.

"Only in your dreams, dear brother. You cannot possibly be twice as handsome when I have double the ears you have." Fred answered.

"It makes me all the more dashing."

"Oh I highly-"

"Shut up! You two make it really hard to concentrate!" She growled. "Don't mind me! I'm only in labor here!" Hermione gritted through her teeth. Both of them shut up and hurried to her side, each taking a hand.

Healer Melanie smiled. "Thank you, Hermione! Now that we're back on track, I'd like to check you… George… if you could step out for a moment?"

"Of course."

Healer Melanie put on her gloves and lifted the blanket. Hermione winced.

"Ah… you're halfway between a three and a four. Once you're at a five you can have pain potions if you'd like." The healer told her as she discarded the glove and washed her hands.

"I don't want my baby drugged when he comes out. I'm doing this natural." Hermione told her.

"I assure you the baby will be completely safe… we've talked about this, Hermione. You know that your contractions are going to be stronger than normal. They have to work harder to soften the cervix with all that scarring in the way...The potion won't hurt the baby."

"I'm not taking that chance! I can do this. I might not want to, but I will. I haven't gone these eight months being super careful just for something to happen in the end. This was in our birth plan... no potions." Hermione said, sternly.

Healer Melanie smiled. "Okay, Hermione. I'm sure you'll do great."

Around 6:00pm, Hermione was almost at a six and the contractions were getting closer together. Fred had taken his place behind her when she had asked, begging for some sense of comfort. Hermione turned sideways and pulled her feet close to her as she wrapped her arms around Fred and buried her head in his chest. He held her as close as he could, a feeling of complete helplessness running through him as she cried into his chest. George was still there and he stood, rubbing her back.

"I want Mum!" Hermione cried suddenly after a long, hard contraction.

"I'm sorry, love." Fred said, kissing the top of her head.

"No! I mean your mum! George, will you please go get her? And Ginny too?" Hermione said, turning her back to Fred and leaning against him.

"Of course I will, Herms." George kissed her forehead before he set off for the others.

When he reached the waiting room, they all turned to him, expectantly.

"She's asking for you, Mum."

Molly's face lit up. "She is? Really? Oh how lovely! Arthur! Hold my handbag." She jumped up and hurried down the corridor.

"Ginny, she's asking for you, too."

Ginny squeaked and stood up, hitting Harry hard in the stomach with her handbag as she handed it to him. "Bye!" She hurried off to catch up with her mother.

When Molly and Ginny entered, Hermione burst into tears. Molly hurried over to her bedside and hugged her.

"I don't think I can do this, Mum! I'm just so emotional and exhausted and it's so painful! And for some reason I'm so angry with Fred that I just want to tear his penis off and shove it down his throat! But at the same time I don't want him to leave! I know I shouldn't be feeling so angry, but I can't help it!" Hermione cried into her mother-in-law's chest.

Fred went rigid behind Hermione, hearing what she said. He had been feeling her emotions running through her and was now a little worried that she was so angry at him.

Molly laughed lightly. "I know you can do this… and it's perfectly normal to feel so emotional." She stroked Hermione's hair and hugged the girl to herself.

"Please don't leave." Hermione begged. She needed a mother figure there while she was feeling so out of control. Maybe she should have taken the potions offered to her. She shook the thought immediately. They had been so careful and she wouldn't mess anything up now. Their boy needed to come out perfect. Call her stubborn, but she would do this.

"I'll stay right here." Molly promised, patting her cheek.

George came back in to see if Hermione felt better now that the girls were there to help. Hermione pulled away from Molly and wiped her tears, leaning against her husband once again.

"No offense George, but I'm already having trouble not being angry with Fred… if I have to see two of him for much longer I might just snap. So, one of you have got to go…" Hermione said, her voice hoarse.

"I understand, love. Fred… you better get going then."

"Oh no! Don't you go pulling that, George Fabian! He's not getting out of this hell hole! He's going to suffer right along with me!"

Fred's eyes widened and George grinned back at him. George headed toward the door. "Good luck, Freddie!"

Another contraction hit as George left and Fred talked her through it, letting her squeeze his knees as he rubbed her shoulders. Once she relaxed she apologized.

"Fred… I'm sorry I said that. I don't really mean it. I just don't know how to deal with all of this! I know it isn't really your fault."

"It's alright, love. I've got my bruise reducer in my pocket." Fred said as he rubbed her shoulders.

Hermione laughed. "You might actually need it…"

XxXxXx

As the labor progressed, Hermione got more and more irritable. She was in the middle of a strong contraction, squeezing Fred's legs and gritting her teeth when they heard the door open. Her eyes flew to the door to find a redhead popping his head in. "We were just-"

"GET OUT!" She screamed, picking up her cup of ice and throwing it at him. As he jumped back and the door closed, he heard, "Oh, fuck! I needed that!"

"Ginny, be a dear and get Hermione some more ice…" He heard his Mum say.

Bill came back to the waiting room, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So, what'd you find out?" George asked.

"That she has one hell of a mouth and throwing arm when she's in pain." He told them as he plopped down next to his wife. "She could possibly be possessed. We might need to do an exorcism after all this is over. She is the epitome of why women aren't allowed wands during labor!"

"Oh! It can't possibly be that bad!" Charlie told him.

"You try, then. Go on!" Bill said, motioning towards the hall.

"Fine. I will!" Charlie said, getting up and heading toward the hall. He could hear George humming the death march while the others snickered.

He knocked and opened the door. "Hermione…"

"NOW WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU WANT? If you're going to bug me, did you at least bring me some food?!"

"I… what? No?" Charlie answered confused.

"So, you're telling me that you want to have a chat and you can't even bring me anything?! Not even some ice cream?" Hermione asked, her jaw clenched and her eyes wide while the others shook with silent laughter.

"But Mione… there isn't any food out here…" Charlie tried to explain.

"It's that hard to find a banana? GET ME A FUCKING BANANA, CHARLES! Someone give me something to throw at him…" Hermione said, her eyes searching for anything. Ginny handed her the pink, kidney-shaped basin that is used for catching sick.

"Thank you, Ginny." Hermione said, sweetly.

"You're welcome, Hermione." Ginny answered, a large grin on her face while her mother scoffed at her for giving Hermione something to throw.

Charlie shut the door quickly when Hermione raised her arm to throw it and hurried back to the others.

"So, what happened?" Bill asked knowingly with a grin.

"She's demanding a banana…" Charlie answered.

They all started to laugh.

"A banana?" Harry asked.

"I vote that we go down to the cafeteria to buy a banana and have boy wonder, here, deliver it. He's like a cat… surely he has a few lives left in him! Hermione's got a sweet spot for him anyhow!" George said. Harry tried to back out of it, but they voted and the vote was unanimous.

After going down and deciding to be safe and buying two bananas, Harry made his way to the door and stuck his head in, the bananas held out in front of him.

"NOW WHAT… Oh, Harry! You brought my banana!" Hermione gave him a large smile. "Come in! I want to give you a kiss."

Harry shuffled in sheepishly and set the two bananas on the rolling table before coming closer and slowly leaning in.

She kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair. "You're the greatest friend a girl could ask for." She said, before peeling the banana and biting off a third of it, making her cheeks look like a chipmunk.

"So, Hermione… how are you progressing?" He asked, looking down at her blanket covered stomach. The others groaned as he asked. Obviously, he was treading dangerous waters.

"An eight." She said with her mouth full. "Only a fucking eight." She swallowed her mouthful of banana. "I'm going to end up going on a mass killing spree soon."

"Oh… hmm… well… enjoy your banana! I'll be out there," Harry said pointing his thumb behind him as he began to walk backwards to the door, "cheering you on! Just let me know if you need anything…" He grabbed the door and yanked it open and hurried out.

"Did I do something wrong?" Hermione turned to Ginny and asked. When Ginny shrugged in response, Hermione shrugged too, relaxing against Fred again and bit off another large piece of banana.

Harry came into view in the waiting room and they all looked at him expectantly. He had made it longer than the rest and they took that as a good sign.

"How'd it go?" Penelope asked.

"The Weasley in her was really coming out with that appetite and that mouth she suddenly has!" Harry told them.

Bill snorted, "The Weasley inside isn't coming out quite yet…"

Harry laughed. "I didn't mean literally, but no… he isn't. She's at an eight."

They groaned and slid down in their chairs. They had been there for twelve hours and still no baby.

XxXxXx

"Hermione! We're almost there! Only a few more pushes! I need you to push." Healer Melanie told her.

Fred held both of her hands in his while he sat behind her. "Push, baby…"

"I can't! I can't do this!" Hermione cried, dropping her head back onto his shoulder.

"Yes, you can. Come on, love. He's almost here. Just one more push." Fred coaxed, kissing her temple and entwining his fingers with hers.

"Just one more?"

"Yes." Fred told her, knowing he was probably lying. One push at a time, he told himself.

"Okay, Hermione! You contraction is coming… you need to push." The healer told her.

Hermione did as she was told and Fred started to count to ten. When he got to six, Hermione cried out and Healer Melanie yelled, "the heads out! Stop pushing! On the next contraction, I need you to push once more and he'll be here." The healer suctioned out the babies nose and mouth.

"But, you said that was the last!" Hermione complained scowling at her husband.

"I know… but this next one will be the last. I promise. He's already halfway here." Fred nuzzled her neck. "We'll officially be parents." God, he loved her. Even acting the way she was, he still found her to be the most perfect witch in the world. She was in the middle of delivering their little miracle and he was completely captivated and astonished by her. She was making him a father. In two minutes he'd be a dad... they'd be a family of three.

Mrs. Weasley, who was holding one of Hermione's legs took a peek. "He's a red head! So much hair!"

"Am I the only one freaked out with the fact that a head is just hanging out of Hermione while she sits here?" Ginny asked, holding Hermione's other leg, refusing to look down. "Talk about birth control! I'm sewing my legs together."

Mrs. Weasley and Healer Melanie laughed as Hermione's contraction hit.

"Push, Hermione!"

"I really hate you right now!" She ground out at Fred while she bared down one last time.

"That's it! He's here! Born at 12:32am!" Healer Melanie exclaimed, lifting him up. "Ooh… look at those long legs!"

"Thank God!" Hermione breathed, dropping her head back against Fred's shoulder.

The healer threw a towel around the baby and placed him on Hermione's stomach while she rubbed him vigorously with a towel, trying to clean him and get him to use his lungs.

The baby let out a cry. "There we go! I was hoping he'd do that." The healer said. "Congratulations Mum and Dad!"

Hermione and Fred stared, teary eyed, at their little ginger boy.

"Here, Dad!" Healer Melanie handed him pair of scissors and clamped the umbilical cord in two places. "Cut right between those."

After cutting the umbilical cord from behind Hermione, Healer Melanie took the scissors back from Fred. "Hermione… the placenta will come easier and he'll latch better if you start breast feeding now…unsnap one side."

Hermione was still sitting open mouthed at what was going on. When she didn't respond, Fred unsnapped the shoulder for her.

"Huh?" Hermione asked, coming out from her stupor. "Oh, right!"

Once he was latched, she relaxed against Fred and they took in their baby.

"He's beautiful. He's got your eyes." Fred told her as he watched the baby over her shoulder and stroked their son's head with his thumb. His eyes were large and already a deep brown. The curiosity in his eyes could already be seen as he looked up at them.

She nodded. "That's the only thing of mine he's got." She sighed, biting her lip. "I didn't know I could love someone so much!"

Fred grinned. "I know. Especially someone we've just met. You did great, Hermione."

"I was terrible! I've never felt so out of control before. It was hard. I was so terrible to you… I'm sorry, Fred!" Hermione raised her head and turned it to look at him.

He kissed her. "Already forgotten. He was worth it all."

"He was. He is." Hermione agreed.

Hermione looked at Ginny and Molly who were watching them. "I'm sorry."

"No, no! Don't be. You two did great. I'm so proud of both of you. It's lovely to know I raised my son right." Molly said, stroking Fred's head.

Once Hermione got cleaned up and settled into bed, Fred went to go get the group. Hermione decided she didn't want them waiting any longer by taking turns coming in.

They all filed in and Hermione gave them a tired smile from her spot in the bed. When Charlie entered, he held a banana in front of him as a peace offering, making Hermione laugh.

"Oh, Charlie! I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me!" Hermione apologized.

"We suspect that it was possession." Bill said, grinning.

"Oh, Bill! I'm sorry! I didn't hit you with that cup, did I?"

"I managed to dodge it."

Hermione gave him a shy smile. "Good."

Molly, who had been holding her first grandson, passed him to Arthur for him to coo over before the baby was passed down the line.

"He's so wide awake, Hermione! Isn't he lovely?" Angelina asked her husband, George. "Looks so much like you two." She commented, looking up at him while she held her nephew.

"Such a lucky bloke… Fred and I are the most handsome of the lot, after all!"

Angelina handed the baby to Charlie. "He's got your eyes, Hermione!" He said, looking up at her. When he looked down, he frowned. "Of course! He decides to fall asleep when it's my turn!"

"You've got that touch, Charlie. You've always been able to calm him. Maybe that's why you're so good with dragons!" Hermione told him. It was true. Every time Charlie would put his hand on her stomach to feel him kicking, the baby would stop. He never was able to feel him kick.

"So, what's his name?" Sorin asked.

Hermione and Fred looked at one another. "His name is Gideon Ronald Weasley." Fred announced.

"Nice strong name!" Arthur said, grinning.

"That's just wonderful!" Molly said, bursting into tears and hugging Fred.

Fred gave them another twenty minutes before shooing his family out.

"Hermione needs her rest! Come back tomorrow!"

After they all said their goodbyes, hugging the new parents, Hermione snuggled deeper into the bed and gave Fred a tired smile.

"Thank you for being so great today. You were incredible, Fred."

He smiled as he held Gideon, sitting on the side of the bed. "Anything for you… for our family." He handed the sleeping baby back to Hermione to hold.

"He really is perfect, isn't he?" Hermione asked, stroking Gideon's cheek with the back of her forefinger.

Fred turned and sat next to her, sharing her pillow. "He is." He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles before turning her hand over and kissing the infinity symbol on her wrist. He let his thumb graze over the physical manifestation of their soul-bind before standing up and stretching.

"I better get my bed made on the sofa." Fred said, leaning over and spreading out the sheet.

"No. Please don't. Lay with me." Hermione pouted.

"Are you sure?"

Hermione nodded. "Here, place him in his roll bed and come lay." She held Gideon out to him and he did as she asked.

She cuddled into his chest and he held her close to him. He laughed out loud when he felt the love and affection that rolled off of her. "You love me that much?"

Hermione grinned into his chest. "You have no idea, Fred Weasley." She sighed. "Tighter."

He tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "You're my world, Hermione... and you've just expanded it by giving me the most perfect son."

"I love that he's ginger, Fred. I wanted one so badly. I wanted him to look like you... for everyone to know that he's yours. That he's a Weasley." She yawned, drowsiness hitting her hard. "Good night, Fred. Thank you... for everything."

He laid, smiling up at the ceiling as he felt her relax against him, her breathing evening out. She had thanked him, but she didn't need to. He was the thankful one. He had everything he could ever hope for now. He had his own business, Hermione as a wife, and a beautiful son at arms reach. At that moment he felt like the luckiest man on Earth.