I woke up the next morning singing inside. He loves me! He loves me. I, Hermione Granger, am in love with my current lover, Severus Snape. But perhaps I should begin from after our kiss last night. When we pulled apart, he told me "Hermione Granger, I love you too." And he said it in the nicest, most romantic, most alluring voice. It is safe to say neither of us got too much sleep that night. I know I sound like a silly, love-sick schoolgirl, but that is what I am, minus the schoolgirl. I felt two strong, warm arms wrap around my middle. I turned over to greet Severus. I found him staring at me, with a small, amused smile playing on his face. I brushed the silky black hairs out of his eyes and leaned in for a good-morning kiss...never mind, I raced towards the toilet to throw up. Ugh, I thought to myself, Another x number of months...

Finally, two hours later, I was done being sick, and dressed and showered, as was Severus. "Why don't we go to the library, and do some research about what the next seven months will be like?" I asked, because Merlin knows we both needed it. I knew next to nothing about having children, even less about being pregnant, and I could imagine that Severus was in the same boat.

We hit a Muggle library, so there was less chance of us being recognized. Of course, we were not that lucky. An old neighbour of mine, Laura Geeves (a Muggle) was in there with a child of her own. She was three years older than me, and I had not seen her in four years or so, and I hoped that she would not notice or remember me. Yet a few minutes later I heard her screech, "Hermioneeeeeeee!" and she ran over, all hugs and how-are-you's. " Oh my gawd, you look great, but you have certainly put on a few pounds! Yeah, I'm like married and all know, and I've got a kid, his name's Colin and--holy shit Hermione...who is that?" She quit her babbling when Severus came up behind me, arms filled with books like What to Expect When You're Expecting, Pregnancy for Dummies, and The Basics of Child Care. "Oh my gawd girl are you...pregnant? And who is this guy, he sure as hell isn't your dad! Ew, he's not the father is he?"

"Laura, that is none of your business, good-bye." I kept my tone cool and my words clipped as I spun away.

"Hermione, who was that?" Severus seemed confused by Laura's onslaught of questions.

"Just someone I used to know. She's annoying isn't she?" I smiled. "Have you checked out these books?" He nodded, so I suggested we return to my flat to read over them.

I was reading about the three C's: Cravings, Contractions and Childbirth and I was ready to die. Not only would I want--no need--to eat lots of foods, some in seemingly disgusting combinations (the example the book gave was turkey covered in chocolate sauce with sprinkles on top), from Month Seven on I could experience 'false labour' meaning I would be in pain, but they baby would not be born. When I read about actually having the baby, I could not believe it. I knew the basics about childbirth, but reading all these terribly painful experiences and then seeing those downright disgusting pictures is enough to put one off having children forever. I voiced my concerns to Severus and he bloody laughed. I was so angry at him that I threw my book at his head and called him an insolent fool before running off to my room to cry about how terrible and unsympathetic he was.

"It's just hormones!" He yelled at my closed door. "The damn book says so!" After a few seconds of silence he continued. "Look, love, there's nothing we can do but wait for this to end. I'm sorry about not being more empathetic...it's just that I'm a man and there is no physical way that I can relate to you. I feel horrible that you are going to go through all of this, but I will help you as best as I can. That's the best I can do Hermione, and I'm sorry if I'm not good enough for you." I could hear him sit down outside my door with a loud thump. Then came the damn tears again, but this time because I was so moved by what he said. I hopped off my bed, dried my tears with my shirt-sleeve and opened my door, to find a rather dejected Severus sitting next to it. He looked up at me with such love in his eyes that I pulled him up and kissed him. Back to the bedroom it would be, then.

I awoke the next morning to that sinfully beautiful feeling of a naked man pressed up against my back. I gently unwrapped his arms from around me, and scurried to the bathroom to begin what felt like a routine...morning sickness. By noon, it had worn off and I told Severus that I needed to visit Harry, Ron and Ginny because since they were my best friends, they deserved to know about my current situation. "They are my best friends," I explained when he rolled his eyes. "They need to know."

I owled the Burrow, knowing the three of them would be there and sure enough, at three o'clock they were in my sitting room, waiting for my 'big surprise.' Severus conviently had to go out, the chicken. But now, Ginny and my beautiful boys were waiting for me to drop my bomb. The four of us had been through so much together with unwavering fidelity. There had been the war against Voldemort, my parents' death, and Bill Weasley's death. Yet this was a new obstacle that none of us had really dealt with--children. I watched as three pairs of eyes, two amber, one emerald, burned into mine wanting to know what was going on, why I was being so serious. So I began. "Well, as you all know, I accidentally-on-purpose slept with Severus a few months ago..."

Ron interrupted as always, "And you're back together right? Why are you being so serious about that?" Ginny swatted him on the arm for interrupting me and looked for me to continue.

"Yes Ron, you are right Severus and I are back together but there's more..."

Now Ginny cut me off. "You're getting married! Ooooh Hermione!" This time Harry and Ron glared at her.

I sighed. "If you all would just shut up for a second! No, Ginny, we are not getting married. I...um...am...havinghisbaby."

Three sets of jaws hit the floor. Harry recovered first. "Ahem...what now Hermione? I really don't believe what I think I just heard. You are...having...his...?" I nodded, my cheeks reddening as the other two regained their composures.

I was immediately hit with an intense barrage of questions. "When did you find out?" "Are you sure it's his because weren't you with Seamus?" "Does he know?"

"I found out a few days ago. Yes Severus is the father, I had a paternity test done. And yes Severus knows, he's promised to be here and to be a good father." They all murmured supportively, as I had hoped they would--these three weren't my best friends for no reason.

We continued to talk for another hour or so before the three decided it was time to leave. I bid them farewell, and decided to start cooking supper while I waited for Severus to return home. Bad idea. I attempted to grill chicken breasts and the very smell was nausea-inducing. I was busily worshipping the porcelain god for what felt like the hundredth time that day when Severus came home. He stuck his head in the bathroom and queried "You certainly can't be having morning sickness, it's almost six o'clock."

I lifted my unnaturally pale face up to grimace at him. "No. I tried to cook and the chicken...urghhh." The very thought of that vile, revolting food was enough to make me bring up nothing, except for stomach acid, which burned my throat. It had been a terribly long day, and even though it was the sun was just beginning to set outside, I decided that the best thing for me to do would be to sleep, until morning came and the rituals of pregnancy began all over again.

A/N: 2 Things-- 1. I have finally updated my Whispers Fic (That Was Then, Severus) 2. In this story, it is early November right now. H&S slept together at the end of August. Just thought I would clarify that. I am hoping to spend a little more time on my Whispers fic though, because I feel a little like I have neglected it, but never fear! New chapters are on their way!