One Night Stand
One night of pleasure can lead to a lifetime of pain.
One night of lust can lead to a lifetime of love.
Disclaimer Have not, do not, will not.
My fastest update ever! Whoo-hoo!
Author's Note -tear- It's over. My baby. -sob- This is my first ever multi-chapter story that I have actually completed. Go me! Now, I know I said I would give personal reviews at the end of the story, but frankly I just have so many (not that that's a bad thing). So, here's one big THANK-YOU to every last one of you who have reviewed this story. You don't know how much they all mean to me. All the positive feedback I got gave me the stamina to keep writing. Without you, this story never would have been finished. Again, thank-you so very, very much! Ok, now, I'll shut up, and let you read the story.
Chapter 11 Happily Ever After
"Bill," I repeated, this time a little louder.
"Yeah," I heard him call from the kitchen.
"Bill, we have to go to St. Mungo's," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, although it wasn't working in the slightest. I wasn't ready for this. Not yet anyway. It was three days too soon. Everything was planned for the 27th, not the 24th. I wanted to cry. Bill appeared in the doorway, a questioning look on his face. When he saw the water on the floor, and his face turned frantic, I did start to cry. It suddenly hit me that I wasn't ready to have a child. After several seconds, Bill recollected his senses and rushed past me. "Where are you going," I yelled after him, watching as he ran up the stairs two at a time.
"To get your things," He shouted.
"Oh," I replied, pressing my left palm to the wall. I steadied myself as I slowly walked down the stairs. Bill was at my side a moment later, reprimanding me for not waiting on him. He stopped when we reached the kitchen.
"How are we suppose to get there? You don't have your Apparation license yet, and besides, it wouldn't be very safe for you or the baby. I don't think the Floo is sensible." He began to ramble. "We'll have to go the Muggle-way I suppose."
"Bill," I stated, "we're suppose to Floo St. Mungo's and they'll send Mediwizards to help."
"Oh." He turned in his spot several times, scanning the kitchen for the Floo powder.
"Right there," I replied, pointing to the pot on the counter.
"Thanks."
I gasped as a wave of pain hit me, grabbing my stomach with one hand, and leaning against a chair with the other. Bill sent me a worried look, fumbling with the Floo powder. Half of it spilled onto the floor. He did his best in hurrying as he contacted St. Mungo's, but, unlucky, his first attempt was unsuccessful. He forgot to throw the Floo powder into the fireplace and proceeded in lighting his hair on fire. Through my pain, I managed a smile. The second time Bill remembered that the powder went first, and within five minutes, two Mediwizards arrived, a floating stretcher between them.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Bill was asking one of the Mediwizard, sending me concerned glances.
"Of course," the second Mediwizard answered.
Bill looked skeptical, but I looked at him firmly. "Ok then..." He paused. "I think I better go Floo Ron."
"You're staying with me," I stated sharply.
"But, Ron..."
"Please, Bill," I sobbed. "Don't leave me by myself. I can't do this alone."
"One of the nurses can contact whoever is needed when we get to the hospital," the first Mediwizard directed at Bill. Bill nodded and took my hand in his. I watched as one Mediwizard magically enlarged the fireplace to accommodate us all. I squeezed Bill's hand tightly as my face twisted in agony. The Mediwizards looked at Bill in sympathy as he winced. I heard someone shout 'St. Mungo's' and I securely closed my eyes and tried to keep my mind off of the spinning. I certainly didn't want to get sick. And, I almost didn't. It was quite a shock when I threw up on poor Bill, who looked at me with both disgust and forgiveness.
Once I was out of that horrid fireplace and in one of St. Mungo's many lobbies, I was quickly rushed to the maternity ward and into a private room. I looked at Bill questioningly, and his look told me all I needed to know. Ron had busted his ass putting extra hours in at Weasley Wizard Wheezes for me to have my own room. I didn't have much time to dwell on this thought though. I saw something out of the corner of my eye that made me want to throw up again.
The window, which was located neatly in the center of the room, had pink curtains. My breath caught in my throat, and I stared at these curtains for several seconds. And, then I looked at Bill. Oh, God, I thought. Bill had been in my first dream, and to make matters worse, it was because he was the only one home with me at the time. I hadn't even realized that and I wouldn't have. If it hadn't been for those damned curtains. I alternated looking from Bill to the curtains, from the curtains to Bill. I must have started crying, because Bill got a terrified look on his face.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" I swallowed.
"Nothing."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'm just- just nervous." Bill nodded, and I knew I wouldn't have to convinced him. He seemed to be twice as nervous as me.
I was beginning to wonder where my Healer was when one of the double doors opened. Healer Mitchell was by far the kindest woman I had ever met. She was an older woman, in her late sixties. Her white hair was styled short, but it showed off her honey colored eyes. She was smiling, but I couldn't return the smile, remembering she had smiled that exact same way in my dream. She made her way to my bedside, her smile never diminishing.
"Ah, so we're three days early, are we?"
"Yeah," Bill answered for me. Healer Mitchell laughed.
"Where's Ron?"
"We had one of the nurses contact him, but we haven't had any word," I said, looking at Bill.
"Maybe you should go try to get a hold of him," Healer Mitchell told Bill. He looked at me, and even though I wanted him to stay, I relented. After all, I did prefer to have Ron with me.
"So, how have you been feeling?" she asked when Bill left the room.
"Terrible," I answered. "This pain is almost unbearable."
"Well, I hate to tell you this, but it will get worst before it stops."
"I know."
Healer Mitchell and I talked for a good five minutes about how I was feeling, and how long it could be until I actually gave birth. She told me not be bet on anything before six at night. And, it was barely ten in the morning. She left after that, leaving a nurse in charge. I was biting at the bit, wondering where Ron was. Bill came in a few more times to see how I was doing, but he was apprehensive about staying with me. I couldn't, and didn't, blame him.
Around noon, Mrs. Weasley arrived, Harry and Ginny in tow. When I asked after Ron, they said they still hadn't gotten a hold of him. He had been on a delivery run for the shop, and Fred had told Mrs. Weasley he should be back anytime now. By 12:30, the entire Weasley family occupied the maternity ward waiting room. But, still no Ron. When he finally arrived and opened the door, I was having a contraction, and I could see his uncertainty. I knew he would have turned around and left if it hadn't been for my yelling his name. He was at my side a second later, and I hastily took his hand in mine.
"Where have you been?" I said through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry, Mione," he explained. "I didn't know."
"Yeah, so I've heard," I replied, tightening my grip on his hand.
"Ow," He complained.
"Shut it." Ron's eyes shifted as he muttered an okay. "Did you just roll your eyes?" I asked.
"Geez. I can't do anything, can I?"
I was looking at Ron fearfully. "No, Ron, it's not that," I said, my voice low. "It's the dreams. Bill brought me to the hospital in my dreams. The curtains were pink in my dreams. The blankets were scratchy, the room too warm. And, you rolled your eyes in my dreams. Oh, God. Ron! The baby's going to die!" I began to freak out, trying to get out of the bed. My arms were flying, threatening the IV cord to break. I felt Ron's hands lock around my wrists, but I still fought. I wasn't going to let my baby die.
"Hermione Jane Granger," Ron screamed, pinning my wrists to the bed. "You stop this right now!" My eyes flashed as I looked at him, but Ron did not back down. He stared threatening at me, until I was doing nothing but sobbing quietly, avoiding Ron's gaze. "Look at me," he stated firmly. I still refused to meet his eyes. "Do it."
"No," I said, stubbornly.
His hands left my wrists and found their way to my head. He forced me to look at him. "Stop this nonsense right now, Mione. Don't do this. Not today. I told you, our child will be prefect, no matter what your dreams showed you. You have the power to change what happened in your dreams. And, you know you have that power, so use it." He dropped his hands and walked to the window. Slowly, he pulled back the curtains so I could see outside. "See that, Mione? It's not raining."
I had been in labor for three hours, and I was about ready to hex anything in reach. Ron, too, seemed to want to hex something. But, that something was me. I had already managed to break his pinky finger, and he wasn't too happy with me. We were shouting at each other through my breathing exercises and pushing. At one point, Healer Mitchell asked if Ron should leave. Ron quickly agreed, but I told him he did this to me, so he was going to stay. And, then, when Healer Mitchell told me just one more push, I looked at the clock hanging above the window.
10:37.
No! It couldn't be 10:37. I looked at Healer Mitchell and firmly told her no, we had to wait. When she told me that there was no time to waste, I began to cry. My baby had been born at 10:41 in my dream. And, if we didn't wait, I feared the worst. Ron gave me a confused look, and when I looked at him intently, he scowled.
"Do it, Mione." I shook my head.
"I won't."
"Now, Hermione, push." It was 10:39.
"I won't," I repeated.
"Now!" Healer Mitchell screamed, and I wouldn't have listened, if it wouldn't have been for the pain. I pushed and pushed, and as I heard a baby's cry, I looked to the clock. It was 10:41, with two seconds to go until 10:42. I hadn't made it. My crying became louder, and I watched one of the nurses carry my baby from the room.
"NO!" I screamed, trying to sit up, but I wasn't strong enough. I fell back into the pillows and buried my face into my hands. Ron put his arms around me, trying to reassure me that everything was fine, but he couldn't answer when I asked him if he was sure. I hadn't even laid eyes on my newborn baby, and he or she was going to die. It wasn't fair. Realizing there was nothing I could do to prevent it, I lifted my head and grabbed Ron's hand. I didn't smile, as I had in my dream, and one look at Ron told me he couldn't bring a smile to his lips, either. My eyes continued to glance at the clock every once and a while, and at exactly 10:50, Healer Mitchell walked through the double doors, her face grim. I felt Ron's hand tighten around mine.
Healer Mitchell looked at me, and then to Ron. I swallowed, closing my eyes.
"Congratulations," I heard, and my eyes opened again. Healer Mitchell was no longer looking grim, a large smile on her face. I saw the nurse who had taken our baby walk into the room, carrying a bundle of blankets in her arms. I looked at Ron, who was grinning from ear to ear, that look in his eyes that said 'I told you so.' I managed a tiny smile as the nurse came closer.
"Congratulations," she told me, "on the birth of your son." I opened my arms up as she placed the tiny baby into my arms. I was crying again, this time, of course, from happiness. Ron, too, had tears in his eyes.
"See, Hermione," he said, kissing my forehead. "I told you he'd be perfect."
"Yes, Ron," I said through my tears. "And for once in your life, you were right," I finished with a teasing look. Ron ignored my sarcasm and kissed me again.
There was a knock at the door around midnight, and Ron happily opened the door to let his parents in. Mrs. Weasley was already crying, and Mr. Weasley was getting close. Ron took his new son from my arms, handing him to Mrs. Weasley. "I'm a Dad," he said proudly. "I have a son. Can you believe it?"
"Yes, son, I can," Mr. Weasley replied, patting Ron on the back.
"Oh, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley said, weeping. "We're grandparents. Again."
"What is his name?" Mr. Weasley asked, looking at his grandson.
"We decided about a week ago on Aiden Michael," I answered.
"Aiden Michael Weasley," Mrs. Weasley whispered, rocking Aiden back and forth. "Sweet little Aiden."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stayed with us for about fifteen more minutes. Ron was anxious to show off his son, and after much pleading with my Healer, she allowed me to be wheeled into the waiting room to introduce Aiden to the rest of the family. I held him tightly in my arms as Ron wheeled me out of the room in the wheelchair, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley following behind us. When we reached the waiting room, it appeared as if everyone was sleeping. They were all sprawled out on the couches and in chairs, obviously not being able to stay awake any longer. Ginny was the first to stir. Her head had been resting on Harry's shoulder, and when she sat up, Harry woke with the movement.
"Hermione!" she practically shouted, waking up Percy and Penny, who had been sleeping nearby. Ginny rushed over to me and instantly smiled when she saw Aiden. "Aww, he's adorable." She began cooing at him as one by one, the Weasley family crowded around me, Ron jumping around, telling whoever would take the time to listen that he was a father. It took the good part of the hour for everyone to see Aiden up close, and by then I was exhausted. Mrs. Weasley's motherly instincts picked up on this, and she started to reprimand her children.
"Okay, Hermione and Aiden need their rest. Off you go. You can see them again in the morning."
Ron wheeled me back to my room and I reluctantly had to let the nurse take Aiden to the nursery. When I asked why, she scared me by saying they needed to monitor him overnight, but she told me everything would be fine, and in a day or two, we could go home. When I was settled into the hospital bed, I noticed Ron trying to get comfortable in a straight-backed chair. I shook my head and motioned for him to get in the bed with me.
"I'll be fine here," he tried to insist, but he finally joined me. He held me in his arms and I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. "I love you, Mione," he murmured, rubbing his thumb against the side of my hand.
"I love you, too, Ron. Always."
There was a comfortable silence, where I thought Ron was asleep, and I started to drift off. But, then, Ron spoke again.
"Do you think we'll be good parents?" he asked, quietly.
"I dunno. I hope so."
"We've made it this far, right?"
"We have," I agreed.
"But, can we keep going?"
I paused. Could we? "Yes, Ron, I think we can. If we stick together."
"Forever," he wondered.
"Forever."
"I love you," he told me again, and he kissed the top of my head. I smiled and closed my eyes.
The last nine months had been the best of my life in so many ways. What started out as something that I didn't want, had become something I knew I needed. Getting pregnant had changed every aspect of my life. I was able to look at everything differently, never like I had before. I had fallen in love with Ron, who made me happier than everyone else. We were made for each other, similarities and differences alike. We fit together, complimented each other. In my mind, we were the ultimate, perfect couple. It had taken us seven years, but that was beside the point.
I had gained a new family in nine months. My parents were no longer apart of my life, but I no longer felt any hatred towards them. If they hadn't cut out contact, I wouldn't have become closer to the Weasleys. They were my true family now. In a way, Aiden had completed that family tie. Aiden. My son. My first born. I was a mother now, Ron a father. I was still having trouble seeing myself as a mother, but now that Aiden was born, it was a little easier. One thing was for sure, though. As soon as I laid eyes on my baby boy, I was in love with him. I never knew what they meant by love at first site until I held him in my arms.
I snuggled my head into Ron's chest and sighed contently. This was my life. Nothing special, but absolutely perfect in every way. From what I thought would end in a terrible predicament, ended like all stories should. Happily ever after. One night of pleasure can lead to a lifetime of pain. One night of lust can lead to a lifetime of love.
The End
Author's Note Now, I noticed towards the end, a lot of you mentioned wanting the baby to be a girl, but I actually decided on the gender and name of the baby around about Chapter 4 (right, Erin? LOL). Anyways, I lied, this isn't the absolute end. There is an epilogue, which will be out in a few days. And, then of course, is the sequel. So, please, don't stop reviewing now! I love you all so very much, and I am gonna say thank-you one last time!
If there is any punctuation missing, I'm sorry, that is fanfiction's fault, not mine. I just went through to try and find as much as I could, and I think I got it all.