When Molly awoke, she was disoriented. It took her a few minutes to remember where she was and why. Feeling someone holding her hand, she turned her head to the side to see who was there. Arthur. Her darling Arthur was asleep, one hand holding hers and the other arm draped across her abdomen. She gently squeezed his hand, to let him know she was awake, and he immediately woke up.

"Molly, darling, thank goodness, you're awake."

"Arthur, what happened? Did Healer Sedgewick figure out what went wrong?"

"No. After you passed out, he ran some tests, but so far he hasn't been able to find anything. Merlin, Molly, I almost lost you too." He replied, gathering her in a gentle embrace.

"Too? Are you saying the baby-?"

"No, Mol, no. He's alive, but-oh darling, it just doesn't look good. The healers are saying that the chance of him dying is greater than the chance of him making it."

"Why aren't you with him?"

"I've been back and forth all night, Mollywobbles."

"Arthur, please don't call me that in public. Where is he?" She asked, not seeing a bassinet in the room.

"He's in intensive care. They've got him connected to tubes and machines to help him breathe."

"Have they tried any Healing Spells?"

"They can't. He's so tiny and weak, there's a chance that all the spells will do is make his condition worse. All we can do is wait and hope."

"Arthur, do you think he'll make it?"

"I don't know, Molly. There's not much we can tell at this point. I will promise you one thing though, I'm not going to let him go without a fight."

"Arthur, go sit with him. I couldn't bear it if our baby died alone."

"How are you feeling? They gave you a Blood-Replenishing potion a few hours ago."

"I'm just tired, Arthur."

"Are you hungry? The medi-witch left a breakfast tray."

"I'm not hungry. Right now I feel extremely sick."

"I'm going to go sit with him then. You're sure you'll be all right here by yourself?"

"Yes." As Arthur got up to leave, another question crossed her mind. "Arthur, have you named him?"

"Yes, I have. Percy Ignatius. We can change it if you don't like it, all it says on his ribbon is 'Weasley Boy'."

"That's a beautiful name Arthur. Now get going."

"Molly, promise me something."

"What?"

"That you won't go wandering around this place by yourself, you're too weak. I want you to stay here."

"I promise."

"Good. I'll be back in about an hour. You just rest." He said, planting a tender kiss on his wife's lips.

After Arthur left, she immediately wished he had taken her with him. She suddenly felt very alone and she didn't like it. Her thoughts traveled to the baby, and she knew that this was going to be their miracle child if he lived. If. Nothing was guaranteed at this point, and it scared her. She didn't know if she could handle losing another child, the miscarriages had been hard enough, without knowing anything about the baby. This time would be harder; just because of the sheer fact she knew it was a boy. Molly was relieved when Arthur returned an hour later.

"Molly, he's taken a turn for the better."

"That's great." Arthur's eyes glanced over to her breakfast tray, and he decided to brave his next sentence.

"Molly, do you mind if I have your muffin?"

"No. Go ahead. You can have everything if you want." Arthur promptly grabbed the tray, and balancing it in his lap, he began to eat.

"Arthur, how long has it been since you've ate?" Molly asked, watching her husband wolf down the food.

"I don't know, I had a meat pie just before you woke up." He said, after swallowing a piece of bacon whole.

"Arthur, you've got to keep up your strength, otherwise you'll be in the bed next to me. Goodness, slow down! You're going to choke. Or worse, get sick." Molly watched as he shoveled several forkfuls of egg into his mouth at once. Arthur ignored her, shaking his head. After he had wiped his mouth, he announced he was going to go sit with the baby again.

"Arthur take me with you."

"No, Molly, you're too weak."

"Arthur, take me to my baby. I don't want to be left alone."

"Molly, you can't. You need to stay here, you're weak."

"Arthur Weasley, take me to my baby. I want to see him."

"Molly, you can't."

"Then help me, Arthur. I want to see my child." Realizing he wasn't going to win, he gently helped Molly out of the bed, and she leaned heavily against him as he guided her to the intensive care nursery. Before he took her to see Percy, he turned so he was facing her.

"Molly, you need to be prepared. I've never seen a baby this tiny. The tubes and machines are connected all over, to help and monitor his breathing and heart beat." The color drained from Molly's face, and he could see her steeling herself. He gently guided her over to the baby, and she closed her eyes, willing herself to remember that the tubes were there to keep him alive. She reached into the bassinet to stroke her son's soft back and the small amount of red hair that was on his head. After she withdrew her hand, Arthur gently pushed her into the rocking chair that was beside the bassinet.

"Arthur, hand him to me. I want to hold him."

"Molly, the healers said-"

"I don't give a damn what they said Arthur. He's my baby; I want to hold him. Besides, he needs to be held, he's just a baby."

Arthur reached into the bassinet and gently lifted his son, surprised at how light he was. He could almost support him in one hand, and for once, he was thankful that the hospital didn't use Muggle machines that would have to be plugged into the wall. He handed the small, warm weight to Molly, and by the look on her face, he could tell that she was just as surprised as he was at how much her son weighed.

"Arthur, how are they feeding him?"

"They're giving him fluids through the IV. He's too weak to nurse." Arthur replied, pointing to a bag of fluid hovering beside her, and showing her the needle in Percy's arm. He watched on as his wife began to rock slowly, talking to the baby and kissing him. After an hour, she handed him back to Arthur who bent over to place Percy back in the bassinet.

"No, Arthur, hold him. Talk to him. You said you weren't going to let him go without a fight, give him something to fight for."

"Mr. Weasley, what do you think you are doing? We told you that the baby was in no condition to be held, why are you holding him?" Healer Sedgewick demanded, coming into the nursery.

"He needs to be held, he's just a baby." Molly replied, seeing that Arthur wasn't coming up with an excuse.

"Mrs. Weasley, I'm the qualified Healer here, not you. I think I know a little bit more about what your son needs than you do."

"No, you don't. I carried him for eight months, I know him better than you do, and I say he needs to be held."

"Mr. Weasley, put the baby back in the bassinet." Arthur obliged, not really wanting the Healer to be angry with him, as it had been Molly's idea in the first place. Healer Sedgewick crossed the room, and checked the monitors that were monitoring Percy's heartbeat and breathing.

"Curious."

"Excuse me, but what's curious?" Molly asked, watching the Healer's every move.

"According to these monitors, the baby's heartbeat and breathing rates were up when your husband was holding him, but now they're back to where they were when I checked an hour ago. Maybe you do know better than me Mrs. Weasley. I'll have the baby transferred to your room immediately."

Within the hour, Molly and Percy had been moved to another room, and she and Arthur had begun taking turns holding their son. They never left him alone, and the Healers saw significant improvement. However, they were unable to remove the tubes until he was a week old, but even then he was still too weak to nurse and he was losing weight. Arthur only left Molly's side to go home and spend time with Bill and Charlie when she insisted that he leave, she didn't want the other children to feel abandoned.

"Arthur, how are the boys?" Molly asked, seeing Arthur return from the Burrow.

"They have some questions as to why you're not home yet, but they're fine."

"That's good. Healer Sedgewick said that we can take him home as soon as he proves to us he can nurse on his own."

"Have you tried yet?"

"Yeah, but he can't suck hard enough to get any milk. If he could get into a steady rhythm, he might be fine, but the hard part is getting him there."

"I'm sure we'll get there in the end. We've come this far haven't we?"

"Yes, but it doesn't stop me from worrying."

"I know. Has Healer Sedgewick given you any suggestions on getting him to nurse?"

"No. They're going to try giving him fluids that contain protein to help build up his muscles, but there is still no guarantee."

"What about you? When can you go home?"

"Healer Sedgewick says I'm fine. He wants me to stay here until Percy can go home."

"Understandable. Can I hold him for a while, dear?"

"Sure."

Arthur bent down and lifted the small bundle from his wife's arms, cradling the baby close to his chest.

"Molly, you want to know what I think?"

"What?"

"He's our miracle. I have no doubt he's going to make it. He's made it this far, if he didn't have the will to live, he would have left us already."

"You think so, Arthur?"

"I do."

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley? I've done some research, and I've found something that may help us."

"Really, Healer Sedgewick?"

"Yes. Mr. Weasley, hand your wife the baby."

Arthur happily obliged, and Molly gladly took her son back into her arms.

"Mrs. Weasley, I want you to try to nurse him."

"I've tried, but he's not strong enough."

"Give him your breast. I've found a technique that will help him nurse."

Molly quickly unbuttoned her blouse and placed one breast into Percy's mouth. He immediately began sucking, but he wasn't getting any milk.

"Mrs. Weasley, take one of your hands and place your index finger on one side of his mouth and your thumb on the other."

Molly did so, and looked at the Healer, wondering how this was going to help.

"Do you feel his muscles moving?"

"Yes."

"Okay, get into rhythm with him and gently rub your fingers in circles towards his ears."

"If you don't mind me asking, how is this going to help him?" Molly asked, rubbing her fingers against her son's cheeks.

"It helps him get the force he needs to get the milk. Is it working?"

"Yes!" Molly exclaimed, feeling the milk leave her body and go into her son's mouth.

"Can we take him home then?" Arthur asked, happy that after a week and a half of waiting, his son was able to nurse.

"Yes, you can. I want you to keep nursing him like this for a while, at least until our monthly check-up appointment, and we'll see how he's doing."

"Where ever did you hear of this?" Molly asked, tears of happiness in her eyes.

"Well, I did some research in a Muggle medical book. I figured it was worth a shot."

"Thank you. We really appreciate all you've done for us, Healer."

"Just doing my job. Mr. Weasley, the papers are at the front desk, waiting for your signature." Healer Sedgewick left the room, and Arthur followed, not wanting to wait any longer to take his wife and son home. After Molly had finished nursing Percy, she and Arthur went straight home. Mum Weasley greeted them as they stepped out of the fireplace, and she immediately began fawning over the new baby.

"Arthur, he's so handsome. He has your eyes."

"I know Mum. Where are Bill and Charlie?"

"Outside, as usual."

Arthur headed outside to round up his boys, so they could greet their mother and their new sibling.

"Dad, why's he so tiny? Charlie was never that small was he?" Bill asked, seeing his tiny brother.

"No, Bill, Charlie was never that small. Percy is a pre-mature baby."

"What's that mean?"

"He was born too early."

"Oh. Can I hold him?"

"Molly, what do you think?" Arthur asked, wanting to check with his wife before telling his son anything.

"He can hold him Arthur. Bill, can you be careful?"

"Yes, Mum." Bill held out his arms, and Molly leaned down to put Percy in the cradle, adjusting Bill's arms so he was holding Percy properly.

"If you don't mind, I'm heading home." Mum Weasley announced, as she headed towards the fireplace.

"Go ahead, Mum Weasley, we've got everything covered here. Thanks for watching the boys."

"You're welcome. They are such dears and so well behaved. You two must be doing something right."

"Mum, will you read me my bedtime story tonight? Grandmum doesn't read like you do." Bill asked, after making sure his grandmother had left.

"Sure, Billy. Charlie, I think it's time for your bath." Molly stated, turning towards her other son.

"Arthur, will you make sure Bill gets ready for bed okay?"

"Sure, Mol."

After kissing her husband, Molly herded a reluctant Charlie to his bath. Once he was clean, in his pajamas and his teeth were brushed, she tucked him in, and told him that his father would be in to read him his story shortly. Before she went to Bill's room, she stopped off at the nursery to tell Arthur that Charlie was waiting for him. She checked Percy's nappy, and stroked his back until he went to sleep. She placed a cooling charm over his crib so he wouldn't get too hot, and drew a small blanket up and around him. She then headed to Bill's room, read him his story, and proceeded to tuck him into bed and kissed him goodnight.

"Mum, I love you."

"I love you too, Billy. Go to sleep." She closed his door, but was careful to leave it open slightly, to allow the light from the hall to penetrate the darkness. She happily headed to her bedroom, grateful to be home.

"Arthur, I'm so glad to be home." She stated, sitting down on her side of the bed.

"I know you are Mollywobbles."

Arthur climbed into bed, and after he had gotten settled, Molly snuggled close to him, letting his protection surround her as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

"Arthur, you know, if I have one complaint about those hospital beds, it is that they are to firm."

"It feels good to sleep in your own bed again, doesn't it?"

"Yes it does. True, our bed doesn't adjust like the ones in the hospital, but it is definitely more comfortable."

"I agree. Get some rest, we've had a long week." Arthur replied, kissing his wife's forehead and pulling her closer to him. The couple slept peacefully, knowing that Percy was going to be okay.