"No, there is nothing I can think of. Thanks for asking." She replied in a soft tone. She was lying on her back, one hand stroking her belly.
She was several days past her due date, and she was miserable. Arthur was doing his best to make her as comfortable as possible, but there was little he could do. When he had settled against his pillows, Molly snuggled closer.
"What is it?" He asked, she didn't usually snuggle with him when she was anticipating the arrival of a child.
"Nothing. I just wish these guys would make an appearance."
"I know Molly-girl. This time has been rough for you hasn't it?" He kissed her temple, wrapping his arms around her. She nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.
"If you think about it though, they have a good reason for staying in there."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the womb is an ideal environment, Arthur. Think about it for a minute, now wouldn't you love to stay somewhere where you didn't have to work, you were completely protected, the temperature is a constant 98.6 degrees, you didn't have to feel hunger or cold, and didn't have to deal with loud noises?"
"Yes. That sounds like a wonderful place to stay. However, I'd probably go to work anyway, I love my job."
She shook her head slightly, amused at her husband's response, chuckling softly.
"What?"
"You're silly, Arthur."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." She replied moving up so her head was on his pillow.
"Goodnight, Mollywobbles." Arthur turned his head to kiss her goodnight and rested his hand on her swollen belly.
The next day, Molly awoke early, something she had been doing for a week now, craving muffins. She carefully extracted herself from Arthur's embrace and pulled on her dressing gown. Before leaving the room, she pulled the coverlet back over her husband, kissed his lips tenderly and brushed his hair away from his forehead. She checked in on the boys, and sighed when she got to Charlie's room. He had wet his bed again. She gently shook him awake.
"Charlie, honey, wake up."
"Why's all wet?" He asked groggily, not opening his eyes.
"Charlie, you wet your bed, get up and change your pajamas." He did what he was told, and she cleaned his sheets with a cleaning charm.
"Mumma?"
"What, Charlie?"
"Will you tuck me back in?"
"Of course. Get in bed you little imp." He climbed back into bed, and Molly tucked him in, kissing his forehead as she did so. Within minutes, her son was sleeping peacefully again.
Down in the kitchen, Molly gathered the ingredients to make muffins and then realized she didn't know where her muffin tin was. She took out her wand, pointing it towards the cupboards, causing the many pots, pans and baking sheets to fly from them.
"Molly, what on Earth are you doing down here?" Arthur asked, coming down the stairs, hastily pulling on his dressing robe over his pajamas.
"Nothing, dear." She replied, beginning to put the cookware away one piece at a time in hopes of finding her muffin tin.
"Molly, you do realize that it is four o'clock in the morning, right?"
"Yes, do you have a problem with me being up this early?"
"No. What are you looking for dearest?"
"My muffin tin. Do you see it?"
"Molly, you should rest. Those babies can come at any time."
"Arthur, please don't worry about me."
"I want to. I'll make your muffins for you, and you can go back upstairs to bed. I know your feet are killing you."
"Thank you, Arthur. The recipe is on the worktop." She replied, putting her hands on the small of her back and leaning backwards, stretching.
As she walked past him, Arthur dropped a kiss on the top of her head. Then he set to work finding the muffin tin.
"ARTHUR WEASLEY! GET IN THIS BEDROOM NOW!"
He looked up, hearing his wife call for him. He dashed up the stairs and was surprised to see his wife standing next to the unmade bed.
"What is it, Molly?"
"Did you forget something this morning?"
"What are you talking about?"
She gestured to the unmade bed, and a look of comprehension dawned on his face.
"I'm sorry, Molly-girl. I forgot."
"I'm aware of that Arthur." She replied, beginning to make the bed herself.
"No, Molly, I'll make it." He said, grasping the sheets on his side of the bed and straightening them.
"Arthur what has been our agreement for the past eight years?"
"The last one out of bed makes it."
"Correct."
He eased her back into bed and went back downstairs to make the muffins for her.
Suddenly, Molly felt a cramping in her midsection. She massaged her belly, ignoring the pain. As much as she enjoyed carrying a child, she was ready for her pregnancy to be over. She felt another cramp hold her in its grip and realized she was going into labor. She waddled downstairs, not wanting to wake the boys. "Arthur, I'm going into labor." She said calmly, there was no sense in getting him worked up about the whole thing.
"Nonsense, Molly. You can't be going into labor, you're too calm and peaceful."
"Arthur, it may be April Fool's Day, but I'm not joking. Your twins are coming now." She replied through gritted teeth. Seeing his wife meant business, he sprang into action. He dashed upstairs, changing into his day robes and flooing his mum. Unfortunately, she wasn't home.
"Uh, Molly, dearest, my mum's not home." He said as he pulled his head out of the fireplace.
"Then floo Brian! Honestly, can't you think for yourself?"
"Molly, Brian's on holiday." He replied, ignoring her comment. "I'll try Kevin."
"NO! Arthur, not Kevin! Anyone but Kevin!"
"Mollywobbles, I don't have a choice."
"Arthur, try Fab and Gid, I don't trust Kevin." She replied, tears springing to her eyes as a contraction wracked her body.
"Okay, okay, don't cry Molly." He tossed some more Floo powder into the fireplace, and flooed to Fabian and Gideon's flat. When he reappeared in the family room, Molly was in her rocking chair, sobbing.
"What is it, Molly-girl?" He asked, leaning down to kiss the tears on her cheeks away.
"It hurts, Arthur. Worse than with the others."
"All right. Keep calm, that'll help. Fab and Gid weren't home either. Can we at least try Kevin?"
"No, Arthur. I don't trust him with our babies."
"Okay, give me a minute, I'm going back to Mum's to leave her a note. She'll be getting home soon I think. Can you hold on a minute?"
She nodded, and he Disapparated with a faint 'pop'. Molly tried to coach herself through her breathing, but the pain was too intense. Upon his return, Arthur quickly gathered his crying wife in his arms and settled himself in his armchair, pulling her in his lap.
"Breathe, honey, remember to breathe." Arthur said, breathing with her. "What hurts, love?" He asked when the contraction had subsided.
"My back. It feels like a knife is being twisted back there." She said, resting her head on his chest, sobbing into his robes.
He began rocking her gently, making shushing noises; his hands drawing comforting circles on her back. "Go limp, love. Don't forget to breathe."
"Arthur, it hurts." She whimpered, clenching the fabric of his robes in her fist.
"I know, honey. I know. I'll get you through this Molly-girl."
"Arthur, can you massage my back, please?"
"Yes. Does your lower or upper back hurt more?"
"Lower."
He slid his hand down her back, beginning to rub more vigorously, as her contractions intensified. After about an hour, Arthur got up and began walking with her around the room, stroking her hair.
"Arthur, go check on the boys. I have a feeling this birth is going to be somewhat quick."
"All right. You rest in your rocking chair. I'll go make sure the boys are staying out of trouble." He rushed up the stairs, and quickly checked in on all of his sons, all of whom were still sleeping peacefully.
As the hours went by, Arthur alternated holding his wife and walking her around the room, trying his best to ease her pain. Once the boys had awoke, he set them to playing a game in the den so he could keep an eye on them as well as stay with Molly.
"Arthur, it's time." It was almost four in the afternoon and Molly had been in labor for almost twelve hours.
"What?"
"It's time. At least I think so. I can feel a head and I've got the urge to push."
"Let me see, honey. Maybe you're just feeling pressure." He said, trying to keep calm, he didn't want to have to birth his sons at home.
Molly obligingly parted her thighs, and lifted her skirt, to allow her husband to see how far she had progressed. "You're right, Mol. I can see a head." Behind them, a loud 'pop' announced the arrival of someone via the floo.
"MUM!"
"I got your note Arthur, how far along is she?"
"Mum Weasley, I'm ready to push, but I think we can make it to St. Mungo's."
"Get going then! The boys are in the den, right Arthur?"
"Yes Mum." He replied, helping his wife up and to the floo as quickly as he could.
When they arrived in the Maternity Ward of St. Mungo's, Arthur quickly informed Healer Sedgewick of the situation. The healer led them to a room, and Arthur managed to get Molly into a hospital gown. Once she and Healer Sedgewick were in position, it was only a matter of minutes before Arthur and Molly were both holding a baby. Healer Sedgewick left them alone, so the parents could bond with the newest additions of their family.
"So, Molly-girl, what are we going to call these little guys?"
"We forgot our list, didn't we?"
"We did, love. The only name I can remember is Fred."
"Well, the only name I can remember is George." They smiled at each other, knowing that Fred and George were the perfect names for their identical twins.