Chapter 4: I Feel Fine
Ron felt sympathy for his longtime friend. If the situation were reversed, he would want to be told the straight truth. He always hated it when other people danced around and didn't come right out and say what they meant. So he decided to be blunt. "Not Hermione, mate. Me. I'm going to be the one up the duff. Ginny's found a way for me to carry the baby."
Harry's face paled and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. Ginny took the opportunity to fill Harry in on a few of the details. After several minutes and cups of tea, Harry's power of speech returned. "I don't know what to say. I certainly never expected this."
"Harry, I know it's unconventional, but it's the only way we can have our own family. Wizards don't generally give up their children for adoption, and any chance of my carrying a baby to term is gone. This really is our last resort," Hermione said, matter of factly.
"There's more. This means that I'll have to be on desk duty for a bit. Can't go undercover with a bun in the oven. You'll have a new partner, at least for nine months. I need to know that you'll be OK with this." Ron stated, hopeful that Harry would support them.
"I know how much this means to you. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that I'm not looking forward to working with a new partner. But it's only temporary right? I mean, you'll be back once the baby is born, right?"
Ron wasn't sure if he should mention the possible side effects, or that he could die giving birth. In the end, he thought that Harry had dealt with enough for one night. "Yeah mate, I'll be back in fighting form. That is, once I regain my girlish figure."
Harry just rolled his eyes at Ron. He looked at the couple seriously. "I wish you both the best. I hope with all my being that this works. You're in the best hands possible." Harry placed his arm around Ginny and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"So does this mean that you two have decided to go through with the procedure?" Ginny asked, already knowing the answer.
Ron looked across the table to his wife and placed his hand over hers. They gave each other a smile, knowing that they had reached the same conclusion. Hermione was beaming. Ron spoke for both of them. "Yeah, we want to do it. When can we get started?"
"I'd like to get started as soon as possible. You will need to take the hormonal potion for three months before we can move onto the next phase. Why don't you come in on Monday, and we can get you started. Have you thought about whether you will be discussing your pregnancy openly or whether you would like to keep it private?" Ginny asked.
Ron had thought a great deal about it. He didn't mind being a part of Ginny's research but letting the whole world know? He didn't want to be the freak of the week. "I would rather keep it private. I don't want the be the subject of Rita Skeeter's next expose. I haven't figured out how to explain my weight gain or where our baby came from yet, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it. I would prefer that only family and close friends know the truth. Now, on to the important issue of the day. What's to eat? I'm starved."
"I can always count on you to speak with your stomach, Ron," Ginny laughed.
"Just wait till I'm pregnant and craving all kinds of things. I may eat you out of house and home." Ron realized he fully expected this to work. He would be pregnant. This would definitely take some getting used to.
"Oh, I can hardly wait brother dear. Mum will be through the roof. She can fawn all over you, and prepare your favorite meals like she used to. By the way, when do you want to break it to the rest of the family?"
"Well, might as well get it over with sooner rather than later. I can hear the teasing from Fred and George already."
"Not if I have anything to say about it", Ginny said, frowning. "Let me hear one sarcastic remark, and I'll remind them of why they feared my bat bogey hexes when we were growing up."
"Yeah, she can be a little scary when her dander's up. Ouch!" Harry said, rubbing his arm where Ginny had just punched him.
"Yeah? You'd do well to remember that as well Harry Potter," Ginny warned. She was indeed a force to be reckoned with. Harry of all people knew that.
Ron realized how much his sister meant to him. Not only was she the reason that they had any hope of having a child, but here she was saying she was going to hex her own brothers if they teased him. She really was remarkable. "Gin, thank you for everything. We didn't think that we'd ever have a child. Even if it doesn't work, you've at least given us hope. That's more than anyone has given us. I don't know how to thank you for that."
Ginny stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into her embrace. "I love you guys. I don't know anyone who deserves children more than you. You'll make excellent parents. And I'd do anything in the world to make that happen."
Ron returned her bear hug. "I love you too, Gin. Who else would I let marry my best friend?"
Ginny released her brother to swat him on the back of the head, crossing over to Hermione to embrace her in a hug as Harry and Ron came face to face.
"Have faith, Ron. This is going to work. I have a good feeling about it." Harry said, with a grin on his face, as he clapped Ron on the shoulder.
"Oh yeah? You been using Trelawny's crystal ball again?" Ron said, trying to keep a straight face.
"No, I just married the most brilliant healer there is. If anyone can make it happen, she can."
"Yeah, I know. She turned out alright. Must be the influence of her older, wiser brother Ron."
The friends spent the rest of the evening playing exploding snap, something they hadn't done since their days at Hogworts, laughing, and drinking butter beer. Hermione, bringing Ron another butter beer (he had long ago lost count of how many he had), said to her slightly tipsy husband, "You'd better enjoy these now. After tonight, you won't be drinking for over a year."
Ron laughed, looked at Harry, and said "Well then, we'd better get out the firewiskey and do this right. I think I need to get throughly pissed."
Harry heartily agreed with Ron, and returned with a full bottle of firewiskey and 4 glasses. "Would you ladies care to join us in the debauchery?"
Hermione smiled, knowing that she would have to see to it that her drunk husband returned home in one piece, declined. Ginny too declined, as she would have to work the next morning. Not to mention that one of them needed to be sober if little James woke up in the middle of the night. That left Ron and Harry the duty to empty the bottle on their own. And they made good work of it. After half an hour, they were throughly plastered. Harry stood up, staggered a little, and raised his glass to his best friends. "I'd like to po, pro, oh hell. I want to make a toast. To the best friends a bloke could have. Even though you're leaven me to get preggers. You know, its gonna be funny watchin' ya get fat, Ron."
Ron gave Harry a lopsided grin, and slurred "Yeah, I'm gonna be big as a house. I'll be lucky to raise my fat arse off the couch in a couple a months.
Harry added, "You know, Ginny looked like she was nine months gone after only a couple a months. Bet you get twice as big as she was."
Ginny scowled at her husband. Drunkenness was no excuse for being an insensitive prat. She had been quite self conscious about her weight when pregnant. Oh, she would make him pay in the morning when he wanted his sobering potion.
Ron had to come to his sister's defense. "That wasn't very nice mate. Ginny was beautiful pregnant. All women are beautiful when pregnant. Hey, I wonder what that'll make me?" Ron collapsed into fits of laughter.
Hermione scowled at her husband. How insensitive could he be? She couldn't become pregnant and here he was going on about beautiful pregnant women. She had come to terms with her own infertility, but that was still hurtful. Oh, she would make him pay in the morning when he wanted his sobering potion.
The men however, were oblivious that they had offended their mates and were throughly enjoying their inebriated states.
"Hey Harry. When I close my eyes, the whole room spins."
"Hey, you're right. This is pretty cool."
A soft growling noise could be heard from the couch. Harry looked over at Ron and realized he had passed out and was now snoring. He didn't have long to ponder this as he soon nodded off himself, sprawled on the floor next to an empty bottle of firewiskey
A/N: Sorry this has been so long in coming. Life has gotten out of control lately, and I'm just getting back on my feet. I've been extremely busy with work, and just haven't had the time to write like I've wanted to. I like to live on the light side of life and try to find humor wherever I can. However, life just sometimes isn't funny. A very close friend of mine recently became unexpectedly, critically ill. We are waiting and praying that she makes it through. When things like this hit out of the blue, it makes you remember what is most important in your life, and all life's petty things slip away. Make sure you give your friends and family a big hug for me and tell them how much they mean to you. And laugh as much as you can.
michelleywelley: You made me smile when I read your review. I can just picture you snorting while reading it. Thank you for the kind words. We are still dealing with the infertility thing, but I'm a firm believer in things happen for a reason. I prefer to focus on the good things in my life and not what I don't have. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and hope to hear from you soon. I've got your story saved on my e-mail and when I get a chance, I want to read everything I've missed. I'll review soon, I promise!
AnonymousPHancock: You logged on just for me! I am so honored. And I did look at your favorite stories and saw that the Book of Morgan LeFey was there. I love that story. Are you reading the sequel The Final Reckoning? It's fantastic!
procrastinator: Thank you. I hope you liked this one as well.
LJ Fan: Hello again, my friend. I've been away far too long. I can always count on you for the worlds longest reviews though! You know, I'm usually disappointed in mpreg stories as well and I've thought long and hard about whether I wanted to do this story or not. I've decided I'm not even listing in the summary that it's mpreg, with all that implies. I don't want it to be the main focus. It's more about their relationship and how infertility affects them. My husband and I actually talked about this subject and what if men could get pregnant and what that would mean for couples who were otherwise infertile. So even though I'm writing a story that includes mpreg, it's not really an mpreg story. Does that make sense or am I rambling again? LOL
Strayc@t: Wow, thank you so much! I can't tell you how honored I am that you enjoyed it enough to put this and At Last on your favorites list! You made my day! I hope that you continue to enjoy the story as much. I feel like I have a lot to live up to now :)