Scared Gryffindors

Minerva bit her lip. "Couldn't they just stay in?" She was nervous about the birth. She and Albus chose after the St. Mungo's incident to have a home birth. After all Apollo and Aurora were delivered at the World Cup, where their Aunt Mara was coaching at the time.

Dominick Theoriski laughed. "As uncomfortable as labor is…."

This got a snort from Minerva.

"….I believe being pregnant for much longer it will be even more uncomfortable. Do you really want a natural birth without pain killers?"

Minerva nodded. "If it will be better for the kittens." Albus squeezed her hand.

"You incident you want your other children involved in the birth. I would feel comfortable with Apollo helping in the deliver but are you sure Harry and Aurora can handle seeing you in pain?"

Poppy entered the room saying, "Remind last time you literally cursed Albus into a mouse, Mara into a toad and I believe caused a hurricane in the West Keys. This was with a good dose of pain killers."

"I can control my wandless magic much better now." Minerva protested.

"Right." Theoriski agreed immediately learning to humor pregnant witches was often a matter of life or death, particularly his.

"I want to make sure the kittens are safe and I heard pain relievers increased the chances of birth complications." Minerva explained.

Theoriski thought for a second. "What is your knowledge of herbal medicine? Apollo has this insane idea. But actually now that I think about it it's not that insane."

"What?" Albus asked eagerly.

"If we burn catnip in an incense burner or if Minerva drinks a tea made from catnip…"

"Ha, ha. Very funny." Minerva hated jokes about her animagus form.

"I'm serious. The physical benefits relieved are cramps, anxiety, muscle relaxation and sedation. It would be completely safe since Minerva's body is used to the substance." Theoriski knew Apollo was joking but this could actually work. "You would be fully conscious with a mild dose."

"Excellent!" Albus wanted to spare his wife any unnecessary pain.

"Here's some literature to read over about birth positions. Poppy you have some to discuss with me?" Theoriski finished up his official business.

Albus and Minerva looked surprised by the comment. Poppy, not meeting either one's eyes, nodded shortly. "In my private quarters."

Theoriski said "I'll meet you then. I'll see you two, excuse me, you four later. "He and Poppy left.

"Everything is good, Mina. Are you heading to bed soon?" Albus asked, gently kissing his wife.

Minerva answered, "I want to check on Bill for a second, and then I'm all yours."

Raising an eyebrow, Albus grinned" All mine?"

"Well, you do have to share me with other people occasionally. Especially two kittens at the moment." Minerva kissed him and left to check on her temporary replacement.

A loud conversation could hear outside of Bill's quarters, an odd thing for ten-thirty on a Wednesday night.

"Tell them, Apo! Unless you aren't committed to this relationship." Bill sounded angry and hurt.

I don't see you taking me to the Weasley family dinners anytime soon. Just let me wait mom gives birth. She can't handle any life altering news now." Apollo pleaded with his unhappy lover.

"I'm bad news?" Bill asked softly.

Of course not. Especially if you make my son happy, thought Minerva. The fact Apollo had been a bit of a prat lately made sense.

"Of course not. I don't want to shock anyone right now especially my mom."

Minerva sighed. How did she feel? Shocked? Hurt? Relieved it wasn't goats? She heard Bill sighed and say "Let's just go to bed. I assume you are leaving early in the morning for work."

"Yeah. I hate sneaking around. Why did you accept the job? It's getting complicated with you working with my parents." Apollo asked.

"I wanted to know them better. Hopefully they will be my in-laws one day." Bill yawned. "Night."

Minerva didn't hear if Apollo responded to Bill's off-handed marriage proposal but suddenly she knew that she just intruded and she felt odd. Walking back to her chambers, Minerva thought about the fact Apollo came off as a prat sometimes. He couldn't be who he truly was on two levels. His true identity as their son had to be unacknowledged because of their past. But not to be free enough love who he wanted was a problem.

"There you are! I thought I would have to send a search party out for you!" Albus noticed the weird look on Minerva's face. "What? Are the kittens ok?"

Pulling her husband into the nearest empty room, Minerva whispered,

"Check your watch."

"What!" Albus was puzzled. It was true that Minerva occasionally acted weird due to the hormones but this was especially weird.

"Apollo is sleeping in Bill's room."

"Okay…." Albus said slowly. "They've been friends for years. You and Mara sometimes sleep in the same room."

"No I mean, in the same bed."

"You and Mara have shared beds during conferences."

Minerva groaned and tapped her foot impatiently. For the greatest wizard alive, her husband could be incredibly dense sometimes.

"I've never proposed marriage to Mara."

"You never proposed marriage to Mara." Albus agreed. He paused for a moment. His eyes widen. "You mean…."

"Give the man a prize. I mean instead of Mara and me I think Pol and Bill are going the Poppy and Pommie route." Minerva explained.

"Oh." Albus nodded. "Wow. We really nailed that when we chose Poppy and Pommie for godparents."

"Albus! This is serious." Minerva said sternly.

"No it's not. I would prefer they wait until marriage. But we like Bill. Apollo should be happy. If Bill makes him happy, I'm happy. "

Minerva paused and nodded. "You're right. Besides I'll get cute red head grandchildren."

"But why wouldn't Apollo come to us? He has to know by now we don't care about stuff like that. I mean your best friends are lesbians for crying out loud."

"Do you really not care? To be honest I'm hurt by the fact Apollo hid this from us. But he has been distance since we adopted Harry and announced the kittens." Minerva sighed.

"Love, let's figure this out in the morning. I'm tired. " Albus said reaching for his wife. But Minerva got out of bed. "Minerva, love? Um, where are you going at one o'clock in the morning?"

"For a walk, I'm restless." Minerva threw on her tartan dressing coat. "Relax we made sure my stomach with be protected and hidden. I'll call you if I go into labor." She kissed her speechless husband.

She found herself in the kitchen sipping her husband's hot cocoa. Hearing footsteps Minerva tensed but relaxed. Apollo had an unusual stride. "Couldn't sleep, kitten?" Minerva asked

Apollo paused, not understanding why his mother wasn't shocked to find him at Hogwarts. "Mom! I just got to talking to Bill and he invited me to spend the night, instead of flooing home." He bit his lip nervously.

"You are horrible at lying." Minerva smiled sadly. "You always bite your lip. Besides, Bill did more than that. He made a proposal of sorts I believe. I was outside the room. I wanted to see if Bill needed help with his lesson plans. He definitely needs help but not with that. Why didn't you tell us?"

A tear ran down Apollo's face. "I didn't want to disappoint you. It's hard being your son sometimes and you already replaced me with Harry and the new kittens…"

"Never! I love you always and forever. Sometimes I felt like you are disappointed in us."

"No, I do love you. I just don't know how to be your son sometimes. I don't feel brave enough." Apollo started to cry.

"'Being a Gryffindor doesn't mean not being scare. It means facing fears head on. Being in love is scary." Minerva explained rocking her son in her arms. "Kitten, you'll be brave when you need to be."

"It's late. You need sleep and so does the kittens." Apollo touched his mother's stomach. "How much longer?"

"Two months. Good night, my love. Good luck with Bill."

"Thanks mom. Love you." Apollo kissed his mother's cheek.

"I love you, too." Minerva whispered to the empty room as she finished her drink and returned to bed.