The Babies Meet the Parents
Summary: Six women fall pregnant at six different times and three Marauders are born. What about the remaining three? Who are they? Twelve lives are about to be changed…forever.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! However I do own a couple of pennies, a packet of gum, a piece of lint, a dust ball and an empty erasable pen. I did own some Minstrels…but I sort of ate them…
Note: Aaralyn and I have returned to the wonderful world of school! By wonderful I mean exhausting. So updates might not be as frequent, 'cos I'm not sure about Aaralyn but when school rolls around I tend to get an annoying case of writer's block…
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Written By: Savaria
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Date: 17th July 1960
Chapter Twelve: Just for Jennifer
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"Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe i-"
"Mum, I've had two kids before, I think I know how to breathe during labour," Jemima snapped as Jacqueline O'Hanna offered her advice for the fifth time that day. Jacqueline (or 'Jackie' as she was usually referred too) insisted on helping her daughter prepare for the birth of her third child. Jemima moved from her cross-legged position on the floor to her feet.
"You can never be too prepared dear," Jackie commented as she eyed her daughter wearily from the sofa opposite. Jemima glared at her, flicking her twin braids out of her face.
"I am prepared," Jemima huffed, sitting down on the sofa next to her mum.
"It's better to be safe than sorry," Jackie replied. "Especially when a little one's involved," She leant sidewise to put her hand on Jemima's swelling abdomen. Jemima growled and stood up before her mother's hand got very far.
"What's with people and touching me," She ranted. "I'm pregnant, not dying," She sat back down again. "I don't go up to random pregnant women I see and prod them. But nnnooo, because it's me everyone has to touch me. The milkman, the postman and even the floo salesman. Just argh,"
"What's my lovely wife ranting about today?" Midian Bailey asked lightly from the kitchen doorway as he leant against the doorframe. Jemima glared at him and he raised an amused eyebrow at her. Jackie stood up and gave an exasperated sigh.
"I'm just trying to prepare her for the birth," Jackie explained. Midian nodded slowly, noticing that his wife's eye twitched and that she had opened her mouth ready to contradict her mother.
"Well thanks for all your help Jackie, but I think we're fine," Midian replied quickly, giving his wife a silencing look. Jackie looked at them both before sighing in defeat.
"I can tell when I'm not wanted," She said sadly. Jemima's face softened and she hugged her mother tightly.
"We want you here!" She replied. Jackie raised an eyebrow and smiled, shaking her head.
"I can tell I'm being bossy again, I know I'm bossy so it doesn't bother me, you can tell me,"
Jemima winced. "You're bossy,"
Jackie smiled and nodded. "That's it dear, always tell the truth. Anyway, I'm going home, floo me if you need me," Jemima nodded guiltily and Midian handed Jackie some floo powder. A minute later she's disappeared in a swirl of green flame.
Midian sat down on the sofa next to his wife. "Well that was successful," He commented. Jemima growled, crossing her arms. "Now don't you growl at me missy, just because you're hormonal doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone,"
Jemima huffed. "I'm fat," She whined. "I'm fat and I look like a balloon," She plucked at the long crimson t-shirt she had on. "And I can't see my feet!"
"Have you finished now?" Midian asked lightly. Jemima glared but nodded. "You are not fat, I think that colour looks very pretty on you, it does not make you look like a balloon and as for not seeing your feet..why would you?" He asked.
"Because not being able to see my feet confirms the fact that's I'm fat!" Jemima replied hotly.
"You're not fat Mummy," Davis commented as he entered the room, a deflated football in his hands. "You always look pretty,"
Jemima smiled and her eyes started to water happily so Midian thought it were time to interfere but he didn't get far. Jemima had encased her eldest son into a tight hug. Davis looked mortified.
"You are so sweet," Jemima cried. "I love you so much!" She ran her hands through Davis' dark hair. Midian chuckled as he pried his son from his wife's motherly grasp.
"Now that we've got that declaration out of the way what do you want son?" He asked. Davis held the deflated football forward, an annoyed look in his eyes.
"I was trying to show Dev ' how to play that muggle sport and I kicked it too hard," Davis explained. "It popped!" He continued, utterly amazed. Midian chuckled and tapped the deflated ball with his wand, making it as good as new. Davis smiled happily and Midian handed him back the ball. "Thanks Dad,"
"No problem," Midian replied. Jemima patted Davis lovingly on the shoulder as he left the room. She sighed happily and turned to Midian, a blissful look on her face.
"I love you,"
Midian returned the sentiment, laughing inwardly at his wife's sudden change of mood.
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Later Jemima decided that even with the windows and doors open the interior of the house was hot and stuffy no matter what she did so she moved herself outside. She sat herself down on the shaded garden swing, happily content to watch her sons play the muggle sport of football.
Davis looked like he had the hang of the game whilst Devon look sceptical every time the ball was kicked his way.
"Come on Dev you can do it!" Davis encouraged as Devon stopped the ball with his foot. "No! Don't pick it up!" Davis scolded as Devon stooped forward and picked the ball up, he straightened up smiling brightly. Davis groaned audibly.
Jemima had been quite surprised when Davis asked if he could get a football but had soon realised the only reason he had asked was because the children of the muggle family next to them played it. Midian had taken the boys to the park one day and next doors children had started a game of football with Davis and had been shocked when he not only didn't know how to play it he didn't know what it was. Davis had picked up the muggle sport quickly but Devon hadn't.
"Devon you do. not. pick. it. up," Davis growled. Devon put the ball back onto the ground and kicked it hard into the bushes. Davis glared at him and Devon scurried up onto the garden swing with Jemima.
"Dav' mean," He muttered huffily. Jemima rolled her eyes and ran her hand gently through Devon's messy hair. She didn't say anything. Davis stomped up to where Devon was sat.
"I thought you wanted to learn this!" Davis yelled.
"No I didn't," Devon replied. Davis stamped his foot.
"You did!" Davis said. Devon shook his head.
"If you two are going to fight can you wait until your father's home?" Jemima asked tiredly. The boys ignored her and continued yelling until Davis reached forward and pinched Devon's arm, hard.
"OW!" Devon yelled, his hand on his arm. Jemima took Davis' wrist and dragged him to the other side of the swing.
"What's going on here?" Midian asked. The boys had the decency to look guilty and after a few minutes of stern talking and semi-sincere apologies the boys moved inside to watch television. Midian watched them until they were settled before turning to his wife. He immediately knew something was wrong.
"Jem, what's the matter?" He asked softly. He surveyed his wife, taking in her slightly shocked expression, her hand which was resting on her stomach, the wet patch now forming…
Midian's mouth made an 'o' shaped, and Jemima had to laugh at how comical he looked.
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The Sláine Emerwish Centre for the Treatment of Magical Ailments was situated in the magical town of Coflin and could be reached easily enough by apparating, flooing, portkeying or (funnily enough) by ambulance. Jemima and Midian arrived through the floo into a large, prettily decorated room that had fireplaces lining the walls. They walked through the double doors into the reception where they were then directed to Sláine's maternity unit.
The maternity unit was located in the east wing of the hospital overlooking a lake. Jemima admired it as she sat on her little bed in her little room. Midian was making sure the boys were settled with her mother before returning to the hospital with enough magazines and biscuits to sink a ship.
He returned just as Jemima's midwife, Charlotte, declared her 5 centimetres dilated.
"You okay?" He asked as he handed her one of the magazine's he'd brought. He moved the baby-bag from the chair, sat down and started munching on a Nice biscuit.
"Yeah I'm fine," She replied, flicking through the magazine until she got to the advice pages.
"Your parents send their love," Midian said. Jemima smiled and nodded.
"That's nice of them," She replied.
"So do my parents," Midian continued. Jemima shifted and looked at him amusingly. "And my brothers and your sister and brothers, and our aunts and uncles, cousins-"
"Pretty much the world, his wife and their pet dog then?"
"Pretty much yeah," Jemima smiled.
"Always nice to know," She commented. "Considering our parents didn't want us getting together in the first place, let alone having children,"
Jemima and Midian had been dating for 2 years when Jemima got pregnant. The Bailey's and the O'Hanna's had been dead-set against their children dating so when Jemima got pregnant it had been the last straw. The Bailey's had tried to persuade Midian into dating some other girls' that they'd picked out whilst the O'Hanna's had tried to get Jemima to have a termination. Both refused, knowing their love for each other was strong. A year after Davis was born they got married, their love still as strong as it was the day they first laid eyes on each other.
"Well they soon got over that," Midian replied cheerfully. Jemima laughed and then groaned as a contraction hit her. Midian patted her hand. "Just think, sometime in the next couple of hours we're going to have a new addition to our family," Jemima smiled and squeezed Midian's hand gently.
"We still agree on the names?" Jemima asked. Midian nodded.
"Daniel Michael if it's a boy and Jennifer Danielle if it's a girl," Midian recited. "I know dear and I love those names,"
"We already have two boys, so I hope this one's a girl," Jemima said.
"It would be nice to have a daughter," Midian replied. Jemima nodded and then swatted Midian's hand away playfully.
"Can I read my mag now?" She asked sweetly. Midian rolled his eyes and answered her question by leaning back and placing another biscuit in his mouth.
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"I hate you," Jemima growled as she clenched Midian's hand as a particular ugly contraction hit. "And if you do this to me again, I will kill you. I will castrate you and then kill you," Midian winced.
"Okay love," He replied, not really bothered by his wife's threats. During Devon's birth she'd done the same thing. But during Davis' birth she was under a strong pain prevention spell which made her slightly loopy, (despite frequent contractions she'd tried to pack her bag and leave, claiming that she was missing her favourite Quidditch team play and that if she left then she might make the second half of the match).
"Okay Jemima you're doing well," Charlotte said encouragingly as Jemima panted with the effort of pushing. "Just a few more pushes and you'll have your baby!"
"Good," Jemima cried. "Because I am not going through this again!" Midian and Charlotte shared a look.
"Push Jemima," Charlotte instructed. Jemima screwed her eyes in effort and squeezed Midian's hand so hard he felt the bones in it crack. He let out a strangled cry and glared at Charlotte, who had the look of someone dying to laugh. She gave him a look that clearly said 'I've seen this before, and no matter how many times I see it it's still funny.' Midian chuckled.
"This is not funny!" Jemima growled. "I'm having a baby and you're LAUGHING! I could ARGH!" Jemima stopped her rant to push as hard as she could and was rewarded with a newborn baby's squawks. Jemima sapped in relief and Midian squeezed her shoulder with the hand not holding hers.
"You did it Jem," Midian whispered into her ear as Charlotte cleaned up the baby.
"I did didn't I," Jemima replied smiling. "Is the baby okay?"
"Baby's more than okay," Charlotte commented as she handed Jemima the infant. "Congratulations on a healthy baby girl," Charlotte smiled kindly and left the new parents alone.
"Our little girl," Midian whispered as he gently stroked the baby's head. Jemima beamed.
"Our little Jennifer," She replied. Baby Jennifer opened her eyes (which had the typical blue colour of a newborn) and gurgled.
"I better let our lot know," Midian said after a couple minutes of silence. "Or else the hospital will be bombarded by owls inquiring about you,"
Jemima smiled and kissed her husband passionately. Midian returned the kiss wholeheartedly.
"I love you," He whispered before turning and leaving the room.
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"She's so small," Davis commented as he put his index finger into his new sister's tiny palm.
"She is a baby Dav," Midian replied, lifting Devon up onto the bed so he could get a better view. Jennifer was looking around curiously. "Babies are supposed to be this small,"
"You were this small once," Jemima said. Davis made an odd face and let go of Jennifer's hand. Devon poked her lightly.
"She's soft," He said with an amazed look on his face. He poked his arm. "I'm not that soft,"
"Babies are supposed to be soft," Midian laughed. Jemima yawned. "I think Mummy needs her rest, I'll take you two back to Nana's,"
The boys nodded and hugged their mother carefully before leaving the room. Midian kissed her forehead before following them. Jemima hugged her new daughter to her chest as the tiny baby's eyes closed slowly.
"Sweet dreams Jenny," Jemima whispered. "I love you,"
When Midian returned 20 minutes later he smiled at the sight he saw. Jemima was asleep on the bed with a sleeping Jennifer cradled in her secure embrace. Midian never felt so proud in his entire life, and he'd remember that feeling until the day he died.
He turned down the lights and kissed his wife's forehead. He then leant down and kissed his sleeping daughter. Assuring himself in that one single moment that he loved her with all his heart, and that he would protect her.
He sat down on the chair and closed his eyes and fell asleep, dreaming of a distant future where everything was all right.
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They're all here now! DUM DUM DUM!
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