Chapter 36: Esme

Rose tossed and turned in bed, when suddenly she was pulled from sleep by cramping pain in her lower abdomen. She let out a sharp breath as the cramp increased in intensity. Rose curled into a fetal position and waited for the pain to subside.

When she was able, she eased herself into a sitting position. "Severus," she breathed. She gently shook Severus's arm to rouse him, while cradling her belly with her other hand. "Severus."

Severus's eyes flit open. He immediately caught the scared look on Rose's face and sat up straight in bed. "What is it?" he asked.

"I think I'm having contractions," Rose answered.

Severus started at her blankly for a moment. "Right," he said after he collected himself. He swiftly got up. "Right," he repeated, moving to Rose's side of the bed. He waved his wand. Drawers flung open and articles of clothing zoomed towards them and laid themselves neatly on the bed.

Rose cringed and curled forward into herself. She tried to make herself take in calming, deep breaths, but they ended up short and labored. "This hurts," Rose said breathily, "and it's just going to get worse."

"Darling," Severus said capturing her attention once more. He hardly ever called her that; only in the most special moments. "Let's get you dressed. Then we'll go." He brushed her hair behind her ears. "It's going to be alright." Rose nodded up at him with wide eyes. It was moments like this that reminded Severus that Rose was still quite young. She had taken on a lot for someone barely 27 years old. Severus helped ease Rose's nightgown over her head. He reached for her bra on the stack of clothes.

Rose had her arms crossed against her bare chest. "I can do it, Severus," Rose told him, feeling slightly embarrassed. She really did not like being the one cared for in this way.

Severus ignored her and strung her arms through the bra straps and clasped it at her spine. Rose decided to not put up a fight; it was just easier that way and she was quite uncomfortable. Severus then helped her on with a loose-fitting dress and sweater.

Rose blushed. "Thanks," she whispered. "Now get yourself dressed and wake up Ephraim."

Severus nodded and moved into the other room. Rose could hear him talking to their son. When Severus reappeared, he quickly threw on his robes and shoes.

"Ephraim," he barked.

Ephraim stepped into the doorway, shoes on and dressed.

"We are taking you to stay the night with the Longbottoms," Severus informed. This was a preconceived plan the Rose had worked out with Hannah.

Rose, who was getting her shoes, let out a cry of pain and leaned against the wall for support.

Ephraim ran towards his mother, looking concerned. He grabbed hold of her arm. "No," Ephraim told Severus defiantly. "I'm coming too."

"This is not a discussion," Severus said firmly.

Rose took in a deep breath and straightened herself. She gave her son a little smile and stroked through his hair once. "Let him come, Severus," she said.

Severus bit his tongue. Rose looked distressed and uncomfortable; he wasn't about to argue with her. "Alright," he sighed. He moved into his wife and son. He brought Rose to his chest and grabbed onto Ephraim's shoulder. Then with one loud pop, they were gone.

Once at St. Mungo's Rose was immediately put into a wheelchair and transported to a hospital bed. Her clothes that Severus had helped her into were replaced with a hospital gown. Ephraim turned his back as she was getting changed once more.

An aged, short witch with a long gray braid down to her waist came into the room. This was Rose's midwife, Miranda, the seer. Severus had met this woman on several occasion when he had accompanied Rose to appointments. She was the only person outside his family who was willing to defy him openly and without fear. Severus detested the witch, but Rose seemed to adore her, so Severus 'mostly' kept his negative thoughts to himself.

"Rose," Miranda greeted, advancing on her and placing her hands on her cheeks in a mothering way. Miranda's eyes glossed over as her hands made contact with Rose's flesh. She stood frozen for several moment. Then she was pulled back and she smiled as if nothing had happened. She released Rose. "You are in for a bit of a journey, sweet girl," she told Rose in a thick Scottish accent. "That is to be expected with first time births. We should be expecting baby, Esme around early afternoon as it appeared by the sun."

"Early afternoon," Rose groaned. "That's over 12 hours."

"It will be well rewarded," Miranda assured, patting Rose's stomach. She looked around the room.

"Miranda," Rose said. "This is our son, Ephraim."

Miranda enthusiastically shook Ephraim's hand. "You are a good child to accompany your mother today." Miranda glanced towards Severus, "Mr. Snape," she greeted coldly.

Severus's lips formed a fine line as he nodded curtly.

"Well let's have a look shall we," Miranda said lifting the covers up above Rose's knees.

"Ephraim come over here and turn around," Severus ordered. Ephraim did as he was bid and moved over towards the window and turned away from his mother. Severus sat himself on the edge of the bed and took Rose's hand as Miranda put her legs up in stirrups.

Rose shifted uncomfortably as the midwife examined her with gloved hands.

"Everything seems to be in order," Miranda said as she reemerged, snapping her gloves off and throwing them away.

Rose carefully brought her legs down and Severus drew the covers over her again.

"You're fine now, Ephraim," Severus told his son.

Ephraim turned towards his parents again.

"Come here, sweetheart," Rose told Ephraim, patting the spot beside her in the bed.

Ephraim hesitated for a moment, not sure how fragile his mother was at this point. He looked towards his father. Severus gave his son a tiny nod. Ephraim wedged himself between his mother and the bedrail.

Rose pressed her lips into Ephraim's hair. Ephraim smiled as he leaned up to his mother. It made him feel better to know he wasn't being forgotten.

"It will be a while now," Miranda informed. "I will begin brewing some potions for the pain."

Rose shook her head. "I would like to do it naturally," she said.

"That is very valiant of you, my dear," Miranda said almost pitying. "Though we have come so far in magical advancements, we have not yet found a way to make pregnancy completely painless. If it is pain you want, believe me, you will get it with or without potions." The midwife gave Rose a pointed look. "Regardless, it will still be the worst pain of your life. The potions will only make it slightly less unbearable."

"She will take the potions," Severus said.

Rose gave him a stern look.

"You will take the potions," he told her firmly.

Miranda gave Severus a fleeting smile before exiting the room.

Hours passed.

Rose couldn't stay in the bed long. Ephraim was curled up asleep under the covers in her stead. She tried pacing, sitting, standing, and pacing some more.

"Why don't you try to sleep?" Severus asked as he had watched her cross the room for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"A tiny human is slowly trying to escape from my body," Rose replied in a low hiss.

"Right," Severus said flatly. "Come here then." He stood briefly to drape a blanket over Rose's shoulders and then pull her into his lap. "Be still for five minutes," he whispered in her ear. "Let us have a few last moments of peace."

Rose sighed. "Like I just said, a person is coming out of me. Where is the peace in that?"

Severus placed his warm palm against the skin of her lower back exposed by the gaps in the hospital gown. He brushed her hair back with his other hand and pressed his lips once against the skin on her neck. "Be still," he told her as he began to rub her back.

"I feel like I'm crushing your legs," Rose said.

Severus rolled his eyes, "You're not," he assured her. He watched her for a long moment. Rose was staring without seeing, her mind clearly racing. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"What?" She flinched towards him.

He shook his head at her. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"No," Rose admitted. "The potions helped. I'm just freaking out a bit."

"I hadn't noticed," Severus said sarcastically.

Rose narrowed her eyes at him. "You are unsettlingly calm," she said. "How are you doing that?"

"I keep waiting for the onset of panic," Severus told her.

"And?"

Severus ran his hands from her back over the front of her body, resting his hands on her belly. "Perhaps if there was another pregnant witch on my lap I would be panicking."

Rose smiled and leaned back into him. "If there was another pregnant witch on your lap, I would be panicking too."

The sun reached its highest point in the sky.

Rose began breathing through pursed lips. She was leaning forward in bed while Severus rubbed her lower back again. Ephraim held her hand, looking unsure.

"I can't do this," Rose breathed. "I can't do this."

"You really don't have much of a choice in the matter," Severus told her.

"That's really comforting," Rose shot back.

Miranda entered the room. "It's almost time." Miranda instructed Rose to lay back and she helped her put her legs up. Ephraim and Severus each held onto one of Rose's hands. "Do you feel like you need to push?" Miranda asked Rose.

Rose nodded with wide, terrified eyes.

"Let's meet this baby then" Miranda said as she examined Rose.

"Okay," Rose said hesitantly.

"Breathe," Miranda instructed.

Rose nodded and her breath was short and shallow.

"Deeply," Miranda said.

Rose let out a cry of pain.

"Push," Miranda told her.

Rose did. Tears poured from her eyes.

"Again," Miranda told her before she had a chance to catch her breath. "I see the top of her head."

"That's all!" Rose exclaimed.

Severus gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

"Push again," Miranda told her.

"Why did you do this to me?" Rose groaned at Severus as she pressed herself deeper into the pillows.

Severus tried to hide his amusement. "You're doing well," he told her.

"Push."

"No," Rose cried but her body instinctively pushed. She let out an agonizing yelp and squeezed Ephraim and Severus's hands tightly. "I'm sorry," she wept towards her son, "Did I hurt you?"

"No, Mum," Ephraim lied.

"She's coming," Miranda said, peering up from between Rose's legs. "You are almost there, dear. Give us one more big push."

Rose pushed with a final scream, but then it was not just her voice.

A shrill, beautiful voice filled the room. Then Miranda lifted a pink, wailing little something.

Severus was still, his hand was limp in Rose's.

Rose let out a shaky laugh of relief, tears free flowing down her cheeks.

"Mr. Snape," Miranda said. "Come cut the cord."

Using his wand, Severus severed the umbilical cord and Esme was laid across Rose's chest.

"You've got her," Miranda said as Rose held their baby close.

Rose looked up at Severus in disbelief.

The world was just a rush of color and sound. Esme was wailing. It was the most beautiful sound Severus had ever heard.

It wasn't until Esme had been checked and cleaned up, was she finally handed to Severus. He sat on the edge of the bed beside Rose. Ephraim was in the bed with her, resting his head on Rose's shoulder.

Esme was whimpering but had stopped screaming.

"You are holding her like she's an erumpent horn," Miranda told Severus.

Severus scowled at the midwife.

"Darling, bring her closer to your chest," Rose suggested.

Severus looked at Rose and slowly brought the infant against his pounding heart. Esme instantly settled down.

Miranda gave Severus a triumphant look which would have deepened his irritation if he hadn't been staring down at Esme. "I will leave you too it," Miranda said.

Esme blinked up at Severus. She had dark eyes like he did and a dusting of black hair, but that was where the resemblance stopped. She really was a beautiful child, Severus thought.

"She likes you," Rose said.

"She's barely an hour old," Severus returned, his eyes not leaving their baby, "She doesn't know what she likes."

Rose rolled her eyes. "She knows who her father is," Rose told him. "She used to kick around when she heard your voice."

"An hour old," Severus smirked down at his daughter.

"She is very intelligent," Rose pressed.

"I'm not arguing," Severus said. He was transfixed.

"We did this," Rose whispered.

Severus finally looked up and smiled at Rose, a rare broad smile. He leaned it and kissed Rose's forehead. He then turned his attention towards Ephraim, who was sitting quietly. Ephraim had the apparent look of someone not wanting to interrupt. He had a grave expression on his face, clearly wondering if he had been displaced.

Rose looked at her son too. She put her arm around Ephraim's shoulder and pressed her cheek into his hair. "Do you want to hold your baby sister?" Rose asked him.

Ephraim tilted his face to look up at his mother with wide eyes.

Severus cautiously passed Esme to Rose. She squirmed slightly. "Ephraim," Severus said gently, nodding once at the boy.

Rose placed Esme is Ephraim's arms. "Just like that," she said, "you've got her."

"She's so little," Ephraim remarked. A light smile was forming on his face.

Rose smoothed his hair back. "She didn't feel so small coming out of me," Rose said. She turned her gaze on Severus. "I hope you know that I am never letting you touch me again." She smirked.

Severus wasn't listening. He was staring at Ephraim and Esme. The infant wrapped her little fist around Ephraim's finger. Ephraim grinned down at his baby sister.

Rose beamed as she looked at her husband. She planted a light kiss on his cheek.

Severus blinked and looked towards her; his black eyes were glassy.

"What," Rose whispered to him.

"Remember when we were in the Shrieking Shack," Severus began. "You kept trying to get me to thank you for saving my life."

"I remember," Rose assured him.

"Well," Severus said, "thank you."

Rose's eyes glistened with forming tears. "Anytime."

xxxxxx

Dear Readers,

This could be the end of the story…but I'm still going to continue because I'm having fun. I mean Tobias Snape is still out there somewhere. I'm curious to know what his deal is. What would you like to read about? I would appreciate some suggestions.

Thora Jane