Tuesday 27th May 1980

St Mungo's, 11:00

"It's too early. It's too early," Dora was repeating, each repetition sounding more panicked and frantic than the last.

Because it was true. Far too true. Her baby wasn't supposed to come until June! Late June at that. That made him a whole month early. He wasn't supposed to be a month early!

And yes, she knew it was a boy. She had gone to that appointment alone and got the news. And she hadn't told Remus. Because at that point they had argued about something again (she couldn't remember what, though) and she had been annoyed at him. Annoyed enough that it made her feel better at the time to not tell him.

Was that petty and childish? Definitely. But at that point she hadn't exactly been feeling the most mature. And she wasn't mature! She was only nineteen! Barely, at that. She had literally just turned it just over a month ago! She wasn't meant to be mature! She wasn't mature bought to be having this baby.

Pain shot through her. Oh, Merlin. She was having a baby. It was actually coming, wasn't it?

"Dora, you need to calm down," Remus urged, though his face was extremely pale.

"Calm down?" she snapped through a gasp. "How the hell am I supposed to calm down! Don't you know it's too early?"

It wasn't good for the baby to be this early. It wasn't ready yet. He still had to grow! Get strong!

"We need a midwife!" Remus called.

Dora looked around her from her position in Remus' arms. Since when had she been brought here? How did she get here? Actually, since when had she been in Remus' arms? She didn't remember any of it.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

"My girlfriend," he replied. "She's in labour!"

"Sir, you need the maternity ward..."

"She's a month early!"

"Too early!" Dora moaned, a cramp rippling through her.

There was a lot of movement around her but she didn't see what it was all about because her eyes were closed as she tried to deal with the pain. There was a lot of pain. Was she supposed to be in this much pain?

Then suddenly she was in the air and then she was lying down on something. What had just happened? She opened her eyes and looked around. That was the ceiling straight ahead. And she was moving a lot faster. Huh.

"Dora?" She heard her dad say in confusion (she hadn't realised that he was at work today) and then there was the sound of his feet pounding the door. "Dora!"

"She's in labour!" Remus called over to him.

"What? It's May!"

"Too early!" Dora cried out, feeling tears run down her face.

Too early! Her little baby was too early! He still had four weeks to go! He wasn't ready! It wasn't safe for him! He had to stay in.

"I've got you, Dora. I've got you," Ted said reassuringly.

"Daddy..." she said weakly.

She didn't know what to do. How to fix this. Nothing was in her control. Not even a little bit.

"You're going to be okay."

He didn't know that. How could he know that? None of this was going to plan!

"Breathe, Dora," Remus was saying. "You need to breathe deeply."

He started doing it and instinctively she copied. Her heart rate slowed a little and she could actually catch her breath. That didn't stop her worrying, however. Or her cramps.

"Your mother will be here soon," Ted reassured her.

Dora nodded weakly. That was good. She needed a calm head in here. Something the top two men in her life currently weren't. Which, if she hadn't been in pain and thinking about the fact that she was about to give birth, she would have found hilarious. Her dad and her... well, Remus were two of the most level-headed people she knew. Remus because, well, he was Remus. Calm and collected, the balancing force of the Marauders, and Ted because he was a Healer and Healers had to be level-headed. But neither of them was like that at the minute. They were anxious. They were agitated. They were worried.

She was all of those three plus being in pain. And feeling dizzy. It wasn't good that she was feeling dizzy, was it?

"Owwww!"

That was another cramp. Actually, it was a contraction. She should probably call them what they were. She was having contractions. She was in labour. Her baby was coming.

"Can't you do anything?" Remus was asking someone off to the side.

Dora then found herself being directed to part her legs and since when was she wearing a hospital gown? She couldn't remember getting changed! A switching spell?

"You're not dilated enough," the midwife said after checking her.

Which was thoroughly mortifying, by the way. Nothing about this process was graceful or even smooth. And she would really rather that people didn't poke around down there. And yes, she aware that that was extremely futile considering she was pregnant, in labour, whatever and that's where the baby was coming out. That didn't mean she liked people poking around down there. Unless, you know, it was Remus. And they were both naked. And the good kind of sweaty. Not the kind of sweaty she currently was because her whole body was straining and aching and doing Merlin knows what else.

"She's not even meant to be in labour!"

Dora hadn't known that Remus' voice could get that shrill.

"Well, she is." But the midwife sounded more worried than curt. "I am going to contact Healer Farsley."

And with that she rushed out of the room. That definitely wasn't a good sign. But Dora couldn't dwell on that because she groaned loudly.

"Dora? What is it?" Ted asked worriedly, leaning over her.

"Hurts," she managed to get out.

"Hurts? What hurts? Your stomach? Your legs?"

Ted's eyes darted all over her like he would be able to see what hurt just by looking at her. Unfortunately, all her issues were inside her.

"Pressure," she gasped out as the wave of pain happened again.

"Pressure?" Ted repeated dumbly. "You feel pressure?"

Dora gritted her together and nodded. She hadn't known that Pressure could feel so painful. It felt like her pelvis was trying to separate itself from her body.

"What's going on?" Remus asked in a panic.

But Ted ignored him, focusing completely on her. "Dora, are you sure you feel pressure?"

"I feel like I need to do something!"

"What?" Remus' eyes bugged out.

Then Dora realised what she felt like she needed to do.

"I need to push!"

"Dora, you need to hold on," Ted urged, looking all around him in a panic. "You can't push just yet."

"Aarghhh!"

She waved her hand about and Remus grabbed it and rubbed circles on the back of it, trying to be comforting. Unfortunately, it didn't work because another contraction ripped through her and she gripped his hand tightly. He gasped and she knew she was holding on too tight but she didn't care.

"Ahhhh!"

St Mungo's Waiting Room, 15:30

"This is crazy," Marlene said, shaking her head.

"Tell me about it," Sirius replied, leaning his head against the wall.

"It's not right," she continued, even though she knew that Sirius didn't want to talk much, if at all. "It shouldn't be happening like this. We shouldn't be here."

That got Sirius' attention. "What do you mean?"

Marlene paused for a moment, struggling to put her extremely chaotic thoughts into words.

"We shouldn't all be hanging around at the hospital, biting our nails, hoping for good news over one of us giving birth."

Birth shouldn't be this complicated, should it? Sure, she knew it wasn't easy from all the stories from her mum but, well, it shouldn't end up like this?

"You're not making any sense, Marlene."

"I am!" She insisted, it made sense in her head. "I mean, this sort of worrying and waiting around for any news should be for if we ever get attacked and injured! Not over childbirth!"

"Dora's going to be okay." Sirius tried to say confidently but Marlene heard the tremor in his voice.

"You can't know that!"

Sirius looked at her and then it was like he deflated. Marlene suddenly realised how pale he was. How worried he was. This was his cousin. Well, the child of his cousin. Which was still a cousin, she thought. Anyway. Dora was one of the few members of his family that he claimed and now, well, now she giving birth. Prematurely. Which was dangerous.

"She had to be okay," Sirius whispered. "She just has to."

"Healers!" Marlene all but shouted, her own worry vetting the better of her. "She had to have Healers in there with her! Healers only get involved with pregnancies and birthing when things are serious and going very wrong!"

Apparently, her mother had needed a Healer when she was pregnant with Ciaran because he hadn't been growing properly. Worried everyone for months, apparently, but Healer got him sorted with a nasty sounding potions regime. What was happening to Dora was worse! Four weeks early! Surely the little sprog wasn't anywhere near ready yet?

Sirius just clutched at her hand and said nothing. What was there to say? Nothing could make this situation better. How could you even begin to make this better?

It felt like nothing happened for weeks on end, at least for them and then something like this happened. Why did something bad always have to happen? Why couldn't something good? Didn't they deserve something good to happen to them?

As if the universe actually heard her for a change, Remus appeared in the doorway looking like a ghost. Marlene had never seen him so pale or dishevelled looking. Even after a full moon.

"Moony?" Sirius asked hesitantly and Marlene held her breath.

"She... he... they're fine," he stuttered out, swaying slightly on his feet.

Sirius immediately rushed over to steady him and try and lead him to a chair but Remus shook his head.

"I'm okay," he got out.

"They're okay?" Sirius repeated.

Remus gulped and nodded. "They'll need to stay in for a while. The baby was too early. He needs to get stronger. So does Dora. The delivery was hard for her..."

"But she's okay, right?" Marlene said desperately, seeing Sirius go pale again.

Remus gulped. "She's fine. Or, she will be. They had to... had to give her blood. But she's fine now. She's fine now."

Marlene and Sirius both released breaths they didn't know they had been holding. Okay. She was going to be okay. Everything was okay.

"Wait, he?" Marlene questioned, just realising what Remus had first said.

Remus looked at her a broke out into a wobbly smile.

"It's a boy. Me and Dora have a perfect, little boy."

Thursday 29th May 1980

St Mungo's, 18:00

"We don't even have a nursery set up," Remus said quietly.

"What was that?" James asked, frowning.

Had he heard his friend, right?

Remus sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes. He was tired. Exhausted even. This was the first time James was seeing Remus without him being glued to Dora, who was sleeping right now. As was Teddy. Like they were supposed to be doing because those two had been through a lot the last few days. More than anyone should have to. And Remus had been on edge those entire two days - James didn't think he had slept. And now it was a full moon tonight. Remus just couldn't catch a break. It wasn't fair.

"We... she... well, there's no nursery. The cot is still in the box."

"None of it is set up?" James asked incredulously.

Remus put his head in his hands. "No."

Lily gave him a pointed look. Right. They had to keep his spirits up. Keep things positive.

"Don't worry about that," James said. "You worry about Dora and Teddy."

"We'll sort something out for you," Lily said with a smile.

A smile that seemed to instantly reassure Remus because his shoulder relaxed and there was actually a ghost of a smile on his face.

"OK," he said, giving in without so much of a fight.

He left and James looked to Lily.

"That's a good thing, right?" He asked, nodding towards where Remus had disappeared.

It meant that things were back to normal between Remus and Dora, right? Lily was better at determining these things though.

"It's a very good thing," she confirmed and then she tugged on his arm impatiently - everything by her was done impatiently these days. "Come on. We have a nursery to set up."

James allowed himself to be pulled and chuckled. You mean us guys have a nursery to set up while all you girls give us directions?"

As if he was letting any of the pregnant women near anything heavy. Not even to levitate.

"Exactly."

[xxxxxx]

Sunday 1st June 1980

St Mungo's, 16:00

"He is so perfect," Alice cooed, holding little Teddy.

That's what Dora and Remus had named him. Well, they had named him Edward, after Dora's dad who had apparently ended up delivering him. But Edward was far too important and grown-up sounding for such and itty, bitty, little boy! So, Teddy it was. And it suited him.

Dora looked on anxiously. "Are you holding his head right? And supporting his bum?"

"I'm holding him just like you showed me," Alice reassured her.

Dora nodded but bit her lip. Alice tried to look confident and show Dora that she wasn't going to harm her baby but that, unfortunately, didn't seem to ease the new mother's fears.

New mother. Wow. Dora was a mother. And soon Alice was going to be one too. She couldn't wait. She had already started to become impatient about being pregnant and holding little Teddy made her even more so. She was ready to be done being pregnant and actually have her baby in her arms.

Holding a baby in her arms was very different than carrying one in her stomach she found. A lot different. In a good way. And carrying one in her arms didn't make her feel all yuck like being pregnant did.

Yes, she was just about done being pregnant.

Frank was hovering awkwardly, like he didn't know what to do. He had been sitting but he had started fidgeting so he had got up, legally to stretch but Alice knew better. This little baby made him nervous. Which Alice found kind of adorable. Frank was so used to knowing what to do and how to act and a baby was all it took to throw him completely off balance.

Teddy waved a tiny fist around and Alice cooed.

"Aw, he's waving at you, Frank. Aren't you a clever boy?"

She then showered the baby's head with kisses.

"Um," Frank said after clearing his throat and giving Teddy a weird look. "Are babies' head supposed to look blue?"

"Don't be silly," Alice scoffed, looking down at the now peacefully sleeping Teddy. "Little Teddy has a cute little fuzz of dark brown hair."

"It looked lighter just yesterday," Dora told them. "I thought he was going to have Remus' sandy brown hair."

"Looks like he's going to take after the Black or Tonks side," Alice said. "They both have dark hair, right?"

"Let's hope it the Tonks side," Dora said with a tired chuckle.

"His head was blue," Frank insisted.

"Probably just his veins," Tonks dismissed. "The Healers and midwife said because he came so early that his skin is thinner."

"It's not always going to be like that, is it?" Alice asked anxiously, worried for her friend's son.

He was so tiny and fragile looking and he had already gone through so much. Adding something else to all of that just wouldn't be fair.

Should he still not be checked?" Frank said.

Alice smiled at him in a way she hoped was reassuring. It was so sweet that he was so worried. He was going to make such a good father.

Wednesday 4th June 1980

Marauder Flat, 19:00

"Come on, Petey," James urged. "We're going to celebrate!"

Peter shook his head. "Sorry, I have other plans."

"Well, cancel them," Sirius said. We're celebrating Dora and Teddy. And Remus, I suppose."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Without any of them here? And can Dora even have alcohol?"

Remus had been spending the past week over in the Tonks' house. Dora had moved back home months ago and that's where she was staying for the foreseeable future, she and Remus didn't seem to have any plans at the moment.

"She can't," Lily replied. "Have alcohol. She's breastfeeding. At least for a few weeks."

"It's important because Teddy's premature," Sirius added knowledgeably.

"None of us are drinking," James said. "Half of us can't anyway and that's no fun. No. We're going over to the Tonks' and having a little party. Cake. Lots of food. "

"And presents for little Teddy," Alice said happily.

"You just sprung this on me," he complained. "I already agreed to do something."

"Then reschedule it," James said with a shrug.

"I can't."

It was with Nott and Avery and he did not want to make them displeased with him. No, definitely not. Not when things had been going well recently.

James rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Lily elbowed him and then turned to Peter with a kind smile on her face.

"You just joking us later, if you can."

"I will," he promised, even though he had absolutely no intention of doing so.

This was going to be far more important than a silly baby, after all.