Guys and girls, I'm so sorry this took so long! For some reason, fanfiction wasn't letting me upload anything! But we're back now and we're getting into the meaty drama segments.
Read and review, please!
Several weeks passed, the bitterly cold January had gone out harshly, leaving piles and piles of snow in its wake. February, though, was already shaping up to be a wonderful prelude to spring. Fred and Millicent had fallen into somewhat of a routine; each morning they would wake up, the coffee was always sitting by Fred's bedside while Millicent showered, they would apparate into the Daily Prophet office for five, go about their day before breaking for lunch at noon before making their way home together at one. On their respective days off, Millicent ran errands while Fred worked on his jokes and they always convened at the Burrow for Sunday dinner.
Fred was doing more outside work: meeting with clients, floo conferences, having long meetings; he'd even been sent to Bulgaria to meet with the Empress of Magic to see if she wished to carry the Daily Prophet as their new newspaper. He was never gone long though and the reunions between Millicent and Fred always seemed to make up for lost time.
Everything seemed perfect, as if right out of a marriage how-to guide. Except for one problem…Millicent was pregnant.
Most married couples would've been absolutely ecstatic at the prospect of a new baby. Millicent, however, was frightened out of her wits by telling Fred. Their talks about children had ended in him saying that he didn't want them; the fact that she was now enceinte was a problem.
The mediwitch bustled into the examination room, her grey robes emblazoned with the St. Mungo's emblem on them, the name reading 'Healer Hunter'. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Weasley," She gushed, taking a seat across from her. "Good news on the pregnancy," Her smile was bright and happy. "It looks like you'll be due sometime in August of this year. That's exciting, a summer baby!"
Millicent managed a nod. In the past few weeks she had started to gain more weight, especially around her hips and in her belly. "So, that means I got pregnant in November," that shocked her. What that told her was she had gotten pregnant the first time she and Fred made love.
"Yes indeed," the bubbly woman answered and began scrawling notes on a sheet of paper. "I'm going to prescribe a vitamin potion for you and you can pick those up downstairs in the apothecary. I'll call it down so you can get it before you leave!"
"Thank you," Millicent said weakly. Swallowing hard, she looked down at her hands, "Is there any way to terminate this pregnancy?"
The woman's head shot up, "Oh dear!" She looked flustered as she went about pulling out some pamphlets from below a heavy wooden desk. "There's a procedure…we can do it right here at St. Mungo's but…Mrs. Weasley, you're not eligible anymore." Standing, she handed Millicent the pamphlet, "You're almost three months along, there's laws in effect about how old the baby can be in order to be eligible for termination."
For a moment, Millicent felt a flood of relief; as much as she knew this was going to hurt Fred, she loved this baby. She wanted this child more than she'd ever wanted anything before in her life. Sighing, Millicent smiled softly, "I was just wondering. I intend to keep this child."
Nodding, the mediwitch walked to her side, "Pregnancy can be a difficult time for a woman. I don't blame you for exploring all your options." Placing her hand on Millicent's shoulder, she asked, "Is the father supportive, Millicent?" Her voice softened, "If he's mistreating you, there are programs."
"No," Millicent gasped. "No, he doesn't mistreat me at all. We've just discussed the idea of children and he…he has always said that he didn't want any." Despite the fact that Millicent had come in here with a smile on, tears were sliding down her cheeks. "I don't know what to do," She sniffled, "I already love this baby and Fred. I couldn't stand it if this tore us apart."
The woman rubbed her back gently, "Don't worry about the 'what ifs'." Grasping her hand, she smiled, "Many couples decide not to have children and then a surprise pregnancy happens. I get a good feeling about you, Millicent, this will work out okay."
Wearily, Millicent smiled, "Thank you." She smiled. Ginny had told her, after all, that Fred thought that he wasn't worthy of children…maybe this baby, and she, could change his mind. "So, an August baby, you said."
"Lay back," The woman smiled, "I'd like to do the diagnostics and then I can give you a ballpark date." Placing the wand over Millicent's belly, she murmured an incantation. The sound of swishing filled the room, "A healthy heartbeat!" She announced.
Millicent found herself enthralled by the sound, "That's my baby?" She whispered, looking up at the mediwitch. "But it's so fast!"
"Babies' hearts beat faster than yours or mine does. It's perfectly normal, so don't worry!" With another incantation murmured, she was quiet for a few minutes. Her wand tip pressed slightly against her belly, "The baby looks healthy and strong. I'm predicting the middle of August for delivery."
Millicent let out a sigh she hadn't known she had been holding, "Good." The rest of the examination revealed that she was just as healthy as the baby and no problems were expected to arise with the pregnancy. The only problem was going to be telling the father…Fred had to know, and soon. At almost three months pregnant, her breasts had begun swelling, her hips were widening and it wasn't going to be long before it became very obvious that she was having a baby, not just gaining weight in some rather unfortunate places.
With another appointment made for three weeks later and the vitamin potion clutched in her hand, Millicent made her way out of St. Mungo's. She had to work tomorrow, as she had taken today off, but Fred had the day off. It seemed like a good time to tell him…they'd meet for lunch and if he had a fit, she could go back to work and collect herself before they hammered out the details at home.
It was warm out today and she enjoyed the walk back to their flat. Knockturn Alley had been turned around after the Great War; it was a wonderful area now. In fact, the apartment building that Millie lived in had many young families living there. Not to mention it was in a wonderful location for both her job and for shopping. Baby or not, it was a good place to live…Millicent nearly blanched, she had to think about things like that now: was her apartment conducive to raising a baby? Would her child go to Hogwarts? Was the baby going to have red hair? It was all spinning in her mind…she barely noticed letting herself into the apartment and flopping down on the couch.
"Hello love," Fred called. He jumped a foot when Millicent screeched, "Bloody hell, what's the matter!?" He yelled, running into the living room.
"Fred, you scared the life out of me!" Millicent gasped her heart racing and her breathing becoming labored. She found herself laughing at the look on his face, "Oh Fred, I'm sorry."
Frowning sourly, he crossed her arms over his chest, "You bloody well scared the life out of me too!" Flopping down next to her, he pulled her onto his lap, "What'd you do today?"
Swallowing hard, she forced the nerves back down, "Oh I picked up some groceries and I went over to St. Mungo's."
"St. Mungo's," Fred queried, "Were you there for a physical?"
Nodding, Millicent smiled; she wasn't ready to tell him yet. They were too happy today; she didn't have the heart, "Something like that." She leaned down, kissing him softly on the mouth, "I know I have to work tomorrow but would you like to go out for lunch?"
Sighing, Fred wrapped his arms around her, "I was supposed to have the day off but I have to meet with some delegates from Germany. I'm supposed to have a lunch meeting with them at the Hog's Head. What about we go out tonight?"
God, she wished that she wouldn't have to wait two days to tell him about this. She wanted to tell him now…she would. She'd tell him at dinner, "Alright." She feigned a smile as she stood up off his left. "Where are we going to go?"
"I was thinking we'd try that new place then," He sputtered for a minute, "Oh I can't remember the bloody name!" Standing up, he pulled out a thick dusty book labeled 'Floo Directory'. The book was self-updating, even though it looked to have been purchased around the same time the floo network was invented. "Harvest Moon, that's it!"
"That sounds fine," Millicent called from the bathroom. But Millicent didn't feel all that fine; her stomach was tight with stress and it took every ounce of her being to keep a hold on the sickness. The spray of water assuaged the building tension, but it didn't stop it…this was a huge deal. But she couldn't hide in there forever; sooner, rather than later, she got out and donned the black set of robes. "Fred, did you make the reservation," She called as she finished putting on her earrings.
Fred stepped through the bathroom door and smirked, "Got one. It's not too busy on a Thursday night." He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked over her shoulder into the mirror. "Have you ever seen a happier couple?" He asked, laughing slightly.
Millicent felt herself freeze…his arms were right around the place where their baby was growing. Couldn't he tell? Didn't he know? No, of course he didn't…it was only obvious to her. She let her body relax against him as she exhaled, "Never, ever." She replied. She was happy, they were happy…for right now. She had to savor this moment, no matter what. If nothing more, she'd one day be able to tell her son or daughter that she did love their father for now and for always.
Kissing her cheek again, he grasped her hand, "Now come on, we don't want to be late!" He grasped her hand and led her down the way to the street. It was a very short walk to the new restaurant and with the weather so lovely, they ought to enjoy it. Although, he noted, it was a little cloudy; it might rain a bit, perhaps wash away some of the snow still on the ground. Looking over at Millicent, he wondered if she was doing alright…she'd been quiet the past few days. Of course, he didn't know what married couples really did…he didn't know his mum and dad before they had a pack of kids. Molly and Arthur had spent all their time and energy herding kids here or there, or getting work done…he'd never seen them doing anything as a couple, really. Maybe the occasional date or some alone time; beyond that, he had no idea what they did…
Perhaps this was all normal.
Harvest Moon, as the restaurant was called, created an exotic atmosphere that (as it said on the menu cover) strove to recreate the surroundings and feelings of a werewolf.
Millicent couldn't, for the life of her, figure out why anyone would have a restaurant decorated as such. The place was darkly lit; almost pitch black except for the candles that flickered on the table. In the back…or, well, technically the front of the restaurant, there was an enchanted full moon shedding a gentle glow over the place. She held onto Fred's hand tightly as they walked in, "This place is…interesting."
Fred nodded and didn't let go of her…not until they were seated. He could barely see the waiter as he came over. Someone obviously had a twisted idea of casual couples dining if this is what they were coming up with these days. "I'll have a firewhiskey, please," He told the young server, "Millie?"
Nodding, she smiled, "I think I'd just like some water to start with." A glass of wine might've been nice but the mediwitch had been very clear about the rules: no drinking! Suddenly, Millicent remembered what Bridget had said at the wedding shower; she had told her not to drink the champagne. She had known all along!
"You alright, Millie," Fred asked, concerned, "You seem…distant."
Sighing, she smiled, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking. Actually, I was thinking about Bridget."
Raising an eyebrow, Fred peered through the hazy light at her, "Did she have another vision?"
"Not recently," Millicent said softly, "I was just thinking about what she said at the wedding shower. It's really nothing; I just find it so wonderful that she has such a special gift." Looking down at the menu, she found that almost everything on it was meat. Some of the dishes were even raw meat, not something she should be eating. Tucked in the back of menu seemed to be the menu for those who weren't blood suckers or adventurous types.
Fred was hoping that fish and chips were going to come fully cooked when he ordered them. Millicent had ordered some sort of pasta and chicken dish that he hoped would be cooked too…wouldn't want her getting food poisoning again. Taking a gulp of his firewhiskey, he looked over at her, "So, everything came out clean with your health? I know you kind of felt poorly on the honeymoon after we had that fish and a couple times after that."
Her heart began to beat faster as she nodded, "Oh I'm doing just fine." Her throat was dry and she took a long gulp of water. "Fred, there's something I kind of wanted to talk about with you about," She said, running her hand through her hair.
The waiter came back, setting some warm breadsticks on the table that grabbed Fred's attention immediately. Still, he nodded as he chewed, "Shoot," he said through a mouthful of breadstick.
It was hard for her think; she reached for a breadstick a large bite. She chewed and gathered her thoughts. She opened her mouth several times to speak but she couldn't form the words. This was the hardest thing she'd ever do…she didn't know if she could bear it.
Reaching over, he grasped her hand in his, "Millicent," he intoned gently. She'd never acted like this before…it was worrying her. "Whatever it is, it'll be fine. Is it Marcus? Has he been harassing you?" Fear shot through him…she had been to St. Mungo's today, "Are you sick, Millie?" He couldn't bear it if she were truly ill; he wanted to take away every pain she had, to protect her from everything. "If you are, we'll get through it, I swear."
That was it! Millicent couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears slid down her cheeks as she looked over at him, "Oh Fred," She whispered, "I'm not sick. But there's something wrong…something terribly wrong."
Frowning, he stood up and walked over to her, "Millie, you can tell me. Whatever it is," his heart was beating faster. She looked so broken, so desolate; he couldn't stand it. Grasping her hands, he looked into her eyes, "What is it?"
Brushing tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, she sniffled. "Fred, I'm pregnant." At first, she wasn't sure it registered. "I'm having your baby," She tried again…but it looked like no one was home, "Fred," She cried, "Say something, please."
Had she just…Millicent was pregnant? Reeling back, he let go of her hands, "You're p-pregnant?" He rammed his fingers through his red hair. One part of him was leaping with joy, she was having his baby…the other part was torn between anger and fear. "I thought we decided we weren't having children," he said, strangely calm.
"No, Fred," Millicent said softly, "You decided that." Looking down at her hands, she shook her head, "I didn't mean for this to happen, I swear that to you."
Fred was unable to think straight; she was pregnant with his child! A child he hadn't planned on having! "Millicent, this is impossible!" He vaguely remembered his voice reaching near-screaming level. "You knew from the second you met me that I didn't want children!"
Millicent was on her feet now; her tears had dissolved and were replaced with the bitter ache of rage and anger. "Didn't want or thought you weren't worthy of?" She snapped back. "I remember you saying that you didn't think you'd ever get married and your mother wouldn't have bastards!" She took a step toward him, "Well here we are, Fred! We're married and I'm pregnant."
"God, Millicent," he roared, "You think I wanted to marry you? I couldn't shut my mother up about it! How could I tell her that you and I were just having sex? That doesn't work with my mum!" Somewhere in the back of his mind, alarm bells were going off…but the thundering roar of blood in his ears was drowning them out.
"So you married me out of pity, huh? Pity for your poor, sweet mother," Millicent was crying even through her anger now. "Well don't worry, I won't be telling her about our little plan to get out of this marriage and I won't be telling her why you decided to do this to your pregnant wife in the middle of a bloody restaurant." The waiter was asking them to calm down or leave and she turned toward him so quickly that she nearly lost her balance, "Don't worry, I'm leaving." Shaking with tears and rage, she turned once more to Fred, "I love you. I still love you, you bloody wanker." She snapped, "And I'm having this baby, whether or not you want to be a part of its life…that's up to you!" With that, Millicent stormed out in a hail of tears and fury.
Fred stood, stunned where he stood. Millicent was pregnant with his child…his CHILD, for the love of Merlin! Even as much as it hurt, how much he felt that he couldn't raise this baby, he wanted it more than anything in his entire life. She hadn't had food poisoning on their honeymoon…she had been having morning sickness. The crackers in her office weren't for snack; they were to keep her from getting ill. Suddenly all the signs he'd noticed made sense…of course she was pregnant. How had he not noticed?
The waiter bustled over, "Sir, would you like to me wrap up your food?"
"Go ahead," he said forlornly. What did it matter now? His appetite was shot to hell; he might never want to eat food again…well, at least tonight. In a flash, the food appeared on the table, boxed and ready. "Thanks," He said and threw several galleons down, "I apologize for the noise."
Frowning, the waiter folded his arms, "Sir, I don't mean to butt into your private life but if you don't go after that woman, you're going to lose her for good."
Fred's head snapped up and he nodded, "You're right!" The bloody waiter even that Millicent was a very headstrong woman. He grabbed the food and raced home, "Millicent!" He yelled, throwing the door of the apartment, "MILLICENT!" Silence reigned as he walked in…she was gone. A lone piece of parchment on the table caught his eye and he darted over to the table.
Fred, my love, if you're reading this, it means that I'm gone. I know that we've had our differences and that we've had some really good times these past few months; all of it, I loved sharing it with you. Someday, you're going to find yourself worthy of everything that you deserve. You're a good man, Fred, better than anyone I've ever met. If I was the one you loved, I'd be the very luckiest girl in the entire universe. But you can't love me until you learn to love yourself; I believe that now more than ever.
Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I've lived on my own long before I met you and I can do it again. Don't try and contact me if you don't seriously mean to take me and our child into your life forevermore, just like you promised. I love you, Fred, and I miss you already.
All my love,
Millicent Weasley
The tearstains that made some of the ink run made his heart break. She loved him, really and truly. She didn't love him because he was handsome or because he was a good lover; she loved all of him, the good, the bad and everything in between. Tears pricked in his eyes as he slumped down at the kitchen table, "God, Millicent." A sob choked him as he laid his head in his hands, "I love you too."