"Fred, are you even listening to me?" Millicent's voice rose shrilly from her position on the floor. Several months had passed and she had swelled to giant proportions with the twins growing inside of her. The hot months of summer were upon them, drawing nearer to her due date. "I said that if I'm supposed to practice these breathing exercises, you should be practicing your part too!" Fleur had recommended some classes over at St. Mungo's that helped first time parents get prepared for a baby. Truly, Millicent wasn't sure if they were helping or not…seeing as her loving husband cracked jokes and most of her energy was focused on not laughing.

Sighing, he stood up from the table, "I will, Millie. I just have to finish up this last report for Uncle Fabian. You're supposed to go on maternity leave next week and I want to make sure that the essential things are done so I can be home with you as much as possible." Staring down at the parchment, he dipped his quill in ink again and scribbled his signature. Pig zoomed down, standing mostly still as Fred tied the note to his leg and sent him off.

Ever since that fateful family dinner, Millicent had learned many things about herself and her newfound family. For one, it was useless to argue with Molly Weasley…if she said she was going to throw you a lavish baby shower and invite everyone this side of Ottery St. Catchpole, then she was damn well going to do it! She'd also come to find out that an open line on communication with one's husband could save even the worst marriage. Penelope and George had reconciled, or so the woman had told Millicent, and they had begun going back to counseling. Everything seemed to be wonderful…especially with the new babies coming. At first it had bothered Millicent how grotesquely large she was, with two children inside of her, her belly was stretched out far in front of her. Not to mention the rest of her body had followed suit. But Fred made her feel so beautiful, so special…even if she did feel like a hippogriff.

Smiling down at her, Fred took a seat on the floor, scooting so she could lean against his chest. "I'm all yours now, love." Running his hand over her vast abdomen, he smiled as one of the twins began to kick at his hand. "Hello little goblins," He chuckled, kissing the side of her neck. "And how is mum doing today?"

Leaning back against him, she let out a short laugh, "Oh I'm doing just fine now that you're finished with that work. Simon and David have been kicking me all morning!"

"You mean Carolyn and Nina?" He teased, resting his chin on her shoulder. They had decided not to find out the sex of the twins mostly because they wanted to be surprised. All they had been told was that the twins were, in fact, identical and that meant they would either be boys or girls.

Sighing, Millicent looked down at her belly, "No, I don't like those names either." They'd been looking at names for months now and nothing had struck their fancy! Bill and Fleur had even been nice enough to lend them a book on baby names…but still, whatever names Fred liked, Millicent seemed not to and vice versa!

Fred leaned over, grabbing the book off the couch. Every night he and Millicent scoured the book looking for the perfect name, "I don't care much for Nina as a name either." Flipping a few pages, he sighed, "Do you like the name Claire?"

Screwing up her face, she shook her head, "No, but it's better than Carolyn." Grasping the book, she pulled it to rest on the large belly so they could both see. "Oh, I love the name Celia!" Grasping his hand, she smiled, "Celia Weasley, do you like it?"

Actually, he did! "Finally, something we agree on!" He laughed heartily. "I think that's a lovely name for a girl." Watching as she flipped a few pages, he stopped her, "Diana? Do you think Diana could be the other one's name?"

It seemed that today they were having the best luck of all with names! After months of minor arguments, tears, and laughter, they had finally come up with names. "It's perfect, Fred. Celia and Diana Weasley, it sounds perfect!" Now they just had to come up with a set of boys' names. "Did you give any more thought to the name Vincent? Or what about Tom?"

"Yes, I just don't think it sounds right. Vincent Weasley…I don't know, love. I'd like to stick with something a little more traditional." And, it reminded him far too much of Vincent Crabbe. Clearing his throat, he gave her a quirky smile, "Darling, I think you've forgotten that Voldemort's name was Tom." Names for girls seemed to be in abundance; but for boys, there seemed to be a lot of variation on a few favored names rather than new and exciting ones. "I've always liked the name Phillip."

Blushing, she quickly chuckled, "Alright, we can rule Tom out." How could she have forgotten that? Oh well, no harm done, "Hmm…I don't hate the name Phillip," She answered, not quite sure yet. "I won't rule that one out quite yet." Turning another page, she was surprised at where her finger fell, "Could we name one of the twins Arthur, after your father? He did so much to help us set up the nursery and he's always made me feel welcome in his home. Oh, please, Fred? Could we please name one of them Arthur?"

They had discussed honoring someone by naming their child after him or her, but up until now they'd only discussed people who had been deceased. Among the names discussed were Albus and Bilius, both of which they quickly ruled out. But Arthur, that seemed to work, "My father would be so honored. I think it's a wonderful idea!"

Millicent beamed, she was as happy as he was. She had always gotten along with Arthur Weasley; he treated her like his own daughter and made her feel like she was truly a part of the family. "What do you think about Andrew? Andrew and Arthur Weasley," That had a nice ring to it. They'd never discussed the name Andrew, as it wasn't very common in the Wizarding world, but she liked how it sounded.

Kissing her softly on the cheek, he nodded. "It's perfect. Finally, we have names for these little ones! I can stop calling them twin one and twin two!" And now his mother would stop badgering him about names as well! Every time she saw the two of them she asked if they had picked out names. With all of his heart he loved his mother but she couldn't let it go! Now, at least, they could report that they had picked out names for boys or girls and that she could stop slipping him a list of her favorite names under his dinner plate every Sunday. "What do you say we get up off this floor and I take you for supper? You must be famished by now!"

She couldn't argue with that kind of logic. Fred stood up first, helping her (mostly dragging her) up off the floor. "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole dragon!" Especially in the last few months she had been eating more than she ever had in her entire life. Waddling over to the table, she grasped her wand and smiled over at him. "What do you say we go over to the Three Broomsticks? I've been craving some greasy fish and chips all day now."

Nodding, he snuck into the bedroom, pocketing a small black box in hand while she was still fixing her hair. She heard him call his name and he hurried out, "Sorry love, I just had to find my coin purse. Come on, to the floo with you!" The mediwitch had told him that Millicent should avoid apparition unless there was a dire emergency and she couldn't get to a floo or use the Knight Bus. She had recommended using the floo most often due to the fact that the Knight Bus often jarred its passengers and that wasn't good for pregnant women. Grabbing a pinch he threw it in, "The Three Broomsticks!" Standing back, he gave her his most chivalrous smile, "Ladies first."

Chuckling, she stepped through the floo and into the crowded pub. Millicent was surprised at how many people were there chatting and eating, for a Monday evening in July, a crowded restaurant in Hogsmeade was practically unheard of!

A young boy, probably freshly graduated from Hogwarts, smiled over at her, "It'll be about a half hour wait ma'am, would you like us to transfigure a chair for you while you wait?" The Three Broomsticks had a policy that any woman with child or who had children with her would be immediately seated somewhere until a table could be found.

A silky voice from behind him startled the boy, "That won't be necessary." Draco Malfoy stood behind the boy dressed to the nines, "Mrs. Weasley and her husband are with my party."

Fred appeared through the floo and made his way over to where Millicent was. "Bloody hell it's crowded!" Looking over, he was kind of surprised to see Draco Malfoy there, "What, did Chez Rouge not have any available tables tonight?" He teased, slinging his arms around Millicent's shoulders.

Millicent sighed, "Alright boys, let's take a seat before my poor legs give out under the weight of my body!" Her thighs swished together as the young boy led her over to where Draco Malfoy was supping with Ginny and a couple of people that Millicent didn't know. "Thank you for inviting us over, Draco." She nudged Fred until he sighed, "Yes, thank you Draco." He answered.

The blond Slytherin nodded, accepting their thanks in stride. "Millicent and Fred Weasley, this is Healer Aries and Healer Winters." He did a quick introduction between everyone, "Ginny and I have been trying to conceive for quite some time now and, unfortunately, it hasn't gone as planned."

"Are you sure you aren't just shooting blanks?" Fred asked, looking over at his brother-in-law. "Surely the Weasley family fertility has been passed onto Ginny." Chuckling, he managed to look properly chastised when Millicent kicked him under the table.

"That's just it," Ginny said, exasperatedly. "According to the tests, both of us are highly fertile and should be churning out babies as quickly as mum and dad!" Looking over at Draco, she took his hand in hers, "Which is why we've hired two healer to find out what the problem is. We've been actively trying to get pregnant for over six months now…there's no medical reason why we can't conceive, we think it's magical in nature."

Thinking deeply, Millicent expelled a heavy breath, "I read in one of my magazines that sometimes an overabundance of curses can stop a couple from conceiving." Looking between the two, she gave a little shrug, "You're still living at Malfoy Manor, correct? Perhaps there's some curse that is preventing you two from having a child."

Immediately, Draco's mouth gaped, "Millicent you're a genius!"

Everyone at the table jumped, "What, what is it?" The shorter female healer asked. "Have you thought of something?"

"My dad once told me that he went to great lengths to inhibit my mum from having another child after I was born. I always assumed that it had been something he did to her, but it could've been a curse he placed on the house!" Once again, Draco found himself cursing his father's name. "I should have called a curse breaker, not healers!"

Fred nodded, "Lucky for you, we have a curse breaker in the family. I bet Bill would even give you the family discount!" Of course, with four daughters he couldn't afford such a massive job for free, but he could certainly do it for the least amount he could.

It sounded like a wonderful idea to Millie who had long been discussing with Ginny the ins and outs of being pregnant. Every Sunday, Ginny and she would discuss all things baby with Fleur and Molly. Until now, though, Millie hadn't realized just how desperate Ginny and Draco were to have a child. Draco had alluded to the fact their children might attend school together but this was certainly more concrete. "If not, I'm sure Draco can more than afford to pay the goblins' curse breaking fee," She chuckled, smiling over at her old friend who was, in turn, beaming at his wife.

Ginny was smiling back at him, gazing lovingly into his eyes, "Finally we'll have a baby…I swear if mum asks me one more time and I have to tell her no, she'll hex me into the next century! Married for five years and no children? The woman is driving my bloody nuts!" Usually it upset Ginny, but today Molly's antics left her laughing and smiling.

"Well if you're going to get knocked up, you better get used to eating for two…or three," Millicent said, laughing as she patted her belly. "And as a pregnant woman, I'll tell you that denying me food is not a good thing! We get ornery very quickly!"

With the healers dismissed (with very generous compensations for their help), conversation flowed freely.

Fred signaled a waiter as he slung his arm around her shoulders, "I get the hint love," he teased. Looking at his sister now as she snuggled against her husband, the love in her eyes was evident even in the dim lighting of the Three Broomsticks. For years he had abhorred the idea of anything Malfoy touching his sister, they were rotten to the core…or at least, they had been for as long as anyone could remember. Draco was somehow an exception, a fluke occurrence; maybe he was born different or maybe Ginny had changed him. Either way, he was a man that Fred could respect and trust, even with his little sister's heart.

The waiter, frazzled by the sheer volume of customers, was slightly out of breath as he took their orders. Luckily they made it easy on him; four orders of fish and chips…one with a side of…slug sauce. Shuddering, he nodded and bustled off to place the order.

"That's disgusting you know," Millie said, choking back a gag. "How you can eat that tripe is beyond me Draco! Eat that in front of your pregnant wife and you'll need new shoes!"

Draco raised an eyebrow, "New shoes? Why?"

Fred sniggered, "One morning before we found out that the smell of eggs cooking made her vomit, I was cooking her a lovely breakfast in bed. But when she woke up, she took one whiff of the plate and nailed my shoes…" Sighing, he shook his head. "It surely wasn't funny then but it is funny now!"

Ginny looked over at Millicent warily, "Was your morning sickness terrible? Mum said once that she didn't get morning sickness until she got pregnant with the twins and from then on, she was sick as a dog with each subsequent pregnancy."

"It wasn't terrible," Millicent said, with a soft reassuring smile. "Sure, it felt like I was going to die at the time but when I would eat some crackers, my stomach would usually settle right down. I don't think you have too much to worry about; they have potions now that can help curb the morning sickness if it gets too severe or lasts beyond the first trimester. It does hang around longer with twins though, that's what my birthing witch told me." Shrugging, she let her hand rub gently over the place where twin one, Celia or Arthur, was kicking her. "But I think it's worth it…for them it's worth it."

Kissing her neck, Fred worked his way up to her mouth, "I love you." He whispered in her ear, taking the lobe and suckling it gently. Pregnancy hormones had made her insatiable lately…not that he was complaining, he loved every minute of it.

Blushing, Millicent kissed him back, "I love you too, Fred." Leaning closer she tangled her fingers in his hair, "But now's not the time to tempting me. Mama's hungry and I'm not going to be deterred tonight."

Snorting with laughter, Ginny shook her head as Fred gave her one last kiss on the cheek and began to play with his fork, "She's got you tamed, brother dear. I never thought I'd see the day."

Folding his arms, he scoffed, "Don't be absurd! I'm no more tamed than a Horntail hopped up on firewhiskey!"

Millicent gave a wink to Ginny and then let out a short gasp as twin number two, Andrew or Diana, kicked her bladder, "Ugh, I'm up again. One of your kids enjoys kicking mum right in the bladder."

"They're only 'my' kids when they send her to the loo every ten minutes," He laughed, but he looked concerned nonetheless. Helping her up from her chair, he called to her as she waddled toward the loo, "You sure you don't need help, love?" He only sat down when Millie waved him off with a shake of her head.

Ginny continued to snicker, "Not tamed, eh? Whatever you say Fred," She teased and grasped his hand. "She's good for you Fred, I'm glad you finally noticed. I was worried there, especially after Millicent first told me how you reacted. But I knew you'd come around, you always do." Leaning against Draco lightly, she folded her arms, "Now, mum is insisting we have a baby shower and I want to get you something meaningful, something you two need."

"I suggested a house elf," Draco said, preparing for a slap from his wife; apparently she wasn't so keen on giving such impersonal gifts. "Well, I wanted to get you a house elf for your wedding; I ended up buying wedding robes instead!" He said, shrugging, "I just want to give them something they'll use for years to come!" Running his fingers through his white-blonde hair, he said, "What don't you have?"

Fred bit his lip, "I guess it's a question of what we do have…which is basically nothing." He looked a little sheepish, "Luna Lovegood gave us a subscription to Delia's Diapers on Delivery for a year…which should take care of things like that. We need to buy a crib and clothes and high chairs and…bloody hell, we need to buy everything!" Panic was starting to rise in him, "She's seven months pregnant and we've got nothing…this is a problem."

"Don't worry, mate," Draco said soothingly, "The baby shower is next Sunday. Millie probably won't drop before then. I've read the twins come early but it's not usually by two full months, it's more like a week or two." Meeting their shocked gazes, he blushed, "So I've read a couple of books on the subject…I'm getting ready for my own children."

Ginny pressed a kiss to his lips, "That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard." She knew that he cared deeply for her, loved her, but to show it to her so openly…she wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh Merlin, look at me…not even pregnant yet and I'm getting weepy!"

Millie laughed as she took her seat again, finally waddling out from the loo, "Just wait, Ginny. This morning I cried because when I got out of bed I pulled the blanket off Fred by accident and he grunted. That was right before I cried when I was brushing my teeth…for no reason at all, just because I could."

All four laughed as the waiter brought over their entrees. Not shockingly, Millicent dug in hungrily, famished from all the moving around she'd done during the day. A comfortable silence fell over the table as the four of them picked at their meals, both the men ate as ravenously as Millie but Ginny seemed to just pick at her food. After all, the excitement seemed to have killed her appetite.

After a while, she looked over at Millie again, "Fred has been telling me you need quite a bit to prepare for the babies." She smiled, taking a sip of her butterbeer. "Draco and I were wondering what you'd like from us."

"Oh, Ginny that's so thoughtful but you really don't have to get us anything." Millie was slightly embarrassed by allowing Molly and the wives buy her things for the babies. After all, Fleur already had four daughters; they had enough to worry about financially. Florie too, Ron's new fiancée, was an artist…it was unrealistic that she had any extra money lying around to spend on her newest sister-in-law to be.

Draco narrowed his eyes, "Millicent, don't be absurd. You know how these things work, you don't get a say anyway. Did you register anywhere for baby items, any of those baby shops?"

Shaking her head, Millie polished off the last of her plate and set it aside. "No, I've just been so busy with work and these 'Preparing for Baby' classes that Fleur suggested that I haven't had time to do anything." Well, it wasn't exactly a lie. She had been very busy…although, most of her evenings were spent looking through the many baby catalogues that had been owled to the house. One in particular, Annie's Accessories for Active Infants, had the most beautiful twin crib she'd ever seen. The only problem was that its price alone was eight thousand galleons and then delivering it was even more expensive.

"I know that look, love," Fred said, folding his arms over his chest. "Why don't you just tell them what you want? If you don't, I have it on very good authority that you're getting a house elf." Her modesty was endearing sometimes, although quite frustrating at others. Still, he loved her deeply and wanted her to have everything she deserved.

Looking into Draco's grey eyes, she sighed, "I saw this crib in this catalogue for twins that I fell in love with. But it's so expensive; I don't think it's fair to ask anyone to get it for us."

Folding his arms, Draco scoffed, "Love, I'm Draco bloody Malfoy; if it's one million galleons I could still spare it!" Giving her a reassuring smile, he asked, "How much does it cost?"

"Eight thousand galleons," Millicent said softly. She felt Fred snigger next to her and she turned to glare at him, "And just what is so funny Mister Weasley?"

Kissing her softly to appease her, he chuckled again, "I find it funny that you'll spend ten thousand galleons on some wine to get revenge on my sorry arse but asking the richest wizard in England for an eight thousand dollar crib gets you blushing." Stroking her hair, he gave her another soft kiss, "I love you."

Tears welled in her eyes as she kissed him back, laughing softly. "I love you too." Then dissolving into a sob of half tears and half laughter, Millicent gave a short shrug. Blame it on the hormones, she supposed; it wasn't something that she was used to, having such wonderful supportive friends and a wonderful loving husband. From the girl who had grown up with no companions and no love in her life, all of this was surreal and yet so perfect. Of all the ways her life could've gone, she was glad it had turned out this way. Hardship, pain, and tribulations aside, she could now easily say that she was the luckiest witch in the entire world.

Great news everyone! My muse exploded last weekend and I have completed the story! I still have to edit and perfect everything but regular updates will occur until the end! Thank you so much, the reviews really help me get my muse and great ideas!

Enjoy!

Marina