A/N: I guess saying 'I'm sorry' isn't going to cut it for my lack of updates? No? Okay well, I'm sorry anyways. I got a little caught up in my summer vacation. To be honest I wouldn't even have been able to post this if it weren't for my house losing power for 4 days. But I think this is my longest post to date, so yay!

Anyways, I'm almost done! I have the rest of the story planned out and there's only 3 more chapters. I want to make sure I don't leave any loose ends, so I have a list of things I still need to cover at the end of the chapter. If there's anything that I missed please, PLEASE let me know. Also if there is anything you guys want to see, please demand it. I would love to have your ideas in this. After all, I'm writing this for all you Snape fans.

And here's your chapter!:

disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter :(

When Severus returned he found his wife pacing the sitting room frantically. "Go get ready for bed Esther," he said softly as he ruffled her hair. It was his way of being polite without saying 'please.'

Esther left without comment, but her worried eyes stayed on her mother as long as they could. After Severus heard the bedroom door click shut he moved to Hermione. Wordlessly he gently gripped her hands and guided her to a chair while he sat on the footrest in front of her. "You shouldn't be stressing yourself like this Hermione."

"I know, but Ron's my friend and he's so miserable."

"What did Weasley say?" he asked as he lifted one of her feet for a massage.

"Luna told Ron about her marriage to Alexei. Apparently he liked to verbally abuse her and ignored her and Lucretia. He changed completely about a year ago. Luna realized how soon Alexei had died after Estrella was born and she started crying so Ron tried to comfort her. Luna told him she would never move on from Alexei so Ron stormed out."

"How Weasley of him," Severus sneered, but inside he felt pain for both parties. Not that he cared for Ron, but Severus couldn't shake the feeling of how similar the situation was to his and Hermione's. If something were to happen to him, would someone care for Hermione and the children? Finding one would be no problem; Severus hadn't been chasing off suitors for months for no reason. But would Hermione allow one to take his place?

Severus didn't realize his hands were slowly gripping her foot harder until she yelped. "Ouch! Severus that hurts!" Hermione pulled her foot away from him.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought," he eased her foot back onto his lap before continuing. "I'll speak with Mrs. Lancaster and Mr. Weasley tomorrow."

"I didn't mean you had to talk with them. Just consider it the ramblings of a fat pregnant woman," she joked.

"You're not fat and I'll speak with them."

Hermione laughed heartily. "I do believe you're turning into a helpless romantic dear Severus."

He scowled. "I hope I never hear those words repeated. The only reason I'm doing this is because it's unnerving how similar their situation is to ours."

"I don't follow," Hermione said slowly.

"Mrs. Lancaster refuses to let anyone to take her late husband's place even though she is in dire need of help and there is someone more than willing to fill the position. I can only fear what will happen if something were to happen to me—"

"Don't!" Hermione shouted, moving her feet to the floor and clutching to him. "I don't ever want to hear you say anything like that again!"

"Hermione it could happen—"

"I said don't! You don't say something like that to you're pregnant wife when she's already emotional!"

"Hermione calm down," Severus moved next to her and pulled her into his arms. "I apologize. I shouldn't have said it so offhand like that, but we need to talk about it sometime."

"Do we have to now?" she sniffed.

"There's only one thing I want you to promise me. If something were to happen to me I know there are plenty of people to take care of you and the children. But if someone steps up to fill my position let them."

"So you're telling me to marry someone just to take care of me and the kids?"

"Only if you care for him."

"Alright, I promise you," Hermione said after a long time.

"Don't worry about it now. I don't plan on leaving you or the children any time soon. I still have to watch this one join us," he placed a hand on Hermione's stomach, "and watch them both grow up and go to Hogwarts. Teach at least one of them to be a potions master."

Hermione laughed and picked up where he left off, "Watch them both get married and have children."

"What? Esther Ann is never allowed to date. Period." Severus' jaw clenched and he gave her a look telling her silently there was no room for argument.

"It would make you a grandpa," she baited.

He didn't bite. "You think you can win me over by making me think of our daughter procreating?"

Hermione laughed again. "Once Essie Ann finds someone she likes nobody is going to stand in her way. Including Dear Old Dad."

"We'll see about that." I'm not the feared potion's master for nothing.

"Professor!" The last person Luna expected to see when she answered the knock was her past potions professor.

"I'm not you're teacher anymore. Call me Severus."

"Alright Severus. Please come in," Luna stepped aside to give him room to enter the small cottage. When he stepped in he looked around the empty living room. "I finally managed to get both of the girls to go to sleep at the same time even though Lucretia says she's too old for naps."

Severus smirked, "Esther Ann often says the same. Perhaps they're conspiring together."

Luna smiled and her eyes became a little dazed, "I don't know if they know the word conspire even though they know how to do so."

Severus nodded, his face turning serious once more. "If you don't mind I'd like to get right to why I came." They both took a seat. "I don't know if you knew this or not, but Alexei and I knew each other. He was a couple years behind me when I attended Hogwarts. Although we weren't close friends we were very similar. Both of our goals were to be the top of our class and to claim as many possessions as possible. Our only difference was our standing in the war. My mistake in joining the Dark Lord caused a rift between us.

"Now after the war I find our similarities increasing in number again. When we think our chance at marriage is long gone the marriage law came and attached us to two of Hogwarts' princesses—Gryffindor and Ravenclaw's. At first we didn't like the idea but couldn't hold you or Hermione at arm's length forever and we both have possession of beautiful daughters and wives."

Severus paused and took in Luna's appearance. She was no longer looking at him but at her hands, which were fisted around her flowery skirt. Severus could see tears streaked down her face and dropping down to her hands. He lowered his voice, "There isn't a day I worry what would happen to Hermione, Esther Ann, and our unborn child if something were to happen to me. I know there are many people around us to take care of them if need be, but that isn't what I'm worried about. I don't want Hermione to feel she's betraying me if she finds someone else. I've already talked with her about it." Severus held out his handkerchief in front of her face. "I know Alexei wouldn't have wanted you to suffer like this. He doesn't want you stressed like you are trying to juggle running the Quibbler and being both father and mother."

Luna looked back up to Severus after she had wiped her tears away. "Thank you Sir. I'll have to think about it for a while longer still."

Severus nodded and stood with her. "I know. There's nothing wrong with that. I know you've been talking with Longbottom and Ginny, but know Hermione and I are always available as well."

"Thank you Severus." Luna smiled, "I'm glad you're coming out of your shell."

I beg your pardon! "I must take my leave now. I still have to be back at the castle for Dinner."

"Of course Sir. Thank you again." She followed him to the door and waved to him as he left. She stood there thinking until Estrella's cries and Lucretia's whines could be heard from their bedroom. "I guess a long nap was too much to ask for."

Ron forced a smile for his kids, not able to get in their cheery mood. Although they missed playing with the Lancaster girls, William, Cassius, and Emma were easily caught up in life to notice. It wasn't as easy for Ron. He hadn't been able to sleep more than a few hours a night since he had stormed out of Luna's house and that had been about a week ago. Ron wasn't sure how much longer he could go on, he was so exhausted. I have to forget I ever met a Luna Lancaster, he thought.

Then to add to Ron's bad mood one of the last people he had wanted to talk to approached him. Severus Snape advised Ron to give Luna time. He said he had already talked to Luna. Since then Ron's been avoiding him as much as possible.

"Da?" Will asked shyly.

Ron turned to his children to find them lined up staring at him with the saddest looks on their faces. "Yeah?"

"Why are you sad?" Cass asked.

"He misses Ms. Luna," Emma whispered to her brothers.

Ron sighed. Of course he couldn't keep anything from his children. "I'm sorry kids. Da just has to get used to not having them around."

"Well let's go see them," Will pulled on Ron's arm hard.

"Don't pull Will." He crouched down and faced the three curious faces. "I wish it were that easy. Hey now, no frowns. There will be people who will come and go in life; you just have to keep going, right?" Three heads nodded. "Good. Now what do you say we go back home and convince some house-elves to give us some ice cream before dinner?"

"Yes!" all three yelled and turned to run off.

"Wait a minute," Ron cried. He smirked when they stopped and turned to them before swooping down and picking Will and Emma under one arm. Cass started to run away, but Ron was quicker and lifted him over his shoulder. Giggles echoed through the halls as they continued to their destination. "Now that wasn't very nice; trying to leave me behind after coming up with such a good idea."

They continued on, Ron occasionally pretending to drop them until they reached their rooms. Once Ron went through the wards he realized he had visitors. "Hi Ronald."

"Luna," Ron's mouth dropped open. "How'd you get in?" He shook himself awake enough o ask. He crouched down to let his kids slide to the floor.

"Ginny let me in," she said softly. She looked to Will, Cass, and Emma, "Lucretia is in Emma's room if you want to see her." The children didn't need any more persuading as they ran to the youngest Weasley's bedroom.

Meanwhile, Ron wasn't sure what to think. Just a few minutes ago he was telling himself, and his children, to forget about the Lancaster ladies and now he finds two of them waiting for him in his living quarters. Should I be angry, sad, happy, relieved?

Ron snapped out of his thoughts when Luna stood and went towards him. "Please don't be angry at Ginny. I didn't know where else I could talk to you."

"It's alright," Ron responded quickly. "Sit down; do you want something to drink?" When Luna declined Ron sat down next to her. "I'm sorry for how rude I was; I shouldn't have stormed out like I did."

"No, I overreacted—"

"I overstepped—"

"No Ronald Weasley, will you listen to me?" Luna's face flushed. Ron shut his mouth. He knew Luna was normally quiet-spoken, even if her words were blunt, but once she lost her temper it was better for you to shut-up. "I'm sorry. Since I've been here we've been dancing around each other. I knew it but I didn't do anything to stop it. Then when you were over it suddenly hit me Alexei is gone. Maybe because I came back to Hogwarts so soon after his death I saw this as a vacation. But he's really gone!" She shook her head to fend off the emotions before she continued. "I really like you, Ronald. I wouldn't have pushed you away under normal circumstances, but I had just realized Alexei wasn't coming back."

Ron was too afraid to ask where they stood. "You don't have to apologize. You lost someone you love. Nobody expects you to bounce back from that in a few weeks."

Luna looked down at her hands. "I agree. Even I didn't think I would. But I met you and I find myself wanting to bounce back. Even if we just take it slow—"

"Marry me," Ron cut in, sounding completely serious.

"—we— what?"

"Marry me Luna. Hear me out. You had your chance to talk, now it's mine," Ron held his hands up to fend off her interruptions. "We fit together so well and as soon as I saw you again after all these years I knew you were the one. I knew I was going to marry you some day. I'm not saying it has to be tomorrow, maybe a couple months from now. Even then we don't have to... you know, be married in every sense. We'll take as long as you need. But I think we should do it soon. We have five children between us; I hardly doubt we could go through the normal dating game."

"So you want a marriage of convenience?" she asked wondering if she had misunderstood everything.

"No!" Ron grasped her hands in his and brought them to his lips. "Well, it will be convenient to team up to raise so many, but that isn't why I want to marry you. Have no doubt I'll be pursuing you no matter what. Call me selfish, I want you by my side forever, to help me raise five of the best children there is, and if you're up to the challenge add a few more to our brood. I want much more than a marriage of convenience from you, Miss Lovegood. Much more."

Luna sat there staring into his blazing blue eyes until she smiled weakly. "I really must be Loony after all." At Ron's confused look she said, "I'll marry you, Ronald."

"You will," Ron half asked, half stated. He really hadn't expected her to accept; no normal girl would. This is Luna we're talking about.

"Yes."

Without another thought Ron surged towards her and sealed his lips against hers. As soon as they made contact Ron felt as though he were on fire. The burning sensation traveled to all extremities of his body, fingers and toes included. Ron made sure to keep his hands laced with hers, not wanting to rush her. Rush her?! Blimey, she just agreed to marry me!

After having their lips locked for a prolonged period of time Luna pulled away blushing like mad with a blooming smile on her face.

"Sorry," Ron covered one of his red ears with a hand shyly, "I overstepped again, didn't I?"

"Quite the opposite. Feel free to do that again anytime."

Ron smiled in relief and amusement. He was worried he had been to forward and she tells him to snog her whenever he pleases. At least Ron knew Life would never be dull. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh Ginny, they're adorable!" Hermione exclaimed as she picked up newborn Frank Longbottom.

"He looks exactly like Fred did in his baby pictures." Ron stared mesmerized at Frank's twin brother, Fred.

"I know," Ginny smiled at her only sons.

"Has anyone else from your family seen them yet?" Hermione asked, thinking how much George would want to see his own twin's namesake.

Ginny nodded. "Mum, Dad, George, and Bill all visited us at St. Mungo's. Percy says he'll make sure to come and visit soon and Charlie won't be able to visit for a while. He's taken Joy to Romania to work out some problems," she said referring to Charlie's wife.

"I hope they work things out. I've never met two people more meant for each other." Ron made a funny face at Fred, but the baby just stared at him with a bored expression.

Ginny grinned, "Speaking of people meant for each other, I hear a certain blonde someone was in your room."

"What?" Hermione looked between to red-heads. "Why wasn't I told anything?"

"It just happened earlier today," Ron mumbled. His face, neck, and ears turning a brilliant shade of red.

Ginny gasped, "You kissed her!"

"How do you know?" Hermione asked.

"Look how red he is. The first time he saw Luna his cheeks turned pink. The first time he touched her, his cheeks and ears turned red. The first time they hugged his entire head turned red. Now from the neck up he's blushing so I bet you they kissed." Ginny turned to Ron, who was turning a darker red. "Well?"

He smiled nervously, "Not that that is any of your business—"

"Oh come on Ron. You've walked in on Severus and me how many times? I think I deserve a little dirt."

"It wasn't like I wanted to see that!" Ron whined.

"Enough!" Ginny growled. "Continue."

"We're getting married."

"What?!"

"Oh Ron that's wonderful!" Ginny hugged her brother around her son. "How did you propose? Did she cry? Did you get down on one knee?" she asked, always the romantic one.

"I, uh, kind of just blurted it out."

Hermione started laughing. She could completely picture Ron doing so, but Ginny didn't see the humor. "Well I guess you two really are matched to each other if she accepted that proposal."

"It isn't that bad Gin. At least she he proposed to her," Hermione said.

Ginny laughed. "Yeah, I'm surprised he didn't just swing her over his shoulder, carry her to the ministry and force her to marry him."

"I wouldn't do that!"

"Actually I was thinking about Severus. I've been proposed to by how many men, but not one of them was my husband."

"I'll have to remember that one." Ron relaxed now that he was no longer the brunt of the joke.

"Don't tease him," Hermione begged. She'd be the one to deal with him for being in a bad mood.

"Oh, I won't... too badly."

"So when are you getting married?" Ginny cut in.

"Not for a couple months. Luna is finishing some legal work at the Quibbler and she wants to wait until school gets out."

"Ron I'm so excited for you! Wait until Mum hears. She'll be so glad she can plan your wedding—"

"Actually Mum isn't going to find out until she gets the invitation. I don't want her to find out for a while."

"Why not? She didn't get to have any part of your first one. She'll want to make this one extra special."

"That's why. This is both Luna's and my second marriage. We had the big extravagant wedding the first time around because that's what Alexei and Brigitte wanted. We don't want the big hoopla. We're just going to have a small ceremony on Hogwarts' grounds once school lets out."

"Mum's going to have kittens," Ginny warned.

Ron looked at Hermione. "You haven't said much about this." Surprisingly for you, he thought to himself.

She reassured him with a smile. "I'm happy for you. I think you two will be very happy."

Ron smiled. "Good because I have a question for you. Will you be my best man? Well, not man precisely..."

"No," Hermione frowned.

Ron started at her quick answer. "Oh, well... you could have thought about it a little longer."

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I'm going to be as big as a whale around that time. You're not going get me to stand up there looking like that. I'd feel like I'm on display or something." To prove her point she poked her protruding stomach with one finger.

"Oh, Sorry 'Mione. I didn't think of it like that. Who should I ask then?"

Ginny elbowed him in the side. "How about an actual man? What about Neville?" All three looked over to said 'man.' He was playing with his daughters and saw they were playing princess. Apparently Daddy was the princess because Neville had a tiara on his head. "There's nothing wrong with him playing with our daughters. Who else would you ask? Harry?"

Both Ron and Hermione scoffed. "I'm inviting him, of course, but it wouldn't be right if I made him my best man."

"What about Severus?" Hermione suggested.

"When the world ends," Ron growled. "Apparently his romantic side decided to make an appearance and told Luna some sappy story and lectured me. Meddlesome git."

"Ron," Hermione warned.

"No, I'll ask Neville. He's always been a good friend."

A few days later Ginny and Hermione threw together a small engagement party for Ron and Luna. Along with Neville and Ginny, Severus and Hermione, and Ron and Luna most of the professors showed up (namely Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Hagrid). Though it didn't sound like very many, once you added in all the kids the guest list went over twenty. Hermione and Severus didn't think they're rooms were small until then.

Ron and Luna were seated near the center of the room. Luna didn't have her dazed look about her, but was smiling happily with her hand tucked safely in Ron's larger one. Ron, on the other hand, was having some difficulty. He was glad Ginny hadn't invited the rest of the family or else he might have died of embarrassment. He wasn't embarrassed to be marrying Luna, but people wouldn't stop teasing him. McGonagall, Severus, and Neville had taken permanent seats around him and were constantly making small jabs at him for most of the night. Cassius and Lucretia sat at Ron's feet. Cassius never enjoyed being away from Ron very long and ever since Ron and Luna had gotten back together Lucretia hadn't wanted to leave her new Daddy out of sight in fear he might leave again.

Most of the children didn't understand what was really going on. They all just saw the gathering as a play day. This wasn't for Esther Ann though. She knew something was up and if she was anything like her mother, she had to know what it was.

So she left her room, where most of the children had gathered, and found her Mum and Aunt Ginny sitting next to the Loony lady. Ginny saw her coming and smiled at her. "Come sit on Aunt Ginny's lap," she held out her arms in welcome. Esther smiled and obliged. Ginny always wanted to hold her, seeing as she couldn't do so comfortably when she was pregnant with the twins.

"Did you need something?" Hermione asked her daughter gently.

Esther nodded and looked to Luna and Ron. "What's going on?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Why is everyone here?" she looked around the room to the people she didn't recognize.

Luna fielded this one. She leaned over and said, "Your Uncle Ronald and I are getting married. We're celebrating right now."

"You mean married like Mum and Dad?" Esther looked at her father. He, Ron, Neville, and McGonagall had been drawn into the conversation and were looking at the small group of ladies.

"Yep, just like Mum and Dad."

Esther's brow furrowed. "Why?"

Soft laughs sounded around the room. "Well, we love each other very much and we want to raise a family together."

"And have more babies?" she asked, looking at Hermione's stomach.

Neville covered his mouth to control his laughs. Severus didn't hold back, "Yes Weasley. Are you going to add more to your brood? You're only two away from having your own Quidditch team."

Ron blushed. "Well Neville's only one away and by the way they go at it they'll have enough kids for two teams."

Neville blanched as everyone looked at him and Ginny. Sputtering, Neville glared at Severus. "What's with the beard anyway? Forget some of your 'foolish wand-waving' to shave?" After the words left his mouth he squeaked, realizing who he said it too. "I-I-I'm sorry S-S-Sir—"

"What is with the facial hair, Severus?" McGonagall asked. "This is the second time I've seen you like this." Severus and Hermione's eyes had darted to each other right after Neville's jeer and were now turning pink. "Oh, so it's one of those kinds of things," McGonagall chuckled to herself.

Slowly people started to catch on and started laughing. "Now I know when to avoid your rooms," Ron said sourly. But now every time I see him like this I'll know!!

"I want to get married." All laughter stopped and focused on Esther Ann once again.

"What?" Severus demanded.

"I'd wait about ten years before you let your dad hear that again," Ron cautioned.

Esther squirmed out of Ginny's lap and walked towards her father, but stopped short in front of Cassius. "I'm going to marry Cass." And without further notice, she grasped Cassius' face and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Arrgh! Cuties!" Cass shoved Esther away and ran towards the other children.

"Wait Cas-yus!" Esther went running after him and Lucretia followed to watch the outcome.

It was silent in the room for a few seconds everyone holding in silent laughter as Ron and Severus' anger bubbled up. "WEASLEY!"

"It was your daughter who kissed Cass!"

"You keep your carrot-top son away from Esther!"

"I wouldn't want him with a Snape anyway!"

"Boys, knock it off. It's just a childish crush," Hermione waved a tired hand their way.

"Exactly. When I was Esther's age, I said I was going to marry Bill when I was older," Ginny admitted. "Then I found out you don't marry relatives."

"This is hardly the same, Ginny." Ron seethed.

"Enough of this, I'm going to go check on the children." Hermione stood, with the help of some friends, and slowly moved down the hallway.

An hour later people were starting to leave and Severus was worried. Hermione hadn't come back from checking on the children and he knew she'd be upset if people left and she didn't play her part as hostess. So he went to Esther's room first and checked on the children before checking the other rooms. He found her in their bed. She was propped up against the headboard with her head slumped to the side as she slept. In her lap was Little Draco purring away. She had obviously taken refuge in here to get away from the children's pulling hands.

"Hermione," Severus kissed her brow. "People are leaving."

Her head rolled away from him as she fought back for sleep. "Okay, tell them I'm glad they came."

"Are you alright?" he asked. She never shrank away from duty.

"Just tired. I've had a backache for days now and it's been keeping me awake at night." She looked up at him with half-closed eyelids.

Severus knew as much and he scolded himself for not taking action any sooner. "Sit up." He moved in behind her and began to work at her muscles in her back. He worked in silence until he heard the door click open. He looked up and saw Ginny in the doorway.

"She's asleep again," she whispered. Severus nodded in thanks and scooped Hermione up to move her down further in the bed. Once he was out in the hallway with Ginny she said, "I was just looking for you to tell you everyone's left and I've cleaned everything up already. Neville took Esther back with the other children."

"Thank you," Severus said gratefully. Hermione had been dead on her feet for days. Tonight Severus was going to pamper his wife.

A/N: Oh yeah, I realized this when I wrote this last section... I think I might have referred to Little Draco (the cat) as a he a few times... Oops! You think 'Draco' you write 'he.' It was bound to happen. Anyways, I'm sorry! :)

Okay so for the list of things I still need to write about...

1. Ron and Luna's Wedding
2. Whatever happened to Draco?
3. I can't just leave Harry a stupid bloke...
4. Baby Snape!
5. Severus' 'I love you' moment

And also there's going to be an epilogue with all the Marriage Law children are in their final year at Hogwarts. Remember to give me some ideas that you had wanted to see in the story but I haven't written it (As long as it fits into my rating. I won't do smut!)

As always: Hope all is Well! :)