AN – I own nothing!

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Chapter 48

Severus lay on top of Hermione, and served as a blanket of sorts for her. She was so close to getting hypothermia that he had to take most of his clothes off and share his body warmth with hers. She was the one that lay naked beneath him, under the layers of sheets.

It was Poppy's idea for him to do share his body heat. She was brought to Wellington Castle as soon as King Richard saw the state his granddaughter was in. with a few diagnostic spells, and a simple warming potion, Poppy said that Hermione was going to get well. She had yet to regain consciousness, but her body would do so at its own time. Other than that, the baby was well. She also had warned everyone that too much stress and pressure was already taking its toll and Hermione, and soon enough it would also affect her pregnancy.

With most of his weight on his elbows, Severus's hands sometimes had had Hermione's head cradled between them. Sometimes, he would allow his fingers to weave through the soft curly strands of her hair. Chest to chest, Severus could feel her heart beat slowly beneath him. He lowered his head and allowed his nose to touch hers. Then, his nose moved to touch her cheek, and then nuzzled against the soft skin of her neck. Breathing in deeply, his nose smelled the sweet scent of her hair.

"I need you and love you Hermione," he whispered softly into her ear. It was probably the thousandth time he said that within the past few hours, since he was left alone with her in their suite. Every so often, he would also plant kisses on her cheeks, temples and lips. He would continue to say sweet words to her and beg her to awaken soon.

Severus moved a bit, and allowed his hand to travel down to Hermione's abdomen. His fingers softly moved up and down her flesh, before his palm flattened on top of it. His unborn son too also meant the life and world to him.

He felt very guilty. He said the wrong words to Hermione and was a little too harsh on her. Why the bloody fuck did he tell her that she didn't love him enough? How could she accuse her in such a manner? His wife was in a time of need. He should have been more caring and not jealous of her wanting to be with her grandmother and parents. Comfort was what she needed, but instead he pushed her away, and hurt her when she was already down. Damn him!

He looked at the windows. There was no light trying to penetrate the curtains. The light had vanished hours ago. The only light that was left in the room was coming from the fireplace. Not only did it give out light, but also gave out the extra warmth that Hermione needed.

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Hermione was awake. She tried to open her eyes but was too weak. Her body felt cold, but she could feel herself being enveloped in something warm and inviting. Whatever it was, she knew it was above her for she could feel its heavy weight. With a groan and a lot more effort, she managed to open her eyes.

Above her, she noticed that Severus's face was inches from her. Instantly, she knew that it was he that was lying atop her, and keeping her warm from the cold.

"Hermione?" Severus called her softly when his ears heard a groan escape her lips. "My Little One…" Severus sighed in relief when he watched her open her eyes. He was happy when he saw her beautiful cinnamon eyes looking up at him.

"C-cold…" Hermione said weakly as she slightly shivered. She wanted to say more, but then decided not to. She was ashamed to say the least to look at her husband.

"I know, I know," Severus said softly as he rubbed her arms with his hands, and lowering himself a little more so that more of his warm skin was in contact with hers. He lowered his lips to hers, and softly captured her lips with his.

Hermione felt all the more guilty when she felt Severus's lips touch his. Even though part of her did want to continue and kiss him, she pulled away, and turned her face away from his.

Severus frowned at Hermione's action. In seconds it disappeared as he sighed. He kissed her temple and then whispered, "I'm sorry Hermione… I shouldn't have said what I said to you earlier. It was a grave error on my part."

Hermione bit her lip. She forced herself to shut up and not say anything. If he only knew. It wasn't his error, but hers. She may have hidden the words, but not the tears that have escaped.

"Forgive me Hermione, please…" Severus pleaded against her ear as his forehead lay against her temple. "Again I have failed you. Again I have doubted your love for me. And again, as a fool, I am asking for your forgiveness."

"No…no…. My fault…" Hermione sobbed. "All my fault."

Severus cupped her face with one of his hands, and made her look at him. "It is not your fault, but mine."

"You were right Severus. You were right," she said. "You said that I didn't love you enough.… You were right."

"Like you said, I put words in your mouth."

"No," she said firmly. "When I was with them, I just wanted to stay with them. Leave all my problems behind. You didn't even cross my mind once."

Severus's mouth gaped open. He didn't know what to say.

"I do love you Severus, I really do. I'm just worried that my love will never be enough for you. I'm sorry," she cried. She turned away, not wanting him to be able to see the pain in her eyes.

"There's nothing to be sorry about," Severus said. "I understand what happened, and I know how you feel wanting and needing to escape." He paused for a moment and then continued. "I'm still here Hermione, and I will love you no matter what."

"I don't deserve you!" she cried.

Severus felt her guilt, guilt that was caused by him because of what he had said. It was also her guilt thinking about him back then. His arms wrapped around her beneath her shoulders and pulled her to him as he lowered himself completely on her. He closed his eyes when he felt his lips brush her ear. "Hermione, if you want to give up on your problems, I will fight for you. Please though, never give up on us."

Slowly, Severus's words started to sink into not just Hermione's brain, but her heart as well.

"I know you love me, and it isn't enough. It's more than enough. No matter what you think, I will sacrifice for you--and love you with--all that I am. Merlin help me, I'm afraid to lose you… but never give up on us… never."

"Severus…" Hermione cried as she wrapped her arms around him, and buried her face into the crook of his neck. Afraid to lose him, afraid that he'd let her go.

"I'm here Little One. I'm not going anywhere," he said as he kissed her cheek. He could taste the familiar saltiness of her tears. "There's no need to cry. It's alright… We're alright." He continued to whisper words of comfort to her until she calmed down.

After a few minutes, Hermione eventually stopped crying. Severus felt her breathing even out against the skin of his neck, and looked to see if she was asleep, by pulling away just a bit. He got his answer when her arms tightened around him, along with a 'No.'

"I have to feed you Little One. You haven't eaten the whole day," Severus said as he reached over at the night stand and turned on the light. Right next to the lamp was a bowl of chicken noodle soup, kept hot by a charm. "It'll make you better and warmer. Trust me."

Hermione whimpered when Severus slid off her and sat on the edge of the bed. She felt cold immediately. She needed and wanted his warmth, not the warmth from some soup. After some help in sitting up, the blankets were wrapped around her, and she was encased in them like a burrito. Leaning against the headboard, she watched as Severus was gave a small blow on the spoon.

"Be careful," he said as he was about to feed her. "Might be too hot."

Hermione swallowed and enjoyed the taste of tanginess as it hit her tongue. The soup triggered her hunger and made her stomach flutter with need; she also enjoyed the spread of its warmth as it spread throughout her body, driving away the bone-deep chill.

"Good?" Severus asked as he heard a satisfying breath escape her lips.

Hermione just nodded.

Severus continued to feed her until she shook her head, telling him that she was full. He looked down at the bowl and noticed that Hermione had eaten half of the soup. Glad that she had eaten more than he expected, he set the bowl back down on the nightstand and unraveled the sheets so that he could slide under them. It was no surprise that Hermione immediately went to him and snuggled up against him, sitting on his lap.

"Feeling better?" Severus asked softly.

"A bit," Hermione murmured in reply.

"Poppy said that the stress isn't too good for you or the baby," he informed her. "If we have problems Hermione, I want you to talk to me, or come to me when you need me. Please, no disappearing and running away. You had us all worried, most especially me. Promise me you won't do it again. Promise me."

Hermione nodded in reply, as she snuggled closer to his chest. Before her eyes drifted off back to sleep, she heard Severus whisper his words of love to her.

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AN – Sweet, sweet drama. I got all teary and sniffly when I wrote this chap. Review!

BN -- This is HermioneSparta, Trizfores' beta. I've recently read over some reviews she's gotten and I'm ecstatic to see the vast amount of positive feedback. But due to a few recent flamers that didn't have the courage to even sign in, I've decided to post this.

Any mistakes you see are mine (with the exception of the chapters Triz posts and forgets to send to me in her excitement, but those are few, since I beta them anyway) and I don't appreciate you blaming Triz. This story isn't as easy to write as it seems, and a few mistakes slip through the cracks--even JKR wasn't perfect, so get off your high-Threshal and move on. We'll eventually find them and Triz will repost.

Yes, I do review, since Triz is evil and doesn't tell me everything, so I must beg like everyone else.