Chapter Eight: A Family Affair

Hermione glanced at her watch as she passed through the glass entrance of St. Mungo's Hospital while trying to press down the guilt that was rising inside her. She had never taken a personal day away from the office in her entire working career and though she knew the birth of Ginny's and Harry's child was well worth it and more than justifiable, it didn't ease the guilt she felt. She hadn't been at the Ministry all that long after all and feared that her taking the day off would set a bad president. But her fear wasn't enough to keep her away from the hospital. Not today, she was simply too excited. Besides, she reasoned with herself as she entered the hospital lobby, she would be much too distracted to get any work done if she did bother going in to the office.

Without bothering to stop at the receptionist area she hurried to the lifts and pressed the call button. Growing impatient at the lifts failure to make a timely appearance, Hermione tapped her toe agitatedly as she watched the arrow that indicated which floor the lift was currently on swing back in an arch until it landed on the main floor. The moment the doors slid open Hermione rushed inside and punched the button that corresponded with the Maternity ward. When the doors didn't immediately close she jabbed at the button, then a few more times until finally they eased shut and the lift lurched into motion.

Hermione sagged against the wall and took a calming breath. This was too much for her nerves. If it frazzled her this much when her friend was the one having the baby she couldn't imagine what it would be like when it was her turn to give birth.

Consumed with her thoughts, Hermione failed to notice she had reached her destination until the lift doors slid open and revealed a quiet hall at the end of which stood a large gathering of people with fire red hair. Hermione relaxed at the sight. It eased her nerves to know that Ginny's family had been here for her when she couldn't be.

She pushed off from the wall and stepped lightly into the hall, her shoes sounding distinctly on the tile floor. Molly was the first to notice her approach and separated herself from the group along with Arthur to greet her.

"Hermione dear." She opened her arms and drew the younger girl into a secure hug. "It's so nice to see you again."

"How is she?" Hermione asked as she drew slightly away, leaving her hands resting on Molly's arms, sensing the older woman's need for comfort.

"She's doing fine." Molly said, though her voice quivered faintly. "Harry came out a few minutes ago to tell us she's almost there. She'll start pushing soon." Molly covered her mouth when a yawn threatened to escape. "I'm sorry." She tried to blink the weariness from her eyes. "It's been a long night."

"Mrs Weasley, why didn't you go home and rest?"

"No," She patted Hermione's cheek. "I couldn't risk the baby being born without me being here. Now, why don't you take a seat?" She motioned to the benches lining the walls. "It shouldn't take long now."

Setting a hand on the young girls back, Molly led her to where the rest of the family was gathered. They had divided from the large group into smaller clusters and dispersed slightly along the hall way allowing room for others to pass through if needed. The hospital was surprisingly quiet for the amount of people it had crammed in its hallway, but the Weasleys kept their voices low and while she couldn't hear what they said, the air hummed with the joviality and camaraderie that could only come from a family that enjoyed each other's company.

On the floor tucked between two benches and the wall sat the oldest of the Weasley grandchildren, playing with dolls, blocks, odd pieces of parchment and a massive pile of crayons that the three children must have made together.

When Hermione had learned that none of the Weasleys had seen a crayon let alone used one before, she had promptly gone out and purchased a set for all of the grandchildren old enough to use them. They had been an instant success. Barron had liked his crayons so much in fact that Bill had had to floo her already to ask her where he could pick up another set. And George, who was currently sitting on the floor with his daughter Melani sitting in his lap, had convinced Fred that they needed to start stocking them in their store as an alternative to the messy paints most wizarding children used to color with.

"Hermione," Fred, who had spotted her standing a few paces away watching them, broke away from the small group he was standing with and came towards her. Reaching up, her tussled her hair like he would a small child, causing her curls to stack on each other so that they sat higher than normal. "Good of you to come."

Brushing away her annoyance, Hermione tried her best to smooth her hair without a mirror and decided the cause was lost. "Where else would I be?" She asked. "That's my god baby in there being born."

"Still, Ginny would appreciate knowing you're here. Not that she's in any state to hear that you are. I would be surprised if she was aware any of us were here at the moment. But there you have it."

"I wish I could have been here sooner. Why didn't any one owl me last night? I would have come."

"We thought about it. But by the time we got Ginny here visiting hours were already over and the Healer assured us that nothing would happen until morning so there was no point in staying. Only Mum, Dad and Ron remained the whole night, the rest of us went home."

"I would have stayed."

"Which is why Mum made the decision not to owl you until morning. She was already beside herself trying to convince Ron to take the baby home for the night. It wasn't until George and Ashken offered to watch her that she finally gave in and left Ron alone. But you know how he gets. He was going to be here if Harry or Ginny needed him, and nobody was going to tell him otherwise."

Hermione nodded slowly. "Yeah." She tried to swallow past the hard knot in her throat. There was a time when Ron would have done the same for her. "That sounds like him."

"Hermione, what is it?" Fred asked with concern when he saw the sheen that had settled over her eyes.

"It's noting."

"That's a lie. Tell me," he coaxed. "I swear I won't tell anyone."

"It's nothing." She tried to brush away his concern. "I'm just being foolish."

Fred narrowed his eyes at her as if to say, You? Being foolish? I don't think so. "Hermione?" He said pointedly.

Working quickly to find something acceptable to say, Hermione lowered her head to hide her eyes. "It's nothing really. I just…I just love the way your family all cares so much about each other. It's very beautiful. I love my Mum and Dad, don't get me wrong, but things haven't been the same since I left for Hogwarts. I suppose a part of me wises I could be part of all this. One of the family."

"Hermione," Fred coaxed her chin playfully so that she was forced to look at him. "Don't tell anyone I told you this, I do have a reputation to uphold after all and no one would believe you if you did. And furthermore I'll bitterly deny it." He sternly pointed his finger at her. "You are a part of this family. You have been for a very long time, even if some pig headed git we can both think or might not want you to be."

The warm feeling that had begun to settle over her heart instantly evaporated at his last words. "Thanks Fred." She stepped away from him. "That makes me feel loads better."

" Hermione I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay." She stopped him. "We both know you're right. He doesn't want me a part of his life or his family." Fred's face altered in surprise. Whether that surprise was caused by her agreeing with him for perhaps the first time since they had known each other, or because her response was so subjugated, she didn't know, but the look was enough to lighten her mood; somewhat. She turned away from Fred and her heart tightened once again.

Bill had left the group he had been standing with which had included Charlie and both of their wives, to sit on the floor with George and the children and in doing so opened up Hermione's line of vision to Ron, who was sitting on one of the many benches lining the corridor, a small baby girl with ink black hair lying against his chest. Both man and child were asleep, their chests rising and falling in sync with each other, her two breaths for every one of his. They were laying chest to chest, the little baby's face turned toward her so that she could see the small puddle of drool that was wetting Ron's robes. One of Ron's large hands rested on the child's back, supporting her and comforting her as she slept.

For a moment Hermione stood mesmerized. She was right. In a single glance she could discern that Ron was indeed the amazing father she thought he would be. The gentle way his thumb comfortingly stroked his child's back, even in sleep, spoke volumes for the love he must feel for his daughter and in a moment of insanity Hermione felt both jealousy and hatred towards the woman both lucky enough to have shared something so special and wonderful with Ron and stupid enough to have given it up. She struggled to keep her breath from growing haggard and her eyes from watering. Now more than ever she regretted her past with Ron and yearned for what a small part of her had always hoped and wished could have been.

"Hermione?"

"Pardon me Fred. I think I'm going to go see if I can do anything to rectify that family objection."

"Now?" But Hermione was already gone, walking briskly down the corridor.

Ron focused on the weight of the small body lying against his chest. He savored the way she nestled against his body, her tiny hands gripping his robes in sleep, almost like she was afraid Ron would leave her again. His heart tightened in his chest at the thought and his hand firmed slightly against her back.

Just like with Si's birth Ron had been a wreck all night worrying about Ginny and the baby as well as the frazzled state her condition put his best mate in. It was almost comical. Ron had seen Harry in some of the damn scariest situations anyone could ever find himself in and he hadn't broken a sweat. But the moment you put him in a room with Ginny when she was in pain he became a nervous wreck. Ron had stayed the night not so much for Ginny, she came through the last birth perfectly, but for Harry who hadn't done nearly as well. Ron remained because he knew how to calm Harry's nerves when they got the better of him. So in that regard, last night should have gone more smoothly than the last time, Harry was much more composed the second time around. Instead, Ron's night had become infinitely worse. With Si he only had Harry to worry about; this time he had his baby girl as well. Since the moment she had first come home to live with him she had never spent the night away and he had worried how she would handled the new setting. His worst fears had been confirmed when he had seen her tear stained face that morning.

His heart tightened as he recalled her little red face and the anxiety on George's and Ashken's when they appeared in the ward. Ashken was almost beside herself with guilt. Apparently the baby had started crying the moment they tried to lay her down for the night and neither she nor George had been able to calm her enough to still her crying or coax her into sleep. She had remained awake most of the night and only ceased crying when she had exhausted herself into temporary slumber.

The moment she spotted Ron that morning, standing in the hallway with his mum and dad, she began crying and reaching desperately for him, breaking his heart in the process. It wasn't until she was safely back in Ron's arms that she stopped and immediately snuggled into his chest, tucking her face in the crook between his shoulder and neck, wetting his skin with her tears. Ron had dismissed George and Ashken's apologies, offering one of his own. "She just wanted her daddy." He tried to explain, feeling his own guilt for putting George, Ashken and Melani through his daughter's tantrum. It wasn't long before Ron felt the gentle rise and fall of her chest in slumber; she hadn't roused since.

Now here he sat, his thumb continuing to rub her back in small circles as he listened to the sounds of his family around them. It had a calming effect on his nerves and finally after a restless night of worrying, he was able to relax. Everything would be fine now that he knew his little girl was alright.

Somewhere, to his right, Ron sensed someone move drawing him out of is thoughts. Moments later he heard the unfamiliar click of shoes on the tiled floor. He knew instantly it wasn't his mother or any of his sisters-in-law. The women in his family wore more sensible shoes now that they were mothers or expecting their first child.

The soft tapping came to a stop beside them and Ron stiffened when he felt her settle her weight on the bench next to him. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was. Sensing his unease, the baby shifted, her body stiffening uncomfortably against him. He took a deep breath and slowly released it from his body, trying to exhale the tension mounting along with it.

"Ron?"

"Don't."

Hermione jumped back in surprise. Believing Ron to be asleep she had been about to set her hand on his shoulder to nudge him gently awake. She snatched her hand back and let it fall into her lap. "I thought you were asleep." She admitted awkwardly.

Ron remained still and silent, making no indication that he was awake or even aware of her sitting next to him.

"I…er…I was hoping we could, well, talk."

There was a beat then a firm, "No."

"Ron," Hermione eased closer, her voice lowered to a whisper. "This is ridiculous. I know you've been avoiding me since I returned to England. Don't you think…"

"No." He said in the same firm, impersonal voice. "I don't."

"Ron, we need to talk."

"No. We don't."

Hermione let out a sharp breath in agitation. "Would you please open your eyes and look at me?" His lids didn't so much as flutter. Anyone who was watching them would have assumed she was busy talking to a sleeping man. "Fine. If you won't talk to me I'll just talk to you."

Ron's eyes snapped open and he slowly turned his head so that he could glare at her. "Go away." He said slow and evenly, like he was speaking with a half wit who didn't understand him. "I don't want to talk to you. Can you not take a hint?"

Hermione lowered her face to hide the flush that crept into her cheeks. "It's been five years, Ron. What happened between us was…"

"Shut up." He snarled shortly, his teeth clenching painfully together. "I don't want to talk about that. Especially not here, surrounded by my family."

"I'm sorry if you don't deem now an appropriate time, Ronald, but you haven't given me many options. You keep running away every time I try and speak with you."

"I don't run away."

"Yes you do." She argued back. "You have been since that first day in the Ministry."

"You never tried to stop me at an appropriate time. I'm a very busy man."

"Then when would be an appropriate time?"

Ron seemed to ponder her question a moment before saying. "Not when there are others around. There's no need to get my family involved."

"How about at work, then?" She said snidely. "Why don't we hatch it out in front of the entire Ministry? Right in front of Parker and the rest of your squad? How does that sound?"

"You stay away from Parker." There was a hint of warning in his voice.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't want you corrupting my squad. Stay away from Parker."

"Corrupting your squad? Is that what you honestly think of me? That I would try and corrupt your squad?"

"Would you please keep your voice down?"

"No!" She said shortly, her voice rising slightly, "I won't. I cannot believe you just said that to me when you were the one… Do you know what? Maybe now is the perfect time to discuss this. Perhaps it would be best if I told your parents what kind of man you really are."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"Please Ron." She glared at him. "Don't act stupid with me. You might disrespect me but do not disrespect my intelligence. As if you don't…"

The door to the hospital room opened and Ron cut her off by rising instantly to his feet, jostling the baby awake in his haste. Hermione followed suit when she spotted Harry stepping into the hallway, a happy, but ragged expression on his face. He pushed his sweat slicked hair back out of his eyes and stretched his neck from side to side, rubbing away the stiffness with his hand. "It's a girl."

Rushing forward Molly clasped Harry's face between her hands and drew it down so that she could kiss every bit she could reach. "How are they? Is Ginny doing alright? What about the baby?"

"They're fine" Harry's grin grew painfully wide. "They're both doing excellent. She has all ten fingers and all ten toes and a set of lungs to rival any Weasley."

"When can we see them?"

Harry smiled reassuringly at Molly as he patted her arm. "In a few minutes. Ginny wants to see Si before the rest of you come in. She's worried how he's taking all this excitement. Hello Si." Harry held his hands out to his son when Bill carried him over. He pressed a noisy kiss to the little boy's cheek before settling him on his hip. "Are you ready to see Mummy?" he patted his bottom affectionately "Come on, Mum's aching to see you."

Harry reentered the hospital room as the Healer and his team was leaving. Ginny glanced up and smiled at the sight of them. "I was wondering when my boys would be showing up."

Si pulled his thumb out of his mouth and held his hands out toward his mother. Harry set him down near Ginny's knee before helping her shift over when she tried to make room for them both. "Are you alright?" He asked when he saw her flinch.

"I'm fine. Just a little tender."

Harry lifted Si onto his lap as he sat next to Ginny, slipping his arm around her shoulders when she leaned forward. "You did wonderful, love." He said as he pressed a kiss to her brow. "Did I tell you that?" He rested his cheek on Ginny's head so that he could look down at his new daughter. "She's beautiful."

"You're lying." Ginny moved aside the blanket so they could better see the baby's face. "She looks like a shriveled tomato."

"She's beautiful." Harry insisted.

Shifting forward on Harry's lap, Si placed a hand on his mothers arm as he leaned forward and looked down at his new sister. He tilted his head to the side a moment as he looked at her before leaning forward, brining his face right up close to hers. Ginny laid a tender hand on her son's baby soft cheek. The little boy looked up at his mother, his eyes scrunched with puzzlement. "He doesn't understand."

"He will. He's a smart boy."

"I know he is." Ginny transferred her hand to Harry's cheek. "Just like his daddy." She pulled his face down for a kiss. They held each other for several seconds before Harry pulled away and rested his chin on the crown of her head.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I know you do." She turned his face into his chest. "I love you too. What's this?" She reached up and wiped away the trail of moisture on his cheek when she felt a drop fall on her head. "Why are you crying?"

Harry pressed his cheek into her hand. "All my life I never thought I could be this happy."

Ginny shook her head slowly, her eyes welling with love. "Kiss me again you stupid, loving sap."

Harry captured her lips in a hungry kiss. The two melted into each other and didn't separate until they heard a gentle knock at the door. The handle turned and seconds later Arthur's face appeared in the gap. "I'm sorry to bother you two, but Molly's going mental and dragging the rest of us down with her. Do you think it would be possible to let her in now?"

"Of course. Come in." Harry set Si on the floor before helping Ginny into a sitting position. The room slowly filled with people and Ginny's eyes widened.

"Everyone's not here, are they?"

"Of course we are kido." Bill said as he came to stand at the foot of the bed with his family. "It's not every day we welcome a new Weasley into the world."

"Nope," George clapped his brother on his back. "Just every month or so."

"Especially with these two going at it." Charlie laughed, nodding toward Harry and Ginny.

"That's enough you three." Molly scolded as she came to stand beside Ginny. "Don't spoil your sister's day." She gently brushed loose strands back off Ginny's brow.

"It's all right mum. I'm just so glad you're all here." she looked down at her new daughter then up at her mother. "Would you like to hold her?"

Molly's eyes brightened instantly with anticipation. "Can I?"

"Of course." Ginny laughed. She shifted the baby and held her up so that Molly could take her. "Has anyone flooed Hermione. I'd like her to be here."

"All ready done." Hermione stepped away from the door where she had been lurking. "How are you?" she asked as she stepped up to the bed and took her friend's hand.

"Tired." Ginny admitted.

"I'm sure you are. I'm surprised you're up to having all these visitors. If it were me I'd want peace and quiet."

"No." Ginny smiled. "I thrive on this." The two girls watched together as Molly handed the baby to Arthur who, rocking gently with every step, carried her to where the rest of her family was gathered, crouching low so that all could see.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Hermione asked. "It's the least I can do after all you've done for me."

"No, no. I'm fine. The Healers have been taking good care of me."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." Ginny nodded.

"In that case, are you any closer to picking a name?"

"Actually," Ginny looked beyond Hermione to meet Harry's eyes. "I've been thinking about that. Perhaps we could follow the tradition in your mother's family and name her after a flower."

Harry's brow arched with intrigue. "What did you have in mind?"

"I hadn't gotten that far yet." She admitted. "I'd only thought of it while you were outside getting Si."

"Cukooflower."

The family turned to face Fred, varying expressions of curiosity, distaste and amusement on their faces.

"Yeah," Harry nodded his head sarcastically as he moved to Ginny's side. "That's a great idea Fred. Cuckooflower Potter. It has a nice ring to it."

"Exactly." Fred said brightly. "It's always been my favorite flower."

"Try again." Ginny said humorlessly.

"Holly." Bill offered.

"Orchid." Suggested George.

"Heather."

"Ivy."

"Iris." The names started coming at her quickly.

"No, no, no." Ginny shook her head. "Those names aren't interesting enough."

"Were you thinking something more like Heliotrope?" Asked Ashken.

"No."Ginny said slowly, her brows scrunching slightly in thought. "That's not quite right either. It sounds too much like a flower and not enough like a baby name. Harry, what do you think?" She turned to her husband and found him head bowed, his expression contemplative. "Harry?" She nudged him gently when he didn't respond. "Where did you go?"

"Sorry." He gave his head a curt shake. "I was trying to remember the flowers I use to plant in my aunts garden."

"And?"

"A few came to mind. Alison, Angelica, Marrigold, err…Primrose."

"Primrose Potter?" she asked objectionably.

"You're right." Harry agreed "It's awful." He paused a moment. "What do you think of Bryony?"

"Bryony." Ginny tested the name. "Bryony Potter. Bry or Bri for short. That's interesting."

"Yeah?" He asked, surprised with himself.

"Yeah. Let me think on it a bit, see how it fits. We're not stepping on any toes, are we Ron?"

"No." Ron stepped away from the wall, bouncing his baby lightly on his arm. "You can have Bryony. I have a different name in mind."

Ginny held her hands out for the baby and Arthur set her in his daughter's arms. "What do you think Harry? Does she look like a Bryony?"

"Hmm." He tipped his head to the side. "Not really. I'd say she looks more like a human."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "That was pathetic." She laughed. "Even Ron could have made a better joke than that."

"Hey!" Ron objected halfheartedly.

Ginny flashed her brother a bright smile. "Love you, Ronnie."

"Yeah, love you to Gin."

"Ginny?" Hermione asked tentatively. "Can I hold her please?"

"Yes. Of course." She offered Hermione the baby, guiding the small child into place. "Watch her head." She warned as Hermione shifted the baby in her arms.

"I know, I know. I've read up on this." She sighed softy as she nestled the baby into the crook of her arm. "I've been looking forward to holding her since you wrote to tell me you were pregnant." She nuzzled her nose against the newborn's cheek. "She's perfect. Just the right mixture of Potter and Weasley."

Ron watched silently as Hermione held his niece, his eyes narrowing into slits as an indefinable tension mounted in his chest. He watched the way she held the baby and rocked her gently back and forth, speaking in that low, soothing voice that only mothers knew and felt the same ache in his chest as that morning five years ago; reignited and throbbing like it had only just happened. His arm tensed around his daughter as the ache intensified to a sharp stab in the heart.

Hermione kissed the crown of Bryony's head. "You have no idea how much this makes me wish I had a child of my own."

Unable to stand watching another moment Ron slipped around the back of the group towards the door. Spotting something out of the corner of his eye, George turned and caught Ron with his hand on the door.

"Where you off to?"

Ron's eyes drifted past him to Hermione and back. "I have to go."

"Ron!"

Ignoring his brother, Ron turned away, his eyes shut tight. "Tell Ginny I'll be back later to see her."

Hello Everyone, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who reviewed again. Your responses have helped keep me sane while trying to finish all my school work. So thank you. I also wanted to apologize for taking so long in updating. There are a lot of things going on in my life right now and I don't have a lot of time. Hopefully the next chapter won't be so long in coming. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for keeping with me. Noterwomann