A/N: Ok, so… I know things are dragging with the replies and what-not, but my kids are on the autumn break already and since their dad is off at basic training, I'm on my own with entertaining them… ALSO, thank you all who are reviewing, the consistent ones who review every chapter or so, to the new people who just started reviewing, to the reviewers that I can't reply to… I appreciate the time you take to review. Makes me feel loved. :D

Disc: Standard Disclaimer about non-creationism of the whole HP world.

The Ultrasound

It moved. At first Lily wasn't sure what the heck was going on. She had been lying in her bed, the covers surrounding her in layers. She could see her breath in the air and snow sticking to the window pane. The furnace was out and the apartment was cold. Skye was curled up in her basket, refusing to come out, and that was fine by Lily. Lily had no intentions on getting out of bed, if she could help it. She had already nearly frozen her bum off during her half-dozen middle of the night trips to the loo. She watched the snow and her breath, not really thinking of anything when she felt something stir. She froze, her eyes darting down to her stomach.

She felt something again, a swirling stirring movement and Lily's eyes opened wide. She reached for the phone and dialed Rose's number.

"Lily?" Rose yawned.

"Something's happening," Lily said.

"What do you mean?" Rose said alertly. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"I… I don't know," Lily said almost hesitantly.

"Ok, explain to me what's going on," Rose told her.

"I'm here in bed and… I don't know. It feels like there is something touching me," Lily said nervously. "But from the inside."

"You're nineteen weeks?" Rose yawned again, relaxing back in bed.

"About eighteen," Lily said.

"Honey, and don't feel stupid when I tell you this, but that's just Bean saying hello to you," Rose laughed sleepily.

"What?" Lily asked.

"Quickening," Rose explained. "That's your baby moving around in you. You were tiny before you got pregnant, so it's kind of expected that you'd feel it soon."

"That's Bean?" Lily asked in awe. Rose chuckled and then yawned. "Oh, sorry for waking you Rose. I should have known."

"It's all right, Lily," Rose assured her. "I'll call you in the morning, and try to get some sleep."

"Will do, Rose," Lily said as she hung up the phone. She placed her hand on her bare stomach, feeling the movements on the inside though she was not able to feel it through her skin. She knew it would be a matter of time, but for the moment, Lily was content. It was the first contact she had with Bean aside from the monthly midwife visits where she heard Bean's heart on their Doppler. Lily sighed as the urge to use the bathroom struck her suddenly and she was met with the icy air of the apartment. It was times like these she missed the heated floors and the spoiled luxuries of the old apartment.

"Happy December, Bean," Lily murmured to her baby as she hurried to the bathroom. "If my bum gets stuck to the toilet seat, I'm going to be one unhappy mum."

"Lily, this place is freezing," Harry said as Lily opened the door to allow him entrance. He was carrying a large sack in his arms.

"The furnace is out," Lily said. Harry frowned as he placed the bag on the counter. "So, did you find the place alright, Dad?"

"Yes," Harry said as he looked at her. He hesitated before he hugged her, kissing her forehead. He looked around. "Want to give me the grand tour?"

"Sure," Lily said smirking. She waved her arm to the room before them. "This is the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

"I like what you've done with it," Harry said grinning. Lily pointed to the one of three doors along the wall.

"That's the bathroom, the middle one is my bedroom, and the closest one is the closet," Lily said.

"Where are you… going to put the baby?" Harry asked. Lily nodded, understanding.

"I figure this place will be good for a few years in the beginning," Lily said as she led him into her small bedroom. "I figure Bean could just sleep in my room. Maybe squeeze a port-a-crib in here instead of a full size crib like Albus and Kate have for Tina. Then when Bean out grows it, if I still haven't found a new place I can always share my bed."

"What do you plan to do about work and childcare?" Harry asked her as he headed back into the kitchen to unload the groceries he had brought her.

"Well, I have paid maternity leave for six months," Lily said. "By then, I should have lined up a sitter for Bean. Otherwise Marshall will be taking the opposite shifts of me and keeping Bean for me."

"Who's Marshall?" Harry asked curiously. "Honestly, I feel like I don't know anything about your life anymore."

"I'm sorry about that, Dad," Lily said biting her lip. "I thought that I could do this on my own, this adult thing. I know I can do this baby thing on my own. I have to. But I didn't need to, shouldn't have secluded you from my life. I was just so eager to be my own adult, do my thing my own way and look where it got me!"

"Ok, so maybe getting pregnant was your idea of fun, but you're going to be an awesome mum, Lily," Harry said. "After your mum's accident, you took care of James, Albus, and me as if we were your responsibility. You were always so strong. I think you are going to be right fine mum. As for pushing me away to be your own adult, I can understand that. Sometimes we have to take our own wants and desires into account before others. I've missed our time together, but I know what it's like."

"Thanks, Dad," Lily said as she hugged her father. The two were hugging when someone knocked on Lily's door. Harry reluctantly released her and Lily crossed the small apartment in ten quick paces. She opened the door and grinned.

"Hey, Lils, the snow is starting up again," Marshall said laughing as he pulled his coat off and hung it by the door.

"Is it?" Lily asked as Marshall shook the snow from his dark hair.

"Like you wouldn't believe, and here it is still weeks from Christmas," Marshall said. He looked up to see Harry looking at the young man curiously. "Oh, I didn't know you had company. I can come back later."

"No, it's ok. Marshall, this is my dad. Dad, this is my friend Marshall, from work," Lily said introducing the two men. Harry and Marshall shook hands for a moment.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Potter," Marshall said politely.

"As it is to meet you," Harry said as he folded up the now empty paper sack. "So, you're a Healer?"

"Yes, sir," Marshall said proudly. "Top of my class."

"Marshall graduated a few years ahead of me," Lily explained.

"What made you choose Healer?" Harry asked curiously as Lily started making tea.

"Well, originally, I thought curse breaker or some other brilliantly adventurous career, but then I started thinking how much I would have to hide from my family, and I just couldn't do it," Marshall said smiling at Lily briefly. "I want to be able to share everything with my wife or partner."

"Marshall is great to have around when one of the heavier patients decided to jump out of bed," Lily said. "Could you imagine me chasing after a runner and dragging them back to bed?"

"It would be quite a sight," Harry said. He glanced at his watch. "I hate to do this to you, Lily, but I promised Kate and Albus that I'd mind the kids so they can go out for a bit."

"It's ok, Dad," Lily said as she put away the third tea cup she had taken out. She smiled at him and moved to hug him.

"You know, Mr. Potter, if you're not busy, you should come with us tomorrow to Lily's ultrasound," Marshall said. Harry looked at the young man.

"Us?" Harry asked.

"Well, yeah," Lily said flustered. "Marshall's going with me for emotional support."

"It's the big ultrasound," Marshall said as he poured the tea. "We get to find out what the baby is, boy or girl. I have my money on a girl."

"Rose and James are coming too," Lily said as she tried to read her father's face. Lily held her breath as father's face threatened to betray his true feelings. "You should come, Dad. Get to see you new grandson or granddaughter up close and person."

"Tomorrow?" Harry asked. Lily exhaled in relief.

"Yes, at noon," Lily said.

"Where at?" Harry asked.

"St. Mary's Hospital," Lily said grinning.

"I'll be there," Harry promised. He hugged her gently, as if she would break under too much pressure, and then withdrew his arm.

"I love you, Dad," Lily said sniffling. Harry laughed.

"I love you too, pumpkin," Harry said. "And get this furnace fixed."

"I'm already on it," Marshall promised as he nodded toward the big tool box resting on the hall table. "Don't want a Lily ice pop on my hands, and since she refuses to stay at my place until the part came, she's had me all in a tizzy about it."

"Well, the part came and now you can fix it," Lily teased Marshall lightly as Harry buttoned his coat.

"You behave," Harry said distractedly. Lily nodded as she closed the door behind her.

"Your dad thinks we're together, or at least I'm trying," Marshall said grinning. Lily laughed.

"And here I was thinking that you were," Lily snickered.

"We crossed that bridge already, Lils," Marshall teased as he pulled a DVD out of his pocket. "How about a movie once I get your furnace back working."

"Sounds like a plan," Lily said as she nodded. "Are you staying the night again?"

"You know it," Marshall laughed. "Nothing better than sleeping on the couch of your best friend, on the eve of the big, important ultrasound of her baby with another man."

"You are so over dramatic," Lily said. "I'm ordering pizza."

"Fine, fine," Marshall said as he picked up his tool box. He hesitated at the door. "You are going to tell Scorpius he's having a son or daughter, aren't you?"

"I've not decided," Lily said.

"I think you should," Marshall said. "For what it's worth."

Lily clutched Marshall's hand nervously as Lisa, the tech from earlier in Lily's pregnancy, led the group into the small, dark room. Lily was wearing a pair of black pants and a plain white tee shirt. Her stomach was evident of the child she was carrying. Lisa grinned at Rose and the others.

"I see this time, you brought more moral support," Lisa grinned. She looked a Marshall. "Congrats on your new baby."

"Oh, no, I'm not the father," Marshall laughed as he allowed Lily to drop his hand. "Just the best friend."

"Lisa, this is my dad and brother, Harry and James Potter," Lily introduced. Lisa shook both of their hands and then turned to Lily.

"Ready to find out whether you are getting a little boy or little girl, Lily?" Lisa said excitedly. Lily smiled and nodded.

"I sure am," Lily.

"Alright, just lay up on the table here and we'll get some measurements and such, and then see if we can find out if you'll be outfitting your nursery in pink or blue," Lisa said. Lily nervously climbed up on the table, eager to see Bean for the first time since the last time she had see the baby, on this very bed with plans of a very different outcome.

Lily grinned nervously as Lisa pulled out a very different probe for looking at her stomach. Lisa smiled at she pulled out a clear bottle, filled to the top with blue gel. The gel was cool to Lily's skin, but Lily didn't care. Her eyes darted right to the screen and she watched as a very baby-like image came into view. Lily smiled, her eyes filled with tears, and she was in love all over again with her child. She couldn't look at the faces of her family and friend, instead, her eyes stayed glued to the screen. Her baby was sucking on its thumb, and Lily was vaguely aware of her family's coos of admiration for Lily's sweet baby.

"Everything look ok?" Harry asked and Lily's eyes darted to Lisa's. Lily forced a smile but it didn't quite meet her eyes.

"I just want Dr. Maxwell to take a look at this," Lisa said quickly as she smiled. She patted Lily's leg and replaced the probe. Lily watched Lisa leave with a ribbon of ultrasound pictures that she had taken. Lily looked to her father.

"Dad?" Lily asked in fear.

"I don't know, sweetie," Harry said as he moved to take Marshall's place next to her, answering her unspoken question. Lily slipped her hand into his and bit her lip, fighting the tears. She opened her mouth to say something more, to ask another question, but the door opened and a tall doctor walked in, his hair flecked with much more gray than Harry had. He smiled at Lily genuinely.

"Hello, Lily. I'm Dr. Maxwell," he said as he extended his hand to Lily. She shook it and he looked to Harry. "And you must be Lily's father, am I correct?"

"He is," Lily piped up her voice quivering slightly.

"Well, let's take a look at your baby," Dr. Maxwell said as he oozed some fresh gel on the probe and pressed it against Lily's skin. "Cold, huh?"

"Yes," Lily said as she looked at the screen critically. She couldn't see anything wrong with the baby. Bean looked perfected in Lily's eyes. Lisa's finger darted quickly, pointing at the screen and Lily focus on the black and white blur that Lisa was focused on.

"Is there something wrong with the baby?" Harry asked boldly, putting into words Lily was afraid to speak. Dr. Maxwell didn't speak at first, just focused the machine and did measurements.

"Well, Mr. Potter," Dr. Maxwell said as he looked at Harry. His eyes left Harry's and rested on Lily's panic stricken face. "Lisa and I both see a shadow on the baby's heart. These are tricky things, these shadows. They could be nothing, such as excess fluid around the heart that resolves shortly before birth or it could mean something a little more serious, like Down's Syndrome."

"Oh," Lily breathed as if the sound rushed from her lungs. It felt like it had, like someone had kicked her in the chest.

"On the plus side, we can do an amniocentesis and know for certain," Dr. Maxwell said. "Once you know for certain you can decide what you will do."

"What are her options?" Harry asked quietly, and again Lily was thankful he was there to ask the questions she was most afraid to ask.

"She could chose to keep the pregnancy or terminate it," Dr. Maxwell said. "Luckily she's before the twenty-six week, so it wouldn't be a physically difficult procedure to perform."

"No," Lily said shaking her head hard, tears streaming down her face.

"Huh?" Harry asked looking at Lily.

"I don't want to have the test," Lily said shaking her head harder. "I want my baby, either way, and I don't care."

"Lily," Dr. Maxwell said quietly. "You're a young woman, and no one would think badly of you for this." Lily looked at Rose, who shook her head.

"This is your decision, Lily," Rose said quietly. Her face was filled with sadness and regret. "A child with those issues can be a lot for a single mother to care for."

"I don't care," Lily said a little more forcibly. "Bean is my baby. I don't care what is wrong with… what is it anyways? Girl or boy? It doesn't matter! Bean is MINE!"

"Calm down, Lily," Marshall said soothingly. "Of course, Bean is your baby. Whatever you decide to do, it is up to you and we will all stand behind you and support you."

"I don't want the test," Lily said.

"It might be good to know for certain," Dr. Maxwell said.

"You.Are.Not.Shoving.A.Giant.Needle.Into.Bean's.HOME!" Lily said forcibly through a clenched jaw.

"Ok," Dr. Maxwell said as he patted her shoulder gently. He smiled. "The option stands, should you change your mind."

"I won't," Lily breathed as he replaced the wand on her stomach.

"Otherwise, Bean looks great," Dr. Maxwell said as he took a few profile pictures. Lily's eyes shot open wide as the probe jumped. Dr. Maxwell chuckled. "I felt that, I know you had to. Let see if we can get some great pictures for you to take with you."

"Ok," Lily said as she studied her baby, tears in her eyes. For Lily, that was Bean's way of assuring Lily that everything would be fine, everything would work out. For Lily, Bean was thanking her for not sticking a giant needle anywhere close to it. Dr. Maxwell printed off a few of Lily of Bean's thumb sucking adventures and midway, a case of the hiccups that Lily could feel. Her stomach twitched slightly.

"Let's see whether you're having a girl or boy," Dr. Maxwell said. "That is, if you want to."

"Please," Lily said quietly as she looked to the doctor for a moment before she looked back at the screen. Dr. Maxwell positioned the probe over Lily's stomach, pushing it around her stomach rather uncomfortable. After ten minutes of trying, Dr. Maxwell sighed and pulled the probe away from Lily.

"Well, honey, your baby here is stubborn as can be," Dr. Maxwell said shaking his head. "I guess I pissed the bugger off and now it doesn't want me to see whether the baby is a boy or girl."

"Sounds like Lily, stubborn as hell," James laughed. The rest of the room laughed, the tension still on the edge of their minds.

"That's ok Bean," Lily said as she patted her stomach. "You can keep that secret from me if you want. It won't change anything. I still love you."

Bean kicked her hand hard in response. Lily laughed through the tears in her eyes and patted her stomach again gently. Lily took it as an 'I-Love-You-Too-Mum', directly from Baby Bean. As the others moved around Lily, placing upon her bare belly their hands to feel the baby, Lily knew that once before she was eager to end the pregnancy before it really had a chance to grow on her, she would defend the life with in her, flawed or not, with her all. Even if it meant her own death, she would defend Bean with every breath in her body. Bean was her child, her love, and she would do whatever it took. And if Bean wasn't what others thought was the perfect baby, if Bean had problems, Lily would still love it.

Lily was quiet on the ride home, her hand protectively cradling her stomach. She tapped back anytime Bean tapped her first, the two playing the game all of the way home. Harry pulled to a stop in front of Lily's apartment. Lily moved to get out, Marshall having already jumped out of Harry's station wagon to get Lily's door. Harry touched her arm.

"Lily, we all know you love your baby, but maybe it would help you be prepared if you went ahead with the test," Harry said quietly. "That way, when she or he is born, you will already know what to expect and there won't be in surprises."

"Dad," Lily breathed, barely able to control her tears. "Everything about Bean has been a surprise. How should this be any different?"

"I only want you to know what you are getting into, to be prepared," Harry said. "I don't want you to be disappointed if your baby is different than say Tina, Petri, or Sarah."

"Every baby is different," Lily said shaking her head. "And I could never be disappointed in Bean."

"What if… what if Bean's condition is fatal, Lily? What then?" Harry said desperately. Lily fought back a sob.

"I love my baby, Daddy. Just like you loved us," Lily said as tears streamed down her face.

"If Bean isn't meant to live, then Lily will spend whatever time she is meant to have with her baby, be it a few moments or a few months," Marshall said forcibly to Harry. "Lily's not afraid to love a child that might not make it."

"Thank you," Lily whispered to Marshall as she climbed out of Harry's station wagon onto the snowy curb.

"I love you, Lily. I only want the best for you," Harry mumbled as he put the car into gear and drove away. Marshall slipped his arm around Lily's shoulders and led her to the door.

"Lily," Marshall said as he fished his key to her apartment door out of his pocket.

"I'm ok," Lily said with a sigh.

"Do you want me to come up?" Marshall asked. Lily shook her head.

"I think Bean and I need to be alone tonight," Lily said as she entered the building. "Thank you for coming with me today, Marsh."

"My pleasure, Lily," Marshall said grinning. He hugged her lightly and handed Lily her purse.

"I don't deserve you for a friend," Lily said quietly. Marshall laughed.

"You deserve better, Lils, always," Marshall said. He shook the snow free from his hair. "You'd better get up to that toasty apartment of yours."

"Thank you for fixing the furnace, too," Lily laughed. Already she was longing for a warm bath, a cup of hot tea, and to snuggle under her covers. It was barely dinner time, but for Lily it had been an emotionally exhausting day.

"Gee, Lily, the way you are thanking me, you'd think you'd ask me to dinner or something," Marshall teased. Lily rolled her eyes.

"See you at work tomorrow Marshall," Lily laughed as she closed the door and headed up the several flights of stairs to her tiny apartment. She sighed, longing wishing she had a piano to play on when the mood stuck her to play, as it did now. She thought that she might buy one of the electric pianos she had seen at the music store. Sure, it wouldn't quite be the same, but Bean loved when she played and if Bean loved it, she would do it more and more.

If nothing else, Bean would be her life for along as the two were together. Lily loved her baby more than life itself.