The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

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The snow flurries swirled around the lampposts but melted as soon as touched the cobblestones. The store windows glowed in the winter half light as customers scurried to make last minute purchases. The weeks had passed swiftly and both Hermione and Bill failed to notice that Christmas was rapidly approaching.

Within days of their bonding, Gringott's had assigned a very difficult case to Bill who in turn had brought Hermione on board as a consultant. The flat was strewn with parchment, files, books, and charts. Charlie was spending much more time with Helen. He only came home to change clothes and check his mail. Hermione was shocked when Charlie came home with an evergreen wreath for the front door.

"What is that for?' She had looked up when he walked into the living room.

Charlie braced the door open and magically stuck the wreath to the front. "Well you see most people who celebrate Christmas put up a wreath. Some even go so far as to put up a Christmas tree."

"Very funny but are not you a little early? Christmas is not until December 25th." Hermione raised her brow in smug satisfaction.

"Coco, do you know what date it is today?" Charlie closed the door and walked toward his bedroom.

Hermione stood up and stretched. "Of course it must be the 5th or is it the 6th of December."

Charlie laughed as he looked back down the hall at her. "Coco it is December 23rd."

"What! That is not possible!" Hermione was searching frantically for her calendar. "Bill!"

Bill Weasley opened the bathroom door wrapped in a towel. "Yes wife" He chuckled he had learned that he loved calling her wife. Hermione on the other hand preferred Coco.

Hermione gave him a dirty look. "Did you know that it is only days to Christmas?"

Bill walked into the living room. "Well I guess that sounds about right." He took a second look at Hermione's scowl and added, "maybe?"

Hermione growled. "Only two days to Christmas! That means between today and tomorrow we have to shop for a dozen people!"

Bill shrugged. "Okay"

"A dozen people! That is twelve different gifts. You do not understand! I usually start shopping before Halloween!" Hermione was starting to sound hysterical. "How can I do that in two days - wait slash that - it is almost noon in thirty six hours?"

"Coco it is going to be fine. It will be fine. I always get my shopping done on time and I rarely start before Christmas Eve." Bill was standing next to is wife wrapping his arms around her.

Hermione sniffled back a sob. "I do not want to give everyone new gloves. I like to make each present special, unique."

Bill rubbed her back as she laid her head on his shoulder. "We will start now. The project can wait. We will find twelve different & unique presents together okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Okay. Just promise no gloves."

"No gloves. I promise." Bill smiled.

The snow was falling thickly as Hermione wrapped her hand around Bill's upper arm and together they pushed through the crowded store and on to the street. True to his word, together Hermione and Bill had found wonderful gifts for everyone on their list in less than six hours. Hermione was feeling heady with excitement. Every gift was perfect for the recipient. In years past Hermione had agonized over every decision and second-guessed herself into buying something different than she originally intended. This Christmas she knew that each present was exactly right.

"Bill! Bill is that you? Bill! Stop!"

Hermione heard the shouts that Bill was ignoring and stopped. Bill looked at Hermione and gave up. He turned around.

"Bill thank goodness, did you not hear me?" Bill looked into the face that he had hoped to never see again.

Fleur Delacour had caught up to the couple and she wrapped her arms around Bill's neck crushing her body into his. Bill did not move his face was emotionless. Hermione had been forced to step out of the way by Fleur. She looked at her husband. He looked disgusted.

"Bill, oh Bill! It is so good to see you! It has been too long. I have missed you so!" Fleur gushed into Bill's ear.

Bill went rigid and with great effort, he removed Fleur's arms from around his neck.

"Hello Fleur how are you?" Bill stepped away from his ex fiancé taking Hermione's hand.

Fleur tilted her head and looked confused. "Bill are not you happy to see me?"

Bill drew Hermione closer to his side. "Fleur I am sure you remember Hermione Granger." He was looking down at his wife.

Fleur nodded in Hermione's direction but did not take her eyes off Bill.

Bill still looking at Hermione smiled at her up turned face. "Darling you remember Fleur Delacour right?"

Hermione turned to Fleur and shook her hand. "Of course it has been a long time."

Fleur with drew her hand as if she had been burned. "Yes, yes you are that little girl that was friendly with Harry Potter and Bill's baby brother." Fleur paused then putting her finger to her pouting lips made a great demonstration of thinking. "Yes you were married to little Rod were you not?"

Bill laughed. "You mean Ron and you are wrong Fleur. Hermione is married to me."

Fleur blanched. "Married to you? That is very droll William but she is so…what is the word"

Bill answered, "Brilliant, charming, beautiful, loving, loyal?"

Fleur just stared at him as if she did not understand his meaning.

"Well, Fleur this has been just - we have to be running along." Bill leaned to his former fiancé and with the air of smugness added, "Hermione's ovulation bracelet just turned blue. If we get busy hopefully this time next year we will be shopping for a toy broom!"

Hermione gasped she could not believe that Bill just said that. As they walked away from a stunned Fleur, Hermione looked over her shoulder and grinned.

"What that hell is an ovulation bracelet?" Hermione inquired of Bill.

Bill stopped and pulled Hermione into a doorway out of the crowd. "Don't Muggles have them?"

Hermione wrinkled her nose trying to understand. "What do you mean?" "Have bracelets or ovulate?"

"Apparently Muggles do not. An ovulation bracelet is charmed to attune itself to the individual witch and turn blue when the witch's ovulating." Bill pulled her closer "Maybe I will get you one for Christmas and we can start our Qudditch team."

Hermione playfully slapped his arm. Bill pulled her hand to his lips and looking at her delicate finger made a realization.

"Coco would you mind if we make one more stop?" Bill was already leading across the street.

Hermione realized that he was heading into a jewelry store. "Bill you are not serious?"

Bill closed the door behind them. "Of course I am serious. It just occurred to me that we do not have wedding rings. How can any self respecting wizard let his wife wonder the streets with out a proper wedding ring?"

Hermione relaxed. "Oh I thought you were going to try and convince me to wear an ovulation bracelet."

Bill let her comment go as he watched her attention turn to the display cases. Bill walked in the opposite direction from his wife looking at the assorted jewelry. When he reached the display case with the diamond solitaires, he stopped.

"Coco how about these?" Bill was pointing at a row of rings with round diamonds.

Hermione walked over to see what he was pointing to. "Those are lovely." Her comments did not reach her eyes.

"What is wrong Coco?" Bill turned toward her and took her hand.

Hermione took a deep breath. "I had to return one of those once. Please Bill, I do not want another one."

Bill looked at the salesperson. "Do you have simpler selection perhaps just bands?"

A tap on the glass case and the display changes to every possible type of wedding band.

Hermione smiled and looked up at Bill. "Thank you."

Bill watched her study the rings and noticed that her eyes repeatedly came back to the same ring a circlet of square cut diamonds set in platinum. He knew it was the perfect ring for her understated simplicity. Motioning to the salesperson Bill slipped the ring on to Hermione's left ring finger.

"It is perfect. A little big but perfect." Hermione held her hand up for Bill to see.

Bill pulled the ring to his lips. "You are perfect Coco."

"Now we need a ring for you, Mr. Weasley. We would not want any witch to think she might have a chance." Hermione studied the display once more.

She picked out a thick white gold band with squared edges and slipped on to Bill's finger. "That should do very well."

Bill laughed. "It looks good. I like it."

Hermione kissed his cheek. "It suits you."

The salesperson finalized the sale and offered to charm the rings to the correct size while Bill signed the bank draft.

Hermione and Bill walked down the street hand in hand their new rings shining in the moonlight. Hermione listened to the crunch of the snow under their feet as they wandered past shops. She felt joyful and had a sense of peace and well-being that was almost intoxicating. She was happy.

Unable to contain herself Hermione threw her arms around Bill and hugged him right there on the street and in front of hordes of people. Bill laughed and bent down to kiss her. Hermione, who was not one for public displays of affection, surprised him by melting into him.

"Coco if you are not careful I am not going be able to control myself!" Bill wanted her now.

Hermione sighed. Bill maneuvered them into an alleyway and together them stumbled into the semidarkness. Hermione had her back against the brick wall as Bill ravaged her mouth.

"Bill I am dying." She moaned as she rocked against his hips.

His hands pulled her hips into his rubbing hard. Hermione gasped as Bill's hand found its way through her coat and under her sweater. His cold fingers caressing her sensitive skin causing her body to react. Hermione's knees buckled as Bill's thumb brushed back and forth across her breast. Bill increased his hold on her waist with one hand and with the other swiftly unzipped her jeans.

"No, Bill not now someone might see." Hermione was wriggling to escape but not trying very hard.

"Yes, Coco here and yes, Coco right now. I have to touch you. I need to." Bill slipped his hand down her abdomen.

Hermione kissed along his jaw as she rocked into his hand that was now between her legs. Bill's new wedding ring was rubbing against her in the most delicious way. Hermione groaned and Bill felt her shutter and he held her together as she surrendered to the bliss.

Hermione's breath was ragged as she returned and Bill wrapped them both in his coat. "You are amazing and you are mine Coco." He kissed her temple.

Hermione smiled a sleepy type of smile. "Yes I am."

"Mum they are here!" Ginny Potter was the first to spot the arrival of Hermione and Bill at the Burrow. A crowd of red heads quickly surrounded the couple as they walked in the direction of the kitchen door. Molly's plans for a large reception honoring the newlyweds had been put on hold when work got in the way. Christmas Eve was the first time that the schedule for most of the family allowed them all to be in the same place at the same time. Only Ron was a no show.

The smells of traditional Weasley holiday fare assaulted Hermione as she and Bill placed their gifts underneath the Christmas tree. Looking around she realized that despite all that she had gone through in the last year she was spending Christmas with her favorite family. Nine months ago, she would not have dreamed that possible and yet here she was standing in the Burrow next to Bill her husband. Her emotions were all over the place, surprise, contentment, regret, joy, and love. Hermione leaned into Bill's side the overwhelming emotion was peace.

Hermione could feel Bill's chest shaking with laughter and that brought her out of her thoughts and into the present.

"Not that it is any of your business but yes George we did come out of the bedroom long enough to buy you and everyone else a Christmas present!" Bill kissed the top of Hermione's head.

"Of course Coco here wanted to get everyone gloves. But I insisted we shop around."

Hermione rolled her eyes at that comment and pushed toward the kitchen where the women had congregated. Molly, Ginny, and Percy's newest girlfriend Cornelia were all working on ingredients for dinner.

"Mum do you have any of the visitor potion around?" Ginny had pushed the self-chopping walnuts aside and put her head down on the table.

Cornelia pretended not to hear Ginny's request. Hermione remembered her from school. She was a prime example of Percy's long-term career plan, advancement through dating his supervisor's daughter.

Hermione sat down next to Ginny and gently pushed her red hair off her face. "The cramps are that bad?"

Ginny moaned. "Father Christmas did not bring the present Harry and I were hoping for. In fact my cycle is early."

Hermione smiled sympathetically. "Maybe you two will start the New Year with a bang."

Molly's chopping knife stopped and fell with a clang against the table and Ginny's head shot up. "Hermione! I can not believe you just said that!"

Harry and Bill walked just as Ginny made her statement. Harry asked, "What did Hermione say?"

Ginny looked at her dear friend and took no pity on the confused innocent. "Hermione suggested the since Father Christmas did not bring us a baby as our Christmas gift that perhaps we could bring in the New Year with a BANG!"

Harry roared with laughter. Hermione still looked lost as what all the fuss was about until Bill kindly whispered in her ear.

Bill watched his wife's reaction and thought he could see the blush work its way up to her face starting at her fingertips.

"I did not mean it that way." Hermione stammered.

It took Ginny a minute to stop laughing long enough to respond. "I know!"

The rest of the evening was torture for Hermione as every Weasley present took great delight in adding a new twist to Hermione's comment. Bill was the only Weasley to abstain from making Hermione the butt of an off color joke. Hermione braved the verbal assault with good grace and relaxed enough after the initial faux pas to laugh at the better barbs.

Percy was the first to leave he needed to escort Cornelia home and promised to back for brunch the next day. Everyone one settled into his or her favorite comfortable chair, sofa or floor pillow and listened to the Christmas carols playing on the radio.

Hermione was curled up next to Bill on the loveseat listening with everyone else not thinking about anything in particular humming along with the songs. She only wished that Matthew were sitting in her lap. It would have been his first Christmas. Babies seem to go with the holidays. Hermione was sad that Ginny and Harry were not expecting.

Bill watched Hermione's expression. He could tell something was bothering her. "Coco what is it?"

Hermione sniffled a little. "It would have been Matthew's first Christmas."

Bill wrapped his arms around her. "We could have gotten him a toy broom."

Hermione rubbed her face into Bill's shirt he smelled so wonderful. He smelled like home. "Do you think we would have gotten together if things have been different?"

Bill smiled. "Honestly, I think we are meant to be together and that some how we would found our way to each other."

The couple did not realize that the rest of the family could hear their conversation. Both Molly and Arthur had tears in their eyes.

It was four o'clock in the morning when Bill felt Hermione leave the bed. Molly had enlarged Bill's old bed to better accommodate the newlyweds. After what seemed to him to be forever, Bill got up and started to search for his wife. It was the familiar sound from the bathroom that caught Bill's attention. It was the same noise that Charlie, George, and Fred would make after a long night of drinking; only this sound was weaker and decidedly feminine.

"Coco is that you? Coco are you okay?" Bill did not get an answer. Apprehension overcame decorum and Bill opened the door. Hermione was kneeling and retching into the toilet.

"Coco!" Bill crouched down "Coco should I get Mum?"

Hermione waved him away as another wave of nausea hit her. Bill felt helpless. He dampened a facecloth and handed it his wife when she finished.

"Thank you." She replied weakly. "I think that is the end of it."

Bill sat down next to her on the cold tile floor. "Do you think it was something you ate?"

Hermione shrugged. "You ate the same thing I did and you are fine."

Bill dampened another facecloth and began wiping the sweat off her neck. "Maybe we should take you to St. Mungo's"

Hermione groaned. "I do not think so. I am so tired I just want to go back to sleep."

"Well at least let me run a first aid charm just to make sure." Bill was helping her stand up. Hermione agreed and waited in the bathroom while Bill went to get his wand.

"Gringott's trains all of its employees in first aid but that was years ago so I might be rusty." Bill muttered as he passed his wand over Hermione.

"See I am rusty this part is not right. If you were fine, the tip would glow green but here it is glowing yellow. I must have messed the charm up." Bill looked confused.

Hermione shivered. "Bill do it again but this time use Anatalium."

Bill did exactly as Hermione had requested as the wand passed over her abdomen a faint heartbeat echoed off the walls.

Hermione crumbled and Bill dropped his wand to catch her. "Coco want is wrong want is it?'

Hermione hand flew to her mouth as she stifled a sob.

"Please Coco you are making me nervous what is going on?" Bill helped Hermione to sit on the side of the bathtub.

Hermione gave a nervous little laugh and smiled. "It would seem Father Christmas left us the present instead of Ginny and Harry."

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Thank you reading and I trust you did not mind a longer than usual chapter!