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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Christmas Day at the Burrow was loud. The only silence that Hermione and Bill could find was in the garden and only because the snow and temperature kept every one else inside. Bill was holding his wife close, wrapping his coat around the both of them. Hermione was fighting a headache from lack of sleep. Bill knew that the shock of last night's events had taken a toll on her.

They had talked about what they wanted to do until nearly dawn. They decided to wait and tell the family about the baby until after they had gone to a healer. Once they were sure that everything was okay they would tell the family at New Years.

"Bill! Hermione! Dinner is ready" Molly Weasley called to the couple from the kitchen door.

Bill kissed the top of Hermione's head and together they walked back inside the Burrow.

"You sit here dear." Molly was pointing out a chair to Hermione. As the extended family gathered and found their seats, Hermione noticed that Ron was not present. He had not been there the night before.

"Where is Ron?" Hermione asked.

Arthur Weasley began to fidget with his silverware and shot a knowing look at his wife. Molly cleared her throat and turned to look at her newest daughter in law.

"Well dear we did not want to upset you but - um – you see the marriage laws are very complicated and well – um" Molly was having trouble forming a complete sentence.

Arthur interrupted. "Ron has not been able to dissolve his marriage to Veronique and the Ministry has forced him to take custody of his wife."

Arthur rearranged is knife a spoon before he continued. "Ron had gotten a temporary lease on a flat in London and she is there under house arrest until her trial. She is making his life a nightmare and when he is not in the flat with her, she is floo-calling every ten minutes. Ron felt it would be better for all concerned if he did not join us."

Christmas dinner proceeded with family members telling their favorite "Veronique" stories.

George held up is hands and drew everyone's attention. "She tried the shop last week. I had had enough so I stuffed a test product in her mouth as she yelled. It was great! Ron said the elephant trunk did not disappear for an entire day!"

Bill tried not to laugh aloud but ended up sounding as if he suppressing a coughing fit.

"Alright dear?" His mother asked.

"Fine" Bill looked at Hermione her eyes were twinkling with suppressed laughter. "It was just some water that I swallowed wrong."

Mrs. Weasley nodded and continued telling Hermione about Ron. "We would have told you sooner but with all that has happened we did not want to burden you."

"No that is fine. Thank you for being so considerate. It has been a great deal to get use to in a short period of time." Hermione reached for her mother's in law hand only to pull it back to cover her yawn.

"Coco, I think it is past your bedtime." Bill gently rubbed her back.

The Weasley brothers collectively began to make off color jokes about Hermione and bed.

Molly groaned and Ginny came to Hermione's rescue. "Look at the girl she is almost sleeping in her pudding. Let the poor thing go to bed."

"Thank you Ginny. I think I will take your advice." Hermione stood up, thanked both of her in laws, and excused herself.

"I will be up later Coco." Bill whispered as he kissed her cheek. Hermione nodded as she stifled yet another yawn.

Hermione was sleeping when Bill snuggled next to her an hour later. Instinctively Hermione turned to face him and they settled into their now familiar positions.

Hermione could not tell what time it was when she woke. It was still dark and sometime during the night Bill had come to bed. Hermione sat up; she could feel the nausea starting. All she could think of was how much she wanted a cup of tea. Before when ever she had an upset stomach tea always helped.

Quietly Hermione slipped out of bed and wrapping Bill's oversized flannel bathrobe around herself, she slipped out of the room and down the stairs. Hermione noticed that there was a dim light on in the kitchen. She hoped that simply somebody had forgotten to lower the lights. She would rather not have to explain why she was up in the middle of the night.

Sitting at the kitchen table was Ron. On the table next to him was an almost empty bottle of fire whiskey and a glass.

"Is this a private party or can I join?" Hermione asked trying to sound light hearted.

Ron looked up at the sound of her voice. "Hey there please join me." He padded the seat next to him and conjured another glass.

Hermione sat down and as Ron began to pour her a drink, she shook her head. "I will pass to night, how about a cup of tea instead?"

Ron sighed. "You always made the worst tea. Gosh I miss that."

"Ron Weasley you always loved my tea. You drank it every morning!" Hermione was outraged.

Ron turned to watch her get up and start to make tea. "I loved you Hermione and therefore I drank your tea. I must be honest I do not love your tea."

Hermione was stunned. "Was it that bad?"

Ron shrugged and looked helpless. "It was the worst."

Hermione laughed. "Bill has been drinking it every morning!"

"What can I say he is a man in love." Ron smiled.

Hermione put the kettle on and sat back down. "So what are you doing here? Are you hiding from Veronique?"

Ron let out a sound of disgust. "She is truly evil. She hunts me down if I am gone for more than a quarter hour. It is torture!"

"How did you escape tonight?" Hermione was arranging the tea things waiting for the water to be ready.

"Hermione did you not notice it is the middle of the night? The evil monster went to bed hours ago and was snoring when I left. I just wanted to spend some part of Christmas somewhere that I am happy." Ron sipped from his glass.

"I am sorry if you felt you could not spend Christmas with your family because of me." Guilt was overwhelming Hermione.

Ron saw the pain in Hermione's face. "You are not the reason, not for a second. It is that devil that I am forced to live with. She would have made the day hell; yelling out of the fireplace every ten minutes. I have tried blocking the flat's floo but the Ministry uses it to monitor her house arrest."

Hermione took the kettle off the fire before it started to whistle and poured the hot water from into the cup to warm it quickly pouring it out. After she had placed the strainer with the tealeaves over the cup, she poured the water through the strainer making tea. Ron smiled. He had watched her do the same thing for years.

Hermione sat back down with her tea. She knew that she should tell Ron her news before the rest of the family and that she should tell him alone.

"Ron this might not be the best time but I have to share some news with you." Hermione did not look up as she spoke but kept her eyes trained on her cup.

Ron looked over the rim of his glass. She had his attention.

Hermione straighten her shoulders and put her cup down. "I am expecting a baby. Well actually, Bill and I are expecting that is. We have not told anyone yet you are the first. We are going to go confirm everything with a healer before we break the news but I thought you should know."

It took a few seconds for the news to register before Ron pushed away from the table and stood up. "You are pregnant?" The pain in his voice made Hermione want to cry.

Hermione tried to grab his hand but he pulled away. "Ron we did not plan this but I am happy about it."

Ron covered his eyes with his hands and moaned. "Just when I thought my life could not get worse."

Hermione stood and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "It will be fine please try to understand I will not ask you to be happy but try to …"

"Well, well is this not a lovely scene my husband in the arms of the family whore!" Veronique was glowering at them from the fireplace.

Ron turned to face his wife. "Would you please shut up, you stupid cow! You are going to wake up the entire family."

Hermione could feel the nausea swelling up and started to dry heave in Ron's arms.

"Look what you have done you idiot!" Ron was yelling, "She should not be upset it might be bad for the baby?"

Veronique screamed. "What! Again! Ron how could you?" Her hands were trying to reach through to grab Hermione. "You whore I am going to kill you!"

Hermione pulled away from Ron to get away and tripped over a chair leg falling to the stone floor.

Ron heard the steps thundering down the stairs. As he bent over to help Hermione back to her feet, he turned his to the fireplace. "Shut up you bi…"

Bill, Charlie, and the rest of the Weasley family clamored into the kitchen. When Bill heard Ron and saw Hermione on the floor, he flew across the table and tackled his youngest brother. Bill's fist made contact with Ron's jaw as Hermione sobbed

"Please stop! Bill it is not what you think."

Veronique was still screaming "Whore you could not leave my husband alone! You are a worthless piece of thrash! That bastard you are carrying will die just like the last one I swear!"

Charlie was pulling Bill off Ron as Hermione stood up "Please Bill, my love, listen to me!"

Bill froze and when Charlie dropped his hold on him, Bill turned to Hermione. "Did you call me 'my love'?"

Hermione smiled at her husband. "Yes, my love I did. Will you listen to me?"

Bill sat on the nearest chair and pulled Hermione into his lap. "Coco I thought he was hurting you. Obviously I misunderstood."

Hermione put her hands on either side of Bill's face. "My knight once again you rescued me your poor damsel but I am fine. It was her!" Hermione was pointing to the fireplace.

Bill took notice for the first time the filth spewing forth from the flames. "I am confused. Tell me what happened Coco?"

Hermione looked at the gathered family and then back at Bill. "I told Ron about the baby," she said quietly.

Veronique heard Hermione say the word baby and she started raving again. "You whore! You slut! You will pay! I swear you will pay!"

Charlie waved his wand at the fireplace and there was silence. Veronique had disappeared from flames.

Ron stopped pacing and looked up. "Thanks that is much better."

Hermione stroked Bill's cheek. "I was startled by Veronique and I fell over the chair. Ron was yelling at his wife not at me. He was trying to help me up and was concerned about the effect of the fall on the baby."

Bill put is hand on her stomach. "Are you okay?"

Hermione covered his hand with hers and answered, "We both are" as she put her head on his shoulder.

"Excuse me but did I hear you say baby?" Molly Weasley asked trying not to appear to be too excited.

The couple was oblivious to the rest of the family. Ron realized they were not paying attention. "Yes, Mum this whole fiasco started when Veronique over heard Hermione telling that she and Bill were expecting."

Molly glanced down at the couple and sobbed. "A new Weasley! This is wonderful!"

Bill watched Hermione stifle another yawn. She was fighting a losing battle as her eyes drooped lower. "Coco you have had enough excitement for one night, time for bed."

Molly gave both a kiss before they said goodnight and climbed the stairs to bed. "I should start knitting right away," she was talking to herself but Bill heard her as he closed the bedroom door.

Hermione was climbing to their bed when she realized that Bill was still next to the door and staring at her.

"What?" she asked he was making her nervous.

"Did you mean what you said?" Bill was very serious.

"Mean what?" Hermione was not sure that she understood.

Bill walked toward the bed and sat next to her putting is arms on either side of her. "Did you mean it when you called me your love? Coco do you love me?"

Hermione blushed; they had never discussed the "L" word before. "Yes"

Bill lowered his body over hers and she pushed herself back further into the pillows. "Coco are you in love with me?"

His face was millimeters from hers. She nodded.

Bill kissed the top of her head and good was all he said before he settled himself to go to sleep.

Hermione could not decide whether to be offended at his casual attitude. It would be wonderful if he felt the same way but she did not expect him to say something he did not mean.

"You do not have to feel obligated to say it back to me or anything." Hermione was determined to sound nonchalant.

Bill was lying on his back and had his arms behind his head. "Why would I feel obligated?"

Hermione turned toward the wall to get away from him. "No reason - goodnight."

Bill smiled as he looked at the ceiling. "Just because I have been in love with you since you smacked that scum Sebastian in the bar."

Hermione rolled over and pushed herself up on her elbow to be able to look down into Bill's face. "Really?"

"Really," he said before he kissed her.

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Thank you for all of the reviews.

I have tried on four separate occasions to enlist the talents of a beta without success. If someone out there in cyberspace is interested in helping straighten my horrible grammar mess, please let me know.