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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Molly Weasley was the first person up on Boxing Day. The Burrow filled with the aroma of cooking sausages and frying bacon. Hermione rolled closer into her husband's chest. The smell of Mrs. Weasley's cooking was making her stomach roil. Wincing as she sat up, Hermione was hoping to stop the nausea. As she waited for her system to settle, she remembered the night before and Bill's determination to prove how much he loved her. It was worth every small ache and pain.

After brushing her teeth, Hermione slowly made her way down to the kitchen. The greasy tang of breakfast was only making her fell worse, but Hermione was desperate for a cup of tea. Molly heard the stairs creak and waited for someone to enter the kitchen. One look at Hermione's green tinged face and Molly Weasley began to rummage through her potions cabinet.

"Ah, here it is!" Molly was holding up a small green vial of powder. "It has been awhile since I have needed this, but I suppose because it is dried, it probably keeps forever."

Hermione watched, a little horrified, as her mother in law ruined a perfectly good cup of tea by adding a spoonful of the powder. The tea turned a sluggish thick bruise color as Mrs. Weasley stirred the powder into the tea.

"There you go. Just sip this down and you will be right as rain in no time!" Molly said as she pushed the cup towards Hermione.

The smell of breakfast and the color of the tea worked together to push Hermione over the brink. Quickly standing with her hands over her mouth, she dashed for the sink and retched.

"Oh dear, that bad, is it?" Molly fretted as she handed Hermione a dishtowel. Hermione nodded and rinsed out her mouth before accepting the towel.

"It is much worse that anything I had last time." Hermione sat back down at the table pushing the cup and saucer far away from her sight.

Molly flicked the tea into the sink and sat down next to Hermione. "I have been through it six times and each one was different. Well, different except the end was the same; pain, pushing, swearing to never have sex again, and then a beautiful baby."

Hermione smiled. "I do not remember the pain or the pushing but I do remember the beautiful baby."

Molly took her hand gently saying, "It will be different this time, you will not be alone. Bill will be there."

Hermione brushed the tears from her cheeks. "Yes, he better be! He promised!"

Hours later, after another boisterous Weasley family meal, Molly watched her family begin to pack up to leave; she pulled Bill aside to speak to him. "I am thrilled for the both of you son, but I am worried about Hermione. This is hard for her so soon after her loss."

Bill looked at his wife. "Coco is strong; we will get through this together."

Molly gave Bill a kiss and quick hug. "Yes, together you will."

Charlie was this first one of the three flat mates to arrive home. He was anxious to see if Helen had sent an owl. She had spent the holidays on vacation with her parents. The plan was to introduce Charlie to them at the Gringott's ball, on New Years Eve.

"So, did you get a postcard from the Riviera?" Hermione teased trying to grab the large bundle of mail out of his hands.

Charlie gently pushed his shoulder into hers. "Back off, I am looking, just a minute." Hermione tapped her foot and waited impatiently while Charlie sorted the mail into two piles, his and the rest.

Bill wandered past the two and into the kitchen looking for a snack. He was hungry, but he was trying not to eat in front of Hermione. The sight of food was making her queasy.

"Bill!" Hermione did not want to walk into the kitchen. She could smell the faint odor of sauerkraut. Bill put the jar back into the icebox and wiped his mouth, before he found her waiting for him in the living room.

"Sorry, I was hungry." Bill looked sheepishly as he sat next to her. "What is all of that?" He asked as he pointed to the stack of letters Hermione was holding.

"Apparently, we are overdue for our appointment at the ministry to register our marriage; judging by the number of reminders, extremely overdue." Hermione handed Bill the numerous letters from the Office of Vital Statistics.

"Coco, I think tomorrow I will finally have to make a legal wife out of you!" Bill announced as he threw the notices in to the fireplace. "What is next?"

Hermione laughed, "We have an invitation to the 500th Anniversary Gringott's Ball on New Years Eve and a not too subtle memo from your boss reminding you that attendance at the ball is mandatory for all Gringott employees and their spouses."

"So, first I make you a legal and proper wife and then we shop for a ball gown that covers that baby belly of yours." Bill was baiting her. He waited for the explosion one, two, three.

"What! William Weasley I do not have a baby belly!!!" Hermione was outraged.

"Sure you do, Coco." Charlie said as he walked in from his bedroom. "Haven't you looked in a mirror recently?" he added as he winked at his brother.

Hermione growled at the men and stormed into the bathroom. Lifting up her shirt, she turned sideways and looked into the mirror. Rubbing her hand over her abdomen, she smiled. Maybe it was just a little bit rounded, but that was all. It was hardly noticeable.

Bill watched from the hallway and quietly came up behind her rubbing both of his hands over the slight bulge. "It is the most beautiful thing in the world. Maybe you should forget the ball gown and go in a bikini, so I can show off my handiwork!"

Hermione snorted. "That would make a great headline "William Weasley Works Wicked Way with Won Won's Wanton Witch."

Bill shook his head. "No, it should be 'Coco Captures Weasley' Heart and Together They Create Future' yes, that would be perfect."

It took a few owls back and forth between Bill and Artemisa Papairi of the Office Vital Statistics before an appointment was scheduled. Hermione and Bill arrived the next day at the appointed time in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic. Hermione stumbled as they came out of the floo and catching her, Bill whispered something in her ear that made her blush. Together they walked hand in hand toward the lifts and the Office of Vital Statistics. As they waited, Bill wrapped his arms around Hermione, nuzzling her neck and again whispering in her ear. Neither of them noticed a large group of people that came off the lift in front of them.

A loud scream startled Hermione and she looked toward the group. "You whore! You and your bastard will die!"

Bill pulled Hermione behind him and had his wand out when he spotted two large guards restraining Veronique. The struggling witch's face contorted in hate and rage as she desperately tried to get to Coco. Bill stepped closer to the screaming witch. "You need to calm down Veronique. You are wrong about Hermione."

"You harlot, you spread your legs…" Veronique was suddenly silent.

"That is enough for now." A familiar voice sounded over the gathered crowd. Fleur Delacour walked from behind Veronique to face Bill and Hermione. Her face was emotionless as she looked at the couple.

"Fleur be careful, that creature is dangerous!" Bill was keeping his eyes trained on the restrained witch.

Fleur glided toward them "Bill, pleasant to see you again!" she purred and as an afterthought she greeted Hermione with a sickly sweet "Hermione"

Fleur's eyes never left Bill's face. "That creature you so despairingly spoke of is my client William. She is still an employee of Gringotts and I am here on their behalf."

Bill was surprised. "You still work for Gringotts?"

Fleur smiled a saccharine smile and in her most seductive voice said, "I am head of the employee relations department."

Hermione laughed softly as she stood next to her husband. Fleur turned to look at her. "You find that humorous?"

Hermione stifled her laughter. "It just seems the perfect job for you, Fleur. You enjoy all types of relationships."

Bill had his arm around Hermione's waist as she spoke and when he realized what she was referring to, he gave her a little squeeze. "Behave, Coco!" he said with a wink when she looked up at him. Hermione laughed again.

Fleur watched the couple's interaction and was furious. "So Hermione," she said, "my client informs me that you gave birth to a bastard – Ron Weasley's bastard – her husband, is that correct?"

Hermione quavered for only a second. The large crowd that had gathered around them collectively gasped.

Hermione stiffened her spine and straightened her shoulders before she replied. "Yes, Ron and I did have a son together; unfortunately because of Veronique and her brother's meddling, he died." The crowd gasped again.

Hermione did not wait for Fleur's response. "Tell me, Fleur; is it Gringott's policy to provide counsel to all of its murdering employees? Or are you just more comfortable associating with low life scum?" The lobby of the Ministry was silent.

Fleur smiled and that made Bill cringe inside. "Bill is it true?"

"Is what true?" Bill hated to ask.

"Is it true you are the father this time? I checked and the Office of Vital statistics does not have a registration of your marriage." Fleur gave Hermione a look of disgust. "Hermione, really, getting pregnant out of wedlock once could be called an accident. But twice? That is just slutty." There was a small chuckle from the crowd.

Bill's knuckles were white as he held on to his wife as she stepped toward Fleur but he could not stop his Coco. "Tell me Fleur still spreading your legs for any one that will have you?' With that, Hermione looked at Bill and they walked on to the waiting lift.

The crowd watched as Hermione and Bill smiled and Fleur and Veronique quietly conferred. There had not been this much excitement in the lobby of the Ministry since Harry Potter had fought Voldemort there.

Hermione relaxed in Bill's arms as they rode the lift to their destination. Hermione's heart sank as she realized that this was not going to be the end of it. She looked at Bill and whispered, "This is not good. They will make you and me pay."

Bill kissed the top of her head. "You and I, we can handle anything!" When the lift doors opened together, they walked to their appointment.

"So how was the visit to vital statistics? Did you get everything legalized and registered?" Charlie asked. Bill showed him the freshly minted marriage certificate.

Charlie let out a low whistle. "So, officially stuck with each other, eh?"

Bill smiled. "Remember Rule #24?"

Charlie laughed, "No, what is Rule #24?"

Bill cleared his throat. "Weasley Brothers Rule #24 is 'Marry the woman you can not live without.' "

Charlie looked his brother's face and realized that he was happy. "That is the best rule, good old #24."

Hermione was confused. "I have never read Weasley Brothers Rules; is it in the Hogwarts library?"

Bill and Charlie chuckled and Charlie gave Hermione a hug. "No, Coco, it is more of a family tradition passed from one brother to another."

Hermione blushed. "Oh, okay I get it - Rule #1 is 'Get her drunk.' Rule # 2 is 'Get in her knickers.' Rule #3 is 'Never say the "L" word.' "

Charlie laughed and shook his head. "No, the "L" word rule is Rule # 6."

It was not until after the clean dinner plates were placed back into the cabinet that Charlie brought up the topic that he had been thinking about for weeks.

"Coco, I have been thinking about all of this." Charlie motioned to the flat. "It is going to change with a little one on the way. I do not need to be a third wheel."

Hermione felt Bill's hand gently rub her side before he spoke. "When is your sabbatical over? Are you going to return to Romania?"

"Actually, I have applied for a position at the Welsh Green Reservation." Charlie did not look up while he spoke; rather he became very interested in his thumbnail.

"Would Helen have anything to do with is change of career?" Hermione's eye sparkled with delight at Charlie's discomfort.

"Maybe" Charlie still did not look up.

"The thing is I think we may have a shot at this and I do not want to try a 'long distance', 'commuter' relationship." Charlie stood up and began to pace around the room. "I have been thinking about getting a job closer to home for awhile and then the 'Helen' thing started. It makes sense."

Bill nodded when Charlie finally looked at him. "But living here with us and a crying baby might but a crimp in your style?"

"Actually I was thinking of your apartment Coco. It needs to be fixed up and I am pretty 'hands on'. If I get the Welsh Green job, with Helen pitching in, we could probably swing buying the place from you. I mean if you are interested in selling."

Hermione turned to Bill. "What do you think? I really had not given the place much thought."

"I think it is a brilliant idea." Bill immediately thought of all the privacy they would have if Charlie moved out.