"Severus, why don't you sleep? You look exhausted", Hermione said rubbing a hand between his shoulder blades. Severus sat on the edge of Abby's hospital bed, watching her sleep.
"I will", he replied with a sigh.
"I know your worried, love. But, physically Abby will be fine, we can get all the emotional stuff worked out over time. So, you need to be on your top game when she wakes back up. You need to rest", Hermione said pulling him from the bed and over to where Severus' original bed was.
"You smell wonderful, like honey", Severus said nuzzling his face into the back of Hermione's neck, as they both laid on their sides in the bed. Hermione giggled as his breath tickled her neck.
Severus and Hermione were both almost asleep when excited voices jolted them awake. Severus immediately grabbed his wand, covered Hermione protectively, and pointed it at the door. Just as a hex was about to leave Severus' lips, long blond hair came into view.
"Severus! Put your wand down!" Lucius said excitedly from the doorway.
"Shut up you foul, before you wake Abby", Severus growled. "I almost hexed your face off!"
"Sorry, sorry. I just couldn't wait until morning to come see Abby", Lucius replied, pulling a sheepish looking Narcissa through the door.
"Sorry", Narcissa mouthed.
Severus nodded for them to come into the room. "Abby won't be awake again until morning."
"I know, Eileen told us. But, I was hoping we could wait here until she woke?" Lucius said in an almost pleading voice.
"Of course", Severus said smiling and burring his face back into Hermione's neck. Severus knew Lucius and Abby were very close, he could tell Lucius and Narcissa thought of Abby as one of their own children sometimes. The Malfoy's had done so much for him, Abby, and Abby's mother. It was actually Abby's mothers idea to make The Malfoy's Abby's godparents. Severus couldn't think of two better people.
"Well, he went to sleep fast", Lucius whispered, looking at Severus.
"Severus won't admit it, but he's exhausted", Hermione said softly. "Between all the potions he has been taking and worrying about Abby, I'm surprised he didn't pass out hours ago."
Lucius nodded and cuddled with Narcissa in a chair near Abby's bed.
Severus jerked his head up, someone was screaming, and he was positive it was close. He couldn't seem to clear the sleepy haze from his mind or eyes, he must not have been asleep long. He heard the shrieking scream again. Severus jumped up and whipped his wand out.
"Severus, wait", Hermione said in a husky voice, she must have been asleep too. "It's Abby."
"What! What's wrong!" He nearly screamed.
"It's a nightmare Severus", Narcissa called from Abby's bed.
Severus stumbled over to Abby's bed, he couldn't seem to break through the sleep haze. Lucius sat on the side of Abby's bed, with Abby wrapped in his arms and her head cuddled into his chest, she was sobbing.
"Abby", Severus said softly, as he walked to the other side of the bed and rubbed her back.
"She's alright Severus, I think she's still half asleep. And, it would appear you are too", Lucius said quietly.
Severus dropped his head down to the bed, trying to get his bearings.
"Severus, lay down", Hermione said as she pulled her wand out and made the bed larger. She pushed Severus on to it, next to Abby and Lucius. "Your exhausted Severus."
"I need to stay awake for Abby." Severus' voice almost sounded dead.
"The healer is on his way with a dreamless sleep potion, she will be asleep soon too", Hermione said softly, rubbing his face and pulling a blanket over him. Severus couldn't help but let his eyes drift shut and let the sleep override his mind.
The smell of food hit Severus' nose and almost caressed his stomach. His eyes slowly opened, Hermione's smiling face and a tray of food came into view.
"I thought this might wake you."
Severus glanced over to Abby, she was awake and starring at the food Lucius held in front of her.
"Come now, Love, you have to eat something. You've been unconscious for two weeks, you have to be starving", Lucius said trying to cox Abby into eating.
"I don't think I can eat it. My stomach doesn't feel right", Abby responded.
"Because you haven't eaten in so long. Even when you were eating, it wasn't enough to nourish you. That's why you are so skinny and weak", Healer Bronson chimed in from beside Lucius.
Abby felt movement from Severus and glanced over in time to see him sitting up. She was watching him from the corner of her eye.
Healer Bronson brought Abby's attention back to him. "Abby if you don't eat, we will have to feed you through a tube, which will prolong your stay here. If you can manage to eat and keep your food down, I would presume you would be healthy enough to leave by the end of the week. If not, you may have to stay here for several more weeks or the rest of the summer."
"That won't happen", Severus said quickly.
"I can go home at the end of the week?" Abby asked.
"If your healthy enough. I am sure you will be, you have progressed so much just from last night", Healer Bronson said setting the food down in front of her.
Abby sighed and slowly started to eat.
Healer Bronson got up to leave, "You have many visitors today Abby, I will allow them all in here, but if you get overwhelmed they have to leave."
Abby nodded and continued to pick at her food.
"Are you sure you're up to the visitors?" Severus asked Abby softly.
Abby nodded and avoided contact with him.
Numerous people had been in and out of Abby's room all day. The Potter's, the Weasley's, the Malfoy's, Matty, Albus, Eileen, Remus, Hermione's parent's, Abby's other set of grandparent's, and numerous of the Hogwarts professors.
Severus had moved off of the bed to let Matty, who had been the first visitor and showed no signs of leaving, sit with Abby. Severus was now sat on a configured couch, with Hermione.
"Are you feeling better?" Hermione asked Severus quietly, with a smile.
Severus smiled and nodded. "You know, we need to discuss when to have our wedding."
"We can push it off further, Severus. We have a lot going on."
Severus smiled but shook his head, "I want to be married by the end of summer, before we go back to Hogwarts."
"Do you think everything will be calmed down by then? It's the end of June already."
"Yes, I think everything will be fine. Once Abby is released from the hospital we can get things situated and start helping her recover from everything. I don't think everything will be back to normal, but I think it will be settled down enough for the wedding. It may even help Abby, she was very excited when I told her I planned to propose to you, all those months ago."
Hermione smiled brightly, "When should we have it?"
"I was thinking the first weekend in August. That gives us all of July to get Abby back together and the rest of the wedding planned. We can have some time for a honey moon and we can be back in time for the quidditch world cup, before term starts back up."
"A honey moon? I would love to take a honey moon but do you think it would be wise to leave Abby, and Addison?"
"We will have to evaluate that as time goes on. It will just depend on how everything goes and if Fenrir is captures by then."
Hermione nodded and leaned up and kissed Severus' lips. The little peck turned into a long heated kiss.
"Ewww, no one wants to see that", Draco said feigning disgust. He was sat beside Abby and Matty on the bed.
Severus looked at Draco with his eyebrows raised, Hermione smirked through her flushed face.
"You should remember that when you, and your dunderhead of the week, are snugging in the sitting room of headquarters."
Draco Scowled, Abby and Matty were grinning.
"Would you leave those two alone, Draco", Narcissa scolded, from a chair next to the bed.
Severus smirked and brought his attention back to Hermione. She had laid her head against Severus' chest, he was absently stroking her back. "You look tired."
Hermione sighed, "I am, but I'm fine."
"Maybe you should go back to headquarters tonight, so you can get a full nights sleep. I'm sure Addison would love it. He hasn't spent more then a couple hours a day with either of us for the last two weeks."
"Yeah, I know. Maybe you're right, I don't want to neglect him."
"Your not love. There has just been so much going on. Besides Albus and my mother have loved taking care of him."
Hermione smiled. After a minute her brow pinched together, like she was deep in thought.
"What is it, love?" Severus asked, watching her face intently.
"Well", Hermione began in a whisper. "You know how Abby can feel the things you're feeling. Can she feel everything, like......when your aroused?"
Severus scowled, but was obviously also deep in thought. "I don't know, but I hope not. That would be very uncomfortable and unpleasant for everyone."
"Well, I have a theory."
"What's that?" Severus asked curiously.
"Earlier, when you were out in the hallway speaking with Kingsley, I could tell you were very angry and agitated when you came back in the room."
"Mmm hmm."
"Well, Abby didn't start reacting toward your emotions until you came into the room. She actually became agitated with Lucius, because you were agitated with Kingsley."
"So you think she only feels my emotions when I'm in the same room as her?"
"That's the way it would appear, which we will find out over time of course. I also think Abby is gaining a sense of control over the connection. Lucius informed her of the connection between the two of you earlier. When she became agitated, she noticed you were in the room and also agitated. Somehow, she calmed herself down and actually apologized to Lucius."
"Really, how did I miss all that?" Severus asked surprised.
"You were still angry about the Aurors still not being able to find Fenrir."
"Right", Severus said with a scowl.
A few days had passed, it was now coming on Friday night. Healer Bronson walked into the room, smiling, and did his usual check up on Abby.
"Mr. Snape if I could see you and your fiancée out in the hallway, please", Healer Bronson said after a few moments.
"No", Abby said abruptly, obviously becoming anxious.
"It will only take a moment, Abigail. They will be right back."
"I can stay, while you speak with Severus", Hermione said, then went over and sat down next to Abby.
Healer Bronson nodded and Severus followed him out of the room.
"I'm going to discharge Abby in about twenty minutes", Healer Bronson said quietly, so only Severus could hear. Severus nodded. "I have kept this quiet, only informing Minister Shacklebolt. Aurors will escort you three to the floo, where you will floo to where ever the Minister has set up. He said you would already know." Severus nodded, again. "Abby seems to be fine physically, I still need to schedule a check up for next week to make sure everything is still progressing nicely. Emotional wise, I'm sure Abby is a wreck, but she hides it well. I still suggest that you should seek her some kind of professional help."
"Abby would never go for that", Severus cut it. "I tried to get her to speak with a professional after her mother died, she refused. Her hiding her emotions is sort of a defense mechanism, which she inherited from me. I will keep her together and get her to open up to me or one of our family members."
"I think that will be fine as long as you can make it happen. You need to be careful, she's showing signs of post traumatic stress disorder. Which is normal for all she's been through, but I think the nightmares are going to last for a while. So, you are going to somehow have to talk her into a dreamless sleep potion most nights."
"Yes, I've had to force dreamless sleep on Abby before. I will figure it out."
Healer Bronson nodded and headed back into the room. Abby was leaning on Hermione's shoulder.
"Alright Abigail, you are being discharged", Healer Bronson started.
"I get to go home!" Abby said excitedly.
Healer Bronson nodded, "You are coming back in a week for a check up. You need to get plenty of rest and don't over exert yourself. Now, I know you are going through some things emotionally, you need to open up to someone and talk about it. It will take time, I know, but if you don't you will end up making yourself ill and I will have to readmit you into the hospital for a longer period of time."
Abby went a little pale at the notion of another hospital stay.
"Just take the potion's your father gives you and you should continue to recover nicely. And, this cast should come off by the end of summer. You still need to be careful with your arm, even though the cast is protecting it."
Abby nodded.
"Ok, I will see you next week then", Healer Bronson said happily.
"Abby, we are not going home", Severus said to her quietly, after Healer Bronson left.
"I know, Granddad told me everyone was staying at headquarters", Abby said, looking at her hands.
Severus, Hermione, and Abby flooed to headquarters. Everyone staying at headquarters had managed to fit into the sitting room, waiting for their arrival.
"It's about time you three got here", Lucius said as Severus, Hermione, and Abby walked out of the floo. Abby was hanging onto Severus' cloak, she was obviously nervous. Abby had never been to headquarters before, so this place was unknown to her.
Lucius walked over to Abby, noticing her nervousness and pulled her into a hug. Abby smiled up at him. Lucius pulled her over to the couch, so they could sit down next to Matty. Eileen walked over to Severus and Abby, handing Addison to Severus.
"I believe he has been waiting for the two of you." Addison cooed when he looked up into Severus and Hermione's smiling faces.
"Lets go sit on the couch", Severus suggested. Hermione followed, Severus enlarged the couch so a numerous number of people could sit on it.
"What's the matter, Severus? You've been quiet for the past day or so", Hermione asked as she leaned on him and kissed Addison's fingers.
Severus sighed and answered quietly, "Abby has spoken barely five words to me this past week."
"Severus, she hasn't really been speaking to anyone. She needs some time to adjust, I'm sure Abby will come around, she always has."
Addison let out a squeak and flailed his arms every time they said Abby's name.
"I think someone is anxious to see his big sister", Hermione said smiling.
Severus grinned, "Let's wait until tomorrow for that, I don't want to push to much onto Abby at one time."
A couple of hours after arrival, Severus decided it was time for Abby to see her room and lay down to rest. Abby's room was directly connected to Severus and Hermione's. The only way in or out of Abby's room was through Severus and Hermione's room. Which made Severus happy, because not only could he keep her safe, he could monitor what her and Matty were doing.
Abby had laid on her bed and fell asleep almost instantly. Severus decided not to wake her to give her a dreamless sleep potion. Abby woke up screaming in the middle of the night.
Severus had walked downstairs, he had left the potions in the kitchen. Abby's screaming had woke Addison as well, so Hermione was downstairs getting him a bottle. Addison had calmed down before Hermione went downstairs, so she left him in his crib. After a few moments he started to become fussy, so Abby walked over to him.
Abby peered down at Addison, he was a lot bigger then the one and only time she has seen him. His pitch black hair was much thicker, but his brown eyes had stayed the same. Addison started to coo at the sight of Abby. She reached down and he grabbed her fingers with one little fist and started to get excited and flail his arms.
Hermione had started to walk back into the room, but stopped in the doorway. She smiled at Abby and Addison's interaction. "He wants you to pick him up", Hermione said leaning on the door frame.
Abby snatched her hand away from Addison. "I..I..I wasn't hurting him", Abby stuttered.
Addison started to cry.
"I know you wouldn't hurt him, Abby. Addison has been waiting to meet you. I think he remembers you from the night you came and saw him in the Hogwarts infirmary. He has always gotten excited when we say your name. When Addison was brought to the hospital, he was letting out little squeals, trying to wake you up", Hermione said reaching down and picking up Addison.
Addison was fussy, his eyes were still on Abby.
"Hold out your arms", Hermione said smiling.
"No, what if I hurt him. You hold him."
"Addison won't break, I promise", Hermione said leaning into Abby, placing Addison's head in the noke of her right arm. Abby automatically put her arms under Addison. Hermione took her arms away and smiled reassuringly at Abby. Addison stopped crying and looked up at Abby, grabbing at her face. Abby relaxed and smiled.
Hermione laughed, "See, he's been waiting for you."
"It appears our kids are working together already", Severus said making his presence known from the doorway.
Abby immediately became anxious.
"T. him back", she stuttered and pushed her arms toward Hermione.
"Abby's it's alright", Hermione said soothingly.
"No."
Addison started to cry as Abby tried to give him back to Hermione. Severus sensed Abby's anxiousness and walked over to her. He stood behind Abby and wrapped his arms around hers, pulling Addison back to her chest, and helping her support him.
"I.I.I know you don't want me nnnear him. III'm sorry", Abby stuttered, tears running down her cheeks.
"Of course I want you to be around your brother. I'm sorry Abby, I know I said horrible things to you a few months ago. Please, don't cry", Severus said, starting to become upset, making Abby even more upset.
Talon flew in from Abby's room and landed on Abby's head, nudging Severus in the face, causing both to relax. Addison looked up into Abby's eyes and smiled.
"Finally! Severus, he just smiled!" Hermione said excitedly.
"I know, I saw", Severus replied smiling. Severus guided his head down to Abby's ear, "He saved his first smile for you, love."
Abby smiled.
"Lets sit down and relax. I'm sure Addison would love you to feed him a bottle, Abby", Hermione said pulling them toward the couch.
Twenty minutes later Addison was back to sleep and Abby's eyes were dropping.
"Here Abby, take the potion", Severus said softly.
Abby was too tired to argue, so she took the potion. Hermione had already taken Addison from Abby and laid him in his crib.
"You can stay in here with us", Severus said to Abby.
"It's ok", Abby said tiredly and walked to her room. Severus watched with sad eyes.
"She's making progress, Severus", Hermione said sitting and wrapping her arms around him.
"I know, I just don't know how much more I can take." Severus' said in a tired bleak voice.
---Review please! I obviously need a beta for this story. The one other story I wrote, I didn't use a beta until after it was completely finished and posted. Can someone let me know how the whole beta process works in the middle of writing a story. I tried going to the beta page on fanfic, but I kept getting an error message. Thanks!