A/N: Thanks to everyone who is continuing to read along and a great many thanks to those of you whom continue to send in your thoughts.

Talking

A few weeks past and January slowly changed into February. Minerva had noticed that Hermione had become slightly distant since her check up with Poppy almost three weeks ago. Sighing, Minerva reached for Severus' hand at the head table and smiled weakly at him. He too had noticed their daughter's behaviour and was intrigued as to why she was acting so differently to the little girl that had come to the Manor with them at Christmas. Severus smiled back and looked over to the Gryffindor table, looking for Hermione but couldn't find her. Minerva and Severus both looked at their respective pieces of jewellery as they felt a burning run through them. They figures hissed at them and then immediately stood and headed for the edge of the lake. Even though there was a heavy storm outside, Hermione was too much like her mother and enjoyed sitting out in such storms so she could cry without being noticed and then spend the remainder of the curled up in bed crying herself to sleep. Severus had caught Minerva doing this many a time and the only way he could comfort her, was to hold her in his arms. He just hoped that it would work for his daughter.

Rushing outside, they immediately saw Hermione running towards her favourite spot on the steep bank of the lake. Minerva gasped as they watched her collapse to the floor. The pair started at a full out run and were at their daughter in no time. Minerva knelt down in the mud and made Hermione look at her. She saw the tears that were streaming down her face and noticed the bag that was lay next to her. Minerva's heart tore in two when she figured out that Hermione was running away.

'Am I that bad a mother?' Minerva sat back on her heels and let a few tears of her own slip down her cheeks.

Severus saw his wife and daughter crying, each for different reasons. He picked Hermione up of the ground seeing as she had gone numb and couldn't stand after the countless times of trying to get away from them. Minerva stood on shaky legs and followed her husband and daughter through the main entrance and down to their shared chambers.

Severus muttered a drying charm and dried the three of them off. He placed Hermione in the bed and Minerva went and sat herself in front of the fire in the living room. Not wanting her daughter to see her fall apart.

"Why Hermione?" Severus' voice was stern and cold.

"You're having another daughter, you won't want me anymore. And it's not like I could throw myself off the astronomy tower like I tried when I first got here. You'd both know." Hermione's tears continued to flow as she spoke to her father.

"You've torn you're mother's heart out Hermione. She's now sat in front of the fire falling apart because she doesn't think she's a good enough mother to you. That she doesn't and hasn't loved you enough. She's worried sick that you're going to go back to the Granger's even though they don't want you. Don't love you like we do."

"How do you know what she's thinking?"

"We've been married for nearly twenty years, Miss Granger. I think I know my wife." With that Severus marched out the bedroom and into the living room, leaving a sobbing Hermione to think.

"Minni?"

"Sev." Was all Minerva could say through her tears and racking sobs that had taken over her body. But that was all she needed to say, she knew Severus understood her break down.

Lovingly, Severus lifted her into his arms and sat her on his lap. He rocked back and forth in front of the fire trying to calm her. Trying to sooth her. She'd had break down's before, many of them, but never like this. Severus was so afraid that she would sink into a depression. And that wouldn't be good for her, or the baby.

"Shh, I'm here baby. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

"Hermione?"

"Shush, love. She's in the bedroom thinking over her actions."

"I hope you weren't too harsh on her Severus."

"I don't think I was harsh enough, Min. She's causing you one of the biggest break down's you've ever had. So I'm going to ask you to relax, if not for yourself, then for the little girl that you're carrying." Severus put his surprisingly warm hand under her robe and placed it on her stomach and caressed it.

Minerva rested her head against his chest and nodded, knowing that becoming stressed wouldn't do herself or the baby any favours.

It wasn't until the next day that the trio sat in the living room to talk about Hermione's actions from the previous day. Severus hadn't told Minerva anything he already knew, because she didn't want her to cause herself too much stress in one day.

Severus was sat on the sofa with Minerva securely in his arms. Hermione sat in the chair opposite, finding the hand in her lap very interesting.

"Why Hermione? What did I do wrong? Did I not love you enough? Did I not spend enough time with you? Why?" Minerva's voice was strangled and a tear or two escaped her firm hold. Minerva felt Severus tighten his hold on her and nuzzle her neck, calming her slightly.

"I thought you wouldn't want me anymore now that you're having another girl. One that'll better than me and will love you like parents and call you mom and dad right from the start." Tears started falling from Hermione's cheeks and splashed on her joined hands as she refused to look up.

Minerva stood and knelt in front of Hermione, holding her hands. "Never think that again Hermione. Never. You're our daughter and we're no going to love you any less, or treat you any different when your sister is brought into this world."

"You promise."

"I promise. With my whole heart."

Hermione slid to the floor and Minerva embraced her as they both cried.

"Please Hermione. I bed of you, never do that to me again. Talk to one of us. We're always going to be here for you."

"I'll never do anything like that again. I promise."

Minerva ran her fingers through Hermione's chocolate locks and held her close as Severus joined them on the floor and did the same to her.