Chapter 18
A Child
"She wants to keep it," Harry told Ron. They were in bed, Ron lying on his back and Harry lying on his stomach, draped across Ron's stomach. Harry was tracing circles on Ron's chest, and Ron was rubbing Harry's back absentmindedly. Ron stared up at the ceiling, overwhelmed. He took a deep breath in and closed his eyes.
"Then I have to stay here, in Everwood," Ron said, determinedly. "I understand if you can't, Harry, if you want to go back home. I get it, I mean."
Harry got out of bed, his body rigid. He stood next to it, glaring a hole into Ron's eyes. Ron expected from the look on Harry's face that he was about to yell, but he was wrong. Harry growled. His voice so low that Ron felt he could feel the words down to his soul. Harry's whole body shook when he spoke, his anger taking over, and Ron couldn't help but feel the need to pounce on Harry and pin him against a wall. The thought briefly reminded Ron of their first kiss and it sent shivers down his spine at the passion that had been exchanged in that kiss. That same passion that now resided in Harry's bright green eyes. Ron's breath hitched.
"Do you honestly think I'd leave you? After everything? After the war and you leaving and coming back and being so ill that I'd damn near given in to the feeling that you'd die? Fuck off, Ron Weasley."
Ron shook his head slowly, silently. "I just thought…I mean…er…Sorry, Harry, I just wasn't thinking. It's just…Harry, it's a baby. My baby. With someone else. I guess I just assumed…I dunno,"
Harry never broke eye contact and it killed Ron to see the look of hurt in his eyes. "Do you think I don't know that? That it's your child? I get it, Ron. I get that with your illness and everything with you and I, it's only making things more complex, I get it. But you can just piss off if you think I'm leaving. You don't want me in your child's life, fine, but don't make it seem like I left you."
They stayed like that for a moment, staring at each other, Ron still in the bed, sitting up, sheet coving his hips and below, his body stretched towards Harry, who was standing between the bed and the door, his body twisted somewhat towards the door, yet his face looking straight at Ron.
"I'm going to have a shower," Harry mumbled before stalking out of the room. Ron flopped all the way onto his back again, head hitting the bed roughly as he grunted in frustration. If only he wasn't shit at words he wouldn't have hurt Harry's feelings.
He was glaring at the ceiling, as though he had a vendetta against it. He heard the door open, but didn't turn his head to see who it was until she said softly, "I see you're feeling better." Jennifer. Ron held in the groan that tried to escape his throat. He clenched his eyelids tight and then took a deep breath, sitting up and looking at her. She stood awkwardly next to the bed and Ron scanned the room for his shirt, glad that he'd already put his boxers back on. He found it at the foot of the bed and put it on haphazardly before getting out of the bed and standing awkwardly, shifting his weight from foot to foot waiting for her to talk first. Reading his uncomfortability easily, she smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, patting it lightly to tell him to sit beside her. He obliged, thankful to find something to do.
"I assume Harry's told you I intend to keep it." It was a statement more than a question, but Ron still nodded his affirmation. She nodded back, slowly. "And how do you feel about that?"
Ron could feel the blush creep its way to his cheeks. "Er, yeah, I s'pose I'm alright with that. I'd like to be around while I can, you know, under the circumstances,"
Jennifer seemed to understand what Ron meant. She smiled. "Of course, Ron. And Harry can be involved, too, if he wants. I'm, like, not really sure what your guys' relationship entails, but I want to make it clear that I don't care that you're gay and if anything I think it would be amazing for a baby to have a lot of parents that will love and care for him or her, you know?"
Ron grinned. "That's great, Jen, really. You've no idea how good it feels to hear that. I dunno how he feels about it all, but I appreciate you being so understanding,"
Jen leaned in for a hug and Ron opened his arms to her, thankful. After a moment, they pulled apart and she rubbed his arm in a comforting way before standing and walking towards the door. She turned to look back at Ron when she reached the door, hand on the handle, a thoughtful look on her face. "I'm excited, Ron. I've always really wanted a baby. I'm glad I'm having one with such an amazing man,"
Ron blushed again. "Thanks, Jen," he mumbled awkwardly before watching her giggle and turn back to the door, opening it slowly and walking out.
Harry was standing in the kitchen, making a sandwich and having a conversation with Hermione and Jeremy. His dark hair was disarray, per usual. His bangs were parted just slightly right where his scar lay, and Ron could just make it out on his pale forehead. His glasses, try as they might, couldn't hide the dark circles that lay under Harry's eyes. His small body, toned from the war and years of Quidditch, was nearly hidden under Ron's Chudley Cannons shirt that Harry always wore. Ron leaned against the open doorway and watched the way Harry talked to Hermione, his voice smooth and low, yet higher than Ron's own. He crossed his arms and became entranced, his face completely focused on Harry. So focused, in fact, that he didn't notice when Jeremy turned to face him and greeted him politely. He didn't notice until Harry had stopped speaking and had also turned to look at him. Embarrassed, he stood upright again and took one step into the kitchen, looking at Jeremy, then Hermione, and resting his gaze back on Harry. Harry stared straight back.
"Have a chance to talk to Jennifer? Tell her you're staying?" Harry asked Ron bluntly. The tone in his voice was somewhat aggressive, daring Ron to answer.
"Yeah, couldn't very well leave it longer, could I?" Ron challenged back.
"So when do you want me to leave?" Harry asked, his tone staying strong, not giving in.
Ron gave in, braking the gaze between them to stare at the floor, his voice turning unsure and broken. "Actually, I thought maybe you could…Jennifer wouldn't mind if…I mean if you wanted to…"
As Ron stood there, face as bright as his hair, hand rubbing the back of his neck nervously, staring at the floor, Harry felt as though he'd never seen anything more beautiful in his whole life.
"Oh, honestly! Harry, he obviously wants you in his child's life. Ronald, he obviously wants to be! This is absurd!" Hermione interjected incredibly, staring back and forth between the boys. Jeremy chuckled uncomfortable beside her and then tugged at her hand to follow him out of the room to leave the boys to talk alone.
Ron chanced a small, subtle glance up at Harry. Harry was breathing somewhat heavily, staring right at Ron, a smile pulling at his lips slightly.
"Is she right?" Harry asked.
Ron took a deep breath and lifted his head all the way back up to face Harry fully. "Well, yeah,"
"Okay, then. Yeah, if Jennifer's alright with it all," Harry let the smile win over his face.
Ron stared at Harry for a moment to read his face. After deciding it was all real, he grinned broadly. "Brilliant,"
Harry crossed the room and pushed Ron up against the wall behind him. He ran his fingers through Ron's hair and felt a sense of calm at how bright and natural Ron's hair was again, having missed it when Ron had been sick. He kissed Ron roughly and then pulled away after a moment to look at him again. Ron was grinning drunkly.
"It's gunna look like you and me, you know. Cos you and Jen look so similar. It'll be just as much your child as it is mine, Harry,"
Harry felt as though his heart had grown too large for his chest and he had butterflies in his stomach. He'd never realized how much he'd wanted a child before, and it was as though all his unknown desires were being granted.
Change in POV
I suppose this isn't a surprise to you. You knew there would be a child entering the picture soon. I just thought it would be relevant for you to know how it came to be that Harry would accept that child. This was a lovely point in my life. Harry and I were able to be together, we were getting ready to be fathers, and for a little while, my sickness had died down. But as you very well know, that wellness didn't last for too long. And so, I will continue.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! More to come soon! Please leave a little review to let me know what you think! :D
