Harry and Severus had an amazing twelve days in Italy. He had even got his husband in the water, well up past his ankles, when in Capri. They had brought home souvenirs a plenty, not only for Teddy but for other kids as well. Teddy had fun with his grandparents and Lucius, but he was so happy when they came home. And it wasn't about the gifts, he didn't look at them at first. He did ask about his baby brother thought. The couple had hoped they had brought one home to, but the honeymoon didn't work its magic. They were reminded they were men, and Severus was older, both which could take longer for a baby. Teddy was very anxious though for news of his baby brother to come.

March came, and Teddy was celebrating his fourth birthday. His birthday had fallen on a Wednesday, so they would celebrate twice. They had a small party for him at school on his actual birthday. But of course they would have a big family birthday.

Teddy was ready to go on Saturday morning. He ran into their bedroom. "Daddy, daddy."

Harry groaned. "Teddy bear, what are you doing up this early?"

Teddy shook his arm. "It's my party."

Harry shook his head. "Teddy, it's four in the morning."

Teddy pouted. "Papa is always up early. Only lazy bones sleep in."

Harry smirked. "Well he must be a lazy bones. He is snoring away."

Teddy peered over at his Papa. "Oh."

Harry opened the blankets. "How about you come sleep with daddy?"

Teddy shook his head. "I want my party."

Harry shook his head. "Uncle Luc and all your guests will be asleep."

Teddy inched towards the bed. "Even Uncle Draco?"

Harry laughed. "Unless little Vale has him and Aunt Pansy up."

Teddy smiled. "Daddy have to wake up early soon."

Harry smirked at his son. "Daddy has to wake up early whenever I have a patient."

Teddy crawled into bed. "No, when my brother comes."

Harry hugged his little boy to him. "Hopefully soon."

Teddy soon fell back asleep in his daddy's arms, and Harry smiled as he watched him. He and Severus had known for about a week, but had told no one, including their son. They had decided considering how excited Teddy was to be a big brother, they thought today was the perfect time. They could have told him on his actual birthday, but decided that today was the best time to tell him. Harry was also kind of hoping it would stop Lucius from throwing a party to celebrate it, but Severus had laughed at that. Harry should have known Lucius well enough by now.

Severus was not surprised to find their son in bed with them in the morning. Teddy didn't usually, only when he had a bad dream, but he had been so excited. He remembered Teddy being worried, when they came back, the first time he came to bed with daddy when Papa was there.

Teddy barely ate his breakfast. "Can we go now daddy?"

Harry smiled. "Uncle Luc must have been psychic when he planned the party so early."

Severus smirked. "Or he didn't want to entertain Teddy all by himself."

Teddy bounced. "Uncle Luc will take me riding."

Harry reminded his son. "There will be other guests."

Teddy pouted. "Uncle Luc promised."

Severus scooped up his son. "One thing I know about your Uncle, he always keeps promises."

Harry grabbed his bag with the gifts. "Well we should head out."

Teddy was so anxious. "Uncle Luc promised me a special gift. He said one I have to name."

Severus saw his husband's look and mouthed. "I didn't tell him."

That worried Harry. "I don't like the sounds of that."

Lucius was oddly waiting for them in the stables. "There you are."

Harry smiled as his son ran to the man. "Teddy was sure you'd take him for a ride."

Teddy nodded. "You promised."

Lucius picked him up. "I did, that's why you're here early, and for your gift."

Teddy pointed at Daddy. "I told Daddy you said it was something I name. Is it my brother?"

Lucius laughed. "That Daddy and Papa would have to give you. But I think you'll like this."

Harry shook his head when he saw what Lucius meant. "I should have known."

Teddy saw the little dapple gray Welsh pony. "Uncle Luc, it looks like the pony I said I wanted."

Lucius nodded. "Pansy's dad sent him over. He said the pony insisted, he's all yours."

Lucius often bred horses, but he didn't breed ponies. He had ponies for Draco, but they had been retired off when Draco got older. Teddy had been riding with Lucius on his horse until now. Pansy's dad also had horses, and he had a pair he had begun breeding, at one of his smaller estates. Teddy had been the pony when he had gone with Draco and Pansy, to take Vale to see her parents. Alfred had been happy to sell his newest pony to Lucius for the little boy. Harry and Severus agreed, and Teddy was so happy with his new pony, who he named Sugar.

Teddy was just finishing his first ride on Sugar, when the other guests began to arrive. Lucius had planned a party here at the estate that year. He had turned the shallow end of the pool into a splash park, and there some carnival inspired games.

Andromeda smiled when she scooped up Teddy. "Happy birthday."

Teddy reminded her. "You saw me on my day."

Ted laughed. "We're lucky to come to both."

Teddy kissed his grandpa. "You have to see Sugar."

Andromeda was confused. "I am sure there are a lot of sweets."

Harry explained. "It's the new pony Lucius bought him."

Teddy nodded. "Because daddy didn't give me a brother."

Andromeda laughed. "You know it takes nine months prince."

Harry shared a smile with his husband and said. "But you'll have a new sister or brother a few weeks before Christmas."

Molly was shocked. "Harry?"

Severus nodded. "We learned last week."

Andromeda pulled him into a hug. "We're so happy for you."

Teddy was so happy but added. "Brother daddy, no sister."

Harry laughed. "I hope it's a little brother for you, but it could be a little sister."

Teddy looked at Lucius. "Uncle Luc will make sure it's a brother."

Lucius laughed, and tried to convince the little boy he had no control over it either. There was a lot the man could help with, but the gender of the baby was not one of them. Harry and Severus would both love another little boy, but they had little say in it. They would be delighted with a girl, and hoped their son would be happy with a sister in time if it happened. They were planning on having three children, including Teddy.

Andromeda assured Harry. "He will love a little sister if he gets one."


Harry and Severus had been as thrilled as their son and family, to learn they were pregnant. It was at the end of February they got pregnant, and were due at the start of December. They both loved, that only a few weeks before their first anniversary, they would be welcoming a baby. For Harry, many of his friends were already on number two. He had Teddy, so this was number two for him as well, but still very different. Hermione and Ron were due in the fall with a daughter, and George and Angie in November. Draco and Pansy were soon to start on number two as well. They were scheduled for an ultrasound, to find out the gender of the baby, for the first few days in July.

Harry and Severus were taking Teddy to the coast for most of the summer. It had a lab for Severus, and Harry would be able to commute. He had taken on a few shifts at the hospital in the summer. Severus had enlisted Lucius' aid, to ensure his husband didn't take on too many shifts.

Harry felt sick when they got to the coast. "Ugh."

Teddy noticed. "Daddy why are you sad? You like the coast."

Harry smiled. "I usually do."

Severus kissed him. "Our little one didn't like the bus?"

Harry smirked. "I don't know why."

Teddy shook his head. "The bus is fun. We see all the funny people."

Severus reminded their son. "Your little sister or brother can't see them just yet."

Teddy pointed out. "Brother."

Harry shook his head. "We told you it may be a sister."

Teddy was as determined as ever. "I wished for a brother."

Severus smirked. "What are you going to do if you get a sister? Send her back?"

Teddy smiled. "Can we?"

Harry didn't find it funny. "No, we can't."

Severus scooped Teddy up. "You know sisters can be fun."

Teddy pouted. "Girls have cooties."

Severus shook his head. "Not all. And little girls love their big brothers, need them to protect them."

Harry watched his husband and son talk, with a smile. He hoped they could convince Teddy, as he worried if he was expecting a girl. Teddy was so excited about being a big brother finally. And Harry hoped the excitement would continue. He knew having a new baby in the house, having to share attention and having all the crying may be hard on Teddy. Like most kids, he didn't know the reality, and it would be harder if it was a sister. But they knew he had a big heart, and thought for sure he would love a little sister too.

Poppy was coming to them, to perform the ultrasound. Harry could have had it at the hospital, but the woman had insisted. She had reminded Harry how many times he had been her patient over the years. She had been proud when he took over for her, and wanted to do the test.

Harry was on the beach when a picnic appeared. "Perfect timing."

Severus saw his look. "Wish I could take credit."

Kreacher appeared. "Master hungry, lunch ready."

Harry thanked the elf. "I see some of my cravings."

Teddy beamed. "I told Kreacher."

Kreacher nodded. "Kreacher take care of both little masters. And big master too."

Severus shook his head as the elf went to leave. "And myself?"

Kreacher turned to look at him. "Stinky half blood."

Harry laughed when the elf was gone. "Didn't think he changed that much did you?"

Severus didn't find it funny. "You are as much a half blood as I am thank you."

Harry pointed out. "Not really, my mother was not a muggle, just a muggle born. Besides I am Lord Black."

Severus pointed out. "The baby will be a half blood."

Harry shrugged. "But a little Black."

The baby would be the Potter heir they had agreed on, the next would inherit Prince from Severus. Harry had long ago named Teddy the Black heir. It had of course made sense, considering Teddy's mother had been a member of the Black family. It was one of the reasons Kreacher was so dedicated to Teddy, and had basically become his nanny elf. As they were eating, neither were surprised when Lucius arrived, and the Tonks. The Tonks had been invited, Lucius always invited himself to things. The rest of the family they would plan to tell later.

Lucius wrinkled his nose at the pickle popsicle with chocolate and onions. "Happy I had lunch before I came."

Harry reminded him. "You were not invited."

Severus smirked. "Because we knew he'd come on his own."

Lucius shrugged. "Teddy invited me."

Harry didn't buy it. "Don't go putting this on my son."

Teddy piped up. "But I did Daddy."

Andromeda smiled. "He is so excited."

Harry agreed. "He encouraged Lucius' little party later."

Ted shrugged. "You did need to tell the others soon."

Poppy appeared. "Well maybe we should get started."

Harry turned to the woman. "You know you didn't have to come all this way."

Poppy shook him off. "I am happy to run the test for you."

Harry kissed her on the cheek. "This is one time I am happy to be your patient."

Poppy was going to come back to work, for a few months, after he gave birth. He would have a short paternity leave, as he could have the baby at work with him. She had insisted, though she was retired, she was happy to come back for a bit. She was close to both Harry and his husband, and was genuinely happy for both of them, as well as the family. As she ran the test, she could see how much the baby meant to them all.

Harry was in tears as the image appeared. "How is the baby? What are we having?"

An: One chapter left, taking a vote on the name and gender of the baby. And up for ideas on a new story as well.