James watched in panic as Victoire swiftly took Eadlyn away while a team of Healers poured into the room. They cast a spell on Rose, and then they started to cut her open. He was too shocked to try to stop them. Minutes later he heard a cry and one of the healers emerged from the mob with a squalling baby, which was immediately taken out of the room.

"She's losing too much blood!" yelled Hannah.

James was horror stricken. He had no idea what was going on. After all this, was Rose going to die? There was no way he could do this without her. Suddenly James realized how much he really, truly, loved Rose Weasley. James knew he loved her, she was the mother of his children, but he abruptly realized that he couldn't live without her. What was he supposed to do if she died?

He would have to be strong, he decided. He couldn't give Noah up. If Rose wanted to keep him, then James would raise Noah for her. Even if James had to do it alone. No! Rose couldn't be dying. It wasn't possible.

James found himself being escorted out of the room. He was led down the hallway to a waiting area, by a woman that he realized was Victoire. She shot a patronus out of her wand, and then pushed James into a chair. She was saying something, but James couldn't tell what it was. He got the idea that he was supposed to wait there.

The next thing he knew, Hermione and Ron were racing towards him, with James' own parents hot on their heels. Hermione began an assault of questions, while Ron took James by the shoulders and shook him.

"James! James!"

"James!"

James shook his head to try and clear it.

"What's going on?" asked Harry.

It took James a minute to know what his Dad was saying. "I don't know." he replied finally. "They haven't told me anything."

"What happened?" asked Hermione.

"Eadlyn was born, and then Rose delivered the placenta, and then I'm not sure what happened. I think she was unconscious, and then all these healers showed up... that's really all I know."

"What about Noah?" insisted Hermione.

"Oh, yeah, I saw him, but they took him away. I don't know if he's okay." replied James.

"Come on, Hermione." consoled Ron. "Let's sit down. They'll let us now as soon as they can."

"Sit down!" exclaimed Hermione. "How can you sit down?!" she began anxiously pacing the waiting room.

Ron decided to leave her be and take his own advice, and Ginny followed suit. Harry however, turned to James.

"Are you alright, son?"

"Yeah... no. I don't..." James suddenly burst into tears. Harry pulled him into a bone crushing hug. "Dad." whispered James through his tears. "What if... she dies? ...I don't think I could stand it."

"I don't think any of us could stand it. But we're here for you James. It'll... be alright." Harry said unconvincingly.

"What now?" asked James.

"We wait." replied Harry.

Rose awoke to find her family crowded around her hospital bed. "What happened?" she asked.

Hannah was there too, and she reached out to reassure the young girl. Hannah took Rose's hand. "Don't worry Rose, everything's fine. After you delivered Eadlyn, Noah's placenta detached. That can happen sometimes, after the birth of a first twin, because of the sudden decrease in uterine volume. You went unconscious, and we had to get Noah out as soon as possible, so we did surgery. Unfortunately, you were losing too much blood, so we had to do a partial hysterectomy. You'll need a couple of days to recover."

Rose attempted to take this in. "Where's Noah?"

"He's okay. You'll be able to see him soon. We're just resolving a few... problems. Remember I told you about that?" Hannah asked, and Rose nodded. "Right. It's a bit of a long list, but he's going to grow up happy and healthy."

"There was... his spine." recalled Rose. She was still a little hazy.

"Yes." confirmed Hannah. "Luckily, he has spina bifida occulta. It means that even though his spinal column is incompletely formed, it shouldn't affect him at all."

"His heart." Rose remembered.

"He just had surgery for that. Noah has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and aortic atresia. We created a new aortic valve, and the other surgeries are to help his heart work properly." explained Hannah.

"Remember, Rose?" added James. "He needs two more surgeries."

Rose nodded. It was coming back to her now.

"There are a few other things as well. He has a cleft lip, club feet, and complete heterochromia." announced Hannah. "We've fixed his lip and feet."

Rose was momentarily worried. "What's heterochromia?" she asked anxiously.

Hannah smiled. "That means he has two different coloured eyes. Would you like to see?"

"Yes, please." said Rose eagerly.

The door opened, and Victoire entered with the baby.

"Ohhhh!" squealed Rose.

"Just remember, both Mummy and baby are recovering." cautioned Hannah.

Rose carefully cradled her baby against her shoulder. "James, what are you doing? Come here." she ordered.

James sat gingerly beside Rose on the bed. Together, they watched as their son slowly opened his eyes and blinked up at them. Although Rose had brown eyes and James' were a lighter brown, Noah had one hazel eye and one bright blue one. He lifted his head up and looked at his parents.

"How is he doing that?" exclaimed James, while Rose cooed over Noah.

"Premature babies' heads don't weigh as much. This is normal." Hannah reassured them.

After a few more minutes Rose spoke. "Would you like to hold him, James?"

"Uh, yeah sure." agreed James.

Rose carefully passed Noah into James' arms. The minute they touched, James suddenly felt a strong and irrevocable bond. This was his son. He had made this child. Even though James barely knew him, he realized he would do anything for his baby.

"Why... why do I love him so much?" wondered James.

"Congratulations, James." said Harry. "You're a father."

James felt a sudden comradery with his parents. He was a father now too. He had entered that secret, seemingly all-knowing society of parents.

"James?" asked Rose. "Can I hold him again?"

James reluctantly handed Noah over. He never, ever, wanted to let go of his baby, but after the hell Rose had just been through, it was only fair. Besides, he had something he wanted to do.

James got up, and strode over to his own father. He gave Harry a bear hug. "Hey, Grandpa."

"Rose?" asked Hannah. "Would you like to feed Noah?"

Rose agreed eagerly, and the newly made grandparents exited into the corridor to give them some privacy.

A few days later, both Noah and Rose had recovered sufficiently.

"This is so exciting Rose!" squealed Lily as they packed all of Rose's things into her bag. "I can't believe you're a mother. And I'm an aunt!"

"And a godmother." Rose agreed. "How's the godfather doing?"

Albus looked up from the chair where he was cradling Noah. "Fine. But packing is taking a long time. None of this stuff is important anyway. Except Grandma's baking. Leave the dirty clothes. Take the cannoli."

For some reason Grandma Hermione found this statement rather funny.

"Well, we're all done packing, anyway. Now give me my baby." demanded Rose. "Hello Noah. Mummy missed you." she cooed.

At that moment, James entered. "Okay the car's here. You ready Rosie?"

"Yes, I think so." replied Rose. The group made their way down the corridor. "I'm glad we got a car. I wouldn't want to try to apparate or Floo with the baby."

"Here we are." said James as they approached the entrance to Saint Mungo's. "The press are outside, but it's pulled up right in front."

"I'm ready." said Rose. She shifted Noah to take James' hand.

Together they stepped forward, and they took their baby home.