Chapter 4
Dust Yourself off and Try Again

It had taken a few months, but Harry and Ron had found a company that helped with surrogacy for couples that couldn't have kids. There was a quick, magical way of helping the process happen. Their first time there, a rather plump woman with dark brown hair and welcoming eyes had given them a book full of pictures of women willing to have a child for another couple. It was rather expensive, but the boys were willing to spend as much money as it took to have a baby.

A few days later, they'd decided on a small, petite girl with black hair and searing blue eyes called Francesca, whose bangs fell over her eyes just a little. The company put together a meeting and the boys were confident with their choice. She was quirky and the boys felt comfortable around her. She had a good history of health and her mother was a witch, but her father was a Muggle. She'd been born with magical powers, but her sisters hadn't. She said that her sister couldn't have children, so one of her other sisters had been a surrogate and she wanted to give that gift to another deserving couple.

She treated the boys like they were equal, instead of celebrities, which so many other people tended to treat them like. She was funny and smart and her husband, John, treated the boys with quiet respect telling them that he was sorry about their situation. Ron told John that they would never be able to fully thank Francesca and him enough. John looked Ron in the eye and when he spoke, his voice was calm and easy.

"We've got two little ones of our own at home. We've a great little family. I can't imagine not being able to have one. You deserve a family, too, Ron. You and Harry have done a lot for our world and if we can give back in this way, then we will without any hesitation,"

After John had finished talking, Ron found himself leaning forward and grabbing the man into a strong hug. John chuckled and pat Ron on the back. Francesca smiled and squeezed Harry's hand.

"You're good people, you know," Harry told them, appreciation and awe dripping from his tone.

"So are you, Harry. And if the four of us can't pass down to our children the importance of being a good person, who will?" Francesca said lightly, smiling.

They all chuckled.

This would be a good thing.

The magical procedure was quick and painless. A wand was pointed at both Ron's and Harry's crotches and when a little ball of what looked like static electricity appeared at the wand's end, it was transferred into the middle of Francesca. A warm feeling surrounded her body and then a few moments later, she felt her body accept it. From that moment on, a warmness surrounded her stomach that both boys were able to touch and feel their baby growing. They didn't know which of the boys had created the baby, but they all knew that when the baby was born they'd be able to figure it out judging by whether its hair was dark black or bright orange.

Harry and Ron Potter got extremely close to John and Francesca Milner. They had a little boy with blonde hair and blue eyes and a little girl with black hair and amber eyes. The boy was four and the girl was seven and they were learning how to control their magic, both anxious for Hogwarts. They loved Harry and Ron. The first time they'd met the boys they were seemingly star-struck. They'd heard all about the two men who had defeated Voldemort and had gotten gay-marriage in the magical world to become legal. John and Francesca would let their children know that Harry and Ron were just normal guys who liked to fly and play Quidditch and wizard's chess. It only took about a fortnight for the children to become comfortable with the two men.

Harry and Ron loved the kids and got along well with Francesca and John. They enjoyed having another couple to spend time with. After two months, Ron finally allowed the rest of the Weasley clan to meet the small family. He'd been afraid that the large family would overwhelm them, but the Milners fit right in and enjoyed each and every family member.

It was all becoming real. Their Healer said they'd be able to find out the sex of the baby during the 18th week and the whole family was ecstatic and anxious to find out. Harry and Ron allowed themselves to fall all the way in love with their unborn baby. This baby was theirs. There were no 72-hour take-backs or questions. This baby was their own and they were completely in love with it.

Neither of the boys ever talked about Lily anymore. But in their bathroom, hidden behind the side mirror above the sink, was a small little photograph of her. Harry was holding her gently, all wrapped up in her big pink blanket and Ron stood behind Harry. In the photo, Ron would lean down and rub her cheek gently and then kiss Harry's head and Harry would smile and stare at her and then absent-mindedly fix her blanket and rearrange her in his arms like it was second nature. Each morning, each of the men would stare at the photo, just for a moment, to remember their daughter. They'd hope that she was being taken care of and loved and they'd hope that she'd someday be told about them and how much they had loved her.