Harry Potter isn't mine.

The Frank and Marie reference is from the show Everybody Loves Raymond. They're the overbearing in-laws.

Chapter 30 Sorry (I Ain't Sorry)

Once Draco hit the floor, chaos ensued… and Kat's contractions stopped. She had never been so disappointed in her life. Since she wouldn't be at thirty seven weeks for another three bloody days, the healers didn't see the need to induce her. In fact, they had the nerve to tell her they wouldn't induce until thirty nine or forty weeks.

And so, Draco woke up to her crying hysterically. She was more frustrated and exhausted than sad though. They did need some more time to grow, but she really thought this was it. Draco, being Draco, sat up quickly, fearing the worst.

"What happened? Are they alright?" Since she was crying too hard to answer him, he started hyperventilating. "Did they die?!"

"No you idiot! You-you ruined everything!" Kat sobbed as Narcissa came back and handed her a cup of water.

Draco stared blankly. "What?"

"With all the excitement, Katherine's contractions stopped," Narcissa said gently. She ran her hands through his hair soothingly while Kat just wanted to smack him. "Sorry, Dragon. You won't meet them today."

"Oh." Draco smiled sheepishly, and Kat could only glare at him. November 31st would've been the perfect birthday! Just far enough away from Christmas. "Sorry."

"Astoria had her baby," Kat lied bitterly. Last she heard, Astoria was crying hysterically and begging for Daphne… who was in France with Ginny because she was upset about not being invited to the hospital.

"Katherine." Narcissa shook her head and smiled like this was funny before turning to Draco. "She's at eight centimeters."

"And I'm at one," Kat snarled. They should be in her arms right now!

"I'll buy you ice cream for dinner?" Draco asked cautiously while trying to keep that terrified smile on his face.

Damn right you are, Kat thought. The stupid healers wanted her to stay overnight, but unless she was being induced, she was out of here. "Just take me home, ferret face."

Kat made a pit stop to Astoria's room. Her mum was there, which surprised Kat. It seemed to surprise her too because she was fidgeting with a book on the other side of the room, not sure what to say or do. Astoria didn't seem to notice much though. She had her eyes closed and was quietly crying in Ron's arms.

"Should you be… not here?" Ron asked as Astoria whimpered.

"Do you want me to pick something up for you?" Kat asked grumpily. If she wasn't going to have her babies, she might as well have something to do besides blame Draco.

For a moment, Ron looked angry with her, but with a sigh, he gave in. "Call Gin on her cell… And pick up that-that thing we were going to get. The donut."

For the first time ever, Kat saw Astoria get angry. She opened her eyes and growled, "You want a donut? Now?!"

Ron grinned, but Kat could see a little fear in his eyes. She didn't know why though. Angry Astoria was adorable. "Do you want one?"

"No, I don't want a bloody donut!" Astoria doubled over and screamed, making Draco take a step backward. Astoria's mum mumbled something about getting the healer and fled.

"With the sprinkles?" Kat asked as Astoria started sobbing that she couldn't do it. Ron nodded just as Draco backed out of the room. And to think, this could've been her if it wasn't for her stupid, fainting husband.

"I got Ron's Gringott's key as you were chickening out," Kat informed Draco after they apparated to Diagon Alley. "And no. I'm not going back to the hospital."

"You almost had the babies," he said weakly as they headed for the jewelry store.

"Yes. Yes, I did." As she bought the ring, Kat watched Draco out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to be on autopilot, staring off into nothing. Hopefully he wouldn't faint again.

"Poor Katherine is so disappointed," Narcissa said as she fluffed his pillows for the ten thousandth time that day. Lucius was disappointed too, but only because Katherine in labor meant that his wife would allow him to be discharged. Sure, he was still a little weak in the knees, but he could handle being out of bed.

Still, Lucius didn't say anything. His daughter-in-law was going to blow soon enough, and he would be free without having to upset his wife. Hopefully sooner rather than later. "And I thought she was huge the last time I saw her."

"Lucius," Narcissa chided as she poured him some water. "She's having twins."

"Oh I can tell," he grumbled, still disappointed that he didn't get to be discharged yet. "I wouldn't be surprised if there was another one hiding in there."

"That would be interesting," was all Cissa would say. Lucius narrowed his eyes as she started cutting up his dinner like he was an infant. "Draco's a wreck."

"Because now he's going to have three screaming banshees to deal with," Lucius drawled. "Four, if there is in fact another brat gestating in Katherine."

Narcissa smiled softly. Here it comes… "I think Katherine may ask us to stay over their… house after our grandchildren are born. For a few days at least."

Their house was about as big as his and Narcissa's master bedroom. Lucius chose to ignore the word "us." "I don't mind you staying for a few days, Cissa."

Narcissa smirked. "Us," she stressed. "And I don't want us to ever be apart again."

"Going to the bathroom is going to be difficult," Lucius muttered while Narcissa rolled her eyes. "I think you took care of the threat, love."

Narcissa ignored him. "Besides, don't you want to be there for their first bath? Their first smile?"

"How long are we staying?" Lucius asked cautiously. Katherine didn't even ask yet, but he was hoping everyone would be at each other's throats by the end of a week.

"Until they want to move back into the Manor," Narcissa said, as if it were obvious. "Katherine can keep the home for sentimental value, but—"

"Leave them be, Cissa," Lucius whined. He was looking forward to a year or two without Katherine. "They'll move in once they start breeding again."

Narcissa wrinkled her nose at the mental picture. "That could take years. If they decide to have more."

Thank Merlin, Lucius thought. "Katherine isn't going to ask. She hates me and is intimated by you."

"She-she is not!" Narcissa said incredulously but eventually sighed in agreement. "She's going to ask. And we are going to stay as long as we're welcome."

"I'd rather be with the Lestrange brothers," Lucius mumbled, causing Narcissa to pale. "What? Too soon?"

"You're despicable." But she was smiling anyway. He pretended to give in as she kissed him. At least he had a little while longer to plot his way out of this.

Kat turned the floo off once everyone realized she left the hospital, and Sirius kept firecalling her to come back since she didn't have the babies yet. Yes, she knew she didn't have them yet. She had two reminders napping on her bladder, and another one sulking in the living room over it.

"So I was thinking," she called out from the babies' room. "That I'm going to try to get things going. Like all at once. So spicy food, walking, sex, and then we're going to the library to figure out other ways to start labor if that doesn't work. And yes, I mean sex with you."

Kat rolled her eyes when he didn't respond to her joke. She was trying to make everything just right. There was no time for his drama. "I don't really blame you. Right now anyway. I was just being hormonal. Sorry."

She walked in to see Draco staring at the telly with wide eyes, even though it wasn't on. "I… Maybe this wasn't a good idea. I don't think I can do this."

"What?" If this was about the house… Well, he was sleeping on the couch for the rest of their lives.

He gulped and pressed the mute button on the already off television. "I-I can't be a father. We shouldn't have…"

"What? Fucked? Because we didn't plan it, asshole!" Kat shouted before she could stop herself. "You were the one who wanted to have sex that night so—"

"I'm not going to be a good father!" he yelled back. "I'm not affectionate. I'm not fun like you. I can't stand messiness. I just… What if I don't like them? I didn't like Fred. I absolutely can't stand Victoire. They aren't going to jump out like Edward, who is an exceptional child. What if I never like them? What if they don't like me? What if—"

"You're just scared," Kat insisted, realizing she was kind of talking to herself as well. She wasn't disciplined. She was too fun sometimes. And cleanliness was usually at the bottom of her list of priorities. "I'm scared too. Look, I'll talk to your mum. We'll put the sofa bed to the test, and they can stay here for a few weeks. I don't care."

Draco shook his head, and Kat felt terrible when his eyes filled with tears. "I love them, but I've never met them. What if it changes when they're here? When they spit up on me or they won't stop crying… I'm dreading this."

Her first few weeks with her newborns were going to be with Frank and Marie. Kat took a deep breath, which only made Draco freeze up because he thought she was having a contraction. "I'm scared too. Remus is just as much, if not more, of a neat freak than you. You know why this place is so spotless? He comes here and cleans. He's nuts! But he still loves Teddy, who was finger painting on the walls yesterday."

Draco glared at her and for the millionth time said, "We're wizards, Katherine. Cleaning takes all of two seconds."

"Then what's the problem?" Kat narrowed her eyes when he only shrugged and sniffled. "Well… There's nothing you can do."

Unsurprisingly, Draco didn't look too happy about that. "How did you lead hundreds of people during a war?"

"Hermione." Finally, she was able to get a smile out of him. "You know I don't feel ready either. You've held Herb, right?" Silence. "You haven't held your godson?!"

"The last time I held a baby, he shat on me!" Draco defended. "And that was the only time! Pansy would bite my head off if I didn't support his head or whatever!"

I'll bite your head off, Kat thought grumpily. She'd have to make him hold Reid once he came, so she could show him. "You can hold Reid while Ron proposes to Astoria. Is it because your dad isn't affectionate? Because if you want to be affectionate, be affectionate. If not…"

"I want to," he said quietly. "I just feel like I can't. I feel shy around my own children."

Kat took his hand and put it over her belly. He flinched but thankfully didn't snatch his hand away. "See? You'll be fine. They have to get used to being here too. We're all going to have to adjust."

Draco kissed her forehead but didn't say anything. They sat together on the couch, not moving until Sirius sent a Patronus saying that Astoria had her baby.

"Remus, I can't do this." Once Teddy led Draco away to see the new baby, Kat pulled Remus to the janitors closet and immediately started crying.

"Are you having contractions again?" Remus started shifting his eyes around the closet like he was thinking of what he was going to do if babies started falling out of her.

"No." Somehow, her face immediately scrunched up like a snotty raisin. "D-Dr-Draco says he can't do it either. Neither of us can do it, so-so I think we should give them to you and Sirius be-because—"

"Kat." Remus laughed softly. This was far from funny! "Everyone has doubts. It's perfectly natural to be nervous."

"I-I'll only feed them chick-chicken nuggets, and-and Draco won't t-t-touch them until they can use the toilet, and-and you and Sirius already know what you're doing!" Kat started sobbing into Remus's shirt when he pulled her into a hug, but she wanted to shove him the moment he started shaking with laughter.

"We're not raising your children, Kat," Remus said with an infuriating chuckle. "You two can move back into Grimmauld if you want, but I think the both of you are perfectly capable."

"We're not," Kat said into his shirt. Deep down, she knew she was being silly, but she couldn't help it. They weren't ready.

For the hundredth time since Kat gave it to him, Ron reached into his pocket and touched the engagement ring. He had to borrow twenty galleons from her, which he hated, but if there was one thing that he learned today, it was that Astoria and his son were worth it.

"I thought you'd floo as soon as Kat called Ginny," Ron said quietly when he spotted Daphne in the cafeteria, sipping at a coffee and pretending to read a Quidditch magazine.

Unsurprisingly, Daphne didn't want to speak to him. "What was I going to do? Reach in and pull him out?"

"I wouldn't put it past you," Ron couldn't stop himself from muttering. He sighed when Daphne gritted her teeth and took a big gulp of coffee to stop herself from replying. "Look, when was a kid… We didn't have much. Everything I got was usually worn out and outdated. I hated it, but it also taught me how much things are worth. I wanted to earn nice clothes and furniture. With hard work and by saving…"

"I get it," Daphne hissed. "I got it months ago when Story started ignoring me. I wounded her precious lion's pride—"

"And I don't want my son to go without because of my pride!" Ron winced when his voice rose and a nearby elderly couple started whispering. With a few curses, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away. "So give him whatever you want. I don't care anymore. Just… Don't rub it in."

Daphne didn't say anything. She only stared at him with wide eyes, but Ron didn't want to stick around to hear whatever was on her mind. He didn't like her and probably never would, but that didn't mean she was out to get him. She loved her sister and so did he. That's all that mattered.

Astoria felt stupid, needing her mother's help to figure out how to hold her own son. She always felt stupid. Except when she was with Ron, who could turn anything into a joke, make anything seem like no big deal. She knew some people thought it was wrong to be so dependent on people, but Ron didn't care. He said things like that shouldn't matter if she was happy, and she was. The little bugger sucking on her fingers made her the happiest woman in the world. Well, almost happy.

"You weren't here," Astoria whispered when Daphne slipped into the room. "I wanted you here."

"I knew you could do it without me." Daphne thinned her lips, reminding Astoria of when they were children, and Father made her apologize for being so bossy. "And I wanted you to know you could too."

"I didn't think I could," Astoria admitted. "… I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Daphne's eyes flickered too little Reid, who was starting to whine. "I'm surprised he didn't rip you in half."

Astoria grinned and kissed the top of his head, which had bright red hair that was starting to stick up. She knew Daphne wasn't going to apologize, and for once, that didn't bother her. Maybe because she knew her sister changed and wasn't going to try to run her life anymore. "He's nearly nine pounds. I thought he was going to too."

"Weasley said I can give him the gifts from the shower," Daphne told her quietly, so quietly that Astoria could barely tell that she was asking instead informing.

"He needs some more clothes, but otherwise, he has plenty." Astoria laughed lightly when Daphne dug her nails into her own palms to keep her big mouth shut. Old habits die hard, she supposed. "But he does need an Aunt Daphne."

Daphne flared her nostrils, but didn't try to make her sister feel bad like Astoria thought she would. "He needs the stuffed dragon I bought him too. It's bigger than him."

"I think he does," Astoria said with another laugh. She couldn't wait to get a picture of him with it. She let Daphne hold him when Ron came into propose.

Meanwhile, Ron was doing what he should have done a long time ago, apologize to Hermione. He was surprised she was here. The idea that she and Astoria were friends was hard to wrap his head around. He wasn't sure if that was narcissism on his part or if he was jealous that his girlfriend was currently closer than he was to someone he knew for more than half his life, the woman he originally thought he was meant to marry.

Hermione awkwardly held up what looked like a stuffed orange. "It's a cannon… I think."

"I'm sure he'll love chewing on it." Ron touched the ring in his pocket again. "Look, I'm sorry, 'Mione. I've been stuck on "what if?" for years, and if you didn't… I might not have Reid. We never talked about it, and I guess that's my fault as much as yours. If it bothered me so much… I guess I should've said something."

"I couldn't do it." Hermione's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I loved you, but I still can't face what happened. I still can't talk about it. I'm sorry."

"Not with me." Ron wanted to kick himself, but Hermione hesitantly nodded. So she had talked about it with Kat. Fine. He could do all the talking. "I wanted that baby. I still do." He swallowed at the lump in his throat. "But I have a new life now, so I guess I have to move on. I'm sorry I yelled at you, Hermione. It's how I felt but…"

"I'm not sorry I did it." Hermione wiped her eyes, but they filled again rather quickly. "I wish it never happened. I wish we were more careful. But I'm sorry that I hurt you and didn't care about your feelings."

"It's fine," Ron said, even though it wasn't. There would always be a distance between them now, but it didn't hurt as bad as it used to. Maybe someday they could be friends again.

Kat had no idea where Draco was. (She found out later that she was missing Ron proposing. She knew she forgot something…) She had to talk to her monster-in-laws anyway. Oh joy.

"Hey." They were quietly having dinner in the hospital cafeteria, so Kat pulled up a chair and put on her best fake smile. "So…"

"Kat! Kat!" Teddy ran over to her and hugged her, not letting go after she hugged him back and patted his shoulder. Once she stopped crying, Remus had said he had been asking about her all day. She figured he'd get clingy when the babies came, but it didn't make her feel any less guilty.

"I thought we were going to the candy store, Teddy Bear," Sirius whined after he finally caught up with them.

Teddy still didn't let go. "Daddy says it bad for your teeth."

Sirius only waved him off. "We'll brush them later."

"You should get some pixie sticks, Ted," Kat said quietly. "We'll put them in the salt shaker and trick Draco when you sleep over this weekend."

"Really?!" He finally let go, and Kat felt so guilty by how excited he was at the thought of sleeping over that she wanted to cry. Stupid hormones.

"Really." Kat ran a hand through his turquoise hair and smiled. "So you have to buy tons okay?"

"'Kay!" Teddy grabbed Sirius hand, and he winked at her before leading her godson away. She was the worst person in the world.

"He sees you as his mother," Narcissa said quietly. She smiled sadly when Kat froze. "And I don't think my niece would see that as a bad thing. You shouldn't either."

"I don't," Kat lied. Teddy would never hear Tonks swear after tripping over something or laugh when she spilled juice on Remus. "… I wanted to ask you something."

"We most certainly do not want to see you give birth." Lucius wrinkled his nose when Narcissa swatted at him. What was she planning on doing with that camera from this morning?

"Actually…" She had to do this for Draco. When the babies finally came, she was probably going to break at least a finger along with the name calling. This was the least she could do. Narcissa she didn't mind so much. The mother-in-law comments were getting easier to ignore. Lucius on the other hand… "I was wondering…"

They both waited. They were Slytherins for Merlin's sake! Wasn't part of being cunning knowing what people were about to do? It wouldn't be so bad if Narcissa offered instead of her having to ask.

"If you guys would stay with us for a week or two after the babies are born." Kat drummed her nails on the table and tried to focus on that when Lucius soured and Narcissa light up like a lightbulb. The house wasn't that small.

"Of course!" Narcissa said instantly. Lucius tried to smile, but he only managed to turn his frown into a neutral expression. "Do you mean it?"

"If you're not out by February, I'm legally evicting you." Kat smirked when Lucius groaned at the word February. That made her look forward to this a little bit more.

Ron was sweating like a pig. The fact that he could tell Astoria knew made him even more nervous. He shouldn't have invited everyone into the room. Percy's wife reminded him of Aunt Muriel.

"Hurry up," Daphne said when he froze in the middle of the hospital room and everyone quieted down. "I think he's pooping."

Mum quickly took Reid, but Ron felt like he couldn't move until he started to whine. The smell hit him just as he got down on one knee.

Astoria smiled and clapped her hands together, so at least that was going well. Ron gulped as she started crying. Any day now… "Not as glamourous as I had hoped but… Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Years from now, he forgot about the poop, about Daphne ruining the "surprise", and about Audrey's oblivious disapproval that this didn't happen at least ten months ago. All he remembered was the pure joy in Astoria's voice. The love of his life just agreed to marry him.

Thank you gr8rockstarrox and Ern Estine 13624 for reviewing!

gr8rockstarrox: Well, Alaric is tied, which is less hated than Castor. ;) Me and my dad are like that too, but we don't really mind it… :P

And thank you guys for all the support! I remember when this fic wasn't very popular and now it has over 100 favorites and 150 followers! Thank you!