A/N Thanks M for beta checking this. I made some last minute changes so blame me if there are any errors.
Reviews greatly appreciated.
It being a new month, Albus knew it prudent to be cautious. Still, he looked apologetic as he entered Minerva's rooms with the potion. Though her gaze immediately fell on it and remained there, Minerva made no effort to take the vial from him. It was several minutes before she finally spoke.
"I know from the start you said that you wouldn't have children, but I always believed that you would come around to the idea eventually. Something would happen to make the danger pass … or at least to make you think that the danger had passed. Or one day you would just all of a sudden realize how incomplete our lives were without one.
"I used to fantasize about what our daughter would be like. Her hair would be auburn like yours, but thankfully her nose would be straight like mine. She would be taller than me, but not as tall as you - an amalgam of sorts. Her fingers would be long and thin – good piano playing fingers. I could tell you every last detail about our little girl. I could even tell you what her voice would sound like, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot even begin to imagine what a child with Kettleburn or Alastor would be like."
Listening to her talk, Albus wanted to believe that he hadn't realized how much he was hurting her, but that wasn't true. He had known. That was why he had finally insisted on ending their relationship earlier in the year. As much as it pained him, the time had come to be stalwart. For her sake and his, he had to stop indulging in moments of weakness like the night before.
"Minerva, I wish that there were some way that we could have what we want. I really do."
"Do you? Do you really?"
Having already caused enough damage and assuming the question to be a rhetorical one, he left her to the potion.