A/N Thanks again M for taking the time to beta.

Poppy frowned at the results of the test that she had just performed. It didn't make sense. The baby's heart rate and respiration had returned to normal levels, but she hadn't done anything. "Why would-"

"She's dead isn't she? That's why I can't feel her anymore – isn't it?"

Minerva was staring at her breathlessly. Realizing that her confused frown had no doubt been misunderstood, Poppy shook her head. "The baby is fine, dear. It worked itself up into such a frenzy before, it no doubt exhausted itself, that's all."

"I don't believe you. There is something you aren't telling me."

Minerva was too perceptive at times. There was something wrong with her little girl – something that Poppy wouldn't be able to fix. But now wasn't the time to get into that. "The baby is fine. Listen." Poppy cast a spell to amplify the sound of the baby's heartbeat.

More tears, happy ones finally, filled Minerva's eyes. Once Minerva had calmed, Poppy went to end the incantation, but Minerva stopped her. "No! Please leave it."

Seeing no harm, Poppy acquiesced.

A number of tests later, Poppy found herself no more knowledgeable than when Minerva had first entered the Hospital Wing. "I don't know what caused it – too much stress would be my guess - but whatever it was, it seems to have passed. I want to keep you here a few days to be absolutely certain, but I can't find anything wrong with you or the baby."

"She's going to be all right?"

Poppy hesitated a moment. Deciding the Minerva was sure to find out the truth in a few more months, she corrected her patient with a tentative smile. "He's going to be all right."

"He?" Minerva repeated the word in something between horror and wonder, as if the idea had never occurred to her.

"He." Poppy nodded.

Minerva cringed. "Almost everything I bought today was pink or yellow."

Poppy couldn't resist. "Not red and gold?" More seriously, she cautioned Minerva. "It's a bit early still to be…"

Minerva flinched and her hand moved to rest protectively on her still only slightly protruding stomach.

"…there are a lot of things that could still go wrong. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves."

Minerva nodded. Poppy's words seemed to have deflated her excitement.

"It might be a good idea for the baby if you tried to spend as much time as possible in your animagus form, but right now I think the best thing for the both of you would be some rest." Finishing her suggestion, Poppy produced a small vial from a pocket.

Considering the circumstances around her last suggestion of a sleeping potion, Poppy wasn't surprised to see a look of resistance on Minerva's face. Poppy tried to assure her. "It's a very mild potion - just something to help you get to sleep. If you start to have any more pains or discomfort, you will wake."

Poppy gave her another nudge. "Rest really would be the best thing for the baby right now."

Minerva still seemed hesitant, but she tipped back the potion.

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Kettleburn rushed through the Hospital Wing doors. He saw Pomfrey across the room, standing over an occupied bed.

"Poppy, Albus is in his office. You have to –"

Kettleburn stopped short as Poppy turned toward him, allowing him a glimpse of the sedated form she had been tending to.

He was an arse, but even he could only be so much of an arse. His voice was subdued when he asked, "She miscarried?"

Apparently Poppy didn't realize that even he had his limitations because there was quite the bite to her response. "Not yet." She gave him a quick once over with her eyes before proclaiming, "You don't look ill to me. So Albus is in his office and told you about Minerva and what? You've come to watch?"

Kettleburn shook his head. Suddenly Albus's injuries didn't seem so serious. He would just take care of them himself. "Never mind."

""""""""""""""""""""

Waking, Minerva wondered if Poppy had misled her about the strength of that potion or if her exhaustion was her own. Before finally willing herself to open her eyes, she listened for that wonderfully reassuring sound – the heart beat of her little boy. So much for fifteen years of hopes and dreams.

Less assuring was the absence of Albus once she opened her eyes. She had been so sure that she would wake to find him there, hovering by her bedside.

Minerva was disappointed to not see Albus at her bedside, but she quickly chided herself – it wasn't fair of her to have expected him to stay until she awoke. No doubt he had returned, been informed of her condition and the potion that would preclude her from waking until morning, and he had gone about his business. He had far too many matters to attend to to be squandering time just watching her sleep. Still, it would have been nice – especially after the way he had left the night before.

He had said it was a very important meeting. And she knew it must have been for him to leave like that, but still...

The flowers that he had left were a nice gesture. They were far and away the largest, most exquisite arrangement that she had ever received.

As soon as Poppy approached, Minerva inquired, "Albus isn't about?"

Poppy helped her to a sitting position in the bed and began fluffing her pillows to better support her. "He's in his office, but he's given orders not to be disturbed under any circumstances."

Minerva couldn't believe it. Surely the request didn't apply to her. "He actually said that to you?"

"Not personally. He told Argus. Speaking of which – aren't the flowers Argus brought lovely? I think someone has an admirer!"

"What flowers?" Minerva asked. She only saw the one arrangement.

Poppy gave her a concerned glance. She shined her wand in Minerva's eyes before pointing out the arrangement sitting between them.

"You mean they aren't from Albus?"

"He hasn't been by yet today."

"But he was here last night." Minerva refused to phrase it as a question. "What time did he get back from his meeting?"

Poppy didn't seem to realize the importance of her words. "That meeting was so short; I half wonder if he even went to it. He was back, holed up in his office, before I even had you asleep – and no, he hasn't been by."

"He…he didn't even come to ask about the baby?"

"No. Now Argus, on the other hand, has been hanging around outside that door all night wanting to hear how you were doing. You know, he is awfully fond of cats."

Poppy kept talking, but Minerva wasn't listening. She was absorbed in her own tumultuous thoughts.

"You are going to have a nice hot breakfast and then I want to give you another full exam. Now where are those elves with your breakfast tray?"

Certainly Albus had said things back in her rooms – very hurtful things – but she knew those things were only said in anger. He didn't really mean them. After fifteen years together, Minerva knew him better than that.

The things he had said in her rooms were actually progress. She hadn't been that unrealistic in her ideas about how this whole situation would play out. She had realized that Albus would be angry and hurt by her deception – how ever well intentioned. She just hadn't imagined that he would succeed at holding it in this long. Now that he had finally expressed his anger over the situation, they could get past it and begin moving forward.

He would be back - full of apologies for what he had said and for having had no choice but to have left. He would be back to check on her and the baby – and it would be soon. She knew he would. Just as soon as whatever urgent matter had called him away last night was resolved.

Whatever the emergency was, she knew it had to have been desperate. It had to have been,to call him away from her at a moment like that…and keep him away for so long.

She just couldn't figure out how exactly it was that he was making it right from his office. No matter, Albus would explain everything when he came back – which would be soon.

It had to be.

Returning from personally retrieving the tray, Poppy set it down before Minerva. "Eat."

Minerva shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

Poppy moved it closer, insisting. "Did I ask if you were hungry? Now eat."

A tap at the window drew the attention of both of them. A very large, very un-owl-like bird was waiting there.

Poppy gave a gasp. "What is that?"

Minerva frowned. "I think…I think it's a stork?"

"What the devil is it doing here?"

In answer, the stork opened its bill to reveal an assortment of parcels. It tapped at the window again, this time more insistently.

"Merlin's beard! It thinks it's an owl!"

Minerva recognized the logo on some of the parcels. "It's the rest of the items I bought while out with Filius."

Poppy crossed the room to open the window for the very agitated bird.

Recent disappointments and Poppy warnings the night before making her very unsure of the future, Minerva shook her head. "Don't let him in."