Hello My lovelies!

I apologize for keeping all of you waiting for this chapter. Real life caught up to me, and I just didn't have time for writing my stories. However, alot has happened since I last wrote for you guys. I have since gotten married, and changed careers. I am now working in a field that I love, and have decided to pick up my stories again. Therefore, I will be picking back up with this story, and going to the others as inspiration strikes. Hope you all love this chapter!

**Sev's POV**

Days passed, and Harry and I hardly moved from the bed. I woke and turned to look at my sleeping mate in my arms, and smiled softly. How I had proven to the universe to be deserving of this beautiful male in my arms, I did not know, but I wouldn't question anything, not when I was finally happy. After that initial joining, Harry had gone into heat, which helped us come closer together. He had barely had a few moments to string a coherent thought before the heat rose up again, and we were joined together once more. A small part of me wondered if James Potter would even approve of me and his son being together.

However, thinking of Harry's family caused other thoughts to rise up to the forefront of my mind. The fact that the smaller males uncle had molested him, and that the boy's aunt hadn't even tried to stop him, caused my anger to become palpable. Harry was a sweet boy, and though I hadn't been very nice to him when he was younger, it was all part of the ruse. I knew that I couldn't just tell Harry when he was younger that he was my mate, he had to choose me of his own free will. However, for the choice of his virginity being taken away from him, when he hardly even knew anything about love in the first place, it made me very angry. I could barely contain my own anger, and I found that I was failing miserably, as the small form in my arms stirred, and Harry woke from his sleep.

**Harry's POV**

As I slowly woke up for the day, I took stock of everything around me. I felt incredibly sore, like I had played a week long Quidditch match, and had not gotten a break in between the days. However, it was a good kind of sore, it reminded me that I was claimed, that I was loved, and as I examined this further, I felt the warmth of arms around my waist, and a broad chest against my back. I smiled for a moment, before I felt the waves of anger roiling off the male behind me. I slowly shifted, alerting Severus to the fact that I was awake. I turned toward him, and opened my eyes, staring blearily at my mate.

It had always thrown me over the previous days waking up to a younger, less formidable Snape- no Severus, I had to correct myself- as I was used to him being older, and with a crooked nose. He was handsome like this, not that he hadn't been before, but there was less stress in the face before me. I swallowed hard though when I noticed the anger in those dark eyes, even though he had tried to keep the anger off his facial expression. I noticed that lately that Severus had been trying to treat me a little better now that he knew I was his mate. However, the anger threw me, and I wondered what my mate could be so upset about. "Sev? Are you alright?" I asked curiously, reaching up to brush my hand over his cheek, watching as my dominant mate turned to the touch, and closed his eyes in pleasure. "Why are you so angry, Sev?" I asked, though I had a sneaking suspicion that I already knew the answer.

I heard a deep sigh, before I saw Severus run his tongue over his lips, and he spoke carefully so as not to upset me. "I am upset, my little mate, because of what you confided in me days ago. That your uncle had violated you, and that you were afraid of my older self because of this. Do not misunderstand me, I am not upset that you were afraid of me, I am upset at the terrible wrong that was done to you." He said, before bringing a hand up, and wrapping his larger hand around mine. The warmth of his cheek against my palm, and the warmth of his palm against the back of my hand, was reassuring. I swallowed thickly, and processed what Severus had said, before I spoke slowly, attempting to reassure my mate.

"Severus, I appreciate, and love, that you are upset for my situation with my family, but I really wish that you would let it go. There is nothing to be done for it now, they are out of my lives now. As far as I am concerned, the only family I have, is you, and my parents. I don't want to think about them anymore, and I wish you would put it out of your mind as well." I watched as Severus listened to me speak, before he slowly nodded, though the look in his eyes told me that he wouldn't be letting this go anytime soon. Smiling softly at him, I scooted toward him, and buried my face into his shoulder, and moved my arms around his chest, hearing a soft inhalation as he was caught off guard by my actions. I felt Severus wrap his arms around me, and enjoyed the touch. I was finally loved, I had someone who would always love me no matter what happened, and I wouldn't be abandoned, or abused anymore.

Weeks later...

After my fourth trip to the bathroom to empty my stomach of contents that weren't there, I finally decided that there had to be something wrong. I leaned against the wall, and tried to catch my breath, wondering to myself what it could possibly be that was causing this. I wondered if maybe I was getting sick. When I looked up, I noticed Severus standing in the doorway, his trademark black robes blown out and settling as if he had hurried into our bathroom to see what was going on. In the weeks past, I had moved all of my things into his quarters, and I had begun living with him. It wasn't uncommon for us to share the occasional soft touch, or for him to come up behind me while I was studying, and observe me, but the concern in his eyes had me slightly afraid as well. "Harry, are you alright? Thats the fourth time you have rushed to the bathroom this morning."

I swallowed thickly, and shrugged, however, before I could speak, my stomach was clenching again. I lurched forward, and retched into the toilet once more, though nothing came out except bile. I coughed as the clenching came to an end, and I was left panting again. I felt cool hands brushing my sweaty hair back from my forehead, before the edges of my vision turned black, and rushed in on me, causing me to fall back against my mate as consciousness left me.

**Severus's POV**

As Harry passed out, and fell back against me, I wrapped my arms around his back and under his knees, lifting him up. I was very concerned, and decided that it was time to take Harry to the infirmary. I needed to know what was wrong with my small mate, and I needed to know now. I cradled the small body close to my chest, and walked quickly to the infirmary, ignoring the looks I got as I strode with Harry in my arms. When I reached the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey turned to look at me, before springing to action, and rushing toward me. "What happened?" I heard her ask, as she intercepted me, and directed me to lay Harry on one of the empty beds.

"He was sick several times this morning, he hasn't been able to keep anything down all morning, not food or water. I think he may have a bug." I saw Madam Pomfrey get a rather thoughtful look on her face, before she shoo'ed me away from Harry's bedside, and closed the curtain. When I tried to pull the curtain back, I saw that she had spelled them to remain closed, and figured that that was her way of telling me to stay out until called. Sighing softly, I stepped back, and began pacing the length of the hospital wing, worried for my mates health, and wondering what could possibly be effecting Harry in this manner.

About half an hour, to an hour later, the curtains opened, and I saw Madam Pomfrey emerge with a rather concerned look upon her face. I immediately knew something was wrong. I charged forward, and met her before she had even took two steps away from my mate. "Is he alright, will he be ok? What does he have?" I demanded, looking between her and my sleeping mate.

"Mr. Snape! You need to settle, if you will not, I will be forced to make you settle down." She said, before she exhaled softly, and began answering my questions. "There is nothing wrong with Mr. Potter, he is actually in the peak of health."

"THEN WHY IS HE SICK?" I roared, already tired of her beating around the bush.

"MR. SNAPE, IF YOU DARE RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME AGAIN, I WILL THROW YOU OUT OF MY HOSPITAL WING, IS THAT CLEAR?" Poppy demanded, watching as I settled down, before speaking again. "Mr. Potter is sick, because of a more natural reason, and I believe that the worst of it will be over within the next few weeks." She said, a soft smile beginning to play on her lips, as I gave her a rather confused look, not understanding what she was getting at. "Oh Severus, don't tell me you don't understand what I am getting at." She said incredulously, before she started laughing. She reached forward, and took my hands in hers, and looked me in the eyes, her eyes shining with happiness. "You and Mr. Potter have been blessed with the gift of life, your partner is currently with child, Mr. Snape." She said, taking in my facial expressions, as they ran the full gamut between shock, to surprise, and finally unbridled joy. One thing was for sure, when Harry woke up, we would have alot to talk about, and I was not entirely sure how Harry would feel about any of this.

Well there you have it lovelies, hopefully that was worth the wait... Let me know what you thought, reviews and cookies are always welcome!

Eternally yours,

Estrella Krushina