Thank you for leaving comments. I doubt I'd have continued without the encouragement. I had this little chapter ready so although it's short I thought it was a good time to write in another important character. I hope this isn't going too slowly or starting to feel repetitive? Let me know : )

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Ron looked into the shimmery cloud surrounding his wife, searching for that rise and fall of her chest, comforted that she was still breathing. He was allowed to reach in to touch her hand, stroke her hair, rub her tummy. But it wasn't the same. Even in her sleep she would have responded to his touch, a sigh or snuggling closer but she was completely unresponsive. No, suspension wasn't the same as sleeping, he thought sadly. She was far away from him right now and he was just clinging to her physical form lying peacefully before him.

He spent the first few hours just watching her, thinking over everything that had happened in the last week. The only interruptions were the steady stream of healers tending to her, checking on her and the baby. Monica had said the first day or so of the healing plan consisted of letting Hermione rest and replenishing that which had been depleted. She was receiving a concoction of various potions every hour.

As the sky grew dark outside he was again wondering how he'd get through the next three days. It was a lonely place to be but he couldn't be anywhere else. There was a kerfuffle on the other side of the hospital room door, he drew his wand and cast homenum revelio. Everly had evidently stopped someone from entering. Wand raised, Ron cast a spell allowing him to listen.

"Get out of the way you, prat. You know me for goodness sake. You were at my house for Harry's birthday."

"I'm sorry Mrs Potter, you're not approved to enter…" Everly was explaining.

Ron opened the door and laughed at his flustered little sister but didn't lower his wand. "How did I get the scar on my right butt cheek?"

"Trying to ride your toy broom backwards when you were 7, you idiot." Ginny rolled her eyes exasperated.

"Everly, Ginny Weasley is approved to visit. I'll confide the code with her." Ron stepped aside and bowed dramatically allowing Ginny to enter the room. "Nice work Auror, you're a braver man than me." he whispered to Everly who's mouth curved into a trace of a smile before standing to attention again.

"You idiot" she repeated but her laughter stopped abruptly as her eyes fell on Hermione resting on the bed. "Oh Ron. She's so pale. Is she going to be ok?"

"Yes, I think so…Thank you for coming." She pulled him into a hug which he returned gratefully. "Merlin Gin, you're massive, I can barely get my arms around you!"

"Shut up you git! I've still got ages to go. At least 3 weeks." She sighed, rubbing her round baby bump.

"Merlin you might pop before that" he teased "Come sit down, get comfy." Ron guided her to the visitors chair he'd transfigured into a plush armchair. If he was going to sit on it all week it might as well be comfortable. He conjured another and sat beside her, both facing Hermione's bed.

"I had to come see you both. News of the attack is all over the evening edition of the Daily Prophet. I had to negotiate with Mum and Dad for this visiting slot, they'll be here first thing in the morning."

"Thank you. It means a lot." He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.

"I guess I should say…congratulations?" she asked tentatively.

Ron looked momentarily confused. "Oh…was it Harry or Mum who filled you in?" He asked, almost disappointed. He'd…well they'd…been looking forward to telling family their news but obviously with everything that's happened the news was spreading. Poor Hermione he felt a bit sad these moments were being taken from her. Another thought suddenly occurred to him and panic rose in his chest "Shit is wasn't in the Daily Prophet?!".

"No no it wasn't. No one told me. I'm visiting you in the Family Wing, Ron. At least I hope my guess is right? Hermione is pregnant?"

Tears pricked his eyes again…Merlin he was so bloody emotional this week. He couldn't answer but nodded eagerly.

"Is she going to be ok? Is the baby ok?" Ginny asked, looking worriedly back to Hermione's sleeping form unconsciously rubbing her bump.

Ron kept nodding, fearful of speaking and opening the floodgates.

"I'm so very happy for you both big brother. I was wondering when you'd get on with it." she teased.

"In all honesty Gin, we'd given up hope of having our own family." He took a deep breath and paused a moment before forcing himself to make eye contact with her. "After the war, you know we were all assessed by healers?" Ginny nodded, her eyes widening. "Healers told Hermione there was very little chance of conceiving. I knew when we got together as teenagers that being with her meant not having a family of my own, but I was ok with that. We did…umm…try. We tried for years, specialist healers worked with us after we got married and decided we were ready. But it didn't happen. In fact, we gave up trying last year, deciding to be happy just being us. Long story short, some deep ancient magic worked its…err…magic and now we're somehow pregnant and I've never felt so happy and scared in my entire life." He laughed a bit flustered. Hermione was right it felt good to talk about it with others and he doubted she'd mind him confiding in Ginny…or Harry. He knew a difficult conversation with Harry was still to come.

"Ron" Ginny gasped "Ron…I'd no idea. I'm so sorry. Why did you let us make stupid jokes about yous getting pregnant? Gods I'm so bloody stupid."

"Aw come on Gin, that's what us Weasley's do to each other…it's only a bit of fun." he laughed trying to ease her guilt.

"Not about the really serious stuff Ron. You should have said! Why didn't Harry tell me?"

"He didn't' know." Ron replied sheepishly.

"What?! I thought you two shared everything…well within reason obviously."

"You were there. Harry was a total mess after the war, all that guilt he took on, blaming himself for everyone who died or got hurt. Which was ridiculous bullshit. Hermione…and I decided we didn't want to add another thing to the list that he could feel guilty about."

"Gods you're right Ron. He would have been devastated and he'd have blamed himself. Does he know about this news now?"

"I saw him briefly at The Burrow after the attack. I had a bit of a breakdown, I thought we'd lost the baby, Gin. He knows Hermione is pregnant but I didn't get to explain it properly. Not like this. We're long overdue a heart to heart when he gets home from this mission. I hope he's not upset we kept this from him."

"Harry could never be upset with you Ron. It's bloody annoying how much my husband loves you" she laughed "we both do, don't tell any others but you're my favourite big brother." she whispered mischievously.

"Well that's obvious! Although it's slim pickings from us lot." He laughed. "I'm sorry he's gone again Ginny, it's my fault this time but I couldn't leave her." he admitted suddenly serious.

"Of course you couldn't leave her here on her own, Ron! Can you tell me what happened yet? I very much doubt it's your fault he's on a mission!" Ginny was well used to being in the dark about her Auror husband and brother's missions.

"Sorry, not yet. All I can say is that he's gone after the bastard that attacked us. The one who's put Hermione in here". He looked to the floor sadly.

Ginny smiled gratefully. "Of course he did. I knew when he got your patronus it was personal, you sounded…desperate." Ron didn't know what to say to that. He had been desperate. Desperate to save his wife and unborn child, desperate for revenge. They settled into a comfortable silence. "Oh I nearly forgot. Mum sent dinner for you and she went by Willow Cottage and packed a bag for you. Want me to help you unpack?" She pulled a tiny suitcase out of her purse and cast engorgio to return it to its actual size.

"She thinks of everything that women. Just the food please, I'll get sorted with the rest later. Thanks Gin."

"No worries Ron."