A/N: Please feel free to comment. Thank you all for your support and I hope you all will like the story in the end!
********Severus********
They stayed all day. Finally, Severus had to beg them to at least go home and change and eat something. They were all in their expensive clothes and most likely uncomfortable. While he appreciated all of their support, he also knew that they had lives too and there wasn't much for them to do here. His wife was somewhat stable but not out of the woods yet. He was so tired. And looking after the triplets just made Severus yearn for Hermione even more. He couldn't help but think she should be doing all of this stuff with him. Learning how to hold and feed them properly. As well as changing their diapers. Severus tried hard not to shed tears as he cared for his children.
The healer and assistants cast sympathetic eyes towards him. Most people knew both him and his wife, and if not personally, they knew of their efforts in the war and whatever stories made it in the Daily Prophet. It was too much. As the hour grew late, Severus sat in his private room, holding his children. "Well my loves, your mother has somewhat stabilized. But the fight isn't over yet. I hope you don't mind that I haven't named you. I'm….I'm waiting for your mother. She has looked forward to meeting you all. Would you like to hear the song she sang to you all? At the time I did not realize it was a lullaby... but I remember the melody clearly." He sang until they fell asleep. His heart was warm yet full of fear. What if she didn't make it?
At this thought, Severus knew he had to see her. After a rather pleading conversation with the healer, he marched into her room. She was…..different, than he remembered. Her once pronounced belly was a lot smaller now and she was a lot paler than her natural coloring. Gingerly, he took a hold of her hand, bringing her limp fingers to his lips. "Our children are lovely Mia. Strong and healthy. You did a great job. I'm proud to have married such a powerful witch and caring mother. I just need you to get better so that you can see them for yourself." Severus sighed and leaned forward, stroking her cheek and kissing her forehead. "I know you are tough my love, you're gonna pull through. There's no way fate is this cruel. I have to believe that."
He stayed with her for a long time, simply holding her hand. And then when the hour late the healers tried to make him go home but he refused. In fact, he arranged for a new private room that allowed Severus to look after the triplets and his wife at the same time. Plus, there was a small part of him that believed their close proximity might encourage Hermione to wake up. The next morning Severus was jolted awake by a healer informing him that Hermione was being transferred to another room for her final surgery. A surgery that would determine whether she lived or died. After that, it was a waiting game. Severus sagged in his chair, body stiff and his heart sore. He sent a prayer to whoever would listen that Hermione would make it. Right as he was finishing up, one of the babies started crying and he jumped to his feet. "Awww of course, it's my beautiful little girl," he cooed, noticing her brothers starting to make frowny faces as well. Severus knew this could happen. If one cried the others soon followed. He might have been overwhelmed had he not also been grateful for the distraction.
"I'm sorry did we come at a bad time?" A soft feminine voice called out. Severus turned around to see Vonn, Remus and Teddy entering the room. "Lied and said I was family," she explained. At his quizzical look she laughed. "Well they don't know if you have any black ancestors. I dared them to call me out on it."
Severus laughed and oddly enough the baby in his arms stopped crying. "Well what do you know….? Did you like Daddy's laughing little one?"
"More like shocked into silence," Remus teased, coming forward to view the babies up close. Vonn and Teddy followed.
Vonn gasped, "Aww they're even prettier up close. This one," she pointed to the larger baby boy, "looks just like you Severus. Look at that little sneer. Adorable." Teddy garbled something to the infant, and pouted when the little bundle just stared back. He spoke again and was quite put out about the non reply.
Remus laughed and pinched his son's cheeks. Causing him to laugh and bat away his hand, "So, have you named them yet?"
At this he frowned, "I…..I've been waiting to see how my wife fairs. We discussed names, but…."
"You don't want to do it without her," Vonn nodded in understanding, she used her free hand to rub his back gently. "Keep your head up Severus. Hermione is a strong witch and I have faith that she'll pull through. Where is she, by the way?"
Severus's eyes were cloudy with sadness, but he held back his tears. "She's in surgery now. The last one apparently. I won't know what's up until after. I hate that there's nothing more I can do. I wish that blast would have hit me and not her."
Remus grimaced, "I wished things like that too when Tonks died. But we can't change the past. All we can do is have hope for a brighter future. Dora died instantly, but right now, you still have a chance. Don't give up on her yet, she needs all the support you can muster. The healers here are skilled and they're doing their best. You need to focus on these triplets okay?"
Severus knew what the wolf and his witch was telling him was correct, but he couldn't help but to feel helpless and like all hope was lost. But as he gazed at his sons and his daughter, he knew he had to keep his hope alive for their sakes. "Thank you guys for coming." This morning started off overwhelmingly, but he was glad that at this stage of his life he had real friends and family to lean on.
