AUTHORS NOTE: For those of you who read my other fics, you may have seen this note already. But I want to apologise for the long delay in updating Sins of the Father and many of my other stories. I've been in a very dark place over the past few weeks, and it's made it difficult for me to find the energy or the will to write. I hold all of my reviewers and readers in such high esteem that I felt it would be better to wait until I felt more human and perhaps give you a shorter chapter, than give you a longer chapter that was sub par when you've waited so long for it.

At times I've been that low over the past few weeks that I was considering things that I haven't in a long time, and it was only the fact that I had promised you all I would leave nothing unfinished, that got me out of bed and stopped me from doing something drastic.

So here's the next instalment of Sins of the Father for you all, and I'm sorry again for the delay.

But I also want to thank you all for the constant support you give me, especially those who responded to this authors note already on Father Mine and NTSG. It really does mean more than you know to have you all there for me when I need it.

"My apologies-" He began, but she quickly stopped him. "Don't be sorry. I know just how you feel" She said, and her expression showed nothing but honesty. Looking to the overly large cot ,with the sleeping girl in he spoke softly. "Yes, I suppose you do"

She nursed him for a while longer, but soon there was soft contented noises coming from the boy, and he finally released her nipple as he became lethargic. Severus fought a blush again, and averted his gaze for a moment while she righted herself with another wry chuckle at his discomfort. She threw a small towel over her shoulder and gently rubbed the young boy's back as she paced the room.

"When he's done feeding, you want to rub his back gently like this, it'll get his wind up and helps to prevent colic. He may spit up a bit, hence the towel, but that's normal, they can gorge themselves a bit sometimes" She said wryly.

Sure enough after a moment there was a soft burp from the baby, along with a small amount of milk which she gently wiped away.

"Here, you want to get him to sleep, then we'll put him down with Rose to settle"

"How do I...?" He asked with a gulp, as he tenderly took his son back into his arms.

"Just...comfort him...show him that you love him" She said softly, as though she was worried how he'd take such an asinine declaration. Yet as he looked at the precious bundle in his arms, he knew he'd have no problem following her orders.

Cradling the boy to his chest, he dropped a kiss upon his head, heedless of having company and began speaking softly as he gently paced the room, rocking him slightly as he walked, just as she had done moments before.

Hermione watched fondly as the stoic man, whispered endearments to the small child that he cradled against his chest, pacing the room so elegantly as he soothed and rocked the boy into slumber. He held him like he was made of fairy glass.

A large yawn cracked the boys face as he settled comfortably into his fathers arms.

Severus sat down gingerly when the boy relaxed into sleep and for the longest time he just sat beside her on the sofa, watching his son sleep in his arms. He didn't know how long they sat there in silence, just watching the boy sleep in his arms, though when he turned to her he noticed she was watching the young boy almost wistfully too, until she met his gaze and offered him a small smile. "Let's put him down now, you look ready to drop yourself" She whispered over the sleeping boy, and his look showed his great reluctance of that idea.

"It's wonderful to hold them while they sleep sometimes, but it's not a habit you want to get into too much, he needs to be able to sleep on his own sometimes, unless you want to try your hand at attachment parenting, but somehow I don't think it'd agree with you" She said with a wry smile.

Nodding he accepted her words, and followed her over to the cot.

"Will she be alright with another baby?" He asked as he took in the fitfully sleeping Rose, not nearly as still as the boy in his arms and noted Hermione gave him a strange look when she met his gaze, making him wonder if he'd committed some unknown faux pas and insulted her child, before she answered."She'll be fine, trust me, there's plenty of space" Hermione assured him as they settled him in the cot beside Rose, and Severus conceded the point once more with a feeling of worthlessness, for it was indeed a large and expensive looking cot.

The boy didn't awaken, and the fussing girl thankfully quieted a little as the sleeping boy was placed next to her. Despite being a few months older, she was not much bigger, if at all. In fact, they were very similar in size. Then again Alice had been tall and he was 6'3. Hermione was 5'2, so he supposed it was little surprise his son was already taller than her daughter.

oOo

Looking at the pale man beside her, and the now peacefully sleeping infant beside her own, Hermione made a snap decision. There was no way that he would usually accept charity, she knew that he was too proud for it and she respected his character so much that she wouldn't expect him to, but she could see the devoted father in him. The one who hovered over her, held his new son tight to his chest as though he may be snatched at any moment, and glared daggers at a tub of sudocrem. He would give up everything he is, or was, for this boy.

And she decided she wouldn't allow it.

Especially after the unfair lot in life he'd been dealt. He was a good man at heart, underneath all that snark and he deserved so much better. She wasn't certain what his exact circumstances were, but it was clear from the way he was dressed, shabby robes and holes in his socks, that he was bordering on destitute, if not there already. It didn't surprise her, with the abominable laws that had been put into place. Laws that she had been fighting tooth and nail to repeal. Though she felt no shortage of guilt for not checking in on him before now. Of course she'd sent letters to him, but his replies had always been short and to the point, mentioning nothing about his circumstances and after all...why would he?

She wanted to help him, but not at the expense of what remained of his pride. She could tell that it had cost him to come to her, and looking at him now it was clear that his pride was probably one of the few things he had left, yet he'd instantly cast it aside for the sake of his son. Gryffindor sentiments would do her no good here she knew, If she wanted to help him, truly help him without losing the man he was, she'd just have to be a little more Slytherin about it.

When Severus wasn't looking at her, she quietly conjured a bottle of baby powder from the changing room, then accidentally on purpose, knocked it off the side table. Right onto Snape. A nonverbal charm ensured the lid came off, coating the man in the stuff.

"Oh Severus, I'm soo sorry" She quickly ushered him out of the room, towards her bathroom, speaking in apologetic tones. She began removing his tatty outer robe as she spoke to him, "I'm such a klutz, pregnancy hormones you know, they have me all off balance. Please use my shower-" She didn't miss the sudden tension that shot through his frame then, so quickly added "-Or my bath, and I'll wash your robes for you in the washing machine, cleaning charms are terrible with baby powder and on top off all that blood too, it's the least I can do, I'm so so sorry Severus."

Outwardly he grudgingly assured her with a scowl that it was fine, but internally couldn't believe his luck. He'd originally felt his gut lurch when she mentioned a shower, but the thought of a warm bath and properly clean clothes was very appealing, enough so that he allowed himself to be cajoled into the bathroom. Though first he sent a cautious look to the sleeping children in the cot.

"He'll be safe with her Severus, I promise" She reassured him in a soft voice. Though when he still looked concerned she added. "I have lots of wards and monitoring charms attached to the cot, I can attach them to your wand too if you'd like?" He nodded and she copied the charms to the cot and attached them to his wand, before ushering him into the bathroom.

She gestured towards the bath, and with a mumbled spell steaming hot water began to fill it, with soft foaming bubbles that were scented lightly of mint of all things. He wondered if it was a scent she favoured, or something she'd conjured just for him. "Use whatever you like, towels, toiletries and take as long as you need. It's been one hell of a day for you Severus, and then I go ahead and make it worse by spilling powder all over you" A flick of her wand summoned some clothes from what appeared to be a bedroom. "You may as well put these on while you wait for your clothes to dry" She handed him some soft sleeping trousers, in dark grey thankfully, along with a plain grey jersey shirt. "They were Rons, so they should fit but might need tightening around the waist a bit" She said with a sad look. "Leave your other clothes in the hamper, it's connected to the one next to the washing machine and I'll get them washed too, no doubt all that filth is from Alice's home" She asked, giving him a convenient way to explain away the state of his shabby clothes.

He cleared his throat. "Indeed...it was, quite the state" He said cautiously and she tssked as she ushered him towards the bath. "Take your time, I put a roast in the oven earlier. You will stay for dinner won't you?" She batted her eyelids.

His stomach leapt into his throat at the thought, but he made to decline before she continued to speak. "I know you're probably busy but I'd really appreciate the adult company if I'm honest... Do you mind? Can your plans wait?" She asked him and as she sounded almost hopeful, thanking all the gods he cautiously nodded to her before responding in what he hoped was a nonchalant voice. "I have nothing pressing that cannot wait until tomorrow, if it is your desire"

Well. Technically it wasn't a lie.

She beamed at him. A real honest to goodness smile. And it almost disconcerted him, because he couldn't remember anyone looking at him in such a way before.

"Thank You, I do appreciate it. Take your time anyway, the stress from today alone must be weighing on your muscles. Like I said, help yourself to any toiletries, I feel terrible about making such a mess of you, on top of the day you've had"

And with that after a quick glance over to the babies she left him, to attend to their dinner.

As soon as she left he shut and warded the door behind him, after his own glance to the children. His fingers tightened around the soft fabric in his hands, and uncaring of the previous owner, brought the clothes to his face and inhaled the clean scent of laundry detergent as he felt the soft fabric against his face.

Fingers digging into the fabric as though it was stitched with goblin gold, he looked at the large claw footed tub now filled to the brim with steaming hot water and a soft cloud of bubbles. Vaguely he could hear Hermione downstairs, opening the oven and then the sound of the cutting board as she no doubt began to prepare some vegetables to go alongside the promised roast.

For the second time that day, he broke down and wept.