A/N: Hello again! I considered not updating at all in June but honestly, it was a bit of a cliffhanger so I didn't want to leave you hanging too long. We are inching closer and closer to [Redacted]'s birth! I haven't written much of that chapter but the two before that are 99% done.

Very much still developing the cryogenics angle. I have the storyline in my head, but I need to do some research about that and other stuff and not end up someone's watchlist haha (It is writing research only, Ma'am. I promise!)

Ginny woke up early when Harry stepped out of bed. She lay there for another moment, and heard how he opened the laptop again to check for updates. She sat up and pushed the pregnancy pillow to the side. She hated that it was taking her more effort even to just get out of bed.

She walked into the living room and Harry looked up.

"Did I wake you?" he asked.

"No," she lied. "I have to pee." That wasn't a lie. "Any news?" She nodded towards the laptop.

Harry shook his head. "I think they went to sleep late last night, and nothing has really moved since. It's somewhat reassuring."

She nodded and then walked off to the bathroom. When she returned, she took a moment to stretch.

"You're so sexy," he told her.

She paused mid-stretch to frown at him.

"You are!"

Between her messy hair, his old shirt and the bump, she wasn't quite sure where he had gotten the idea. She shook her head and walked to him.

"Curves in all the right places," he teased.

She offered him a judging look. "I think you left your caveman brain on."

"Oh, I can't find you sexy like this?" he told her.

She sat down beside him. "Apparently you can." She gestured towards him. "I don't feel sexy this early in the morning."

"It's a shame," he told her. "You should feel as sexy as you look."

She laughed at him. "I think you just like that I am wearing your shirt and that it is hiding your baby. Caveman," she ended in a whisper.

"Going from bodyguard to caveman. I've been demoted," he said with a pout.

She lifted her shirt to uncover her bump as she turned to him. Both of his hands covered her bump.

"You get sexier every day," he told her with a teasing eyebrow.

"I think I was at the height of sexiness when my boobs started getting bigger but I wasn't showing yet," she mused. "It's been going down since."

"That was good," he admitted. "And this is good too."

Ginny gave up. "Shall we watch the sunrise together?"

"That's a good idea."

Both of them walked to the kitchen to sit by the big window there. Ginny sipped her tea while they watched the sun hike into the sky.

"We should ask Robin, Charlotte or Amy for their notes from the class in the afternoon," Ginny said.

He nodded. "We'll just need to come up with an excuse why we weren't there."

"Just say I tripped and needed a check-up or something—it doesn't have to be complicated," she suggested.

He put his mug down on the counter and looked at her. "Alright. I think that's a believable excuse."

She gasped. "Rude!"

"It was your suggestion! I just agreed," he defended himself with a smirk.

She clutched her mug between her hands. "I have a conspiracy theory for you."

"Oh, let's hear it, Weasley. Maybe you can regain some points," he teased.

Ginny mindlessly stirred her soup at lunch as she tried to listen to Harry's phone call but the call wasn't loud enough and she couldn't really determine anything from his hums and short replies.

"That's good," Harry said. "Okay. Bye, dad."

"And?" she asked.

Harry put his phone down on the table. "Things are looking good. It seemed it was an empty threat. They are checking a few additional things to be absolutely sure, but we will likely be able to drive home tomorrow."

She sighed in relief. "That's good."

Harry smiled softly. "Yes. This new person was likely a bit over-eager or ambitious and their side put a stop to it." He picked up his spoon again. "There was no other communication, no attempts to enter any of our homes. Remus also couldn't find anything else from his investigation. It is quite reassuring."

"I understand that we are likely in the clear," Ginny told him. "But Tom Riddle will continue to be an issue, won't he?"

Harry nodded. "He prefers to stay under the radar rather than fight against us unless necessary. He is a dangerous man, and we want to take him down. Once he attacks, he resorts to extremes."

Ginny appreciated his honesty about it. She didn't want any coddling; she wanted the truth so she could be prepared. "I wish I could do something to protect her from all of it," she said with her hand on her bump. "This isn't a danger I have any grasp on."

Harry leaned towards her and caressed her cheek. "I won't let anything happen to her."

"I know." She breathed out, trying to let go of this new fear but she couldn't. "I just feel helpless about the situation. I hate that."

He pulled his chair a little closer and kissed her temple. "I understand." He put her free hand into both of his. "You're not totally helpless. You can always shoot them."

It was somewhere between a genuine suggestion and a joke but she could not smile.

"Is it enough?" she asked.

He sighed and shook his head slowly. "Being honest? I don't know. There are no guarantees. Doing this job has allowed me to protect myself and those important to me from a threat I would have to face anyway. I am glad I have that."

"Me too."

He leaned in and kissed her lips. "Tom Riddle will be a threat for as long as he breathes, but we don't know if he'll ever truly try to take us down. Perhaps not. We need to be prepared, but we can't assume it will happen." His gaze locked with hers. "Is it too much to ask you not to worry?

"Perhaps a bit," she replied softly. She shook her head to clear her mind. "Let's assume he won't jump out of the bushes and try to go after me or her. What if he kills you?" The moment she asked the question, she already regretted it.

Harry didn't flinch at it. "Then you—"

"No, I don't even want to talk about it." She pushed off her chair and walked to the living room.

He got up after her. "The risk of my job is there. Actual death is unlikely but not non-existent. I'm realistic about it and I knew that it could be difficult on a partner. I know it's something you have to bear too."

Ginny nodded softly.

"But when it came to it and you were in front of me… I knew I just had to take a chance, because you make me so happy." He stepped a little closer to her. "I also know you are one of the people that could handle the stress of it. You're tough, much tougher than you let on sometimes. I have a lot of confidence in you." He cupped her cheeks. "Right now this isn't fun. This weekend has been scary, and you know it scared me too. And you're pregnant which makes everything more worrying, and more intense for you and I know that isn't nice."

She pressed her lips together, keeping her gaze locked with his.

"But we'll be in a better spot, and we'll cope differently in the future. I don't intend to die, and I am not going to make stupid decisions. But if it comes between you or me, I'll always protect you. If I had to die to make sure our daughter was safe, I'd do it without a second thought." His thumb brushed against her cheek. "You're my family now, whether we planned that or not. I very much intend to live a long and happy life with you and our little family. I want that. But if I had to make a choice… that choice is already made."

A tear dropped down her cheek and she took a shuddering breath.

His arms were around her immediately. She clutched to him.

"I am really sorry that this happened. I wish it could just go away, but when facing reality…" he murmured.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." She looked up at him. "Even the thought of you…" She could not even say it. "When did we get to this point… where I'm not sure I can do this without you?"

"You can. You absolutely can," he told her, his hand caressing her hair in comfort. "You are Ginny Weasley."

"I don't want to."

He nodded, now looking tearful too. "Me neither."

She let her head drop against his chest. She breathed in slowly. She still held tight to him, and he rubbed her back.

"Can we get back to the part where we were teenagers joking around, uncomplicated?" she asked. "Although, it never was for you, was it?"

He shook his head lightly. "It did seem like a simpler time."

"It was." She looked up at him. "I'd do it if I didn't have to trade you. Not that you weren't an excellent best friend—I prefer this."

"I'm just happy in a world where I get to spend time with you," he told her. "Be each other's whatever, play stupid games."

She smiled, wiping her tears away. "I want to be your whatever." She shifted her weight. "I think I'll lie down for a bit."

"I'll be right there," he told her.

While Ginny lay down, she could hear him clear the table and click on his laptop. Then he walked in and got behind her. He wrapped his arms around her. She placed his hand to where the baby was kicking.

She closed her eyes and relaxed against him. Harry didn't speak, he just lay there with his arms comfortingly around her. She dozed off quicker than she expected and when she woke up, Harry had not moved.

She squeezed his hand and he entangled their fingers. "30 weeks."

"The holidays are going to be so stressful," he let out.

She chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I bet. And no drinking until the baby is out for you." She shook her head. "Definitely not like boys' night last month."

He groaned. "Oh, come on. It's not my fault that Seamus prefers to laugh instead of coming to help me while I'm at the bar asking for 'Gin Gin'!"

She laughed. "You were so happy to see me when you came home."

He shook his head as his forehead rested against her back. "Never again."

She turned around carefully.

"Before I forget," Harry said. He reached behind him and then he showed the otter plushy.

"You brought Mr Otter!?" she asked as she grabbed it from him.

He nodded. "Counts as essential in my defence, she insisted," he said with a poke to Ginny's belly.

She sat up a little and placed the plushy on her belly, resting over the curve. "Good."

Harry's gaze rested on her but neither of them moved to get out of bed.

"Good news," he said after a minute. "Since I am on duty to guard you around the clock right now, I'll get paid for it too."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah." Harry smiled. "I get paid to spend time with you."

She pursed her lips. "Like a sex worker?"

"Ginny!" He let himself drop on his back on the bed and laughed. "I promise you that's not a standard task." He shook his head. "I just wanted to tell you since a little extra money doesn't hurt."

"Free cottage, getting paid… I suppose it's not a bad bargain when I am here too," she teased, pushing against his shoulder with her finger.

He nodded. "I don't think it is."

Harry finished putting the last bag in the car and walked back in. Ginny escaped to the bathroom.

"We really don't have to clean anything?" she asked again.

"No." He shook his head again. "They'll come in and remove any traces of DNA or fingerprints. It'll be like we were never here."

"I can't decide if I find that impressive or scary," she muttered. "Do we have everything?"

He nodded. "Yes, I did my agency-mandated checklist." He bit back his smile. "And then my Ginny-mandated checklist, which was much more intense."

She beamed at him. "You need to tell the agency to take their checklists more seriously then."

"Ready?" he asked her.

She looked around for her phone.

"Back pocket."

She patted it. "Ha! Thanks, babe." She kissed his cheek and walked out to the car.

He shook his head and followed her out.

When they arrived home, they put down their items in the living room.

"I missed this place," Ginny let out. "Feels like home."

"It does," Harry agreed. "I am still happy we picked this one."

They took a few minutes to throw their dirty clothes in the laundry and the rest back in the closet. The remainder of the items they would get to later. They left again soon after and drove to the Potter home.

Harry unlocked the door with his key. "It's me!" he announced.

A moment later, his mum appeared and wrapped him in a hug. "It's good to see you." She released him and turned to Ginny. "Are you alright?" She hugged her too.

"I'm alright," Ginny said.

Harry walked in and found Sirius, Remus and Dora on the couch. He greeted them. His dad walked out of the kitchen with drinks and smiled at him.

Ginny appeared again too. "Hi."

Harry took her by her hand and led her to the couch. They sat down together.

"I hope you didn't get spooked too much," Remus said. "I'm sure that wasn't a nice experience."

Ginny smiled. "It wasn't great, but it could have been worse. I'm just glad nothing bad happened."

"Us too," James said.

"I am still pissed I couldn't join, they know I'd be motivated," Sirius muttered.

"That wasn't our choice," Lily said. "But…we don't want Peter to put something else on you."

Sirius scoffed. "He doesn't have the nerve."

Lily eyed Ginny. "I'm sure Harry has filled you in on most details, but do you have any more questions?"

"Yes, one," she said immediately.

Harry frowned at her. "Do you?"

She nodded and sat up a little straighter with a smile. "Pangolin."

His mother immediately looked like Christmas had come early. She sat down next to her husband. "We want to talk about it too."

Harry inhaled sharply. "It's not that deep!"

"It is a little bit," Sirius said. "You barely knew her but you trusted her. She'd know that was you if she ever saw it. I think it speaks volumes."

"I had such trouble not laughing when you were on our couch talking to Harry about pangolins," Lily told Ginny. "I have been wanting to tell you this for years."

Dora looked around between them. "Did you choose that name because of her?" She tilted her head. "That's adorable!"

Harry felt his cheeks burn. "I wasn't in love with her then. I just…" He looked at Ginny. "Actually, I don't know what I was thinking."

"You just thought I was so cool you wanted to be like me," Ginny joked. "It's sad you never managed." She pouted at him.

Dora chuckled. "Oh no, he could never."

"Oh, so we are ganging up on me now?" Harry complained. "After this very stressful weekend I had?"

"I am sure you had a terrible weekend spent with your girlfriend while we were out in the field doing the dangerous work", Remus told him with an amused shake of his head.

Lily's eyes flitted from Remus to Dora and back, and it was so quick Harry had almost missed it.

Ginny patted his leg. "Do we know more about the guy who sent the threat?" she asked the group.

James nodded. "He probably moved too quickly and Riddle will not have been pleased." He looked at Remus for a moment. "By the time we could check, there was no trace of him."

Ginny looked warily from James to Harry. "No trace…?"

"Riddle doesn't like rogue agents like that. It's too dangerous," Harry clarified.

Her eyebrows rose high. "You mean they took him out?"

"It's likely," Sirius confirmed. "And if they don't want you to find someone, you won't. I don't expect to find his body any time soon, but we are fairly certain he is no longer amongst the living—and it wasn't us."

Harry reached out and squeezed her knee in comfort, but she didn't seem too distraught by that bit of information.

"We'll get fries for dinner," James said. "Who wants what?"

"One of everything for Ginny," Harry joked. "Right?"

"I didn't want to say but I have been craving chicken nuggets, a cheeseburger and that spicy dip that comes with the wings," she let out immediately.

The room laughed and she chuckled along.

"I know it's bad, but I have had to repress so many cravings since Friday," she told them. "You'll eat the rest, right?" she asked Harry.

He nodded. "I've got to gain those sympathy pounds sometime, right?"

"You can have whatever you want," Lily told Ginny with a smile.

Ginny stood up and James nodded along as she gave her complete order.

Dora sat down next to Harry. "She's fun. You picked a good one."

Harry smiled. "I know I did." He turned to her. "What about you?"

"Oh, you know… this and that," Dora told him dismissively.

Harry wasn't convinced. He looked back at Ginny. Dora chuckled beside him.

"What?"

"She's going to get more pregnant if you keep looking at her like that," she teased.

"Dora!" he let out. "Go sit over there again."

Ginny looked back at him and smiled softly. James stopped writing.

"Oh wow, she looks at you the same way," Dora remarked. "I am starting to understand how the little one happened." She waggled her eyebrows.

Harry stood up. "Gin, what do you want to drink?" he asked.

"Excuse me, I'll make her usual mocktail," James said quickly.

"Fine," Harry said and continued to the kitchen to make a drink for himself.

James walked in a moment later. They shared a look of understanding.

"All good?" James asked.

Harry nodded. "Fine." He shook his head lightly. "I don't think I deserve Ginny."

His dad chuckled lightly. "That's a normal thing to think." He walked to the cupboard and took out a fancy glass for Ginny.

"That's a relief," Harry said. "Do you think the same way about mum?"

James turned back to him. "Yeah, why?"

"Trying to find another perspective." Harry took another glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass. He smiled at his dad and walked up to Ginny. "Love you," he whispered.

She smiled up and raised her hand. She wiggled her pinky and he hooked his into it. He kissed her forehead before releasing her hand.