Chapter 63 – A Hell Of A Crib
GN
"I think we should leave. Stay with Bill or Lee." Fred said as they tinkered away in the garage. It was still early in the morning, and Guinevere decided to sleep in as she seemed more tired than before. It's been a week and a half since movie night with Tonks, and Guinevere had changed. Nothing major, just little things and quite unnoticeable. But Fred had a feeling what it might be after seeing his mother pregnant with his younger siblings and seeing Tonks the past months.
"What? Why?" George looked up from his cauldron.
"I think you know." Fred said adding valerian into his own cauldron. Staying here for over more than two weeks, has been an eyeopener. George still had deep feelings for Guinevere, even if he didn't know it himself or he does know but pushed them aside. Whatever it was, the moment Cedric would be back, or it would come out she's pregnant, it will hit him like a stray bludger.
George opened and closed his mouth as he looked to his brother, then. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"George." Fred sighed. "Cedric's coming back today. That means, no late-night discussions, no more food wars, or even the little book club you didn't think I knew about."
"We just discussed a book or two, and with all the other things you've been present."
"Perhaps, but I'm not in love with her."
A long silence stretched out between them as they looked at each other. George broke first and looked down at his cauldron. "I don't know why you think I'm still in love with her, we've barely seen each other before we came here. We broke up a long time ago."
"So? I don't think you ever fell out of love with her."
"I'm not listening to this." He cleared his station and walked out of the garage.
"George!" Fred called after him, but he didn't get an answer.
GN
I was pacing in the living room, my eyes flickered to the clock above the fireplace every few seconds. When I turned again, the twins were standing in front of me, carrying bags. I stopped in my tracks at the sight.
"You're leaving?" My voice was sad, and it cracked a little, damn hormones.
"We've been taking advantage of you for far too long, and Ced's going to be here soon. And you two deserve some privacy." Fred said, his bag already on the floor as he walked towards me. He engulfed me in a tight hug, that I let myself sink into. Because I loved being there with the twins, they made me laugh and kept me occupied, not letting my mind go to worst case scenarios. Tears prickled in my eyes, I looked over Fred's shoulder and George was still standing on the same spot, looking uncomfortable.
"I'm going to miss you."
"We'll miss you too, love." Fred kissed my cheek when we pulled apart. "Maybe you can come on the radio show next time."
"I think Ced's better suited for that than me." I smiled, I glanced between Fred and George. "Maybe if we find a safe time, we could have another movie night."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." George sends me a sad smile that I couldn't figure out. So, I just stepped towards him and wrapped my arms around his waist. His arms went hesitantly around me, before he rested his cheek against the side of my head. "Thank you for everything."
"You guys are leaving?" A new voice said, and I could hear the smirk in it. My heart stammered fast because I've missed the sound of his voice for the past three weeks. I let George go and whirled around. Cedric was standing there, unharmed just a little dirty with his duffel bag over his shoulder. "Hi, love."
That was all it took for me to flung myself around him. My arms around his neck as I nuzzled my face in the crook of his neck. I couldn't stop the tears that fell down, not now, and I think even if I weren't pregnant, I couldn't stop them. I was so happy to see him, to have him back. I heard voices behind me, probably Fred or George's but I was so relieved that my mind was closed off. Then a sudden small pop outside of the house.
"Winnie." His hand left my waist and tilted my chin up. "Why are you crying?" He asked, swiping the tears away with his thumb.
"I missed you so much." I pushed myself up and kissed him, finally after weeks, I got to kiss him again. But it wasn't enough and tugged on his shirt. "I need you." I said between kisses.
"I should shower first."
"I'll come with." The corner of my mouth lifted up.
"Works for me." He picked me up under the bum and carried me upstairs while I latched myself onto his neck.
GN
"Gods, I've missed you." Cedric said as we laid in bed. "I never want to be away from you ever again."
"Me neither." I pushed myself up and kissed him slowly. "I need to tell you something, just remember I love you."
"Winnie, what's wrong? What happened?"
"I-" I twirled with the necklace around my neck. "I'm pregnant." I said as I looked at him. "We're having a baby."
"We're - a baby?" Cedric looked at me like I was mental. "I thought -"
"I couldn't get pregnant. Yeah, me too. The healer said the chance for natural conception was under 10%. But I am, I'm about five or six weeks along." I said carefully, because I couldn't decipher his face.
"We're having a baby." A large smile appeared on his face; his eyes twinkled in the sunlight. "Gods, I love you." He gave me one of the most passionate kisses to this day.
"You're not mad?"
"Mad? Why would I be mad? I've been dreaming of this for years. The love of my life is carrying my child. This is literally a dream coming through. Especially after..." His thumb grazed my scar softly. "Did it hurt when I was gone?"
"I-" I frowned and tried to think about the last time it hurt. "I think it stopped when I got pregnant. It hasn't hurt for weeks. Cedric's beaming smile was making my insides melt. He leaned down and placed a kiss on the scar before placing another above my bellybutton.
"You're already making our lives better. I can't wait to meet you, little one." Tears welled up again as I saw Cedric talk to my stomach. I smiled as Cedric rested his head on my belly, his face towards me. I stroked his hair and he talked to the baby.
I had my eyes closed, lulling to sleep from Cedric's soothing voice. "Together?"
Cedric intertwined our fingers, placing a soft kiss on my knuckled. "Together. Always, I promise."
GN
"Here is the godmother to be." Remus smiled as we stepped into their house. He kissed my cheek and shook Cedric's hand. "It's been a while." Remus said to Cedric. "How did everything go?"
"First-" He looked to me. "Godmother?"
"You didn't tell him?" Remus asked surprised.
"I think they had other things to discuss, or do, Remus." Tonks said with a wink as we sat down. Cedric pulled me against him the moment we sat down, while Remus did the same, placing his hand on Tonks' large belly. "I asked Gwen to be godmother to our son about two weeks ago." She cradled her stomach.
"Congratulations, love." He kissed my temple softly. "How are you feeling, Tonks."
"Besides bloated?"
"Don't, you look beautiful." Remus said giving her a chaste kiss.
"I'm good, ready for him to arrive. We still have to put the crib together but otherwise the most important things are ready."
"Why don't these two put the crib together, while we sort out the clothes?" I suggested.
"I think you married a very wise witch, Cedric." Tonks grinned.
"You have no idea." Cedric huffed a laugh, I nudged him slightly. Remus helped Tonks up and we walked over to the baby's room. Light blue paint decorated the walls, there was a stuffed black dog on the dresser, and a box with the unmade crib in. A little bookcase filled with magical and muggle children's books, pictures and paintings were put on the wall.
Remus led Tonks to the rocking chair in the corner, while I took all of the baby clothes and put them in piles in front of us. The men started unpacking the crib. Tonks shot me pointed looks as she glanced from Cedric to me. I just smiled as I folded the cute little onesies. About forty minutes later, I heard Remus curse.
"Sorry, love." He apologised to Tonks. I pushed myself from the ground and walked over to the two men, who were literally covered in sweat. The crib only halfway up, and by the looks of it completely wrong. I frowned as I looked from the 'crib' to the men.
"What did you do?" I chuckled and nudged the crib with my foot, it fell apart under the slightly movement. "I don't think that's supposed to happen." I pursed my lips to hold back a smirk while Tonks just laughed behind me. "Where is the manual?" I held out my hand.
The two men looked at each other with raised eyebrows. "Manual?" They said as they turned to look at me.
"Yes, the manual. It's a paper with instructions on it." They both looked at me like I've grown a second head. "For Merlin's sake." I huffed and dug around in the box. "Aha!" I triumphantly held out the paper in the air. "Why don't you two try it with this?" I handed it over to Remus.
I looked to Cedric who was still sitting on the floor, surrounded by wooden panels and nails. He smiled sheepishly at me as he shrugged. I cocked my head to the side as I shook my head with a smile. "You're lucky I love you."
"Same goes for you, Remus." Tonks called out from her rocking chair.
"Thank Merlin for that." Cedric stood up and kissed me.
GN
"So, we have some news." Cedric said as we ate dinner that night. Tonks and Remus looked to us with interest, the corner of Tonks lips twitched. "Winnie's expecting too. We're having a baby!"
"But you're so young." Remus blurted out.
"Remus." I could see Tonks kick his shin as he grumbled.
"Not much younger than Lily and James actually, Harry's parents. They were twenty-one." He added. "Congratulations, truly!" He turned his beaming smile towards his wife. "You - you knew?"
"Yes, found out during movie night. She wasn't sure. She had the same feeling as me, and I knew a spell to figure out if she was expecting."
"Our kids can grow up together." Remus clapped his hands excitedly, then his brows furrowed. "What if they are both metamorphmagus?"
"Then we'll have our hands full." Cedric laughed and I leaned into him, his arm fell from the back of my chair and rest on my shoulders. The others laughed too, and it that moment I didn't think about the war. I only thought about friends, family, and love.
GN
That night in bed, Cedric had his head on my stomach again, talking softly about the things he did at school, while one hand was a soothing fixture on my large scar.
"Hey." I grazed his hair out of his eyes with a smile. "Can you come up here for moment?" With a parting kiss on my stomach, crawled up and sat against the headboard next to me. "I want to show you something. Tonks said I'm far along enough for us to hear."
"Hear?" He asked. I took my wand from the nightstand and cast the spell Tonks taught me over my stomach. Then the room filled up with the sound of a fast, steady heartbeat. "Is that?"
"Our baby, yes. That's his or hers's heartbeat."
"It's so fast."
"It's normal, don't worry." I intertwined our fingers together.
"I trust you." He kissed me. That night, we fell asleep at the sound of our baby's heartbeat while we were wrapped up in each other.