Chapter 64 – Baby Fever

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"Mum, dad!" Cedric hugged his parents the moment they stepped out of the fireplace.

"Cedric, my boy. How are you, how's married life?" Amos asked, while Olive made a beeline for me. She hugged me tight, as I heard Cedric say.

"Both are excellent, more so even."

"Really? Already figured out the secret to a good marriage?" Amos chuckled.

"Marrying the love of your life is a good start." Cedric winked at me. Olive looked at me with a bemused face before she huffed a laugh, clapping her hand over her mouth.

"Come on, let's give you a tour of the house. The sunroom is one of my favourites."

"Piano is one of mine." I shot Cedric a sly smile over my shoulder as Olive locked her arm with mine.

We ended the tour on the second floor, saving the room right across from us for last.

"This is my ultimate favourite room." Cedric smiled as he pushed open the door. The room was once a dusty, old office. But now the walls were painted in an ocean blue/green colour. A white wooden crib stood against the wall; frames photos hung above it. A dresser was situated on the other side, and a rocking chair was seated at the window. I saw Olive's mouth drop open, while Amos just nodded, not really getting it.

"Please tell me you're not joking around?" Olive whirled around to look at us. Cedric had taken his place behind me, his arms wrapped around me until his hands rested on my stomach.

"We're not." Cedric grinned.

"You're - you're pregnant!" Olive squealed and tried to wrap her arms around the both of us.

"Pregnant? Who's pregnant?" Amos seemed to come out of his own world. Then his eyes flickered from the room to the three of us hugging, and I saw it when it all clicked into place. "I'm going to be a grandpa?" He wrapped his arms around the three of us, and I could swear I saw a few tears rolling down his cheek. I tilted my head to look at Cedric, he wore a proud and beaming smile, and when he looked at me it was filled with love. He leaned down and kissed me softly.

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"When are you do?" Olive asked as she glanced to my stomach.

"October. It's still quite early, so please don't tell anyone." I rubbed my still flat stomach. "I'm a little over two months now." That means Tonks is due to give birth in a few weeks. I thought to myself.

"And you already have the room ready?" Amos smiled as he sat down the drinks on the coffee table.

"We need to do something to keep us busy." Cedric answered and took his place beside me. "We don't know how long we'll be here, but we want to be prepared."

"You should move back in with us." Olive said excitedly. Cedric and I shared a nervous look. We thought that might happen and we decided against it.

"No, mum." Cedric said softly. "We need our own place. And when the war is over, or when Winnie's parents get back, we'll search for our own home."

"But thank you, you know how much I love your home, how much I love the two of you."

"I know, sweetie." She padded my hand with a smile. "We love you too, so much."

"So, picked a name out already?" Amos asked.

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I was tired, and I nuzzled my pillow as the sun broke through the window and curled up in myself. The spot next to me was empty, I frowned until I heard the water running the bathroom. I relaxed again and tried to fall back asleep, which didn't take long.

"Winnie, love. Wake up." Cedric nudged me softly.

"I'm tired."

"I know." He stroked my stomach. "But I already let you sleep until noon, and your brothers are about to arrive."

I shot up quickly, awake in an instant. I loved how Cedric called them both my brothers and not just Bash. I kissed him quickly and swung my legs out of the bed. "I'll hop in the shower really quick."

"Sure, love." He smiled as I walked in the bathroom. A quick shower later, I got dressed and walked out the bathroom. Cedric had already gone downstairs. I leaned against the doorframe of the baby's room with a soft and silly smile on my lips. When I got down, I heard several voices already in the room.

Bash and Charlie were on me in an instant. They leaned down and placed their hands on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Cedric told me you just woke up."

"You never sleep that long." Bash put the back of his hand on my forehead. Worry was edged on their faces and smiled up at them.

"Just tired and a little nauseous that's all." I kissed their cheeks and walked to the kitchen. Cedric handed me a cup of tea as I sat down at the kitchen island. He rubbed my back softly as Bash and Charlie sat down in front of me.

"Maybe you should see a healer." Bash suggested. "You never get sick, little one. You need to know what's going on." Bash didn't get it, but Charlie, growing up with six siblings, seeing his mother pregnant four times, it clicked, and his eyes widened.

"Bash, love." Charlie placed his hand on his. Bash's concerned look went to his husband. "I think she knows what's going on."

Bash's brows furrowed as he looked from Charlie to me. I knew Cedric was grinning behind me, and I couldn't help the smile that formed too. "You're going to be an uncle." I said as I rubbed my stomach as Cedric kissed my temple. "I mean godfather, if you'll acce-" My sentence was stopped short as Bash nearly leaped over the table and gave me a bone crushing hug. "You're crushing me and the baby." I laughed.

"Sorry." He muttered as he pulled back. His eyes were wide and sparkling. "You're really pregnant?"

"I am, almost three months now."

Bash just stared at me with a huge smile. Charlie pushed himself up and gave me a more careful hug, kissing my cheek. "Congratulations, I'm so happy for you two. That baby is going to have the best parents."

"And best godfathers." Cedric added, and Charlie looked like someone stunned him. "We discussed it, and we want the both of you to become godfather to our little man."

"It's- it's a boy?" Bash shocked out; his tears welt up in his eyes.

"She has a hunch." Cedric smiled as I tilted my head. He gave me a sweet kiss while his arms wrapped around me.

"We have an appointment with a muggle doctor in two months, then they can see if I'm right or not."

"A baby." Bash sighed with a smile as he fell back on the chair. "Are you going to live here?"

"For now. At least until the war is over, or mum and dad get home."

"We already finished the baby's room, want to see?" Cedric asked, his voice proud and excited. He didn't have to ask twice as Bash and Charlie were on their feet in a second. That afternoon, Bash started suggesting names for the baby, while Charlie just smiled at his husband. I sighed happily and leaned my head against Cedric's chest. His arms circled around my waist and tugged me close to him. Bash and Charlie were discussing not naming the baby after a dragon when Cedric leaned down and whispered.

"I'm happy. Despite what's going on outside, I'm happy. I'm happy to call you my wife, and soon call you the mother of my child. I love you."

"I feel the same." I titled my head to look at him. "I love you, husband of mine, and soon to be baby daddy." I gave him a lopsided smile. He kissed me, the smile still on my lips, then placed a hand on my stomach.

"And we love you, baby Diggory. More than you'll ever realize."

"Oooh."

Cedric and I looked to the married couple in front of us. Bash and Charlie both had a soft and loving gaze as they looked at us. Cedric blushed and buried his head in my hair, while I chuckled.

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The garage was filled with boxes, that were stacked until they touched the ceiling. I was planted at one of the tables, working on one of the twins' products to keep me busy when a Patronus filled the air.

"It's time." The wolf Patronus said in Remus's voice. "It's time." The wolf disappeared and Remus's nervous voice still ringed through my head.

"Oh Helga!" I gasped and jumped up. I quickly put the potion on stasis, and hurried towards the door, nearly tripping on a cardboard box. Cursing, I kicked it aside and pulled the garage door open. "Ced!"

"What is it? Is it the baby?" Cedric was in front of her in an instant, looking at her as he searched for pain or injury.

"No." I shook my head as I took his arm and let him to the fireplace. "Tonks. The baby is coming."

"Alright." He nodded; his face paled a little. "Do we need something?"

"No." I smiled. "When I give birth yes, now we're good." Cedric smiled sheepishly at me as we stepped in the fireplace. He wrapped his arms around me, before we vanished with green flames.

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"Remus? Andy?" I called out in the empty living room as we stepped out of the fireplace. I was just dusting off the soot on my jeans, when Remus appeared.

"They're in the bedroom." He didn't wait for an answer and turned back to the hallway. We followed after him. When we reached the room, and a scream filled the apartment, Cedric stilled.

"I'll wait out here. Don't want to stress her by having too many people around."

"Sure." I smiled and gave him a small kiss. "We'll call when it's time for you to catch the baby." When I thought he looked pale before, this was a whole other level. It was a mixture of pale and green. Remus barked a laugh before he headed inside the room. "Just kidding, but I expect you to be there for this one." I pointed at my stomach.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He cupped my cheek and gave me long, sweet kiss. "I love you." He said before he darted down the hall when another scream reached our ears. I chuckled before I stepped inside the room.

Tonks was sweating in her bed, her knees were pulled up and Andy, Tonks's mum was kneeling in front of her. She was puffing, and when her eyes found me, she gestured me over impatiently.

"Thank you for being here." She got out between her shallow breaths.

"I promised I would be." I smiled and squeezed her hand. "How long do you think, Andy?"

"Not long, the head is already visible." She gave me a quick smile before she looked back down again.

"Do you need anything, love?" Remus asked, dabbing her forehead with a wet cloth.

"I need this baby out of me." She snarled as another contraction build up.

"Right." Remus frowned but kept dabbing her forehead. "You're doing great, almost there."

"Tonks, sweetheart?" Andy looked up from the sheet that was draped over her knees. "When the next contraction comes, push. Then the head will be out."

She barely had a chance to nod, before the next contraction arrived. She screamed as she nearly broke my hand, Remus, being a werewolf hardly felt it. I glanced from Tonks to Andy, who had a little smile on her lips.

"Already a big bush of hair. Now take a breather, next are the shoulders once they are out, it's over. When the contraction hits, try to push for ten seconds."

"Shoulders, right." Remus frowned. I saw how hard it was to be in the same room as Tonks, with the smell of blood that filled his nostrils.

"Remus, are you okay?" I asked, placing my free hand on his shoulder. Tonks looked worried up at her husband but was distracted by another contraction. "One, two, three -" I counted for her as she pushed, her head red as a tomato. "Seven, eight – almost there – nine." Then a high-pitched scream filled the room. Andy cleaned of the baby and wrapped him in a colourful blanket.

"You were right, a baby boy." Andy smiled as she handed him over in Tonks' trembling hands.

"Hi, Teddy." Tears welled in Remus's eyes when the baby boy clasped his hand around his finger. About a month ago, Ted's body was found near a river, Andy barely left her house and only interacted with the people who were now in the flat.

"Congratulations, he's beautiful." I smiled at the boy with the dirty blonde hair. "I'll let you enjoy this absolutely adorable boy."

"You're not going, are you?" Tonks managed to tear her eyes away from Teddy.

"I'll wait in the living room; Remus can come get me when you're up for it." I kissed her cheek before I walked out the room.

"How's Tonks, how is the baby?" Cedric shot up when I entered the room.

"Both are doing fine." I smiled as I sat down on the couch, Cedric lowered himself next to me, his hands wrapped around me until they rested on my stomach. "Tonks is a little tired, but she did great. She's such a strong woman."

"So, are you." He nuzzled my neck and planted a kiss.

"Oh, and he is such a gorgeous little baby."

"Quite a set of lunges too." Cedric chuckled as a scream went through the house.

"Yeah." I chuckled as I stifled a yawn. The soothing rubbing of Cedric's hands were letting me drift of easily.

"Sleep, love." Cedric whispered and so I did.

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"Winnie, love?" Cedric woke me gently. My eyes fluttered open, my head was in Cedric's lap, he stroked my hair to the side. "There is someone here who would like to meet you."

That's when I heard the baby coo. I pushed myself up and saw Tonks was sitting in front of me with the baby in her arms. His dirty blond hair has already changed into a bright purple colour.

"He's -" I gasped.

"Yep, takes after his mum." Remus grinned as he came back in the siting room carrying a fresh pot of tea.

"He's changing early. Mum told me I was nearly six months when I changed for the first time."

"Yeah, I was about six months too. He's already more special than we were." Tonks smiled. "He's going to be a handful." She chuckled. "Ready to meet your, godson?"

"Oh, hell yes." Then I clapped my hand over my mouth, which made the others chuckle. "Sorry."

"It's okay, it's not like he'll understands it." Tonks waved it off as Remus took him out of her arms. Cedric straightened up as Remus placed baby Teddy in my arms. The baby squirmed a little before he settled with the tiniest yawn. My heart melted as I looked at the baby boy with purple hair.

"You're a natural." Cedric whispered. I looked to him with a smile, he beamed right back at me.

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Next up... the battle