For your information:
The HP timeline has moved up 5 years. (Hermione was born 1984. She started Hogwarts in 1996. The battle of Hogwarts was 2003.) Sam Uley is tree years older than in the movies and books, born 1983.

Chapter 15

21th August 2006, Hermione's House, Washington

The walk back to Hermione's house was quiet. Sam observed Hermione and his daughter nestled against her. He could feel Teddy's stare from time to time. He smiled at the little boy in his arms. He had so many questions, it was like a whirlwind in his mind.

The house came into view and Sam could see two figures pacing back and forth in front of the porch. He could see that one of them was Jasper, the vampire. The second one he did not recognize. Both stopped and relaxed, when they saw them approaching.

As they reached the porch, the strangers eyes scanned the group, resting on Hermione and Shea, then on Sam and Teddy. His expression tightened, but his tone was polite.

"Everything alright?"

"Yes, Harry", Hermione said quickly.

Her voice was steady, but Sam caught the tremble in her hands as she adjusted Shea's position.

"I found her and Teddy with Sam, both of them calm when I arrived and no one was hurt."

Harry's gaze shifted to Sam, sharp and assessing.

"I see. Good thing Sam was there, then."

Sam met his gaze evenly.

"I would never let anything happen to them."

Harry didn't reply immediately, but his expression became softer and then a bit confused.

"Good. Because they mean everything to Hermione and to me. Wait… Sam… the name rings a bell… I can't place it…"

He looked to Hermione confused and like he was asking for her help.

"He is Shea's father. Could you both take them inside? I need to talk to Sam", Hermione said biting her lip.

"Ohh… sure thing, I am sure you have a lot to talk about. We will go inside and get to know your uncle", Harry said and took Shea from Hermione's arms.

Sam tried to put Teddy down, but the little boy seemed reluctant to let him go.

"It's okay Teddy. I told you I need to talk with your mummy, right? You go in and I will be back with your mom in a bit", he reassured the toddler in his arms.

Teddy still hesitated, his sharp little nose twitching as if analyzing Sam's sincerity. Finally, he nodded.

"Okay. But you promise?"

"Yes, I promise", Sam said firmly.

Teddy then let go and walked up to Harry and then followed him inside.

Jasper lingered for a moment, his golden eyes flicking between Hermione and Sam.

"I will give you some privacy. Holler if you need anything", he said with his southern drawl.

Then he too went inside and closed the door.

Hermione turned around to Sam, arms crossed protectively. Her expression was a mix of determination and vulnerability, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Sam, I-"

He held up a hand, interrupting her as gently as possible: "Hermione, I am not angry. I just… I need to understand. Please tell me everything from the beginning?"

She nodded and exhaled shakily: "Okay. Let's sit down."

They moved to the porch steps and he saw her mutter something and move her stick, wand he corrected himself. Sat side by side he waited patiently as Hermione gathered her thoughts, twisting her hands together.

"I didn't know I was pregnant for a while. I thought it would not be possible, since I assumed we used protection", she began softly.

"After that night… well, I told you I had to go back the next day and life moved quickly. I often thought about our night, wondered how you were doing when I had a break from my duties in England. I even started to look for you. It wasn't until a few weeks later when everything became clear. I thought I was feeling under the weather because of stress, but then someone suggested I was pregnant. I had a test made and it was positive. Everything changed again. Mrs Weasley was not happy about it, it being out of wedlock and she tried to push Ron and I together again. I refused and she became cold towards me. It got better again, but it isn't like before. I had to leave the burrow, where I had been living with the Weasleys, my foster family. Fortunately, Andromeda Tonks, Teddy's grandmother, took me in. I helped her with Teddy before, since I was his godmother. Later she helped me with the pregnancy and then with Shea."

Hermione took a deep breath before she continued: "It was a lot. At the beginning I tried to find you, I wanted you to know and Shea to have a father. But I was not able to. Then the pregnancy got harder, it took a lot of my energy, and I am not sure I could have made it without Andromeda. Then Shea came and I had to take care of her. I just lacked the energy and time to look for you."

He just took in what she was saying. He felt sorry that it had been so hard for her and that he had not been able to help her and be there for her. He was glad that this Andromeda she talked about had been there for his imprint.

To his surprise he heard sniffles coming from her and he could smell salt in the air. Without hesitation he took her in his arms and held her close to him.

"What is it? Why are you crying?"

"Andromeda was like a mother to me, after my parents died and Mrs. Weasley became cold. I really could not have done it without her. After the war and the death of Teddy's parents and her own husband she took teddy in and raised him with a bit of help from Harry and me. She was an incredible woman, strong, loving, and fiercely protective. She took me in after I left the burrow and helped me, even after we found out I was pregnant. We took care of each other and the kids. We were a family. But… she died three months ago. She was killed while I was out in the park with the children."

Her crying got worse at that point and Sam just held her in his arms and caressed over her head and back.

"I am so sorry Hermione."

He wished even more to have been there for them.

After she calmed down again, she continued to speak: "I didn't know what to do at first. I felt lonely I had lost my family again and I wanted to just have someone… I don't know… someone who was related to me? It sounds kind of stupid. But I am glad I researched my family tree. I found Jasper and he and his family are wonderful. Thanks to that I also found you again."

She looked up at him and smiled shakily at him.

"I did not mean to keep Shea from you, Sam. I promise you, I didn't. I really tried to find you, to tell you. When I saw Seth at the wedding. I hoped that maybe he was a relative of yours. At some point I heard your name from the guys and hoped it was you. Then I saw you at the beach and I felt so happy to have finally found you. But there were so many things to talk about. I did not know where to start and… I was scared. Scared of what you would say, scared of your reaction, of your rejection of me and of my children. I swore to myself that I would only be in a relationship with someone who would accept Shea and Teddy."

Sam kept holding her and caressing her back in comfort.

"I wish I'd known, Hermione. I wish that I could have been there for you and the kids, helped you. But I get that it was difficult for you and also that you were scared. You have been through so much on your own. But you don't have to do it alone anymore. I want to be here for you. And be here for Shea and for Teddy, for all of you and for all of it. That is, if you will have me."

He could hear her breath hitch and saw her wide eyes staring at him

"Do you mean that?"

"I mean it," Sam said without hesitation and nodded, "I 'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you, Sam", she whispered and leaned into him even more.

"We will figure it out together and take things as slow as you want them to", he reassured her.

He heard her giggle and saw her smirk.

"Slow? We have kids together now. We are kind of doing this backwards."

"It looks like it. We slept together and had a daughter and then I imprinted of you and then we learned of each other's special abilities. Then we had our first non drunken kiss. It is kind of backwards yes", he said chuckling.

He saw her bit her lip and look at him, before she spoke: "I wouldn't mind another non drunken kiss."

He grinned down at her.

"I wouldn't mind either", he said and caressed her cheek.

Then he slid his hand to the back, grasping her neck and pulled her closer to him.

"I discovered liking kissing you", he said with a low voice, almost a growl.

"I discovered I do to", she whispered and he could feel the warmth of her breath on his lips.

He lowered his face a bit more and closing his eyes he pressed his lips on hers. It was softer this time, he took his time to savor every bit of it. Slowly he moved his lips against hers, holding her close and cradling her head in his large hand. She felt wonderfully pressed against him. He had missed this without knowing he had. A piece of him, he had not known he had lost, had found back to him finally. He licked her lips, begging for her to let him in, to let him get even closer to him. When she parted her lips, his tongue delved inside and explored her tongue and mouth. He could hear her heartbeat accelerate and her breathing hitch from time to time. He could get lost in her.

He did not know much about being a good father or a good boyfriend, but for her and the children he would give his all.

HxS

Jasper was leaning against the kitchen island while he watched Hermione's friend Harry pacing in the living room. Teddy and Shea were playing with some blocks on the rug in the meantime. He was trying to hear what they were talking outside, but to no avail. At least he could feel their emotions. He could feel the dread, fear and nervousness coming from his niece and confusion and a bit of hurt from the wolf. The children were feeling very happy and it made him smile. Harry on the other side felt worry.

"I don't like this. It's too much for her", he muttered while pacing still.

"She was trying to tell him for a while now, they kept being interrupted. They had a lot to talk about other than her having two children. It is good he finally knows. He is her imprint, he won't hurt her", Jasper said.

With a frown Harry turned to him.

"What's an imprint? And what has it to do with this?"

"Oh… I thought she might have told you already. But I assume it has been a lot the last few days and I am sure she would have told you soon. Does your magical world have mates? I mean soulmates?"

Harry blinked at him and frowned.

"Yes. Teddy's father and his mother were mates, why?"

"Well an imprint is a soul bond or mate. Sam imprinted on Hermione the first time he saw her. He knew she was his mate. He told her a few days ago. He will not hurt her", Jasper tried to explain.

He could feel more confusion from Harry.

"Humans or even witches or wizards don't really have mates… What the bloody hell is he then?!"

Jasper held up his hands and tried to send calming waves to Harry.

"Hermione told you that my family and I are vampires right?"

"Yes. But I know he is not", he said pointing to the door.

"No, he is not. They don't like us very much. Sam is a shifter and Alpha of his pack. The Quileute tribe has legends of spirit warriors that could transform into wolfs to battle the cold ones, vampires. We made a treaty with them years ago, that we won't set foot on their land and won't hurt humans and they let us in peace. Since we moved back, the shifting gene has been activated in some of the tribesmen. Sam was the first to transform into a giant wolf. And like I said, they imprint on first sight."

"He is a giant wolf? An Alpha? And Hermione is his mate?"

"Yes", Jasper confirmed nodding.

Harry let himself fall on the couch and laughed slightly.

"Bloody hell. My luck must have rubbed off on Hermione. A Vampire as uncle, a part werewolf child and now a giant wolf shifter as father of her daughter!"

He sat up with a jolt.

"Wait, that means Shea is part shifter too right? Haha! This is priceless! I have to tell Ginny when I am home. A family of wolfs!"

Harry started laughing and could not control himself.

Jasper was a bit confused by it but did not pay too much attention to him, since Shea and Teddy started running around in the living room. He wanted to prevent them from harm and move as soon as one of them would slip or fall.

Shea was laughing in delight as Teddy was chasing her around the couch.

The door opened, revealing Hermione and Sam.

There was a squealing and then Shea ran towards Sam calling out: "Daddy!"

Jasper could see him freeze for a short moment and then picking up his daughter. He could feel that the wolf was overwhelmed and was also a bit scared, but he could also feel warmth and protectiveness.

He could feel Teddy hesitate and saw him walk towards Sam slowly.

"Can I too?"

Jasper could see the scared and hopeful look on his tiny face, he did not need to feel them. He did feel Hermione's heart breaking a little and also Sam's but could also feel the same feelings from the wolf when Shea had come to him.

Sam picked up Teddy too and was now carrying a toddler in each arm.

"Of course little man", he reassured Teddy.

"Why is Harry laying on the couch laughing?", Hermione asked confused.

"He said something about a family of wolfs and that he had to tell Ginny? Sorry, I told him a bit about our situation and the pack", Jasper explained with a shrug.

Hermione let out a giggle and he could feel her amusement.

"That explains it", she said with a chuckle.

At that point he had calmed down enough that he sat up and looked at all of them.

"My luck rubbed of on you."

"Maybe it was never your luck alone but ours combined", Hermione replied with a giggle and raised eyebrow.

"Thank you so much for bringing them to me and having them for the last few weeks", she told him and went over to give Harry a hug.

"Always", he smiled and hugged her tightly.

"Bloody hell! It's later than I thought", he cursed when he let go.

"I need to go home to Ginny and the kids. I will come by another time, so we can talk more", he told Hermione.

He turned to Jasper and Sam as well: "It's been a pleasure meeting you. And I look forward to getting to know you in the future. You both better take good care of them, or I will make sure you wish you were dead for real."

"Harry!"

"I am just warning them."

"I will tell Ginny."

"She will threaten them too when she gets to meet them", he said with a smirk.

He gave Teddy and Shea a kiss to the forehead, looked at Sam and Jasper again and then disappeared out the door.

"I will leave you to it as well. Call me if there is anything or you need help. And let me know when you want to come by. The others want to meet Teddy and Shea as soon as possible", Jasper told Hermione and ignored Sam's growl.

Waving at Sam and the little ones he too left out the door.

AN: Another long chapter! It is even a bit longer than the last one! Thank you for your support and your patience. I hope you enjoy it! If you have any ideas or wishes, please let me know as well. Maybe I will make them happen.

I will try to post again soon.

Thanks for reading!