It was a mild summer evening in August. Euphemia's steps echoed in the hallways of the manor as usual. Although she like the old manor she and her husband had been gifted from his father at their wedding it was just to big for the two of them. Of course, Henry Potter hadn't expected that their marriage would stay childless. A smile crossed the face of the proud witch, while she hurried through the manor. She needed to speak with her husband urgently. Finally she reached the study of her husband and knocked at the door. "Come in," came the muffled sound. Euphemia opened the door with a smile, put quickly put on the mask of the perfect pureblood wife as she saw who was sitting with her husband in the study. "Fleamont I didn't know you had visitors", she said and stepped in nevertheless. "You wouldn't have disturbed us otherwise", Fleamont replied coldly and turned to his visitors. "Gentleman I'm sure you remember my lovely wife." "Of course, nice to see you again Mrs. Potter", the blond wizard said and stood up, took Euphemia's hand and kissed it. "Charming as always Mr. Malfoy", she replied and withdrew her hand from him. "Fleamont, I really need to talk to you." Fleamont looked at his wife and she could briefly see the worry flare up in his dark eyes. "We were finished anyway right gentleman", Fleamont said determined. "As you will Potter, but think about our offer", the second wizard in the room replied and stood up. Fleamont nodded, got up as well and led his visitors to the fireplace. "I will. Goodbye Abraxas, Orion", he said briskly, lighted the fireplace and practically shooing the two men away. As soon as they had disappeared, Fleamont let out a sigh and leaned against the mantelpiece. Euphemia stepped too her husband and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Monty why are you meeting with them if they upset you so much?" she asked rubbing his shoulders. "They wanted to talk about our business with me those parasites", Fleamont scoffed and turned to his wife. He wrapped his arms around her and inhaled her sweet smell of flowers and oranges. "Hi", he whispered and kissed her softly. "Hi", Euphemia replied smiling. "I hate it when I have to be so cold with you", Fleamont sighed. "Then stop it." "And give those idiots an other reason to ridicule our family, I can do without that," Fleamont grumbled. Euphemia smiled and kissed the cheek of her husband. "I'm sorry Effie you wanted to tell me something?" he asked looking worriedly at her. The last few days his wife hadn't felt well and had therefore been to St. Mungos today. "Yes and it would be better if you sat down", Euphemia asked. Fleamonts eyes widened, he wouldn't survive if his wife had a terminal illness. "It's something chronic isn't it?" he asked which made Euphemia giggle. "You could say that. They want to see me weakly", she explained. "So bad?" It must be quite advanced if the healers wanted to see Euphemia weakly. "Monty", Euphemia started laying a hand on his cheek. "You worry too much, it's nothing bad", she assured her husband. "What is it? Effie I can't take this any more." "Merlin and Morgana were merciful to us Monty," Euphemia said with a smile and before Fleamont could ask what she meant, she continued. "I'm pregnant." The darkhaired wizard blinked a few times until the words of his wife sunk in. He spun around and grinned at his wife. "Effie that's fantastic, if I was twenty years younger I would twirl your around now", he said exited. "It's enough if you kiss me you goofball", Euphemia laughed. Fleamont didn't need to be told twice, he pulled his wife close and kissed her. "A baby, that's incredible, but how I mean…" Fleamonts words got lost as he looked at his wife. "It's quite unusual yes, that's why the healer want to see me weakly. So they can if I and the baby are fine and can interfere in case of an emergency", Euphemia explained. "I will accompany you", Fleamont said determined. "Monty you have other responsibilities", Euphemia replied. Fleamont shook his head and laid his hands around Euphemia's face. "You and our baby are the most important thing, everything else can wait", he said and kissed Euphemia again. "I love you", she whispered with a smile. "I love you too, the both of you", Fleamont replied and laid his hand on his wife's stomach, where their child was growing unnoticed by the world.
Fleamont sighed as he was awakened once again by a choking noise. He got up and went into the bathroom, where Euphemia was kneeling in front of the toilet and vomiting. Tenderly he stroked her hair from her face and held it back. "Effie…" he said softly but Euphemia raised her hand to stop him and leaned back. "That's absolutely normal Monty", she said and whipped her mouth with her hand. "Are you sure?" Fleamont asked anxiously, stroking his wife's back in reassuring circles. Euphemia nodded. "If you don't believe me you can ask the healer yourself today" she said and stood with Fleamont's help. "I just want you to be fine." "Don't worry so much", Euphemia asked with a tight smile. Fleamont sighed defeated and kissed Euphemia's cheek. "If we're awake already we can get dressed and go to St. Mungos" Fleamont suggested. Euphemia nodded and half an hour later the two sat in the waiting room of the infirmary of St. Mungos. Around them were other couples all of them quite younger then them but they didn't care. "Mrs. Potter!" one of the healers called them out. Euphemia got up and pulled her husband to his feet as well. "My husband would like to accompany me", she said to the healer. "Of course, if you would follow me", she asked and led them into a treatment room. There she took a seat behind a heavy desk made of dark wood. The potters took their seat in front of it. "Well, how are you feeling Mrs. Potter?" the healer wanted to know and pulled her file out of a cupboard. "Quite alright, I'm often exhausted and have trouble with morning sickness." "That's completely normal Mrs. Potter, your body adapts to the new circumstances, that needs a lot of energy", the healer explained with a smile. "Are you sure that this is normal?" Fleamont wanted to know. "Of course, Mr. Potter, a lot of woman have problems with it in the early stages of their pregnancies. Some even suffer from nausea all the time," said the healer without her smile slipping. "Good", Fleamont sighed. "You know I'm just worried, because we're not the youngest anymore, that something might be wrong with the baby", Fleamont admitted. Euphemia took the hand of her husband and squeezed it slightly. He looked at her and saw her smile and knew that she shared his worries. "Mr. Potter", the healer started with a firm voice, "we will carefully monitor the pregnancy of your wife, to make sure nothing happens to her or the child. Should we find something unusual we will act immediately", she assured Fleamont. "Now, let's examine you", the healer said smiling again. Euphemia laid on the examine table and the healer cast some diagnostic spells. At the end she nodded content. "Everything's fine", she told the expecting parents. "Can you tell what it will be?" Euphemia wanted to know. "I'm sorry, it's too soon for that but in a few weeks we may hear the heartbeat." Euphemia smiled at her husband, who took her hand and kissed her knuckles. When they returned home Euphemia promptly lay on the couch. "Do you really want to know the sex of the baby?" Fleamont wanted to know and massaged her shoulders. "It will make it easier to decorate the nursery. Don't you want to know what it will be?" Euphemia asked and looked up at him over her shoulder. Fleamont smiled softly at her. "You know Effie I don't care what it will be. Most purebloods hope for a son to carry their legacy, but that's not important to me." "Well I wouldn't mind a little Monty, with your dimples and your eyes", Euphemia admitted smiling. "With our luck it will inherited my hair", Fleamont laughed, running his fingers through his slightly graying, wild hair. "I like your hair", Euphemia replied, which made Fleamont laugh even more.
The fireplace in the living room lit up green and Fleamont stumbled out of the flames. "Elegant as always love", said Euphamie who sat on the couch in front of the fireplace. "You've always been the more elegant of the two of us", Fleamont snorted and stepped to her. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Well, I haven't been so elegant lately," Euphemia replied and placed her hand on her stomach, against which the book she had been reading was leaning. "For me you'll always be elegant", Fleamont whispered and kissed his wife again. "Old charmer", Euphemia laughed and slapped her husband against his shoulder. Fleamont just grinned at his wife. "Will you help me, Lucy should come any moment" Euphemia asked holding out her hands to Fleamont. Lucy was their healer as they spent so much time together they had decided to call each other by their first names. Also the young healer now always came to the manor, because they found it better if Euphemia didn't use the Floo network too often in her condition. Fleamont didn't need to be told twice, although Euphemia still could get up without his help, he knew that her growing stomach disturbed her balance. Besides he had the feeling that it was bigger then it should be at this stage, but he also knew that every child developed differently. "Do you think she can tell us today what it's going to be?" Fleamont wanted to know while they made their way to his study. "We will see", Euphemia answered not saying much. Just as they entered the study to flames also flashed green and Lucy stepped from the fireplace. "Monty, Effie it's nice to see you", she said smiling. "Good that you're here Lucy", Euphemia said and hugged the healer in greeting. "Every time I see you, you seem to be bigger" Lucy laughed and placed her hand on Euphemia's stomach. "It's normal isn't it?" Fleamont asked and hugged the young witch as well. "Of course the baby is just creating its own space. Now let's take a look", Lucy said clapping her hands. With a wave of her wand she transfigured one armchair into an examination table on which Euphemia could take a seat. Lucy pushed her top up, so Euphamia's stomach was exposed to her. An other wave of her wand and the room was filled with a strong, steady beat. Fleamont smiled and kissed Euphemia's hand. He was overwhelmed every time he heard their child's heartbeat. "That sound good", Lucy said content. "Would you like to see it?" she wanted to know, to which Fleamont and Euphemia nodded. Smiling Lucy waved her wand again over Euphemia's stomach and a blurred picture appeared above it. The baby was clearly visible, but there was something about the picture that bothered Fleamont, and when he looked at Lucy, he saw that she was frowning too. "Is something wrong?" he asked worriedly. "One moment", Lucy answered and waved her wand. The picture turned and changed the perspective. "That's a surprise", Lucy said smiling. Fleamont looked at the picture again and could hardly believe what he was seeing. "As it's seems you wont get just one baby but two", Lucy acknowledged. Twins, Fleamont could hardly believe his eyes and ears, they had waited so long for a child and now they would get two. "Can you tell us what their going to be?" he heard Euphemia ask quietly. She didn't seem to really believe it either. Lucy nodded. "A boy and a girl. I will have to take even better care of you from now on", she said strictly and let the picture disappear together with the heartbeat. Euphemia nodded and the Potters told Lucy goodbye.
The new years party at Potter Manor was in full swing and Fleamont beamed over his whole face. Their guest enjoyed themselves and Euphemia was a great host beside it all. "Effie is glowing", Fleamont heard a familiar voice besides him. "I'm glad she's feeling better", Fleamont replied and turned to his father. "You worry too much son", Henry Potter said smiling. "Maybe, but she's on her feet for the first time in days and I worry it could be too much for her", Fleamont admitted and looked back to his wife, who was talking with some of her friends. Lucy had actually ordered strict bed rest, but Euphemia had insisted on holding the party despite everything. "She's stubborn, just like you my son", Henry laughed and looked around. "Didn't Black wanted to come as well?" he wanted to know. "Yeah, but his son was born last month, that's why he isn't here", Fleamont explained. "You realize that your children will be in the same year in Hogwarts?" Henry asked with a snort. Fleamont nodded sighing he only hopped that his children would stay away from Blacks offspring. "Don't look so mad", Fleamont suddenly heard Euphemia say beside him. She kissed his cheek and then turned to his father. "Henry", she said smiling. "Effie you're looking good", Henry said and Euphemia only rolled her eyes. "The countdown is about to start we should go into the garden", she informed the two men. Together with the other guest they went into the garden, were they counted down the seconds for the new year and when Fleamont kissed his wife at midnight he was looking forward to what the new year would bring them.
The last three months had been exhausting. Fleamont had trouble with his business and the impending birth of his children made him nervous. Euphemia had been bound to their bed the last weeks. Her stomach seemed wrong on her petite frame. The skin was so tight that it almost appeared transparent and the movements of the babies could been seen very well. Those had lessened in the last days and Euphemia started to worry that something was wrong with the children. Lucy had calmed her down at her last examination a few days ago and had explained that it was normal shortly before birth. It was the middle of the night and still Euphemia couldn't sleep. Her back hurt and she felt some pressure in her lower stomach. "Effie", she heard Fleamont's sleepy voice beside her. She looked at him and smiled. "You're crushing my hand", he mumbled. Euphemia looked down and she really had taken his hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize", she apologized and let go of his hand. "What's wrong?" Fleamont wanted to know sitting up. "I think they want out", Euphemia remarked when the pressure in her stomach returned. Fleamont nodded and helped Euphemia out of the bed, as soon as she stood she felt a slightly slimy liquid running down her legs. "Everything alright?" Fleamont asked worried when Euphemia leaned her head against his chest. "My water just broke", Euphemia mumbled. Carefully Fleamont led his wife to the next fireplace were they traveled to St. Mungos with floo powder. Fortunately Lucy was also there and led the two straight to a delivery room.
Fleamont had never see something so beautiful, except maybe his wife, but the two babies in the crip were just to cute. They were both just as long as his forearm, his son was a little bit bigger and both already had a tuft of black hair on their foreheads. Their cheeks were red and Fleamont didn't know if he should pinch or bit them. "Monty let them be", Euphemia said with a laugh as he tried to pin the blankets around the children again. "Sorry darling, but I don't want anything to happen to them", Fleamont admitted and still the smile remained on his face. "I know I feel the same. The two still don't have a name." Fleamont sighed. They had prepared the nursery and everything was ready the only thing that they missed were the names for the twins. But it wasn't so easy, because they hadn't found one which both of them liked. The door to the sickroom opened and Lucy stepped inside. "And how are my three favorite patients doing?" she wanted to know. Fleamont looked from the young witch to his children and back and had a flash of inspiration. "Lucy do you have a suggestion for a name for them?" he wanted to know. Lucy looked baffled at him. "Monty", Euphemia hissed. "What we couldn't agree and maybe Lucy has an idea?" "Well how about William? James? Oliver? Corneli-" "James Potter", Euphemia and Fleamont said at the same time and it felt wright. Their son had a name now. "Good and for the girl. If you want something similar I would suggest Jessica", Lucy said. "James and Jessica Potter sounds good what do you think?" Fleamont asked and turned to Euphemia. She just nodded smiling while she looked at her children. Smiling Fleamont went over and picked James up. He brought the little boy to his wife, after he had placed him into her arms he got Jessica and sat on the edge of the bed with his daughter in his arms. "We did great didn't we Monty?" Euphemia said and laid her head against her husbands shoulder while she watched their children. "Fantastic", Fleamont replied and kissed Euphemias forehead. He also looked at their children and even though they were so small they were the most precious thing Fleamont had and he would always love them.