"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Kaiser, happy birthday to you!"

Hermione levitated a cake shaped like a book in front of the giggling two-year old. It was December 13th and Kaiser Zabini's second birthday.

"A little early for subliminal messages, don't you think?" said Blaise as he slipped an arm around his wife's waist.

Hermione merely gave him quelling look. "It's never too early to start learning."

Nevertheless, she smiled when Blaise kissed her cheek and cut a piece of cake for their son. She and Blaise had been married nearly a year and a half now and Hermione couldn't remember being happier.

Kaiser was growing quickly, a fast learner, and was loved by everyone. It seemed they had a constant stream of visitors to see him.

Hermione watched Kaiser making a mess with his cake, smearing it over his plate and face, and smiled. It seemed only yesterday that she had been telling Blaise she hated him for getting her pregnant. Now, though, she thought the complete opposite.

Initially, after his birth, it had been difficult. There was no way they had been completely prepared for a child, no one ever was. It had been quite the learning experience but Hermione was glad for it.

She had asked Harry to be the Godfather and he had graciously accepted. He and Padma had gotten married not too long after Hermione and Blaise and Padma seemed to be expecting her first child.

Ron and Mandy had also married just a month after Kaiser's birth. It had been a lovely ceremony and Hermione was truly glad for them.

As for Isabella, she had remained angry with Blaise for several months, but unable to keep away from the grandson she always wanted, had reluctantly come to forgive him, and even make nice with Hermione. She fawned over Kaiser, giving him lavish gifts that Hermione hid. She didn't want him to become spoiled.

Blaise watched Kaiser smearing the icing over his plate and then licking it off his fingers, thinking that he was glad he'd kept his promise to help Hermione. It had taken awhile for him to realize his true feelings, but in the end, he had. Kaiser was a great kid and he couldn't wait to see him grow up.

He sat down with Hermione at the table. "My lovely wife," he said.

"Yes?" Hermione asked.

"It's been three years."

"I know," Hermione said, glancing at him.

Blaise smiled and leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to her lips and placing his hand on her stomach. "Maybe this one'll be a girl."

Hermione glanced down and smiled. She was four months pregnant for the second time, although this time, it had been planned. She and Blaise had decided that they wanted Kaiser to have a sibling rather than be an only child. Hermione was convinced it would help his development.

She still read every book she could get her hands on about child development, although as Blaise said, you couldn't learn everything from a book.

She had realized that a while ago, but that didn't mean she didn't try. At the Ministry, she spent a lot of time buried in books, even though it wasn't a necessary part of her job anymore.

After the baby was born, she had returned to work like she had planned, determined not to let a baby affect her career. She had found it was easier than she thought to juggle work and a child, and so had advanced in her career. She was now one of the judges in the Ministry and handled some of the more difficult cases.

She was happy that she'd been able to advance in her career while being a mother.

"Mummy!" Kaiser cried happily, his face smeared with cake. Hermione laughed and attempted to wipe his face off. He merely pushed her hand away, grinning.

Hermione shook her head. "Becoming like your father, aren't you?"

"Hey," Blaise objected. "I resent that. If anything, he's like you."

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Kaiser. He had inherited her dark brown hair, but it wasn't bushy, thankfully. His eyes were a vivid blue, just like his father. Hermione was glad at least that he hadn't inherited her teeth.

"He's like both of us," Hermione said finally, running her hands through Kaiser's hair. The toddler merely giggled.

"We'll see when he gets to school," Blaise said simply. "He's definitely a Slytherin."

"Is not," Hermione argued. "He's a Gryffindor."

"Gryffindork, you mean."

"Watch it," Hermione warned.

Blaise just laughed. "Maybe he's a Hufflepuff."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. Blaise had the oddest sense of humor. She picked up her fork and began to eat her cake.

"Hermione?" Blaise said.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Hermione put down her fork and looked at Blaise. He was holding a blue velvet box out. Confused, Hermione took it, opening it slowly.

"Blaise," she breathed as she gazed down at the silver necklace with a single drop diamond hanging off it. "Why did you…"

"I thought you deserved something special," he said, taking it out of the box and putting it around her neck. "Today's special."

Hermione fingered the jewel, then looked at Blaise and smiled. "It's amazing, and so are you."

Blaise's hand ran up Hermione's neck, pulling her closer into a long kiss. Beside them, Kaiser laughed happily. Hermione kissed Blaise back with equal force, only pulling back when it seemed they had to.

"I love you too, Blaise," she said. Then she glanced at Kaiser. "And you, of course, Kaiser."

Kaiser just laughed, throwing cake at his plate while Blaise and Hermione laughed also.

FIN

A/N: It's OVER! finally. God, that took forever. In case you're wondering, there is a sequel, but it's more like a spin-off involving Kaiser about 15 years from this epilogue. It's also slash, so... if it's not your cup of tea, I'm glad you enjoyed this one at least! Thanks to everyone who has stuck around.