Author Notes: Hey, Potterheads! Been a quick second, but I promise I've been hard at work. This looks to be wrapping up here soon. Not long now... Just a few more lovely ornaments to add on to the beautiful story. Don't worry! It will still have some surprises and fun. I also have another Fremione in the works as we speak that I'll be posting! It won't be as fluffy, but it will be fun. I'm always so gratuitous to my readers. You guys really keep me going, and I love you all. I hope you are safe, well, and happy during this trying time. If you need support, never forget my PMs are open. Much love!

Fred was twitching his nose and somehow found himself in this predicament. His pregnant girlfriend was looking at different muggle maternity items in a shopping center. They were shopping for muggle things… he didn't understand the draw, but she insisted.

Hermione was tapping her chin while looking at the vitamins and humming. They hadn't gone to her parents' to visit yet, but she wanted to shop first. They had all sorts of odd items. A toothbrush, some sweatpants, lotions not made by wizards. He wasn't positive why she needed them.

"G., why are we here?" he asked timidly.

"Well, I need to have things at my parents' house," she answered before picking up a bottle. "I'm still going to visit them and need things."

"You mean you need muggle things that you trust?" he suggested with a smile.

Hermione huffed and turned to him. "There are certain muggle things that will be useful, Fred. Things that aren't magically concentrated."

Fred tilted his head and bobbed. "Okay, I'll go with that thought. What do you want that wouldn't be satisfied otherwise?"

"Well, since you asked," Hermione said and dug in her purse. "I have a few books I need to buy that would be beneficial. I need a large assortment of fruits and vegetables, but we can grab those later. We'll need to have," she stopped as he snatched the list.

Fred smirked as she had starred the items that were a priority, including softer bras. "This is impressive, but why can't you magic them?"

"Because it's better if I don't. You know how important the first few months are," Hermione huffed.

"Okay, G., whatever you want. We'll get the whole list," He nodded.

Hermione chewed her bottom lip as she shook the bottle of pills. "I don't want you to get too excited. I still believe we have a few weeks to go until we're in the clear."

"Then, you'll take it easy, and we'll make sure, alright?"

Hermione nodded and set the bottle in the cart before walking off. Fred knew she was still nervous. Her body movements have been rigid. What solidified any of this for her was the adverse effect of smelling breakfast this morning and barely making it to the bathroom. It was early, but it was pretty obvious now that he put the evidence together.

They turned the aisle, and Hermione puffed. "Okay," she sighed while pressing her jumper to her abdomen.

"Are you feeling alright?" Fred asked.

Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. "Just feeling a bit queasy," she said.

Fred pulled out the plastic bottle sitting in the cart. "Have a few sips. Maybe we're walking too fast?"

She reached over and complied, sipping down the water slowly. Fred watched intently as she breathed and handed back the bottle. "Thank you, maybe I was just thirsty."

They had shopped a bit more, grabbing every item on the list before walking out of the store. They had taken her car that was parked at her parents' usually. She had snuck it out, and now they were going to head back.

Hermione tapped her steering wheel and twitched her nose. "Let's not make this a big deal, alright?"

"Whatever you need," Fred agreed.

"Four weeks. That means we still have to make it through two more months before we can tell everyone," she said.

"Two months? My mum is going to die," Fred huffed.

"Fred," Hermione started and thinned her lips. "Your mother will be devastated if we tell her, and then she finds out I," she stopped.

"You're worried because you work so much that you might?" He asked.

Hermione bounced her shoulders as they reached a light. "It could happen. I'm doing this for precaution. It's important that now that we know, we are careful."

Fred rocked his head and breathed. "Okay."

Hermione glanced over and scowled. "If everything goes well this week with the appointments, we'll tell her in a month, okay?" She caved.

He smiled and reached over to pat her leg. "Okay."

"We're not telling my father," Hermione said.

"No, big hard no on that one," Fred winced.

"And I'm only telling my mother, so I have her support. You have your brother who knows and, well, we can talk about possibly telling Bill. I trust him to be discreet. That way, if you need support, you have it."

Fred reached over and twirled her hair while she drove. "Alright, G."

"I was thinking, since George and you are both having children, you both should make Ang and me some products," Hermione declared.

"What kind?"

Hermione pulled into the driveway. "Witch products that are meant for pregnant witches. Things we're going to need. Like salves and a spray that can rid smells from a room. Things that we can use when we can't do magic because we'll be too tired. We could be your testers," Hermione laughed.

Fred scratched his chin as she put the car in park. "Okay, I think that would actually be decent. It would even be a decent line to expand on for the little witches at Hogwarts. Things like lip balms that cure bad breath."

Hermione shook her head while her lips were curled. "You both are creative enough to do it. You can call it your Weasley Wonder Witch line."

Fred chuckled and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "More like Weasleys' Gorgeous Goddess line. G., you have the royalties to that one."

Hermione unsnapped her seat belt and caressed his cheek. "Well, you're barmy enough to pay for it," she teased and kissed him. "Now, let's go see my parents."

The start of the visit was decent enough. Fred and Jack had been talking about things casually as Hermione sleuth snuck up the bags from the shop to her room. Jean had noticed her disappearance and didn't nose about until Hermione was gone a decent amount of time.

It wasn't until she approached the bathroom that she heard her daughter. It caused the mother to wince and wait patiently for Hermione to exit.

"Oh, mum," Hermione said while straightening the blue jumper.

Jean nodded toward Hermione's bedroom, and they shut the door. "So, how many weeks?" Jean asked.

Hermione groaned and stomped her foot. "I wouldn't have been able to hide it from you if I tried."

"Exactly, I'm your mother. I know that rundown but happy expression like anything else. If you're trying to keep it a secret, I'd avoid Molly," Jean murmured.

Hermione puffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm four weeks. Not long at all."

Jean arched an eyebrow. "Already sick? Are you tired?"

"Yes," Hermione confessed. "But I've been tired. I have a new department at work and am running ragged."

"Let's just hope you can slow down a bit," Jean sighed.

Hermione scowled. "Well, I do have a department to run, Mother."

Jean tossed her hand and smiled. "Nevermind that. It will only cause you unneeded stress, and we don't need you to be anxious to talk about it. Did you do your shopping already? I have some toothpaste that won't be as pungent, so it doesn't make you gag."

"I did, I have some things I left here when I come visit if needed as well."

"We're not going to tell your father for a bit. I don't think he needs to be asking when Fred's going to marry you. He can be a bit passionate about your care," Jean laughed as she caressed Hermione's cheek. "I know you both will do what works best for you. There's no need to rush things."

Hermione puffed and blew a curl from her face. "Yes, well, it seems I rushed this."

Jean shifted, and shrugged. "Things happen at different speeds when you love someone. You've never been traditional, Hermione. You're strong-willed and very determined. I have a feeling. However, this culminated because you felt safe enough to share a dream with him. That's alright. We make our own family, including the ones we make together."

"I drunkenly made this decision," Hermione grimaced.

Her mother laughed and exhaled. "Well, I suppose at the time that was all that mattered. It's interesting that even in your moment of inebriation, you decided that he was the man you wanted this dream with. That should be celebrated, not feared. You knew he was the man you wanted to father your children."

"Well, you were traditional. You waited, got married, and then had me."

"I waited because it took us so long to have you, Hermione. You were our gift we waited years for. You're lucky you didn't have to share my curse," Jean said as she glanced around the room.

"So, what do I do now?" Hermione sighed.

Jean folded her arms over her chest and hummed. "Well, you could start thinking about where you want to raise the baby. I'll support you with any decision you make. If you remain at his flat, that's fine, but it will be a trial for you both. Work is within walking distance for you and down the stairs from him. It won't be segregated if you don't do it."

"Yes," Hermione puffed. "That wouldn't be the best idea."

"You'll also have to reevaluate your work levels. Success isn't just about speed, but also fulfillment. You'll have to learn to put down the quill and put the time in for your family. This is a good time for that. You've got several years until your minister wants to retire. Why not utilize that time to build a proper routine for your family?"

"Alright," Hermione said with a nod.

Jean smiled and rubbed Hermione's shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll be a fantastic mother. You're healthy, strong, and brilliant. I should know, I'm your mother."

"Thanks mum," Hermione beamed.

They embraced, and Jean exhaled. "I love you, and I'm with you every step of the way."

There was a knock, and it led to the Ganger ladies to jump. "Not to interrupt, but, well," Fred sighed.

"Well, what?" Hermione asked.

"I, said something and it," he paused when Jean groaned.

"Stay up here," Jean ordered and stomped out of the room.

"What did you say?" Hermione paled.

Fred shifted as he shut the door. "Well, he asked me if we had talked about marriage. I told him we probably would eventually. We have bigger things to work out."

Hermione breathed and waved her hand. "Okay, well, there goes not telling my father, Freddy."

"Hey, it wasn't even suggested!" Fred hissed. "How am I supposed to know he was examining every word I said."

"I know," Hermione sighed.

"He's worse than my mum. Did you know he actually asked me if I planned on buying you a house? Of course, I do," Fred puffed.

Hermione tilted her head and smiled. "Oh, you do?" she asked.

Fred groaned and nodded. "Yeah, G. I was going to work on that this week."

She walked up to him and embraced his torso. "Oh, it's alright, Freddy. Don't get uptight. He's just being my father," Hermione murmured as she ran her cheek against his chest.

Fred bent down and kissed her hair. "You know that I love you, Hermione. I always will. We're going to do this right."

Hermione laughed and nodded against him. "I know. We're going to do things the right way for us. I don't need you to stress. You're going to have to be the calm one in a few months."

"As long as you still love me through all the stretch marks and frustrations, I think we're good."

She giggled and ran her fingers along his shoulder blades. "Oh, most certainly." Hermione turned and enveloped his arms around her. He leaned his chin on her shoulder as he traced circles on her lower abdomen. "If you promise always to make me laugh, I'll hold a maximum of three Weasley children for you."

"Are you sure you don't want more? I feel like I'm getting the better end of the deal here," He chuckled.

"That and you let me eat whatever I want while I hold them. If that means I want those chips from the Leaky Cauldron and pickles, I hope you comply."

Fred nuzzled her cheek and smirked. "That's a deal, G."

Jean had popped her head in and beamed. "Alright, the war zone is clear. Let's go down and talk."

Hermione snorted and pulled from Fred. "I told him not to say anything."

Jean gave her a very 'Hermione' expression. That explains where she got those genes. "You're asking a proud man to be discreet. Come off it, daughter."

Fred grinned and wagged his index finger. "You know, I always knew I'd like your mum."

"Well, let's get this over with," Hermione groaned and passed her mother.

Jean patted Fred's arm on the way out. "Don't worry, she'll be fine," she smiled.

"I know," Fred's lips curled as they filed down the staircase.

They sat down in the sitting room as Jack was twitching his nose. Hermione and Fred sat in a very similar manner the first time they were here months ago. Shy and a bit strained, but as Fred wrapped his arm around Hermione, it eased up.

"Okay," Jack said while shaking his finger. "I'm not happy this wasn't done right."

Jean hemmed. "Jack."

"Yes, yes," he groaned. "However, we know life isn't always built on convention. Hermione is a prime example."

Fred bobbed his head.

"And we will always love you both," Jean added.

"Yes," Jack agreed.

"And," Jean pressed.

"And you both have my blessing. Which comes to our gesture," Jack sighed.

Hermione scowled and fidgeted. "Gesture?"

Jean's face melted to a radiant smile. "We're going to help."

"How?" Fred shifted and winced.

Jack cleared his throat and pressed his finger down on his palm. "Tomorrow we're going to find a house nearby for you both. You can do what you will with it, but we want you nearby, so there's plenty of help with the baby."

"Father, I'm not even that far along," Hermione huffed with urgency in her tone.

"Well, let's focus on being sure you have a comfortable transition," Jack puffed.

Jean strolled over to Jack and took his hand. He breathed and squeezed it. "We didn't get to be there for you before, and we are remedying that, Hermione," Her mother said with a nod.

"We really don't need help with all of that, Mr. Granger," Fred declared.

Jack eased his grip on Jean's hand, and his eyes traced Fred. "We know that, Fred. This is our contribution to your lives, and you won't tell us no."

"Are you going to get married?" Jean asked.

Hermione exhaled with pink cheeks. "Of course, mum. This wasn't planned," Hermione mumbled.

Fred motioned agreed. "Yeah, a bit of a surprise."

"That's alright, you'll do so when you're ready. Hermione had always run before she walked," Jean laughed.

Jack rocked his head while twitching his nose. "Yes, she's always been high velocity. Jean and she have that in common."

Jean laughed and bent down to kiss Jack's cheek. "And you've always been my heart and laughter."

"Well, then plan for a time tomorrow morning to come and look at a few places. We'll get a list prepared tonight," Jack said.

Hermione moved again and sighed. "Father," she started.

He shook his head. "I was just surprised. You're my little bookworm, Hermione. It's hard to see my little girl grow up," he sighed.

Hermione's lips stretched as she stood up and went over to him. Embracing him, she kissed his cheek. "I'll always be your little girl, papa. Don't you worry."

Jack beamed, and Jean moved to give them space. He took her cheeks in his hands and kissed her forehead. "You're going to be a remarkable mother, Hermione. I'm so proud of the woman you developed into," he whispered against her brow.

Hermione let her tears go, and she giggled. "I'm going to have decent help. Especially when things get hard, and I need a laugh."

Jack smirked and pulled her face in front of his. "Now, you're going to see a friend of mine for your appointments?"

"If you like," Hermione murmured.

He nodded. "Yes, she's the best in the area. She'll take care of you."

"As in a muggle doctor?" Fred questioned.

Hermione stood up as Jack released Hermione. "Yes, is that a problem?" Jack asked with a scowl.

"No, of course not," Hermione huffed and turned to Fred. "Right, Freddy?"

Fred blinked and held up his hands. "No, no problems here. Whatever you want."

"You learn fast," Jack remarked and stood up. "Let's go have some lunch. I'm sure you're hungry, right, daughter?"

"Let me run to the bathroom," Hermione sighed and wandered out of the sitting room.

Jack waited for the door to sound at the end of the hallway. "You just remember, she needs you to give all the support you have. This won't be easy, and she's stubborn. I don't want her left in the weeds because you got cold feet," he warned Fred while pointing at him.

"Everything I have, Sir," Fred gulped.

"Get to work on a proposal. My daughter needs security."

Jean glared at his back and rolled her eyes. "Jack."

"I'll get right on that, Mr. Granger," Fred smiled and tossed his fingers off his forehead in salute.

"Good, then you have my blessing. Take care of her, and we'll always be in the right space, Fred," Jack said with a nod and turned to head out of the room.

Jean sighed and kissed his cheek before Jack left. "Don't take it personally, Fred. He's very protective. Hermione was our greatest gift in life."

Fred stood up and straightened his clothing. "No, I don't. He has every right to feel scathing. His daughter is pregnant with a man's baby who isn't married to her. I can imagine my mother would have felt similar about Ginny if Harry didn't wait."

Jean waved for them to move, and she nodded. "It's alright, you'll get there. From the moment you entered our house, I knew you were irrefutably in love with our daughter. She's lucky too."

"Well, I'm more so. She said yes," Fred smiled as they reached the dining room.

The Grangers sat down for lunch, and Fred thought. How was he going to enact his planned proposal without her finding out first? Well, it would come to him. He's kept the ring away from her well enough. Right under her nose, in fact. That made him grin and enjoy the afternoon with his soon-to-be inlaws.