A/N: I hope you've all enjoyed this little offering. Stay safe.

See disclaimer, Chapter 1

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A month or so later, Minerva paced her sitting room. She'd been having twinges in her back all day and she was irritable. Harry had come home to see her after someone had told him how pale she looked and she'd sent him away. She'd shouted at him, truthfully, and he'd backed out of the door and gone back to work.

Now though, she sat, rubbing her back. It was an exercise in futility. Only Harry's strong hands could reach where she needed and she was so out of sorts she could only cry.

"Hiya love," he muttered.

She forgave him for getting on the bed with his filthy clothes on as his magical hands went to work.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be," he said, unbuttoning the front of her robes and pulling them gently so he could kiss her shoulder. "Our little watermelon is keeping you on your toes."

"If you value your ability to have more children with me, Harry Potter, you'll never call our child another fruit or vegetable again."

He didn't laugh like she thought he would and she turned a little to see him staring at her.

"What?"

"You," he frowned. "You want more babies?"

She blushed, kicking herself. She had admitted it if only to herself in her dreams. Those dreams of three shining faces with green eyes, dark hair and cheeky smiles.

Being pregnant was certainly not so bad when there was someone to share it with.

"Min?"

"With you?" she murmured, looking away with a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I'd have as many as you would want."

He pulled her back, making quick work of their clothes and kissed every inch of her skin until she was begging quietly for his love. They made love on their side, Minerva gripped his hands while he slipped inside of her over and over again.

"I'll never tire of making love to you," he muttered. "Never."

She groaned as he ran his fingernails over her hip.

"Just wait until I can move properly, my love," she breathed. "Then we're really going to have fun."

His pace quickened and she gasped, her whole stomach contracting as they came almost simultaneously. He'd taken to pulling out just before he came and replacing two fingers instead. She felt him come on her legs and groaned again as he teased a second, smaller orgasm out of her. They lay quietly breathing heavily. He cleaned her up and banished the messy sheets, pulling a soft blanket over her skin while they lay together for a while.

She was restless and he soothed her gently with his hands, massaging her hips and her thighs and then her back. She shrugged him off, wincing as his usually magic hands started to hurt.

"Sorry," she hissed. "That's sore."

Harry summoned the lotion and rubbed it into her skin while they rested. As she winced again, he got a funny look on his face.

"What?" she murmured, looking up at him.

"You keep wincing," he mused. "And your belly is contracting."

"That's -" she considered it. "Oh."

"You're in labour," he muttered. "I think."

"You're very calm," she observed.

"I," he shrugged. "So are you?"

"I no doubt won't be, once it really begins. Although knowing Poppy is only a fire-call away is helpful too."

"Do you, do you want me to go?"

"Why would I want that?"

"I didn't think the -" he swallowed. "Fathers were allowed in the room?"

"About 50 years ago, perhaps. Besides which, if you think you're going to get out of letting me squeeze your hand, you've got another thing coming."

He seemed pleased and just as she was about to continue, she finally got a real contraction.

"Oh bloody hell," she groaned. "Did I just say I wanted more?"

"You did and I'm going to hold you to that, but not today," he smiled. "Want to put something on?"

"A camisole and my robe, I think?"

He helped her into it, pulling on a pair of shorts and a shirt himself. She hummed as she watched his gorgeous body disappear from view.

"Shame," she quipped, groaning a little as another hit.

"That's twenty minutes," he nodded. "I'm gonna call Poppy, just so we have an idea, okay?"

"Fine."

He was gone just longer and she felt the next one alone.

"Hey there," Poppy greeted her at the bed with a steady smile. "I hear it's time?"

"They are definitely still spaced out," she nodded, feeling more tired than anything.

"That's good," she nodded, speaking softly. For all the grief they gave each other, Minerva had never trusted her medical care to anyone as much as she trusted Poppy. "My suggestion is to try to rest while you can. I'm going to start getting everything ready so when it's time, we'll just get on with it."

"How many babies have you delivered?" Harry asked as he sat on the bed next to Minerva.

"Too many to count," she chuckled. "Your woman is in safe hands."

"Shit, Poppy, I didn't mean it like that." He looked mortified but Minerva didn't have the energy to help.

"I know," Poppy smiled, squeezing his shoulder. "It's alright. Settle down with her. Help her sleep. When they're a few minutes apart, we'll check dilation and go from there."

Minerva snuggled under his chin as he wrapped his arms around her and dozed for what felt like ten seconds, but it was dark when she had a pain so sharp she cried out, startling them both.

"Hey," he muttered. "Breathe, it's ok."

"Hurts," she winced.

"You're nearly there if you can believe that. Poppy's been checking on you every half an hour. You must have been tired."

She smirked, thinking about why. He chuckled, having seen that look before as she lost her breath.

"Oh," she breathed, the warm, wet sensation spreading under her backside. "I think -"

"I'll be right back," he muttered.

"It's alright, I'm here," Poppy said, stepping back in before Harry could move. "I put a warding charm on you. It was better than disturbing you."

She didn't care at that moment and followed Poppy's instructions to open her legs.

"You're pretty much there. This baby isn't messing around. A few more minutes and you'll be ready to have this baby!"

Minerva was so uncomfortable, she didn't know what to do with herself. She groaned as they got impossibly closer. The noises she made were not her own and she suddenly got up, surprising them both.

"Easy," Poppy muttered. Minerva wasn't sure whether she was speaking to her or Harry. "You're in control, Minerva." Her then. "Just let us help you when you need to move. Whatever you need, we're right here"

"Oh."

Her voice felt so deep she couldn't believe it was her. Poppy checked her where she was and put a gentle hand on her back.

"When you're ready, Minerva, you can push. It'll happen soon, I promise. Stay calm, keep breathing. Let Harry know if you need him. You're in control sweetheart. I love you," she whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair.

She didn't know where Harry was, she couldn't think of anything other than the sudden urge to bear down.

"That's it, sweetheart," Poppy muttered. "Just like that."

She felt it, the most bizarre sensation of her body accommodating both the pain and the child that seemed desperate to meet them.

"Oh," she cried as it started to hurt properly. "Oh, Merlin."

"I'm here."

Harry's voice rang loudly in her ears and she felt around for him, her eyes closed against the pain. He joined her where she was kneeling on the floor. Her knees were spread as wide as she could go and she felt the sudden need to lean forward.

"Here," he muttered, catching her. She gripped his shirt whining when she found his chest covered.

"Take this off," she mumbled.

He did and she mapped his pecs before gripping his shoulders.

"I love you. You're doing great."

She had no concept of time. Her body did what it needed to do and she experienced a kind of meditative state, similar to the one she'd had when transforming to her Animagus the first time. Harry's voice kept her grounded and his strong arms around her were more and more useful as her knees went numb.

"Need to move," she murmured.

"Where?" he asked.

"Don't know."

She cried out as the angle changed and the pain intensified. He helped her up and she managed to get into the bed but she lay down and it was wrong.

"Easy," he muttered. "Easy."

He sat her up and got behind her, letting her lean on his broad chest.

She groaned as another went through her. She didn't answer, too occupied with the rolling contractions in her stomach. She felt two go by and then an intensity that she couldn't escape.

"Oh!" Her eyes widened and she found Poppy watching her carefully. "I think -"

"Okay," Poppy smiled. "Okay Min, we're here."

Her calm and gentleness helped Minerva relax again and she squeezed Harry's two hands in her own.

"I think it's -"

"Min, darling, I want you to push as hard as you can, the next time you feel the need to."

Poppy's hand was on her stomach, her knee pushed up under her thigh, helping her keep it open. She watched in an almost out of body experience as her belly rippled and tightened under Poppy's hand.

"This is it, sweetheart," Poppy said gently. "Are you ready to meet your baby?"

Harry held her hands tightly as she bore down. She screamed as she felt herself spreading to accommodate the intruder and her throat felt like it was closing against the endless waves of pain.

"Breath through your nose and out through your mouth," Poppy said gently. "Relax, it's all okay. Everything is going beautifully."

"I love you," Harry's voice whispered in her ear. "You are my strong and beautiful babymama, remember."

She laughed, still crying and pushed again as her body contracted. Her entire lower half was on fire, right down to her toes. She couldn't stop moaning for the pain.

"Pant for me," Poppy ordered, her voice a little harsher, Minerva blinked at the change of tone. "Minerva? Pant. Get some oxygen, this is going to be uncomfortable."

She wasn't lying.

Poppy reached inside her and had she not already been in keening agony, it would have made her cry out. The medi-witch worked for a minute or two of pure endless pain on Minerva's part until she spoke again.

"Harry, are you ready?" She felt him nod on her shoulder, kissing it and her neck. "Minerva, keep panting. The baby's turning and then, on the next one, I need you to push. Harder than you have before. Your baby is right here and it's going be hard, but you can do this sweetheart."

"I love you, you beautiful witch."

She gripped his hands and bore down, her voice cracking as a crescendo of pain paralysed her before disappearing in a rush.

"Oh," she gasped, trying to breathe as everything gave way. "Oh!"

A wobbling wail filled the room. Her body reacted as she looked around.

"Oh."

"Minerva -" Harry's wonderment was calming.

"Minerva? Harry? You have the most beautiful little boy."

She blinked, still breathing hard as a tiny, naked, filthy mess of skin and black hair was placed on her stomach. It squirmed and cried and waved its arms about but it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She moved their hands, still entwined with Harry's, onto the baby's back and fell back against her love.

"You were amazing," he muttered. "I've never -" She felt his tears on her shoulder and she hummed.

"I love you," she mumbled, over the din.

Poppy stood beaming at them and she smiled back tiredly.

"I know you're tired," Poppy whispered. "But I wondered if his Daddy would like to cut the cord?"

Harry nodded and she let one hand go, smiling as he did so and Poppy covered them with a warm blanket.

The crying didn't stop but Poppy soothed her worries gently as she ran her wand over the babe, declaring him to be perfect.

Minerva breathing was slowly returning to normal as Poppy squeezed her hand.

"I'm going to weigh him and check him over, I'm not going anywhere but I need to take him for just a moment, okay?"

She nodded and Harry's arms wrapped around her. He kissed her head and she squirmed again as if her body was contacting again.

"Oh," Poppy said, appearing at her side. "Don't panic, just the placenta. A few contractions and it will come out, just stay calm, just like before."

"Hurts," she winced.

"It will," Poppy said gently. "You're doing fine, sweetheart, breathe through it. Your body knows what to do."

She did as she was told and before long groaned as it passed.

"Perfect," Poppy smiled, holding a little bundle of blankets in her arms. "Would you both like to meet your son?"

She nodded and tried to sit up but as Poppy passed her baby over, she was arrested by the beauty of this tiny thing. Her heart burst in happiness and she heard Harry's quiet exultations. He was perfect.

Black black hair and brilliant green eyes that had a depth she could get lost in. His nose was his Daddy's and his mouth so like hers. She just stared at him as Harry traced his features.

They sat together until Minerva was more uncomfortable than she could stand. Poppy appeared again, looking at Minerva carefully before tutting and nodding for Harry to shift from the bed.

"Let's get you up for a while," Poppy said gently. "Why don't you hold your son, young man," she said gently. "While I deal with your woman."

There was a niggling in her brain that only manifested into a full thought when she saw the grin on Poppy's face.

"Wait -" she muttered.

"How did you know?" Harry asked quietly as Poppy helped her move. "Any of it, but," he looked down at his baby. "Him?"

"You have a tiny anomaly in your readout. Your father had it too and when I saw it on one of the scans, I knew."

"You didn't say -" Minerva frowned.

"You figured it out," Poppy smiled, cupping Minerva's cheek. "I would have, after, if you hadn't."

"I want you as one of the godparents," Minerva mumbled, glancing at him apologetically. "Though we haven't talked about it."

"You and Hermione," he nodded.

"We would be honoured," she beamed, tears collecting in her eyes. "Thank you."

"Good," Minerva nodded.

She moved Minerva to the edge of the bed and checked her over thoroughly before getting her up. Her body throbbed endlessly and her legs were shaking as Poppy held her up.

"I'm not feeling especially well."

"I cannot overstate how brilliantly you did that," Poppy muttered. "However," she chuckled, changing the sheets and settling Minerva back under the covers. "Your body has been through a lot and it is going to be sore and tired for a long time yet. You're by no means old, but you're also not a spring chicken." Minerva snorted. "Let Harry do the work you need to do." Minerva nodded and sat back with a pained sigh. "We have a much better potion regime than the Muggle doctors. There's a cream as well. We'll keep an eye on it but it won't take you long for your body to start healing."

"You're telling me to have patience, aren't you."

Poppy chuckled.

"I am, yes. Now," she said, smiling at the two of them. "I'm going to leave you three alone for a while. I might go and give Hermione the news, and I'll be back in half an hour, alright? If he wants to, and you are comfortable trying, you can try to get him feeding. Don't worry if he can't or won't, I'll be back to go through that with you later. There are no rules, but you can try if you want to."

She nodded and Poppy left her staring at her two boys.

"He's beautiful," Harry marvelled. "I don't even know how to say what I'm thinking."

"Come," she sighed. She hurt in places she didn't know could hurt.

He passed him over the bed carefully and ran around to join her on the other side. They watched as his crying quietened and he started squirming in her chest.

"I know how he feels," Harry mumbled, making her chuckle.

"Can you move him higher?"

He did so and Minerva helped him find her nipple, crying out at the feeling.

"Bloody hell," she winced. "I don't know about all that."

Harry laughed quietly and ran his hand over the little one's head as he sucked and pressed at her like a kitten.

The irony wasn't lost on her.

"We never discussed names," she muttered. "I'm not naming him after anyone," she warned. "I don't want him tied to our past. He's our future."

Harry sighed happily in her ear again.

"I love you," he murmured. "More than you could possibly imagine."

"I don't need to imagine," she whispered. "You show me every day."

He slid his arm beneath her neck and wrapped his arms around both of them, settling them against his chest.

"He's so small."

"Poppy would have said if he was smaller than he should be."

"You were perfect. We were both sitting there in awe watching you," he mumbled. "I mean," he chuckled. "I," he hesitated.

"Don't start keeping things from me now."

"Do you know why I love working with animals?" he asked. She shrugged. "They're pure. They have a way to do things and they do it. Watching you was like that. It was pure. Your body knew what it needed and it happened. It was primal and I've never been more amazed by you," he smiled against her skin. "Which is saying a lot, cos you amaze me every day."

She smiled as the little one let out a wail as his mouth let go of her.

"You wanna switch him? Isn't that what you do?"

"I have no clue," she chuckled. "But this one is sore now," she rolled her shoulder. "And this one uncomfortably full."

"I read about that," he muttered. He looked at her as he leant up and she nodded, allowing him to help the baby get where he needed to be.

"Oh," she grimaced.

She held her breath as he got settled and finally relaxed.

"You're so strong, I can't even understand it."

"I thought I warned you not to worship me," she whispered with no malice.

"To know you is to worship you, Minerva McGonagall."

He said it with such love, she couldn't help but sink into his arms.

"I'm going to be less hormonal one day and I'll just roll my eyes at you."

"I know," he laughed.

He reached forward brushing the back of the tiny fist that seemed intent on pressing her milk into existence. It grabbed his finger and Harry burst into tears.

"I never thought I'd have this Minerva and I can't," he breathed hard and sniffed. "I won't ever be able to explain to you how much I love you."

"I love you," she whispered, turning so he could see the truth of it.

They lay quietly, watching their son. She had almost dozed off when she felt Harry move.

"What were your brothers' names?"

"Malcolm and Robert."

He nodded, no doubt remembering she wasn't interested in naming this perfect little being after anyone.

"He needs a good Scottish name," Harry said finally.

"You are not Scottish," she smiled. "Do not discount his heritage."

"My heart is," he shrugged. "My home. My soulmate," he grinned as she looked at him. "You are. I'll never love another. Not for as long as I live."

She breathed his name and they kissed properly for the first time, chuckling to each other as the baby started crying.

"Guess that's to be expected," he chuckled, sitting her up and settling by her side as she held the baby's weight in her arms for the first time. Their heads rested against each other as the little eyes took in the world for the first time, staring at them like he knew who they were.

"Bran," she whispered. "I know it is unusual, but I like it. It means raven, I think."

"I do too," he smiled. "Bran," he thought about it and she let him. "Alexander?"

She smiled.

"Bran Alexander Potter."

"No," he shook his head. "McGonagall. When I marry you, I'm taking your name."

She gaped at him.

"I just," he blushed and she kissed him gently to take the sting out. "Potter had a story, you know? I don't want that for him."

"McGonagall is not without weight?"

"But there isn't a whisper that follows you. An awe perhaps," he smiled. "Well deserved. But no whispers."

"Alright," she nodded. "If you are sure?"

"I am. It sounds better too."

She smiled as someone knocked at the door.

"Alright?" Poppy asked.

"He's amazing," Harry gushed.

Poppy smiled and took Minerva's free hand.

"Hermione sends her love and congratulations."

Minerva nodded in thanks and let Poppy take a look.

"Did he try to feed?"

"Try" Minerva scoffed. "He seems born to do it," she winced at the memory.

"It will get better," she smiled. "I'd like to take a good look at you if you don't mind? Make sure everything is okay? You can decide where, how and who."

"Want me to go?"

"I don't know," she mumbled. "Yes?"

"It's okay," he smiled. "I'll go see Hermione too unless you want me to stay and just be outside the door?"

"No, it's okay," she smiled. "Go."

"I love you," he said, despite Poppy being in the room.

"As I love you."

He left and Poppy stood beaming at her.

"Get on with ya," Minerva mumbled bashfully, wincing as she tried to move her son a little higher.

"I have never seen you so happy. So complete."

"Well," she smiled. "Harry is," she shrugged. "Everything."

"I see," Poppy smiled. "I see that. And I understand."

"I didn't," she swallowed. "I didn't set out to fall in love with him. I didn't," she blushed. "Know it was him, back then."

"It would have been okay if you had," Poppy said gently, straightening the blanket over her and Bran. "And it doesn't matter. I think we have both found our happily ever afters," Poppy whispered. "With these amazing humans."

She pulled down the covers and moved Minerva's legs gently. After a few moments of prodding and a few more quiet spells, she looked up and smiled.

"A few small tears but nothing that won't heal in time. There's numbing paste and a few healing potions for when you're ready to bathe."

"I'm not joking about you being a godmother. I'll need you. Both of you. Neither Harry nor I have any idea what we're doing."

"Most parents don't, my friend," Poppy soothed. "But you will work out what is best for you. Just remember to let him in," Poppy said gently. "Some new mothers find it hard to let their babies go, even to the father."

"I shall not ever have that problem as I will forever be entranced by his face when he looks at him."

Poppy smiled and hugged her gently.

"I know I mentioned it earlier, but you really are the poster-child for natural births. As usual, overachieving in everything you do."

Minerva laughed and Bran stirred.

"He also mentioned something about it, yes," she nodded. "I felt like I was in a trance."

"Well, if you could teach that to everyone, the maternity ward would be a much less stressful place to be some days."

Minerva smiled and yawned. Poppy chuckled.

"Do you want me to summon a crib or do you have one sorted?"

"I can answer that," Harry said from the door. "I forgot to mention it until Hermione reminded me. I, um," he scratched the back of her neck. "Kinda made something. Wil helped, she whittles. So," he shrugged. "She taught me."

Minerva lost her breath as he stepped out of sight and came back with the most beautiful crib she'd ever seen. It was inlaid with all manner of creatures, magical and muggle and she felt the tears running down her face at the sight of it.

"Oh, my love."

He placed it beside the bed, lifting the side down so that it exactly matched up with the bed.

"We couldn't figure out how to enlarge it without ruining the animals so we just made it adjustable. It'll grow with him."

Poppy helped her shift Bran into it and nodded for Harry to get in. She tucked all of them in and Minerva sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, trailing one hand down hers to join it on Bran's back.

"You are the best father any baby could ask for," she murmured, tucking her feet between his.

She hurt, she was exhausted but she could not wait to live and love with this man by her side. One could say it was fated but she knew better. Soulmates anyways found each other, no matter the circumstances and like him, she was sure she had found hers as well.