The morning of Christmas Eve Hermione woke up to quiet singing from her husband.

"Oh the weather outside is frightful

And the fire is so delightful

And since there's no place to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

She snuggled deeper in to his arms and took a deep breath, trying to convince herself to wake up.

"What time is it?" she murmured still not wanting to open her eyes.

"Almost nine. I wanted to let you sleep but I know you said you had things to do today."

"I do. I need to wrap presents and stop at the market for some last minute ingredients for things to bring tonight. When do you expect you'll be home?"

Hermione turned to her other side but stayed in George's arms. He smoothed an errant curl away from her face and smiled down at her.

"Gods your beautiful when you wake up."

"I think you may be a bit biased."

"Just a bit." He smiled down at her, leaned in to kiss her then sat up and pulled her closer. "I should be home in time to take us over to dinner. I expect the last minute shoppers will quite literally be last minute. Fred and I agreed though that we'll not stay open longer than planned."

"Good. Holidays and family are important. Now, let's get dressed and I'll feed you some breakfast and then we can get going."

"You're going in with me?"

"I need to go to the Alley anyway so I might as well just start at the shop."

"Alright. Let's up with us then."

George pecked another kiss on his wife then hopped out of bed to get ready for the day. Hermione planned on getting ready for the party later in the afternoon so she got dressed in something warm and comfortable then went downstairs to prepare breakfast.

The couple landed in the office at the shop. George kissed his wife goodbye, patted her bottom as she walked threw the door of the office and laughed at her mock glare and she walked toward the front of the shop. Hermione blew him a kiss and walked out in to the brisk, snowy street.

The market was packed full of last minute shoppers preparing for holiday meals. It was crazy but Hermione couldn't help but feel that it was all part of the season and smiled and wished Happy Christmas to everyone she passed.

A few more shops were stopped at for extra little gifts. She spotted the most darling thing for Angelina and Fred's babies and just had to get it for them. Walking around the nursery store was melancholy. She was terribly excited and happy for Fred and Angelina but still a bit weepy when she thought of her own troubles conceiving. She was told at her most recent physical this summer that she was fit and healthy so she could think of no reason why she should be having such trouble.

Hermione almost walked right past the apothecary without a second thought. Before she was too far from the door she stopped and thought of her lack of pregnancy test potions at home. No need to make another trip just for that when she was right here, right? She steeled herself, turned around and opened the door before she could talk herself out of it. she walked right up to the tests, took three in hand and walked to the counter, trying not to concentrate on the other people in the shop. she paid for her purchases and left to pick up lunch for the twins completely not thinking about what was in the bag she had just added to her pile.

The twins smiled and thanked her for the hot lunch she brought. Fred offered to let George go up first and eat while Hermione was here. They headed up to the apartment and sat at the table and ate together.

"Not feeling hungry Mionebee?"

He watched at she took a smile bite o the stew in front of her then pushed some vegetables around with her spoon.

"Not really." She dropped the spoon and rested her chin on her fist. "I think I'm distracted by one of the purchases I made today."

"Well, that's exciting. Is it for me?"

Hermione smiled at his enthusiasm.

"Partly." She looked down at her bowl then pushed it a little away from her. Looking back at her husband she sighed and told the truth. "I stopped at the apothecary to get more test potions. I was right there and convinced myself that there was no use making another trip if I was already there. Now I can only think about how it's right there and what if I just take one? Wouldn't it be such a wonderful Christmas present to us if it was positive? But then what if it's negative? Would it ruin my holiday?"

"You're making yourself sick over this sweetheart. I've never seen you turn up Tom's stew before. Maybe we should just take it and give you some peace of mind. Either way you'll know and it will settle you enough to eat your lunch. We'll have a great holiday either way." He reached across the table and took her hand away from her face and held it. "I have you here and that's enough for me, honestly. I've missed you while you've been at school. Having you for more than a few nights has been wonderful."

Hermione smiled at her husbands sentimentality. And then he had to open his mouth and ruin it.

"And having a regular bed partner and cook isn't all that bad either."

They both laughed at his comment. When they were quiet again George walked over to the bags Hermione had set down and shuffled through them until he found the test potion. He walked to a drawer in the kitchen and fetched a pin then pulled Hermione up and over to the couch.

"Alright. Now we're going to do this and no matter what it says your going to sit down and eat your lunch when it's done."

"Okay." Hermione nodded and concentrated on the bottle and pin in her husbands hands.

She took the pin and pricked her finger while George opened the bottle. She took the same attitude as she did when buying the potion. She was just doing it, not over thinking it. A couple drops of blood fell in the bottle, George closed it and handed it to her while taking her other hand and soothing the prick with a spell.

Hermione gasped and exclaimed a loud 'huh'. She turned her watery eyes to George as he looked up from her hand.

"What?"

"George, look."

She held up the bottle.

"Oh my Gods."

"It's positive isn't it? I mean, should it have turned color already? Maybe it's a false positive."

George ran back to the bag and brought back another potion. Without a word they took the test again, following the same ritual of holding, pricking and healing. This time they both stared at the vile as it instantly changed color.

"George," Hermione whispered through her hand. She turned to him. He looked gobsmacked and his own eyes looked close to tears. He looked from the bottle, to her, to the bottle and back to her again.

"Hermione."

He grabbed her up and hugged her tightly. She let him squeeze her and she squeezed right back.

"Merlin," George pulled away and sniffed, "I'm sorry, was I hurting you? Are you okay?"

Hermione let out a small chuckle.

"I'm fine George. I'm not going to shatter just because I'm pregnant."

"Gods Hermione, you're pregnant." He stared at her for a second then bounded off the couch and ran down the stairs. Hermione could hear him yelling to Fred and loudly yelling 'Hermione's pregnant' form the office. Both men ran back up the stairs and Fred came straight to her and pulled her to her feet to hug her. Both were hugging her at one point and laughing.

"Congratulations you two." Fred beamed and hugged each of them again. "I've got to get back down but I'll see you tonight Hermione."

"Thank you Fred." Hermione smiled and waved him off. As soon as the door was closed she was pressed back against her husband while he held her close and snuggled in to her hair.

"I'm so happy Hermione."

"Happy Christmas to us."

George laughed and pulled away.

"Happy Christmas to us."

When George got home that evening he found Hermione happily collecting presents to bring with them to the Burrow. She turned when she heard him come in and smiled. She swiped a tear off of her face and walked to him.

"What's the matter sweetheart." He hugged her to him and looked concernedly down to her face.

"I'm just-" she rolled her eyes and giggled, "I've never in my life been happy about being nauseated before. I thought it was just from eating raw cookie dough and sweets since I got home. Now I know otherwise and I couldn't be happier. It's all very strange."

George laughed along with her then hugged her tight and lifted her off her feet. He put her down and kissed her thoroughly. When they pulled apart he leaned his forehead on hers.

"Are we telling the family?"

"Oh George, I think that's a wonderful idea. I know people wait but it's Christmas…" She looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

George fell even deeper in love with his wife. She had more magic in her and it was growing his child right now. Their child. After all the struggle, now that they were having a baby it was all forgotten and she wanted to share the happiness with their family.

"Alright," he let her go and picked up the sack with the gifts. "Let's go be the best gift givers this Christmas."

"I'll go get the food."

Hermione was almost out the door when she turned around with an excited look on her face.

"George, this will be our last Christmas without our children."

He smiled back just as excitedly. Hermione twirled an danced out of the room. Yes, George fell even deeper in love with his wife and already loved his baby more than he could express.

Everyone was sitting at the dinner table chatting and eating. Everyone had exchanged small gifts before dinner and Hermione was talking to Molly about the scarf pattern she had used on her gift to her mother-in-law.

"I've been knitting non-stop since the weddings. Ever so many more sweaters to make this year."

"And booties for the baby," Arthur interjected.

"Well of course. I have to get started on those. I expect more will be needed by the end of next year."

Molly smiled over her table like a queen. So many children happy, married and making futures.

Hermione and George looked at each other and silently communicated. George nodded and wrapped his arm around Hermione.

"Mum?"

"Yes George dear?"

"She can always tell us apart now because of the wives. Just not fair." Fred said from down the table. Everyone laughed but went back to their own conversations.

"Mum? How soon would one need to ask if they wanted a pair of those booties for themselves?"

"Oh, well, considering how big you've gotten I'd have to say a couple months. They are ever so warm for the winter. I can get started after the new year. Or maybe I can give the pattern to Hermione. She's just wonderful at knitting."

"My needles will be a bit busy I'm afraid."

"And I think that they would have to be much smaller than my size."

"Oh, were they meant to be a present for someone? I hope I didn't spoil it for Hermione if they were for her."

"No Mum," George rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatedly. Fred chuckled from his seat further down the table. "Make them the same size as you've made for Fred and Angelina."

"Well that wouldn't fit anyone but a-"

George and Hermione smiled and nodded at her. She finally was understanding.

"Sweet Merlin, are you pregnant?"

George and Hermione smiled at each other. George kissed her then turned back to him mother.

"That we are." He leaned closer and pressed a hand to his wife's lower stomach.

"OOOHHHHHHH!" Molly exclaimed. She jumped up and rushed around the table and hugged Hermione in her seat. She nudged a laughed Charlie from his seat and sat down. "Oh my goodness, when did you find out?"

"Just this afternoon." Hermione answered.

"Told me first," Fred chimed in.

"Oh you. Of course he did." She waved his comment away.

Suddenly there was a screeched "WHAT!" from the end of the table near Arthur. Lavender looked livid.

"How could this happen!"

Not again, Hermione thought. She couldn't ruin a special moment for her again.

"Well, when a man and woman love each other very much…" George lectured playfully.

"I know how it happens you idiot. I want to know how it possibly could have happened. I thought you were having trouble?"

Hermione took a deep breath. This probably wouldn't be the only person asking after personal details and about their trials to conceive.

"We were but having a rest since we've been home must have helped."

"But-"

"Lav, leave off." Ron mumbled.

She turned to him angrily.

"No," she turned back to Hermione. "This can't have happened. I was supposed to get pregnant first. I've been using ever so many potions. I've even been slipping a contraceptive in your juice on Fridays before you come home. I gave you an extra heavy dose on our first night back here."

"What!" George and Hermione thundered at the same time. The anger coming off of them sparked their magic and shook the dishes on the table.

Lavender cried like a victim.

"It just wasn't fair." She wiped at her eyes and nose pathetically. "You were the favorite and everyone was against me. I just wanted to be better than you in this one thing."

"Lavender, that was highly dangerous." Penny said. "If Hermione had conceived and you had continued to dose her with contraceptive she could have miscarried or had a lot of trouble with her pregnancy. It could have damaged the child.

"I could tell she hadn't. Every time she would come back with that sad look on her face I knew."

"Where is the potion you gave her?" George sounded quiet but deadly. "I want the bottle you gave her when we got home. I will bring it with us to her first appointment to make sure you didn't harm my wife or child. And so help me, if you have I will think of something truly awful but completely legal to do to you."

"No need." Ron mumbled from his seat again.

"Pardon?" Molly asked clutching a crying Hermione to her while George rubbed her back.

"I switched the bottles." He looked around at his family but avoided Lavenders surprised face. "I know you all know about the contraceptive I've been taking and the fertility potion she's been taking," he nodded toward his still blubbering wife who wailed when he said contraceptive. "When we got here I was finally able to get in to her trunk without her noticing and switched the potions. She took one of the potions from my trunk to give to Hermione. I noticed a bottle missing the next morning and figured she had figured it out and took one of her own potions back." He looked up at Hermione sorrowfully. "I'm so sorry Hermione. She must have thought she was giving you the contraceptive but she ended up giving you one of her fertility potions."

Hermione just nodded through her tears and turned to be held by her husband.

"Thank you Ron," she whispered.

Ron nodded and looked back down at his dinner plate. Lavender let out another miserable sob and ran from the table and up the stairs.

"I'm taking Hermione home." George pulled away from the table and pulled Hermione up with him. They walked out of the house and he apparated them home. He sat them down in the overstuffed arm chair and held her close.

"I can't believe this." Hermione whispered.

George leaned down ad kissed her stomach then leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"She's very lucky her scheme didn't hurt my family." George fumed.

"George, she's been dosing me."

"I know. I'm so sorry. We can press charges if you want."

"No. We know now and whether we like it or not she's family. We can handle this internally, no reason to involve the law."

"I would have killed her. If she had hurt you or the baby. If something had gone wrong and you had died I would have killed her. I was this close to climbing over the table and punching her."

"You don't hit women."

"She's a monster. She would have deserved it."

"Don't say that."

George huffed and pulled her even closer.

"George?"

"Yes love?"

A slow smile grew on her lips. She looked at him adoringly.

"We're going to have a baby."

George leaned over and kissed his wife.

"Yes, we are." He lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs to their bedroom. "But that's no reason to be getting out of practice for the next one."

Hermione laughed then started to kiss his jaw.

"I completely agree," she murmured against his skin while he moaned.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm back and finally ready to finish this story. Thanks to everyone who read while this was on vacation and left comments and encouragement. Now my beta has left me for other things so this is, as you may guess, unbeta'ed. If anyone wants to take a crack at it let me know. For now I'll just do my best and post whenever I think a chapter is polished. Thanks for reading!