This was a prize drabble/ficlet for one of the winners of a stamp contest at my dA group Ron-x-Hermione, known as HPLives or HermioneJeanWeasley. She asked for Ron and Hermione's first experience as parents, but I thought that, with so many nephews and nieces, things like changing diapers nappies (I love the British word better!) wouldn't be anything new. And so I came up with their first day as parents, with baby Rose ^-^
Thanks a lot (again) to exartemarte at LJ for the beta work :D
Please ignore the lame title.

Sweet Child Of Mine

'I can't believe it happened.'

Hermione sighed and smiled up at Ron, then back to the baby girl in her arms.

'Bet you aren't complaining about it, are you?' Ron chuckled, embracing her and looking at Rose.

'Well, I'll miss having her in my belly, but the last couple of months were uncomfortable.'

She turned around to lock her lips with his.

'Mmm... I could stay like this forever,' Hermione murmured contentedly, pressing her forehead against Ron's. 'Exhaustion is killing me, though.'

Ron took the baby from her arms and kissed her forehead.

'Go to sleep.'

He placed Rose as carefully as he could in the brand new cot and wrapped her in the soft blankets. When he turned round, Hermione was still standing where he had left her, twisting her hands.

'Hermione, go to sleep,' Ron said patiently, taking her firmly by the shoulders and leading her to bed.

'Yes... No, I can't!'

'Of course you can, you have to.'

'She will need me, Ron.'

'I can take care of her, can't I?'

'She will need me to feed her!'

'She's just been fed—'

'Babies are hungry all the time. And do you remember, by chance, how to change nappies on your own?'

'I think I've got some experience in that area by now, love,' he smiled, remembering the many times she had lectured him after he had put James's nappies on back to front. 'We'll do this, but be quiet because you're going to wake her: you take a nap and I'll wake you up if she needs you.'

Hermione seemed doubtful about Ron's ability to stay awake; after all, he had slept as little as she had. However, she nodded.

'I'll make you some linden tea, all right?'

'No, I can't drink caffeine, Ron, remember?'

'Okay, what do you want me to bring you?'

'I'm not really hungry...'

'You need to drink something nonetheless, remember?'

'Right. Then some hot chocolate, please.'

Ron Disapparated downstairs to comply with his wife's desires. He would normally use his legs in the house, instead of Apparition, but he could not bear a moment apart from Hermione and the baby. He came back as soon as the beverage was hot enough, having staved off his own starvation with a plate of biscuits.

'All done,' he said, handing her a mug of chocolate.

Although she had undressed and slipped into bed, Hermione was still sitting, her eyes anxiously watching the cot.

Ron next to her on the bed, forcing the mug into her hands.

'Thanks.' She gave him a kiss and started drinking.

'I'm so sorry, Ron. I must be very tired. It's only that... she barely seems to be breathing, and it makes me nervous...'

'What?' he said, alarmed, standing up. 'She's barely—?'

'No!' Hermione whispered urgently. 'She is breathing, and it's normal the way she does it, but I can't—I can't bear thinking—'

Her eyes were filled with tears. Ron sighed wearily and sat back again.

'Please, Hermione, relax,' he said, massaging her tense shoulders.

In that moment, Rose woke up and started crying. Hermione nearly spilled her drink as she jumped off the bed.

'See, I can't relax!' She rocked the baby in her arms carefully as she sat back on the bed and prepared to feed her.

'Today everybody drove me up the wall a bit, you know,' Ron commented. 'Especially when they started deciding who she looked like... Because I...' He looked slightly embarrassed. 'I dunno, she looks so red and puffy. Like a lovely little Puffskein.'

'It's perfectly normal, all babies look like that at first.' Hermione shot him a disgusted glance. 'And I don't think my daughter looks like a Puffskein.'

Ron could not help but smile, kissing her temple.

'I'm joking, 'course she doesn't. She's perfect.'

'I think she has your mouth,' Hermione said, caressing Rose's cheek softly.

'I can't see her mouth right now, Hermione,' he chuckled, 'but the little Puffskein takes after me, somewhat. Is she that hungry?'

Hermione suppressed a giggle as she changed Rose to the other breast.

'So it seems. I suppose we have another big stomach in the family.'

Ron wrapped his wife and daughter in his arms and Hermione rested her head against his chest.

'That's what we are now, a family.'

'No.' Ron's answer startled her, until he said, 'You and me, we've always been a family.'

She smiled and kissed him.

'Right, love.'

Once Rose was finished, she started crying again.

'Here, let me hold her. You should rest, don't you think?'

He took her and Hermione showed him how to tap her back after feeding. She then yawned and leaned back on the pillows, giving him a sleepy smile.

'If you want her to stop crying, the trick is to stand up, Ron.'