A/N: Well everyone, here's the last chapter. I'm really, really happy to see that you guys enjoyed my fic. It's great to see all the reviews you gave me. Thank you all for taking the time to do it. A very special thank you goes to my great beta Melissa - she's wonderful : )
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FOURTEEN
After twelve hours of labor, the fruit of Harry and Hermione's night of love was born. A pink-faced baby girl was lovingly welcomed into this world by her parents. Lily Jane had Harry's green eyes and what promised to be Hermione's brown curls.
Harry had been by Hermione's side through the entire ordeal. The fingernail marks Hermione left on Harry's hands were proof of that - during the most difficult moments she had held just a little too tight for him, but Harry didn't mind.
The anxiety and nervousness he was feeling at that moment numbed the pain. Once Lily came out, the doctors gave Harry the honor of cutting the umbilical cord. He watched closely as the nurse cleaned and checked the tiny baby, making sure everything was fine.
When the nurse finished the examinations needed, she handed Harry his daughter. Feeling as if he was holding way more than just a little baby , he went to Hermione's side and gently placed Lily in her mum's arms.
After nine long months, Hermione was finally able to look at the bundle of joy that had kept on kicking her mature womb.
Tears of happiness rolled out of Hermione's eyes without her even noticing. She could not believe this little person had been inside of her, growing, getting ready to meet the world. Harry pulled some sweat-wet strands of hair off of Hermione's face, and kissed her forehead.
"She's perfect," said Harry. "Just like her mother."
Hermione smiled at him. All of the emotions she had felt during the last hours were tied into a knot in her throat making it impossible for her to speak. Harry took a tiny hand in his and kissed it if softly. Then, he looked lovingly at Hermione.
"Thanks," he said. "For giving me the most beautiful daughter." He leaned and kissed Hermione with all the love he had for her, giving her in that kiss the unspoken promise that their love would last forever. He gently pulled back and rested his forehead on hers.
"I love you," he said in a whisper.
"Me, too," she managed to say, feeling a happiness she'd never felt before.
--- * --- * --- * ---
"Oh Hermione! She's so beautiful." Ginny was holding the baby in her arms, Luna and Damara at each side.
Mrs. Granger and the girls were at the hospital room with Hermione and the baby. Harry had taken the opportunity to go take a shower.
"I'm so glad I got to see her," said Damara, who was now holding Lily. She was supposed to be heading home later that day. Fred had offered to take her to the airport and she was more than glad about the idea.
"Me too. After all we went through together. You were the first one to know she was coming to this world," said Hermione. She couldn't feel happier about having Damara with her to enjoy this moment.
"She was?" asked Mrs. Granger.
Hermione was telling her mother about the little "accident" that led to her finding out about her pregnancy and about Damara being there with her, when Harry walked in followed by Ron, Neville and the twins.
The guys said hello to everyone and quickly went to see the baby. Harry sat on Hermione's bed and kissed the top of her head.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly taking one of her hands in his.
"Still a little sore, but I'm fine."
"Good," he said leaning down to kiss her lips. Just then a little cry was heard.
"Hey, what are you lot doing to my baby?" asked Harry quickly hurrying to get Lily. He took her in his arms - it seemed that with just a day's worth of practice he had turned into an expert on holding babies.
"There, there," he talked soothingly to his daughter. "Daddy's here. Daddy's got ya." Harry walked over to Hermione and handed her the baby. "Fellows," he said talking to the guys. "It's Lily's lunch time!"
They looked at each other trying to guess why he was announcing this to them. Since they weren't moving, the girls started pushing them out. As they were leaving the room, they realized Hermione was getting ready to breastfeed the baby.
--- * --- * --- * ---
Harry's courses were supposed to start the next day, but after he talked to Professor MacGonagall (she had connections at the institute), he was allowed to take two days off. He'd resume his classes on Wednesday instead.
That night after everyone left, Harry was finally alone with Hermione and the baby. Hermione would be allowed to go back home the next morning. Her parents had promised to get there early to help them get home.
Harry was standing next to Hermione's bed looking lovingly at his two girls. Lily had been placed on Hermione's side and both of them were sleeping. Harry was so proud of Hermione. He witnessed the harsh pain she had suffered when bringing Lily into this world.
He wished he could've made things easier for her, but her sacrifice made him love her even more. Just then, Hermione opened her eyes and smiled at him. Harry sat on the bed, took her hand and kissed it.
"You should get some sleep, too," said Hermione.
"I'm fine. I've never been better." He let go of her hand and leaned forward to kiss her lips. "Hermione… I love you."
"I love you, too."
He kissed her one more time. Then, he pulled back and sat straight. "This… this feeling, Hermione, has been here…" he said placing a hand in his chest. "I don't even know for how long. Since I met you, perhaps. I can't say when it matured into this."
Hermione looked into his eyes. She felt the same thing. If someone had asked her when it was that she had fallen in love with him, she wouldn't have been able to point out a precise day or a moment. She simply could not remember a day when she didn't love him.
"What I want you to understand," Harry continued. "is that Lily was not the reason that brought us together. Even if you weren't pregnant, we would have ended together 'cause this love we feel wasn't born in two days. It's been there for years, waiting for us to act on it."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Harry didn't let her. He moved closer to her and placed a finger on her lips. Hermione waited for him to continue, but he seemed to be giving it some thought. Finally, he spoke.
"I asked you this once, but I didn't use the right words." He was looking at her hands, which he had taken again in his. "I got something," he said taking a red rose that rested on the side table. Hermione hadn't even noticed it before. He placed the rose in front of her. "For you."
Hermione smiled at him and took the flower up to her nose, smelling the wonderful scent. Just then, Harry took out his wand. He waved it and immediately the rose's petals opened up to reveal a sparkling silver ring with a tiny heart-shaped diamond on it.
"Harry…"
Harry took the ring out of the rose and placed it at the tip of Hermione's finger. "Hermione Jane Granger, would you be Mrs. Potter? Will you marry me?"
Hermione quickly sat up, ignoring the complaint from her sore muscles, and pulled Harry into a one-armed hug, her left hand still in his. She held him for a while without saying a word. Then, she pulled away, grabbed his face with both of her hands, and devoured his lips in one desperate kiss.
"Well…" said Harry after she let him breath again. "I guess that meant yes."
"Of course it meant yes." Hermione kissed him again. "I will marry you Harry. I will be Mrs. Potter."
Harry slipped the ring on her finger. After that, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her lips. "Hermione…" he said against her mouth.
"Yes?"
Harry moved back a little, just so he could look into her eyes. "How long did the doctor say you had to wait before… you know?"
"Six weeks," responded Hermione, knowing perfectly well what he was asking.
"Okay, then. We'll marry in six weeks."
Hermione covered her mouth to stifle her laugh.
--- * --- * --- * ---
And six weeks later, they got married. The ceremony took place in their own backyard. The entire gang helped to get everything ready for it. The place was decorated with white roses. Lighted candles floated above the guests' heads, reminding people of the Great Hall.
Molly offered to prepare food since she was used to cooking for a lot of people. A charm had been placed so that the temperature was be comfortable enough to have Lily out.
Since Harry proposed with a red rose, Hermione walked down the isle, escorted by her father, with a small bouquet of red roses in her hands - which after she tossed it, fell in Luna's arms.
It was an intimate wedding attended by their closest friends, including Damara. Fred had made sure of that. Two weeks prior to the wedding, he had gone to Athens and now he and Damara were dating.
Lily witnessed the union of her parents from her grandma's arms, though she slept through most of it.
Since Harry was still in school, there was no honeymoon planned. Instead, Harry, Hermione and Lily would be taking a trip during the summer after Harry's graduation, asides going to Hermione's in December.
Since there were plenty of people to look after Lily, Harry took the opportunity to ask his wife to dance. He wasn't too fond of dancing, but being this a special night, Harry thought he ought to make an exception.
He took Hermione by the waist and led her around the dance floor. Apart form the day Lily was born, they both felt this was one of their happiest days together, so far at least. They were sure there were many more happy days to come.
"Hermione…" he said pulling back to look into her brown eyes. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For giving me the one thing I've always wanted to have," said Harry twirling one of her curls in his finger.
"And what would that be?" asked Hermione looking lovingly into her husband's green eyes.
"A family."
Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams
I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you
"Amazed" Lonestar
(Marv Green/Aimee Mayo/Chris Lindsey)