It's Never That Simple
Chapter Two
Ginny fidgeted nervously in her chair. She stared from the desk in front of her, to the wall, out the window, and back to the desk. She drummed her fingers on her purse and checked her watch. She had never been a patient person.
It had been three days since Draco and walked back into her life, and she was more nervous right now than she had been when she had first seen him standing in the entrance to the ballroom. Ginny and Steve had decided to tell their respective parents that the wedding was off tonight, but that only accounted for a third of her overall nerves.
"Miss Weasley," a voice said as the door to the office opened. Ginny immediately snapped to attention, her eyes focused on the folder in Healer Finley's hand. "I have the results of your test."
"And?" Ginny asked, too nervous for the normal pleasantries.
The woman gave her a big smile. "Congratulations, Miss Weasley. You're pregnant."
"Bloody hell," Ginny swore under her breath. "You've got to be kidding me. Are you completely sure? Did you double-check?"
"Of course I double-checked. I know this can be scary," the Healer said kindly, leaning against the desk in front of Ginny. "But you're going to be a mother. It's a cause for celebration. Do you know who the father is?" the Healer asked delicately after a pause.
Ginny laughed. She was slowly entering hysterics. "Trust me, Healer Finley," Ginny said tiredly, "that's the least of my worries."
"I often find that the best place to start is telling the father. Then the two of you need to decided how you want to work things out. Most couples decide to get married, but that's completely up to you."
"I don't think marriage is really on the table," Ginny said, chewing her bottom lip.
"I don't mean to pry, Miss Weasley, but if he hurt you or-"
"No," Ginny interrupted firmly. "No, he was always perfect. It's just," Ginny hesitated for a second then plunged forward. "I'm seeing someone else right now."
Healer Finley sighed. "Miss Weasley, I don't mean to tell you what to do, but you're about to bring a child into the world. You have to think about what's best for the baby."
***
Ginny knocked on the door to Steve's flat nervously.
"Who is it?" he called from inside.
"It's Ginny," Ginny called back. Her voice sounded tight and tense even to her own ears.
Steve opened the door. "Is something wrong?" he asked concernedly. "I thought we weren't meeting up until tonight."
"There's been a slight change in plans. Can I come in?" Ginny asked, not waiting for a reply and walking right past him into the living room and taking a seat on the couch. "You might want to sit down."
After Steve had taken a seat on the couch next to her, Ginny took a deep breath and tried to smile. "I have some news."
"Okay," Steve said slowly. "What is it?"
Ginny took a deep breath and looked him square in the eyes. "I'm pregnant," she said bluntly.
Steve stared at her for a minute. He opened his mouth, closed it, and attempted to swallow. It took a few tries.
"You're," he tried to say, but it came out more as a squeak. He cleared his throat. "You're
pregnant?" he asked, hoping that he had heard her wrong.
Ginny nodded. "I'm pregnant," she repeated.
"Why are you telling me?" Steve asked, standing up and starting to pace. "We aren't together anymore, Ginny. I'm not part of this…this…" He waved his arms around, unable to find a word to describe their current situation.
"I'm telling you," Ginny said slowly. "Because you're the father."
He stared at her suspiciously. "Are you sure it's mine?" he asked cautiously. "I mean, you have been living with another man for the past three days."
"For your information," Ginny said, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Draco and I have not slept together yet. So, yes, I am one hundred percent positive that it's yours," she snapped, her temper beginning to rise. "And frankly, Steve, I don't really know what to do."
Steve sighed and sat down on the couch next to her. "I want to be involved in my child's life. You owe me that at least."
"I want you to be involved." She took a deep breath, steeling herself to say what she knew she had to say. "And that's why I think we should get married."
Her idea was met with silence. After a few hour-long seconds, she snuck a glance at him. He was staring at her, completely shocked.
"But what about you and Draco?" Steve asked. "I thought you were going to try to work things out."
"We were going to," Ginny said softly. "But things are different now. I can't just think about myself. This child deserves to grow up in a family that loves it, with both its parents nearby. I don't want my child to grow up in a broken family, Steve," Ginny said, her voice cracking.
"Ginny," Steve said quietly, gathering her in his arms. "This is crazy."
"It's not like we would have to tell anyone," Ginny sniffled. "Everyone already thinks we're engaged."
Steve laughed awkwardly. "That is true, but marriage, Ginny? What about all the things we talked about?"
"We're bringing a child into this world. We have to do what's best for the baby," she responded, her voice echoing the healer's words.
Steve sighed. "If you're sure that's what you want-"
"I am," Ginny interrupted firmly.
"Then that's what we'll do," Steve said with a smile. "I still love you, Ginny."
Ginny nodded. Now all she had to do was tell Draco.
***
"Draco?" Ginny called out, tossing her purse on the kitchen table. "Draco, we need to talk."
"I'll be out in a minute," Draco called.
Ginny sighed and sat down on the couch, tapping her foot anxiously. A few minutes later, Draco came into the room, his hair still damp.
" I was just getting out of the shower." Draco leaned down and kissed Ginny in greeting. "Where did you go this morning?" he asked sitting down on the couch next to her.
Ginny smiled weakly. What she wouldn't give for this to be over! "I have some bad news." Draco tensed but didn't say anything. This was going to be harder than she thought. "I'm…er…I'm…not moving in."
Draco gave her a little smile. "That's not that bad, Ginny girl. But until you find your own place, you're staying here. I don't mind sleeping on the couch."
Ginny fidgeted nervously. "I already have a place to live," she said quietly.
"Okay," Draco said slowly, clearly not understanding why this was such bad news. "Do you want me to help you move?" Ginny shook her head. "What exactly is going on, Gin? Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Ginny shook her head. "For God's sake, Ginny, spit it out!" Draco exclaimed irritably.
"I love you," Ginny said quickly, looking him straight in the eyes.
Draco laughed. "Should I be insulted that you think that's bad news?"
"That's not the bad news. The thing is…" Ginny stared at him intently for a moment.
"Ginny?" Draco asked curiously. "What's wrong?"
Ginny shook her head and smiled. "Nothing."
She leaned forward and kissed him, her hands going to the buttons on his shirt.
"Ginny," Draco said, pulling away, his hands stilling hers. "I thought you wanted to wait."
Ginny shook her head, still smiling slightly. "I don't want to wait anymore. I want you."
"But, Gin-"
"Shut up, Draco."
***
When it was over, they lay in Draco's bed, breathing heavily and holding each other. It wasn't long before Draco realized Ginny was crying.
"Ginny?" he asked worriedly, pulling back to look at her. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"
Ginny shook her head and tried to stop crying. "You were perfect," she said through her tears.
"Then what's wrong?" He pulled her closer to him and tried to comfort her.
"We can't do this again."
"Well, maybe not right now, but give me a couple minutes, and-"
Ginny shook her head. "No, Draco. I mean, this," she gestured with her hands. She pulled away and began searching for her clothes. Not able to find her own, she grabbed one of Draco's button ups and pulled it on.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked carefully, getting out of bed and pulling on a pair of pajama pants.
"Draco, I'm marrying Steve."
Draco stared at her. "I thought you said that you both decided to call off the wedding," he said slowly, and Ginny could feel the fury wrap itself around him.
"We were going to, but things are different now."
"How?" Draco all but snarled.
"Draco, you're not making this any easier for me!" Ginny exclaimed tearfully.
"That's not exactly my job, Ginny! About an hour ago you told me you loved me, and now you're telling me you're about to marry another man!" Draco yelled furiously.
"I told you, things are different now!"
"How?" Draco asked again.
"I'm pregnant, okay?" Ginny yelled back, her face bright red.
Draco stared at her, completely in shock, and swallowed visibly. "When?" he asked, his voice tense.
"I found out this morning," Ginny said miserably, sinking into Draco's reading chair.
"And I suppose Steve is the father?" Draco remarked to himself, which earned him a glare from Ginny. "I don't care if you're pregnant. I love you, and that's all that matters to me," Draco said earnestly, coming to in front of her.
"It's not that simple," Ginny said quietly. "Steve wants to be involved, and he deserves to be involved."
"I don't care," Draco said again, cupping her face in his hands. "I just want to be with you, Ginny girl."
"And I want to be with you, but I refuse to raise this baby in a broken home. It doesn't deserve that. Steve and I are having a child together. We need to at least attempt to make things work."
"But, Gin-"
"Listen Draco, what if I do give us a chance and it doesn't work out? If Steve and I don't get married and he gets transferred back to the States, then I'm stuck raising this child all by myself. I can't get a job to support myself and a baby, and raise the baby at the same time. That's not fair to me or the baby."
"Ginny, we will work out."
Ginny shook her head sadly. "You don't know that, Draco. We didn't work out last time."
"We'll make it work," Draco said earnestly.
"No. That's it, Draco. It's over."
***
"I wish we could stay like this forever," Ginny murmured. "Oh God, that feels amazing." They were lying on the couch in Draco's living room and Draco was rubbing Ginny's feet.
"Draco? If it was yours, would you want a boy or a girl?"
"Ginny, don't do this to me," Draco whispered.
"Please, Draco. Let's just pretend," Ginny pleaded, shifting so that she was lying against his chest.
"Okay," Draco said quietly, unable to resist her.
"So, boy or girl," she prompted happily.
Draco smiled into Ginny's hair as he wrapped his arms around her. "Well, if we were married, I would need a son to carry on the family name."
Ginny snorted and muttered something along the lines of "stupid Malfoy traditions."
"But," Draco continued, ignoring her, "I would love a little girl that I could spoil rotten."
Ginny laughed. "Draco, you'd probably spoil a little boy rotten too."
"Probably," Draco admitted, "but it wouldn't be the same at all."
"I want a girl," Ginny said quietly, snuggling closer to Draco.
***
"What do you want for lunch?" Draco called from the kitchen.
"I probably shouldn't eat too much. Steve and I are going over to the Burrow with his parents tonight."
Draco stiffened. Sighing heavily, Ginny came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I shouldn't have said that."
"No," Draco replied tensely. "It's fine."
"Draco? I would kill for an ice cream sundae."
Draco turned around in the circle of her arms and kissed the top of her head. "Your wish is my command."
***
Later that afternoon, Draco walked Ginny to the door. They had spent the remainder of the afternoon together, whispering proclamations of love to each other, and sometimes simply talking. Neither one of them mentioned Steve, the baby, or the future again.
As the clock on Draco's wall continued to tick, however, they were both faced with the looming truth that soon, Ginny would have to leave, and then that would be it. They would be over. Their whirlwind romance had lasted all of three days.
"Well," Ginny said awkwardly, staring into Draco's eyes. "I guess this is it." Draco nodded. Ginny kissed him quickly and turned to leave.
"Ginny girl," Draco called out after her. Ginny turned around and smiled at him. "If you ever need anything…" he trailed off.
"I will," Ginny said, and left as quickly as she could so he wouldn't see the tears streaming down her face.
***
"Can I have everyone's attention, please!" Ginny tried to yell over the noise of her family.
"You lot! Quiet down," Mrs. Weasley roared. Immediately, silence permeated the room. Mr. and Mrs. Warren looked slightly scandalized. Steve was, after all, an only child and they were not quite used to the hustle and bustle of a large family. "Ginny and Steve have something they want to tell us!"
Ginny looked nervously around the room. Steve stood up next to her and gripped her hand tightly. "As you know," she began awkwardly. "Steve and I are getting married." Fred and George let out catcalls causing a smile to rise to Ginny's face. "Well, we…er…" Ginny trailed off and looked at Steve. He gave her hand a squeezed and took over.
"We're going to have a baby!" he announced happily.
The room erupted into cheers of congratulations and Ginny and Steve found themselves being squeezed to death by Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, my little baby is going to have a baby!" she exclaimed happily, tears streaming down her face.
"We're going to be grandparents, David!" Mrs. Warren exclaimed happily. "Oh, I'm so excited!"
Ginny kept her smile firmly plastered on her face for the rest of the evening. No one noticed that her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. No one, that is, except Steve.
***
"Are you alright, Ginny?" Steve asked as he tossed his keys on the kitchen table.
"I'm fine, just a little tired," Ginny said moving towards the bedroom.
"Well, considering you spent all afternoon at Draco's…"
"Please not now, Steve. I'm having a really bad day and all I want to do is go to sleep."
"You're having a bad day? Ginny, think of what you've put me through in the last three days. And it doesn't help that I know my fiancée and the mother-to-be of my child was over at her boyfriend's house all afternoon," he said testily.
"Steve, I don't want to argue right now."
"How do I know that you aren't going to go back to him?" Steve demanded. "I mean, we're getting married and you spent all day having sex with your ex. The thing is though, I don't even know for sure if he really is your ex. "
Ginny took a deep breath. "You know that I won't go back to him because I'm telling you, Steve. If I wanted to be with him, I wouldn't be marrying you."
"That's a lie and you know it, Ginny."
"Listen, Steve, I went over to Draco's to explain everything to him. I told him that I was pregnant and we were going to get married. And, yes, I did shag him, but I also told him it was over and I never intend to see him again. This baby is more important to me than whatever I might want. And believe it or not, I don't want to do anything to endanger our relationship. You have been perfect through all of this and you deserve to be involved in your child's life. And our child deserves to have you in its life. So please cut the crap and let me go to bed!" Ginny huffed before storming into the bedroom and slamming the door shut behind her.
Steve thought it would be safest to sleep on the couch.
***
"Do you, Stephen Warren, take Ginevra Weasley to be your wife, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or for worse, in sadness and in joy, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"And do you, Ginevra Weasley, take Stephen Warren to be your husband, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or for worse, in sadness and in joy, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Steve, take this ring and place it on Ginny's finger and repeat after me: With this ring…"
"With this ring…"
"…I thee wed."
"…I thee wed."
"Ginny, take this ring and place it on Steve's finger and repeat after me: With this ring…"
"With this ring…"
"…I thee wed."
"…I thee wed."
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
***
"I don't want to see a Muggle doctor," Ginny said stubbornly. "I want to use a Healer."
"But, Ginny," Steve argued. "I don't know anything about the magical world and I'm a little skeptical about this whole Healer business."
"Why on earth are you skeptical? They can mend broken bones in about two seconds!"
"I just don't like it. I'd feel much more comfortable if you went to see a doctor."
"Oh really," Ginny said, her hands on hips. "And who has to shove a mammal out from between her legs?"
Steve stared at her in shock. "Uh, you," he said uncertainly, wondering where she was going with this.
"Exactly. So I think my comfort level is slightly more important. We're using a Healer," she said triumphantly.
In hindsight, Steve thought as they prepared to go to St. Mungo's, he probably should have seen that one coming.
***
It had taken a while, but Steve was finally used to the Floo Network, granted he used it as little as possible. But this…this was a dire circumstance.
"Molly! Arthur!" Steve yelled out into the Burrow.
"What is it, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly as she hurried into the kitchen, Mr. Weasley following closely behind. "Are Ginny and the baby alright?"
"Ginny's in labor. We're at St. Mungo's right now."
"We'll be right there, dear," Mrs. Weasley responded immediately, already donning her traveling cloak.
***
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Warren. You have a beautiful baby girl," the Healer said with a smile.
Ginny gave a weak smile and held out her arms for her baby. "Oh, Steve," she breathed happily. "She's perfect."
"She is, isn't she," Steve agreed, kissing the top of Ginny's head.
"Have you two decided on a name yet?"
Ginny nodded happily, unable to tear her eyes away from her beautiful little girl. "Annabelle. Annabelle Belita Warren."