I'll Be Home For Christmas

Whew! Now that the Christmas rush is over, I can get down to writing again. A big thank you to all who reviewed. As this is my first fanfic it\'s very encouraging to know it\'s appreciated! This chapter is very short, and I apologise if it annoys anyone, but the next one will be very soon in coming, I promise. Again, thanks to all my reviewers, it truly is encouraging!













For the first time ever, Severus was shocked into complete and utter speechlessness. He could not think of a single thing to say. He was, in fact, so shocked, that he was all but immobile. After what seemed an eternity, the world shifted back into focus, and he became aware he was gaping at Harry. He shut his mouth with an audible click and groped about for something to say.



"Bet you didn\'t expect that, did you?" Harry said a sort of wry bemusement.



"I...I...," Severus stuttered, finding himself still unable to speak.



"No," Harry said, a touch ruefully, "I didn\'t think you would..."



Severus swallowed audibly, closed his eyes for a moment, and made himself focus. "Well..." he croaked, "...just when I thought...th-there wasn\'t anything about you that could surprise me anymore...you-you\'ve gone and done it..."



Harry bit back his amusement at the shaky quality of Severus\'s voice and said, "Erm...really...we\'ve gone and done it, Sev."



Rudely surprised again, Severus stared at Harry with a sort of wonder and said faintly, "Y-yes...we have...haven\'t we...?"



Severus remained staring at Harry for so long, Harry began to worry a bit. He sat up, putting his hands on Severus\'s shoulders, frowning, and asked, "Are you alright, Sev? I mean, I know you\'re surprised, but...you\'re not going to...have a stroke or anything, are you?"



Severus was jolted out of his reverie by Harry\'s voice, and sputtered, "No...of course not...I\'m fine...j-just surprised."



Harry smiled, sliding his hands up to cup his lovers face and said teasingly, "I could tell. That\'s the first time I\'ve ever seen you actually speechless."



Severus, old habits dying hard, raised an eyebrow, scowled, and said bitingly, "It, however, comes as no surprise that it\'s you that finally did it."



Harry laughed gleefully and kissed the large nose of the man he loved beyond reason. "There\'s the old git I know and love!" earning himself another scowl, but he cared not as he slid his arms around Sevrus\'s neck, embracing him. "I know you\'re surprised, I was too, I mean, I didn\'t even know wizards could get pregnant, but, I got used to it after a few days, and now..."



"WHAT?!" Severus suddenly yelped snatching Harry\'s arms from about his neck and yanking him back, startling Harry. "What do you mean, "a few days"?!"



"Well...I would have told you, but I thought I\'d wait \'til..." Harry began, but the explosion stopped him.



"Do you mean to tell me you have been off chasing fugitive Death Eaters and exposing yourself to Merlin only knows WHAT dark magic while you are pregnant!?!" Severus actually screeched, "Have you lost your mind?! Have all the years I\'ve spent trying to keep you safe meant nothing at all to you?! And it\'s not only you! Do you have any idea whatsoever of what even a mis-aimed dark spell can do to an unborn child?! In the name of all that is holy, even if you\'ve got no regard for your own safety, which you obviously don\'t bother to give a second thought to, at least spare some consideration for the child!!"



He stopped abruptly, staring at Harry\'s wide and shocked green eyes. The child. They had created a child.



"I...Sev...I..." Harry whispered, his hand sliding down over his own stomache.



Severus watched Harry\'s hand slide over his stomache, and felt a great jumble of mixed emotions begin writhing inside.



The child, his mind repeated. They had created a child!



Suddenly, he scrambled up shaking his head and hurriedly left the room, leaving a shocked and gaping Harry staring after him.