Ron's Decision

Ron had been in the worst mood. He had woken up with the worst back pain. He was on edge over the slightest thing, yelling at Severus for breathing too loud and screaming at the house elves who offered help. He even snapped at McGonagall when she tried to help him stand up after lunch.



“Who do I have to beg to get some ice cream around here?” He barked out as they walked back to their quarters.



“You had ice cream after lunch.” He pointed out but Ron began pacing their quarters.



“I wanted chocolate, not pistachio. Who the hell eats pistachio?” He kept pacing, which worried Severus. Lately Ron had been tired, overly tired. This sudden pacing and wave of irritation was out of the ordinary and he wondered if this was another phase he would have to deal with.



Right after graduation Ron suddenly began cleaning. He would wave his wand and clean carpets and even took a rag in hand and wiped down tables and workspaces. Severus had to intervene when he started dusting unused corridors.



His appetite had come back in full force, although he was still only able to eat small amounts because his stomach was shoved to one side. He craved unusual things, which he knew was common enough. He wanted pickles and according to Harry Potter, he hated pickles. He also wanted breakfast for dinner, dinner at lunch, and sandwiches in the morning. He also had to have chocolate ice cream, everyday. Especially after his eggs and toast. Severus could do nothing but make sure he had a ready supply. He would kill whoever managed to swipe it from the kitchens. He doubted he would ever find out, the castle elves were secret keepers and wouldn’t tell.



“Is something wrong Ron?” Severus asked, watching Ron pace their quarters.



“Everything is just fine Severus, just fucking fine,” he growled, “my back hurts, I can’t breathe, I am hungry but nothing seems to work….and I…….” he leaned against the fireplace mantle and held his stomach, groaning.



“Ron?” Severus was on his feet in moments and beside him.



After a moment, Ron stood again. “It’s nothing, just an uncomfortable cramp that……” He double over again, and groaned, this time leaning on Severus. When it passed he looked into the black eyes of his baby’s other parent. “Severus I think we need to go to the infirmary.”



Severus wrapped an arm around his waist, helping him walk. Severus sent an castle elf to the infirmary to let Madame Pomfrey know they were coming. It took them some time but they made it, with Ron growing increasingly impatient. He would have apparated but he didn’t want to ask Dumbledore to drop the wards on the castle. Ron as also against the idea of leaving the castle unprotected for the slightest moment.



“It is time?” She asked.



“Yes.” He groaned out, almost falling to the floor if Severus hadn’t been holding him.



He was helped over to a bed and with a wave of her wand, she had him in infirmary pajamas. He was much more comfortable but the pains began again. She gave him an exam and found the baby rotating.



“Rotating where?” Severus asked. Ron was groaning as he laid down, his face scrunched up as he dealt with it.



“I believe it is preparing to emerge. Although from where, I don’t know.” She told him. “I’m prepared thought. The moment the movements stops or slows down enough, I will remove it on my own.”



“You’re going to monitor him the whole time?” He asked, looking over his shoulder as Harry and Hermione came running in, heading toward Ron’s bed.



“Yes. I’m prepped and ready. We just have to wait until the right time.”



He nodded and hurried back to Ron who was baring up under the pain surprisingly well. He gripped his hand, squeezing when the pain began and letting it go limp when it stopped. Harry and Hermione kept him encouraged and distracted.



Ron had never felt such a pain before. His insides were being squeezed and twisted. He knew it was from the baby moving this way and that, trying to find a place to descend. He closed his eyes, grateful to whoever’s hand he was holding and squeezing. He knew it changed, because at one point it was soft and another firm. The grip changed, but Ron didn’t care. It was someone to hold on to. Hearing his voice however made it bearable. Severus had a seductive voice and it oozed from his mouth like silk. He felt comforted in that voice and told Severus to keep talking to him. It had less to do with focus then just the way it made him feel.



About an hour later Severus was feeling guilty. Ron was in pain that was obvious and it wasn’t lessening. Madame Pomfrey said the rotating had slowed and soon enough she would begin, but she wasn’t going to risk anything until the baby had settled enough. When Ron was coherent enough to understand her words, he nodded. Even in the amount of pain he was in, he was still more concerned over the risk than anything else.



He heard arguing outside and with a nod to Harry and Hermione, he left the infirmary for a moment. Molly and Arthur Weasley had shown up and Molly was again being very vocal with Dumbledore.



“Arthur. Molly.” Severus greeted.



“We are coming in.” She said firmly.



“Ron doesn’t want anyone in there. He nearly kicked out Harry and Hermione.” He told her, not adding that he was also racked with pain and threatening to kill everyone before throwing them out.



“We are his parents.” She said, close to tears.



“Molly, did you want your mother with you when you gave birth seven times?” She opened her mouth to speak but her husband cut her off.



“What’s happening Severus?” Arthur asked.



“The baby is rotating and once it settles to a comfortable spot Poppy will begin.” He told them calmly.



“Begin what?” Molly’s wide eyes made him nervous.



“A cesarean.” He knew a blowup was coming and thanked Merlin when Potter emerged.



“Professor, he’s asking for you.” He said in hurried voice.



“Explain.” He said then vanished back into the room. Ron was sweating, and groaning again. A pain must have stopped because he focused on him for a moment.



“Where did you go?” He was breathless, panting as he spoke.



“I didn’t leave you, I just went out to speak to your parents. Your mother wanted to come in but I told her you didn’t want anyone here.” He said.



“I don’t.” He ground his teeth as another pain started. Severus talked him through it, keeping his voice low and even. When they were told about relaxing techniques, Ron said his voice was soothing.



The sound of Molly crying came through the doors. Harry returned just as Ron relaxed again. “What happened?” He asked.



“Don’t worry Ron,” the look Ron gave him changed Harry’s tone, “your mom is just upset about the cesarean. She didn’t think you’d be cut.”



Ron chuckled with sarcasm. “Did she expect me to shoot it out of my cock?” The laugh turned to a groan as another pain racked him. While Severus held his hand, he spoke again, reciting various short poems. Sometimes he completed them, sometimes not. It wasn’t the poem that mattered, it was merely something to say so Ron could hear his voice.



“This better be a girl.” He said when his pain stopped for a moment. “This had better be a girl.”



“Ron, you will love it even if it’s a boy.” Hermione said, wiping his brow.



“Piss off Hermione.” She only smiled and put the cloth away.



He grunted out loudly, this time practically growling. “Come on Ron, breathe, it will help.” Harry’s voice was not what he wanted at the moment.



“Fuck off Harry! You breathe and see if it helps!” He shouted, and clutched at Severus’s hand.



“Potter, we are out of ice chips, why don’t you go get some more.” He suggested, watching a grinning Harry leave the room. When Ron relaxed again, he looked up.



“I’m sorry I’m being mean to you Severus.” He panted out.



Severus kissed his forehead. “You’re not being mean to me, you’re being mean to Potter and Granger that’s why I brought them.” Ron managed a chuckle and it warmed his heat. But he worried again as he heard his mother trying to question Harry when he came back.



“Maybe you should go explain.” He said to Hermione. She nodded and hurried out the door. Ron’s labor continued on for another hour, and Severus was getting more and more worried. He managed to shield his feelings from Ron though, making sure that the unease at seeing him in pain wasn’t known. He began to relax somewhat when Madame Pomfrey was satisfied that she could begin soon, and started preparing Ron. Easing him onto his back, she told Severus to give him the potion he had prepared. It would ease the pain and render him numb, but awake.



Soon he was relaxed and painless, covered in a sheet that was charmed to keep bacteria off him and the baby. The small square cut for her to work in. “Severus, would you like to remove the baby?” She asked.



“What?” He asked, still holding Ron’s hand, wondering if he had heard her right.



“When I make the incision and pull the baby forward, do you want to ease it out yourself?” She was smiling brightly and as he looked down at Ron he saw the same smile.



“Go on.” He said, reaching for Hermione’s hand. The thought to helping his child into the world was exciting and at Ron’s acquiesce he smiled. Leaning down he kissed his cheek and walked to stand next to Poppy.