Silver Chain Epilogue
A wall of pain surrounded Ginny, shielding her from the rest of the room. Despite the fact that she was giving birth to twins, she’d demanded no magical intervention and was instead trying to find a place within herself to bear the onslaught of pain that radiated from the base of her spine. She could barely detect Remus’ fists kneading at her lower back.
“She’s a tough one.”
“Don’t you think she should have had a few charms placed on her? Maybe a potion or two?”
“No, Lily did it without any help. Those babies will find their own way out, she just has to let her body do the work.”
Ginny looked through bleary eyes to see Harry standing at her side. But, it wasn’t Harry, his eyes were different. She gasped in shock. James! She spun her head to see Sirius on her other side.
“It’s all right,” crooned James. “We’ll hold you, you’re going to be just fine. You’re doing a wonderful job.”
“Just think about those two babies, Ginny. Not too much longer and you’re going to make our Moony a daddy!” encouraged Sirius.
Sirius moved around to her front and let her brace herself against him. He murmured softly into her hair, telling her how beautiful she was and how proud of her he was. Remus continued to knead at her back, but James had gone to lay a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“She’s beautiful, Remus. She’s everything I would have ever wanted for you. You did it, man. You survived it all, and did your best by my son. It’s your turn now. Time for you to have all the love and happiness you deserve.”
Remus’ touch grew more confident and she felt her back relax some under his ministrations. The pressure sunk lower though, and she felt an inescapable urge to push. “I need down,” she cried, and Sirius lowered her gently to the floor. He supported the weight of her torso while James guided Remus’ hands to apply counter pressure against her hips.
“That’s it, Ginny,” said James. “It’s time to push. Time to set those little darlings loose!”
Ginny didn’t remember anything else until she was gently lifted into bed and handed her two squalling infants. She looked up just in time to see James and Sirius fading into the darkness. They both wore sad smiles and they both looked upon her with incredible love and acceptance. They thought she was good enough for their Remus. Ginny let the tears stream unabashedly down her face.
With Remus’ help, she guided hungry mouths to her nipples and watched as her babies fell into a deep sleep at her breasts. She smoothed her hands over the thick downy fuzz that covered their entire bodies. Though the appearance of the soft, fine hair wasn’t abnormal, her babies sported perhaps more than most. Ginny smiled at the thought of her two little werewolf cubs. Padfoot and Prongs would have liked that idea.
“Did you see them, Remus? Did you feel them?” she asked softly, drifting off to sleep.
“Yeah,” said Remus, crawling into bed beside her. “Thank you, Ginny.” He was snuggled against her and she could feel his hot tears on her shoulder.
“I love you, Remus,” she whispered as she settled into a light doze.
~ : ~ : ~
Remus watched as his son suckled greedily at his mother’s breast. The slurping noises and droplets of milk which sprayed forth made him grin. His tiny daughter was nestled against his chest and she burrowed deeper into the folds of his robes. Ginny looked up at him with a bemused smile. “He does enjoy his dinner with abandon,” she murmured wryly.
Remus smiled broadly; he couldn’t help it. He felt a peace which had never been his, seep into the marrow of his bones. He hadn’t been this truly happy since his days as a Marauder, and even then he hadn’t felt this contentment. He was sad that his friends couldn’t share this with him in the flesh, but he felt the spirit of them surrounding his home with love. They had accepted Ginny as one of them, and they would surround her with the same love. She and the children would always bear their invisible mark of protection much like Harry had carried Lily’s.
Ginny had been welcomed into his family and hers had all come around to him as well. Hermione, now pregnant herself, stopped by often for advice and Ron usually came with her. “You’ve made her herself again,” said Ron. “Thanks for that. We’d been missing our Ginny.”
Charlie had sat for hours with a sleeping infant while Ginny and Tonks had gone out shopping. Like a book end, Remus had sat with the other one and the two men seemed to bond in the quietness. It was plainly obvious that all of the uncles had fallen helplessly in love with their brand new niece and nephew. That Remus had helped to create the little angels, and that he doted on them as a father should, had resolved any lingering doubts.
It was Arthur who had brought a tear to his eye though. The older man rocked gently with a grandbaby in each arm. He looked up at Remus with plaintive eyes. “They’re perfect, Remus; absolutely perfect. This is the evidence of your love for Ginny and I have no choice but to admit that you are the only man for my daughter. You’ve done nothing but love her and make her happy and be a good father to her children. I’m proud to have you as a son-in-law, Remus. I just want you to know that Molly and I love you as much as we do our own children and we want you to feel as much a part of this family as any of them.”
Remus nodded, unable to speak as his throat closed painfully. Later that evening as he settled his children into the bed, he looked over their heads and into the eyes of the incredible woman who had married him. “I love you, Ginny,” he whispered hoarsely.
Chapter 14: Transitions
Addendum
Index