| �Five years and you haven�t made me a grandmother yet!�
The first greeting from Michelle�s mother-in-law was the one she had been dreading. If only she knew. Michelle shook it off and hugged her tightly. �Good to see you, Molly. Is Arthur coming?� �Later, dear. Now, tell me what I can do to help.� �Nothing, Molly. You are here to enjoy the party, not to help cater.� �Oh hush, dear. You need a drink,� Mrs. Weasley said, forcing her to sit down and walking out of the living room. Fred walked in and smiled at his mother and his wife. �Mum, I�m wealthy enough to have people do that now, you know.� �Nonsense. You need something to drink as well,� she said, walking into the kitchen. Fred smiled at Michelle, who in a few seconds had flown out of her chair and ran out of the room. It was Michelle and Fred�s fifth anniversary, and almost all of their friends and family were there. Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, George, Alicia, Percy, Penelope, Bill, and Charlie were already mingling. Seamus and Stephanie had yet to appear. Fred followed Michelle to the bathroom and waited for her on the other side. She opened the door, wiping her mouth and looking very sick. He immediately put his arms around her to keep her from falling over. �Are you all right, love?� he asked. �Morning sickness, darling. I unfortunately get it in the evening. Is Stephanie here yet?� �Aw,� Fred whispered, kissing her delicately on the cheek. �Is our little Weasley causing you trouble already, dear? I guess he does take after his father.� She narrowed her eyes at him. �How do you know it�s going to be a he?� �I just know, my dear. It�s in the genes,� he said, hugging her. �Is Stephanie here?� Michelle repeated after a moment of silence. �Not yet, love, I�m sure we�ll know when she gets here. Just kiss me.� �Fred, are you sure? I just retched all over the place.� �I love you and your vomit.� �You�re a sick man, Frederick Weasley,� she said, kissing his cheek. �You�re sicker for marrying me, Michelle Weasley.� They walked out into the living room, holding hands. They were about to sit down and eat when Stephanie and Seamus appeared. �We come bearing gifts!� Stephanie said, then took her friend�s arm and dragged her into the kitchen. Fred and Seamus were engaged in conversation as Stephanie poked her head out and looked back at her friend. Michelle, however, had her arms crossed and was looking at her friend incredulously. �Tell me what�s going on, Michelle. I have to know.� �Nothing is going on, Steph,� Michelle answered, turning around. �You�re hiding something from me. I know you are. Are you and Fred� okay?� Michelle whirled around to look at her friend. �What do you mean?� �I mean� you two haven�t been getting into a lot of fights lately or anything? This isn�t like� the last anniversary party, right?� Michelle�s jaw dropped. �What are you saying? Do you think Fred and I are getting a divorce?� �Are you?� Stephanie asked, frowning. �No!� �Be honest with me, Michelle. I could tell the way you were acting with each other on Wednesday. You were being really distant and secretive. I didn�t like the feeling I got from it at all.� �We�re not getting a divorce, Stephanie!� �There�s something going on. Are you going to tell me?� �No!� �It�s a divorce! I knew it!� �IT�S NOT A DIVORCE, STEPH! You are driving me crazy!� �Do you really think you can keep a secret from me? What�s going on?� �We�re not getting a divorce!� �Then what is it?� �We�re having a baby!" |
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