Always

Chapter 21: A Growing Child

March arrived. The snow was still on the ground, but not as heavy as the winter. Elizebeth was six months pregnant with their child, and the students were aware of this now. I mean, it is obvious by now. She continued teaching and giving them lessons on baking. She was holding her bump a lot and her students were very happy for her. She asked Severus if there was any type of magic to reveal the sex of their child. He told her there was, but he convinced her that they should both be surprised. She agreed either way.

It was a lovely spring morning. She was in a deep sleep next to Severus, who continued to support her. Even more now than before. He had his nerves still and reservations, but he was slightly curious about this child and how it would react to him. He rolled over and saw Beth sleeping on her back. It was the only position that did not hurt her that bad. He watched her gently and slowly smiled. She was so beautiful to him. He gently kissed her forehead before looking at her belly. She slept with a see-through nightgown as he gently moved down into the covers, and started to kiss her belly. He felt like he had a duty to protect her and this child in her. He rubbed the side of her belly as he sighed. "Perhaps, I have taken a liking to you. Yet you are not here physically....yet." He whispered onto her belly as he kept kissing it. "Are you talking to the baby Severus?" Beth asked as she woke up slowly. Severus immediately moved up and huffed. "No. I was not. Merely kissing your skin." He said firmly as she smirked. "Whatever you say, Severus." She said as he kissed her lips deeply. "Yes. Whatever I say.....goes." He whispered against her lips as he moved his hand somewhere onto her. "Hey!" She said as he kissed her harder. "Quiet. You like it." He said firmly as he moved his finger up and down her sensitive womanhood and she softly gasped. "S-Severus....." She said as he nodded once. "Say it again....." He demanded as she exhaled. "Severus.....the door." She managed to say. "Door?" He asked as he then heard the knocking now. "Bloody hell....." He growled. "Stay in bed, and cover yourself." He ordered as he grabbed his black coat and put it on. He opened the door a crack, already very annoyed.

"What do you want?" He hissed as he saw Hagrid standing there. It had been a while since Beth had talked to Hagrid. "Oi! Hello, you lot! Minerva wants ya in her office immediately." He smiled. Severus growled again. "Who does she wish to see?" He asked. "Both of ya!" He said. "Now that we have an understanding of one another, leave," Severus said as he slammed the door in his face. "Hey, that wasn't nice...." Beth said as Severus sighed. "I am not 'nice', Elizebeth. To you, it is nice because I have a deep admiration for you." He mumbled as he gently went over to her. "Hush. You are nice." She giggled as she sat up. "Slow down. Please. You will hurt yourself." He spoke as he held onto her gently. "I could never hurt myself, you are here to protect me," Beth said as she touched his cheek. "You've made me soft." He growled as he looked away. "And?" She asked. "I do not regret it." He whispered as he kissed her neck and lightly nibbled on it. She exhaled as she felt his warm body against her own. "We should.....go to Minerva." She said as he huffed and moved out of the bed. He changed into his robes, using just his wand. He then looked at her trying to use her wand to do the same. "Elizabeth." He said firmly as she was doing the wrong spell. "Yes?" She tilted her head. "Do not move." He said as she froze. He mumbled something deeply, his voice was so sexy when he was just waking up. She watched him as the robes slowly were placed onto her. "One day, perhaps you will be able to do it." He said lowly as she smirked. "What?" He said with a glare. "I love your voice in the morning. So groggy and deep." She said as he cocked an eyebrow. "We should be going." He ignored her comment as she grabbed her wand. She knew why he ignored it, and they didn't have time for that.

He opened the door for her and as they were walking down the empty halls, he gently held her back and rubbed it. He was looking at her bump and slightly smiling. "You okay?" Beth asked as he was still smiling. "Yes." He said as he continued to watch. "I see you are getting more excited about this pregnancy." She whispered as he sighed. "It is not as if I can make the child disappear, Beth." He said as she rubbed his arm. "You will be a great father." She reassured as he got silent. He was still nervous. Even though he was there for her, he was scared about what he would do when the child was in his arms. They moved around a corner and he was still holding onto her. From what happened this school year, he did not want to let go of her after almost losing her so many times. She felt him supporting her the whole way there as they got to the griffin. Severus gently went in front of her as he opened his arms. "Uh.....are you certain?" Beth asked as he nodded. "I am stronger than I look." He said as she smirked. "You are very thin, but you do have some muscle I suppose." She joked. "Ouch." He growled as he shook his head. "Now, will you stop your jokes and get into my arms?" He added as she nodded. She gently moved to him and he held her backside. He rubbed it as he moved his head and deeply kissed her lips. His mouth was always so warm, and it was comforting. His black hair tickled her face as she giggled. "You're adorable." He mumbled as he picked her up and brought her downstairs. She was heavy, but not bad enough for him to struggle. He looked at her in his arms and he turned a faint red. He was truly in love with her.