A/N: For Red. Third part and final … part one here, part two here
Severus gasped as he came, the rhythmic contractions seemly encompassing his entire body. Remus’ hand had released his cock and stroked Severus’ side gently. Surprising, Severus felt a gush of fluid between his legs. Oh, lovely his newly acquired orifice makes its debut. Remus was immediately easing out of him. Severus lay still.
“Severus? Are you all right?”
Severus blinked and nodded.
“Come on love. That was our cue. It’s time for you to make a visit to Poppy and the infirmary.”
Severus shook himself. Right, of course. “I can not go like this.”
“I didn’t expect you to floo naked. I’ll get your dressing gown.”
“No, I meant like this!” He waved his hand over his body. “I’m dripping.”
“And you’ll probably continue to drip a bit, that’s what happens when the water bag breaks.”
“Not that! The other. Poppy does not need to know what we have been doing.”
“Severus, you’re pregnant. She already knows what we’ve been doing.”
Exasperated, Severus righted himself. “I don’t believe she needs the evidence of today’s exploits.”
“True. A quick spell then.” Remus waved his wand and pulled the dressing gown from the wardrobe.
Severus slid his arms in and then tied it in front, high up over his belly.
“Ready?”
“Do you have my bag?”
“Yes.”
“Are you certain everything is in it?”
“You checked it yourself this morning. Time to go, Severus.” Remus kindly guided him toward the fireplace. “You first.”
Severus grabbed Remus’ hand and squeezed tightly. “No, together.”
“Of course.” Remus stepped into the fireplace and wrapped one arm around Severus and held the bag in the other. “You’ll have to do the powder.”
Moments later they were in Hogwarts infirmary. Poppy bustled out of her office at the sound.
Remus spoke first. “It’s time.”
“I’m the Mediwitch here Remus. I will let you know if it’s really time.”
“Excuse me, but I am the patient here and I can speak for myself. My water broke about ten minutes ago, and the contractions are six minutes apart.”
“You didn’t say you were having contractions.” Remus said, looking hurt.
“I did not realize that was what they were until the water was gone, and then it became apparent.”
Poppy led them to one of the two private rooms. “Let’s have a look.”
Severus rolled his eyes, but sat down on the bed. He arranged himself, stretching his long legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankle.
Poppy raised one eyebrow. “You should have tried keeping your legs together a long time ago Mr. Snape, and then you wouldn’t be in this predicament.” She said in a stern tone, but her laughter won out in the end. “Open up!”
Severus shifted to lie flat on the bed and uncrossed his legs.
“Knees up, Severus. Open wide.”
“This is so humiliating.” Severus complained.
“As said by women throughout history.”
“I am, obviously, not a woman! Do you see those other bits there?” Severus groused.
Poppy poked and prodded causing Severus to gasp. “You’ve made a good start, but you have a ways to go. You can have a walk around or do pretty much as you like, but you can’t leave the grounds.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“You’re in the latent phase of labour, but since your water broke I’m keeping you for observation.”
“Latent? This does not feel latent!”
“Severus, Poppy can’t change how these things are termed medically. We learned from our readings that babies’ come, when they come. So, do you want to have a walk or a game of chess?”
“Chess.”
Three hours and two chess games later, Poppy pronounced Severus ready for another examination. She probed and listened. “All right. You can go back to what you were doing.”
“What do you mean go back? Here.” Severus grabbed Remus’ hand. “I’m contracting. You can feel that, right?”
“Love, we all know you are. We’re just waiting for the baby to get ready to move out. He will in his own time.”
“She.” Severus stated emphatically.
“Perhaps a stroll in the courtyard?”
“Fine.”
Remus checked the dressing gown’s tie.
“I am quite capable you know.” Severus said as he pushed Remus’ hands away. “Make yourself useful and get me some pants and a pair of trousers.”
“Which will promptly be ruined. You don’t need them now.”
“I do not care to have my private bits hanging out.”
“Severus, you’re covered. You don't need to worry about that.”
Severus set his mouth in a grim line, but grasped Remus’ hand and followed him out the door.
The Scottish spring was just about to give way to summer. Severus set a furious place along the path; well, as furious as a waddle could be. Remus cajoled and sympathized, urging Severus not to wear himself out. Abruptly, Severus stopped and bent double. Remus grabbed him and held on.
When Severus relaxed slightly Remus asked. “Are you ready to start back?”
Severus nodded tentatively. Remus grasped Severus’ arm firmly and started forward slowly.
Severus stopped after another minute. “Something has changed. She is lower and the contractions are harder and more frequent.”
“Perhaps, you’ve moved into active labour now. Let’s get you back to the infirmary.”
Severus stopped and started again as they made their way back to the medical wing of the castle. The moment they entered the room, Severus dropped his dressing gown. “It’s too confining.” He headed for the loo with Remus at this heals. “I am quite capable of taking a piss myself.”
“I know. But you will still stand and I don’t want you to have contraction and fall and crack your thick-head open.”
Severus snorted. A nice long piss, one more contraction and he was back on the bed. Poppy was waiting to examine him. Remus started asking a hundred questions. Severus settled back and closed his eyes “You two carry on, I will just lie back and think of England.”
“Quite a leap you’ve made, Severus. Hopefully in the next hour you’ll be ready to push.”
“The next hour?!” Severus practically shrieked.
“Severus.” Remus admonished.
“Fine. I am thirsty, might I have a drink.”
“Just ice chips, Severus.” Poppy left the room to return with the never-ending-ice-cup.
Remus fed Severus some ice, and chatted about nothing. Severus had become suddenly, unusually silent. Remus kept up the steady stream of chatter; finally, he hit a subject Severus would respond to.
“I have told you a few hundred times. She is a girl.”
“I still say boy.” Remus tried not to grin.
“Would you consider a wager?”
“What kind of wager?” Remus looked with skepticism at his Slytherin lover.
“I win and you continue provide sexual favours at their current level of frequency and quality.”
“And if I win?”
“What would you want?”
“If we have a boy I’d like to use one of Albus’ names for our son’s middle name.”
Severus looked thoughtful, but didn’t respond immediately.
Remus rushed in to explain. “If it wasn’t for him I would have never been able to attend Hogwarts, and we would never had met. I owe him for both of those things, my education and meeting you.”
Merlin, the contraction must be getting worse, only that could explain the wetness welling in his eyes. “Agreed.”
Remus bent to kiss Severus’ nose.
“Will you fetch Poppy now? I have an overwhelming desire to push.”
It was Remus’ turn to gasp. “Ok. Don’t do anything though. No pushing until she has had a look.”
“Go!” Severus hissed.
The pushing began with a steady tirade of slurs about werewolves, their potency and their big cocks. Poppy couldn’t help but alternate between blushing and chuckling. Remus tried to be soothing as he was blamed for everything from the Dark Lord to Harry Potter’s green eyes. It was, however, Remus’ cock that figured most prominently in the diatribe.
Adaira Eileen made her appearance one and one half hours later. She wailed unhappily until she was laid on Severus’ chest. After Poppy finished and everyone appeared calm, she cleaned up the baby, Severus and Remus who had been unable to resist touching both his daughter and his partner.
Severus was exhausted, but felt better than he had expected. He held their daughter as Remus beamed at them both. After the silence had stretched itself out, Remus spoke.
“Well, you won the bet.”
A smug “I know.” Came out of Severus as one of his eyebrows twitched.
“And….”
“I am quite happy with the arrangement.”
“But all those things you said…”
“Lupin, it would never have done to have screamed so that everyone on the grounds could hear me. I chose an alternative method of expression.”
“At my expense?”
“My intent was to embarrass Poppy, as she has done to me frequently over the years. It was the perfect opportunity. I apologize for any offense you might have taken.” Severus’ words were slowing.
Remus chuckled. “Slytherin to the core, then?”
Fighting sleep, Severus answered. “Of course.”
Remus stood and plucked the baby from Severus’ arms and gave him a gentle kiss. Severus turned to press his cheek to the pillow. Remus whispered. “Love you and you did an amazing job.”
“Love you too, wolf.” It was the first time he’d said it, and the words were low and slightly indistinct. A golden opportunity. He would never have to admit to it if he chose not to. As Severus sighed heavily, Remus tightened his fingers on their joined hands. Who was he trying to fool? In the next soppy moment, he would be telling the wolf he loved him all over again. Sleep pulled at him with a gentle embrace, and he let himself be taken away.