Angel Kisses by Gianfar Rating: G Ship: Draco & Ginny Canon: Books 1 - 4 Genre: Angst Status: Complete Length: 614 words in 1 chapter Published: 25 Apr 2004 Last updated: 25 Apr 2004 A short ficlet in which Draco realizes every night it’s the same; he quietly watches her sleep and knows she is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/2117/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Chapter 1 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Every night it's the same. He quietly watches her sleep, not wanting to disturb her slumber, but unable to close his own dark gray eyes and rest. She's the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Her glorious curling hair, splayed against the floral pillow case in the moonlight, is a rainbow of reds. Dark auburn and chestnut strands intertwine while her face is framed by ribbons of strawberry-blond. His fingers itch to run through the tresses, to curl a section, and then smooth it under his touch. He never touches her at night though, for fear of waking her. Her eyes are shut, but under the coppery lashes are the most spectacular eyes. They look brown to the casual observer, but he has held her intimate gaze so often that he knows they are really mahogany, with a ring of chocolate around the center, stippled by flecks of amber and gold. Her eyes hold the wonder of innocence, even though he knows life has hurt her deeply. She has a calm expression in the escape sleep offers. Her forehead is smooth and worry-free. Her sweet russet eyebrows are relaxed into a soft bowing arch. He has often traced them with the very tips of his fingers. He loves her nose. It's a button nose which turns up at the tip. He has kissed it an endless number of times. Sometimes, he strokes the slope with a feather-light touch when she is wrapped in his arms. There is a dusting of freckles over the bridge which trickle down the sides to dance over her cheeks. He knows every freckle, has counted them each night when he watches her. They are like stars in the skies, some creating pictures, but mostly lighting up her face. She hates them, but he tells her they are kisses from the angels in heaven. Her skin is pale. When she sleeps, the milky-white color is more prominent, almost translucent. He can see small blue veins at her temples and tiny pink lines under her cheeks. They aren't visible when she is awake. She is quietly breathing; her chest rises with each intake of air. In. Out. In. Out. On her neck is the smallest flicker, her pulse. He stares at it, recognizes the sign of life, a life he truly cherishes more than his own. He never thought he would feel this way, this unconditional love for anyone. Only one other captured his heart like this, touched his soul. She begins to stir, and it is his cue to leave so she can sleep the night through. He rises from his perch on her bed, and slowly backs out of the room. She looks so small, so fragile. He often wonders if he will crush her when he embraces her, but he worries more that one day she will outgrow him. At the door, he pauses for one last look and knows she is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, if not for her mother. Ginny would agree. He would give anything to have her here, sharing this moment. But every night, as he counts the freckles on their daughter, he knows she is here and has sprinkled more angel kisses on her cheeks that day. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A/N: Inspired by and dedicated to my children. If you are reading The True Story of Harry Potter, I promise I will have an update! I've been working diligently on another silly and funny story at my live journal called Deflowering Ginny Weasley, wherein Draco Malfoy makes a bet that he can shag the pinnacle of virtue at Hogwarts in two weeks. Stop by and read it at www.livejournal.com/users/gianfared/