Author's Note: This cookie was posted on thedarkarts.org about 2 years ago.
Summary: This family has found peace at last.
Family's Peace
Draco shut the door behind him. He put down his briefcase in the foyer and walked upstairs. He tripped on his long black robes and stumbled, landing softly on the carpeted stairs and cursed to himself. As soon as he opened the door to his bedroom, his heart melted at the sight before him.
Ginny was sitting on their bed with her legs bent and opened. Their baby was lying in between her legs and laughing every time Ginny cooed. Her hair was wrapped up in messy bun, some of her hair, falling out of place into her face. She was wearing leggings and a roomy t-shirt.
Draco didn't have the heart to interrupt the picture moment before him. It was mother-son bonding and he thought it was so cute…but he couldn't tell Ginny that, it would ruin his reputation.
Ginny looked up and her eyes lit up when she saw her husband standing in the doorway. Draco returned her smile and made his way over to her slowly. He never took his eyes off her as he sat, facing her. He reached out and cupped her face in his hand.
"Hey," he said softly, "How's my beautiful wife?"
Ginny blushed and looked down at her son who had gone quiet and was staring at his mother with wide eyes.
"I'm fine," she said not looking up, "How was work?"
Draco sighed and removed his hand from her face. He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes.
"Tough."
"How so?"
They were whispering at this point. To any onlooker, it would seem as if their lips weren't moving.
"Dad wants me to work double agent."
Ginny's eyes widened, "But you…you can't Draco. You work for the Ministry and…"
"He thinks the opportunity is perfect me seeing as how I'm an unspeakable."
He opened his eyes and saw worry reflected in Ginny's. He made an attempt to change the subject.
"Did you see your brother today?"
Ginny's brow furrowed, "Draco, you're not evil. Your father can't come waltzing into your life and mine and turn our whole world upside down!"
Draco pulled up his sleeve, "Gin, look."
Unwillingly, Ginny looked and saw a faint outline of the dark mark on his arm. Normally, it wasn't visible, but because she was looking for it, she saw it.
Draco saw the worry in her eyes change to sorrow, but he had to make her understand.
"Ginny, I got this mark in my sixth year. It will always be here with me, following me. It is a piece of me, of who I am. I was a death eater Ginny, but this mark makes me."
"But, you aren't a death eater, how can it make who you are?" she asked, her voice shook slightly.
Draco sighed and looked down at his son. Luke Benjamin Malfoy had his father's eyes, his father's hair, but his mother's smile. His son was smiling up at him and Draco smiled back, weakly. The young child stretched his hand up and Draco slipped his pinky finger in his son's grasp. Luke held on tightly, oohing and ahhing softly.
"It makes me who I am, because it influenced me," he looked into Ginny's eyes, trying to convey his message through the windows of his soul, "It has made me a different person from my father and it has kept me from being evil. It is a reminder that I don't turn out to be the type of man, the type of father my father was. But unfortunately, it is also a reminder of my past and my father is not willing to make me forget my past."
Ginny's bottom lip quivered, "Are you trying to forget?"
"No."
Ginny picked up her baby and clutched him to her chest. Draco jumped slightly at the sudden movement. He saw the horror in his wife's eyes and knew immediately that she misunderstood.
"Ginny, listen to me. I am not trying to forget. And I am not going to do what my father wants. It is his desire to serve evil…not mine."
Ginny visibly relaxed. She smiled weakly and kept eye contact with Draco. She only wavered when her son started whimpering as a result of being held so tightly. She put him back on the bed and he calmed.
"Draco," she began, "You have made me the happiest woman alive."
"Why?"
She looked up at him and took his hand in hers.
"Because you love me and I love you."
"I do love you and don't you ever forget it."
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.
"You need a haircut."
It was true. Draco's hair was bone straight and chin length. Personally, she loved his hair like this, but she felt it was the right thing to say at the moment.
He smirked, "You said you weren't cutting my hair for me again."
She did say this. But only because she loved it at that length.
He whispered to her, his lips still touching hers.
"Did you see your brother?"
He could feel Ginny's lips form a smile, "Of course I did."
"What did he say about our baby?"
"He was disappointed that we hadn't split up already, but he is happy to know he has a nephew with red hair."
Draco frowned, "But Luke doesn't have red hair."
"I didn't bother correct him."
Draco and Ginny chuckled at the same time. Draco sighed, "Poor Ron."
"Ah, he'll get over it."
Just then, a loud bell rang through the house and Ginny parted her lips from Draco.
"Dinner's ready."
She clambered off the bed and walked out the room. She looked back and noted with a smile that Draco had picked up the quiet baby and was cradling him. She left them by themselves, thinking that Draco would want a private moment with his son.
Draco stood and walked over to the window. Luke was drooling on his shoulder, but he didn't care. He looked out on to the grounds. The sun was setting and it casted an orange glow into the room and on to his face, reflecting off his hair. The willow trees were still. Nothing moved. It was so cool and peaceful. He rubbed his son's back and smoothed his hair. He went to sit in the rocking chair and held his son in his lap, with his back to his stomach and rocked.
"You know Luke," he said, "Today is a beautiful day."
The baby was silent as if listening to his father's words.
"Yes it is. These days have been absolutely beautiful. Whatever happens Luke, I love your mother. I love her with all my heart and I love you. If I fail as a father, forgive me and know that I tried."
The baby sighed and made soft sounds. Draco smiled contentedly and kissed the top of his son's heads. He continued rocking back and forth, staring out of the window until they both fell asleep.