Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you may recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they all belong to the revered JK Rowling; I just like to play with them a little.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
I LOVE YOU…
"Ewww- Daddy's kissing Mummy again," Drake exclaimed in disgust from his position by the library window.
"Again?" Lucius strode toward the window to take a look for himself.
Drake wrinkled his nose in revulsion. "He kissed her toes this morning."
"Did he really?" Lucius drawled arching an eyebrow at Drake.
"He was kissing Mummy's toe better, `cause she hurt it," Angel butted in to defended Draco's earlier actions.
"One wonders if she perhaps scratched her tonsils this time," Lucius muttered under his breath.
Lucius knew Draco was eager to get closer to the flame haired witch. Hence his request that Drake and Angel be kept amused for a while this afternoon, to enable him to whisk their mother away to other parts of the estate. Lucius had thought that Draco's plans would come undone when Miss Weasley rose to follow them upstairs, but they mysteriously vanished before everyone reached the staircase. While Lucius wasn't entirely sure what type of relationship Draco was about to embark on with the pretty witch, he found that he didn't much care, so long as Draco was happy and, he and Narcissa got to spend time with the children and have the opportunity to be a part of their lives.
"Lucius, you shouldn't be encouraging the children to spy upon their parents. Come away from the window," Narcissa scolded lightly.
"Yes, of course, dear. Drake, come away now." Lucius took Drake's hand and led him away from the window.
"Wow! Is that Wizards Chess, Grandfather?" Drake's eyes lit up brightly.
"Yes it is. Do you know how to play?" Lucius asked not truly expecting the young boy to know.
"Uncle Ron has been teaching me," Drake told Lucius as he examined the chessboard. The playing board was embedded into a table and held the fanciest playing pieces he had ever seen. Not that he had seen many, but his Uncle Harry had a pretty good set.
"Are you any good?"
Drake shrugged. "Don't know really." He had won a few games but he suspected that his Uncles let him win.
"Well, why don't we play a game and see?" Lucius suggested, smiling encouragingly. It wouldn't hurt to play with the boy and perhaps he would be able to further his education of the game.
"Yes please, Grandfather." He did love to play wizards chess.
With Lucius and Drake settled at the chess table, Narcissa showed Angel the rest of the library and even found a book of children's stories among the shelves. Angel was instantly begging her to read a story.
"Oh- Grandmother, could you please read a story to me, please?"
"Of course, darling. Why don't we sit closer to the fire, on the couch?"
Once they had made themselves comfortable, Narcissa opened the book and began to read a tale about the great wizard Merlin. A short while later she heard Lucius calling Drake back from the window again. It seems he had drifted over to spy on his parents, once again. She smiled to herself; he was so much like Draco, always watching people. She watched him walk back across the room and noticed he no longer seemed happy. In fact, the look on his face was one that she was quite familiar with, it was the same look both Lucius and Draco wore when they were angry.
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Far below the library windows Draco and Ginny finally broke for air. Still holding each other, both were breathing quite heavily.
Draco rested his forehead on hers. "I've been wanting to do that since the first moment I saw you this morning, still in your pajama's."
"I think I've wanted you to do it."
"Where do we go from here?"
"I'm not sure. It's not just us. We have to think about Drake and Angel too."
"Wouldn't it be better, for them, if we were together?" He reasoned it had to be better than having parents who weren't together. It would be less confusing for the children and that could only be a good thing.
"Only if it worked."
"It worked last time, didn't it?"
"Did it? You were the one who left," Ginny reminded him, bitterness tainting her voice.
"I don't know what to say, Gin. I got scared, but I never stopped loving you."
"I don't know what to say, Draco." Ginny shook her head as she disentangled herself from his grasp and moved away.
"Gin, please sit down." Draco guided her by the shoulders to a bench seat at the edge of the gazebo.
"Draco, I have to think of the children first. I won't risk them being hurt."
Draco sank to his knees before her and held her hands in his before continuing. "I don't want to risk hurting the kids either, but I think we'd be risking a lot more if we didn't give us a second chance." Draco paused to take a deep breath. "Believe me when I say, I've never stopped loving you. I've thought of you day and night since I last saw you, on the night of your graduation. Do you remember that night?"
Ginny nodded her head slightly. Afraid to speak, for tears were building up in her eyes and she knew they would soon spill over. She certainly remembered that night, how could she forget the very night the twins were conceived.
"I left then because I believed it was the right thing to do for you. You had so many plans for your life and I thought, if I hung around, I'd just get in your way. Plus, I needed to get out of London for myself and I couldn't ask you to give up your life for me." Draco paused for a moment to wipe away the tears now cascading down Ginny's cheeks. "Fate has bought us together again, love. I think we owe it, not only to each other, but also to our children to give us a second chance. It will work, Gin. We will work."
"Draco, I-" Ginny started but couldn't continue. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but she was just so overcome with emotion at this point that words failed her.
"We could start really slow - if that's what you want," Draco suggested gently cradling her head with one of his large hands.
Ginny nodded, giving him a weak smile before leaning into the comforting feel of his once familiar touch. A touch that she had missed for the years that they had been apart.
"You won't regret this, Gin. I promise. We'll start slow and get to know each other again and just see where we go from there." Draco was over the moon he had her back again and this time he vowed never to let her go.
The couple stayed in the gardens until quite late in the afternoon. They were safe in the knowledge that the children were being well catered for and neither felt any urge to hurry back inside.
Once the sun had begun to dip closer to the horizon, it was Draco who broke the comfortable silence that had enveloped them for quite a while.
"I think we should go in soon. Dinner will be served shortly, I should think," he whispered to Ginny who was resting comfortably in his arms.
"Do we have to?"
"Yes we do or Father will send a search party." Draco smiled into her hair.
"Alright, I suppose we should." Ginny sighed as she lifted herself off of him and got to her feet.
Draco stood and gathered Ginny into his arms holding her tightly, as if he was afraid to let go.
"You know, I'm never going to let you go - ever," Draco whispered into her hair.
"Promise me," Ginny whispered back.
"I promise," Draco barely breathed.
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As Draco and Ginny re-entered the manor the rest of the family were just sitting down to dinner.
"There you two are! Been outside all afternoon?" Lucius asked with a smirk.
"Yes, Father. I showed Gin all of Mother's roses." Draco sent Lucius a rather pointed look that Ginny did not understand.
There was obviously some type of silent communication taking place between the two wizards, but Ginny couldn't decipher what was being said - they were both so good at keeping their expressions perfectly blank.
"Draco, I should really floo Mum. She'd be expecting us and when we don't show she'll be worried." Ginny quietly interrupted the silent communication between the two wizards.
"Sure, Gin. You can use the hearth in the parlor. Come on."
As soon as they entered the parlor, Ginny went directly to the fireplace and reached for the marble bowl containing the magical silvery powder. She threw a handful of Floo powder into the fire and said the "The Burrow".
"Mum?" Ginny called from the kitchen fireplace at the burrow.
"Ginny, I was wondering where you had gotten to," Molly answered as she approached the fireplace.
"Mum, we're staying at Malfoy Manor for dinner. We'll be home later. Okay?"
"Is everything alright, dear?"
"Yes, Mum. Everything is fine. We've had a wonderful day."
"Alright dear, just as long as everything is alright."
"Yes, Mum. I'll see you later tonight."
With that she was gone from the Burrow's kitchen and back in the parlor at Malfoy Manor.
"Everything alright, Gin?" Draco asked as he helped her to her feet and gathered her into his arms.
She smiled brightly at him. "Fine! Everything is perfect."
Draco had the feeling that she wasn't talking about the conversation she'd just with her mother by the look she was giving him. "Dinner then? I think they may be waiting for us."
"Yes, that would be lovely."
Instead of making their way back to the dining room, they stood gazing into one another's eyes. Draco leaned in, closing the distance between them and capturing her mouth in a hot passion filled kiss. Ginny groaned into his mouth as his hands roamed over her back touching every inch of it from her backside to her neck before releasing her.
"Mmm- dinner," Draco said in a low growl.
"Perhaps we should-" Ginny didn't finish her thought; she'd really much rather stay here with Draco.
"Yes, we should. Before I forget about taking things slow." Draco grinned as he took her hand and led her back to the dining room.
"I was just contemplating sending out a search party," Lucius drawled as the couple entered the dining room.
"Sorry, my fault. Mum loves to talk." Ginny apologized quickly.
"Quite alright, dear. Well shall we eat before the warming charms wear off?" Narcissa assured her.
Once again, Narcissa had both children next to her and looked to be having such fun as she assisted them with their meals. Conversation among the adults was light and sociable throughout the meal. Ginny did notice that Drake had barely said a word since they'd entered the room. He appeared to be rather withdrawn and was scowling across the table at Draco.
"Drake, darling is there something wrong?" asked Ginny in a concerned tone as his scowl intensified. The little boy looked as if he might implode at any moment.
"You gave Mummy a special hug," Drake yelled at Draco not shifting his intense gaze for a second and ignoring Ginny's question.
The room fell to silence, apart from the choking sounds coming from Lucius. He had taken a mouthful of red wine in the same instant Drake exploded at his father.
"What?" Draco was so stunned by the accusation he dropped his cutlery. Where on earth had this come from?
"Drake!" Ginny warned him, but to no avail. His gaze was firmly fixed on his father. It was as if he couldn't even hear her.
"I saw you! You were giving my Mummy a special hug! I saw you!"
"Father?" Draco looked questioningly to Lucius, who had just regained some semblance of control.
"Quite a lovely view of your mother's rose garden from the library windows." Lucius hinted with an arched eyebrow and customary smirk in place.
"I see. Drake, I think perhaps we need to have another talk. Now!" Draco told his son as he rose from his seat. "Father, will you join us?"
"Perhaps it may be wiser to handle this one yourself," Lucius replied, leaving Draco to his own devices.
"Fine. Drake, come along."
He was quite unsure as to what to say to the little boy, who had risen obediently and followed him out of the dining room.
"Are we going to the study?" Drake asked flatly.
"No. I think the parlor will do just fine," Draco answered as he entered the warm room.
Drake followed him in, but stopped close to the doorway. The expression on the little boy's face was pure rage - his eyes had darkened to slate gray and his face was flushed.
"Come here," Draco commanded sternly. He had decided the best way to deal with Drake was to be immovably firm with him and if that didn't work, he didn't know what he was going to do.
Drake walked further into the room and stopped about six feet away from his father. They stood regarding each other for the longest time.
"Care to explain why you made a scene at dinner?" Draco finally asked in an even tone.
"I saw you and my Mummy and you gave her a special hug!"
"What makes you think that what I did was a `special hug'?" Draco was unable to stop the superior tone invading his voice.
"Your hands were on her bottom!" Drake crossed his arms over his chest.
"What? That doesn't make it a special hug!" Draco shrieked. He was fast losing control. "We still had our clothes on, for Merlin's sake!"
"I never said you didn't have clothes on. What would you take your clothes off for?" Drake's face screwed up in confusion.
"I- umm- Oh Merlin!" Draco realized that he had imparted more information than he had ever intended to and now he had to explain his way out of it.
"Daddy?" Drake prompted impatiently.
"Umm- Sit down, Drake. Let's go over this whole special hugs thing again," Draco suggested in a defeated tone.
Drake climbed up on the couch and looked expectantly at Draco, who sat next to him. He was cradling his head in his hands, wondering just how to explain what he had just said.
"Right, we know that to make babies you have to give a witch a special hug, yeah?"
"Yeah," Drake agreed cautiously.
"Right, well part of a special hug is not wearing any clothes. Okay?" Draco blurted out quickly.
"Why?"
"Umm- Look, Drake, you're not really old enough for any more details yet. When you're older we'll have another talk and I'll explain whatever you want to know." Draco prayed to anyone who might be listening that Drake would just let it go now.
"When?"
"When you're old enough to know."
"How old do I have to be?"
"Umm- Maybe before you go to Hogwarts," Draco replied vaguely.
"But that's not for ages!"
"Yeah, I know." Draco breathed a sigh of relief. He was beginning to hope Drake might just hold onto his fear of witch germs until he was thirty.
"But-"
"Look, Drake, if I tell you anymore your mother will hex me. Okay?" Draco pleaded to his son.
"Alright." Drake was fully aware of how well his mother could fling a hex, having seen her do it to his Uncles many times. "So what were you doing to Mummy?"
"I- umm- that is- We were just snogging, that's all," Draco finally stammered out.
"Oh," Drake smirked. "Uncle Ron and Aunt Pansy do that."
"Well if you've seen them snogging, why did you make such a scene?" Draco asked, exasperation clearly evident in his voice.
"Haven't, just heard funny noises from Uncle Ron's room sometimes and he says they're snogging."
"Yeah, I bet they are. Let's get back to dinner." Draco stood up, hoping there would be no further, uncomfortable, questions from Drake.
"I'm starving!"
"Good, let's go eat then."
Father and son walked back into the silent dining room and took their seats again. Draco noticed that Ginny's face was flaming, but without seeing her eyes he was unable to tell if it was from rage or embarrassment.
"Everything alright, Gin?" Draco leaned toward her and whispered into her ear.
"Gods! I've never been so embarrassed."
"Why? We didn't do anything."
"Tell that to your father! He keeps looking at me and smirking."
"I'll fix it. All right?"
"You'd better-"
"Drake, why don't you tell everyone exactly what you saw Mummy and I doing this afternoon?" Draco propositioned his son.
"They was only snogging." Drake shrugged casually, as he picked up his cutlery and prepared to resume eating his meal.
Lucius looked to Draco with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
"Good boy, Drake. Only snogging!" Draco said pointedly in his father's direction.
"Well, I think we should all eat up before everything goes cold," Narcissa suggested. "And later perhaps someone can explain to me exactly what a `special hug' is."
"That's how babies are made," Drake answered smiling up innocently at Narcissa.
"Excuse me," Narcissa exclaimed.
"Later Cissa- I'll explain everything." Lucius smiled at her.
Ginny was watching the exchange quite closely and she would swear, on Merlin's grave, that right at this minute Lucius Malfoy was flirting with his wife, in front of everyone - his body language said it all.
"That's alright, Grandfather. I can explain," Drake offered.
"It's not appropriate dinner conversation, Drake," Lucius told him firmly.
"Oh, sorry," Drake murmured.
After dinner they all retired to the parlor. Draco and Ginny on a love seat near the window, Narcissa in one chair, Lucius in the matching chair with Angel on his lap and Drake on the floor before the fire.
"Grandfather, can you tell us a story?" Angel requested.
"Yes, I suppose I could. What would you like to hear?" asked Lucius. It was something he hadn't done for many years, but something he used to enjoy immensely.
"A dragon story!"
"Alright, let me see." Lucius feigned thought. "Once there was a very beautiful witch, she had lovely long blonde hair, and she lived in a large manor, with her parents and her two older sisters. This beautiful witch also went to school. It was a very special school for Witchcraft and Wizardry. While she was at school she met a very powerful wizard who also had long blonde hair-"
At this point, a rather ill disguised giggle came from Narcissa.
"You'll have to excuse your Grandmother, dear. It seems, she thinks my story is funny," Lucius drawled, casting an amused glance in Narcissa's direction. "Now, where was I? Oh yes! The beautiful witch fell deeply in love with the powerful handsome wizard. They were inseparable, she went to all his Quidditch matches, she sat beside him as he played wizards chess and they also sat together in the Great Hall for meals, often taking walks after dinner by the lake. Now, the handsome powerful wizard was a little older than beautiful witch so he graduated from their special school of Witchcraft and Wizardry before she did, leaving her alone at the school while he went to work for his family. She was so terribly lonely and he missed her too, even though he would try to visit her as often as he could and he would send her owls all the time with little gifts. Though it seemed like an eternity, the beautiful witch finally graduated from her school. On that very day, the handsome powerful wizard went down on one knee before the beautiful witch, professed his undying love for her and requested her hand in marriage. The beautiful witch accepted, of course, and the handsome powerful wizard placed an enormous ring on her finger, the likes of which she had never seen before-"
"Father used to tell me the same story, when I was little," Draco whispered to Ginny.
"He seems, well like he-" Ginny started, not sure how to say what she wanted.
"Like he cares about them?" Draco assisted her thoughts.
"Well- yes."
"I can tell you now, he loves the twins. Angel already has him wrapped around her little finger and Drake is probably more like him than I am."
"I guess. It's just a shock to see him acting like this. I would have never guessed he could be so-" Ginny couldn't quite think of the right word to complete her thoughts.
"Gentle?" Draco suggested.
"Well yes, it just seems- odd."
"Not to me."
"Oh- look, I think Angel has fallen asleep."
"Umm- Father, I think you're losing your audience," Draco said quietly so as not to disturb Angel.
Lucius sighed looking down at the sweet face of his sleeping granddaughter. "Never could get past the wedding with you either."
Narcissa had risen to check on Drake, who had not moved from his position, in front of the fire, for quite some time. "Drake is sound asleep as well. Draco, why don't you move him to one of the guest rooms."
"He's fine where he is Mrs. Malfoy. He does this all the time at home," Ginny said.
"Well if you're sure, dear."
"Absolutely, it'll save disturbing him twice, if we leave him there."
"Father, do you want me to take Angel?" Draco asked.
"No, it's alright. I think I can manage." Lucius rose somewhat awkwardly from the chair with Angel in his arms. "Shall I lay her on the couch?"
"Yes, thank you," Ginny responded smiling.
As Lucius went to lay Angel on the couch, the little girl disturbed a little. "Grandfather, you didn't finish the story."
"We'll finish it another time, love."
Angel yawned widely. "Grandfather?"
"Yes, Angelique."
"I love you!" Angel wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and placed a wet kiss on his cheek, before dropping her head onto the cushion Lucius had place there.
"I love you too, Angelique," Lucius murmured, smiling warmly but the little girl was already sound asleep again.
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AUTHORS NOTE
Thanks to everyone who reviewed :D
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