Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story line...sadly. JKR owns everything - including the characters, spells, and the entire world of Harry Potter. I wonder if I could buy it from her for a dollar?
Thanks to my wonderful, wonderful beta - dragonsangel68.
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Chapter 14
The next day found Draco and Jayden running around after a football on the grassy patch beside the rose garden. Ginny and Narcissa sat at a table under a shade tree sipping tea. Beside Ginny's plate sat a rose Draco had handpicked for her.
"Did you have a pleasant evening?"
"It was much more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be."
"I'm glad. Usually those events are so dull, but I have to admit, I did have a rather good time showing off my grandson."
"He was sleeping practically the whole time! I think the excitement got to him."
"He woke up for a bit while you and Draco were dancing. He charmed some of the other wives for quite some time."
"Did he?"
"He's got his father's penchant for women."
Ginny smirked. She knew about the Malfoy charm all too well. She stared over at Draco rolling around on the ground with their son. So un-Malfoy-like. I wonder what he'll say about the grass stains.
"Ginny, I'd like to share something with you."
Ginny focused on Narcissa instead of her son and his father.
"I've never seen Draco quite as happy to be alive as he has been in the past two years. I'm grateful to you for that."
"I'm sure it has very little to do with me and more to do with our son."
"Jayden has a lot to do with it, but you should take most of the credit."
"I'm glad he's happy."
"I am as well. I'd like to see you just as happy, though you aren't."
"I'm not?"
"No, you're not. I see the vacant expression in your eyes on occasion. I'd like to know if there is anything that can be done about that."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Narcissa."
"Have you and Draco talked about your relationship?"
"What relationship? We raise our son together. That's all."
"If there isn't a relationship there, why don't either one of you seek out another?"
Ginny sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "I've asked myself that question so many times I've lost count."
"And?"
"And I'm as useless for answers as you are."
"Ah."
"A man at the Ball did ask if he could take me out."
Narcissa leaned forward excitedly. "And?"
"And I told him he could owl me. I haven't been home yet, but I doubt he will. Right after he asked, Draco came to the bar for another drink."
"The bartender asked if he could take you out?"
"Yes, his name is Mike. He's a very nice bloke. Not too hard on the eyes, either."
Narcissa laughed. "He was rather fetching. If he does contact you, what will you say?"
"I don't know. I should probably try to find some semblance of a relationship."
"I think that's a wise move, Ginny. You deserve to find love, and if my son can't give it to you, then you should find it elsewhere."
Ginny heard her own voice in her mind, "You don't love me." She remembered that night, and she also remembered what Draco had said in response to her statement, "Never make statements you can't prove."
Just then Draco and Jayden came barreling up to the table. Jayden jumped into Ginny's lap and started kissing her face from the front while Draco grabbed her sides and began tickling her. Ginny twitched and contorted her body in an attempt to get away from Draco's hands, but wasn't able to until her son vacated her lap in favor of his Grandmum's outstretched arms.
Ginny stood and spun around. "You're in for it now!"
"I'm certain I am."
Draco took off towards the grass with Ginny in hot pursuit. He grabbed her around the waist to pick her up and swung her around in a circle. Narcissa could hear their laughter and it made her smile. They don't know it yet, but they'll figure it out.
"Do you want a biscuit, Poppet?"
"No, I want to play with Mummy and Da."
"Leave them be for a few minutes and sit with Grandmum. Tell me about flying with Da."
Jayden's eyes grew large as he went into an animated tale of how he and his father had gone flying the day before.
Draco continued spinning Ginny, until she managed to get free of his grasp. She ran across the grass until Draco tackled her and then ended up rolling down a small hill. Laughing and breathing hard, they looked into each other's eyes. Draco lifted his fingers to Ginny's temple and brushed a few red strands from her face and leaned down to kiss her. Ginny's hands went to Draco's back and traced large circles over the smooth muscle. The kiss was broken when they heard Jayden's voice calling for them.
Draco stood up, pulling Ginny with him. "Go back to Grandmum, Jade. Mummy and I are going for a walk."
"Ohtay," Jayden muttered in a downtrodden voice.
Although it was a bright sunny day, the path through the woods was shady and secluded. They pushed each other up against various trees to ravage lips, petted each other in embraces that took just a little too long, and gave furtive glances to the other in the midst of these small physical gratifications.
Once they were far enough down the path to avoid any embarrassing voyeurism, Draco shoved Ginny up against a tree trunk and began sucking on her neck. His hands caressed her breasts through her shirt and moans of pure pleasure fell from Ginny's lips. She could feel him, hard as a rock, through his causal clothes and the burning need to have him was well ensconced between her thighs. Her agile hands went down his back and around his sides, causing him to shudder. She undid his belt with practiced ease and pushed his pants and undergarments down over his hips. He pushed her cardigan over her shoulders before she lifted her arms and he pulled her shirt over her head. He attacked her neck again and let his tongue slide down onto one nipple.
"If I've never told you before, you have truly magnificent tits."
"Thank you. Enough talk."
She grabbed the back of his head and pushed him back into position as he undid the snaps of her pants. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up to him as he stepped out of his pants. He thrust his tongue in her mouth as they sunk to the ground without separating. He knelt between her thighs and wrapped an arm around her as to facilitate gentle placement on the ground and aimlessly swept the earth beneath her. As soon as Ginny was deposited safely onto the ground, he attached his mouth to hers to squelch any cries she might made and drove into her.
Ginny's legs wrapped around Draco's waist, as she tried to keep up with his thrusts. Their orgasms came quickly and with a cacophony of sounds from both parties.
They lay there on the ground for several minutes catching their collective breath.
"That was brilliant. Didn't I tell you the sex was fabulous?"
"I never said I didn't believe you."
He kissed her one last time before they separated and began the search for their clothes and wands. Ginny lifted her wand to cast the contraceptive charm when Draco grabbed her hand.
"Draco, what are you doing?"
"Don't cast the charm, Gin."
"Why not? I don't think we need another baby."
"Maybe we don't need one, but don't you want another?"
"Of course I want another, but hopefully I'll be married to the bloke first. I've never tried the marriage then kids bit, so I thought it might be the way to go next time."
"Gin-"
"What, Draco? You don't love me. I deserve to find someone who does. Did you think this situation was going to last forever? You're going to meet a witch that strikes your fancy someday and, hopefully, I'll meet a wizard that does it for me as well."
"What if I don't want to meet another witch?"
"You don't have to. You can be a bachelor for your entire life if you want to, but I do want to get married and have more children someday. I can't keep having your babies if I want that to happen."
"What if I don't want you to meet another bloke?"
"Draco, that doesn't matter. I deserve someone who loves me and who wants to make a life with me."
"What have we been doing, Gin? We have a life together. And who says I don't love you?"
"We do have a life together, but I need more. It's not just finding someone who loves me; it's about finding someone who is in love with me. Don't worry, Draco, it's not going to affect your relationship with Jayden."
Draco remained silent. He nodded his head and buttoned his shirt. He found his wand and cast Scourgify spells on both of them in several different places. Ginny stood there not knowing what to say, but merely followed as Draco made his way out of the woods towards the Manor.
Draco gathered Jayden's things and packed them in the little bag they had brought with his things. Ginny said her goodbyes to Narcissa and promised to bring Jayden by later in the week. Draco pulled his son up to his side and put an arm around Ginny as he Apparated them back to the house.
When they returned to the house, Draco wandered upstairs into the bedroom and shut the door. Ginny was at a loss. What was she supposed to say? Was she supposed to tell him that life could continue as it had forever? She wanted more. She deserved more. It occurred to her this was one of the nights she and Jayden normally stayed at the house, but she wasn't feeling very welcome at the moment.
"What's wrong with Da?"
"I don't know, baby. Maybe he needs a hug. Why don't you go give him one?"
"Ohtay." Jayden toddled up the stairs while holding onto the rail with a death grip. He opened the door to find his Da face down in a pillow. He crawled up onto the bed and laid his head beside his Da.
"What's wrong?"
Draco rolled his head to the side. "Nothing, little man, I'm just not feeling well. Why don't you and your Mum stay at the Burrow tonight? If I'm coming down with something, I don't want you or Mummy to catch it, okay?"
Jayden looked at his father and his shoulders slumped. "But I wanted to stay with you."
"Tomorrow night, little man. As long as it's okay with your Mum, you can stay tomorrow night."
"Ohtay," Jayden said dejectedly.
"Go tell Mum."
"Ohtay." Jayden gave pitiful look.
"What, little man?"
The toddler wrapped himself around Draco as best he could, given the situation. "Mummy gives me sugars when I'm sad. Maybe it might make you feel better, too."
Draco circled his arms around his son. "Ooh, ooh, oh-Da feels all better now."
Jayden smiled and slipped off the bed. "Ohtay, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, little man. Be good for Mummy."
When Jayden returned to Ginny he told her what Draco had said. "Da's sick, Mummy."
Ginny accepted the answer and Apparated home to the Burrow.
Molly looked up from the stove where she was cooking dinner. "Oh, Ginny, dear! I didn't expect you home tonight."
"Da's sick," Jayden explained.
"Does he have a touch of the flu? It's been going around."
"I don't know, Mum. Jayden, take your bag upstairs and go play outside with your cousins."
"Ohtay."
When Jayden had come back downstairs and run outside, Ginny flopped down in a chair at the table.
"Ginny, is something bothering you?"
"I don't know."
"Did you and Draco have another row?"
"Yes-No-Maybe-I think so."
"What about this time, dear?"
"I met a man at the Ball and I told him he could Floo me."
"And that upset Draco?"
"No, he doesn't even know that part. I just told him that someday I'd like to have more children and that I wanted to find someone that was in love with me instead of just existing with someone who loved me as a person. It wasn't those exact words, but that was the general idea."
"That makes sense, dear. Not all men are afraid of commitment. Some even relish in it."
"It's not that Draco is afraid of commitment, he does really well with Jayden. It's just that he isn't in love with me, and that's okay. I just want more, even if he's content with what he has."
"Well, of course he's content, Ginny. You spend a few nights a week there, you help with keeping the house up and you're there for him when he gets home. You cook his supper on most nights and you're there to help with Jayden. He has the best of both worlds. He has the family life and the single life all rolled up into one. Let me ask you a question, Ginny? Where does he end up when he doesn't work late and you're here?"
"He comes over here to play with Jayden."
"Right. And when he's done playing with Jayden?"
"Sometimes he sleeps here. Sometimes I go back with him. Sometimes he goes home alone."
"Right, but what happens far more often than not?"
"I go back to the house with him." Molly gave Ginny a knowing look. "What, Mum? He pouts if I don't. I can't take the pouting. It's easier just to let him have his way."
"But ask yourself this, Gin-bug: Why do you care whether he pouts or not? You haven't ever caved because your brothers pouted. You rarely give in when your nephews or Jayden pout. You give it to it so infrequently, Jayden hardly pouts at all."
"I'm not following you, Mum."
"Think about it and I'm sure you'll come up with an answer."
--------
Ginny and Jayden stayed at the house the next night. Draco didn't speak to Ginny out of anything but necessity and got up from bed right after she'd crawled in. She found him asleep on the couch the next morning.
When she went back to the Burrow, she waited for Draco to appear after work, but he never did. Molly told her he flooed for Jayden during the afternoon while Ginny had been taking a nap, but that was the only word they'd had from him.
On the sixth day of the silent treatment Ginny had had enough. She'd been alternating between feeling like she was repulsive and like she just plain didn't exist. She left Jayden with Molly and went to the house. Draco wasn't there. She went to his office. No dice. She flooed Narcissa, who told her the wards were down and to Apparate over.
"Ginny! Where's Jayden?"
"I left him with Mum. I've been trying to find Draco. I think he and I need to have a talk."
"He's gone away on business, dear. I wonder why he didn't tell you. It was rather sudden; it probably just slipped his mind. He'll be in Italy for two weeks."
"Oh."
"Well, come sit and have tea."
"All right."
--------
Draco was miserable. This was Italy. It was beautiful and sunny and warm. He used the excuse of business, even though they didn't need him here nearly as badly as he'd let on. He hadn't told Ginny where he'd gone and felt awful for leaving Jayden. He'd Flooed and his little man had understood that Da had to work. It tore his heart out. He was getting so grown up.
When he'd asked Ginny why she cast the Contraceptive Charm after every time they made love, he'd expected her to say something to the effect of, "I didn't think you wanted any more children." To which he could have responded with a definite affirmative in the children department and they would live happily ever after.
But she wanted love. He thought she'd known he loved her for quite some time now. He'd used the Ministry Ball as her and his son's coming out, and he thought she'd understood that.
He'd never said the words, but he'd shown her on multiple occasions how much he loved her. Maybe she was right; maybe he wasn't in love with her. Perhaps his mother was right as well - maybe he just liked the idea of Ginny. He'd really run to Italy to figure out what it was that he wanted; what it was he felt.
He'd been there for twelve days and his conclusion on this particular day was the same conclusion he'd come up with on the first. He packed his bags and went to the Portkey Authority. He was cutting his business trip short.
------
He Apparated home, dropped off his bags and Apparated straight out again.
He appeared in the dining room of the Burrow and called out, "Jayden! Ginny! I'm home early!"
Molly appeared from the backyard. "Oh, Draco! How nice to see you, dear. How was your trip?"
"It was fine, Mrs. Weasley. Where is my son? And Ginny?"
"Oh, they aren't here, dear. They've gone out for ice cream with that Mike fellow."
"Mike?"
"Yes, Ginny met him at the Ministry thing you took her to. He'd been Flooing or owling everyday for a week wanting to take her out. I think they finally went out three or four days ago, but today he asked if he could take her for ice cream. Jayden overheard and asked to go as well."
Draco's temper rose by several degrees. His son was out with Ginny and this Mike bloke? The nerve of her! She was sitting here frolicking about with some random bloke she'd met while out with him and now she was taking their son along for the ride.
"Draco, dear, are you all right? You look a little peaked. Have you eaten today?"
Draco shook his head to clear his thoughts. "No, ma'am, I haven't. I should be going anyway."
"No, dear, stay for supper. I'm making your favorite, as it turns out."
"That would be lovely, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you."
--------
Draco sat and waited. Mrs. Weasley kept insisting he was too thin and cramming him full of more food. Ginny was taking her sweet time, wasn't she? "Probably off sucking face with what's his name," Draco thought morbidly.
Just then, he heard the floo flare up. "Mum, we're home."
Draco walked into the kitchen as Ginny was casting cleaning charms on both her and his son-and some bloke.
"Sorry we're late, but Mike took us to see a picture in London. I invited him home-" Ginny locked eyes with Draco, "-for dinner. Hello, Draco. You aren't supposed to be home for two more days."
"I cut my trip short. I missed my son." Jayden bounded up into his father's arms while Draco gave Ginny a cold stare. "Has he eaten?"
"No, we came home for dinner."
Mike cleared his throat sensing the tense mood. "Maybe I should go. We'll have dinner another night."
"No, Mike, it's fine. Stay, please."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Mum, Draco, this is Mike."
"Hello, Mike. I hope you're hungry," Molly said while ushering him to the kitchen table.
Ginny walked slowly past Draco into the kitchen.
Draco thought he had been stuffed before, but he could surely fit a little more in, couldn't he? For the sake of appearances, he was sure he could.
Draco sat down at the place he had just vacated. Jayden had refused to release his hold on Draco, so Draco went about making room for Jayden's plate beside his own.
Weasley boys kept coming in and out nicking various items off the table as after-dinner snacks. Molly and Arthur were sitting at the table with Ginny, Mike, Jayden and Draco, tucking it to their suppers avidly. Draco observed the dinner conversation. He also observed the light touches and glances thrown towards Ginny from the man to her right. Draco's wand hand itched to hex the git's arm straight off.
"Da, we went to see movies today!"
"Did you, little man?"
"Uh huh. We had ice cream, too!"
"Wow, you must have been a good boy while Da was away, huh?" Jayden nodded his head furiously. "Eat your supper, little man. We have to go in a little while."
"Go, where are you going?" Ginny asked.
"Home, of course. I haven't seen my family in nearly two weeks." He looked pointedly at Mike. Mike's arm fell from where it had been rubbing small circles on Ginny's back.
"I'd better get going. Thank you so much for the wonderful meal, Mrs. Weasley. I hope we can do it again soon. I'll show myself out." He brushed a kiss across Ginny's cheek and waved to Jayden, who returned his wave with enthusiasm.
"He seems a little hyperactive, Ginny. Why did you let him eat ice cream before dinner?"
"Mike?"
"No, our son."
"Oh, he's not hyper, he's just excited. We had a good time didn't we, Poppet?"
"Uh huh. We saw movies!"
"You like movies, do you, little man?"
"Uh huh."
"Well, we'll have to start going to see more movies then, won't we?"
"Yeah!"
Tense silence filled the room as Ginny and Draco shot each other death glares over the table.
"Da, I'm full."
"You've barely eaten anything."
"But I'm full."
"All right, but don't expect dessert until you've finished your dinner. Gin, we've leaving soon."
Molly wrapped up the rest of Jayden's dinner along with some leftovers for Draco and gave them each a large hug. Ginny went upstairs and packed bags for both herself and Jayden when Draco appeared in her doorway.
"Jayden is downstairs waiting. Is his bag ready?"
"Yeah, I think we're ready to go."
"We? Jayden was the only one coming to stay with me or so I thought. I assumed you'd rather go out with your new friend Mike than spend a night with your family."
"What are you implying, Draco?"
"I'm implying that while I've been away you've been acting like nothing better than a common streetwalker and that you're now dragging our son into it."
Ginny's ears were violet and the blush was rising in her cheeks. "How dare you speak to me like that, Draco. You leave town without even telling me and I go out with one man and take our son with me one time and I'm a streetwalker? Are you insane?"
"No, I'm not insane. I'm simply calling it like I see it. We sleep together mere hours before I leave on a two week business trip and within that time you're already cavorting with another man? What would you call it?"
"Do you not listen to a word I say? Honestly, Draco, put your fucking listening ears on. I told you that I have to find a man that loves me. I have no intention of dying an unmarried woman. I want to have more children. I want to get married. This situation cannot last forever."
Draco stood silently in front of Ginny. He had the odd urge to shake her. He was in no mindset to be around another living thing. "You keep Jayden tonight, but I'll be back for him in the morning."
Before Ginny could stop him, Draco had Apparated out of the house.
---------
Before Draco knew it, he was tearing his house apart for the second time. He tossed over the couch, uprooted the coffee table and threw the remote through the screen of Ginny's Muggle television. He'd thrown all the clothes out of the closets and pulled the sheets off the bed. The mattress was half way across the room and all of Ginny's toiletries were broken on the bathroom floor. The only room he left untouched belonged to his son, and that's where he fell, exhausted and void of emotion. He'd lost the strength to be angry or happy or sad. He fell into a deep sleep on his son's big boy bed.
He had a dream that he and Ginny were happy. They were happy together and there was no Mike. There were no other blokes and they were happy in their little home with their son. It was a happy place where he didn't have to beg Ginny to come home with him three or four nights a week. It was a place where she loved him. Draco liked it there.
He awoke crying. He wasn't quite sure why, but it pissed him off all over again. He went into the house and destroyed everything that hadn't previously been destroyed. He was in the kitchen smashing the dishes Ginny had picked out only months before when he heard his son's voice in the living room.
Draco turned around and flew into the living room. Jayden shouldn't be up this late and he wasn't allowed to use the Floo yet, but he watched as his son came tumbling through the Floo onto the living room floor.
"Jayden, would you like to explain to me what the fuck you're doing here? Or what the hell you're doing using the Floo without your Mum helping you? Or what the bloody hell you're doing up this late?"
Jayden's chin trembled in the sight of his father's anger. "Da, I had an accident. Mummy is crying and my sugars didn't help. You have to give them to her to make it better."
"Fine, Jayden, but what were you doing using the Floo without Mummy or Grandmum there with you?"
"Mummy is crying so she can't help and Grandmum was asleep. I'm a big boy. Big boys use the Floo by themselves!"
Draco bent down and grabbed his son's shoulders. "You are never to use the Floo by yourself ever again. EVER. Do you understand me?"
"Uh huh. Are we going to give Mummy sugars now?"
"No, son. My sugars won't fix Mummy now."
"Why not?"
"Because I said so, son. I can't take you back tonight, so you're going to have to sleep here. Go up to your room and watch out for glass on the floor, please."
"You need sugars, Da."
"No, I don't, son."
"Ohtay."
"Go to bed, please. I'll owl your Mum."
Jayden went up the stairs carefully avoiding anything that might house glass and went into his room.
Draco sat down to write Ginny a letter.
Ginny-
Our son arrived at our home by Floo just a few minutes ago. He's fine and he's in bed. I had plans for the two of us tomorrow, so I'll bring him home the day after tomorrow.
It has come to the point where our situation is hurting our child. You were right. I thought this situation could continue forever, but it can't. Unfortunately, our son had to make his way up to bed amongst many broken articles that used to decorate our home. You have a way of making me go into rages. I'm sorry our son had to see that.
I'm also sorry that you're crying. I wish we could fix whatever is broken in our relationship, but I don't think either one of us knows how to do that. Jayden may suggest sugars as being the remedy to cure all wounds, but giving each other sugar was never our problem, was it?
I suggest we have dinner sometime later this week to discuss some sort of a custody arrangement.
-Draco
Draco sealed the note with his crest and called his owl. He attached the letter to her leg and went about cleaning up his house. He'd let Ginny have what she wanted and give the rest away. The house could be redecorated at a later date to ensure the eradication of her memory.
Draco pulled himself up the stairs after repairing the damage he'd wreaked on his residence. He went into his son's room and curled up in bed with him. Maybe sugars were the answer, after all.
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