A/N: Three more chapters after this (I miscounted). I am playing with the idea of testing out the PK waters for my sequel which features the Potter and Malfoy children at Hogwarts…please let me know your thoughts if you would be interested in reading it. I can post the first few as a "test" and see how they do. The Epilogue for this story and Ch. 1 of the sequel are the same. Thanks!
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Moving Forward
"It's your turn," Ginny mumbled into the pillow. She heard him groan and then sigh as his feet hit the floor.
Marissa was fussing and Ginny knew it was time for the 2am feeding and was so glad she had decided to go with the
bottle. She wasn't sure if she could handle getting up every two hours, sometimes less and sometimes more to feed
or change or rock her.
For three weeks everything had revolved around Marissa. Getting her bedroom ready with a crib Narcissa had brought; bringing over one of Ginny's trunks from her old room and a new dresser that Draco had waiting in there when they came home from the hospital.
This was the end of the first week that Draco was back to work and it was the longest, hardest week of Ginny's life…and she only was alone for two of the five days. Hermione had come over with baby Brian who was very enthralled with Marissa and kept trying to hand her his rattle, and could not understand why she didn't care and stayed asleep.
Draco walked over to the bassinette, scooped her up and took her out to the living room, using all the magic he could to make, warm, and bring the bottle to him on the couch.
Ginny usually fell right back to sleep but for some reason she tossed and turned until Draco returned forty five minutes later with a happy, burped, sleepy baby. Instead of placing her back in the bassinette, he arranged himself in bed with her sleeping on his chest. Ginny propped herself up on her arm and could see the outline of Marissa's body on Draco's chest as he reclined against the back of the bed.
"Why aren't you putting her back?" Ginny whispered.
"She seems so comfortable," Draco answered quietly and Ginny reached out and touched the hand that was underneath Marissa's face. Ginny could make out her mouth which was open a bit and she ran her hand over the strawberry blond hair that looked dark with just a nightlight on. Feeling Draco's arm make it's way under her neck she quietly scooted closer and laid her head on his shoulder, so her head was tucked under his neck, while Marissa's gently touched the underside of Ginny's chin.
"Samantha came over this morning, miserable and cranky and told me she has tried everything to get James to come early, because he is so big, just so she can be comfortable and nothing is working. I told her to relish the time she has to sleep."
"Good advice," Draco said sleepily, one hand on Marissa's back and one around Ginny, who snuggled into his side. She rested her hand on top of his and they could both feel Marissa breathing.
Then Ginny felt something else. Her heart began to accelerate and the familiar sensation of Draco slowly rubbing his hand on her arm made her realize that he hadn't really lovingly touched her since the baby was born. Oh, there were hugs and kisses, but nothing to make her believe he wanted anything else…and now she could feel her body calling out to him.
The good thing about being a witch is that the potions she drank and the magic they performed on her Cesarean Section scar made her heal a lot faster and feel much better than, say, Samantha would feel at this point.
'Oh, Draco,' Ginny thought as her finger traced his knuckles on the back of his hand, 'do you know how much I want you to hold me right now?' and as if he had sensed it he shifted so his leg was pressed against hers more firmly now. 'But, I don't want to ruin a father-daughter bonding moment,' her thoughts continued and she closed her eyes letting his warmth seep into her.
"Is she still asleep?" he whispered and Ginny cracked an eye and moved her head a bit.
"Oh, yeah…deeply," she said and she watched him levitate Marissa to her bassinette. Ginny was still scared to do that, for fear she would lose her concentration and drop her. But Draco had done it a few times and she trusted him more than herself. She heard the soft sounds of the blanket being pulled up over Marissa and then felt Draco turn in her arms so their faces were close and she could see his eyes.
"What?" she whispered, feeling his hand rest on her hip. He didn't say anything as he let his hand slide up her bare back and then Ginny knew he must have known what she was thinking. She had been so tired she never even thought to try and protect any of her thoughts from him. Maybe he wasn't sure what she wanted, or needed, now that she had given birth, especially she was rounder in places she wasn't before and she was so tired.
She inclined her head on his chest, feeling his hand rub her back eliciting a soft sigh that he felt in the crook of his neck.
"You ok?" he asked his hand still moving up and down her back.
"Mmhmm," Ginny sighed feeling heat rush everywhere as his hand moved slowly around to the front of her, exploring gently.
"I'm fine," Ginny murmured with her lips against his neck, hoping he would get her meaning and being the intelligent man he was he did and pulled her on top of him.
"You sure?" Draco asked pushing her hair back so he could see her face and she nodded staring down at him.
"Are you? "Sure", I mean," Ginny asked him back.
"I've been sure for three weeks, about me. I'm just not sure about…how you're feeling," Draco admitted letting his fingers trail down her back, across her bum and over to hips.
"I feel pretty normal, minus the tiredness…I've just missed this," Ginny kissed him and felt his arms wrap around her weighing her down deeper into his chest, causing her hips to push into his.
Ginny let out a giggle as she pressed her pelvis against his.
"You feel…pretty normal too," she said against his mouth. She heard Marissa make a squeak then settle back down.
"You'll wake up Marissa if you keep talking like that," Draco nibbled her earlobe and she stifled a moan, moving her head from his mouth, bending down and kissing his shoulder.
"I can be quiet…the question is can you?" she challenged him, whispering in his ear, then returning the favor of nibbling.
"Is that a challenge, Weasley?" his hands were up inside her shirt as she nodded.
"Oh yeah, Malfoy," she gasped quietly, sliding to her side and rolling him over in the process.
"What're you going to do…," she started then caught her breath as his hands trailed along the elastic of her knickers and she squirmed against him copying his movements with her own hands.
She started again, "What're you gonna call me when we're married? No more Weasley," she bit her lip as she felt him suck her neck lightly, one hand pushing down her knickers and the other touching her hair.
"I'll think of something," he whispered back stifling a gasp as her cool fingers pushed his boxers down over his arse and she squeezed him lightly.
"You're supposed to be…quiet," he pushed himself up so he could look down at her. He could barely make out face but knew she was smiling and felt her shrug then arch up into him and as he leaned down to kiss her lips, he ran his hand over her stomach then pushed into her and felt her mouth open under his. Her hands grabbed him roughly on his hips and her whole body arched off the bed, telling him to move…NOW.
Ginny kept her arms wrapped around him, trying to stay as close to him as possible, relishing the closeness and warmth he gave her; the way she felt protected and safe when he was holding her. Biting his shoulder she came violently, shuddering against him feeling his hands dig into her shoulders as he went still and they both stopped breathing for a minute, lost in the precious few seconds of utter bliss where nothing could hurt or touch them.
Draco was the first to breathe, letting out his breath in one large gasp then relax against her. Ginny pressed her lips
to his shoulder and let her legs slide down to a more relaxed position.
"God, Draco…I love you," Ginny held him tightly feeling her hormones threatening to make her cry.
"I love you, Ginny," he said into her ear not moving, feeling a slight sting where she bit him and smiling to himself, wondering if it was going to leave him a third scar on that part of his body.
"I'm tired now…," she shifted beneath him and he moved back and rolled to his side, cradling her face in his hand and kissing her forehead.
"I was tired when I went to bed," he joked as he tugged her nightgown back down over her stomach.
"We're going to be tired forever. How are we going to plan a wedding?" Ginny snuggled into him, pulling the blanket up over them.
"Just tell my mother what you want, she's been dying to do this forever," he smoothed her hair back as he talked. "Just get her and your mom together and we won't need to do a thing."
"Except pick a date," Ginny said, closing her eyes as she felt his fingers run through her hair.
"What date do you want?"
"A few weeks after James is born," Ginny said sleepily.
"March fifth," Draco said suddenly.
"Why then?" Ginny whispered, wondering if the date had a special meaning in his mind. "If James is born on the first like he should be, then that won't leave anytime for her to recover and be in it," Ginny said.
"It was the first time you told me you loved me, then I said it back…," Draco said slowly and Ginny felt his hand freeze in her hair.
"You…what?? I don't remember you saying it back!" Ginny remembered saying it while laying in his bed in his Head Boy room, but she was one hundred percent sure she never heard him say it back to her.
"You were asleep and I didn't have the courage to say it when you were awake," he admitted.
"Damn Gryffindor's took all the courage," he added, his hand resuming the smoothing of her hair.
"But, what if Samantha goes to her due date?" Ginny did some quick Math…it was February fourth? Fifth?…and that would give her a month to plan and Samantha would have to have James soon if she was going to be in the wedding.
"She won't. I heard Hermione saying she will probably go early because she is so big," Draco said knowingly and Ginny nodded against his chest.
"Well, let's see what happens over the next few days, but I like the fifth as a date," she yawned and heard Draco follow a second later.
"Let's sleep…Marissa will be up in another few hours," he mumbled, gathering her to him and nuzzling her hair.
As was usual, Ginny fell right to sleep, her head tucked under his chin.
And it was Marissa who surprised them by sleeping through the four in the morning feeding and finally waking them up crying at six for her breakfast.
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Draco was right. Ginny had learned over the past few years to never question him when he said something that sounded out of the ordinary, like him thinking and then saying he heard that Samantha was going to have James early. It was February seventh that James Steven Weasley was born weighing a flat nine pounds and having the Weasley blue eyes and red hair.
When they went to visit Samantha in the hospital she swore that James didn't look anything like her side of the
family and that she just carried the baby and had nothing else to do with him being conceived.
Luckily for Samantha her labor was normal, long and emotional but after fourteen hours he was born, cone head and all and Ginny had never seen Ron stare at something so long that wasn't related to Quidditch.
Similar to when Marissa was born, and as well as Brian, James received a gift basket from Dumbledore and a note saying he would hold a spot for the future Hogwarts student. Samantha seemed to pale at that, wondering if that meant James was indeed a Wizard and Ginny took it as a sign that he was. Dumbledore wouldn't say that if he wasn't…Marissa was indeed a powerful witch having already had a crying fit that lasted so long that her anger pushed a bottle off the coffee table after Ginny had fed her one morning.
So, the wedding was on for March fifth and after Ginny had told her mother and Draco owled his mother they had both appeared a day later in the flat right as Ginny was feeding Marissa, yet again, around lunch time.
"So, dear, do you have a dress in mind?" Molly asked and Ginny shrugged.
"I need to go look."
"Well, we can have Draco watch Marissa this weekend and we can take you out," Narcissa said gently accepting a wide awake granddaughter who was looking intently around her.
"That's a great idea, then we can find something for the bridesmaids to wear...Hermione and Samantha right?" Molly asked tapping her finger against her lips.
Ginny nodded, offered them a drink and when they declined she got herself some juice.
"Draco said he wants it at Malfoy Manor…is that a problem?"
"No, not in the least," Narcissa moved Marissa to her shoulder and smiled as the baby snuggled in for another nap.
"Do you have a time?" Molly asked and Ginny shrugged again. "How about early afternoon? Then you can situate Marissa before you leave on your honeymoon. Where will that be?"
Ginny had to smile, "Well, Draco said he is going to surprise me on that one so I really don't have any idea. Early afternoon sounds fine to me for a time." Ginny took a sip of her juice and headed her mom off at the pass.
"As for colors…it doesn't matter to me. I like green, so if that can be tied in great."
"Oh, green works with a lot of colors, Ginny, so don't you fret about that," Narcissa said and Molly nodded her head in agreement.
For the next hour they talked about the wedding plans, who to invite, the type of food to be served and who was going to watch Marissa the week they were gone. Ginny was worried about leaving her baby for such a long period of time and they sensed it. Narcissa reassured her that she would stay in the flat where Marissa was comfortable and on Molly's days off she would take her so Narcissa could tend to hospital duties and other functions she was involved in. Hermione had also offered to help, leaving her invitation wide open and Ginny knew she would ask Hermione to check up on her and Harry's goddaughter.
It was surreal to Ginny to be talking about a wedding especially one that wasn't going to be too far away. She didn't even know who Draco was going to ask to be in his wedding. He was still in contact with Blaise so he might be someone he'd ask…the other person she had no idea.
Molly saw her daughter stifle a yawn and without calling attention to it, she stood up and said she needed to get back to the Burrow and start working on Ron's birthday present. She had spent most of her time knitting James some tiny sweaters and booties, and now that James Steven was here, she could knit the Canon sweater she had found a pattern for.
"Where would you like Marissa? I should be leaving too so you can nap," Narcissa stood up and Ginny gestured into the bedroom where the bassinette was. They walked in there together and the baby snuggled into the bassinette, fingers making it to her mouth as she sucked sleepily on them.
"I have never seen a baby look so much like both parents," Narcissa remarked softly, her hands resting on the side of the bassinette.
"I know…even I see it. Draco's eyes and nose, my mouth and chin, a combination of our hair," Ginny ran a finger down Marissa's strawberry blond hair and she secretly hoped it would stay that color.
"Thank you Ginny," Narcissa turned towards her.
"For what?"
"For just…loving my son and helping him become the man he is today. I don't think anyone else could have done that, surely not Pansy Parkinson."
"Oh…well," Ginny blushed and looked down at Marissa sleeping on her side. "It kinda just happened…and I think he wanted to…change but wasn't sure how."
"Well, if it wasn't for you, he wouldn't be as happy as he is now, or loving being a father," Narcissa said softly and Ginny heard her voice catch for a second. She didn't know what to do so she stayed staring at Marissa.
"He also wouldn't be so tired," Ginny said a moment later lightening up the mood.
"True…but this is a good tired," Narcissa laid a hand on Ginny's, squeezed then pulled away. "I must go. Owl if you need anything and stop by anytime too, alright?"
Ginny nodded and looked over at Narcissa and smiled.
"Thanks for helping with the wedding."
Narcissa waved a hand in her direction as they walked out of the bedroom.
"My pleasure, truly. And give my regards to Fred and Maggie on their engagement, will you?"
Ginny nodded; Fred had asked Maggie on Valentine's Day and she had accepted. Now Ron joked the pressure was on George who seemed perfectly happy cruising along with Lavender and watching his twin fret about setting a wedding date for later in the year.
"See you later," Ginny waved as Narcissa disapparated.
Yawning widely, Ginny made her way back to the bedroom and flung herself down on the bed. She was told to nap when the baby did and she wasn't going to waste the next hour that Marissa was sure to sleep. So crawling under the silk sheets, she curled up on Draco's pillow and closed her eyes…a little smile playing at her lips as she lapsed into the world of sleep thinking about her wedding and being Mrs. Draco Malfoy.