Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his universe does not belong to me. The idea for this story comes from grugster.

Author's Note: This story is a SEQUEL to Fear to Love and a SIDE STORY to Harry and his new family by grugster. I suggest you read those first (or at least chapters 60-61) in order to understand what is happening.

Chapter One - Preparing

Narcissa couldn't believe how quickly things were moving. Her wedding was planned for Christmas Eve. A very small ceremony with only a few close friends invited. After all, there was going to be problems and she wanted to avoid as many of them as possible.

Just yesterday, the first day of Holidays, there had been several owls and one howler telling her how angry the pureblood community and even some of the werewolves were with her coming marriage. Purebloods didn't see Remus as human and thought that a Black and a Malfoy was lowering herself to love a halfbreed. And there were a few werewolves that thought she was using Remus and not truly in love with her.

The house elves took great pleasure in using the letters for kinder in the fireplaces of the Master bedroom. Narcissa didn't exactly feel bad about it either. Somehow knowing that all the hateful words were being burned for no one to ever read and be hurt by made her feel better.

Remus would be returning from his job that night and Harry was coming over the next day to spend the night with Draco. Narcissa was hoping that some of Harry's open mindedness and friendship with Remus would rub off on her son. Draco and Remus weren't exactly in a frosty relationship any more, but they were not yet comfortable with each other.

Five full moons had past since Narcissa had become pregnant and discovered the affliction her daughter was to be plagued with and five full moons had past with Aquila staying healthy and happy through each one. At least, Narcissa hadn't noticed any problems and Poppy, the Hogwarts mediwitch, had found the same thing.

But Narcissa was ready for the wedding to happen. No one was sure exactly why her pregnancy was progressing so quickly, but as Remus had predicated the child would probably be born in March as opposed to May or April. And the conservative purebloods were disgusted that she was pregnant out of marriage and marrying a werewolf. Most of them couldn't decide which was worse.

When everything was overwhelming, as it often felt these day, Narcissa liked to take baths.

"Narcissa? Are you all right?" Remus knocked on the door that led into the Malfoy indoor hot tub. Narcissa had it put in a few months ago to help take pressure off her back and let the baby moving inside her relax. The child was one of the best things that had happened in the past ten years but being pregnant wasn't her favourite activity.

The water was so warm and her hair was floating freely around her. Narcissa almost missed the sound of her soon to be husband's words. She lifted her ears from the water and pushed long strands of blond hair from her face. "Yes Remus? I'm fine."

Now that Narcissa knew more time had passed than she originally planned to spend in the bath, she glanced to the clock and groaned. It was time to get out and get dressed. As much as she wanted to, she wasn't allowed to stay in the warm water all day.

"There you are!" Remus jumped to his feet as soon as the door opened and clouds of warm air began rolling down the hall. He pulled her into his arms. "How are you my love? It seems ages since we last met."

Narcissa giggled like a schoolgirl clutched her robe around her. "Remus, Draco's here and I'm barely dressed." She growled, trying to alert her fiancé to the urgency of the situation. "But soon." She let him give her a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried off to the Master Suite to dress.

The family assembled in the dining room for dinner. Remus and Narcissa sitting at the ends with Draco on the right. It seemed so empty and dark in the room. But there was love within and Narcissa would have sworn that she could feel the warmth and love emanating from the two most important men in her life.

The meal was over quickly and one of the house elves appeared to clear the dishes. Remus took Narcissa's hand and helped from her chair. "What shall we do tonight?" He asked her gently, caressing her hand gently with his.

Draco perked up at the mention of doing something with his mother. Sometimes he acted as if it was his job to protect her from the 'mangy werewolf'. "Just not too late. Harry's coming over tomorrow and I wanted to go flying and play outside. And swim in the hot tub."

Narcissa exchanged a quick look with Remus. "No to the hot tub. That's for me until Aquila is born, it's a special place just for me right now, you may use it soon. You may go flying if the weather isn't dangerous and maybe you could take Remus with you?"

Draco sighed. "Possibly." He headed out of the dining room and Narcissa could hear his feet on the stairs. It almost sounded like he was stomping but when the doors were closed quietly and politely, Narcissa knew that he wasn't mad.

"What would you like to do my dear?" Remus asked, his hand rubbing over her extended belly. "Listen to the wireless and have some cocoa? I think that the house elves were doing some baking earlier. The entire house smelled heavenly."

Narcissa smiled, but she shook her head. "I'd love to listen to the wireless. We haven't done that in ages. But all the baking is for Christmas. You have to wait." She smiled and still holding hands, the two proceeded to the Master bedroom and made themselves comfortable on the large bed.

The first song on the wireless was an old love ballad. Narcissa changed. "No sadness of love. Love is happy and sweet tonight," she told Remus and switched to another station. But the possible war between goblins and wizards wasn't exactly nice to listen to either.

"Nothing happy on the network?" Remus asked, settling in behind her and placing his hands on her stomach. The idea that there was a baby inside of her, his baby, and that it would soon arrive and live in the world with them amazed him. It was almost unbelievable.

Draco appeared in the doorway before Narcissa could answer. He looked nervously down at his feet. "Mum, Remus. I was wondering if I could. . ." He gestured into the room, too embarrassed of his feelings to vocalize them. He didn't want to be treated like a little kid and he tried not to act like one.

Narcissa smiled and patted the bed next to her. "Of course you can join us." She fiddled with the wireless again and settled on a station playing Clestina Warbuck's Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love, it was rather sweet and Narcissa relaxed.

"Oh!" Remus jumped for a moment, removing his hands from Narcissa's stomach. "Wow, I think." He took the woman's hand and placed it on her abdomen. "Was that the baby kicking?"

Narcissa smiled. "Our little Aquila is certainly awake. I can fell her moving around. That probably was a kick you felt."

Draco reached his hand out timidly. "May I feel?"

Narcissa took his hand and guided it to the place where the other kicks were coming from. "Feel here." She covered his small hand with her own and waited. "Do you feel that?"

Draco turned to his mother with adoring eyes and a huge smile across his face. "Hello Aquila." He murmured to her stomach. "I'm your big brother Draco. I'm going to teach you how to play Quidditch and fly. I can't wait for you to be born!"

Narcissa ruffled Draco's hair and the family enjoyed spending time together. They didn't get the chance very often and it was even more seldom that Draco wasn't in trouble for bad mouthing Remus or his mother. But this was a magical time, a special time of love and joy.

It was almost eleven o'clock before anyone noticed the pass of time. Narcissa stirred out of her half sleep, taking the two lying on her with her. "Oh goodness, look at the time." She pulled herself up and let her feet over the edge of the bed. "Draco, you'd best be getting to bed. I don't know what time Harry's coming over tomorrow."

Draco nodded, rubbing his eyes. He had fallen asleep leaning against his mother and Remus, his soon-to-be stepfather. "Good night mum." He glanced back into the room. "Night Remus."

"Good night Draco. Sweet dreams." Remus said, trying to let Draco see how much he cared about him. Once the boy had left and the door was close, he got off the bed to join Narcissa. "I'm going to bed now." He yawned and opened the wardrobe to fetch out pyjamas for the both of them.

Narcissa nodded sleepily. "I've got to check the floo downstairs. Make sure the floo bell is activated." And as if her words had triggered something, the floo bell began to chime ever so softly. "I'll get it." She whispered to Remus, heading out the down and charming the wrinkles from her robe as she went.

"Narcissa, I didn't wake you did I?" The head of her friend Ivy Dumbledore-Snape was in the fire and she was looking around the room wildly until Narcissa came in. "You look rather tired."

Narcissa knelt down before the fire. "It was nothing. I was listening to the wireless with Draco and Remus. Is something wrong? Severus told me about Harry's weather system and I was hoping that he'd be allowed to come. Draco's looking forward to the play date very much."

Ivy looked carefully at her friend, she was sure the woman looked exhausted. "Harry's allowed to come. He just got into a pit of an accident today with a potion Fred and George Weasley made."

"I've heard of them." Narcissa said, nodding. Usually it's bad. Draco's told me stories of the pranks that they've played on him over the years. "Is Harry all right?"

"He'll be fine tomorrow." Ivy assured her. "But his skin might still itch so Poppy will send some cream over in case he needs it. Just give Poppy or I a call if there is any problems."

Narcissa nodded and yawned. "If that's all I'll see you tomorrow Ivy. What time were you thinking of sending Harry over anyway? Any time after nine o'clock is good for me." Narcissa wished that Ivy had simply told her at Harry's most recent problems in the morning, but it was rather private and it was something that Draco didn't need to know about.

"I'll see you at nine then. Sleep well." Ivy pulled her head out of the floo connection and the flames returned to their normal red colour.

Narcissa activated the floo gate so that no one could enter or exit the floo during the night and headed back up to bed.

Remus had already changed and was curled under the blankets, breathing deeply and happily in his sleep. Narcissa changed into a nightgown quickly and after giving the fire one last look, she climbed happily into bed. It was warmer under the covers with her werewolf and soon-to-be husband.

"Sweet dreams Remus." She murmured as she curled around his back and relaxed. Tomorrow's going to be a big day. I just hope that nothing bad happens. I'd hate for something to come up and ruin the occasion.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep to dream of a beautiful wedding with Remus as her groom.