BETWEEN YOU AND ME

The final war is now behind them, which leaves only the future before them. The problem is, now the future is becoming rapidly unstable. With the past creeping in and shocking discoveries leaving everyone on edge, friendships, relationships and faith will be tested and not without scrutiny or angst.

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DISCLAIMER: All characters, settings, and magical occurrences were all conceived and created in the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Nothing except the glorious plot is property of mine. No profits are being made from my writing.

ANOTHER WARNING: This story will contain some SLASH, as it will be the main pairing. If this bothers, offends, or just grosses you out, you can save yourself a lot of pain and heartburn and just click the back button. Otherwise, stick around. I can only hope not to disappoint. This is in the Between You And Me-verse. So brief knowledge of that might help. Other than that, I suppose it could stand alone. Lots of parts. Lots of moods. Moving right along. :)

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Uncomfortable

Draco could still remember that first moment when Ron had entered the Burrow, small bundle cradled in his arms, a bag thrown over his shoulder, looking every bit disheveled before the eyes of one very shocked Harry Potter. He couldn't help but feel a little glee as he was a little sadistic and he knew that given the history and the fact that Harry had yet to secure himself a steady anything since he had destroyed his minute relationship with Seamus Finnegan at Hermione's wedding, it would be anything but easy. And while he knew perhaps the dark haired man had gotten over their time together, there was always that slight tinge of jealousy you felt in your gut when that other person was happy. Though Draco might not admit it, the gleam in his eye would. He was thoroughly smitten and perhaps had finally reached that place of contentment.

"Surprise?" Ron offered to his friend before quickly being mauled by the other siblings and their wives who were instantly cooing over the child. Draco settled back into the armchair he occupied watching the others, but not really paying them too much mind. Not as much at least as his redhead and Harry.

"You've gotten yourself a baby?" Harry asked bewildered a little, standing to join the circus fawning over the little girl, who to her credit, was soaking it up. It almost made Ron wonder if she were Draco's child biologically.

"Well, she was dropped off at the hospital. Someone had placed a nasty curse on her that Hermione and I worked on curing and when all was said and done, we were just too attached to her to let her go off to some orphanage," Ron began explaining as the baby was placed into Ginny's prying hands.

Ginny could not help but feel a little resentment as her youngest brother had been the next to beat her to happily ever after. Bill and Fleur had multiplied several times over and were suspected to be in the way of another. Charlie had remained a bit of a bachelor but he had a bit of a steady girlfriend as of recent news and their mum couldn't stop gushing over when there would be wedding bells. The scariest of all had been that one of the twins, George to be exact, had procreated as well. After Ron had come out with Draco, she had assumed she would at least have that. Ron wouldn't beat her to the punch. And while she couldn't help but be happy for her brother, for he had weathered so much, she figured it was only natural to want the same for herself. She just could not deny her love of the little girl whom she was greatly looking forward to turning into a terror for her fathers.

"She really is just darling. I doubt she could've found a better home," Hermione chimed in, taking the small infants hand in her own. Her belly still stuck out much too much for her own comfort and it wasn't long before she had resigned herself to the sofa.

"That's really great, Ron. Leave the country for a couple of months and everything goes completely wocky. People are giving you two a kid," Harry attempted joking and even offered a grin up. Ron joined in with a shrug, hugging his friend whom had been vacant through most of the recent tribulations.

Draco, however, felt slightly not as convinced as he crossed one leg over the other, thought consuming him. He watched Isabella be transferred into her dotting grandmother's arms and felt a hint of a smile set on his lips. Though he had been amongst these people a good number of years with the Order, then with Harry, and now with Ron, he couldn't help but still feel a little out of place at times. As he gave a glance to his left, he knew he wasn't the only one.

"Are you not having the time of your life this evening?" He questioned his once professor who was off much the same way he himself was.

"Oh it is the highlight of my week, I must say," Snape replied dryly, letting his blank stare rest upon Draco.

"And just think, things are only going to get more interesting in the next few weeks. Hermione looks as though she's going to burst at any moment."

"Yes well it would be so much more convenient for both of us." Draco could tell the other man was tired and he could only assume Hermione was slowly running him ragged. It was a thought that made him laugh a bit to himself. Almost as much as the thought of Snape as a father to begin with. Part of him wondered if the older man was as skeptical as he had been. If their pasts had been jaded what could their futures be otherwise.

"Does it worry you?"

"Often. To be fair, I've never been particularly paternal with anyone. It's going to be very different, indeed."

"Well if it helps, you helped me along more than my own father did," Draco felt a bit strange to be saying such a thing to Snape. He was after all married to one of their colleagues and though he was not a good man by most standards, Draco didn't often acknowledge that his father had been such a horrible father. It certainly could've been worse.

"Yes well someone had to be there picking you back up when you'd gotten yourself into an entirely impossible situation."

Draco gave a slight smile at his former head of house, knowing that was as good an acceptance as he was going to get. But Draco had to be fair for Snape was the one who had helped him when he had found himself at rock bottom and with grandeur delusions that could've gotten him killed. He owed the other man a lot that he would probably never say. He knew it was likely that their one exchange would be the only discussion of the matter and that did not disrupt either of them particularly.

It wasn't long afterwards that the whole Weasley clan plus spouses and Hermione, Snape, and Harry were seated at the table and indulging themselves in dinner and conversation. The excitement it seemed had worn the baby down and while the other children present found themselves in seats or laps at the table, Isabella had found sleep. The meal went very well for the group considering. Draco found himself at one end in conversation with Snape and Ginny and though not bad company, he couldn't help but let his eyes wander to his redhead emerged in conversation with Fred and Harry. After a long second, they made eye contact long enough for Ron to offer him the dopiest grin and Draco shifted his eyes away. Mostly out of fear that he himself would break into such a grin.

After dinner, the girls lingered in the kitchen to help Molly and though he almost felt bad for Snape in the given situation, he excused himself and took a moment to sneak out back. With Isabella down and in the midst of so many welcoming babysitters, it gave him a moment to himself. He stood a few paces from the Burrow, his eyes, resting above the tree line and against the dark sky dotted with stars. Finding himself consumed in the silence left him not noticing the sound of the back door opening and then banging shut as someone had decided upon joining him.

"So you have a baby, huh?" Harry's voice startled Draco instantly and he whipped around quickly. Catching himself, he settled into a less defensive mode.

"Yeah. It appears I may just have a heart."

"We've all known that for a while," Harry assured him taking a few paces to join him, letting his eyes settle where Draco's had previously been. "I used to love coming out here when I'd stay over the holidays. After everyone had settled in for the evening and you could steal just that one minute away. It was nice."

"Well yes, it can be a lot of handle all of the time in there. And I used to think that I would hate it."

"But you don't?"

"I'm not about to pretend I don't get annoyed at times. But Ron has so many people that care about him for non-selfish reasons and I can't help but admit that I'm a little jealous," Draco admitted, letting his eyes leave Harry suspiciously.

"I know what you mean."

"Oh please, Potter. These people have accepted you as their own. Molly considers you as close as a son."

"But it just isn't the same. Besides, it isn't as though they are all in there cursing you under their breath. They've come to terms with you as much as you have them. They don't mind having you around," Harry countered and Draco shrugged and couldn't think of any other response.

"It just isn't the same." They shared a look for a moment which Draco knew in the back of the head was the first time they had really since he'd packed everything from their flat and moved out.

"Ron makes you really happy doesn't he?" Harry asked, not breaking their eye contact.

"He does. He doesn't really give you any other choice though. Its just how he is."

"Stupid Gryffindor stuff, isn't it?"

"No, I just think its stupid Ron stuff," As the words left his mouth, the backdoor opened up again, this time depositing the redhead in question. A brow was cocked as he came down the stairs and approached the two of them.

"I've been looking for you. You just disappeared after dinner," Ron began, keeping his voice as even as possible, not being able to help the almost glare he was giving Harry.

"I just needed a moment."

"I'm going to go back inside," Harry began, taking a couple of steps away from the pair. Draco watched him start to go, wondering if Ron would protest. He was almost surprised when he didn't. And when the redhead said nothing, Harry finally turned and walked the rest of the way inside, Ron's eyes not returning to Draco until the other was out of sight.

"Ron, you are so hopeless sometimes," Draco broke the moment, rolling his eyes.

"What?"

"You know what. The Great Weasley Jealousy rears its evil head once again," He chided, turning back towards the trees and sky which he seemed to continue getting distracted from.

"I can't exactly help it. Perhaps if you would stop putting me in situations where it happens then we wouldn't have this issue," Ron countered on him, the mood having melted away, stepping up behind him, arms settled around the blonde.

"I didn't invite him out here. He just came. Besides, we just talked about you."

"Really?"

"Yes really. He commented that it seemed that you made me very happy," Draco hinted, knowing full well he was setting the redhead up.

"And what did you say?" Ron questioned, bringing his head down against Draco's shoulder, pressing his lips against his neck.

"Not particularly," Draco teased, shifting himself around in his arms and nuzzling his face against Ron's neck. It seemed they had so few moments together it was all but driving him mad and though he knew full well that Ron would have other things on his mind at that moment, he wanted to enjoy it as best he could.

"Is that so? I could go back inside and get Harry if you'd rather," He started, pulling back a little.

"You're such a prat, do you know that? I wonder how many times I'll have to choose you over him before you stop using that against me?" Draco question lifting his head, more in seriousness than before.

"One more time never hurts."

Draco sighed, shaking his head slightly before pressing his lips against Ron's. The redhead pulled him close against him again, their bodies melding as their mouths moved together. Draco could not help but sink into that moment, giving himself over a bit to the stolen moment. Hands wound themselves around red locks, bodies taking notice of how much they might have truly missed such contact.

It seemed to always be the same. By the time they had finished with working, cooking, taking care of Isabella and getting things straightened up after taking care of Isabella, either or both of them were too exhausted to do anything but collapse into bed. Ron especially had been having a harder time at work, getting stuck with extended shifts as was almost customary of someone with little seniority. It seemed it was taking its toll on the couple who already had their plates so full.

Finally, they parted on account of air and as his breath fought for regulation, Draco let his head fall against Ron's shoulder. Letting his face fall against soft blonde hair, Ron let out a sigh of contentment.

"I've missed you," Ron's murmur was muffled but not mistaken. For a moment Draco thought he would comment that they were together every day and you couldn't miss someone you saw everyday but even he wasn't that much of a prat. You could sit in the same room as someone and not really be there with them. And it seemed almost lately that they had been together but not really. The only time they had was at night, as they fought to stay awake to which they would usually give in.

"I know. Me too."

A/N: More in the Between-verse, because I feel like I'm stuck there. I don't know what will become of this but let's see, shall we:) I love feedback, it keeps me moving on. You should be part of that.