Title: Afterwards - Chapter 3
Author: Jhaylin (malfoyconsort)
Rating: PG to PG-13
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Words: 1585
Warnings: Slash (duh!), past mpreg implied, mpreg.
Author's note: This is my first Harry Potter fic ever, so cut me some slack.J
Summary: Harry and Draco thought that after settling down and having a few kids, life would be perfect, but life is far from it. The honeymoon period is most definitely over. Can Harry and Draco salvage their jaded relationship, or have they drifted so far apart that it's too late.
/\/\/\/\/\
Harry sat at his desk in the Auror's Department and covered his face with his hands. Everything was going downhill and he had no idea how to fix it.
Harry had not talked to Draco, as Hermione had suggested, but he had done everything possible to keep Draco happy. He helped with the chores, he helped cook their meals, he even came home early all this week to take the kids off Draco's hands, and yet their relationship seemed to be worse off than before.
Draco had barely spoken a word to Harry all week. He had begun locking himself in their bedroom or bathroom for long periods of time doing god knows what, and he had even made Harry sleep in one of the guest bedrooms all week. He had dark circles under his eyes and his skin was paler than usual.
Harry really wanted to ask Draco what was wrong, but not only did he not have any opportunity to do so, but it looked as though Draco might have some kind of breakdown if he did. Just a few days ago, he had come home early and discovered Draco sobbing in the bathroom. This had really disturbed him. He hadn't seen Draco cry any other times besides during his pregnancies, when he was hormonal. He had wanted to comfort him and ask what was wrong, but decided that Draco probably wanted to be left alone.
Harry rubbed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate on his work. He'd been like this all week. Ever since their relationship became worse than it had ever been this week, Harry too had dark circles under his eyes like Draco and was extremely tired on account of the fact that he couldn't seem to fall asleep in the guest room, not when he was so stressed out trying to figure out what was wrong with Draco.
/\/\/\/\/\
Draco rinsed out his mouth after having thrown up for the second time that day. He wanted to stay in there for a few more minutes to think, but Adelaide let out a wail, so Draco was forced to go and comfort her.
He entered her room and gently scooped her out of her crib. He held her close to his chest and began swaying, trying to soothe her. He sighed as this had absolutely no effect on her. He had already fed and changed her, so that wasn't the problem. Draco decided to just walk around with her in his arms until she fell asleep. He thought she might have had colic, but after talking with the medi-wizard, he found that colic only lasted until the baby was about three months, so it was unlikely, but the medi-wizard had suggested giving her back or tummy rubs just in case it was colic, so Draco gently began rubbing the expanse of Adelaide's back.
He was extremely relieved that Pansy had taken Terrence for the day. He didn't think he could handle a wailing five month old if he had to deal with Terrence at the same time. Especially not this week, when he had just discovered his new pregnancy.
Draco had had a small sliver of hope that it wasn't pregnancy, so he had gone to the medi-wizard a few days ago to get a pregnancy test, and all his hopes were dashed when the test came back positive. Draco had been in a bit of a daze ever since then. He was having a bit of trouble accepting this news. As a result, he knew he had become more irritable than usual and had not only isolated Harry, but Terrence as well.
Pansy and Blaise had taken turns baby-sitting him for Draco everyday this week. Draco knew it was a horrible thing to do as the only reason he stayed at home was because he had been raised by nannies and he hadn't wanted that for his own children, but at this point, the pregnancy was foremost on his mind.
He hadn't told Harry yet. He didn't know if he would. Draco felt horrible every time he thought of the fact that abortion potions were very cheap and could easily be obtained from an apothecary. If he told Harry, Harry would want to keep it and abortion would no longer be an option.
He didn't know what to do.
He didn't want to go through another pregnancy, but he knew Harry would want the child and he didn't know if he could bring himself to not tell Harry about it, regardless of how much they'd drifted apart recently.
Draco felt tears begin to well up in his eyes. Bloody hormones.
But they still welled and fell across his cheeks as he began to feel overwhelmed with the thought of having to make a decision to get rid of it, or tell Harry.
Adelaide kicked in his arms and Draco shifted her and continued swaying. She continued to squirm and wriggle, as though she could feel Draco's misery and didn't like it.
/\/\/\/\/\
Harry steeled himself before entering the house. He had decided at work that this had gone on long enough. Whatever was wrong with Draco was affecting Harry horribly and he was going to get to the bottom of it tonight and fix it.
He put away his coat and briefcase and headed upstairs to the nursery, where he could hear Adelaide coughing. He cautiously entered the room to find Draco giving Adelaide a bottle of milk. He stood off to the side and waited for Draco to finish.
Adelaide drank the last drop of milk and Harry stood patiently as Draco put her over his shoulder and burped her. Draco laid her gently in her crib, set up monitoring charms, then turned to face Harry and waited expectantly.
Harry took a deep breath to calm himself. He was very nervous. He knew that this could potentially explode into a huge argument.
"Draco, I need to talk to you," he said. There, that was easy enough.
Draco narrowed his eyes.
"About what?"
"Something. Can we just talk about this outside of the nursery. I don't want to disturb Adelaide." Or traumatize her with having to hear her parents yelling.
He thought Draco might say no for a moment, but then he nodded stiffly and left the nursery. He headed into their room and Harry followed, shutting the door behind him.
Draco watched him expectantly, so Harry began.
"Draco…" Harry began, and then suddenly froze up. He had no idea how to start this. He took another deep breath and decided he should just get to the point.
"Something's wrong with you," he blurted, then immediately cursed himself mentally. Bloody hell. He hadn't meant for it to come out like that.
Draco sent a withering glare his way.
"What did you just say?" Draco whispered, voice deadly quiet.
"N-no! I didn't mean it like that!" Harry stuttered. "I just meant that something's been bothering you this week."
"And?" asked Draco, arching an eyebrow.
Well obviously he wasn't about to make this easy on Harry.
"And I want to know what it is."
Draco regarded him silently for a moment.
"It's nothing," he finally said, after a lengthy pause.
"I think it is something."
"And I just told you it's nothing, so fuck off!" Draco snapped as he went for the door.
Harry roughly grabbed his wrist before he could get to the doorknob and jerked him back. Draco stumbled slightly, then jerked his hand back once he gained his balance, glaring at Harry.
"What part of "it's nothing," do you not understand?" he growled as he tried to walk around Harry and reach the door.
Harry wasn't having any of that. He continued to block the door and sent his own glare towards Draco.
"You know what Draco? I've had it. I've had it up to here with you. Goddammit! I know something's wrong and you're going to bloody well tell me what it is right now!" Harry yelled, frustration lacing his voice.
"Fuck you!" Draco yelled as he tried to push Harry out of his way.
Of course, being much larger and stronger than Draco, Harry didn't move an inch and Draco pushed until he let out a cry of frustration and sat on the bed, his head in his hands.
Harry continued to stand in front of the door, watching Draco, until he realized that his shoulders were shaking. He was shocked to realize that Draco was sobbing.
Harry stepped away from the door and approached Draco. He gingerly sat on the bed beside him and reached a tentative hand out towards Draco. He rested it on his shoulder, and when Draco didn't pull away, he lowered it and wrapped his arm around Draco's waist. He let himself feel a brief flash of happiness at being able to hold Draco after so long, but then it was gone as he realized that Draco was still sobbing. He gently pulled him towards him and asked him what was wrong.
Draco didn't reply and continued to sob for a few more minutes. Harry held him close for the entire while, willing him to stop.
Finally Draco's sobs began to retreat. Harry waited expectantly. He continued to hold Draco and told him that it was alright. Draco could tell him what was wrong.
Draco let out a few rasping coughs as he tried to speak. Harry leaned forward, and then froze as Draco choked out two words.
"I'm pregnant."
