Title: Pillow Talk, Lullaby

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies.


Draco was still coming to terms with Hermione's news. It had been four months later, and he was still digesting the fact that he would be a father in two short months. It had happened all so suddenly, the breaking of the news. Draco had surprised Hermione with an anniversary gift, a brand new home built just for them, a quaint little manor with plenty of room to grow. Draco had just finished showing Hermione the house and completed the tour of the upstairs living room and bedrooms. He jokingly mentioned that one day, they would have children that would occupy all of the rooms of the house and they would never have peace and quiet.

"Could you imagine it?" Draco chuckled.

"Oh, I definitely can imagine it," Hermione smiled knowingly. "My guess is we'll only have peace and quiet for seven more months."

"Why seven?"

"Because I'm two months pregnant," Hermione smiled as she brought his hands up to her stomach.

"You're…you mean….wow…" Draco sputtered as he touched Hermione's warm stomach.

"Happy anniversary, Draco," Hermione said wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Happy anniversary, sweetheart," Draco replied before kissing his wife in the empty home.

Flash forward four months later, they were finally settled in their new home with the furniture moved in and the boxes unpacked. Draco was lying on his back in bed with his eyes wide open. Hermione was sleeping from what Draco could tell. She was on her left side facing Draco, her breathing steady, and her lips parted. He looked over her form and noticed how she had kicked off the covers and her sleeping attire was of thin, cool material. His eyes wandered to Hermione's expanding belly and he felt his breath catch in his throat.

His baby girl was in there, sleeping as well. He felt that now was a good a time to voice his concerns. He was no stranger to making deep confessions to unconscious women. Draco scooted lower on the bed so that his head was aligned with Hermione's belly and turned his head towards the bump.

"Hello, baby girl. It's me. Your father. I really hope you don't call me 'Father', like I call mine. That's just setting you and I up for failure. You can call me Dad, or Papa, or Daddy. I don't like being formal, despite what others think. Speaking of which, when you grow up, people are going to say things about your dad and some of it's true, and some of it's not. I want you to know, that I love you and your mother. I'm not ashamed of my past. But it is my past. And your mother helped me change into what I am today.

I guess I wanted to talk to you about how nervous I am about being a father. Your mother would try and tell me different, saying that I am nothing like my own father and how I will be the best father you could ever have. Despite what your mother might say to soothe my nerves, I'm still skeptical. I don't know how to be a good dad. I don't know what it means to be a good father. My own father…I mean…he was too preoccupied with the dark arts and Voldemort to be there for me. I remember being raised by the house elves most of my life."

Draco laughed. "I guess you don't have anything to worry about there. Your mother won't allow house elves in the house." Draco paused as he turned his head up to look at Hermione. She was still in her deep slumber, breathing steadily.

"My secret hope is that your turn out more like your mother than you do me. Your mother is a very special person and she is important to a lot of people. She's smart, kind, considerate, beautiful, and the most amazing person I'll ever know. I have no idea why your mother chose someone like me. She had this perfect guy that was willing to marry her and give her everything, and he was good for her. And for some reason, she chose me."

"That's not true," Hermione sleepily replied shifting her weight around. She brought her right hand over to caress Draco's face and hair, which was still situated in front of her bump.

"What's not true?" Draco asked as he moved back up to the head of the bed and plopped his head next to hers.

"You were willing to marry me and give me everything. And you are good for me," she smiled as she opened her eyes to look into Draco's. Draco answered with a smile.

"I was just too stubborn to admit it at the time," Draco said.

"You did admit it eventually. It just took us a while to figure it out," Hermione replied. "What were you doing?"

"Talking to the baby," he replied simply.

Hermione chuckled as she moved a hand over her stomach and rubbed soothingly.

"I didn't wake you up, did I?" Draco asked worriedly. At the news of Hermione's pregnancy, he became very zealous about Hermione's needs and wants. Chocolate frogs, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, and rocky road ice cream runs were not out of the question.

"No, your daughter woke me up," Hermione smiled. "She must have not agreed with you statement either."

Draco laughed softly as he traced his finger along Hermione's belly, as if he was scared his mere touch would hurt the baby. Hermione strongly grabbed Draco's lingering hand with her right and asked, "Are you okay? You have this look on your face."

"I was just confessing to our daughter how I don't know how to be a good father. I'm scared I'm going to mess this up," Draco admitted. "What if I'm the worst father in the world? I didn't exactly have the greatest role model, did I?"

"Oh, poppycock," Hermione smiled. "You're going to be an excellent father. It's just a matter of learning as you go and willing to make mistakes in order to learn from them. You'll make mistakes. I'll make mistakes. No one is perfect."

"You are," Draco scoffed.

"I am certainly not perfect. I just…like being thorough," Hermione chuckled. "But it's okay, if we're not perfect parents. We'll learn together. Do you plan to be a part of our daughter's life?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to make sure she's safe?"

"Absolutely."

"Will you attend every ballet class, piano recital, art show, and quidditch game?"

"My daughter will not play quidditch! Too many boys and she could get hurt!"

"Oh, I think she will. Inheriting your athletic skills and my determination to be the best at everything, she'll play," Hermione smirked. "So will you?"

"Of course."

"And will you teach her how to be the best possible person she can be and guide her throughout her life?"

"Yes."

"And will you love her unconditionally?"

"Unequivocally yes."

"Then you have nothing to worry about," Hermione smiled as she closed her eyes.

"Why do you know exactly what to say to calm my nerves?" Draco asked fascinated.

Hermione giggled. "I have had a lot of practice over the past few years. You're a lot more receptive in bed compared to at the office."

"Yeah, I don't know why that is," Draco said wiggling his eyebrows knowingly as he freed his hand from Hermione and shifted his body closer to Hermione's and grabbed her waist.

"You're incorrigible!" Hermione laughed.

"Mhmm…" Draco mumbled as he nuzzled the crook of her neck.


Please leave a review! It's encouraging!

K. Ly