(Val POV)

I didn't exactly get much sleep once I went back to bed. Draco did, thank Merlin, his breathing evening out the second his head hit the pillow. Or my chest, if I'm being literal.

How the hell was I supposed to carry on this whole thing? What if he started remembering and saw what a liar I was and tried to take off? There's no way in Hell he'd be able to make it on his own. With the Ministry, Montague, and Darkboe on his ass, especially as pissed as Montague had to be right now…

I wouldn't allow him to be put in that situation.

Finally dozing off after the sun had already begun to rise, I was awoken, what seemed, thirty minutes later by a soft sing-song tone whispering, "Va-aaal."

I just grunted, refusing to open my eyes. It was too early to deal with anything.

"Va-allll." The word went up in pitch.

I just ignored it.

"VAL!"

I jumped, nearly falling off the side of the bed, before looking over to see Draco lying on his stomach, propped up on his elbows, snickering at me.

"Can I help you?"

"You have some explaining to do."

Oh, Merlin. He remembered. He knew.

"Uh, about what?"

"Well one, where the hell are we?"

"A town about 50 miles from Paris."

"Oh." There was a small smile on his face. "Okay. Well, why do I have bruises on my back and hips? Why is my hair so damn long? Why do we not have any furniture other than the bed, the couch, and the dining room table? Why do we not have any food? And for fuck's sake, especially if we live so close to Paris, why do I not have any clothes?"

I sighed. I was just creating lie after lie after lie. I really was just trying to protect him, but… should I just tell him the truth?

Looking at the playful smile on his lips, the sparkle in his eye that I hadn't seen there since before we had ever had sex, I couldn't. I couldn't tell him everything that had happened and take that little sparkle away.

So I did exactly what I had been doing my entire life – I lied.

"The bruises on your back must have happened when we got caught up in the attack. The bruises on your hips… those might be my fault." Draco ducked his head and blushed. "You've been growing it out for a while now. And I think it looks just fine the way it is. We don't have any furniture or food or clothes because we were out doing our shopping when the attacks started. We just moved in here."

"But why don't I have any clothes at all?"

"Because you threw out your entire wardrobe and demanded a new one."

Draco hesitated a moment. "That sounds like something I would do."

Thinking about it now though, we really did need those things – food and clothes.

"Tell you what, babe. You rest. After that bonk on the head yesterday I don't want you out doing anything that could put you in harm's way." Not a lie.

"Aw. You're so sweet." Draco leaned over and pressed his lips against mine.

His kisses were familiar – soft, sweet, not at all demanding. But of course, I was kissing so many other people at the same time I was kissing him that I might have had someone else in mind.

"But," he said, pulling away from me, "I feel totally fine. Just hungry."

"No. I'll go out and get stuff, but you need to stay here. Just rest okay, love?"

His eyes softened at the word "love."

"You never called me that before."

Had I not? I had always called him beautiful and an angel. Had I really never called him love? That was usually my go to word when I was trying to bed someone.

Merlin. I really was a piece of shit.

"Well, I have plenty in the last few years." I kissed his forehead. "Lay down, alright. Get some rest. I want you to remember everything." Lie. "Hopefully if you rest and don't stress yourself, it'll all come back to you." Don't. Not right now. Wait until all this is over. You can hate me, but at least you'll be safe.

"Okay." Draco smiled as I rose out of the bed. "Be safe. I'll miss you."

"I'll be home in a couple hours. Promise."

"Wait!" I turned, looking at the blonde, now sitting up in the queen sized bed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just, uh-," Draco blushed, ducking his head, his hair falling into his face. "Just, if we're married, shouldn't you at least kiss me before you go?"

I smiled at him, at the innocence of his question.

I walked forward, gently tilted his chin up, and enveloped his full bottom lip with mine.

And felt disgusting.

I was taking advantage of him. I could feel him melting into the kiss, thinking he was kissing his husband, the man he was madly in love with, rather than kissing the man that had broken his heart, threw him to the side, threatened to kill his fiancé and unborn children, stabbed him, and was now keeping him from his husband and children.

But I owed this to him. To at least let him be happy for a little while. And, if him smiling into the kiss, his eyes shut, his fingers grasping onto the material of my shirt and pulling me closer to him was any clue, kissing me was making him pretty happy.

This was all for him, after all.

(Hermione POV)

The Burrow had become a much livelier place since Draco had gone missing. It was a happier, warmer environment. There was so much land for the kids to go out and play Quidditch on or to just run about, inventing their own little games. It was nice to see Lance, Lila, and Clem so happy.

And little Toby. Merlin. Inching closer and closer to nine months old, Neville and Draco's youngest had already taken his first steps, only taking a couple before falling back on his little tush. He had grinned broadly, showing his six little teeth that had grown in, clapping chubby hands along with everyone else.

Neville, the proud, glowing father, scooped him up, grinning broadly at his baby boy.

But then something had faltered. He had see the toddler's grey-blue eyes. He remembered that Draco wasn't there to witness Toby's first steps, to see his teeth growing.

Neville still smiling and talked along with everyone else, but it wasn't as happy, as lively. And that had just become everyone basically – Blaise would make a joke about when we were in school and grow solemn; Daphne would say something clearly meant for a more fashionable ear and, when no one around would understand what exactly she was talking about, she would become very quiet, her blue eyes sad; Crabbe and Goyle were pitiful, still, after all these years, even with their wives and beautiful children by their sides, seeming out of place without the small blonde directing jokes and taunts their way, watching them laugh as he would punch them as hard as he could, barely fazing them, taking his blows and poking and prodding and pinching and biting with just a smile before finally grabbing him and digging their knuckles into his scalp, causing him to scream about them messing up his hair. Even Harry and Ron would get a certain look in his eyes when reminded of the blonde, sort of a hardened, determined look. Aubrey missed her godfather terribly and tried her hardest to never bring him up. I, myself, had realized just how much of a part of my life he was now that he was gone – the book talks, the fashion advice, the gentle teasing.

The kids would talk about him, then grow quiet – but not Lance. No, not since Neville had told him the truth. He talked about his daddy all the time with a smile in place. He was careful not to around his sisters as they still didn't know the truth, but he was very confident his dad would be home soon.

But it was nice to have everyone together, all with their kids, to see the kids smiling and laughing together.

"Hermione?"

I looked up from my book in time to see Neville, looking casual in his dark jeans and thermal shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, walk into the Burrow's living room. Everyone else was all bundled up in their winter jackets outside other than myself and Molly who was busying herself with making dinner for the whole lot of us.

"Hi, Neville. Everything okay?"

"Do you mind if I sit?"

"Not at all." I smiled, patting the couch next to me.

He sat and seemed a little nervous. "I need your help with something."

Sighing, I said, "Neville, I've tried everything I can, but the signatures just can't be pinpointed until-,"

"No, no, no. Not that." He gave me a small, sad smile.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just assumed." Laying a hand on his arm, I asked, "What do you need my help with?"

"Clementine's birthday is in two weeks and… usually Draco plans them. You know that. And he always does them so great with all these gorgeous decorations and… I don't think I can do all that. Not on my own. I was hoping that… maybe you, Pansy, and Daphne could help me out?"

I smiled. "Of course I can, Neville. You know I'm always happy to help out."

"I know." His smile wasn't fooling me. "I just… I want her party to be really great. I don't want the kids to think about him, just for a couple hours. I just want them to be able to be really happy."

"Well, let me talk to the girls. We can have it at your place of course. I'll ask Claire and Rebecca to help out as well. I bet Claire could make us a beautiful cake. And we'll have to-," I was cut off as Neville pulled me close in a hug.

"Thanks, 'Mione. I can always count on you."

"Of course you can, Neville. That's what friends are for."

"Just tell me how much money you need and I'll supply it."

"We'll make sure she loves it."

(Draco POV)

My head hurt.

I had laid in bed for half an hour, feeling like I still needed some sleep, but was unable to sleep with out Val's arm around my waist.

I smiled, hugging the pillow to me, the one that he had been sleeping on.

Val.

I sighed, rolling over on top of it. Something in the last eight years had changed. Usually the thought of Val, his gorgeous green eyes, would give me butterflies in my stomach, would make my heart race. To think of him holding me, of him kissing me…

But, now? All the thrill was gone. It still seemed nice but not… special.

Maybe, even though I couldn't remember it, married life had sucked all the romance out of me.

My chest ached. Like something was wrong, something was missing.

It was probably just Val. I missed him.

I kept trying to remember something, anything, to pass the time. And I had come up with a whole list of things I wanted to remember, but couldn't.

Where were my friends? Did they know that I had been hurt? Was there a way that I could contact them?

Where were my mom and daddy? Why didn't we just stay with them until we actually got furniture? I'm sure by now they knew about Val. Of course they would've been at my wedding. My mom would have cried daintily into her handkerchief as my daddy escorted me down the aisle towards my gorgeous groom…

Oh, it had to have been a beautiful wedding. In the apple orchard at Malfoy Manor like I'd always dreamed.

Maybe when Val got back we could go visit them.

I heard the front door open and I quickly climbed out of bed, wrapping the comforter around me to block out the cold.

What month was it? It had to be closing in on Christmas with this chill in the air.

"Val?" I walked into the kitchen, watching as Val placed some bag on the dark wood table. I could see breads and cheeses and meats and my mouth began to water. I hadn't realized how hungry I was.

Val pulled the hood of his cloak off his head and smiled at me. "I grabbed us both a couple pairs of pants, some shirts, a pair of shoes for each of us, and some pajamas. I hope I got you the right size."

I walked out the other end of the table as Val pulled out a hunk of cheese, unwrapped it, and pulled brand new looking pocket knife out of his cloak to cut off a chunk, quickly popping it into his mouth. He let out a moan, chewing slowly.

Chuckling, I opened the clothing bags.

And froze.

"What are these?"

"They're… jeans?" Val seemed confused, spitting tiny chunks across the table as he spoke.

"Please don't talk with your mouth full, dear. It's very unbecoming." I took the pants out of the bag and inspected them. "This is why you should have let me come with you. These are horrible. I can't wear Muggle trousers."

"You wear them all the time."

"Why? Are we poor?" I chuckled at the thought.

"Well, kind of, yeah."

"Very funny."

"I'm not kidding, Draco."

Looking up at his face, I realized that he, indeed, was not kidding.

"I… but we… My parents. They wouldn't let us live like… this." I waved a hand at the bags with Muggle jeans, t-shirts, trainers, and, ugh… polyester pajamas.

"I forgot how much of a brat you used to be."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, sweetheart. I… your mom and dad, they…" He hesitated, like he was struggling with telling me. "They're… they cut you off, Dray."

I felt my heart drop.

"I… No. They wouldn't have don't that. They wouldn't have."

I didn't really care about the money. I mean, I did, but not as much as I cared about the fact that I had done something bad enough to make my parents cut me off.

"What did… what did I do?"

"You married me. They hate me, Draco."

"No. My parents would've been happy as long as I was happy. As long as you were treating me right. They wouldn't have cut us off. They wouldn't let us live like this. I mean… we have no furniture, no clothes, I feel like I haven't eaten in days. This apartment's a shithole."

"Well, they did Draco. They haven't spoken to you in six years."

Six years.

My mom. My dad.

Six years.

I couldn't breathe.

I tried swallowing down the lump in my throat, but it wasn't going anywhere. The backs of my eyes were burning.

"Wh-what about my friends? Blaise? Daphne? Vince? Greg? Can… can I talk to them?"

"Dray… baby, I'm sorry I have to make you go through all of this all over again. You guys had it out years ago. You haven't spoken since."

The sob that left my throat was completely involuntary, causing me to quickly slap hand over my mouth. I stood, tossing the jeans back on the table, wanting to forget they had ever existed, before trying to rush past Val back to the bedroom, but he caught me quickly, wrapping his arms around me.

"Draco. Please, just eat something, okay? You're skin and bones. You need food."

"I'm not hungry." It was taking everything I had to keep the tears in my eyes. For some reason I didn't want to cry in front of him.

"You need food. Please sit down and eat."

"No."

"Draco-,"

"I said no."

"Fine." He let me go, looking like he was just giving up. "Don't eat. Waste away. You're already half way there."

I pulled away from him and hurried back into our bedroom.

What was my future now? What had I given up to be with him? Was it worth is?

Wiping away the tears from my cheeks, I remembered Blaise and Daphne and Pansy and Theo and Vince and Greg and the time that we spent all together (most of the time, actually). I could still feel Blaise hugging me, could hear Daphne laughing. How the hell could I remember all this if I hadn't spoken to them in years?

I laid back down in our bed, pulling the covers to my chin, finally just allowing the tears to run free.

It wasn't a moment later that I heard quiet footsteps enter into the room.

"Draco, I'm sorry, love. I shouldn't have been so short with you. I'm just… I'm just as irritated as you are. I want you to remember so much that it's killing me." Why did he always hesitate before saying stuff like that? "Maybe… maybe now that you can't remember anything, maybe we can try to get in touch with your friends. Maybe they can help."

I wanted to see them so much.

"I have no clue how to get in touch with them, but I'll try.

"Is it okay if I crawl in?"

I just nodded, allowing him to crawl in beside me, wrapping his arms around me.

I felt warmer, a little cozier.

But the ache in my chest never faltered.

Something was missing. Something big. Something that I needed here with me to feel whole.

But I had no idea what it was.

(Val POV)

I was happy Draco was getting as much sleep as he was. He needed it.

I had panicked when he started asking about his parents.

What would hurt worse? "You don't speak anymore" or "they're dead?" I thought "You don't speak anymore" would work a little better but, now that I had seen his reaction, I couldn't be too sure.

And then his friends. Merlin. He couldn't see them. They would ship him off to Azkaban.

I pulled him closer to me, running my fingers through his slightly long locks.

He really was beautiful.

I had to protect him.

It was just me and him against the world now.

(Page Break)

So, I know there's been a lot of Val and Draco lately, but they're story needs more development right now. The next chapter (which I hope to have up later this week since I'm away from school on Thanksgiving break) will focus a lot more on Neville and company.

Thank you to everyone for the kind words – both the reviews and the private messages. You guys are too sweet.

I hope you're enjoying the story so far! I've got my rough plan in my head and I think I really like this one this time. It's a little happier than my previous ideas, I have to admit.

Anyways, hope you guys liked this chapter!

Reviews are Love!