Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait between updates! I'll try to get better with that :) The prompt was "My baby" and as always, I appreciate your reviews!

My Baby

Narcissa lay on the bed, tears in her eyes. She was in labor, with her first child, and it hurt. "I want something for the pain," she hissed through clenched teeth.

The Healer witch smiled. "I already gave you something. Let it have time to work."

"I want something more!" she snapped, near hysterics. Lucius was Merlin-knows-where, having kissed her forehead as she experienced her first contraction, and telling her he would see her after the birth. She had been in this awful room, experiencing pain like she had never known before, for hours now. She was alone with this infuriating woman, and she was about to break down and sob in the most unladylike manner possible.

The door cracked open, and Bellatrix peeked her head around the corner. "Cissy?" she asked, confused. "What's going on?"

"I'm in labor," Narcissa said, struggling to stay calm. "Stay with me, Bella, please."

Bellatrix looked uncomfortable. "Oh," she managed. "Well. I suppose I could stay for a bit."

Narcissa winced as another contraction ripped through her.

The Healer's eyes lit up in excitement. "I think it's time. Start pushing!"

Bella's eyes widened and she looked longingly at the door. Narcissa grabbed her hand. "I don't know if I can," she choked out.

"Just try," the Healer said encouragingly.

"Come on, Cissy, you're brave, you can do this," Bellatrix murmured.

Narcissa gritted her teeth and pushed. It hurt, more than anything, and a mangled scream escaped through her lips. "I don't want to do this anymore," she said, tears pricking at her eyes. "Get it out with magic!"

The Healer chuckled irritatingly. "You know I can't do that. This is your baby, you will love him or her, just give me another big push."

Narcissa tried again, before dissolving into tears. "Bella. I'm not brave, I'm not you. I don't think I can do this."

Bellatrix looked as if this was the last place on earth she wanted to be. "You can do this. But if it helps, pretend you're me. Be brave like me."

"I don't even know if you could do this," Narcissa snapped childishly, forgetting for a second that Bellatrix had experienced the Cruciatus Curse countless times before. 'Course, she figured, this might be on the same level of pain.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I couldn't," she said dryly. "So show me up. Push the bastard out."

The Healer clucked disapprovingly, but Narcissa let out a strained chuckle before pushing with all her might. She mangled Bellatrix's hand as she bit back another scream, determined to try to retain some semblance of dignity.

"Good," the Healer praised. "I see the head! Give me another big push!"

Narcissa thought about all the ways she could murder this Healer while she pushed and squeezed Bella's hand. Finally, the Healer laughed in relief and held up a slimy and screaming baby. "We have a baby!"

"Oh!" Narcissa gasped, the pain immediately forgotten. "Let me hold him…or is it a her?"

"It's a boy," the Healer grinned, waving her wand and cleaning the baby off. "Here, take your son."

She placed the crying baby into Narcissa's arms. A smile lit up Narcissa's face. "He's beautiful. Isn't he, Bella?"

Bellatrix nodded. "He looks like a Malfoy, though, but I'm sure he's a Black inside. Cissy, good job, I'm just going to-" She waved her hand towards the door vaguely, clearly desperate to escape.

Narcissa nodded, her gaze transfixed on her son. "Tell Lucius," she murmured.

Bellatrix quickly left the room, and a few moments later, Lucius appeared. The Healer discretely excused herself, and Lucius rushed to her side. "A son?"

Narcissa nodded. "Our perfect son," she whispered, smiling at Lucius.

She had never seen Lucius so happy. "Oh, Cissa," he breathed. "Thank you." He kissed her sweaty forehead. "May I…hold him?"

"Of course," Narcissa said, lifting the baby into his arms. "Isn't he beautiful? Bella said he looks like a Malfoy."

Lucius grinned with pride. "He does!"

Narcissa smiled. "Now that we know what he looks like, what do you think his name should be?"

Lucius shook his head, staring at the baby. "I don't know," he muttered, seemingly in a daze. "Would you like to carry on the Black tradition of naming him after the stars?"

Narcissa nodded slightly. "I think so, but let's make his name original. And let it reflect both the Black side and the Malfoy side in him."

"Something to show how strong and brave he will be," Lucius agreed.

"Draco," Narcissa offered hesitantly. "Like the constellation. And a dragon."

"Perfect," Lucius breathed. "Draco Malfoy. My son."

Narcissa held out her arms for her son, and Lucius gently handed Draco to her. "My baby," she cooed.

In less than ten minutes, her life had completely and irrevocably changed. Her life had purpose now. She had achieved something. She had created and given birth to this beautiful baby boy, and she no longer felt insignificant. Nothing leading up to this point had made her feel like she was worth something. Cotillions and marrying a wealthy pure-blood had been her greatest achievements thus far.

But now, holding her beautiful son in her arms, Narcissa had done something even Bellatrix hadn't done. She had succeeded, and suddenly, her life truly had meaning.