A/N: Sex in this chapter! Don't read if you're underage. Considering this fic is rated "M", anyway, if you're underage you already shouldn't be reading. Don't say I didn't warn you! :D

Chapter Ten

Draco ran his fingers lightly over Harry's skin. They hadn't had the chance to unwind in far too long, and today Draco'd finally taken the initiative, insisting Harry take him to his flat, which was considerably more couple-friendly than his own. He'd brought with him their old bag of tricks, a large sack where they'd stored their various toys in the days when they'd actually made love.

A novel concept, making love, Draco thought. Particularly between two men. Wizards didn't have the same contempt for homosexuality that was prevalent among Muggles. It was something that was seen as quirky and uncommon, much the same way being left-handed is considered quirky and uncommon for Muggles. Since there were assorted potions that could aid a same-sex couple in producing offspring (if they chose to do so), the issue of "dying out" as a result of homosexuality was a non-issue.

Look at Dumbledore! Not a man Draco would usally have looked to as an example, of course, but he'd grown up quite a bit from the days when he'd been plotting to kill the man. The greatest wizard of modern time, a benevolent and respected figure in Wizarding society, and yet he was fruitier than a banana. Homosexuality was just a part of life for some Wizards, and he was grateful that the society he'd been born into was more accepting than most. Another reason to preserve his distaste for Muggles.

Oh, but thoughts of such mundane and trivial things would have to wait. Harry's kisses trailing down his abdomen told him so, and he shivered, giving in to the sheer pleasure . . .

It was different now, they both thought so. When they'd made love before, it had been in blissful ignorance of what can happen to a relationship; even a good one. Now, knowing how precious every moment was, they savored it.

Before he knew it, Draco was pantsless and marvelling at Harry's skill: Approximately 30 seconds after the first playful nibble, he was lost in his ecstacy. His mind swirled, touching on little thoughts gently and briefly before being swept away again.

With a shudder and a sudden, almost violent thrust, Harry was inside him. It was beyond anything they'd felt together before. In the earlier days, they'd made love to please themselves: Now, they made love to please each other. Draco could tell that Harry was striving to satisfy his partner; he'd never felt this level of pleasure and raw power driving their lovemaking.

It was almost frenetic, the way Harry was taking him, and yet there was a gentle quality to it, too. Harry grabbed him by the neck, leaned in close to his lover's ear and whispered, "Come."

It was what Draco needed. Harry's hot breath on his throat, his hardened body leaning against him, the feel of Harry deep inside him, the intensity in his eyes . . . with a shout and a wild bucking against his partner, he came.

Harry finished less than a minute later and smiled bemusedly at his love.

"You know I love you, don't you?" he said in a whisper, holding Draco close.

"Of course I do," Draco replied, kissing Harry and returning his affection.

They layed curled together for a while. Draco had nearly fallen asleep when he heard Harry's voice again.

"Do you think anything like this will happen again?"

Draco smirked, "Well, I hope so."

"No, not this. This," Harry said, waving his hand at his flat.

"Ah. You mean the baby thing," Draco said. It was a statement, not a question. What else could Harry be referring to?

"Yeah, that." He looked expectantly at his lover. "Well?"

"Well, no. I can't see anything like that ever happening again," he said honestly. "I didn't expect it to happen the first time. It was just one of those things. Life throws curveballs sometimes, I guess."

"I know. I just wish I'd been more, I dunno, prepared, I guess." Draco maintained his eye contact with Harry, silently urging him to continue. "I didn't see it coming. I thought we were doing so well. And now, here we are, six months later. You know, I can only remember making love with you twice in the last six months. How's that for sad? No wonder we're been so angry at each other."

"Did you really think I did it on purpose?" Draco asked, feeling a little sad the prospect.

Harry shook his head. "No. Never. But I was angry and sad that you'd let it happen. I thought there was more to us than that."

Draco kissed him longingly, fulfilling the promise of his love. "There was. There is. It was a stupid mistake and I can't take it back." He wrapped his arms around Harry. "And I try not to be bitter about it now, too. What good will that do me? It's over, it's done with. I have to try to be satisfied with the knowledge that I still have you, even if nothing else is going to be the same."

The weight of Draco's words covered them like a blanket, keeping them silent and somber. No, nothing would ever be the same once the baby was born. If all went well, maybe things would be a little better.

But, then again, maybe not, Draco thought. Maybe things will be considerably worse. Maybe the baby will have colic. Maybe Hermione will develop postpartum depression. Maybe Harry will leave him for another sexy, sleek, childless man.

Each scenario was less likely than the last, Draco knew, but it was still very hard to keep from worrying. There were so many variables, so much that could happen. And there was more yet that was simple inevitable: Things that would happen, good and bad, that he couldn't change.

It was frightening sometimes, mostly when he was lying in an empty bed late at night, unable to sleep.

He wasn't in an empty bed now, though, and it wasn't late at night, and he could very easily sleep if he let himself. Harry was here with him, holding him and supporting him. He realized that was how it should be, and how it always would be.

There were no laws governing marriage in Wizarding society the way they did in Muggle society, Draco knew. There was no reason why he couldn't publicly profess his love for Harry in the strongest way possible. And now the idea had seized him. Draco felt excitement coursing through him at the very thought of having Harry as his husband. When he'd proposed to Hermione, he'd had a similar frenzy, but that was a time when he'd been muddled and lonely.

Now, he was thinking clearly again and more sure than ever that he wanted what he wanted.

Draco sat up suddenly, pulling away from Harry and taking him by the hand. "Harry," he said seriously, looking his lover in the eye, "I have something to ask you. And I want you to know that I mean it."

"Okay," Harry said cautiously, waiting.

Draco continued to hold Harry's gaze, seeing in his eyes all the love in the world, all the answers to the questions he'd asked all his life. "Harry, will you marry me?"

Harry bit his lip, his eyes watering slightly. He blinked back tears. "Of course I will."

Draco didn't have a ring for him, but he had other ideas about what he could do to make it official. They made love again, Draco taking Harry this time. His passionate intent poured from him with every stroke, until they drove each other to ecstacy and laid in each others' arms again.

"You're mine now," Draco whispered, stroking Harry's cheek loviningly. "Mine, forever."

Harry grinned. "You bet your ass I am." He kissed Draco, sharing his love and desire for marriage.

"What do you think Hermione will say?" Harry asked, snuggled up to Draco and nuzzling his neck.

"I think she'll probably say it's about time," Draco replied with a grin. "What d'you think?"

"She'll probably go into labor from the shock."

They laughed together, chuckling and kissing. Eventually, their exertion caught up with them and they fell asleep in the same position they'd spent the last few minutes in.

We did it, Draco thought as he drifted off, we made it work. Harry snored gently and Draco slipped softly into dreams.