A/N: sooo, after the last chapter, i'm betting this one will be a disappoint. it's really just a filler chapter. quite honestly, i had no idea how to move on after the end of chapter 9, lol. thank you to Az for being a super beta. =] also, i forgot to say that the last chapter was named after florence + the machine's song. this chapter title is named after the song by of monsters & men.

disclaimer: how many times do i have to say that i own nothing? xP

CHAPITRE DIX: LITTLE TALKS

Narcissa laughed loudly, the sound filling her bedroom. Lucius' hands were resting on her hips, his thumbs rubbing in small circles on the sensitive skin, which sent chills down her spine and was – if it weren't obvious – ticklish. Lucius chuckled as he leaned over her and pressed a tender kiss to the skin behind her ear. When he pulled back, he lingered above her and smiled. Narcissa's laughing subdued and she stared back up at him, her blue eyes twinkling.

"Lucius-"

"Shh." He dropped his head and brushed his lips against hers. Then, he lay down next to her on his back and stared at the ceiling. Narcissa turned her head to study Lucius, before rolling over on her side and propping her head up with her arm. Lucius looked at her.

"What are you thinking?" she asked softly, pulling the bedsheets up to cover her chest.

Lucius reached up to touch her cheek with the back of his hand. "I'm thinking that… I don't want to leave," he started off slowly and Narcissa felt her heart shrink. "I don't want to go home to a house without you… I don't want to marry someone else… I just want to be with you."

"Then be with me," Narcissa urged quietly. She scooted closer to Lucius and leaned across him so their chests were pressed together, but the rest of her body was on the bed. She folded her arms on his chest and rested her chin on her wrist as she stared at Lucius. She pouted.

"It's not that simple, love," Lucius said gently. He fingered the tips of her blonde hair.

"It never is," she agreed solemnly. She remained where she was for a moment before rolling off of Lucius and sitting up. Her arms kept the bedsheets up to cover the front of her and she picked at the material. Her back was left exposed, however, and as Lucius gazed at her, he could see her spine and – vaguely – her ribs.

Lucius sat up as well and moved towards her. "Narcissa-"

"I'm sorry," Narcissa blurted, glancing his way sheepishly. There was silence and she took that as her cue to continue. When Lucius needed further explanation, he never asked her. He always waited patiently until she was ready to talk. "I'm sorry I couldn't – I can't – give you… have… get pregnant. And it's not just about you," she added tightly, trying to swallow down the lump in her throat. "I want children, too."

Again, the silence filled the bedroom. It only took a moment, but Narcissa felt Lucius' hand around her arm. She fought him at first, not wanting to be touched, but he knew better. He knew what she needed and when. Sometimes, she thought he knew better than she did. Narcissa allowed herself to be collected in Lucius' arms, the top of her head tucked comfortably under his chin. He rocked her gently and, within minutes, they had both fallen asleep.

oooOOOooo

Lucius walked up the stairs in Malfoy Manor, his feet landing heavily on each step. He sighed as he reached the top, utterly exhausted. Cygnus' funeral had been heartbreaking, if only because he knew how difficult the next few months were going to be for Narcissa. It pained him to see her so upset and so lost. She had been so lost as a teenager, and Cygnus had been there to help her along the way. Their relationship was strong; Lucius sometimes thought it was stronger than his own relationship with her.

The events that had transpired after the funeral, however, had certainly elevated Lucius' mood. For a moment, he'd thought it had Narcissa's as well. But their conversation before they'd fallen asleep, once again, tugged at his heart. He had never blamed her, no matter what anyone else said. Even the Healer, with his heavy German accent, had insinuated (gently) that Narcissa's history of eating insecurities (he couldn't say eating disorders because Narcissa visibly winced each time) had caused their infertility and there wasn't much more he could do. That was the day Lucius had told him off and stormed out of the office, gripping his wife's hand so tightly that he thought he might break her bones. That was also the day their marriage had taken a turn for the worse. Narcissa, like so many times before, became depressed and withdrawn (though she wouldn't admit it) and, above all, refused to eat. It was shortly after that that Abraxas demanded a divorce, claiming that Narcissa was purposefully sabotaging their marriage.

Entering the master bedroom, Lucius walked over to the adjacent bathroom. He had just turned on the water and splashed some on his face when he heard a nauseatingly familiar voice.

"Lucius," it said.

He paused, water dripping off of his face and his hands on the edge of the bath vanity supporting his upper body. "Jemima," he answered in a dull voice. Lucius grabbed a towel and dried off his face. He turned to face his fiance, one brow raised in question. "What?"

"Awfully long funeral, wasn't it?" Jemima purred, stepping closer to him.

"It was."

There was silence and she smirked. "Your father came home hours ago," she informed him, looking as if she had the upper hand now.

But Lucius Malfoy was not one to panic. (And if he did, he didn't show it.) "My father didn't have the decency to show his face at the reception," he replied simply. He dropped the face towel onto the vanity counter and went to slip by Jemima. She placed a hand on his chest. He looked down at her, contempt in his eyes.

"You smell like her," Jemima said, a disgusted look creeping onto her pretty features. Her personality may have been ugly, but she was quite the beauty. "That ex-bitch of yours."

"The only bitch I smell," Lucius said in a low, threatening tone, "is you." He gave her a small shove and walked into the bedroom, towards his armoire.

"Wouldn't it be a shame if that pretty little face of hers was suddenly disfigured… for life?" Jemima asked tauntingly.

Lucius gritted his teeth and took several deep breaths through his nose. "You'll leave her out of this, Jemima," he said, glancing at the woman over his shoulder. If anything happened to Narcissa, Lucius was sure that he'd kill the vile woman standing behind him. He turned around to face his fiance.

She looked very, very mad. "Then don't bring her into it," Jemima replied. She approached him until she was standing right in front of him.

"Leave her alone," Lucius repeated firmly. "If you've got a problem with me, you come to me. You don't take it out on Narcissa."

Jemima chortled and stood on her toes to kiss the side of Lucius' mouth. "But, love, it isn't you I have a problem with." Lucius' stomach dropped as Jemima kissed him on the lips. He didn't kiss her back.