Just a little something for the weekend! Hope you enjoy the chapter and your weekend.

Chapter 14
"Daddy, why Mimi not talking to you?" Scorpius asked days later as Draco set breakfast in front of him.

"No reason," he muttered, stirring a teaspoon of sugar into his coffee.

Scorpius spooned up globs of oatmeal only to drop them back into his bowl. Glancing at his father from the corner of his eye, he expected to be scolded for playing with his food. But Draco seemed too distracted to notice, and so he continued. It had been that way for days, resulting in the little boy getting away with everything.

"Daddy, you sad?" he finally asked.

Draco was stunned to hear his son ask, and in his shock, dropped a tea cup. It shattered upon impacting with the floor, but Draco ignored the mess as he crossed the kitchen to kneel beside his son's chair. "What makes you think that?" he asked softly.

"Mimi's sad," he replied, casting his gaze downwards. "Her was crying yesterday. I don't like when her's sad. Or you."

Draco furrowed his brows; he hadn't known just how upset Hermione had been. "Daddy and Mimi will both be alright," he assured the little boy, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "Now stop playing with your food and eat it," he added with a stern smile. Rising up to his full height, he went back to preparing breakfast for Hermione. When Scorpius finished, Draco cleaned him up and sent him upstairs ahead of himself to get ready for the day. Tray in hand, he carefully knocked on Hermione's door and entered.

"Smells good," she commented, taking in the scent of French toast and maple syrup. Her voice sounded strained, as if she'd been crying, and her eyes were red.

Draco put the tray in front of her and took a seat on the side of the bed. "Talk to me? Please?" he asked.

"I'm not mad at you for bringing Ron here," she admitted, spearing a piece of bread with her fork. She swirled it through the syrup, watching the lines it created around the plate. "You couldn't have known what he'd say. I just can't help...Ron said he'd go to the Ministry. What if he takes her?"

Reaching over, he took hold of her hand. "I think he's just as afraid as you are," he said. "This is new to the both of you, and you know as well as I do that Weasley tends to run from difficult situations. I'm not justifying his not being around or his attempt at getting back together with you or his threats in order to see the baby. I just...I know what it's like to be on his side, and it's scary to think someone can keep you from seeing your child."

"It's not the same," she murmured, putting down her fork to dry her eyes. "You wanted to be a part of Scor's life no matter how hard Astoria pushed you away. I don't know, maybe when she's born it'll be different. Maybe he'll make an effort then. I just worry that he'll make promises he won't keep, and I'll have to explain to her why daddy isn't around. But then to say that I'm using you to fill his role, well, it's just preposterous."

Draco's eyes widened. It hadn't occurred to him that Weasley would notice how close the pair had become. He knew that if Hermione only asked, he would readily help her raise her daughter. A part of him hoped that Weasley continued to stay out of her life so his spot could become more permanent. It was selfish, that much he knew, but he didn't care.

"You know I can and will take care of you," he vowed. He moved their joined hands to rest gently atop her stomach. "I know she's not my daughter, but if you'll let me, I want to continue to help in any way I can."

Tears clouded her vision as Hermione prepared to respond to his heartfelt gesture. She slipped her hand out of his and sat up straighter. "I think," she breathed out a deep sigh, "that once the baby is born, I need to do this on my own. I appreciate more than words can say how much you've done for me. But I need to make things right with Ron. I've, um, I think I should take Molly up on her offer to stay there until the baby is born."

Dropping his head in defeat, Draco rose from the bed and crossed to the door. "Do what you have to do, Hermione," he replied in a detached tone. He left then, ignoring the sobs of the witch on the other side of the door. Perhaps he had pushed too hard to be involved. It had never been in his nature to help, but he'd seen so much of his own situation in hers that he couldn't stop himself.

But then he'd fallen in love. He knew she loved him too, and that made it all the more difficult for her to decide to leave. Perhaps in time she'd come back once everything between her and her ex-husband was settled. He wasn't done with Hermione Granger yet.

Hermione stared down through thick tears at the plate on the tray covering her lap. It hurt more than anything to think of leaving Draco and Scorpius. But, she decided, her daughter would have to come first. And if appeasing Ron meant leaving Draco, and in turn keeping her child, it was the only thing she could do. She would come back to him one day if he would have her. A part of her felt as if she belonged with the Malfoys, more so than she'd felt with the Weasley family.

Pushing aside the breakfast tray, Hermione slowly got out of bed. With a flick of her wand, her suitcases lined themselves up on her bed. With another wave, her clothes flew from the closet and folded themselves before neatly moving into each case. The few personal items she had brought along were safely stowed away in her purse. Giving the room one last look around to make sure she hadn't left anything behind, she pulled the door open. She gasped when she nearly bumped into Scorpius who stood in the doorway with his little arms crossed over his chest.

"I not letting you leave," he stated defiantly, moving his arms to the door frame so he blocked her path.