a/n so when I posted the last chapter I thought it was so much shorter than the others until I looked at the word count, it was practically the same. Anyway thanks again so much for your reviews. I luv you guys. I can't believe how awesome you've been lately. Please keep it up, and now on to the next chapter. Enjoy!

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Not a word was exchanged between them, not a glance, nor a touch that meant more than I'm here. What more could be said at a time like this?

They sat next to each other, in painfully hard chairs that neither of them seemed to notice. It just seemed fitting. Before she knew what was happening, he'd picked up her hand and held it between his own. Tenderly stroking her palm, comforting her and calming her as Helena laid before them.

Finally he stood up and broke the eerie silence, "It's Helena right?"

Those three simple words were all it took for a torn up Hermione to dissolve once more into tears. Here was the introduction that she'd never hoped would end up like this. She nodded her head, "Helena Cissy," she choked out. It had been a tough decision for her whether to associate her daughter with her father's family or not. In the end a nagging part of her brain urged her that it was the right thing to do. At this moment she was glad for that part of her brain. The smile that broke out across his pained face was one she felt he didn't deserve to wear, but was happy he did. The love he had for his mother was very special.

"Merlin Hermione," he quickly turned before she could see the tears that had moistened the corners of his eyes.

"I may not like it, but she's a part of you as much as me. She's our daughter, and you wouldn't be here if you didn't believe that."

"I know she is, I know you wouldn't mess up like I did."

She held up a hand to silence him. Now was not the time for a game that may start of nicely, but end with accusations being hurled over top their daughter. He seemed to understand that as well. Whatever was wrong between them, needed to be forgotten. Anyway, a small problem of infidelity seemed like a pebble on the island of Britain when compared to their current situation.

Draco walked to the side of the bed and knelt down. He picked up the small child's-his daughter's, it still felt foreign to him-hand and like he did to her mother's, cupped it between his own. Hermione stayed back as she watched this heartbreaking meeting take place. She knew it was the end. Only a miracle could save Helena now, and frankly Hermione wasn't one to get down on her knees and pray like some muggles did for that. She'd seen death come to other children as they fought alongside her daughter back in Vancouver and she knew that it was coming for her baby, her precious child now. That's what made this meeting so heartbreaking, because alas it was also a farewell.

He leaned over and kissed the child's pale forehead and then knelt to the ground as if in prayer. Instead of bowing his head though, he laid it down beside his daughters. Cheek to cheek they lay as he felt her breathing slowly begin to calm. He still held her one little hand in his.

Around the other side of the bed Hermione mimicked Draco, picking up her daughters other free hand. From across the bed Draco reached out for Hermione's free hand. Hand's connected in triangle, for the last moments that they could be, their family was complete.

Helena's breaths before had been laboured and unnatural, but now they had calmed. It was almost time. Hermione had to force her eyes closed and bite her tongue to hold back a wail. This couldn't be happening. Not now that they were finally all together.

Hermione placed her head down gently on the small child's chest, feeling the rise and fall of it and knowing that while it continued Helena was only going through turmoil. Wouldn't it be better to let her just go now? Her head questioned her morals, but her heart fought selfishly back. It wasn't long though before her body could reunite itself in one emotion. Grief, so powerful it was like a wave had come crashing over her stationary form. Hurling her against the rocks of a cliff that had arose out of nowhere. The water smashed her around, tearing everything she knew apart, and leaving a bruised and bloody pile in its wake. When Hermione didn't feel Helena's chest rise again, it didn't matter that she'd been preparing herself for this. It didn't matter that at least she wasn't suffering anymore. All that mattered was that death had taken an innocent victim. A child, young and pure, long before she needed to go.

Hermione would never see her excitement as the owl dropped her first Hogwarts letter, as she tried not to cry as the train pulled out of sight. She'd never hear about the friends she'd made, that ultimately would take first place, pushing her mother into a respectable second position. Which house would she have been sorted into? She was smart, and had proven that she was brave and a fighter, but she was also kind at heart and held her father's arrogance. It would have been only a decision for the sorting hat. Hermione would never open the letter to read that her baby girl had been invited to Hogsmead by some boy. There wouldn't be a graduation, a wedding, children and grandchildren. The list was endless. No more milestones and no more quirky little things that seemed to make you laugh days later. She was gone. Her body lay before them, but what was a body without a soul, a wonderful little spirit?

Hermione draped herself over Helena's body and sobbed into her pillow. She picked up the frail body and hugged it to herself and cried for all that they had missed out on. A parent should never have to bury their child. That's why it felt so wrong as she clung to the lifeless form of her daughter. She didn't feel Draco's hand on her back, or see the tears that were freely falling down his pale face. She didn't hear the footsteps of the Healers who had come in the door and let her say her good byes. As time wore on Hermione didn't let go of her daughter. She knew that when she finally gave in and let her go, she'd truly be gone. She'd never hold her again, never see her again. She wasn't ready for that just yet.

The Healer's waited patiently, but then they too had to move on. Finally Draco with the help of another burly male Healer managed to pull Hermione's battered body off of Helena's. The whole time little strangled sobs of no escaped her lips. Draco got her out into the corridor and adjusted her so he could apparate her safely away.

One of the Healer's had handed him a vial as they had left, and so after laying a flailing Hermione down between the cool sheets of his bed he uncorked it and forced it down her throat. The amber liquid flowed through her and eased her sweats, her breathing, her shaking and ultimately any trace of grief. She slipped into a peaceful sleep before his eyes and he sighed. If only he had a limitless supply of that stuff because when she woke up she would be in no better shape. As he flopped down into a chair beside the large window that overlooked the garden he realized that he could have used a swig of that stuff as well. Only after taking care of Hermione, and ensuring that she was in the best shape that could be expected did he feel the full weight of what had happened. He knew he had to suffer in silence though. Hell he had barely any right to grieve at all, but since when had that stopped him.

With Hermione safely asleep for the time being, Draco curled up and sobbed into the arm of the chair. His body shook as each painful sob tore through his body, and for the third time in his life he cried himself to sleep.

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a/n :( I'm sorry guys, I know that was absolutely horrible. I hope you'll forgive me though and fill up my inbox with reviews. It certainly would cheer me up. So again thanks everyone for their reviews, oh and I'll let you decide the other two times he cried himself to sleep. Happy thinking, and I'd like to see what creative stuff you can come up with, who knows it might be included in a future chappie. Cheers