They couldn't be away for long. Lucius had work and Narcissa wasn't sure how long she could bear to be parted from her six-month-old, but there would, without doubt, be a honeymoon.

"We can hire a nanny for the week," Lucius proposed as they sat in his study the next evening. He was casually swirling a tumbler of scotch, watching Narcissa and Draco with a lazily sort of contentment. The other two blondes were on the floor, playing with blocks. Narcissa looked up with a frown.

"I don't trust a nanny with my baby. You never know what kind of people are out there."

"Your sister, then?" he suggested snidely, anticipating Narcissa's expression of horror.

"Bella's not coming within a kilometer of him while we're not around!"

"Who, then?"

She paused, thinking. "What if... we did have a nanny, in addition to someone we know and trust?"

"Alright, who?" Lucius was somewhat sure that he knew who she was thinking of, but waited anyway.

"It.. it wouldn't be strange if we asked...I mean, I know I've only just met him, but you've known him for ages, and he'd just need to be here, wouldn't even need to do any of the real caring... but do you think Severus would do it?"

Lucius smirked, and downed the rest of his drink. "I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

"That..." she flushed slightly. "That would be strange, wouldn't it? Especially after I made such a fool of myself yesterday. Could you ask him?" She stared up imploringly. "Please?"

Lucius set down his glass. "Go take Draco to bed." His tone was gentle. She obey with a sigh, fully intending on pressing the issue once she returned. However, as soon as she'd left the room, Lucius headed over to the fire place, scooping a handful of floo powder.

"Spinner's End," he pronounced clearly. He dropped to his knees; although his own hearth was tall enough for him to stand before, he'd ended up with a number of nasty bruises from forgetting to duck into Severus's.

Bracing his hands on the bricks of his fireplace, he peered around his friend's living room. It appeared to be empty. "Severus," he called. A door opened, and Severus emerged from his kitchen, looking perturbed.

"You could have owled."

"You could have ignored an owl. As it is, would you mind flooing to the Manor? Just briefly."

"As a matter of fact, I would."

"Really? Why?" he asked flatly.

"I don't trust anyone who floos at this hour. You want something, and I feel like its something I certainly will not enjoy giving."

"Just come over here," he snapped, yanking his head from the flames and stepping back. A moment later, Severus stumbled in.

"This had better be good."

"I need a favor."

"Really? I'm shocked."

Lucius inhaled sharply. "Alright, just keep in mind that you'd be helped, and Narcissa and I would be thoroughly indebted to you, and-"

"What do you want, Lucius?"

"Narcissa and I were hoping to leave town for a week."

Severus waited.

"Alone."

Still, Severus said nothing.

"Would you consider staying here with Draco?"

This time, Lucius was fairly sure Severus remained silent out of horror.

"You want me," he began slowly, "to... babysit?"

"No! Not exactly. Well... yes. Will you?"

"No. Absolutely not."

"You would have help. We'd hire a nanny, too. But Narcissa didn't like the idea of leaving him alone with a stranger."

"Can't one of your mothers watch him?"

"My mother hates children, and Druella and Cygnus are visiting family in St. Petersburg."

Severus pressed his lips together. "You really don't have a lot of friends, do you?"

"So your answer is no, then?"

"That is correct."

Lucius sighed, and rose slowly. "Very well, then. Will you wait here a moment?"

Severus nodded briefly, and Lucius went out into the hallway, just as Narcissa arrived. "Wait in there a moment, will you? I'll be right back."

Narcissa blinked in confusion. "But I wanted to ask-"

"Just a moment, Narcissa," he murmured, brushing by. Frowning slightly, she entered the study, and stopped short.

"Severus! Did he convince you, then?" she gushed delightedly, then immediately checked her tone. Despite his unusual ability, she did need to keep in mind the fact that she'd met him only yesterday.

"I'm afraid not. I don't think I'll be able to."

"Another week, then? Any time that's good for you..."

"Narcissa," he sighed. "I don't think-"

"Please? Lucius and I so desperately need to be alone together-" No. She bit down on her tongue. She did not need to share that.

"I understand, but certainly you have no reason to mistrust professional caregivers. It is, after all, their job to tend children..."

"But Draco is my baby, my only baby, and I'd never have a moment's peace worrying about him with some stranger!"

"Narcissa, I will not."

"Oh, I'll never ask for another favor again!" she promised. He regarded her with his inscrutable black eyes.

"Yes, you will."

"Well, you'll never have to say yes again!"

"I don't have to say yes now," he pointed out.

Her eyes glowed, and she clasped her hands in delight. "But you will," she crowed, sensing victory.

Narcissa decided they should go to France. It was near enough that they could return home quickly if necessary, far enough that they wouldn't have to worry about intrusive acquaintances, and familiar enough that they wouldn't feel obligated to explore the local geography. Lucius picked the Loire Valley, a mellow region known for its stellar châteaux and vintages. They agreed on a sumptuous little cottage, which, although small, was lavishly decorated and equipt with every possible necessity, and as a futher bonus, was Unplottable and invisible to Muggles. Narcissa had delighted in the description and pictures of the gîte- the lush, colorful gardens, kept in bloom year round, the private lake designed for swimming, the sparkling bathroom with the clawfoot tub and array of complementary bubble baths. Lucius glanced over it briefly and merely nodded once in approval. Although Narcissa was fairly certain that the opulent little gem required months of reservations, Lucius wrote a carefully worded note that managed to make the place theirs the very next week.

"My sweet, darling boy, I will miss you terribly. I love you so very much, and be good," she crooned, showering Draco with another flurry of kisses. "We'll only be gone a week, my angel, and Severus and Miss Hannah will take good care of you and you'll have lots of fun and-"

"Narcissa, you're going to miss the trip if you don't stop saying goodbye," Severus interrupted drily.

"But we've never left him before and-"

"Yes, I know. Go away."

She pressed her lips to the child's forehead one last time, and handed him away to the nanny. "Take good care of my little boy," she implored, blinking hard. Severus rolled his eyes and took her by the arm, ushering her to the front doors where Lucius waited. He nodded once to Severus, having already said his farewells to Draco, and offered the portkey to his wife. With a final sigh and wave to her son, Narcissa placed her finger on the enchanted marble, and they were off.

As soon as they arrived, Narcissa felt shyness well in her abruptly. She moved forward to open the door, and Lucius followed silently.

"Oh, look how lovely!" she exclaimed, darting into the cottage.

The first room was a cozy living room, small but well decorated. There were only two doors leading off from it, other than the one they'd just entered from. Narcissa crossed the room to find the kitchen, which she gave only a cursory glance. The two elves they'd brought along would be the only ones spending time in here.

She turned around, and saw that Lucius was waiting by the second door. She swallowed; there was no doubt what might lie behind that door. She smiled and moved past him, fighting a thrill of nerves as she absorbed the large bed. The blankets had been turned down invitingly, and the pillows looked soft and welcoming.

Narcissa scurried over to examine the bathroom. She'd seen it all in the brochure, and knew she was merely delaying. When she emerged back into the bedroom, Lucius was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I think... we should unpack," Narcissa declared, busying herself in the trunk the elves had brought in. She thought she heard a quiet sigh, but he rose to put his own clothes into a drawer. It was something a house elf could have done, but she was glad that he would give her just a bit more time to delay.

Lucius finished quickly, but Narcissa took her time hanging up her robes and dresses, passing her wand over each one to remove creases or dust from traveling. She did not turn around when Lucius sat back on the bed, but was certain she could feel his eyes tracing every movement she made.

Calm down, she told herself firmly. You're going to to fall in love with him, possibly this week. It won't be dreadful, she thought unconvincingly. It's been lovely those two times when we were interrupted, and even if the act itself is unpleasant, at least the bit leading up to it will be... a small shiver ran down her spine as she recalled his touch upon her, his intensity and her own desire. Wonderful. Enduring what comes after will entirely be worth getting that again. Besides, she glanced over her shoulder to where Lucius sat. His elbows rested on his knees and when their eyes met, he quirked one brow as if to ask if she was done yet. She quickly turned back around. It will make him happy.

"Alright, well, that's the last one," Narcissa announced in a falsely bright voice. Lucius began to rise, expression warming considerably. "I'm going to go change now."

For the first time, a look of irritation flashed over his features as he sat back abruptly. "Fine. Go."

Narcissa knew this was to be her last delay, but it hardly mattered; she hadn't planned to wait after this. "I'll only be a moment," she promised, and slipped into the bathroom. Her fingers made quick work of her robes, and she glanced over at the apparel she'd brought to change into.

Was it too much? She wasn't entirely sure. She was new at such things, and had considered asking Bellatrix, but discarded the idea quickly. These thing came so easily to her sister; Bella and Rodolphus were comfortable with each other, and while perhaps she would have helped if asked, Narcissa was sure she couldn't bear the teasing she'd have to endure.

The gown she'd purchased for the occasion was short and silky, something her mother would be aghast to see, but Narcissa had thought quite modest in comparison to some of the other ensembles in the shop. It was a lovely mint green, pale and translucent and edged with a tiny lace trim at the hem and neckline. Narcissa thought it looked appealing, and hoped Lucius would agree.

She poked her head into the bedroom. Lucius was sitting on the bed, having stripped down to only his black boxer shorts. His arms were folded across his bare chest and his chin was tilted almost defiantly. She could clearly read his expression, and it made her smile; he would have absolutely no more procrastination. He looked over when she peeked out, opened his mouth to speak, and then froze as she emerged fully.

"Yes?" she prompted, grinning. His mouth was still open, though he seemed to have forgotten this.

"Come here," he growled at last, and Narcissa giggled, darting over to the bed and into his arms.

Instantly, Narcissa forgot what had been worrying her. His hands moved over her urgently and she slipped her leg up to straddle him. He kissed her again and again, drawing away only for a quick breath before returning to her lips. Narcissa's arms wrapped around his shoulders and her nails skated over his back, and she lifted one hand to tangle her fingers in his hair. One of his hands tugged impatiently at the hem of her gown, and the other stroked her hip and waist through the filmy fabric. She shifted restlessly against him and he groaned, pulling her tightly against him and throwing her small dress aside, having removed it at last. His eager movements had her on her back a heartbeat later, and she twisted her legs around his waist, a growing warmth between her thighs encouraging her to press nearer to him. Her breathing was coming in gasps now, her movements slightly sloppy in her impatience, when suddenly, Lucius went rigid. Narcissa frowned and kissed the tender spot beneath his ear questioningly, fingertips gliding across his chest. For a moment he seemed content to settle back against her, finding her lips with his own once more, but then he jerked back suddenly.

"What's wrong?" she asked, alarmed as he turned away. "Lucius," her hand extended to stroke his lower back and he gave a miserable moan before rising to his feet.

"Narcissa," he did not turn to look at her, but his shoulders were slumped and his tone was defeated. "I have to go."

"What?" She bolted upright, glaring in disbelief and clutching the sheets up to her throat. Lucius had gone to his trunk by now, and lifted a false bottom from it to reveal a set of dark robes underneath. Narcissa slid out of bed and followed him, grabbing his arm when he tried to turn away.

"Ouch!" It felt as though she'd just touched a hot pan, and Lucius spun around, concern etched into his features.

"Are you alright? I didn realize you'd be able to feel it..." With his right hand he took her wrist gently, and briefly examined her palm. "No, I didn't think it would leave a burn- does it feel alright now?"

"Yes.... Lucius, why are you going?"

"I don't have a choice," he managed through gritted teeth, and she noticed that the ugly tattoo on his left arm had turned from it's usually angry red to an inky black.

"He's calling you?" she guessed, and he nodded as though it caused him great pain. "Can't he wait just a little while?" she begged, wrapping her arms around his neck and manuevering so that he could feel the entire lenght of her practically nude body against him. He bit back another groan of despair, but seemed incapable of disengaging himself.

"I have to... Narcissa..."

She drew away and he scrabbled for his robes, unable to take his eyes from her. Narcissa noted that even the heavy black cloth did not entirely conceal his state of arousal, and wondered fleetingly if perhaps He-Who-Must-Must-Not-Be-Named was, in fact, merciful, and would decide that this particular Death Eater was not quintessential for this particular mission.

"I'll be back," he promised, kissing her hurriedly once more before slipping on his mask. "Probably in a few hours." He groped in the pockets of his discarded robes for his wand, and gave her one last glance, full of longing, before Disapparating with a resounding crack.

Miserably, Narcissa sank back onto the bed.

Lucius knew, as he Apparated into the deserted building, that this was going to be a difficult night. The Dark lord would undoubtedly be irritated with his tardiness, and in his fluster, he recognized that he'd have no chance at Occlumency, meaning that the last hour would no longer be private. He did not think that he'd be able to escape Aurors or Order members if the activities of the evening called for it, so he would most likely be in Azkaban tomorrow. He had no desire to torment Muggles tonight, and would probably suffer the Cruciatus later for his lack of enthusiasm. He would have to deal with Bellatrix's madness, Rodolphus's crude and unfeeling brutality, Severus's perceptiveness- and on top of all this, he was still hard.

He shuffled to his place in the circle with his fists jammed in his pockets and was dismayed to see he was the last arrival. Rodolphus shot him a quizzical look, but Lucius shook his head almost imperceptibly and stared straight ahead. His posture was slightly hunched, and he could feel Rodolphus staring at him, trying to discern why he was acting so strangely.

Mind your own fucking business, Lestrange, he thought savagely when he felt the curious prod of another inside his mind. The invasion was retracted, and Rodolphus continued to study him for hints.

Suddenly, there was a half-stifled snort of realization beside him, and Lucius felt his face burn. He wanted to tell him to not say anything, but it was too late: he'd already leaned over to whisper in his wife's ear. She sniggered as well and leaned forward to shoot Lucius a nastily knowing look. In retaliation, Lucius made a rude hand gesture- just as the Dark lord turned to face them.

"Your childish bickering disappoints me," he snapped, and the three immediately stood up straighter and looked down, properly ashamed.

"Apologies, my lord..."

"It won't happen again, master..."

"Forgive me, please..."

He ignored their muttering, and began to address the group. Lucius resisted the urge to hex Bellatrix while her attention was elsewhere. He tried to focus on what was being said- they were going somewhere in Germany (Lucius swore mentally) to launch a dual attack: first on a Muggle village, and then set up an ambush for the Aurors that would doubtlessly flock the scene afterwards.

It would take a matter of days, not hours.

Somehow, his thoughts kept wandering. Images of Narcissa kept popping into mind, images he had no intention sharing, images that had no place at a Death Eater meeting.

"Lucius?" The cold voice hissing his name brought him back to the present unpleasantly.

"My lord?" He glanced over to see if Rodolphus was still ridiculing him, but realized with a sickening jolt that there was no one there. In fact, they were the only two in the room.

"Perhaps you could explain to me why you are still standing here, when I believe I made it quite clear that you were all to be on your way?"

"I-"

"You are among my most loyal and talented followers, Lucius, and it is not like you to be so distracted. However, if your pretty little wife proves to be a problem..." His words drifted off menacingly. Lucius could scarely control the shock of panic that darted through him.

"No, my lord," he gasped, dropping to his knee and bowing his head. "I regret my lapse in attentiveness, I meant no disrespect by it-"

"Crucio." He spoke softly, though Lucius still managed to her him through the agony that ripped his body. "I know, Lucius. You have been faithful and useful to me. And while I find it dismaying that you are so easily preoccupied by such base instincts, I suppose you are merely human." He lifted the curse. "But I expect better."

"Of course, my lord," he replied, panting slightly as he dragged himself to his feet.

It was going to be a long mission.

(A/N: I know it's been a long time, and I'm sorry, but I thank all of you lovely people who reviewed. I was going to make this the chapter you all were waiting for, but then I got a review asking why there was so little Death Eater activity, and well... I guess you know. I considered just making this chapter realllly long to fit their special moment in (yes, it's coming soon!), but it's been too long to make you wait that much longer. I've actually been quite sick, as one reviewer mentioned, but i'm almost fully recovered from surgery and out of the hospital and I thank you for your patience. A few one-shots was all I could manage on my meds.)