Occasionally I reread some of these and an idea sparks. This one is meant to be read as a follow-up to the Blind Date standalone but could be easily read as it's own story. I just had to write this Draco. Snarky, wicked, and loving-at his best. I hope you enjoy it. Please read and review. :)

Fruition

"Out of my way," Draco grumbled. "Man with a baby! Move it, Finnegan!"

Everyone in the Regulation of Magical Creatures Department watched as the blonde plowed his way through those gathered in the hallway. Some watched with wide-eyed expressions as he held the infant to his chest in her muggle carrier.

Her friends had been rather shocked when he first appeared at a social gathering wearing the contraption. However, he'd not cared one whit what anyone thought. His mother-in-law had bought the thing for him and he found it quite convenient to strap their daughter in and continue about his day. It was proving to make his efforts at being a stay-at-home father a breeze.

Ministry employees moved out of his way, women were cooing over the honey blonde curls peaking over the top of the carrier and men were smirking.

Ever the Malfoy, Draco strutted with confidence to his wife's office and wasn't disappointed when he found her door open and her seated behind her desk. He scowled however when he spotted the ginger nuisance that just wouldn't take a hike.

"Draco," Hermione smiled brightly when she saw him.

She quickly stood to greet him. She leaned up on her toes to kiss him first and then sunk back on her heels to kiss their daughter's forehead.

"I've tried everything. She won't take the bottle again," he informed her, his eyes darting down to her chest pointedly.

"Oh," she nodded and began helping him unfasten her from the carrier.

"What's the matter," Ron asked curiously, rising from his seat to get a look at their daughter. "Nice accessory there, Malfoy," he grinned.

Draco wanted to wipe the smile right off the git's face. "At least I'm man enough to wear it, Weaslebee."

"Draco," Hermione admonished softly as she took their daughter into her arms and began making her way back to her desk with her.

"Oh, so it's fine when he mocks me for wearing it when all I'm trying to do is support my wife's career and take care of our daughter."

Ron rolled his eyes at him. "Oh please—"

"Ronald, I'd recommend you don't take us down that road again," she warned.

True enough as soon as they'd begun dating, the ginger had given them both an equally difficult time. He couldn't for the life of him understand why Hermione would be interested in Draco Malfoy when she'd broken up with him over gender roles.

"The Malfoys are the epitome of old and stuffy gender roles!" He'd argued.

Hermione had merely rolled her eyes and informed him that perhaps not all of the Malfoy family was quite so out of date as his was.

When they'd married after just three months he'd gotten pissed drunk at their reception and nearly ruined the bloody cake.

When she'd announced her pregnancy six months later he'd gotten pissed drunk and grumbled to anyone who would listen at the gathering that it should have been his child.

Needless to say, their friendship was still recovering.

Ron frowned but ultimately sighed and nodded.

"Weasley," Draco interrupted, "as much as I so love your presence, do be kind and get lost so my wife can feed our daughter."

"It's not like I haven't seen them before," he retorted stupidly.

Hermione's brown eyes widened a fraction and she shot him a rather perturbed look.

Draco sighed as he reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, trying the count to ten technique she'd taught him. It wasn't working very well.

"Weasley, while I do so enjoy you reminding me of your failed romantic efforts with my wife…get lost!"

Ron barely had time to sputter out an apology before he was pushed out the door and it slammed behind him.

Draco groaned as he took up the seat now vacated and watched as Hermione began unbuttoning her blouse. He relaxed however when she readjusted and their daughter calmed considerably as she latched onto her breast.

"I do see why he'd want to watch," he smirked.

Hermione glanced up at him and rolled her eyes pointedly. "Men," she muttered.

Marriage to Draco was far better than she ever could have imagined. Just as he'd suggested on their blind date, he was quite enamored with her from the start. He went above and beyond to please her. Falling in love with him had been easy.

As she watched him unstrap the carrier from himself, she remembered exactly why she'd chosen him in the end.

He believed in her. Was so far gone in love with her that he was more than thrilled at the prospect of making his stay-at-home father claims become reality. As he liked to remind her, they were loaded and he didn't need to work anyway. He handed the reins of his company over to Blaise in the interim and would return to regular work after they enrolled their daughter in muggle primary school as Hermione wished to do.

Occasionally, she'd allow herself to imagine what life would have been like had she settled for Ron. She'd likely be at home right now with twins screaming on either shoulder why he sat in his office with Harry lazing about while he 'made the money'. The mere thought made her stomach churn.

Watching Draco's domestic side emerge after they married and she gave birth did something to her. She hadn't imagined it would be possible to increase her attraction to the man but it certainly did.

"Draco?"

His head snapped up from the report he was glancing at on her desk. "Yes, love?"

The endearment and the sincerity behind it made her smile slightly and she glanced down at the baby in her arms. Those honey curls, a product of the mixing of both their genes, warmed her heart further. It was the best thing either of them had ever done.

"Are you cooking tonight?"

"Whatever you want, Sweetheart," he answered automatically.

On the outside it might seem like an unbalanced relationship but she positively adored him and made certain that he knew it. It was far more than he ever wanted and balanced his efforts in their marriage perfectly.

"Chicken marsala," she asked hopefully.

He smirked, a knowing look ghosting his face. It was the first meal he'd ever cooked her and likely the catalyst for her blurting out that she loved him right afterwards. It was a special meal for them both. Hermione usually requested it when she was feeling rather sentimental.

"Of course, I'll make a stop for the ingredients on the way home."

Her daughter was done soon enough and she handed her back to her husband as she buttoned up again. After their daughter released a small burp, he secured her against his chest again.

Hermione walked with him to her door and stood on her toes to kiss him again. Her lips moved to his ear before she pulled away and she whispered, "Perhaps after dinner, you and I can have dessert?"

His answering grin could only be described as wicked.