Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews and general support! Sorry I took so long to update...
Time Keeps Slipping By ~ Multiple Parts
I. China Patterns
Astoria couldn't help the girlish squeal that left her lips as she detached a large creamy envelope from her best friend's owl. "Draco!" She called into the quiet air of the Manor as she tore open the envelope to reveal a piece of Odessa's customary stationary in front of an invitation.
"What? What is it?" Draco's breathing was labored as he had run down the stairs to check on his wife believing that something was wrong instead of right.
She looked up with a breathtaking smile as she waved the invitation in front of him. "She wants the gilded bronze china pattern." Her eyes sparkled as Draco stared at her in confusion.
"Who?" He loosened his tie as his wife kissed his cheek.
"Odessa, of course." She grinned happily as she went to grab her purse while Draco looked at the contents of the letter:
"My Dearest Best Friend Stori, I hope you're up for the role of Matron of Honor! I think I'm finally ready to join you in the ranks of married women.
Your Friend, Odessa Grandfall
P.S. Viktor and I would like the new gilded bronze china pattern that Gershok's just debuted."
"And you said the waist in this dress is extendable?" Odessa pursed her lips as the clerk at 'Twillfit and Tattlings' nodded a bit nervously. "What do you think, Stori?" The blonde leggy woman looked at her best friend, her nerves showing. "Do I look like a…bride?"
Astoria smiled as her (newly acquired bridesmaid dress) flow-y purple dress she wore fluttered and pooled around her knees prettily. "You are going to make an enchanting bride. Viktor won't be able to keep his eyes off of you." She carefully placed a veil in her friend's hair causing Odessa to nod at the clerk.
"This is the one." She smiled as a tear slipped down her face and the clerk fitted both Odessa and Astoria's dresses in record time.
As the girls exited the shop and picked up éclairs before stopping to sit and chat at their favorite spot in the park, Astoria felt her conscious nagging. Odessa wasn't the type of girl that worried about expanding dress middles or cried when she found the right dress. She was the type of girl that was more worried about the amount of jewels she could show off; and how original the dress was. "Are you okay?"
"I'm pregnant!" The words slipped out of Odessa's mouth in a sort of stunned rush. "Oh Stori, I wasn't meant to have children." Tears pooled in her eyes as Astoria stared at her like a fish out of water. "I mean…Viktor still travels so much to play quidditch. We were going to wait years and then…" She trailed off looking at her friend in a desperate fashion that made her seem very unlike the young woman she had always been.
Astoria shook her head as she forced a smile and hugged her friend. "Stop, it'll all work out. And I'm sure Viktor must be thrilled. He seems like the type that would rather be a dad than be an international sports pro." She felt her heart tug as she pulled away from her glowing best friend. "And you'll be a wonderful mother – so quirky and loving and divine." She nodded as Odessa smiled hopefully and nodded.
"Thanks, Stori." Odessa sat back as she watched baby ducks waddle along with their mother towards the water. "You always know what to say."
"Where's Astoria?" Draco frowned at their house elf, Mitzy, as she played with the lace hem of her brightly colored dress before meeting Draco's concerned gaze as he sat at the head of the dining table ready for dinner.
Mitzy blinked her overly large blue eyes before speaking. "Mistress said she doesn't feel well; and will just sleep." The house elf nodded, looking as if she wanted to say more.
"Mitzy, what is it?" Draco's brow creased as the house elf bobbed as it walked towards him.
"Mitzy thinks Mistress is sad Sir." The house elf rung its hands as Draco nodded before standing.
"Thank you, Mitzy." He climbed the stair two at a time before quietly making his way into the master bedroom to see his wife curled up into a ball. "Storia, love, what is it?" He pushed a strand of her glossy black hair behind her ear as she looked up at him and let out a wave of fresh tears.
"I'm a horrible friend and sister, Draco." She shook her head as Draco scooped her up into his lap easily.
"Of course you're not." He rubbed her back as she ran her fingers across his tie. "What happened?"
"Odessa is pregnant…and when she told me all I could think about was how envious I am. I was sad that she's pregnant and I'm not. What kind of person feels heartbroken when their best friend gives them the best news imaginable?" She couldn't look at Draco as she cried. She knew how unnecessarily guilty he felt about the fact that they hadn't yet had a child when Astoria so wanted one.
"Oh Storia…" He kissed her head softly as he held her more tightly to his chest.
"And the worst part is I look at her and Daphne and wonder why it is that they get to be mums when they don't even appreciate it. I mean we have Adora more than Daphne does; and Odessa's never even wanted children…" She sniffled as uncontrollable sobs shook her body. "And I'm so jealous, Draco. I've never been jealous of anyone my entire life – not really. And now that I am I just feel like the worst person because I don't want to throw Odessa a baby shower even though I know that I should. And sometimes, when I'm up late at night with Adora…I wish she were really ours." She spoke so softly she wasn't even sure if Draco had heard her, except that he pulled her tighter and buried his head in her hair.
"I know." He let out a breath he didn't know that he had been holding. "It'll happen. I know it will. You'd make too great of a mother to not ever get the chance." He softly wiped tears from her eyes. "Something just isn't quite right yet." He kissed her forehead softly as he sat back against the headboard, still cradling her. "And don't feel bad. We've been trying to have a baby; and it's hard that it isn't happening right when we want it to when it seems like all of your closest friends are getting pregnant."
She nodded as she bit her lip and let her head rest peacefully against his chest. "We'll just appreciate our baby that much more, right?" She looked up at him as he smiled and nodded before capturing her lips softly.
"Right." He softly pressed her head back against his shoulder as they sat and watched the sun set from their window in silence.
II. Hen Night and Babies
Theo frowned as he and Draco watched his one year old daughter who was currently giggling at them and smelling like a rotten egg. "Why don't you change her, Draco?" His eyes widened as Draco gave him a disgusted look. "It'll be great practice for you for uhh someday."
"No thank you, Nott." Draco's nose rose aristocratically as he shook his head. "I don't deal with nappies. That's a woman's territory. That or a nurse." He nodded as Theo blanched white.
"Mate, I can't change her." Theo shook his head in horror as Draco scoffed.
"Well you had better get over that. She is your daughter after all." Draco took a step back as Adora crawled to him and laughed as he scooted back effectively turning it into a game. He scooted back and she crawled towards him more quickly. He looked at Theo who looked close to vomiting all over the new rug that Astoria had recently bought in her attempts to satiate her need for something very unmaterialistic. "Oh fine, you pansy!" He rolled his eyes as he scooped up the little girl. "We'll do it together. Get the nappy." He nodded as he made his way to the guest bedroom that had effectively been turned into his goddaughter's room in their home.
"Oh Merlin!" Theo held his nose as he scooted away from the baby on the changing table at the same time Draco did.
"She's a terminator….Salazar." Draco gagged as Theo bumped into the rocking chair and fell on his bottom. Draco kept the dirty nappy and baby at an arm's length away as he threw some baby powder on her bottom and fastened on a fresh diaper.
"She doesn't usually have powder all over her legs…" Theo commented questioningly until Draco sent him a silencing look. "…But I'm sure it just means she's that much cleaner or ahh something." He nodded.
"Thank you for inviting me, Grandfall!" A drunken Daphne trilled as she sloppily hugged Odessa who raised an eyebrow at Astoria who merely shrugged and took another swig of Firewhiskey. "I never have girls' nights because all of my friends are pregnant or have babies!" She laughed at the last part as she patted Odessa's small stomach. "'Course you will too soon."
"You're lucky that I love you." Odessa's voice was sharp as she gave Astoria a meaningful look.
"Told you I'd get you back for having sex in the summer house..." She smirked as Odessa's eyes widened and Daphne began dancing on her own.
Odessa stared at Daphne a moment before drinking her sparkling grape juice and scooting next to Astoria. "She is the reason why Merlin knew I had to be an only child. How do you do it? She's a bloody lunatic!" Odessa's voice sounded desperate as she stared horrified at the eldest Greengrass daughter.
Astoria giggled as she kissed her friend's cheek. "You grew up on me, Mrs. Krum." She nodded as she laid her head on Odessa's shoulder and watched her sister chat to a girl that had been a few years younger than Daphne in Slytherin.
"Mainly because I didn't want to be left behind...That and I sort of love the bloke." Odessa's voice was soft and honest as Astoria looked at her before resuming her previous position. "You've always been steps ahead of me; and you're not just my best friend…you're my only friend. I want what you have." She nodded as she drained her glass and Astoria hugged her without warning.
"I love you, 'Dessa." She smiled as she sat her bottle down. "Come on, let's dance!" She laughed as Odessa laughed and they joined Daphne dancing on the dancefloor.
"Vhat is on her legs?" Viktor Krum stared at the baby that was holding herself upright on the coffee table with curiosity.
"Baby Powder." Draco gave the foreign man a stern look – as if daring him to speak anymore on the subject. "So…you're marrying Grandfall then?" He studied the man who smiled brightly.
"Yes. She is a beauty. Is she not?" His voice was full of pride as Draco merely raised an eyebrow and Theo snorted into his glass of gin.
"Something like that." Draco slumped down into the fluffy couch as Viktor sat down on the ground and allowed Adora to tug at his clothes so that she could stand up.
"Oh gods!" Odessa's put-out voice could be heard through the entire Manor as she and a tipsy Astoria held up a rather unhelpful Daphne. "Just chuck her on the ground, Stori! Someone else can take care of her." She sighed as the men made their way into the entry way.
"No! I've got her." Theo stepped forward wrapping his arm around his wife's waist.
"Vas it fun, Dessie?" Viktor smiled as Odessa launched herself into his arms.
"The most, Vik!" Astoria giggled as she kissed the Bulgarian man's cheek and her husband looked at her questioningly. "Let's do it again in…ten years!" She nodded enthusiastically as Draco merely scooped her off of her feet and made his way towards the stairs. "Night!" She called brightly as she waved and Daphne laughed, while Odessa nodded.
"Would you mind?" Theo looked towards his daughter and then Odessa, as the woman in question frowned. "Thanks!" He smiled before tucking his wife into a guest bedroom before snatching his daughter up.
"I didn't know that snot-Daphne had it in her." Odessa shook her head before tugging Viktor towards the fireplace.
III. And they Danced
Astoria watched as her husband uncomfortably looked around the reception. Viktor's friends had of course included the majority of the Weasleys and the Potters – meaning that they were all currently congregated about the reception in formal wear and partying just like Draco and Astoria were supposed to be. "I need to go make my speech…you'll be alright here. Won't you?" She asked uncertainly as she looked at Blaise and his fiancée who they had come over from their table to speak to.
"Course." He nodded as he drained another glass of champagne.
Astoria tapped a knife against her champagne flute getting everyone's attention. "Hello. To all of you who don't know me, I'm Astoria Malfoy – Odessa's Matron of Honor and oldest friend." She smiled at her radiant best friend who was looking up at her happily from her new husband's side. "There are loads of stories that I could tell you about Odessa from our years of friendship. However, none of them are as important as the moment she showed up on my doorstep unexpectedly after her first date with Viktor. Odessa is hard to get through to, but once you do – she's amazing. That's why I knew Mr. Krum was an exceptional man because he had won her over in one evening. I know that they have a love most people aspire to. So to my very best friend, Odessa and her new husband – that they may have every happiness. And that they love each other as much as I love Draco." She held her champagne flute as the guests followed her lead. "To the new Mr. and Mrs. Viktor Krum!" She smiled and sipped her champagne demurely as Odessa hugged her.
"Thanks, Stori." She smiled as she pulled away from her friend and Viktor enveloped her in a tight hug.
"That vas so nice." He smiled as Astoria smiled and made her way back to Draco.
"Let's go home." Astoria smiled seductively as she pulled on her husband's tie playfully breaking him from his reverie.
"Are sure?" He stood up as Astoria kissed the skin beside his ear before whispering in his ear softly.
"Of course." She smiled like a Cheshire cat as a genuine smile fell across his face and they made their way towards the exit, not caring who they were near.
"Oh, James!" Ginny Potter frowned as her oldest son managed to smear chocolate cake all over her new dress.
"Harry!" Ron Weasley poked his best mate's side as he stared at the Malfoy's in horror. "Is that…Malfoy?" He swallowed as the happy man held onto his wife's swaying hips as they laughed.
Ginny looked up following her brother's gaze, smiling slightly as she watched the new Mrs. Malfoy smirk back at her husband – clearly holding him on an invisible leash. She remembered the girl that had been a year younger than her. The girl that had been a tried and true Slytherin that fought for the winning side in the war. She remembered the girl who in her final year had Malfoy's heart on her sleeve.
"I think so…" Harry scowled slightly as he watched the interaction as if it were a foreign thought that had never occurred to him until now.
"I think they're cute." Ginny cut in as she handed James over to Harry.
"That's bloody disgusting." Ron frowned as Ginny laughed and began to wipe the stain on her dress clean.
"How do you think Malfoy's procreate anyways, Ronald?" She smirked mischievously as both Harry and Ron groaned.
"Bloody hell. Watch your mouth!" Ron frowned as Hermione kissed his cheek; and smiled at her sister-in-law.
Draco laughed as his wife began walking up their stairs racing ahead of him as she discarded the pins in her hair and her dress… Her hips swaying seductively the entire way as Draco followed her lead.
In Response: As always thank you, thank you, thank you for all of teh great reviews! I LOVE them! =]
speedsONEandONLY: Hahaha, very true! Yes...I agree on the Daphne front - That being said I hope it better explains her actions in the sequel.
hermione-amelia-rose1479: Hahaha, oh my! I don't know...somehow I can't imagine him reacting good or terroble if his own baby did that. I mean after all, the sun would probably shine out of Baby Malfoy's behind in Draco's oppinion. No greater genes after all, lol
MysticEmma: Thanks so much! Means a lot
amama123: Yay! Hope you had a fab birthday!
xxCarleyCullenxx: Ahh, fair point! Although, I must warn that the sequel to this story has already been posted and completed because it happens many many years later. And it's a LilyScorp fanfic - I don't ship ScorpRose. But thank you so much! I hope the sequel doesn't dissapoint...although, it's not necessary to read it I suppose. But the series would then end for you after this story bc LilyScorp are an integral part of the second and third stories. Thanks so much!
GeeImKate: I know...I'm sorry. I needed to include it somewhere because it wasn't fully explained in "Petal."
Bucky5: Thanks so much! =) And true about Daphne...Although, as much as I disagree with her on how I would've handled the situation, I think it's somewhat easier to have some sympathy for her...
OhMyJonasHP: Thanks so much! Glad you liked it!
Jade Ninja: Haha, I always heart your long reviews! They make me smile! And I'm glad you like how the stories all fit together (although wish upon a star is a story completely aside from this series). And post your stories! I'd LOVE to read them! :) And, I'm glad Daphne's actions and Adora's feelings make more sense now. I am American...sorry if I butcher your lingo.
DirectorOfDreams: Awww, thanks so much! *blushes*
FanOfSlytherins7711: Aww...thanks. and yes
AnnyP: Oh wow! Thank you so very much! that's s increadibly flattering! i hope you liked this chapter
Sabine8195: Thanks...and me too. Sad as it is.
Lizaluvsdoggies: Aww thank you so much! And this story is not over yet! =) However, the sequel is up and done. Mainly because the main couple in the sequel is LilyScorp years down the road...My page has more info on it all! =] Thanks
India'TeamStarkid'J: I completely understand, no worries! thanks for teh review; and I hope all is well!
THANKS FOR REVIEWING! I hope to update soon. =]