Isabella's head was pounding once again, and she groaned. The sleepiness was slowly fading away and gently, she flickered her eyes open; astounded when she realized just where she was.
Luxury surrounded her, cherry wood furniture all around her. The fireplace adorned with hints of gold plating around its edges along the stone floor at its base. The bookshelf in the corner of the room reaching up to the ceiling and filled with mountains of books. It's warm mahogany walls, inviting and comforting. She looked up at the four poster bed she was in.
"Draco?" She called quietly and turning about the room finding Roxy who laid by her side.
"Oh Sweetheart. You're alright." A soft voice said, reaching over and gently stroking her hair.
"Draco?" Isabella called again. The sandman's dust still lingering on her eyelashes, forcing them closed and begged for sleep.
"No, Isabella. Its mum."
"Mum? What am I doing here?" Izzy rushed to get to get up but was quickly brought back down to her bed by her mother.
"Dexter brought you back home." Katerina leaned over and kissed Isabella atop her head, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. "I thought you were dead."
"I'm fine Mum, but where's Draco?" She asked again.
Katerina shook her head. "Sweetheart, you shouldn't worry about that boy anymore. Especially after what he did to you." She ran her hand through Izzy's hair. "It's lucky really that Dexter was there to save you from him."
"Mum, you don't understand. It's not his fault." Isabella looked into her mother's eyes pleading. "Where is he? I have to see him. Where is he mum?"
Her mother sighed. "He's here in the Manor, Darling. Dexter found him trailing back here to follow you and locked him up in one of the rooms. He's forbid you to see him, and I'm afraid I have to agree. I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"So because you say I can't see him; I can't? That's nothing but bullshit!" Isabella exclaimed and threw the covers off of her. Her neck wrapped in a small bandage.
"Isabella, no!" Her mother was on her feet now, walking over towards the door protectively. "The door to his room is locked by magic far beyond your abilities anyway."
"Mum, I am not in the mood for this. If it's locked-I'll take my chances." She let out a sarcastic chuckle and shook her head, stepping out of bed and standing in front of the door.
"Step aside and let me out. Trust me, you don't want to do this."
Her mother sounded nervous, like she was trying to convince herself. "We're doing this for your own good, can't you see? That boy is dangerous."
"I am your mother and you will listen to me. Now get back in bed." She let out a sigh. "How about this? I'll go get Dexter and he can bring Draco in here and you two can talk then."
"No. I am not moving or going to bed unless I see Draco." Izzy crossed her arms and huffed. "Do whatever you want. I'm not going to listen to you."
Katerina let out a sigh. "Fine. Go." She stood to the side, pointing her had towards the door. "But if you leave this room, I'm getting Dexter. He won't let his happen. He won't, Isabella. "
"I really don't care." She groaned opening the door and walking through the long halls of the manor. "Roxy take me to Daddy. Where's Draco?"
A few familiar faces appeared, those of her personnel to whom she hadn't seen in ages. A reunion could wait though, Draco was more important at the moment.
Roxy led the way, sniffing the air and turning every which way, stopping when she finally came to a door of one of the smaller guest bedrooms. Of course Dexter wouldn't give Draco comfort. He was a prisoner in his eyes. Roxy pawed at the door, staring at up Izzy and sticking her tongue out, letting out a small bark.
"Thank you." Isabella patted Roxy's head and tried to pry the door open.
"Draco." She whispered, laying a few knocks on the wood.
"Draco. It's me." Her wand wasn't on her; she had already searched her pockets and came up empty.
Draco had been laying on the bed, resting on his side and staring out the window. He was a prisoner in his wife's house, her family hating him more and more with every day that passed. And maybe he deserved to be hated. After everything he had done to Izzy, especially the night before, maybe he deserved to be a prisoner.
He let a tear run down his cheek at the thought of what he did to her, but at the sound of his name coming from the door, he perked his head up slightly, wiping away the evidence of being weak. And at hearing Izzy's voice, he smiled, but it quickly fell. He didn't deserve her, she shouldn't want him, but he walked over to the door anyway.
"I'm here." He said softly, pressing his forehead against the wood.
"Draco, how do I get in? Did Dexter lock the window?" Isabella continued to glance around the area for a sign of her father or her mother coming into the hall.
"Yes." Draco said sadly, nodding his head despite the fact that she couldn't see him. "You're not supposed to be here, Izzy."
"Don't patronize me Malfoy. I've got about 5 minutes before Dexter gets wind of me being here."
Draco sighed, licked his lips nervously. "He locked everything. I'll be in Azkaban before you know it."
"Draco listen to what I am about to say. I'm going to find a way in. I'll be there in a minute."
"Its pointless Izzy. He's sealed every entrance way."
Isabella groaned, then moved with haste down the hall and scoured, the manor, searching for a member of her personnel, seeing as her parent's sought employing witches and wizards more beneficial to the Wizarding Community than elves, the thought bubbled popped into her head.
Two witches were dusting the furniture and looked up to see the younger, once 'missing' mistress of their Manor now walking about, flustered she seemed.
"Either of you seen Cristian?"
"Miss Isabella? You shouldn't be out of bed. Mr. Payne wouldn't like it if he saw you doing so." A petite woman with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a black dress said, raising her eyebrow.
"Lilith is right. Dexter won't be pleased if he finds that you're out."
"Please." Isabella begged, "This is a matter of urgency. Where is he?"
"Out in the stables." Jacqueline, another other woman blurted out, coming out of the library, an apologetic look ridden across her face and thrown at the two woman, staring at her with astonished eyes.
"Thank you!" Isabella ran out of the room as fast as she could towards the backdoor, furthest from her father's office where she was sure, he was brooding.
"Cristian!"
"Miss Isabella?" The dirty blond and muscular stable-hand perked his head up, a rake in his hand, to which he threw to the ground as Isabella ensued him in a bone crunching hug. His pools of black looked into the soul that was his mischievous yet dear friend.
"Izzy! What are you-"
Isabella pulled away. "Cristian, I don't have much time. I need your help."
He sighed, bowing his head, speaking while his gaze laid on the brick floors. "Isabella, if this is about Malfoy-"
"I love him." She confessed, fixated on his coiffed blond locks. "I need your help, Cristian. Please. Help me?"
"Isabella if your father found out that I helped you get to him, I would be out of a job. Or he might even sent me to the Ministry for doing so."
Blackmail wasn't her forte but desperate times called for desperate measures. "I gave you this job. I can take it away just as easily."
Cristian took a step backward, in pure bewilderment, scoffing and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Are you blackmailing me?" He pursed his lips, walking away from her and grabbing the rake from the floor, resuming his duties of cleaning out a stall, sending hay flying about as he mucked out the horses' quarters.
"Are you going to help me or not?"
He stopped again, slamming his tip of the rake into the stone, and huffing. The horses nickering behind them, pacing about their stalls.
Draco was once again sitting on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, curiously, wondering if Izzy had been caught. He sat licking his lips nervously, and staring at the wall where furniture should have been, knowing that she was no longer on the other side of the door.
There were signs of a struggle coming from the floor where furniture should have been; as well as the sounds of scratching and whining.
"What the hell?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, now sitting up. His fruitless notion of searching for his wand in his pocket bringing an internal groan.
Something was ramming its way inside, the floorboards creaking and bending, a piece of the floor raising up and a tawny dark pair of eyes, which glowed in the slit between the floor and the panel brought Draco backward in surprise.
"Fuck!"
He was bombarded by a golden flash of fur crashing into him and a tongue lapping away at his face, along with a wagging tail scraping across his leg.
"Roxy?" He was relieved to see a familiar face, one that was happy to see him anyways.
Roxy sat in front of him, leaning her head on his shoulder and leaning his body against his, her tail still flapping about madly.
"How did you get in here?" He whispered, arms wrapped around the dog in a comforting manner.
His questions were soon answered as a voice, captured his full attention. Heart fluttering to no end as he saw her struggling to get out of some sort of trap door.
"That went well." She groaned, using her arms as anchors and crawled out of the hole, a smile curled upon her lips. "Hi there."
He smiled back, but it was half hearted, forced. He remained on the floor, looking down at the dog still in his arms and shaking his head.
"Izzy, I can't even tell you how sorry I am without feeling like a broken record." He licked his lips, staring at his hands, not able to look her in the face.
Isabella stared over at him, after returning the secret passageway to its hidden chamber. "Are you angry with me?"
He felt his heart stop at her innocence and broken heart as the question lingered. Her battered face and bruised skin only sent shivers down his spine, blurs of what he had done striking him in the skull and vanishing as quickly as he blinked, her voice sending him crashing back down to Earth.
"For you to even ask me that is unspeakable."
"Then look at me."
He shook his head, feeling a knot in his throat as tears started coming to his eyes again. Seeing the bandage around her neck only made everything worse. He had almost killed her, had come closer than ever. Every time his subconscious took over his body, he got worse. Next time, he'd end up killing her.
"Draco look at me. Please." Her free hand reached him as she made her way over to him and took hold of his chin, forcing him to make eye contact with him. "Listen, I'm not angry with you for what happened. And by ignoring me you're not helping the situation."
A tear ran down his cheek and he quickly wiped it away. "I almost killed you." He sniffled in a barely audible voice. "I can't control it. What happens next time?" He glanced back down on the ground. "I couldn't live with myself if I killed you. I-I can't live without you."
"It's not your fault. You know that." She whispered, wrapping his arms around him and laying her head on his shoulder, replacing Roxy's warmth that had trapped him in. "I don't want to lose you because of your asinine father. I love you Draco."
"I love you too." He mumbled, looking down at her and squeezing her body, releasing a shaky breath. "I love you so much." He whispered into her hair, kissing the side of her head.
There were voices suddenly coming from the hallway, which made Draco shoot his head up towards the door.
"Where is she? I thought you said she was coming here?!" It was Dexter. His voice was raging, and was only getting louder as he got closer towards the door.
"Dexter, darling, calm down, please." Katerina voices came from behind Dexter's, hers more calm and understanding.
"How can I calm down!? She might be in the room with that... murderer!"
Isabella hugged him even tighter, burying her head in the crook of his neck.
She could feel Draco's strong and warm arms protecting her, his head still in the direction of the voices shouting from outside. Anger quickly settled in and he threw a glare at the empty space; his wife still huddled in the safety of his arms. The bitter cold emptiness of the room shrouding them in frost as he only clung to her, his arms, shields, protecting her from the wicked world they happened to live in.
"I'm sure she's around the house somewhere. Don't take this to extremes and lower your voice. Go and get Dominic. I'm sure she's with him."
"I'm not going anywhere until I make sure she's not in there with him!"
The door suddenly clicked open, and Dexter made his way inside, fist clenching at his sides, wand in his hand. When he saw Izzy and Draco holding one another there, he fumed.
"Isabella Aria Toretto! Get. Away. From. Him. Now!"
"How did you even get in here?!"
"Call it being resourceful." Draco's eyes brooded over Dexter's, his own frustration snapping at his father in law.
Draco only held on, his need to protect her greater than any wrath her father could force upon him.
"I am not Isabella Toretto." She mumbled.
"What?!" Dexter snapped.
Isabella turned around in his surprise. Her fury and rage matching that of her father. "My name is Isabella Malfoy! And I will do no such thing!"
"When are you going to get that through your head?! There's nothing you do that is going to keep me away from him!"
"I am your father! Whether that be by marriage or blood, you have to listen to me! I will not stand around and watch this happen anymore. I won't. He tried to kill you! And now you're at his side again!" He took a couple more steps towards the two.
"I don't care! I'm not listening to you if you won't listen to me! How many times do I have to tell you that it's not his fault!" This battle of the vexed individuals would only escalate further if neither one would calm down. Isabella was shaking with rage, and her breaths were only becoming deeper and louder.
"Izzy, please, it's okay." Draco grabbed a hold of her hand, making an attempt to get her to calm down.
Dexter and Izzy however, barely realized, and continued yelling at one another.
"You can't honestly sit there and tell me that it wasn't his fault. I walked in on him with a knife in his hand and a cut in your throat as he tortured you! How can you defend him!?"
"For the last bloody time-It's not his fault! His scum of a father did this to him! For Merlin's sake, why can't I make you understand that?!"
Katerina laid a hand on her husband's shoulder, speaking in a gentle tone. "Dexter. Darling, please calm down."
Dexter took a deep breath at his wife's calming hand, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll allow you to explain, but I'm not going to promise that it'll change my mind. So... tell me how this isn't his fault."
"I've told you time and time again; Draco's father brainwashed him. Every so often Draco goes into a subconscious state. We have no idea when or what causes it but its usually when he's worked to the bone and then passes out. His only objective is to rid himself of me. He can't help it, believe me I've tried to." Her shaking was subsiding, but she still sounded stern and on the verge of a freakout. "It's not his fault."
"So you're just going to wait until the time comes when he doesn't stop? Or when someone doesn't come to your aid? What happens then?" He glared at Draco before looking back at Izzy. "Better yet, how do you know he's not lying to you? How do you know he hasn't been telling you that to cover his own ass?"
"His own father told me so! That bastard planned my assassination! I would have been dead right now if Draco hadn't saved me!" She got to her feet and took a step toward him, staying in front of Draco; holding him behind her. "Yes, he may be a prat, and a stubborn jackass sometimes, but he's not a murderer!"
Dexter sighed, shaking his head. "Izzy." He ran a hand through his hair. "He's a death eater." He spoke softly now, losing his defenses despite his hate for Draco.
Isabella groaned and shook her fists in anger at her sides. "He's not a death eater! Name one person he's killed."
"You don't need to murder to be a death eater. His dark mark is proof enough. And it's only going to get him thrown in Azkaban." He turned to look at his wife before turning back to Izzy and Draco. "I'm sorry, but I still don't stand for this. And I never will."
"No!" She proclaimed, going back to Draco and holding him tightly as tears began to weld up in her eyes. "You're not taking him away! I won't let you! You want to send him to Azkaban-Then send me too!"
"Isabella, please." Draco softly spoke into her hair. "Don't overreact. You'll send yourself into a panic."
"Isabella, please, calm down." Her mother walked over to her, putting a calming hand on her arm. "We won't take him away, sweetie. I promise."
"He can stay here, but I'm not letting him out of this room." Dexter said. "And you won't see him unless me or your mother are with you. Those are my conditions. And I'm not changing my mind."
"You say that now and next thing I know; I'll wake up one morning and Draco will be gone. Do what you have to do, but I'm. Not. Leaving. This. Room." She replied, shoving her mother off and then turned to her father. "How can you call yourself sane when you plan on keeping Draco in here like a wild animal? You're no better than Lucius Malfoy!"
"How dare you compare me to that man!" Dexter snapped. "How dare you disrespect me and your mother!" Dexter took a couple steps closer to her. "You are coming with me and there's nothing you can do about it!"
"Can you just stop, please!?" Draco finally yelled. He was tired of people arguing over him, of Izzy having to defend him. He grabbed a hold of Izzy's hand, turning her around and facing him. "Izzy, listen to your father. I'll be fine. He may not trust me, but I trust his word that he'll do what he says." He glanced up at Dexter before looking back down to Izzy. "You lost one father already, you don't want to lose another by defending me."
Isabella was speechless and just stood there in awe of what Draco had just said. Did he want to be taken away and forced into prison? Because he would surely end up there. All she could do was shake her head as more tears streamed down her face. With one last sniffle, she held onto him again, weeping into his shoulder once more.
"Don't let them take me away." She said in a barely audible whisper.
Draco held onto her tight, kissing the top of her head and soothing her. "You need to listen to them. I love you, and I always will, and that's all that matters. If it makes you feel any better, I'll keep Roxy here with me. If they try and take me away from the Manor, I'll send her after you, alright?" He ran his hand through her hair, leaning closer to whisper into her ear so nobody else could hear him. "He needs to find a way to trust me on his own."
"I'm scared Draco. I've lost you once. I don't want to lose you again." Her voice matching his in whisper. "I love you."
Dexter walked over to the two and grabbed Isabella around the waist, pulling her out of Draco's arms. "No! No, please! Daddy no!" She cried.
"This is for you own good Isabella." Dexter yelled over her. "You need some separation from him."
"No! No-" That was when her cries lowered into a howl and Dexter stopped dead in his tracks as his daughter had shifted into a shadow of pure black and now glared at him with ferocity on her four paws.
"What have you done to my daughter?!" He questioned, raising his wand and pointing it at Draco.
She turned on her own father, growling at him fiercely and snapping at him while she backed away protecting Draco. Her human body was no more and that same wolf Draco knew to be was standing before him.
Draco stared at Dexter, eyes wide, shaking his head. "If it's not obvious, she's an animagus." He held his hands up slightly in defense. "Please, can't... can't you just give me a chance? You were going to. Hell, you did. And you were starting to trust me, I know you were."
"That was before you tried to kill her. Had I known of your little so called outburts I would never have gave you that much freedom around her."
Isabella eyed his wand with caution and bared her teeth. She had the thirst for blood in her eyes. Her body was now crouched low and head down, looking ready to leap forward and attack.
"You put her up to this didn't you?"
"Didn't you?!" Dexter roared, stepping forward, only to find himself backing away just as quickly as the Wolf barked at him, snapping her teeth at him.
"No." Draco said simply, shaking his head. "You did when you decided not to trust her. My subconscious may have tried to kill her, but my conscious mind, the one I'm in control of, has saved her life more than a few times. Yes, I'm a Malfoy, and yes, I have a dark mark. But if you lowered your wand and actually cared enough to ask or to put some faith in your daughter, you would have found out that I only took it to save her."
He pointed at Izzy. "If I hadn't... she'd be dead right now. And instead of being here, pointing a wand at your innocent son in law, you'd be kneeling over her grave in tears."
"You want me to believe that? What do you think I'm stupid or something?" Dexter sounded more amused now than he did angry. He uttered a slight laugh, mocking him. "I mean, I knew you were daft but I didn't think that you were an idiot."
Dexter turned to Isabella now, "-and stop this ridiculous tantrum Isabella. It's not going to work on me."
He moved in on them and that was when Isabella went mental and attacked her own father. Biting down hard on his arm, locking her jaw tight, attempting to pull him down to the ground as Dexter grabbed Draco by his collar. Much like an actual wolf would take down big game.
"Izzy, no!" Draco yelled, grabbing Izzy's upper body and making an attempt to pull her off of him as Dexter yelled for her to stop, trying to reach his wand that he had dropped and was now laying out of his reach.
Her mother, on the other hand, had let out a terrifying scream and ran from the room to get help, wanting to put a stop to the madness going on.
"Izzy, you're attacking your own father!" Draco yelled, now on top of her, trying to loosen her jaw and get her to let go of him.
She wouldn't listen to any of this, too trapped in her own anger to see reason and locked her jaw.
Ripping into him with ease while Dexter continued to cry out in pain. All her anger and frustration for everything that had happened from her losing their first child up to her father being so blind that he wouldn't give Draco the benefit of the doubt had resurfaced and was being taken out on Dexter. That bit of provoking, sent her flying into attack mode.
Draco groaned in frustration, giving up on trying to pry Izzy off of Dexter and instead reaching for Dexter's wand laying on the ground and pointing it at Izzy. With a flick of wrist, he cast the spell that would change Izzy back into her human form and sent her sliding across the floors.
She would be pissed at him sure, but he couldn't let her kill Dexter. When she had changed back, Draco ran for her, grabbing her and holding her back, even if she did change back into her Wolf form, he would at least have her restrained.
Isabella's face was caked in a dark crimson red. As Draco held her back she continued to struggle, spitting out blood as it stained her teeth, panting heavily.
When she finally snapped out of it and saw Dexter gripping to his arm as it continued to seep blood, Isabella instantly panicked.
"Daddy?" She cried, now stricken with guilt. "I didn't-I. I was-Daddy?"
Dom and Katerina came rushing into the room at that exact moment, stopping and staring in awe at what was before them.
Dexter stood up, still gripping onto his arm, wincing at the movement. "You're not the daughter I raised. I don't know what has gotten into you, Isabella, but this has got to change. Starting with the worst influence on you... that boy." He glared at Draco before shoving his way past his step son and wife and storming from the room to aid to his wounds.
Isabella shook her head softly staring at the empty place where her father was. The spotting of blood covering the floor in what an artist would call splatter paint. "I didn't mean to hurt him. I swear I didn't want to kill him."
"Isabella, what have you done?" Katerina gasped, glancing over at her in horror before going after her husband.
"Draco, you have to believe me. I didn't-"
"I know." Draco cut her off, giving her a small, comforting smile, pulling his sleeve down over his hand and starting to clean the blood off of her face. He pulled her into an embrace, hugging her tightly. "I know you didn't. Our subconscious mind can do some crazy things." He glanced up at Dom who was still standing in the doorway, in shock over the situation and not sure what to say.
The metallic taste was surging through her mouth and she felt her stomach turn and rise up into her throat.
Isabella quickly pushed away from Draco and ran into the lavatory, turning the sink on full blast and dunking her face in the water, washing away blood that had begun to coagulate and harden over her face; soon diving head first into the basin of the toilet, vomiting her brains out as she collapsed over and grasped the bowl with both arms tightly.
Draco sighed, watching her go and looking up at Dom. "She lost control. She wouldn't hurt Dexter. You know that as well as I do."
Dominic ran a hand through his black hair and cursed under his breath. "She could have killed him. I mean, I'm used to Ari's outbreaks but this is the first mum or Dexter has seen them. I'm just hoping Dexter doesn't take it to heart; I know Mum's freaking out right now. She doesn't know about me either. Hell, I don't even think she knows about you. And you'll do well to keep it that way."
Draco nodded, lowering his head slightly, glancing at the bathroom door to make sure Izzy was okay. "You'll talk to him, won't you? Dexter. Explain everything to him?"
"I've got no choice in the matter. Do I?" He grinned, clapping Draco on the back. "Might as well spend time with her while you can. I doubt you'll be seeing her without constant supervision for a while." He then left in the direction where Katerina had gone, hoping to give some sort of explanation for what had just happened.
Draco walked into the bathroom, knocking on the doorframe to let Izzy know that he was coming in. He glanced down at her, still puking over the toilet.
"Izzy? Are you aright?" He asked softly.
Isabella coughed and shook her head, continuing to vomit like mad. Holding her arms over the bowl to steady herself as she knelt over taking a few breathes of air in between. With another groan, she lowered her head into the toilet, vomiting once more.
Draco kneeled down next to her, putting a soothing hand on her back and holding her hair back with his other. "He'll forgive you, Izzy. He's just mad at you for being with me is all. Dom will explain everything. He's doing it right now, as a matter of fact." He spoke softly, trying to get her to calm down enough so she would stop puking before it turned to dry heaves.
Her hand gripped to her stomach and she doubled over, eyes bloodshot and throat sore.
Isabella whimpered at the taste of vomit swirling around her mouth and how it only enhanced the nausea. Her face was a shade of ghostly white and she was sweating madly. "I cant-" And threw her head into the toilet.
Draco stood up, grabbing a cup from the sink and filling it with water, then going to the side of the toilet and holding it out for her to take. "Here, drink this. And breathe. You're in a mental state of panic and you need to calm down."
With a shaky hand, she grabbed the cup in her own hands. Holding it but not drinking it, as she hovered over the basin, looking ready to pass out.
"Izzy, please, you have to drink." He went behind her, leaning down on the ground and pulling her back so she was resting against his chest. He took the water from her hand and gently held it to her mouth. "Here, open up. Take some in your mouth and just spit it out to get the vomit taste out of your mouth."
With a nod of her head, Izzy leaned over and took a sip in her mouth swirling it around her mouth and spitting it out in the bathtub. She groaned, laying her head on Draco's chest feeling miserable: not just for the feeling of nausea but for the fact that for a moment she had wanted to murder the one man who took her in as her own, despite not being blood related.
"Try and take a sip now." Draco held it up to her mouth again. "You'll feel better, I promise." He ran his free hand through her hair, pushing it behind her ears, trying his best to soothe her and make her comfortable. Despite them sitting on the hard tiles in the bathroom.
She did as she was told and swallowed a gulp of cold water, tilting her head back and resting again. "I'm sorry. For everything. If I hadn't been so stupid and controlled myself-You wouldn't be in this mess."
He smiled, still running his hand through her hair. "What mess? I thought I was never going to be able to see you without Dexter breathing down our necks. So this is a plus." He kissed the top of her head. "He'll forgive you, Isabella. He loves you. He's just angry." His tone was suddenly serious, wanting her to understand that he truly believed what he was saying.
She scoffed, hitching a laugh in her throat and taking his hand, holding it gently. Contemplating on how warm his touch was, not just physically but emotionally. "You really want to be around me when I smell like death?"
"Of course I do. I'd be around you even if you smelled like... hippogriff shite." He let out a small chuckle, trying his best to cheer her up. He held the water in front of her again. "Here, finish it up, then I'll take you to the bed and you can rest for a while. I'll stay by your side and make sure nothing else happens with Dexter."
"Says the man who is terrified of anything to do with the beasts." She drank the remainder of the liquid, feeling her empty stomach grumbling as the weight of the water hit it. "I'm pretty sure I can walk Malfoy. I'm not an invalid." Isabella joked.
"I know." He smiled at her, standing up and holding his hand out for her to take. "Just didn't want you puking all over the place again is all."
Isabella held onto his body while he led her across the bathroom. "Oh that's right, you're going to be imprisoned in here. I forgot that Dexter isn't willing to clean up your room if it happens to get messy."
"At this point I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't willing to feed me when I get hungry." Draco let her over to the bed, lifting the covers over her when she got in and sitting on the edge besides her, staring at Roxy who was sitting in the corner, staring at the two of them with a sort of guard about her.
"Stay with me?" She asked, beckoning him to lay under the covers with her.
"Alright." He said, pulling the covers over him and laying down, pulling her into his arms. "I'm not falling asleep here. I just... I can't."
With a yawn, Isabella went into him, nuzzling her head in his chest. "You don't have to. Just stay with me."
He kissed the top of her head, closing his eyes and just inhaling her scent. "I love you." He mumbled. "When will things start to get better?"
"When this war is over. Then we can go through with our plan of living life as a bickering couple." She sighed, "Draco?"
"Yes?" He asked, staring up at the ceiling now, still holding her tightly against his chest.
"If I didn't lose-" Isabella gulped, feeling her throat suddenly dry. "-Him. Would you have stayed and raised him along side me?"
She then looked up at him as he stared at the ceiling, "Or does being a parent frighten you?"
"What? Of course I would have stayed." He glanced down at her, pulling away slightly to be able to look at her better. "You're the love of my life. Of course being a parent scares the bloody hell out of me; But never in my life would I leave you behind to raise a child on your own. If there's one thing my father taught me, it's how to not be like him. Actually living up to the title."
She curled her fingers around his, and examined them lovingly; fighting the urge to kiss him as a thank you but was reminded of the incident in the loo and instead uttered the words: "I love you."
"I love you more." He smiled at her, pushing her hair out of her face as he squeezed her closer to him. "One day, when it's meant to be, when this war is over, we'll have kids. When we're ready."
"What if we aren't? What if we're never ready? What if we're horrible parents and our children hate us? Or worse, what if the kids are all like walking time bombs ready to explode at any moment? What if-"
"Izzy, stop." He kissed her forehead to force her to stop talking. "Our kids are going to be brats, there's no doubt about that. But they'll be our kids, and we're going to raise them the way we want. They'll be perfect, and we'll be ready. I know we will be."
"So you mean to tell me you're prepared for long nights with no sleep?" She chuckled, "Babies don't have any consideration for their parents. They want something; they cry for it. Imagine how Roxy was times 10, if not more. At least she managed to sleep through the night."
Draco laughed, smiling at her. "And we'll have 9 months to prepare ourselves for us for it. My whole life I've been prepared to have an heir. Sure, I'm not ready to be a parent, but I've been preparing myself mentally for years."
Isabella stared at him with curiosity, "Really? But you don't like kids. I mean when we met Nik back in Manchester, you didn't seem so eager to have him around. I could see it in your eyes."
He shrugged. "It's different when it's your own kid. From the second they're born you love everything about them. Other kids are... annoying." He chuckled slightly.
"I liked Niklaus. He had attitude, and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Rare quality in people nowadays. I'm hoping our kid is half as spunky as Nik."
"Well if he's your kid then he'll certainly be like that." Draco teased, giving her a squeeze. "Our kids will be perfect... just like me."
Isabella gave him a small shove. "What am I? Disaster Prone?"
"Well there was that one time-"
She glared at the smile on his face. "It's not funny."
"Yes it is." He kissed the top of her head. "You're perfect for me too. We're perfect for each other." He sighed, looking back up at the ceiling. "If only everyone else would see it too."
"They will. In due time." She looked over at his grey eyes, her face suddenly serious. "Promise me one thing?"
"Anything." He said, looking back at her.
"Promise me that you'll never leave me. That regardless of what Dexter says or does you won't leave."
"He's not dividing us. He won't. I don't care." He stared at her so she would know that he was telling the truth. "Nothing he can do can keep us apart."
She held him tightly. "Good, because I think I'd go mental by myself here. I can't even think about life without you."
"I'll always be there for you. I love you. Always." He stared back up at the ceiling. "Dexter can shove his wand up his arse."
Isabella snickered, "Do you want me to vomit all over you at the thought of that image?"
Draco hitched a laugh in his throat, shaking his head. "You've already done a good job of that. It will be weeks before I get the smell out of my clothes."