Chapter 28
"Why is mom just starring out the window?' Drucilla asked her brothers and sister a few days later.
Xanthus had been very upset about it since they had gotten home. He didn't like that his mother was like this and glared at his father behind his back. It had to be his fault. Sebastian was more concerned with Christmas, which was just around the corner, and was making a list. Sidra was upset because their father was storming around the house and ignoring everyone.
"I don't know what's wrong, but I wish they would both stop it. It can't have been that bad." Sidra commented.
Drucilla nodded and glanced at her mother again. Jezzy was in the game room sitting in the chair by the window. She had come in the see if they needed anything, sat down, and hadn't gotten up. That had been four hours ago. Drucilla stood up and walked over to her mother as Lucius walked into the room. When she reached her side she tapped her on the arm. Jezzy turned to her, tears in her eyes, and smiled.
"Mom, are you okay?"
Lucius stayed by the door, still unnoticed by anyone. Jezzy pulled
Drucilla onto her lap and hugged her.
"I'll be okay." She whispered.
Her three other children were watching her from the table. "What's wrong?" Drucilla asked.
Jezzy sighed. "I did something stupid, and before you ask, I'm not telling you what it was. It was just really stupid."
"Is that why dad is mad?"
Jezzy's chin quivered and she nodded. "He has every right to be mad at me." She whispered again, fresh tears falling from her eyes. She rolled them to try and stop the flow and smiled. "Look at me being a big baby. I'm going to get some fresh air, you four be good."
As Jezzy stood, Lucius backed quietly out of the door and into the hail. He waited until the door opened and closed again before he cleared his throat. Jezzy jumped and turned around to face him. They stared at each other before he spoke.
"We need to talk." He said simply and without emotion.
Jezzy nodded and followed him into the room they had shared for ten years as husband and wife. They sat on the couch in front of the fire and Jezzy shifted uncomfortably. She wondered if he was going to finally tell her to get out of his house. She hung her head. She deserved it.
Lucius cleared his throat and looked at her. He had so much he wanted to say. He was angry that she had betrayed their marriage and slept with Draco. Angry at Draco for taking advantage of her while she was drunk. Angry at her for feeling the need to do it a second time. He was terrified that she wanted now to be with his son; wanted to take his family away from him. He knew this was ridiculous, if Jezzy had really wanted that, she would have already gone.
He was sad that she had been treated so poorly in the last month, by every man she had cared for. First she was drugged and raped. Then she killed someone for the very first time. Then she had received the Dark Mark and torture from the hands of he Dark Lord himself, as he, Lucius, stood there and tried his best to put on a blank face. To top it all off she had been sent on her first mission with the very person she should not have been with in her vulnerable state.
He shook his head and sighed.
"Jezzy, what are we going to do?' He asked sadly.
Jezzy looked up at him. "I will leave when you ask me to.' She answered softly.
He rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. "I'm not asking you to leave."
"Why?"
Lucius looked up at her. "I..." He sighed. "I just can't."
"Oh." Jezzy hung her head again.
"Jezzy, I'm very angry about what you did. But..." He shook his head. "I love you."
Jezzy burst into tears and nearly fell off the couch. She never thought she would hear him say that again. And then he did something that made her cry even harder. He pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried. She sank into him as he held her tight and cried it all out. He held her long after her sobs had died.
"I haven't forgiven you." He whispered.
"I know." She whispered back.
He kissed the top of her head despite himself and hugged her tighter. "I'm so sorry." She whispered into his chest.
"I am too."
Drucilla crept back into the game room with a small smile on her face.
"Well?" Her siblings asked.
"Okay, so mom cried a lot and dad said he hadn't forgiven her. But her kissed her head and said 'I love you', and hugged her a whole lot. I think they are going to be happier now."
"Oh, thank Merlin!" Xanthus said as he plopped back down on the couch.
"So they aren't getting a divorce?" Sidra asked. Drucilla shrugged. "It doesn't sound like it."
"Good." Sidra said under her breath and left the room. Sebastian whooped and threw his little red ball at the wall again. Drucilla shook her head and left the room as well.
The next week went by much more smoothly than the last month had. Jezzy and Lucius, though he had not forgiven her, spent more time together. Jezzy was still cautious around him, as he was with her. They never touched each other, but the fact that they could be in the same room now and laugh with the children was enough for both of them for the time being. The children were getting excited about the upcoming holidays, making their Christmas lists. Sebastian's was three feet long and Jezzy had laughed at him when he handed it to her.
"Oh, sure." She had said.
Maria had been busy with family issues, her grandmother was very sick, so Jezzy had held back from telling her how she had almost ruined her marriage. She hadn't seen or heard from Draco or Martina since she had gotten home. She wondered if Draco was still ttying to date her cousin, and if she knew what they had done. When her thoughts traveled this far she shook herself. She didn't want to think about that anymore. It was over. It wasn't worth thinking about.
Sidra handed her Christmas list to Lucius and he smiled down at it. "You want a what!?"
"Please, daddy?"
Lucius opened his mouth to speak as Jezzy leaned over to look at the paper. Sidra wanted unicorn. She shook her head.
"No." She said with a laugh.
"You heard your mother." Lucius said with a small smile.
Sidra looked ask if she were going to cry. She stood up and crossed the room. Lucius looked up at Jezzy and smiled. Jezzy shook her head and smiled back down at him. The sadness she had been feeling was still in her eyes and his smile softened. Their children watched this exchange with bated breath. Drucilla smiled, expecting them to kiss, even though she thought kissing was gross. Instead Jezzy stood up straight and reached out for Xanthium's Christmas list. He smiled shyly and handed it to her. She folded it with the others and slipped them inside her pocket.
"I'm gonna go downstairs and get some tea. Want anything?" She asked Lucius.
He shook his head and she left the room. At the bottom of the stairs she thought she heard a giggle. She went to investigate and saw the last person she wanted to see.
