A/N: This is it, and I mean it! This is the absolute end of "Slightly Broken". The epilogue. (And I actually am feeling very satisfied in it.)
I just want to thank everyone who read this. This is the first full-length fic I have ever finished. Completed. Done-zo. I am proud of myself for it and I am proud of it. So, thank you all of you for making me feel that way. Please do enjoy this final chapter to this thing that I put absolutely all of myself in. Love you all! And please let me know your thoughts on the end. I love to hear feedback!

It was never destined to be perfect.

With the way Albus and Scorpius started this, there was no way it was going to turn out as anything akin to perfect.

But it was sure close. It was the most real and passionate thing Albus had ever held onto. His marriage to a man that loved him harder than he was sure he deserved felt like a dream. A fairy tale, without the rose-tinted smiles. Every step of the way, they were very aware of reality and knew that they had the capacity to work through whatever that meant for them.

Smiling to himself in the dark, Albus curled closer into the arm around his chest. He pressed his warm lips to the man's chilly skin, savoring the quiet of the morning.

"Happy Christmas," the figure behind him whispered, his voice as natural as an exhale.

With a chuckle, Albus turned around in the hold around him, burrowing his face into the familiar chest. "Happy anniversary," he responded with, continuing a nine year tradition.

Also per tradition, Scorpius wasted no time in flipping himself over Albus, caging his body in with his legs around Al's hips and his hands beside his head. "Have we really been married nine years?" Scorpius asked quietly, leaning in to capture Al's lips in a way that always left him breathless. All he could manage in response was a weak nod and an airy noise that might have been a laugh.

Nine years. Nine blissful years full of more emotions than either knew were possible. It wasn't always happy. There were times when they would have the worst fights. Where one would end up stalking out and not returning for hours on end. But what made them last for nine years was the fact that they knew how to get over it. Apologies would be made and they would find a way to move past whatever troubled them. They had been through so much in the beginning of their relationship that mostly everything seemed petty now.

That morning, they made love like a weak, slow fire. Slow and intimate, and yet still with the will to burn. It spoke of the complete trust and love the two had built up over their years together. It was passion and adoration beyond any other measure the two had witnessed.

They were the luckiest men on Earth.

It wasn't as if they were the only couple they knew that were truly in love. That would have been a naïve way to think. All around them, people they knew were married or in committed relationships. They were all very happy, as well. There really was no doubting that. But…for some reason, they selfishly felt like they had turned out…better. In a way.

A soft knock came at the door as the two were relaxing in the exhaustion of their orgasms. They shared a cautionary look and ensured that they were covered as the door creaked open. A little girl - no taller than thirty-eight inches exactly that sported a full head of curls so red they had Draco Malfoy shaking his head in disapproval their first meeting – poked her head inside. She was cautious, careful to tip-toe to the bed just in case. "Daddy? Daddy…it's Christmas…." Her face lit up in pure excitement as she sidled up next to bed and was finally able to meet Albus' open eyes. "Are you awake, Daddy?" she whispered, giggling at the silliness of her own question.

Making a 'shh' motion, Albus nodded towards the other side. Her deep blue eyes grew impossibly wide as she rushed to try and climb up on the bed. With a chuckle, he helped his daughter, lifting her up enough to get ahold of the covers. For his part, Scorpius was doing a great job of feigning sleep. Or…he could have very possibly been sound asleep after their romp. Either way, it took the girl several cautious pokes and shakes to illicit an actual response.

"Rah!" the blonde roared, surging upright with his poised for a tickle attack. Her shriek filled their little house, her laugh giving Albus' an amazing warmth, as she tried to crawl away from her father. "Who said you could enter the Daddy Cave?" he hollered, snatching her around the middle and pulling her back, wiggling his fingers under her clamped-down arms. "Huh?!"

Shivering with elation, Albus quickly reached for his camera. It had been a gift from Louis when they had taken their little girl home and had come in handy time and time again. He wasted no time in snapping a picture of the two – happy and laughing like a family should.

"Alright, Scor, I think that's enough," Albus faux-scolded after a few more pictures, once again setting the camera aside. "Let my little Miana go." He held his hands out towards their daughter, eager to play the part of the valiant knight in shining armor.

Never losing his toothy grin, Scorpius did as he was told. Miana desperately climbed away and stuck her tongue out, wrapping her arms around her other father. "Is Papa a meany?" he asked in her ear, quiet enough for just the two of them to hear. She bobbed her little head of copper curls in quick response and kissed Al's cheek. "Nahh, he's not," Albus laughed and playfully swatted at her backside. "Why don't you go wait for us by the tree, okay? Papa and I need to get dressed."

"Okay, Daddy!" Miana slid off the bed, giggling as her nightgown rode up in the process. "Oops!" she giggled, nearly maniacally, as she ran from the room.

"You picked a weird one, Potter."

Snorting, Albus slipped out of bed and stretched until the soreness in his back subsided. "If I remember correctly…you decided on her first," Albus fired back, winking at his husband over his shoulder.

Five years ago, Albus and Scorpius finally decided they were ready for a child. It had been a battle to come to terms with for years. They would weigh the pros and cons and usually come up with a negative answer. And then…they just couldn't hold out anymore. They had too much love to share.

The process had been painstaking. For there being so many children that could use homes, they sure didn't make it very easy to give them one. After a year of trying, they had been very close to giving up and going a different route. Albus didn't exactly want either of them to magically conceive. The process to him was a bit…ooky. But if it came to it….

Luckily, just as they were at their wits ends, something opened up. Someone opened up. They weren't grateful for the circumstances. It was rather unfortunate and tragic, but they were thankful for the miracle they had been able to provide the little girl. With no information on her background or where she came from, little Miana (a mere year old, as far as they could gather) was found in front of a wizard-conducted orphanage. It was like something out of a story – a little girl left on the stoop with only an apologetic note for explanation.

When they were told of their opportunity to help, their option was temporary. They would merely foster Miana until her family was found. They were okay with that. It would have been like a trial run. What none of them had expected was for there to be no family to be found. The last living relative as far as they could find had been the girl's mother. And her mother was…gone from this world. Something had eaten at her so badly that she felt the need to take her own life.

After the news, they wasted no time in accepting Miana as their own. By that point, she had become part of the family already, anyway. She fit in well with everyone, her red hair making her seem just like any of the other children. To this day, the five-year-old still had no idea of her past. She knew that her daddies had adopted her at a young age, but didn't know the circumstances of how it had come to pass. They had no idea if they would ever tell her.

For all they were concerned, she was theirs. They were all three destined to be together.

Slipping a belt through the loops of his trousers, Scorpius sidled up behind his husband. He flecked a few kisses over the man's shoulders, savoring the taste of their dried sweat before Albus slipped a shirt over his head.

They exited the room together, Albus trying to get his unruly hair to cooperate (even at an only inch long, it was still hard to manage) and Scorpius sticking close to his husband's side. Down the hall, Al lazily rapped upon the door beside theirs.

"Already up." Louis gave the couple a Cheshire grin when they reached the kitchen a moment later. "The two of you…were a bit loud. Kinda woke me up. Just so you are aware…." He sipped at his coffee, stepping out of the way of Scorpius' playful swat. "By the way, are your Patroni perhaps bunnies? You seem to have something quite in common with them…."

"Oh, I know! Their noses!" Miana piped up from the sitting room. She was surrounded by a pile of presents that she seemed to have claimed to be her own. "When they wrinkle them up like this sometimes." She demonstrated, scrunching her nose and sniffing a little for effect.

For a moment, silence filled their little house. But it was interrupted a moment later with the heartiest, most genuine group laughter ever heard. "Yes," Louis bursted out as soon as he could grasp words again, slapping at his thigh as he was doubled over. "That is exactly it, Puddle Jumper! You have solved the great mystery! Brava!"

All Albus could do was shake his head back and forth like he was exhausted and made for the coffee pot. It hadn't been the plan for Louis to still be living with them. In the beginning, they had always talked of lives apart. Of one day moving away from one another and conducting their adult lives separately. But, somehow, after they were married, Scorpius felt wrong telling his closest friend to get lost. So they let him stay (they didn't really need the extra bedroom, anyway). And when they moved to a bigger house to accommodate for Miana, well…. Louis just sort of came along. The three of them had become quite close. Louis was as much responsible for this relationship thriving as they themselves were. He helped to give perspective.

He was also sort of a built-in babysitter when they decided they needed a date night every once in a while.

"Daddy? Presents?" Miana piped up, peeking her head around a stack of presents that had grown twice the size since he'd last looked.

"You do know that not all of those are for you. Correct?" Albus finished fixing his and Scorpius' coffees, handing the heavily sugared one to his husband as he settled upon the couch. "Today is Christmas, not World's Give Mia All the Presents Day."

XxX

"Did you send your parents an owl?" Albus stepped up beside Miana at the fireplace. She eagerly held a fistful of Floo powder, more than ready to get going. He placed a hand on her shoulder, stilling her impatient bouncing.

Scorpius nodded, trying to balance a stack of presents in his arms. "I did, last night. Wished them a very happy holiday as they're soaking up the Hawaiian sun. Sent along a flyer from Mia's pageant to show them just what they were missing."

Over the past summer, another death overtook the Malfoy family. Strong-willed Narcissa was finally bested by the call of the afterlife. She hadn't gone quietly, that was for sure. And she fought, tooth-and-nail, for her dignity until the end. But, in those last days, illness doesn't really care what social events one has on their calendar. After her passing that year, Draco Malfoy didn't really feel much like celebrating the holidays. Both of his parents, the symbols of his childhood at Christmastime, were gone. He and Astoria had decided to take a vacation instead, flying off to Hawaii for a month-long trip away from reality.

To say the least, Scorpius was extremely exhausted from covering the extra work at the shop. But he knew his parents could use that time away and wouldn't dare try to deny them.

"Are you okay?" Scorpius whispered after nodding for Miana to go ahead. She quickly rushed into the fireplace, tossing down her Floo powder in a bit of a mess (ending up with a good amount on her nice, new dress) before clearing enunciating her destination. She was gone a moment later, allowing Albus' shoulders to slightly untense. His goal was to always keep his emotions normal around their daughter. It had become quite a normal everyday façade he wore when around her. Smiles and laughs because everything was fine. Never taking stock in his emotions until she wasn't around.

Things were better for Albus these ten years later. After resolving most of what caused him distress that Christmas, things were better. They just weren't…always the best. There were still those days where anxiety and depression snuck up on him. Anything could ruin his day if he let it eat at him enough. And if he let it sit and fester behind fake emotions for too long, it tended to just worsen how he felt.

Last Christmas, he had been so down that hadn't even found the will to get out of bed until all of the festivities were through. Which was probably why Scorpius felt the need to check in. Sighing softly, Albus turned to his husband and kissed the tip of his nose. "I'm okay, Scor. Really. Today is…. Today is a good day." He smiled genuinely and made a show of pointing to it. "See? Perfectly fine. No hormone mix-up today."

Half of this marriage, unfortunately, was Scorpius checking in on Albus' emotions. It was part of what bested them the first time around – he wasn't going to allow it to ever again. Albus did appreciate the sentiment behind the caution, but…. At the same time, he just wished they could be normal sometimes.

Soft tears began to prickle the inner corners of Albus' eyes as they stood there, Scorpius taking in every aspect of his current state. "Stop looking at me like that," Al pleaded softly, casting his eyes down to the floor. "Please…."

Smiling to himself, Scorpius wrapped his free arm around his husband, bringing him into the small space of chest he still had open. "Don't cry, Allie." He pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head. "I was just admiring your smile. I believe you – I do. Just don't start crying…."

Nodding quickly, Albus pulled away and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not entirely confident today, okay? Not after last year…." He cleared his throat, directing his bright green eyes back towards the fireplace. "I mean…I'm good. I am. I just... I'm feeling extra cautious. Extra aware." He took a handful of Floo powder from its box on the mantle. "We should get going. Louis may start spreading gossip about our whereabouts if we take any longer." He tried for a chuckle, but it just ended up sounding forced and hollow.

Scorpius stepped up beside his husband in the ash of the fireplace floor. "You don't need to be so guarded, Albus. You look…amazing. You look happy and grounded. And if we didn't have to go to your mother's house, I really would waste no time in showing you just how that makes me feel…."

A blush filling his cheeks and a shy smile on his lips, Albus activated the Floo network. Mere moments later, they were stepping out into the sitting room of his childhood home. His knees felt a little shaky, but he was sure that his hesitance now had to do with where his mind currently was.

Currently, he was having trouble thinking of anything but time passing quick so it could be time for 'bed' already.

"Daddy, Briston stole my doll!"

He wasn't allowed the luxury of those thoughts for long, however. Sighing heavily, he leveled a warning look across the room at the olive-skinned child currently dangling his daughter's new toy out of reach. He was just about to open his mouth and start scolding when a soft hand clamped over his arm. "Wait!" He turned to Ahrann, eyebrow raised testily. "We're not disciplining him," she whispered, setting Al's blood afire.

"Excuse me?" he hissed, feeling over-protective of his daughter and not even sure if he should be ashamed of it.

She gave a soft smile and shrugged like this was a matter she just couldn't help. "Scolding him just reaffirms the attention Briston wants for his behavior," she whispered, shifting the toddler on her hip. "If he doesn't get the attention, the behavior will cease. Let the two of them work this out for themselves. Please."

Albus felt wrong just walking away. There were tears in Miana's eyes as she hopped around, trying to get the toy from her cousin. But Ahrann pulled him back towards the kitchen and he had learned his lesson long ago to not get in the way of her unorthodox parenting. Just before leaving the room, he made sure to throw a look over a this husband that pleaded for him to do something. Anything. "It's a new tactic we're trying," she babbled as they walked. "He goes to Hogwarts next fall and…well, he needs to learn that this type of behavior will get him nowhere."

Which is why he could probably use a good swat on the backside, Albus thought to himself with a squared jaw.

"This could always probably be a good opportunity for your little Mia to learn to defend herself."

It took all Albus had in him not to turn and slap his brother's girlfriend in that moment. She always thought she knew better when it came to parenting. Albus was sure the fact that she had three children and still had the body of a supermodel didn't quite seal that as a truth. "Miana can defend herself," he said in almost a dangerous tone. "But I would think someone twice her age bullying her might make things a bit unmatched."

Ahrann merely laughed it off with a wave of her hand. "He's not bullying her, Albus. He's merely trying to show her that he's interested in her life. It's harmless." Her smile was much too sweet to be normal and Albus found himself questioning her sobriety.

Out of everyone in the world his brother could have ended up with, Albus was still unsure how James had been with Ahrann for this long. Over the years, he had softened – that was true. His girlfriend's influence had changed him from the big, gruff (kind of dumb) manly-man he had been into someone who wore a baby carrier and believed marriage was a useless constitution of the law. He had never expected years ago for James to end up with three children and a flair for strange parenting tactics. Not to mention that a few years back (after the middle child, Hanna, became very sick with a touch of food poisoning) the family had adopted a vegan lifestyle.

None of this was bad…. It just wasn't something any of them had really expected.

"Hey, hold Jemma for me a moment. I need the loo."

And that was how Albus was stuck standing in the kitchen, all alone, holding a child who would quit screaming her head off. He bounced her in his arms, trying to make faces. But she just wasn't having it.

"There you are, Allie!" Laughing softly in amusement, his mother came into the room. She held her hands out towards Jemma, calming her screaming the instant her arms wrapped around her little body. "Happy Christmas," she said, leaning across to kiss his cheek. "It's nice to see you this year."

It wasn't supposed to be a jab, Albus was sure, but it stung nevertheless. "Thanks, Mum," he muttered, busying himself by looking around at all the food preparing itself. "Um…is everyone else here already?" he asked, trying to change the subject from his own humiliation.

Albus wouldn't have been surprised if this really was the turnout – his little family and James'. Ever since his breakdown, his family seemed to think it was best to all have separate Christmases. It was, apparently, less pressure to put on people. And, by people, they of course meant him. And he didn't exactly mind it. He saw so much of his huge extensive family on a regular occasion that he'd almost rather spend time with just his parents and siblings. It was why he had never complained about their cautious treatment.

"No, not everyone. We are still waiting on a few people, I believe. Your father, namely. He and your uncle Charlie…." Ginny shook her head, seeming to have a sour taste in her mouth. "They can never be punctual, can they?" Albus shrugged, not sure what he was supposed to say to that. "Anyway…did your sister tell you she wasn't going to be here this year?" Frowning, he shook his head in silent response. "She's spending the holidays with that new boyfriend of hers. Oh, I really don't trust that boy. Did you know that he refuses to even consider meeting us until she meets his parents first?" Another silent response in the negative. He and Lily didn't really speak too often. "Well…it's the truth." She sighed, shrugging helplessly. "But will she listen to me when I try to warn her? Not for a second…."

Having given up on dating entirely after her ex-husband's commitment ceremony to her brother, Ginny had become quite the gossip. Sticking her nose in all of her children's personal lives had become quite a hobby for her. She took particular interest in her daughter, unfortunately. Nothing she did – her position with the Holyhead Harpies ("They should have really paid you more considering…. Well, you know. Considering your mother played for them back in the day."), her dating life ("Oh, I bet he'll turn out gay." "Did you see the way he looked at that woman? He will never be faithful." "You're just too good for him, honey."), and the fact that she insisted upon living on her own ("You're far too young! You really should stay at home! I mean, honestly, Lily…who will I have to keep me company?"). Albus really didn't blame her for wanting a holiday away from the pestering.

A piece of bubblegum fresh between her teeth, Ahrann returned just in time to save Albus having to come up with an awkward reply. "Smells great in here, Gin," she said sweetly, but something about the way her nose scrunched said otherwise.

Smirking to himself, Albus took a step backwards. "I'm going to…go find Scorpius. Excuse me," he muttered before quickly bowing out of the room. It wasn't that hard to locate his husband. He was propped up comfortably on a sofa, legs extended out on the cushions in front of him. Across from him in an armchair sat James, telling some vividly grotesque story about a man who splinched himself in the Atrium of the Ministry. In between them, Miana was lying on the floor, cuddling her reclaimed doll. Al wasn't sure where Briston had gotten to, but he was glad for the boy's absence.

Wrinkling his nose at the description, Albus sat on the arm of the couch nearest his husband's head. "Hey, James…?" he interrupted, his brother tilting his head in question. "Are you guys pregnant again?" he asked, unable to keep the shit-eating grin from his lips.

"Oh, come on, man!" James bellowed, smacking the arms of the chair. "It was supposed to be a surprise!" His tone said he wanted to be angry, but the grin on his lips spoke of his glee.

Reaching up to thread his fingers in with Albus', Scorpius teased, "Don't the two of you ever use protection?"

James responded by throwing a pillow at the couple, too happy to be offended. "Dude, if the universe wants us to have a baby, we are going to have a baby. That 'protection' shit is nonsense."

Her eyes wide, Miana looked up quickly at her uncle. "No!" she yelled, pointing an accusing finger in his direction. "That was a bad, bad word! Papa, put him in a time out!"

Grinning, Scorpius closed his eyes and shrugged like there was nothing he could do. "You heard her, James. You're in time out. That's a four-minute swear."

Miana jumped up off the floor, standing authoritatively in front of James. "You are in time out, Mr. Nerf-Herder!"

"Um…." Albus and Scorpius' eyes met in slight concern accompanied by a shared laugh. "Mia? Where's Uncle Lou?" Al asked softly, feeling a reprimanding may be in order.

She pointed towards the front door, her eyes never once leaving James. She even slapped a hand over his mouth when he tried to speak. "No talking in time out! Uncle Lou has a business call."

"I'll handle it," Albus chuckled, pressing his lips to his tired husband's forehead. "You just…stay there and make sure your little one stays in control." He stood, squeezing Scorpius' fingers lightly before going out the front door. Sitting on the bottom step of the porch, a cigarette between his fingers, Louis looked up and gave a small wave. Al closed the door quietly behind him and took a seat beside his cousin.

"No, listen…. Listen to me, Barry." Louis sighed and rolled his eyes as the person on the other end kept speaking. He blew smoke out on a harsh sigh and ashed his cigarette impatiently. "I don't care! It has to be him, okay? It has to be an American actor and it has to be him. I really don't care that he's on that show that's been on for like…thirty years." He paused, frowning and digging his the cigarette butt into the snow at his feet. "Okay, I do care. Thirty years, Barry. That's a long time for a show to run! And it's an excellent show. But…maybe he should take a small leave because I want him for this movie. I need him. And you need to make it work. Capiche?" Most likely because it was Christmas and Louis' assistant wanted some time away from his workaholic casting director boss, but after that the phone call ended rather quickly. And Louis didn't seem too thrilled. "I'm fairly sure my demands aren't that hard to meet," he sighed and quickly lit another cigarette.

Having a feeling that he'd gone through too many already, Albus reached over and pulled it from his fingers. He took a long drag, claiming it for his own. "Sometimes they are, Lou."

Slipping the phone in his pocket, Louis made a heavy sound and let his head fall into his hands. "Yeah…I know…."

Rubbing the man's back in comfort, Albus said softly, "Guess what Miana just called James." Expression questioning, Louis tilted his head so he could see the other man better. "She called him Mr. Nerd-Herder." Almost instantly, Louis dissolved into a fit of laughter. He laid back across the rest of the steps, rubbing at his tear-filled eyes. "No more Star Wars, Lou. Just…no more! I don't even know how to punish her for that!" He joined in one the giggle fit, shaking his head in bewilderment.

In almost a flash, Louis jumped up into a standing position and flew back inside. Albus hastily put the cigarette out under his shoe and called after him to come back.

"Hey, Puddle Jumper!" Louis called into the house, instantly gaining Mia's attention just as she was 'allowing' James out of time out. "Daddy wants to take away your Star Wars!"

Screaming like she'd just been cut, Miana dove to the floor and tackled her Princess Leia doll. The one Louis had ordered special-made for her from some Muggle toy company. The one she had seemed to grow extremely attached to since receiving it that morning. (The one that was apparently more important to her than any of the nice clothes and toys her fathers had given her before or after it.) "No, Daddy, no! You can't! Please don't!" There were actual tears of devastation in her eyes that caused Albus a great deal of discomfort.

"Superb job handling it, Allie," Scorpius mumbled from his half-asleep state on the couch. He peeked an eye up at his husband, a degrading sneer tickling to break through.

Rubbing at his temple and giving Louis the dirtiest of looks, Albus sank down to the floor in front of his daughter. "I'm not going to," he said soothingly, pushing a tear-stained curl away from her face. "Just…don't call people nerf-herders, okay?" She nodded weakly, still clutching the doll to her chest as it wracked with sobs. Al threw a dirty look back at his cousin, knowing he had done this on purpose for this exact reason. He knew Albus would cave if he saw how much it affected his daughter.

Louis played dirty. But he also played smart.

"Christmas breakdowns really are your area of expertise, aren't they, Allie?"

Another jab at his mental health, this time intentional.

Groaning, Albus turned very slowly to level a death glare across the room. Normally he didn't mind seeing Devan, but right now…. "Do you mind? Personal parenting matter in progress here." The man only leaned against the wall in response and winked at his ex. Like he didn't mind one bit, standing there and watching it unfold. Hanging his head in frustration, Albus muttered down towards Mia, "If you get up and act fine right now…I'll let you have two helpings of dessert later…."

Albus was lucky his daughter reacted so well to bribery. Her tears instantly dried and she was grinning ear-to-ear as she sat up. "Okay, Daddy!" she giggled, kissing his cheek before skipping off like nothing had even happened.

"Do those tactics work on pre-teen girls, as well?" Devan asked from his observer's point. He was wearing a smile that practically oozed charm and honesty. Through the last ten years, they had learnt to be friends. They almost had no choice, what with his current marriage to Rose.

Shortly before Scorpius and Albus were set to get married, Devan disappeared. They were all worried for months, always on the lookout for a sign of his whereabouts. Just before the wedding, however, they received a postcard from him. He explained in only a few sentences his need to find himself.

After that, they didn't see or hear from him in a year. When he walked in that next Christmas, he was almost unrecognizable. His hair was cut shorter than it had been and had taken on a darker quality from the length. The scruff upon his face had become a full beard that made him look oddly more put-together. In addition to his further toned muscles, his entire body seemed to have filled out. He was definitely eating, having found strength enough to love himself better along his travels. The most notable difference, though, had absolutely nothing to do with the way he looked or the sure way he carried himself. It was all about the little girl who has his deep blue eyes that clutched to his leg, sucking her thumb as she took in everyone who stared.

As Devan explained his travels and how whole he felt, he looked like he could cry from true happiness. He talked of all the places he had seen with such reverie, but in the end admitted that he felt like something was missing in his life. It was why he had decided to track down this little girl six months ago. The little girl he had never known before, but knew he needed in his life. Her name was Ruth and she was the daughter his ex-girlfriend had given away without giving him time to know if he wanted her first. Luckily enough for him, she was still in an orphanage. A few families had tried to adopt her, but something always kept them from being able to. "It was like fate had intervened," he said, "in order to keep her safe for me. Every time."

Having been single for the last two years after her nasty break-up with Frankie, Rose latched onto Devan's every word. Rose found her heart melting at the story. She couldn't keep herself from Devan's side the entire time, chatting up little Ruth enough to gain her trust. The three became inseparable after that. They were friends and nothing more for quite some time, but every single one of them secretly harbored a need for something more. One night, the boundaries Rose had felt were necessary broke. She found herself in a deep kiss with the restored man and it was all a downhill slide from there. The two eloped shortly thereafter, taking the daughter they claimed as theirs together off on a wild vacation in Africa to celebrate.

They were reckless and hopelessly happy. Albus couldn't have wished anything better for both of them, his best friend and a man he still held a semblance of love for. They were good together and Ruth was exactly what they both needed to keep them grounded.

"I'll let you know in six years," Albus said softly, crossing the room with one look back at his husband. Somehow Scorpius had managed to actually fall into a soft slumber. Nodding towards the kitchen, where everyone else seemed to have decided was the place to be, Albus walked off.

Also throwing a look back at Scorpius, Devan sidled up beside where Rose was pouring glasses of the wine she brought with. "Engaging morning?" he questioned Albus, winking for emphasis that wasn't even necessary.

Aware of his ears flaming up to a brilliant scarlet, Albus shrugged and accepted a glass. "He, uh…has been putting a lot of time in at the shop…."

Everyone in the room, knowing full-well the sign of Albus' lies, erupted into thrilled laughter. He blushed even darker, wasting no time in downing the entirety of his glass.

So far, it was a typical holiday. And Albus really had no reason to believe that would change. He was happy and in his right mind. Those he treasured most in his life were here (most of them in this room). Yes, they were making jokes at his expense – but he was sure things wouldn't feel right if they didn't. He was a bit different than all of them. But they were also a bit different than one another. His brother had a cooky family, one of his cousins enjoyed making him seem like Big Bad Daddy, the other married his ex-boyfriend and always seemed proud of saying it that way, his mother was lonely, his father couldn't stop shagging his partner for long enough to show up places on time, and his husband took full advantage of catching a nap wherever he could. They were a strange bunch.

But they were a family and in the end, that was all that mattered. They had been through a lot together. But they still managed to get together and enjoy holidays with those they held dearest. Smiling softly to himself, Albus absorbed into the background as another conversation was started.

It wasn't perfect. It never would be. But there were days where things got dangerously close. There were those days where nothing went wrong and he knew that his life was the best it could be. He didn't even know how to ask for more on those days. And the other days? The ones where things just didn't click?

They didn't matter.

In the end, all that mattered were moments like these. The ones where it was okay to sit on the outside and observe. The ones where he would notice the loving glances his brother would give his girlfriend when she might not be paying attention. The ones where he could see just how much of his unused love his cousin would pour into other people. Namely into Al's own daughter. The ones where a smile would flicker over his lips as his husband's soft snores drifted in from the other room. And where those noises were interrupted by an unruly little boy kicking a ball square into his husband's chest.

It didn't matter if things weren't perfect. Perfect was a useless construct, anyway. Life for Albus was…amazing, and rough, and sometimes devastating, and always intriguing. Albus loved his life and those currently in it. He would never wish things to be different these days. And he thanked the universe every single day for the hardships he had experienced in the past. It all had added up to give him this.

And he loved this.