Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine.

Chapter 35 Fear

Spinner's End. Kat decided to turn her house into a giant playroom since they weren't going back anytime soon. Secretly, she'd whisper to the twins that they were going to Grandma's house. She thought her mum would've liked that, a place that was dedicated to her grandchildren having fun.

Instead of a couch in the living room, they now had a ball pit in and a few beanbags around the telly. Ric didn't like the whole ball pit concept, even though she only put half of them in there, so they watched while Teddy entertained Rory, who lit up and giggled when he changed his hair color to match whichever plastic ball he was holding.

"This one's blue." Teddy frowned slightly when she took the ball from him and tried to laugh and put it in her mouth at the same time. "Why does she think everything's so funny?"

"I don't know, Teddy Bear. Maybe she fancies you." Kat tried to smile when he rolled his eyes at her. Ric had his head on her shoulder, refusing to look at the deadly plastic balls. "So Ted… There's something I have to tell you…"

"We're not getting Chinese food?" Teddy asked fearfully.

"We're always getting Chinese food." He's going to hate me, Kat thought. Ric must've seen something out the window from behind her because he kicked his feet in excitement. It was tempting to ask Teddy if he wanted to go outside and see, tell him about the new baby later. Well, here goes nothing… "I, erhm, I'm going to have another baby."

Teddy turned and stared, perhaps because of how scared she sounded to tell him. Otherwise, he didn't seem to mind much. "Oh. Congrat-til-a-shuns."

Congratulations. She expected him to ask why again or at least be confused. Her biggest fear was that he would have a tantrum over it. "Are-are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad?" Teddy picked up a yellow plastic ball and a red one and made one side of his hair red and the other yellow. Rory squealed with delight. "Are there two babies again?"

"No," Kat said quietly. "Just one. A boy."

"Can you name him Drake this time?" That was the only thing Teddy seemed annoyed about. She could only imagine Draco's face if she suggested naming this baby after him. "Cause you were s'posed to name Ric Drake."

"Draco doesn't like to share," Kat said slowly as her fear started to ebb away and replace itself with bemusement. Maybe she shouldn't have expected feelings similar to Draco's from a five year old. "So I guess he didn't want to share his name."

"That's dumb," Teddy muttered.

So you aren't mad? Kat wanted to repeat, but she didn't want to make him understand. Draco was still angry with her, and at nearly five months pregnant, she had yet to tell anyone else. "But you can still sleepover lots, okay?"

Teddy raised his yellow and red eyebrows, probably wondering why he wouldn't be able to. He was too preoccupied with school and his puppy to notice how much time the twins took up. "Dad says you're weird, Kat."

"Oh yeah?" Although she wanted to cry with relief, Kat grinned and ruffled his hair, making him scowl. "Well we'll just have to get back at him, won't we?"

Although he was a bit confused, Teddy was in on the plan to tell Sirius about the baby at dinner. Finally, she was looking forward to telling someone. About an hour after eating Chinse, they stopped over Number 12 with hopes of stealing some Marauder chocolate cake. Kat had a feeling Remus already knew as he watched her load up her plate with their leftovers from dinner. It was hard to keep up with feeding the new baby and nursing the twins. Sometimes she felt like a cow, and sometimes she felt like she was going to pass out from lack of energy.

"Kat's having anutter baby!" Teddy announced. Sirius started choking on his cake, causing the boy to falter on his lines. "Cause… Um, Kat, I forget."

Oh well. At least Sirius choked. She was planning on making Teddy say he knew because she was getting fat again. Kat ruffled his hair once more and laughed. He looked just like Remus when he was annoyed with her. "No matter, Ted. Better luck next time."

"I'm confused," Sirius spluttered after a good thump on the back from Remus.

"I'm sure Remus will tell you where babies come from again later, Padfoot." Kat ignored Remus's worried look was she stabbed at her string beans with her fork. "But do take notes this time."

"But… but…"

"Are you alright?" Remus was definitely expecting this conversation. Sirius was as clueless as usual. "…Health wise, I mean. You do look tired."

"But," Sirius stuttered on. Everyone ignored the poor fool.

Kat shrugged and kept her eyes on her plate. The twins were sound asleep in the other room. "Actually, health wise, things seem to be going a lot smoother than last time, though I'm practically swimming in potions."

"You should name him Drake!" Teddy yelled with a mouth full of cake.

"But you just had a baby," Sirius said, almost to himself. "Two, actually."

Kat leaned forward from her seat at the kitchen table and waved her hand in from of Sirius's face. He didn't seem to notice. "Yes. I'm well aware."

"But…" Sirius seemed to still be trying to figure out how this happened. "Whatcha do that for?"

Remus elbowed him, but at least Sirius seemed worried instead of angry. She was dreading telling the in-laws. But that was for another day. Kat smirked. "Well, I got lost in the sweaty throes of passion and—"

"Ugh! We're eating, Kat!" Sirius yelled while Remus turned red and claimed that he heard one of the twins crying. He just managed to escape before—

"Dad?" Teddy asked Sirius. "What are sweaty throes of passion?"

"I-I don't know, Ted." Sirius glanced at the door Remus just ran through. "You know Kat, always making up stuff."

Unfortunately, Teddy didn't like being kept out of the loop, and his hair turned bright red. "You have to tell me! Because if you don't tell me, Ima asking my teacher! She knows everything and—"

Kat sighed happily and stole Sirius's cake as her poor godfather tried to make something up. At least everything was right as rain at Number 12.

Twenty weeks. They were half way through when Draco found the courage to tell his parents. It was one of the rare nights he wasn't eating dinner at Hermione and Blaise's, so the meal was nearly silent and awkward. Katherine inhaled her food and rose from her seat, probably in search of yet another peanut butter jar. Draco squeezed her hand with his clammy one, causing her to sit back down and start chewing on her lip.

"We have something to tell you," he said quietly. Mother's cold eyes made him feel like a teenager again, only this time he didn't break a window playing Quidditch. "In the beginning of October, we will be having another baby."

"You mean you plan to start trying again," Father said slowly, like he couldn't believe his ears. Mother's eyes became wider and wider as they drifted to Katherine's stomach. "Before their first birthday?"

Katherine, being Katherine, smirked at him. "We could start trying again by late November."

For a brief moment, he let himself forget the seriousness of the situation and muttered, "I'd rip my own balls off and stomp on them first."

"I'll get them out of my purse," she teased.

"You're pregnant?!" Mother yelled in disbelief.

Father chuckled. "They're not that stupid, Cissa. She plays this joke on Black all the time."

Unfortunately for Father, Katherine has been content with this since she started to show. She grinned. "We most certainly are that stupid."

"Katherine." Draco rubbed at his temples as his parents started openly staring. Only Weasleys were this carless. "We forgot the first time after…" Mother's eyes looked like they were going to pop out. "And after that, we thought Katherine wasn't ovulating and menstruating because of the breastfeeding."

"You're going through with this?" Mother hissed. "You're putting Alaric and Aurora through this?"

"Yes…" Katherine glanced at him, but how could he defend her when he thought Mother was right? "That's why-that's why we moved back in. We need help and—"

"You need sense! That's what you need!" Mother yelled. Katherine leaned away. Draco didn't so much as open his mouth. "What are you two think—"

"Cissa." Father was looking everywhere but at Mother. "It is not your place to—"

"Do not tell me my place in my own family, Lucius!" Mother snapped. "If it concerns my grandchildren, it is my business!"

Draco flinched when Katherine shot out of her seat and hurried off as Mother and Father started arguing about whether or not she should be pregnant. "She's twenty weeks," he said loudly once she was gone. "It's too late. So just drop it. You'll have another grandson in October."

"How could you say nothing?" Katherine screamed as soon as she was sure both of the babies were asleep. He knew this was coming as he headed up the stairs. "You always do that! He's our SON! She wants me to kill our son—"

"That's not what she meant, Katherine," he said tiredly.

"Then what did she mean?" she sobbed. "I don't care what you think! You're supposed to be on my side!"

I don't care what you think! What a surprise. Draco gritted his teeth and stomped off. It was best not to talk right now…

"Draco." Father was in his office, sipping brandy and probably thinking about which guest room his was going to sleep in tonight. "A word."

With a sigh, Draco clenched his fists and nearly kept stomping around the Manor. The only thing that made him listen was the possibility of running into Mother. "Yes?"

Father raised his eyebrows at his tone but said nothing and leaned back into his seat. "I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say this is why you and Katherine have barely been speaking for nearly two months. And that she does not have postpartum depression."

"She wouldn't…" Draco growled and forced himself to take a seat in front of his father's desk. "She wouldn't even consider…"

"Perhaps…" Father took another sip of his brandy. "Perhaps this is what the two of you should have discussed in the counseling before you were married. Instead of fighting over petty things like last names."

Draco rolled his eyes. "How were we supposed to know—"

"No one expects to be faced with an unwanted pregnancy." Father returned the eye roll. "The mind healer was supposed to prepare you for the unexpected trails of marriage. And this is one of them. You should have known how she felt about termination, and she should've known how you felt. Then the two of you wouldn't be acting like children."

"She doesn't care how I feel," Draco grumbled.

Father shrugged like it was nothing. "Because she's protecting her son. Nothing is going to change the fact that you're going to have another son. You said so to your mother. So start acting like it. And talk to Katherine. She is your wife after all." He couldn't resist adding, "Unfortunately."

"I'm trying," Draco growled before stomping off. He was struggling, and no one cared. Not even Father.

"Look at you two!" Kat cooed at breakfast the next morning. Ric bit her with his brand new tooth, so she figured the twins were ready for mashed up bananas. "So big and strong!" Rory beamed at the compliment and tried to hand her some. "Why thank you!"

"You'd think she'd want to give it a go herself." Draco smiled softly and ran a hand through her white blonde hair. "They've gotten so big."

"Her eyes are turning blue," Kat said with false sadness. Rory's eyes were perfect. "His grey."

"Better luck next time." He frowned when Ric started shoveling the banana in his mouth. "But there is no doubt he is your son. Are you sure they won't choke? We should put it through that contraption Lupin bought."

"The blender?" Kat wanted to burst with happiness when she saw Rory chew, almost thoughtfully as she decided if she liked the banana or not. "We'll put some peas in it tonight. Then your mum can take all the pictures she wants."

At the moment, Kat wasn't speaking to her and flat out told Draco she didn't want them around for the twins' first meal. She expected Narcissa to understand about the new baby, but she had a fit just like Draco. For some reason, she had gotten her mother-in-law mixed up with Mrs. Weasley. Kat wasn't sure if she could forgive her.

"I spoke to Father." Yay. Now she had to hear about how all three of them were against her. "He said pretty much told me to get over myself."

"What?" Kat said dumbly. Lucius was supposed to say that she bred like a Muggle or a Weasley, and then they were supposed to make not so subtle insults at each other like they normally did. That was at least something she could count on.

Draco shrugged as Rory giggled and started slapping her bananas and getting them everywhere. "We should at least get one picture. Don't you think?"

"Yes… We definitely should." Next thing she knew, Voldemort was going to rise from the dead and throw her a baby shower.

The last thing Severus wanted to do was see Potter after he finished working for the day. But she had forgotten her prenatal potions, and as usual, the world revolved around her. He found the family from hell having dinner and hoped to Merlin that they wouldn't invite him to stay. Narcissa wasn't one to take no for an answer.

Fortunately, the monsters Potter gave birth to her slurping up one of their first meals, so Narcissa was taking photographs by the second. He doubted she would notice him. Potter barely did.

"You can do it!" she cooed. "Mmm-mummy!"

"Mmm… Mmmu…" the female said. Her face was covered in pureed peas. Severus took a step back when she saw him, and her blue eyes lit up.

Potter spun around and grinned. "That's Severus! Sever-rus!"

For the first time in a while, he wanted to punch Potter in the face. Instead, he thrust a bag at her. "Believe it or not Potter, I do not own a shop just to cater to you and your demented family. Pick up your potions during business hours."

Narcissa's face hardened, and Potter glared at her as she took the bag. Severus didn't want to know. Of course Lucius had to consider him a friend. He'd have the… pleasure of knowing soon enough.

For once, Potter decided to act her age and turned back to her daughter without starting a fight. "Sever-rus is so nice, isn't he, Rory?"

"Call me that one more time, Potter," Severus threatened, knowing she was going to call him that for the rest of his life.

Potter set the bag on the table without looking at him. "Silly Sever-rus. Now, back to business. Mmmmummy."

Aurora looked at him and smiled. "Sev-us!" The entire room seemed to freeze, even the house elves stopped in their tracks. Potter looked like her daughter just murdered a puppy in front of her instead of saying her first word. The brat held out her arms, trying to get him to pick her up. "Sev!"

Draco was the first to act. He scooped his daughter up and kissed her fat cheek. "Such a clever princess!" Severus would learn later that the boy's first word earlier that day was "Da" for Draco. "I think you have an apprentice on the way, Severus!"

"Over my dead body," Severus muttered, backing away as Potter's horror turned to sadness. Perhaps now wasn't the time to remind her of his business hours.

"I'll fucking kill you, you greasy git!"

Yes. Now definitely wasn't the time…

"Princesses have their own cribs," Draco said gently as Aurora wailed and wailed. At seven months old, they were both perfectly capable of sleeping through the night. As much as he hated to do it, Draco planned on making them cry it out. Katherine was exhausted, and he didn't want them sleeping in their room anymore. They only ate once or twice during the night. He could take care of them otherwise.

"This isn't fair." Katherine seemed ready to cry herself. Alaric stared from his crib and sucked on his fingers, not caring as usual. "She—"

"Isn't hungry," Draco said as softly as he could while still being heard over Aurora's screams. "So I'll stay with her, and you can go to bed."

Aurora held out her arms, and Katherine's eyes filled with tears. With a sigh, Draco picked her up. He'd put her down once she was in a deep enough sleep. The crying immediately stopped, and she even smiled. Brat.

"She's teething." Katherine reached out for her, but Draco took a step back. "What if she gets a fever?"

"Then her father will take care of her." He stopped running off to Hermione after his talk with Father and realized by late afternoon, Katherine could barely stand. She had dark circles under her eyes and by how she was holding the edge of the crib, he could tell she was dizzy. "Katherine, go to bed. I'll get you if they get hungry. You don't have to be there every second."

"But…" Was this his fault? He was so angry that the twins would have to share their parents that he made her run herself ragged. Or was she thinking along them same lines herself? That she wouldn't be able to hold Aurora all night in a few months.

"Go to bed," he said firmly. "She's fine, Katherine. She simply has everyone wrapped around her little finger."

There was silence instead of more arguing. She must really be exhausted. "Wake me up if she gets warm."

Like hell he would. "Of course."

Four hours. Fours of trying to place Aurora in her crib before the poor girl gave in out of her own exhaustion and fell asleep. Draco practically crawled to his room because he was so tired. And he knew they would both be hungry in about an hour.

The moment Katherine felt him sinking into bed, she forced herself to wake up and say sleepily, "Is she okay?"

"I don't know," Draco drawled without opening his eyes. "I got fed up and sold her to Severus. He'll make a wonderful potion out of her."

He felt Katherine's eyes boring into him. She found this far from funny and tried to shake him awake. "Even Snape loves her… What if… What if she thinks I replaced her?"

Draco peeled open his eyes. That was a little complex for little Aurora. "She's not going to be starved for attention. Trust me. She's the only girl out of two boys. Three, including Edward. And Alaric absolutely does not give a fuck as long as he has a full belly. I'm worried about you… and him."

Katherine tensed slightly. "You're not worried about him."

He was not in the mood for her accusations, especially since he was afraid she was right. On the baby's birthday, would he have the same feelings for the new baby as he did for Alaric and Aurora? Even though he didn't want him? The thought kept Draco up at night and made him bite his nails during the day. It wasn't the baby's fault, but he couldn't help how he felt.

"I'm worried that I won't love him." Draco felt like the worst person in the world once he said it, and Katherine went rigid. Why on earth would he follow Father's advice?

It was dark, so he couldn't quite read her expression. "So you finally admit that you don't now."

"I'm scared," was all he could say. He didn't know how he felt.

"It's not his fault!" she hissed. "He-he…" He thought she was going to cry, but instead she said the worst thing imaginable. "If you don't love him, I want a divorce."

Kat felt bad about saying that to Draco, but after growing up with the Dursleys, she couldn't tolerate that for her own children. Maybe she was being unreasonable and should talk to him more about it, but she knew what it was like to grow up with a "dad" who didn't love her. She felt like shit stuck under Vernon's shoe, being stepped on throughout the day only to be thrown away into her cupboard.

Draco didn't say anything the next morning but looked near tears all day. Kat found herself snooping when the twins were down for their afternoon nap.

"Brilliant!" Draco yelled as he paced Lucius's office. "Talk to her! That was just bloody brilliant! I told you she didn't care about what I think!"

"And I told you she was protecting her son!" Lucius snapped. "A mother always puts her children first. You're having doubts. Just like you two idiots were back in December before you had the twins. And you have no connection to the child because you've pretended it didn't exist for half the pregnancy."

Draco laughed bitterly. "Oh. Well I'll just explain like you did. I'm sure she'll totally understand!"

"Here's what you're doing," Lucius growled. "You're doing everything she says from now until October. Today, you'll take her shopping. Suggest a name for the boy. I'm telling you now. She was serious when she said she would divorce you over this. Not like when you stomped over her feelings last year. She will not hesitate."

"You would love that wouldn't you," Draco grumbled, sounding a frustrated child.

"Like never seeing her face again?" Lucius snorted. "Of course I would. She's about as revolting like a Weasley and has the vocabulary of that oaf Hagrid. But I would like to see my grandchildren more than every other weekend… And she's your wife..."

"…Thanks."

Kat hurried off before Draco could leave. She didn't know whether to be insulted or grateful.

Thank you for reviewing Bianca Di Angelo 0, Ern Estine 13624, HypocriticalCommunistFromSpace, amata0221, gr8rockstarrox, and silentreader!

Silentreader: I am SO sorry! I couldn't get the first few scenes right and thought this chapter was a bit too angst-y. Next chapter will be better. :P

:( Poor Draco! Not to worry! Everything will come together next chapter. By the way, next chapter is the last. The one after that will be an 11 years later epilogue.

So, I have chapter 36 finished. Tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of this story, so if my review count goes up to 105, I'll post chapter 36 tomorrow night. Otherwise, it will be posted Sunday. :P

But not to worry! This isn't the last of Kat and Draco! I'm going to start a new story with them called A Match Made in Hell or something like that. It will feature an alive Lily and James!