Severus was sitting on the floor next to her, his head buried in the couch cushion. It was a bitter February day, the sky bright with cloud filtered light. Bits of snow blew about, landing nowhere.

He had arrived shortly after Lucius left for a day at the Ministry. One of the elves alerted Narcissa that someone was at the gate, and she rushed downstairs in a winter cloak and nightgown. Anyone who was meant to be there had access without disturbing her, and she bid an elf to stay watchful at the door. She had access to the Darkest magic in the world just through a door in the entry, and yet –

There was a flush of relief when she saw it was only him, and then a motherly indignation at him waiting out in the cold.

"Sev, you know there's a Floo open for everyone in the other wing of the house. If you knocked at the door there the elves would let you straight in to see me."

She had tossed half her cloak around him to hustle indoors, and it was only as they slowed to go up the steps that she noticed he was crying.

"Why Severus, what's wrong?"

The elf stood with the door open, dancing back and forth in the cold, but Narcissa had paused them just on the threshold, and turned Severus to look at her.

"I'm sorry I made you come out here, Narcissa," was all he said, sucking back tears. "I forgot about the Floo."

She installed him in the sitting room with tea and breakfast, and then hurried away to dress. It had been a lot of hurrying already that morning for someone in her condition. She was beginning to feel wide and untethered all the time, a new world for someone so used to the vigor of youth and the attention it had always afforded her. But the change was not without its enjoyments, the delight of a sudden entrance to a club of women who were intrinsically trusted, who knew what to do when presented with hurt.

In the sitting room, Severus was leaned against a window facing back the way he had come, half hidden by the curtain. The food was untouched, although the tea was half drunk.

"Lily Evans is pregnant," he said as soon as he heard her footfall.

Narcissa controlled herself, entering slowly and muffling her reaction. She picked up a croissant and buttered it, then took her plate to the couch.

"How do you know?" she asked, voice level. He turned, but kept half his face hidden in the drapes.

"I saw her this morning, at the post office. I was going to be brave enough to say hello, and then that…that man came back to her, and put his arm around her, and when she turned and before she closed her cloak…"

"Come here, Severus."

He obeyed, kneeling beside her and putting his head down.

"I won't make speeches at you, Sev. I understand your old friendship, and I understand your love. But you must start holding yourself above her. You are here among us now, not sitting at the wrong table in the Great Hall."

He said something she couldn't understand.

"There's no rush today, Severus. We'll just sit here."

Eventually she got him up and took him to the master bathroom, where she showed him the medicine cabinet and asked him to brew replacements for things that were expired or nearing empty. Usually Lucius liked to do it, but he had been busy and neglectful of it lately, and Severus loved using Lucius's lab. Lucius wouldn't mind his duty usurped once, for a friend, or if he did she could easily soothe him. She sent Severus downstairs with an armful of empty vials, and took herself and her coffee to the nursery.

The house elves laundered all the gifts that arrived for the baby, but Narcissa told them to leave the baskets of unfolded blankets and tiny socks to her. Every few days she could go and settle down on the still pristine white carpet, her back to the wall, and fold every lovely thing, satisfied that she had touched and blessed it all.

She drew Severus upstairs again for lunch, greatly subdued by his time in the methodical world of brewing. He asked polite questions about the baby and the nursery and Lucius, and she noted with pleasure he was speaking clearly and precisely; the days of mumbling down into his plate had passed.

"Visit often, Sev," she implored as he readied himself to go. "Any time you think of her, come to us instead. This is your family."

He smiled, a rarity, and let her hug him.

"You've saved me so many times, Narcissa."

"You are worth saving, Severus."

When she told Lucius what had happened that day, Narcissa had a bit of a shock.

"That bloody Mudblood again!" he snapped, ripping off his cravat. "He had better start thinking twice before seeking her out to pine over."

"Darling, I hardly think he sought her out –"

"Cissy, that boy knows her schedule better than I know yours. He does better some times than others but I've never been able to fully talk him out of conveniently appearing where she does. He's wasting everyone's time and ruining his own reputation in the mix. It's a good thing she's pregnant, maybe she'll stay home more instead of constantly wandering around London looking for trouble."

Narcissa huffed.

"You needn't snap at me over it."

Lucius softened instantly.

"Of course not. I'm sorry, lovely. I just think of how much we've done for that boy, how much the Dark Lord has trusted him, and he's a half-blood who should be even more grateful to boot, and then he still wants to throw it all away for some carrot headed Mudblood. I've offered again and again to find him a decent woman, worthy of him, and he won't have it."

"Well, he will live without a woman I suppose. It never killed anyone."

Lucius came to her one late afternoon with the list of names in his hand. The world was growing warm again, and Narcissa was on the terrace, still dressed in winter clothes but enjoying the sun on her face, and the smell of damp earth.

"Where did you find this, Cissy?"

He sat beside her and laid it on the table.

"Really the elf found it," she said, "in the kitchen in the townhouse."

"But you circled Draco."

"Of course. I did it a long time ago."

"How did you know it was my favorite?" He stretched out and took her hand. His eyes adored her.

"A wife knows," she said. Her lips twisted a bit. "A mother knows."

He squeezed her hand, and they beamed at one another.

"And his middle name?" he asked.

"Lucius, of course."

"And if it's a girl?"

"It won't be a girl."

He got out of his chair and urged her up, them settled them back with her in his lap. Lucius's hands rested on her stomach, with her nudging him this way and that as the baby shifted and kicked. The setting sun lit the scene on fire.

"Lucius?"

"Mmmm."

"Do you want more?"

"More?" He was so relaxed, and really thought she must be referencing their tea from earlier.

"More children."

"Oh, lovely." He brushed hair away from her face and kissed her cheek. "That's really up to you."

"You know I never believe you when you say that."

"And yet it's always been true. We will have as many children as you want."

"I just want him. Draco. I don't want to fight for it anymore, or worry about potions and cycles and my stress and your stress…I just want to enjoy him. I suppose we could get lucky again but…I'd rather be lucky, really, than try and fail."

"Lucky we will stay then, dear Narcissa."

An owl arrived later that week with a very precisely packed parcel of homebrewed diaper cream, colic cure, teething soother, and any other number of remedies a tiny, much wanted baby could need.

I don't know much about babies, the note read, but I read a book about stocking a family medicine cabinet and thought you'd rather have homemade than what they sell at the apothecary. I will keep it all replenished.

-SS