Shorter chapter today, but a good one, I think. I hope you like the direction I'm taking our little family.

Love to MsMerlin and Graceful Lioness!

Precisely nine months, one week, and three days after their wedding, Eliana Iris Malfoy came into the world. She didn't scream like her older sister, but rather squalled for only a few seconds before settling peacefully into the warmth of her mother's embrace.

This go-round, there was no drama. No hysterics. No undue worrying or anger. There was an air of normality around this pregnancy and birth that they had not experienced before.

A month after he took his wife against Shell Cottage at their wedding, she announced to him that she was pregnant. Hermione had been nonchalant about the whole thing, simply letting him know casually over their morning coffee, like she was informing him of the day's weather forecast.

Draco wasn't ashamed in the least to say that he'd cried.

Hermione opted for a home birth this time around. They interviewed a number of midwives, eventually settling on an older witch with over twenty years of experience who had delivered thousands of children. She was an immediate comfort for Hermione who still harboured some trauma over Shiloh's birth. Each time the midwife came to visit, he saw Hermione visibly relax.

The pregnancy passed like a dream. The best dream of his life, really. To mitigate any concerns regarding stress, Hermione cut back on her hours at the Ministry, though she still communicated with her office by owl regularly.

Although he continued to make staying home with Shiloh a priority, Draco started making house calls a few days a week. It began with two of his former patients. The children had gotten into a bit of a situation involving a series of unknown potions ingredients. Not knowing who to call, the mother had fire-called him at home. He responded immediately, staying with the children until they were well again.

After that, word seemed to spread, because he kept getting fire-calls from different families. Some needed emergency services, while others just wanted him to look at a bump or bruise or to consult with him.

Draco found the whole situation funny—or ironic at the very least. All his life, Father had been telling him to do right by the Malfoy name. To live up to it. To make him proud. Yet, everything he had done to try and fulfill his duties as the Malfoy heir had led him to pain and suffering.

Here he was, nearly four years after the war, finally beginning to restore the reputation of the Malfoy family. And it wasn't by serving the Dark Lord or pretending to be charitable.

It was by caring for children.

Draco knew very well that his father didn't care much for his choice of profession, but Mother sent an owl at least once a week, reminding him how proud she was. And of course, asking for updates about the baby.

Hermione grew steadily, and with each passing week, Draco's excitement mounted higher. They specifically asked not to know the sex of the child, choosing instead to be surprised. Though neither of them specifically voiced why it felt like the right decision, Draco knew it was because there were still vestiges of fear looming just below the surface of their joy.

Knowing the sex of their child would make it all the more tangible. It would make it that much harder if something went wrong.

Despite the unspoken hesitation, as the months passed, everything lined up.

The child got bigger, as did Hermione. Her surgery had clearly been a success, because the placenta held on nicely until the very end. Parts of the pregnancy were even enjoyable.

Draco's favourite part in particular was the entire second trimester. Something about those three months made his wife particularly randy, and who was he to say no when she reached for his cock at all hours of the day?

That's even how they ended up getting Hermione to go into labour. Though she was due on March third, the day passed without even a hint of a contraction. Then another day. And another. By the time Hermione was eight days over her due date, she was desperate, waddling about their house with a constant, wide-eyed look of distress taking root in her features.

"You should try sex," the midwife suggested over a Floo call. "That might just do the trick. Something about sperm makes the baby want to pop right out."

Hermione seemed eager to give it a try, practically diving away from the fire. But Draco hung back.

"This late in the pregnancy, is it, er, okay to have sex? I mean… the baby's right there, isn't it? I don't want to—" He cleared his throat, trying to look anywhere but at the midwife. "—you know."

The midwife chuckled. "If you're concerned that your erection will somehow interfere with or touch the child, I can assure you that you are perfectly safe." Draco felt himself turn red at her directness. "And there's no need to be embarrassed, dear. Plenty of fathers have asked the question before you, and plenty will ask after."

Draco hadn't had any more time to ask questions after that, because Hermione yanked him back from the Floo by the collar and proceeded to strip him and have her way with him on the couch the best she could with a giant belly in the way.

In the end, the midwife seemed to be right. Hours later, just as they were preparing for bed, Hermione doubled over, clutching her stomach.

Draco immediately took Shiloh to Ron's—thankfully, he didn't have any lady friends over—and then summoned the midwife.

This time, there was no placental abruption. No riding dragons or dodging curses. No near-death experiences at all. There wasn't even a hospital bed.

Draco expanded their bathtub and helped Hermione through labour overnight. The midwife popped by every hour to check in, but otherwise left the couple to ride it out together. At Hermione's insistence, Draco joined her in the tub for a long while, sitting just behind her and talking her through her contractions. When she was more coherent, he read to her from some of her favourite books.

It was almost relaxing.

When their daughter finally made her appearance in the early morning hours of March thirteenth, she was another perfect little being, purple and sticky and entirely theirs. Not only was she quieter than her sister, she was also born with a head full of blond curls.

For the second time in his life, Draco fell instantly head over heels in love.

By the time Hermione gave the okay for visitors, he was completely besotted.

The Grangers had a short visit. Just a drop-in, really. They congratulated everyone and held the baby, but left after only ten minutes, claiming that Hermione and the baby needed rest.

It made his heart ache, seeing Hermione try to mask her disappointment as her parents closed the front door behind them. Despite making amends, the Grangers' loving nature from before the war still hadn't fully returned.

Harry and Ginny came by to congratulate them and bring some much-needed food. Ron brought Shiloh to meet her baby sister. Everyone gathered around the bed to watch their first meeting, hoping for Shiloh to take a liking right away.

The four year-old cuddled into Hermione's side in the master bedroom, her eyes wide as she stared at the wrinkly newborn. Although they had talked to her many times about having a new baby in the house, they weren't entirely sure that she fully understood what it entailed.

Draco knelt beside the bed, his arm around their firstborn. "Shiloh, love. This is your new baby sister. Eliana. Can you say, 'I love you, Eliana'?"

"I love you, Eliana," Shiloh whispered. Draco wasn't entirely sure of her sincerity, given the way she pulled back slightly toward his arms. He wanted to encourage Shiloh, so he pressed her a bit more.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

Shiloh's brow furrowed for a moment and she squinted at Eliana.

"No," she said plainly with little hesitation.

The room rippled with chuckles. Ginny had to excuse herself so she wouldn't wake the baby from guffawing so hard.

Draco and Hermione were still wiping away their tears of mirth when they heard the Floo ignite from downstairs again. After a few moments, A blonde head appeared in the doorway, and Narcissa Malfoy stepped through looking posh in pristine, crisp robes as always. Draco was about to go and greet his mother when another figure appeared behind her.

Father.

The one and only Lucius Malfoy had come for a visit to see the new baby.

In the years since Father had been released from Azkaban, Draco had yet to have a positive encounter with the man. He was usually shut away in his study, refusing to meet face-to-face. Whenever their paths happened to cross at the Manor, Draco was met by one acerbic comment or another.

He refused to let Shiloh near his father. When she went over to the Manor for tea parties with her grandmother, even Mother was under strict instruction to keep Father away.

Draco's stomach soured upon seeing the man in his master bedroom, feet away from his newborn child. He set his face in a scowl and stood firm in front of Hermione, blocking her and Eliana from view.

"Mother, while it's perfectly lovely to see you, I must ask that Father takes his leave. He cannot just show up here and expect to be welcomed."

Mother's eyes, which had been wide and eager, shrunk a little with sadness.

"All we want is to see the baby, darling. Then we'll leave if that's what you want. You know as well as I do that your father doesn't even have a wand anymore. What in Merlin's name would he do?"

Behind Mother, Father's mouth twitched at the mention of his probation.

Draco peeked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

Hermione met his gaze and shrugged. "I'm okay if you are. It's just for a moment."

Eyes dropping down, he drank in the sight of his new daughter in all of her perfection. Her little cheeks and button nose. The curls that he would spend every day adoring. He didn't want to taint her in anyway. He wanted to keep evil in any form as far away from Eliana as possible.

But was his father evil?

Would there be a price to pay if grandfather and granddaughter met?

With a sigh, he conceded, stepping aside.

"Mother, you may hold her. Father, you may look."

Mother squealed. "A girl? Oh! I knew it! Let me see her." She stepped forward, arms outstretched to hold her newest granddaughter. Hermione happily handed her over, careful to mind the infant's head.

From the moment Mother took Eliana into her arms, Draco could tell that she was absolutely smitten. Her eyes were far softer than usual, and her carefully painted lips curved into a smile.

"This one's got the Malfoy blonde hair, hasn't she?" There was pride in her tone as she swayed back and forth a little. "But she's got her mother's curls. Such a pretty little thing. Isn't she, Lucius?"

All eyes were on the Malfoy patriarch as he went stiff as a wand. The only sign of movement was his eyes at first. They slid over to give a sideways glance at Eliana. One eyebrow raised. Then the other. His mouth, which had been pursed, now opened slightly.

Draco saw his father visibly swallow.

"She is… quite a nice baby."

His words were careful, but Draco saw a hint of affection in his eyes.

After staring for a few moments, Father cleared his throat. "Well. We've seen her, then. Let's go, dear."

Mother sighed and stroked Eliana's cheek one last time before relinquishing her back to Hermione.

Draco walked his parents back down to the Floo, refusing Mother's offer of a house-elf at least five times, explaining that his wife would have an absolute fit if an elf even set foot in their home. He watched them step through emerald flames with a slightly unsettled feeling before heading back upstairs to stare at Eliana some more.

Maybe they should have asked for a house-elf. With one baby, it hadn't been so hard, but a newborn and a young child who still required attention? Well that was another story.

"Love, where did you put the fresh nappies?" Draco called to Hermione from the nursery as they prepared the girls for bed. He realised exactly one moment too late that he didn't have a fresh nappy in hand. Poor Eliana's ankles were lifted off the changing table in his left hand as he reached for his wand, which sat just out of reach.

"Aren't they in the basket next to the changing table?"

He growled. "No, I checked there."

"Give me a—Shiloh!"

There were sounds of a slight struggle before Hermione barreled through the door, slightly worse for wear. She thrust a clean nappy in his hand.

He glanced down, brows furrowed. "What's all this?"

"Your daughter decided to hoard all the new nappies in her room. Thought it would be funny."

Draco sighed as he placed the new nappy on Eliana. "I don't understand what's gotten into her recently. It's like our sweet little girl has gone completely rogue." He began re-dressing the baby as Hermione leaned against the doorframe, blowing a curl off her face. "I mean, last week it was drawing on the walls. Two days ago, she dumped her whole lunch on the floor. And now she's stealing nappies?"

He shook his head.

"Did you ever have a naughty streak as a child?" Hermione leaned back into the hallway, her eyes trained on Shiloh's room. "Because I was a rule-follower from day one."

"Well—" Draco cradled Eliana against his chest. Her eyelids were already droopy again. "—I may have pranked the family house-elves a bit. Made messes on purpose. That sort of thing. Oh, and I definitely nicked Father's broomstick a few times."

"Then I don't think it's really a mystery at all where this comes from. But I think—" Hermione stopped speaking momentarily as the sounds of a shrieking temper tantrum echoed from down the hall. "—I think this may have something to do with envy."

The yells from Shiloh's bedroom grew louder.

"Envy?"

"I think she just wants attention. She got four years all to herself and now she has to share us with Eliana. Imagine if you suddenly got a baby brother or sister when you were four."

Draco grimaced, picturing all the slightly cruel things he might have done as a young child if his parents had succeeded in having another baby. It wasn't a pretty thought, but he couldn't dwell on it long. Shiloh's screaming was growing angrier by the second.

"Is it okay to leave her like that?" He raised his eyebrow at Hermione, who wasn't looking at him at all anymore. Instead, her gaze was fully trained on Shiloh's bedroom door. She was frowning slightly, but didn't seem distressed like him at the sound of their daughter's cries.

"She's past the point of no return right now. No reasoning at all. She'll get tired in a minute or two and then we can go in and talk to her. Hug her. Remind her that we still love her even if she acts out. At least, that's what the parenting books say she would do."

Trust Hermione to follow advice from a book. If it had been fully up to him, he'd have been utterly lost.

It turned out to be good advice. Within ten minutes, Shiloh was sleeping in Hermione's arms on the floor of her bedroom, tear streaks drying on her face.

"She's worn out, little pixie." Hermione lifted the four year-old and placed her in bed.

Draco watched his wife sit at Shiloh's side, gently sweeping her chestnut fringe from her face. She was exhausted. Bags under her eyes, droopy eyelids… Hermione looked like she was the one who was worn out. And for good reason, too. Having two kids was far more taxing that either he or Hermione had anticipated, and it felt like an eternity since they had a moment to themselves.

Every moment of every day was spent with their girls, and while Draco loved being there for them, sometimes he just needed to spend time with Hermione. It wasn't as though their marriage was in a dire state. After all, he knew what it meant for his relationship with Hermione to suffer. But still, he wanted to spend time with her that didn't revolve around discussing infant sleep schedules or where to send Shiloh for her primary education.

Draco wanted to talk with Hermione—really talk. He wanted to romance her a bit. Tease her until she prickled with just the right amount of annoyance. Because if he played his cards right, that tension could bubble over and he could find himself buried inside her in minutes.

It had been one hundred and two days since he and Hermione had sex.

Not that he was counting.

He just happened to know that the last time he had filled his wife was when they were trying to put her into labour. It had been nice enough. Sex with Hermione had rarely been bad, even when they were inexperienced and fumbling. He had even enjoyed pregnant sex for a time. She had been especially adventurous when she was about halfway through carrying Eliana, and he had thanked Merlin more times than he could remember back then.

Now, months later, he would be happy to just feel her wrapped around him again.

Last time, he had taken Hermione out on a date and transfigured a luxury tent for them by the sea.

This go round, he wasn't sure if he had the energy or time for that much effort. But still, he wanted to get them somewhere that didn't smell remotely like stale milk. At least for a while.

Draco decided to try his luck as he and Hermione climbed into bed after both girls were sound asleep.

"You know, I'm getting sick of hearing about how much Blaise is going out on the town. And did you know that Theo's gotten Longbottom into the clubbing scene?" Draco snorted. "Didn't see that coming."

Hermione eyed him from her side of the bed as she reached for a book on goblin rebellions. "Oh? It's nice to hear that Neville's letting loose, I suppose."

Draco snorted as he summoned one of Hermione's magical history books. Those were always good for lulling him to sleep. "Do you remember the last time we let loose? Merlin, I never thought I'd say that when I was still in my twenties." He scrubbed his face, feeling a little pathetic.

"What about that boys' night you had with your friends last month?" Hermione turned her head to face him, leaving her finger as a bookmark.

"Blaise invited a few girls over and I left before the real party started. Besides, I didn't want to leave you alone all night with Eliana."

Hermione chuckled. "Since when did you become the responsible one in your friend group, Draco?"

"Ugh. Don't remind me." He flipped the book open and tried to read a few lines, but the text just blurred in and out of focus. When it became apparent that nothing would come of his efforts, he gave up without much of a fight. "I wish we could just be irresponsible for a few hours. Let loose. Go wild."

"I hate to remind you." Hermione flipped the page of her book, looking up at him over the pages. "But you, Draco Malfoy, have never been one to let loose. Even at Hogwarts. You may have been many things, but you were never like Blaise or Theo or worst of all, Seamus." She shuddered. "I wouldn't be surprised if that one corner of the Gryffindor Common Room perpetually smells like Firewhisky and sex."

They both winced.

"Why do you have to be so honest with me, witch?" Draco turned on his side and leaned on his elbow. He was scowling, but he knew that Hermione saw the playfulness in his eyes. "Can't you just lie to me and tell me that I deserve to be the wild wizard I never could be before?"

Hermione just shook her head. "I am absolutely not telling you that, Draco."

Huffing slightly, Draco turned back to his book. "Fine, fine. Not a wild wizard. But maybe we could still let loose? Find a way to sneak away for a bit? Godric knows we haven't had a night off in—"

"Three months? I know."

"Not to mention sex."

"Also three months."

"Think Weasley would be up to babysit?"

Hermione looked up from her book. Her lips quirked up in the smallest hint of a sly smile. "You know, now that you mention it, I believe our girls are overdue for a visit to their godfather."

This chapter was a bit shorter, but I hope you enjoyed Eliana Malfoy's entrance into the world! For those of you who might be curious about her name, I looked for names that might have meaning after a loss.

As to Shiloh's reaction to having a sibling... let's just say that she's not taking well to being the cutest one around anymore.

Where do you think they'll be going on their night off? The next chapter picks up right where this one left off.

Just four more chapters! Ahhhh! Take care, everyone!