A month has passed. Ron is still grieving. Draco is in the midst of a divorce. Both struggle with being single parents.
A/N: FAIR WARNING: there WILL be time jumps and maybe flashbacks. Haven't decided that part but there will definitely be time jumps as shown by the title.
I know, in the magical world no doubt, they probably don't even need shots. Or if they do, they have magical means to give it so that it's not a shot. But I'm going with what I know from the muggle world. Bear with me, please!
It was time to take Scorpius in for his one month checkup. Draco was dreading it. It wasn't that he didn't want to take him. He knew Scorpius would be getting shots today and he'd start bawling as soon as his son started crying. He couldn't help it. He hated to see his child in any kind of discomfort. He realized something now. He had been such a selfish little prat as a child because his father was the same way. Hating to see Draco cry, Lucius had given in to his every whim. Draco had taken full advantage of the fact, too. He gathered all the supplies he would need and set off for Saint Mungo.
Ron Weasley wished he'd took Ginny up on her offer to accompany him to Hugo and Rose's doctor appointments. Between carrying supplies for both children, toting Hugo and trying to keep hold of Rose's hand, he was worn out before they ever arrived at Saint Mungo. It didn't really help his mood when he realized the Ferret was also there. Apparently it was shot day for the little ones. Ferret had his little boy sitting on his lap.
Draco had looked up as soon as the door opened. He felt his heart start pounding at the sight of Ron toting his baby boy with one arm and leading his tiny daughter with the other hand. It was the same feeling he'd had years ago seeing Granger and the Weasel hugging. In all the years he'd been married to Astoria, he'd never felt this feeling, either. He finally realized what it was but damned if he was going to do anything about it.
"Ferret." he greeted shortly. Draco frowned darkly at him.
'Weasel." he returned the greeting.
The two men sat there with their children. Ron was leaning back, staring at the ceiling as he remembered the last time he'd been in this particular room. It was the night before Hermione died. He hated this fucking room! Draco was stealing glances at Hugo, trying to see if he favored Granger like the little girl. Or maybe he'd taken after his clearly exhausted father.
Hugo was asleep in the carrier and Rose wanted to run around and explore everything! Ron pulled out a favorite dolly that she always liked playing with. She settled down, making the dolly walk and talk but soon she was bored again. Before he could pull out another toy, Rose had taken off and was dashing about the room. She had only recently discovered how to walk. Now she was putting her new skill to work, evading her father.
Ron jumped up, taking off after her. He tried not to jostle Hugo awake. He almost had his hands on her when she ducked, spun around and raced back the other way. She was giggling as she looked over her shoulder. Draco caught her right before she ran into his legs.
"Whoa, sweetie! Easy does it, little one." he chuckled. She turned and looked at him, smiling shyly.
"Hands off of her, Ferret!" Ron snarled, instinctively going into attack mode.
"Certainly, Weasel! Wouldn't want those poverty genes rubbing off on my son!" Draco snapped at him.
Just as they were gearing up for a confrontation, the door opened and two nurses called both their sons names. The two men picked up their children and went in two different directions. Draco sat Scorpius on the exam table and stripped him down to his nappy. 'Merlin! He was dreading this. Poor little Scorp had no clue what was about to happen to him!'
The doctor came in and shook hands with him. He examined the baby's eyes and ears. He checked his pulse and heart rate. Then he told Draco some simple tips on the baby's nutrition needs. Finally it was time for the reason they were there. The doctor prepped a couple of needles and came to the table. Scorpius got a shot in each thigh and one in the upper arm. He let out an outraged bawl with the first shot and was crying in earnest by the time he received the third shot. Tears had popped up in Draco's eyes as soon as he heard that first cry.
Down the hall, Ron had it easier. Having already been through the vaccination route with Rose, he was better able to handle the crying with Hugo. It also helped that while a doctor administered Hugo's shots, a nurse practitioner was examining Rose at the same time. In no time at all, the exams and shots were done and he was on the move. He'd left work early and picked the children up from his mother's house. Now they'd go back there until he finished working this evening.
They were coming down the hall when he heard the outraged cry of a very angry infant. It was coming from the direction that Malfoy had gone. For a second, just a sheer, split second, he almost walked out. But then he remembered all the times he'd been able to calm Ginny down when his mother couldn't do anything with her.
He sighed and waited until the doctor exited the room. Then he went in. Draco looked up in surprise. Ron handed Hugo to him and told Rose to sit in the chair and be good. Then he took Scorpius into his arms and began rocking and humming to him.
Draco watched in open-mouthed amazement as Scorpius calmed down and fell asleep in the Weasel'a arms. While Ron was calming Scorp, he took the opportunity to really check out Hugo. While Rose was a little mini-me of Granger but with the Weasley red hair, this child looked nothing like her. Hugo was the very spitting image of his father.
Draco felt a warm feeling seem to surround his heart and it all stemmed from holding this little boy in his arms. He held him closer and stroked a lock of hair off his forehead. He looked up in time to take Scorpius back as the Weasel removed Hugo from his arms. Holding only his own son just didn't seem right. It felt like there was a hole there, as if there should still be another baby in his arms.
He stood up and gathered everything back into his bag. Ron had already disappeared out the door. He walked out and down to the checkout desk. Weasel was there as he made his children' next well child appointments. Draco was in time to hear both the time and the date. After Weasley was gone, he made his own appointment. For some reason that he absolutely refused to even think about, Draco told the woman to fix his appointment on the same time and date as Ron Weasley. Then he left and headed home.
Ron got back to the Burrow with the children. Ginny was there with her two children. As he sat Rose down to go play with James, he and Ginny stood admiring Albus and Hugo for a moment. Ginny asked him how the visit went. She'd taken the boys the week before.
"Is everything going well? Both kids healthy? Shots up to date?" she asked.
"Yeah. Both kids are healthy. Hugo got his first shots. He didn't even cry much. I did that little Muggle trick that Hermione always used with Rose. The children's medicine thing? He let out one little whimper and that was it. Else, he and Rosie were both good as gold." Ron told her proudly.
"Good. I did the same thing with James and Albus. They didn't mind their shots after that." Ginny said. "Did anything else happen?"
"Yeah. The Ferret was there. He reproduced. He's got a son." Ron said, casually picking up a cookie from his mother's cookie jar. Molly and Ginny both looked at him disapprovingly.
"Ron? You didn't fight him while you were there, did you?" Molly asked sternly.
"Of course not. I wouldn't be here if I had. I'd be down at the Ministry with dad having to take custody of me." Ron laughed.
"You have to be nice, Ron. Let bygones be bygones. All that bickering was in the past. Leave it there." Said Ginny.
"Don't worry. I called him Ferret. He called me Weasel and we both went our own ways. He was having trouble with his boy after the shots. I calmed the kid down for him and left. That's all." Ron informed them. He kissed them both on the cheek, told his mother he'd be back after work, then he left.
"Well. That must have been a close call." Ginny told Molly. They both remembered how Ron and Draco had fought like cats and dogs all through school, every time Draco had encountered the Trio. Molly nodded. They were both relived that the two had somehow managed to avoid fighting.
Draco went home and took Scorpius straight to his mother. Narcissa was thrilled to see him. "Oh! There's my beautiful grandbaby! Oh, come to Nana!" she took the baby into her arms. Draco was smiling as he watched her.
"How did it go? Did he take his shots good? Is he healthy?" his mother asked.
"Yes. He's healthy. It went great, until the shots were given. Then he screamed like a banshee." Draco shuddered. Narcissa smiled at him.
"How did you get him calmed down?" she wondered.
"I didn't. An old schoolmate was there with his kids. He actually calmed him down for me." Draco admitted.
"Oh? Who was this old schoolmate? Blaise? Theo?" she asked curiously.
"Not a school friend, mother. A schoolmate. Big difference there." Draco snorted at her.
"Pfft. Nonsense. Who was it?" she persisted. Draco rolled his eyes. He wasn't anxious to talk about the Weasel any more than he had to.
"Weasley. It was Ron Weasley." He told her reluctantly.
"Oh. Didn't his wife pass away last month? Hermione Granger? Did you offer your condolences?" Narcissa asked.
Draco winced inside as he realized he hadn't even thought of Granger. His mind had been too blown to remember her. First at the sheer shock of having Ron right there in front of him. Again when Ron had calmed down Scorpius for him. Both times it had happened so fast, he'd not even thought to speak to him about Granger.
"No, Damnit. We were both in and out of there so fast, I never even thought about it." Draco rubbed his temple.
"Well, I'm sure you'll see him some time or another." Narcissa smiled a small grin as she watched his face.
She knew when her son was interested in someone and he was showing definite signs of interest in Ron Weasley. She and Lucius both knew his interest laid more with males than females. It was exactly why they'd laid out his marriage contract to offer a divorce to his wife. All they'd hoped for was an heir. Male or female, it didn't matter. They just needed him to have a child. He'd fulfilled his contract. Now he was free to pursue his own interests. She cuddled her grandson and cooed at him. Draco tipped his head as he watched her. This was the best part of having his son. The look of joy on his mother's face every time she saw Scorpius. He sometimes thought it was only Scorpius that was keeping her alive and well.
She desperately missed his father. Lucius had been sentenced to ten years in Azkaban and had served almost six years so far. They had been told recently that he could have a parole hearing soon. Possibly, depending on how good his behavior had been, he might be able to get an early release. Narcissa had danced for joy once they were home. They'd immediately gone to visit his father the next day to tell him the news. And make sure he really was displaying good behavior. Draco had to laugh as he watched his mother, barely five feet tall, scold her clearly surprised husband, standing six-three in his sock feet. Lucius listened and nodded as he waited patiently to speak to them. Finally she was done speaking.
"I assure you, darling, I'm being on my best behavior in here. I'm taking no chances of staying here any longer than I have to. I'm anxious to be home with you and Draco. One of the guards brought me a Daily Prophet. It's true, Draco? You have a son?" he asked his son. Draco had Scorpius in a baby carrier under his coat. He opened it and showed Scorpius to his grandfather. Lucius teared up with pride as he stared at the child. "He's beautiful, son. Take good care of him."
Draco nodded. "Father, if you know about Scorpius, then you know-."
"-About that little hussy you were married to? Yes. I know. She's no longer important. Is she even attempting to try and see him?" Lucius asked. Draco shook his head no. "Then we'll not worry about her any longer. Fix it to where, if she happens to ask for them, she can have supervised home visits. She's not to take him out of Britain. Once he gets older, she can take him on supervised outings." Draco nodded, making a mental note to speak to his barrister and include these conditions in the custody agreement.
"How are you holding up, darling?" Lucius asked Narcissa, aching to hold her in his arms. She smiled at him.
"I'm doing very good. Now. Right afterwards, I was a bit of a mess, I'm afraid. I pulled myself together, for Draco. Giving him hope to go on saved me. I miss you. I can't wait for you to be home again. We have a lot to talk about." She said, cutting her eyes over at Draco. It was an unspoken sign that she needed to tell him something she didn't want Draco to hear. They'd been using the sign for years. Ever since Draco got old enough to realize when they were spelling out secrets they didn't want him to hear. Lucius smiled and nodded.
"Write to me, darling. Your letters help me keep my sanity in there. I treasure each and every one of them." He told her quietly. The guards came in and told them their visit was over for today. Lucius was led out and Narcissa made the long walk back with fro and Scorpius. They went home. She had a garden party to go to and he wanted to get some work done by supper time. He'd be putting Scorpius to bed shortly after that.