Thanks so much for reading the last chapter. I appreciate all of the reviews you've all left. I'd like to offer Christmas part 1, as I'm going to call it.

20 December, 2007: 8:00pm

"You go first."

Hermione's eyes snapped up to him. "No, you go. This was your idea," she whispered.

Draco glared as he loomed over her. They looked ridiculous standing there just outside of the room, peeking in at her like they were avoiding detection of the headmaster.

"You birthed her!" He hissed.

She whacked his arm. "So? Again, this was your bloody idea!"

He groaned and finally pushed around her. "For Merlin's sake, she's eight and we're adults."

Draco stepped into their family sitting room and then, realizing he was alone, reached back and tugged Hermione in behind him. He walked her ahead of him with his hands on her shoulders and they stopped in front of the sofa where Rose was reading.

At first, neither said a word and it took a moment before Rose noticed them. Her eyes widened as she slowly lowered her book to her lap and she blinked at them. Even she clearly thought they were behaving oddly.

Draco nudged Hermione with his elbow and she narrowed her eyes at him. He lifted his brows pointedly and she huffed before crossing her arms.

"Rose, how would you feel if we did a little something different for Christmas this year?"

Rose squinted at the two of them over the top of her book. It was that appraising stare that could only be delivered by a child and the only one that truly made Hermione nervous.

"Different…how?" She asked, closing the book around her finger.

Hermione elbowed Draco discreetly when she saw his smirk breaking free. Rose looked like a child playing at being an adult. She was in her bathrobe, because she just had to have one after she saw the new one Draco bought her, and her cartoon pajama bottoms peeking out before her feet disappeared into an equally silly pair of slippers. With a steaming cop of hot chocolate on the table beside her, she looked like a parent awaiting bad news.

"Well," she continued, pausing long enough to spear her husband with a pointed look, "I know that normally we have dinner Christmas Eve with gran and then you and I open presents together at home in the morning before we do Christmas dinner that night with gran but—" She took a calming breath because Rose was already frowning as if she expected impending doom. "What if we spent Christmas in France?"

Rose's eyes grew twice their size. "In France? But what about gran?"

Draco finally lost control and a short chuckle sputtered past his lips. He lifted his hands to fend off Hermione when she made to backhand him. "I'm sorry—she just looks so serious. Who are the adults here?"

She sighed. "We are. But holidays are—special." She returned her focus on her daughter and smiled. "Gran will come with us."

She tilted her head curiously. At least the frown was gone. "Where will we stay?"

"At our chateau," Draco said, as if he was reading some boring drivel from the Daily Prophet.

Rose's lips shaped around the word as she asked, "Chateau? Like…another house? We have another house?"

"We do," he said, nodding. He was tamping down his amusement thankfully.

Rose dropped her slipper covered feet from the ottoman and leaned towards Hermione before she whispered, "Are we rich now?"

Well, there went the conversation. Draco's shoulders shook with obvious laughter and she pulled her wand from her pocket to hex him. He yelped at the mild stinging jinx but it didn't steal his smirk.

"Well…"

"Technically, yes," he answered over her.

Then she whacked his hip with her wand. "You're terrible."

He lifted his hands. "I'm only telling her the truth. We're wealthy."

Hermione sighed. "Rose, will that be alright? I've thrown a lot of change at you this year. If you'd rather stay in London then we can."

Draco wasn't used to having to clear things with a child. His parents certainly never considered his feelings about anything growing up and he'd been expected to fall in line. Hence an unwanted stint as a Death Eater. However, this was different and he would adapt with time.

Rose shrugged. "As long as we can bring gran."

"Crisis averted," Draco snickered.

21 December, 2007: 9:30am

Diagon Alley was the busiest at two particular times during the year: just before the start of term for Hogwarts in September and the holidays in December. Historically, Hermione had avoided going both times over the last nine years. However, as was the trend for this year, Draco threw a wrench in that.

He stared at her as he stood at the end of the breakfast table. It was an adorable little four seater that Theo found and nudged into a nook in the kitchen with floor to ceiling windows that faced the garden. It made a cozy place for their family to have a meal together when they weren't having guests.

Rose sat on her knees in her chair, a habit Hermione wished to break her of but didn't have the will to fight some days, a book pinned under her left hand as she used her right to feed herself the eggs Hermione had cooked her. Pipsy had watched anxiously and it was clear the poor elf didn't do well without a task. Therefore, Hermione requested she gather the ingredients for them all to make Christmas biscuits later. It did the trick and she scurried off to the pantry—the one that was three times the size of Hermione's old one—and began preparations.

However, even now as she read her own book and tried to ignore his piercing stare while she ate her breakfast, there was no denying it. She was going to lose this battle.

"We're going. It's an absolute travesty that this child has been denied the chance to see Diagon Alley all decked for the holidays."

Hermione sighed and she could feel Rose's cautious gaze on her. It was like walking a tightrope at times, figuring out this push and pull that came with tying her life to him. She wanted him to be her equal, her partner. She wanted him to be a father to Rose. However, relinquishing total control of the parenting was proving…challenging sometimes.

Rose swallowed a bite of eggs and promptly looked down at her book. Hermione imagined she wasn't actually reading the words though, too intrigued by this tug of war at the breakfast table.

"Draco—" she started the sentence with his name but he lifted a hand, palm out to stop her.

"I'm not letting those nosy twats steal this, too. If I can get you over your anxiety of visiting on any normal day, then we'll get you over this, too."

Rose looked up at him finally, all pretenses of reading gone. "What's so special about it?"

Hermione arched a brow as she crossed her arms. He snorted and mirrored her position. Challenge clearly accepted.

"Everything," he answered her with a grin. "There are faery lights and garland everywhere. All of the shops decorate inside. And," he leaned down as if sharing a secret but Hermione heard him, "rumor has it that Sugarplum's gives out free peppermint fudge samples."

Hermione shook her head but she smiled at him. If she found him irresistible even when he was being snarky, her attraction to him shot about ten notches higher when he was being so sweet to Rose.

She sighed when Rose's eyes flickered in her direction. "Alright. But I reserve the right to say I told you so when we end up on the front page of the paper on Monday."

Draco snorted. "Fine, fine. It's not our fault our family takes such dashing pictures."

She rolled her eyes and nodded when Rose asked if she could go change. She'd eaten nearly all of her breakfast anyway.

"Why are you such a pompous arse sometimes?" She asked, a teasing smile in place as he dropped into the seat across from her. She'd already dressed for the day so there was no need to stop her breakfast.

"I've no idea what you're on about."

"You know why I don't want to go to Diagon Alley right before Christmas—which, need I remind you, is only four days away. You still need to make arrangements to get that cat from Theo and Blaise."

He waved her off before stealing the last bite of toast from her plate. "The cat will be just fine. And yes, I do know why but as I told you before—you can't let these people keep you away from places where you belong just because they're exceedingly obnoxious with their curiosity."

She sighed. "You're just feeling cocky because the Daily Prophet wrote up such a lovely article when they saw you and Rose there last time." She softened a little as his already pale cheeks pinked. "Not that I could disagree. I do believe if there was a contest for sexiest father in Britain, you'd win in a landslide."

He rolled his eyes even as a blush flamed his cheeks. It was a rare thing to see Draco Malfoy blush but she found she enjoyed it immensely. She'd secretly decided to try to find more things that earned the reaction from him.

"Don't tell Potter that. You might upset his delicate sensibilities."

She shrugged. "I'm biased."

The heated look he sent her made her wish she'd actually not gotten up when she woke before him. That she'd stayed in bed instead of trudging down to practice her yoga and make breakfast.

10:30am

"Stay close," Hermione said to Rose once they emerged from the Leaky Cauldron onto the busy wizarding high street.

She needn't have said it. Rose was clearly overwhelmed by the crush of people and held her mother's hand, her free hand clutched at her coat.

Draco leaned down to her ear. "We can go if this is too much."

Hermione sighed. "No, we're here now. We'll be fine."

Perhaps he'd been overconfident. The street was crowded and it was hard enough to keep hold of Hermione's hand, let alone worrying about Rose getting swallowed up in the crowd. So, after they left Sugarplum's with their free sample—plus a whole bag because Draco was the one who couldn't leave without anything—he'd had enough.

"Alright, my own nerves can't handle this," he said. He bent down and took Rose under her arms before lifting her on his shoulders. He released a sigh when she giggled and retook his wife's hand. "That's better."

Hermione shook her head and bit down on her lip to conceal a smile. "I suppose I'll have to settle for not being able to see anything while you two have better views."

"That's what you get for being short," he said, flashing her a teasing smile. "Alright then. Where to next?"

"Uncle George's shop!" Rose said, pointing towards the mechanical version of the famed Weasley twins. No one had ever settled who was who but it was a stark reminder of the Weasley family's loss.

Draco glanced at Hermione and arched a questioning brow.

She pressed her lips together and he could see the nerves dancing in her eyes. "He asked Harry if I'd bring her by. I've been putting it off."

He nodded stubbornly. "Alright then."

Did he want to risk stepping inside a Weasley-owned establishment? Not really. However, maintaining Rose's relationships with the family members that were on the good list (beyond just Ginny and her grandparents) was something he knew Hermione felt strongly about. So he'd grit his teeth and deal with it for his daughter.

Hermione led the way and he followed. Like always. He was convinced he'd follow this witch to the ends of the earth and not have a single regret.

"Do I have to come down?" Rose asked as they neared the entrance to the joke shop.

Draco eyed the doorway. "I'm afraid so. I'd have to walk on my knees to get us through otherwise. I'm too tall."

He helped her down just before the door. She looked from Hermione and then to him, a curious quirk to her mouth.

"How tall are you?"

"Err…well over six feet. Six-two…six-three maybe."

Her eyes widened as she eyed her mother again. "That's really tall."

Hermione snorted and placed her hands on her shoulders to guide her inside. "Come on, you silly thing."

The joke shop was fairly crowded and Draco flinched when something whizzed past his head, nearly nicking his ear.

"Bloody hell," he breathed. "It's a mad house."

Hermione smirked. "I've seen it worse. Come on then. The sooner we find George, the better."

It didn't take long. A shock of red hair on an equally tall body was hard to miss. George Weasley was even taller than Draco by an inch or two. He spotted Rose and his smile grew into a wider grin.

Draco braced himself for anything. He may have charmed Arthur and Molly but he didn't know much about the other siblings beyond Ginny. They might all be on Hermione's side but that didn't mean the good favor would be extended to him.

"Hey there, Rose!" George exclaimed. He bent at the waist and hugged her. "Long time, no see."

Hermione pressed her lips in a close-mouthed smile. "Sorry, George. It's been a crazy year."

George just smiled. He looked at Rose again. "Pick out any one thing, Rose. My Christmas gift to you."

She bounced excitedly on her toes. "Really?"

"Of course! Uncle George doesn't tell lies." He winked at Hermione and Draco got the impression he was missing out on some inside joke.

He watched as Rose slipped further into the store, intent to find whatever it was that amused children here. His safe buffer was gone, the plaster ripped off. Nothing but the freckly face of the brother of his wife's ex.

George held a hand out to him. "Alright then, Malfoy?"

He swallowed and took his hand. "Yeah. It's more crowded than the World Cup out there."

George snickered and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Too right! I'm surprised you got Hermione to venture out. She's never been a fan of the crowds."

Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulders on instinct.

She sighed. "How have things been, George?"

"Can't complain honestly. Sales are through the roof. I just came up with a new line of toffees that change your hair color. Not appropriate for Rose's age, mind you, but they're killing it with the Hogwarts crowd." He shifted on his feet and Draco tightened his fingers on her shoulder. "So…how's Rose been?"

She blinked. "Oh, she's been well. She's top of her class in school and she's adapting to all of the changes quite well."

He nodded as he reached to scratch the back of his neck. "I was just concerned—after that incident, you know."

"She's fine," Draco said, his voice coming out more gruff than he intended. Hermione glanced at him and he loosened his arm. "I'm just going to see what Rose has found."

It was easier than having to relive that day constantly. The one that Ron Weasley nearly ruined for all of them. On some level, he understood why it kept coming up in conversation. In a way, the prick was unresolved. He was floating over their heads and would be forever because of Rose. Hermione wanted her to have a relationship with her grandparents and aunts and uncles. He understood that. He did not however appreciate the circumstances.

George's mouth quirked in a grimace. "Sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to—"

Hermione flashed him an apologetic smile and waved him off. "The funny thing about Draco Malfoy when I met him again is that I realized I really didn't know him at all. That selfish boy we went to school with—I think that was mostly him trying to please his father. There are bits of him that are the same—his sarcasm and his tendency to be a bit broody—but there's so much more about him that I didn't realize before."

He nodded. "I can see that. Ginny said she'd never seen anyone look at another person the way he looks at you. I thought she was barmy." He laughed and shook his head. "Not because it's you. It's just—really? Malfoy? But from everything I've heard, I'd say you're right." He whistled. "Her, too. Merlin, does that man have any other mode besides intense?"

A laugh whooshed out of her finally. Relief. "He does! You should see him and Harry bickering over something. They've moved beyond childish enemies to childish rivalry."

"Well, that's a relief. Ginny has nothing but good things to say about him." A slow smile crept across his face. "And I can tell how much you love him. And how much he loves you."

Hermione titled her head curiously. "Do you get this serious with everyone else?"

George stared at her for a moment before bursting in full belly chuckle. "Merlin, no! They'd never let me live it down. I was still trying to crack jokes to cope with Fred, you know." He sobered and reached out to pat her shoulder. "No, you're the only one who never expected it by default." His eyes strayed somewhere over her shoulder and he grinned. "Though I think I'm going to owe you an apology now."

She turned and watched as Draco and Rose picked their way through the shop. There was something in each of their hands.

"Oh dear…"

"Mum, look! Fireworks!"

George already had his hands up in surrender when she whipped back around to face him. "In fairness, that set makes half the noise of the original Whiz-bangs box. I've made lots of improvements."

She sighed and took the box out of Rose's outstretched hands. She skimmed the back before tucking it under her arm. "And you? What trouble have you found?" She asked, flicking a hand at Draco."

He smirked as he held a glass jar of U No Poo out to her. "For the next time Potter criticizes my cooking."

Hermione huffed. "I really shouldn't allow either of these things."

George leaned forward conspiratorially. "But you will." He snatched the items from her hands with a wink and made his way around the counter to package them up. He shook the jar of U No Poo at Draco and grinned. "Best to slip a few of these into a nice slice of chocolate cake, Malfoy. He'll never see it coming."

Draco flashed her a smirk. "I think he and I will get along fine."

22 December, 2007: 2:00am

Draco was usually a fairly deep sleeper. He didn't wake often at night but had found a new trigger—the absence of his wife in bed. If she got up for the loo, he woke. If she woke randomly and snuck down the hall to check on Rose as she admitted she sometimes did, he woke.

And right now, at two in the morning, her side of the bed was empty as were his arms. She fell asleep on his chest but often would migrate. Many mornings he woke with her back against his chest and his face pressed against her hair. It was probably a miracle that he'd not suffocated on her head of curls but they smelled so wonderful and her warm body was like a drug when he was already half asleep.

He grabbed his wand from his nightstand and kicked off the blankets. When he first moved here from France, navigating the halls in the dark was a feat but didn't hold the anxiety that the manor did. Now it was like second nature. He bypassed the staircase at first and eased Rose's bedroom door open. The lights were out and she was fast asleep in a pile of her stuffed animals.

Feeling sure he knew where he wife was but not knowing why, he made for the stairs. However, when he arrived in their main sitting room she wasn't there either. The fire had long been extinguished and there were no lights beyond the moonlight spilling past the open curtains.

Mild panic set in. Had there been some emergency with the Ministry that she'd not woke him to inform him of? Was it the Potters? Had that nutter gotten himself hurt in some attack?

Each of the other rooms—the formal dining room, the smaller sitting rooms—were all empty. Confused, he finally made his way to the kitchen. Finally, there was a small light. The one over the sink that mingled with the moonlight from the window facing the back garden.

And there she was. Seated on the kitchen counter, frozen when she spotted him, and a piece of peppermint fudge halfway to her mouth.

"You little…" He didn't finish the thought. A short laugh came first and he sighed with relief. "I've been looking all over this house for you," he said, stopping to lean on the counter opposite her.

Hermione swallowed and lifted her shoulders. "You found me."

Draco chuckled and set his wand on the counter behind him. "Clearly. And red-handed. Nicking some of my fudge, I see."

She rolled her eyes and popped the rest of the piece in her mouth. "You bought five pounds of it. You won't miss two measly pieces."

"No, but I do wonder why you felt you had to sneak downstairs in the wee hours of the morning just to have some."

She shrugged again and at first he didn't think she was going to answer. "So perhaps some of Rose's sweet tooth doesn't come from elsewhere." She flicked a hand. "My parents were very regimented with how much sugar I was allowed to have and I admit that I allow her more than they did me, but I still try to keep it balanced."

He snickered. "So you sneak out of bed sometimes to eat sweets in the dark?"

She tossed a paper napkin at him but it fell to the floor before it ever made contact. "Rarely! I didn't have any of this earlier and I woke up but couldn't get back to sleep. I checked on Rose and then came down here. It was just sitting there—taunting me!"

Draco laughed at the way she pouted and pushed away from the counter. Perhaps their room was too warm because she'd kicked off her pajama bottoms at some point. She sat on the countertop in nothing but a pair of knickers and an old jumper she'd nicked from his wardrobe. It looked better on her than it ever did on him. Especially the way the neckline slipped and allowed him a taste of her shoulder.

One of her hands came up to thread through the short hair at the back of his neck, the other anchored itself on one of his biceps. Her waist was warm as his fingers pressed against the skin beneath her jumper.

Her breath came out in short little puffs as he teased her neck with a line of kisses, nipping gently along the way. "We should…upstairs…"

There was literally nothing else that turned this normally articulate witch into an inarticulate mess quite like touching her like this.

Draco shook his head as he drew back to meet her eyes. There was enough light to make out the dark shade of her brown eyes. Like the molten chocolate escaping a lava cake.

"No, I think I'll have you here."

Those eyes widened a touch and she made to push against his chest. "N-not here. We're in the bloody kitchen!"

"And?"

He was already straining against the fabric of his pants and pajamas bottoms at the thought. It wasn't so much the thrill of a little late night escapade as it was that he wasn't sure he'd even make it that far. However, despite the protests on her tongue, she shifted to allow him to rid her of her knickers.

"But if—" she paused on a moan when his fingers found their way between her legs and her head fell back against the cabinet behind her.

"Careful, love," he whispered in her ear. He pulled back in time to watch the way her mouth dropped open as he inserted two fingers inside her.

She found his eyes and tried again. "If…if Rose comes downstairs…"

"She won't," he promised with a kiss pressed against her lips. "Now unless you're not consenting, quit trying to stop me from fucking you on this bloody counter."

He got his answer when she took his face in her hands and kissed him. She was hungry and a bit needy which suited him just fine. No one had ever wanted him the way she did and it was intoxicating. He felt like the most powerful man in all of Britain when she kissed him like that.

Draco grunted against her neck as he reached back for his wand and fired off the charm. Her hands were busy pushing down his pajamas. When he finally slipped inside her, she arched in his arms, her brow furrowed as her head fell back against the cabinets again.

"Fuck," she muttered absently.

He managed a smile against her neck. "That's…appropriate."

She slapped him across the head halfheartedly for that quip but he was undeterred. Not when he earned another moan or breathy sigh from her.

Hermione reached for him and pulled his head away from her neck. Her lips crashed into his in a sloppy kiss that made him groan.

"So…close," she whispered, her brows pinched together.

Draco tightened his arms around her, pulling her close. He wasn't going to last if he didn't get her there sooner. She gasped when he slipped a hand between them and then a few moments later they were both careening over the edge.

Hermione collapsed against him and for a moment he just held her. She was soft and warm against him, like liquid.

"I can't believe we just did that," she whispered.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek before he pulled back. He found his wand and cleaned them up before he pulled his pajamas back up. He flashed her a tired smile. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

She smacked his arm as he handed back her knickers and he watched as she slid them back on. He scourgified the countertop for good measure.

She took his hand and together they navigated their way through the dark. It wasn't until they were back in bed and she was settled in his arms that either of them spoke.

"I think this should be our first Christmas tradition," he said.

She scoffed. "What? Me eating your fudge or you shagging me on the kitchen counter?"

Draco snorted and pinched her hip. "That wasn't what I meant but yes to both."

She yawned against his shoulder. "What did you mean then?"

"A trip to Diagon Alley for sweets and to see the lights. I think she enjoyed it. You, too for that matter."

She sighed. "We did. But I think I could say that for most things you've brought into our lives."

Many thanks for reading. Reviews are always appreciated. :)