I instantly recognized Narcissa Malfoy's black and white hair as she stepped out of the black car, flanked at every angle by men in suits. I looked to Draco for answers, but it seemed he was just as surprised as I was.

"Artemis," I gasped. "Shit, how are we going to explain this to Narcissa?"

Draco swallowed. "Easily."

I couldn't face Narcissa Malfoy. Not right now. "I'm going to grab Artemis and run inside without her noticing-"

Narcissa's clear voice called down to us. "Draco!" She used a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. "Who is that with you?"

God dammit. Too late now. I awkwardly waved at Narcissa, wishing that my panties weren't out of place and that Draco didn't have mud stains on the knees of his pants. Despite my quiet pleas for him to let me run inside the house, Draco took my hand and led me up the grass to greet her. I said a rushed scourgify spell to clean us up.

I had last seen Narcissa 12 years ago when I visited Malfoy Manor. She had been effortlessly beautiful then, and that same beauty applied to her now. She wore a glistening broach on a fitted black blazer, long skirt and heels. It made me desperately wish for the opportunity to change into something nicer than this hideous dress made of green floral drapes.

She greeted Draco with a tight hug. I hung back and counted the mysterious men in suits that came with her. There were four.

"Your arm," Narcissa gasped, looking at her son's sling, and then at his pants. "...Are you wearing jeans?"

"Mother, what a pleasant surprise," Draco said with a smile, switching the subject, "How did you get here?"

Narcissa gave a tight-lipped smile. "I got special permission from the French Ministry of Magic to visit. I had to twist quite a few arms to get here." She cast a wary look at the men standing nearby. It seems the Ministry couldn't let her come unchaperoned.

Draco's smile faded. "Where's father?"

"The only way I could see you is if he did not come along. He sends his condolences about Astoria."

Narcissa's eyes slid to me. She looked completely perplexed. I awkwardly cleared my throat. "You probably don't remember me, Mrs. Malfoy-"

"Erica Thorncroft," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Of course I remember you. But… forgive my confusion. What exactly are you doing here?"

Just as I was about to offer my best attempt at an explanation, Scorpius and Artemis came running up. Scorpius was clutching a fat green toad in his hands

"Scorpius and I found a toad!" Artemis announced excitedly. "Can we keep it?"

I saw Narcissa's eyes bounce from Artemis, to Scorpius, to Draco, widening as she counted three identical blonde heads.

I tried hard to fight off embarrassment as the toad let out a fat croak. "Put that back in the pond," Draco hissed.

Narcissa walked towards Scorpius and knelt down. "Hello, Scorpius," she greeted him warmly, seeing her grandson for the first time. "I'm your grandmother."

The toad in Scorpius's hands croaked right in her face.

"I was worried about you and Scorpius being all alone after Astoria's passing. But… it seems you're not alone after all," Narcissa said, completely ignoring the cup of tea before her. The escorts from the Ministry were posted outside of the Chateau to give us privacy, but I knew that was only an illusion. If we said something worth hearing, they would find a way to hear it.

Draco sat beside me at the dining room table. "No. Erica is keeping me company," He said.

Narcissa folded her hands neatly and pursed her lips. "Well. It seems I'm missing something rather big here."

"Um," I said, "I can explain. You see…" I realized then that explaining my position as Astoria's healer, mothering an illegitimate child with Draco, and then coming here to escape an abusive marriage was not the story I wanted to tell to Narcissa Malfoy. Words would not escape my mouth.

Without missing a beat, Draco said, "Artemis is our daughter."

Narcissa's wide eyes blinked. "And Scorpius is…"

"Mine and Astoria's."

"Oh, Merlin…" Narcissa said under her breath. She looked at her teacup. "Do you have anything stronger?"

After situating Narcissa with some chamomile and whiskey, Draco launched into his well-worded explanation on how he and Astoria were never truly a good fit, and that although they had a child together, the marriage was entirely loveless. He even included the fact that I was Astoria's healer for a while, and that was how we were able to meet again.

I unfortunately had to bring up my current marriage. I was vague about the abuse, saying only that 'it was a precarious situation', and that I was in the process of a divorce.

"Draco was kind enough to allow Artemis and I to stay here while my divorce gets sorted out," I explained shyly.

After hearing what we had to say, Narcissa pressed a hand to her mouth, and began to cry.

Oh no, I could feel my insides twist, she's upset Draco had a child with me out of wedlock. If I were his mother, I would be disappointed too.

"Narcissa, I'm so sorry. I know I was not the person you hoped Draco would be with-"

"No," Narcissa grabbed a handkerchief from Gingham and dabbed at her sapphire eyes. "I'm… I'm just overjoyed. Two children! Two! It's such a blessing… and Lucius will never get to see them."

Draco and I both grew solemn. As long as Lucius and Draco had their Dark Marks, they would never be permitted to be in the same place.

"Lucius…. Lucius is not well," Narcissa choked out. "The Mark is spreading its curse of death into his body. And just as I feared… it's happening to you, too."

Draco reached across the table with his good arm to take his mother's hand. She squeezed it tightly.

"I'm working on a cure," I said. "I've been studying Draco's Mark to figure out how to remove it without causing further damage."

"I'm afraid Lucius doesn't have much time left," Narcissa said, teary-eyed. "Even if there was a cure, it may be too late." She looked at Draco. "Draco… please, find a way to come to Austria to say goodbye to him."

Draco looked down at the table. "I can't," he said with quiet anger. "Even after ten years of isolation, I doubt the Ministry has forgiven me."

"Um…"

Draco and Narcissa looked at me. "I have to confess something," I said in a small voice. "I have been exchanging letters with an Auror-"

"What?" Draco hissed.

"It's somebody who wants to help you," I clarified quickly. "If the Ministry was aware I was attempting to remove your Mark, they might be receptive to a reevaluation of your exile."

Narcissa's eyes brightened. "Is that true?"

Draco's gaze was hard and suspicious. "And who, exactly, is this Auror?"

There was a lump in my throat, but I managed to force the name out. "...It's Harry Potter."

Upon hearing the name, Draco's eyes narrowed, and his mouth hardened into a line. "I refuse to accept his help," he said firmly.

"Draco," Narcissa implored, "Please, don't let pride stand in the way of seeing your father again-"

Draco rose from the table and stormed out of the room, leaving Narcissa and I with open mouths.

"I feel horrible," I slouched in my seat. "I shouldn't have done anything."

"No. You did the right thing," Narcissa pursed her lipstick lips in consideration. "Draco is simply too caught in the past. The Malfoy men have this romanticization of holding steadfastly to the way things used to be. It creates a sort of blinder effect for the future. It takes a special kind of person to help them see clearly." She nodded her head. "That's why I'm pleased to see you again, Erica."

Emotion swelled within me, flushing my cheeks.

"Narcissa?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think you'll love Artemis the same way you love Scorpius?"

"Of course," Narcissa replied without hesitation. "They have Malfoy blood. My love for those children is unconditional."

I swallowed. "What if you knew that I was half Squib?"

Narcissa's eyes widened. Slowly, she set the teacup from her lips down onto the table without a sound.

"I'll admit, there was a version of me in the past that would have been bothered by that," she said with solemnity. Slowly, her eyes crinkled, and her lips curved into a smile. "But… When I saw the four of you today, I saw a bright future for a loving family. And a happy future matters more than tradition."

A flood of relief washed over me from head to toe. The four of us… as a loving family.

"Are you in love?"

My mouth opened and closed when I realized the "no" I had prepared just did not seem right. I adored Draco. I longed for Draco. He was my closest and oldest friend, and the person who knew me better than anyone else in this world. That's why it felt so right to come here when I had nowhere else to go. Although somewhere along the way I lost sight of the dream that he and I would end up together, the thought of giving him up now was inconceivable. I never wanted to leave Draco ever again.

"Yes," I said in a near-whisper. "I love him."

Narcissa sipped her "tea" with a content smile. I summoned the courage to get up. "I… I'm going to talk to him."

Draco was not in his study like I expected him to be. He had actually gone to the north wing, where his bedroom was. I had never been in his bedroom here before, and nervously knocked before entering. "Draco. It's me."

Draco sat on the edge of a large black bed positioned in the middle of a room with barely any light. The room hardly looked lived in at all, aside from the wastebasket filled to the brim with reddish-brown gauze.

I slowly approached Draco, who was as stiff and dark as the furniture around him.

"... Are you mad?"

"Of course I'm mad." Draco raised his head and noticed my scared expression. He frowned. "What are you crying for?"

"I'm crying?" I dabbed a finger to my eye and realized it was wet. "O-oh, I suppose I am."

Draco got up and came towards me. Without thinking, I stepped back.

Draco was quiet for a moment. "... Erica. You know I'm not Len."

"I know."

"Then why are you shaking?"

My face tightened. "B-because for s-so long, I've spent every waking moment terrified that I was going to set him off." I exhaled shakily. "I can't just get over that overnight, as much as I want to."

Draco gazed at me with a soft expression. "I would never do you any harm. Erica, I love you more than anything else in this world."

My stomach fluttered at the word love. For a moment it was like we were transported back to when we were teenagers, pretending we were the only two people on earth, wishing every problem, every rule, every obstacle would go away. We couldn't be together then; the timing was wrong. But I've waited twelve years. And I refused to wait another year more.

I looked up into his quicksilver eyes and said with soft certainty, "Draco... I love you, too."

Draco's expression brightened. "You love me?" he repeated. The corners of my lips tugged into a smile. Draco's right hand went to the side of my face as he brought his lips down to kiss me with soft sweetness.

When the kiss subsided, Draco breathed, "Then let's get married."

I pulled away. "I can't. Not unless you're going to at least try to get your exile lifted."

Draco looked hurt at my refusal, and tried to reason with me. "I know you're hesitant to leave your old life behind to live with me in France. But you can do your healing here-"

I interrupted, "Draco, this isn't about me. Think of Scorpius and Artemis. Do you really want the children to live with this hanging over their heads for the rest of their lives? We'll have to think of their schooling eventually. It doesn't matter to me if they go to Hogwarts or not, but don't you think they should at least have the option?"

I heard the sound of Draco exhale from deep in his throat, frustrated and conflicted. "I can't do it if it means accepting Potter's pity."

"You can read our letters. He- he doesn't pity you. Quite the opposite, actually; he respects you, and that's why he wants to testify in your favor."

In the dim light, I saw Draco's jaw stiffen. "I haven't seen him in eleven years. He hardly knows me anymore."

"No, but… he would like to." I looked up at Draco hopefully. "Harry wants to visit."

"What?" Draco's arm nearly erupted out of its sling. "You invited him here?"

I quickly said, "I haven't replied yet. I wanted to check with you first." Draco looked like he had a million things going on in his head all at once. "I think you should see him," I said encouragingly. "Perhaps you'll realize you have more in common than you thought."

"Potter and I have nothing in common," Draco hissed. "That was our problem. We're complete, polar opposites. We've hurt each other past the point of no return."

My hand went to Draco's chest, my touch light, remembering that underneath his clothes were thin scars left from Harry's sectumsempra spell. "It's been eleven years. I think if you saw each other again, you could find peace and heal. But you'll never know if you don't let him in."

Draco was silent.

"Draco," I said softly. "You… you proposed to me earlier today. And I want so badly to accept it. But I can't say yes unless I know you're going to try and give our family the future we deserve."

"I'll do it."

I blinked at Draco in the dark bedroom. "You will?"

"Yes," he affirmed, determination growing in his eyes. "I'll see Harry Potter, and do everything in my power to get my exile lifted, if it means you'll marry me."

A huge smile gradually grew across my face. Even in the low light, I could see the corners of Draco's lips tugging at his cheeks in a rare smile of his own.

My hands gripped the collar of his shirt, and I tugged him into me for a long-awaited kiss that sealed our deal. As our mouths exchanged smiles and kisses, the room didn't feel so dark anymore.

"I'll marry you," I said between kisses. "But there's one last thing."

"Anything," he said as he pecked my lips again.

"I need to get those divorce papers from Len. I can't get married without them."

Draco looked into my eyes. "That bastard won't stop us."

"I want to do this right, Draco," I insisted. "It's important to me."

Draco placed his lips on my cheek. "Consider it done."

I immediately wrote a response to Harry inviting him to the Chateau. I told Gingham to mail it right away and then went downstairs and saw Narcissa reading to the children by the fire. Narcissa wanted to spend every moment with the children that she could until she had to leave tomorrow morning. Scorpius was tucked under one of Narcissa's arms, and Artemis was under the other, with her head in her lap. I looked around to see if Draco was nearby to see this sweet, rare moment, but for some reason, he wasn't around.

I sat in an armchair beside Narcissa and the children and, without even realizing it, dozed off from the comfort. Hours later, when night had long fallen, I awoke to the sound of coughing.

My eyes shot open. Someone had placed a blanket on me. I shoved it off and bolted to the foyer.

I spotted Draco's tall, blonde figure standing in the foyer with his coat on. "Draco, where have you been?" I asked sleepily.

As Draco turned to face me, I saw two streams of blood falling from his nose. "I was getting you an early wedding gift." When he spoke, it revealed that there was blood in his mouth as well.

I was about to ask what kind of gift would cause him a broken nose and bloody teeth when he plopped down a stack of papers on the entryway table right next to the Ring of Ataraxy.

My voice raised in shock. "...You saw Len?"

Draco shrugged. "You said you wouldn't marry me until your divorce was final. So I went over there myself. We didn't even get to introductions. He knew exactly who I was."

I forced Draco to stay still so I could examine his wounds. "...My god, he broke your nose."

That didn't seem to bother Draco much. "Yes, I ended up being a little slow with my arm in a sling. But once I got used to it, he really wasn't much of a match for me."

My blood ran cold. "Draco, you didn't... "

"Kill him?" Draco stated calmly. "No. Well, almost."

I sighed in relief. "That was crazy of you to confront him like that. You were lucky it's not a full moon."

"It wasn't crazy at all," Draco smiled. "I knew I had a sexy healer waiting at home for me."

I gave Draco a stern look that melted into a smile. Carefully avoiding his sling, I hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

Draco stroked my head. "Anything for you, my love."