A/N: Yes, I'm alive. Paradise, as you all know, hasn't been updated in
over a year and there are good reasons for it, but I won't bore you with
the details. I have decided to cease further work on the WD series with an
exception of a D/G story next week for the DracoGinny fanfic list's Ficmas.
There will be a couple more short pieces to be posted, then Paradise and
WD will be done. Please don't yell at me for this, but it cannot be
helped.
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
"Daddy look!"
Draco looked over to where Vicki was calling for him. She ran over on her short, chubby, little baby legs, standing before him with a look of pure glee on her face.
"Look," she drawled excitedly, holding a small dried starfish in her hand.
"Wow!" Draco enthused, smiling over how happy she looked by the little find.
"For you, Daddy."
"Thank you," Draco responded, laying open his palm as she placed it gingerly in his hand. Placing it beside him on the towel, he grabbed her little hips and pulled her forward to kiss her lightly on the cheek with a loud 'smack!' Vicki giggled before running back to her bucket, past Darius who was looking out over the water with his hands on his hips. Draco wondered what his son was contemplating peering out at the breaking waves. He kept his eyes moving back and forth between the two of them, silently wondering where his wife was and listening for her behind him.
"Daddy?" Darius called, his back still to Draco before turning slowly around and wandering over, kicking sand along the way.
"Yes?"
"Jump the waves with me?" Darius asked quietly, resting his elbows on his father's thighs, face perched in his hands. "Please, Daddy?"
"As soon as Mummy comes down. I can't keep watch over Vicki." Draco paused, not wanting to stir jealousy between them and choosing to reword his response. "Why don't you sit here and help me watch her? Make sure she doesn't get herself hurt?" he suggested, making it sound like a very important job.
"K," Darius grinned, climbing onto Draco's lap and leaning against his chest. "Mummy be here soon, right?'
"Will Mummy be here soon?" Draco gently corrected, trying to fix Darius' perpetually unruly blonde hair, which if he didn't know better, he'd think his son had somehow inherited from Potter. "She should be."
"Good," Darius replied happily. "I want to jump the waves."
"I know you do."
"Hi guys, "Ginny laughed, balancing Dylan on her hip as she walked down the last few steps.
Draco glanced over, grimacing slightly as he looked at the path down the cliffs. "I'm glad I put those steps in, but. Just be careful when carrying."
"Who's the worrywart now, husband?" Ginny chuckled, taking the seat next to him on the beach. "I was careful as careful can be. Wasn't I, Dyl?"
Dylan nodded though it was barely noticeable as his redhead was still pressed into Ginny's neck.
"Watch Vicki, Mummy!" Darius interrupted impatiently. "Daddy and I want to go jump the waves!"
Draco laughed as he stood, tossing his son over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Yeah Mummy, watch Vicki," he ordered teasingly, carrying a shrieking Darius to the water.
Ginny kept her eyes on Vicki while also watching Draco playing in the surf with Darius who was squealing in delight each time Draco lifted him over a wave. Dylan had fallen back to sleep against her shoulder as Vicki continued building a mini-Malfoy Manor with the wet sand. She heard someone coming down the steps and turned to see Remus there.
"Hello, Papa," Ginny smiled over her shoulder, smoothing Dylan's shirt down his back. "Hello Ginny," Remus replied tiredly, as he was coming off yet another full moon.
"Narcissa is still sleeping?"
"Yes, staying up with me takes a lot out of her," Remus sighed almost apologetically.
"She wouldn't choose to spend those nights any other way though and you know that, Remus," Ginny countered matter-of-factly, leaning her head against Dylan's.
"I guess you are right, Mrs. Malfoy," Remus laughed. "Darius appears to be enjoying himself immensely."
"Oh yes," Ginny replied with a smile. "He's got his father's undivided attention, which is as much the reason as anything else. Darius is a little attention hog," Ginny joked. "Draco is such a brilliant father, Remus. It really is."
"Surprising?"
"No, well. Maybe yes. I don't know. He didn't have much to go on. Everything he's learned it's been from you and my dad. Even Sirius and Severus to a point," she explained awkwardly, twirling her hand in the air as she groped for words.
"It's instinct, Ginny. It's not something that can be taught. Draco is a good man. He's a good father and a good husband as a result," Remus stated professorially.
Draco turned around at that moment, seeing Remus and Ginny talking quietly. "Look who's joined us, Dar."
"Papa!" Darius yelled, running back up the beach. "All better now?" he asked worriedly, eyes wide.
"Yes, I'm all better."
"Where are Ragan and Rachel, Dad?" Draco questioned, sitting down between Ginny and his stepfather.
"Practicing Quidditch," Remus answered, kissing the top of Darius's head as the boy hugged him.
"Quidditch? Can we Daddy?"
"I thought you were playing in the surf?" Ginny asked gently, knowing how Darius liked to run from activity to activity, tiring his parents out.
"But Quidditch is funner!" Darius pouted, sticking his bottom lip out.
"More fun," Remus gently corrected out of habit.
Darius rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "More fun."
Draco forced himself not to laugh, "In a few minutes then, son."
Still pouting, Darius crawled onto Remus' lap, listening to the waves along with the adults as they all kept a wary eye on Vicki. "Vic, don't get too close to the water, honey," Ginny called in warning, her hand resting on Draco's knee as she leaned forward in the chair. "Draco."
"She's not listening as usual," he sighed, standing up just as an incoming wave hit her from behind, knocking her down into the water.
"Waahhh!" she cried pitifully, face all scrunched up and red. "Daddy. Da. da.Daddy!" she shrieked, starling the sea birds near by on the beach.
Draco had already run over and as he picked her up she continued to wail. "Ok, it's ok. You're all right, it's all right," he cooed, attempting to sooth her and carrying her back to the chairs. Sitting, he took the towel Ginny handed him and wiped the saltwater and tears off her face.
"It's OK, Vicki," Darius whispered reassuringly, scooting off Remus' lap and moving to stand in front of Draco. Patting her head, he asked her, "Want to come play Quidditch with us?"
Vicki sniffed and hiccupped in response. Ginny laughed, pulling Darius over to her and whispering in his ear before kissing his forehead. Draco managed to get Vicki standing on his legs, her hands on his shoulders. Gently but briskly drying her off, he quickly changed her from the little green swimsuit to dry clothes. "All dry now," Draco smiled, Vicki still not happy as she wrapped her arms around his neck and plopped down into his lap, sticking her thumb in her mouth.
Ginny reached over and tenderly pulled the thumb out, earning a whimper of protest. Rising to her feet, Ginny repositioned a now awake Dylan, who had been watching his twin's trauma, and reached down for Darius's hand. "Quidditch field boys?"
"I should see what my terrors are up to as well," Remus laughed, standing slowly and making his way up the steps.
Draco rose, one arm supporting Vicki as he reached out, running his fingers through Dylan's hair. "He's still quite warm. Poor little thing," he frowned. After kissing the freckled cheek, earning a slight giggle, Draco's face was pulled by Ginny's fingers to hers.
"I love you," she smiled before kissing him lovingly, her fingertips tracing his jaw line. "My gentle dragon."
Laughing, Draco massaged her lips with his thumb then trailed his index finger down her neck. "I love you too, Red. Oh, some new freckles here," he muttered, his finger near the scalloped edging of her tank top.
"Daddy stop flirting with Mummy," Darius whined, getting antsy and pulling on her hand, swinging it back and forth.
Ginny shook her head, seriously looking down at him. "I can't help if I find Daddy sexy," she whispered, meant for Draco's ears and not Darius's.
"Are you coming or not?" Remus asked laughingly, grinning at them from halfway up the steps to the house.
"We're coming," Ginny replied as Draco took Darius's other hand. "Oh, and Daddy," she began, voice very hushed. When Draco looked over at her, she winked. "We'll count all my freckles once the kids are asleep."
***
"No! Not Gwenny! She's mine, give her back to me, you bastard! No, you can't! Stop! Gwenny!" Draco yelled, sitting bolt upright in bed, breathing rapidly and knocking Ginny off him as beads of sweat poured down his forehead. It had been so real, he could still feel his daughter being ripped from his arms, the chills caused by the Dementors backing up his father and Voldemort as they lay siege to his family, killing them one by one in front of his eyes.
"Draco? Honey, what's wrong?" Ginny asked gently, sitting up and stroking his brow tenderly. "Draco, love, did you have that dream again? You know it's not real."
"Hold on," Draco whispered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and crossing the room rapidly, his breath still fast and shallow. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" she called from behind him, adjusting her nightgown, which had bunched underneath her while she slept. Staring at the open door through which he had just disappeared, she once again worried called his name.
Minutes later, he reappeared with the baby clutched tightly against his chest. "I just. I had to make sure they were all still here, all still breathing," he explained with a sheepish grin, carefully getting back into their bed. He lay back, Gwenny still against his chest, and he sighed harshly. "It was Lucius. He'd taken you and the boys. Vicki too," he took a ragged breath causing the baby to stir. Draco patted her back gently, rubbing in small circles as she snuggled further into him. "He and Voldemort had Dementors with them. My father," he laughed mirthlessly, "He. You were dead, the kids were dead, all but Gwenny. He took her and I couldn't do anything to stop him!"
"Draco, Lucius is dead. He isn't coming back, you know that. He's gone, as is Voldemort. We don't have to worry about any of them anymore," she reassured him, resting her head on his shoulder as she stroked his arm. "Remus is your father now, in everyway but blood. You know he'd love it if you took his name and made it legal."
"I know but. God Ginny! He gave you to the Dementors and all I could do was watch!" he shuddered, his hand still resting possessively on his youngest daughter's back.
"You wouldn't let that happen," Ginny smiled, "never in a million, billion, trillion years. You'd find some way to stop him," she whispered, kissing him on the jaw. "You'd never let them hurt any of us."
"Never," Draco repeated, as Gwenny stretched out, hands wrapping tightly around his neck. "I'd fight them to the death if it meant protecting you and the children."
"It won't come to that. Never again will we need to worry about them," Ginny lifted her head and peered down at the baby. "I don't think she is going anywhere, do you? She looks rather comfortable it would be a shame to wake her," Ginny said, draping her arm across his stomach. "Think we should keep her in here tonight?"
"Yes," Draco replied quickly, his arm wrapping around Ginny's shoulders. "I'd bring them all in if I could."
"And where would we sleep? Your sons are all arms and legs, love. I'm still black and blue from where Dari kicked me during his last bad dream," Ginny teased quietly, her finger drawing invisible pictures on his stomach. She waited for a response, most likely about her calling them 'his' sons, which always started a debate over whose genes predominated, but this time there was none. Looking up, she realized he had fallen back to sleep, his head resting on the top of Gwenny's. Thinking he had the right idea, kissed both of their heads before lowering her head to his shoulder and closed her eyes.
***
"Mummy mummy mummy mummy mummy!"
"Yes, yes, I'm awake," Ginny murmured sleepily, rolling slightly away from her husband and once again glad she'd resumed wearing clothes to bed when Darius began walking. "What's wrong? What's going on, sweetheart? Come here, baby."
Dylan awkwardly climbed up onto the bed and into the spot she'd created, smiling as he cuddled his warm little body against Draco's side. "Sleep here?"
"Did you have a bad dream, baby?" Ginny asked quietly, tucking him in and subtly checking to make sure he wasn't wet.
"No," Dylan yawned, his mouth forming a wide o-shape. "Wanted you and Daddy."
"Ok then," she smiled, settling herself next to him. A quick look at the clock revealed it was only seven in the morning, meaning she still had a few hours until the other two would be up as well. Lying on her side watching Draco sleeping, Gwen still curled up on his chest like she used to when she was an infant and Dyl pressed against his side, she smiled as tears formed in her eyes. Ginny had an unsupressable urge to get the camera to forever capture the moment. Quietly getting out of bed and crossing the room, she retrieved it from her desk. "What are you doing, sweetness?"
"Quick, close your eyes and pretend you are still sleeping," Ginny ordered, smiling at him as she raised the camera.
"Huh?" Draco muttered groggily, never at his best first thing in the morning, even more so when he'd not have the most restful sleep. "When did he get here?" he asked looking down at the redhead against his side.
"Few minutes ago. Now close your eyes, dragon," she told him, snapping the picture just as his eyes shut.
"You are very strange," he laughed softly as she crawled back into the bed, pulling the covers quickly up and over herself.
"Oh hush you," she teased. "Since we're both awake. Pansy wants to have Harry's birthday party here next month. Surprise him with it. What do you think?"
"Well," Draco said, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "We've got more than enough room. And really, she shouldn't be doing all the work to prepare for the festivities," Draco added quietly, now fully awake and trying his best to keep the kids asleep.
"She is doing much better with Anya than she was with Jaime at this stage. No bed rest yet."
"Anya? So they've finally settled on a name then, have they?" he questioned, shifting slightly to look at her.
"Anastasia. Harry says that's too long, so he's shortened it to Anya, just not around Pansy."
"Like in that movie? The one Vic watches over and over and over again?" Draco pondered, looking down and idly running his fingers through Dylan's thick red locks.
"Yup, though I don't know if it's because of the movie. I rather doubt it really," she said. "You know, now that they've settled on a name, Sirius is going to have to stop referring to the baby as Daffodil," Ginny giggled.
"Forget me not, Delphinium, Marigold, Geranium, Azalea Blossom and Magnolia as well. Dad had added a couple of his own too, what were they? Lilac and. Tulip," Draco smiled, shaking his head as he remember the row that had ensued. "Rose and Mum were not pleased at all. Both ready to kill them if I remember correctly."
"Yes, well, Ron had managed to get some of his own in by then too. I believe he added Honeysuckle and Ivy to the mix."
Draco titled his head to the side as if in thought. "Ivy's not really half bad."
"No," Ginny laughed, violently shaking her head in disagreement. "Don't you dare! No Ivy. No more flower names in this family. Besides if," she paused, giving him a significant look, "if we have another baby, let alone another girl, we might as well keep up the theme and find another queen to name her after."
Grinning, Draco caressed the top of Gwenny's head. "My little princesses," he sighed happily.
"Speak of the devil," Ginny whispered, inclining her head to the door. "Hiya guys."
Darius was standing in the doorway, a just woken up Vicki holding onto his hand, her other hand tightly clutching a teddy bear. "Where's Dyl?" she whimpered, lower lip quivering.
"Right here. Come on, join us up here," Ginny suggested affectionately, patting the bed. Vicki dropped Darius's hand then ran across the room to her mother who lifted her into her lap. Darius followed at a much more dignified pace and climbed into the bed on his own.
"You guys are up early," Draco pointed out, grinning at his family, thinking that certainly would fight to the death to protect them from harm.
"Vicki woke me up. She couldn't find Dylan," Darius complained sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
"I wanted mummy's bed," Dylan piped up with a grin, his red hair being ruffled by his father.
"I thought you were asleep," Draco laughed as he tickled the boy.
"Pretending," Dylan announced, giggling.
"Big faker," Ginny teased. "Who wants breakfast?"
"Not me," Darius grumbled, laying across the bottom of the bed and yawning exaggeratedly.
"Oh so sleepy!" Ginny mocked, making room up near her and Draco. "Come up here you silly goose. Don't lay down there all by yourself."
Dutifully scampering up next to her, Darius rested his head on Ginny's chest, Vicki on her other side next to Dylan. Looking over the many heads, Ginny winked at Draco. "Didn't I tell you this bed could hold a lot of people."
"All we need is the dog right?"
"Dog? Doggie, Daddy? Really?" Vicki shouted, hopping up and down excitedly, instantly energized and waking up Gwenny.
"Stop that. Stop, Vicki," Draco ordered, grabbing Vicki's arm gently and making her sit back down on the bed. Gwenny sat up and rubbed her eyes, similar to the way Darius had earlier. She crawled instantly over to her oldest brother, curling up against his chest between him and Ginny. "A dog?" Draco choked, heartily whishing he had kept quiet.
"Yes, Daddy," Ginny echoed, silently laughing at him as she waggled her eyebrows. "Are we getting a dog?"
Draco glared at his wife as he turned to address his daughter. "Vicki, where would we put it when we are at Hogwarts? We can't leave him here all alone with no one to take care of him."
"Small doggie, Daddy! Take him with us. Un'ca 'bus likes doggies! He likes it when Un'ca Sir'us is a doggie. He likes 'em!" Vicki pled enthusiastically.
"Oh God, what have I started."
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
"Daddy look!"
Draco looked over to where Vicki was calling for him. She ran over on her short, chubby, little baby legs, standing before him with a look of pure glee on her face.
"Look," she drawled excitedly, holding a small dried starfish in her hand.
"Wow!" Draco enthused, smiling over how happy she looked by the little find.
"For you, Daddy."
"Thank you," Draco responded, laying open his palm as she placed it gingerly in his hand. Placing it beside him on the towel, he grabbed her little hips and pulled her forward to kiss her lightly on the cheek with a loud 'smack!' Vicki giggled before running back to her bucket, past Darius who was looking out over the water with his hands on his hips. Draco wondered what his son was contemplating peering out at the breaking waves. He kept his eyes moving back and forth between the two of them, silently wondering where his wife was and listening for her behind him.
"Daddy?" Darius called, his back still to Draco before turning slowly around and wandering over, kicking sand along the way.
"Yes?"
"Jump the waves with me?" Darius asked quietly, resting his elbows on his father's thighs, face perched in his hands. "Please, Daddy?"
"As soon as Mummy comes down. I can't keep watch over Vicki." Draco paused, not wanting to stir jealousy between them and choosing to reword his response. "Why don't you sit here and help me watch her? Make sure she doesn't get herself hurt?" he suggested, making it sound like a very important job.
"K," Darius grinned, climbing onto Draco's lap and leaning against his chest. "Mummy be here soon, right?'
"Will Mummy be here soon?" Draco gently corrected, trying to fix Darius' perpetually unruly blonde hair, which if he didn't know better, he'd think his son had somehow inherited from Potter. "She should be."
"Good," Darius replied happily. "I want to jump the waves."
"I know you do."
"Hi guys, "Ginny laughed, balancing Dylan on her hip as she walked down the last few steps.
Draco glanced over, grimacing slightly as he looked at the path down the cliffs. "I'm glad I put those steps in, but. Just be careful when carrying."
"Who's the worrywart now, husband?" Ginny chuckled, taking the seat next to him on the beach. "I was careful as careful can be. Wasn't I, Dyl?"
Dylan nodded though it was barely noticeable as his redhead was still pressed into Ginny's neck.
"Watch Vicki, Mummy!" Darius interrupted impatiently. "Daddy and I want to go jump the waves!"
Draco laughed as he stood, tossing his son over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Yeah Mummy, watch Vicki," he ordered teasingly, carrying a shrieking Darius to the water.
Ginny kept her eyes on Vicki while also watching Draco playing in the surf with Darius who was squealing in delight each time Draco lifted him over a wave. Dylan had fallen back to sleep against her shoulder as Vicki continued building a mini-Malfoy Manor with the wet sand. She heard someone coming down the steps and turned to see Remus there.
"Hello, Papa," Ginny smiled over her shoulder, smoothing Dylan's shirt down his back. "Hello Ginny," Remus replied tiredly, as he was coming off yet another full moon.
"Narcissa is still sleeping?"
"Yes, staying up with me takes a lot out of her," Remus sighed almost apologetically.
"She wouldn't choose to spend those nights any other way though and you know that, Remus," Ginny countered matter-of-factly, leaning her head against Dylan's.
"I guess you are right, Mrs. Malfoy," Remus laughed. "Darius appears to be enjoying himself immensely."
"Oh yes," Ginny replied with a smile. "He's got his father's undivided attention, which is as much the reason as anything else. Darius is a little attention hog," Ginny joked. "Draco is such a brilliant father, Remus. It really is."
"Surprising?"
"No, well. Maybe yes. I don't know. He didn't have much to go on. Everything he's learned it's been from you and my dad. Even Sirius and Severus to a point," she explained awkwardly, twirling her hand in the air as she groped for words.
"It's instinct, Ginny. It's not something that can be taught. Draco is a good man. He's a good father and a good husband as a result," Remus stated professorially.
Draco turned around at that moment, seeing Remus and Ginny talking quietly. "Look who's joined us, Dar."
"Papa!" Darius yelled, running back up the beach. "All better now?" he asked worriedly, eyes wide.
"Yes, I'm all better."
"Where are Ragan and Rachel, Dad?" Draco questioned, sitting down between Ginny and his stepfather.
"Practicing Quidditch," Remus answered, kissing the top of Darius's head as the boy hugged him.
"Quidditch? Can we Daddy?"
"I thought you were playing in the surf?" Ginny asked gently, knowing how Darius liked to run from activity to activity, tiring his parents out.
"But Quidditch is funner!" Darius pouted, sticking his bottom lip out.
"More fun," Remus gently corrected out of habit.
Darius rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "More fun."
Draco forced himself not to laugh, "In a few minutes then, son."
Still pouting, Darius crawled onto Remus' lap, listening to the waves along with the adults as they all kept a wary eye on Vicki. "Vic, don't get too close to the water, honey," Ginny called in warning, her hand resting on Draco's knee as she leaned forward in the chair. "Draco."
"She's not listening as usual," he sighed, standing up just as an incoming wave hit her from behind, knocking her down into the water.
"Waahhh!" she cried pitifully, face all scrunched up and red. "Daddy. Da. da.Daddy!" she shrieked, starling the sea birds near by on the beach.
Draco had already run over and as he picked her up she continued to wail. "Ok, it's ok. You're all right, it's all right," he cooed, attempting to sooth her and carrying her back to the chairs. Sitting, he took the towel Ginny handed him and wiped the saltwater and tears off her face.
"It's OK, Vicki," Darius whispered reassuringly, scooting off Remus' lap and moving to stand in front of Draco. Patting her head, he asked her, "Want to come play Quidditch with us?"
Vicki sniffed and hiccupped in response. Ginny laughed, pulling Darius over to her and whispering in his ear before kissing his forehead. Draco managed to get Vicki standing on his legs, her hands on his shoulders. Gently but briskly drying her off, he quickly changed her from the little green swimsuit to dry clothes. "All dry now," Draco smiled, Vicki still not happy as she wrapped her arms around his neck and plopped down into his lap, sticking her thumb in her mouth.
Ginny reached over and tenderly pulled the thumb out, earning a whimper of protest. Rising to her feet, Ginny repositioned a now awake Dylan, who had been watching his twin's trauma, and reached down for Darius's hand. "Quidditch field boys?"
"I should see what my terrors are up to as well," Remus laughed, standing slowly and making his way up the steps.
Draco rose, one arm supporting Vicki as he reached out, running his fingers through Dylan's hair. "He's still quite warm. Poor little thing," he frowned. After kissing the freckled cheek, earning a slight giggle, Draco's face was pulled by Ginny's fingers to hers.
"I love you," she smiled before kissing him lovingly, her fingertips tracing his jaw line. "My gentle dragon."
Laughing, Draco massaged her lips with his thumb then trailed his index finger down her neck. "I love you too, Red. Oh, some new freckles here," he muttered, his finger near the scalloped edging of her tank top.
"Daddy stop flirting with Mummy," Darius whined, getting antsy and pulling on her hand, swinging it back and forth.
Ginny shook her head, seriously looking down at him. "I can't help if I find Daddy sexy," she whispered, meant for Draco's ears and not Darius's.
"Are you coming or not?" Remus asked laughingly, grinning at them from halfway up the steps to the house.
"We're coming," Ginny replied as Draco took Darius's other hand. "Oh, and Daddy," she began, voice very hushed. When Draco looked over at her, she winked. "We'll count all my freckles once the kids are asleep."
***
"No! Not Gwenny! She's mine, give her back to me, you bastard! No, you can't! Stop! Gwenny!" Draco yelled, sitting bolt upright in bed, breathing rapidly and knocking Ginny off him as beads of sweat poured down his forehead. It had been so real, he could still feel his daughter being ripped from his arms, the chills caused by the Dementors backing up his father and Voldemort as they lay siege to his family, killing them one by one in front of his eyes.
"Draco? Honey, what's wrong?" Ginny asked gently, sitting up and stroking his brow tenderly. "Draco, love, did you have that dream again? You know it's not real."
"Hold on," Draco whispered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and crossing the room rapidly, his breath still fast and shallow. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" she called from behind him, adjusting her nightgown, which had bunched underneath her while she slept. Staring at the open door through which he had just disappeared, she once again worried called his name.
Minutes later, he reappeared with the baby clutched tightly against his chest. "I just. I had to make sure they were all still here, all still breathing," he explained with a sheepish grin, carefully getting back into their bed. He lay back, Gwenny still against his chest, and he sighed harshly. "It was Lucius. He'd taken you and the boys. Vicki too," he took a ragged breath causing the baby to stir. Draco patted her back gently, rubbing in small circles as she snuggled further into him. "He and Voldemort had Dementors with them. My father," he laughed mirthlessly, "He. You were dead, the kids were dead, all but Gwenny. He took her and I couldn't do anything to stop him!"
"Draco, Lucius is dead. He isn't coming back, you know that. He's gone, as is Voldemort. We don't have to worry about any of them anymore," she reassured him, resting her head on his shoulder as she stroked his arm. "Remus is your father now, in everyway but blood. You know he'd love it if you took his name and made it legal."
"I know but. God Ginny! He gave you to the Dementors and all I could do was watch!" he shuddered, his hand still resting possessively on his youngest daughter's back.
"You wouldn't let that happen," Ginny smiled, "never in a million, billion, trillion years. You'd find some way to stop him," she whispered, kissing him on the jaw. "You'd never let them hurt any of us."
"Never," Draco repeated, as Gwenny stretched out, hands wrapping tightly around his neck. "I'd fight them to the death if it meant protecting you and the children."
"It won't come to that. Never again will we need to worry about them," Ginny lifted her head and peered down at the baby. "I don't think she is going anywhere, do you? She looks rather comfortable it would be a shame to wake her," Ginny said, draping her arm across his stomach. "Think we should keep her in here tonight?"
"Yes," Draco replied quickly, his arm wrapping around Ginny's shoulders. "I'd bring them all in if I could."
"And where would we sleep? Your sons are all arms and legs, love. I'm still black and blue from where Dari kicked me during his last bad dream," Ginny teased quietly, her finger drawing invisible pictures on his stomach. She waited for a response, most likely about her calling them 'his' sons, which always started a debate over whose genes predominated, but this time there was none. Looking up, she realized he had fallen back to sleep, his head resting on the top of Gwenny's. Thinking he had the right idea, kissed both of their heads before lowering her head to his shoulder and closed her eyes.
***
"Mummy mummy mummy mummy mummy!"
"Yes, yes, I'm awake," Ginny murmured sleepily, rolling slightly away from her husband and once again glad she'd resumed wearing clothes to bed when Darius began walking. "What's wrong? What's going on, sweetheart? Come here, baby."
Dylan awkwardly climbed up onto the bed and into the spot she'd created, smiling as he cuddled his warm little body against Draco's side. "Sleep here?"
"Did you have a bad dream, baby?" Ginny asked quietly, tucking him in and subtly checking to make sure he wasn't wet.
"No," Dylan yawned, his mouth forming a wide o-shape. "Wanted you and Daddy."
"Ok then," she smiled, settling herself next to him. A quick look at the clock revealed it was only seven in the morning, meaning she still had a few hours until the other two would be up as well. Lying on her side watching Draco sleeping, Gwen still curled up on his chest like she used to when she was an infant and Dyl pressed against his side, she smiled as tears formed in her eyes. Ginny had an unsupressable urge to get the camera to forever capture the moment. Quietly getting out of bed and crossing the room, she retrieved it from her desk. "What are you doing, sweetness?"
"Quick, close your eyes and pretend you are still sleeping," Ginny ordered, smiling at him as she raised the camera.
"Huh?" Draco muttered groggily, never at his best first thing in the morning, even more so when he'd not have the most restful sleep. "When did he get here?" he asked looking down at the redhead against his side.
"Few minutes ago. Now close your eyes, dragon," she told him, snapping the picture just as his eyes shut.
"You are very strange," he laughed softly as she crawled back into the bed, pulling the covers quickly up and over herself.
"Oh hush you," she teased. "Since we're both awake. Pansy wants to have Harry's birthday party here next month. Surprise him with it. What do you think?"
"Well," Draco said, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "We've got more than enough room. And really, she shouldn't be doing all the work to prepare for the festivities," Draco added quietly, now fully awake and trying his best to keep the kids asleep.
"She is doing much better with Anya than she was with Jaime at this stage. No bed rest yet."
"Anya? So they've finally settled on a name then, have they?" he questioned, shifting slightly to look at her.
"Anastasia. Harry says that's too long, so he's shortened it to Anya, just not around Pansy."
"Like in that movie? The one Vic watches over and over and over again?" Draco pondered, looking down and idly running his fingers through Dylan's thick red locks.
"Yup, though I don't know if it's because of the movie. I rather doubt it really," she said. "You know, now that they've settled on a name, Sirius is going to have to stop referring to the baby as Daffodil," Ginny giggled.
"Forget me not, Delphinium, Marigold, Geranium, Azalea Blossom and Magnolia as well. Dad had added a couple of his own too, what were they? Lilac and. Tulip," Draco smiled, shaking his head as he remember the row that had ensued. "Rose and Mum were not pleased at all. Both ready to kill them if I remember correctly."
"Yes, well, Ron had managed to get some of his own in by then too. I believe he added Honeysuckle and Ivy to the mix."
Draco titled his head to the side as if in thought. "Ivy's not really half bad."
"No," Ginny laughed, violently shaking her head in disagreement. "Don't you dare! No Ivy. No more flower names in this family. Besides if," she paused, giving him a significant look, "if we have another baby, let alone another girl, we might as well keep up the theme and find another queen to name her after."
Grinning, Draco caressed the top of Gwenny's head. "My little princesses," he sighed happily.
"Speak of the devil," Ginny whispered, inclining her head to the door. "Hiya guys."
Darius was standing in the doorway, a just woken up Vicki holding onto his hand, her other hand tightly clutching a teddy bear. "Where's Dyl?" she whimpered, lower lip quivering.
"Right here. Come on, join us up here," Ginny suggested affectionately, patting the bed. Vicki dropped Darius's hand then ran across the room to her mother who lifted her into her lap. Darius followed at a much more dignified pace and climbed into the bed on his own.
"You guys are up early," Draco pointed out, grinning at his family, thinking that certainly would fight to the death to protect them from harm.
"Vicki woke me up. She couldn't find Dylan," Darius complained sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
"I wanted mummy's bed," Dylan piped up with a grin, his red hair being ruffled by his father.
"I thought you were asleep," Draco laughed as he tickled the boy.
"Pretending," Dylan announced, giggling.
"Big faker," Ginny teased. "Who wants breakfast?"
"Not me," Darius grumbled, laying across the bottom of the bed and yawning exaggeratedly.
"Oh so sleepy!" Ginny mocked, making room up near her and Draco. "Come up here you silly goose. Don't lay down there all by yourself."
Dutifully scampering up next to her, Darius rested his head on Ginny's chest, Vicki on her other side next to Dylan. Looking over the many heads, Ginny winked at Draco. "Didn't I tell you this bed could hold a lot of people."
"All we need is the dog right?"
"Dog? Doggie, Daddy? Really?" Vicki shouted, hopping up and down excitedly, instantly energized and waking up Gwenny.
"Stop that. Stop, Vicki," Draco ordered, grabbing Vicki's arm gently and making her sit back down on the bed. Gwenny sat up and rubbed her eyes, similar to the way Darius had earlier. She crawled instantly over to her oldest brother, curling up against his chest between him and Ginny. "A dog?" Draco choked, heartily whishing he had kept quiet.
"Yes, Daddy," Ginny echoed, silently laughing at him as she waggled her eyebrows. "Are we getting a dog?"
Draco glared at his wife as he turned to address his daughter. "Vicki, where would we put it when we are at Hogwarts? We can't leave him here all alone with no one to take care of him."
"Small doggie, Daddy! Take him with us. Un'ca 'bus likes doggies! He likes it when Un'ca Sir'us is a doggie. He likes 'em!" Vicki pled enthusiastically.
"Oh God, what have I started."