Chapter Twenty-one
Kaden did not leave his wife's bedside the entire week except to go to the bathroom. But he didn't have to do that much, he was only eating and drinking enough to stay alive, he was threatened to eat that. He looked tired because he didn't sleep and very pale because he would not go out of the room. His friends and family could do nothing but look on.
Severus, Draco, Lucius, and Albus tried their best to get the young man out but they had no success. They were almost positive that even if Draco ran in with his hair on fire Kaden wouldn't look away from his wife's face. He didn't speak to them either. They would try to talk to him but he would do nothing but look at her.
It was the day before Hermione's day to wake that the bomb dropped. The door opened and in walked the parents of Hermione Granger-Malfoy. Yvette ran to her son-in-law's side and looked down at Hermione. Tears were falling down her face. She put one hand on Kaden's shoulder who jerked at the contact, he looked up.
Yvette, who had been informed of Kaden's ignorance of the existence around him, cried harder when Kaden stood, offering his seat. "Why are you letting me sit here? Why didn't you ignore me like everyone else?"
Kaden closed his eyes and sighted. "Because you and Andrew are the only ones that ever came close to loving her as much as I do." Andrew came and stood beside his son-in-law and Kaden turned to him.
"Kaden, I know you love our daughter and I am happy that you are by her side unwaveringly, it shows a great deal of love. But," Andrew grasped Kaden's shoulders, "Tomorrow you will have a child to take care of, a living breathing human to take care of, you have to be healthy enough for the baby."
Tears fell down Kaden's face, "I can't do it without her."
Andrew smiled sadly. "I know it doesn't seem that way. I know it seems like when she dies all the love that you have will die with her, but...this child...it is something that you and Hermione made together. The baby is a PART of Hermione, and that means it already has your love. It will be hard being a single father, but you have people to help you. Whenever Yvette and I can help we will. And Lucius, Severus, Draco and Felicia will help also. You have people to help carry the burden. But you have to be strong, if not for yourself, for the child of the woman you love."
Kaden squeezed his eyes shut trying and failing to hold back the new tears welling in his eyes, "How can you take this so well?"
"I realize that this is no one's fault except for Lord Voldemort. I realize that this is the best choice for Hermione and you that she can make. I will accept that, even if I don't want to."
Kaden slowly nodded his head as he looked at his feet. "I just...I don't want her to leave."
"As long as you have this child she will never completely be gone. She will always be with you, even if you don't realize it."
Kaden turned when he felt arms wrap around him. Yvette was looking at him with tears falling down her face. "Kaden, you are always going to be family. You will always be welcomed in our home."
Kaden nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Granger."
"Please, call me Yvette or mum."
Kaden nodded. "Are you going to be here tomorrow?"
Yvette burst into tears. "No. Albus told us she will only be awake for the birth and at the most 30 minutes after it. I...We want you to spend that time with her. We will be here for the... after the birth though."
Kaden nodded again. Andrew hugged him and Yvette kissed his cheek. They then walked over to Hermione's bed side. Yvette kissed her daughter's cheek, "Goodbye, Hermione," and walked out of the room.
Andrew walked up to his little girl and pulled her comatose body into his arms. "Goodbye, my beloved daughter, may the angels be with you. I love you." He then kissed her, laid her back down and walked out of the infirmary. Kaden fell down on his knees next to the bed and grasped Hermione's hand.
"For you, my love, I live only for you." He cried.
~*~*~*~*~*
The next day, Kaden was sitting in his normal chair. He looked carefully at the tranquil Hermione, waiting for any sign of her waking up. He jumped when he felt hands on his shoulders and back. He stood and turned around to see his father, brother, and best friend looking at him.
All three men had tears running down their faces as they looked at him. Felicia stood in the back ground, looking out of place. Draco spoke first, "We came to...say goodbye."
Kaden nodded. Severus walked over to the bed first. He leaned down and kissed Hermione's forehead. "Goodbye, Hermione." He then hugged Kaden and went to stand at the back of the room, next to the door.
Lucius came next. He did the same as Severus and said, "Goodbye, daughter I never had, my beloved Hermione." He kissed Kaden on the cheek and walked out of the infirmary.
Draco and Felicia walked up together. The kissed her cheeks and mumbled their good-byes before leaving behind a broke Kaden. Severus walked back up and placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Kaden, she will be waking up within the next half hour. At the first sign, yell for Poppy. She is in her office. Do you want me to stay?"
Kaden shook his head negatively. Severus kissed his cheek and walked out, looking despairingly at Kaden.
Kaden took his customary seat and picked Hermione's hand up. He put his other hand on his wife's swelled stomach. He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew he was feeling his hand tugged. He looked up to see Hermione waking and then noticed the water on the sheets. He yelled. "POPPY! QUICK!"
Poppy Pomphrey ran into the room and looked at Hermione. Hermione was already in pain from the contractions. Kaden cried as he saw her smile at him. She pulled him toward her by his hand and kissed him. "I love you." Kaden replied with the same response.
Two hours of crying and screaming later a new kind of crying entered the room. A baby's squeal erupted, startling Kaden. A second later a baby was placed in the rapidly tiring Hermione's arms. The baby was beautiful. She had platinum blonde hair, fair skin, and an angular nose and jawbone, like the Malfoy's. But her hair was curly and she had the same brown, almond shaped eyes as her mother. She had her mother's much daintier hands, feet and fingers also. Hermione smiled. "She is beautiful, the light of my heart." Poppy walked out to record that the baby was born on July 3rd, the baby's weight and other information. The baby was completely healthy.
Kaden nodded and kissed his tired wife. Then the sinking thoughts entered his head. He fell to his knees still grasping Hermione's hand. "Please don't leave me!"
Hermione smiled. "I am sorry, Kaden. It is my time. I am getting sleepier. But I promise I will never truly be gone. Our daughter is very special. Take care of her and you will be taking care of me."
"I can't do this alone." He cried.
"Yes, you can. You will be fine. You will be the wonderful father you are destined to be."
"Please, just..."
"Kade, love, I must go. I am getting....a lot sleepier."
"Are you hurting?"
Hermione shook her head softly. "No, I just see all this...light. Kaden, name her.....Luciana Aradia. I have a...feeling, had a...dream. Name her that, it is her...destiny."
"Of course, love. But it doesn't matter, you can name her and tomorrow you can wake up and..."
"Kade, love, I...must...go. It is...my time..."
"NO! Hermione, I love you!" Kaden was hysterical, almost ready to shake her to keep her awake and with him.
"I love you too, Kaden. More than you will...ever know. Live you life and at the chance of love...take it. Do it for me, you and our daughter. Please. It's....fate." Hermione shut her eyes for a second.
"I will never love anyone but you!"
"Don't...say that, you...will, you have my...permission. Please, goodbye, I love you." Her eyes fluttered closed.
Kaden leaned down and kissed her lips. She responded vaguely but he kept kissing her, getting every bit of response from her that he could. She pulled back when she stopped responding to see her eyes closed and a soft smile on her lips. "I love you, Hermione, so much." He then put his head on the bed and cried, holding her still hand, and listening to the silence of only his breathing and his daughter's crying. It was too quiet.
Poppy walked back in and tears fell down her face seeing that Hermione, still so young, had died.
She walked over and started to pick up the crying baby of the still mother's body but a hand grabbed her wrist and she looked into the furious eyes of Kaden Malfoy. "Do not dare to touch MY daughter. I will be damned if you touch her."
Poppy shrunk back. "Kaden, I won't hurt her." Why was Kaden saying that to her?
"My wife is dead...you didn't save her. You will not touch my daughter." He then scooped up the crying baby and held her possessively to his chest. The baby stopped crying. He looked down at his daughter and smiled through his tears. "My darling, Luciana Aradia Malfoy, you will make your mother proud."
Kaden Malfoy walked out with the sleeping babe in his arms. He walked past the sad faces of his family and friends without looking at them. He went straight to the nearest fireplace, in the library and picked up the floo powder. "Malfoy Victorian Nursery, Scotland!" He and his daughter were whisked away amongst the green flames. Kaden landed on his feet with Luciana in his arms, still sleeping. He walked over to the crib and put his daughter down. She sighed and stuck her thumb in her mouth. Kaden smiled and walked out and across to his bedroom.
~*~*~*~*~
Three hours later, Kaden was woke up due to a voice beckoning from downstairs and crying from the nursery. He ran across the hall and scooped Luciana into his arms before walked angrily down the stairs. Draco was at the bottom of the stairs looking around frantically. "KADEN?!"
"What the HELL do you think you are doing?! You woke Luci up! Are you stupid?!"
Draco looked up at his brother with a smile of relief. "Damn Kaden, you worried us."
"Wait here, I am going to put Luci back to sleep." Kaden turned around and started to march up the stairs again when Draco called out to him.
"Luci? Can I see her?"
Kaden turned around and walked down the stairs. Draco smiled at him when he reached the ground floor. Kaden moved the blanket so that you could see the child's face and Draco smiled and teared up. "She is beautiful. A perfect mix of you and..."
"Don't mention her name." Kaden said, seriously.
Draco gulped. "Well, she is beautiful. You know you had us worried don't you?! A half-hour after she is born, you take her and run off!"
"Poppy wasn't going to lay a hand on her. She is fine. I am taking her to St. Mungo's today for her shots and check-up."
Draco nodded. "Do you have the milk to feed her?"
Kaden nodded. "Yes, we decided to keep plenty of formula in the house in case Her...she wasn't home. We have plenty." He looked down and his daughter and kissed her cheek.
"So, what is her name?"
Kaden smiled again. "Luciana Aradia Malfoy. It was Her...last wish."
Draco nodded. "Well, can I come with you to put her back to sleep?"
"Sure."
Draco followed Kaden up the stairs. "Can you hold Luci while I make her bottle?" Kaden asked.
Draco smiled and took Luci out of her father's arms. He spent the next minute being instructed to hold Luci exactly how he was holding her in the first place. Kaden was making the bottle while Draco cooed at his niece. "I am your Uncle Draco. Can you say Uncle Draco, Luci?"
Kaden snorted. "She isn't even a day old! Of course she can't say 'Uncle Draco', idiot."
Draco sneered. "No matter, you are still my little Luce-Luce."
"Her name is LUCIANA, to be called that or LUCI. Do not call my intelligent daughter 'LUCE-LUCE'."
Draco sneered again. "So, what are you going to do come September?"
Kaden spun and glared at him. "Until she is five, I am going to live here. I will not work and just take care of her. I have enough money. After that, it all depends."
Draco nodded. "If you want, I could stay here with you for a while."
Kaden nodded. "That sounds good. I could probably use the help."
"Kade? Why aren't you acting upset?"
Kaden's mask fell for a moment before he regained it. "I need to be strong for Luci."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Authors Note: Okay, I know it is a short chapter. I am sorry, too, I really am. I am going to do a time jump into the next chapter. Luci will be five. I hope I wrote this well and I am sorry for the shortness, really. But this
was a very hard chapter to write. I hope you like it okay though.
I know I didn't use any of your choices for names. I chose the name Luciana Aradia because of its meaning and it sounded pretty. Here is the
best way that I can pronounce how to say it. (Lucy-on-uh Uh-ray-dee-uh) Luciana means light or illuminating, I am meaning it more as light though and Aradia is the Goddess of Witches. I thought it was fitting. It will fit even better with the plot for the possible sequel I am thinking up. I hope
that all of you like my choice. I really did like some of your names though. I really liked "Blade" it was suggested by one of you but I wanted it to be a girl. I also really liked the name Claudia but it means "lame" so... I thought that Brayden was cute but...again the girl thing. Someone suggested Holly. I love the name but I have a cousin that I uhmm...don't love named Holly and didn't want to name a character I am supposed to like
after someone that I...don't like.
Anyway, thanks for all of the suggestions.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT: I am getting tired of writing my new story
Turn Back Time. I have tried to do a time travel before and it failed miserably. I am going to allow one of you to take it and write on it under you own name if you want to. Just tell me in a review or, better, email me at Dracos_girl8706@yahoo.com and tell you what you plan to do with it. I will be happy to give suggestions if you want and beta read it for you. But I want a DEVOTED writer to take it. So I would like to read something to
have completed or send/post a one shot for me to read. I know I am demanding but I want it put into good hands. Understand? R/W/R!- Draco's
girl8706
Kaden did not leave his wife's bedside the entire week except to go to the bathroom. But he didn't have to do that much, he was only eating and drinking enough to stay alive, he was threatened to eat that. He looked tired because he didn't sleep and very pale because he would not go out of the room. His friends and family could do nothing but look on.
Severus, Draco, Lucius, and Albus tried their best to get the young man out but they had no success. They were almost positive that even if Draco ran in with his hair on fire Kaden wouldn't look away from his wife's face. He didn't speak to them either. They would try to talk to him but he would do nothing but look at her.
It was the day before Hermione's day to wake that the bomb dropped. The door opened and in walked the parents of Hermione Granger-Malfoy. Yvette ran to her son-in-law's side and looked down at Hermione. Tears were falling down her face. She put one hand on Kaden's shoulder who jerked at the contact, he looked up.
Yvette, who had been informed of Kaden's ignorance of the existence around him, cried harder when Kaden stood, offering his seat. "Why are you letting me sit here? Why didn't you ignore me like everyone else?"
Kaden closed his eyes and sighted. "Because you and Andrew are the only ones that ever came close to loving her as much as I do." Andrew came and stood beside his son-in-law and Kaden turned to him.
"Kaden, I know you love our daughter and I am happy that you are by her side unwaveringly, it shows a great deal of love. But," Andrew grasped Kaden's shoulders, "Tomorrow you will have a child to take care of, a living breathing human to take care of, you have to be healthy enough for the baby."
Tears fell down Kaden's face, "I can't do it without her."
Andrew smiled sadly. "I know it doesn't seem that way. I know it seems like when she dies all the love that you have will die with her, but...this child...it is something that you and Hermione made together. The baby is a PART of Hermione, and that means it already has your love. It will be hard being a single father, but you have people to help you. Whenever Yvette and I can help we will. And Lucius, Severus, Draco and Felicia will help also. You have people to help carry the burden. But you have to be strong, if not for yourself, for the child of the woman you love."
Kaden squeezed his eyes shut trying and failing to hold back the new tears welling in his eyes, "How can you take this so well?"
"I realize that this is no one's fault except for Lord Voldemort. I realize that this is the best choice for Hermione and you that she can make. I will accept that, even if I don't want to."
Kaden slowly nodded his head as he looked at his feet. "I just...I don't want her to leave."
"As long as you have this child she will never completely be gone. She will always be with you, even if you don't realize it."
Kaden turned when he felt arms wrap around him. Yvette was looking at him with tears falling down her face. "Kaden, you are always going to be family. You will always be welcomed in our home."
Kaden nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Granger."
"Please, call me Yvette or mum."
Kaden nodded. "Are you going to be here tomorrow?"
Yvette burst into tears. "No. Albus told us she will only be awake for the birth and at the most 30 minutes after it. I...We want you to spend that time with her. We will be here for the... after the birth though."
Kaden nodded again. Andrew hugged him and Yvette kissed his cheek. They then walked over to Hermione's bed side. Yvette kissed her daughter's cheek, "Goodbye, Hermione," and walked out of the room.
Andrew walked up to his little girl and pulled her comatose body into his arms. "Goodbye, my beloved daughter, may the angels be with you. I love you." He then kissed her, laid her back down and walked out of the infirmary. Kaden fell down on his knees next to the bed and grasped Hermione's hand.
"For you, my love, I live only for you." He cried.
~*~*~*~*~*
The next day, Kaden was sitting in his normal chair. He looked carefully at the tranquil Hermione, waiting for any sign of her waking up. He jumped when he felt hands on his shoulders and back. He stood and turned around to see his father, brother, and best friend looking at him.
All three men had tears running down their faces as they looked at him. Felicia stood in the back ground, looking out of place. Draco spoke first, "We came to...say goodbye."
Kaden nodded. Severus walked over to the bed first. He leaned down and kissed Hermione's forehead. "Goodbye, Hermione." He then hugged Kaden and went to stand at the back of the room, next to the door.
Lucius came next. He did the same as Severus and said, "Goodbye, daughter I never had, my beloved Hermione." He kissed Kaden on the cheek and walked out of the infirmary.
Draco and Felicia walked up together. The kissed her cheeks and mumbled their good-byes before leaving behind a broke Kaden. Severus walked back up and placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Kaden, she will be waking up within the next half hour. At the first sign, yell for Poppy. She is in her office. Do you want me to stay?"
Kaden shook his head negatively. Severus kissed his cheek and walked out, looking despairingly at Kaden.
Kaden took his customary seat and picked Hermione's hand up. He put his other hand on his wife's swelled stomach. He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew he was feeling his hand tugged. He looked up to see Hermione waking and then noticed the water on the sheets. He yelled. "POPPY! QUICK!"
Poppy Pomphrey ran into the room and looked at Hermione. Hermione was already in pain from the contractions. Kaden cried as he saw her smile at him. She pulled him toward her by his hand and kissed him. "I love you." Kaden replied with the same response.
Two hours of crying and screaming later a new kind of crying entered the room. A baby's squeal erupted, startling Kaden. A second later a baby was placed in the rapidly tiring Hermione's arms. The baby was beautiful. She had platinum blonde hair, fair skin, and an angular nose and jawbone, like the Malfoy's. But her hair was curly and she had the same brown, almond shaped eyes as her mother. She had her mother's much daintier hands, feet and fingers also. Hermione smiled. "She is beautiful, the light of my heart." Poppy walked out to record that the baby was born on July 3rd, the baby's weight and other information. The baby was completely healthy.
Kaden nodded and kissed his tired wife. Then the sinking thoughts entered his head. He fell to his knees still grasping Hermione's hand. "Please don't leave me!"
Hermione smiled. "I am sorry, Kaden. It is my time. I am getting sleepier. But I promise I will never truly be gone. Our daughter is very special. Take care of her and you will be taking care of me."
"I can't do this alone." He cried.
"Yes, you can. You will be fine. You will be the wonderful father you are destined to be."
"Please, just..."
"Kade, love, I must go. I am getting....a lot sleepier."
"Are you hurting?"
Hermione shook her head softly. "No, I just see all this...light. Kaden, name her.....Luciana Aradia. I have a...feeling, had a...dream. Name her that, it is her...destiny."
"Of course, love. But it doesn't matter, you can name her and tomorrow you can wake up and..."
"Kade, love, I...must...go. It is...my time..."
"NO! Hermione, I love you!" Kaden was hysterical, almost ready to shake her to keep her awake and with him.
"I love you too, Kaden. More than you will...ever know. Live you life and at the chance of love...take it. Do it for me, you and our daughter. Please. It's....fate." Hermione shut her eyes for a second.
"I will never love anyone but you!"
"Don't...say that, you...will, you have my...permission. Please, goodbye, I love you." Her eyes fluttered closed.
Kaden leaned down and kissed her lips. She responded vaguely but he kept kissing her, getting every bit of response from her that he could. She pulled back when she stopped responding to see her eyes closed and a soft smile on her lips. "I love you, Hermione, so much." He then put his head on the bed and cried, holding her still hand, and listening to the silence of only his breathing and his daughter's crying. It was too quiet.
Poppy walked back in and tears fell down her face seeing that Hermione, still so young, had died.
She walked over and started to pick up the crying baby of the still mother's body but a hand grabbed her wrist and she looked into the furious eyes of Kaden Malfoy. "Do not dare to touch MY daughter. I will be damned if you touch her."
Poppy shrunk back. "Kaden, I won't hurt her." Why was Kaden saying that to her?
"My wife is dead...you didn't save her. You will not touch my daughter." He then scooped up the crying baby and held her possessively to his chest. The baby stopped crying. He looked down at his daughter and smiled through his tears. "My darling, Luciana Aradia Malfoy, you will make your mother proud."
Kaden Malfoy walked out with the sleeping babe in his arms. He walked past the sad faces of his family and friends without looking at them. He went straight to the nearest fireplace, in the library and picked up the floo powder. "Malfoy Victorian Nursery, Scotland!" He and his daughter were whisked away amongst the green flames. Kaden landed on his feet with Luciana in his arms, still sleeping. He walked over to the crib and put his daughter down. She sighed and stuck her thumb in her mouth. Kaden smiled and walked out and across to his bedroom.
~*~*~*~*~
Three hours later, Kaden was woke up due to a voice beckoning from downstairs and crying from the nursery. He ran across the hall and scooped Luciana into his arms before walked angrily down the stairs. Draco was at the bottom of the stairs looking around frantically. "KADEN?!"
"What the HELL do you think you are doing?! You woke Luci up! Are you stupid?!"
Draco looked up at his brother with a smile of relief. "Damn Kaden, you worried us."
"Wait here, I am going to put Luci back to sleep." Kaden turned around and started to march up the stairs again when Draco called out to him.
"Luci? Can I see her?"
Kaden turned around and walked down the stairs. Draco smiled at him when he reached the ground floor. Kaden moved the blanket so that you could see the child's face and Draco smiled and teared up. "She is beautiful. A perfect mix of you and..."
"Don't mention her name." Kaden said, seriously.
Draco gulped. "Well, she is beautiful. You know you had us worried don't you?! A half-hour after she is born, you take her and run off!"
"Poppy wasn't going to lay a hand on her. She is fine. I am taking her to St. Mungo's today for her shots and check-up."
Draco nodded. "Do you have the milk to feed her?"
Kaden nodded. "Yes, we decided to keep plenty of formula in the house in case Her...she wasn't home. We have plenty." He looked down and his daughter and kissed her cheek.
"So, what is her name?"
Kaden smiled again. "Luciana Aradia Malfoy. It was Her...last wish."
Draco nodded. "Well, can I come with you to put her back to sleep?"
"Sure."
Draco followed Kaden up the stairs. "Can you hold Luci while I make her bottle?" Kaden asked.
Draco smiled and took Luci out of her father's arms. He spent the next minute being instructed to hold Luci exactly how he was holding her in the first place. Kaden was making the bottle while Draco cooed at his niece. "I am your Uncle Draco. Can you say Uncle Draco, Luci?"
Kaden snorted. "She isn't even a day old! Of course she can't say 'Uncle Draco', idiot."
Draco sneered. "No matter, you are still my little Luce-Luce."
"Her name is LUCIANA, to be called that or LUCI. Do not call my intelligent daughter 'LUCE-LUCE'."
Draco sneered again. "So, what are you going to do come September?"
Kaden spun and glared at him. "Until she is five, I am going to live here. I will not work and just take care of her. I have enough money. After that, it all depends."
Draco nodded. "If you want, I could stay here with you for a while."
Kaden nodded. "That sounds good. I could probably use the help."
"Kade? Why aren't you acting upset?"
Kaden's mask fell for a moment before he regained it. "I need to be strong for Luci."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Authors Note: Okay, I know it is a short chapter. I am sorry, too, I really am. I am going to do a time jump into the next chapter. Luci will be five. I hope I wrote this well and I am sorry for the shortness, really. But this
was a very hard chapter to write. I hope you like it okay though.
I know I didn't use any of your choices for names. I chose the name Luciana Aradia because of its meaning and it sounded pretty. Here is the
best way that I can pronounce how to say it. (Lucy-on-uh Uh-ray-dee-uh) Luciana means light or illuminating, I am meaning it more as light though and Aradia is the Goddess of Witches. I thought it was fitting. It will fit even better with the plot for the possible sequel I am thinking up. I hope
that all of you like my choice. I really did like some of your names though. I really liked "Blade" it was suggested by one of you but I wanted it to be a girl. I also really liked the name Claudia but it means "lame" so... I thought that Brayden was cute but...again the girl thing. Someone suggested Holly. I love the name but I have a cousin that I uhmm...don't love named Holly and didn't want to name a character I am supposed to like
after someone that I...don't like.
Anyway, thanks for all of the suggestions.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT: I am getting tired of writing my new story
Turn Back Time. I have tried to do a time travel before and it failed miserably. I am going to allow one of you to take it and write on it under you own name if you want to. Just tell me in a review or, better, email me at Dracos_girl8706@yahoo.com and tell you what you plan to do with it. I will be happy to give suggestions if you want and beta read it for you. But I want a DEVOTED writer to take it. So I would like to read something to
have completed or send/post a one shot for me to read. I know I am demanding but I want it put into good hands. Understand? R/W/R!- Draco's
girl8706
