Chapter 13

"I thought ya were gonna wait at the entrance fer us," Heather said arching an eyebrow when she saw him.

"If I'd realized how hard it was to find you I would've." Draco replied grumpily. He'd spent the past hour trying to find them. It shouldn't have been that hard to spot an Irish woman with a baby stroller.

"So why aren't ya there?"

Taking a deep breath, Draco held the bag behind him tightly.

"I wanted to apologize for the way I've been acting," he began. "I'm sorry Heather, you've only been trying to help and I've...I've..."

"Been a jerk?" She filled in. He nodded.

"This is all new to me and I wasn't ready for it," Draco said weakly. "I've been overwhelmed and instead of telling you so, I've been sulking. I sat on that bench and watched families walk past me and I realized I wasn't worthy of being a parent."

"I wouldna go that far." Heather replied leaning over the stroller to check on Cassiopeia. She was asleep, her little chest rising and falling rhythmically. "You're only nineteen an' have led a sheltered life."

"It's no excuse," he whispered staring down at his daughter. "I didn't even get her a Christmas present."

"Sure ya did. We gave her some new clothes." She touched the infant's cheek and she stirred.

"But you bought it, wrapped it and opened it for her. All I did was sign my name on the tag." He said, his throat tightening as he spoke.

"Draco."

"Please, let me finish. I need to do this. I need to apologize to her." He choked back the guilt. The bag crinkled as he squeezed it. Getting down on his knees next to the stroller he noticed for the first time how big she was. She was growing and he hadn't even realized it. He wasn't going to do that again. "Cassiopeia, I'm sorry. I haven't been a good father. You deserve someone better, but all you have is me. I plan on trying harder to be a good parent, but I'm going to make mistakes. Probably a lot of them, but I want you to know that I love you. Right now I want to correct at least one mistake I've made. It's late, but I hope you'll like it anyway."

Taking the bag from behind his back, he reached in and pulled out a large stuffed kangaroo. Above him Heather smiled and restrained from interfering in the moment. Carefully Draco laid the toy beside his daughter. The motion caused her to wake and she gazed up at him then turned her head to the kangaroo. Hands reached out and felt the soft plush exterior. Cooing happily, she dug her fingers into the material. He watched her explore the toy before his knees advised him to get off the pavement.

"That was very sweet o' you," Heather said patting him on the shoulder. She decided not to ask why the change of heart. Certain people needed more time than others to come to terms with their responsibilities. "Why donna we sit down fer a minute an' talk?" Draco nodded feeling suddenly exhausted. They found an open picnic table in the shade near a small grove of trees. Cassiopeia squealed and Heather let Draco attend to her. Cradling the now awake baby Draco started. Very slowly he turned to the Irish woman with a surprised look on his face.

"Heather, when did her eyes turn color?"

"A while ago. They'd turned by the time she was a month." She replied, rummaging in the diaper bag for a bottle. Cassiopeia would no doubt want it soon.

"I didn't even notice," he whispered lifting her up to get a better look. Cool gray eyes that matched his blinked twice before turning to look elsewhere. Draco grinned; she had his eyes! Heather chuckled.

"I donna think you've been noticin' much lad. About her or yourself." She brought the bottle out and uncapped it.

"What do you mean by that?" Draco inquired taking the bottle from her as Cassiopeia wriggled excitedly.

"Well, when I bought ya those slacks back in November, they touched the top o' yer shoes." Heather said taking a hold of the fabric and giving it a good tug.

"It just means they shrunk in the laundry."

"An' I could look ya in the eye," the Irish woman continued. Draco sighed.

"Heather, I've resigned myself that I'm going to be short." He told her while Cassiopeia greedily eyed the bottle.

"Yer arms an' legs ache right?" Draco nodded. He tried to explain that it was just because he'd slept wrong on them. She wouldn't hear it though. "That's one of the signs." Heather wagged her finger in front of his face. "Yer havin' grown' pains."

For a moment Draco just stared at her in disbelief then it slowly dawned on him what she was saying.

"I'm finally having a growth spurt?" She nodded. "That can't be. I'm passed that stage. Everyone else grew, but I didn't," he blurted out.

"You were probably a late bloomer ta begin with an' havin' the lass probably hindered it. Her demands came first. Now tha' yer body's yers again, it has the resources." She smiled at his distress. "Jus' be glad yer finally gettin' some height." Draco laughed lightly. Cassiopeia whined and reached for her bottle. Giving it to her he marveled at life.

"Looks like we're both going to need new clothes soon." He chuckled as she drank heartily.