Disclaimer: still not mine

So she said what's the problem baby
What's the problem I don't know
Well maybe I'm in love
Think about it every time
I think about it
Can't stop thinking 'bout it

How much longer will it take to cure this
Just to cure it cause I can't ignore it if it's love
Makes me wanna turn around and face me but I don't know nothing 'bout love

Come on, come on
Turn a little faster
Come on, come on
The world will follow after
Come on, come on
Cause everybody's after love

We're accidentally in love
Accidentally in love

Love…I'm in love

"Accidentally in Love" –Counting Crows

The Perfect Life

Chapter 8 – Cake incident

That night Draco came home late from work; mentally and physically exhausted from the day's events. Was he ever glad that day was over. He felt as if Weasley had him looking through the same document plays over and over again. Now he was back at the house where he can at least get some peace and quiet, though one thing still lurked in the back of his mind: Teresa. He was secretly seething inside for not shagging her when he had the opportunity. 'Why didn't I do it? I could've had her any way I wanted.' But no, instead he had declined because all he could think about was his children…and as much as he denied it, Hermione. Draco didn't know what it meant: the tingling sensation every time Hermione kissed him, the feeling of utter joy when he sees Rina or Jon-Jon smile, and the unmistakable worry he senses when he hears Andy cry. And he didn't wanna know. He was afraid to know.

Draco entered the dining room to find Hermione sitting by the kitchen table cross-legged on the chair, seemingly focused on the stacks of parchment and contracts lying in front of her.

"How was your day?" she asked routinely, without glancing up as she took a bite of her cake.

"Fine," he answered just as monotonously. 'I wonder what she'd do to me if she ever found out about Teresa… probably reward me for resisting temptation.' He rubbed his eyes in weary as he stuck his head into the fridge then frowned. "Hey have you seen my…" he stopped and narrowed his eyes at the plate which rested on Hermione's lap. "Cake," he finished in an angry drawl.

"Hm?" She looked up innocently, her mouth still full of chocolate.

"That's mine you know," he said to her in a stern voice.

"What is?" She swallowed the food in her mouth.

"That!" He accusingly pointed a finger at the half-eaten dessert. "It was the last piece of chocolate cake and I was saving it for later."

She shifted her eyes from the cake to her husband. "Oh. Well it didn't have your name on it or anything and I had the strongest craving for chocolate. But really, it's just a piece of cake. No need to get in a strop over it."

Draco folded his arms and glowered resentfully. "I am not in a 'strop'! I just had a really long day with Weasley pushing me around. And the only thing getting me through it is knowing that I'm able to come home to that piece of chocolate you are now scoffing down your throat." He stood on the opposite end of the kitchen, looking as if he were scolding at a young child.

Hermione, however, was unmoved by his firm disposition. In fact, she was used to it (being married to him and all). So, feeling his aggravation, she brought up a forkful of chocolate to her lips in a taunting gesture. "Mm," she murmured with a full mouth, dramatically rubbing her stomach with one hand. Draco stared at her wide-eyed. Did she just provoke him? No one dares to defy a Malfoy, no one. He stood his ground, trying to look as if he didn't care. The next second, he charged towards her with full force. Hermione jumped up and ran to the other side of the table giggling, cake and all.

"C'mon Hermione. Give us the cake." He eyed her plate then averted his concentration to her eyes, her deep brown eyes, anticipating her next move.

She smiled smugly, chin held high. "And what if I don't? What exactly are you going to do, yeah?"

He stopped for a moment pretending to think it over. "This!" he exclaimed suddenly, lunging forward across the table. She screeched gleefully and made for the stairs. But Draco was too fast for her; she had no chance. Half way up, he grabbed one of her ankles and pinned down her limbs to the steps. Laughing hard, she finally gave up and surrendered to the body lying on top of her.

"Okay! Okay! You want the cake do you?" She didn't wait for his response, simply picked up what was left of the dessert with her bare hand and smothered it all over his face.

Draco opened his eyes through the sticky mush, completely caught off guard and surprised by what she'd done. What surprised him even more was the way he reacted. Had it been any other time in Hogwarts, her and her bubbly friends would have suffered great humiliation under his hand. Not this time though. As soon as she'd wiped the chocolaty goop on his skin, he couldn't do anything but laugh. Not even a forced, mellow chuckle. It was a true, belly-aching laugh. He wasn't sure why he was laughing. He should be outraged that his shirt was ruined. Maybe it was something in the air that night. Or maybe there was something about the way Hermione looked right that moment.

She hadn't any makeup on, nor was her hair tamed that well. She wasn't wearing one of England's finest robes, nor did she own much expensive jewelry. Yet as Draco stared at her now, her eyes twinkling like the thousands of stars he witnessed the night previous, he could swear she was the most beautiful, most richest woman alive. Her riches were not in the surface area she occupied in Gringotts, but in the love she held within her. For a minute there, Draco almost forgot how to breathe.

Hermione was licking her fingers when she noticed him staring at her intently. "What? Did I get some on my face?" She felt around her cheeks for a sign of a sticky texture when Draco placed his own hand over hers.

"No," he whispered to her as if in a dream. "You're perfect."

She grinned as he leaned down to kiss her. Draco savored it; feeling like it was his first kiss in a lifetime. In truth, it kinda was. Nobody had ever made his heart beat faster and slower at the same time. It was like discovering a special, magical place no person had ventured into before. It was both exciting and scary.

Finally he broke away from her and chuckled to himself. He had unintentionally smudged some chocolate onto her face as well. She looked pretty darn cute with it too; it brought out the natural highlights in her hair.

"What? …oh," she said with a laugh, realizing what had been transferred to her face. "I always thought chocolate was my color, don't you think?" She batted her lashes theatrically.

Draco remained speechless but smiled back at her. At last, he knew what he needed to say. He needed to tell her how he felt.

"Hermione, I love you," he confessed truthfully, quite aware this was the first time he'd ever said that to anyone. "I am so madly in love with you."

Hermione caressed his cheek with one hand, the other gently reaching up to rest on the back of his shoulder blade just below his arm. "I love you too, Draco. Always."

AN: so? wht'd u think? c'mon, dont be shy lol. pleez pleez leave me a review