Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Severus, Ginny and Healer Hellen had all agreed that Hermione's treatments would be best course of action was to have her placed on a cycle treatment, which broke down into two weeks of treatment and have a week for her body to build up healthy cells to fight off the cancer. Then start over every three weeks of treatments. This would hopefully target the cancer that was spread throughout her body.
Lucius sat and watched and comforted his wife the best he could. The couple stayed at the hospital for two weeks as Hermione had strong treatments that made her weak, sickly and even painful at times. They set up another appoint in three weeks and left for Malfoy manor.
LM/HG
Lucius gently laid Hermione down on the couch in large library and pulled a thick blanket of her weak frame. She snuggled down into the blanket. It was good to be home a last. Tilly popped into the room and sat a tray down on the table for her mistress.
"We glads you home Mistress. If you need mes just call." Tilly said and was gone with a pop.
Lucius poured Hermione a cup of hot tea and sat down on the couch with his wife. She carefully took the cup with a thank you and took a careful sip.
"Do you need anything?" asked Lucius as he poured himself a cup of tea sitting back as she shook her head.
"It's good to be home. I would love a long soak in the tub, but I'm just too tired." She whispered.
He grabbed her left hand and gently ran his thumb over her rings. "Enjoy your tea. Then we'll get a bath together."
She nodded again and drank her tea in thought. She didn't know if the treatments were going to help her or make her worse. But at the moment her body was so tired and weak. She hated feeling weak.
After the couple finished their tea. Lucius gently lifted Hermione up into his arms and carried her to master bedroom. He gently laid her down on the bed and got the bath ready for them.
He returned to bedroom and removed Hermione's robes and dis-guarded his own robes before lifting her up and carried her into the large bathroom. He eased Hermione to the warm bath and joined her in the soothing bubbles. She laid back onto Lucius chest and closed her eyes.
Lucius grabbed the wash cloth and ran it gently over Hermione's wet body. She sighed at the relaxing bubbles and loving touches of her husband. After he washed her body and wrapped his arms around her slender waist rested his head on the bath pillow behind him.
"Lucius, why did you marry me?" mumbled Hermione.
He leaned forward slightly and kissed her bare wet shoulder and answered, "I care about you my dear. You and Severus are my best friends. You have done so much for me and my family over the years. I just want to see you happy."
Hermione gently played with his hands under the water. "You make me very happy Luc."
"Rest dearest, if you fall asleep it's all right. I'll make sure nothing happens to you. Just enjoy this." said Lucius. Hermione nodded her head and closed her eyes enjoying the warm bath and having her husband's strong arms wrap around her thin frame.
Once the bubbles were gone Lucius carefully lifted Hermione's sleeping form from the water and carried her to the bed. He magically dried and changed her into warm gown before crawling into the bed and taking her into his arms. He watched the rise and fall of her chest as he slowly fell asleep.
LM/HG
It had been three days since Hermione had returned home and today was a good day. She woke up rested and not tired or sick to her stomach. She smiled and sat down at the vanity after a nice shower wrapped in her bath robe. She picked up her brush and slowly ran it through her thick knotted curls. She growled at the knot and sat the brush and slowly worked the knot out with her fingers. She sighed when the knot came free but also within freeing the knot so did a handful of brown curls in her right hand. She placed the hair of the vanity and ran her fingers through her curl's clumps of hair in both of hands. Hermione let the tears fall down her cheeks. So much for a good day.
"Darling, what's wrong? I've been waiting for nearly an hour." Lucius said as he entered the bedroom and knelt down bedside his wife.
"It just keeps falling out." Hermione said running her fingers through her hair and more hair appeared in hands. "See."
He took the hair from her hands and pulled her into his arms. He rested his cheek on the top of her head. "Will it make you feel better if I have Tilly cut your hair?"
"I guess it wouldn't hurt. It's better than it falling out in big chucks." She spoke and pulled back. "Out. I want to surprise you. Tilly!"
The house elf appeared in the master bedroom. Lucius got off his knees and exited the room leaving his wife with the head elf.
"What does Mistress need?" asked Tilly.
"I need you to cut my hair. I'm afraid the treatments are making my hair fall out." Hermione told her.
Tilly only nodded her head and snapped her fingers making a hair styling book appear in front of her and Hermione took it from the elf. She flipped through it until she found the haircut, she liked. Tilly smiled and quickly went to work cutting her mistress hair.
"There all done Mistress. It looks great on you!" said Tilly happily. "I gets you dress now." She snapped her fingers and Hermione was dressed finely cut robes. "There Master is waiting on the patio. Mr. and Mrs. Snape are here for lunch."
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and let a small smile cross her face and exited the bedroom. She made her way down the stairs to the patio.
LM/HG
"Sorry, I seem to be running behind today." Hermione said as she stepped onto the large patio.
Lucius turned and saw his wife and smiled, she had cut her long curls into a fashionable short pixy haircut. He kissed her cheek. "It looks wonderful."
Ginny's brown eyes widen at the new look of her best friend. She had never seen Hermione with short hair, it was always long pretty locks of curls. She smiled and pulled Hermione into a loving hug.
"It looks great Mione. It will take some time for me to get use to it on you. But looks great." Ginny said. "Why the sudden change…oh the treatments were causing hair issues."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "It will grow back in time. It happens all the time with muggles." She took a deep breathe. "Anyway, today is good day let's not spoil it. I'm starving."
Severus stood quietly studying Hermione and nodded his head. He could tell that cutting her hair did trouble Hermione, but he didn't push the issue just pulled her into a hug and they all sat down at table just as lunch was sat on the table.
"I got a letter from Ron the other day." Ginny said. "Just out of the blue. He said he's coming into town for the week, and that he wanted to talk."
Hermione took a sip of her lemonade. "That's odd. He nor Harry haven't really even spoken to us in nearly four years."
"I know that's why I find it strange. He sided with the rest of my family to not to speak to me." said Ginny.
"I would go Gin. Don't waist anymore time being angry. Try to fix things with your family." said Hermione. "I mean the choice is yours."
Ginny took Severus's hand and gave it a squeeze. "It will be something we will have to discuss." Severus nodded his head in agreement that it was something that needed to be spoken about before taking that leap. "I just don't won't to be hurt again like last time."
Hermione nodded her understanding where she was coming from. But she knew if she was in Ginny's shoes, she would at least try to mend things over with the family, because if she didn't it would be something to regret later for not at least trying once.
"Ginny, walk with me." said Hermione after they finished eating lunch. "Let the men have their boy time."
"Sounds wonderful." Ginny said getting up from her chair and kissed her husband on the cheek and the ladies walked to the garden.
"How are you really love?" asked Ginny wrapping her arm around Hermione's waist as they walked the large garden.
"I nearly had a break down earlier when I noticed my hair was falling out. But with Lucius I was able to push past it when he suggested a haircut. I rather like it."
"It is cute." Ginny said. "Are you happy with Lucius?"
Hermione smiled and sat down the bench near the small lily pond. "Yes, I am so happy him. He so caring. I can't help it but I love him."
Ginny squealed and wrapped her arms around her best friend. "Have you told him?"
"Yes. I have."
"Has he told you he loves you?" asked Ginny.
Hermione shook her head. "No, he hasn't, but he shows it to me every day. In just the way he cares for me. I'll wait until he is ready to tell me. I honestly think he can't say it, not yet anyway."
"Slytherins. They might not tell you they love you, but they sure do show you that they love you." Ginny said with a smile. "But I mean sometimes a girl needs to hear those three words from time to time!"
"I love you Gin."
Ginny kissed the top of Hermione's head. "I love you too."
LM/HG
Severus and Lucius sat in comfortable chair enjoying a nice spiked lemonade. Lucius pulled out a cigar and lit it with his wand. He took a drag and blew out the smoke.
"Have you told Hermione you love her?" asked Severus. Lucius shook his head. "Damn it man, get off your high horse and tell her already."
"Severus, it's not that simple for me. I wasn't raised with my parents telling me "I love you," before bed. We Malfoy show it through our actions. Very much like yourself." The blonde told his friend.
Severus sighed heavily. "True. But you must tell her one day or you will regret not saying the words every woman wants to hear."
Lucius took a sip of his drink and watched Hermione sit in the garden talking to Ginny. "I know." He whispered. "At least it's a good day for Hermione."
"How is she really Luc?" asked Severus.
"She has a good days and bad days. I look forward to the good days." He told Severus and he nodded his head in agreement.
LM/HG
Hermione crawled into and pulled the blankets over herself just as Lucius exited the bathroom. He smiled and hung his robe up on the hook on the door and crawled into the bed pulling the covers over his nude body.
"Did you enjoy today?" asked Lucius as he slowly lowered Hermione's strap of her slick gown.
"Yes. I did."
He rolled his hips on her thigh causing her moan at the feel of hard member on her leg. "Are you too tired for me to play?" Hermione shook her head wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him to kiss his mouth. "I've missed the way you feel around me." He whispered as he removed her slick night gown and kissed her nipped gently on her skin.
LM/HG
I hope enjoyed the new chapter. I know it's short compared to others but I hope enjoyed it.