A/N: And here we have it— the penultimate chapter! Thank you all for sticking with me throughout this, it's been a long time! I've adored seeing all your comments as each chapter has been posted.
Alpha love as always to TriDogMom — you really are the best!
When Hermione awoke the following morning at Harry's, she was filled with a determination to set things right with Draco. Part of her had hoped he'd appear in the night and she'd wake up safely ensconced in his embrace but in the cold light of day Hermione knew she needed to go to him. Wherever he might be.
Changing out of Ginny's altered pyjamas and into the clothes she was wearing the night before, Hermione made her way downstairs, finding both Harry and Ginny at the table eating breakfast. "Morning," she greeted, settling herself into the seat beside Ginny.
"Morning," Harry replied, offering her some tea and toast.
"No, thank you," Hermione answered, pushing the plate back towards Harry. Her stomach felt sick with nerves but she wasn't going to let that slow her down, "do you know where Draco is?"
"I may have managed to track his magical signature," Harry replied with a weary smile, "he wasn't at the cottage when I floo'd this morning."
"Where is he?" Hermione asked.
"You'll see," Harry answered, rising from his seat and pecking Ginny on the cheek, "I'll be back soon."
"You better be," Ginny said with a smile, "we've still got more of your birthday to celebrate."
Appearing in the woods just outside of her cave, Hermione turned to Harry with a look of confusion, "Draco's here?" she asked, trying to ignore the spinning sensation in her head and the odd pressure around her body.
"This is where his signature shows up," Harry replied, gesturing for Hermione to lead the way to her home.
As she approached the concealed entrance, butterflies began to riot in her stomach, making her feel nauseous. Reaching out, Hermione placed a hand on the cool rock, closed her eyes and drew in a deep, steadying breath. Feeling a pulse of magic against her palm, Hermione opened her eyes, reminding herself that she needed to tell Draco exactly how she felt, hold nothing back, put herself absolutely on the line as he had done for her.
There should be nothing scary about talking to Draco.
Silence met her as she walked from the entrance corridor and into her living room. Looking around Hermione remembered her last night in her cave, sharing dinner with Daphne, reading in her favourite chair, deciding to go for a swim, that blinding white hot pain…
Rubbing the spot on her chest, Hermione imagined she could feel the burn again, realising as she did so that something about the cave was making her feel a little unsteady. Turning, Hermione looked back at Harry before looking around for signs of Draco, wondering as she did so if maybe she should ask Harry to take her home?
She wanted to see Draco, needed to see him, but as she looked around Hermione felt her head throb and her heart drop, he wasn't there. When Harry had said Draco was in the cave, Hermione had assumed he'd be in the living room, pacing or something similar.
"He has to be here," Harry said, correctly reading the empty look on Hermione's face, "the signature trace is never wrong."
Agreeing with a nod, Hermione turned away from Harry and headed towards her bedroom, checking the kitchen and the bathroom along the way. Finding them empty, Hermione walked back towards Harry where he was packing a box full of books. Running her fingers along the spines, Hermione froze, her eyes finding the lone figure of Draco sat along the shore line below.
Feeling her heart skip a beat, Hermione spun on her heel, ignoring how the room seemed to keep spinning as she walked eagerly towards the door to the stairs, "Harry! He's here! I'm going down to speak to him."
Harry followed Hermione out of the door and onto the ledge, placing a quick charm on Hermione's retreating form to make sure she didn't slip. Despite not being the one to have found her that day, Harry could all too clearly see her falling down these very steps and did not want a live reenactment.
Pausing about half way down, Hermione drew in a shaky breath to steady her racing heart.
"Hermione!" Draco yelped, turning and scrambling up from the sand, kicking it out behind him as he hurried over to her, "what in the hell do you think you're doing?" After speaking to Harry last night at his cottage, he had felt the overwhelming urge to go back to the cave, but he'd lost track of time, caught up in the memories the cave bought and hadn't returned to the cottage.
"I came to talk to you," Hermione answered, a little uncertain as Draco reached her and took both of her hands in his own.
"I meant what the hell do you think you're doing coming down here," Draco added, trying to calm his panic as he spied Harry at the top of the stairs, his wand trained on Hermione's back.
"I'm perfectly capable of walking down some stairs," Hermione retorted, allowing Draco to escort her down the rest of the stairs.
"I know," Draco sighed, relaxing as they finally reached the sand. Looking up quickly, he gave a nod of thanks to Harry and watched him disappear before turning his attention back to Hermione. "I just… I saw you bloodied at the bottom of these stairs before and I don't fancy seeing it again."
Hermione paused, looking between the stairs and the spot she imagined Draco had found her in. "Have you been here all night?" she asked hesitantly, doing her best to ignore the queasiness in her stomach.
"Yeah," Draco replied, giving her hands a slight squeeze as he drew in a deep breath, "I needed to be back here. I needed to see where our journey began."
"I'm so sorry, Draco," Hermione said, moving forward to try and embrace him as Draco took a step back. "Draco?"
"I know you're sorry," Draco breathed, silently battling with himself. He knew the words she said were in the heat of the moment between her and Ron but it didn't take the sting away. After everything they had endured together, after everything he had given her, she was still hung up on her same old issues. "But I need more than words, Hermione."
As Hermione stared at him silently, Draco pressed on, needing to get everything out. "I've given you everything," he said, his eyes boring into hers with the intensity of his feelings, "I've laid my entire world at your feet and you've taken all of it. I don't regret a single moment of it, but hearing you tell the weasel you didn't want our children… that fucking stung, Hermione."
"I know," Hermione answered, her voice wavering as she felt his pain, "I've been so selfish. I've spent so much time thinking about how this affects me and my life. I've taken yours for granted. I need you to know Draco, what I said last night, it wasn't meant like that… that was old Hermione stuck in the same old argument with Ron."
"You can't be two different people, Hermione," Draco sighed, part of him wanted to stop the conversation, accept her apology and go back to how they were. But, he knew if they didn't talk about all of this now, they never would. He would always be watching for signs she was going to bolt. "This is what happens. You need to decide who you are and what you want, once and for all."
Hermione paused, allowing Draco's words to sink in. He was right, he was always bloody right. She couldn't continue like this, the constant battle between who she used to be and who she was now. What was it she and Harry had been discussing the other day... how nothing felt like it was hers anymore? How she needed to trust Draco?
She could throw herself head first into their relationship, trust Draco with everything, share every fear and every insecurity. And Draco? Draco could be hers. Hermione knew Draco would be hers if she asked.
Sucking a deep breath and drawing all the courage she had, Hermione whispered those fateful words, "I'll marry you, Draco."
Inhaling a sharp breath, Draco stared at her. Oh how he'd longed to hear her say those words. Pulling her in closely, Draco kissed her, a slow sweet kiss before running his nose along hers as he whispered, "no, you won't."
Hermione spluttered, terrified she had ruined everything. "What? Why? I want to be with you Draco, I want to be yours."
"I want you to want to marry me because you are so head over heels in love with me, you can't stand to be without me," Draco murmured, breathing her scent in before he stepped back to look deeply into her eyes. "I won't marry you as a knee jerk reaction after a misunderstanding."
"This isn't a knee jerk reaction Dra—"
"Yes," Draco said calmly, "it is. I can see the fear in you. Your thoughts were spiraling and that's where you ended up. Your entire body stiffened when you said it. I love you, but I won't marry you like this."
"Then tell me what to do," Hermione begged, leaning into Draco's touch as he wiped a tear from her cheek, "I can't lose you."
"Who said I was leaving?" Draco asked, holding her face in both of his hands, "I always knew this was going to be difficult. I'm not going anywhere, I guess I just need to know you're not going anywhere either."
"I'm not going anywhere," Hermione assured him quickly, her heart pounding in her chest. "I realised last night that I need to be honest with you. I pushed you away after we slept together because I felt something for you and it scared me to death."
"Why?"
"I wasn't supposed to have those feelings for anyone but Ron," Hermione answered, her eyes drifting over to the water's edge where gold shimmered in the pool, "let alone feel something stronger. If we'd gone to bed, the connection we have would have consumed me in its intensity. I wouldn't have been the same person after… and that scared me. It still does."
"Do you know what I did after you sent me away?" Draco asked, continuing when Hermione nibbled her lip and shook her head, "I broke down. Right out there, in the trees. It felt wrong to walk away from you but I respected your decision, praying to Merlin you'd change your mind."
"I felt it too," Hermione whispered, her body trembling as she gripped his shirt, "I cried the whole night. Looking back on it now, I realise I should have taken the time to understand those feelings, learn why they were so strong when it came to you. I was so insecure with Ron and sometimes, when I'm stressed those old insecurities creep back in. That's all that argument was, I promise."
"What do you feel now, Hermione?" Draco asked, his voice rough. He could feel his magic pulsing through his veins, trying to reach out to her and make her his.
"I feel…" Hermione paused, using the time to reflect on what she did truly feel. She was teetering on the edge of a realisation, Draco was still here, he hadn't run and was listening just like Ginny said he would. Her heart was pounding as she looked into his cool grey eyes, the air around them seeming to ebb and flow with each of her breaths, she felt… complete.
For the first time in a long time, Hermione felt like the woman she was always destined to be. Draco was her partner, her equal in everything. Her relationship with Ron had always felt one sided and that was part of the reason she was hesitant to start a family with him.
But here Draco was, constantly catching her when she fell. He caught her when she felt alone and afraid, he held her together when her marriage started to disintegrate and right now he was waiting for her to catch him.
Hermione had no doubt Draco would be there for her in her worst days but she wanted him there on her best. She needed him to be with her in a way no one had before. It was his face she saw when she closed her eyes, his touch she felt when she sought out comfort and his love which brought her back to life.
"I love you," Hermione said, her voice strong and clear, "I love you, Draco Malfoy."
Relief washed over him, Hermione had been silent for so long he thought he'd lost her, "say it again," Draco demanded.
"I… love… you," Hermione repeated, kissing his lips between each word. Saying those words to him cemented something deep inside her, tying her firmly to Draco.
"Finally," Draco breathed, pulling her closer and tangling his hands up into her hair. Titling her face up to meet his, Draco crashed his lips against hers, pouring every ounce of love he had for her into the kiss.
Hermione sagged a little into Draco's embrace as he controlled the kiss, in an attempt to help steady herself she looped her arms up and around his neck, her fingers tugging at the short hair at the base of his neck. Kissing Draco again was like a breath of fresh air, tasting him, touching him, feeling him shudder as she nibbled his lip ignited her soul.
Pulling away a moment later, breathless, Hermione smiled up at Draco, "I do have one more thing to ask you."
"Ask away," Draco smiled.
"Can I move in with you?"
"Isn't that why we're here?" Draco asked, confused by Hermione's question.
"Yes," Hermione agreed, "but I want to live with you, not just stay with you."
"Can I buy us a house?" Draco queried, his eyebrow quirked as Hermione smirked back at him.
"That depends," Hermione replied, sliding her hands down Draco's arms so she could hold both of his hands, "can we choose one together? A normal sized house to suit the family we're going to have?"
"Absolutely," Draco readily agreed, shocked at where the conversation had ended up. He had been up all night, thinking of Hermione and trying to understand her, half afraid she would walk away from him for good.
"We best get packing then," Hermione said, nodding towards the windows of her living room. Without another word, Draco took Hermione's hand and carefully led her back up the stairs.
Hours later and surrounded by boxes, Hermione stifled a yawn behind her hand. Without Draco's presence last night she had slept terribly and packing without the aid of magic had wiped out any remaining energy she had.
"Why don't you go lie down?" Draco asked, having caught her yawning for the fifth time in ten minutes.
"I'll be ok," Hermione replied softly, "we're nearly done."
"Exactly," Draco answered, "go lie down, I'll join you in a few minutes when I'm done."
As Hermione opened her mouth to protest another yawn escaped. "Go," Draco said firmly, sealing up one box with magic before moving onto the next, "I'll be there in a minute."
"Fine," Hermione agreed with a roll of her eyes and a smile on her face.
Waking a few hours later, Hermione yawned and stretched back into Draco's warm embrace, the twins stirring as she did so. She couldn't remember him coming to bed but she was so relieved to be waking up in his arms. There was a feeling of completeness in Hermione's soul as she laid entwined in his arms, for the first time in a long time she felt like she was home.
It felt as if everything had come full circle. When she had first entered this cave at the start of the year, her marriage was slowly crumbling and now, almost eight months later, she was preparing to leave it and start her life over again. With Draco's arm holding her tightly, Hermione could feel the strength she had been missing return to her.
It was like taking the first breath of fresh air after being trapped inside, committing herself fully to Draco had truly set her free. Looking out of her bedroom window and across to the waterfall, Hermione said a silent thank you to whichever force brought her to her cave.
Snuggling herself further into Draco's embrace, Hermione took their linked hands and rested them against the swell of her stomach, rubbing absent minded circles where she could feel movement. Now she had become accustomed to feeling the twins move around inside of her, Hermione found she loved the feeling, having the constant reassurance that they were there and healthy.
Feeling a particularly hard kick, Hermione began to wonder if Draco would be able to feel it too. It was probably still a bit too early, but having never felt kicks so strong Hermione decided to risk it and wake Draco.
"Draco," Hermione whispered, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice and wake him gently, "Draco, wake up."
Draco groaned as he buried his face into her hair, "Hermioneeeee, ssshhh," before wedging his face very firmly between the pillow and her shoulder.
"Dracoooo, come on," Hermione whispered back as he buried his face further into the pillow, "for god sake," she muttered, moving Draco's hand and pressing it where she felt the last kick. Patiently waiting for it to happen again so Draco would realise what was going on.
"Stop flicking me woman," Draco complained as he tried to move his hand away, causing Hermione to push it harder against her stomach.
"It's not me," Hermione replied gently, waiting for Draco to react.
Feeling another thump against his palm as Hermione's words sunk through his sleep haze, Draco's eyes popped open and he wrenched his face out of his nook, "is that… is that… kicking?!" he exclaimed suddenly making Hermione laugh.
"Yes," Hermione said with a giggle, watching Draco's sleepy face light up with excitement, "I think someone wanted to say hello."
Now wide awake Draco pulled away gently from Hermione so she could lie on her back. Propping his head up with one hand, he rubbed his other hand against Hermione's stomach gently waiting for the next kick. "Come on little ones," Draco murmured, lowering his face to speak to Hermione's stomach, "one more kick for daddy." Sure enough, Draco felt another kick against his hand, making his heart skip a beat, "thank you," he whispered, leaning down to plant a kiss on Hermione's exposed skin.
Watching Draco react and croon to their children filled Hermione's chest with a warmth she wasn't prepared for. Feeling her eyes begin to water, she looked up at the ceiling to stop the tears from falling. To think she had nearly lost the opportunity to share this with him because she let her fear drive her horrified her.
"That's amazing," Draco said in a hushed voice as he turned back to face Hermione, his hand still resting on her belly, "you're amazing, this is amazing, thank you," he said softly moving to place a kiss against her cheek.
Not wanting to miss another opportunity to be with Draco, Hermione turned her face at the last moment catching his lips in a kiss. Feeling Draco stiffen above her, Hermione pressed her lips to his three more times before he caught on and deepened the kiss.
It wasn't that Draco was unfamiliar with kissing Hermione, they'd had a fair amount of practice during their time in France, it was just that it was usually him who initiated the kiss. His mind was flooded with thoughts of not pushing her too far but hearing her moan delicately against his mouth vanished any doubt he had.
In an effort to get closer still, Draco somewhat reluctantly removed his hand from Hermione's abdomen and placed it by the side of her body, mirroring the movement with his other hand so he was hovered above her.
Needing to feel the weight of his body against hers, Hermione wrapped one hand around the back of Draco's neck as she hooked a leg up and over his hip. Pulling him down towards her as she tried in vain to get some friction where she needed it most.
Fuck, Draco thought as his hand roved greedily along Hermione's bare leg, it felt so sinfully good to have her pressed up against him again, his hand skated across the top of Hermione's shorts, over her exposed bump before vanishing beneath her camisole. He was silently grateful that she had changed into some of her old summer pyjamas.
Leisurely caressing every inch of skin available to him as he snogged her senseless, Draco ever so gently took Hermione's breast into his palm giving it a small squeeze as his thumb danced across the peak of her nipple.
Moaning incoherently as Draco continued his fondling of her breasts Hermione felt heat pool between her legs, every touch set her skin on fire in a way she had never experienced before, needing some form of friction Hermione lifted her hips and rubbed herself against Draco's erection, making a sharp "fuck" slip from his lips.
Breaking their kiss but keeping his hand nestled happily under Hermione's camisole Draco looked down at her as she squirmed against him, golden light from the waterfall danced across their entwined bodies and Draco stared into her eyes, seeing nothing but her adoration and desire. Unable to hold back any further Draco moved himself to nestle between her hips, Hermione's legs moving to accommodate him as they came to rest around his hips.
Holding his gaze as he looked down at her, Hermione leaned up to recapture his lips as her hand travelled from his neck, dancing across his back and gripping his arms as he pushed his hips against hers. Needing more than just kissing, Hermione allowed her hand to continue on its journey, her nails scratching his skin as they travelled across his stomach coming to rest above the elastic of his boxers.
Draco moaned as Hermione teased her way along the waistband, his erection pressing into the palm of her hand as she caressed and squeezed him, just when Draco thought he was about to lose his mind her fingers dipped beneath the material and cradled him. "Fuck Hermione," he groaned as she caressed the tip of his penis with her thumb, spreading his precum across his tip.
Smirking as Draco rested his forehead against hers, Hermione gripped his hard length in her hand, rubbing him up and down, enjoying the feel of total control, it had been so long since she had been this uninhibited. Hermione sucked lightly on Draco's exposed skin, his throat angled perfectly towards her, making him gasp and pull back in surprise, "what?" Hermione questioned playfully.
Releasing a low growl Draco recaptured Hermione's lips, rolling his hips as she again squeezed his solid length, his hands moved frantically against her body, caressing every inch as his breathing escalated. Eventually Hermione released him, her hands moving to grip his shoulders as Draco pushed himself against her, driving her wild.
"Draco," Hermione panted, reaching down to tug at the hem of her camisole, trying to strip it from her body, "clothes, off."
Needing no further encouragement, Draco silently vanished the clothes from their bodies and surged forward to reclaim Hermione's lips. Aligning his body perfectly with hers, careful not to put any pressure on the bump, Draco felt the head of his cock press against her entrance.
"Please," Hermione moaned, wiggling herself beneath him as Draco kissed down the column of her throat, pausing to suck at the skin where it joined her shoulder.
"Are you sure we can do this?" Draco asked, coming up for air and glancing at the bump between them. He so desperately wanted to join his body with hers but fear of somehow hurting the babies held him back.
"Yes," Hermione whispered, sliding her foot so it rested on Draco's ass and pressing down so his body moved forward. Feeling him slide between her folds Hermione let out a sigh of satisfaction, why they hadn't been doing this throughout her pregnancy was beyond her.
"Gods," Draco grunted, feeling himself bottom out inside of her as her walls clenched tightly around him. Slowly, Draco drew himself back before pushing all the way back in, releasing a shaky breath as he repeated the process. She was simply divine and knowing that she was actually his this time made his heart sing. Their first time together had been so overwhelming, flooring Draco with the depth of feeling he had for her and now he could feel their bond strengthening, developing… changing.
Out of the corner of his eye, Draco caught the golden light in the waterfall shimmer and pulsate, briefly reminding him of the night they had conceived. However, he was quickly distracted by Hermione's sumptuous moans.
"Please, Draco, please," Hermione begged, reaching down to firmly grab Draco's ass and move him closer. "I need…"
"What do you need?" Draco breathed, kissing down her neck as he gripped her hip, pushing himself deeply inside her.
"More," Hermione whispered, squirming as she tried to align her body with Draco's so he hit that sweet spot. Unable to get the right position, Hermione broke away from Draco's kisses placing her hands on Draco's shoulders, "I need to go on top."
"Do it," Draco answered, his voice husky with need as he pulled away and rolled onto his back, gripping Hermione's hips as she climbed atop him and slowly sunk down on his solid length, "better?"
"Much," Hermione panted, rolling her hips as Draco groaned beneath her, "you ok?"
"More than ok," Draco growled, pushing himself up as Hermione ground down on him, "you're stunning."
"Gods, Draco," Hermione moaned, her breath stuttering as Draco's hands snaked up from her hips to tease her breasts, "keep doing that."
"You like that?" Draco asked, sitting up slightly so he could take one nipple into his mouth as his hand pinched the other.
"Oooh," Hermione squealed, treading her fingers through Draco's hair and gripping it firmly, keeping him in position as she continued to ride him.
"So, fucking, hot," Draco hissed, falling back onto the pillows with one hand returning to Hermione's hip as the other continued to tease her gloriously full breasts.
"So close," Hermione whined, biting her lower lip as her head fell back. Heat was slowly unfurling as she approached her orgasm, curling up through her body and with it, a deep sense of home and belonging.
Locking eyes with Draco, Hermione felt their connection spark and grow, gaining strength as their movements became more urgent.
"Let go," Draco commanded, feeling her walls flutter and pulse around him. She was truly breathtaking in this moment and as Draco watched her shake with her release he snapped his hips up and came with a cry of, "Hermione!"
Panting heavily, Hermione leaned forward and rested one hand on Draco's chest as the other rubbed over her heart. It was pounding unsteadily as her blood thrummed through her body, her skin tingling with a warmth she didn't understand. Opening her mouth to draw in a lungful of air, Hermione's breath hitched, causing her to gasp as a white hot pain launched through her chest.
"Are you ok?" Draco asked, his voice sounding far away as Hermione screwed her eyes up against the tingling heat.
"Yeah," she gasped, trying to keep her breathing under control as her body sporadically twitched, "I think we just.. overdid it."
"What can I do?" Draco asked, his hands rubbing any part of Hermione he could get to as he started to panic.
"Just keep talking," Hermione muttered, breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, "keep touching me."
"Ok," Draco replied, looking for his wand and seeing it out of his reach, "just take some nice deep breaths, like we practiced with Healer Bradstone, in— and out."
Listening to Draco's voice guide her, Hermione followed his instruction, breathing carefully in and out until the pain had subsided and she felt in charge of her body once more. Blinking her eyes open, Hermione looked down at Draco, grabbing both of his hands and giving them a light squeeze, "thank you."
"No problem," Draco replied, studying her features carefully for any sign of pain or discomfort, "better?"
"Better," Hermione nodded, trying to move her legs which seemed locked around Draco's torso.
"Lean on me," Draco murmured, massaging Hermione's hips to help bring back the feeling, "I can take it."
"Oh, I'm sure you can," Hermione replied, smirking as she shifted her weight forward so she had the flexibility to move her legs.
"What's that?" Draco asked, running his hand over Hermione's chest as she hovered above him.
"What?" Hermione asked, tiredness making her bones feel heavy as she sat next to Draco.
"This," Draco said quietly, running his finger over the black X which had appeared on her skin. Sitting up, Draco took a closer look, the mark looked like a brush stroke, soft edged and not completely solid.
Looking down, Hermione found the mark Draco was carefully tracing, "that wasn't there when I woke up," she mumbled, stifling a yawn behind her hand as her eyes roved Draco's chest, "you've got one too."
"I do?" Draco questioned, looking down at his own chest as Hermione settled down next to him, "fuck me."
"Just did," Hermione giggled, pulling the duvet over herself and snuggling down into the pillows.
Turning his bewildered gaze from his chest to a still giggling, half asleep Hermione, Draco wondered what to do. Idly, he traced the X with his finger, feeling his magic tingle beneath his skin. It couldn't be a coincidence that they were marked whilst in the cave, after spectacular sex nontheless, but what did it mean?
Lying back, smiling when Hermione curled into his side, Draco replayed their coupling in his mind. In the moment, Draco hadn't thought anything of the intense feelings that washed over him as they came together but reflecting on it now… there had been something different about this time.
The magic that had guided them to each other during their first time had been rich with the promise of new beginnings but this magic… felt final. Draco couldn't really put it into words but he felt whole with Hermione led beside him.
Despite the feeling of completeness, Draco couldn't shake the thought that their markings meant something bigger than they could understand. Stretching for his wand on the nightstand, Draco lifted it and cast the diagnostic spell taught to him by Hermione's healers, just to be sure she and the babies were ok.
Finding nothing out of the ordinary— to his eyes anyway— Draco placed his wand back down and pulled Hermione against him, his hand resting against her stomach as the twins kicked again. Just as his eyes were about to close, he caught that golden light shimmering and dancing in the pool. It was the second time he'd seen that strange golden light and as he drifted off to sleep, Draco couldn't help but wonder if it meant something.