Hermione had never been one for attention, but unfortunately this was non-optional. Naturally, Narcissa was absolutely over the moon about having another grandchild. It was the most expressive either Hermione or Draco had ever seen her be, and they sat astonished as they watched Narcissa lift Aiden into her arms, gently swing him around and say, "You're going to be a big brother. Isn't that wonderful?!" She had completely forgotten herself and only settled when she realized how flabbergasted her son and daughter-in-law were.

The Grangers had all but moved into the house when they heard the news. They were there so often that Draco went so far as to offer them an extended visit. Now they were calling the downstairs guest bedroom their home for the rest of the August. Ginny had broken her cup of tea when she found out and nearly choked Hermione in a super-strength hug. Harry had been equally excited, albeit gave her a gentler squeeze. Lydia was out on assignment again (somewhere in France), but somehow through the information grapevine had found out and sent a Howler filled with her screaming excitement. Not the traditional use of Howlers, of course, but it had certainly done the job.

Blaise and Uriel had taken Draco out to celebrate while Liliana and Giana spent the afternoon with Hermione and Aiden. And, of course, their husbands came back completely inebriated and standing on either side of the only sober-minded man. That night had led to, surprisingly, only slightly uncoordinated sex followed by very well-coordinated sex when they woke up the next morning. Hermione had made sure to mention that the vomit fit she had thrown after that had absolutely no bearings on what they had done.

Hermione wasn't sure if it was a mind over matter thing, but she found herself hyper-aware of all of her pregnancy symptoms now. She had morning sickness more, hated certain foods more and loved others that she used to hate, and she had used her wand to modify more smells in the house than humanly possible. Luckily, and quite unbelievably, her first trimester was almost over. That's what happens when you're in denial and your menstrual cycle was screwed up even before you were pregnant.

Narcissa, an ever-lingering presence now, wanted to make sure that her daughter-in-law was well taken care of. Never mind that her own parents were in the house. The newly-minted grandmother had given Hermione two new (temporary) house elves to tend to the house so that she didn't have to do anything. Hermione fretted about it. Draco had laughed, then regretted it when his wife threatened to ban him from her nether region for the remainder of her pregnancy.

Even now Hermione was on "motion probation" as she liked to call it. In reality it was just no strenuous activity while her mother-in-law was around or else she'd get an earful. No one needed to be at the mercy of that.

"I still don't understand why they want to cook." Narcissa mused as she held up various photographs and smiled at them. Hermione had bought a photo album yesterday so that she and Draco could start it for Aiden. Both women were out on the terrace now going through a record-breaking number of photographs taken in the past two weeks. Aiden was helping too, although his help came in the form of trying to pick up a photograph and ending up swiping it to the floor.

"My parents like to cook." Hermione said as she leaned over to pick up two pictures. "And they want to do something nice for everyone."

"Merlin bless them in that case." She said as she set a photo of Draco feeding Aiden off to one side. "Cooking is a dreadfully arduous and hideous chore."

Hermione's brows rose high on her head. "Forgive me for sounding surprised, but… Are you saying that you've cooked before?"

"Well, not in the way that you're thinking." Narcissa replied with obvious hesitancy. "In my family Muggle habits and tendencies were sometimes used as punishment if we misbehaved."

"Sorry?"

"I was sent to the kitchens with the house elves for unladylike behavior."

Hermione's mouth dropped. "That's… That's…"

"Something that will never be done again, I assure you. And no," she added before her daughter-in-law could ask. "I never practiced my family's way of punishment with Draco. Time outs and taking away things that he liked worked just fine."

Not that she let on, but that was certainly a relief for Hermione. Aiden gurgled from her lap and leaned back against her stomach and chest. She grinned, held him close, and took a huge inhale. He was the only person her nose wasn't sensitive to, and he smelled like baby powder and shampoo.

"And to think," Narcissa said contentedly as she watched them interact. "By early March there will be another little one on your lap like that."

"I know." Hermione beamed. She picked up Aiden and held him up to her face. "You're going to be a great big brother. And mummy and daddy won't love you any less. Okay?"

Aiden squealed and reached out for her face which made Hermione laugh. Just seeing them together made Narcissa's heart melt. She had forgotten what it was like to be around a child. Her memories instantly brought her back to when Draco was young. He was so carefree when he was a toddler. She and Lucius simply couldn't get enough of him.

Narcissa internally sighed. Lucius.

"Hermione, dear," Narcissa said hesitantly as he held a photograph in her hand. "I was hoping that I could…well… That I may send a photograph of Aiden to Lucius."

Hermione had been enjoying Aiden's uncoordinated attempt to pull at her hair when her eyes instantly peered over her son's head at Narcissa. "You can write to him now?"

"My house arrested is over as well as his correspondence probation."

"Oh,"

Silence lingered in the air. The only noise was coming from Aiden as Hermione gently sat him on her lap. Narcissa, ever poised, seemed tense. Not that it was insanely obvious, of course. However, after nearly a year frequenting with her mother-in-law, her subtle tells were becoming less inconspicuous.

"I just thought it would be a nice gesture," Narcissa continued in order to kill the quiet. "For him to see how Draco's future has turned out."

"Nice gesture, yes, but I doubt he'll like it."

"Oh, Lucius is hardly made of stone. He'll adore Aiden."

"But he'll hate his mother." Hermione said. "That's why you're nervous."

Narcissa resisted the urge to confirm her daughter-in-law's suspicions any further by letting her eyes fall to her perfectly manicured hands. Instead she continued sorting pictures.

"You are only part of the problem -and I mean no offense. There are just so many…changes that have been made with little to no thought of Lucius at all."

Hermione frowned. "Like the Manor,"

Narcissa nodded. "Yes. And while I have come to find you as a wonderful companion for Draco, it's a definite possibility that Lucius will not. He's probably been foaming at the mouth since his probation lifted."

Hermione nodded. Lucius' probation hadn't just entailed no letters from anyone, but also from any media outlet. Sure a prison guard may have made a quip or two about what was happening in the world that was moving on without him, but would Lucius believe it? That his one and only pureblood son had gone and married a muggleborn? Hermione Granger of all muggleborns? Surely, he would have to see it to believe it. And if anyone had given him an old Daily Prophet newspaper since the end of his probation, then he would most definitely have to think it true.

"Do you really think a photograph of Draco, Aiden, I will help soothe the storm?" Hermione questioned at the picture Narcissa had in her hand. Narcissa didn't answer her question. Instead she asked one of her own.

"Did Draco ever tell you of how he informed me of your relationship?"

Hermione shook her head.

"He came to me and handed me the Daily Prophet article about your graduation."

The brunette blinked. "That's how you found out?"

Narcissa smiled. "Yes. A blunt move, but a move nonetheless. There is a time for craft and a time to be blunt. A Malfoy uses the former to get what he or she wants and uses the latter when he or she has something to say. As of right now, it is time for the latter."

Hermione pursed her lips. "If you say so…"

Narcissa nodded, still with photograph of Draco, Hermione, and Aiden in hand. She eventually set it aside in a whole new pile -one Hermione assumed to be sent to Lucius.

"Now, I know it's last minute," Narcissa said, considerably less tense now and more enthusiastic. "But I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if I threw a little celebration in honor of Aiden and your upcoming bundle of joy."

Hermione couldn't help the upturn of her lips. "And by 'little' you mean…?"

"Think...a cross between Draco's party when he became an Auror and your wedding."

Hermione laughed and said to Aiden, "Your grandmother has no idea what the definition of 'little' is."

"That's because there's no such thing as 'little' for a Malfoy." Narcissa replied brightly. "Nor 'subdue,' for that matter."

"Obviously," Hermione continued to chuckle. "And while I appreciate the thought, I think I'd rather any public celebrations -public events period to be cut down to a severe minimum. Meaning none, if I can help it."

Narcissa was baffled. "Why on earth would you want that? I understand that you're pregnant and might be a bit paranoid -for lack of a better term -but there's no need to go to the extreme and become a hermit, dear."

"What's extreme is someone cursing me to prevent me from having children." Hermione said bluntly and Narcissa blanched. She sighed and took a moment to call for Frizzle and politely ask him to make a bottle for Aiden. When he was gone and she turned back to Narcissa, her mother-in-law still bore a look of deep regret.

"I'm sorry." Hermione told her. "And yes, maybe I am a bit paranoid, but don't I have the right to be? As far as I'm concerned nothing is off-limits anymore. If anything were to happen to this baby or Aiden I…" She could feel her eyes watering, but she took a deep breath to keep them at bay. "I just want to play on the safe side. That's all."

"Yes," Narcissa nodded, a motherly ache for her daughter-in-law overwhelming her tremendously. "That...seems to be best for now."

"How's Hermione doing?" Blaise asked. He and Draco were having lunch in London today. The blond had taken the day off and had attempted to help with his wife's photo album project, but had been promptly shooed away. Apparently he was too picky with how he looked in photographs.

"Morning sickness is kicking her arse." Draco smiled. "But once the afternoon hits she starts feeling better."

"Lucky her. With Liliana that plague called morning sickness hit her mornings, afternoons, nights… It was twenty-four seven."

Draco grimaced. "When did it stop?"

"Roughly early-middle of her second trimester. And then," Blaise grinned like a madman. "That's when the fun began."

Draco raised a brow as well as his cup of tea. "The fun?"

Blaise nodded. "That's right." He was still smiling and he gently pushed his food to the right and leaned forward. "Quick question for you, mate. When you and Hermione have sex, who usually initiates?"

Nothing could've stopped the huge gulp of tea Draco drank accidentally. It took a couple coughs to clear his throat, but he was still bemused.

"Come again?"

Blaise was cheeky. He was enjoying this conversation far too much. "Who puts the moves on who? You or Hermione?"

Draco pulled at his collar. "Usually me, but why-?"

"And how often a week?" Blaise smirked when he saw his friend redden. "Come, come, Draco. Don't be shy."

"Four to five,"

Blaise was absolutely beside himself at that. "Work all week, rest on the weekends then, eh?" He chuckled and plowed on. "Well, say goodbye to your weekends. Here's what to do. You-"

Draco cut him off with a laugh. "Wait one second. Are you seriously giving me sex advice?"

"No, no, not at all." Blaise countered with a lazy wave of his hand. "I'm giving you pregnant sex advice. There's a difference."

"A difference?" Draco snorted. "You've got to be kidding."

"I never kid about sex." Blaise said pointedly. Draco couldn't even disagree, but still shook his head in utter amusement. "Liliana had always been on the amorous side, but when she was pregnant? Once the morning sickness died everything else kicked in overdrive."

Now Draco was intrigued. Hermione was on the "amourous side" too, and considering that they had a pretty healthy sex life, he could only imagine… Draco pushed away his food and leaned forward as Blaise had done and indulged him.

"Fine, I'll bite. What's the advice?"

"Don't initiate anything." Blaise said plainly. "If four to five is your regular, guaranteed she'll crack in record time and attack -in a good way."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Record time meaning what?"

"Does it matter?" Blaise asked. "However long it is it'll be worth it."

Did "record time" mean one day? Draco prayed to Merlin that it was just one day. It wasn't that Draco couldn't restrain himself. His sense of self-control wasn't that bad. But this was Hermione. His wife. The love of his life. And he was supposed to abstain? Draco was going to murder Blaise if this didn't work. Better yet: castrate him.

When Draco got home he could hear a bath running which meant that either Hermione was taking one or giving Aiden one. Judging by the time he guessed that it was for Aiden and found that he was right when he found them in his and Hermione's private bathroom. He couldn't help but chuckle. They had bought Aiden a little baby tub to bathe him in, and yes he'll admit it, he'd been terrified about giving him a bath. Hermione too, and even now as she wiped Aiden's chest with a damp cloth she looked petrified. Determined, yet petrified nonetheless.

"Thank you." Hermione said. And when she didn't get a reply she smiled and added, "I said that to you, Draco."

He grinned. "What did I do?"

"It's what you didn't do, so that I'd be scared out of my wits."

Draco laughed. "You scare far too easily. When Aiden and the baby are old enough to walk and run we're going to have one heck of a time popping out from behind walls to frighten you."

Hermione's eyes widened. "I'll murder you if you do."

"Me? Probably? The children? Not so much. Their cute faces would keep you from being upset."

Hermione tutted and shook her head. "Slytherin tactics at work already. Don't listen to your father." She added to Aiden. He looked up at her and then his eyes moved over to Draco. He gave a toothless grin that made Draco's pride swell.

"That half-smile, half-smirk says otherwise." Draco said triumphantly.

"Hell-oh-hell those are a lot of stairs." Mr. Granger's voice suddenly appeared. Hermione instantly scolded her father.

"Dad, language, please?"

Mr. Granger chuckled as he stared at his grandson. "Aiden's first word isn't going to 'hell' because I said it once, sweetheart."

Draco was in hysterics. It wasn't long ago he had said that about Giana and now here was his father-in-law. He grew to like him more and more each day because of things like this. How could he not?

Hermione shook her head, a smile still tugging at her lips as she reached for a nearby towel and took Aiden out of the bath. "Aside from teaching Aiden terrible language, why did you tackle stairs that you hate?"

"Bless your mum's heart, I'm her errand boy." Mr. Granger sighed dreamily. "Dinner's almost ready. And you," he said to Draco. "Your own mother said to grab her before it started."

Draco nodded. "Alright,"

Everyone dispersed then to somewhere inside the house while Draco made his trek along a pathway that had been recently designed to go from one house to the other. He could've apparated, of course, or even Flooed, but it was the middle of August and the more than decent weather made it perfect for walking.

The journey on foot took about ten or fifteen minutes depending on how fast he walked. When he got to the house and found his mother sitting in the living room with nothing to keep her company except a heatless fire, Draco immediately knew something was wrong.

"What is it?" He frowned. Narcissa looked up at him and urged her son to sit beside her. Draco did, reluctantly, and kept his worried eyes trained on her. "Mother? Come on now, what's the matter?"

Narcissa took a deep breath before turning to face him. "Stress and worry are good for no one, Draco. Especially pregnant women."

Draco felt his chest plumet. "What did Hermione say to you?"

"Well, it started when I suggested throwing a small gathering welcoming Aiden to the family as well celebrating her pregnancy, but she completely shot down the idea."

"Mother," Draco said with a slight smile. "Hermione was never one for great parties. You know that."

"The size wasn't what bothered her." Narcissa explained. "She was worried that someone might attack her again."

That wiped the amusement at his mother's expense clean. Narcissa witnessed her son's demeanor shift tremendously and she wasn't sure how to quite make sense out of it. Was it anger? Remorse? Sadness?

Draco sighed deeply and leaned back onto the couch, his eyes focused on the ceiling as a deep frown set in.

"I want her to feel safe with me."

Narcissa reached over and squeezed her son's hand. "As do I. And she will. With certain measures in place there'll be no doubt."

Draco slowly sat up and tilted his head slightly. "What kind of measures?"

Narcissa had her scheming face on, and when that happened Draco knew that whatever she proposed would have quite the impact. Her next set of words confirmed it.

"In a year and a half everything that solely belongs to your father will officially be yours."

Draco nodded. "I know. All of his properties, private accounts,-"

"His investments," Narcissa added carefully. "The Malfoy investments are inherited directly down the family line to the first-born child. Owner of said investments can do what he wills with them. Your father, such as his own father and so forth, has made it so dividends of those investments go to members of the family as well as those who have been supportive of us over the years."

"I already know all of this." Draco said exasperatedly. "Dividends are sent every quarter."

"That's right. But you are not your father, Draco. Who's to say that they have to get any money at all?"

Draco blinked. "You want me to hold money over their heads in exchange to make sure they don't hurt Hermione?"

"Yes and no." Narcissa answered. "It will certainly help, but I'm thinking that you should add something a bit more...permanent."

Author's note: Hmm, so many things I love here. Narcissa's plotting. I love it when she plots :).

-WP

Replies to Guests

MrsGinPotter: Nothing wrong with crying! Cry away! That chapter was so cry-worthy. Hermione and Draco deserved all the happiness they could get!

naz: Yey! A cry-fest it is.

KangBoRam: Oh that chapter was such a feel-good chapter. Well, if this chapter is any indication, Narcissa has some safety measures she wants Draco to use. Can't wait for you to find out what they are :D

Guest: Sorry, but your review only came out as an "H"! Regardless, thanks for reading :D

Megafan1: Yey! Just happy feels all over. It's so long overdue lol.