Narcissa spent those first few minutes after waking from her nap wondering about her baby. Would she have yet another perfect son? Or would she now have a daughter to teach and love to no end? Both prospects made her excited. She rubbed her hand over her stomach as if it were a good luck charm. Her mind drifted on the topic of names and she mentally started to go through a list of stars and constellations. She had a fairly good idea of what the middle names would be for either a girl or boy, she only needed the go ahead from her husband to make it so. She was quite sure he would agree with her. First names were going to be the real issue.

Lucius, meanwhile, had just barely become conscious. He was alert, but wasn't ready to open his eyes yet. His lids were still heavy with sleep. He pressed his wife closer to him and she smiled.

"Hello, darling." She moved to face him and kissed his forehead. Lucius smiled and opened his eyes to his wife's face. He ran a hand down her cheek.

"You look wonderful today, love."

She blushed and grinned, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"I've been thinking about names and I think I've figured out some good middle names."

"Well then, let's hear them."

"I was thinking, if we have a boy, we could make his middle name Severus in honor of Snape, and if we have a girl, her middle name could be Bellatrix in honor of my sister." Narcissa smiled, but it faltered easily and a tear ran down her cheek. Lucius was quick to wipe it away.

"I think that's a wonderful idea."

"You really think so?" This time her smile was real.

"I do."

Narcissa kissed him gently. They shared a grin.

Unfortunately for Narcissa, the nausea akin to the first trimester of pregnancy struck her without warning and she scrambled to get to the bathroom. She made it just in time. Lucius got up after her and held back her hair. His wife moaned, resting her head on the bowl. Not even pregnant a day and she was already sick of morning sickness.

"Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine, Lucius."

"Do you need anything?"

"No."

"Are you sure you don't want a potion for your nauseousness?"

"You know I think that isn't good for the baby."

Lucius mumbled something along the lines of "Even when the healer said otherwise."

"What was that?" She barked, mood swings kicking in.

"Nothing." He amended quickly. Lucius remembered how volatile her mood swings had been when she had been pregnant with Draco. He didn't want to provoke her.

She sighed, exhausted. After ten more minutes of waiting with nothing coming up, she got up and walked down to the kitchen. A female elf ran up to greet her.

"Mistress needs help?" She asked anxiously.

"Get me a ginger newt, cockroach clusters, some fizzing whizbees, and some fudge flies."

"Yes, Mistress."

Narcissa sat at the ornate dining room table, eyes listless and glassy as her mind raced. She felt overwhelmed with emotion, and before she knew what was happening, she was sobbing.

Draco heard the noise before his father and went down to see what the matter was. When he saw his mother crying, it twisted something deep inside. It wasn't right. He went over to the table and sat next to her, unsure of what to do next.

"Mum? Are you okay?" He asked, worried.

Narcissa lifted her head from the cool wood of the table and forced a smile.

"I'm fine, sweetheart."

Lucius came into the room and rushed to his wife's side when he saw her tear stained face.

"Cissy? What is it?" He asked, kneeling beside her and taking her hand. Narcissa sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"I'm just upset. Thinking about those names reminded me about Bella."

Lucius' eyes, usually so full of steel and ice, were soft with concern, and he squeezed her hand.

"I know you miss her."

"I do. I didn't get to say goodbye..."

"Maybe it was that way for a reason."

"What reason would that be?" She asked, angrily.

Lucius flinched at her sudden change in emotion.

"...Perhaps because it would have been too much."

Narcissa's fierce gaze was replaced with one more tender.

"Maybe you're right."

"Wouldn't be the first time." He joked.

His wife laughed loudly. She kissed her husband, just as the house elf returned with her requested candy.

"Finally." The house elf scurried away before any of the family could do anything to her.

Narcissa had the fizzing whizbees and ginger newt first, hoping to calm her stomach. Lucius smiled at her.

"I can't remember the last time you ate this much candy at one time."

"I haven't had cockroach clusters since I was pregnant with you." She said, talking to her son. Draco gave her a half smile. "That was the best time of my life." Her expression became dreamy as she rested her cheek on one hand. Lucius smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.

"You were glowing then, and still are now." He said, kissing her hand. The look she gave him was so full of love that it made him feel overwhelmed.

Draco watched the small interaction between his parents and smiled. It was times like these that made him see what true love looked like. He loved seeing the softer side of them. When they weren't looking, he crept away and let them have their moment.

Narcissa leaned down to kiss her husband, and when she pulled away looked at him with a fiery passion. The two of them headed upstairs together where they indulged in love making until it was time for dinner.

They ate quietly, and when finished retired to the parlor for some quality time. They each buried their noses in a book, occasionally remembering to talk now and again. By the time they were done, it was nine o'clock and Narcissa was ready for bed. She excused herself to the master bedroom and took off her make up, put on her pajamas and robe, and brushed her teeth. When she crawled into bed, exhausted as ever before, her husband was there to hold her until she finally fell asleep.