Lucius heard Narcissa when she got home, and he immediately got out of bed. Bella reached for him, but he brushed her away, saying they had been in bed for hours and he was ready to take dinner. Luckily Bella had not heard narcissa enter. Lucius wasn't sure, why he was worried that Narcissa might find him in bed with Bellatrix, but he didn't want it to happen, so he would prevent it. He would be able to think it over after the sisters had left for brunch with his mother tomorrow.

"Malfoy, I don't want to go down yet." Bella drawled. He lip stuck out invitingly, but Lucius shook his head.

"So don't." Bella frowned slightly, but resolutely nodded.

"Fine, I don't suppose I will." Lucius Malfoy left without a backwards glance. Bellatrix, was an entertaining lay, but he had no feeling towards her what so ever. Not that it was unusual.

Lucius found Narcissa sitting at the table, with her head cocked to the side.

"You knew she wouldn't come down." Lucius frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"When you told her not to come down, if you know Bella, you know that saying something like that will make her stay. Why?"

"I don't know what you mean. I let her know if she didn't want to come down, she wasn't required to."

A voice in the back of his head, was laughing at him. He knew she was right, and playing dumb would only drag out the inevitable, but he didn't want to face that he had hoped Bella would stay upstairs, because he didn't want to think about why he would have wanted it.

Narcissa took a sip of her tea, and drew her finger up the side of the cup. Malfoy watched transfixed.

"Does she annoy you? Anger you? Do you find her unattractive?"

"Yes, yes, and no, but I don't care weather of not she comes down."

"I see." But Lucius smiled. She obviously didn't. She was playing at being grown up, but she was missing the most obvious reason.

"I don't' think you do, but that is simply an effect of your age." Malfoy, grinned. He could almost see her prickle. He waited for glare. He wanted to see her imitate Bella, Drama, anyone, but this unnaturally calm woman.

"I hope, to never say you those words." she said. It was an odd response, to turn his barb into a blessing, but there was a tang to the words he couldn't quite find.

"Why would you ever say that to me, my dear?" She smiled good naturedly.

"Well, not for many years until you are quite old, hopefully never." Lucius growled under his breath. He did not like the idea of growing old, and the thought that Narcissa would still be relatively young when he was leaving his prime galled.

"Don't worry, Malfoys age well. And I don't think I'll be quite an old man, when you come of age."

"Quite." They sat in silence for a few moments before Malfoy left the table abruptly.

"You seem to be making a habit of that Mr. Malfoy. Should I note it as a tendency?" Malfoy barked no and swept out of the room leaving a dazed Narcissa in his wake.

Bella made her way downstairs and slumped in a chair.

"What are you doing? You have frightened our host." Narcissa, wasn't prepared for her sister's sudden entrance, and had no answer.

"Speechless Cissa? How quaint." Narcissa shook her head an glared.

"Just because I'm not too much of a slag to get out of bed, doesn't mean I'M the one scaring people." She said pointedly, before finishing her food and rushing to her room.

Lucius Malfoy smirked in the next room. Not so much of an ice queen after all.