Now, I've discovered that Tony was way too good of a kid for us. Not only does he have a great bunch of guy friends, but his girlfriend has got to be his best friend, which is incredibly cute. He still has the same personality as when we adopted him, but he's grown into it all. So cheeky. What is funnier is that every cheeky comment that comes out of that kid's mouth will always make Draco smile or laugh. Janine never gets the jokes.

I've also learned why Draco hated cats. He had never told me while we were married – would always change the subject – but he told me yesterday. Apparently his mother bought him a kitten while he was a child, and he took it for a walk one day, like one would take a dog for a walk, leash and all, but when he got back his mother said that wasn't the way it was supposed to be. But he did it again anyways, and then his father found out. He woke up the next day and his little black kitten, Smoke, was gone. He couldn't find him anywhere. His parents told him she ran away. It wasn't until he entered Hogwarts that he discovered the truth. His dad threw it away. So Draco cried, and vowed never to have a cat and let it go through that terrible ordeal if he "screwed up" again.

Good thing his parents died a couple years ago. I have a chance!

But there's more to the story than just his childhood scarring. When Tony had asked Draco to get a dog he had agreed perfectly fine at first. Said that it would bring life to the house that had been missing while I was gone. That a dog would remind them of Sirius, which would remind them of Remus, and then remind them of me, as we were all close to Remus. But when Draco saw me in the cage, I reminded him of Smoke. I had the same expression Smoke had, and he was instantly drawn to me. But when he picked me up, he said I was completely different from the kitten his father threw away, and that I reminded him of, well, me, Hermione. Between the fur and the disposition, he said he knew he had to have me.

He said that a long time ago. He had to have me. What he does not know now is that I need him more than I did then.

But other than that, he doesn't know why he changed his mind. I mean, my Draco is getting older, which really makes me sad. I always wanted to do that with him. Laugh at him when he finally needed glasses or a cane, as he would do for me.

This works for me, I suppose. I wish he knew who I was. Or at least leave –

"Ooh, spaghetti?"

Gag.

"Yes!" Tony shouts, dropping the grocery bags and standing beside Draco as he stirs the sauce.

Draco grins at him, and I make my way between his legs.

"You haven't made spaghetti for ages," Tony declares hungrily. "Wow, I missed it."

"I didn't know you liked spaghetti," Janine adds as she begins to put the food away in the fridge.

I want to roll my eyes at her, but instead jump up on the counter to sit closer to the pot of bubbling sauce. It was always my favourite meal, and Draco would make it once a week, usually on days that I didn't feel well, or was tired, or in a bad mood. I inch closer to the pot wanting so bad to lick the spoon like he used to let me. Both Draco and Tony grin at me.

"Bad cat!"

Damn.

The next thing I know, Janine has me in her clutches and is about to pick up to put me on the floor. So I turn around and give her a good swipe.

I really need to learn to control the retractibility of my claws.

"She scratched me! I'm bleeding!"

"Not over the food, please, Janine!" Draco shouts, but has his hand on me anyways. "What were you going to do to her anyways?"

"Put her – oww – down on the floor. Cats can't be on the counter!"

"Well this one can," Draco scolds her. "Honestly, she isn't your cat."

Janine looks up at him, confusion spread across her features. "Excuse me? She's our cat, isn't she?"

"No."

My two boys look at each other when they both say the single word. Only Draco can look back at Janine.

"She is Tony's cat and my cat. Not yours."

"Why not? I live here, don't I?"

Draco swallows thickly. I can't take my eyes from him. Tony takes the spoon from Draco to stir the smoking sauce.

"I don't think you should come around anymore," Draco says slowly, and Janine gasps.

"But – but –"

"I'll pay you back for the groceries and everything," Draco continues, cutting her off, "but I don't think this is working out."

"But I love you!" she screams.

Draco winces.

"I can't love you back," Draco says softly, locking eyes with her.

"Why?" she whines. "I'm not pretty enough? Smart enough?"

But Draco shakes his head. "I can't love anyone like I loved my wife."

Janine screams in protest. "No! She's dead! Just get over her and love me! Me! LOVE ME!"

He turns away from her and placing a hand on my head. "I can't," he says calmly. "I'll never be able to."

Needless to say, Janine stormed out of the kitchen in a rage. She packed her things, crying her eyes out, and left right there.

I got to lick the spoon.

So now it's just the three of us again, and Draco seems happier for it. He cleans the house, makes every meal, and loves to have Tony's friends over for supper and lunch, and the infamous girlfriend for breakfast. He thrives in it like he used to. And he's bought me a leash. It's too cute.

So sorry for the hugely long wait. Hopefully this makes up for it.