Chapter 6
"Think you're ready to go home?" Jensen asked as she entered Draco's room the next day.

"I think so," he replied uncertainly. In less than an hour, he would be out of St. Mungo's. But his memories had yet to return. He was to be released into Hermione's care in hopes that being with his family would help his recovery.

The pretty blonde healer smiled as she helped him stand. "You'll be fine," she assured him. "And I'm sure you're excited to meet your daughter. Mrs. Malfoy used to sit by your bedside and tell you about her. She seems like a very sweet little girl."

"Must get that from her mother," he mumbled.

Jensen laughed and left him alone to dress. When she returned twenty minutes later, Hermione was in tow. Their greetings were stiff, but Hermione's smile never faltered. "I told Ana last night that you were coming home," she said as he gathered the few belongings he had. "She's been up since four o'clock this morning."

Draco laughed. "That excited, huh," he remarked. "I just hope I don't let her down. Does she know what happened to me?"

Hermione tilted her head to the side. "Well, yes and no," she said. "She knows you've been sleeping this past month. I told her that you've been asleep so long that there are things you might not remember. She's so keen to help you that she had Blaise making a list of all the things she had to tell you."

"Is he with her now?" he asked, blond brows knitting together.

Hermione nodded, and slowly her smile began to slip. "He's been staying at the house," she replied.

Draco's knuckles whitened as his hands clenched into tight fists. A jealous feeling bubbled in his stomach at the thought of Blaise spending time with his family. Though he hadn't admitted it, Draco knew Blaise had feelings for Hermione. Feelings that went too far beyond friendship.

"Draco?" she murmured, stepping forward to place her hand on his forearm. He said nothing, but his face reddened and his breathing increased. His fists clenched even tighter as he closed his eyes. She let go of him and put a fair amount of space between them. "Draco, should I call in the healer?"

He heard the panic in her voice, but he paid it little attention. Flashes raced through his mind. Blaise holding Hermione's hand. Blaise tucking his daughter into bed at night. Blaise and Hermione falling asleep together on the living room sofa. Draco didn't know if they real or fake, serving only to increase his anxiety.

When they passed, his breathing returned to normal and he opened his eyes. "No, I'm fine," he told her. "I just want to leave."

Hermione nodded, but kept her distance. "Okay, let's go home," she said. After the discharge papers were signed, they stepped into the floo side by side. Hermione called out their destination, and in a flash of green flame, they were home. She stepped out first, smiling as a delighted squeal of "Daddy! Daddy!" erupted before Draco had a chance to brace himself. The small girl launched herself at his legs as Draco's back hit the stone fireplace.

"Mama, Mama, Daddy's home!" Anastasia cried delightedly as she clung to his leg. "Up, Daddy. Up."

Hesitantly, he bent down and picked the child up. His eyes trained on Hermione, and silently seemed to ask if he was doing it right. With tears in her eyes, she nodded. Still uneasy about holding Ana, he leaned back against the mantle and looked at her cherubic face in awe. "You really do look like your mum," he murmured.

Ana shook her head. "Mama says I has you eyes," she told him matter-of-factly.

"Your ears too," Hermione interjected. "Ana, how about you let Daddy sit down for a bit? I think he's still a little tired."

The little girl shrugged, but continued to cling to her father's neck. "Sit, Daddy," she instructed. Blaise rose from the sofa to take her from his friend, but Ana hung on tighter. "No, stay with Daddy."

Despite her shrieking, Draco managed not to wince as he glared at Blaise. "I don't need your help," he growled. Slowly, he pushed himself away from the mantle and slipped into the nearest chair. Ana straddled his lap, arms around his neck and her face buried in his shirt. He rubbed her back comfortingly. "You're okay, sweetie. I'm not going anywhere."

"No leave me and Mama?" she asked, lifting her head to stare up at him with eyes identical to his own.

"I'm not going anywhere," he promised her, his focus only on her. He blocked out Hermione and ignored Blaise completely. The small, brown-haired, gray-eyed girl in his arms was all he could see. Ana put her head back down on his shoulder and he twirled a curl around his finger.

He heard a hushed murmur before Blaise cleared his throat. "I should take off," he said as if it were his idea. Hermione was the only one to acknowledge him. "I can stop by tomorrow after work. Drake, I'm sure everyone will be happy to hear you're back home."

Draco merely nodded and remained silent until he was gone. He glared at Hermione as he held Anastasia closer. "Did you and Mummy have a good time together while I was gone?" he asked.

"We missed Daddy," she replied.

"You're all she's talked about," Hermione added. "If you're missing a blue shirt, you can find it in her bed."

Draco seemed perplexed by her comment, but remembered that their daughter knew nothing of his missing memories. "Wanted a reminder of me, did you?" he asked her.

"It smells pretty," she commented. "Like you."

Draco chuckled. "And did Mummy have a keepsake that she slept with?" he inquired.

Ana nodded against his chest. "Lots of things," she told him.

His eyes pulled away from his daughter to stare at Hermione. "Like what?" he wondered.

A faint blush colored Hermione's cheeks. "Your pillow," she said. "The black sweater you wore the first time we had lunch. Nothing major."

Ana pulled away from her father and walked over to where Hermione sat on the edge of the coffee table. "This too," she said, tugging gently on the chain around her mother's neck.

The blush deepened as Hermione held onto her necklace. Brows furrowed, Draco leaned forward for a better look. "Why don't you go get that new dolly that Aunt Ginny gave you," Hermione suggested. Ana seemed hesitant to leave, but did as she was told. When she was out of earshot, Hermione removed the chain from her neck and extended it to him. "It was with your personal effects at the hospital. I didn't want it to get lost."

In his hand, Draco now held his wedding ring. The golden circle was still warm from her touch. He turned it over in his hands and read the small inscription on the underside of the band. You and Me - Forever. Clearing his throat, he handed it back to her. "Maybe you should hold onto it for now."