Bella decided to take a week off from her ballet studio to spend time with Eltanin after the wedding fiasco. The pair had just finished reading a story together when a pecking came from the window. Bella took the letter from the owl and added it to the pile of letters from the Slytherin men she'd been ignoring.
"Little star, care for a swim?" Bella asked sweetly pecking her son on his cheek.
"Yes mama! Let's go!" he smiled brightly running to his room to change. Bella chuckled happily going into her own suite to change into a white bikini with black lining and pulled her hair up into a messy bun. Grabbing two fluffy robes, she met Eltanin outside who was chatting with Daisy.
"Mama, can Daisy get us some lemonade?" he asked shielding his eyes from the Italian sun that was beating down that day.
"Yes, Daisy that would be wonderful!" Bella smiled then placed the robes on the lounge chairs under the umbrella before jumping into the pool where Eltanin was standing on the steps. She emerged out of the pool to swim towards him. "Come in my love! The water is wonderful!"
"You promise you won't let me drown?" he asked skeptical. He began to slowly step in reaching the ground with the water at his waist.
"I will always be there for you my little star," Bella smiled taking him in her arms then slowly walked to the deeper end. "See? Nothing to fear!"
"Bella?" a masculine voice called from the doorway of the villa. Bella turned to the voice seeing Blaise and Draco standing in the doorway watching the pair in the water.
"Mama, what's uncle Blaise and that man from the wedding doing here?" Eltanin asked clutching his mother tightly. She smiled at him and met Blaise' gaze.
"Yes, what are you doing here in my home?" she asked icily.
"You weren't answering our letters, so we thought we could try to talk face to face," Blaise shrugged smiling at his nephew who began splashing his mother.
Bella laughed and splashed her son back soon beginning a water war, "Little star!"
"Mama!" he laughed "okay, I'm ready to try by myself."
"You're sure?" she asked worried.
"Yes, you promised you would be here, so I want to try," he smiled kissing his mother on the cheek then slowly let go of his mother who held on to him as he began paddling.
"Okay paddle! Go! You got this! YES! Eltanin, you did it!" Bella smiled as he made it to the steps.
"Mama I did it! I did it!" he jumped up and down in the water.
"You were amazing Eltanin," Draco smiled from the side of the pool where he and Blaise had approached the pair.
"You can join us, if you'd like," Bella spoke softly looking at Blaise then Draco who held her gaze. "We have spare trunks in the house just ask Daisy. The Weasley's and Potter's visit quite often."
"We'll be right back then," Blaise smiled pulling his mate with him. The men walked in greeting Daisy who popped out to grab them some spare trunks. "Do you think this was a good idea?"
"I couldn't stay away any longer. My… my son is right there in the flesh and I want to know him. I can't believe I've lost five years with him and Bella," Draco whispered sadly.
"We will not lose any more time with them. I don't care what the Greengrasses have to say, they are my family," Blaise said firmly meeting Draco's gaze.
"I think Astoria kept Eltanin away from me. I can't prove anything, but the way she reacted to seeing him and ranting to me afterwards about him makes me think she knows more than she is letting on," Draco spat angrily bringing up his thoughts from the past week.
"I didn't want to believe it, because then I know Daphne is somehow involved," Blaise shook his head sadly.
"Your trunks sirs!" Daisy popped up holding out two pairs of trunks.
"Thanks Daisy," Blaise said. He then went into the guest bathroom changing and waited for Draco who did the same.
"We will figure this out together mate, but one thing's for sure Eltanin and Bella are going to very much be a part of our lives from now on," Draco said holding out his hand for his friend to shake.
"We won't give them up without a fight," Blaise shook his hand nodding. The two then joined the pair outside who were again having an all-out splash war.
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After spending a few hours outside, Eltanin yawned and climbed out of the pool with Bella following.
Bella wrapped Eltanin in the fluffy robe and slipped hers on not noticing the grey eyes who watched her glistening body hungrily.
"You're still a very married man," Blaise muttered punching his mate in the arm seeing the looks he sent towards his sister.
"And she is the love of my life," Draco whispered back not even caring about Blaise's protests as he watched Bella hoist Eltanin onto her hip who laid his head on her shoulder.
"Well, I'm going to put him down for a nap, would you care to stay for lunch and… a chat?" Bella asked hesitantly knowing there was no avoiding it.
"That would be wonderful," Blaise smiled at his sister who smiled timidly back then went into the house.
"Mama, who's that man with Uncle Blaise?" Eltanin asked sleepily as his mother helped him change into pajamas.
"That's his best mate Draco, he's very special to us," Bella smiled smoothing down her son's curls.
"Oh, doesn't Draco mean Dragon?" he asked yawning as he snuggled into his bed while his mother tucked him in.
"Yes, it does, my love. Sleep and we will talk more when you wake. I love you little star," Bella whispered kissing his cheeks then his forehead as he nodded already asleep.
Bella carefully left his room and shut the door then went to her room to change. She decided on a white sweater with open shoulders and ripped jeans. Bella looked in the mirror taking her hair out of the messy bun and leaving her natural curls down. Feeling presentable she walked out barefoot back to the dining room. It's now or never, she thought taking a deep breath to calm herself.
"Hello gentlemen," she smiled taking her seat at the table. "Daisy, how about some creamy chicken marsala and a nice white wine?"
"Right away Miss Bella!" Daisy popped out.
"So, how are your affairs?" Bella said conversationally glancing at Blaise avoiding Draco's heated stare. She knew he had been watching her from the moment he came to the house, but she refused to acknowledge the pace of her racing heart and the heat building in her belly.
"Bella, Draco and I did not come here for small talk," Blaise pleaded.
"No of course not, you invaded my home not respecting mine or my son's privacy and demanded this of me," Bella responded coldly.
"Bella, I just wanted to spend time with my son," Draco spoke honestly grasping Bella's hand rubbing his thumb over the top.
"He is MY son, and I will determine when and who sees him. He is my life and I'll not have him be hurt by anyone," Bella stated staring Draco down.
"I understand, and I would never do anything to harm him. Please just allow me to come here and visit with him, you may be there the whole time and I won't push for anything more. I just want to know my son," Draco pleaded with Bella never taking his eyes off her.
"And you Blaise?" Bella responded pulling her hand from Draco's grasp not wanting to be anymore flustered than she already was.
"I want my family back. I didn't even invite mother to my wedding. You and Eltanin are all I have and I'll not let any more time pass us by. Sorella, these past nearly 6 years have killed me. If it wasn't for Daphne or Draco and Theo I would have withered away," Blaise spoke honestly watching Bella's eyes begin to water and she looked down at her lap.
"Lunch is served!" Daisy popped in hovering the dishes in front of each person placing them along with their wine glasses down. "Anything else miss?"
"No, that will be all. Thank you, Daisy," Bella hoarsely whispered. She cleared her throat and willed away the tears she feels threatening. "Please tuck in."
The group ate lunch and as soon as they all finished eating the tension in the room grew too much to bear.
"Shall we retire to the library? Eltanin will probably pop up there as soon as he wakes," Bella smiled standing.
"Yes, let's," Blaise held out his arm for his sister to take which she smiled and shook her head. She walked ahead of the two and sat in the plush couch facing the large windows overlooking the sea.
"Look, I'll give you both a chance, but I will tell you right now neither of your wives are allowed around my son. I don't trust them therefore I'll not chance him being near them. You may both come here to visit my son and I. Just owl us when you would like to see us," she smiled arranging a blanket over her legs.
"Thank you, Bella," Blaise smiled sitting next to her.
"Bella, does Eltanin know I'm his father?" Draco asked suddenly having the thought.
"No, but I'll be sure to have that discussion with him," Bella said nervously. "Would… would you like to be there for that?"
"Yes, I'd like to be there for everything to be honest," Draco smiled from the armchair which caused Bella's stomach to flutter. Damn him and his stupid beautiful smile, Bella thought.
"Mama?" Eltanin called from the doorway walking in wearing his snitch pajamas and dragging his stuffed dragon with him.
"My love," she smiled brightly holding her arms open for him as he quickly climbed onto her lap. "How did you sleep little star?" she asked kissing the top of his head as he placed his head on her chest snuggling in to her.
"Good! Momma why are Uncle Blaise and Draco still here?" he asked glancing at both men with his brows furrowed. Both men in question chuckled.
"They were visiting with me and they wanted to spend time with you as well," Bella answered lovingly playing with his curls as he kept looking at Draco who was in awe of his son.
"Why?" he asked curious quirking a brow at Draco.
"They're your family my love," she smiled at Blaise who smirked.
"Draco is my family?" Eltanin asked confused sitting up on his mother's lap giving her his full attention.
"Yes, he's… he's your father Eltanin," Bella said seriously stroking his cheek.
"What? Why is he suddenly here?" he asked confused tearing up.
"Don't cry little star, he's not taking you from me don't you dare think that for a moment. He's…" Bella rushed to console her shaking child.
"I'm here to be your father and be a part of your life. I'm sorry I haven't been here, but unfortunately, I didn't know about you till the wedding. I'm sorry that mean lady called you a bastard, that is something you are not. If you'll let me, I'd love to be here for you and your mother," Draco spoke sincerely.
"If you promise to not hurt my mama or me, then I'll let you stay," Eltanin smiled at Draco who smiled in response.
"Done," Draco promised.
"And Uncle Blaise?" Eltanin asked turning to the man on the couch with his mother and him.
"Yes?"
"Does that mean you're going to be around too?" he asked curious.
"From now till forever Eltanin," he smiled brightly at the young boy. Bella smiled at the scene as Eltanin began talking with the two men who beamed and took in every word the boy spoke.