Here's a chapter for you to enjoy over the weekend! Tomorrow is my friend's wedding, which I have jokingly been telling people is really my birthday party. She freaked out a bit when I told her I invited 37 people. The funniest part was she thought I was serious.

Chapter 17
The room was dark as Hermione slept peacefully, exhausted from the day's ordeal. Draco stood by the window gazing down at the street below. The baby in his arms stirred, but remained asleep. He smiled at the little girl, awed that she was finally here.

"Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday that I walked into your mum's office just to annoy her," Draco whispered, smiling at the memory. "It was the first time we talked, not as schoolyard rivals or boss and employee, but as friends. I think I have you to thank in a way for bringing us together. Who knows if it would have happened if not for you. Now, I may not be your dad, but I want you to know that I'll always be here for you."

The sheets rustled, and Draco stopped speaking long enough to make sure Hermione was still asleep. It was easy to have a heart-to-heart with the newborn, but he knew he'd be embarrassed if Hermione heard any of it. Ensuring the new mother still slept soundly, he turned back to the baby.

"I have a little boy who is dying to meet you," he continued, taking a seat in the armchair near the window. "He thinks he's your big brother, but don't hold it against him. You'll see him tomorrow. When I told him he could see you...I swear I've never seen him so excited. I think you'll like him."

Once more Hermione stirred and Draco stopped speaking. He looked at her expectantly until she struggled to sit up. Placing the sleeping baby in her bassinet, he moved to Hermione's side to assist her.

"I didn't think you'd still be here," she said softly once she was situated.

Shrugging, he took a seat on the edge of the bed. "I thought you might like the company even if you've been asleep through most of it."

"Has Joanna fussed at all?" she asked, leaning over as far as she could to see her daughter. Smiling, Draco shook his head. With a relieved sigh, Hermione slumped back against the pillows. "It was nice that Ron came, don't you think? I'm just curious how he knew."

Heat flooded his cheeks as he recalled his conversation earlier in the day with Ron Weasley. "I think Harry told him," he stated, nodding his head in agreement with his own statement. "It was good that he was here. No one should miss the birth of their child. I think he would have regretted it if he hadn't. It was nice of you to let him pick her middle name. Joanna Rose certainly has a lovely ring to it."

Smiling, she turned to face her newborn baby once more. "Do you think she looks like me?" she wondered.

He too turned to look at the sleeping girl. She was small, just over six pounds and eighteen-and-a-half inches in length. A tiny smattering of light brown hair covered her head. He could picture it growing in cascading curls like her mother's. Her eyes might soon change color as well, and he wondered if they would match Hermione's rich brown. "I think she looks exactly like you," he decided.

"I think she has Ron's ears," Hermione replied with a frown. "Do they look too big for her?"

Turning back to face Hermione, Draco smiled and cupped her cheek. "I think she's perfect," he stated, leaning forward to kiss her. "She's perfect now, she'll be perfect tomorrow, and she'll be perfect thirty years from now."

Hermione covered his hand with her own and turned to kiss his palm. "You always know the right thing to say," she murmured. "I heard some of what you told Jo. Did you mean it?"

"Every word of it," he affirmed. "I know you worry Ron won't be around, but you've got about a dozen other people ready and willing to help. I feel like I've been such a part of this whole experience that I can't just bow out now. I'll stick around until you tell me to get lost."

Teary-eyed, she smiled at him and pulled him closer for a kiss. "I love you," she whispered. He smiled against her lips, conveying his deepest emotions with his kiss. It was then that Joanna awoke with a loud cry. Begrudgingly, they pulled apart and Draco rose to pick her up. He gently placed her in Hermione's arms for feeding and exited the room to give them some privacy.

"Malfoy."

Draco whipped his head around to see Ron stalking towards him. He reached Draco and continued walking with the blond in tow. Ron found a small empty room and shut the door behind them. While Ron moved further into the room to take a seat on the bed, Draco remained against the door. "I thought you'd left," he groused.

"Were you scared?" Ron suddenly asked, looking up with wide, frightened eyes at Draco.

Crossing his arms over his chest, blond brows furrowed, Draco replied, "Of being a father? Yes."

"I don't know if I can do it," Ron admitted sadly, lowering his head to rest in his hands. "Maybe staying away, staying out of Joanna's life...maybe then I won't screw things up."

Sighing impatiently, Draco pushed away from the door and sat across from him. "The way I see it all parents screw up their kids in one way or another. My father is a prime example of that. But I also learned how not to treat my own son. I never have and never will use magic against him. I'll never force him into something dangerous. I love him too much to do that, but yeah, I'll probably screw up somewhere along the line.

"I think you got lucky," he continued. "You got parents who love you and put your well-being before anything else. Maybe that's why you think you'll mess up, because they set seemingly impossible standards for you to live up to. But, and if you want my honest opinion, staying away will be the biggest screw up you could commit."

He left then, intent on returning to Hermione. Ron sat alone in the dark room contemplating Draco's advice and what he needed to do.