Draco Malfoy jabbed at the food on his plate with his fork, just moving it around in circles rather than eating it. He had no appetite after the afternoon he had just endured. After his confrontation with Ron and Hermione, his wife had refused to speak to him all the way home, and immediately locked herself in the study once they had reached Malfoy Manor. He was surprised when she emerged from the room to join him at the dining table for an elaborate meal prepared by Bitty. He was even more surprised to see she was wearing his favorite little black dress with a plunging neckline that allowed his eyes to wander too far. He knew that she was up to something, but what, he wasn't quite sure.

Vivienne ate her dinner in a content silence. After locking herself in the study, she had thought long and hard about the predicament she was in. She had paced the room incessantly, trying to think of all aspects of the situation. She had her reasons for being hesitant about starting a family, and until now she had kept those reasons private. It seemed that now, however, it was inevitable and she had to share her reasons with her husband. Whether or not he would understand… well, that was a whole other matter entirely.

Vivienne finished chewing her food, and then cleared her throat softly. Draco's fork clattered against his plate as he dropped it and looked up at his wife, fearful of the onslaught of angry words that he was sure was about to come. After patting her lips delicately with her napkin, Vivienne looked up and locked eyes with Draco.

"Draco, darling, I suppose we have to talk about last night's conversation and today's incident," Vivienne began, not breaking eye contact.

Draco hesitated, not knowing what to say. He knew he was already on very thin ice with Vivienne, so he was sure to keep his temper in check. "Umm, well I suppose—umm, well…"

"I already know you're sorry, if that's what you're stammering about," Vivienne said shortly. "I am just more curious as to know why you had to be so rude to my friends. Was it because of our conversation last night?"

Draco paused and thought carefully before answering her question. "Yes, I was already angry about our conversation and I guess seeing Grang—I mean Hermione sent me over the edge. She was just so…big." Draco finished and looked down at his plate, ashamed.

"So you really do want to start a family, then? That wasn't just rubbish last night?"

Draco's eyes snapped up immediately, and he quickly replied, "It was never rubbish. I've thought about it for awhile now. We've already been married a decent amount of time, and I had always thought I would have a family by now." Draco faltered before continuing. "Plus, I've been receiving an increasing amount of pressure from my parents to continue the Malfoy name."

The last bit was the understatement of the century. Luscious and Narcissa Malfoy had fled the country upon the Dark Lord's downfall and had consequently left Malfoy Manor to their son and his blushing new bride. Always the doting mother, Narcissa had written to her son once a month for the past five years. At first, Draco welcomed the letters and found comfort in his mother's words and advice. This past year, however, she had begun to drop hints about him having children. The hints eventually turned into blatant and pestering questions that he didn't know how to address. In fact, the last few letters he had received contained nothing but baby talk which annoyed Draco so much that he had refused to even open the last two letters.

"Do you feel ready to be a father? For everything that it entails?" Vivienne inquired as she leaned closer in her chair. "It's more than you think, Draco."

"You know me. I wouldn't say I want this unless I really wanted this. I had wanted it for some time and yet I hadn't said anything." Draco sighed and slouched slightly in his chair, crossing his arms defensively. Five years of marriage caused Vivienne to pick up on this sign, and she knew that Draco was reluctantly letting his guard down.

"And now, Weasley and Granger are having a kid, and I almost feel like they're beating us. I mean, think about it! Whenever we have DO have kids and they go off to Hogwarts, they could get bullied by the older Weasley kid!"

Vivienne's mouth opened in shock as she tried to follow her husband's thought process. She shot him a very critical look.

"Don't look at me like that!" Draco retorted in protest. "It could happen!" When Vivienne didn't reply, he continued, "And what's your deal? Why don't you want to have kids?"

"It's not that I don't want kids, Draco. It's just that—well you know what happens to couples after they have kids," Vivienne said while averting her eyes.

"What is it that you think happens? The husband turns into a dragon and the wife gets fat?" Draco chuckled.

"Draco Malfoy, hold your tongue. I will never be fat. Ever." snapped Vivienne so curtly and crude that it actually turned Draco on. He loved it when his wife got feisty, and tried to conceal a smirk as he starred at the ground.

"I'm sorry, darling, I know you will never be fat." Draco tried to recover himself smoothly, but he couldn't fully hide his boyish grin. "You're beautiful, and you would only become more lovely and perfect if you were a mother."

Vivienne maintained her death stare, listening to her husband's words carefully. She thought it was cute when he tried to get out of trouble. "It has nothing to do with dragons, or anything of the sort."

"What is it then?" Draco demanded as he tried to understand his wife's reluctance.

"Life changes after you have kids. The woman's life becomes completely dedicated to raising the children while the man become even more engrossed in his work at the office. Then eventually the man will lose all interest in the woman and seek out pleasure from another, possibly a secretary…" Vivienne stopped talking when she realized she was rambling and she immediately blushed.

"So, according to your logic, if we have kids, I will eventually sleep with my secretary?" Draco smirked yet again. "You do realize that I don't even have a secretary, right?"

"Argh!" Vivienne gasped, exasperated. "That's not the point Draco."

"Then what is?" Draco demanded as his voice grew louder and he stood up commandingly. "You have yet to give me a good reason as to why we shouldn't start a family. I love you with every fiber of my being. I have completely changed myself for you." As he spoke, he moved towards his wife all while his voice grew steadily louder. "I work hard every day to make sure you know that I am trying to be a better person now. Everything I do us for you! So why don't you believe me when I say that I will be here forever and all I want is to start a family with you?" He now stood, towering over his wife, out of breath from yelling. Beneath him, his wife trembled and looked up at her husband in both fear and anticipation. Draco realized he had let his temper get the best of him and he faltered and took a half step back.

Vivienne stood up so abruptly that it made Draco flinch in surprise. She threw her embroidered napkin forcibly upon her plate before she looked into her husband's eyes. "So it's a baby you want?" she asked in barely a whisper. "Then we're going to have to practice making one." And with that, she did something Draco never saw coming. With all the force she could muster, she used both of her arms to throw all of the contents on top of the table to the floor. Dishes and silverware went flying across the room, crashing loudly against the polished floor.

"Fuck me, Draco. NOW!"