Chapter 29

Cait couldn't help but stare at the overly friendly healer who had descended upon her. The plump, motherly woman had the gift of gab and hadn't stopped her chattering since she entered the small room. She bustled about as she asked Cait questions about how she was feeling and then ran her wand over the girl's body.

As the healer examined her, Cait took the opportunity to study Draco. His skin was even paler than it normally was; his shirt-which was slightly wrinkled-appeared to be fitting a tad bit looser than it had the last time that she could remember; his hair was slightly disheveled; and his eyes held a hollow, haunted look. She knew what it was like to lose a parent-she had lost both of her own and had been witness to each of their murders. It was never something that you got over, and the fact that Narcissa had died to allow them to escape, that was what really was taking a toll on Cait-she could only imagine how Draco felt.

Once the healer finally declared that Cait and the baby were in perfect health, Cait and Draco had gratefully escaped the room. Hand-in-hand, the two made their way down the thread barren stairs and through the open doorways until they found Molly Weasley standing in front of the stove. She had a large pot of stew cooking on one burner and a pan of fresh bread resting over another to keep it warm. The aroma was rich and meaty and caused Cait to recognize how hungry she truly was.

"Cait! It's so good to see you up and about!" Molly beamed when she spotted the couple. She filled two bowls with the thick mixture of meat, potatoes and vegetables before carrying them to the table.

"Thank you, Molly." Cait replied politely. The older woman smiled as she scanned her eyes critically over the pair, seeming to take in both of their appearances.

"Eat up," the redhead told the younger girl. "You are eating for two now and I won't have any of you going hungry on my watch. That includes you as well, Draco. I think I have put up with your hunger strike long enough." Cait raised an eyebrow at her husband but didn't address him, instead she focused on Molly.

"So, you are not among those that my brother overheard wishing a miscarriage on me?" Cait questioned delicately. She needed to know who her allies were.

"I most certainly was not," the woman exclaimed. "I would never wish that heartbreak on anyone, no matter what the circumstances are. I had a miscarriage myself before I had Percy-a girl-it was a really dark time for me."

"I'm sorry, Molly," the girl told her sincerely. She couldn't imagine the upbeat woman before her falling into despair over the loss of a child.

"The other's are simply nervous given the curse," Molly explained as she sat herself across from the young couple, a mug of tea warming her hands. "Bill is using his contacts to hunt down a curse breaker. He is optimistic that he will be able to convince one to come and help you before the baby arrives."

Cait nodded before slowly raising a spoonful of stew to her lips. The taste was warm and hearty-a welcome filler in her empty stomach. She discreetly entwined the fingers of her free hand with Draco's and gave his hand a squeeze. The blonde took the hint and slowly raised his spoon to his own lips. Satisfied, Cait turned back to Molly.

"What has been happening since I have been out," she asked between bites.

"Not much has changed other than the fact that the Death Eaters are on high alert as they scour every inch of London for the two of you," the older woman told her. "Don't worry though, dears, they won't be able to find you."

As Cait was finishing up her bowl of stew, Teddy appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. It was like he couldn't let Cait be out of his sight for more than a few minutes without fearing that she would disappear on him again.

Cait offered her brother a small smile of reassurance before she fixed her gaze back on Draco. The blonde was pushing the remains his stew around absently. Sighing, Cait leaned her head against his shoulder. The two of them had been through so much in the last few months that she wasn't even sure what she could say to him.

"When you are done, meet Blaise and I on the back porch," Teddy told his sister quietly.

Cait noticed an exchange of glances pass between Molly and her brother, but she ignored it. Instead, she chose to focus on Draco. She had never seen him look so lost before. She knew that there was nothing that she could say or do that would help him through this time. The only thing that she could do was offer him her companionship and be there when he was ready to talk like he had been there for her after the passing of her own mother and again when her father passed.

Finally, Draco pushed the barely touched bowl of stew away from himself and turned his gaze towards Cait. She could see several emotions pass over his features before his gaze returned to the tired, haunted look that it had previously held.

"Shall we go see what Teddy wants," She asked him quietly. Draco nodded and the two stood, still holding hands. "Thank you for the meal, Molly."

"My pleasure, my dears," the older woman smiled as she shooed them out of the kitchen and began to clean up the used dishes.

After grabbing cloaks from the rack near the back door, the pair found Teddy and Blaise leaning against the banister of the porch. This was the first glimpse of outside that Cait was seeing and she realized that the grounds surrounding the house were beautiful. A light dusting of snow was falling, covering the ground in white powder and in the distance she could make out the tops of mountains. The sky was filled with large, grey clouds that partially blocked the sun. Winter was fully upon them.

"Draco wanted to wait until you were with us," Teddy began by way of explanation before he led the small group off of the porch and towards the river that ran through the edge of the woods. Cait shot Draco a questioning look, but the blonde was staring out at the lazily flowing water.

When Cait focused back on her brother, she saw the small boat filled with fresh flowers near his feet-the lantern in the center waiting to be ignited. It was then that Cait realized that the boys had planned a memorial for Narcissa. Tears burned her eyes and she squeezed Draco's hand more firmly. She was grateful that he had waited for her to send off his memorial, but at the same time she knew that he couldn't truly begin his healing process until he properly said goodbye.

The four were quiet as Draco continued to stare out at the water. Once he said goodbye, he would be admitting that his mother was truly gone.

Eventually, after several long moments, Draco stepped forward, gently pulling Cait with him. He kicked of his shoes before he released Cait's hand and bent to roll up his pant legs. Cait knew that the water would be freezing, but she watched quietly from the shore, not interrupting him.

Teddy held the boat while Cait closed her eyes and silently said a prayer for Narcissa's spirit. She then pulled out her wand and wordlessly lit the lantern before taking the boat and passing it to Draco who took it and began to wade into the water.

A fluttering in Cait's belly caused her to rest her hand protectively around it as she watched Draco release the floating lantern into the current. The blonde stayed in the frigid water as he watched the lantern slowly disappear around a bend in the river.

When he returned to the edge of the river, after stepping out of the water and into the soft snow, he curled his arms around Cait and buried his face in her hair. Cait wasn't sure how long they stood embracing on the shore, but eventually the cold began to settle in as the sun sank lower on the horizon.

"What do you say to a warm bath?" Cait murmured quietly to Draco. Their companions had long ago left them in order to provide their friend with privacy, but it didn't feel right to talk in a non-hushed tone.

"That might be nice," Draco finally answered as he pulled back to stare down at Cait. When a small gasp escaped her lips his look turned troubled and panic began to well in his heart. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Cait chuckled before reaching out and pulling his hand towards her swollen abdomen. "He's kicking."

"He?" Draco asked, quirking his brow before a look of wonder took over his face. The feeling of movement beneath the surface of Cait's skin was odd, yet strangely satisfying.

"I just feel like it's a he," she told him sheepishly.

Draco just smiled down at her. Even with all the darkness that had converged on his life and all the pain that he was suffering, Cait was still his light. Her and their baby managed to shine for him even in his most depressed moments. As if he knew that his father needed another sign, the baby kicked once more in the very spot where Draco's hand rested.

"Let's get you out of this cold," Draco murmured as he placed a soft kiss on Cait's forehead and and took hold of her hand once more.