CHAPTER 18

Would you hex your husband?

Hermione's mind whirled as she stared up at the face that had been locked inside her memory for three years.

"We are not married." She said, any sign of her emotions disappearing with her façade of passiveness.

Turning she saw Alex sitting up from the giant bed watching them, their arguing must have woken him. Composing herself she removed her arm from Draco's grip, taking her wand back from him and walked over to her son.

"Mummy?"

"I'm right here." She took Alex into her arms, picking him up and standing, ready to leave the suite.

When she looked up from Alex, Draco was standing before them, a look she had never seen before on his face.

"Come here Alexander." He said reaching out a hand for Alex.

Alex looked up at his father with a shy smile before looking up at his mother for a conformation.

Hermione could do nothing, so she gave Alex a stiff nod before letting Draco take him away from her. When he was out of her arms, she felt an immediate loss.

"How do you know his name is Alexander?" She asked as she watched Alex wound his arms around his father's neck.

Draco, who had been smiling at his son, looked over at her with a lost expression. "I just assumed that Alex was short for Alexander."

Hermione gave him an unbelieving look, but accepted that as an answer.

"Are you tired Alex?"

The little head bobbed up and down.

Draco moved toward the phone, picking it up he dialed in a number and then mumbled a few words into if before placing it back down. Turning he strode back to where Hermione stood, coming past her he place Alex back onto the bed. He said something quietly under his breath, so that only Alex heard, making him laugh. When Draco looked over at her he raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Are you not coming Tinkerbelled?"

Hermione, who had been watching the interaction between father and son blinked and the blinked again.

"Coming? Where are going?" She asked, embarrassed to be caught off guard.

"To give Alex a bath."

"Oh." She said and began to move toward them, then stopped. Draco was going to give Alex a bath?

"You—Alex can't—he doesn't have anything to change into." She finished, running out of things to say.

"I just called the staff, they'll have something up here in ten minutes."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something else, but was stopped when Draco turned back to Alex.

"Are you going to sleep in that dress?" Draco asked over his shoulder.

"I—"

Sleep in her dress?

"Alex and I are leaving." She said in a firm voice, making her feet move to where father and son sat, Alex now already stripped down to his underwear.

"There's a bathrobe in the closet if you want to change first before I give Alex his bath." Draco continues in that mild voice, ignoring her words.

"Malfoy."

He turned to look back at her a secret smile on his lips.

"I've missed you Tinkerbelle."

Hermione stared at him, taken a back; she was not prepared for that or him admitting anything for that matter. Was he trying to confuse her? Was he just saying that to get her to say yes to his ridiculous suggestion? She wanted to laugh at the thought of it.

"You don't believe me." He stated.

She was about to say no she did not, but two knocks at the door stopped her. Draco bent down to say something to Alex, then stood up and left to open the door. As if paralyzed, Hermione stood where she was and watched as a maid handed Draco two bags. When he came back with them he handed her one and went over to Alex with the other.

"There should be everything you need in there. I hope you still use the same shampoo and conditioner. There's also a pair of pajamas in there along with other personal things." He said with his back to her.

She stared down at the bag in her hands and then over to where Draco was not picking up Alex heading for the bathroom.

"I'll get this guy while you change out here." He said and disappeared behind a door, leaving her to ponder his reasons for doing these things for her and her son.

But then she remembered, that it was not really for her he was being so considerate to, it was Alex.

When Draco came back out with Alex bathed and freshly dressed in his new pajamas, Hermione still stood where she was, the bag set down at her feet along with her wand. She had not changed, but was not staring unseeing at the hardwood floor in the suite.

"Tinkerbelle."

Draco made to move toward her, but she backed away, looking up at him with empty eyes.

"What do you want from me?" She cried.

Alex, sensing his mother's anxiety began to cry. Draco stared at her for a few seconds before he turned his attention back to Alex, calming him with soothing words.

It was a couple minutes before Alex calmed down and finally fell asleep. Draco put him into bed, tucking him in into the middle of the giant bed before coming toward Hermione with a frown.

Taking her by the arm he pulled her into the kitchen with him.

"What is it?" He asked.

Hermione looked up at him and quietly laughed.

Draco's frown deepened. He reached out to touch her, but she slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me." She said, backing away from him again.

"Tinkerbelle."

"I told you once already not to call me that." It was her anger, her fear speaking now.

"Tinkerbelle—"

"What do you want from me?" She asked again in a soft desperate voice.

"Nothing. I just want you and Alex to—"

She shook her head, stopping him. "You don't want me. You want Alex and you're using me to get him. But I won't let you take him away from me. No. Alex is my son. I carried him for nine months. I gave birth to him. I—I took care of him for three years without your help, without anyone's help."

Draco watched her, remaining silent for a few seconds.

"You were the one that ran, Hermione. I would have taken care of you if you had told me about the pregnancy."

Hermione shook her head at him again. "Your definition of 'take care' and mine are vastly different."

It was Draco's turn to shake his head. "You know I would have taken care of you and Alex."

"How did you find us? How do you know about Alex?"

"I don't think it's time to answer or ask questions right now. I know you're stressed out and you're afraid to trust me, but for Alex's sake, we need to work together."

"Work." She repeated. "That's all we are, all we'll ever be to you. Another thing you have to patch up in your long list of things to do."

Draco was not getting mad, he stuffed his hands in his pocket to keep from doing something he would later regret.

"It's been a long day," He said behind clenched teeth, "Change and get ready for bed, we leave tomorrow morning."

"You can't make me go anywhere with you."

"Then you'll be staying behind by yourself."

"You can't take Alex away from me. I'll call the police."

"Threaten me all you want, if you're not on that plane with us tomorrow, you'll be left behind."

Hermione closed her eyes and let out a trembling breath. "You keep on taking and taking. There is nothing left of me that you haven't already taken and destroyed, and now you're taking away the only thing that matters right now in my life, just because you want to. Have you ever asked for anything in your life Malfoy?"

Her voice was faint, strained.

Draco gave no answer.

When she opened her eyes he was gone. Quietly she sunk to her knees and cried, hating herself for loving him.

Draco walked back into the dark suite, his skin cold from the long walk he had taken in the night. But it mattered not to him as he came into the room and turned on the lamp by the bedside. He had not expected her to still be there, he had thought she would have gone as soon as she found out he was not there, but when the lamp light lit the room in a soft orange glow, the sight on the bed made him catch his breath. The heart strings on his heard tightened and he let out a sigh of relief so hard that he shuttered from it.

Sleeping on the bed was Hermione, she had changed into the light cotton nightgown, cradling Alex in her arms. The blanked covered them up to their waists as they breathed in and out in a gentle rhythm. Her wand in her hand, ready to strike any marauder.

"When did you get your magic back Tinkerbelle." He asked softly to her sleeping form.

Tenderly he took her wand out of her hand and placed it on the nightstand then he lifted the blanket letting it come to rest at their shoulder. Cautiously, so not to wake them, he leaned forward to brush a kiss on, first Alex's and then Hermione's forehead.

Pulling back he watched them sleep, for how long he stood there watching he did not remember. But when he turned off the lamp to leave them to dream the sky was already turning lighter.

Three years he had waited and searched. Three years he had to live with the knowledge that he had let her go. He had let her leave without a fight, without an ounce of pretest because he had thought himself incapable of giving her what she sought.

It had taken him three years to realize that his life without her in it was dull and wearisome. His appearances on television and newspapers were all hoaxes. The women he went out with ended once he took them out to dinner. He could not bring himself to do more than fake a smile at them and try to get through the night without yawning.

When the separation began he had first buried himself in papers, sitting behind his desk and his work. When he finally got tired of sitting in self pity he began to search for her. The first place he went to was her family, but they told him nothing, saying that they too knew nothing. When he met up with Bradley, he had received a glare a couple of harsh words and nothing more. He had then worked with a close friend who worked with the military to help him locate her. But the search was useless. Then when he was just about to give up he found a hint on one of his trips to Paris. He had been invited to a charity ball for children, and had at first rejected the offer, because he would be leaving that day, but after receiving a copy of the guest attending the event he quickly changed his mind when he saw a familiar name under the Count of Stormy Point's.

He had his assistant get him a tux, cancel his flight, and then cancel all of his plans for the next two weeks without blinking an eye.

Meeting and seeing Alex had been a shock, but he knew right then that Alex was his son. He had, at that moment, wanted to shout it for the world to hear. But it was not until he saw Hermione, frantic and beautiful in her gown that he lost all sense of thought. He had dragged her and Alex out without a care about who saw and what they would say. The only thing that mattered at that moment was that he had found Hermione, and with her his son.

She did not want to open her eyes, but the sun was shining through the window and the birds were already singing outside in the early morning.

Reaching out she felt for Alex but instead she found a hard muscled arm. Her eyes popped opened and she found herself in the embrace of Draco, his arms holding her and Alex. His legs were tangles with hers and his face was buried in her hair. She could hear his even breathing, the steady beating of his heard against her back, and the light indrawn of breath at her neck. They were so close together that she could feel the heat from his body. Silently she wished for Alex to wake or for him to wake and let her go. Her wish was answered when Alex called for her.

They must have heard his call at the same time, because suddenly his arms tightened around her and then slowly he let her go. Quickly she sat up, reaching for Alex.

"It's morning Mummy." Alex stated, sitting on the bed, rubbing the sleep from his eye. "Daddy." He said with a happy laugh when he spotted Draco, who was just sitting up in bed himself behind her.

Daddy.

So he knew that this was his father. She should have known, he was a smart child, and would not forget that one photo she showed him of his father. It was no wonder he was not scared at all of being with Draco.

Draco chuckled and leaned forward, his arms coming around her, as he lifted Alex up and into her arms. Hermione was a little surprised by the action, but held onto Alex as Draco leaned over one of her shoulders to kiss their son on the forehead.

"Good morning son."

Hermione stayed still, he heart beating faster and faster at his contact with her, just as it had done the first time they had met.

"Good morning Tinkerbelle." Came a whisper at her ear, and she could feel that single breath all the way down to her toes.

"Tink'rbelle." Alex said with a clap of his hand.

Draco threw back his head and laughed, and Hermione thought she was dreaming. Surely she was dreaming if they were here together, a happy family, laughing, and exchanging intimate words in the early morning.

But her little dream was shattered with a pounding at the door. Draco frowned, but got up without pulling on a robe and went to answer the door.

Sam greeted him with a punch in the face, just as Hermione made her way into the living area with Alex.

"Sam!"

Hermione rushed over to stop Sam from punching Draco again, pulling him away. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"What am I doing here? The bastard takes you away without a word, you and Alex are gone for the whole night, and that's all you can say?"

"I'm sorry Sam, but—"

"I don't have to tell you where I'm taking my wife and son." Draco said from behind her in a cool voice.

Hermione closed her eyes and counted to ten before opening them to glare at, first, her brother and then Draco. "If you want to fight, let Alex and I leave first." She said and made for the door with Alex.

"Tinkerbelle."

"Hermione."

Both men said at the same time. They turned to glare at each other when they realized it and then turned frowning gazes back at her.

"We're leaving." Sam said and took two wide strides towards her; taking her free arm into his hand he guided her out the door.

But Draco's men were fast. Two big men, dressed all in black with black shades stood between the doors, blocking the way.

It was almost as if she had stepped into a movie when she saw the two men in black, she could not understand why Draco would need bodyguards when he himself was intimidating enough.

"Tell your men to move otherwise I won't be responsible for their injuries."

Hermione sighed; she had forgotten that Sam had served in the marines for four years.

Draco waved his men off with a scowl of disapproval. When he turned to gaze at Sam he was no longer in a mood to be forgotten.

"If you walk out of this hotel with my wife and son the cops will be on you in less than five minutes."

Sam stared back at him, holding his gaze. "I don't suppose you kidnapping my sister will land you anywhere safe from the authorities as well. And you and Hermione are no long married."

Draco raised one of his eyebrows in question, "Really?"

Sam frowned at Draco and the down at Hermione. "What does he mean?" He asked.

Hermione had forgotten about that, as she too frowned up at Draco.

"Mummy? I'm hungry." Alex's words broke through the tense atmosphere.

Draco smiled at Alex and then at Hermione and Sam. "Breakfast anyone?" He said and reaching out a hand for Alex headed for the kitchen.

When breakfast finished Draco had left Alex and Merci leave the room while he spoke with Sam.

"What do you want with Hermione?" Sam asked; irritated for having had to wait until the breakfast meal was finished.

"My wife and son are going home with me." Draco answered.

"You and Hermione are no longer married." Sam said slowly.

"There never was a divorce."

Sam stared at Draco, "What do you mean? Hermione said she signed the papers and gav them to—" He frowned, "You never signed the papers and filed for a divorce."

Draco grinned.

"If you never signed and filed the papers, then why have you waited three and a half years before looking for them?"

Draco's grin faded, his expression became serious.

"Well?"

"I didn't know that she was pregnant at the time, and when I looked for her she was nowhere to be found."

"And you didn't use your connections or your magic to find her?"

"I didn't think she would be living out of the country or even with magic." Draco answered.

"And you want her back. Or is it Alex that you want?"

Draco gave no answer.

Sam watched him with speculative eyes and then nodded.

"If Hermione decided to leave with you I'll let her go, but if she refuses, I don't want you bothering her."

Draco looked over at Sam quietly and then turned away to look toward Hermione and Alex.

Sam took Hermione outside into the hall to speak alone with her, leaving Alex with Draco in the suite.

"Do you want to with Malfoy?"

Hermione stared up at her brother, "What?"

"You have two choices: one is that you leave with me and forget you ever saw Malfoy, or two you go with him and try to work out your relationship with me."

"Sam, I—"

"You have to decide whether or not you still have feelings for him. You can't keep running away, because those pent up emotions will catch up with you."

Hermione gave no answer as she turned from her brother, not wanting him to see the inner fight she was having with herself.

"I know what you're going through; I went through it myself not so long ago."

Hermione turned back to face him, "But this is diff—"

"Different? Not so much. Natalie and I had a—understanding at the beginning of our relationship that it would be no more than a marriage for both our benefits. But unlike you and Malfoy we never warmed up to each other. Our relationship never developed to the point where I could say I loved her. When Linda was born I thought our relationship was going to change, and what maybe we would come to care for each other but it never happened. She changed, became more distant, and never paid much attention to Linda or myself. She closed herself off to us. And when the accident happened, I just could not put up with her coldness anymore."

"But he doesn't love me." Hermione said at last, voicing her fears and her lost hopes.

Sam gave her a poised look, "If he didn't love you, why did he spend all of this time looking for you?"

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Sam took her into his arms, giving her a warm hug. "If life throws you a second chance, take it by the horns and hold on tight, because you never know what may or may not happen if you let go."

She buried her face in his shirt, clinging to his strong frame for courage.

"Thank you, Sam." She said at last, looking up at him.

"You just go in there and take charge of what's yours. And if things really don't work out, you know you've got a home with me and the rest of the family."

Hermione nodded, but she was not sure if things were going to be as easy as he had made them sound.

When Sam left her with Draco, she left as if she was being left behind unwillingly, but it was by her own decision that she had stayed with Draco.

So when he arranged for his private jet to take them back home to Summer's Bluff, she gave no protest. She went willingly, wondering to herself if she had made the right choice by choosing to return with him.

And before she knew it the jet had landed and they were riding in a limo, heading up the driveway to Summer's Bluff.

Once she stepped out of the limo and stared up at the mansion, memories flooded into her head, filling her mind with images of her year there.

"Tinkerbelle."

Blinking she shook off the memories and stared straight into Draco's cool eyes. He stood at the open door, holding Alex in his arms. It was like looking at an image she had only dreamed of in dreams. Silently she walked toward him and their uncertain future together as a family.

He waited for her to go inside before he and Alex did.

Nothing had been touched since their last words with each other within the mansion. Once Hermione had left, there seemed to be no need for him to come and go, so he had locked the place up, leaving everything untouched for three and a half years.

No he watched as she made her way into the house, pausing here and there, remembering small things about this and that. He wondered if she was thinking why nothing had changed.

"You can have your old rooms. I'll put Alex in the room connecting to yours."

She stopped to turn and give him a polite smile before continuing down the hall.

He wanted to reach out and stop her, wanted to say something to her, but he held himself back. He was able to bring her home, and with her Alex, and at the moment that was enough for him. Other unresolved problems could be dealt with later; he just wanted to savor their coming home together a little longer.

AN: Hope you enjoyed it.

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