AN: Thanks for all the reviews and favs! I know this story isn't everyone's brand of vodka…

Remember folks, this is rated 'M' for content…that means that no one under 18 needs to read it…

"Lucius, are you sure you should be out of bed?"

He sniffed. "My son is coming home for the first time in years Hermione, bringing my grandchildren. Allow an old man his peccadilloes and help me out of this bed. The wingback chair in my study will do."

Hermione glared. "First of all, Draco is coming to see you because you nearly died. The reason that he hasn't been back in the past few years is that it's bloody hard to travel with two sets of twins and a set of triplets….you are the one who said it made more sense for you to visit them until the children get older."

Lucius smirked. There was something very satisfying about Draco's large family. Merlin, it was going to be loud having them all in the manor. Lucius couldn't wait.

Hermione levitated him gently to his study. Severus had arranged to meet Draco at the airport. Lucius did not like the idea of his precious family in a muggle contrivance that flew, but it was faster than a ship and Draco didn't seem worried.

Lucius needed to work on getting flying carpets legalized again.

He mused on who he would have to bribe, who might be manipulated, and how much gold it would cost until he felt a warm blanket being tucked around his knees.

"For Merlin's sake woman. I'm old but I'm not doddering yet."

Hermione snorted. "I'll thank you to stop referring to yourself as old Lucius. My lover is only four years younger than you…"

Lucius smirked. "A fact that no doubt surprises him as much as it does me on occasion. What shocks me most is that my old friend hasn't bound you to him in every way. Not very Slytherin of him, I must say…giving you the opportunity to get away."

She blushed.

"Has he not broached the subject at all?"

She sat in the wingback chair next to him and snagged one of his special cookies from the tin on the table. She chewed it completely before she answered.

"This does not go past us Lucius."

He nodded. She should know that if he thought it should go further it would. He might be partially reformed, but he was still Lucius Malfoy.

"I don't think Severus wants to marry…at all."

She said it in a small voice that pricked his heart. She and Severus had dated for a year and they'd lived together for nearly two. His old friend was happier than he'd ever been, but he was comfortable with the way things were.

"If you want something more Hermione, you should tell him."

She shook her head. "Early on he made a lot of comments about marriage…and knowing his family history…"

Ah.

Tobias Snape had been an abusive bastard. He'd 'disappeared' when Severus was fourteen after a particularly brutal summer vacation. Lucius wondered if Severus knew deep down what had happened to the violent cur who had fathered him. There were deaths that Lucius Malfoy regretted. Tobias Snape wasn't one of them.

"Hermione…talk to him. Wait until Draco is gone if you must, but talk to him. I can tell this is eating away at you, and trust me, it will poison your relationship if you don't."

It was good advice. His own mother had given him similar advice when he and Cissy had been forced into marriage. Even with a friendship as a base and open communication, forcing sex into the equation was an unmitigated disaster. He had tried to make their marriage bed less…repulsive to her…but it hadn't worked. When Draco was born they had gratefully avoided any mention of the activities that produced him, and bonded over their mutual love for their son.

There had been a few times over the years when they had tried again, but by the time their son was seven, he had stopped initiating sex with Narcissa, and he never visited her bed again. He wondered sometimes, if her new husband was truly her husband in every sense.

He shivered and Hermione lit a fire in the hearth.

He glared at her. "There's nothing wrong with my wand."

They sat in silence for a few moments.

"I can't wait to see the children."

Did he detect a hint of…envy?

"Draco is very lucky to have such a large family."

He didn't see how the boy kept his mind actually, but judging by the grin on his face, he seemed to be happy.

Hermione smiled. "I'm not sure I'd want that…especially not so close together…"

Lucius grinned at her. "What, a passel of blonds running about your skirts doesn't appeal to you?" What the hell did he just say?

She chuckled. "I doubt my children will be blond."

Not with Severus as the father they wouldn't. He tried to imagine a young Snape.

"I cannot do it."

Hermione looked at him with mild concern.

"I cannot imagine what a child born of you and Severus Snape would look like. I keep trying but all I see is Severus scowling at me."

Hermione laughed.

"You're trying to imagine a son. Try a girl…a baby girl with black ringlets, my nose…"

"Of course…"

She sniffed. "I happen to like his nose, on him, but on a daughter…"

"Obviously."

"And his eyes are lovely."

"Don't let him hear you say that."

She smirked. Lucius laughed to himself. She did the signature Malfoy smirk nearly as well as Draco now. Truly, he was corrupting her.

"Severus is sleeping with me, I'm afraid he's had to make a few concessions. If I admire his masculine beauty, he just has to put up with it."

"You are the only woman I've ever known who admired his masculine beauty, as you put it."

She laughed. "I'm the only woman you've ever noticed admiring his beauty. You were too busy admiring your own."

"I am a rather lovely specimen." He was not. His hair was ragged from the curse (it had caused it to fall out in great clumps…), and even magic would have a hard time healing the whelps on his body without scaring. It hardly mattered, despite appearances, he wasn't a particularly vain man…but he would be happy to have his sleek blond mane back again.

Hermione just grinned at him and fluffed his pillow. Then she kissed his cheek softly. "You are."

He closed his eyes and focused on her perfume. Everything in his home was picking up the scent of her, day in, day out. It was a small comfort, but a comfort none the less.

LMHGSS

"I just want to know father…"

"She is my friend. She's in a relationship with Severus, and acts as hostess here at the manor whenever there is a need. All three of us work at the department of mysteries, though we're currently taking a sabbatical…"

"Because you were nearly killed throwing yourself in front of a curse…for her."

Lucius sighed. "Draco, I owe Severus more than I can ever repay. He did many things to protect you and your mother when my mistakes put you in danger…and he's is my friend. I want him to be happy. They live here because I insist on it…I think I'd go mad rattling around in this place alone."

His son looked contrite.

"No Draco, don't. You have a life, a good one. I want that for you. My work at the ministry has redeemed the family name a bit, perhaps even enough for you to consider sending your children to Hogwarts in a few years…but England is not safe enough for more than visits just yet. I won't have you putting your family in danger."

He grinned at his son.

"I am well, and since Severus and Hermione managed to save me, I'll go on working toward my goals for the family."

"Don't you want anything for yourself father?"

He smirked. "What? A second marriage and another family? It would be rather confusing to future historians if I had grandchildren who were older than a new child…"

Yes. Yes, he wanted that. But he didn't want it enough to throw away what he had.

"I would be quite content if Severus would simply give up the ghost and marry Hermione. I'm sure having a young Snape around, melting cauldrons before she could walk would keep me amused."

Draco rolled his eyes.

"You not only have them married, you've decided that they should have a girl first…"

Lucius smiled, remembering what Hermione had said. "A little girl, with black ringlets…black eyes…and Hermione's nose of course."

Draco laughed. "Let's hope." He cleared his throat. "Speaking of that…"

Lucius laughed. "Don't tell me your wife is with child again?"

Draco nodded, half-sheepish, half-proud.

"Merlin's beard boy…I know I taught you the proper contraception charms…you've already got a full Quidditch team."

SSHGLM

Severus nearly choked the next morning.

"Draco…you'll damage her health."

Samantha grinned at them from across the table.

"I'm fine. My family has a series of potions that help with this sort of thing…but we didn't mean to get pregnant again so quickly!"

Draco kissed his wife. "Truly, she seems alright…and we will be taking precautions from now on. Can't let anything happen to my Samantha." He ran his hand down to her stomach.

Hermione looked away. Lucius caught it and caught Severus' eye.

LMHGSS

Hermione and Draco were helping Samantha put the children to bed when Lucius finally found himself alone with his old friend.

"You've seen how Hermione looks at the children."

Severus looked up from the book he was reading. He turned the page.

"How do you think she looks at them?"

Lucius sighed. "Bloody hell, Severus. She looks at Draco's family with envy."

The look on Severus' face was stricken.

"I know. It's only a matter of time."

The sorrow in his voice stopped Lucius in his tracks.

"Only a matter of time until what happens exactly?"

"Until she leaves for someone young and brilliant who can give her all the things she deserves of course. I have no idea why she's put up with me and my foul moods this long."

Lucius snorted inelegantly. "Neither do I, come to that."

Severus' face did not change.

"Come now, surely you give the girl more credit than that. None of the rest of us have your insufferable martyr's complex old boy. Generally when we're in a relationship, it's because it makes us happy…barring pure blooded marriages of course."

Severus sniffed, well aware of the relationship between Lucius and his ex-wife.

"There is no reason why you cannot offer the witch everything that she truly wants. Marry her, start a family, move away from me if necessary. You've earned that and more my friend. I keep you here out of selfish need, but you shouldn't let it stand in the way of your happiness…."

Severus snorted. "Don't you think I'm rather too long in the tooth for all that?"

"No." Lucius was blunt. Sometimes it was the only way to get through to Severus Snape, especially Snape with a martyr complex. "I think you are scared that you'll ruin everything if you move forward."

Severus snapped his book shut. "You're one to talk Lucius. For the first time in your life you are free to do whatever you want…and what are you doing?"

He poured himself a drink. He could tell this was going to take at least one firewhiskey. Severus accepted his drink without changing his facial expression.

"I am atoning for my mistakes the only way I know how. I am rebuilding the family name with my work at the Ministry, and I am clinging to the comfort of having my oldest friend and the woman he ought to marry as fixtures in my life. I have had my chance….granted, with Narcissa, it wasn't much of a chance, but Draco has been a joy to me, and the grandchildren are a source of never-ending amusement. What should I be doing?"

"You aren't living." He took a long drink. He needed to get the conversation back on track. This was about Severus, not him after all….

"You know how you said that Hermione would leave you for someone young and brilliant?"

Severus nodded, jaw tight, expecting a shattering blow via words.

Lucius did not roll his eyes. Deep down, despite everything he'd accomplished, Severus was the same boy he'd been all those years ago…Lucius' voice was gentle.

"I hate to tell you this old friend, but people of your caliber aren't that thick on the ground. Have you ever met a witch like her?" Severus shook his head, confused. Of course he hadn't, Hermione was without peer.

"Then consider that perhaps she has never met anyone like you. I never have."

He grabbed Severus' shoulder.

"If you let her get away, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Especially when giving the witch what she wants would make you happy too. Can you honestly tell me you don't want to mark her as yours…put that ring on her finger so all and sundry know that she chose you over every other man on the planet?"

A darkly possessive look crossed Severus' face. "The thought had occurred to me, just once or twice mind you…"

Lucius tossed back the rest of his drink and laughed. "Once or twice a day for how long?"

He felt himself droop. He was weary. "Severus, I am done for the day, I think…would you make my excuses?"

Severus wrapped a long arm around him. "I will, after I see you to your room. Your meddling makes you seem more yourself but it's only been a few weeks…"

Severus did finish his thought. They were men, Slytherin men… they didn't finish those kinds of thoughts. Lucius waved Severus away once he was at his room.

"I'm fine. Don't mollycoddle me. Leave that to your pretty witch."

Severus snorted.

"You're going to be spoiled rotten by the time you recover."

Lucius smirked. "Why do you think it's taking me so long?"

He closed the door and managed to get into his own bed, not bothering with his clothing…he just vanished them as he fell into bed. Merlin, he was tired.

AN: I hope everyone enjoyed the early update…I'll try to update again on Thursday, but I'll update PTSD first…Again, hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!