Chapter 6
Blaise and Pansy waited at Hermione and Draco's front door for someone to let them in. They had been invited to dinner, but Blaise decided it had to be some kind of joke. "No one's answering the door," he whined. "And it's freezing out here. What the hell could possibly be holding them up?"

"Maybe they're shagging," Pansy innocently offered. "Hermione said they can get pretty loud. I feel bad for their neighbors."

An idea occurred to him then. "Right! The neighbors," he said. "Maybe one of them will let us in." He pressed each button several times until one disgruntled resident buzzed them in. "That was easy. Don't know why I've never thought of that before."

Pansy rolled her eyes as they stepped into the lift. "Look, I like being allowed to come here," she replied. "I'd rather not have the entire building mad at me because of my annoying husband."

Stepping out of the elevator, he pulled her close and wound his arms around her waist. "Let's not fight," he murmured, pressing his lips to hers. "I like you too much to have you mad at me."

She giggled as he led her to the door and knocked. Draco opened it with an exasperated look on his face. "Merlin, finally," he said in lieu of a greeting. "Too busy shagging to arrive on time?"

Blaise smirked and escorted his wife inside. "Too busy shagging loudly to hear us ringing the buzzer downstairs?" he inquired.

Rolling his eyes, Draco shut the door behind them and offered them a seat. "We weren't shagging," he muttered.

"Where's Hermione?" Pansy asked.

"Putting the finishing touches on dinner," Draco told her as he poured drinks, setting one aside for Hermione. "I swear she's been cooking all day. Wouldn't even talk to me unless it was to give an order."

Blaise laughed. "Sounds like Hermione," he agreed.

Pansy set her drink down on the coffee table and got to her feet. "I'm gonna see if she needs help," she decided, kicking off her heels.

"You should know she bit me before for not moving fast enough," Draco warned. "Plus, I may have put my hand over her mouth when she wouldn't stop yelling at me. Does that in the morning too when I try to wake her up. She always bites me."

"I'll keep my hands to myself then," Pansy replied, leaving for the kitchen.

Now alone, Blaise leaned back into the leather sofa and propped his feet up on the edge of the coffee table. "So, how have things been between the two of you?" he inquired.

Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "Good," he replied, taking a sip from his tumbler of whiskey.

Blaise scowled, wanting something more. "Still trying for a baby?"

"No," Draco said.

He put his feet back on the floor and leaned forward, arms resting on his thighs. "She finally get it that you don't really want a kid?"

Draco rose and took his glass to refill it before handing it back to Blaise. "Who says I don't want one?" he asked. "Look, what we talked about that day, it'll do no good if it gets back to Hermione. Just...let's not mention it again."

Blaise said nothing as he continued to sip his drink. They were soon joined by Pansy and Hermione, each carrying a tray of appetizers. "I didn't know you could cook, Hermione," Blaise commented. "Ever notice that things taste better when there's bacon wrapped around it?"

Draco offered her a drink and a seat on his lap. "Feeling okay?" he whispered. "You've been on your feet all day."

"I'm fine," she replied, reaching for a bacon-wrapped shrimp. "Starving, but fine."

"So, I want to know what the good news is," Pansy stated.

Draco and Hermione exchanged a brief look and smiled. "Well, I had planned to tell you during dinner, but before seems just as good," Hermione replied. "We're pregnant."

Pansy shrieked enthusiastically, rounded the coffee table, and pulled Hermione into a hug. "When did this happen?" she asked. "Oh, the two of you have been trying for so long and now it's finally happened. I'm so happy for you. You know you can count on me to babysit anytime. Day or night."

Draco glanced around the women and smiled. "Can we hold you to that?" he asked his friend.

"Hey, she volunteered herself, not me," Blaise replied.

Pansy turned to her husband and scowled. "You're supposed to congratulate them," she admonished. "Not deny them help. Besides, don't you miss have a brand new baby around? They smell so good and they love you unconditionally. You two are gonna love being parents."

"Gonna hire a nanny?" Blaise asked. "It's the only way to get any sleep at night."

"What would you know about that?" Pansy wondered, reclaiming her seat beside her husband. Blaise shot her an amused look, though he was attempting contempt. She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I kid. Blaise did a lot of the work when the twins were born. Honestly, I don't know that I could have made it through one day without him."

Draco placed his hand on Hermione's stomach. "It'll be the same way with us," he vowed.

"I know," she replied, pressing a kiss to his temple.

"Are you going to find out what you're having?" Pansy asked. "Either way, I've got you covered. Furniture, clothes. You name it, I have it. Unless you want to buy all new things, which I totally support. Just tell me how I can help."

Hermione smiled at her, wondering how she'd gotten so lucky to have such a supportive friend. "We do intend to find out," she told them. "And any help would be so appreciated. I don't even know where to start."

"One other thing," Draco interjected. "We haven't told anyone else yet. I'd rather not see this announcement in the papers, especially before I have a chance to tell my parents."

"And I would prefer that Harry and the Weasleys find out from me," Hermione added. Pansy and Blaise nodded in agreement. "Good, now I think it's time for dinner. Sorry, Blaise, but there's no bacon in it."

Helping his wife to her feet, Blaise chuckled and led the way to the kitchen. "Well, I'm going home then," he replied.

"The front door is the other way," Draco pointed out. "Don't let it hit you in the arse on the way out."

Pansy looped her arm through Hermione's. "The fathers of our children," she mused. "We picked well."

Hermione couldn't help the laugh that passed her lips. "Um, there's one more thing I wanted to ask you," she said nervously as everyone took a seat. "Will the two of you be the godparents?"

The Zabinis exchanged a quick, hesitant look. Godparents in the wizarding world had the same responsibilities as muggle godparents, but with one exception. Guardianship was automatically granted to them in the event the parents could no longer care for their child. It was a huge responsibility, one most couples were hesitant to take on. For some, another mouth to feed was one too many. But that hadn't been a problem for the Zabinis. Nevertheless, Blaise seemed hesitant to accept. To take on the burden of someone else's child in the event something should happen to her and Draco.

Pansy, however, was always another story.

"We'd love to," she told them.