A/n: Lol. I'm working really late on this English reporting we have here... And I am taking this time for granted for me to submit this chap.ü I am really sorry if this is all hurried up, because I'm just sneaking on this... so... I won't be able to put up personalized messages today...

But of course, I sure hope next week I would be able to.ü Wish me luck on that. and on my report..

Anyhows, the story.

Here goes...

By: Aningme

Chapter 3

Dilemma: The Sequel

This is not happening. He thought, his head banging against the walls of his skull. He hadn't had a mother for all of his life. Her presence, well, that was a different matter. But the little fact about mothers, whose presence and devotion should be bounded into one person, is the least description for his mother.

She doesn't have even the smallest right of being called one. The only thing she had performed as a real mother was bearing him in this cruel world. And after that, she just left him with his father, who had abused, used, and tortured his only son. It was his way of training him to be like him. To be like a real Malfoy.

He had thought of being a real Malfoy was his life.

He thought wrong.

Stepping out from the warmth of his car into the coolness of the ending winter, he scanned the street both sides, glanced at the street sign and sighed. Ginny had changed the door paint again. From neon green to navy blue. And, for the millionth time, he noted to get used with the unusual style Ginny and Seamus seem to… come up with. He's doing this for Hermione, anyway. And, navy blue was much better than the blinding neon green.

Ginny was beaming at him as she opened the newly painted door for him.

"Malfoy." It wasn't necessary for her to call him on his last given name anymore. But, she just couldn't see herself calling him 'Draco.'

Old time's sake. She guessed. "We've been expecting you."

He couldn't honestly know how to deal all this politeness with his new friends. But heck, he had to live with it. "Pleasant job on the door." He tried on a smile and planted a kiss on her hand. "It's good to see you, Weasley."

Ginny did all but pull back a flush. "Good to see you too." She smiled, stepped back and closed the door behind them. "Seamus and I picked up the navy. Figured that green doesn't fit too much on us."

"Navy is indeed a good color." He agreed and glanced on the door again. Indeed better than neon green. "How's Relina?"

"She's fine. She was, in fact, thrilled that you'll be here." She played with her hands, not knowing what to do next. "Uhm, coffee? Or wine?"

"Coffee would be fine." He smiled at her. Scanning the room, he hardly held back a wince on the badly combined colors of the parlor: neon pink sofas, bright green curtains, and small smiling figurines on a purple shelf. "Where's Hermione?"

She merely smiled at that, hearing him call his mud blood by her first name now. "Upstairs with Relina." Years have indeed passed by. "She's been waiting for you."

He seemed to smile wider, if ever it was still possible. "Thanks." He muttered and ran upstairs.

Hermione merely stood by the stairs with a smile plastered on her face. She knew how hard it was for him to act casually around the Weasleys. And, with the look on his face, knew his eyes wanted to bleed. She knew how he disliked the combinations of her friend's house. And he was apparently holding back a wince. "You're here."

Hearing his voice, he looked up and grinned. "I'm here."

"What took you so long?" She asked as he greeted her with a kiss.

He nibbled at her bottom lip and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I apologize for making you wait again."

Before Hermione could speak again, a shriek cut her off.

"Uncle Draco!" A little girl's screams dominated the room as the child all but climbed at his legs.

Draco chuckled and lifted the little girl into his arms. "How's my favorite girl doing?"

Relina chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Daddy brought me a new doll last night." Relina's eyes seemed to glitter in bliss. "You want to come and see?"

"Of course." He gave Hermione another smile and carried the little girl to her room full of dolls.

She couldn't help it but take the pleasure of watching her husband accommodate a three year old child perfectly. He was realy doing good around kids. And, rubbing her belly, she wondered how he'll handle their own.

"So, how was the meeting?" She had asked, leaning on the door jamb of Relina's room.

He dragged his gaze to her and maintained his blank, cool eyes. "Just fine." He merely muttered it, handling Relina a doll. "Another pain in the jack." Literally, he thought.

Hermione sat beside Relina on the floor and stared at him. There was a certain stress on his voice. His eyes were coldly blank. Something was off. "You want to… talk about it?"

"There would be a time." He tried on a smile. "Sudden interest in business?"

She chuckled wickedly. "Not a chance."

"I thought so." He laughed too, but she knew something was wrong. He merely stared at the doll on his hand.

"Coffee's served!" Ginny exclaimed, jogging up the stairs with a tray. Entering the room, she felt the heavy friction simmering in the room.

"Thanks, Ginny." Hermione muttered, holding the cute china cup served to her.

Draco muttered his gratitude too, and just sipped his coffee.

This is too awkward for silence. Ginny finally deduced. "I'm preparing stew for the night. Why don' you two dine with us while we wait for Seamus?"

Draco nodded at the proposition. "That'll be great." Hermione agreed.

"Well then, just make yourselves comfortable, and dinner will be served in fifteen." Ginny glanced at Hermione, and held her gaze. "Relina, why don't you give mommy a hand on the cooking downstairs? We can chop veggies together."

"Will we have carrots too?" Relina conversationally asked as she stood up to her mother.

"Yes dear, I know they're your favorite." Ginny sent Hermione her last glance and winked at her before leaving them alone in the room.

And now, silence wrapped them up awkwardly once again.

Time to tell him. She thought and held her breath. She didn't know how to tell him about the news. Holding her belly again, she turned to him and opened her mouth to speak.

But then, her words choked down her throat as she saw his face.

His eyes were now burning, not like the cool ones she had been staring at awhile ago. His face was slightly pale too, from God knows what.

"Maybe I did develop an interest in business." She began, stepping closer to him. "How's yours?"

He dropped his coffee on a nearby table and ran his hands violently through his golden locks.

Something's wrong, all right. She thought and followed him, his back facing her. "Hey, hey." Alarmed, she reached for his shoulders and tried to loosen the tension building up there. "You can tell me about it."

"It's not business." He muttered, his head throbbing already. "My business has nothing to do with it."

"With what?" She asked.

"With the meeting." He answered, now facing her.

Confused, she studied his eyes and narrowed hers. "Is there something I should now?"

He took her hands and planted kisses on them, regaining his composure and gathering his bearings. How the hell was he supposed to tell her? "I'm sorry I wasn't able to bring you to the cottage." He began, still staring at her hands. He couldn't look in her eyes. Just couldn't. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to take care of you today. Especially now that you're ill and—"

"What are you saying?" She demanded, placing her hand on his face now. "Look at me." He seemed to drift his eyes on everything but her. "Look at me, Draco." She repeated, and watched him drag his gaze to hers.

She sighed and smiled at him. "If you are acting like this because of me, don't. I told you a million times that I'm not sick. I'm just—"

"But I should have been with you." He insisted. "I should have been with you at the cottage and taking care of you."

"Draco…" She hummed his name as he rested his brows on hers, their lips an inch away. "You're doing fine with me." She smiled. "We can take care of each other."

He smiled at that and kissed her. "I love you, Hermione. Always."

"Same here." She chuckled, caressed his cheek. "Now, we go down, eat Ginny's incredible stew, and go home. I have something to talk to you about."

"I have something to tell you too." He muttered; the gloom in his eyes back again. "About the meeting."

She cocked her head. "What about it?"

"I can't bring you home yet because… because someone's waiting at home." He paused, not knowing what else to say. "She was supposed to be dead." His voice quivered in anger, his temper flaring again. "She's supposed to stay dead."

Hermione furrowed her brows. "Who, Draco?"

Draco heaved a sigh and whispered. "Narcissa Malfoy." He grunted. "My mother."

Seamus arrived very shortly after that discussion. Right after dinner, Draco and Hermione bid their goodbyes and headed home in dread. Neither spoke again until they stopped at the gate.

Irritated at the awkward night, Hermione turned to Draco and sighed helplessly. "You better say something." She demanded, her hands a little unsteady. "I don't know what to expect in there." She suddenly felt the worry, the anxiety, and the awkwardness of the situation. She glanced a frightful stare at their home. "I've never met another Malfoy before, after ten years that have passed since the war."

He suddenly thought about it and realized it had been a full decade already. "This is quite weird." He admitted and drew in a deep breath.

Watching him, she knew she was as scared as him. Though she didn't know what to call the other emotion she sees in his eyes. She thought of it as anger. But somehow it also went for worry.

"We are quite in an emotional rumble right now." She laughed it off. Then sighed. "I've never played meet the in-laws before."

"Neither have I." He managed a smile. He never had the chance to meet Hermione's parents. They, too, died during the war. "Let's call this even then."

"It's not even!" She pointed out. "I'm the one to meet the parent-in-law now." She shuddered. "Does she even now that Hermione Granger happened to be your wife?"

It made him smile at just how simply and casually she asked. "I think so."

"You think so." She raised a brow. "You think so. You mean you haven't told her anything?"

"It's not like that." He looked out of the car window into their home. "She knows everything. I don't need to tell her what she wants to know."

Just the typical Malfoy who knows everything. "Does it run in the family?" She joked, earning herself a look from him. "I was just joking."

He just sat there quietly for a while before he turned to her. "Look," He paused and fumed at himself for feeling so disoriented. "Look, this won't be the typical meet the in-laws thing." He began, his mouth turning dry now. "I just… I need you to trust me."

She stared back at his weary eyes and nodded. "I trust you."

He smiled at her and kissed her brow.

A/n: Okay! There... mm... I really have to go now. But I will just leave a short message.ü

To the people who just reviewed recently on the previous chapter, I thank you so much.ü I did have fun reading them and I hope to get to read more.ü And to the New Readers, Welcome Aboard!ü Thanks for reading and I hope you stick along in this story and have some fun with it.ü Lol. I am really disappointed for not being able to post messages and replies, but I promise, PROMISE, I will next week.ü I hope to see all of you there again.ü

Have a great week!ü TC!