Disc: The plot is mine. The world is not.

Chapter Thirty One

Lily had her hands on her hips, frowning. Damon had done the laundry, which was nice, but she had nothing else to clean. She'd spent more than enough time cleaning both apartments, cuddling with and feeding Gentry, and napping. That last bit had startled her. She'd fallen asleep in the middle of the day, for hours, Gentry happily getting in some tummy time on the floor, even rolling over a few times. Lily found him half under the sofa, well off the blanket she'd laid him on.

"Your daddy did the laundry and now I have nothing to do," Lily crooned at her fat-faced, drooling baby. He shook his fist and kicked his feet at her.

Lily had sat in the chair, intending on closing her eyes for just a moment. She startled awake when Scorpius and Damon entered, her eyes searching for the baby. Gentry wasn't on his blanket and panic rose up in her until something grabbed her leg and she realized he'd rolled over towards her.

"Are you okay?" Scorpius asked, kissing her forehead before kissing the baby. Lily nodded.

"I just laid him down for a minute," Lily pointed at the blanket. "I guess he rolled?"

"Awe, my little man!" Damon cheered, scooping the baby up out of Lily's arms and blowing raspberries on his cheek.

"We should celebrate," Scorpius grinned.

"Celebrate the baby rolling over?" Lily asked.

"Yes, you and Scorpius should go somewhere nice while Gentry and I watch the Puddlemere United wipe the pitch with the Holyhead Harpies," Damon explained.

"Leave... the baby... with you? Alone?" Lily's eyes widened.

"Lils, he's Gentry's father," Scorpius reminded her. "He's not going to let anything happen."

"But what if he gets hungry?" Lily asked.

"You have like a million and a half liters of milk stored away," Damon's words were gentle. "And if there's anything I can't handle, that the arms and breast of a mother can only cure, I'll send for you immediately."

"But-" Lily's resolve was already faltering.

"Go get dressed," Scorpius pushed Lily towards the room. She glanced back at them before disappearing in the room. Scorpius looked at Damon.

"It goes without saying 'Don't screw this up'," Damon laughed. He blew another raspberry on his son's cheek, who squeaked and laughed. "Buddy, it's you and me tonight."

"If you need us, you know, but try not to need us, m'kay?" Scorpius pressed.

"Got it brother," Damon nodded.

"Lils, you okay with me coming in and getting re-" Scorpius called out as he entered their bedroom. Lily stood at the dresser, searching for something in the drawer. Her hair was freshly washed, still wet from the shower, and she had only a towel wrapped around her.

"Yes, Scorpius?" Lily asked looking over her shoulder at him.

"I-" he couldn't formulate a coherent statement and she couldn't help but grin at him slightly, her cheeks pink.

"Something you need, Mr. Malfoy?" Lily teased quietly and Scorpius swallowed. She dropped her eyes, shy. It had been months, and other than the one or two times, they'd not been physically intimate. The implication in his eyes had her flushed.

"I-" Scorpius still couldn't form any words. He blurted out- "We can skip dinner and go straight to desert." Damon slammed to a stop, baby in his arms.

"I was just- yeah, cutting through, I can use the front door-" Damon started backing up quickly and Lily shook her head, stepping towards them.

"Gentry, be good for Daddy," Lily whispered, kissing the top of the baby's head. She glanced up at Damon, who was trying to keep his eyes anywhere but on her. "Keep him safe."

"I will," Damon promised as he jetted through the room at record speed, the baby squealing with laughter all the way through.

"I should get dressed if we're going to go out," Lily gestured to the towel. "I doubt any where would be this casual."

"Yeah," Scorpius nodded as Lily disappeared into the closet.

"Are we going somewhere I need to dress up for, or would the blue dress be okay?" Lily asked, suddenly excited at the prospect. She'd be with Scorpius, so she knew she'd be safe, and Damon would have Gentry at the house, so she knew they'd both be safe.

"Which blue dress, Mrs. Malfoy?" Scorpius asked, leaning in the doorway of the closet. Lily bit her lip as she looked at him, her heart strumming nervously in her chest. She couldn't recall a time she was more nervous and excited around him.

"This one," Lily gestured to a silky dark blue number that she'd bought while she'd been in Paris. Even after having Gentry, and the time that passed, she knew she'd still fit in it. He reached forward, touching the fabric.

"Perfect," he nodded and he headed back out of the room, that look in his eye, the one that Lily was familiar with. She'd seen it enough growing up, that hunger but denying him due to some greater good. She dressed, wondering about why he still deprived himself when he knew she'd not say 'no'. Her cheeks flamed, embarrassed. Maybe he didn't want tainted goods, now that he knew. She wasn't the sweet, pure little thing she'd once been.

Panic welled up. Maybe this dinner was his way of ending things, saying 'good-bye' in such a way that she'd not made a scene. Hadn't that always been the way in the movies she'd watched as of late. Traumatic, life-changing events always went down in crowded restaurants. The idea of him telling her that it was too much, that their marriage was over had her stomach tied in knots.

"Are you okay? You look kind of pale," Scorpius asked touching her arm. Lily looked up to the man standing handsomely before her. She swallowed. She would have to show him that she was worth the pain and struggles, worth the fight.

"Just starved!'' Lily's voice was bright, almost too cheerful and Scorpius raise his eyebrow slightly , but offered her his arm.

"Shall we?" he asked and she took his arm tightly, gripping it tightly. She nodded. She didn't know where he store his wand, but she had hers, always, her hair pinned up and twisted around it like it was a decorative hair stick. The plus side of having such a small, delicate wand.

Lily took the seat that Scorpius held out for her in the middle of the busy restaurant, her sitting before he circled around and sat across from her. She glanced at the menu, not really caring what there was to order. She was more focused on him, watching him as he studied the menu. She touched the rim of her glass of water, turning the offer of alcohol.

"I love you," Lily blurted out. Scorpius looked up from the menu, startled.

"I love you too," his smile seemed genuine but Lily couldn't help but frown.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" she asked of him. He dropped his menu.

"What makes you think that I need to tell you something?" Scorpius' voice had that tone, the one that Theron sometimes got when he was about to lie his butt off to her.

"Scorpius, you brought me out to a-"

"Are you ready to order?" an overly cheerful waitress interupted.

"Yes," Scorpius nodded. He looked to Lily. "You first, honey."

"I'll have the chicken," Lily replied dismissively.

"Which kind of chicken?" the waitress asked. Lily sighed, opening the menu and pointing at some breaded chicken dish. "Excellent choice, and for you sir?"

"I'll have..." Lily didn't focus on what he was saying, instead watched in almost painful acuity this man that she loved beyond herself. If he was going to leave her, she wasn't sure that she could hold herself together anymore than she already was. She stopped circling the rim of her glass a second, thinking that since Gentry was born, she hadn't been holding herself together very well. Only this morning did she fly off the handle at Damon about the baby being missing or stolen, just to find the baby in his crib chewing on his hand with a wet nappy.

"Lily, you were saying?" Scorpius interrupted her thoughts.

"Don't leave me, Scorpius. I can do better," Lily promised. Scorpius looked genuinely surprised.

"I'm not leaving you," Scorpius promised. He smiled, leaning forward. "I didn't lose 10 years with you to just walk away. I mean, sure it's not been all roses, but Merlin, Lily when has it ever been?"

"So you didn't bring me here to leave me?" Lily asked. Scorpius glanced away for a fraction of a second, and Lily knew that he was about to lie to her.

"I'm not leaving you, Lily," Scorpius promised.

"Uh-huh, okay," Lily sighed and focused more attention on the basket of bread than was probably warranted.

"Listen, Lily," Scorpius took her hand across the table. "You and I? We're forever. We promised that to each other. I'm not leaving you."

"But you are leaving, aren't you?" Lily breathed slowly. Scorpius nodded, ever so slightly, just the once.

"One last go," Scorpius explained.

"By yourself?" Lily asked. Scorpius shook his head. "Damon, too then?"

"Yeah," Scorpius answered.

"When?" Lily asked.

"Sixth of June, after Theron comes home," Scorpius offered her. "Maybe, you could take the boys to visit Gran. I know she'd love to see you all."

"Where are you going?" Lily looked up at him, her finger still tracing the rim of her glass, the sound a quiet hum in the chatter of the restuaraunt.

"You don't want to know," Scorpius promised her. She pursed her lips and leaned forward.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know," Lily reminded him.

"You aren't going to like it," he pointed out. She laughed, a mirthless laugh.

"I don't doubt that," Lily shook her head. "I have an idea. You don't need to put it into words, for now. But I do want something of you, and Damon, before you go."

"Anything... well, almost anything," Scorpius offered. "I'm not about to share you with him." Lily laughed again, this time it was one of those laughs that had them back to when they were younger and the worst thing facing them was whether or not Scorpius would think of her as 'old enough' for him.

"Not that, Merlin, are you bent?" Lily gasped through her laughter. "I want a family portrait of all of us. You and me, Theron, Damon and Gentry. Just in case."

"Of course," Scorpius agreed readily. There was no sense in trying to tell her that nothing bad would happen, he knew better. She knew better.

"Thank you," Lily replied as the waitress approached them with their plates.

"So you thought what?" Scorpius asked as Lily speared a piece of food.

"About this?" Lily hesitated. She took her bite, chewing it and swallowing before she answered. "I thought you brought me here to end our marriage."

"Why?"

"Because of how damaged I am," Lily couldn't believe how lax her words sounded, as if they were discussing something boring and mundane. Scorpius seized her hand in his.

"You're not damaged, not really," Scorpius promised. "I will make him pay for what he's done to you."

"I don't want you to," Lily pointed out. "It's not worth you risking... or Damon risking... anything."

"You still worry about him, do you not?" Scorpius asked. Lily glanced away for a second and he had his answer. "Lily, we're vested in this family, Damon and I. We will do whatever we have to do to make this unusual arrangement to work."

"What if one of you is hurt, or worse? I couldn't live with myself," Lily protested as their empty plates were taken away. Scorpius stroked the back of her hand with his finger.

"He and I have an agreement," Scorpius promised her.

"Which is?"

"Neither of us can talk about it," he told her. He leaned forward. "Unbreakable vow."

"Seriously? Are you two stupid or something?!" Lily griped. She sighed. "Fine, maybe it's better that I don't know. I'd better never find out, Scorpius, I swear."

"That's my goal," he offered her up as he handed back his signed receipt. "Shall we walk a bit? It's so nice out."

"Sure," she took his arm as the two of them walked from the front doors, down the cobbled sidewalk. She looked at him, biting her lip slightly.

"What?" he asked. She grinned and stood on her tippy toes, leaning in to him. He met her halfway, their lips meeting in the sweetest kiss.

"I've missed you," he breathed as he pulled back a bit.

"I've missed us," she countered as she leaned forward, deepening the kiss. Her hands went to the back of his neck, holding on while he wrapped his arms around her waist. She felt the butterflies in her stomach, her heart still pounded. Each kiss was like that first kiss, only better. She was older, wiser, and knew what the kisses could lead to, what she wanted from them.

"Lils," he breathed as her mouth left his and she brushed her lips along his jaw.

"Let's go home, Mr. Malfoy," Lily begged him softly. "You and I, let's go to bed."

"You mean?" Scorpius only hesitated before Lily turned, apparating them back to the nearest apparation point near their home. This time neither of them stumbled because of the method of travel. They stopped to share a kiss, Lily sliding her hands inside his jacket and tugging slightly on his dress shirt.

"Race you home," Lily taunted, releasing him. She was in heels, but she was no longer that unsteady creature she'd been first year in heals. She'd learned as she'd grown, and she could run in heels as well as she could barefooted. Scorpius was just as quick, only an arms' length away as they ran up the four flights of stairs, stopping only to press against each other at the top. Scorpius' hands eased up under her dress and she laughed, squirming under his bold touches.

"These are mine," he teased as she stepped out of her knickers.

"Keep 'em," Lily laughed. "I don't plan on needing them once I get inside."

He shoved them in his pocket as they exited the stairwell, heading to their apartment. Both drew up short as they entered, Damon standing there. The smiles slipped from their faces. Damon had something in his arms, a screaming, squalling infant whose face was redder than a tomato. He looked tired, frustrated.

"Look, I was about to send for you," Damon sighed pushing the baby at her. "He hates the bottles, and while I can't say I blame him when there are better ways to be fed, it's really frustrating."

"I'm sorry," Lily replied, her eyes on her son. Damon looked at Scorpius, irritation both of their faces.

"I really need to change," Lily protested over the yells of the baby. "Oh, screw it." They heard the fabric tear slightly, Lily swearing before silence fell over the house.

"I think I'm going-"

"No, Damon, you're not going anywhere," Lily snapped as he tried to cut through their room back to the nursery. "When he's done, hey, eyes up here!"

"Sorry, " Damon flushed bright red as he forced himself to look away from where Lily was propped up on the bed, her whole right side exposed while the baby ate greedily.

"When Gentry's done, you must take him," Lily told him almost forcibly. Damon glanced at Scorpius, the smirk on the other man's face telling more than Lily's words ever would.

"Oh," Damon replied with a knowing grin.

"Stop grinning at me like that, Damon," Lily challenged.

"Like what?" he feigned dumbness.

"Scorpius is my husband," Lily reminded him.

"Oh, trust me love, I'd never forget that," Damon met her eyes and for a fraction of a second, sharing with her more than words could.

"We're getting a family portrait done," Scorpius changed the subject, untying his tie and hanging up his jacket like he was having a normal conversation.

"Oh, isn't that sweet," Damon replied sarcastically.

"Don't be like that Damon," Lily pointed at him. "You're going to be in it, whether you want to or not. If nothing else than to confuse the heck out of our descendents in a few generations. And I swear, if you look at my boobs again-"

"You can't blame him," Scorpius teased. Lily shot him a look.

"Would you prefer I lie?" Damon asked. Lily narrowed her eyes at him.

"They're not for fun, Damon," she chastised as she took to burping the baby. She held him out to Damon, not bothering to cover up with the ruined dressed.

"I don't know, they look pretty fun to me," Scorpius offered as he took Gentry and handed him off to Damon, who refused to even look in Lily's direction.

"Have fun you two," Damon tossed over his shoulder as he bolted out of the room. Scorpius closed the door between their bedroom and the nursery for the first time since Gentry had come home.

"Where did we leave off?" Scorpius asked her as he turned back to look at Lily.

"I think you removed my knickers and were about to go for the rest," Lily taunted. Scorpius pulled them from his pocket.

"These knickers?"

"Mhmm," Lily murmured as he stepped closer. He dropped them to the floor as his mouth met hers, cradling her face in his hands.

"Is this okay?" he asked her as his fingers found the zipper to the ruined dress and tugged it down slowly.

"Better than okay, my love," Lily breathed as his mouth dipped from hers, exploring the rest of her body. She gasped at his intimate kisses, tangling her hands in his hair.

"Don't worry," Scorpius whispered. "I'll be gentle."