Narcissa was woken the next morning by a warm nuzzling at her throat. Without opening her eyes, Narcissa placed her hand on Lucius's head, and laced her fingers in his hair.
"So, will this be a long engagement or a short one? I'd like to be Mrs. Lucius Malfoy sooner rather than later, if you don't mind."
He chuckled softly, placing tiny pecks along the line of her jaw. "I've already filed the necessary paperwork. You can start introducing yourself as Narcissa Malfoy from now on, if you'd like."
"Splendid plan," she giggled, eyes popping open so she could grin at him. "As the new Mrs. Malfoy, I'd like you to please exercise your conjugal rights as my husband."
"Right now?" The corner of his mouth curled upwards, and his hand immediately began to creep along her thigh.
"Yes, before our out-of-wedlock little son wakes up," she drawled, though her eyes shone.
"I guess we'll need to change his name from Fitzmalfoy to Malfoy then," he purred distractedly, diving beneath the blanket to kiss her stomach.
"And you'll name him as your heir?"
"As long as none of my other wives come forward to claim their sons' inheritance, I don't see why not."
Narcissa's peals of laughter quickly melted into gasps and moans, and Lucius was decidedly late for his first meeting that day.
"-And, Lyssa, he got down on one knee and everything, isn't it the sweetest thing?"
"Sweetie, that's a gorgeous rock."
"Apparently it was his grandmother's, and his great-great grandmother's before that. It's an heirloom! Lucius explained that there are three, so this one will go to my great-grandson's wife, Aethel's will go to my grandson's, and Lucius's grandmother's… oh, I forget her name… but that'll be Draco's wife's."
"It's huge, though!"
Narcissa grinned. "Tastefully so, I think."
"Well, of course! How many karats, do you think? Oh, don't answer that!" Lysandra laughed and sprang to her feet, grabbing Narcissa's hand. "Let go get lunch, in a really sunny cafe where everyone can see!"
Narcissa scooped up Draco in her free arm, and the two women headed out of the flat Lysandra and Rabastan shared.
"How's Rabastan been lately?"
"Oh, you know," she waved a hand disinterestedly. "He's always so busy, it's absolutely no fun. All this Death Eater business..." Lysandra shook her head, as though serving the most powerful wizard of all time were a menial and thankless secretarial post. "And he comes home, always wanting sex, just sex, all the time, waking me up at three in the morning... And I mean, I do want a baby, so I let him when I'm ovulating, but I like a bit of romance, you know?"
Narcissa nodded. "Lucius is the same way, I don't mind though... Well, I do miss him being around, and it exhausts him, though he doesn't like to let on... But I suppose it's difficult for them, leading double lives. Lucius is at the Ministry almost every single day and leads raids on Muggle villages most nights- he could handle one or the other without a wink of stress, I know it, but he insists on taking on both, and it's taking up all his time! There are only so many hours in the day, and he does need sleep. And sex," she added as an afterthought. "It's almost like sex relaxes him more than sleep. He certainly wants it more than he wants sleep," she laughed.
"Well, that's men for you!" Lysandra agreed. "Rabby comes home at all odd hours, and what he really needs is just to be given a warm glass of milk and a nice nap, but of course he doesn't want what's good for him. I swear, they must hand out goblets of testosterone at those bloody meetings; Jen tells me her Rodtimer is the exact same way..." she shook her head. "Boys."
"Well, what's to be done when there's all that adrenaline and magic and competitive spirit going around?"
"What's to be done? The wives, apparently. That archaic little speech that women used to get about sex up until our grandmothers' generation? How do you think those prim and proper little pureblooded wives would've handled men who wanted them the way our husbands want us? Why, they'd have to have smelling salts under their pillows to keep them from passing out with shock!" The two young women laughed.
"Could I hold Draco for a little while?" Lysandra asked as they settled into a nearby café and set their bags down. "After all, I should probably practice!"
"Of course you can! He's a little sleepy right now, so he may fuss a bit, but don't worry."
"He's a beautiful darling," Lysandra crooned. "He's got his daddy's eyes."
"Lucius's hair, too; it's so light blonde. And it's hard to tell with those chubby little cheeks, but hopefully his daddy's lovely cheekbones. My nose," she murmured happily, "and my smile, too, you can ready see the little dimples when he's really happy about something."
"Your life is perfect, isn't it?" Lysandra smiled, stroking Draco's cheek.
Narcissa laughed. "It took some work getting there, but I'm so happy now."
Lysandra beamed at her, her even white teeth shining. It had taken Narcissa some time to adjust to her friend's too-perfect appearance, as though she'd always just sauntered off the pages of Witch Weekly. Narcissa smiled back, feeling distinctly average.
"Let's order, sweetie, I'm starving. I could kill for a good café au lait. What are you getting?"
"Muffin, maybe?" she suggested mildly. "Although what I'm really dying for is some watermelon. Isn't that strange?"
"A bit, and I don't know that it's in season." Her eyes suddenly grew huge. "Oh Merlin, Cissy, strange cravings? You don't think you might have another little one on the way?"
"Not possible," Narcissa assured her, though rather sadly. "There was an accident before I had Draco, it was a dreadful delivery... anyway, I can't have more children."
"Can't... or shouldn't?"
Narcissa paused. She didn't know if Draco's birth had physically eliminated the possibility of having a child, or if she should be taking precautionary measures to ensure that she didn't. "I think can't."
Lysandra grimaced in sympathy. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No," replied Narcissa. "I have Draco, I have a husband who loves me and whom I adore. What's done is done."
"Fair enough. A loving husband with such fantastic taste in jewelry is nothing to complain about!" she laughed. "Let me see it again?" she begged, gesturing to Narcissa's left hand.
Narcissa obliged happily.
Lucius wasn't there when she returned, though it was only late afternoon, and she hadn't really expected him to be. However, as supper approached and there was still no sign of him, Narcissa chose not to let the third plate go to waste, and flooed Severus.
"Lucius is out- do you want to come over to eat?"
He seemed vaguely wary of the invitation, and Narcissa could hardly blame him after all the child care they'd coerced him into, but he eventually agreed to come over at eight. She doubted that he had any plans until then, but waited patiently nonetheless. The knocker sounded at precisely eight o'clock, and Narcissa opened the door, beaming.
"We could sit in the formal dining room, but Lucius is out and I don't like it in there," she announced brightly, before pausing with a scowl. "That is to say... I don't dislike it, it's...er... a traditional Malfoy... Oh, it's just hideous, isn't it?" she finished hopelessly, surrendering to her impulse to speak freely to him. He shrugged, impassive to the decor of her home.
"So where is Lucius tonight?" he asked mildly, shaking his head quickly when she held out Draco, offering to let him hold the boy.
"Oh, I'm not sure," she sighed. "It's too late for work, so perhaps one of his nocturnal adventures?"
Narcissa paused after she'd spoken. "Although... you'd be with him, wouldn't you?"
Severus shrugged. "Probably, but not necessarily."
"Well, maybe he's just working late, then. He never owls, though. I don't mind; I trust him. Well, I do mind a bit, but only because I worry. And because he's so very handsome." Narcissa gave a mournful sigh, glancing at the clock. "Oh, no, what am I saying? I do trust him. Entirely."
"Glad to hear it," Severus muttered under his breath.
"Let's go eat now, shall we?"
Severus nodded, and followed her into a smaller, family dining room.
"So what have you been up to lately?" Narcissa asked as they were served by the elves.
"I've been working on a potion to diminish the behavioral side effects of lycanthropy, as well as experimenting with vampire venom in different poisons. Also, I just need to find the right suffix for a new spell I've come up with."
"We should find you a girlfriend."
For some reason, this caused Severus to turn a faint pink, and he wouldn't meet her eye. "I think I've quite enough to occupy my time."
"Are you shy?" she teased. "Severus, lots of girls like lethal potions and curses."
"I don't want to discuss it."
Narcissa was going to press the issue, but stopped when she saw the serious look on his face.
"Alright, then. But at least consider a vacation. You look tired."
"Life is busy for those of us who aren't housewives."
Narcissa laughed at the jibe, and the corner of Severus's mouth twitched as well.
After eating, Narcissa put Draco to bed and they moved to her study. The next couple of hours passed in companionable conversation, but at ten, Severus rose.
"Thank you for supper."
"Leaving already?" she asked sadly, rising to her feet. "Well, alright then. I'll tell Lucius you say 'hello'."
He nodded briefly and headed towards the fireplace. "It's alright if I use your floo?"
"Of course. Good bye, then."
After he vanished, Narcissa settled in a wingchair before the fire in glum silence. She wondered if Severus's abrupt departure had anything to do with the master both he and her husband served. If so, Lucius wouldn't be home until much later. She knew she should go to bed, but decided to wait just a bit longer before retiring, in hopes that he would return soon.
Near midnight, Narcissa was wrenched from her sleep by a panicked cry.
"Cissy! Oh, Narcissa!"
Her head swiveled in confusion, but she finally realized that the voice came from the hearth in front of her.
"Lyssa!" she gasped, dropping to her knees before the green flame that revealed her friend's tearful face. "Are you hurt? Is Rabastan-"
"You husband, Narcissa!" she sobbed, too distressed to formulate a clear sentence. "He's... he's..."
Narcissa's blood was ice. "What's happened?" she demanded, beginning to shake. "Is he hurt? What's going on? You have to tell me! Lyssa-"
"Narcissa, he's cheating on you!"