Hi everyone! So glad I finally made it to the end of the newest chapter! You might need a tissue for this one – I did! Enjoy!

Lori

********** Chapter 14 **********

It took over a month for Lucius to come to terms with the consequences of the decision he made that day so many years ago and Severus was on his way to inform Draco that his father was ready to see him. He stopped by the rooms he shared with Sirius first because he knew Harry was with him. Opening the door, Severus called his lover's name. "Is Harry still here?"

"Yes." Harry stood and faced his fiancé's godfather. "Is everything alright?"

"For the moment, yes…" Severus patted the younger man's arm. "I've told Lucius everything. He's gone over it all with me and even Sirius has spoken with him. He says he's ready. He wants to see you and Draco."

Harry hesitated glancing between Sirius and Severus. "H-He doesn't mind that Draco needs for me to be with him? That Draco's very dependant on me and only a few others?"

"He understands that Draco has gone through much in the last fourteen years." Severus explained looking to Sirius for support. "He may not be happy about those things, Harry, but he does understand."

"It is a devastating series of events that…To hear that it happened to you and your family…" Sirius shook his head sadly. "I'm surprised he's handling it this well."

"And without Narcissa." Severus commented. "She was always a calming influence on Lucius."

"Will he be able to help her with this?" Harry asked. "I don't think Draco will be able to recover fully without them."

"Draco will be alright as long as he has you…and me…as well as Mr. Zabini and Miss Parkinson." Severus tried to bolster Harry's confidence. "He also has Siri and your friends. He will be better than alright if he also gets his parents back."

Harry took a deep breath and nodded, exhaling slowly to calm himself. "I'll go get Draco, then. He said he'd either be in his studio or with Blaise and Pansy in the game room."

Severus glanced at his lover. "Are you joining us?"

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea." Sirius sighed. "Lucius is a proud man. I want to be there for him but I don't want him to feel resentment or worse… humiliation."

"Nonsense, Siri." Harry broke in. "If you don't come with us he might think you're avoiding him…blaming him for all of this."

That one comment blew Sirius out of the water. "What? No! It's not his fault at all!"

Harry stepped up to his godfather. "I know, Siri. That's why I think you need to come with us…in fact why don't you go in first with Severus and tell him Draco and I are on our way. Then you can ask if he'd like for you to stay. If he says no…"

"I'll excuse myself but he'll know I'm there if he needs to talk or whatever." Sirius nodded, understanding. He put a hand on Harry's shoulder and grinned. "You're a pretty smart kid."

"I just seem to have good instincts when it comes to this sort of thing." Harry smirked and hurried to find his fiancé.

********** LTF **********

"Really?" Draco was staring at Harry. Harry had found him with Blaise and Pansy in the game room and requested a moment with the blond. They were now standing in Draco's studio.

Harry nodded encouragingly. "He says he's ready…at least that's what our uncles say."

Draco felt dizzy. "I'm nervous. I want to see him…really I do…but what if…"

"Whatever you're thinking…Draco you're way off." Harry led his beloved to a chair and spoke softly to him.

Draco sighed looking up at the older boy. "How can you know that?"

"Because of things he said while still under the memory locking spell." Harry took Draco's hands in his. "When I told them you were their son, they both sounded so heartbroken when they denied it."

Draco found himself nodding as Harry spoke. "Yes…Uncle Sev told me that…"

"You see?" Harry placed a kiss on Draco's hand. "And just think about what they believed all this time – that they'd never conceived a child…never in all the years they'd been married. It made them both so very sad." Tears started to form in Draco's eyes as Harry went on. "I think they'll be happy to find they were wrong… and so very proud of how well you've handled living your life as Riddle's captive. You learned so much and were able to endure that horrific curse… Yes, it's been rocky since you awoke, but still you found your strength…At first it was me and Severus and our new friends lending you our strength but when Pettigrew invaded your tower you found inner strength. Now, you're also helping to free them from the spell Riddle placed on their minds and that gives them a future…"

Draco stood, now filled with shaky confidence. "Let's go."

Harry put his arms around the blond. "If we go in there like we're headed into a battle, he'll get upset. We'll knock and go in calmly and see what happens."

Draco took a deep breath and nodded. "Ok. I think I'm ready."

Harry held his betrothed hand as they walked down the staircase.

Sirius met them at the base of it. "Sev sent me to see what was taking you so long."

"Sorry." Harry told him. "Slight case of cold feet."

Sirius looked at the young blond. "I understand, Draco. I'm sort of dreading my visit to see James and Lily's portrait."

"Nonsense! They'll be so happy to see you!" Draco smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure they'll just be happy you did as they'd asked to the best of your ability."

Sirius nodded slowly. "And your parents will be happy you survived the years under Riddle's guardianship as well as that terrible curse."

"Right…" Draco squeezed Harry's hand. "So there's nothing to worry about."

"Nothing at all…" Sirius confirmed lightly as he steered the younger men toward Lucius' rooms.

********** LTF **********

Severus was standing right next to the door when the knock came. Glancing at his oldest friend, he asked for one last confirmation that it was alright to let Harry and Draco in.

"Please, Severus?" Lucius asked with anxiety evident in the tone of his voice.

The dark haired man sighed softly as he turned the knob and stepped back to allow their guests entry. "Sirius, you already know and have spoken with…" He paused as his lover walked past him. "This is James and Lily's son, Harry."

Draco let Harry go in first and watched as his father greeted his fiancé.

Lucius seemed shocked as he saw the young man's face. "There could never be any doubt that you are Prince Harrington." The older man held out a hand. "I see in your face evidence of both your parents. I must extend my most sincere condolences as well as a deeply heartfelt apolo…"

"Please don't…" Harry shook his head even as he shook the older man's hand. "Your condolences are appreciated but it's not your fault, sir. There is nothing I need an apology for. Not from you." He took a step to the side and turned back to look at Draco expectantly.

"I don't believe this young man needs an introduction…" Severus said softly as he pushed his godson lightly into the room.

"Draconis…" Lucius' hands were shaking as he reached them both out toward his son and he sighed with relief as a tear rolled down his cheek when his son's hands landed in his

"Hi…" Draco's lower lip trembled and he looked at Harry who stared back at him. Turning slightly, he looked into his father's eyes and took a deep breath. "Um…How should I…I mean… Well, I've wanted to call you 'dad' …or at least 'father' since Uncle Severus told me about you when I was twelve…"

Lucius squeezed his son's hands. "Whatever you're comfortable with, Draconis."

"Well…" Draco hesitated carefully removing one hand from his father's grip to reach for his betrothed. "Can we start with my name? Just Draco is fine."

Lucius nodded slowly, adjusting to this new information. "Alright… I-I can do that. I did as your cousin for all these years after all and your mother was going to use that as a nickname, you know…" He stopped as he realized he was about to begin rambling.

"Harry is perfect for me, please, sir." Harry interrupted softly keeping a soothing tone to his voice as he took hold of his fiancé's free hand. "And if you don't mind, sir, I'd like to use your name."

"Yes. That's fine, Harring – Harry." Lucius corrected himself.

"I'd like…I think I'd like…" Draco's breath caught in his throat and he looked to Harry again.

Harry glanced apologetically at his future father-in-law as Draco pulled him closer. The blond seemed to have been spooked so Harry kept one hand in Draco's while using the other to cup Draco's cheek. "You're fine, baby. You can do this. You've already done beautifully."

Lucius looked over at Severus and Sirius who were just standing nearby. Severus motioned toward Draco encouragingly so Lucius let his eyes drift back to his son's slightly disturbed facial expression. "If it helps…I always pictured my children calling me 'father'."

Draco's smile was watery as he nodded and Harry felt so touched to witness Lucius giving his son the first hug he'd had since his infancy. It was a bit awkward considering that the younger blond refused to let go of Harry's hand. When Harry looked over at his godfather, the older man seemed to have tears in his eyes as well.

The rest of the visit went well. Draco and Lucius traded questions and answers. Both men started out a little shy but, by the time the group took a break for tea, they had relaxed enough that Draco was no longer holding Harry's hand. In fact, Harry almost felt Draco would be able to handle time alone with the older man…and then Lucius asked about waking Narcissa and all the progress they'd made went down the drain. Draco's hand started to shake as he reached for Harry again.

"Yes, Lucius." Harry told his father-in-law as he accepted Draco's hand back into his. "We wanted to wake you both together but felt that focusing on one at a time might be more beneficial in the long run. Siri and Severus were able to help you relearn your past and come to grips with what happened. Now you can help them with Narcissa's recovery and we might have you both hale and hearty by Yule."

"She can be awakened that soon?" Lucius wanted to know. He was already considering what to say…how to say it…how she would take the news.

Glancing at Severus and then Harry, who squeezed his hand, Draco took a deep breath. "If he did the same thing in her mind that he did in yours, we can wake her by dinnertime."

"Draco…" Lucius paused seeing how his son had reacted to the simple question regarding this subject in a new light. "Please don't be afraid of your mother's response. I know she will simply embrace you and realize that you were within reach at all times…even though we only knew you as our relative."

"Do you really think so?" Draco whispered wiping a tear from his cheek.

"I'm sure of it." Lucius looked and sounded so serious that Draco wanted to believe it.

The younger blond looked at his future husband and nodded determinedly. "I think we should do it now."

At this, Harry shared a look with their godfathers.

Severus simply gestured toward the door and they all went over to it leading Lucius down the hallway to the room where Narcissa was waiting.

Draco didn't say a word as he watched Harry and Sirius set the room as it had been the day they'd woken Lucius. The bed with his mother lying on it was flanked by two chairs. He sat in one as Harry took his place in the other.

"Now, please, Lucius…do not touch her or us. It would either distract us or disrupt the healing process." Harry said with a very serious stare. When he received a nod from the elder blond, he and Draco each took hold of Narcissa's hands and then joined their own. They closed their eyes and began to breathe deeply.

Harry knew something was different as soon as he opened his eyes.

Instead of a plain room of four white walls, two chairs and a door, they found themselves in a small cottage with a few scattered alcoves. Where Lucius' memories had been scrambled and used to block layers of doors leading to the furthest, deepest room which held the most important memories…Narcissa's memories seemed to be showcased in frames around the large room. Most were hung on the walls while a few littered the pieces of furniture.

Draco walked around looking at the pictures. "Her childhood…teenage years…"

"This one is your parent's wedding portrait." Harry said peering at one of the larger ones. "Here she's meeting Lucius…"

"Look, Harry." Draco said standing next to the armoire. "This is my mother with her sisters. That's the one who's loyal to Riddle on the left. Andromeda is in the middle and my mother seems to be on the right."

"The alcoves might hold the secret." Harry told the blond softly. He walked over to the nearest alcove and saw a bookcase. Picking up a book entitled 'Beautiful One' revealed that it was an in-depth account of Narcissa's first year of life. There were a few that came before it and Harry presumed that they were about her parents and grandparents but the next one seemed to be a sequel as it was labeled 'Terrible Two'. Each book told the story of one year of Draco's mother's life. Thinking quickly, Harry looked further on to see if any were missing but the books left off at 'Sweet Sixteen'. "How old was your mother when she and Lucius got married, love?"

"Nineteen? Twenty? I never asked." Draco shrugged.

"Help me check the alcoves, Draco." Harry became cautiously excited. "We're looking for books which may be missing or misplaced."

Draco nodded and hurried over to the next alcove to lift a book. "This one is blank, Harry!"

The older boy came over and looked at the binding. "It's title is 'The Golden Years'. It hasn't been written yet, love."

Together they went to the next alcove and found what they were looking for.

"Harry! Look here!" Draco cried as he lifted a book. "The titles go from eighteen to twenty-three!"

Harry nodded and kissed his fiancé's cheek. They proceeded to search the cottage until – exhausted Harry sat down on his chair again, closed his eyes and tilted his head up in silent prayer. "If we stay much longer, we risk our own mental health, Draco."

The sound of a disappointed sniffle made Harry open his eyes as he looked toward the blond. That's when he realized he'd seen something interesting on the ceiling. He gripped Draco's arm and pointed up.

Seeing a large empty frame attached to the plain ceiling, Draco gasped. "An attic?"

Harry nodded grimly and summoned the Sword. Pointing it up at the frame, Harry conjured a solid set of stairs.

Draco climbed up to the top and placed his hand flat against the middle of the frame where a canvas would normally be and it turned into the same shimmering material that Lucius' 'doors' had been made of. He grinned at his future husband before climbing the last few steps.

Inside the 'attic' was a locked trunk and several paintings.

Harry cast spells to levitate the paintings down into the main cottage. Then he placed the tip of Gryffindor's Sword against the lock of the trunk.

Draco shed a tear as he picked up four of the six books that lay inside the trunk. "Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-one, and Twenty-two! Oh, Harry!"

The brunette picked up the fifth book and read the title. "Draco-love, look at this one. 'Pregnancy and Birth of My First Child' – an excerpt from my twentieth year."

"And the other must be about becoming the Queen. It's called 'The King and I'." Draco grinned. "Let's put them where they belong."

Harry's staircase was still waiting so the descended together and placed the books in the correct order before vanishing the artificial construct and sitting in their chairs. Looking into each other's eyes they blinked flinching at the lights as they came back to themselves. Hoping beyond hope that Narcissa would behave as Lucius had predicted, Harry looked up at her face to see a very distraught woman.

"Baby?" Narcissa asked, tears rolling down her face as she stared at Draco in fascination. "You're my baby?"

Draco nodded and moved closer.

Her hands reached out and cupped his face. "I had a baby! Oh, my darling Draco!"

With an audible sob, Draco let his mother wrap her arms around his neck as he helped her rise to a more comfortable seated position.

Harry looked over to where Lucius was standing and carefully approached. "You were right, Lucius. She has welcomed him with open arms. Why do you watch from afar?"

"I wonder if she will forgive me…" Lucius whispered with a frown. "You may not believe I should apologize, but she may feel differently…and if she does not accept the apology or the reasons behind my decision…what will become of us and our marriage and our son?"

Harry wanted to say that the older man's fears were unfounded but was interrupted by Narcissa's voice asking after the fate of her husband. He met Lucius' happily surprised gaze and grinned. "You see?" Turning around, Harry saw that Draco was now helping his mother to stand.

As soon as Lucius hurried to her side and folded his arms around her, she whispered just barely loud enough that she could still be heard. "How many times did we wish he were ours? How many times did we say 'if only'?"

"We were deceived, my love." Lucius felt the guilt pouring from his heart.

"How do we know this is not another deception?" Narcissa asked, every word dripped with fear.

Sirius and Severus finally stepped forward. They explained things to the best of their abilities, amused that, even though she was skeptical, she didn't let go of her son for one moment.

Harry could see that Draco was getting uncomfortable, so he cleared his throat and was quickly introduced by his godfather to his future mother-in-law. Draco blushed as he reached out for the brunette's hand and pulled him close.

Narcissa's eyebrow rose. "You boys are awfully close already."

"It's nearly Yule, Your Majesty, and we liberated the castle on All Hallow's Eve." Harry informed her. "Draco and I have had plenty of time to get acquainted."

She frowned. "No…it's more than that…You seem…"

"Mum…" Draco's breath caught as he realized what he'd just said and said it again. "Mum…That's nice. May I call you that?"

Tears filled her eyes as Narcissa nodded and hugged him again. "Of course, my darling!"

"Well, Mum…" Draco shivered at the pleasure of saying her rightful name. "Harry and I will be married in several months and we have quite a few things in common…"

"Such as a bedroom?" The Queen asked lightly.

Harry's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets but Draco took it in stride. "Well, I was extremely affected by the curse Riddle placed on me. I couldn't…wouldn't… I refused to allow him out of my sight for the first several days. Nothing could calm me if he seemed about to leave the room."

Her eyes swung toward the brunette. "And you didn't mind the restrictions such behavior put upon you?"

Harry narrowed his gaze at her. "I have dreamed of Draco for years. I was already in love with him before the curse was placed and have only fallen harder since our first kiss."

A deeply blushing Draco confessed that he felt the same. "We dreamed of each other, Mum…and Riddle's spell was only able to be broken by True Love's Kiss."

"I have one request." She said with a smirk. "Don't make us grandparents before we get used to being parents."

"Agreed." Harry chuckled as Draco's face flushed with color. "Why don't you and Lucius have dinner here by yourselves? Draco and I can announce your recovery at the dinner table and this way, you can ease yourselves back into the life of royal luxury you deserve but have been forced to live without."

Draco's parents shared a glance before accepting his offer.

********** LTF **********

I know this was a short one but the next few will be long because I don't plan on going over 20 chapters. It's already longer than I expected! LOL!