Hi everyone! Another chapter is here and this time it's April. New babies will be born and there will be an update on Andy's condition. I know some of you are having a hard time with Andy's stroke and I'm really sorry about that. I'm also sorry it's taking so long to get each chapter out but I've got stuff going on in RL too. I hope you all stick with me til the end.

Lori

******** ******** Chapter 44 ******** ********

The new healers were able to improve Andromeda's quality of life by beginning to help her relearn how to move her arms and legs. They used spells as well as actual physical activity. They also tried to teach her how to speak again. Narcissa spent much of her time with Andy by reading to her and by talking about life before they'd reconciled. She did what she could to keep her sister's mind alert and active. Al had been happy to help, so long as he could borrow Draco's lab to do the brewing and use ingredients from their diverse garden.

April came quickly and soon enough they were welcoming Hermione's new baby boy. Ron and Hermione appreciated their gift of a new crib - especially when they watched it assemble itself. They also appreciated that Harry and Draco wanted to spend more time with their daughter, Angelica. They knew they would need help with controlling her powerful magic.

The new baby was named Hugo Gallard Weasley and he looked a lot like Hermione's father. He slept most of the time and when he didn't, he demanded a lot of attention.

Harry and Draco babysat Angelica for most of the first week of Hugo's life and the twins didn't seem to mind sharing their parents but the elder Weasleys also wanted some of her time. They took over the following week but visited with Ron and Hermione easily since they lived in the same house. Luckily for the youngest Weasley couple, they had many helpers.

It was no big surprise when Harry found out that the Weasleys had taken his idea to begin the children's education early which happened one day when he visited the Burrow. Harry had arrived to speak with Molly but couldn't find her inside the house. Peeking outside of the kitchen window he saw Molly and Katie in the garden with all of the older children. The ones around his own children's age seemed to be looking at coloring books while the newest members of the group were napping in the shade.

Harry went out to join them and was welcomed with squeals of joy from the older children. They were all very happy to see their uncle Harry. He scooped up his goddaughter and cuddled her a little before setting her back down on the blanket. Katie and Penny – who was still home recovering from her recent childbirth – came to greet him with hugs.

The Weasley matriarch told her daughters-in-law she'd prepare some bottles for the babies and a snack for the adults and went inside with Harry. She hugged the young man who she thought of as a son and asked what was wrong.

"How do you know anything is wrong?" Harry asked edging around the question. "Maybe I just wanted to visit..."

"Nonsense, you've been out of sorts for days. Now tell me...what is it?" Molly sighed. She'd always been able to tell when something was wrong with one of her babies... even Harry.

"I guess I'm just a little depressed." Harry told her. "Everything with Andromeda is getting to me. It's strange walking into the room knowing how she is. Even stranger to wonder if she'll remember the last conversation we had. Will she even remember what we had for breakfast? What if her condition gets worse? What if she doesn't even remember who I am? What if she doesn't remember Teddy?"

"Oh, Harry...you poor dear." Molly tsked at him as she walked over to the door and called Katie to get the tray. Penny picked up her wand and cast a hover charm while Katie hurried to steer it toward the table near the nappers. When she was sure her daughters-in-law had everything under control, Molly turned back to Harry.

"How do I do it Molly? How do I explain to him that his grandmother doesn't know him? H-How do I help him move on?" Harry began to cry. "I'm his godfather. I'm supposed to be able to help him with things like this."

"Oh, Harry... I'm not sure it has to be explained just yet. He's awfully young after all. She's sick and the forgetfulness is part of the sickness. The best we can do is tell him that and hope he understands." Molly served up some of Harry's favorite dish along with a mug of hot chocolate. "If he doesn't now he will when he's older."

"He just gets really quiet and doesn't say much...when she forgets something small..." Harry sniffled softly. "When it's something big he runs to me and hugs my leg as tightly as he can until I pick him up and leave the room."

"He will take his cues from you, Harry. How do you act when she forgets?" Molly asked knowingly.

Harry's jaw hung open as he realized that Teddy was copying his behavior. "You're right, Molly. He's mimicking me. I get quiet and wait for Teddy to react before I make any further moves."

The older woman nodded. "So he watches you...and reaches to you."

Harry nodded slowly after drying his eyes. "I have you and Draco to talk to but poor Teddy has no one but me and Andy."

"That's nonsense – Draco will be there for Teddy too, not to mention the Malfoys…" Molly patted his shoulder. "And anyway, at this age the poor thing probably won't say much. Just talk about her often and in a few years we can tell him things about her when he asks."

Harry nodded slowly. "I guess I forget that he's still little."

"It's quite easy to do that, dear." Molly smiled. "Teddy and the twins are very advanced, you know."

"Are they?" Harry frowned. "I was never around any infants as a child or teenager."

"Oh, my – of course you weren't, dear. Well, the twins are indeed very advanced for their age." Molly explained. "Most children have problems learning to share but Lyra always offers her toys to Angie and the others when they play in a group. Caelum is shy but often babbles to Cory or Lyra."

Harry grinned with pride at knowing his children were behaving so kindly. "But they know and love their cousins. What about the kids outside their family?"

"I assumed they behaved that way normally, Harry…and we haven't been entertaining any other children." Molly shrugged her shoulders. "Why don't you go up and visit Hermione and then head home? I'm sure Draco misses you by now."

Harry kissed her cheek and did as she'd suggested. While breastfeeding Hugo under a towel, Hermione told him all sorts of statistics that agreed with Molly on most counts so Harry felt infinitely better during the rest of his visit.

Draco enjoyed the time he spent with his parents, the children and Andy while Harry was away but he missed the presence of his husband. He couldn't explain the feeling of being separated that he felt. So when Harry returned, the blond rushed into his arms and buried his face into Harry's neck.

Harry was startled but quickly embraced his pregnant spouse. "What's wrong, Dragon?"

"Nothing…I just missed you." Draco mumbled and just like that it was as if someone had flipped a switch. Draco's silver eyes seemed to darken into anger as he pulled away sharply. "Is that allowed? Didn't you miss me?"

A strange look of distress took over Draco's face and Harry could see the other man's lip begin to tremble. He knew he had to act fast. "Of course I missed you." Harry didn't let him get out of arm's reach before pulling him back in. "I love you. I just wondered why you felt the…" He stopped as he saw his mother-in-law's head shaking. Something clicked in his mind. "It's the baby…Isn't it? I'm sorry I didn't understand."

Draco collapsed into a pile of tears in Harry's arms. "I didn't understand either, Harry. I've felt this awful lonely feeling all day. This intense feeling of being away from you… and when I saw you I suddenly needed to be as close to you as possible!"

"Mood swings are common during pregnancy, darling. You know that." Narcissa said from her seat on the sofa. "And what you just described is only another craving, Dearest. Perhaps you didn't feel it during the first pregnancy but you have more going on in your lives now to distract you from each other."

Draco looked over at his mother with a look of confusion which was echoed by Harry.

"You were craving Harry's magic, Darling." She explained softly. At their look of understanding, Narcissa continued. "Now, I want you both to listen to me. Your father and the elves can take care of the children and I have Andromeda covered. You two need some time alone. Just relax."

Harry caught her line of thinking. "Maybe we should go to a movie…"

"Nachos?" Draco breathed.

Harry's lips curved. "Yes, love. We'll have nachos."

Draco smiled through his tears and then hurried to summon their cloaks.

Seated in a dark corner of the cinema Harry felt bold. He'd heard stories of people who had seen couples having sex in dark corners of otherwise crowded places. Now he wanted to try it. "Dragon…" Harry whispered taking one of Draco's hands in his own. "Would you like to sit in my lap?"

Draco frowned at him. "How will you see the movie?"

"I won't…" Harry smirked as he leaned in to kiss Draco's hand.

Draco's breath caught and he cleared his throat. "Harry, I…"

Harry moved his lips to the pulse point of his husband's wrist and licked delicately.

"Someone will see!" The blond protested weakly. He had long since finished his nachos and Harry's suggestion was setting his stomach to churning.

"I'll cast some charms. Nobody will see." Harry winked. "Or hear…"

Draco bit his lip and gave in. He let Harry guide him into position after watching as the brunette set a Notice-Me-Not charm as well as a silencing charm.

Harry lowered his zipper and then Draco's trousers before whispering the lubrication spell and then pushing two fingers into his opening. Draco's low moan aroused Harry even further so he quickly guided the blond down onto his cock. Soon he had his husband gasping and writhing in delight as they both rode the waves of their passion.

When they arrived at home, Draco looked relaxed and happy. Harry was smiling and seemed peaceful.

"There, now…You see, Dragon? All you needed was a nice few hours alone." Narcissa's lips were curved in happiness that her son's anxiety had been soothed.

Draco felt his cheeks warm. "Yes, Mother…and the nachos did wonders too."

Harry kissed Draco's cheek as they joined her on the sofa. "How have things gone here while we were out?"

Narcissa bit her lip and seemed to be holding back a laugh. "Lucius had a little problem with the boys but it wasn't anything to worry about."

Draco frowned. "What happened?"

"Well, it was time for their naps, you know…and Lucius had changed Caelum while Dinki changed Teddy but when they were placed into their cribs…" She shrugged as if helpless. "Well, they fussed and cried and then some accidental magic turned your father's hair purple." She covered her mouth with one hand and giggled. "The boys stopped crying soon after that and settled down to sleep."

Harry chuckled but Draco looked horrified. "Is it fixed?"

"Of course, darling." She smirked. "Would I leave your father in such an undignified state?"

Draco sighed. "Not unless you were the one who'd done it."

Narcissa grinned widely and winked. "Exactly."

This had Harry laughing again.

During dinner the next night Nettlestone Estate received an unexpected visitor.

"Please to be excusing Dinki, Masters, but there is being an unknown person arriving in the floo." Dinki said after popping into the dining room next to Harry's chair.

Harry thought quickly and made sure he had his wand before looking at his father-in-law. "I'll go find out what's going on." A solemn nod from Lucius was all the answer he needed but he squeezed Draco's hand lightly on his way out of the room.

"Hello, Harry." Kingsley Shacklebolt held out a hand to greet him.

"Not that I'm unhappy to see you, Kingsley, but you weren't exactly expected." Harry frowned cautiously. "What did we discuss at our last meeting?"

Understanding his friend's reasoning, the older man lowered his hand and answered the question. "We spoke of children's names, ending the Marriage Law and a special device from the Unspeakable division."

"Why didn't you use said device?" Harry wanted to know.

Kingsley smirked. "I simply didn't have it with me."

With a shrug, Harry shook the minister's hand. "Good to see you. Would you care to join us for dinner?"

"I am a mite peckish." Kingsley nodded as he followed Harry back to the dining room. "I've just come from a long meeting with the head of the Department of Marriage and Families."

One of Harry's eyebrows rose as he knocked twice. "Really?"

Lucius met them at the door and nodded formally to Harry's guest. "Good evening, Minister."

"You remember everyone, I'm sure." Harry said lightly as he summoned another chair for his friend.

"Draco – good to see you." He gave a nod of acknowledgement to his host's spouse and in-laws. "Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy – I'm sorry to interrupt your meal. I only came to speak with Harry."

"Good evening, Kingsley. How is Regina?" Draco's eyes sparkled as he sat again and continued to eat while the elves gathered a new place setting.

Harry grinned as his husband stood to shake Kingsley's hand. He was proud of the way Draco's confidence had grown over the last two years.

Narcissa was calm and gracious as she silently remembered Draco stuttering over the minister's name upon their first meeting and thought of how different this greeting was. Lucius simply noted the difference with a minute nod of approval that went unnoticed by the others.

"She is well, Draco." The older man smiled as he looked around the table. "She's due to assist our goddaughter in the birthing room in less than two weeks."

Harry's eyes sparkled. "Alicia was part of the second round of Ministry decreed pregnancies? I didn't know."

"She was one of the first volunteers." Kingsley grinned at his young friend. "I'll tell you an open secret…She and Ernie had been betrothed since they started their second year at Hogwarts. They fell into a deep and amazing friendship sometime in their first year and her father made the arrangements during the following summer holidays. She got the ring the day she turned sixteen and they married on the first day of October if you recall."

"For an open secret they sure did keep it under wraps." Harry smiled. He did indeed remember the wedding Kingsley mentioned. It had been the third ceremony of that day and he'd suspected for a long while that the Hufflepuff and his fellow Gryffindor had something going on besides friendship but neither of them had ever let on that it was true. "They always swore they were just friends. I was shocked to find out they were allowed to marry because they were both purebloods."

"The betrothal allowed them to ignore that part of the marriage law." The older man nodded.

Draco's lips curved slightly and his hand brushed Harry's as he murmured. "How romantic…"

Lucius rolled his eyes discreetly but Narcissa smiled at the lack of sarcasm in her son's comment. She'd seen Draco change during his relationship with Harry and knew it was all to the good. The boy she'd given birth to had lost his innocence a long time ago but Harry had managed to bring some of it back by loving him and protecting him.

"And you performed the ceremony for them. That's how I found out you were her godfather." Harry chuckled. "For a Gryffindor, Alicia was awfully Slytherin. She never told us much."

"I was an auror, Harry. She could've been in danger if we'd let anyone know she and I had a connection." Kingsley glanced at the elder Malfoy but Lucius simply continued eating. "Anyway, if it were publicly known that they were engaged so young they would've been treated differently and they didn't want that. Their first was a daughter…Jane Aster…and, although this time they insisted on not finding out the gender, Ernie's father hopes the next will be a son to carry on the Macmillan name."

Draco sighed softly. "I'm glad we don't have to worry about that."

Harry grinned at his husband. "We're lucky, love. Maybe they will be too."

"Oh, they will be." Kingsley chuckled. "I spoke with her healer and she is certain that the child is male."

Harry's eyes widened. "Is everyone a closet Slytherin?"

Draco tried to hide a laugh. "So what did you need to talk about with Harry?"

"The date we've chosen for the Marriage Law to end is the last day of this month. At that point, all new marriages will be the citizens' own choice." Kingsley shared a look with Harry. "Upon the first of May, we will begin calling couples in – based on the date of their wedding and the birth-date of the couple's most recent child – to evaluate their relationships and see who needs counseling and who needs permission to divorce and who is happy in their marriages. I will personally be vouching for those I know are happy but you will still be required to attend the official meeting."

Harry's eyes shone with happiness and pride as his hand intertwined with his husband's. "Totally understandable."

"Well, for my part, I have no trouble with telling the interviewer how happy I am in our marriage." Draco squeezed Harry's hand before becoming engrossed in his meal.

"As can be seen by your current pregnancy…" The other man's grin was serene.

Sighing happily, Harry looked at his friend with shining eyes. "Actually, our little girl is giving us quite a hard time. His stomach is easy one minute and unsettled the next."

"That's not to mention my moods, Harry." Draco frowned between bites. "The other day I went from calm to a murderous rage in no time flat and then broke down in tears not five minutes after that. We're lucky my magic is under control."

"The healer gave us a potion recipe for hormone regulation as soon as I called her and it's been ok ever since." Harry told his guest. "But it was touch and go for a good few weeks."

"You have my sympathies. Regina and I tried once to have children." A haunted look overtook Kingsley momentarily. "Please don't tell Regina I told you this – we never speak of it…She had a volatile and yet extremely delicate pregnancy. She made it to the sixth month before miscarrying in the most frightful manner. We never tried again because the experience scarred us deeply but we each take pride and pleasure in our godchildren."

Draco dropped his fork with a loud clatter. His hands shook as he reached out to Harry on one side and his mother on the other. Both of them instantly dropped their own silverware to take hold and comfort him.

Startled, Kingsley seemed to understand that he'd unknowingly upset the young blond. "Draco, it was a particular condition that runs in her family that caused the miscarriage not anything else. Your situation is completely different."

"Miscarriage has always been a deeply rooted fear for me, Kingsley." Draco whispered still trembling.

"I apologize. I certainly didn't mean to distress you." Guilt and sadness seeped palpably from their guest.

"You couldn't have known, Kings." Harry spoke softly to help sooth both men.

Draco stared at his plate. "I think I'll go lie down. I'm not so hungry anymore."

Harry was just glad Draco had eaten as much as he had. "Alright, love. Go relax and I'll be up shortly." He kissed his husband's cheek and watched as the blond walked from the room still visibly overwrought.

"I'll sit with him, Harry." Lucius said gruffly as he stood. "Lovely to see you, Minister. Good night."

Narcissa finished eating a few moments later and left as well but Harry and Kingsley began to speak in depth about the things they each thought the councilors should look for in the interviews. "I also think you should consult with our friend Pansy Parkinson-Flint. She was abused in her first marriage so she'll be able to tell us certain things that most wouldn't look for."

"I'll contact her in the morning, Harry. Thanks." Kingsley said as he stood. "You've been a real help with this."

"Do you mind seeing yourself out? I'm worried for Draco." Harry bit his lip and glanced up as if he could see the next floor through the ceiling.

"Of course, Harry." He said. "Again, I'm so sorry to upset him."

Harry sighed. "It's taken less in the past to distress Draco. He'll calm down soon, I'm sure."

Kingsley nodded and walked quietly from the room.

Harry closed his eyes and raised his wand to close down the wards for the night as soon as his friend was gone. He went upstairs as quickly as he could and looked in the room he shared with his husband but Draco wasn't there. Harry's next stop was the nursery and that's where he found his Dragon.

He was sitting in one rocking chair holding their daughter. Lucius was holding Caelum in the other one. Both children were asleep and oblivious to the tears running down Draco's cheeks as he rocked Lyra.

Harry sighed again as he approached the anguished blond. He knelt next to his husband and looked up into tearful grey eyes. "I want to say something but I don't know what will help you."

Draco's eyes closed as he reached forward to touch Harry's hair. "Don't say anything, Harry…hold me?"

Harry nodded and then carefully lifted their sleeping daughter from Draco's arms to place her in her crib. He met Lucius' gaze as he helped his husband stand and mouthed a silent 'good night' and 'thank you' on the way out.

When they reached the master suite Draco found himself delicately gathered into his husband's arms. He cleaved tightly to his lover who began to murmur soothing noises softly into his ear.

Harry lifted Draco and gently placed him on the bed before joining him with a handkerchief at the ready. He dried the tears as best he could and called for Dinki to bring hot chocolate.

Draco rested in the warmth and comfort of Harry's presence and as soon as he'd finished his cup of hot chocolate was calm enough to fall asleep.

Several days later, Harry received a note from Alicia Macmillan about the birth of her son Jonathon Aries. He'd come into the world a week and a half early on the morning of the nineteenth of April. She and Ernie would be holding a small gathering in two weeks to celebrate and invited Harry and Draco to join them. The brunette sighed and decided to let Draco make that choice. It had taken several hours to calm the blond after a nightmare and that was days after Kingsley's visit. He dutifully showed the note to his husband and agreed when Draco quietly said that it was probably best if they bowed out this time.

Thanks again for the reviews and support! If I'm lucky, I'll have the next chapter by New Years! Cross your fingers!