Shit! Shitshitshitshitshit!

The room suddenly felt small, almost as if it had shrunk to the tiny amount of space that was just them. The silence was deafening in the stillness of the room and all he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears. Her back was still pressed against him and he was sure that she would feel his heart hammering in his chest.

He'd proposed. Fucking proposed. Naked, half asleep after she'd given him the blow job of his life and he'd fucking proposed. What the fuck was wrong with him? He'd told her he'd wait for her. He'd wait until she was ready, he wouldn't ask her until then. And yet here he was, blurting out a proposal, in a way that would make him hate himself for the rest of his life. More so if she said no, and ended it all.

Of course he wanted to be with her, be married to her, he'd known it from the start and he had told her as such. But this was not how he had wanted to ask her. He hadn't actually planned anything, but it certainly wouldn't have been in a way that was naked and post coital, and certainly not before she had told him she was ready.

A frustrated growl sat in his chest, threatening to bubble out. He wanted to slap himself. He'd fucked this up royally, the words were out and couldn't see how he could fix it.

She was completely frozen beside him, only the subtle movements of her chest as she took each breath indicated that she was even there with him. She'd heard him. Of course she had. Her quiet, whispered what? had let him know that the thoughts in his head had not remained thoughts, that he had indeed said them out loud. But she'd not made another sound.

It was possible that she thought he'd dropped off, had said the words in a sleep haze, but he didn't think so. She knew he never fell asleep straight away, preferring to feel her relax into him, waiting for her to fall into slumber while he watched her. No matter how exhausted he was, he always waited for her, and she knew it.

He heard a quiet intake of breath, and her fingers loosened from his. He let his hand drop away from hers, not wanting to let go, but he fought off the need to pull her to him and apologise, to take back what he said. He tried not to tense, but his spine stiffened, not sure what to expect.

She sat up, her back still to him, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She finally looked over her shoulder at him, her face impassive, unreadable. At least she didn't look angry, that was a start. He remained quiet, waiting for her to speak. Waiting for her to ask him what the hell he thought he was doing, to tell him to go to hell and to get out. He waited, not even sure what to say, if he should say something, as one moment turned into another and then stretched into an awkward silence.

"Draco?" she finally whispered, "What did you say?"

He pushed up onto one elbow, wanting to reach out to her, but holding back. He was struggling to gauge her reaction, she had closed herself off, not giving anything away.

"Hermione," His throat was suddenly dry again and her name came out as a choking sound. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Hermione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"What did you say?" She asked again.

He felt his face heat up, but there was no way she was going to let him out of this. He met her eyes and told her, "I believe I asked you to marry me."

She blinked. Her face remained passive, but he could see her pulse pick up, a tiny thrum at the base of her throat. She let out a shaky breath and swallowed. She nodded at him, acknowledging that yes, he had asked her but she didn't respond.

The silence stretched between them once more. He reached for her but she pulled away, standing and stepping backwards.

She started pacing, seemingly unaware that she was completely naked. Draco moved to sit on the edge of the bed, pulling the sheet across his lap, regardless of how agitated she was, she was naked, and him being aroused by that fact when she was so pissed off wouldn't do him any favours.

He let her pace, watching her walk back and forth across the plush carpet, muttering to herself. He didn't have a clue what to say to her, didn't know how to make everything okay again. He felt like he was suffocating, like there was no air in the room. But did he really have to say anything to her? He told her every day that he loved her, how amazingly beautiful she was, how incredible.

But of course, he assumed his words had been completely forgotten. The only thing that was in her head right then was his idiotic proposal.

She paused and looked at him, her expression of anger morphing into something that resembled confusion. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again, staring at him – almost through him - and then continued pacing.

"Hermione?" He said quietly, "Talk to me, please."

She turned to face him, hands on her hips and he couldn't stop the grin that crossed his face. She was fucking naked. Naked and angry and she was stunning. He wanted to cross the room, throw her to the floor and fuck the anger out of her. Lick every inch of her skin and tell her how much he needed her, how much he loved her. But he didn't move from his seated position, knowing that there was an outburst on its way and it would be best to stay put.

She frowned at his expression and looked down at herself, and her jaw clenched. She grabbed the bag that she had packed and tore it open, plunging her hand in, pulling out a deep red item and dragging it over her head. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop the laughter from bursting out. She was wearing the Iron Man t-shirt Scorpius had given him the day before. She had obviously packed it for him knowing that Scorp would love seeing him wearing it when they got home. But now he was being glared at by both her and Tony Stark. He found it highly amusing and if she wasn't so pissed at him he'd take a photo.

"You asked me to marry you Draco," she finally said, "Were you serious? Or was it just a drunken joke?"

"I'm not drunk." He said simply, "And I would never joke about that."

A beat of silence passed between them, before she resumed her pacing. "Did you plan this?"

He shook his head, "No. I didn't plan this. There's no way I would plan to propose to you like this."

"So, what?" she asked stopping at the furthest point in her pacing away from him, "You thought you would just randomly ask me. Even though we talked about it? Even though you said you wouldn't?"

"It kind of just slipped out."

"So you didn't mean it then?" Her eyes flamed, "It was a mistake?"

Draco huffed out a breath and stood, letting the sheet slide off him. He strode over to her, the four steps seeming like a thousand miles. He cupped her face and kissed her, pulling a yelp of surprise from her. Right then, he didn't give a crap about how angry she was, she was going to hear him out.

"I know we've been together for less than a year, way less than a year," Draco held her face and stared directly into her eyes, "But I know how I feel about you. I love everything about you. I love everything about us. I love being inside you. I love waking up next to you. I love just being with you. You make it easy to breath." He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "You are the most thoughtful person I've ever known. You've let Scorpius and me into your life without question, and you take care of us. You take care of us without hesitation and you do amazing things for us that no one has ever done before.

"Maybe it's too soon, and that's okay. You can tell me no, not yet. And we'll leave it at that. But the question is out there and I can't take it back, I don't want to take it back. You don't have to answer it now, you can answer it whenever you're ready. I'm quite prepared to wait for you."

Hermione's shoulders relaxed, "I don't have to answer now?"

He shook his head, "No. Not now. Not ever if you don't want to," he brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, "I love you, and I'm sorry that I asked you like I did. But I did mean it. I want to marry you. But it's up to you now, you tell me yes or no when you're ready."

He watched as her eyes cleared and the anger slowly left her. She nodded slowly, as if he'd answered the questions she had in her own head.

"You're naked," she said as if only just realising it.

Draco smiled, "I am. And you're wearing Iron man."

She looked down and let out a small laugh, "Oh."

He pressed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to him, "Are you okay?"

She nodded and pulled the shirt over her head, "Can we sleep?"

He kissed her gently and led her back to the bed. He pulled the covers over them and curled around her. She pulled his arms around her and he smiled.

Not great, he thought, but not totally fucked up.

Hermione's eyes flickered open, and she smiled. Draco was watching her, looking directly at her with a small smile on his face and complete adoration in his eyes. He was still holding her close, his arms and legs wrapped around her, warmth radiating off him. He was a mess, looking freshly fucked, regardless of the fact that hours had passed. His face was rumpled, hair everywhere, and was completely gorgeous and sexy in his morning state.

His fingers on her hip brushed over her skin raising goosebumps and causing her to shiver at his touch. But he didn't say a word.

"You're awake?"

Draco bent forward and kissed her, "I am. Have been for a while."

"Is it late?"

He shook his head, "No. It's still quite early." The room was still dim, just a scattering of early morning light forcing it's way in slim grey beams around the curtain.

"How long have you been watching me?"

"A while."

She scrunched her nose, "That's kind of creepy."

"Is it?"

She smiled and lifted her hand to his face, tracing his cheekbone and lips. "No. It's not really."

Her stomach flipped and she felt her nipples tighten. She wanted him, needed him. It had become her first instinct, her need for him, but she wasn't sure if he would want her, not after yet another freak out. She ran her hand slowly across his chest, her fingernails scratching across his skin, and trailed down the fine line of hair on his navel. Her fingers stopped when she felt him. He was hard, waiting for her. She leaned in closer, her lips just touching his, hesitating slightly, not sure what his reaction would be. But when his hand slipped between her thighs, she pressed her lips harder to his, feeling him kiss her back.

"I want you inside," she murmured, "I want you over me."

It was quiet and slow, each rocking gently against the other. Hushed sighs, tiny groans, whispered words of affection were all that they shared, the complete opposite of their usual loud moans and cries. Hermione clung to him, circling his shoulders with her arms, hooking her legs over his hips, as his hips pivoted with each thrust.

She heard the quiet whisper of her name, the quiet I love you, the muffled grunt against her neck as he thrust once more and shuddered over her. She gasped, her thighs shuddering and clamping hard against his hips, and she fell over the edge with him.

He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her jaw, before slipping out of her and rolling them to their sides.

She leaned in and brushed her lips over his, "Good morning."

Draco laughed, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

She sighed and nodded, "Surprisingly well. You?"

"Hardly at all." He gave her a small shrug, "Which is surprising, considering how amazingly exhausting your birthday present was." He swiped his thumb across her mouth and her tongue flicked out across the rough pad.

"So you liked your present then?"

He grinned, "Which part? Dinner or...?"

"All of it," she said.

He took her hand and kissed her fingers, "All of it." He assured her, "It was brilliant."

A weighted silence fell between them, and she realised he wasn't going to say anything about the previous night. He was remaining true to his word; it was now up to her.

She blinked her eyes shut and her heart squeezed tightly as she remembered the events of the previous night; dinner, phenomenal sex, marriage proposal, naked freak out. She was surprised he was still here with her. A myriad of emotions hit her. Terror and vulnerability, affection and desire, longing and need, love and lust, it was a heady rush but they all felt right. Felt like home.

She opened her eyes again and he was still simply watching her, no judgement in his eyes, no hurt or despair at her actions, just watching her.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I kind of freaked out."

"You had a pretty big reason to."

Hermione shook her head, "Not really. I knew you would ask." And she did. After the conversation they'd had following Scorpius' revelation that they should be married, she knew he'd ask her eventually. But he'd managed to throw her for a loop.

Everything and nothing had changed last night when the words had slipped from his lips. They already lived together, with his son, and had done for a while now. It seemed natural that this would be the next logical step to take. In her heart she knew she wanted to take that step, and she knew she wanted to take it with him.

But something between her heart and her brain was malfunctioning and the want to be with him, to say yes, was pushed aside and all the fear and hurt she had gone through remained at the forefront. He'd given her no reason to be afraid of committing herself to someone again, he had been patient and kind and understanding through all of her tantrums and melt downs, and she often wondered why he had stuck around. But he had, and here he was again, waiting for her.

He was still silent, watching patiently, while she sorted through her thoughts,

"You'll wait for me?" she asked quietly, almost afraid that he'd changed his mind over night. "You'll wait until I'm ready?"

He kissed her forehead, "Of course I will. I have no other place I want to be."

She let his words settle over her, no other place to be. "Why do you put up with me?"

"I don't put up with you," He corrected her, "I would never put up with you. I am with you because I love you. I love everything about you. Everything. And everything means the tantrums and the freak outs as well as the laughter and the smiles. I love how passionate you are, how insecure, how much you love my son. Everything. Do you understand?"

Hermione nodded, unable to respond, the lump in her throat was impairing her ability to breathe.

Everything.

He was the one who hadn't pushed her at the start. He was the one who had told her she wasn't damaged. He was the one who lay beside her and held her hand when her ex had shown up out of the blue. He was the one who kept her sane, was the voice of reason. He had moved into her flat and he wanted her to be a mother to his son. He had waited for her, and was still waiting for her.

A sudden calm washed over her and she ran her fingers through his hair, "Draco," her voice shook and tears pricked at her eyes, "You're my everything too."

He smiled, "I'd hoped so."

A single tear spilled over and her voice was barely a whisper when she said "Yes."

The smile slid from his face and he looked at her with an uncertainty, that maybe he hadn't heard her correctly, "Yes?"

"Yes," she gasped, her breath sticking in her throat, "Yes."

"Hermione? Are you saying...?"

She nodded, "Yes."

Draco's own breath caught, still unsure that she actually said it. He searched her eyes and saw no hesitation, no fear.

He smiled at her.

And then he kissed her.

It was soft and almost chaste, pressing gently against hers for several heartbeats. He tangled his fingers with hers, leaning further into the kiss, rolling her gently to her back. His mouth moved over hers, slowly, unhurried, the seconds slipping by and stretching into minutes.

He pulled back, breathless and grinning like a fool. "You said yes."

She grinned back at him through tears, "I said yes."

Hermione stood under the hot shower, the hot water sliding over her, easing away the aches and worries. She bit her lip but was unable to stop the smile that exploded across her face. She'd said yes. Yes.

Holy shit! She'd said yes.

"Are you still freaking out?"

She turned under the water and found him grinning at her. Naked. "You don't seriously think you're getting in here with me, do you?"

"That was my plan." His voice was low as his eyes raked over her body.

She shook her head, "Draco there's barely enough room for me in here." The shower was tiny, this was a B&B after all, and a converted one at that, but she could tell by the look on his face that he had no intentions of waiting for her to finish.

"We'll just have to get cosy," he said and stepped under the water with her. "Are you still freaking out?"

"No, the freak out is over," She pressed up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She stared into his eyes, "I said yes."

His face broke out into a wide grin, "You said yes."

"This is how it's always going to be, you know that right?"

Draco hugged her tighter, "You mean naked in a shower with a beautiful woman the rest of my life, the same woman who gets me hard just by thinking about her?"

Hermione gave him a withering glare, "Are you ever serious?"

He shrugged, "Rarely, but it's the truth." He ground himself against her as if to prove his point.

She shook her head and sighed, "No, I mean you doing something sweet and me freaking out about it."

"I like your freak outs. They keep me on my toes."

"I scare easily. I have a temper. I keep everything inside until it explodes into a meltdown. Are you sure you want that?"

He bent to kiss her, "Hermione, what I feel right here, right now with you, it's real and it's more than I ever thought I would feel. It's more than I ever thought I could feel. And while the meltdowns have been intense, the times in between have been pretty phenomenal, wouldn't you agree?"

"Phenomenal would be the word for it," she reached between them and surrounded him with her hand, "Yes, phenomenal."

"I don't just mean the sex, Hermione," he said through gritted teeth, "I mean all of it."

"I know you do. And all of it has been phenomenal." She kissed his chest, "But especially the sex."

He grabbed her wrist, stopping her hand from its current task, "Hermione, I mean it. There's nothing I want to change."

Hermione's chest tightened. She'd been so wrapped up in her own feelings, she hadn't bothered with how he felt. She lifted her hand to run it across his wet hair, "I know Draco, and...gah! I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"For being a raving lunatic. You proposed to me and I ruined it."

"You didn't ruin anything. I was the one who totally fucked this up and I'm sorry."

"You didn't fuck this up. You surprised me and I freaked out, but you didn't fuck anything up. I feel like a complete arse. I was being obstinate, again, and I'm not sure why you're still here and-"

"I'm here because I love you."

Her eyes moved over his face, taking him in; the man she would wake up with, would go to bed with, would laugh and fight and raise a child with, and everything suddenly fell into place. "It was perfect Draco. Your proposal. It was perfect."

"No it wasn't, it was bloody awful."

"I might have said otherwise last night, but it's not true. The fact that it just slipped out meant that you wanted this more than you thought. And I was too busy ranting to realise it."

"So this will be a story we'll share happily with others?"

"Oh yes, we'll even laugh about it." She let out a heavy breath, "It was perfect Draco, and I'm sorry."

His mouth slid over hers, stopping any further discussion. She opened her mouth, groaning when his tongue slid across hers.

She clutched at his shoulders, growling in frustration when her hands slipped on his wet skin. She pressed herself to him, his cock folding against her stomach and she gasped at the cold tiles hitting her back. He'd spun them around and bent to suck her nipple into his mouth.

His mouth returned to hers, kissing her frantically. His hands were everywhere; in her hair, tracing patterns across her back, running up and down her arms and finally reaching around and grabbing her arse. He pulled his mouth from hers, breathing heavily and stared down into her eyes; his hunger and lust blazed in the blue-grey swirls she loved so much and then a sly grin crept across his face. He bent quickly and cupped the backs of her thighs, lifting so she could wrap her legs around his hips.

She wrapped her hand around him, guiding him to her, "Don't be gentle," she whispered and watched as he slowly filled her.

He stilled when his hips met hers. "This feeling?" Draco murmured against her ear, "Me inside you. Feeling so good it almost hurts? I've never felt it before. Only with you. It feels fucking amazing and I never want to lose it."

She gulped in a breath, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks as he began to rock against her. She surrounded his shoulders, pulling him against her chest. Her mouth hovered near his ear, but she couldn't speak the words.

I know.
I know who I am with you.
I know we'll never lose this.

The quiet slapping of his hips against her thighs sounded in her ears when he began to move. He pressed deep into her, moving harder and faster, knowing exactly what she wanted. Her body flushed, the aching need she felt for him overwhelmed her and she choked out his name.

His body snapped up, hard and sharp, and he reached between them, pinching her clit. She convulsed against him, her strangled cry echoing off the shower walls. Draco watched her face, her jaw slack, eyes clamped shut, breathing hard. She was stunning in this moment, all of her insecurities and doubts disappearing, replaced with sheer bliss. Her watched her throat bob as she swallowed, and he leaned in, running his tongue along her flushed skin.

He continued to slide in and out of her, his fingers digging into her thighs as she came down from her high. She opened her eyes, and looked surprised when he slipped out of her.

"Draco, you didn't..."

A mischievous smile let her know what he wanted. She reached between them and circled him, sliding along his slick length. She stroked him fast, squeezing and pulling, listening as his breath hitched. He grunted and jerked against her, and the both watched as he came over her belly.

He lowered her slowly, her legs shaking, her arms sliding around his shoulders. A wave of relief washed over her and the last remaining slither of fear left her.

She knew she was in safe hands.

"We can't tell them," Hermione said as she stepped out of the bathroom, "When we go down there, for breakfast, we can't tell them."

"Scorp first?" Draco asked, as if reading her mind.

She nodded, "He should know first. And he has to be okay with it before anyone else knows."

Draco pulled his t-shirt over his head, "Are you seriously concerned he won't be?"

She shrugged, "I know he's discussed it with you, and I know he wants us to be..."

Draco cupped her face and grinned at her, "Married? You can say it."

She rolled her eyes at him, but smiled, "Fine. He wants us to be married. But he's important in this. This is a big deal and it's his life us much as it is ours and he gets to be a part of this, he should be a part of this."

"And he will be," His hands went to her shoulders, "There's no way he won't be. He'll probably take over."

She tilted her head and looked thoughtfully at him, "Yeah, you're probably right." She smiled at him, a smile that seemed to be permanently etched on her face since her epiphany in the shower. "Are you ready?"

"Hey," he said, "This smile that's on your face, you best make it disappear." She frowned at him and he laughed, "They'll see that smile, and they'll know something's happened. If you don't want them to know..."

"Is it that obvious?"

"A little." He picked her hand up, kissing the place where an engagement ring would soon be sitting and he gave her a rueful smile, "Your hand shouldn't be bare after I proposed."

"A ring would be completely obvious, more so than my stupid face." She grinned at him, "Besides, it's just a pretty piece of metal. It doesn't mean anything really. I have you and I have Scorpius. I have everything."

"You don't want a ring then?"

"Oh, no. I do." She said making him laugh, "Just don't go crazy with it, okay."

"So no diamonds as big as your head then?"

"Draco."

"I know, I know. Nothing outrageous." He winked at her, "But that doesn't mean I can't spoil you."

"Oh my god, Dad!" Scorpius exclaimed, "You did it wrong!"

"Excuse me?"

"Gah! You don't just ask her. You're supposed to give her a ring." Scorpius shook his head in disgust.

Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, scared that she would explode into laughter at Scorpius schooling his father on just how to propose properly.

They'd picked him up from Molly and Arthur's on their way back, but had been unable to tell him since Draco's friends were all coming for lunch – as per Scorpius' request. And much to Hermione's amusement, he'd been the one to show them around their flat, proudly showing off his bedroom and equally as proud showing off Trevor.

She immediately knew just how they all felt about him. He was theirs. The protective vibe she felt from them all was heart-warming. She'd heard Draco talk about how Blaise had helped in those first few months, but she assumed he hadn't been the only one.

And as soon as they'd all left, they told him. And after he'd thrown himself into her arms, almost squealing with excitement, he'd gotten angry that Draco hadn't done it properly.

"I didn't plan to ask her this weekend, it just kind of happened." Draco said, "That's why there's no ring." Scorpius was still shaking his head, clearly disappointed in his father. "I think you've been watching too many Disney princess movies."

"Have not." Scorpius mumbled.

"Oh, I think you have." Draco teased, "You and Hermione, when I'm not here. I can just picture it. Which one's your favourite?"

Scorpius looked at Hermione and then back to Draco, "The Princess and the Frog," he said with a straight face, "Because the frog actually makes a ring for the princess."

The laughter Hermione was holding in burst out and Draco shook his head, "You're a bad influence on him, you know that?"

Still laughing, Hermione hugged Scorpius, "Your dad will get me a ring. It's not important."

"But it is," Scorpius complained, but Hermione stopped him.

"No, it's really not. What's important is that you and him and me, we'll be a family. That's what's important, not a ring."

Scorpius looked glumly at her, "I guess."

"You guess?" Draco asked, "Is that not enough?"

"No, it is. But how will everyone know you're getting married?"

Hermione kissed the top of his head, "We'll tell them."

"And I'll get her a ring," Draco assured him, "And just to really make sure, she can get me one too." They both looked at him and he laughed at the almost identical looks of surprise on their faces, "It's only fair."

"Draco, you don't have to do that."

"Yes I do," he said moving to sit in front of her, "If everyone has to be aware that you're mine, they should also know I'm yours."

Hermione's lips twisted into a smile, "A diamond as big as your head then?"

He laughed, "No, if I have to keep it simple, so do you."

"Are you sure?"

"I am." Draco nodded.

She reached out and took his hand, "Okay then. A ring of your own, Mr Granger."

Draco kissed her hand and winked, "That sounds perfect, Mrs Malfoy."

Scorpius looked between them both and shook his head, "You two are nuts."