Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the potential heartache this chapter may cause you.

Written for QLFC

Prompts:

(opening sentence) Everything was going wrong.

(sentence) Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.

(sentence) You're the closest to heaven I'll ever be.

Everything was going wrong.

Don't deny it, Narcissa. Don't try and say that things were perfect even though you know they weren't. Yes, Narcissa, it was all going wrong. Where do I begin?

It all probably started when I decided to join the Death Eaters, without ever bothering to think about the repercussions, and mindlessly rushing into the commitment, never stopping to consider if you were willing to sign up for the rigidity of the rules, the compulsion you would face to be a part of the circle as my wife.

I admit, I made a mistake. No, I made many. I chose to throw away a potentially enriching career in Potions by turning down the internship with Slughorn, opting for a powerful position in the Ministry instead. I dropped the chance of us having a peaceful, calm life and decided to follow the Dark Lord. but the biggest mistake of all, would probably be choosing to treat you as a trophy wife. To not have given Draco a supportive childhood. To be so aggressive and contemptuous toward the Muggles and the Halfbloods for absolutely no reason at all, other than a bigoted mindset, when Hermione gave us the most precious gifts we could have ever hoped for - Draco's happiness, and our lovely grandchildren.

Most of all, to not have valued you.

It always did puzzle me as to how you could so quietly adjust to my whims and fancies. How you could throw away the perfect life you could have had and joined the Death Eaters with me. How you could sacrifice our Manor to house…him. The man who destroyed our lives, our reputation, our family.

But then, I pause and think to myself - women are made to be loved, not understood. Just know, that I'll be eternally indebted to you for having pulled us through that phase intact. You saved the wreckage that our family could have been. I remember you having told me that yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. And you achieved that, Narcissa.

You saved me from losing my son. He was the apple of our eyes ever since he was born, and you know what high hopes and ambitions we had for him. But all because of me, all that got thrown away. You wouldn't know this, but I was shuddering internally when the Dark Lord told me to get Draco to join the Death Eaters. I admit, I was power-hungry, but I knew the risks involved. I never wanted you two to get trapped into the vicious loop that would inevitably arise once you became Death Eaters. Despite my best intentions, Draco was inducted into the circle. And I suppose this is as good a time as any to tell you this - I know how you used to cry in his room after Dumbledore died. When Potter began destroying the Horcruxes. When, with every step Potter took closer to killing the Dark Lord, danger reared its ugly head with greater vengeance toward Draco.

But you saved him.

You lied to the Dark Lord. You saved Potter, and with him, the rest of us.

It's because of me that we had less time. And now, even lesser. But I think we made the best of what we had. We had each other. I had you, and I couldn't be any luckier, even if I wanted to.

Now that these could be what are the last of my words to you, I want you to know that even though I'm dying, you're the closest to heaven I'll ever be.

Yours,

With all my love, forever and always,

Lucius

Closing his eyes, Lucius placed the quill back int the ink-pot and folded the letter in his frail hands. He had just rested his head back onto the pillow when a soft knock sounded on the door and Draco entered. Lucius slowly opened his eyes and looked at his son, standing tall and stoic, only the quivering of his chin betraying any emotion the man felt as he looked at his dying father.

"Mother is on her way," he spoke in a low voice that was thick with emotion.

Nodding gently, Lucius beckoned Draco closer to him and muttered, "You've made me so proud, Draco. You're the true heir of the Malfoy name. Be a good man, Draco. Don't make the mistakes I made."

The younger Malfoy blinked rapidly and nodded, his grey eyes shining with unshed tears. He straightened as Narcissa entered and there was a pregnant silence in the room, the air heavy with emotion.

"I think I didn't tell Winky where the scrolls are kept," Draco mumbled absently and stalked out of the room, his tall frame collapsing into itself with each step.

Narcissa's gaze lingered for a few seconds behind her son and sighing heavily, she sat at the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed onto the marble floor. Lucius laced his fangers through hers and she turned to face him, her blue eyes darting to his steel ones quietly.

"Narcissa, I'm-"

"Please, Lucius. Don't make this harder for me. Don't say your goodbye riddled with apologies and the past. Not now. What's past is past," she replied in a rush, a tear spilling down her pale cheeks as her brow furrowed in pleading.

Lucius sighed deeply and nodded in understanding, adding, "I want you to read this later. Not now, please."

Nodding, Narcissa curled her fingers around the letter, sniffing as she wiped the tears from his eyes as she gave him a soft smile.

"Call Draco. I want to see him one last time," Lucius whispered, and Narcissa called out to him. In a few seconds, Draco Apparated into the room and strode over to the bed, his eyes red.

"Come here, Draco," Lucius spoke softly and as Draco bent, added, "I'm so proud of you. You make me proud to be known as Draco Malfoy's father. Take care of your mother."

The words broke the younger Malfoy, who nodded hurriedly and stepped back, leaning against the wall as sobs racked his body, the calm and collected demeanour of the man slipping away to reveal the boy losing his father.

Lucius closed his eyes painfully and turned to look at Narcissa, who was sitting still as a statue as tears flowed down her cheeks. "Narcissa," Lucius began, and she looked into his eyes, hers full of emotion and tenderness.

"I love you," Lucius mouthed and he felt a sudden load lifting off his shoulders as the room around him got slowly enveloped in light, the images around him fading away rapidly as he gazed quietly into Narcissa's eyes.

Everything had been going wrong. But everything ended perfectly, Lucius broke into a soft smile to himself as a white light engulfed his senses, and he felt no more.

A/N:

Hello lovelies, and here is the next instalment in Letter to Someone. I do admit, Lucius may seem a bit OOC, but the man survived the War. Cut him some slack if he comes across as emotional, that's but justified, seeing as how he is dying!

Thoughts are really appreciated. Thanks to all reviewers, and the follows and favourites.

Love,

Ana