Part Two, Two Years Later
They had been married for two years and three days when Scorpius found himself sitting at their dining room table, worried out of his mind. Candle wax dripped onto the table top as a warming spell kept the dinner from getting cold. Albus was away on Ministry business so they had to celebrate their anniversary later this year. It was fine for Scorpius, gave him an opportunity to do something instead of Albus. He was always doing the cheesy couple stuff, especially since Scorpius went back to school for law while maintaining his full time job.
He was about ready to owl Harry to see if something went awry when there was the familiar apparition pop. Practically jumping to his feet he made his way to the front door and swung it open in time to see his husband. "Merlin, I was worried sick." Before Albus even made it through the doorway Scorpius wrapped his arms around him, pressing a kiss to the side of his face. "Sorry, come on in, are you hungry?" he questions, taking the bag from his hand. It's heavier because of the expansion spell, but not overly so. Albus shrugs out of his cloak and Scorpius levitates it to the coat rack. He's still dressed in his auror uniform, badge hanging around his neck, tie on but loosened slightly and in a muggle style suit. He looks so tired. So Scorpius leans in to give him a kiss as he goes to take off the suit jacket. Al's never comfortable in the damn things.
"Not now, I'm too tired for that," Al mumbles.
"If I wanted sex I would have went for this." He hooks his thumbs in the belt loop. "Why don't you take a hot shower and we can have dinner on the couch." Scorpius runs a hand through his messy hair. "Are you alright?"
"I need to talk with you, babe." Al looks at him with his wide, green eyes.
"With all due respect, I refuse to talk to you until you get some sleep."
"Can we compromise? I shower, you meet me in bed, and we talk?" Al looks at him.
"Like we get much talking done in bed."
Scorpius reaches done to pat his ass before shoving him away. Not much longer he hears the shower going and takes to putting everything away. He admits he's lazy and uses magic, but Al isn't watching. Albus likes doing things the muggle way, he's like his dad that way. If Scorpius is under his watchful eye he will do it, but now he wants to get it done as fast as possible.
When he gets into the bedroom he takes off his pants. He wore them on purpose because Albus has told him on multiple occasions that his butt looks the best in them. He unbuttons the shirt and then gets on the bed with one of his textbooks in just his underwear and t-shirt.
He hears the door to the bathroom open some time later and Albus appears dressed a lot like Scorpius, but a pair of loose pajama pants. Actually, he's wearing one of Scorpius' shirts, one of those infernal Thestral's t-shirt that he was never allowed to get rid of.
Without a single word Albus gets on the bed and tucks himself underneath his husbands arm. He takes the book and drops it onto the ground. "Missed you," he says as and he pushes back, his arms stretched out in front of him as he curves himself against Scorpius.
Scorpius knows that Albus is taking advantage of the fact he is being tactile right now. They never have public displays of affection that go further than the occasional hand holding or the chaste peck on the lips or cheek. At home it's a bit more, a hug for greeting with a longer kiss; leaning against each other on the couch; brushing each other's limbs when their eating dinner or cooking. In bed they keep to their own side accept if they have sex.
"I am going to ask a question that needs a completely honest answer, alright?"
"Of course." Scorpius twists his body to face him. "But is this about the trip? Did you get offered a job or something?"
"Yes, it happened during the trip, but it's not about the job." Al took a deep breath. "A few months ago a witch and her husband were killed. The two moved to Spain some time ago…We believed their deaths were part of a larger problem that had been related to wizard disappearances…"
"Al you never tell me this much about your cases."
"They had a daughter Score, we found her in a muggle orphanage with caretakers scared out of her mind because she was already exhibiting unusual behaviors." He took a deep breath. "There is no family, no one to take her and the government in Spain is being difficult."
Scorpius rubbed the shoulder the arm that was underneath him. "That's rough."
"I want to adopt her."
"What?" Scorpius pulled away from him as if he had been hexed. "Al we discussed this. We can't take care of a child right now. I'm in the in middle of school and the office is swamped, you're already working at least fifty hours a week…"
"You discussed this. It was part of your five year plan, but if you met her..." Albus looked on the verge of tears. "She is so lost and alone right now."
"How old is she?"
"Four, and the cutest child you'll ever meet. She has this odd hair color, sort of a rose gold, because it's not quite blonde, but it's nowhere near red…And her eyes! Their huge and blue like the summer sky. When we met her I played with her for bit and her laugh sounds like bells and her smile could light up the entire room…" The smile on Albus face was like he was in love. It reminded him of the photos of his father's face from the hospital, one of the few times his smile looked genuine. Or better yet, Teddy with Stella and their newest little boy, Oliver.
"I will meet her," he replied softly.
It was a week later when Scorpius finally did. They went to Spain after his mid-terms were done and they both could take a short vacation from the office. There were a few other prospective parents there, but he and Albus drew a bit of attention. Albus hadn't seemed to have aged since he was nineteen, but Scorpius did it gracefully, therefore looked every bit his age of 28 years. Still, they both appeared rather young to be looking into adoption.
"Can I help you?" one of the workers questioned when they saw Scorpius sitting at a table by himself.
"Just waiting for my partner," he responded. Scorpius felt my more comfortable calling Albus that, while Albus felt better saying the more traditional 'my husband'. "He came here a week ago and met this child…" Scorpius rubbed the back of his neck. "I think he's been ready to be a dad since we started dating."
The woman smiles knowingly. "Sometimes people are like that and sometimes people don't know until it hits them." She turned when she saw Scorpius' facial expression changing.
"What's her name?" It's Scorpius as he looks at Al. In his arms is a little girl with wide eyes clutching tightly to her brother's shirt.
"Matilda," Albus says. "Meet your papa…"
"That's hardly appropriate Al," Scorpius replied pointedly.
"There's a lot of red tape to go through, but…If you agree they said she could be a part of our family sooner rather than later."
Scorpius heart jumps a little and walks forward to place a hand on his husband's shoulder and look at the girl. She clutching on to Albus for dear life, her wide eyes have tears standing in them and he notices that Albus neglected to mention the curls she had. The poor dear looks like she's never had them brushed in her life. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Matilda, my name is Scorpius." He tilts his head and she does the same.
"You want to take her?" Al whispers, when he sees an affirmative reaction he looks down at the child in his arms. "Well, Matilda can your Papa take you?"
The little girl turns and holds out her arms towards Scorpius. A few moments pass before she's in his arms, being adjusted and curling against Scorpius' chest.
"Well, hello there," he says with a chuckle, looking up at his husband.
"Score, are you alright?"
Scorpius bites his lip, the worker is still watching them, but has taken a step back. Matilda has her eyes affixed to him as do a couple other children that are milling about. Scorpius can practically feel the other adults in the room staring at him. Why? Scorpius Malfoy feels as if he is going to break down in tears right there. "I love you, Al." He makes sure Matilda is secured before he wraps his arm around his partner's shoulder.
"Love you, too." Al kisses him on the cheek and Matilda curls further into his chest. They look like a family.