A/N: Happy Monday my darlings! I'm back for an update! Been a sad week for me because I had to get in character lol.

Chapter spoilers: The day after you make love with Narcissa is not what you expected. Heartbreak had a way of showing up in unexpected ways, you could and would never come between a mother and her son. The fallout is tragic, and everything hurts

Narcissa's POV

I woke with the little darling's stirring; she was still fast asleep but her tossing and turning had woken me. I glance over to her, her hair clung to her face, chest rising and falling at a steady phase. I got out of the sheets and gathered my clothes and quietly got dressed.

I looked back at my little darling once more, she frowned in her sleep, her hand searching for my warm body that was next to her a moment ago, I wanted to go back to bed with her and just bask in her presence, but I had to get up and check on my son and my husband.

I had missed the end of the party that's for certain and knowing my husband he did not appreciate when I wasn't there with him to keep this sort of united happy family facade with our friends, especially right now that Draco is being poised to join their ranks. I avoided joining being a death eater and I hope my son does not follow suit in his father's footsteps.

I sigh, walking to the bedroom door.

"Narcissa." I hear the little darling call to me. I look over to the bed, she's sat up rubbing her eyes to rid of her sleep.

"Darling." I breathe, returning to her side, "Go back to sleep. I'm just going to check on everything. I'll be with you later, alright?" I say to her, guiding her head back to her pillow and tucking her in the covers.

She tried to reach for me but I just held her hand until she had fallen back asleep.

I hurriedly exited her room to not wake her again, because if she did and asked me to stay I would.

Everything seems in place, the garden, the foyer, and the living room are all cleared of litter, the furniture back where they all belong; nothing seemed to be amiss. I sigh to myself in relief. I next checked my son's bedroom, it was locked, and I couldn't enter, I take out my wand to unlock the door, peering in to see the silhouette of my slumbering son on his bed. I closed his door and locked it again.

I was about to reach my wing of the house when I noticed a tuft of hair peeking from the shadows, I followed it into the room fully recognizing the path that was to the room where my sister was supposedly staying. I entered her room to find her next to the door, she pulled me inside quickly, looking outside if there was anyone behind me, she closed the door locking it as well, and cast a hushing spell, not unusual for her but something tells me that there is something more to her actions.

"Bella, why are you still up?" I asked her, folding my arms to my chest. "Is everything alright?"

"My baby sister!" She exclaimed, skipping around the room. "I told you I would help you!" She grins at me taking my hand in hers and leading me to the couch. "Tell me everything!"

"I-I do not know what you are talking about!" I say trying to mask the feelings I have right now.

Bellatrix scoffs, "Oh, 'Cissy, you know damn well that I told you I'm going to help right?" She grins again. "So, tell your big sister before I make you tell me." She says toying with her wand.

I sigh, recounting how I had seen the little darling being touched by someone else besides me, how angry and jealous I felt at the moment, and what happened afterward, I spared the intimate details hoping that my sister wouldn't pry any more than that. When I was done with the story I was silent, and Bella had this shit-eating grin plastered on her face.

"Well, you're welcome 'Cissy." She says, curtly bowing her head. I looked at he, confused about what she had meant. "Well obviously you needed just the right amount of push, the Underwood boy was just the catalyst for that. I didn't have to put such a heavy curse on him, and when Draco found you-"

"You. what? Draco, what?" I asked her my temper rising.

Bella just held my hand tighter. "I explained everything to Draco, but he stormed off so fast that I figured you would talk to him eventually."

She told me that Lucius had instructed him to find me when the party ended, and she had been standing guard outside of the hall, Draco found it suspicious that his auntie Bella was outside of the little darling's hall. So he walked past him and went inside her room, to try and find me, where he saw me in bed. She mentioned that she tried to stop Draco but he didn't listen.

A part of me was extremely mortified that Draco had found out about me and the little darling this way, I have always meant to tell him if it had gotten any serious. But time presented that as an issue due to his father's belligerent antics whenever we are in proximity, I feel sick to my stomach. I left Bella's room to go to my own and change, hoping that my husband wasn't there for the first time in months.

To my luck, he was nowhere in the room. I sigh as I looked at the clock, four in the morning. I should probably head to bed, but my mind isn't letting me. I could just imagine Draco's absolute shock, could just imagine his face and how he must've felt. I tried to sleep but that was easier said than done.

MC's POV

I woke with Narcissa out of bed, the covers of the bed and the pillow she used still smelled like her, but nothing beats her being here beside me. Last night was a culmination of my almost week-long stay here in Malfoy Manor, the: will we, won't we moments that we shared. Today was the second to last day that I'm staying at the manor; I should be happy, but I felt empty waking up to a large bed all by myself.

I decided to shower and look for Narcissa, hoping to talk about what last night had meant for us, to tell her that I'm having feelings that I shouldn't but am. I'm falling in love with her, and I don't know what to make with that. I don't know what it would mean for them, her family, her relationship with her son. I let the water wash over me on full blast, not caring that the heat wasn't even on, letting my skin sting with the icy temperature.

I get dressed, carefully choosing what I wore today to try and cover the bites that Narcissa made on my neck, it is very conspicuous and sizable. Thankful that I have managed to pack a turtleneck somewhere in my bags. I went out to breakfast and happen to meet Draco in the hall leading to the den.

"Good morning!" I greet him, half expecting that he'll greet me back like he usually does.

He continued walking to the den, not bothering to speak to me. I furrow my brow, confused as to why Draco is now acting this way when we had made so much progress during my stay here.

"Hey!" I caught up to him, putting my hand on his shoulder and pulling him to face me. "What's your deal?" I asked him.

He almost had tears in his eyes, he grabbed my hands and pulled me into a room that was near the den. His grip was so tight I wasn't able to pull my hand back. He almost threw me inside the room; standing in the way of the door as if to block my path from escaping.

"Draco, what the hell?" I say to him, nursing the hand that he held.

He was pacing, his eyes were red like he was up all-night crying. He kept glancing at me and muttering to himself, I wanted to approach him, but I was just rooted in my place. "Draco!" I called him. "What's going on?"

He approached me, suddenly grabbing my shoulders his blue eyes just staring at me. "I saw you!" He screamed at me, and I flinched in his grasp. "I don't know what you're talking about, Draco! You're hurting me."

He kept repeating that he saw me, his grip got tighter, and I got scared. I tried wriggling out of his grasp, but I couldn't. "Draco, you're hurting me! Why are you doing this?" I yelled at him.

"I saw you in bed with my mother!" He screams, his tears now just streaming down his face. "I saw you with her!"

His grip finally loosened, and I was able to take a step back, taken aback by his sudden declaration. I vaguely remember the door to the room we were in open and close and the voices behind the wooden door seem to fade in the distance. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't, no words left my throat, my mind was blank, and my heart just dropped to my stomach.

"Do you know what they'd say? You're ruining my family! I was trying to protect you, Riley!" Draco screamed again.

"Draco, it's not what you think!" I reply, my eyes now burning.

"So, you just had my mother naked in bed for what? To get back at my father? To get back at us for the arranged marriage?"

"No!" I mutter, avoiding looking at his face.

"Then what?" He yells repeatedly.

I had enough. "Because I'm in love with Narcissa!" I blare at him, not caring that my tears are now falling. "I didn't want to, Draco! I didn't want to fall in love with your mother, but I am. At first, I thought it was just harmless admiration for such a strong woman, such a strong witch. Or just some deep friendship with someone older than me, that kept me safe, that listened to me. But, no Draco. I'm in love with your mother."

Narcissa's POV

I've been sitting at the dining table for some time, just sipping my tea and clearing my head. Bellatrix's words rang in my ears that Draco had seen me in bed with my little lover. My heart couldn't stop beating arrhythmically, I summon Trixie to call Draco and the little darling to breakfast. This might be the time for me to come clean to my son, for him to know how I feel about his potential bride. I shouldn't be nervous about speaking to my son, but I'm afraid that if I say it I won't be able to turn back.

I sigh to myself, pouring myself a new cup of tea. I thought of the best way to deal with the situation, should I speak to them separately? Should I speak to them together? I keep thinking of Draco's would be reaction to seeing us, would he be disappointed? Would he blame me? But there was a part of me that was relieved that Draco found out, I'm not sure why but I am. My mind brought me back to last night; the sheets between us, and the things we did. I shook my head, banishing the salacious thoughts I have right now is not to be focused on.

I look at the clock that hung by the window, it had been some time since Trixie had called them down for breakfast. I abandon my moment of thought to go fetch both of them. I was nearing the den when I hear the little darling's voice.

"Draco, you're hurting me! Why are you doing this?"

My first instinct was to barge inside the room, to protect her, but what I heard next stopped me in my tracks.

"I saw you in bed with my mother!" My boy screamed. I felt a pang in my chest, from the guilt. I could hear the hurt in his voice, I could tell he was crying.

"Do you know what they'd say? You're ruining my family! I was trying to protect you, Riley!" He was still screaming.

"Draco, it's not what you think!"

"So, you just had my mother naked in bed for what? To get back at my father? To get back at us for the arranged marriage?"

"No!" I hear the little darling scream right back at him.

"Then what?" I inched closer to the door, readying myself to come between them, my hand already on the doorknob turning it ever so slowly.

"Because I'm in love with Narcissa!" She blares at him, she's crying. "I didn't want to, Draco! I didn't want to fall in love with your mother, but I am. At first, I thought it was just harmless admiration for such a strong woman, such a strong witch. Or just some deep friendship with someone older than me, that kept me safe, that listened to me. But, no Draco. I'm in love with your mother." the little darling says, her voice fervent.

I didn't know what to make about her impassioned speech, I opened the door. My eyes first went to my son, and then her.

"Darling, did you mean what you said?" I ask her, my eyes stung, and my heart felt like it was going to implode in my chest.

She was silent, her eyes were on Draco, gauging his reaction before she spoke. "I did." Her voice quivers, and she has tears down her cheeks. All I wanted to do was throw my arms around her. But I have to rectify the situation with my son first.

"Draco, sweetheart." I reached for his face. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I wanted to tell you, but I had to let her know first. My son, I'm sorry." I wiped his tears away.

"So, you love her too?" Draco mumbles into my palm.

"Yes, sweetheart. I do. And I didn't mean to fall for her. I did not mean to steal a potential love from you. You're no stranger to how your father had alienated himself from us, I do not blame him Draco. And nor should you blame yourself, or Riley. It was me who initiated this, please if you want to blame someone; blame me. If you should be angry and disappointed in someone that would be me." I say to him, holding his gaze. My eyes burned with tears. "I would never want to hurt you, sweetheart."

MC's POV

My vision swam as I hear Narcissa say that she's fallen for me. I couldn't stop the tears from falling, I couldn't stop my heart from aching; I could see how much we hurt Draco. I feel like I robbed him of his mother.

"No!" Draco shouts, "You can't! If you continue this mother; then you have no son." Draco swatted Narcissa's hand away from his face.

I could see Narcissa's tear-filled eyes darting back and forth between me and Draco, I looked at both of them, and I saw Narcissa's gaze and understood. I could and never would come between a mother and her son. I have to get away before I hear something I need or do not need to hear.

I ran to the door, clutching my chest, tears in my eyes.

I reached my room and took everything I own and haphazardly threw everything in my bag with the extension charm. I didn't even check everything. I just chucked everything into a bag and picked up my phone to call my mother.

Half an hour later, I was in my father's back seat. I didn't say goodbye to Narcissa. I can't I don't have the strength to. I don't have any heart in me to say those words, because I knew she would say them right back, and more. She would say that she loves her son more and that she will choose her son. And I just can't hear it, not after she told Draco that she's falling in love with me.

My mother and father asked how my stay with the Malfoys was, and I kept mum. Not dare to speak and just closed my eyes and willed my tears not to fall, choking back my quiet sobs and telling myself that I'm doing what is best for Narcissa. I'm doing what is best for them, never mind that my heart is broken, she needs her son, and her son needs her.

When we got home, I didn't bother unpacking, I locked myself in my room and called Hermione, ignoring the background of my phone that was our photo together in the park. I sobbed into the phone as soon as Hermione picked up; I told her everything that had happened, she listened through everything and didn't speak once, she let me pour my heart and anguish out on her, and she just absorbed all of it. By the end of my telling, she mentioned that they'll be over for Christmas Eve, she told me that she supports me on whatever my decision is and that she'll punch the lights out of Draco again if she sees him at Hogwarts, "That might knock some sense into him!" I told her to not do that, that I wanted to be as far away as possible from Draco and Narcissa, and whatever drama unfolded between us.

"Listen, Peterson, you're blaming yourself for this, and I know you and your self-destructive ways." Hermione sternly says. "But you are not to blame here. You fell in love, I bet you'll do that a thousand more times in our lifetime. But from the get-go, I knew something was different between you and Mrs. Malfoy. So, whatever happened and happens, I'll stick by you. And we'll get through everything together, just like what we've been doing for the past four years."

I could only cry to this point, and just let the tears fall.

Hermione said her goodbyes and made sure to tell me to drink some water. I tucked myself into bed and cried myself to sleep. Hoping that when I wake up tomorrow, I don't feel like this anymore.

Narcissa's POV

Draco had locked himself in his room and wouldn't speak to me, and my little Darling left without even saying a word. Marina and Philip had shown up at the doorstep of the Manor saying that they'd come to collect their daughter and thanked me for being a wonderful host to her. I cried as soon as they closed the door, I didn't get so much as a glance over her shoulder. And it stung so bad that I couldn't stop the tears.

Trixie appeared by my side and offered me a handkerchief to wipe the tears, I thanked her for the gesture. The little house-elf asked if she was to clean the wing that had been just vacated.

"I'll do it myself, Trixie. But thank you."

And so, I did just that, trudging up to the room that she was previously in. And cleaned, well cried while I cleaned. I took back all of the books to the shelves that she had read and we discussed them over breakfast or tea. I fluffed the pillows on the couch where she lay on my lap and asked me to stay until she fell asleep. I wiped the fogged mirror of the vanity where I saw her in her beautiful sunglow dress just the night before. I contemplated if I wanted to go up the staircase and go inside the bedroom that we made love in, to swim once more in the sheets where I'm sure her scent still lingers, and the memories that are burned into my head come up.

I steadied myself as I took the first step on the stairs.

The room was neat and empty, the bed was made up, the pillows fluffed and placed neatly on the base of the headboard, and the sheets were folded neatly on the foot of the bed. There was nothing for me to do here, but I found myself sitting at the edge of the bed and running my fingers on the white sheets, I lay my head on the pillow and closed my eyes, and let my tears soak the pillow beneath me. You're doing this for your son. I remind myself; Draco needs me to be his mother.

I clutch the pillow to my chest, breathing in her scent for one last time, vowing to myself that I must put my son first. I dried my tears and left the room just like I have seen it. I did not want to dredge up the feeling. I just thought that we were passing ships, we met, saw each other, and knew that our collision would be deadly to those around us.

So, I tried my hardest to stop the tears and go back to how I lived before her, but everywhere I looked I drowned in her, in her scent, in her memory.

I went back to my wing, to keep Draco from seeing me like this.

I stripped everything, even the necklace that tied me to her and I wept. Wept for what we were, and what we could have been. I tossed and turned in bed, feeling something small and hard beneath my pillow, I shoved my hand under and took out the offending thing, it was the phone that we had bought. It lit up and it showed me the photo I took of my little darling, smiling and not minding the world going by around her. My chest constricted as fresh tears formed in my eyes, this was supposed to be the lifeline I had to her when she went to Hogwarts, but now it felt as heavy as a rock in my hand, and seeing her smile make my heart ache.

I kept staring at the photo, the tears clouding my vision.

MC's POV

Hermione and her parents arrived before noon at the manor, my mother alerted me that Hermione was just outside my door. I hadn't gotten out of bed, hadn't put on my Sunday's best clothes to greet them at the door like I had done every Christmas Eve since I've been friends with Hermione. I was still in bed, in the same clothes that I came home in.

My mother asked if I was not feeling well, and I couldn't say anything. My throat was just too raw, my eyes too swollen from crying, and my heart felt too broken to act like I'm alright. My mother let Hermione in, I heard her say something to her, but I was too busy reminding myself of how Draco looked at his mother, or if I'm being honest how I wished Narcissa would've been a little selfish that she would at least try to fight.

Shitty, isn't it? When I thought I was about to get a happy end with someone that felt the same way.

Hermione climbed into bed and slipped into the covers with me, running her fingers through my hair. She put a comforting arm around me and just stayed that way. Reminding me that if I wasn't ready to talk, she'll just be there.

I turned to face Hermione, and the tears were falling again like someone had opened a floodgate and all I could do was feel them on my skin, Hermione held me and let me cry into her chest, whispering that I'll be okay and that we'll get over it together. When I was done sobbing my heart out, it had been hours of us just cuddled. Hermione helped me change clothes, she didn't note anything about the marks on my neck, I saw her staring, but she never brought it up. I was in a white button-down long-sleeve, Hermione tediously adjusted the checkered skirt around my hips. She wanted to remove the necklace that I was wearing, I forgot that I was even wearing Narcissa's gift. I told her no, that I wanted to wear it still, some sort of somber reminder for me of what happened.

"You're a masochist, Peterson." She says, helping me brush my curls and guise my puffy eyes with some makeup. She groans, "I can't believe that rat-face twit can't see that you love his mom!"

I just sat there as she slammed the makeup brush on my vanity.

Hermione made some excuse that I wasn't feeling well so she'd just collected food for both of us, as I sat in bed just watching the movie that she put on before she headed downstairs. She brought two plates with mains and some dessert. To be honest, I wanted to be distracted by Hermione, the food, and the movie that was playing; but for some odd reason the necklace seemed heavier around my neck, and the pendant seemed to bury into my skin the moment I was reminded that I was wearing it. I felt as if I was on autopilot, going through the motions of today but not feeling anything aside from my heart breaking.

"Hello?" Hermione waved her fingers to my face. And it seemed to have brought me back to the present.

"Yeah?"

"I said, would you like to open your present?" She handed me a wrapped box.

"It's not Christmas yet, 'Mione. I just want to be distracted. Why don't you tell me about your Christmas break? I could use someone else's voice in my head rather than my own right now."

We spent the rest of the day just watching movies, sometimes she would glance at me like checking to see if I'm doing okay or if I'm crying my eyes out again. By seven my mom calls us down for dinner, I asked Hermione if she minded just getting us some food again, mentioning that I'm in no way, shape, or form to mingle around. She didn't even blink, she immediately got out of the room balancing two plates in her hand as she shut the door.

That was my mind's cue to let itself wander and think of Narcissa, and what she was feeling and doing at the moment. I tried to put it out of my head but, I'm back to where I started today.

Narcissa's POV

I had fallen asleep from staring at the photo on the phone in my hand. It didn't do any sort of help but prolong my longing and misery over her leaving. She was supposed to leave today, but due to my son's ultimatum, we had no other choice. The sun had crept its way high up in the sky now, a first for me sleeping in since a long time ago.

Instinctively, I went to Draco's door to check on him and found his door ajar. I poked my head in to see if he was in bed and just saw his bed made up. He must be up and about, I decided to head to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee and not let myself think, once the cup was in my grasp I traipse down to the den, passing the room where it all happened. I just put it at the back of my mind, heading straight for the fireplace to find some warmth near the hearth.

The sound of someone apparating never ceases to startle me, it was just then that Lucius' voice infiltrates my senses.

"Where's Draco and the young Peterson? I have some news." He straightens his robes and deposits his cane on a nearby table.

"Draco's outside, I think. And she left yesterday." I gulped my drink.

"What do you mean you think? And why did she leave?" Lucius inquired, his tone irritated.

"Draco's not in his room." I didn't answer the next question, I just continued to sip my coffee as my husband comes nearer.

"And the young Peterson? Why did she leave?" He questions.

I took a deep breath between my sips, readying myself to answer Lucius. I looked at him in the eye and just went ahead. "She left because of me."

My husband has always had a domineering presence, and I'm used to it, but his hand twitches and I flinched. "What do you mean she left because of you?"

I lower my arms which had instinctively tried to shield my body. "She left without saying a word. It's my fault, Lucius."

The sound of his palm hitting my cheek disoriented me, the sensation of the hit I took felt awful on my senses, but I knew it was coming; my attempts to protect myself were futile. "Did Marina and Philip say anything?" His jaw clenches.

I shook my head franticly, "I didn't even get a chance to speak to them because they were in a hurry."

The other cheek stung worse; my eyes burned with tears. Not because I was hurt, but because out of the corner of my eye, I could clearly see Draco, eyes wide in distress and worry. I could tell he wanted to surge forward but I shot him a glance begging him to not interfere, his father's ire was directed at me, I would do anything to keep my son from getting it as well.

"If this marriage doesn't fall through because of your doing, Narcissa. So, help me you will get more where that came from." Lucius raises his hand again but stopped himself and walked away.

I retreated to the little darling's previous wing to lick my wounds and get away from my husband. Just staring outside of the massive window out into the landscape covered in white. Picturesque and gentle, mocking me about how still everything is in nature and my world is crumbling down. The cup still in my hand, I could feel my knuckles turn white to how hard I'm clutching it in my hand.

I hear the door swing open, not paying any attention to whoever entered the room, it could've been Trixie, so I paid no mind.

"How long?" My son materialized beside me.

"Draco, sweetheart." I turned to him, his eyes staring far off.

"How long has he been hurting you?" He suddenly turns, gaze concerned.

"Draco, please this doesn't concern you. Your father meant well." I assured him.

"No, Mother! He slapped you and hurt you! So how long?" He repeated.

I touched his face, caressed his cheek, and kissed his forehead. "Sweetheart, I love you. Please let it go, your father is just worried. It won't happen again."

He looked at me, eyes darting to my cheek. I could see his clenched fist. "If he hurts you again, I don't know if I can let it go, Mother."

I wrapped my arms around him, kissing the top of his head. Taking note that he's getting too tall for me to do that. "He won't do it again." A lie I have regretted time and time again, knowing that Lucius' temper would always get the better of him.

I let go of him and told him that he was free to go, he asked me if I was alright being here. I just said that I need some time to myself. He left the room and I sunk down on the couch, just listening to the crackling of the fire. My eyes scanned the room, just taking in the emptiness of it, a small book caught my eye above the mantle of the fireplace. I walked over to it, and grabbed the small book, I recognized it as soon as it was in my hands.

It was the little darling's sketchbook.

A/N: Thanks darlings for reading! See you next week!