Happy May everyone!

Camp NaNo was a success and I managed to write 20k so there are a few parts of each fic loaded and ready to go for the next couple of months...ish. I am excited to be able to work on writing again and I'm also planning a few events that I wish to happen in future updates. So, yes, there are events to look forwards to.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

Finally Belonging Somewhere – Part 122:

Meredith sat down in the chair and Lucius rested a hand on that same chair. The news of their father sending the siblings into shock and they looked from each other to their mother.

"When was this found out?" Narcissa asked as she needed to get answers for her husband and sister-in-law.

"This morning. I needed to process the news for myself as I would not have been able to come here and tell our children," Priscilla said. "I am so sorry to have brought bad news for your holiday but this is something that I could not delay with."

Narcissa walked over to Priscilla and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"There is nothing to forgive, Priscilla," she said. "Lucius and Meredith would have been angry if you hadn't said anything to them so I am sure they can forgive you."

"Draco… Aurora…? Our sweet girl…" Lucius said. He could process the news but his thoughts were instantly on his children. "How do we tell them?"

"We don't. We don't tell them anything yet," Meredith said. "Draco we could tell I feel but Aurora…? She won't be able to understand as easily and I don't think they should know yet."

"We could delay telling them so they don't have to know yet. We have time and, for now, I think they should enjoy some of their holiday and then we can see about telling them," Narcissa said. "I would like to speak to Jen to seek advice on how we can tell Aurora especially," she said. "Telling her when she's only just home could frighten her into thinking she could be losing more of us if we handle this incorrectly."

Lucius had moved to the window and could hear Draco and Aurora faintly and knew, at some point, their world was going to change. He was dreading that time but the time to let his father go and take up the Malfoy mantle was truly upon him.

He turned as he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Narcissa stood next to him.

"Everything will change now. I will have to take on the full mantle at last," he said and she nodded.

"It will but we have been prepared for this since our marriage. The only difference is we have our children together now and we will have to support them through this," she said. "For now, they can remain oblivious and innocent to what is happening. Draco's status will increase. Aurora will not be affected and that is something that we should be grateful for."

Meredith and Priscilla joined the two at the window and it was clear that both had been crying. They didn't have children to protect so the tears were allowed for them.

"I do not know what I can say to ease the pain. He's comfortable and resting. He can have some medicine as well until that no longer works but we have to face the reality that Abraxas is leaving us and that is something we knew could come…" Priscilla said.

"I'm not ready for this…" Lucius said. "The pressure that is about to come to me. I have to start to have the full weight of the Malfoy legacy…"

"No. You won't, Luc," Meredith said. "We shall shoulder it together, It was different when I wasn't here but I am here now and we will do this together… with Cissa."

Lucius looked at his sister and was unsure whether she was telling the truth or not.

"She can. Your father had it written down that, should Meredith return, she can take up the mantle with you and Cissa. He knew the weight would be daunting for you so decided to make it so you wouldn't be alone," Priscilla said. "At my insistence and that is something I am now thankful for," she said.

Lucius just looked out of the window and sighed as he had a million emotions whirling around his mind. He hadn't began to dream that his father wouldn't be there one day but now he was facing that and the thought of a world without his father was so emotionally destroying that he couldn't speak about it.

"I will accept the offer Meredith. I am going to need assistance with everything and if father has set it up then I will be glad of it," he said finally,

"I meant what I said Lucius in that I am not going anywhere. I am home for good now and that is it," Meredith said. "Yes I will be working for the Ministry again but I will not be going back out into the field. We will face this together," she said and pulled her brother in for a hug.

Lucius wrapped his arms around his sister and rested his head on her shoulder,

"I have never been so glad to see you in all my life."

"It seems that my arrival back home was timed to perfection as always," Meredith said with a smirk.

Lucius nodded and went to sit on the sofa and put his head in his hands. All he wanted to do was get his emotions out but he couldn't. His father had taught him to hide his emotions and that had never been truer in that moment.

The four sat there in silence, for what felt like hours, not saying anything, just trying to process the news when Meredith stood up.

"I will go and see where Draco and Aurora are as they have been gone a while and it is starting to get dark," she said and she headed out to look for the children.

Draco was sat at the pool with Aurora and had allowed her to stick her feet in the water. He smiled as he watched her.

Meredith stood and watched the two wondering how much their world would change because there was no doubt that it was going to change. She just couldn't say how. Aurora's innocence made it worse as well because she didn't know how to act around her niece and nephew but she knew that she had to and have to she would.